saddle-gay. Since such gift the gem gleamed bright
on the breast of the queen. Thus showed his strain
the son of Ecgtheow as a man remarked for mighty deeds
and acts of honor. At ale he slew not comrade
or kin; nor cruel his mood, though of sons of earth
his strength was greatest, a glorious gift that God
had sent the splendid leader. Long was he spurned,
and worthless by Geatish warriors held; him at mead
the master-of-clans failed full oft to favor at all.
Slack and shiftless the strong men deemed him, profitless
prince; but payment came, to the warrior honored,
for all his woes.
— Then the bulwark-of-earls
{29a} bade bring within, hardy chieftain, Hrethel’s
heirloom garnished with gold: no Geat e’er
knew in shape of a sword a statelier prize.
The brand he laid in Beowulf’s lap; and of hides
assigned him seven thousand, {29b} with house and
high-seat. They held in common land alike by
their line of birth, inheritance, home: but
higher the king because of his rule o’er the
realm itself.
Now further it fell with the flight of years, with
harryings horrid, that Hygelac perished, {29c} and
Heardred, too, by hewing of swords under the shield-wall
slaughtered lay, when him at the van of his victor-folk
sought hardy heroes, Heatho-Scilfings, in arms o’erwhelming
Hereric’s nephew. Then Beowulf came as
king this broad realm to wield; and he ruled it well
fifty winters, {29d} a wise old prince, warding his
land, until One began in the dark of night, a Dragon,
to rage. In the grave on the hill a hoard it
guarded, in the stone-barrow steep. A strait
path reached it, unknown to mortals. Some man,
however, came by chance that cave within to the heathen
hoard. {29e} In hand he took a golden goblet, nor
gave he it back, stole with it away, while the watcher
slept, by thievish wiles: for the warden’s
wrath prince and people must pay betimes!
XXX
That way he went with no will of his own, in
danger of life, to the dragon’s hoard, but for
pressure of peril, some prince’s thane.
He fled in fear the fatal scourge, seeking shelter,
a sinful man, and entered in. At the awful sight
tottered that guest, and terror seized him; yet the
wretched fugitive rallied anon from fright and fear
ere he fled away, and took the cup from that treasure-hoard.
Of such besides there was store enough, heirlooms
old, the earth below, which some earl forgotten, in
ancient years, left the last of his lofty race, heedfully
there had hidden away, dearest treasure. For
death of yore had hurried all hence; and he alone
left to live, the last of the clan, weeping his friends,
yet wished to bide warding the treasure, his one delight,
though brief his respite. The barrow, new-ready,
to strand and sea-waves stood anear, hard by the headland,
hidden and closed; there laid within it his lordly
heirlooms and heaped hoard of heavy gold that warden
of rings. Few words he spake: “Now
hold thou, earth, since heroes may not, what earls
