The fortunes of war favored Hrothgar.
Friends and kinsmen flocked to his ranks,
Young followers, a force that grew
To be a mighty army. So his mind turned
To hall-building: he handed down orders
For men to work on a great mead-hall
Meant to be a wonder of the world forever;
It would be his throne-room and there he would dispense
His God-given goods to young and old-—
But not the common land or people’s lives.
Far and wide through the world, I have heard,
Orders for work to adorn that wall stead
Were sent to many peoples. And soon it stood there,
Finished and ready, in full view,
The hall of halls.
Mom always liked him best. ;^)
Beowulf:
Hwæt we garde-
(Lo! We, of the Spear Dan-)
na ingear dagum, þeod cyninga
(-es in days of yore, of those great kings,)
þrym ge frunon huða æþelingas elle[n]
(of their power heard, how those princes deeds of valour)
fremedon.
(accomplished.)
Hear-beowulf-read-in-the-original-old-english.html Iron age Danes and Swedes fighting.
Neaderthal man....Grendal candidate?? (Leaving aside the issue of the underwater domicile...)
Nice.