Book is xxii + 1261 pp.; b/w illustrations (reproductions of famous paintings). Reprinted in a "United States Naval Academy edition" in 1946 before going to a regular 2nd edition in 1954 (see below). The anthology presents substantial excerpts from the 1904 prose translation of Child in a long section called "The Romantic Mood"; the short headnote to Beowulf explains that "here are enthusiasm and wonder, a sense of the mystery of life, a turning to the past, and all the bold daring and high adventure which the archromantic might ask" (427).

The Beowulf selection begins:

[Heading:] Of Scyld Scefing (from whom Hrothgar sprang, whom Beowulf befriended) and his death

Lo! We have heard tell of the might in days of old of the Spear-Danes' folk-kings, how deeds of prowess were wrought by the athelings. Oft Scyld Scefing reft away their mead-benches from the throngs of his foes, from many a people. Fear came of the earl, after he was found at the first in his need. Redress he won for that, waxed under the clouds, throve in his glories, till of them that dwelt nigh him over the whale-road, each must obey him, and pay him tribute. That was a good king! (428)

And ends:

Then about the mound rode the sons of athelings brave in battle, twelve in all. They were minded to speak their sorrow, lament their king, frame sorrow in words and tell of the hero. They praised his earlship and did honor to his prowess as best they knew. It is meet that a man thus praise his liege-lord in words, hold him dear in his heart, when he must forth from the body to become as a thing that is naught.

So the Geat-folk, his hearth-comrades, grieved for their lord, said that he was a king like to none other in the world, of men the mildest and most gracious to men, the most friendly to his people and most eager to win praise. (442)

The 2nd edition (1954), re-edited by Horst Frenz, makes no changes to the Beowulf selection and no changes of much significance to the large section of the book in which it appears ("The Romantic Mood"), merely expanding the selection from Heine that is contained within that section. This is explained in Frenz's preface to the 2nd edition—where, however, Frenz misidentifies the sections in which are found several authors whose representation he expands (2nd ed., p. vii), making it seem as though the changes to "The Romantic Mood" are greater than they are.

This reuse of the Child translation not in Fry, MO1, GR, or MO2.

BAM (1st and 2nd editions).