| |
| WIGLAF his name was, Weohstan’s son, | |
| linden-thane loved, the lord of Scylfings, | |
| Ælfhere’s kinsman. His king he now saw | |
| with heat under helmet hard oppressed. | |
| He minded the prizes his prince had given him, | 5 |
| wealthy seat of the Wægmunding line, | |
| and folk-rights that his father owned. | |
| Not long he lingered. The linden yellow, | |
| his shield, he seized; the old sword he drew:— | |
| as heirloom of Eanmund earth-dwellers knew it, | 10 |
| who was slain by the sword-edge, son of Ohtere, | |
| friendless exile, erst in fray | |
| killed by Weohstan, who won for his kin | |
| brown-bright helmet, breastplate ringed, | |
| old sword of Eotens, Onela’s gift, | 15 |
| weeds of war of the warrior-thane, | |
| battle-gear brave: though a brother’s child | |
| had been felled, the feud was unfelt by Onela. 1 | |
| For winters this war-gear Weohstan kept, | |
| breastplate and board, till his bairn had grown | 20 |
| earlship to earn as the old sire did: | |
| then he gave him, mid Geats, the gear of battle, | |
| portion huge, when he passed from life, | |
| fared agéd forth. For the first time now | |
| with his leader-lord the liegeman young | 25 |
| was bidden to share the shock of battle. | |
| Neither softened his soul, nor the sire’s bequest | |
| weakened in war. 2 So the worm found out | |
| when once in fight the foes had met! | |
| Wiglaf spake,—and his words were sage; | 30 |
| sad in spirit, he said to his comrades:— | |
| “I remember the time, when mead we took, | |
| what promise we made to this prince of ours | |
| in the banquet-hall, to our breaker-of-rings, | |
| for gear of combat to give him requital, | 35 |
| for hard-sword and helmet, if hap should bring | |
| stress of this sort! Himself who chose us | |
| from all his army to aid him now, | |
| urged us to glory, and gave these treasures, | |
| because he counted us keen with the spear | 40 |
| and hardy ’neath helm, though this hero-work | |
| our leader hoped unhelped and alone | |
| to finish for us,—folk-defender | |
| who hath got him glory greater than all men | |
| for daring deeds! Now the day is come | 45 |
| that our noble master has need of the might | |
| of warriors stout. Let us stride along | |
| the hero to help while the heat is about him | |
| glowing and grim! For God is my witness | |
| I am far more fain the fire should seize | 50 |
| along with my lord these limbs of mine! 3 | |
| Unsuiting it seems our shields to bear | |
| homeward hence, save here we essay | |
| to fell the foe and defend the life | |
| of the Weders’ lord. I wot ’twere shame | 55 |
| on the law of our land if alone the king | |
| out of Geatish warriors woe endured | |
| and sank in the struggle! My sword and helmet, | |
| breastplate and board, for us both shall serve!” | |
| Through slaughter-reek strode he to succor his chieftain, | 60 |
| his battle-helm bore, and brief words spake:— | |
| “Beowulf dearest, do all bravely, | |
| as in youthful days of yore thou vowedst | |
| that while life should last thou wouldst let no wise | |
| thy glory droop! Now, great in deeds, | 65 |
| atheling steadfast, with all thy strength | |
| shield thy life! I will stand to help thee.” | |
| At the words the worm came once again, | |
| murderous monster mad with rage, | |
| with fire-billows flaming, its foes to seek, | 70 |
| the hated men. In heat-waves burned | |
| that board 4 to the boss, and the breastplate failed | |
| to shelter at all the spear-thane young. | |
| Yet quickly under his kinsman’s shield | |
| went eager the earl, since his own was now | 75 |
| all burned by the blaze. The bold king again | |
| had mind of his glory: with might his glaive | |
| was driven into the dragon’s head,— | |
| blow nerved by hate. But Nægling 5 was shivered, | |
| broken in battle was Beowulf’s sword, | 80 |
| old and gray. ’Twas granted him not | |
| that ever the edge of iron at all | |
| could help him at strife: too strong was his hand, | |
| so the tale is told, and he tried too far | |
| with strength of stroke all swords he wielded, | 85 |
| though sturdy their steel: they steaded him nought. | |
| Then for the third time thought on its feud | |
| that folk-destroyer, fire-dread dragon, | |
| and rushed on the hero, where room allowed, | |
| battle-grim, burning; its bitter teeth | 90 |
| closed on his neck, and covered him | |
| with waves of blood from his breast that welled. | |
