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famous chieftain； at side of hero！ No harp's delight； no glee…wood's
gladness！ No good hawk now flies through the hall！ Nor horses fleet
stamp in the burgstead！ Battle and death the flower of my race have reft
away。〃 Mournful of mood； thus he moaned his woe； alone； for them all；
and unblithe wept by day and by night； till death's fell wave o'erwhelmed
his heart。 His hoard…of…bliss that old ill…doer open found； who； blazing at
twilight the barrows haunteth； naked foe…dragon flying by night folded in
fire： the folk of earth dread him sore。 'Tis his doom to seek hoard in the
graves； and heathen gold to watch； many…wintered： nor wins he thereby！
Powerful this plague…of…the…people thus held the house of the hoard in
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earth three hundred winters； till One aroused wrath in his breast； to the
ruler bearing that costly cup； and the king implored for bond of peace。 So
the barrow was plundered； borne off was booty。 His boon was granted that
wretched man； and his ruler saw first time what was fashioned in far…off
days。 When the dragon awoke； new woe was kindled。 O'er the stone he
snuffed。 The stark…heart found footprint of foe who so far had gone in his
hidden craft by the creature's head。 So may the undoomed easily flee
evils and exile； if only he gain the grace of The Wielder！ That warden of
gold o'er the ground went seeking； greedy to find the man who wrought
him such wrong in sleep。 Savage and burning； the barrow he circled all
without； nor was any there； none in the waste。。。。 Yet war he desired； was
eager for battle。 The barrow he entered； sought the cup； and discovered
soon that some one of mortals had searched his treasure； his lordly gold。
The guardian waited ill…enduring till evening came； boiling with wrath
was the barrow's keeper； and fain with flame the foe to pay for the dear
cup's loss。 Now day was fled as the worm had wished。 By its wall no
more was it glad to bide； but burning flew folded in flame： a fearful
beginning for sons of the soil； and soon it came； in the doom of their lord；
to a dreadful end。
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XXXIII
THEN the baleful fiend its fire belched out； and bright homes burned。
The blaze stood high all landsfolk frighting。 No living thing would that
loathly one leave as aloft it flew。 Wide was the dragon's warring seen； its
fiendish fury far and near； as the grim destroyer those Geatish people
hated and hounded。 To hidden lair； to its hoard it hastened at hint of dawn。
Folk of the land it had lapped in flame； with bale and brand。 In its barrow
it trusted； its battling and bulwarks： that boast was vain！
To Beowulf then the bale was told quickly and truly： the king's own
home； of buildings the best； in brand…waves melted； that gift…throne of
Geats。 To the good old man sad in heart； 'twas heaviest sorrow。 The sage
assumed that his sovran God he had angered； breaking ancient law； and
embittered the Lord。 His breast within with black thoughts welled； as his
wont was never。 The folk's own fastness that fiery dragon with flame had
destroyed； and the stronghold all washed by waves； but the warlike king；
prince of the Weders； plotted vengeance。 Warriors'…bulwark； he bade them
work all of iron the earl's commander a war…shield wondrous： well he
knew that forest…wood against fire were worthless； linden could aid not。
Atheling brave； he was fated to finish this fleeting life；＇1＇ his days on
earth； and the dragon with him； though long it had watched o'er the wealth
of thehoard！ Shame he reckoned it； sharer…of…rings； to follow the flyer…
afar with a host； a broad…flung band； nor the battle feared he； nor deemed
he dreadful the dragon's warring； its vigor and valor： ventures desperate he
had passed a…plenty； and perils of war； contest…crash； since； conqueror
proud； Hrothgar's hall he had wholly purged； and in grapple had killed the
kin of Grendel； loathsome breed！ Not least was that of hand…to…hand fights
where Hygelac fell； when the ruler of Geats in rush of battle； lord of his
folk； in the Frisian land； son of Hrethel； by sword…draughts died； by brands
down…beaten。 Thence Beowulf fled through strength of himself and his
swimming power； though alone； and his arms were laden with thirty coats
of mail； when he came to the sea！ Nor yet might Hetwaras＇2＇ haughtily
boast their craft of contest； who carried against him shields to the fight：
but few escaped from strife with the hero to seek their homes！ Then swam
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over ocean Ecgtheow's son lonely and sorrowful； seeking his land； where
Hygd made him offer of hoard and realm； rings and royal…seat； reckoning
naught the strength of her son to save their kingdom from hostile hordes；
after Hygelac's death。 No sooner for this could the stricken ones in any
wise move that atheling's mind over young Heardred's head as lord and
ruler of all the realm to be： yet the hero upheld him with helpful words；
aided in honor； till； older grown； he wielded the Weder…Geats。
Wandering exiles sought him o'er seas； the sons of Ohtere； who had
spurned the sway of the Scylfings'…helmet； the bravest and best that broke
the rings； in Swedish land； of the sea…kings' line； haughty hero。＇3＇ Hence
Heardred's end。 For shelter he gave them； sword…death came； the blade's
fell blow； to bairn of Hygelac； but the son of Ongentheow sought again
house and home when Heardred fell； leaving Beowulf lord of Geats and
gift…seat's master。 A good king he！
＇1＇ Literally 〃loan…days；〃 days loaned to man。 ＇2＇ Chattuarii； a tribe
that dwelt along the Rhine； and took part in repelling the raid of （Hygelac）
Chocilaicus。 ＇3＇ Onla； son of Ongentheow； who pursues his two nephews
Eanmund and Eadgils to Heardred's court； where they have taken refuge
after their unsuccessful rebellion。 In the fighting Heardred is killed。
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XXXIV
THE fall of his lord he was fain to requite in after days； and to Eadgils
he proved friend to the friendless； and forces sent over the sea to the son of
Ohtere； weapons and warriors： well repaid he those care…paths cold when
the king he slew。＇1＇ Thus safe through struggles the son of Ecgtheow had
passed a plenty； through perils dire； with daring deeds； till this day was
come that doomed him now with the dragon to strive。 With comrades
eleven the lord of Geats swollen in rage went seeking the dragon。 He had
heard whence all the harm arose and the killing of clansmen； that cup of
price on the lap of the lord had been laid by the finder。 In the throng was
this one thirteenth man； starter of all the strife and ill； care…laden captive；
cringing thence forced and reluctant； he led them on till he came in ken of
that cavern…hall； the barrow delved near billowy surges； flood of ocean。
Within 'twas full of wire…gold and jewels； a jealous warden； warrior trusty；
the treasures held； lurked in his lair。 Not light the task of entrance for any
of earth…born men！ Sat on the headland the hero king； spake words of hail
to his hearth…companions； gold…friend of Geats。 All gloomy his soul；
wavering； death…bound。 Wyrd full nigh stood ready to greet the gray…
haired man； to seize his soul…hoard； sunder apart life and body。 Not long
would be the warrior's spirit enwound with flesh。 Beowulf spake； the bairn
of Ecgtheow： 〃Through store of struggles I strove in youth； mighty
feuds； I mind them all。 I was seven years old when the sovran of rings；
friend…of…his…folk； from my father took me； had me； and held me； Hrethel
the king； with food and fee； faithful in kinship。 Ne'er； while I lived there；
he loathlier found me； bairn in the burg； than his birthright sons；
Herebeald and Haethcyn and Hygelac mine。 For the eldest of these；