Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race

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a and of the Baltic. The life depicted, the characters portrayed, the events described, are such as a simple warrior race would cherish in tradition and legend as relics of the life lived by their ancestors in what doubtless seemed to them the Golden Age. Perhaps stories of a divine Beowa, hero and ancestor of the English, became merged in other myths of sun-hero and marsh-demon, but in any case the stories are now crystallized around one central human figure, who may even be considered an historical hero, Beowulf, the thane of Hygelac, King of the Geats. It is this grand primitive hero who embodies the ideal of Englis

Coming and Pa

ntil the day when, full of years and honours, he died, leaving the throne securely established in his family. Then the sorrowing Danes restored him to the mysterious ocean from which he had come to them. Choosing their goodliest ship, they laid within it the corpse of their departed king, and heaped around him all their best and choicest treasures, until the venerable countenance of Scyld looked to heaven from a bed of gold and jewels; then they set up, high above his head, his glorious gold-wrought banner, and left him alone in

gar's

, and could entertain his warriors and thanes, and visitors from afar. The hall rose speedily, vast, gloriously adorned, a great meeting-place for men; for Hrothgar had summoned all his people to the work, and the walls towered up high and majestic, ending in pinnacles and gables resembling the antlers of a stag. At the great feast which Hrothgar gave first in his new home the minstrels chanted the glo

en

stood. Terrible was he, dangerous to men, of extraordinary strength, human in shape but gigantic of stature, covered with a green horny skin, on which the sword would not bite. His race, all sea-monsters, giants, goblins, and evil demons,

hty fiend, he who

red fierce, that

tal shouts loud

oed there, and gl

joyously, fear

sh fiend wrough

t was called, gri

nderer, dwelt i

astnesses; the wret

ant-race, since Go

he earth fell,

y hall, now that

ome feast night

arrior-thanes gua

ping, they reck

evil, the gri

ravening, greedi

lumbering thirty

w again, proud of

ding-place, be

e to de

th his fierce ravening

lict against the foe-a foe who repeated night by night his awful deeds, in spite of all that valour could do to save the Danes from his terrible enmity. At last no champion would face the monster, and the Danes, in despair, deserted the glorious hall of which they had been so proud. Useless stood the best of dwellings, for none dared remain in it, but every evening the Danes left it after their

ster, and many a mighty warrior lost his life in a vain struggle against Grendel. At length even these bold adventurers ceased to come; Grendel remained master of Heorot, and

ow

his grandfather, King Hrethel, by his sluggish character. Beowulf as a youth had been despised by all for his sloth and his unwarlike disposition; his good-nature and his rarely stirred wrath made others look upon him with scorn, and the mighty stature to which he grew brought him nothing but scoffs and sneers and insults in the banquet-hall when the royal feasts were held. Yet wise men might have seen the promise of great strength in his powerful sinews and his mighty hands, and the signs of great force of character in the glance of his clear blue eyes and the fierceness of his anger when he was once aroused. At least once already Beowulf had distin

her crew were strangers and all in war-array, and as the Warden watched them they ran the ship into a small creek among the mountainous cliffs, made her fast to a rock with stout cables, and then lan

like men wieldin

rslets and boar

r-paths come with

ocean surge? I

's shores; watch

Danish coast

over sea should

landed yet more

company: and ye

warriors, and cu

eyes beheld a

dly, than is he,

n man; if look

bold, worth

ow of you kind

should go free on

afar, sailing

nest thought: bes

y know whence ye

Beowulf left no doubt as to who was the chieftain of that little band. When the questions had been asked the leader of the new-comers moved forward till his mighty figure stood beside the Warden's horse, and as he gazed up into the old man's eyes h

thy king Healfden

oble lord, wit

ian good to us

d grave to the g

idden hold w

f it is truth (as

enemy, deadly

f night, sateth

fearsome awe, sl

gar bold counsel

iant mind Grend

r lose torment

loom again and w

ur Danish king; therefore I bid you go forward, in warlike array, and I myself will guide you to King Hrothgar; I will also bid my men draw your vessel up the beach,

they strode boldly after the Warden. Anon there appeared a roughly trodden path, which soon became a stone-paved road, and the way led on to where the great hall, Heorot, towered aloft, gleaming white in the sun; very glorious it seemed, with its pinnacled gables and its carved beam

ar and

all, they prepared to enter as peaceful guests the great hall of King Hrothgar. Wulfgar, one of Hrothgar's nobles, met them at the door and asked whence such a splendid band of warlike strangers, so well armed and so worthily equipped, had come. T

o my lord, and bring back his answer"; and then made his way up the hall to the high seat where

travelling over

om afar, hero

name of their

, my lord, that they

give them a

em the gladnes

-gear seem worthy

ftain seems, he

has g

Geat King Hrethel. His fame has come hither before him; seafarers have told me that he has the might of thirty men in his hand-grip. Great joy it is to know of his coming, for he may save us

to Hrothgar, who looked keenly at the well-equipped troop, and kindly at its leader. A striking figure was Beowulf as he stood there in his gleaming r

