![]() ![]() In that slaughter, she lost her brother, her son, and later her husband. However, eventually, the kingdoms of her birth and marriage fought each other. (I think he is the subject of line 1118 "the warrior laid" on the pyre). ![]() There was certainly time to bear a son to Finn and perhaps enough to watch him grow up to be a warrior. The peace woven by Hildeburh outlasted the wedding feast by a considerable margin. When men are slain, does the murder-spear sinkīut briefest while, though the bride be fair!īeowulf then describes at length how old grudges and revived jealousy at the wedding feast will lead to a renewed conflict and to the estrangement of the man and wife. In Gummere's translation (I haven't quite got to these lines yet): In fact, he says that marriages often fail in this. However, Beowulf is doubtful if their daughter's marriage will bring a lasting peace. ![]() For example, Hrothgar's own wife Wealhtheow is described as "a pledge of peace between peoples" (line 2017). The marriage is presented as a happy one: in her home among the Frisians, "she most keenly / had felt the world's joys."Ī woman married off to a foreign ruler was called a "peace-weaver" ( freothuwebbe) and may often have served that function well. He chooses to begin with the sorrows of princess Hildeburh of the Danes, the daughter of King Hoc, who married King Finn of the Frisians. The story of Finn and Hengest that is sung by Hrothgar's court poet is straightforward on the face of it. ![]()
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