Beowulf

Chris McCully

• Publisher: Carcanet Classics
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781784106225
• eBook ISBN: 9781784106232
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Ancient Poetry
• Index: Literature

Any translation is a reading. Chris McCully reads Beowulf as an epic written in English using all the complex metrical conventions of its time, as well as distinctive epic tropes including sea-crossings, oracular pronouncements, and encounters with the monstrous. This version renders the original in readable contemporary English, but also keeps as close as it can to the older, alliterative metrical system, so that readers may experience something of the textures and formal properties of the original. An "Afterword"explains the translator's formal choices and explores the nature of this epic, with its emphasis on tribe, location and mortality.
"McCully captures the special magic and power of the Beowulf poet's word-pile and life-thoughts."—Martin Duffell, Fellow of Queen Mary, University of London

BEOWULF

Hear from yesterday, from the yore-days,

of the Spear-Danes – how sped by courage,

how doomed in blood their best of men.

It was Scyld Scefing, their sure founder,

5 the Eruli’s terror, who overturned benches,

was rampant in the halls of surrounding clans.

First a foundling, far from his beginnings,

honour helped him flourish; he was himself honoured

under the teeming heavens. Even tribes distant

10 across dark whale-roads owed duties to him.

He was good, that king – and good was his heir,

yare in winters, yielded by God-grace

as gift, comfort. God saw their unease,

that of old they’d lived too long lordless,

15 so the Life-Shaper, the Light of Honour,

sent them comfort, success in this world:

far-flung or near in the northlands, Beow,

Scyld’s after-comer, shone by reputation.

Always it’s fitting that a fine young man

20 secure loyalty for his later years

by lavish gift-giving while he lives at home,

still under his father’s first sheltering,

so that whatever maulings come, his men will be bound

in memory of promise: all parties thrive

25 by unforced gold-gifts, free-handed givers.

Scyld passed away in his powers, travelled

at last into the Lord’s release and care.

They bore him at the end to brink of the tide,

his chosen men, as their chief had asked

30 when he wielded words like weapons; carried him

and his reputation to the tide’s slow brim.

At the hythe the prow, hung with winter,

was ready, ring-carved: right ship for chiefs.

And there they laid their last, first leader,

35 their ring-giver, in the roomy hold.

He lay in state. Stripped from outlying

tribes, there were trinkets – turned, ornamented:

fine-wrought war-things, friends for his journey.

I’ve never heard of keel more keenly or better

40 charged with war-gear, chainmail, battle-bills.

This massed plunder was piled into the ship

and lay on his breast: treasures for the tide-reaches.

They did no less in their due offerings

than was once done in those winters past,

45 when he was cast – a child – into the clutch of waves

alone, girt round with a people’s gifts.

Then they raised aloft a royal standard –

it flew high over his head – and let the sea have him,

gave him to the tide-sway sadly, grieving

50 and mourning their loss. Men cannot tell

with truth, whether they’re king or clansman, what shore

or foreland received that royal freight.

Then Beow became lord of the best-known tribe

of Scyldings, was in turn shaped to prosper,

55 for wealth, and flourished after his famed parent

had left this life. He also left a son,

the beloved Healfdan, who led Scyldings

for years in battle and was beyond praising.

Four fine children he fathered all told,

60 each of them a leader. Eldest was Heorogar;

blessed Halga and Hrothgar were his brothers.

And I heard also… of a daughter,

who was Onela’s bride and bed-fellow.

Hrothgar prospered, was given power in war,

65 his warriors’ honour. All his retainers

readily obeyed him; their ranks comprised

a mighty force. And in his mind he weighed

commanding the making of a meeting-place,

triumphal mead-hall made fair by men,

70 one mightier than any had ever heard mentioned,

and in it, to all – to old and young –

to grant, share, deal what God ordained

beyond what was already owned by right in common.

It was told widely that...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Genealogies
• Proper Names
• Beowulf: a translation
• Afterword
• References
• About the Author
• Copyright