Hrothgar and Hryllingur, Part XV
Continuing Somhairle na Dagney's retelling of Beowulf.
If you're new to this serialization, here's the link to the introductory post, which now has the complete table of contents. Or you can read the completed (to date) verses here.
…Not that
I brag. But your hand killed
Kinsmen, and brothers-by-blood.
The gods' favour is not won by wit.
You won't feast when life fails.
Truth be told, Deilur,
Your heart and hand tremble when
The foe is fell Hryllingur:
Heorot’s dread horror,
Dealing bloody death.
Could you call yourself
Courageous, this murderous monster’s
Mayhem your bright blade would stay.
Still! My strength I will not spare
In battle with this beast.
Bright daybreak will bring
Merriment and mead; victory
From valour ventured will there be.
Hail Hrothgar! Prepare for peace,
Heorot’s high lord.”
Glad the grey-haired king,
Long lorn, now hearkening to hope.
Loud laughter lifted hearts;
Songs of scáeli’en soared to
Echo in the eaves.
This version of Beowulf becomes a connecting thread between my first series and the one in progress.
Here’s one of its mentions in Empire’s Heir:
Half an hour later, Sorley had finished singing about Hrothgar and heroes and monsters, and I could stand without too much pain.
“That is not a danta for children,” I commented, as Apulo slipped a fresh tunic over my head.
“Not unless nightmares are called for,” Sorley agreed. “It’s interesting; there are other danta about Hrothgar, and others with dragons, but nothing else I know with these monsters of the deep. I wonder what traditions are behind it?”
“When we get home, perhaps you should travel and find out.”
“Not until next summer. I’m not journeying into the wilds of Varsland and beyond in winter.”
and now (in draft form) its first mention in An Unwise Prince:
To Audun, he said, “Have you decided what to do with Elena today?”
“I thought to do what the tutors I assisted did with the new students: judge her knowledge of the texts they study in their first year. I’ll begin with ‘Bjarndyr and the Marsh Monster’.”
“She may not know it at all,” Cenric pointed out. “Her studies will likely have been texts from Sylana, or Casilani writings.”
“Then she should be introduced to it, because the story is taught in the village schools across Esparias and Linrathe. She shouldn’t be at a disadvantage in the autumn.”
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“Could you call yourself courageous, this murderous monster’s mayhem your bright blade would stay.”
Loved these lines. Economical, terse, yet poetic. Works both on its own and its context within your story, I think.
Bjarndyr's fed up with Deilur at this point, dismissing him. I'm just starting to weave the poem - or at least its story - into the new book - in small ways, but it will be more important that I first realized.