{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/beo/beo32.htm","path":"neu/beo/beo32.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/beo/beo32.htm","text":"THEN the baleful fiend its fire belched out,\nand bright homes burned. The blaze stood high\nall landsfolk frighting. No living thing\nwould that loathly one leave as aloft it flew.\nWide was the dragon's warring seen,\nits fiendish fury far and near,\nas the grim destroyer those Geatish people\nhated and hounded. To hidden lair,\nto its hoard it hastened at hint of dawn.\nFolk of the land it had lapped in flame,\nwith bale and brand. In its barrow it trusted,\nits battling and bulwarks: that boast was vain!\nTo Beowulf then the bale was told\nquickly and truly: the king's own home,\nof buildings the best, in brand-waves melted,\nthat gift-throne of Geats. To the good old man\nsad in heart, 'twas heaviest sorrow.\nThe sage assumed that his sovran God\nhe had angered, breaking ancient law,\nand embittered the Lord. His breast within\nwith black thoughts welled, as his wont was never.\nThe folk's own fastness that fiery dragon\nwith flame had destroyed, and the stronghold all\nwashed by waves; but the warlike king,\nprince of the Weders, plotted vengeance.\nWarriors'-bulwark, he bade them work\nall of iron -- the earl's commander --\na war-shield wondrous: well he knew\nthat forest-wood against fire were worthless,\nlinden could aid not. -- Atheling brave,\nhe was fated to finish this fleeting life,[1]\nhis days on earth, and the dragon with him,\nthough long it had watched o'er the wealth of the hoard! --\nShame he reckoned it, sharer-of-rings,\nto follow the flyer-afar with a host,\na broad-flung band; nor the battle feared he,\nnor deemed he dreadful the dragon's warring,\nits vigor and valor: ventures desperate\nhe had passed a-plenty, and perils of war,\ncontest-crash, since, conqueror proud,\nHrothgar's hall he had wholly purged,\nand in grapple had killed the kin of Grendel,\nloathsome breed! Not least was that\nof hand-to-hand fights where Hygelac fell,\nwhen the ruler of Geats in rush of battle,\nlord of his folk, in the Frisian land,\nson of Hrethel, by sword-draughts died,\nby brands down-beaten. Thence Beowulf fled\nthrough strength of himself and his swimming power,\nthough alone, and his arms were laden with thirty\ncoats of mail, when he came to the sea!\nNor yet might Hetwaras[2] haughtily boast\ntheir craft of contest, who carried against him\nshields to the fight: but few escaped\nfrom strife with the hero to seek their homes!\nThen swam over ocean Ecgtheow's son\nlonely and sorrowful, seeking his land,\nwhere Hygd made him offer of hoard and realm,\nrings and royal-seat, reckoning naught\nthe strength of her son to save their kingdom\nfrom hostile hordes, after Hygelac's death.\nNo sooner for this could the stricken ones\nin any wise move that atheling's mind\nover young Heardred's head as lord\nand ruler of all the realm to be:\nyet the hero upheld him with helpful words,\naided in honor, till, older grown,\nhe wielded the Weder-Geats. -- Wandering exiles\nsought him o'er seas, the sons of Ohtere,\nwho had spurned the sway of the Scylfings'-helmet,\nthe bravest and best that broke the rings,\nin Swedish land, of the sea-kings' line,\nhaughty hero.[3] Hence Heardred's end.\nFor shelter he gave them, sword-death came,\nthe blade's fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac;\nbut the son of Ongentheow sought again\nhouse and home when Heardred fell,\nleaving Beowulf lord of Geats\nand gift-seat's master. -- A good king he!\n[1] Literally \"loan-days,\" days loaned to man.\n[2] Chattuarii, a tribe that dwelt along the Rhine, and took part in repelling\nthe raid of (Hygelac) Chocilaicus.\n[3] Onela, son of Ongentheow, who pursues his two nephews Eanmund and\nEadgils to Heardred's court, where they have taken refuge after their un-\nsuccessful rebellion. In the fighting Heardred is killed.","title":"Beowulf: Part XXXIII","type":"page"}