Beowulf by Heyn-Socin - HTML preview

PLEASE NOTE: This is an HTML preview only and some elements such as links or page numbers may be incorrect.
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES.

B. = Bugge. C. = Cosijn. Gr. = Grein. Grdvtg. = Grundtvig. H. =

Heyne. H. and S. = Harrison and Sharp. H.-So. = Heyne-Socin. K.=

Kemble. Kl. = Kluge. M.= Müllenhoff. R. = Rieger. S. = Sievers. Sw. =

Sweet. t.B. = ten Brink. Th. = Thorpe. W. = Wülcker.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TRANSLATIONS.

Arnold, Thomas. —Beowulf. A heroic poem of the eighth century.

London, 1876. With English translation. Prose.

Botkine, L. —Beowulf. Epopée Anglo-Saxonne. Havre, 1877. First

French translation. Passages occasionally omitted.

Conybeare, J.J. —Illustrations of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. London,

1826. Full Latin translation, and some passages translated into

English blank-verse.

Ettmuller, L. —Beowulf, stabreimend übersetzt. Zürich, 1840.

Garnett, J.M. —Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon Poem, and the Fight at

Finnsburg. Boston, 1882. An accurate line-for-line translation, using

alliteration occasionally, and sometimes assuming a metrical

cadence.

Grein, C.W.M. —Dichtungen der Angelsachsen, stabreimend

übersetzt. 2 Bde. Göttingen, 1857-59.

Grion, Giusto. —Beovulf, poema epico anglo-sassone del VII.

secolo, tradotto e illustrato. Lucca, 1883. First Italian translation.

Grundtvig, N.F.S. —Bjowulfs Drape. Copenhagen, 1820.

Heyne, M. —A translation in iambic measures. Paderborn, 1863.

Kemble, J.M. —The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the

Traveller’s Song, and the Battle of Finnsburg. London, 1833. The

second edition contains a prose translation of Beowulf.

Leo, H. —Ueber Beowulf. Halle, 1839. Translations of extracts.

[xii]

Lumsden, H.W. —Beowulf, translated into modern rhymes.

London, 1881. Ballad measures. Passages occasionally omitted.

Sandras, G.S. —De carminibus Cædmoni adjudicatis. Paris,

1859. An extract from Beowulf, with Latin translation.

Schaldmose, F. —Beowulf og Scopes Widsith, to Angelsaxiske

Digte. Copenhagen, 1847.

Simrock, K. —Beowulf. Uebersetzt und erläutert. Stuttgart und

Augsburg, 1859. Alliterative measures.

Thorkelin, G.J. —De Danorum rebus gestis secul. III. et IV.

poema Danicum dialecto Anglosaxonica. Havniæ, 1815. Latin

translation.

Thorpe, B. —The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, the Scôp or

Gleeman’s Tale, and the Fight at Finnsburg. Oxford, 1855. English

translation in short lines, generally containing two stresses.

Wackerbarth, A.D. —Beowulf, translated into English verse.

London, 1849.

Wickberg, R. —Beowulf, en fornengelsk hjeltedikt, öfersatt.

Westervik. First Swedish translation.

von Wolzogen, H. —Beowulf, in alliterative measures. Leipzig.

Zinsser, G. —Der Kampf Beowulfs mit Grendel. Jahresbericht of

the Realschule at Forbach, 1881.

[xiii]

GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES.

[The figures refer to the divisions of the poem in which the respective

names occur. The large figures refer to fitts, the small, to lines

in the fitts.]

Ælfhere.—A kinsman of Wiglaf. —36 3.

Æschere.—Confidential friend of King Hrothgar. Elder brother of

Yrmenlaf. Killed by Grendel. —21 3; 30 89.

Beanstan.—Father of Breca. —9 26.

Beowulf.—Son of Scyld, the founder of the dynasty of Scyldings.

Father of Healfdene, and grandfather of Hrothgar. —1 18; 2 1.

Beowulf.—The hero of the poem. Sprung from the stock of Geats,

son of Ecgtheow. Brought up by his maternal grandfather

Hrethel, and figuring in manhood as a devoted liegeman of his

uncle Higelac. A hero from his youth. Has the strength of thirty

men. Engages in a swimming-match with Breca. Goes to the

help of Hrothgar against the monster Grendel. Vanquishes

Grendel and his mother. Afterwards becomes king of the

Geats. Late in life attempts to kill a fire-spewing dragon, and is

slain. Is buried with great honors. His memorial mound. —6 26;

7 2; 7 9; 9 3; 9 8; 12 28; 12 43; 23 1, etc.

