[11] Hygelac, King of the Geats at the time, and uncle of Beowulf. [↑]
[12] Weland—‘the famous smith of Germanic legend,’ says Wyatt—who also refers us to the Franks Casket in the British Museum. [↑]
[13] Weird was a peculiarly English conception. It means Fate, or Destiny. Then Weird became a god or goddess—cp. ‘The Seafarer,’ an Old English poem in which we find ‘Weird is stronger, the Lord is mightier than any man’s thoughts.’ [↑]
[14] i.e. Wealtheow, Hrothgar’s Queen, who was of this tribe. [↑]
[15] Healfdene was the father of Hrothgar, King of the Danes. [↑]
[17] Thus we see how sagas or legends came to be woven together into a song. See [Appendix X]. [↑]
[18] Heremod was a King of the Danes, and is introduced, says Wyatt, as a stock example of a bad King. [↑]
[20] Byrny was a coat of mail. Swords were of greater value as they were ancient heirlooms, and had done good service. [↑]