That Scylding of battle, the bed-mate [behalsed].

Then was unto Hrothgar the war-speed given,

Such worship of war that his kin and well-willers

Well hearken'd his will till the younglings were waxen,

A kin-host a many. Then into his mind ran

That he would be building for him now a hall-house,

That men should be making a mead-hall more mighty

Than the children of ages had ever heard tell of:

And there within eke should he be out-dealing

To young and to old all things God had given,