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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 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。
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 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。
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。
With his host he besieged there what swords had left；
the weary and wounded； woes he threatened
the whole night through to that hard…pressed throng：
some with the morrow his sword should kill；
some should go to the gallows…tree
for rapture of ravens。 But rescue came
with dawn of day for those desperate men
when they heard the horn of Hygelac sound；
tones of his trumpet； the trusty king
had followed their trail with faithful band。
＇1＇ Nothing。 ＇2＇ Dead。 ＇3＇ Death…watch； guard of honor；
〃lyke…wake。〃 ＇4＇ A name for the Franks。 ＇5＇ Ongentheow。 ＇6＇
Haethcyn。
XLI
〃THE bloody swath of Swedes and Geats
and the storm of their strife； were seen afar；
how folk against folk the fight had wakened。
The ancient king with his atheling band
sought his citadel； sorrowing much：
Ongentheow earl went up to his burg。
He had tested Hygelac's hardihood；
the proud one's prowess； would prove it no longer；
defied no more those fighting…wanderers
nor hoped from the seamen to save his hoard；
his bairn and his bride： so he bent him again；
old； to his earth…walls。 Yet after him came
with slaughter for Swedes the standards of Hygelac
o'er peaceful plains in pride advancing；
till Hrethelings fought in the fenced town。＇1＇
Then Ongentheow with edge of sword；
the hoary…bearded； was held at bay；
and the folk…king there was forced to suffer
Eofor's anger。 In ire； at the king
Wulf Wonreding with weapon struck；
and the chieftain's blood； for that blow； in streams
flowed 'neath his hair。 No fear felt he；
stout old Scylfing； but straightway repaid
in better bargain that bitter stroke
and faced his foe with fell intent。
Nor swift enough was the son of Wonred
answer to render the aged chief；
too soon on his head the helm was cloven；
blood…bedecked he bowed to earth；
and fell adown； not doomed was he yet；
and well he waxed； though the wound was sore。
Then the hardy Hygelac…thane；＇2＇
when his brother fell； with broad brand smote；
giants' sword crashing through giants'…helm
across the shield…wall： sank the king；
his folk's old herdsman； fatally hurt。
There were many to bind the brother's wounds
and lift him； fast as fate allowed
his people to wield the place…of…war。
But Eofor took from Ongentheow；
earl from other； the iron…breastplate；
hard sword hilted； and helmet too；
and the hoar…chief's harness to Hygelac carried；
who took the trappings； and truly promised
rich fee 'mid folk； and fulfilled it so。
For that grim strife gave the Geatish lord；
Hrethel's offspring； when home he came；
to Eofor and Wulf a wealth of treasu