I. FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE NORMAN CONQUEST A CHARM FOR BEWITCHED LAND 49 55 (From the translation by J. D. SPAETH) Erce, Erce, Erce, Mother of Earth, May the Almighty, Lord Everlasting, Grant thee fields, green and fertile, Grant thee fields, fruitful and growing, Hosts of Spear-shafts, shining harvests, Harvest of Barley the broad, Harvest of Wheat the white, All the heaping harvests of earth! May the Almighty Lord Everlasting, And his holy saints in heaven above, From fiend and foe defend this land, Keep it from blight and coming of harm, From spell of witches wickedly spread! Now I pray the Almighty who made this world, That malice of man, or mouth of woman Never may weaken the words I have spoken. Hail to thee Earth, Mother of men! Grow and be great in God's embrace, Filled with fruit for the food of men! CHARM FOR A SUDDEN STITCH 1 (Translated by J. D. SPAETH) 60 67 The work of witches, away it must melt. 1 The original charm includes directions (of which the selection given is one) for restoring fertility to land that was supposed to have been bewitched. The Charms are one of the characteristic types of old English verse, and are of great antiquity. 2 Name of an ancient goddess of fertility, perhaps analogous to the Roman goddess Demeter. 1 Stitch, or rheumatism, was supposed to be caused by little spears or darts, shot by a god, elf, or hag. THE FIGHT WITH GRENDEL'S MOTHER (Translated by J. D. SPAETH) [The Hero Beowulf grew up at the Court of his uncle Hygėlac, King of the Geats or Jutes. Hearing how Heorot, the great Hall of the Danish King Hrothgar, was ravaged by a nightprowling monster named Grendel, Beowulf sailed with a chosen band to Hrothgar's kingdom, and offered to rid the Danes of their enemy. Alone and weaponless he fought with and killed Grendel in Heorot, and it was supposed that the Hall was again safe. But Grendel's mother, a wolfish water-wife, bent on revenge, broke into the Hall and carried off the King's best Thane. The next morning Beowulf, who had slept elsewhere, heard what had happened, and asked if he might undertake a second and more perilous adventure. Before going, the King describes to him the haunts of the monster.] "I have heard my people, the peasant folk 1345 Seemed to their sight to resemble a woman; 1350 Trod an exile's track of woe. The folk of the fen in former days Named him Grendel. Unknown his father, 1355 Or what his descent from demons obscure. Lonely and waste is the land they inhabit, Wolf-cliffs wild and windy headlands, Ledges of mist, where mountain torrents Downward plunge to dark abysses, And flow unseen. Not far from here 2 Skin. 3 The gods. 4 Of the gods. 1 Creatures that stalk along the Marches, or Borders. 1360 1375 Tracked by the hounds, he will turn at bay, 1370 1380 As I paid thee before, if thou come back alive." Beowulf spoke, the son of Ecgtheow: "Sorrow not gray-beard, nor grieve o'er thy friend! No hole in the ground shall hide her from me. 1400 They followed the tracks, and found she had crossed Over the dark moor, dragging the body 1405 Heorot Hall, and the home of the king. A gloomy grove; and gurgling below, 1415 For there they beheld the head of Eschere 1420 Far beneath at the foot of the cliff. 2 Sea-monsters, water-goblins. They leaned and watched the waters boil 1435 Savagely broached him and brought him to shore, Wave-plunger weird. The warriors viewed The grisly stranger. But straightway Beowulf Donned his corslet nor cared for his life. . . . 1442 1473 To Hrothgar spoke the son of Ecgtheow: To the far-famed warrior, my wondrous sword Of matchless metal, I must with Hrunting 3 1490 Glory gain, or go to my death." After these words the Weder-Jute lord Sprang to his task, nor staid for an answer. Swiftly he sank 'neath the swirling flood; 'Twas an hour's time ere he touched the bottom. Soon the sea-hag, savage and wild, 1495 Who had roamed through her watery realms at will, 1500 For winters a hundred, was 'ware from below The name of Beowulf's sword. 1505 |