SCYLD
After Beowulf lines 1 – 53
By: Michael A. Arnold

What do we know of the Spear–Danes,-----------in the old days,
when the ruling kings-----------had real strength and glory,
And those hero-prince's-----------heroic and honourable victories.
-----------Often Scyld-Sheafing, -----------was the scourge of armed men
from many nations,-----------and seizer of mead halls.
He was a terror of the troops,-----------even from the time he was first
found a foundling, destitute at sea-----------(a humbling experience for him!)
and aging under an honour-cloud-----------he prospered well.
Soon, the surrounding peoples-----------sharing the sea,
that great whale-road,-----------had to yield to Scyld
and pay him tribute.-----------That was one good king.
-----------Soon a boy-bairn was-----------born to Scyld, and he became
a good young man at court.-----------It was said the good God sent him
as a comfort to the Danes,-----------knowing what they had tholed;
the threats they overcame-----------without thane or lord,
And for so long a time.-----------Then the Lord of Life,
That glorious ruler,-----------gave a child as a gift to the world;
Beow was the boy's name-----------and his fame branched out
as Scyld's son,-----------until it spread across the north.
So it is: a young man-----------must accomplish good deeds
under his father's protection,-----------and give magnificent gifts,
so in old age, his friends-----------will stay standing with him
when war comes.-----------So it is in all nations:
only by praiseworthy deeds-----------does a man prosper.
-----------Scyld was still commanding-----------when his destined time come
and he travelled over-----------into The Lord's protection.
His dearest comrades-----------carried his corpse
to the surging sea currents-----------as he himself had asked,
his word was still law-----------among the Scyld-Danes,
as befitting a loved leader-----------who had ruled for so long.
Down in the harbour was-----------the ice-ringed prow
of a prince-fit vessel,-----------ready for the seas.
They laid down the king-----------they so dearly loved,
their great ring-giver,-----------in the heart of that ship,
famous by the mast;-----------and there was much treasure
from all distant parts-----------brought with him.
Never have I heard-----------a vessel so well stuffed
with beautiful body armour-----------and weapons of battle -
the swords and mail-coats-----------were laid on his chest
with heaps of fine gold,-----------that, with him, must
depart, and drift far-----------into the ocean's flood.
But no lesser gift-----------could they have gave him
(the treasure of a people)-----------than those who,
in the beginning,-----------set him adrift,
swaying over cold waves -----------to be no one's son.
Having a gold standard-----------placed high over his head
his people sent him out,-----------with heaving hearts
and minds full of mourning.-----------No man knows,
no man of the hall-----------nor warrior can tell
who it was, in the end,-----------who found that vessel.

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