Beowulf 8: Beowulf confronts the fire dragon.

XXII. THE HOARD AND THE DRAGON.

* * * * * * *

He sought of himself who sorely did harm him,

But, for need very pressing, the servant of one of

The sons of the heroes hate-blows evaded,

Seeking for shelter and the sin-driven warrior

Took refuge within there. He early looked in it,

* * * * * * *

* * * * * when the onset surprised him,

[The hoard.]

He a gem-vessel saw there: many of suchlike

Ancient ornaments in the earth-cave were lying,

As in days of yore some one of men of

Illustrious lineage, as a legacy monstrous,

There had secreted them, careful and thoughtful,

Dear-valued jewels. Death had offsnatched them,

In the days of the past, and the one man moreover

Of the flower of the folk who fared there the longest,

Was fain to defer it, friend-mourning warder,

A little longer to be left in enjoyment

Of long-lasting treasure. A barrow all-ready

Stood on the plain the stream-currents nigh to,

New by the ness-edge, unnethe of approaching:

The keeper of rings carried within a

Ponderous deal of the treasure of nobles,

Of gold that was beaten . . . .

[The fire-dragon]

Dashed on his spirit. Then the ancient dusk-scather

Found the great treasure standing all open,

He who flaming and fiery flies to the barrows,

Naked war-dragon, nightly escapeth

Encompassed with fire; men under heaven

Widely beheld him. ’Tis said that he looks for

The hoard in the earth, where old he is guarding

The heathenish treasure; he’ll be nowise the better.

[The dragon meets his match.]

So three-hundred winters the waster of peoples

Held upon earth that excellent hoard-hall,

Till the forementioned earlman angered him bitterly:

The beat-plated beaker he bare to his chieftain

And fullest remission for all his remissness

Begged of his liegelord. Then the hoard was discovered,

The treasure was taken, his petition was granted

[A man plunders the dragon’s den]

The lorn-mooded liegeman. His lord regarded

The old-work of earth-folk—’twas the earliest occasion.

When the dragon awoke, the strife was renewed there;

He snuffed ’long the stone then, stout-hearted found he

The footprint of foeman; too far had he gone

With cunning craftiness close to the head of

The fire-spewing dragon. So undoomed he may ’scape from

Anguish and exile with ease who possesseth

The favor of Heaven. The hoard-warden eagerly

Searched o’er the ground then, would meet with the person

That caused him sorrow while in slumber reclining:

Gleaming and wild he oft went round the cavern,

All of it outward; not any of earthmen

Was seen in that desert. Yet he joyed in the battle,

Rejoiced in the conflict: oft he turned to the barrow,

Sought for the gem-cup; this he soon perceived then

[The dragon perceives that some one has disturbed his treasure.]

That some man or other had discovered the gold,

The famous folk-treasure. Not fain did the hoard-ward

Wait until evening; then the ward of the barrow

Was angry in spirit, the loathèd one wished to

Pay for the dear-valued drink-cup with fire.

Then the day was done as the dragon would have it,

He no longer would wait on the wall, but departed

[The dragon is infuriated.]

Fire-impelled, flaming. Fearful the start was

To earls in the land, as it early thereafter

To their giver-of-gold was grievously ended.

XXXIII.

BRAVE THOUGH AGED.—REMINISCENCES.

[The dragon spits fire.]

The stranger began then to vomit forth fire,

To burn the great manor; the blaze then glimmered

For anguish to earlmen, not anything living

Was the hateful air-goer willing to leave there.

The war of the worm widely was noticed,

The feud of the foeman afar and anear,

How the enemy injured the earls of the Geatmen,

Harried with hatred: back he hied to the treasure,

To the well-hidden cavern ere the coming of daylight.

He had circled with fire the folk of those regions,

With brand and burning; in the barrow he trusted,

In the wall and his war-might: the weening deceived him.

[Beowulf hears of the havoc wrought by the dragon.]

Then straight was the horror to Beowulf published,

Early forsooth, that his own native homestead,

The best of buildings, was burning and melting,

Gift-seat of Geatmen. ’Twas a grief to the spirit

Of the good-mooded hero, the greatest of sorrows:

[He fears that Heaven is punishing him for some crime.]

The wise one weened then that wielding his kingdom

’Gainst the ancient commandments, he had bitterly angered

The Lord everlasting: with lorn meditations

His bosom welled inward, as was nowise his custom.

The fire-spewing dragon fully had wasted

The fastness of warriors, the water-land outward,

The manor with fire. The folk-ruling hero,

Prince of the Weders, was planning to wreak him.

