Beowulf [HR][/HR] Những ai đã từng học Anh Văn chắc không xa lạ gì với Beowulf. Beowulf là truyện thơ Anh cổ nổi tiếng không thua vì truyện thơ của tác giả Homer, Hy Lạp. Beowulf is an Old English heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship whose dating is uncertain. Its creation is typically assigned by scholars either to the period 700–750 AD, or to the time of composition of the only manuscript, circa 1010. At 3183 lines, it is notable for its length. The poem is untitled in the manuscript, but has been known as Beowulf since the early 19th century. As the single major surviving work of Anglo-Saxon heroic poetry, the work—in spite of dealing primarily with Danish and Swedish events—has risen to such prominence that it has been described as "England's national epos." A source of much study, the poem was a central inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien (tác giả truyện "The Hobits" và "Lord of the Rings"), whose academic career was built around its analysis and explication. In the poem, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, battles three antagonists: Grendel, who is attacking the Danish mead hall called Heorot and its inhabitants, Grendel's mother, and becoming a King after returning to Geatland (modern Sweden) later in life, he fought an unnamed dragon. He is mortally wounded in the final battle, and after his death he is buried in a barrow in Geatland by his retainers. "Thơ Beowulf dùng văn Anh cổ xưa, rất khó đọc. Khi đọc hiểu, mới biết nó là một truyện hay có giá trị văn học." Link: Vui lòng đăng nhập hoặc đăng ký để xem link
Sử thi Vui lòng đăng nhập hoặc đăng ký để xem link (bêu-vun-phờ) nguyên ủy là Vui lòng đăng nhập hoặc đăng ký để xem link gồm 3182 câu, do tác giả khuyết danh soạn bằng văn phạm Westseax khoảng năm 975-1010. Tác phẩm này về sau được coi là tiêu biểu nhất trong văn chương Anglo-Saxon - giai đoạn khá trọng yếu trong sự hình thành bản sắc Anh quốc hiện đại. Ngoài ra, bối cảnh truyện tương ứng địa bàn Thụy Điển và Đan Mạch hiện đại, chứng minh tầm ảnh hưởng của liên minh Danno (nay là Đan Mạch, Na Uy và Thụy Điển) đối với các thuộc địa Danelagh (tiền thân Anh quốc hiện đại). Tương truyền, từ thượng cổ có chủng tộc đã phong ấn lối vào một kho báu gọi Earnanæs, mà kho báu ấy do một con rồng canh giữ. Đây cũng là nơi chôn cất một vị vua vĩ đại, cũng là nhân vật lập ra kho báu ấy, húy ngài là Beowulf. Ngự cung Heorot xứ Daner thường xuyên bị quỷ ám, khiến không ít người chết không toàn thây hoặc mất tích khi vừa ban mai. Vua Hrothgar túng thế bèn sai sứ giả đi khắp nơi cầu người hiền cứu rỗi. Mãi lâu sau mới có tráng sĩ Beowulf xứ Geatas tình nguyện sang Daner giúp vua Hrothgar trừ quỷ. Theo lời Hrothgar, quái thú Grendel vốn là hậu duệ Kain trong Thánh Kinh, nó thường lợi dụng màn đêm đợi lúc cả Heorot ngủ say thì ra tay đồ sát. Hrothgar bèn bày cách mở triều yến từ sáng tới đêm, rồi ai nấy giả vờ ngủ trong khi vẫn ôm gươm nằm phục. Khi Grendel xông vào, cả bọn nhận diện nó qua mùi hôi nồng nặc, thế rồi Beowulf tuốt gươm phạt đứt một cánh tay nó. Grendel tức mình bỏ chạy về hang. Grendel nhảy xuống một cái đầm sâu trong rừng, dưới đầm lại có một hang thăm thẳm vốn là chốn ngụ của nó từ xa xưa. Nhưng Grendel xuất huyết mà chết, Mẹ Grendel bèn ra đi phục thù. Ban đầu, Mẹ Grendel ám sát thuộc hạ kiệt xuất nhất của Hrothgar là Æschere. Vua bèn huy động Beowulf và quan binh đuổi đánh Mẹ Grendel tới hang cùng. Tráng sĩ Unferth biếu Beowulf thanh gươm Hrunting và thách chàng giao đấu Mẹ Grendel. Beowulf bèn đem gươm báu lặn xuống đầm. Giao tranh mãi, sau rốt Mẹ Grendel bị Beowulf phạt đầu. Beowulf khải hoàn và được vua Hrothgar ban cho thanh gươm Nægling. Beowulf hồi hương rồi được bầu làm vua. Chàng dồn hết của cải chiếm được ở hang Grendel vào kho báu Earnanæs dưới chân một ngọn núi lớn, do một con rồng canh giữ. Đến năm chục năm sau, có tên nô lệ lén ăn cắp tách vàng rồi bị rồng phát hiện. Rồng tức khí, bèn bay đi đốt phá khắp nơi đặng thâu hồi của cải. Beowulf bèn cùng tráng sĩ Wiglaf đi đánh rồng. Sau khi trừ xong con rồng, Beowulf kiệt sức vì trọng thương rồi tạ thế, Wiglaf bèn sai người đưa vua Beowulf vào lòng núi mai táng. Vua Beowulf hoăng, xứ sở không còn đáng gờm nữa. Chỉ ít lâu sau Geatas bị các rợ xung quanh cướp phá dẫn tới tiêu vong, khiến bí mật kho báu mãi chôn vùi dưới lòng đất.
