Part 32 (1/2)

15 Each one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth!

And he saw there lying an all-golden banner High o'er the h.o.a.rd, of hand-wonders greatest, Linked with lacets: a light from it sparkled, That the floor of the cavern he was able to look on,

{The dragon is not there.}

20 To examine the jewels. Sight of the dragon [94] Not any was offered, but edge offcarried him.

{Wiglaf bears the h.o.a.rd away.}

Then I heard that the hero the h.o.a.rd-treasure plundered, The giant-work ancient reaved in the cavern, Bare on his bosom the beakers and platters, 25 As himself would fain have it, and took off the standard, The brightest of beacons;[2] the bill had erst injured (Its edge was of iron), the old-ruler's weapon, Him who long had watched as ward of the jewels, Who fire-terror carried hot for the treasure, 30 Rolling in battle, in middlemost darkness, Till murdered he perished. The messenger hastened, Not loth to return, hurried by jewels: Curiosity urged him if, excellent-mooded, Alive he should find the lord of the Weders 35 Mortally wounded, at the place where he left him.

'Mid the jewels he found then the famous old chieftain, His liegelord beloved, at his life's-end gory: He thereupon 'gan to lave him with water, Till the point of his word pierced his breast-h.o.a.rd.

40 Beowulf spake (the gold-gems he noticed),

{Beowulf is rejoiced to see the jewels.}

The old one in sorrow: ”For the jewels I look on Thanks do I utter for all to the Ruler, Wielder of Wors.h.i.+p, with words of devotion, The Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures 45 Gain for my people ere death overtook me.

Since I've bartered the aged life to me granted For treasure of jewels, attend ye henceforward

{He desires to be held in memory by his people.}

The wants of the war-thanes; I can wait here no longer.

The battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill, 50 Bright when I'm burned, at the brim-current's limit; As a memory-mark to the men I have governed, [95] Aloft it shall tower on Whale's-Ness uprising, That earls of the ocean hereafter may call it Beowulf's barrow, those who barks ever-das.h.i.+ng 55 From a distance shall drive o'er the darkness of waters.”

{The hero's last gift}

The bold-mooded troop-lord took from his neck then The ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman, The youthful war-hero, his gold-flas.h.i.+ng helmet, His collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy them:

{and last words.}

60 ”Thou art latest left of the line of our kindred, Of Waegmunding people: Weird hath offcarried All of my kinsmen to the Creator's glory, Earls in their vigor: I shall after them fare.”

'Twas the aged liegelord's last-spoken word in 65 His musings of spirit, ere he mounted the fire, The battle-waves burning: from his bosom departed His soul to seek the sainted ones' glory.

[1] The word 'oferhigian' (2767) being vague and little understood, two quite distinct translations of this pa.s.sage have arisen. One takes 'oferhigian' as meaning 'to exceed,' and, inserting 'hord' after 'gehwone,' renders: _The treasure may easily, the gold in the ground, exceed in value every h.o.a.rd of man, hide it who will._ The other takes 'oferhigian' as meaning 'to render arrogant,' and, giving the sentence a moralizing tone, renders substantially as in the body of this work.

(Cf. 28_13 et seq.)

[2] The pa.s.sage beginning here is very much disputed. 'The bill of the old lord' is by some regarded as Beowulf's sword; by others, as that of the ancient possessor of the h.o.a.rd. 'aer gescod' (2778), translated in this work as verb and adverb, is by some regarded as a compound participial adj. = _sheathed in bra.s.s_.

x.x.xIX.

THE DEAD FOES.--WIGLAF'S BITTER TAUNTS.

{Wiglaf is sorely grieved to see his lord look so un-warlike.}

It had wofully chanced then the youthful retainer To behold on earth the most ardent-beloved At his life-days' limit, lying there helpless.

The slayer too lay there, of life all bereaved, 5 Horrible earth-drake, hara.s.sed with sorrow: