I. Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon poem. II. The fight at Finnsburh: a fragment.
General
I. Beowulf: an Anglo-Saxon poem. II. The fight at Finnsburh: a fragment.
Dragons -- Poetry; Epic poetry, English (Old); Monsters -- Poetry
The sons of Ōhthere, Ēanmund and Ēadgils, have rebelled against their
father (2382), and must, in consequence, depart with their followers from
Swīorīce, 2205-6, 2380. They come into the country of the Gēatas to
Heardrēd (2380), but whether with friendly or hostile intent is not stated;
but, according to 2203 f., we are to presume that they came against
Heardrēd with designs of conquest. At a banquet (on feorme; or feorme, MS.)
Heardrēd falls, probably through treachery, by the hand of one of the
brothers, 2386, 2207. The murderer must have been Ēanmund, to whom,
according to 2613, "in battle the revenge of Wēohstān brings death."
Wēohstān takes revenge for his murdered king, and exercises upon Ēanmund's
body the booty-right, and robs it of helm, breastplate, and sword
(2616-17), which the slain man had received as gifts from his uncle, Onela,
2617-18. But Wēohstān does not speak willingly of this fight, although he
has slain Onela's brother's son, 2619-20.--After Heardrēd's and Ēanmund's
death, the descendant of Ongenþēow, Ēadgils, returns to his home, 2388. He
must give way before Bēowulf, who has, since Heardrēd's death, ascended the
throne of the Gēatas, 2390. But Bēowulf remembers it against him in after
days, and the old feud breaks out anew, 2392-94. Ēadgils makes an invasion
into the land of the Gēatas (2394-95), during which he falls at the hands
of Bēowulf, 2397. The latter must have then obtained the sovereignty over
the Swēonas (3005-6, where only the version, Scylfingas, can give a
satisfactory sense).
Eofor (gen. Eofores, 2487, 2965; dat. Jofore, 2994, 2998), one of the
Gēatas, son of Wonrēd and brother of Wulf (2965, 2979), kills the Swedish
king, Ongenþēow (2487 ff., 2978-82), for which he receives from King
Hygelāc, along with other gifts, his only daughter in marriage, 2994-99.
Eormen-rīc (gen. Eormenrīces, 1202), king of the Goths (cf. about him, W.
Grimm, Deutsche Heldensage, p. 2, ff.). Hāma has wrested the Brōsinga mene
from him, 1202.
Eomǣr, son of Offa and Þrȳðo (cf. Þrȳðo), 1961.
Eotenas (gen. pl. Eotena, 1073, 1089, 1142; dat. Eotenum, 1146), the
subjects of Finn, the North Frisians: distinguished from eoton, _giant_.
Vid eoton. Cf. Bugge, Beit., xii. 37; Earle, Beowulf in Prose, pp. 146,
198.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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