Angry in mind, until evening came:
Was then enraged the guard of the mountain,
Would many people with fire repay

2305

For the dear drinking-cup. Then was the day gone

At the will of the dragon, nor in the cave longer

Would he abide, but with flame went he forth,

With fire provided. The beginning was fearful

To the folk in the land, as it too quickly 2310
On their ring-giver sorely was ended.
Then the demon began to vomit with fire,
To burn the bright dwellings: the flame-
light stood

For terror to men: not there aught living
The hateful air-flyer was willing to leave. 2315
The worm's war-power widely was seen,
The hostile one's hate both near and far,
How the war-foe the folk of the Geats
Hated and harmed: to his hoard then he
hastened,

The secret rich hall, before the day-time. 2320 He had the land-dwellers with fire o'erwhelmed,

With flame and burning: to his mountain

he trusted,

His war-might and wall: that hope him deceived.

ΧΙ

Beowulf prepares for the contest. The deaths

of Hygelac and of Heardred recalled. Beowulf's reminiscences. The death of Herebeald and Hrethel's sorrow. Beowulf's slaying of Daghrefn. Beowulf

seeks the dragon alone. The fiery fight. Wiglaf goes to his help. The wounding of Beowulf. The death of the dragon. Wiglaf brings out the treasure. Beowulf's death.

2325

Then was to Beowulf the terror made known
Quickly in truth, that of his own
The best of houses in fire-waves melted,
The gift-seat of the Geats. That was to the
good one

Distress in mind, greatest of sorrows.
The wise one weened that he the Almighty
Against the old laws, the eternal Lord, 2330
Had grievously angered: his breast within
swelled

With gloomy thoughts, as to him was not usual.

The fire-drake had the people's fastness,
The island without, the landed possessions,
With fire destroyed: for him then the war-

king,

2335

His son's departure; he cares not another
To hope to see born in his own palace,
An heir to his throne, when this one has,
Through might of death, suffered such deeds.
He sorrowful sees in his son's dwelling 2455
The wine-hall empty, the windy rest-place
Of merriment robbed; the warrior sleeps,
The prince in his grave; no sound of harp's
there,

No sport in the courts, as there were once. Then he goes to his chamber, sings sorrowful songs,

2460

The one for the other: too empty all seemed,
Fields and dwelling. So the Weders' defence
For Herebeald sorrow of heart
Welling up bore: he might not at all
Upon that murderer the feud avenge;
Not sooner might he wreak his hate on the
warrior

2465

With evil deeds, though he was not to him dear.

He then with this sorrow, which befell him so sore,

Gave up human joy, God's light did choose, Left to his sons, as a wealthy man does, 2470 Land and chief city, when from life he departed.

Then was feud and strife of the Swedes and the Geats,

O'er the wide water contest in common,
A hard battle-struggle, after Hrethel was
dead,

Whilst to them were Ongentheow's sons 2475
Bold and warlike, friendship would not
O'er the sea keep, but around Hreosna-mount
Terrible inroads often did make.

For that mine own kinsmen vengeance did take,

For the feud and the wrong, as it was known,

2480

A warrior worse, him buy with a price:
I always would go before him on foot,
Alone in front, and so for life shall I
Enmity work, while this sword permits,
Which often stood by me early and late. 2500
Then 'fore the courtiers was I to Dæghrefn
For a hand-slayer, the Hugs' brave warrior:
Not he the jewels to the king of the Frisians,
The breast-adornment, was able to bring,
But in battle he fell, the standard's
keeper,

2505

The prince in his might; sword was not his slayer,

But for him battle-grip the swellings of heart,

The bone-house broke. Now shall the bill's edge,

Hand and hard sword, fight for the hoard.'
Beowulf said, with boastful words spoke 2510
For the last time: 'I survived many
Wars in my youth; yet now I will,
Old people's guard, the contest seek,
With honor work, if me the fell foe
From his earth-hall dare to seek out.'
Greeted he then each one of men,
The brave helmet-bearers, for the last time,
His own dear comrades: 'I would not the
sword bear,

2515

2520

Weapon 'gainst worm, if I knew how
Upon this monster I might otherwise
My boast maintain, as once upon Grendel.
But I there expect hot battle-fire,

Breath and poison: therefore I have on me
Shield and burnie. I will not the hill's guard,
The foe, flee from even part of one foot, 2525
But at wall it shall be as for us Weird pro-
vides,

Each man's Creator: I am in mind brave, So that 'gainst the war-flier from boast I refrain.

