The Flaming Sword.

I.

One day the pensive Biowulf set fort
And wandered through the forest all alone.
So long he stay’d that question soon arose
Why he should tarry in his woodland stroll.
One said some hungry beast had eaten him,
Whereon the others vowed no beast that lived
Could overcome the strength of Beowull.
But none could tell what kept the Prince away.

II.

Now when his vexéd friends had anxious grown
Lest accident had robbed the youth ol life,
He homeward came, dejected and forlorn,
With halting step, all joy of visage gone,

A deep and troubled look upon his face.
Avoiding all the greetings of the court,
And even Freaware’s inquiring gaze,
He passed in silence to his solitude.

III.

That night he late came to the monarch’s feast:
A world of sorrow hung upon his brow.
The mead-cup passed his lips untouched. The mirth
Of jesting friend, the sway of minstrel song.
No longer moved the melancholy youth.
His sad behavior threw them all in gloom;
The banquet paused, the merriment was gone.
And Hrothgar asked the meaning of his mood.
The Prince grew pale and stammered an excuse.
Which only pricked their curiosity;
And when repeated questions failed to bring
A reason for his woe, the King was wroth.
And bade the youth to speak, yea, and at once.

IV.

Quick Beowulf arose, and cast his eye
On every guest, and then on Freaware.
He tried to speak, but failed; then tried again,
And with a voice suppressed and full of awe,
He told the King it was revealed to him
That all their gods were only vicious gods,
And helpless to uplift the souls of men.

V.

Deep gloomed King Hrothgar’s brow, and at the word
Each knightly hand made quick to grasp its sword
Prepared to punish sacrilegious speech
Should the brave war-lord now condemn the youth.
The Queen with apprehension viewed the scene,
While Freaware looked on in sad amaze.

VI.

Oh, thou, who came from out the boundless deep —
Thus spake the King — in tender babyhood
Unto our shores. In thy extremity
We gave thee care and nourished thy sweet years
In deep solicitude until this day.
All this thou has requited us again
By thy good conduct, modesty, and love.
Our people look upon you as our Prince,
While we, ourself, have thought thee, Beowulf,
As dear to us as if thou wcrt our son.
— King Hrothgarshot a glance at Freaware. —
But now, with impious and profane tongue,
Thou hast impeached the honor of our gods,
And put our souls in jeopard by thy vaunt.
I do abjure thee, e’er my vengeance fall,
The vengeance of a deep insulted King, —
Recant, — thou foolish, froward, hapless boy I

VII.

The table breathed again. They felt assured
The King’s rebuke would make the Prince repent.

VIII.

But Beowulf stood fast in stern resolve.
O, King, he cried, to thee I do owe much; —
My education and a happy life.
And favor that hath raised me to a Prince.
I love this land and for it I would die.
But when I went alone into the wood.
My soul did meet the Spirit of the Truth,
Astride a horse winged for celestial paths.
In light more dazzling than the noonday sun.
He held across my way a flaming sword.
And while I looked upon the wondrous sight
Amazed, I feared it not, but did confide
That such a being would not do me hurt.
And while I stood in meek and reverent faith,
The Spirit told me there did dwell in Heaven
One God who ruled the nations of the earth, —
A God of love and pity, and but one.
He told me that the gods whom we revere
Are false and bloody idols of deceit.
He bade me come and tell thee this to-night.
Lest that the errors which overcast our faith
Do bring a dire affliction on this land.
When he full revelation of his truth
Had poured into my eager, constant heart,
He sped his steed into the far-off sky.
And soon was lost in Heaven’s deepest blue.

IX.

Oh, Beowulf, our son, — thus spake the King;
A fearful dream is this that fills thy mind;
Or else an evil spirit haunts thy steps
Who with his damned arts of sorcery
Gives falsehood to thine eye the look of truth.
Avert, we do implore thee, Beowulf,
The quick approach of thy self-courted doom;
For if thou dost pursue thine error now,
And challenge still the virtue of our gods.
This very night we’ll judge thee for thy fault.

X.

The Prince with resolution held his ground,
But turned his fleeting glance on Freaware.

XI.

O, King, he said; the truth can never lie,
Nor can a falsehood in the garb of truth
Deceive the yearning of a human soul.
What I have said is truth; I know ‘t is truth, —
The truth of God, eternal and supreme !

XII.

King Hrothgar struck his fist upon the board.
And he and all his earls stood on their feet.
Their swords unsheathed, and wrathful eyed the youth;
While Wealtheow the Queen, and Freaware,
Sat trembling for the daring Prince’s life.

XIII.

Thou impious youth! — The rageful King thus spoke.
Thou art an ingrate and a moping fool!
But that thy life came to us from the sea,
Thy birth a mystery beyond resolve.
We would condemn thee to an instant death.
But thou hast forfeited our deep respect
And cast away the anchors of our love.
We therefore banish thee our kingdom’s bounds;
We bid thee quit our realm this very night,
For if the broad dominion of our rule
Shall hold thy person by to-morrow’s dawn,
We swear thy life shall meet a bloody end.

003. Beowulf Banished

XIV.

The young man heard, — with flashing eye he heard,
Then drooped his lids and hushed his hidden grief;
And when a moment had restored his strength,
He slowly strode beyond the furied earls;
But when he’d reached the table’s end, quick turned,
And through the sorrow beaming in his eye
He pierced the aching heart of Freaware,
And wished that all his yesterdays were back.
But saying. It is truth I — the boy was gone.

XV.

Fierce silence sat upon the warrior band;
There was no further appetite for feast.
So all dispersed and sought relief in sleep.
But Freaware the Princess found no sleep.