ბეოვულფი - ფრაგმენტები
თანამედროვე ინგლისური თარგმანი| Translated by Howell D. Chickering, Jr | Translated by Seamus Heaney | Translated by Francis B. Gummere |
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210. Time passed quickly. They made all secure. Then the ship was floating beneath the cliffs. Armoured warriors climbed the prow; the sea-currents eddied; they carried up weapons, stored them amidships, all the bright ornaments, 215. stately battle-dress. Then the men shoved off, on a willing journey in their well-braced ship. Across open seas, blown by the wind, the foamy-necked ship went like a bird, till in good time, the second day out, 220. the curved prow-carving had gone so far that the seafaring men sighted land, silvery sea-cliffs, high rocky shores, broad headlands. The deep sea was crossed, their journey at an end. * * * 320. The road was stone-paved, a straight path guidedthe men in their ranks. Bright their war-mail, hardened, hand-linked; glistening iron rings sang in their battle-shirts as they came marching straight to that hall, fearful in war-gear. 325. The sea-weary men set their broad shields, spell-hardened rims, against the high wall, eased down on benches, their chain-mail clinking, fit dress for warriors. Their spears were stacked, the seafarers’ weapons, bristling upright, 330. straight ash, grey points. That iron-fast troop was honoured in weapons. Then a haughty noble asked the picked men about their descent: “From where have you carried those gold-trimmed shields, iron-grey corselets, and grim mask-helmets, 335. this host of battle-shafts? I am Hrothgar’s herald and chamberlain, but never have I seen so many foreigners bolder in spirit. I expect in pride – scarcely in exile! – out of high courage you have come to Hrothgar” . 340. Then he was answered by the valiant warrior; the Geatish leader spoke in his turn, strong in his helmet: “We are Hygelac’s companions in hall. Beowulf is my name. I wish to make known my business here 345. to the son of Healfdene, famous king, lord of your lives, if it please him to grant that we may approach his generous self”. Wulfgar made answer – a prince of the Vendels – the truth of his character was known to many, 350. his courage and wisdom: “I shall ask the friend of all tribes of Danes, lord of the Scyldings, great ring-giver, most noble ruler, about your arrival, as you have requested, and soon will announce, will return you the answer 355. our king sees fit to give unto me”. * * * Then Beowulf spoke, in his gleaming mail,405. the ring-net sewn by a master smith: “Hall, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hygelac’s thane and kinsman; mighty the deeds I have done in my youth. News of Grendel reached me in Geatland; 410. travellers say that this great building, brightest hall, stands empty, useless to all the warriors when evening light fades from the sky, brightness of heaven. My people advised me, wise men among us, 415. our best counsellors, that I should seek you, chieftain Hrothgar, king of the Danes, since they had known my tested strength; they saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, 420. killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I drove out trouble from Geatland – they asked for it, the enemies I killed. Now, against Grendel, alone, I shall settle 425. this matter, pay back this giant demon. * * * Then, with the treasure, he came out to find2785. his lord, the great king, bleeding still, at the end of his life. Again he began to sprinkle him with water, until the point of a word broke through his breast-hoard: [Beowulf spoke,] old in his grief, as he saw the gold: 2790. “I give thanks aloud to the Lord of all, King of glories, eternal Ruler, for the bright treasures I can see here, that I might have gained such gifts as these for the sake of my people before I died. 2795. Now that I have given my old life-span for this heap of treasures, you are to watch the country’s needs. I can stay no longer. Order a bright mound made by the brave, after the pyre, at the sea’s edge; 2800. let it rise high on Whale’s Cliff, a memorial to my people, that ever after sailors will call it ‘Beowulf’s barrow’ when the steep ships drive out on the sea, on the darkness of waters, from lands far away”, 2805. From round his throat he took the golden collar, brave-hearted king, and gave to his thane, the young spear-fighter, his gold-plated helmet, rings, mail-shirt, bade use them well: “You are the last man of our tribe, 2810. the race of Wægmundings; fate has swept all my kinsmen to their final doom, undaunted nobles. I must follow them”. That was the last word of the old man from the thoughts of his heart before he chose 2815. the high battle-flames; out from his breast his soul went to seek the doom of the just. |
