he spake – verily he knew that he had accomplished his hours
of life, his joys upon the earth; now was departed all the
number of his days, and Death exceeding near.
‘Now to a son of mine I should have wished to give my
2295 harness of battle, had it been granted unto me that any heir
of my body should follow me. This people have I ruled for
fifty winters – no king was there, not one among the peoples
dwelling nigh, who dared with allied swords approach me,
or threaten me with war’s alarm. In mine own land I faced
2300 what time brought forth, held well mine own, nor pursued
with treachery cruel ends, nor swore me many an oath
unrighteously. In all this may I now, sick of mortal wounds,
have joy, for that the Ruler of men hath not cause to charge
me with cruel murder of my kin, when my life departeth
2305 from my body. Now go thou swiftly and survey the Hoard
beneath the hoary rock, Wiglaf beloved, now that the serpent
lieth dead, sleepeth wounded sore, robbed of his treasure.
Make now haste, that I may behold the wealth of long ago,
the golden riches, may plain survey the clear jewels
2310 cunning-wrought, and so may I, the wealth of precious things
achieved, the softer leave my life and the lordship which long
time I held.’
Then I have heard that speedily the son of Wihstan, when
these words were spoken, did hearken to his wounded lord
2315 in combat stricken, striding in his netlike mail, his corslet
for battle woven, under the barrow’s vault. Then, passing by
the seat, that young knight proudhearted, filled with the joy
of victory, beheld a host of hoarded jewels, gold glistening
that lay upon the ground, marvellous things upon the wall,
2320 the very lair of that old serpent in the dim light flying, and
ewers standing there, vessels of men of bygone days, reft
of those who cared for them, their fair adornment crumbling.
There was many a helm old and rusted, a multitude
of twisted armlets in strange devices twined. Treasure, gold
2325 hidden in the earth, easily may overtake the heart of any of
the race of men – let him beware who will! There too he saw
a banner hanging all wrought of gold, high above the hoard,
the chiefest of all marvellous things of handicraft, woven by
skill of fingers. Therefrom a radiance issued, that he might
2330 plain perceive that space beneath the earth, and all the precious
things survey. Of the serpent there was nought to see;
nay, the sword had taken him. Then, as I have heard, within
that mound the Hoard and ancient work of giants did one
man plunder, lading his bosom with dish and goblet at his
2335 own sweet will; the banner, too, he seized, of standards the
most shining-fair. The broad-sword of his aged lord – iron
was its edge – had brought to ruin him that in his sway these
precious things had kept long while, the terror of his flame
wielding hot before the Hoard, swirling fiercely in the mid-
2340 most night, until he died a bitter death.
In haste was the messenger, eager to return, urged by the
precious spoils. Anxiety pierced his uplifted heart to know
whether he should yet living find the prince of the windloving
people upon that level place where he had erewhile left
2345 him, his valour ebbing. Now bearing these precious things
he found that prince renowned, his lord, bleeding, nigh to
his life’s end. Once more he began to sprinkle him with
water, until speech like a sharp pang burst from the prison
of his breast. Thus spake the aged warrior king in anguish,
2350 looking upon the gold: ‘To the Master of all, the Glorious
King and everlasting Lord, I speak now my words of thanks
for these fair things, that I here gaze upon, for that I have
been suffered ere my death’s hour such wealth to gather for
my people. Now that I have for the hoard of precious things
2355 bartered the span of mine old life, do ye henceforth furnish
the people’s needs. No longer may I here remain. Bid ye men
renowned in war to make a mound for me plain to see when
the pyre is done upon a headland out to sea. It shall tower on
high upon Hronesnæs, a memorial to my folk, that voyagers
2360 upon the sea shall hereafter name it Beowulf’s Barrow, even
they who speed from afar their steep ships over the shadows
of the deeps.’ From his neck that prince of valiant heart undid
a golden circlet and gave it to his knight, young wielder of
the spear, and his helm, gleaming with gold, his corslet and a
2365 ring, bidding him use them well. ‘Thou art the end and latest
of our house of Wægmund’s line. All hath fate swept away of
my kinsfolk to their appointed doom, good men of valour – I
must follow them!’ That was the latest word that issued from
that aged heart and breast, ere he betook him to the pyre and
2370 the hot surge of warring flames. From his bosom did the soul
depart to seek the judgement of the just.