The warmen’s defender bade them to make him,

Earlmen’s atheling, an excellent war-shield

[He orders an iron shield to be made for since wood is useless.]

Wholly of iron: fully he knew then

That wood from the forest was helpless to aid him,

Shield against fire. The long-worthy ruler

Must live the last of his limited earth-days,

Of life in the world and the worm along with him,

Though he long had been holding hoard-wealth in plenty.

[He determines to fight alone.]

Then the ring-prince disdained to seek with a war-band,

With army extensive, the air-going ranger;

He felt no fear of the foeman’s assaults and

He counted for little the might of the dragon,

His power and prowess: for previously dared he

[Beowulf’s early triumphs referred to]

A heap of hostility, hazarded dangers,

War-thane, when Hrothgar’s palace he cleansèd,

Conquering combatant, clutched in the battle

The kinsmen of Grendel, of kindred detested.

[Higelac’s death recalled.]

’Twas of hand-fights not least where Higelac was slaughtered,

When the king of the Geatmen with clashings of battle . . .

Ecgtheow’s bairn o’er the bight-courses swam then,

Lone-goer lorn to his land-folk returning,

Where Hygd to him tendered treasure and kingdom,

[Heardred’s lack of capacity to rule.]

Rings and dominion: her son she not trusted,

To be able to keep the kingdom devised him

’Gainst alien races, on the death of King Higelac.

[Beowulf’s tact and delicacy recalled.]

Yet the sad ones succeeded not in persuading the atheling

In any way ever, to act as a suzerain

To Heardred, or promise to govern the kingdom;

Yet with friendly counsel in the folk he sustained him,

Gracious, with honor, till he grew to be older . . .

Distributed treasure, distinguished folk-leader.

’Twas the end of his earth-days; injury fatal

By swing of the sword he received as a greeting,

Offspring of Higelac; Ongentheow’s bairn

Later departed to visit his homestead,

When Heardred was dead; let Beowulf rule them,

Govern the Geatmen: good was that folk-king.

XXXIV. BEOWULF SEEKS THE DRAGON.—BEOWULF’S REMINISCENCES.

He planned requital for the folk-leader’s ruin

In days thereafter, to Eadgils the wretched

Becoming an enemy. Ohthere’s son then

Went with a war-troop o’er the wide-stretching currents

With warriors and weapons: with woe-journeys cold he

After avenged him, the king’s life he took.

[Beowulf has been preserved through many perils.]

So he came off uninjured from all of his battles,

Perilous fights, offspring of Ecgtheow,

From his deeds of daring, till that day most momentous

When he fate-driven fared to fight with the dragon.

[With eleven comrades, he seeks the dragon.]

With eleven companions the prince of the Geatmen

Went lowering with fury to look at the fire-drake:

Inquiring he’d found how the feud had arisen,

Hate to his heroes; the highly-famed gem-vessel

Was brought to his keeping through the hand of th’ informer.

[A guide leads the way, but]

That in the throng was thirteenth of heroes,

That caused the beginning of conflict so bitter,

Captive and wretched, must sad-mooded thenceward very reluctantly.

Point out the place: he passed then unwillingly

To the spot where he knew of the notable cavern,

The cave under earth, not far from the ocean,

The anger of eddies, which inward was full of

Jewels and wires: a warden uncanny,

Warrior weaponed, wardered the treasure,

Old under earth; no easy possession

For any of earth-folk access to get to.

Then the battle-brave atheling sat on the naze-edge,

While the gold-friend of Geatmen gracious saluted

His fireside-companions: woe was his spirit,

Death-boding, wav’ring; Weird very near him,

Who must seize the old hero, his soul-treasure look for,

Dragging aloof his life from his body:

Not flesh-hidden long was the folk-leader’s spirit.

Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s son:

[Beowulf’s retrospect reduced]

BEOWULF’S LAST BATTLE.

Belovèd co-liegemen—his last salutation:

“No brand would I bear, no blade for the dragon,

Wist I a way my word-boast to ’complish

Else with the monster, as with Grendel I did it;

But fire in the battle hot I expect there,

Furious flame-burning: so I fixed on my body

Target and war-mail. The ward of the barrow

I’ll not flee from a foot-length, the foeman uncanny.

At the wall ’twill befall us as Fate decreeth,

Let Fate decide between us.

Each one’s Creator. I am eager in spirit,

With the wingèd war-hero to away with all boasting.

Bide on the barrow with burnies protected,

[Wait here till the battle is over.]

Earls in armor, which of us two may better

Bear his disaster, when the battle is over.

