To Beowulf then the bale was told quickly and truly:
the king’s own home, of buildings the best,
in brand-waves melted, 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 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.
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, he was fated to finish
this fleeting life, {31a} 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, 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, 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, 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
coats of mail, when he came to the sea! Nor yet
might Hetwaras {31b} 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! 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 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: 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,
the bravest and best that broke the rings, in Swedish
land, of the sea-kings’ line, haughty hero.
{31c} Hence Heardred’s end. For shelter
he gave them, sword-death came, the blade’s
fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac; 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!
