A modern story might choose to pass over the in-between time when Beowulf is traveling home, or it might choose to feature an important conversation or detail in the journey. The ancient poet creates a passage that can appear abrupt, disorganized, and slow-moving to a modern reader. Three main objectives appear in this passage: wrapping up unfinished business in Denmark, savoring the sea-voyage, and setting the scene at home.
As morning comes, Beowulf’s mind turns first to packing up and going home. He returns the sword Hrunting to Unferth, with a polite speech making the point that it was not Unferth’s fault that the sword failed. The poet wishes to show some of Beowulf’s character, that he goes out of his way to give honor to a man who tried to dishonor him. With the gear ready to move, Beowulf seeks out his host for a farewell speech, and he may remember as well that he was promised further gifts.
Hrothgar calls the speech of Beowulf the shrewdest speech he has ever heard from a young man, so it is well to look at what Beowulf says. Beowulf’s main point seems to be that of a political ambassador, to strengthen the ties of alliance between the Danes and Geats. Beowulf may be supposed to be not much older than 22, and he has just fought two tremendous battles, so Hrothgar is surprised that he thinks about politics.
Beowulf makes three points. First, he suggests that he would be glad to do more for the Danes, if anything remained to be done, in order to merit more affection. Second, he promises to bring help, in the form of a large army of warriors, if the Danes are threatened by enemies. He appears to realize that he does not truly have the authority to promise this, but he states his confidence that his uncle will back up any promise he makes. Third, he suggests that Hrothgar’s son Hrethric might like to travel to Geatland and strengthen the alliance further. All of his attention is given to strengthening the alliance, and helping their two nations to cooperate.
Hrothgar’s response suggests that most young warriors did not think this way. This may be his moment of greatest regret that he cannot actually adopt Beowulf and keep him here as a successor. Hrothgar, like most old men, knows that the strength of a people is in its alliances as much as in its war band. Most young men undervalue alliances, and are impatient with courting approval, preferring to try their own abilities. Hrothgar may feel that his nephew Hrothulf is not attentive enough to alliances, and that his own sons are still so young that they focus mostly on building their muscles and learning to shoot. The fervency of his good-bye to Beowulf, the tears he weeps as he embraces him for the last time, may signal his wish that he could, indeed, keep Beowulf as his successor.
Hrothgar predicts that if anything carries off Hygelac, either sword or sickness, the Geats will choose Beowulf as their next king. Germanic tribes had a tradition of selecting a king from among the royal family or from a new dynasty if the old one had ended (as in the case of Heremod). Hygelac may not, at this time, have had children, and so Beowulf would be a natural choice, as the nephew. But even after Hygelac’s sons are born, as we will see, the Geats had some choice in the matter to select a grown man over a child. Times were too dangerous not to allow for some flexibility in the matter of kingship.
Hrothgar’s parting gifts for the killing of Grendel’s mother are twelve treasures. We expect to learn more about them, but nothing more is said. Perhaps, with the ship preparing to leave, and the other treasures bundled up to carry, Hrothgar selects smaller treasures such as rings, jeweled brooches, or golden cups. Nothing could be as much carrying trouble as the eight horses already being led down to the sea! The ship is piled high with treasures, although the poet reassures us that the mast still rises high above the heap. For a last exchange of gifts, Beowulf pulls out a gilt sword, perhaps part of his hoard from Hrothgar, and passes it to the coast guard. The coast-guard’s respect in the mead hall, says the poet, rose after that.
As before, the poet loves to describe a sea-voyage. The ship is “ring-necked,” with a “sea-curved prow,” and it “sliced through the deep water” (1896, 1904) Even in a few lines, the poet packs in details: the great sail, the creaking timbers, the straining rigging, the prow wet with waves. The ship pushed forward with the wind, and in short time the cliffs of Geatland are visible. Again they are spotted by a coast guard, and the ship quickly tied up at the beach. The cargo is unloaded quickly, as may be imagined, for it contains not only live horses, but also treasure to tempt any thief.