Of Higelac the proud he heard his war and battle

might

And weened not to withstand him there, or with the Goths to fight,

Or from the bold sea-rovers save his treasure, sons, and bride;

And thence the old man turned away the earthen wall beside.

Then was pursuit of Swedes decreed-banner and

victory

To Higelac! Forth went the Hrethlings* o'er the peaceful lea

Till round the stronghold fierce they thronged, and with the edge of sword

The grey-haired Ongentheow was slain; for there the people's lord

Must yield himself to Eofor's doom! At him so smote amain

Wulf, Wonred's son, that at the blow blood burst from every vein

Beneath his hair; but not the less the old king un

affrayed

Turned on him and for that fell stroke a worse exchange repaid;

For before Wonred's nimble son could deal another

blow

Atwain the helmet on his head the old man cleft, and low

*

'Hrethlings,' i.e. Goths, the people of Hrethel, the father of Higelac.

On earth fell Wulf all stained with blood; but not yet

doomed to die,

With grievous wound he 'scaped.

When there he saw his brother lie

Eofor-brave thane of Higelac-broke down with his

broad blade

O'er buckler wall the eoten-helm, and old sword eoten

made;

Down fell the king, the people's guard-his life was

shorn away.

Many they were who bound the wounds of kinsmen

on that day,

Quick raising them when room was made, and they the battle-field

Could hold while warrior warrior spoiled. The hilted falchion steeled,

The iron corselet, and the helm, from Ongentheow

they tore,

And all the hoary leader's arms to Higelac they bore; Who took the spoil, and promised fair rewards to all

his men;

And kept his word; the lord of Goths, when home he came again,

On Eofor and on Wulf bestowed rich treasures for the

fight

A hundred thousand's worth in land and twisted arm

lets bright;

(Since they such mighty deeds had done no man on middle-earth

For such rewards could scoff at them); and to adorn the hearth

His only daughter Higelac to Eofor gave to wife.
Lo! there the cruel hate of men, the enmity and

strife!

Therefore I ween that us with war the Swedes will

overwhelm,

Whene'er they hear our lord is dead, who kept the hoard and realm

Erewhile 'gainst every foe, when bravely Scylfing heroes fell

Fulfilled the counsel of the folk, and every way did

well.

Now haste is best that we may look upon the

people's king,

And carry to the bale-fire him who gave us many a

ring!

Nor shall the goods of any man be with the warrior

burned,

For treasure yonder lies untold, and wealth too dearly

earned !

Now at the last with his own life he bought these armlets fair

Which fire shall eat and flame o'erlap. No earl shall treasure bear

For mem'ry's sake; nor maiden bright her neck with rings adorn,

But oftentimes, of gold bereft, strange lands shall tread forlorn,

Now that the leader of the host has ceased from joy

of song,

And sport and laughter.

Cold at morn shall many a spear ere long

With hands be grasped and brandished high! No more the harper's strain

Shall warrior wake; but swarthy ravens, busy o'er the

slain,

With clamour manifold shall tell the eagles how they

sped

At their repast, when with the wolves they battened on the dead!"

VII.

THE BURNING OF BEOWULF'S BODY.

Thus spoke the warrior bold his hateful news; nor

greatly lied

In word or weird forecast.

Uprose the band, and sadly hied With streaming tears 'neath Eagle's Ness the wonder

to behold.

There found they him who gave them rings oft in the times of old

Dead on his bier upon the sand; passed was the latest breath

Of their good lord; the warrior-king had died a wondrous death.

But first they saw a stranger thing-the loathly worm

lay low

Over against him on the plain. Scorched with the burning glow

The fire-drake fifty measured feet lay prone-a horror dread

Who through the night took aëry joys, and downward would have fled

Back to his den; now fast in death no more would see his cave.

Beaker and bowl beside him stood, and dish, and costly glaive,

Rust-eaten like the things in earth a thousand years that dwell.

The heritage of men long syne, that gold, with mighty

spell

Had so been girt about that never man that treasure

hall

Had stirred, unless that God Himself, who men protecteth all,

True King of victories, had giv'n to whomsoe'er He

would,

Ev'n to the man whom He thought meet, to ope that treasure good.

Thus was it seen his toil was lost, unrighteously

who filled

The cave with riches; for though some its keeper erst had killed,

Yet vengeance stern was dealt for wrong; and where the wonder where

That glorious earl to meet the end of his life's-work

should fare,