Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu/120

104 that each should look on the other again, and hear him in hall. Was this hero so dear to him, his breast’s wild billows he banned in vain; safe in his soul a secret longing, locked in his mind, for that lovéd man burned in his blood. Then Beowulf strode, glad of his gold-gifts, the grass-plot o’er, warrior blithe. The wave-roamer bode riding at anchor, its owner awaiting. As they hastened onward, Hrothgar’s gift they lauded at length.—’Twas a lord unpeered, every way blameless, till age had broken —it spareth no mortal—his splendid might.

 

Came now to ocean the ever-courageous hardy henchmen, their harness bearing, woven war-sarks. The warden marked, trusty as ever, the earl’s return. From the height of the hill no hostile words reached the guests as he rode to greet them; but “Welcome!” he called to that Weder clan as the sheen-mailed spoilers to ship marched on. Then on the strand, with steeds and treasure and armor their roomy and ring-dight ship was heavily laden: high its mast 