2IO The Honey- Makers 



In that old Anglo-Saxon pagan poem " Beowulf " of the 

 seventh or eighth century, mead flows freely. 



Hrothgar was the son of Healfdene, who was the son of 

 an older Beowulf. 



" Through Hrothgar's mind it ran that he would 

 bid men make a hall, the greatest mead-house ever 

 known, and there within deal out to young and old 

 all that God gave him, except the share of the people 

 and the lives of men. Widely it was proclaimed through 

 this mid earth to many a tribe that a Folkstead was build- 

 ing. When it was ready, to this greatest of halls he who 

 had strength in his word gave the name Heorot. He 

 belied not his pledge, but dealt out bracelets and money at 

 the feast. The hall rose high and horn curved. There 

 was the harp strung, loud was the song of the gleeman, 

 who said he could tell from far back the beginning of 

 men, and told how the Almighty wrought. The band 

 of guests lived happily till one wrought like a fiend." 



This one who thus wrought was Grendel, a monster of 

 the fens, son of a daughter of Cain. 



Every night he entered the hall and killed the heroes. 



Beowulf the Goth came from over the seas to rescue 

 them, and Hrothgar's queen at the banquet given to 

 Beowulf, their deliverer, passed the cup. 



"Then she went round, and gave on every side rich 

 vessels to old and young, until she bore the mead-cup, 

 bracelet-covered queen, to Beowulf." 



Beowulf killed the monster, and presents were heaped 

 upon him and his followers. 



The queen said : " Take this cup, dear lord, and be 

 thou happy, golden friend of men ; speak to the Goths 

 kindly. Heorot, bright hall of rings, is cleansed. Enjoy 

 the mead of the many, and leave to thy sons folk and land 

 when thou must forth to behold God." 



