the　blow。　See　the　detailed　description　below。　＇2＇　Hygelac。　＇3＇
  Shield。　＇4＇　The　hollow　passage。
  XXXVI
  WIGLAF　his　name　was；　Weohstan's　son；
  linden…thane　loved；　the　lord　of　Scylfings；
  Aelfhere's　kinsman。　His　king　he　now　saw
  with　heat　under　helmet　hard　oppressed。
  He　minded　the　prizes　his　prince　had　given　him；
  wealthy　seat　of　the　Waegmunding　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；
  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；
  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
  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　aged　forth。　For　the　first　time　now
  with　his　leader…lord　the　liegeman　young
  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；
  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；
  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
  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
  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
  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
  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；
  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；
  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；
  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
  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　Naegling＇5＇　was　shivered；
  broken　in　battle　was　Beowulf's　sword；
  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；
  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
  closed　on　his　neck；　and　covered　him
  with　waves　of　blood　from　his　breast　that　welled。
  ＇1＇　That　is；　although　Eanmund　was　brother's　son　to　Onela；　the
  slaying　of　the　former　by　Weohstan　is　not　felt　as　cause　of　feud；
  and　is　rewarded　by　gift　of　the　slain　man's　weapons。　＇2＇　Both
  Wiglaf　and　the　sword　did　their　duty。　　The　following　is　one　of
  the　classic　passages　for　illustrating　the　comitatus　as　the　most
  conspicuous　Germanic　institution；　and　its　underlying　sense　of
  duty；　based　partly　on　the　idea　of　loyalty　and　partly　on　the
  practical　basis　of　benefits　received　and　repaid。　＇3＇　Sc。　〃than　to
  bide　safely　here；〃　　a　common　figure　of　incomplete　comparison。
  ＇4＇　Wiglaf's　wooden　shield。　＇5＇　Gering　would　translate　〃kinsman
  of　the　nail；〃　as　both　are　made　of　iron。
  XXXVII
  'TWAS　now；　men　say；　in　his　sovran's　need
  that　the　earl　made　known　his　noble　strain；
  craft　and　keenness　and　courage　enduring。
  Heedless　of　harm；　though　his　hand　was　burned；
  hardy…hearted；　he　helped　his　kinsman。
  A　little　lower　the　loathsome　beast
  he　smote　with　sword；　his　steel　drove　in
  bright　and　burnished；　that　blaze　began
  to　lose　and　lessen。　At　last　the　king
  wielded　his　wits　again；　war…knife　drew；
  a　biting　blade　by　his　breastplate　hanging；
  and　the　Weders'…helm　smote　that　worm　asunder；
  felled　the　foe；　flung　forth　its　life。
  So　had　they　killed　it；　kinsmen　both；
  athelings　twain：　thus　an　earl　should　be
  in　danger's　day！　　Of　deeds　of　valor
  this　conqueror's…hour　of　the　king　was　last；
  of　his　work　in　the　world。　The　wound　began；
  which　that　dragon…of…earth　had　erst　inflicted；
  to　swell　and　smart；　and　soon　he　found
  in　his　breast　was　boiling；　baleful　and　deep；
  pain　of　poison。　The　prince　walked　on；
  wise　in　his　thought；　to　the　wall　of　rock；
  then　sat；　and　stared　at　the　structure　of　giants；
  where　arch　of　stone　and　steadfast　column
  upheld　forever　that　hall　in　earth。
  Yet　here　must　the　hand　of　the　henchman　peerless
  lave　with　water　his　winsome　lord；
  the　king　and　conqueror　covered　with　blood；
  with　struggle　spent；　and　unspan　his　helmet。
  Beowulf　spake　in　spite　of　his　hurt；
  his　mortal　wound；　full　well　he　knew
  his　portion　now　was　past　and　gone
  of　earthly　bliss；　and　all　had　fled
  of　his　file　of　days；　and　death　was　near：
  〃I　would　fain　bestow　on　son　of　mine
  this　gear　of　war；　were　given　me　now
  that　any　heir　should　after　me　come
  of　my　proper　blood。　This　people　I　ruled
  fifty　winters。　No　folk…king　was　there；
  none　at　all；　of　the　neighboring　clans
  who　war　would　wage　me　with　'warriors'…friends'＇1＇
  and　threat　me　with　horrors。　At　home　I　bided
  what　fate　might　come；　and　I　cared　for　mine　own；
  feuds　I　sought　not；　nor　falsely　swore
  ever　on　oath。　For　all　these　things；
  though　fatally　wounded；　fain　am　I！
  From　the　Ruler…of…Man　no　wrath　shall　seize　me；
  when　life　from　my　frame　must　flee　away；
  for　killing　of　kinsmen！　Now　quickly　go
  and　gaze　on　that　hoard　'neath　the　hoary　rock；
  Wiglaf　loved；　now　the　worm　lies　low；
  sleeps；　heart…sore；　of　his　spoil　bereaved。
  And　fare　in　haste。　I　would　fain　behold
  the　gorgeous　heirlooms；　golden　store；
  have　joy　in　the　jewels　and　gems；　lay　down
  softlier　for　sight　of　this　splendid　hoard
  my　life　and　the　lordship　I　long　have　held。〃
  ＇1＇　That　is；　swords。
  XXXVIII
  I　HAVE　heard　that　swiftly　the　son　of　Weohstan
  at　wish　and　word　of　his　wounded　king；
  war…sick　warrior；　　woven　mail…coat；
  battle…sark；　bore　'neath　the　barrow's　roof。
  Then　the　clansman　keen；　of　conquest　proud；
  passing　the　seat；＇1＇　saw　store　of　jewels
  and　glistening　gold　the　ground　along；
  by　the　wall　were　marvels；　and　many　a　vessel
  in　the　den　of　the　dragon；　the　dawn…flier　old：
  unburnished　bowls　of　bygone　men
  reft　of　richness；　rusty　helms
  of　the　olden　age；　and　arm…rings　many
  wondrously　woven。　　Such　wealth　of　gold；
  booty　from　barrow；　can　burden　with　pride
  each　human　wight：　let　him　hide　it　who　will！
  His　glance　too　fell　on　a　gold…wove　banner
  high　o'er　the　hoard；　of　handiwork　noblest；
  brilliantly　broidered；　so　bright　its　gleam；
  all　the　earth…floor　he　easily　saw
  and　viewed　all　these　vessels。　No　vestige　now
  was　seen　of　the　serpent：　the　sword　had　ta'en　him。
  Then；　I　heard；　the　hill　of　its　hoard　was　reft；
  old　work　of　giants；　by　one　alone；
  he　burdened　his　bosom　with　beakers　and　plate
  at　his　own　good　will；　and　the　ensign　took；
  brightest　of　beacons。　　The　blade　of　his　lord
  its　edge　was　iron　　had　injured　deep
  one　that　guarded　the　golden　hoard
  many　a　year　and　its　murder…fire
  spread　hot　round　the　barrow　in　horror…billows
  at　midnight　hour；　till　it　met　its　doom。
  Hasted　the　herald；　the　hoard　so　spurred　him
  his　track　to　retrace；　he　was　troubled　by　doubt；
  high…souled　hero；　if　haply　he'd　find
  alive；　where　he　left　him；　the　lord　of　Weders；
  weakening　fast　by　the　wall　of　the　cave。
  So　he　carried　the　load。　His　lord　and　king
  he　found　all　bleeding；　famous　chief
  at　the　lapse　of　life。　The　liegeman　again
  plashed　him　with　water；　till　point　o