{Hrothgar’s nephew, Hrothulf, is present.}

          Hrothgar and Hrothulf.  Heorot then inside
          Was filled with friendly ones; falsehood and treachery
          The Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise.

{Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.}

          Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf
       30 A golden standard, as reward for the victory,
          A banner embossed, burnie and helmet;
          Many men saw then a song-famous weapon
          Borne ’fore the hero.  Beowulf drank of
          The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing
       35 He needed not blush for in battle-men’s presence.

{Four handsomer gifts were never presented.}

          Ne’er heard I that many men on the ale-bench
          In friendlier fashion to their fellows presented
          Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished. 
          ’Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside
       40 Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished,
          That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail
          Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded

{Hrothgar commands that eight finely caparisoned steeds be brought to Beowulf.}

          Forth against foemen.  The defender of earls then
          Commanded that eight steeds with bridles
       45 Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to hallward,
          Inside the building; on one of them stood then
          An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels;
          ’Twas the sovereign’s seat, when the son of King Healfdene
          Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges;
       50 The famous one’s valor ne’er failed at the front when
          Slain ones were bowing.  And to Beowulf granted
          The prince of the Ingwins, power over both,
          O’er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them. 
          In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain,
[37] 55 Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels
          War-storms requited, that none e’er condemneth
          Who willeth to tell truth with full justice.

[1] Kl. suggests ‘hroden’ for ‘haten,’ and renders:  Then quickly was Heorot adorned within, with hands bedecked.—­B. suggests ‘gefraetwon’ instead of ‘gefraetwod,’ and renders:  Then was it commanded to adorn Heorot within quickly with hands.—­The former has the advantage of affording a parallel to ‘gefraetwod’:  both have the disadvantage of altering the text.

[2] The passage 1005-1009 seems to be hopeless.  One difficult point is to find a subject for ‘gesacan.’  Some say ‘he’; others supply ‘each,’ i.e., every soul-bearer ... must gain the inevitable place.  The genitives in this case are partitive.—­If ‘he’ be subj., the genitives are dependent on ‘gearwe’ (= prepared).—­The ‘he’ itself is disputed, some referring it to Grendel; but B. takes it as involved in the parenthesis.

XVII.