to death was betrayed; for torrents of sorrow
905had lamed him too long;[1] a load of care
to earls and athelings all he proved.
Oft indeed, in earlier days,
for the warrior’s wayfaring[2] wise men mourned,
who had hoped of him help from harm and bale,
910and had thought their sovran’s son[3] would thrive,
follow his father, his folk protect,
the hoard and the stronghold, heroes’ land,
home of Scyldings.—But here, thanes said,
the kinsman of Hygelac kinder seemed
915to all: the other[4] was urged to crime!
And afresh to the race,[5] the fallow roads
by swift steeds measured! The morning sun
was climbing higher. Clansmen hastened
to the high-built hall, those hardy-minded,
920the wonder to witness. Warden of treasure,
crowned with glory, the king himself,
with stately band from the bride-bower strode;
- ↑ Bugge emends:and understands the “earlier days” in v. 907 as the days before Heremod’s real tyranny began, though his subjects were already chafing at his folly and neglect.
With torrents of sorrow
he had long lamed his landfolk; a load of care . . . - ↑ “Way of life” (Wyatt). Sievers refers it to the assumed literal banishment. Or does it mean some wild adventure undertaken when the king should have been caring for his folk at home?
- ↑ See vv. 20 ff., above: “So becomes it a youth . . .”
- ↑ Sc. Heremod.
- ↑ The singer has-sung his lays, and the epic resumes its story. The time-relations are not altogether good in this long passage which describes the rejoicings of “the day after”; but the present shift from the riders on the road to the folk at the hall is not very violent, and is of a piece with the general narrative style.
