the bravest and best that broke the rings,
in Swedish land, of the sea-kings’ line,
haughty hero.[1] Hence Heardred’s end.
2385For shelter he gave them, sword-death came,
the blade’s fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac;
but the son of Ongentheow sought again
house and home when Heardred fell,
leaving Beowulf lord of Geats
2390and gift-seat’s master.—A good king he!
XXXIV
The fall of his lord he was fain to requite
in after days; and to Eadgils he proved
friend to the friendless, and forces sent
over the sea to the son of Ohtere,
2395weapons and warriors: well repaid he
those care-paths cold when the king he slew.[2]
Thus safe through struggles the son of Ecgtheow
had passed a plenty, through perils dire,
with daring deeds, till this day was come
2400that doomed him now with the dragon to strive.
With comrades eleven the lord of Geats
- ↑ Onela, son of Ongentheow, who pursues his two nephews Eanmund and Eadgils to Heardred’s court, where they have taken refuge after their unsuccessful rehellion. In the fighting Heardred is killed.
- ↑ That is, Beowulf supports Eadgils against Onela, who is slain by Eadgils in revenge for the “care-paths” of exile into which Onela forced him. Bugge, relying on the Norse story, translates “by care-paths cold”; that is, Eadgils revenged himself by marches fraught with care or sorrow for Onela. As the battle in the Ynglingasaga takes place on the ice, Bugge reads “cold” literally. But it is the technical adjective for exile; “winter-cold exile,” e.g. in Deor’s Song.
