That realm was native land

To each of them; but right to rule fell to the stronger hand
Of Higelac,-the better man obtained that kingdom wide.

Changed was it all in later days and war's o'erwhelming tide,
When Higelac was killed, and 'neath the shield-wall Heardred lay
Slain by the sword, when Scylfings bold, the warriors fierce in fray,
Sought him with their victorious host, and did to death in fight
The sister's son of Hereric.

PART III.

THE FIRE DRAKE.

THE ARGUMENT.

Beowulf, having succeeded to the kingdom of the Weder-Goths, had ruled the folk gloriously for fifty years when the fiery dragon began to lay waste the land. With twelve companions Beowulf goes to do battle with the dragon. He tells the story of his life, and bids his men farewell. Then, with the help of Wiglaf, he kills the dragon, but is wounded to the death, and dies after Wiglaf has brought to him part of the hoard from the dragon's cave. Wiglaf denounces the dastards who shrank from helping their lord. He sends a message home, and bids preparation be made to burn Beowulf's body, which is laid on the pyre and consumed amid the wailing and tears of his sorrowing people.

I.

HOW THE DRAGON GOT THE HOARD AND WASTED

THE LAND.

Then after that the kingdom wide passed to Beowulf's hand.

He ruled it well for fifty years, old guardian of the land,

And prudent king, till in dark nights began the dragon's sway

Who in the mountain kept the hoard. By men untrodden lay
The path below the rocky steep.

*

Great heaps of treasure of old time in that earth-cavern lay,
The heritage of noble men, which he of olden day,

I wot not who, with anxious care had hidden, treasures good.
Ere then had death swept all away, and sad was he of mood
Who longest tarried there alone,—the last of valiant men.

*In the MS. the next sixteen lines are in such a ruinous condition that even with the help of the ingenious conjectures of Kemble, Thorpe, and Grein, it is wellnigh impossible to make sense of them. I do not therefore attempt to translate them. As well as can be made out we are told that a certain thrall, flying from the displeasure of his lord, found the dragon asleep by the hoard, and took away a cup as a peace offering to his master. The dragon awaking missed the cup, and in revenge wasted the land with fire.

Delay he sought that yet awhile he might enjoy again

His treasure. Ready stood the hill, made strong by subtle lore,
Upon the plain, below the ness, hard by the billowy shore.
Thither the guardian of the rings that lordly treasure took,

A heavy load of plated gold, and these few words he spoke :

"O earth! keep thou the warriors' hoard which men may keep no

more !

Lo! upon thee by valiant men 'twas gained in days of yore.

But war and death have swept away my comrades every one

Who saw the joys of hall; there's none to wield the sword, and none To fill the beaker goodly wrought. Gone are the brave elsewhere! From frowning helmet dight with gold must fall the plating fair;

They sleep who would have kept it bright! The mail that bite of

sword

O'er clashing shield in fight withstood must follow its dead lord.

Never again shall corslet ring as help the warriors bear

To comrades far! No joy of harp, no sound of music there!
Around the hall no good hawk flies, in court no coursers tread!
Before the baleful stroke of death all shapes of life are fled!"

Thus mournfully he told his grief, and day and night he wept,
Left lonely there till waves of death all o'er his sad heart swept.
The goodly hoard was open found by that old darkling foe
That dwelleth flaming in the hills,-the dragon dire of woe-
That roams by night begirt with fire. From him the peasant [flies].
There in the cavern shall he dwell with many winters wise,

And guard therein the heathen gold-no whit the better he!