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Rh (1126), son of Folcwalda (1089); his queen is Hildeburh. The somewhat obscure Finn episode in “Beowulf” (ll. 1068—1159) is evidently part of a Finn saga, of which only the merest fragment, called the Fight at Finnsburg (see Appendix), is extant. Various attempts have been made to reconstruct the saga from these materials, the chief point wherein they differ being as to the relative places of the “Fight” and the Finn episode in the restored connected story. Bugge, in accordance with his interpretation of ll. 1142—4 (see note), follows Grein in arguing that the night attack described in the “Fight” took place when Hnæf was killed, before the events described in the “Beowulf” episode, i.e. before l. 1068. Möller, on the other hand, contends that the proper place of the “Fight” is between lines 1144 and 1145. His outline of the story is briefly as follows:

Finn, king of the Frisians, had carried off Hildeburh, daughter of Hoc (1076), probably with her consent. Her father Hoc seems to have pursued the fugitives, and to have been slain in the tight which ensued on his overtaking them. After the lapse of some twenty years Hoc’s sons, Hnæf and Hengest, were old enough to undertake the duty of avenging their father’s death. They make an inroad into Finn’s country and a battle takes place in which many warriors, among them Hnæf and a son of Finn (1074, 1079, 1115), are killed. Peace is therefore solemnly concluded, and the slain warriors are burnt (1068—1124).

As the year is too far advanced for Hengest to return home (ll. 1130 ff.), he and those of his men who survive remain for the winter in the Frisian country with Finn. But Hengest’s thoughts dwell constantly on the death of his brother Hnæf, and he would gladly welcome any excuse to break the peace which had been sworn by both parties. His ill concealed desire for revenge is noticed by the Frisians, who anticipate it by themselves taking the initiative and attacking Hengest and his men whilst they are sleeping in the hall. This is the night attack described in the “Fight.” It would seem that after a brave and desperate resistance Hengest himself falls in this fight at the hands of Hunlafing (1143), but two of his retainers, Guthlaf and Oslaf, succeed in cutting their way through their enemies and in escaping to their own land. They return with fresh troops, attack and slay Finn, and carry his queen Hildeburh off with them (1125—1159).