Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Wayang Kulit

Excerpt 1

(Kayon in center)

1. Overture: Caedmon's Hymn - Ayak-ayakan - Dragon March - Srepegan - Sampak

Pathet Nem (Act 1)

Prologue

Nalæss hi hine lordly gifts,
heros' huge treasure, than those
in former time had set him
alone on the seas, as a babe.
High they raised the standard,
a golden banner; and gave him to the ocean.
Sorrowful were their spirits, mournful their mood.
No man is able to truthfully tell,
no hero under heofenum, -- where that cargo landed.

Now Beo wæs on burgum of the Scyldings,
beloved leader, and long he ruled
with the good will of all people, since his father had gone
from this world, till there came an heir,
haughty Healfdene, who upheld the victorious Scyldings
as long as he lived.
Then, one by one, there woke to him,
to the chieftain of clansmen, children four:
Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga the Brave;
and a daughter, I heard, was Onela's queen,
the Heathoscylfing's beloved bedmate.

(Kayon moves to the side. Enter a Ship)

2. Ocean Voyage

The waves of the ocean, dark and powerful, beat against the hull. The ship, the sea-wood, is tossed from one crashing wave to the next. This is the all-encircling sea which forms the utmost frontiers of the earth we know. A single ship sails upon it, manned by warriors, strong and brave. Who are these noble men-at-arms? And who is the mighty captain that leads them? A grand adventure, a great quest lays before them. And a tale the telling of which lays before us now.

(Exit Ship. Enter Sentry and Beowulf)

(end music)

Sentry: Who are these armored men? Where do they come from, and whither do they go? What purpose do they have on these Danish shores? What errand brings them to this, the harbor entrusted to my keeping? Halt. Tell me, before you take liberty to travel in our land, who are you and from whence do you come? What alien land has given you birth, and why do you travel the sea-lanes seeking our shores? You are clearly great warriors, noble and brave. And I see that your captain is the greatest of you all. Come now, Captain, speak your name and tell me of your quest.

Beowulf: We synt gum-cynnes Geata leode
ond Hygelaces heorð-genéatas.
We are of the Geat people, and the hearth companions of King Hygelac. My father was a warrior called Ecgtheow, whose name, I think, is known to you. He was a friend to your lord, and so, too, I come in friendship with the Shieldings, and with your king, son of HalfDane. It is told in the far off land of my birth that this is a black hour for your king and his house. Tell me if it is true, this threat that walks unchecked in the dark of night. I come to offer the service of both my sword and my counsel, if indeed they would serve the great lord of Heorot, the king of the golden hall, in the name of the friendship between our peoples.

Sentry: Anyone who can reason rightly can make the measure between what's said and what's done. But if I can make the measure of a man, then I believe that you are indeed the friend of my lord and king. I will show you the way to the golden hall of Heorot, the path to the palace of my King. And I will watch the waves against your return, guarding your well-tarred ship until we meet again in my harbor.

(Exit Sentry and Beowulf. Kayon. Enter Hrodhgar, Petruk and Unferth)

3. The Gates of Heorot

Narrator: What royal hall, what regal palace is this we see before us? What manner of king holds court in this mighty castle? What great prince rules from this golden throne? This is the castle Heorot, stronghold of King Hrodhgar. In his youth was Hrodhgar a great warrior and noble captain of the men-at-arms. Now a king for many years, he is the venerated guardian of the Shieldings.

As a young man, Hrodhgar was fortunate in battle, and so was much beloved by the people, young and old. From far and wide, strong and valiant men flocked to his side and bore his banner. So the time came to build a palace, the golden hall of his people. Here would he command his armies, here would he dispense justice, here would he reward the faithful with rings and other precious gifts. So he set to work on a great mead-hall that would be a wonder to all the world. Stone walls were raised, and towers on the walls, and within were the many rooms and passageways, adorned in gold and silver and rich tapestries. And without were courtyards, decorated with trees and flowers and bubbling fountains, whose laughing song intertwined wiht the calls of the songbirds nesting in the trees. And a great hall was built, with marble floors and high windows with inlaid frames and a golden roof over all the many mead benches to seat all his loyal fighting men.

Hrodhgar ruled in peace and prosperity for many years. The valiant hero of his youth became the wise and venerable old king, loved and respected by all. But Hrodhgar's doom was not to live his days and peace before he would finally fade away into fond memory.