’Tis no matter of yours, and man cannot do it,

But me and me only, to measure his strength with

The monster of malice, might-deeds to ’complish.

I with prowess shall gain the gold, or the battle,

Direful death-woe will drag off your ruler!”

The mighty champion rose by his shield then,

Brave under helmet, in battle-mail went he

’Neath steep-rising stone-cliffs, the strength he relied on

Of one man alone: no work for a coward.

Then he saw by the wall who a great many battles

Had lived through, most worthy, when foot-troops collided,

[The place of strife is described]

Stone-arches standing, stout-hearted champion,

Saw a brook from the barrow bubbling out thenceward:

The flood of the fountain was fuming with war-flame:

Not nigh to the hoard, for season the briefest

Could he brave, without burning, the abyss that was yawning,

The drake was so fiery. The prince of the Weders

Caused then that words came from his bosom,

So fierce was his fury; the firm-hearted shouted:

His battle-clear voice came in resounding

’Neath the gray-colored stone. Stirred was his hatred,

[Beowulf calls out under the stone arches.]

The hoard-ward distinguished the speech of a man;

Time was no longer to look out for friendship.

The breath of the monster issued forth first,

Vapory war-sweat, out of the stone-cave:

[The terrible encounter.]

The earth re-echoed. The earl ’neath the barrow

Lifted his shield, lord of the Geatmen,

Tow’rd the terrible stranger: the ring-twisted creature’s

Heart was then ready to seek for a struggle.

[Beowulf brandishes his sword.]

The excellent battle-king first brandished his weapon,
The ancient heirloom, of edges unblunted,
To the death-planners twain was terror from other.
The lord of the troopers intrepidly stood then
’Gainst his high-rising shield, when the dragon coiled him

[The dragon coils himself.]

Quickly together: in corslet he bided.

105

He went then in blazes, bended and striding,

Hasting him forward. His life and body

The targe well protected, for time-period shorter

Than wish demanded for the well-renowned leader,

Where he then for the first day was forced to be victor,

110

Famous in battle, as Fate had not willed it.

The lord of the Geatmen uplifted his hand then,

Smiting the fire-drake with sword that was precious,

That bright on the bone the blade-edge did weaken,

Bit more feebly than his folk-leader needed,

115

Burdened with bale-griefs. Then the barrow-protector,

[The dragon rages]

When the sword-blow had fallen, was fierce in his spirit,

Flinging his fires, flamings of battle

Gleamed then afar: the gold-friend of Weders

[Beowulf’s sword fails him.]

Boasted no conquests, his battle-sword failed him

120

Naked in conflict, as by no means it ought to,

Long-trusty weapon. ’Twas no slight undertaking

That Ecgtheow’s famous offspring would leave

The drake-cavern’s bottom; he must live in some region

Other than this, by the will of the dragon,

125

As each one of earthmen existence must forfeit.

’Twas early thereafter the excellent warriors

[The combat is renewed.]

Met with each other. Anew and afresh

The hoard-ward took heart (gasps heaved then his bosom):

[The great hero is reduced to extremities.]

Sorrow he suffered encircled with fire

130

Who the people erst governed. His companions by no means

Were banded about him, bairns of the princes,

[His comrades flee!]

With valorous spirit, but they sped to the forest,

Seeking for safety. The soul-deeps of one were

[Blood is thicker than water.]

Ruffled by care: kin-love can never

135

Aught in him waver who well doth consider.

WIGLAF THE TRUSTY.—BEOWULF IS DESERTED BY FRIENDS AND BY SWORD.

[Wiglaf remains true—the ideal Teutonic liegeman.]

The son of Weohstan was Wiglaf entitled,

Shield-warrior precious, prince of the Scylfings,

Ælfhere’s kinsman: he saw his dear liegelord

Enduring the heat ’neath helmet and visor.

Then he minded the holding that erst he had given him,

[Wiglaf recalls Beowulf’s generosity.]

The Wægmunding warriors’ wealth-blessèd homestead,

Each of the folk-rights his father had wielded;

He was hot for the battle, his hand seized the target,

The yellow-bark shield, he unsheathed his old weapon,

Which was known among earthmen as the relic of Eanmund,

Ohthere’s offspring, whom, exiled and friendless,

Weohstan did slay with sword-edge in battle,

And carried his kinsman the clear-shining helmet,

The ring-made burnie, the old giant-weapon

That Onela gave him, his boon-fellow’s armor,

Ready war-trappings: he the feud did not mention,

Though he’d fatally smitten the son of his brother.

