XLII. WIGLAF’S SAD STORY.—THE HOARD CARRIED OFF.
XLII.
WIGLAF’S SAD STORY.—THE HOARD CARRIED OFF.
Then ’twas seen that the journey prospered him little
Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden1
Down ’neath the wall. The warden erst slaughtered
Some few of the folk-troop: the feud then thereafter
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Was hotly avengèd. ’Tis a wonder where,2
When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end of
Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may
Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing.
So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow,
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Assaults, he sought for: himself had no knowledge
How his leaving this life was likely to happen.
So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did
Call it with curses—who ’complished it there—
That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted,
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Confined in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds,
Punished with plagues, who this place should e’er ravage.3
He cared not for gold: rather the Wielder’s
Favor preferred he first to get sight of.4
Wiglaf addresses
his comrades.
Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his son:
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“Oft many an earlman on one man’s account must
Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened.
The liegelord belovèd we could little prevail on,
Kingdom’s keeper, counsel to follow,
Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him
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Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling
Till the end of the world. Met we a destiny
Hard to endure: the hoard has been looked at,
Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that5
The prince of the people pricked to come thither.
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I was therein and all of it looked at,
The building’s equipments, since access was given me,
Not kindly at all entrance permitted
He tells them of
Beowulf’s last
moments.
Within under earth-wall. Hastily seized I
And held in my hands a huge-weighing burden
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Of hoard-treasures costly, hither out bare them
To my liegelord belovèd: life was yet in him,
And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then
Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you,
Beowulf’s dying
request.
Bade that remembering the deeds of your friend-lord
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Ye build on the fire-hill of corpses a lofty
Burial-barrow, broad and far-famous,
As ’mid world-dwelling warriors he was widely most honored
While he reveled in riches. Let us rouse us and hasten
Again to see and seek for the treasure,
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The wonder ’neath wall. The way I will show you,
That close ye may look at ring-gems sufficient
And gold in abundance. Let the bier with promptness
Fully be fashioned, when forth we shall come,
And lift we our lord, then, where long he shall tarry,
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Well-beloved warrior, ’neath the Wielder’s protection.”
Wiglaf charges
them to build a
funeral-pyre.
Then the son of Wihstan bade orders be given,
Mood-valiant man, to many of heroes,
Holders of homesteads, that they hither from far,
6Leaders of liegemen, should look for the good one
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With wood for his pyre: “The flame shall now swallow
(The wan fire shall wax7) the warriors’ leader
Who the rain of the iron often abided,
When, sturdily hurled, the storm of the arrows
Leapt o’er linden-wall, the lance rendered service,
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Furnished with feathers followed the arrow.”
Now the wise-mooded son of Wihstan did summon
The best of the braves from the band of the ruler
He takes seven
thanes, and enters
the den.
Seven together; ’neath the enemy’s roof he
Went with the seven; one of the heroes
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Who fared at the front, a fire-blazing torch-light
Bare in his hand. No lot then decided
Who that hoard should havoc, when hero-earls saw it
Lying in the cavern uncared-for entirely,
Rusting to ruin: they rued then but little
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That they hastily hence hauled out the treasure,
They push the
dragon over the
wall.
The dear-valued jewels; the dragon eke pushed they,
The worm o’er the wall, let the wave-currents take him,
The waters enwind the ward of the treasures.
The hoard is laid
on a wain.
There wounden gold on a wain was uploaded,
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A mass unmeasured, the men-leader off then,
The hero hoary, to Whale’s-Ness was carried.