#freawaru

[sofiluajuk]

Illustrating Beowulf, part I:

The Court of Scyldings

Of the danish warriors in the days of yore

we heard tell, their kings' glory,

how that noble people did brave deeds.

Hrothgar, son of Healfdene, is the king of the Danes from the house of Scyld. The grizzled lord of the golden hall Heorot, the "hart", and generous ring-giver.

Wealhtheow is the queen of the Danes, from the swedish house of Helm. The lore-knowing queen and weaver of peace.

Her daughter, the young gold-adorned princess Freawaru, is promised to marry king Ingeld of the Heathobards to fulfill the promise of peace between the two tribes.

Unferth an envious thane of king Hrothgar, one of his most trustworthy advisors. His mighty sword Hrunting, an old relic, failed to defeat Grendel's Kin and he himself never dared to venture into the monster's lair.

[sofiluajuk]

Bugon þa to bence blædagande

Fylle gefægon fægere geþægon

Medoful manig magas þara

Swiðhicgende on sele þam hean

"Bowed then to the benches, the bearers-of-glory.

Fully rejoiced, they fairly received

many mead cups, the kinsmen there

of strong determination, who sat on the high hall."

(BEOWULF, vv. 1013–6. My translation)

In the joyous feasts in Heorot, the maidens of the scyldingas are seen giving cups of mead to the brave warriors, young and old.

There was princess Freawaru, the golden child of Hrothgar. And always behind her, a humble þeow, young Beadohild the bædling. Both a sight to the men of the symbel.