Aid frith and Beozvulf 3^9 



have been Aldfrith's known attachment to one or both of these 

 relatives which was also in the poet's mind. 



In dealing with the episodic passage concerning Thryth, w^e 

 have assumed the possibility that Aldfrith was there figured under 

 the historic or legendary name of Ofifa, described as tjie best of 

 all mankind between the seas, and as wisely ruling his native land. 

 The characterization is a summary one, and leaves out of account 

 certain traits which we are reasonably safe in attributing to Ald- 

 frith. Such traits are at least among those which belong to 

 Hrothgar. In the first place, since he was old, we find the king 

 of the Danes not unnaturally described as wise (1313, 1318, 1384, 

 1400, 1475, 1698. 1786, 2156), reminiscent (371-381, 459-472) and 

 somewhat acquainted with racial tradition (1709-22), and on occa- 

 sion didactic (1722-68). As befitted a king of Germanic race, he 

 was brave (1041 fif., 1771 fif.), magnanimous (21 10), and open- 

 handed (71 ff., 80, 1028 ff., 1868 fif., 1884-7, 2101-2). Coming to 

 more personal characteristics, he is a man of sensibility, afifection- 

 ate and emotional (1322 fif., 1397-8, 1870-80), courteous (391-4, 

 456-9, 652 &., 946 fif., 1698 ff.. 1840 fif.), and, withal, musical and 

 poetic (2105-14). More than one of these points are illustrated 

 by the lines last cited, Beowulf's account to his lord, Hygelac, of 

 Hrothgar's contribution to the entertainment in hall after the 

 victory over Grendel (cf. 1008 fif.). This is the account: 



There was song and glee. The aged Scylding, when he had asked of 

 many things, told of the days of yore. At times the brave warrior 

 touched the joyous harp, the instrument of mirth ; at times he chanted 

 a lay, truthful and sad; at times the great-hearted king would relate 

 aright some strange legend ; at times the hoary warrior, stricken with 

 age, would lament his yoi^th and battle- s trength ; his heart surged 

 within him as, old in years, he brought to mind so many things.^ 



^ For the attribution of all these activities to Hrothgar, see Chambers' 

 -note on 2107, and Grein's translation. For another rendering of the passage, 

 see Chadwick, pp. 83-4, who confronts it with a highly interesting extract 

 from a description by the Greek historian, Priscus, of an episode in his 

 visit to Attila of the year 448 (p. 84) : 'When evening came on, torches 

 were lighted, and two barbarians stepped forth in front of Attila, and recited 

 poems which they had composed, recounting [chanting] his victories and 

 his valiant deeds in war. The banqueters fixed their eyes upon them, some 

 being charmed with the poems, while others were roused in spirit, as the 

 recollection of their wars came back to them. Others again burst into 

 tears, because their bodies were enfeebled by age, and their martial ardor 



