So that the wide-flier stilled with wounding

2830

Fell onto earth anigh to his hoard-hall,

Nor along the lift ever more playing he turned

At middle-nights, proud of the owning of treasure,

Show'd the face of him forth, but to earth there he fell

Because of the host-leader's work of the hand.

This forsooth on the land hath thriven to few,

Of men might and main bearing, by hearsay of mine,

Though in each of all deeds full daring he were,

That against venom-scather's fell breathing he set on,

Or the hall of his rings with hand be a-stirring,

2840

If so be that he waking the warder had found

Abiding in burg. By Beowulf was

His deal of the king-treasure paid for by death;

There either had they fared on to the end

Of this loaned life. Long it was not until

Those laggards of battle the holt were a-leaving,

Unwarlike troth-liars, the ten there together,

Who durst not e'en now with darts to be playing

E'en in their man-lord's most mickle need.

But shamefully now their shields were they bearing,

2850

Their weed of the battle, there where lay the aged;