Many a half-year held he the treasures,

The bill and the burnie, till his bairn became able,

Like his father before him, fame-deeds to ’complish;

Then he gave him ’mong Geatmen a goodly array of

Weeds for his warfare; he went from life then

Old on his journey. ’Twas the earliest time then

[This is Wiglaf’s first battle as liegeman of Beowulf.]

That the youthful champion might charge in the battle

Aiding his liegelord; his spirit was dauntless.

Nor did kinsman’s bequest quail at the battle:

This the dragon discovered on their coming together.

Wiglaf uttered many a right-saying,

Said to his fellows, sad was his spirit:

[Wiglaf appeals to the pride of the cowards.]

“I remember the time when, tasting the mead-cup,

We promised in the hall the lord of us all

Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-equipment,

Swords and helmets, we’d certainly quite him,

Should need of such aid ever befall him:

[How we have forfeited our liegelord’s confidence!]

In the war-band he chose us for this journey spontaneously,

Stirred us to glory and gave me these jewels,

Since he held and esteemed us trust-worthy spearmen,

Hardy helm-bearers, though this hero-achievement

Our lord intended alone to accomplish,

Ward of his people, for most of achievements,

Doings audacious, he did among earth-folk.

[Our lord is in sore need of us.]

The day is now come when the ruler of earthmen

Needeth the vigor of valiant heroes:

Let us wend us towards him, the war-prince to succor,

While the heat yet rageth, horrible fire-fight.

[I would rather die than go home without my suzerain.]

God wot in me, ’tis mickle the liefer

The blaze should embrace my body and eat it

With my treasure-bestower. Meseemeth not proper

To bear our battle-shields back to our country,

’Less first we are able to fell and destroy the

Long-hating foeman, to defend the life of

[Surely he does not deserve to die alone.]

The prince of the Weders. Well do I know ’tisn’t

Earned by his exploits, he only of Geatmen

Sorrow should suffer, sink in the battle:

Brand and helmet to us both shall be common,

¹Shield-cover, burnie.” Through the bale-smoke he stalked then,

Went under helmet to the help of his chieftain,

[Wiglaf reminds Beowulf of his youthful boasts.]

Briefly discoursing: “Beowulf dear,

Perform thou all fully, as thou formerly saidst,

In thy youthful years, that while yet thou livedst

Thou wouldst let thine honor not ever be lessened.

Thy life thou shalt save, mighty in actions,

Atheling undaunted, with all of thy vigor;

[The monster advances on them.]

I’ll give thee assistance.” The dragon came raging,

Wild-mooded stranger, when these words had been uttered

(’Twas the second occasion), seeking his enemies,

Men that were hated, with hot-gleaming fire-waves;

With blaze-billows burned the board to its edges:

The fight-armor failed then to furnish assistance

To the youthful spear-hero: but the young-agèd stripling

Quickly advanced ’neath his kinsman’s war-target,

Since his own had been ground in the grip of the fire.

[Beowulf strikes at the dragon.]

Then the warrior-king was careful of glory,

He soundly smote with sword-for-the-battle,

That it stood in the head by hatred driven;

Nægling was shivered, the old and iron-made

[His sword fails him.]

Brand of Beowulf in battle deceived him.

’Twas denied him that edges of irons were able

To help in the battle; the hand was too mighty

Which every weapon, as I heard on inquiry,

Outstruck in its stroke, when to struggle he carried

The wonderful war-sword: it waxed him no better.

[The dragon advances on Beowulf again.]

Then the people-despoiler—third of his onsets—

Fierce-raging fire-drake, of feud-hate was mindful,

Charged on the strong one, when chance was afforded,

Heated and war-grim, seized on his neck

With teeth that were bitter; he bloody did wax with

Soul-gore seething; sword-blood in waves boiled.

XXXVII.

THE FATAL STRUGGLE.—BEOWULF’S LAST MOMENTS.

[Wiglaf defends Beowulf.]

Then I heard that at need of the king of the people

The upstanding earlman exhibited prowess,

Vigor and courage, as suited his nature;

¹He his head did not guard, but the high-minded liegeman’s

Hand was consumed, when he succored his kinsman,

So he struck the strife-bringing strange-comer lower,

Earl-thane in armor, that in went the weapon

Gleaming and plated, that ’gan then the fire

[Beowulf draws his knife.]

Later to lessen. The liegelord himself then

Retained his consciousness, brandished his war-knife,

Battle-sharp, bitter, that he bare on his armor:

and cuts the dragon.

The Weder-lord cut the worm in the middle.

