Important Quotations Explained
1. So.
The Spear-Danes in days gone by
and the kings
who ruled them had courage and greatness.
.
. .
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of
many tribes,
a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging
among foes.
. . .
A
foundling to start with, he would flourish later on
.
. .
In the end each clan on the outlying coasts
beyond
the whale-road had to yield to him
and begin
to pay tribute. That was one good king.
(
1–11)
2. And
a young prince must be prudent like that,
giving
freely while his father lives
so that afterwards
in age when fighting starts
steadfast companions
will stand by him
and hold the line. Behaviour
that's admired
is the path to power among
people everywhere.
(
20–25)
3. Wise
sir, do not grieve. It is always better
to
avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning.
For
every one of us, living in this world
means
waiting for our end. Let whoever can
win glory
before death. When a warrior is gone,
that
will be his best and only bulwark.
(
1384–1389)
4.
Beowulf got ready,
donned his war-gear,
indifferent to death;
his mighty, hand-forged,
fine-webbed mail
would soon meet with the
menace underwater.
It would keep the bone-cage
of his body safe:
. . .
[His
helmet] was of beaten gold,
princely headgear
hooped and hasped
by a weapon-smith who had
worked wonders. . . .
(
1442–1452)
5. O
flower of warriors, beware of that trap.
eternal
rewards. Do not give way to pride.
For a brief
while your strength is in bloom
but it fades
quickly; and soon there will follow
illness
or the sword to lay you low,
or a sudden fire
or surge of water
or jabbing blade or javelin
from the air
or repellent age. Your piercing
eye
will dim and darken; and death will arrive,
dear
warrior, to sweep you away.
(
1758–1768)
