wealth　of　the　world　that　I　wield　as　mine！
  Full　oft　for　less　have　I　largess　showered；
  my　precious　hoard；　on　a　punier　man；
  less　stout　in　struggle。　Thyself　hast　now
  fulfilled　such　deeds；　that　thy　fame　shall　endure
  through　all　the　ages。　As　ever　he　did；
  well　may　the　Wielder　reward　thee　still！〃
  Beowulf　spake；　bairn　of　Ecgtheow：
  〃This　work　of　war　most　willingly
  we　have　fought；　this　fight；　and　fearlessly　dared
  force　of　the　foe。　Fain；　too；　were　I
  hadst　thou　but　seen　himself；　what　time
  the　fiend　in　his　trappings　tottered　to　fall！
  Swiftly；　I　thought；　in　strongest　gripe
  on　his　bed　of　death　to　bind　him　down；
  that　he　in　the　hent　of　this　hand　of　mine
  should　breathe　his　last：　but　he　broke　away。
  Him　I　might　not　　the　Maker　willed　not
  hinder　from　flight；　and　firm　enough　hold
  the　life…destroyer：　too　sturdy　was　he；
  the　ruthless；　in　running！　For　rescue；　however；
  he　left　behind　him　his　hand　in　pledge；
  arm　and　shoulder；　nor　aught　of　help
  could　the　cursed　one　thus　procure　at　all。
  None　the　longer　liveth　he；　loathsome　fiend；
  sunk　in　his　sins；　but　sorrow　holds　him
  tightly　grasped　in　gripe　of　anguish；
  in　baleful　bonds；　where　bide　he　must；
  evil　outlaw；　such　awful　doom
  as　the　Mighty　Maker　shall　mete　him　out。〃
  More　silent　seemed　the　son　of　Ecglaf＇1＇
  in　boastful　speech　of　his　battle…deeds；
  since　athelings　all；　through　the　earl's　great　prowess；
  beheld　that　hand；　on　the　high　roof　gazing；
  foeman's　fingers；　　the　forepart　of　each
  of　the　sturdy　nails　to　steel　was　likest；
  heathen's　〃hand…spear；〃　hostile　warrior's
  claw　uncanny。　'Twas　clear；　they　said；
  that　him　no　blade　of　the　brave　could　touch；
  how　keen　soever；　or　cut　away
  that　battle…hand　bloody　from　baneful　foe。
  ＇1＇　Unferth；　Beowulf's　sometime　opponent　in　the　flyting。
  XV
  THERE　was　hurry　and　hest　in　Heorot　now
  for　hands　to　bedeck　it；　and　dense　was　the　throng
  of　men　and　women　the　wine…hall　to　cleanse；
  the　guest…room　to　garnish。　Gold…gay　shone　the　hangings
  that　were　wove　on　the　wall；　and　wonders　many
  to　delight　each　mortal　that　looks　upon　them。
  Though　braced　within　by　iron　bands；
  that　building　bright　was　broken　sorely；＇1＇
  rent　were　its　hinges；　the　roof　alone
  held　safe　and　sound；　when；　seared　with　crime；
  the　fiendish　foe　his　flight　essayed；
  of　life　despairing。　　No　light　thing　that；
  the　flight　for　safety；　　essay　it　who　will！
  Forced　of　fate；　he　shall　find　his　way
  to　the　refuge　ready　for　race　of　man；
  for　soul…possessors；　and　sons　of　earth；
  and　there　his　body　on　bed　of　death
  shall　rest　after　revel。
  Arrived　was　the　hour
  when　to　hall　proceeded　Healfdene's　son：
  the　king　himself　would　sit　to　banquet。
  Ne'er　heard　I　of　host　in　haughtier　throng
  more　graciously　gathered　round　giver…of…rings！
  Bowed　then　to　bench　those　bearers…of…glory；
  fain　of　the　feasting。　Featly　received
  many　a　mead…cup　the　mighty…in…spirit；
  kinsmen　who　sat　in　the　sumptuous　hall；
  Hrothgar　and　Hrothulf。　Heorot　now
  was　filled　with　friends；　the　folk　of　Scyldings