They had felled the enemy (life drove out then

Puissant prowess), the pair had destroyed him,

Land-chiefs related: so a liegeman should prove him,

A thaneman when needed. To the prince ’twas the last of

His era of conquest by his own great achievements,

[Beowulf’s wound swells and burns.]

The latest of world-deeds. The wound then began

Which the earth-dwelling dragon erstwhile had wrought him

To burn and to swell. He soon then discovered

That bitterest bale-woe in his bosom was raging,

Poison within. The atheling advanced then,

[He sits down exhausted.]

That along by the wall, he prudent of spirit

Might sit on a settle; he saw the giant-work,

How arches of stone strengthened with pillars

The earth-hall eternal inward supported.

Then the long-worthy liegeman laved with his hand the

[Wiglaf bathes his lord’s head.]

Far-famous chieftain, gory from sword-edge,

Refreshing the face of his friend-lord and ruler,

Sated with battle, unbinding his helmet.

Beowulf answered, of his injury spake he,

His wound that was fatal (he was fully aware

He had lived his allotted life-days enjoying

The pleasures of earth; then past was entirely

His measure of days, death very near):

[Beowulf regrets that he has no son.]

“My son I would give now my battle-equipments,

Had any of heirs been after me granted,

Along of my body. This people I governed

Fifty of winters: no king ’mong my neighbors

Dared to encounter me with comrades-in-battle,

Try me with terror. The time to me ordered

I bided at home, mine own kept fitly,

Sought me no snares, swore me not many

[I can rejoice in a well-spent life.]

Oaths in injustice. Joy over all this

I’m able to have, though ill with my death-wounds;

Hence the Ruler of Earthmen need not charge me

With the killing of kinsmen, when cometh my life out

Forth from my body. Fare thou with haste now

[Bring me the hoard, Wiglaf, that my dying eyes may be refreshed by a sight of it.]

To behold the hoard ’neath the hoar-grayish stone,

Well-lovèd Wiglaf, now the worm is a-lying,

Sore-wounded sleepeth, disseized of his treasure.

Go thou in haste that treasures of old I,

Gold-wealth may gaze on, together see lying

The ether-bright jewels, be easier able,

Having the heap of hoard-gems, to yield my

Life and the land-folk whom long I have governed.”

WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE DRAGON’S DEN.—BEOWULF’S DEATH.

[Wiglaf fulfils his lord’s behest.]

Then heard I that Wihstan’s son very quickly,

These words being uttered, heeded his liegelord

Wounded and war-sick, went in his armor,

His well-woven ring-mail, ’neath the roof of the barrow.

Then the trusty retainer treasure-gems many

[The dragon’s den.]

Victorious saw, when the seat he came near to,

Gold-treasure sparkling spread on the bottom,

Wonder on the wall, and the worm-creature’s cavern,

The ancient dawn-flier’s, vessels a-standing,

Cups of the ancients of cleansers bereavèd,

Robbed of their ornaments: there were helmets in numbers,

Old and rust-eaten, arm-bracelets many,

Artfully woven. Wealth can easily,

Gold on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity

Each one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth!

And he saw there lying an all-golden banner

High o’er the hoard, of hand-wonders greatest,

Linkèd with lacets: a light from it sparkled,

That the floor of the cavern he was able to look on,

[The dragon is not there.]

To examine the jewels. Sight of the dragon

Not any was offered, but edge offcarried him.

[Wiglaf bears the hoard away.]

Then I heard that the hero the hoard-treasure plundered,

The giant-work ancient reaved in the cavern,

Bare on his bosom the beakers and platters,

As himself would fain have it, and took off the standard,

The brightest of beacons; the bill had erst injured

(Its edge was of iron), the old-ruler’s weapon,

Him who long had watched as ward of the jewels,

Who fire-terror carried hot for the treasure,

Rolling in battle, in middlemost darkness,

Till murdered he perished. The messenger hastened,

Not loth to return, hurried by jewels:

Curiosity urged him if, excellent-mooded,

Alive he should find the lord of the Weders

Mortally wounded, at the place where he left him.

’Mid the jewels he found then the famous old chieftain,

His liegelord belovèd, at his life’s-end gory:

He thereupon ’gan to lave him with water,

Till the point of his word piercèd his breast-hoard.

Beowulf spake (the gold-gems he noticed),

[Beowulf is rejoiced to see the jewels.]

The old one in sorrow: “For the jewels I look on

Thanks do I utter for all to the Ruler,

Wielder of Worship, with words of devotion,

The Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures

Gain for my people ere death overtook me.