210. Time went by, the boat was on water, in close under the cliffs. Men climbed eagerly up the gangplank, sand churned in surf, warriors loaded a cargo of weapons, shining war-gear in the vessel’s hold, then heaved out, away with a will in their wood-wreathed ship. Over the waves, with the wind behind her and foam at her neck, she flew like a bird until her curved prow had covered the distance 220. and on the following day, at the due hour, those seafarers sighted land, sunlit cliffs, sheer crags and looming headlands, the landfall they sought. It was the end of their voyage. * * * 320. It was a paved track, a path that kept themin marching order. Their mail-shirts glinted, hard and hand-linked; the high-gloss iron of their armour rang. So they duly arrived in their grim war-graith and gear at the hall, and, weary from the sea, stacked wide shields of the toughest hardwood against the wall, then collapsed on the benches; battle-dress and weapons clashed. They collected their spears in a seafarers’ stook, a stand of greyish 330. tapering ash. And the troops themselves were as good as their weapons. Then a proud warrior questioned the men concerning their origins: “Where do you come from, carrying these decorated shields and shirts of mail, these cheek-hinged helmets and javelins? I am Hrothgar's herald and officer. I have never seen so impressive or large an assembly of strangers. Stoutness of heart, bravery not banishment, must have brought you to Hrothgar”. 340. The man whose name was known for courage, the Geat leader, resolute in his helmet, answered in return: “We are retainers from Hygelac's band. Beowulf is my name. If your lord and master, the most renowned son of Halfdane, will hear me out and graciously allow me to greet him in person, I am ready and willing to report my errand”. Wulf gar replied, a Wendel chief renowned as a warrior, well known for his wisdom 350. and the temper of his mind: “I will take this message, in accordance with your wish, to our noble king, our dear lord, friend of the Danes, the giver of rings. I will go and ask him about your coming here, then hurry back with whatever reply it pleases him to give”. * * * … And standing […] in webbed links that the smith had woven, the fine-forged mesh of his gleaming mail-shirt, resolute in his helmet, Beowulf spoke: “Greetings to Hrothgar. I am Hygelac's kinsman, one of his hall-troop. When I was younger, I had great triumphs. Then news of Grendel, 410. hard to ignore, reached me at home: sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer in this legendary hall, how it lies deserted, empty and useless once the evening light hides itself under heaven's dome. So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies 420. when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it upon themselves, I devastated them). Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat. * * * (2788) So he came to the place, carrying the treasure,and found his lord bleeding profusely, 2790. his life at an end; again he began to swab his body. The beginnings of an utterance broke out from the king's breast-cage. The old lord gazed sadly at the gold. “To the everlasting Lord of All, to the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die. Now that I have bartered my last breath 2800. to own this fortune, it is up to you to look after their needs. I can hold out no longer. Order my troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled. It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and be a reminder among my people – so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf's Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters”. Then the king in his great-heartedness unclasped 2810. the collar of gold from his neck and gave it to the young thane, telling him to use it and the warshirt and the gilded helmet well. "You are the last of us, the only one left of the Waegmundings. Fate swept us away, sent my whole brave high-born clan to their final doom. Now I must follow them”. That was the warrior's last word. He had no more to confide. The furious heat of the pyre would assail him. His soul fled from his breast 2820. to its destined place among the steadfast ones. |
