The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf - A Contribution To The History Of Saga Development In England And The - Scandinavian Countries by Oscar Ludvig Olson
page 49 of 167 (29%)
page 49 of 167 (29%)
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The hilt was remarkable for other qualities than that it was of gold. "HroðgÄr maðelode, hylt scÄawode, ealde lÄfe, on ðǣm wæs År writen fyrn-gewinnes, syðþan flÅd ofslÅh, gifen gÄotende, gÄ«ganta cyn; frÄcne gefÄrdon; þæt wæs fremde þÄod Äcean Dryhtne; him þæs ende-lÄan þurh wæteres wylm Waldend sealde. SwÄ wæs on ðǣm scennum scÄ«ran goldes þurh rÅ«n-stafas rihte gemearcod, geseted ond gesæd, hwÄm þæt sweord geworht, Ä«rena cyst, Ç£rest wÇ£re, wreoþen-hilt ond wyrm-fÄh."[94] "Hylt"[95] cannot mean the whole sword, since Hrothgar could look at only what was left of the sword. That was the "gylden hilt," which he held in his hand; and the expression "hylt scÄawode" leaves no doubt that "gylden hilt" is not a designation of the whole sword. "Wreoþen-hilt"[96] also obviously refers only to the hilt. In no instance, therefore, in this connection, does the author of _Beowulf_ use "hilt" to designate the whole sword; consequently, to write "gylden hilt" as one word and capitalize it is both arbitrary and illogical. There is, in fact, nothing in the poem to indicate that the sword had a name. Furthermore, the author refers to other swords that were distinguished by being ornamented with gold. When Beowulf left the land of the Danes, |
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