Since I’ve bartered the agèd life to me granted

For treasure of jewels, attend ye henceforward

[He desires to be held in memory by his people.]

The wants of the war-thanes; I can wait here no longer.

The battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill,

Bright when I’m burned, at the brim-current’s limit;

As a memory-mark to the men I have governed,

Aloft it shall tower on Whale’s-Ness uprising,

That earls of the ocean hereafter may call it

Beowulf’s barrow, those who barks ever-dashing

From a distance shall drive o’er the darkness of waters.”

[The hero’s last gift]

The bold-mooded troop-lord took from his neck then

The ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman,

The youthful war-hero, his gold-flashing helmet,

His collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy them:

[and last words]

“Thou art latest left of the line of our kindred,

Of Wægmunding people: Weird hath offcarried

All of my kinsmen to the Creator’s glory,

Earls in their vigor: I shall after them fare.”

’Twas the aged liegelord’s last-spoken word in

His musings of spirit, ere he mounted the fire,

The battle-waves burning: from his bosom departed

His soul to seek the sainted ones’ glory.

THE DEAD FOES.—WIGLAF’S BITTER TAUNTS.

[Wiglaf is sorely grieved to see his lord look so un-warlike.]

It had wofully chanced then the youthful retainer

To behold on earth the most ardent-belovèd

At his life-days’ limit, lying there helpless.

The slayer too lay there, of life all bereavèd,

Horrible earth-drake, harassed with sorrow:

[The dragon has plundered his last hoard.]

The round-twisted monster was permitted no longer

To govern the ring-hoards, but edges of war-swords

Mightily seized him, battle-sharp, sturdy

Leavings of hammers, that still from his wounds

The flier-from-farland fell to the earth

Hard by his hoard-house, hopped he at midnight

Not e’er through the air, nor exulting in jewels

Suffered them to see him: but he sank then to earthward

Through the hero-chief’s handwork. I heard sure it throve then

[Few warriors dared to face the monster.]

But few in the land of liegemen of valor,

Though of every achievement bold he had proved him,

To run ’gainst the breath of the venomous scather,

Or the hall of the treasure to trouble with hand-blows,

If he watching had found the ward of the hoard-hall

On the barrow abiding. Beowulf’s part of

The treasure of jewels was paid for with death;

Each of the twain had attained to the end of

Life so unlasting. Not long was the time till

[The cowardly thanes come out of the thicket.]

The tardy-at-battle returned from the thicket,

The timid truce-breakers ten all together,

Who durst not before play with the lances

In the prince of the people’s pressing emergency;

[They are ashamed of their desertion.]

But blushing with shame, with shields they betook them,

With arms and armor where the old one was lying:

They gazed upon Wiglaf. He was sitting exhausted,

Foot-going fighter, not far from the shoulders

Of the lord of the people, would rouse him with water;

No whit did it help him; though he hoped for it keenly,

He was able on earth not at all in the leader

Life to retain, and nowise to alter

The will of the Wielder; the World-Ruler’s power¹

Would govern the actions of each one of heroes,

[Wiglaf is ready to excoriate them.]

As yet He is doing. From the young one forthwith then

Could grim-worded greeting be got for him quickly

Whose courage had failed him. Wiglaf discoursed then,

Weohstan his son, sad-mooded hero,

[He begins to taunt them.]

Looked on the hated: “He who soothness will utter

Can say that the liegelord who gave you the jewels,

The ornament-armor wherein ye are standing,

When on ale-bench often he offered to hall-men

Helmet and burnie, the prince to his liegemen,

As best upon earth he was able to find him,—

[Surely our lord wasted his armor on poltroons.]

That he wildly wasted his war-gear undoubtedly

When battle o’ertook him. The troop-king no need had

To glory in comrades; yet God permitted him,

[He, however, got along without you]

Victory-Wielder, with weapon unaided

Himself to avenge, when vigor was needed.

I life-protection but little was able

To give him in battle, and I ’gan, notwithstanding,

With some aid, I could have saved our liegelord

Helping my kinsman (my strength overtaxing):

He waxed the weaker when with weapon I smote on

My mortal opponent, the fire less strongly

Flamed from his bosom. Too few of protectors

Came round the king at the critical moment.

Gift-giving is over with your people: the ring-lord is dead.

Now must ornament-taking and weapon-bestowing,

Home-joyance all, cease for your kindred,

Food for the people; each of your warriors

Must needs be bereavèd of rights that he holdeth

In landed possessions, when faraway nobles

Shall learn of your leaving your lord so basely,

[What is life without honor?]