Breca.—Beowulf’s opponent in the famous swimming-match. —9 8;

9 19; 9 21; 9 22.

Brondings.—A people ruled by Breca. —9 23.

Brosinga mene.—A famous collar once owned by the Brosings.—

19 7.

Cain.—Progenitor of Grendel and other monsters. —2 56; 20 11.

Dæghrefn.—A warrior of the Hugs, killed by Beowulf. —35 40.

Danes.—Subjects of Scyld and his descendants, and hence often

called Scyldings. Other names for them are Victory-Scyldings,

Honor-Scyldings, Armor-Danes, Bright-Danes, East-Danes,

West-Danes,

North-Danes,

South-Danes,

Ingwins,

Hrethmen. —1 1; 2 1; 3 2; 5 14; 7 1, etc.

Ecglaf.—Father of Unferth, who taunts Beowulf. —9 1.

Ecgtheow.—Father of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. A widely-

known Wægmunding warrior. Marries Hrethel’s daughter. After

slaying Heatholaf, a Wylfing, he flees his country. —7 3; 5 6;

8 4.

Ecgwela.—A king of the Danes before Scyld. —25 60.

[xiv]

Elan.—Sister of Hrothgar, and probably wife of Ongentheow, king of

the Swedes. —2 10.

Eagle Cape.—A promontory in Geat-land, under which took place

Beowulf’s last encounter. —41 87.

Eadgils.—Son of Ohthere and brother of Eanmund. —34 2.

Eanmund.—Son of Ohthere and brother of Eadgils. The reference to

these brothers is vague, and variously understood. Heyne

supposes as follows: Raising a revolt against their father, they

are obliged to leave Sweden. They go to the land of the Geats;

with what intention, is not known, but probably to conquer and

plunder. The Geatish king, Heardred, is slain by one of the

brothers, probably Eanmund. —36 10; 31 54 to 31 60; 33 66 to

34 6.

Eofor.—A Geatish hero who slays Ongentheow in war, and is

rewarded by Hygelac with the hand of his only daughter.—

41 18; 41 48.

Eormenric.—A Gothic king, from whom Hama took away the famous

Brosinga mene. —19 9.

Eomær.—Son of Offa and Thrytho, king and queen of the Angles.—

28 69.

Finn.—King of the North-Frisians and the Jutes. Marries Hildeburg.

At his court takes place the horrible slaughter in which the

Danish general, Hnæf, fell. Later on, Finn himself is slain by

Danish warriors. —17 18; 17 30; 17 44; 18 4; 18 23.

Fin-land.—The country to which Beowulf was driven by the currents

in his swimming-match. —10 22.

Fitela.—Son and nephew of King Sigemund, whose praises are sung

in XIV. —14 42; 14 53.

Folcwalda.—Father of Finn. —17 38.

Franks.—Introduced occasionally in referring to the death of

Higelac. —19 19; 40 21; 40 24.

Frisians.—A part of them are ruled by Finn. Some of them were

engaged in the struggle in which Higelac was slain. —17 20;

17 42; 17 52; 40 21.

Freaware.—Daughter of King Hrothgar. Married to Ingeld, a

Heathobard prince. —29 60; 30 32.

Froda.—King of the Heathobards, and father of Ingeld. —29 62.

Garmund.—Father of Offa. —28 71.

Geats, Geatmen.—The race to which the hero of the poem belongs.

Also called Weder-Geats, or Weders, War-Geats, Sea-Geats.

They are ruled by Hrethel, Hæthcyn, Higelac, and Beowulf.—

4 7; 7 4; 10 45; 11 8; 27 14; 28 8.

Gepids.—Named in connection with the Danes and Swedes. —35 34.

Grendel.—A monster of the race of Cain. Dwells in the fens and

moors. Is furiously envious when he hears sounds of joy in

Hrothgar’s palace. Causes the king untold agony for years. Is

finally conquered by Beowulf, and dies of his wound. His hand

and arm are hung up in Hrothgar’s hall Heorot. His head is cut

off by Beowulf when he goes down to fight with Grendel’s

mother. —2 50; 3 1; 3 13; 8 19; 11 17; 12 2; 13 27; 15 3.

