sequent version by Mr. Taylor*, since it is more like modern English than that of Mr. Turner. Yet it is not only brief, and therefore unsatisfactory; but the translator is open to the more serious charge of having utterly failed to comprehend either the thread or the circumstances of the narrative, which, in fact, he has so strangely confounded as to render inexplicable. It is, therefore, worse than useless. Lastly, Mr. Conybeare † has given us an analysis, which, though much less literal, is better than either of the preceding, because, as it occupies six times more space than Mr. Taylor's, it is much the more complete; in reality, it is the only notice of this very curious work at all deserving the name of analysis. Still it has one great defect,- it is not always faithful: sometimes it is rather a paraphrase, or even an imitation, than a translation. Disgusted by the rugged inverted language of his predecessors, Mr. Conybeare evidently resolved to take the opposite extreme, to make his version free, in order that it might be more elegant. Hence, as we are much dissatisfied with the first two, and do not altogether approve of the last, we will attempt a new analysis from the original, to as great an extent as our very confined limits will permit. We may premise that the edition of Thorkelin is so full of blunders that it cannot safely be followed; for which reason we avail ourselves, as much as we can, of the copious extracts given us by Mr. Conybeare.

The poem of Beowulf is in forty-three cantos, preceded by an introduction, in which the praises of a chieftain of the great Skiold family are recorded. In Canto I. we are introduced to his descendant Hrothgar, a king in Denmark at a time when that country was possessed by several reguli, all apparently sprung from some common ancestor. Though at the time the poem opens he was advanced in years, he had been renowned

*Historic Survey of German Poetry, vol. i. p. 78, &c.

+Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry, p. 30, &c.

Authorities, Thorkelin's Beowulf. Turner's Anglo-Saxons. Taylor's Historic Survey. Conybeare's Illustrations.

in his youth and manhood, both for his victories and for the construction of a famous palace, or "mead-hall," in which he entertained his warriors, and distributed his royal gifts. This hall, which was named Hertha, was widely celebrated in those days; there he was eager "to bestow on old and young, on all except the mob and strolling vagabonds, the things which God had given him." The manners of the times are well described in this and other passages; how, as he distributed his gifts, and the mead cup went round, the joyful hall resounded with revelry and the poet's harp. The bard was well versed in ancient lore; he could sing of men from the first origin of time. Sometimes he attempted a loftier strain, and sang how the Almighty had made the shining earth, encompassed by the flowing sea; how the glorious One had set on high the sun and moon to enlighten the inhabitants; how He had adorned all regions with trees and leaves, and fruits and flowers; how He had breathed life into all things. But the royal guests were not to enjoy unmolested the festive hour or the minstrel's song. There was a powerful being, a fell demon, who abode in mists, and fens, and darkness, or raged fearful over the wild wastes of Jutland. This was Grendel, a gigantic magician, descended from Cain; and, therefore, as lying under the curse of Heaven, exiled to the cheerless misty fens of this peninsula. The demon envied the happiness of man, and above all hated the Goths, who had deprived the ancient Jutes of their habitations.* The sounds of joy which reached him in his dark abode raised to fury the storm of hate within him, and he resolved to destroy at midnight the sleeping nobles of Hrothgar. Accordingly, at that hour, when the Danes," after the quaffing of their beer," were reposing in " the lofty mansion," the grim fiend stalked into the spacious apartment, and having with savage joy slain thirty of the ethelings, re

Many antiquarians have strangely confounded the Goths and the Jutes, who, so far from being the same people, were for centuries hereditary enemies.

turned to his mysterious abode. The consternation of the king and court the following morning was of course unspeakable; but how could they reach the supernatural murderer, who had sometimes been seen by mortal eyes flitting over the waste? From the obscure language of Canto II. we may infer that Grendel paid, during twelve winters, frequent visits with the same purpose and the same success to the princely walls of Hrothgar. The king was in despair ; nor was his sorrow much assuaged by the murmurs of his people, who seemed to suspect, not very unreasonably, that he must have been privy to the nocturnal fate of so many victims. Canto III.--The news of this disaster and of Hrothgar's despair reached the ears of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. Who Beowulf was, is not easy to discover. He is called the

