more of thy love, O lord of men,
aught anew, than I now have done,
1825for work of war I am willing still!
If it come to me ever across the seas
that neighbor foemen annoy and fright thee,—
as they that hate thee erewhile have used,—
thousands then of thanes I shall bring,
1830heroes to help thee. Of Hygelac I know,
ward of his folk, that, though few his years,
the lord of the Geats will give me aid
by word and by work, that well I may serve thee,
wielding the war-wood to win thy triumph
1835and lending thee might when thou lackest men.
If thy Hrethric should, come to court of Geats,[1]
a sovran’s son, he will surely there
find his friends. A far-off land
each man should visit who vaunts him brave.”
1840Him then answering, Hrothgar spake:—
“These words of thine the wisest God
sent to thy soul! No sager counsel
from so young in years e’er yet have I heard.
Thou art strong of main and in mind art wary,
1845art wise in words! I ween indeed
if ever it hap that Hrethel’s heir[2]
- ↑ Courteous, dignified, smoothly phrased, this leave-taking speech is admirable.—The custom of sending one’s son to serve and live in other noble families was maintained in England down to relatively modern times. The concluding sententia admirably balances advantage of travel with the dangers of those who go far from the protection of their own kin.
- ↑ Hygelac.—The involutions and variations of this period—high compliment—are characteristic of all formal speeches in the epic.
