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wounded king； war…sick warrior； woven mail…coat； battle…sark； bore
'neath the barrow's roof。 Then the clansman keen； of conquest proud；
passing the seat；＇1＇ saw store of jewels and glistening gold the ground
along； by the wall were marvels； and many a vessel in the den of the
dragon； the dawn…flier old： unburnished bowls of bygone men reft of
richness； rusty helms of the olden age； and arm…rings many wondrously
woven。 Such wealth of gold； booty from barrow； can burden with pride
each human wight： let him hide it who will！ His glance too fell on a
gold…wove banner high o'er the hoard； of handiwork noblest； brilliantly
broidered； so bright its gleam； all the earth…floor he easily saw and viewed
all these vessels。 No vestige now was seen of the serpent： the sword had
ta'en him。 Then； I heard； the hill of its hoard was reft； old work of giants；
by one alone； he burdened his bosom with beakers and plate at his own
good will； and the ensign took； brightest of beacons。 The blade of his
lord its edge was iron had injured deep one that guarded the golden
hoard many a year and its murder…fire spread hot round the barrow in
horror…billows at midnight hour； till it met its doom。 Hasted the herald； the
hoard so spurred him his track to retrace； he was troubled by doubt； high…
souled hero； if haply he'd find alive； where he left him； the lord of Weders；
weakening fast by the wall of the cave。 So he carried the load。 His lord
and king he found all bleeding； famous chief at the lapse of life。 The
liegeman again plashed him with water； till point of word broke through
the breast…hoard。 Beowulf spake； sage and sad； as he stared at the gold。
〃For the gold and treasure； to God my thanks； to the Wielder…of…Wonders；
with words I say； for what I behold； to Heaven's Lord； for the grace that I
give such gifts to my folk or ever the day of my death be run！ Now I've
bartered here for booty of treasure the last of my life； so look ye well to
the needs of my land！ No longer I tarry。 A barrow bid ye the battle…fanned
raise for my ashes。 'Twill shine by the shore of the flood； to folk of mine
memorial fair on Hrones Headland high uplifted； that ocean…wanderers oft
may hail Beowulf's Barrow； as back from far they drive their keels o'er the
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darkling wave。〃 From his neck he unclasped the collar of gold； valorous
king； to his vassal gave it with bright…gold helmet； breastplate； and ring； to
the youthful thane： bade him use them in joy。 〃Thou art end and remnant
of all our race the Waegmunding name。 For Wyrd hath swept them； all my
line； to the land of doom； earls in their glory： I after them go。〃 This word
was the last which the wise old man harbored in heart ere hot death…waves
of balefire he chose。 From his bosom fled his soul to seek the saints'
reward。
＇1＇ Where Beowulf lay。
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XXXIX
IT was heavy hap for that hero young on his lord beloved to look and
find him lying on earth with life at end； sorrowful sight。 But the slayer too；
awful earth…dragon； empty of breath； lay felled in fight； nor； fain of its
treasure； could the writhing monster rule it more。 For edges of iron had
ended its days； hard and battle…sharp； hammers' leaving；＇1＇ and that flier…
afar had fallen to ground hushed by its hurt； its hoard all near； no longer
lusty aloft to whirl at midnight； making its merriment seen； proud of its
prizes： prone it sank by the handiwork of the hero…king。 Forsooth among
folk but few achieve； though sturdy and strong； as stories tell me； and
never so daring in deed of valor； the perilous breath of a poison…foe to
brave； and to rush on the ring…board hall； whenever his watch the warden
keeps bold in the barrow。 Beowulf paid the price of death for that precious
hoard； and each of the foes had found the end of this fleeting life。 Befell
erelong that the laggards in war the wood had left； trothbreakers； cowards；
ten together； fearing before to flourish a spear in the sore distress of their
sovran lord。 Now in their shame their shields they carried； armor of fight；
where the old man lay； and they gazed on Wiglaf。 Wearied he sat at his
sovran's shoulder； shieldsman good； to wake him with water。＇2＇ Nowise it
availed。 Though well he wished it； in world no more could he barrier life
for that leader…of…battles nor baffle the will of all…wielding God。 Doom of
the Lord was law o'er the deeds of every man； as it is to…day。 Grim was the
answer； easy to get； from the youth for those that had yielded to fear！
Wiglaf spake； the son of Weohstan； mournful he looked on those men
unloved： 〃Who sooth will speak； can say indeed that the ruler who gave
you golden rings and the harness of war in which ye stand for he at ale…
bench often…times bestowed on hall…folk helm and breastplate； lord to
liegemen； the likeliest gear which near of far he could find to give；
threw away and wasted these weeds of battle； on men who failed when the
foemen came！ Not at all could the king of his comrades…in…arms venture to
vaunt； though the Victory…Wielder； God； gave him grace that he got
revenge sole with his sword in stress and need。 To rescue his life； 'twas
little that I could serve him in struggle； yet shift I made （hopeless it
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seemed） to help my kinsman。 Its strength ever waned； when with weapon I
struck that fatal foe； and the fire less strongly flowed from its head。 Too
few the heroes in throe of contest that thronged to our king！ Now gift of
treasure and girding of sword； joy of the house and home…delight shall fail
your folk； his freehold…land every clansman within your kin shall lose and
leave； when lords highborn hear afar of that flight of yours； a fameless
deed。 Yea； death is better for liegemen all than a life of shame！〃
＇1＇ What had been left or made by the hammer； well…forged。 ＇2＇
Trying to revive him。
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XL
THAT battle…toil bade he at burg to announce； at the fort on the cliff；
where； full of sorrow； all the morning earls had sat； daring shieldsmen； in
doubt of twain： would they wail as dead； or welcome home； their lord
beloved？ Little＇1＇ kept back of the tidings new； but told them all； the
herald that up the headland rode。 〃Now the willing…giver to Weder folk
in death…bed lies； the Lord of Geats on the slaughter…bed sleeps by the
serpent's deed！ And beside him is stretched that slayer…of…men with knife…
wounds sick：＇2＇ no sword availed on the awesome thing in any wise to
work a wound。 There Wiglaf sitteth； Weohstan's bairn； by Beowulf's side；
the living earl by the other dead； and heavy of heart a head…watch＇3＇ keeps
o'er friend and foe。 Now our folk may look for waging of war when
once unhidden to Frisian and Frank the fall of the king is spread afar。
The strife began when hot on the Hugas＇4＇ Hygelac fell and fared with his
fleet to the Frisian land。 Him there the Hetwaras humbled in war； plied
with such prowess their power o'erwhelming that the bold…in…battle bowed
beneath it and fell in fight。 To his friends no wise could that earl give
treasure！ And ever since the Merowings' favor has failed us wholly。 Nor
aught expect I of peace and faith from Swedish folk。 'Twas spread afar
how Ongentheow reft at Ravenswood Haethcyn Hrethling of hope and life；
when the folk of Geats for the first time sought in wanton pride the
Warlike…Scylfings。 Soon the sage old sire＇5＇ of Ohtere； ancient and awful；
gave answering blow； the sea…king＇6＇ he slew； and his spouse redeemed；
his good wife rescued； though robbed of her gold； mother of Ohtere and
Onela。 Then he followed his foes； who fled before him sore beset and stole
their way； bereft of a ruler； to Ravenswood