Hrothgar King

nsman and lo

valour wrough

tive land Gren

heard tale told

s bright hall, no

every man id

ng-light fails

cient king, all my

ent thanes, that

lves had known my

thee, lord of th

lding race, Folk-

arriors, on

me, since I hav

lone, this troo

p from thee clean

heard that the

ecklessness scorn

I forego (so ma

d and king, fin

my sword and my b

ict: with my h

will strive, and s

d's doom whom deat

hinketh in this

at me, if he

devoured her

not need my hea

ave me all man

ry, if death the

stained will he

will bear it and

life-blood his la

elfare wilt thou

gelac, if strif

rnies which my

-weeds, the work

thel. Ever Wyr

m, a fugitive, from the wrath of the Wilfings, paid them the due wergild for his crime, and took his oath of loyalty to myself. Long ago that time is; Ecgtheow is dead, and I am old and in misery. It were too long now to tell of all the woe that Grendel has wrought, but this I may say, that many a hero has boasted

th wonder on this mighty hero, whose courage led him to hazard this terrible combat. Great carved horns of ale were borne to Beowulf and his men, savoury meat was placed before them

Qu

e feast, and suddenly spoke, coldly and contemptuously: "Art thou that Beowulf who strove against Breca, the son of Beanstan, when ye two held a swimming contest in the ocean and risked your lives in the deep waters? In vain all your friends urged you to forbear-ye would go on the hazardous journey; ye plunged in, buffeting the wintry waves through the rising storm. Seven days and

he surging waves, bitter the north wind, rough was the swelling flood, under the darkening shades of night. Yet this was not the worst: the sea-monsters, excited by the raging tempest, rushed at me with their deadly tusks and bore me to the abyss. Well was it then for me that I wore my well-woven ring-mail, and had my keen sword in hand; with point and edge I fought the deadly beasts, and killed them. Many a time the hosts of monsters bore me to the ocean-bottom, but I slew numbers among them, and thus we battled all the night, until in th

o thee, O son

ly fiend ne'er d

s, such shame a

thgar old, in hi

aliant mood, sturd

now bo

ies haughtil

prise him terribly, since the fiend had ceased to expect any resistance from the warlike Danes. The feast continued, with laughter and melody, with song and boast, until the door from the women's bower, in the upper end of the hall, opened suddenly, and Hrothgar's wife, the fair and gracious Queen Wealhtheow, entered. The tumult lulled for a short space, and the queen, pouring mead into a goblet,

ed well when I t

a-vessel with my

uld win thy fol

ould fall fast in

perform knightly

et my doom in d

thgar at length gave the signal for retiring. Indeed, it was necessary to leave Heorot when darkness fell, for the fiend came each night when sunlight faded. S

ve I since I hel

ny man this mig

alone. Keep tho

t-halls. Show forth

ravery, watch

k gifts of worth i

this dir

reatly troubled in mind, he awaited the dawn with almost hopeless expectati

f and

word, unhelmed himself, and gave his sword to a thane to bear away. For, as he said to his men, "I will strive against this fiend weaponless. With no armour, since he wears none,

ht of day again, or to revisit their native land: they had heard, too, much during the feast of the slaughter which Grendel had wrought. So

never felt before, and to know that he had at last found an antagonist whom even he must fight warily. Beowulf sprang from his couch as the terrible claws of the monster fell upon him, and wrestled with Grendel in the darkness and gloom of the unlighted hall, where the flicker of the fire had died down to a dim glow in the dull embers. That was a dreadful struggle, as the combatants, in deadly conflict, swayed up and down the hall, overturning tables and benches, trampling underfoot dishes and goblets in the darkling wrestle for life. The men of the Geats felt for their weapons, but they could not see the combatants distinctly, though they heard the panting and the trampling movements, and occasionally caught a gleam from the fiend's eyes as his face was turned towards them. When they struck their weapons glanced harmlessly off Grendel's scaly hide. The struggle continued for some time, and the hall was an utter wreck within, when Grendel, worsted for once, tried to break away and rush out into the night; but Beowulf held him fast in the grip which no ma