Nhân chuyện thiên hạ đang đua nhau đi xếp hàng đổ xăng như thời bao cấp, gẫm lại dụ ngôn Beowulf thấy cũng đôi chỗ tương tự. Đây là văn phẩm Tây Âu lâu đời nhất còn đến nay mà không qua sao bản. Chủ đề truyện là cuộc tranh đấu bất tận giữa văn minh và u minh, hay tự nhiên và những cái gì phi tự nhiên. Sau này nó trở nên yếu tố rất quan trọng để ông giáo làng Tôn Kiên soạn Chúa nhẫn. Grendel và Mẹ Grendel vốn là những sinh vật rất kì quái, người không ra người mà ngợm cũng chẳng ra ngợm. Không ai biết hình thù chúng nó ra sao ngoài tiếng rống khủng khiếp, vì đợi ban đêm mới thò cổ lên bờ đầm bắt bọn say rượu trong ngự cung Heorot về xơi thịt. Theo học giới gần đây thì đó là hình dung về các dân dã man, cho nên Beowulf đi tìm diệt mẹ con Grendel cũng như là khai hóa cho họ vậy. Hình tượng này có nhẽ về sau được ông già Tôn Kiên gởi vào nhân vật chúa tể Sauron. THE STORY OF BEOWULF, GRENDEL, AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER Long, long ago, perhaps nearly a thousand years before the adventures of the Knight of Rhodes of whom you have just heard, there lived a King of Denmark called Hrothgar. That is a curious name, you may think; but you can recognise it in our own word 'Roger,' which, of course, is common enough. This King lived in a palace, called Heorot, a princely abode, beyond what the sons of men had ever heard of; he had a beautiful wife called Waltheow, and gold, silver, and riches in abundance were his; moreover as his knights, earls, and retainers were all devotedly fond of him, he seemed to have everything in the world which could make him happy. In those days, when feasts were being held in the great halls, it was customary for one who was called a 'skald'—that is, a poet or minstrel—to sing or recite poems before the assembled company. On one of these occasions the 'skald' made poems about all sorts of evil things, wicked spirits, demons who abode in darkness, giants, ghosts, and sin and wickedness generally. It was, perhaps, not quite the sort of song to make merry the hearts of the feasters, and, in fact, it had the opposite effect, for they broke up ill at ease, as if some deadly peril were in store; nor were their presentiments without reason. That night there came to the Palace a monstrous and superhuman being named Grendel, who was the very incarnation of all cruelty and malice. He was a creature of enormous strength and size; for we read later in the story that it required four men to carry his head when he was dead. He lived an evil life, and wandered about, a lone dweller in moors, marshes, and in the wilderness. Savage and fierce as he was, nothing exasperated him more than that the King and his people should be so happy; the sound of joy and revelry within the Palace was to him as gall and wormwood. That very night, therefore, when the skald recited his ominous poem, Grendel loft his fens and marshes, and came silently to the Palace, where he found the Danes all asleep. Thirty of them he killed, devouring fifteen in the hall itself, and carrying off the rest to the marshes. Despair there was and lamentation in the morning when the other Danes arose from sleep; but none knew, or could even suggest, what was best to be done. For twelve years were the people grievously afflicted by the cruel Grendel, 'the grim stranger, the mighty haunter of the marshes, the dwelling of this monster race.' He persecuted them right sorely, nor would he have peace with any man of the Danish power. A dark, deadly shadow, he attacked alike tried warriors and youths, he ambushed and plotted, roaming the night long over the misty moors, contriving evil in his heart continually. Matters, then, were