The dastardly deed. Death is more pleasant

To every earlman than infamous life is!”

XL.

THE MESSENGER OF DEATH.

[Wiglaf sends the news of Beowulf’s death to liegemen near by.]

Then he charged that the battle be announced at the hedge

Up o’er the cliff-edge, where the earl-troopers bided

The whole of the morning, mood-wretched sat them,

Bearers of battle-shields, both things expecting,

The end of his lifetime and the coming again of

The liegelord belovèd. Little reserved he

Of news that was known, who the ness-cliff did travel,

But he truly discoursed to all that could hear him:

[The messenger speaks.]

“Now the free-giving friend-lord of the folk of the Weders,

The folk-prince of Geatmen, is fast in his death-bed,

By the deeds of the dragon in death-bed abideth;

Along with him lieth his life-taking foeman

Slain with knife-wounds: he was wholly unable

To injure at all the ill-planning monster

[Wiglaf sits by our dead lord.]

With bite of his sword-edge. Wiglaf is sitting,

Offspring of Wihstan, up over Beowulf,

Earl o’er another whose end-day hath reached him,

Head-watch holdeth o’er heroes unliving,

[Our lord’s death will lead to attacks from our old foes.]

For friend and for foeman. The folk now expecteth

A season of strife when the death of the folk-king

To Frankmen and Frisians in far-lands is published.

The war-hatred waxed warm ’gainst the Hugmen,

[Higelac’s death recalled.]

When Higelac came with an army of vessels

Faring to Friesland, where the Frankmen in battle

Humbled him and bravely with overmight ’complished

That the mail-clad warrior must sink in the battle,

Fell ’mid his folk-troop: no fret-gems presented

The atheling to earlmen; aye was denied us

Merewing’s mercy. The men of the Swedelands

For truce or for truth trust I but little;

But widely ’twas known that near Ravenswood Ongentheow

[Hæthcyn’s fall referred to.]

Sundered Hæthcyn the Hrethling from life-joys,

When for pride overweening the War-Scylfings first did

Seek the Geatmen with savage intentions.

Early did Ohthere’s age-laden father,

Old and terrible, give blow in requital,

Killing the sea-king, the queen-mother rescued,

The old one his consort deprived of her gold,

Onela’s mother and Ohthere’s also,

And then followed the feud-nursing foemen till hardly,

Reaved of their ruler, they Ravenswood entered.

Then with vast-numbered forces he assaulted the remnant,

Weary with wounds, woe often promised

The livelong night to the sad-hearted war-troop:

Said he at morning would kill them with edges of weapons,

Some on the gallows for glee to the fowls.

Aid came after to the anxious-in-spirit

At dawn of the day, after Higelac’s bugle

And trumpet-sound heard they, when the good one proceeded

And faring followed the flower of the troopers.

XLI.

THE MESSENGER’S RETROSPECT.

[The messenger continues, and refers to the feuds of Swedes and Geats. — reduced here]

[The warriors go sadly to look at Beowulf’s lifeless body.]

His slaughter-bed holding, him who rings had given them

In days that were done; then the death-bringing moment

Was come to the good one, that the king very warlike,

Wielder of Weders, with wonder-death perished.

First they beheld there a creature more wondrous,

[They also see the dragon.]

The worm on the field, in front of them lying,

The foeman before them: the fire-spewing dragon,

Ghostly and grisly guest in his terrors,

Was scorched in the fire; as he lay there he measured

Fifty of feet; came forth in the night-time

100

To rejoice in the air, thereafter departing

To visit his den; he in death was then fastened,

He would joy in no other earth-hollowed caverns.

There stood round about him beakers and vessels,

Dishes were lying and dear-valued weapons,

105

With iron-rust eaten, as in earth’s mighty bosom

A thousand of winters there they had rested:

[The hoard was under a magic spell.]

That mighty bequest then with magic was guarded,

Gold of the ancients, that earlman not any

The ring-hall could touch, save Ruling-God only,

110

Sooth-king of Vict’ries gave whom He wished to

[God alone could give access to it.]

(He is earth-folk’s protector) to open the treasure,

E’en to such among mortals as seemed to Him proper.

XLII.

WIGLAF’S SAD STORY.—THE HOARD CARRIED OFF.

Then ’twas seen that the journey prospered him little

Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden

Down ’neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered

Some few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter

Was hotly avengèd. ’Tis a wonder where,

When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end of

Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may

Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing.

So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow,

Assaults, he sought for: himself had no knowledge

How his leaving this life was likely to happen.

So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did

Call it with curses—who ’complished it there—

That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted,

Confined in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds,

Punished with plagues, who this place should e’er ravage.

