The Messenger of Death
Then he charged that the battle be announced at the hedge Up o’er the cliff-edge, where the earl-troopers bided The whole of the morning, mood-wretched sat them, Bearers of battle-shields, both things expecting, The end of his lifetime and the coming again of The liegelord belovèd. Little reserved he Of news that was known, who the ness-cliff did travel, But he truly discoursed to all that could hear him: “Now the free-giving friend-lord of the folk of the Weders, The folk-prince of Geatmen, is fast in his death-bed, By the deeds of the dragon in death-bed abideth; Along with him lieth his life-taking foeman Slain with knife-wounds: he was wholly unable To injure at all the ill-planning monster With bite of his sword-edge. Wiglaf is sitting, Offspring of Wihstan, up over Beowulf, Earl o’er another whose end-day hath reached him, Head-watch holdeth o’er heroes unliving, For friend and for foeman. The folk now expecteth A season of strife when the death of the folk-king To Frankmen and Frisians in far-lands is published. The war-hatred waxed warm ’gainst the Hugmen, When Higelac came with an army of vessels Faring to Friesland, where the Frankmen in battle Humbled him and bravely with overmight ’complished That the mail-clad warrior must sink in the battle, Fell ’mid his folk-troop: no fret-gems presented The atheling to earlmen; aye was denied us Merewing’s mercy. The men of the Swedelands For truce or for truth trust I but little; But widely ’twas known that near Ravenswood Ongentheow Sundered Haethcyn the Hrethling from life-joys, When for pride overweening the War-Scylfings first did Seek the Geatmen with savage intentions. Early did Ohthere’s age-laden father, Old and terrible, give blow in requital, Killing the sea-king, the queen-mother rescued, The old one his consort deprived of her gold, Onela’s mother and Ohthere’s also, And then