at this pass, when a neighbouring King called Hygelac heard of the Danes' misfortunes. Hygelac reigned over the Jutes in Gotland, and he had a nephew called Beowulf, who, in common with the King and the rest of the people, was distressed to think of Hrothgar's troubles. So Beowulf made him ready a good sea-boat, took fourteen of the bravest men-at-arms as his comrades, and set sail to help Hrothgar and the Danes. When the Danish King was told of Beowulf's arrival, he was, as you may well suppose, only too delighted, and hailed him as a heaven-sent champion, for he already knew all about him, how valiant he was, and how strong; 'for,' said Hrothgar to his people, 'it used to be said by seafaring men that this fearless warrior had in his grip the strength of thirty men.' When Beowulf came before Hrothgar, he told him, what the King already knew, that often before he had encountered sea-monsters, destroyed the Jotun tribe and slain night Nixes; and that hitherto all his deeds of prowess had been successful. 'I hear,' he said, 'that Grendel, from the thickness of his hide, cares not for weapons; I therefore disdain to carry sword or shield into the combat, but with hand-grips will I lay hold on the foe, and fight for life, man to man.' Beowulf ended by asking that his 'garments of battle' might be sent back to his lord and kinsman Hygelac, if Grendel proved victorious in the fight. The King relied with steadfast faith upon his guest; there was now joy in the Palace of Heorot, and Queen Waltheow herself, golden-wreathed, came forth to greet the men in the hall; to each she gave a costly cup—to each his several share—'until it befell that she, the neck-laced Queen, gentle in manners and mind, bare the mead-cup to Beowulf,' and thanked God that she might find any to trust to for relief in her troubles. They all retired to rest; but not one of Beowulf's comrades thought that they would escape alive, or get them thence in safety to their well-loved homes. That night from the moor, under the misty slopes, came Grendel prowling; in the gloom he came to the Palace, where the men-at-arms slept, whose duty it was to guard the battlemented hall; they slept, all save one. With his vast strength the monster burst open the door, and strode forward, his eyes blazing like fire. With a grim smile of delight he saw the sleepers, seized one of them and devoured him all but the feet and hands. Then he reached out at Beowulf, but the warrior clasped the extended hand and firmly grappled with the enemy. A battle royal ensued; the hall resounded with cries and shrieks, for the Danes were roused from their slumbers. They tried to help Beowulf with swords and other weapons, not knowing that they were of no avail against the monster. But the Jute yielded never a whit, he pressed Grendel harder and harder with that mighty hand-grip of his, and by sheer strength tore off the monster's hand, arm, and shoulder. Grendel fled; back to the lake he went, to the Nixes' mere, where the water for days afterwards was troubled and discoloured with blood. As for Beowulf, the grateful King could hardly thank him enough. A feast was prepared, the walls of the great hall were covered with cloth of gold, and the hero received a war-banner, helmet, and breastplate, besides golden cups, a superb golden collar, and many other precious things. When the banquet was over they all retired to rest, as they supposed, in safety. But an avenger was at hand, Grendel's mother, a monstrous witch, ravenous, wrathful, and cruel as her son. She burst into Heorot, seized the man who was the King's favourite amongst all his nobles, and carried him off to the lake. She also took with her Grendel's blood-stained hand, which had been put up as a trophy. Beowulf was not in the Palace at the time, for another lodging had been given to him; but he was quickly summoned after this new disaster. 