  ne'er　yet　had　tried　the　traitor's　deed。
  To　Beowulf　gave　the　bairn　of　Healfdene
  a　gold…wove　banner；　guerdon　of　triumph；
  broidered　battle…flag；　breastplate　and　helmet；
  and　a　splendid　sword　was　seen　of　many
  borne　to　the　brave　one。　Beowulf　took
  cup　in　hall：＇2＇　for　such　costly　gifts
  he　suffered　no　shame　in　that　soldier　throng。
  For　I　heard　of　few　heroes；　in　heartier　mood；
  with　four　such　gifts；　so　fashioned　with　gold；
  on　the　ale…bench　honoring　others　thus！
  O'er　the　roof　of　the　helmet　high；　a　ridge；
  wound　with　wires；　kept　ward　o'er　the　head；
  lest　the　relict…of…files＇3＇　should　fierce　invade；
  sharp　in　the　strife；　when　that　shielded　hero
  should　go　to　grapple　against　his　foes。
  Then　the　earls'…defence＇4＇　on　the　floor＇5＇　bade　lead
  coursers　eight；　with　carven　head…gear；
  adown　the　hall：　one　horse　was　decked
  with　a　saddle　all　shining　and　set　in　jewels；
  'twas　the　battle…seat　of　the　best　of　kings；
  when　to　play　of　swords　the　son　of　Healfdene
  was　fain　to　fare。　Ne'er　failed　his　valor
  in　the　crush　of　combat　when　corpses　fell。
  To　Beowulf　over　them　both　then　gave
  the　refuge…of…Ingwines　right　and　power；
  o'er　war…steeds　and　weapons：　wished　him　joy　of　them。
  Manfully　thus　the　mighty　prince；
  hoard…guard　for　heroes；　that　hard　fight　repaid
  with　steeds　and　treasures　contemned　by　none
  who　is　willing　to　say　the　sooth　aright。
  ＇1＇　There　is　no　horrible　inconsistency　here　such　as　the　critics
  strive　and　cry　about。　In　spite　of　the　ruin　that　Grendel　and
  Beowulf　had　made　within　the　hall；　the　framework　and　roof　held
  firm；　and　swift　repairs　made　the　interior　habitable。　Tapestries
  were　hung　on　the　walls；　and　willing　hands　prepared　the　banquet。
  ＇2＇　From　its　formal　use　in　other　places；　this　phrase；　to　take　cup
  in　hall；　or　〃on　the　floor；〃　would　seem　to　mean　that　Beowulf
  stood　up　to　receive　his　gifts；　drink　to　the　donor；　and　say
  thanks。　＇3＇　Kenning　for　sword。　＇4＇　Hrothgar。　He　is　also　the
  〃refuge　of　the　friends　of　Ing；〃　below。　Ing　belongs　to　myth。　＇5＇
  Horses　are　frequently　led　or　ridden　into　the　hall　where　folk　sit
  at　banquet：　so　in　Chaucer's　Squire's　tale；　in　the　ballad　of　King
  Estmere；　and　in　the　romances。
  XVI
  AND　the　lord　of　earls；　to　each　that　came
  with　Beowulf　over　the　briny　ways；
  an　heirloom　there　at　the　ale…bench　gave；
  precious　gift；　and　the　price＇1＇　bade　pay
  in　gold　for　him　whom　Grendel　erst
  murdered；　　and　fain　of　them　more　had　killed；
  had　not　wisest　God　their　Wyrd　averted；
  and　the　man's＇2＇　brave　mood。　The　Maker　then
  ruled　human　kind；　as　here　and　now。
  Therefore　is　insight　always　best；
  and　forethought　of　mind。　How　much　awaits　him
  of　lief　and　of　loath；　who　long　time　here；
  through　days　of　warfare　this　world　endures！
  Then　song　and　music　mingled　sounds
  in　the　presence　of　Healfdene's　head…of…armies＇3＇
  and　harping　was　heard　with　the　hero…lay
  as　Hrothgar's　singer　the　hall…joy　woke
  along　the　mead…seats；　making　his　song
  of　that　sudden　raid　on　the　sons　of　Finn。＇4＇
  Healfdene's　hero；　Hnaef　the　Scylding；