Await ye on mountain, clad in your burnies,
Heroes in armor, which one may better, 2530
After the contest, from wounds escape
Of both of us. That is not your work,
Nor the might of a man but of me alone,
That he 'gainst the monster his strength

should try,

Heroic deeds do. I shall with might· 2535

With battle-fire hot; might not near the hoard

One without burning any while then
Endure the deep for the flame of the dragon.
Let then from his breast, since he was en-
raged,

2550

The Wedergeats' prince his words go forth, The strong-hearted stormed: his voice came in,

In battle clear-sounding, 'neath the hoar stone.

Strife was stirred up; the hoard-keeper knew The voice of a man: there was not more time 2555 Friendship to seek. First there came forth The breath of the monster out of the rock, Hot battle-sweat; the earth resounded. The man 'neath the mountain his shield upraised

'Gainst the terrible demon, the lord of the Geats:

2560

He remembered the favor, that he once to him gave

The rich dwelling-place of the Wægmundings,

Each one of folk-rights which his father pos

sessed.

He might not then refrain, his hand seized the shield,

The yellow wood, he drew his old sword: 2610
That was among men Eanmund's bequest,
Ohthere's son, to whom in strife was,
To the friendless exile, Weohstan the slayer
By the edge of the sword, and he bore to his
kinsmen

The brown-colored helmet, the ringèd burnie, 2615

The old giant's sword that Onela gave him,
His own relation's war-equipments,
Ready war-weapons: he spoke not of the
feud,

Though he had slain his brother's son.

He the ornaments held many half-years, 2620
Bill and burnie, until his son might
Heroic deeds work, as his old father:

He gave to him then war-weeds 'mong the
Geats,

To the young warrior that in storm of war
With his dear lord he should engage;
His courage failed not, nor his kinsman's be-
quest

Softened in battle: that the dragon perceived,
After they two together had gone.

2630

Wiglaf then spoke many suitable words, Said to his comrades (sad was his mind): 'I remember that time when we received mead,

When we did promise to our dear lord

In the beer-hall, who gave us these rings, 2635
That we for the war-weeds him would repay,
If to him such need ever should happen,
For helmets and hard swords, since in host he
us chose

For this expedition of his own will,

Thought of honors for us, and gave me these treasures,

2640

Us whom he deemed spear-warriors good,
Brave helmet-bearers, although our lord
This noble work intended alone
To accomplish for us, ward of his folk,
Because he of men most noble deeds did, 2645
Rashly-bold actions. Now is the day come.
That our own chieftain has need of the
strength

Of warriors good: let us to him go,
Help the war-prince whilst there is heat,
Fierce fiery terror. God knows in me, 2650
That to me 't is far dearer that my own body
With my gold-giver the flame should em-
brace.

Not becoming, methinks, is 't that we should bear shields

Hot and war-fierce, clasped around all the neck

With his sharp bones: he was all bloodied
With the life-blood; gore welled in waves.
Then I heard say in the folk-king's need
The earl displayed unceasing bravery, 2695
Strength and valor, as was natural to him:
He cared not for his head, but the hand
burned

Of the brave man, where he helped with his strength,

So that the fell demon he struck somewhat lower,

The hero in armor, that the sword sank

in,

2700

Shining and gold-plated, that the fire began After to lessen. Then still the king

His senses possessed, struck with his warknife,

Cutting and battle-sharp, which he bore on his burnie:

The Weders' defence cut the serpent in two.

2705

The foe they felled, force drove out life,
And they him then both had destroyed,
Kindred princes: such should a man be,
A thane in need. That was to the prince
The last of his victories by his own
deeds,

2710

Of work in the world. Then 'gan the wound,