His very house-fellow in that hall the high

To question full fairly, for wit-lust to-brake him,

Of what like were the journeys the Sea-Geats had wended:

How befell you the sea-lode, O Beowulf lief,

When thou on a sudden bethoughtst thee afar

Over the salt water the strife to be seeking,

The battle in Hart? or for Hrothgar forsooth

The wide-kenned woe some whit didst thou mend,

For that mighty of lords? I therefore the mood-care

In woe-wellings seethed; trow'd not in the wending