Chapter 15 - Swedes and Gutes

Summary

Wars across the Sea

In the last third of the poem we find, in somewhat jumbled chronological order, references to battles between the Swedes and the Geats. It is difficult to see this unclear narrative structure as a deliberate device employed by an Old English author, and it has in fact long puzzled scholars (Earl 2015). Here, I will approach the question with the assumption that the narrative essentially reproduces an orally composed Scandinavian poem.

Below I have brought together in four groups passages that belong together in terms of the events they describe and hence, presumably, in time. They are reproduced here in a compressed prose form, though without diverging from the content of the original text. Ġēatas, however, is rendered as “Gutes” and hrēosna beorh as “the destroyed fortress.”

First war

Beowulf tells us:

After Hrethel's death, enmity and strife arose between the Swedes and the Gutes, who fought hard battles across the wide water. The sons of Ongentheow wanted no peace over the sea, and often caused terrible bloodbaths around the destroyed fortress.

Second war

Beowulf tells us:

My kinsmen and friends fought back, although one of them, the Gutnish king Hæthcyn, died in the battle. It is told how early one morning brother avenged brother when Ongentheow met Eofor. His battle helmet was sliced in two and the old Scilfing fell pale to the ground.

A messenger (possibly Wiglaf) tells us:

[…] it is well known that Ongentheow killed Hæthcyn in Hrefna Wudu when the Gutes had attacked the Battle-Scilfings. Ongentheow destroyed the sea prince and freed his wife, the mother of Onela and Ohthere, the old lady who had been robbed of her gold .Then he pursued his enemies, who just managed to escape into Hrefnes Holt. With his troops he surrounded the battle-weary and wounded Gutes, brought down curses on them through the night and said that in the morning he would cut them open with his sword and hang them in the gallows tree as sport for the birds. Comfort came at dawn, when the Gutes heard the shrill signals from Hygelac's horn and trumpet as he approached, following the trail his comrades had left. Then Ongentheow sought refuge for his war band. He knew of Hygelac's prowess in battle and hurried further up into the country.