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It was with pain that the powerful spirit
dwelling in darkness endured that time,
hearing daily the hall filled
with loud amusement; there was the music of the harp,
the clear song of the poet, perfect in his telling
of the remote first making of man's race.
Beowulf, trans. by M. Alexander, Penguin Classics, Great Britain, 1973, p.53.
PLACE: Denmark.
TIME: 5th - 6th century.
CIRCUMSTANCE: They called the powerful spirit Grendel. "This unhappy being had long lived in the land of monsters since the Creator cast them out as kindred of Gain." * The ballad songs (perhaps Beowulf included) were accompanied by the harp.
*p.54
There was stone paving on the path that brought
the war-band on its way. The war-coats shone
and the links of hard hand-locked iron
sang in their harness as they stepped along
in their gear of grim aspect, going to the hall.
Sea-wearied, they then set against the wall
their broad shields of special temper,
and bowed to bench, battle-shirts clinking,
the war-dress of warriors. ...
Beowulf, trans. by M. Alexander, Penguin Classics, Great Britain, 1973, p. 61.
PLACE: Denmark.
TIME: 5th - 6th century.
CIRCUMSTANCE: Beowulf's arrival in Sweden.
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