[14]

{He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive the visitors courteously.}

O'er the way of the waters are wafted hither,
Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank
45 The battle-champions Beowulf title.
They make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain,
To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar,
Friendly answer refuse not to give them!

{Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf's appearance.}

In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem
50 Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty
Who headed the heroes hitherward coming."

[1] Instead of the punctuation given by H.-So, S. proposed to insert a
comma after 'scír' (322), and to take 'hring-íren' as meaning
'ring-mail' and as parallel with 'gúð-byrne.' The passage would then
read: _The firm and hand-locked war-burnie shone, bright ring-mail,
rang 'mid the armor, etc_.

[2] Gr. and others translate 'unhár' by 'bald'; _old and bald_.




VII.