'Never fear,' said he, 'I promise thee she shall not escape, neither by water, nor into the earth, nor into the mountain forest, nor into the bottom of the sea, let her go where she will.' So they made ready at once to go to the lake, which was about a mile from the Palace; a gloomy water it was, overhung with trees, and how deep none had ever found out; every night, men said, a strange fire was to be seen on its surface, so none cared about going there. However, the King's horse was now saddled, and his men-at-arms were ready; Beowulf put on armour to protect his body from the enemy's grip, and a white helmet guarded his head. One of Hrothgar"s men lent him a short sword that had never yet failed anyone who had used it in battle. Then the expedition started: over a steep and stony rise through narrow roads, past precipitous headlands they went, till they came to a bare rock and a cheerless wood, below which lay the water, dreary and troubled. They were maddened with rage when they saw the head of Æschere lying on the ground; he was the noble taken by Grendel's mother. The water of the lake was bubbling with blood; many strange creatures of the serpent kind glided over the surface, and the men could also see Nixes lying on the headland slopes. Beowulf shot at one of the horrid water creatures with an arrow, wounding it only; but the King's men pursued it with poles and battle-axes, and killed it. Then Beowulf asked Hrothgar to send back all his presents to Hygelac, if it should happen that he, Beowulf, perished in the water. Hastening away, he plunged into the lake, and it was not very long before Grendel's mother found out that some man from above had invaded her dwelling. She grappled with him in her dreadful grasp, endeavouring to crush him to death, but his chain-mail protected him. Then she dragged him down to her den at the bottom; but meanwhile many strange beasts with terrible tusks pressed him hard in those depths, one of them even rent his war-shirt with its talons. Beowulf found himself in some kind of dreadful hall, where no water seemed to touch him; the light of a fire, a glittering ray, lit up the cavern. He could now clearly distinguish the mighty lake-witch, and thrust strongly at her with his war sword, which rang out shrilly on her head. But, alas! its edge would not bite; she had probably bewitched it with spells, as often happened in old days. So Beowulf threw away his sword, and came to close grips with her, trusting in his mighty strength. He seized her by the shoulder, but unluckily tripped and fell. In a moment she was upon him, and seized her broad dagger with deadly intent. Then, indeed, had it gone hard with Beowulf but for his coat of chain-mail, which protected his shoulder from the furious blow she gave. Suddenly he saw lying on the floor a magic sword; a huge weapon with finest edge, forged of old in the time of the Jotuns, or giants, whose work it was. No ordinary man could have wielded that blade, but Beowulf seized it, and smote the witch a fearful blow, almost cleaving her body in twain. A bright light shone up at once in the cavern, which the warrior now began to explore; nor had he gone far before he found Grendel lying on a couch, dead, so Beowulf cut off his head. Meanwhile Hrothgar and the rest of the Danes had been sitting watching the water, which suddenly became thick and stained with blood; they had no hope that Beowulf survived. What, then, was their astonishment and delight to see him swimming towards them, breasting the waves with mighty strokes, and bearing the head of Grendel with him. And now a marvel befell; the sword with which Grendel's mother had been slain began slowly to melt away, just like ice; for the hag's blood was of such power that it consumed the blade, until nothing was left but the hilt, which was of gold, richly chased, and carved with strange characters called 'runes.' Beowulf swam ashore, and gave an account of his adventures; four men, as we have already said, bore Grendel's head to the Palace, where the hilt of the magic sword was closely examined. The characters graven