Beowulf

The heroic poem Beowulf is set in 5th cent. Scandinavia.

The story tells how Beowulf killed Grendel and the Dragon and was himself killed.

The poem was completed in England in the 8th cent.

On the back cover of my copy there's a picture of a colourful object which is an enamelled escutcheon on the rim of the large hanging bowl found at Sutton Hoo.








Beowulf - v 5. 

A boat with a ringed neck rode in the haven,
icy, out-eager, the atheling's vessel,
and there they laid out their lord and master,
dealer of wound gold, in the waist of the ship,
in majesty by the mast. A mound of treasures
from far countries was fetched aboard her,
and it is said that no boat was ever more bravely fitted out
with the weapons of a warrior, war accoutrement,
swords and body armour; on hs breast were set
treasures and trappings to travel with him
on his far faring into the flood's sway.