yet come to receive an account of their night-watch. Throughout the day there was feasting and rejoicing, with horse-races, and wrestling, and manly contests of skill and endurance; or the Danes collected around the bard as he chanted the glory of Sigmund and his son Fitela. Then came King Hrothgar himself, with his queen and her maiden train, and they paused to gaze with horror on the dreadful trophy, and to turn with gratitude to the hero who had delivered them from this evil spirit. Hrothgar said: "Thanks be to the All-Father for this happy sight! Much sorrow have

mere strength of my hand-grip, but in this I did not succeed, for Grendel escaped from the hall. Yet he left here with me his hand, his arm, and shoulder as a token of his

er, and their men, Danes and Geats, sitting side by side, shouted and cheered and drank deeply to the fame of Beowulf. The minstrels sang of the Fight in Finnsburg and the deeds of Finn and Hn?f, of Hengest and Queen Hildeburh. Long was the chant, and it roused the national pride of the Danes to hear of the victory of their Danish forefathers over Finn of the Frisians; and merrily the banquet went forward, gladdened still more by the presence of Queen Wealhtheow. Now Hrothgar showed his lavish generosity an

goblet, my lor

sure, O gold-fr

Geats fair spee

joyous, for so

gracious, mind

r and near thou

to me that thou

rrior who has

uet-halls! Enjoy

leasures, and le

lordships when tho

t thy

with jewels, costly rings, a corslet of chain-mail and a wonderful jewelled collar of exquisite ancient workmanship, and, bidding them continue their feasting, with her maidens she left the hall. The feast went on till Hrothgar also departed to his dwelling, and left th

el's

to attack her; yet there was less terror among them than before when they saw the figure of a horrible woman. In spite of all, the monster seized Aschere, one of King Hrothgar's thanes, and bore him away to the fens, leaving a house of lamentation where men had feasted so joyously a few hours before. The news was brought to King Hrothgar, who bitterly lamented the loss of his wisest and dearest counsellor, and bade them call Beowulf to him, since he alone could help in this extremity. When Beowulf stoo

t reported by s

ooked on two suc

-striders holding

med to be shape

xile bore sembl

s stature than

long gone by Grend

father nor augh

onsters dwell in

loved by wolves,

aths, where the da

anging cliffs do

bre earth. Not f

my mere, round wh

ranches mossed, hoa

rooted o'ersha

der seen night

erflood: liveth

e enough to kn

ag may be hard by

the wood, chased

d his life to hu

e his head in t

lace. Thence the

ns above, when th

g storms, till

fall to

be found in thee. But yet thou knowest not the dangerous place thou must needs explore if thou seek th

the sorrow of the grey-

rudent King! Bet

friend, than that

ndergo death at

he may warlike f

er death for the

omise thee I will never lose it, wheresoever it may lead me. Only ha

Danes following, he rode away towards the home of the monsters, the dread lake which all men shunned. The blood-stained tracks were easy to see, a

ds the head

with blood, with

awe-struck, and t

ime fiercely e

down there, and

swimming to se

steep nesses sea

creatures: thes

ous when the sound

of the w

all kinds, he suddenly drew his bow and shot one of them to the heart. The rest darted furiously away, an

with Grend

is body and protecting his breast, the shining helm guarding his head, bright with the boar-image on the crest, an

alled Hrunting, a

e itself, tempered

tle-blood: never

it, when he wo

tlefield, folk-

lowers, his friendly hosts, the grey old King Hrothgar, the sun and the green earth, whi

noble kinsman

ler, gold-frie

ttled when we

ety should end h

be to me, though

ed thanes, my

ctor should de

thgar, send all t

given me, to m

t king, brave so

d gems, know by th

erous lord, whom I

ferth too my won

graven blade; let t

r-blade: I will

ble brand, or dea

h tusk and horn, strove to break his ring-mail, but in vain. As Beowulf came near the bottom he felt himself seized in long, scaly arms of gigantic strength. The fierce claws of the wolfish sea-woman

ticed he was in

ter-stream no wh

ring roof the rush

m. He saw the stran

he water, shining

ocean-wolf, the h

er and sprang to his feet. Angered beyond measure, he brandished the flaming sword Hrunting, and flashed one great blow at her head which would have killed her had her scales and hair been vulnerable; but alas! the edge of the blade turned on her scaly hide, and the blow failed. Wrathfully Beowulf cast as