upon it were found to be a description of the battle between the Gods and the Frost-Giants, in which the Giants were defeated and overwhelmed in a flood. There is an account of it in an Icelandic poem, called the 'Voluspa,' or the 'Song of the Prophetess,' which describes the Northern ideas of the creation of the world; and tells how evil and death came upon man, predicts the destruction of the universe, and gives an account of the future abodes of bliss and misery. Thus did Beowulf deliver the Danes from their misfortunes, after which he returned home, and on the death of his uncle, Hygelac, became King of Gotland.
Tương truyền rằng, trước khi tuyệt chủng, người nụy Earnaness đã giao kho báu mà họ tích cóp được cho linh vật là một con rồng lửa canh giử. Qua đến nửa thế kỉ sau, vì một tên nô lệ lén vào ăn cắp vàng nên làm kinh động rồng. Thế rồi rồng bay ra đốt phá khắp Geatland buộc đức vua Beowulf phải dấy binh đi đánh. Nhưng rồi đánh không được còn làm gãy thanh gươm báu. Sau đó vua phải để tráng sĩ Wiglaf cầm Thanh Gươm Gãy đi giết rồng. Cũng theo huyền sử thì cả Grendel, Mẹ Grendel và Hỏa Long đều là hậu duệ Qayin - ông tổ nghề rèn trong Thánh Kinh. Rồng biểu thị năng lượng, cho nên từ xưa dân nghề rèn mới có tục thờ rồng và cả đeo nhẫn. Ở hình trạng nguyên thủy, chiếc nhẫn cũng kể như biểu tượng nguyên năng với hình ảnh rồng cắn đuôi, mặt đá cũng như là đầu rồng chứ không giản ước như ngày nay. Về sau tình tiết này mới thành truyện đoàn nụy đi đòi kho báu chỗ rồng Smaug - trong tiếng Baltika và Đông Slav thì "smaug" nghĩa là rồng. THE STORY OF BEOWULF AND THE FIRE DRAKE Beowulf was a wise King, and had ruled his country well for fifty years, during which nothing had happened to mar the happiness of him or his subjects. But now trouble was about to arise. Hidden away in a mound of earth was a vast store of treasure, gold, silver, jewels of great price, and this hoard for three hundred years had been guarded by a monstrous Fire Drake. One night, while this dragon slept, a man succeeded in entering the storehouse, from which he stole a cup and many valuable jewels. When the serpent awoke its rage knew no bounds; it came forth from its cave, endeavouring to track the man, whose footsteps it could see on the shore, but without success. So it waited till evening, vowing that many should pay dearly for that drinking-cup. Then again it came forth, wandered all over the country at night, setting every house it could see on fire, for its scorching breath and the brands it carried with it were irresistible. Beowulf's own home, in common with others, was destroyed, whereupon he bethought him of vengeance, remembering how of old he had been successful in quite as dangerous undertakings, and how he had outlived every quarrel, every perilous enterprise. Knowing well that no ordinary defence would avail him anything against the Fire Drake, he had fashioned for himself a curious battle shield, all of iron. Choosing eleven companions, he went to look for the dragon; the way was hard to find, so the man who had been the cause of all the mischief went with the little band as a guide: indeed, he was the only one who knew where the dragon's hoard was to be found; besides, he was very much ashamed of himself, and was anxious to do all in his power to atone for the disasters which his theft had brought about. When they arrived at the Fire Drake's lair, which was near the sea, they saw an arch of stone, and a stream issuing out of it from the mound. The water was so hot, by reason of the dragon's flame continually beating upon it, that a man could not bear his hand in it for any length of time. Beowulf told his companions to wait outside, whilst he himself went into the cave. The Fire Drake, hearing his footfall and his voice, knew at once that an enemy was near, so it coiled itself up ready to spring to the attack. Blazing like a live coal, it advanced with a rush, Beowulf defending himself as best he could with his shield. He dealt the monster a terrible