When Beowulf has defeated Grendel,and we have also defeated our monsters,there is another gathering of celebration. Celebrating victory and exchanging rewards is part of integral Teutonic culture. The good news of Beowulf's victory is met with a gathering of nobles. "Many clan chiefs gathered round the gift-hall. (pg. 57) "ymb tha gif-healle" (pg.56).
These gathering chieftans are Hrothgar's retainers yet they have high praise for Beowulf's ability as a future leader.
"Nowhere, they said, north or south
between the two seas or under the tall sky
on the broad earth was there anyone better
to raise a shield or to rule a kingdom." (pg.57)
In keeping with my attempt to introduce the magic of the Angle-Seax language I want to give the wording for "rule a kingdom". It is "rice wyrdhn". (pg. 56)
In fact, in the second part of this epic it is told how Beowulf returns to his homeland to rule in prosperity for fifty years. Yet here in Hrothgar's Denmark there is only the good will and alliance of chieftans and loyalty to kings that is based upon merit. This loyalty based rulership is the opposite of central authority that functions with or without merit. The dynamics of well-being are considered in political regional alliances.
Apparently the king's scop is already at work on a poetic song about Beowulf's victory. "Meanwhile a thane of the king's household, a carrier of tales, a traditional singer deeply schooled in the lore of the past, linked a new theme to a strict meter." (pg.60) This 'strict meter' shows that the English scop and the Scandanavian skald followed a similar strict rythmic craft in preserving poetic oral tradition. The scop is still working on the poem about Beowulf when he tells his remembrance of the tale of Sigimunde. The spiritual importance of the Germanic sense of the past, 'that which has become', is analyzed brilliantly in "The Well and the Tree : World and Time in Early Germanic Culture" by Paul C. Bauschatz. As for the significance of the telling of the story of Sigimunde (Sigurd), the treasure, and the dragon, I refer the reader to Professor J.R.R. Tolkein's academic studies of the Beowulf poem.
The bonding quality of the sharing of wealth in the mead hall and the important ethical spiritual dimension attached to prosperity shows in the description of Hrothgar as he tells how he will reward Beowulf. Hrothgar is called, "gaurdian of the ring hoard, goodness in person". (pg.60) The king's speech in praise of the Geat hero and the good fortune that gave victory to him has some fine examples of the way Old English is not so far removed from modern English. It seems like "maeg God wyrcan wunder aefter wundre" means "mighty God works wonder after wonder.". Yet Heaney translates this as "can work his wonders always and everywhere.".
The mighty influence of words, sound, and meter is useful in reviving the ancient worldview and powers that are still with us today. This blog will continue with a look at how The Beowulf epic can illuminate how to re-awaken our Tradition.