4. 14-tone Piece No. 1

In the outer reaches of his realm a demon lurked; a monster waited in the darkness. His black heart could not abide the joy that was Heorot. Hrodhgar's Keep, with the minstrels' songs and happy laughter caused pain and anger, anger that grew to madness.

Who is this ogre, prowling in the darkness? Who is this black-hearted devil, and whence does he come? Grendel is his name; misbegotten, malevolent monster, the descendant of kin-slaying Cain, whose curse it was that descended on this villan. Down through the ages, the curse of Cain compounded with the crimes of each new generation, until all humanity was gone from this line of fiends and ghouls, ogres and goblins, lurking in heath and fen, awaiting the opportunity for vengence.

So it came, in the dark of night, that Grendel set out to Heorot, the hall of Hrodhgar, beloved lord and ring-giver. He peered in the windows of the golden-roofed hall, and saw the men in the midst of their feasting, mead flowing and harpers singing. Insanity took this vile brute. He broke into the mead hall and snatched up the sons of the Shieldings from their benches; ten in one hand and twenty in the other, and dragged their corpses back to his foul lair.

And so, too, the next night did Grendel make his wicked war upon Heorot, again murdering a score of the king's guard. They were not caught unawares, but their weapons of war availed nothing against the scale-armored skin and hideous strength of their foe.

For twelve long years did this monster ravage the country side, and make foul war in his feud against the Danes. And for twelve long years did grief weigh upon the aged king, the once proud warrior now impotent against such an enemy.

(Enter Wulfgar)

(end music)

Wulfgar: Hrodhgar, my captain and my king. There are strangers at the gate, seeking audience with your royal highness. Fifteen men, armed with swords and clad in mail, lead by a man of noble bearing. Beowulf is the name he gives, of the tribe of Geats.

Petruk: Lord Hrodhgar says the name of Beowulf is known to him. He knew him as a lad. His father is Ecgtheow, and his mother is the daughter of Hrethel the Geat. He comes to renew the friendship between our peoples.

Hrodhgar: Ðonne sægdon thæt | sæliþende,
þa ðe gifsceattas | Geata fyredon
þyder to þance, | þæt he þritiges
manna mægencræft | on his mundgripe
heaþorof hæbbe.

Petruk: A band of seafarers, on an errand of gift-giving for my Lord Hrodhgar, returned with tales of this remarkable man. A great warrior is he, with the strength of thirty men in the grip of each hand.

Hrodhgar: Hine halig god
for arstafum | us onsende,
to Westdenum, | þæs ic wen hæbbe,
wið Grendles gryre. | Ic þæm godan sceal
for his modþræce | madmas beodan.

Petruk: Holy God has guided him here to battle with the ogre Grendel, and defend our land. My lord Hrodhgar will reward him generously.

Hrodhgar: Beo ðu on ofeste, | hat in gan
seon sibbegedriht | samod ætgædere;
gesaga him eac wordum | þæt hie sint wilcuman
Deniga leodum.

Petruk: Go now, make haste. Bid them enter into this hall, bring them hither before our king. And make it known that they are most welcome in the realm of the Danes.

5. Srepegan - ado-ado

(Exit Wulfgar. Enter Beowulf)

Luchd nan seol ard 's nan long luatha
's nam brataichean dearg is--------- uaine
's nan gunnachan gla-sa----- cruadhach o

Beowulf: Wæs thu, Hrodhgar, hal! | Ic eom Higelaces
mæg ond magodhegn.

Hail, King Hrodhgar, I come from the hall of King Hygelac. Men venturing on the seas brought word of your feud with the fiend Grendel. All the nobles and their councilors urged me to come to Heorot, glorious palace in days gone by, now all but abandoned and fallen into disrepair, and offer my services as your champion. For all in my far-off land are aware of my strength and skill with bladed weapons, and knew that I could prevail against this menace. For, if my lord will accept my offer, I will fight this villanous Grendel and put to final rest the scorge of Heorot. Your mead-hall will be bright and clean once more, and your land will be free of this monster.

Petruk: So says my lord Hrodhgar, king of the Scyldings: Many is the time that veteran warriors sat at this table and drank their fill of my beer and wine, boasting of future victories against my enemy Grendel. But when night gave way to light of day, the mead-benches were empty and the floors were soaked with the blood of the braggarts. Indeed, the sons of Scyld Scéfing accept your offer. Come, take your place at this table and enjoy a hero's just contentment.