| |
| 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, | 5 |
| 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, | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| 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 | 20 |
| 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. | 25 |
| 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, | 30 |
| 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 the hoard!— | |
| Shame he reckoned it, sharer-of-rings, | |
| to follow the flyer-afar with a host, | 35 |
| 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, | 40 |
| 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, | 45 |
| 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 | 50 |
| 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! | 55 |
| Then swam 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 | 60 |
| 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: | 65 |
| 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, | 70 |
| 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; | 75 |
| 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! | |
