Complete works of willia.., p.718
Complete Works of William Morris, page 718
Hetware (135, 165 [2362, 2915]), the Hattuarii of the Historia
Francorum of Gregory of Tours and of the Gesta Regum Francorum, were
the tribe against which Hygelac was raiding when he was defeated and
slain by an army of Frisians, Franks, and Hugs.
Hildeburh (61, 64 [1071, 1114]). See Finn.
Hnæf (61, 64 [1069, 1114]). See Finn.
Hoc (62 [1076]). See Finn.
Hrethel, a former king of the Geats; son of Swerting (70 [1202]), father
of Hygelac and grandfather of Beowulf (22 [374]), to whom he left his
coat of mail (26 [454]). He died of grief at the loss of his eldest son
Herebeald (139-42) [2429-2473], who was accidentally slain by his brother
Hæthcyn.
[Transcriber’s Note:
Page 70 [l. 1202] text reads “Hygelac ... grandson of Swerting.”
Hrethel is not named.]
Hrethlings (167 [2959]), the people of Hrethel, the Geats.
Hrethmen (26 [445]), Triumph-men, the Danes.
Hrethric (69, 106 [1189, 1836]), elder son of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow.
Hrothgar. See the Argument.
Hrothulf (59, 68 [1017, 1181]), probably the son of Hrothgar’s younger
brother Halga (5 [61]). He lives at the Danish court. Wealhtheow hopes
that, if he survives Hrothgar, he will be good to their children in
return for their kindness to him. It would seem that this hope was not
to be fulfilled (“yet of kindred unsunder’d,” 67 [1164]).
Hygd, daughter of Hæreth, wife of Hygelac, the king of the Geats, and
mother of Heardred. She may well be “the wife of aforetime” (177
[3149]).
Hygelac, third son of Hrethel (139 [2433]) and uncle to Beowulf, is the
reigning king of the Geats during the greater part of the action of the
poem. When his brother Hæthcyn was defeated and slain by Ongentheow at
Ravenwood (165 [2923]), Hygelac quickly went in pursuit and put
Ongentheow to flight; but although, as leader of the attack, he is
called “the banesman of Ongentheow” (114 [1986]), the actual slayer was
Eofor (142, 167 [2485, 2963]), whom Hygelac rewarded with the hand of
his only daughter (169 [2996]). Hygelac came by his death between 512
and 520 A.D., in his historical invasion of the Netherlands, which is
referred to in the poem four times (70, 135, 143, 165 [1207, 2356, 2502,
2911]).
ING (147 [2576]). See Ingwines.
Ingeld (119 [2064]). See Freawaru.
Ingwines (60, 77 [1044, 1319]), “friends of Ing,” the Danes. Ing,
according to the Old English Rune-Poem, “was first seen by men amid
the East Danes”; he has been identified with Frea.
MERWING, The (165 [2920]), the Merovingian king of the Franks.
OFFA (113 [1949]). See Thrytho.
Ohthere (136-7, 165 [2379-2393, 2927]), son of the Swedish King
Ongentheow, and father of Eanmund and Eadgils (q.v.).
Onela, “Ongentheow’s bairn” (137 [2386]) and elder brother of Ohthere,
is king of Sweden (“the helm of the Scylfings,” 136 [2380]) at the time
of the rebellion of Eanmund and Eadgils. He invades the land of the
Geats, which has harboured the rebels, slays Heardred, son of Hygelac,
and then retreats before Beowulf. At a later time Beowulf avenges the
death of Heardred by supporting Eadgils, “son of Ohthere” (137 [2393]),
in an invasion of Sweden, in which Onela is slain. See also Eadgils;
and compare the slaying of Ali by Athils on the ice of Lake Wener in the
Icelandic “Heimskringla.”
Ongentheow, father of Onela and Ohthere, was a former king of the
Swedes. The earlier strife between the Swedes and the Geats, in which he
is the chief figure, is fully related by the messenger (164 [2891]) who
brings the tidings of Beowulf’s death. In retaliation for the marauding
invasions of Onela and Ohthere (142 [2474]), Hæthcyn invaded Sweden, and
took Ongentheow’s queen prisoner. Ongentheow in return invaded the land
of her captor, whom he slew, and rescued his wife (165 [2923]); but in
his hour of triumph he was attacked in his turn by Hygelac near
Ravenwood, and fell by the hand of Eofor (168 [2960]).
SCANEY (97 [1686]), Scede-lands (2 [19]), the most southern portion of
the Scandinavian peninsula, belonging to the Danes; used in our poem for
the whole Danish kingdom.
Scyld (1 [4]), son of Sheaf, was the mythical founder of the royal
Danish dynasty of Scyldings.
Scyldings, descendants of Scyld, properly the name of the reigning
Danish dynasty, is commonly extended to include the Danish people (3
[30]).
Scylfing: “the Scylfing” (167 [2967]), “the aged of Scylfings” (142
[2486]), is Ongentheow.
