Finn

Also known as: Folcwald's son · Family: Frisians · Role: prince · First appears: Section XVI

In Section XVI, the minstrel tells that Finn, Folcwald’s son, offered Hengest and the Danes a dwelling and half the power in Frisian land. He swore to govern Hengest’s remaining people and uphold the treaty, though the minstrel says that Hengest still minded home.

In Section XVII, the minstrel tells that Hun pierced Hengest with the sword Lafing, and that sword-death fell likewise on Finn in his own home after Guthlaf and Oslaf reported the attack. Finn was slain, and his queen was taken and led to the Danes.

Relationship record

Life events

• The minstrel tells that Finn offered Hengest and the Danes a pact granting them a dwelling and half the power in Frisian land.(Section XVI · 📍 Frisian land)
  • With: Hengest
  • “A pact he offered: another dwelling the Danes should have, hall and high-seat, and half the power should fall to them in Frisian land;”
• The minstrel tells that Finn swore to govern the remnant of Hengest's people and uphold the treaty.(Section XVI)
  • With: Hengest
  • “Finn to Hengest with oath, upon honor, openly promised that woful remnant, with wise-men's aid, nobly to govern, so none of the guests by word or work should warp the treaty,”
• The minstrel tells that Hun with the sword "Lafing" pierced the bosom of the guest Hengest, and that the sword-death fell likewise on Finn in his own home after Guthlaf and Oslaf had told of the grim attack.(Section XVII)
  • With: Hengest Hun Guthlaf Oslaf
  • “So he escaped not the common doom, when Hun with ‘Lafing,’ the light-of-battle, best of blades, his bosom pierced: its edge was famed with the Frisian earls. On fierce-heart Finn there fell likewise, on himself at home, the horrid sword-death; for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed, mourning their woes. Finn's wavering spirit bode not in breast. The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain,”
• The minstrel tells that Finn's queen was taken and led to the Danes.(Section XVII)
  • “The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain, king amid clansmen; the queen was taken. To their ship the Scylding warriors bore all the chattels the chieftain owned, whatever they found in Finn's domain of gems and jewels. The gentle wife o'er paths of the deep to the Danes they bore, led to her land.”

Section XVI

• enemies with Hengest “in the parleying-place he could ply no longer weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest,”
• parent: Folcwald “and at the fee-gifts, Folcwald's son day by day the Danes should honor,”
• enemies with Hnaef “of that sudden raid on the sons of Finn. Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding, was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.”

Section XVII

• with Hengest (They held a pact.) “Hengest still through the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn, holding pact, yet of home he minded,”
• enemies with Guthlaf “for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed, mourning their woes. Finn's wavering spirit bode not in breast. The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain, king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.”
• enemies with Oslaf “for Guthlaf and Oslaf of grim attack had sorrowing told, from sea-ways landed, mourning their woes. Finn's wavering spirit bode not in breast. The burg was reddened with blood of foemen, and Finn was slain, king amid clansmen; the queen was taken.”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of Beowulf (Gummere's translation). Made with Rho MD.