Fragments 1, 2: lines 1-31, 32-681; 506-542, 543-578

Comments and glossary IV

Scyld Scefing - the legendary progenitor of the Danish royal lineage known as the Scyldings. He is the counterpart of the Skioldus or Skjöldr of Danish and Icelandic sources.

(Wikipedia)

The history of the Danish royal dynasty is traced back to their eponymous founder, Scyld Scefing, whose mysterious arrival and equally mysterious department are described in detail.

(A Critical Companion to Beowulf, by Andy Orchard)

...who, many years earlier, reached their shores as a foundling on a ship mysteriously laden with treasure, and in the same way is departed for the other world.

To deprive enemies of their mead-benches – отрывать врагов со скамей, за которыми пьют медовуху (отрывать врагов со скамей бражных)

mead– an alcoholic liquor made by fermenting a mixture of honey and water

(Oxford Dictionary)

– древнерусский аналог — БРАГА - приготовляется из смеси ржаного и ячменного солода, мёда, хмеля и сахара, а так же - медову́ха — алкогольный напиток, приготовленный с использованием пчелиного мёда.

(Википедия)

foe (n) – enemy, opponent - враг

waif (n) — a forsaken child or an orphan – беспризорник, найденыш

Fate (wyrd) (n) - something that unavoidably befalls a person - судьба

make amends for smth (phr) – restitute, compensate – загладить вину, компенсировать

prosper (v), -ity (n) - succeed in material terms; the state of being prosperous – процветать; благополучие

Whale’s way - ocean or sea, from the Anglo-Saxon “hranrād”. This is one of the poem’s best known kennings. – «путь кита» (кеннинг)

obey (v) – be obedient to smb or smth - подчиняться

pay a tribute to smb — to give public recognition to someone or something – отдавать дань восхищения

noble (adj) – illustrious by rank, lofty in ideas - благородный

court (n) – a tribunal presided over by a judge, judges, or a magistrate in civil and criminal cases; the establishment, retinue, and courtiers of a sovereign – суд; королевский двор

comfort (v, n) - console, consolation – утешать, утешение

mettle (n) – quality of disposition; spirit, courage; be on one’s mettle=incited to do one’s best – храбрость, лихость; быть воодушевленным

generous (adj), - sity (n) - magnanimous, ample – великодушный, щедрый; великодушие, щедрость

destined (pp) — of destiny – предназначенный (судьбой)

seek (v) - attempt to find smth - искать

harbour (n) - a place on the coast where vessels may find shelter - гавань

a ring-prowed ship – корабль с украшением на носу кольцеобразной формы

cf. the ring-coiled prow (Bertha Rodgers’s translation) нос корабля, смотанный в кольцо, закрученный в кольцо

hringed-stefna...is not, strictly, a kenning for 'ship,' but only describes a fact about the ship -- namely that it has a ring-shaped prow or stem

(This passage is from "Language, Sign, and Gender in Beowulf," by Gillian R. Overing)

The Oseberg Burial is a Viking ship burial, located on the banks of the Oslo Fjord in Norway.