210. Time had now flown; afloat was the ship, 211. boat under bluff. On board they climbed, 212. warriors ready; waves were churning 213. sea with sand; the sailors bore 214. on the breast of the bark their bright array, 215. their mail and weapons: the men pushed off, 216. on its willing way, the well-braced craft. 217. Then moved o'er the waters by might of the wind 218. that bark like a bird with breast of foam, 219. till in season due, on the second day, 220. the curved prow such course had run 221. that sailors now could see the land, 222. sea-cliffs shining, steep high hills, 223. headlands broad. Their haven was found, 224. their journey ended. * * * 320. Stone-bright the street: it showed the way321. to the crowd of clansmen. Corselets glistened 322. hand-forged, hard; on their harness bright 323. the steel ring sang, as they strode along 324. in mail of battle, and marched to the hall. 325. There, weary of ocean, the wall along 326. they set their bucklers, their broad shields, down, 327. and bowed them to bench: the breastplates clanged, 328. war-gear of men; their weapons stacked, 329. spears of the seafarers stood together, 330. gray-tipped ash: that iron band 331. was worthily weaponed!– A warrior proud 332. asked of the heroes their home and kin. 333. “Whence, now, bear ye burnished shields, 334. harness gray and helmets grim, 335. spears in multitude? Messenger, I, 336. Hrothgar's herald! Heroes so many 337. ne’er met I as strangers of mood so strong. 338. 'Tis plain that for prowess, not plunged into exile, 339. for high-hearted valour, Hrothgar ye seek!" 340. Him the sturdy-in-war bespake with words, 341. proud earl of the Weders answer made, 342. hardy 'neath helmet: – “Hygelac's, we, 343. fellows at board; I am Beowulf named. 344. I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene 345. this mission of mine, to thy master-lord, 346. the doughty prince, if he deign at all 347. grace that we greet him, the good one, now”. 348. Wulfgar spake, the Wendles' chieftain, 349. whose might of mind to many was known, 350. his courage and counsel: "The king of Danes, 351. the Scyldings' friend, I fain will tell, 352. the Breaker-of-Rings, as the boon thou askest, 353. the famed prince, of thy faring hither, 354. and, swiftly after, such answer bring 355. as the doughty monarch may deign to give”. * * * 405. hardy ‘neath helm, till the hearth he neared.406. Beowulf spake, – his breastplate gleamed, 407. war-net woven by wit of the smith: – 408. “Thou Hrothgar, hail! Hygelac's I, 409. kinsman and follower. Fame a plenty 410. have I gained in youth! These Grendel-deeds 411. I heard in my home-land heralded clear. 412. Seafarers say how stands this hall, 413. of buildings best, for your band of thanes 414. empty and idle, when evening sun 415. in the harbour of heaven is hidden away. 416. So my vassals advised me well, – 417. brave and wise, the best of men, – 418. O sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here, 419. for my nerve and my might they knew full well. 420. Themselves had seen me from slaughter come 421. blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound, 422. and that wild brood worsted. I' the waves I slew 423. nicors by night, in need and peril 424. avenging the Weders, whose woe they sought, – 425. crushing the grim ones. Grendel now, 426. monster cruel, be mine to quell 427. in single battle! * * * 2797. So he carried the load. His lord and king2798. he found all bleeding, famous chief 2799. at the lapse of life. The liegeman again 2800. plashed him with water, till point of word 2801. broke through the breast-hoard. Beowulf spake, 2802. sage and sad, as he stared at the gold. – 2803. “For the gold and treasure, to God my thanks, 2804. to the Wielder-of-Wonders, with words I say, 2805. for what I behold, to Heaven’s Lord, 2806. for the grace that I give such gifts to my folk 2807. or ever the day of my death be run! 2808. Now I’ve bartered here for booty of treasure 2809. the last of my life, so look ye well 2810. to the needs of my land! No longer I tarry. 2811. A barrow bid ye the battle-fanned raise 2812. for my ashes. ‘Twill shine by the shore of the flood, 2813. to folk of mine memorial fair 2814. on Hrones Headland high uplifted, 2815. that ocean-wanderers oft may hail 2816. Beowulf’s Barrow, as back from far 2817. they drive their keels o’er the darkling wave.” 2818. From his neck he unclasped the collar of gold, 2819. valorous king, to his vassal gave it 2820. with bright-gold helmet, breastplate, and ring, 2821. to the youthful thane: bade him use them in joy. 2822. “Thou art end and remnant of all our race 2823. the Waegmunding name. For Wyrd hath swept them, 2824. all my line, to the land of doom, 2825. earls in their glory: I after them go”. 2826. This word was the last which the wise old man 2827. harboured in heart ere hot death-waves 2828. of balefire he chose. From his bosom fled 2829. his soul to seek the saints’ reward. |