Then grievous was the lot of that man little tried in
years, seeing upon the earth that most beloved of men at
his life’s end suffering miserably. His slayer, too, lay dead,
2375 the dire dragon of the cave bereft of life, whom torment had
oppressed. Those hoarded rings no longer might he rule, that
serpent crooked-coiling; nay, blades of iron had seized him,
hard, forged by hammers, notched in war; that he who had
winged afar by wounds was stilled, fallen upon the ground
2380 beside his treasure-house. Never more in his disport did he
wander through the air at midmost night, nor proud in the
possession of fair things reveal his form to men, but was cast
upon the earth by the hand and deed of that leader of the
host. In sooth few among men that possessed great valour
2385 in that land, as I have learned, had luck therein, when daring
though he were in every deed, he hurled him against the
blast of that envenomed foe, or troubled with his hands his
hall of rings, if he therein had found the Guardian dwelling
watchful in his mound. Even by Beowulf was his portion of
2390 those kingly treasures paid for with his death. Both now had
journeyed to the end of passing life.
Now it was not long ere those laggards in battle, who
before had not dared to wield their shafts in the great need
of their sovereign lord, forsook the wood, ten faint hearts
2395 together, breakers of their vows. But now in shame they
came bearing their shields and harness of war to where the
aged king lay dead. They looked upon Wiglaf. Wearied he
sat, that champion of the host, close to the side of his lord,
seeking with water to revive him – nought did it avail him.
2400 He could not, dearly though he wished it, keep upon the
earth his captain’s life, nor any whit avert the Almighty’s
will. God’s Doom was ever the master then of every man in
deeds fulfilled, even as yet now it is.
Then did each man that had forgot his valour with little
2405 seeking get a gri
m rebuke from Wiglaf the young, the son of
Wihstan. He now spake, a man with pain at heart, looking on
those men unloved: ‘Lo! this indeed may he say, who wishes
the truth to tell, that this liege-lord (who gave you those
costly gifts and soldier’s gear, arrayed wherein ye now stand
2410 here, in that time when he oft did grant to you, sitting drinking
ale upon the benches in his hall, both helm and corslet,
even the most splendid of such things as he, a king for his
knights, might get for you from far or near) that in the hour
when war came upon him all that harness of war he utterly
2415 had cast away, ruinously. Little cause indeed had the king of
this people for pride in his comrades in arms. Nonetheless
God who ruleth victories vouchsafed to him that he unaided
avenged himself with his sword, when he had need of valour.
Little succour of his life could I afford him in that combat,
2420 and yet essayed beyond the measure of my power to help
my kinsman. Thereafter ever was that deadly adversary in
vigour less, when I had smitten him with sword, less violent
then the fire surged from the gateways of his head. Too few
the defenders that thronged about their prince, when that evil
2425 hour was come upon him! Behold! receiving of rich gifts, the
giving of swords, all joy in the homes of your fathers, and
hope shall fail for all your kin. Stripped of lands and rights
shall each man of that house and line depart, when good men
learn from afar of your retreat and deed inglorious. Death
2430 is more sweet for every man of worth than life with scorn!’
Then he bade men up over the cliff by the sea to bring
news of the deeds of war to the fencéd camp, wherein good
men assembled, having their shields beside them, sat the long
morning of the day, gloom in their hearts, pondering either
2435 chance, the last day or the home-coming of the man they
loved. Little of these tidings new did he in silence keep who
rode that seaward slope, but faithfully he said for all to hear:
‘Now is he who to the windloving people furnished their
delight, the lord of the Geats, bound upon the bed of death;
2440 he abides upon a bloody couch through the serpent’s deed.
Beside him his mortal adversary lies stricken with strokes of
knife; sword could in no wise to that fierce slayer do grievous
hurt. Wiglaf, Wihstan’s son, by Beowulf sits, the brave living
watching the brave dead; in weariness of soul he holds wake
2445 beside the body of both friend and foe.
‘Now must our people look for time of war, as soon as
afar to Frisian and to Frank the king’s fall is revealed. Bitter
was the feud decreed against the Húgas (Franks), when
Hygelac came sailing with his raiding fleet to Frisian land.
2450 There the Hetware in battle assailed him, and valiantly with
overwhelming strength achieved that the mailéd warrior
should lay him down: he fell amid the host, not one fair thing
did that lord to his good men give. From us hath been ever
since the favour of the Merovingian lord withheld. Nor do
2455 I from the Swedish realm look for any peace or truce at all:
rather has it been reported far and wide that Ongentheow
reft of life Hæthcyn Hrethel’s son beside Hrefnawudu
(Ravenswood), when the Geatish folk in arrogance had first
attacked the warlike Scylfings. Quickly did the aged father
2460 of Ohthere, old and dread, deliver him an answering stroke;
the sea-chieftain he destroyed, and his wife aged as he was he
rescued, his lady revered, of her gold bereaved, the mother
of Onela and Ohthere; and then pursued his mortal foes
until they escaped hard-pressed, leaderless, into Hrefnesholt
2465 (Ravensholt). Then with all his great host he besieged the
survivors of his swords, weary of their wounds; grievous
things often did he vow to that unhappy band through the
long night, saying that he at morn would spill their lives with
edge of sword or some would do upon gallows-trees to be
2470 the sport of crows. Relief thereafter came for those unhappy
hearts with the first light of day, when they heard the horns
and trumpets of Hygelac for battle ringing, as that good man
came marching on their trail with the proven valour of his
people. Plain to see was far and wide the bloody swath of
2475 Geats and Swedes, the murderous assault of men, how those
peoples between them stirred up deeds of enmity.