He cared not for gold: rather the Wielder’s

Favor preferred he first to get sight of.

[Wiglaf addresses his comrades.]

Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his son:

“Oft many an earlman on one man’s account must

Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened.

The liegelord belovèd we could little prevail on,

Kingdom’s keeper, counsel to follow,

Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him

Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling

Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny

Hard to endure: the hoard has been looked at,

Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that

The prince of the people pricked to come thither.

I was therein and all of it looked at,

The building’s equipments, since access was given me,

Not kindly at all entrance permitted

[He tells them of Beowulf’s last moments.]

Within under earth-wall. Hastily seized I

And held in my hands a huge-weighing burden

Of hoard-treasures costly, hither out bare them

To my liegelord belovèd: life was yet in him,

And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then

Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you,

[Beowulf’s dying request.]

Bade that remembering the deeds of your friend-lord

Ye build on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty

Burial-barrow, broad and far-famous,

As ’mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely most honored

While he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and hasten

Again to see and seek for the treasure,

The wonder ’neath wall. The way I will show you,

That close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient

And gold in abundance. Let the bier with promptness

Fully be fashioned, when forth we shall come,

And lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry,

Well-beloved warrior, ’neath the Wielder’s protection.”

[Wiglaf charges them to build a funeral-pyre.]

Then the son of Wihstan bade orders be given,

Mood-valiant man, to many of heroes,

Holders of homesteads, that they hither from far,

Leaders of liegemen, should look for the good one

With wood for his pyre: “The flame shall now swallow

(The wan fire shall wax) the warriors’ leader

Who the rain of the iron often abided,

When, sturdily hurled, the storm of the arrows

Leapt o’er linden-wall, the lance rendered service,

Furnished with feathers followed the arrow.”

Now the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon

The best of the braves from the band of the ruler

[He takes seven thanes, and enters the den.]

Seven together; ’neath the enemy’s roof he

Went with the seven; one of the heroes

Who fared at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light

Bare in his hand. No lot then decided

Who that hoard should havoc, when hero-earls saw it

Lying in the cavern uncared-for entirely,

Rusting to ruin: they rued then but little

That they hastily hence hauled out the treasure,

[They push the dragon over the wall.]

The dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke pushed they,

The worm o’er the wall, let the wave-currents take him,

The waters enwind the ward of the treasures.

[The hoard is laid on a wain.]

There wounden gold on a wain was uploaded,

A mass unmeasured, the men-leader off then,

The hero hoary, to Whale’s-Ness was carried.

XLIII.

THE BURNING OF BEOWULF.

[Beowulf’s pyre.]

The folk of the Geatmen got him then ready

A pile on the earth strong for the burning,

Behung with helmets, hero-knights’ targets,

And bright-shining burnies, as he begged they should have them;

Then wailing war-heroes their world-famous chieftain,

Their liegelord beloved, laid in the middle.

[The funeral-flame.]

Soldiers began then to make on the barrow

The largest of dead-fires: dark o’er the vapor

The smoke-cloud ascended, the sad-roaring fire,

Mingled with weeping (the wind-roar subsided)

Till the building of bone it had broken to pieces,

Hot in the heart. Heavy in spirit

They mood-sad lamented the men-leader’s ruin;

And mournful measures the much-grieving widow

* * * * * * *

[The Weders carry out their lord’s last request.]

The men of the Weders made accordingly

A hill on the height, high and extensive,

Of sea-going sailors to be seen from a distance,

And the brave one’s beacon built where the fire was,

In ten-days’ space, with a wall surrounded it,

As wisest of world-folk could most worthily plan it.

They placed in the barrow rings and jewels,

[Rings and gems are laid in the barrow.]

All such ornaments as erst in the treasure

War-mooded men had won in possession:

The earnings of earlmen to earth they entrusted,

The gold to the dust, where yet it remaineth

As useless to mortals as in foregoing eras.

’Round the dead-mound rode then the doughty-in-battle,

Bairns of all twelve of the chiefs of the people,

[They mourn for their lord, and sing his praises.]

More would they mourn, lament for their ruler,

Speak in measure, mention him with pleasure,

Weighed his worth, and his warlike achievements

Mightily commended, as ’tis meet one praise his

Liegelord in words and love him in spirit,

When forth from his body he fares to destruction.

So lamented mourning the men of the Geats,

Fond-loving vassals, the fall of their lord,

[An ideal king.]

Said he was kindest of kings under heaven,

Gentlest of men, most winning of manner,

Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor.

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