Scylfings (136 [2380]), the name of the reigning Swedish dynasty, was
extended to the Swedish people in the same way as “Scyldings” to the
Danes. Beowulf’s kinsman Wiglaf is called “lord of Scylfings” (149
[2601]), and in another passage the name is apparently applied to the
Geats (170 [3004]); this seems to point to a common ancestry of Swedes
and Geats, or it may be that Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow was a “Scylfing.”
THRYTHO (112 [1931]), wife of the Angle King Offa and mother of Eomær,
is mentioned in contrast to Hygd, just as Heremod is a foil to Beowulf.
She is at first the type of a cruel, unwomanly queen. But by her
marriage with Offa, who seems to be her second husband, she is subdued
and changed until her fame even adds glory to his.
UNFERTH, son of Ecglaf, is the spokesman of Hrothgar, at whose feet he
sits. He is of a jealous disposition, and is twice spoken of as the
murderer of his own brothers (34, 67 [587, 1165]). Taunting Beowulf with
defeat in his swimming-match with Breca, he is silenced by the hero’s
reply, and more effectually still by the issue of the struggle with
Grendel (57 [980]). Afterwards, however, he lends his sword Hrunting for
Beowulf’s encounter with Grendel’s mother (85, 104 [1465, 1808]).
WÆGMUNDINGS (149, 160 [2605, 2803]), the family to which both Beowulf
and Wiglaf belong. Their fathers, Ecgtheow and Weohstan, may have been
sons of Wægmund.
Wedermark (17 [298]), the land of the Weder-Geats, i.e. the Geats.
Weders, Weder-Geats (13, 86, 122 [225, 1492, 2120]), Geats.
Weland (26 [455]), the Völund of the Edda, the famous smith of Teutonic
legend, was the maker of Beowulf’s coat of mail. See the figured casket
in the British Museum; and compare “Wayland Smith’s Cave” near the White
Horse, in Berkshire.
Weohstan was the father of Beowulf’s kinsman and faithful henchman
Wiglaf, and the slayer of Eanmund (149 [2601]).
Wonred, father of “Wulf the Wonreding” (167 [2964]), and of Eofor.
Wulf (167 [2964]). See Eofor.
Wulfgar, “a lord of the Wendels” (20 [348]), is an official of
Hrothgar’s court, where he is the first to greet Beowulf and his Geats,
and introduces them to Hrothgar.
Wythergyld (118 [2051]) is a warrior of the Heathobards.
THE MEANING OF SOME WORDS NOT COMMONLY USED NOW
(Numbers refer to Pages)
[Transcriber’s Note:
In this and the previous section, page numbers in parentheses are
accompanied by a line reference in brackets.]
A-banning, the work was (5) [74], orders for the work were given.
Arede (119) [2056], possess.
Atheling, prince, noble, noble warrior.
Barm, lap, bosom.
Behalsed (5 [63]), embraced by the neck.
Berne, man, warrior, hero.
Bestead (143 [2499]), served.
Beswealed, scorched, burnt.
Beswinked, sweated.
Birlers, cup-bearers.
Board, shield.
Bode, announce.
Bollen, swollen, angry.
Boot (9 [158]), compensation.
Boun (18 [301]), made ready.
Braided (147 [2574]), drew, lifted.
Brim, sea.
Brook, use, enjoy.
Burg, fortified place, stronghold, mount, barrow; protection;
protector; family (163 [2886]).
Byrny, coat of mail.
Devil-dray, nest of devils. Cf. squirrel’s-dray, common in Berks;
used by Cowper.
Dreary, bloody.
Dree, do, accomplish, suffer, enjoy, spend (155 [2725]).
Ealdor, chief, lord.
Eme, uncle.
Eoten, giant, monster, enemy.
Fathom, embrace.
Feeless, not to be atoned for with money.
Ferry, bring, carry.
Fifel, monster.
Flyting, contending, scolding.
Fold, the earth.
Forheed, disregard.
Forwritten, proscribed.
Frist, space of time, delay.
Gar, spear.
Graithly, readily, well.
Halse, neck.
Hand-shoal, band of warriors.
Hery, praise.
Hild-play, battle.
Holm, ocean, sea.
Holm-throng, eddy of the sea.
Holt, wood.
Hote, call.
Howe, mound, burial-mound.
Hythe, ferry, haven.
Kemp, champion, fighter.
Lithe, slope.
Loom, heirloom.
Low (133 [2320]), flame.
Lyke, body.
Moody, brave, proud.
Nicors, sea-monsters.
Nithing (12 [193]), spite, malice.
O’erthinking, overweening, arrogance.
Rail, railings, coat, armour.
Rimed, counted, reckoned.
Sea-lode, sea-voyage.
Sin, malice, hatred, hostility.
Skinked, poured out.
Slot, track.
Staple, threshold.
Stone-bow, arch of stone.
Sty, stride, ascend, descend.
Sweal, burn.
Through-witting, understanding.
