Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda

Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings, The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction, 65 And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels, A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman. Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen, The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming!

'Meodu-scencum' (1981) some would render 'with mead-pourers.' Translate then: The daughter of Hæreth went through the building accompanied by mead-pourers.

See my note to 1599, supra, and B. in P. and B. XII. 97.

For 'fenne,' supplied by Grdtvg., B. suggests 'fácne' (cf. Jul. 350). Accepting this, translate: Who longest lives of the hated race, steeped in treachery.

See note to v. 1599 above.

This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost every word being open to dispute. (1) The 'nó' of our text is an emendation, and is rejected by many scholars. (2) 'Seldan' is by some taken as an adv. ( seldom), and by others as a noun ( page, companion). (3) 'Léod-hryre,' some render 'fall of the people'; others, 'fall of the prince.' (4) 'Búgeð,' most scholars regard as the intrans. verb meaning 'bend,' 'rest'; but one great scholar has translated it 'shall kill.' (5) 'Hwær,' Very recently, has been attacked, 'wære' being suggested. (6) As a corollary to the above, the same critic proposes to drop 'oft' out of the text.—t.B. suggests: Oft seldan wære after léodhryre: lýtle hwíle bongár búgeð, þéah séo brýd duge = often has a treaty been (thus) struck, after a prince had fallen: (but only) a short time is the spear (then) wont to rest, however excellent the bride may be.