. Siegfried, the hero of the North, and Beowulf, the hero of the Anglo-Saxons . if so hedeign to admit us to his presence. The officer, Wulfgar by name, hastenedforthwith to where Hrothgar sat, old andhoary, and bent with grief, amid his de-spondent warriors, and not only told ofthe valiant guests from the land of theGoths and their petition, but advised himto give them a friendly reception. In thedeep distress of these sorry times, itseemed as though any change must be forthe better, and every stranger must bringhope. The sad old King brightened at mentionof Beowulfs name, whose father he had
. Siegfried, the hero of the North, and Beowulf, the hero of the Anglo-Saxons . if so hedeign to admit us to his presence. The officer, Wulfgar by name, hastenedforthwith to where Hrothgar sat, old andhoary, and bent with grief, amid his de-spondent warriors, and not only told ofthe valiant guests from the land of theGoths and their petition, but advised himto give them a friendly reception. In thedeep distress of these sorry times, itseemed as though any change must be forthe better, and every stranger must bringhope. The sad old King brightened at mentionof Beowulfs name, whose father he hadknown in the dear departed days of golden The Arrival 233 youth, and whose own renown he pleasur-ably recalled. This son, he said, I mind him knew him when he was a page. He hasgrown into a valiant campaigner. It issaid that he has thirty mens strength inhis handgrip. Surely God of His gracehath sent him to us in our great him and his men, one and all, into mypresence straight, with every martial hon-our. Say to them, moreover, in words,that they are VI THE RECEPTION AND THE PLEDGE WULFGAR, nothing loth, took theroyal message to the waitingguests and ushered them into the royalpresence in full warlike equipment, helmon head, sword on hip. Beowulf, tall andcommanding, his corslet of cunningly link-ed mail shining as a network of lights,took his stand before the King, and, withfirm eye and becoming assurance, spokethus at length of what was nearest to hisand the Danes hearts : To Hrothgar hail! I am King Hyge-lacs cousin-thane. Many a deed of daringwas mine in youngsterhood. All that yesuffer here from Grendel became knownto us in Gothland. Seafaring men told ushow that this hall, this most princely fabric, .234 The Reception and the Pledge 235 stands useless and empty each night, assoon as the star of day is hidden fromview. Then did my people, the wisestand best among them, urge me that Ishould visit thee, O royal Hrothgar. Be-cause they knew the stren
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