XXXI

mead-cups were passing; They fully believed him idle and sluggish, An indolent atheling: to the honor-blest man there Came requital for the cuts he had suffered. The folk-troop’s defender bade fetch to the building The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold, So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer In the form of a weapon ’mong Geats of that era; In Beowulf’s keeping he placed it and gave him Seven of thousands, manor and lordship. Common to both was land ’mong the people, Estate and inherited rights and possessions, To the second one specially spacious dominions, To the one who was better. It afterward happened In days that followed, befell the battle-thanes, After Higelac’s death, and when Heardred was murdered With weapons of warfare ’neath well-covered targets, When valiant battle-men in victor-band sought him, War-Scylfing heroes harassed the nephew Of Hereric in battle. To Beowulf’s keeping Turned there in time extensive dominions: He fittingly ruled them a fifty of winters (He a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward old) till A certain one ’gan, on gloom-darkening nights, a Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure, A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish: A path ’neath it lay, unknown unto mortals. Some one of earthmen entered the mountain, The heathenish hoard laid hold of with ardor; ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