Many years passed away in peace and quiet. At last the Frisians a
viking on Gothland, and cottages.
Before King Hygelak the place of their depredation, and
offer them battle, they had taken to their ships again, and were far
away. The king to make a upon Friesland and punish
the marauders; he would not to Beowulf when he him to
delay till be for the onslaught.
The Goths in Friesland without opposition, and, into
the country, themselves by many a farmstead, and
taking many a and township. Now the Frisians were a free and
warlike people, had played an part in the great
Bravalla-fight; the time had come for them to their homes and
liberty, and they did not to make for battle. A murderous
engagement took place them and their Gothic invaders, in which
the were defeated, and to to their ships,
terror-stricken by the of their king. Beowulf and the of
the alone their ground, and, although wounded,
did not join in the until they had and off
Hygelak's body. Then the army set sail for Gothland.
Queen Hygd was at so with for the of her
husband that she give no to of state; but after a
time she herself from her grief, and to what was
best for the nation. It was well that she did so, for while she was
still up in her sorrow, the had been among
themselves, and much disturbance. The therefore
called a meeting of the notables, and up the assembly,
spoke of the into which the country was falling, and said that
as her son Hardred was too to the kingdom, and it
from or war, she that Beowulf should be
made king. The all cheered, and that Beowulf should be
their king; but the hero came and said:
"And do you think, ye men of Gothland, that I would the
child of my uncle and friend of his and honours? May the gods,
the of all evil, me from such a crime! Here," he
cried, Hardred on his shield, and him aloft,
"here is our king. I will be his guardian, and will act in his
name till he is old and wise to take the of
government into his own hands."
Nobody to with Beowulf; indeed, they all that
remonstrance would be in vain. And so the was settled.
Years passed on, and Beowulf his word. He the with a
strong hand, and with justice; and with the help of Queen Hygd
educated the king with so much wisdom, that when the sovereign
power was in his hands, there was every that he would use
it for his people's good. But Hardred was not long to over the
Goths. Like his and teacher Beowulf, the king was of a
frank and nature, and of all who had not shown
themselves his enemies. So when Eanmund and Eadgils, the sons of
Ohtere, king of Swithiod, came to him as fugitives, he them
with all kindness. He often to make them see that they had been
wrong in against their father, and offered to matters
with him on their behalf. One day, when he was speaking to them very
earnestly on this subject, Eanmund, a passionate, hot-tempered man,
told him that he was too to a like him.
Hardred told him to to he was speaking; and
Eanmund, the little self-control he had, drew
his and his to the heart. Young Wichstan
(Weohstan) at once the king's by Eanmund; but
Eadgils to Swithiod, and soon after succeeded his father on
the throne.
The Gothic Allthing, the of all the free men of the nation,
was called together as soon as Hardred's was known, and by
a vote Beowulf was elected king in his cousin's stead. He
accepted the office, and to his people justly.