e walls, saw there

antic, trusty in

roes; that was th

tately, the fo

ger than any

ttle-strife, sav

he lifeless carcase of his foe. The hero still grasped his sword and looked warily along the walls of the water-dwelling, lest some other foe should emerge from its recesses; but as he gazed Beowulf saw his former foe, Grendel, lying dead on a bed in some inner hall. He strode thither, and, seizing the corpse by the hideous coiled locks, shore off the head to ca

rs off the h

e lake, the quenching of the unholy light, then the flight of the sea-monsters and a gradual clearing of the waters, through which at last they could see their lord uprising. How gladly they greeted him! What awe and wonder seized them as they surveyed his dreadful booty, the ghastly head of Grendel and the massive hilt of the gigantic sword! How eagerly they listened to his story, and how they vied with one another for

-booty, O wise s

ings, have brough

riumph, as th

I hardly escape

ater sustained

as almost deci

uarded me! Nough

battle, though 't

ranted me that

the hall a brigh

swung it that in

welling. The might

g blood, the pois

I here borne fro

crime, the death

me. Now can

eorot care-fre

or-troop and all t

aged: thou needs

rtal foes, as thou

gerly the runes which showed its history, as the tumult stilled in the hall, and all men listened for his speech, he broke out: "Lo! this may any man say, who maintains truth and right among his people, that good though he may be this hero is even better! Thy glory is wides

ing; and then, ending with thanks and fresh gifts to Beowulf, he bade the feast continue with increased jubilation. The tumultuous rejoicing lasted till darkness settled on the land, and when it ended all retired

to this decision he we

yagers come hi

intent to see

received, well has

h I can do more

iors, than I hav

dy now weapons t

hear o'er the

ing foes threaten

before, swift wi

ble thanes, her

elac, King of

gthen me (though h

ike deeds to bear

rge, when arms wo

aid. If thy son

court, there to

ely find many fr

nt lands learne

is va

rance of continual friendship between the two countries and of enduring personal affection. Finally, with fresh gifts of treasure and with tears of regret Hrothgar embraced Beowulf and bade him go speedily to his ship, since a friend's yearning could not retain him lon

lf's

for he had watched the ocean day and night for the return of the valiant wanderers. Gladly he welcomed them, and bade his underlings help to bear their spoils up to the royal palace, where King Hygelac, himself young and valiant, awaited his victorious kinsman, with his

of the beauteous Hygd-poured out the first bowl in which to celebrate the safe return of th

e grisly monsters and the desperate combats, and of the boundless gratitude and splendid generosity of the

ation's king lived

iled not, of me

Healfdene gave to

s desire. These no

vingly: now a

e to thee, O h

ve I few but th

men and friends, giving his priceless jewelled collar to Queen Hygd, and his best steed to King Hygelac, as a true vassal an

Year

and. There he had told Queen Hygd of the untimely death of her husband, and had called on her to assume the regency of the kingdom for her young son Heardred. Queen Hygd called an assembly of the Geats, and there, with the full consent of the nation, offered the crown to Beowulf, the wisest counsellor and bravest hero among them; but he refused to accept it, and so swayed the Geats by his eloquence and his loyalty that they unanimously raised Heardred to the throne, with Beowulf as his guardian and protector. When in later years Heardred also fell before a

nd the Fi

ation to confront the rising sun. Yet the dragon's wrath was in some way justified, since he had been robbed, and could not trace the thief. Centuries before Beowulf's lifetime a mighty family of heroes had gathered together, by feats of arms, and by long inheritance, an immense treasure of cups and goblets, of necklaces and rings, of swords and helmets and armour, cunningly wrought by magic spells; they had joyed in their cherished

st, O earth, now

ghty earls. From t

g gone by, but slaug

nquished them, ea

ple, who closed th

earth. None hav

goblet, the rich

eroes have els

lded helm lose

ished it sleep in

ready erst war-

le-sark which in

ged blades midst the

earer dead. Nor m

n's death wide wit

f harp, gone is t

y-winged hovers no

ted mare tramples

has sent all liv

he fury of an avenging chieftain, in like manner found the cave, and the dragon sleeping on his gold. Terrified almost to death, the fugitive eagerly seized a marvellously wrought chalice and bore it stealthily away, feeling sure that such an offering would appease his lord's wrath and atone for his offence. But when the dragon awoke he discovered that he had been robbed, and his keen scen

