... sense.”l The context here is especially important for any reasonable emenda- tion. After his arrival at Heorot, Beowulf is praised by Hrothgar, who says that Ecgtheow, Beowulf‘s father, once killed a man named Heath- olaf in the land of the Wylfings. Because of the slaying, ‘%a hine gara...

... : sende ic Wylfingum ofer waeteres hrycg 472 ealde madmas. He me apas swor. Hrothgar here informs us that Ecgtheow lived, first, in the land of the Wylfings, and later, when he got into trouble there, came to Den- mark. The Danish king not only received him hospitably but also paid...

... is used, Hrothgar is explain- ing the relationship and bond between Beowulf‘s father, Ecgtheow, and himself: many years before, Ecgtheow had murdered the Wylfing Heatholaf and so had forfeited his tribal rights, leaving his people (the Geats) unable, for fear of war, to harbor him. Hrothgar...