THEN hastened those heroes their home to see,friendless, to find the Frisian land,houses and high burg. Hengest stillthrough the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn,holding pact, yet of home he minded,though powerless his ring-decked prow to driveover the waters, now waves rolled fiercelashed by the winds, or winter locked themin icy fetters. Then fared anotheryear to men's dwellings, as yet they do,the sunbright skies, that their season everduly await. Far off winter was driven;fair lay earth's breast; and fain was the rover,the guest, to depart, though more gladly he ponderedon wreaking his vengeance than roaming the deep,and how to hasten the hot encounterwhere sons of the Frisians were sure to be.So he escaped not the common doom,when Hun with "Lafing," the light-of-battle,best of blades, his bosom pierced:its edge was famed with the Frisian earls.On fierce-heart Finn there fell likewise,on himself at home, the horrid sword-death;for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attackhad sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed,mourning their woes. {17a} Finn's wavering spiritbode not in breast. The burg was reddenedwith blood of foemen, and Finn was slain,king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.To their ship the Scylding warriors boreall the chattels the chieftain owned,whatever they found in Finn's domainof gems and jewels. The gentle wifeo'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore,led to her land.The lay was finished,the gleeman's song. Then glad rose the revel;bench-joy brightened. Bearers drawfrom their "wonder-vats" wine. Comes Wealhtheow forth,under gold-crown goes where the good pair sit,uncle and nephew, true each to the other one,kindred in amity. Unferth the spokesmanat the Scylding lord's feet sat: men had faith in his spirit,his keenness of courage, though kinsmen had found himunsure at the sword-play. The Scylding queen spoke:"Quaff of this cup, my king and lord,breaker of rings, and blithe be thou,gold-friend of men; to the Geats here speaksuch words of mildness as man should use.Be glad with thy Geats; of those gifts be mindful,or near or far, which now thou hast.
Men say to me, as son thou wishestyon hero to hold. Thy Heorot purged,jewel-hall brightest, enjoy while thou canst,with many a largess; and leave to thy kinfolk and realm when forth thou goestto greet thy doom. For gracious I deemmy Hrothulf, {17b} willing to hold and rulenobly our youths, if thou yield up first,prince of Scyldings, thy part in the world.I ween with good he will well requiteoffspring of ours, when all he mindsthat for him we did in his helpless daysof gift and grace to gain him honor!"Then she turned to the seat where her sons wereplaced,Hrethric and Hrothmund, with heroes' bairns,young men together: the Geat, too, sat there,Beowulf brave, the brothers between.