【词语】：贝奥武甫 Beowulf 　　【注音】：bèi ào wǔ fǔ 　　【释义】：英国古代史诗。公元5世纪时已开始口头传诵，约8世纪时成书。勇士贝奥武甫与怪物格伦德尔搏斗，使其断臂而死。怪物之母为子复仇，又被他追踪杀死。后来他做了国王。一次火龙来犯，他挺身斩龙，伤重而死。人民为他举行了隆重的葬礼。 　　现存的《贝奥武甫》唯一手稿，处于一个不知名的书记员之手，成稿时间为十世纪早期。被发现是在1705年，反映的是六世纪发生在欧洲大陆的一些事情。

叙事长诗

基本信息

　　《贝奥武夫》（Beowulf） 根据发音，我们译为：贝奥武夫。其实，它有两种意思：第一，Beo，是北欧单词的简写，因此，可翻译为：北欧之狼。第二，Beo，是“熊”的发音简写，寓意：像熊一样强壮以及像狼一样勇猛的男人。《贝奥武夫》它体现的是英雄叙事长诗，完成于公元九世纪。 全诗长3183行，以斯堪的纳维亚（Scandinavia）的英雄贝奥武夫（Beowulf）的英勇事迹构成主要内容。虽然历史上并未证实确有贝奥武夫其人，但诗中所提及的许多其他人物与事迹却得到印证。 本诗以西撒克斯（Wessex）方言写成，押头韵而不押尾韵，用双字隐喻而不用明喻。是现存古英语文学中最古老的作品，是流传至今的欧洲最完整的一部史诗，也是欧洲最早的方言史诗。在语言学方面也是相当珍贵的文献。 　　《贝奥武夫》（Beowulf），一译贝奥武甫，完成于西元八世纪，约750年左右的英雄叙事长诗，长达3000行。故事的舞台位于北欧的斯堪的纳维亚半岛。是以古英语记载的传说中最古老的一篇，在语言学方面也是相当珍贵的文献。 贝奥武夫（Beowulf）乃现存古英文文学中最伟大之作，也是欧洲最早的方言史诗。该诗中并未提及英国，但学者相信该诗约於西元七二五年左右在英国完成。 　　全诗凡三千一百八十二行，以斯堪地那维亚的英雄贝奥武夫的英勇事迹构成主要内容。虽然历史上并未证实确有贝奥武夫其人，但诗中所提及的许多其他人物与事迹却得到印证。 本诗原以西撒克逊方言写成，押头韵而不押尾韵，用双字隐喻而不用明喻。全诗内容分为两部分： 第一部分描叙丹麦霍格国王（King Hrothgurs）宏伟的宫殿，在前后十二年中，半人半魔的妖怪格兰戴（Grendel）每晚出没捉食霍格的战士。此时恰巧瑞典南部济兹（Geats）王子贝奥武夫率家臣来访，协助除害。国王当晚设宴款待，熟料妖怪格兰戴又复出现，捉食一名济兹战士，贝奥武夫与之格斗，贝氏扭断其臂，妖怪落荒而逃，因受重伤致死。第二天晚上，格兰戴的母亲前来为其子复仇，其后贝氏把她在一湖泊的洞穴中杀死。 第二部分描叙贝奥武夫返国，被拥为王，前后五十年，举国大治。最后贝奥武夫以垂老之年，杀一喷火巨龙，但其个人亦因而身受重创，终於身死。诗末叙其葬礼，并有挽歌。

诗歌节选

　　I 　　Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings, 　　leader beloved, and long he ruled 　　in fame with all folk, since his father had gone 　　away from the world, till awoke an heir, 　　haughty Healfdene, who held through life, 　　sage and sturdy, the Scyldings glad. 　　Then, one after one, there woke to him, 　　to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: 　　Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave; 　　and I heard that -- was --'s queen, 　　the Heathoscylfing's helpmate dear. 　　To Hrothgar was given such glory of war, 　　such honor of combat, that all his kin 　　obeyed him gladly till great grew his band 　　of youthful comrades. It came in his mind 　　to bid his henchmen a hall uprear, 　　a master mead-house, mightier far 　　than ever was seen by the sons of earth, 　　and within it, then, to old and young 　　he would all allot that the Lord had sent him, 　　save only the land and the lives of his men. 　　Wide, I heard, was the work commanded, 　　for many a tribe this mid-earth round, 　　to fashion the folkstead. It fell, as he ordered, 　　in rapid achievement that ready it stood there, 　　of halls the noblest: Heorot [1] he named it 　　whose message had might in many a land. 　　Not reckless of promise, the rings he dealt, 　　treasure at banquet: there towered the hall, 　　high, gabled wide, the hot surge waiting 　　of furious flame. [2] Nor far was that day 　　when father and son-in-law stood in feud 　　for warfare and hatred that woke again. [3] 　　With envy and anger an evil spirit 　　endured the dole in his dark abode, 　　that he heard each day the din of revel 　　high in the hall: there harps rang out, 　　clear song of the singer. He sang who knew [4] 　　tales of the early time of man, 　　how the Almighty made the earth, 　　fairest fields enfolded by water, 　　set, triumphant, sun and moon 　　for a light to lighten the land-dwellers, 　　and braided bright the breast of earth 　　with limbs and leaves, made life for all 　　of mortal beings that breathe and move. 　　So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel 　　a winsome life, till one began 　　to fashion evils