blow with his sword, which, however, failed to hurt it, indeed, it only roused it to greater fury. Breathing flames the Fire Drake pressed the valiant King to the utmost extremity, and it seemed as if it was to go ill with him that day. His companions, too cowardly to help him, watched the combat in terror, crouching dowm in the wood near by to save their lives. Yet there was one among them, Wiglaf by name, who plucked up courage to try to help the King, for he remembered how kind Beowulf had been to him in former days, in granting him a wealthy manor, and other favours, and besides, he was in a way related to him. So this brave young warrior grasped his shield of yellow linden wood, and drew his sword, rushing through the smoke to help his liege lord. 'Dear Beowulf,' cried he, 'have courage; remember how thou did'st say aforetime that glory should never depart from thee; now must thou defend thy life to the uttermost—see, I come to help thee.' On rushed the serpent against its new adversary; from its body and mouth issued many coloured flames, which burnt up Wiglaf's wooden shield, so that for protection he crouched under the iron shield of Beowulf. The King now struck with all his force at the dragon, but, alas! his good old sword shivered in pieces; and now for the third time the monster rushed at him, and succeeded in encircling his neck in its horrid coils. Still, the King's hands were free, so that he could draw a dagger which he bore on his corselet; Wiglaf, meanwhile, was also hewing at the creature, and before long Beowulf was able to stab it to death. Thus they slew the Fire Drake; but Beowulf had received a deadly wound, which soon began to burn and swell, and though Wiglaf brought him water and tended him with all affection, the King felt his end to be near. Anxious to know of what the treasure consisted, he sent Wiglaf into the cave to explore it. Riches of all descriptions were discovered—jewels, gold, handsome bowls, helmets', armlets, and, most curious of all, a gilded standard, which was flapping over the hoard. From this standard there came a ray of bright light, by which Wiglaf could easily see around him. Nothing was to be seen of the dead Fire Drake, so Beowulf's messenger plundered the hoard at will. He piled up bowls and dishes in his bosom, took the standard, and a sword shod with brass, hastening with them back to the King, who, he was half afraid, might die during his absence. Beowulf was alive, however, though in sorry plight, so Wiglaf fetched more water wherewith to refresh him. Then spake the brave old King his last words on earth, the while he looked sadly on the gold: 'I give thanks for these beautiful things, which here I gaze on, to the Lord of all, to the King of Glory, the eternal Lord, for that I have been able before my death-day to gain so much for my people. Fulfil ye now with this hoard my people's needs, for here I may no longer be. Let the warriors build a mound at the headland which juts out into the sea. Rear it that it may tower high up on Hronesness, and so perchance my people may bear me in mind. Yea, let it be for a landmark to seafaring men, who may call it Beowulf's Mound—a beacon of safety for such as are in stress on the storm-tossed sea.' Thus died Beowulf. When the news spread the people flocked out in hundreds to the spot where the fight took place. Sadly they looked on the lifeless body of their chief lying on the sand, and with astonishment they saw the carcass of the Fire Drake, full fifty feet long, and the hoard of treasure beside it. They loaded the treasure on a wain and bore it away; the dragon's body was pushed over the cliff into the sea. Then they made ready a vast funeral-pyre for their beloved King, even as he had wished. Black over the blaze rose the wood smoke; while sad and dejected in spirit sat the people, mourning their lord's fall, bewailing the death of him who among world Kings had been the mildest, the kindest of men, and the most gracious to his people.