‘Then the good king (Ongentheow) - full of years was
he and many sorrows – betook him with his bodyguard to a
fast place; yea, the warrior Ongentheow gave back to higher
2480 ground. He had heard of the valour of Hygelac and the might
in war of that proud prince; he hoped not to withstand him,
nor to strive against those men of the sea, to defend from
those fierce rovers treasure, child, nor wife. Back he gave
from that place, the old king, behind an earthen wall. There
2485 attack was ordered upon the people of the Swedes; the banners
of Hygelac marched forth over that defended space,
when Hrethel’s people came crowding upon the fencéd
camp. There was Ongentheow with grey-strewn hair driven
to bay with edge of sword, and there must that king of (his)
2490 people endure the single will of Eofor. Him in wrath had
Wulf Wonreding with his weapon found, so that at the stroke
from veins forth spouted blood beneath the hair. And yet
daunted was he not, the aged Scylflng; nay, swiftly requited
that deadly blow with exchange more fell, when he, the king
2495 of his people, turned upon his foe. Now could the eager son
of Wonred no answering blow return; nay, he had cloven the
helm upon his head, so that dyed with blood he must sink
down: he fell upon the earth. Not yet was he doomed to die;
nay, he recovered, albeit the wound had touched him nigh.
2500 Lo! Hygelac’s bold knight, since his brother was laid low, let
now the broad blade of ancient giant-forgéd sword above the
wall of shields shatter the helm gigantic. Now the king gave
back, the shepherd of his people, he was stricken mortally.
Many then were those that bound up Eofor’s brother and
2505 swiftly lifted him, since it was granted them that they should
be masters of the stricken field. Whereupon the knight
despoiled his adversary, from Ongentheow he took the iron
corslet, the hilted sword hard-tempered, and the helm too;
the harness of the greyhaired lord he bore to Hygelac.
2510 ‘These fair things he received, and graciously vowed to
him rewards amid his people, and even so fulfilled his word.
For their onslaught in that battle the lord of the Geats,
Hrethel’s heir, when he came to his home Eofor and Wulf
repaid with gifts beyond measure; to each of them he gave
2515 one hundred thousand (silver pence) in land and linkéd
rings – no cause had any man on earth to reproach him with
those rewards, since they had with their swords achieved
such glorious deeds. Moreover to Eofor he gave his only
daughter, as a pledge of his favour, for the honouring of his
2520 house.
‘Such is the feud and enmity, the cruel malice of men, for
which I look, in which the Swedish people will come against
us, when they learn that our lord is reft of life, who aforetime
did guard against those that hated him his treasury and realm,
2525 after the fall of mighty men did rule the sealoving Geats,
accomplishing the profit of his people, yea, and before all did
knightly deeds.
‘Now is all speed the best, that we should look upon the
king of this people where he lies, and bring that one who gave
2530 us rings upon his funeral way. Nor is it due that some solitary
thing should be consumed beside that proud heart; nay,
there is a hoard of precious things, gold beyond count grimly
purchased, and rings now at this last paid for with his very life
- these is it right that the blazing wood devour, the fire enfold.
2535 Not for him shall good man wear a thing of price in memory,
nor maiden fare about her neck have ring to deck her; rather
woeful-hearted, stripped of gold, long time and again shall she
tread the lands of exile, now that the captain of our host hath
laid aside his laughter, his mirth and merriment. For this shall
2540 many a spear cold at morn be grasped and seized, lifted in
hand; nor shall the music of the harp awake the warriors, but
the dusky raven gloating above the doomed shall speak many
things, shall to the eagle tell how it sped him at the carrion-
feast, when he vied with the wolf in picking bare the slain.’
2545 Thus was that gallant man a teller of tidings bitter; little
did he report amiss of what had chanced or had been said.
All the host arose. Joyless they went with welling tears to the
foot of Earnanæs (Eagles’ Head) that monstrous sight to see.
So found they keeping his bed of ease, lifeless upon the earth,
2550 him who in former times had given rings to them. Now was
his last day passed for that good man, and the king of battles,
the prince of the windloving people had died a monstrous
death. Already had they seen a thing there yet more strange:
the loathly serpent lying there stretched out before them on
2555 the ground. Grim to see, dreadly-hued, the flaming dragon
had been scorched with his own glowing fires; fifty measured
feet in length he lay at rest. Joy in the air aforetime had he had
Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell Page 11