Guthlaf.—A Dane of Hnæf’s party. —18 24.

Half-Danes.—Branch of the Danes to which Hnæf belonged. —17 19.

[xv]

Halga.—Surnamed the Good. Younger brother of Hrothgar. —2 9.

Hama.—Takes the Brosinga mene from Eormenric. —19 7.

Hæreth.—Father of Higelac’s queen, Hygd. —28 39; 29 18.

Hæthcyn.—Son of Hrethel and brother of Higelac. Kills his brother

Herebeald accidentally. Is slain at Ravenswood, fighting

against Ongentheow. —34 43; 35 23; 40 32.

Helmings.—The race to which Queen Wealhtheow belonged.—

10 63.

Heming.—A kinsman of Garmund, perhaps nephew. —28 54; 28 70.

Hengest.—A Danish leader. Takes command on the fall of Hnæf.—

17 33; 17 41.

Herebeald.—Eldest son of Hrethel, the Geatish king, and brother of

Higelac. Killed by his younger brother Hæthcyn. —34 43; 34 47.

Heremod.—A Danish king of a dynasty before the Scylding line. Was

a source of great sorrow to his people. —14 64; 25 59.

Hereric.—Referred to as uncle of Heardred, but otherwise

unknown. —31 60.

Hetwars.—Another name for the Franks. —33 51.

Healfdene.—Grandson of Scyld and father of Hrothgar. Ruled the

Danes long and well. —2 5; 4 1; 8 14.

Heardred.—Son of Higelac and Hygd, king and queen of the Geats.

Succeeds his father, with Beowulf as regent. Is slain by the

sons of Ohthere. —31 56; 33 63; 33 75.

Heathobards.—Race of Lombards, of which Froda is king. After

Froda falls in battle with the Danes, Ingeld, his son, marries

Hrothgar’s daughter, Freaware, in order to heal the feud.—

30 1; 30 6.

Heatholaf.—A Wylfing warrior slain by Beowulf’s father. —8 5.

Heathoremes.—The people on whose shores Breca is cast by the

waves during his contest with Beowulf. —9 21.

Heorogar.—Elder brother of Hrothgar, and surnamed ‘Weoroda

Ræswa,’ Prince of the Troopers. —2 9; 8 12.

Hereward.—Son of the above. —31 17.

Heort, Heorot.—The great mead-hall which King Hrothgar builds. It

is invaded by Grendel for twelve years. Finally cleansed by

Beowulf, the Geat. It is called Heort on account of the hart-

antlers which decorate it. —2 25; 3 32; 3 52.

Hildeburg.—Wife of Finn, daughter of Hoce, and related to Hnæf,—

probably his sister. —17 21; 18 34.

Hnæf.—Leader of a branch of the Danes called Half-Danes. Killed in

the struggle at Finn’s castle. —17 19; 17 61.

Hondscio.—One of Beowulf’s companions. Killed by Grendel just

before Beowulf grappled with that monster. —30 43.

Hoce.—Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnæf. —17 26.

Hrethel.—King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and grandfather of

Beowulf. —7 4; 34 39.

Hrethla.—Once used for Hrethel. —7 82.

Hrethmen.—Another name for the Danes. —7 73.

Hrethric.—Son of Hrothgar. —18 65; 27 19.

[xvi]

Hreosna-beorh.—A promontory in Geat-land, near which Ohthere’s

sons made plundering raids. —35 18.

Hrothgar.—The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but was long

unable to enjoy it on account of Grendel’s persecutions.

Marries Wealhtheow, a Helming lady. Has two sons and a

daughter. Is a typical Teutonic king, lavish of gifts. A devoted

liegelord, as his lamentations over slain liegemen prove. Also

very appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his loving

gratitude to Beowulf. —2 9; 2 12; 4 1; 8 10; 15 1; etc., etc.

Hrothmund.—Son of Hrothgar. —18 65.

Hrothulf.—Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of Hrothgar.

Certainly on terms of close intimacy in Hrothgar’s palace.—

16 26; 18 57.

Hrunting.—Unferth’s sword, lent to Beowulf.