To him the stateliest spake in answer;the warriors' leader his word-hoard unlocked: --"We are by kin of the clan of Geats,and Hygelac's own hearth-fellows we.To folk afar was my father known,noble atheling, Ecgtheow named.Full of winters, he fared awayaged from earth; he is honored stillthrough width of the world by wise men all.To thy lord and liege in loyal moodwe hasten hither, to Healfdene's son,people-protector: be pleased to advise us!To that mighty-one come we on mickle errand,to the lord of the Danes; nor deem I rightthat aught be hidden. We hear -- thou knowestif sooth it is -- the saying of men,that amid the Scyldings a scathing monster,dark ill-doer, in dusky nightsshows terrific his rage unmatched,hatred and murder. To Hrothgar Iin greatness of soul would succor bring,so the Wise-and-Brave[1] may worst his foes, --if ever the end of ills is fated,of cruel contest, if cure shall follow,and the boiling care-waves cooler grow;else ever afterward anguish-dayshe shall suffer in sorrow while stands in placehigh on its hill that house unpeered!"Astride his steed, the strand-ward answered,clansman unquailing: "The keen-souled thanemust be skilled to sever and sunder dulywords and works, if he well intends.I gather, this band is graciously bentto the Scyldings' master. March, then, bearingweapons and weeds the way I show you.I will bid my men your boat meanwhileto guard for fear lest foemen come, --your new-tarred ship by shore of oceanfaithfully watching till once againit waft o'er the waters those well-loved thanes,-- winding-neck'd wood, -- to Weders' bounds,heroes such as the hest of fateshall succor and save from the shock of war."They bent them to march, -- the boat lay still,fettered by cable and fast at anchor,broad-bosomed ship. -- Then shone the boars[2]over the cheek-guard; chased with gold,keen and gleaming, guard it kepto'er the man of war, as marched alongheroes in haste, till the hall they saw,broad of gable and bright with gold:that was the fairest, 'mid folk of earth,of houses 'neath heaven, where Hrothgar lived,and the gleam of it lightened o'er lands afar.The sturdy shieldsman showed that brightburg-of-the-boldest; bade them gostraightway thither; his steed then turned,hardy hero, and hailed them thus: --"Tis time that I fare from you. Father Almightyin grace and mercy guard you well,safe in your seekings. Seaward I go,'gainst hostile warriors hold my watch."[1] Hrothgar. [2] Beowulf's helmet has several boar-images on it;he is the "man of war"; and the boar-helmet guards him as typicalrepresentative of the marching party as a whole. The boar wassacred to Freyr, who was the favorite god of the Germanic tribesabout the North Sea and the Baltic. Rude representations ofwarriors show the boar on the helmet quite as large as the helmetitself.