The Finn Episode (Continued)—The Banquet Continues
“Then the warriors departed to go to their dwellings, Reaved of their friends, Friesland to visit, Their homes and high-city. Hengest continued Biding with Finn the blood-tainted winter, Wholly unsundered; of fatherland thought he Though unable to drive the ring-stemmèd vessel O’er the ways of the waters; the wave-deeps were tossing, Fought with the wind; winter in ice-bonds Closed up the currents, till there came to the dwelling A year in its course, as yet it revolveth, If season propitious one alway regardeth, World-cheering weathers. Then winter was gone, Earth’s bosom was lovely; the exile would get him, The guest from the palace; on gruesomest vengeance He brooded more eager than on oversea journeys, Whe’r onset-of-anger he were able to ’complish, The bairns of the Jutemen therein to remember. Nowise refused he the duties of liegeman When Hun of the Frisians the battle-sword Láfing, Fairest of falchions, friendly did give him: Its edges were famous in folk-talk of Jutland. And savage sword-fury seized in its clutches Bold-mooded Finn where he bode in his palace, When the gruesome grapple Guthlaf and Oslaf Had mournfully mentioned, the mere-journey over, For sorrows half-blamed him; the flickering spirit Could not bide in his bosom. Then the building was covered With corpses of foemen, and Finn too was slaughtered, The king with his comrades, and the queen made a prisoner. The troops of the Scyldings bore to their vessels All that the land-king had in his palace, Such trinkets and treasures they took as, on searching, At Finn’s they could find. They ferried to Daneland The excellent woman on oversea journey, Led her to their land-folk.” The lay was concluded, The gleeman’s recital. Shouts again rose then, Bench-glee resounded, bearers then offered Wine from wonder-vats. Wealhtheo advanced then Going ’neath gold-crown, where the good ones were