rendel and his mother: the fiery breath of this dragon was far too deadly, and he must trust to armour for protection. He commanded men to make a shield entirely of iron, for he knew that the usual shield of linden-wood would be instantly burnt up in the dragon's flaming breath. He then chose with care eleven warriors, picked men of his o

f Face

tector, my kinsman. Then Hathcyn died also, slain by the Swedes, and my dear lord Hygelac came to the throne: he was gracious to me, a giver of weapons, a generous distributor of treasure, and I repaid him as much as I could in battle against his foes. Daghrefn, the Frankish warrior who slew my king, I sent to his doom with my deadly hand-grip: he, at least, should not show my lord's armour as trophy of his prowess. But this fight is different: here I must use both point and edge, as I was not wont in my youth: but here too will I, old though I be, work deeds of valour. I will not give way the space of one foot, but will meet him here in his own abode and make all my boasting good. Abide ye here, ye warriors, for this is not your expedition, nor the work of any man but me alone; wait till ye know which is triumphant, for I will win the gold and save my people, or death shall take me." So saying he raised his great shield, and, unaccompanied, set his face to the dark entrance, where a stream, boiling with strange heat, flowed forth from the cave; so hot was the air that he stood, unable to advance far for the suffocating steam and smoke. Angered by his impotence, Beowulf raised his voice and shouted

lf's

ook gladly the gold and jewels which our king lavished upon us, that we would repay him for all his gifts, if ever such need there were! Now is the need come upon him, and we are here! Beowulf chose us from all his bodyguard to help him in this mighty struggle, and we have betrayed and deserted him, and left him alone against a terrible foe. Now the day has come when our lord should see our valour, and we flee from his side! Up, let us go and aid him, even while the grim battle-flame flares around him. God knows that I would rather risk my body in the fiery cloud than stay here while my k

s dreadful sight, and, leaving the protection of Beowulf's iron shield, dashed forth at the dragon, piercing the scaly body in a vital part. At once the fire began to fade away, and Beowulf, mastering his anguish, drew his broad knife, and with a last effort cut the hideous reptile asunder. Then the agony of the envenomed wound came upon him, and his limbs burnt and ached with intolerable pain. In growing distress he staggered to a rough ancient seat, carved out of the rock, hard by the door of the barrow. There he sank down, and Wiglaf laved his brow with water from the little stream, which

en he flung down the treasures-magic armour, dwarf-wrought swords, carved goblets, flashing gems, and a golden standard-at Beowulf's feet, so that the ancient hero's dying gaze could fall on the hoard he had won for his peop

ernal, the grea

easures which I

death-day migh

lth. Since I hav

ook to the need

longer, for De

rriors after m

-cairn high on th

emory tower up

seafarers Be

name it, they who

ty flood thei

t of all the kin

l my kin, all the

I follo

use and profit. Accordingly, when the ten faithless dastards ventured out from the shelter of the wood, and came shamefacedly to the place where Wiglaf sat, sorrowing, at the head of dead Beowulf, he stilled their cries of grief with one wave of the hand, which had still been vainly striving to arouse his king by gentle touch, and, gazing scornfully at them, he cried: "Lo! well may a truthful man say, seeing you here, safely in the war-gear and ornaments which our dead hero gave you, that Beowulf did but throw away his generous gifts, since all

ath of

shall our enemies make raids upon us, for we have none to withstand them! But let us hasten to bury our king, to bear him royally to his grave, with mourning and tears of woe." These unhappy tidings roused the Geats, and they hastened to see if it were really true, and found all as the messenger had said, and wondered at the mighty dragon and the glorious hoard of gold. They feared the monster and coveted the treasure, but all felt that the command now lay with Wiglaf. At last Wiglaf roused himself from his silent grief and said: "O men of the Geats, I am not to blame that our king

ght chosen ones brought thither the treasures, and threw the dragon's body over the cliff into the sea; then a wain, hung with shie

der Geats wrought

cean cliff wides

near by vessels'

n days' space th

ining swords the ea

sest men worth

they placed necklet

ragon's hoard br

they gave treasure

oomy mould, wh

of men as it e

nd there rode twel

tter grief, singi

oble king in fit

urage high and his

orthily, as it

words their frie

ers forth far from

t chiefs, Beow

der's fall: sang i

ly kings mildest

racious, most ke