  was　fated　to　fall　in　the　Frisian　slaughter。＇5＇
  Hildeburh　needed　not　hold　in　value
  her　enemies'　honor！＇6＇　Innocent　both
  were　the　loved　ones　she　lost　at　the　linden…play；
  bairn　and　brother；　they　bowed　to　fate；
  stricken　by　spears；　'twas　a　sorrowful　woman！
  None　doubted　why　the　daughter　of　Hoc
  bewailed　her　doom　when　dawning　came；
  and　under　the　sky　she　saw　them　lying；
  kinsmen　murdered；　where　most　she　had　kenned
  of　the　sweets　of　the　world！　By　war　were　swept；　too；
  Finn's　own　liegemen；　and　few　were　left；
  in　the　parleying…place＇7＇　he　could　ply　no　longer
  weapon；　nor　war　could　he　wage　on　Hengest；
  and　rescue　his　remnant　by　right　of　arms
  from　the　prince's　thane。　A　pact　he　offered：
  another　dwelling　the　Danes　should　have；
  hall　and　high…seat；　and　half　the　power
  should　fall　to　them　in　Frisian　land；
  and　at　the　fee…gifts；　Folcwald's　son
  day　by　day　the　Danes　should　honor；
  the　folk　of　Hengest　favor　with　rings；
  even　as　truly；　with　treasure　and　jewels；
  with　fretted　gold；　as　his　Frisian　kin
  he　meant　to　honor　in　ale…hall　there。
  Pact　of　peace　they　plighted　further
  on　both　sides　firmly。　Finn　to　Hengest
  with　oath；　upon　honor；　openly　promised
  that　woful　remnant；　with　wise…men's　aid；
  nobly　to　govern；　so　none　of　the　guests
  by　word　or　work　should　warp　the　treaty；＇8＇
  or　with　malice　of　mind　bemoan　themselves
  as　forced　to　follow　their　fee…giver's　slayer；
  lordless　men；　as　their　lot　ordained。
  Should　Frisian；　moreover；　with　foeman's　taunt；
  that　murderous　hatred　to　mind　recall；
  then　edge　of　the　sword　must　seal　his　doom。
  Oaths　were　given；　and　ancient　gold
  heaped　from　hoard。　　The　hardy　Scylding；
  battle…thane　best；＇9＇　on　his　balefire　lay。
  All　on　the　pyre　were　plain　to　see
  the　gory　sark；　the　gilded　swine…crest；
  boar　of　hard　iron；　and　athelings　many
  slain　by　the　sword：　at　the　slaughter　they　fell。
  It　was　Hildeburh's　hest；　at　Hnaef's　own　pyre
  the　bairn　of　her　body　on　brands　to　lay；
  his　bones　to　burn；　on　the　balefire　placed；
  at　his　uncle's　side。　In　sorrowful　dirges
  bewept　them　the　woman：　great　wailing　ascended。
  Then　wound　up　to　welkin　the　wildest　of　death…fires；
  roared　o'er　the　hillock：＇10＇　heads　all　were　melted；
  gashes　burst；　and　blood　gushed　out
  from　bites＇11＇　of　the　body。　Balefire　devoured；
  greediest　spirit；　those　spared　not　by　war
  out　of　either　folk：　their　flower　was　gone。
  ＇1＇　Man…price；　wergild。　＇2＇　Beowulf's。　＇3＇　Hrothgar。　＇4＇　There　is
  no　need　to　assume　a　gap　in　the　Ms。　As　before　about　Sigemund　and
  Heremod；　so　now；　though　at　greater　length；　about　Finn　and　his
  feud；　a　lay　is　chanted　or　recited；　and　the　epic　poet；　counting　on
  his　readers'　familiarity　with　the　story；　　a　fragment　of　it
  still　exists；　　simply　gives　the　headings。　＇5＇　The　exact　story
  to　which　this　episode　refers　in　summary　is　not　to　be　determined；
  but　the　following　account　of　it　is　reasonable　and　has　good
  support　among　scholars。　Finn；　a　Frisian　chieftain；　who
  nevertheless　has　a　〃castle〃　outside　the　Frisian