Page:Tale of Beowulf - 1898.djvu/35

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THE TALE OF BEOWULF
19

VI. BEOWULF AND THE GEATS COME INTO HART.

STONE-DIVERSE the street was, straight uplong the path led320
The warriors together. There shone the war-byrny
The hard and the hand-lock'd; the ring-iron sheer
Sang over their war-gear, when they to the hall first
In their gear the all-fearful had gat them to ganging.
So then the sea-weary their wide shields set down,
Their war-rounds the mighty, against the hall's wall.
Then bow'd they to bench, and rang there the byrnies,
The war-weed of warriors, and up-stood the spears,
The war-gear of the sea-folk all gathered together,
The ash-holt grey-headed; that host of the iron330
With weapons was worshipful. There then a proud chief
Of those lads of the battle speer'd after their line:
Whence ferry ye then the shields golden-faced,
The grey sarks therewith, and the helms all bevisor'd,