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Thegn of Higlac, mighty among the Goths;" and his mother was a princess of Higlac's house; but where the kingdom of Higlac was situated it would be vain to enquire. Beowulf caused a ship to be prepared, with which he might pass over " the path of the swan,” and aid the careworn Hrothgar. The ship was made ready, and he chose fifteen of his bravest warriors to accompany him. Having filled it with the weapons of war as it floated under the protecting cliffs, they embarked, and sought the recesses of the deep, where, driven by the favouring winds, the ship, like a sea-bird, pursued its rapid way. Before the evening of the second day they descried land, its sun-lighted cliff and hills. They soon disembarked, moored their vessel to the shore, clad themselves in their warlike garb, and gave thanks to God for so prosperous a passage. They were descried from his watchtower by the warden of the coast, who wondered what this hostile appearance could mean. He mounted his horse, rode down to the shore, and in a manner somewhat Homeric enquired, "Who are ye who thus in arms have directed your vessel over the watery way to these shores? Know that I am the warden of this coast, lest any hostile ship should insult the country of the Dane." In the midst of his speech

the minister of Hrothgar seems to have suddenly stopt, surprised at the noble appearance of Beowulf. "Never have I seen a chief on land more martial than your leader. Much used to arms is he, as well his fair and noble look bespeaks him!" Before these "wanderers of the sea" proceeded farther in the Danish territory, he besought them to tell him whence they came, and what was their purpose. Canto IV.-Beowulf replied, that they were of Gothic race, the warriors of Higlac; that he was of noble descent, the son of Egtheow, a thane famed for wisdom in his day; that their purpose was peaceful; it was to seek the son of Healfden (Hrothgar), and to defend him and his people against the mysterious enemy of the skiolding, which nightly carried destruction into the halls of the king. After this explanation they were welcomed by the old warden, who allowed them to proceed. Canto V.-The way, we are told, was paved with stone, —a degree of civilisation which seems scarcely reconcilable with the description of the times. They hastened along it, shining in their armour, which clanged as they strode; and on reaching the towers of Hertha, they hung their ample shields against the wall, and sat down. They were accosted by one of Hrothgar's guards, Wulfgar, who seems at first to have doubted whether their purpose was peaceful or hostile; but his suspicions were soon dispelled. This guard, we are incidentally informed, was of Wendla or Vandalic race, and much renowned for his wisdom and valour: he promised to bear the message of the stranger to the king:

"I will acquaint the friendly king of the Danes, the noble Shioldung, the giver of bracelets, the illustrious ruler, with thy voyage and message; and quickly will I bring back to thee such answer as his goodness may vouchsafe."

σε

So Wulfgar entered the hall, where Hrothgar, old and bald," was sitting in the midst of his warriors. Canto VI. Having learned the name and business of his new guest, the king observed that he knew Beowulf

when a child, as the son of the noble Egtheow, who had married a princess of his own house; that fame represented his strength as equal to that of thirty men; that his arrival seemed to be the work of Heaven; that he and his companions should be welcomed with open arms, and that noble should be his reward if he could free the country from the dreaded Grendel. In conformity with his commands, Beowulf and his companions are introduced. The address of this hero, who, in a manner characteristic of an age when, as much depended on a single arm, a single hero might be allowed to boast, is not destitute of dramatic effect.

"King Hrothgar, hail! Of Higlac behold the kinsman and the thegn; nor few nor small are the deeds which I have wrought in my prime. In my own country have I learned the wrong done thee by this Grendel. Mariners say that this noble hall, after the evening sun falls below the sky, has been shorn of certain inmates. So by my followers, brave men and wise, have I been urged to seek thee, Hrothgar, for they sure know my prowess; they have seen me return dyed in blood from conflict with the enemy, when in my grasp five valiant Jutes at once compressed, were hurled beneath the waves. And now am I ready to engage with this malignant Grendel; alone will I assail bim. I have heard, indeed, that on this demon's skin no mortal weapon can inflict a wound; but for this I care not; for without sword or ample shield, I will essay the combat, and hopeful to win the praise of my liege lord Higlac. Trusting to my hands alone will I go against this enemy, and strive for life or death; the fierce with the fierce, and then let Heaven decide whether of the two shall fall. If the weird sisters call me, fail not, king Hrothgar, to bring my bloody corpse, and let each passer-by add, without a tear or sigh, a stone to my funeral barrow, enclosed within the circle. No need is there that thou shouldst long pay my corpse the mournful rites. If Hilda call me, save from my spoils, and send to royal Higlac the precious mail which guards my breast, the noble art of Weland. And now ready am I, befall what may.'

Canto VII.-Hrothgar expresses his gratitude for the seasonable offer, praises the hero and his father, and next proceeds to relate the bloody deeds of Grendel.

** Thorkelin, Beowulf, p. 136. Conybeare, p. 82-86.