Of all kindred of men by the hearsay of me

The best of all was he the twain seas beside,

Of the measureless kindred; thereof Offa was

For gifts and for war, the spear-keen of men,

Full widely beworthy'd, with wisdom he held

The land of his heritage. Thence awoke Eomær

For a help unto heroes, the kinsman of Hemming,

The grandson of Garmund, the crafty in war-strife.

[ XXIX. BEOWULF TELLS HYGELAC OF HROTHGAR: ALSO OF FREAWARU HIS DAUGHTER.]

Went his ways then the hard one, and he with his hand-shoal,