Beowulf: Seamus Heaney

So. The Spear-Danes in days done by
And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness.
We have heard of those prince's heroic campaigns.

There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,
a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes.
this terror of the hall-troops had come far.
A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on
as his powers waxed and his worth was proved.
In the end each clan on the outlying coats
beyond the whale - road had to yield to him
and begin to pay tribute.  That was one good king.

The new verse translation of the epic Beowulf is outstanding. I listened to an audio book from the library. Listening to Heaney read it was really great. It was meant to be heard, and Heaney has done a great job in translating this verse, and reading it to give the feel of a storyteller.

Monsters, fighting, war, heroes and kings. If that's your kind of story, you'll like it. Don't judge the poem by the movie and if you have never seen the movie, be thankful for that mercy.






Here is what it may have sounded like when it was first told. Beowulf was written in Old English. I love to hear the sound of Old English. I wonder what a sermon would sound like?