Undern, from 9 o’clock till 12 o’clock; “at undren and at middai,”
O.E. Miscellany.
Warths, shores, still in use at Wick St. Lawrence, in Somerset.
Wick, dwelling.
Wick-stead, dwelling-place.
Wise, direct, show.
Wit-lust, curiosity.
Worth, shall be.
Wreak, utter.
Wyte, blame, charge with.
Yare, ready.
Yode, went.
THE ORDINATION OF KNIGHTHOOD
THAT the wise speak is goodly gain,
For thereby do we win amain
Of sense, of good and courtesy:
’Tis good to haunt the company
Of him who of his ways hath heed,
And hath no keep of folly’s deed.
For as in Solomon we find,
The man that is of wisdom’s kind
Doth well in every deed there is;
And if at whiles he doth amiss
In whatso wise, unwittingly,
Swift pardon shall he have thereby.
Whereas he willeth penitence.
BUT now I needs must draw me hence
To rhyming, and to tell in word
A tale that erewhile I have heard,
About a King of Paynemry
A great lord of the days gone by;
He was full loyal Saracen
And of his name hight Saladin.
Cruel he was, and did great scathe
Full many a time unto our faith,
And to our folk did mickle ill
Through pride of heart and evil will.
So on a time it fell out so
That ‘gainst him to the fight did go
A Prince hight Hugh of Tabary,
Therewith was mickle company,
The Knights of Galilee, to hand;
For lord was he of that same land.
That day were great deeds done amain,
But nought was our Creator fain,
He that the lord of glory hight,
That we should vanquish in the fight;
For there was taken the Prince Hugh
And led along the streets and through,
And right before lord Saladin,
Who greeted him in his Latin, “Hugh,
For well he knew it certainly:
“Hugh, of thy taking fain am I
By Mahomet,” so spake the King;
“And here I promise thee one thing,
That it behoveth thee to die
Or with great ransom thee to buy.”
Then answered him the lord Sir Hugh,
“Since choice thou givest me hereto
Unto the ransom do I fall
If so be I have wherewithal.”
“Yea,” said the King, “then payest thou
An hundred thousand besants now.”
“Ah Sir, this thing I may not do
if all my lands I sell thereto.”
“Yet dost thou well.” “Yea Sire & how?”
“Thou art full of hardihood enow
And full of mighty Chivalry,
Thy lords shall nought gainsay it thee,
But with thy ransom deal they should
And give to thee a gift full good,
And in this wise quit should’st thou be.”
“Yet one thing would I ask of thee,
How may I get me hence away?”
Then thereto Saladin did say:
“Hugh, unto me shalt thou make oath
By that thy faith and by thy troth
To come again unto this place
Without fail in a two year’s space,
And then to pay thy ransom clear,
Or come back to the prison here.
Thus wise from henceforth art thou quit.”
“Sir,” quoth he, have thou thank for it
And all my faith I pledge thereto.”
THEN craveth he a leave-to-go
That he may come to his own land.
But the King takes him by the hand
And leads him to his chamber fair
And prayeth him full sweetly there:
“Hugh,” saith he, “by the faith ye owe
Unto the God whose law ye know
Now make me wise: for sore I crave
The right road straight-away to have,
And I have will to learn aright
In what wise one is made a Knight.”
“Fair sir,” he said, “this may not be
And wherefore I will tell to thee:
The holy order of Knighthood
In thee will nowise turn to good;
For evil law thou holdest now,
Nor faith nor Baptism hast thou.
Great fool is he that undertakes
To clothe and cover o’er a jakes
With silken web, and then to think
That never more the same shall stink;
In nowise one may do the feat,
E’en so to me it were unmeet
To lay such order upon thee,
O’er hardy were such deed to me,
For sure blame thereby should I win.”
“Ha Hugh, quoth he, nought lies herein,
This is no evil deed to do,
For in my prison dost thou go
And needs must do the thing I will
Howso to thee it seemeth ill.”
“Sir, since ye drive me to the thing
And nought avails my nay-saying
Then riskless I the work shall earn.”
THEREWITH he fell the King to learn
In all wise what behoved to do
With face and hair and beard thereto,
And did him clothe himself right well
As to a new-made Knight befel,
And in that bath wash lithe and limb.
Then ‘gan the Soudan ask of him
What these same things might signify,
And answered Hugh of Tabarie:
“This bath wherein thy body is
Forsooth it signifyeth this.
For e’en as infants born in sin,
Stainless from out the font do win,
When they to baptism are brought,
E’en so Sir Soudan, now ye ought
To come forth free from felony,
And be fulfilled of courtesy;
In honesty and in good will
And kindness should’st thou bathe thee still
And grow beloved of all on earth.”
“Beginneth this fight well of worth,
By God the great,” spake forth the King.
THEN from that fair bath outgoing
He laid him in a full fair bed
That dearly was apparelled.
“Tell me without fail, Hugh,” he saith,
“What this same bed betokeneth.”
“Sire, betokeneth now the bed
That one by Knighthood should be led
