Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (Bilingual Edition)
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By Cy Ashley Webb - March 06, 2006

The phrase "he was a good king" appears three times in Beowulf. The first iteration (line 11) is a homage to Shield Sheafson. By describing Sheafson in honorific terms, the poet suggests that Sneafson's offspring are also worthy of respect. The second iteration refers to Hrothgar, descendant of Sheafson; the poet tells us "yet there was no laying…

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