Ya que en esta Unidad Didáctica hablamos de pasado y de vikingos, una lectura imprescindible para sumergirse en las batallas de los guerreros escandinavos es sin duda el poema épico Beowulf. Es una obra de 3182 versos escrito en Old English, cuyo autor y fecha de creación siguen siendo un misterio, aunque varios expertos coinciden en que fue escrito entre el siglo VIII y el XII.
El poema narra la aventura de Beowulf, un guerrero que acude a la llamada de socorro de Hrothgar, rey de los daneses, con la esperanza de éste de que acabe con un monstruo gigante llamado Grendel que está atacando a los miembros de su corte. Tras una dura lucha, Beowulf consigue derrotarlo y es recompensado. Sin embargo, la madre de Grendel busca venganza tras la muerte de su hijo. Beowulf se enfrenta a ella bajo el agua, en una pugna que casi le hace perder la vida, pero finalmente logra matarla, Vuelve a su país, convirtiéndose, tras la muerte de su señor, en rey de los gautas. Pero cincuenta años después, una nueva amenaza desestabiliza la vida de Beowulf y la de sus súbditos: un temible dragón con el que el héroe, ya un viejo al que le faltan fuerza y vigor, tiene que luchar. Durante la batalla, todos los guerreros que acompañan a Beowulf, excepto uno, traicionan a su rey. El héroe finalmente vence al dragón pero recibe una herida que provoca su muerte.
La Biblioteca Digital Perseo (Perseus Digital Library) nos ofrece una excelente adaptación del poema Beowulf en inglés moderno. Dado que es una obra muy extensa, te recomiendo que leas aquí las partes más significativas en la web mencionada: , que son: los primeros versos del prólogo (I, II), la lucha de Beowulf contra Gendrel (XI) y, ya al final del poema, la muerte de Beowulf y la despedida que su pueblo le brinda, con honores de rey y héroe (XLII).
De momento, aquí puedes leer la introducción al poema:
"LO! we of the Spear-Danes', in days of yore,
Warrior-kings' glory have heard,
How the princes heroic deeds wrought.
Oft Scyld, son of Scef, from hosts of foes,
5From many tribes, their mead-seats took;
The earl caused terror since first he was
Found thus forlorn: gained he comfort for that,
Grew under the clouds, in honors throve,
Until each one of those dwelling around
10Over the whale-road, him should obey,
Should tribute pay: that was a good king!
To him was a son afterwards born,
Young in his palace, one whom God sent
To the people for comfort: their distress He perceived
15That they ere suffered life-eating care
So long a while. Him therefor life's Lord,
King of glory, world-honor gave:
Beowulf was noted (wide spread his fame),
The son of Scyld in Scedelands.
20So shall a young man with presents cause,
With rich money-gifts in his father's house.
That him in old age may after attend
Willing comrades; when war shall come,
May stand by their chief; by deeds of praise shall
25In every tribe a hero thrive!
Then Scyld departed at the hour of fate,
The warlike to go into his Lord's keeping:
They him then bore to the ocean's wave,
His trusty comrades, as he himself bade,
30Whilst with words ruled the friend of the Scyldings,
Beloved land-prince; long wielded he power.
There stood at haven with curved prow,
Shining and ready, the prince's ship:
The people laid their dear war-lord,
35Giver of rings, on the deck of the ship,
The mighty by th' mast. Many treasures were there,
From distant lands, ornaments brought;
Ne'er heard I of keel more comelily filled
With warlike weapons and weeds of battle,
40With bills and burnies ! On his bosom lay
A heap of jewels, which with him should
Into the flood's keeping afar depart:
Not at all with less gifts did they him provide,
With princely treasures, than those had done,
45Who him at his birth had erst sent forth
Alone o'er the sea when but a child.
Then placed they yet a golden standard
High over his head, let the waves bear
Their gift to the sea; sad was their soul,
50Mourning their mood. Men indeed cannot
Say now in sooth, hall-possessors,
Heroes 'neath heavens, who that heap took. (...)"
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