PROLOGUE The nations of the far North, A there was none braver, more hardy, nobler, than the Danes-none whose deeds in war were sung of more proudly at the feasts of earl and thane. Many were the kings whose names came from the in- spired lips of Skalds, as their hands struck the stringed harp, in warlike or in mournful chords but of these names none were treasured inore reverently than those of the Skyldings, the oldest royal house known to Danish tradition. It is a very long time-over a thousand years-since the Danes ruled in England. Yet even then the deeds of the Skyldings were tales of long ago. So long ago that they had become mixed up with much fable and especially the beginnings of the fa- Beowulf mous race were so intertwined with the wonders of heathen Scandinavian antiquity that it has never been possible to decide exactly how much was history and how much myth. The father of the race, Skyld of the Sheaf, was great in the memory of his people. With his nobles-his ethelingshe had wrested lands and glory from many a neighbouring tribe-aye, and many a. distant one, too the dread of him fell on the bravest warriors he waxed great under the sun, he flourished in peace, till that every one of the neighbouring peo-, ples over the sea was constrained to obey him and pay tribute and the world said of him when he died, That was a good king Yet Skyld was not born to the crown.. In fact no one knew anything of his birth and parentage. He was sent, it was said, just when the country had need of a deliverer and leader. He had come one day, -so the story ran, -over the sea, in a beautiful ship, - a new-born infant, bedded on sheaves of wheat, when the Danish people were in sore distress because of the wickedness of the Inan who was, at the time, king over them. This mans name, Heremod, went down, unforgotten, but unhonoured, through many a generation, a by-word for bad monarchs. He was, in everything, the di- rect contrary of what a good ruler ought to be. He used his power, not for his nobles benefit or pleasure, but to deal them wanton harm and even death. For his ungovernable temper grew on him, until, in his furious fits, he would strike and kill, though it were his closest follow- ers, his companions at the board and in the battle. In his soul there grew a bloodthirsty passion, and he suffered the penalty of his evil doings in the estrange- ment of his friends, the settled dislike of his people, until at last they mould stand his presence no longer, and he wandered forth alone, away from all human society, and was never heard of more. It was then that Skyld, the mysterious found- ling, the Heaven-sent, seized on the gov- ernment, brought order and plenty into Beowulf the land, and won love from his people, respect from his foes. A son was. born tr King Skyld in his prime, a beautiful child, whoin God sent for the peoples comfort and solace- Beowulf, sole heir to the throne..
