Beowulf, translated by Frederick Rebsamen, the closing lines (3179-3182):
Hearth-companions praised their lost one
named him the ablest of all world-kings
mildest of men and most compassionate
most lithe to his people most loving of praise.
There is something wonderful about this final description of Beowulf (slayer of Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon) as “hearth-companion,” “mildest of men,” “most compassionate,” and “most lithe to his people.” Merriam-Webster defines lithe as “characterized by easy flexibility and grace” (first known use in the 14th century). It gives the origin of “lithe” as “from Old English līthe gentle” which is “akin to Old High German lindi gentle” and “Latin lentus slow.”
(I plan to be offline for the next week.)
