Hengest

Family: Danes · Role: leader · First appears: Section XVI

In Section XVI, the minstrel tells that Finn offered Hengest and the Danes a dwelling, a hall and high-seat, and half the power in Frisian land. Finn swore to govern the remnant of Hengest’s people and uphold the treaty.

In Section XVII, the minstrel tells that Hengest remained with Finn through the death-dyed winter, holding the pact while longing for home. Then Hun pierced Hengest with the sword Lafing; after Guthlaf and Oslaf told of the grim attack, the minstrel says that Finn too was slain in his home.

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: Finn
  • “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: Finn
  • “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: Hun Finn 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,”

Section XVI

• enemies with Finn “in the parleying-place he could ply no longer weapon, nor war could he wage on Hengest,”

Section XVII

• with Finn (They held a pact.) “Hengest still through the death-dyed winter dwelt with Finn, holding pact, yet of home he minded,”
• enemies with Hun (The passage's pronoun refers to Hengest.) “So he escaped not the common doom, when Hun with ‘Lafing,’ the light-of-battle, best of blades, his bosom pierced:”

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