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A PERILOUS path, it proved, he1 trod
who heinously hid, that hall within,
wealth under wall! Its watcher had killed
one of a few,2 and the feud was avenged
in woful fashion. Wondrous seems it,
what manner a man of might and valor
oft ends his life, when the earl no longer
in mead-hall may live with loving friends.
So Beowulf, when that barrow's warden
he sought, and the struggle; himself knew not
in what wise he should wend from the world at last.
For3 princes potent, who placed the gold,
with a curse to doomsday covered it deep,
so that marked with sin the man should be,
hedged with horrors, in hell-bonds fast,
racked with plagues, who should rob their hoard.
Yet no greed for gold, but the grace of heaven,
ever the king had kept in view.4
Wiglaf spake, the son of Weohstan:--
"At the mandate of one, oft warriors many
sorrow must suffer; and so must we.
The people's-shepherd showed not aught
of care for our counsel, king beloved!
That guardian of gold he should grapple not, urged we,
but let him lie where he long had been
in his earth-hall waiting the end of the world,
the hest of heaven. -- This hoard is ours
but grievously gotten; too grim the fate
which thither carried our king and lord.
I was within there, and all I viewed,
the chambered treasure, when chance allowed me
(and my path was made in no pleasant wise)
under the earth-wall. Eager, I seized
such heap from the hoard as hands could bear
and hurriedly carried it hither back
to my liege and lord. Alive was he still,
still wielding his wits. The wise old man
spake much in his sorrow, and sent you greetings
and bade that ye build, when he breathed no more,
on the place of his balefire a barrow high,
memorial mighty. Of men was he
worthiest warrior wide earth o'er
the while he had joy of his jewels and burg.
Let us set out in haste now, the second time
to see and search this store of treasure,
these wall-hid wonders, -- the way I show you, --
where, gathered near, ye may gaze your fill
at broad-gold and rings. Let the bier, soon made,
be all in order when out we come,
our king and captain to carry thither
-- man beloved -- where long he shall bide
safe in the shelter of sovran God."
Then the bairn of Weohstan bade command,
hardy chief, to heroes many
that owned their homesteads, hither to bring
firewood from far -- o'er the folk they ruled --
for the famed-one's funeral. " Fire shall devour
and wan flames feed on the fearless warrior
who oft stood stout in the iron-shower,
when, sped from the string, a storm of arrows
shot o'er the shield-wall: the shaft held firm,
featly feathered, followed the barb."
And now the sage young son of Weohstan
seven chose of the chieftain's thanes,
the best he found that band within,
and went with these warriors, one of eight,
under hostile roof. In hand one bore
a lighted torch and led the way.
No lots they cast for keeping the hoard
when once the warriors saw it in hall,
altogether without a guardian,
lying there lost. And little they mourned
when they had hastily haled it out,
dear-bought treasure! The dragon they cast,
the worm, o'er the wall for the wave to take,
and surges swallowed that shepherd of gems.
Then the woven gold on a wain was laden --
countless quite! -- and the king was borne,
hoary hero, to Hrones-Ness.
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Summary :
It is shown to be a perilous path for he who hides treasure and may end up killing another to keep the secret, only to fall victim to vengeance. Wondrous is the earl who, in his mead-hall, without the love of friends. *Beowulf did not know that the gold in the barrow was cursed until doomsday that no man should claim it without consent from heaven (*treasure).
*Wiglaf spoke of the death of one man who must cause grief for many. Thier shepherd had cared for them, thier beloved king. They would not claim the gold, but leave their fallen leader there to await the end of the world. The hoard was theirs, but the cost was high; it cost them their king. He was there to see the treasure, to carry an armful to his leige who was not yet dead, and was told to build his fire there in the barrow as his great memorial. He was the worthiest leader while he was generous with his gold.
*Wiglaf called for haste to enter the barrow to look upon the treasure a second time. When they were done, the bier would be ready for them to carry out thier king where he would go to the shelter of God.
He ordered men to gather wood for the pyre. Fire will consume the fearless warrior who had never been defeated in battle standing strong against a shower of iron arrows. Like an arrow, his shaft was strong for it was guided by good feathers.
*Wiglaf then summoned seven of the best thanes. He led them into the barrow with a torch. They did not seek to divide the horde for it laid there without a guardian and lost. They mourned a little the cost for which they had gained it. The dragon was tossed over the sea-wall for the waves to claim and the water claimed it. Countless gold was laid upon a wagon and the king was borne to *Hrones-Ness.
Select Bibliography :
Anonymous. Beowulf - Verse Intermediate Saxon. Transcribed by Altman, R.I. Public Domain etext obtained via the Online Book Initiative.
Anonymous. Beowulf Gummere, F.B. trans., Eliot, C.W. ed.. Harvard Classics, Vol. 49.: PF Collier & Sons, New York. 1910. Public Domain etext obtained via the Online Book Initiative.
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