Beówulf | Page 4

translation could not be
trusted with entire certainty, the editors have added other translations of phrases and
sentences or of special words; and in this they have been aided by a careful study of the
text and a comparison and utilization of the views of Kemble and Professor J.M. Garnett
(who takes Grein for his foundation). Many new references have been added; and the
various passages in which Heyne fails to indicate whether a given verb is weak or strong,
or fails to point out the number, etc., of the illustrative form, have been corrected and
made to harmonize with the general plan of the work. Numerous misprints in the glossary
have also been corrected, and a brief glossary to the Finnsburh-fragment, prepared by Dr.
Wm. Hand Browne, and supplemented and adapted by the editor-in-chief, has been
added.
The editors think that they may without immodesty put forth for themselves something
more than the claim of being re-translators of a translation: the present edition is, so far as
they were able to make it so, an adaptation, correction, and extension of the work of the

great German scholar to whose loving appreciation of the Anglo-Saxon epic all students
of Old English owe a debt of gratitude. While following his usually sure and cautious
guidance, and in the main appropriating his results, they have thought it best to deviate
from him in the manner above indicated, whenever it seemed that he was wrong. The
careful reader will notice at once the marks of interrogation which point out these
deviations, or which introduce a point of view illustrative of, or supplementary to, the one
given by the German editor. No doubt the editors are wrong themselves in many

places,--"Beówulf" is a most difficult poem,--but their view may at least be defended by a
reference to the original text, which they have faithfully and constantly consulted.
A good many cognate Modern English words have been introduced here and there in the
Glossary with a view to illustration, and other addenda will be found between brackets
and parenthetical marks.
It is hoped that the present edition of the most famous of Old English poems will do
something to promote a valuable and interesting study.
JAMES A. HARRISON,
Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.
ROBERT SHARP,
University of Louisiana, New Orleans.
April, 1883.
The responsibility of the editors is as follows: H. is responsible for the Text, and for the
Glossary from hrînan on; S. for the List of Names, and for the Glossary as far as hrînan.
ARGUMENT.
The only national [Anglo-Saxon] epic which has been preserved entire is Beówulf. Its
argument is briefly as follows:--The poem opens with a few verses in praise of the
Danish Kings, especially Scild, the son of Sceaf. His death is related, and his descendants
briefly traced down to Hroðgar. Hroðgar, elated with his prosperity and success in war,
builds a magnificent hall, which he calls Heorot. In this hall Hroðgar and his retainers
live in joy and festivity, until a malignant fiend, called Grendel, jealous of their happiness,
carries off by night thirty of Hroðgar's men, and devours them in his moorland retreat.
These ravages go on for twelve years. Beówulf, a thane of Hygelac, King of the Goths,
hearing of Hroðgar's calamities, sails from Sweden with fourteen warriors--to help him.
They reach the Danish coast in safety; and, after an animated parley with Hroðgar's
coastguard, who at first takes them for pirates, they are allowed to proceed to the royal
hall, where they are well received by Hroðgar. A banquet ensues, during which Beówulf
is taunted by the envious Hunferhð about his swimming-match with Breca, King of the
Brondings. Beówulf gives the true account of the contest, and silences Hunferhð. At
night-fall the King departs, leaving Beówulf in charge of the hall. Grendel soon breaks in,
seizes and devours one of Beówulf's companions; is attacked by Beówulf, and, after
losing an arm, which is torn off by Beówulf, escapes to the fens. The joy of Hroðgar and
the Danes, and their festivities, are described, various episodes are introduced, and
Beówulf and his companions receive splendid gifts. The next night Grendel's mother

revenges her son by carrying off Æschere, the friend and councillor of Hroðgar, during
the absence of Beówulf. Hroðgar appeals to Beówulf for vengeance, and describes the
haunts of Grendel and his mother. They all proceed thither; the scenery of the lake, and
the monsters that dwell in it, are described. Beówulf plunges into the water, and attacks
Grendel's mother in her dwelling at the bottom of the lake. He at length overcomes her,
and cuts off her head, together with that of Grendel, and brings the heads to Hroðgar. He
then takes leave of Hroðgar, sails back to Sweden, and relates his adventures to Hygelac.
Here the first half