The Beowulf Discussion: Section XXXIX

[Michael]

This discussion was originally posted to the Endor mailing list. It used the Project Gutenberg eText based on Leslie Hall's translation of the poem. The source can be found here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-8.txt


XXXIX.

THE DEAD FOES.--WIGLAF'S BITTER TAUNTS.


{Wiglaf is sorely grieved to see his lord look so un-warlike.}

It had wofully chanced then the youthful retainer
To behold on earth the most ardent-beloved
At his life-days' limit, lying there helpless.
The slayer too lay there, of life all bereaved,
5 Horrible earth-drake, harassed with sorrow:

{The dragon has plundered his last hoard.}

The round-twisted monster was permitted no longer
To govern the ring-hoards, but edges of war-swords
Mightily seized him, battle-sharp, sturdy
Leavings of hammers, that still from his wounds
10 The flier-from-farland fell to the earth
Hard by his hoard-house, hopped he at midnight
Not e'er through the air, nor exulting in jewels
Suffered them to see him: but he sank then to earthward
Through the hero-chief's handwork. I heard sure it throve then

[96]

{Few warriors dared to face the monster.}

15 But few in the land of liegemen of valor,
Though of every achievement bold he had proved him,
To run 'gainst the breath of the venomous scather,
Or the hall of the treasure to trouble with hand-blows,
If he watching had found the ward of the hoard-hall
20 On the barrow abiding. Beowulf's part of
The treasure of jewels was paid for with death;
Each of the twain had attained to the end of
Life so unlasting. Not long was the time till

{The cowardly thanes come out of the thicket.}

The tardy-at-battle returned from the thicket,
25 The timid truce-breakers ten all together,
Who durst not before play with the lances
In the prince of the people's pressing emergency;

{They are ashamed of their desertion.}

But blushing with shame, with shields they betook them,
With arms and armor where the old one was lying:
30 They gazed upon Wiglaf. He was sitting exhausted,
Foot-going fighter, not far from the shoulders
Of the lord of the people, would rouse him with water;
No whit did it help him; though he hoped for it keenly,
He was able on earth not at all in the leader
35 Life to retain, and nowise to alter
The will of the Wielder; the World-Ruler's power[1]
Would govern the actions of each one of heroes,

{Wiglaf is ready to excoriate them.}

As yet He is doing. From the young one forthwith then
Could grim-worded greeting be got for him quickly
40 Whose courage had failed him. Wiglaf discoursed then,
Weohstan his son, sad-mooded hero,

{He begins to taunt them.}

Looked on the hated: "He who soothness will utter
Can say that the liegelord who gave you the jewels,
The ornament-armor wherein ye are standing,
45 When on ale-bench often he offered to hall-men
Helmet and burnie, the prince to his liegemen,
As best upon earth he was able to find him,--

[97]

{Surely our lord wasted his armor on poltroons.}

That he wildly wasted his war-gear undoubtedly
When battle o'ertook him.[2] The troop-king no need had
50 To glory in comrades; yet God permitted him,

{He, however, got along without you}

Victory-Wielder, with weapon unaided
Himself to avenge, when vigor was needed.
I life-protection but little was able
To give him in battle, and I 'gan, notwithstanding,

{With some aid, I could have saved our liegelord}

55 Helping my kinsman (my strength overtaxing):
He waxed the weaker when with weapon I smote on
My mortal opponent, the fire less strongly
Flamed from his bosom. Too few of protectors
Came round the king at the critical moment.

{Gift-giving is over with your people: the ring-lord is dead.}

60 Now must ornament-taking and weapon-bestowing,
Home-joyance all, cease for your kindred,
Food for the people; each of your warriors
Must needs be bereaved of rights that he holdeth
In landed possessions, when faraway nobles
65 Shall learn of your leaving your lord so basely,

{What is life without honor?}

The dastardly deed. Death is more pleasant
To every earlman than infamous life is!"

[1] For 'daedum raedan' (2859) B. suggests 'deaeth araedan,' and renders:
_The might (or judgment) of God would determine death for every man,
as he still does._

[2] Some critics, H. himself in earlier editions, put the clause,
'When ... him' (A.-S. 'þa ... beget') with the following sentence;
that is, they make it dependent upon 'þorfte' (2875) instead of upon
'forwurpe' (2873).


INITIAL COMMENTARY:
I think Wiglaf's reproach is remarkable in that the thanes, who had deserted their lord against all Germanic principle and custom, might have acted to protect themselves by killing him. Under Germanic law, the deserters should have been put to death for deserting their lord, as the Roman writer Tacitus explains.

So why are the thanes not punished? The poet doesn't really explain.

"Weohstan" here is spelled "Wihstan" later on. I'm not sure of why.