“THE bloody swath of Swedes and Geats

and the storm of their strife, were seen afar,

how folk against folk the fight had wakened.

The ancient king with his atheling band

sought his citadel, sorrowing much:

Ongentheow earl went up to his burg.

He had tested Hygelac’s hardihood,

the proud one’s prowess, would prove it no longer,

defied no more those fighting-wanderers

nor hoped from the seamen to save his hoard,

his bairn and his bride: so he bent him again,

old, to his earth-walls. Yet after him came

with slaughter for Swedes the standards of Hygelac

o’er peaceful plains in pride advancing,

till Hrethelings fought in the fenced town. 114

Then Ongentheow with edge of sword,

the hoary-bearded, was held at bay,

and the folk-king there was forced to suffer

Eofor’s anger. In ire, at the king

Wulf Wonreding with weapon struck;

and the chieftain’s blood, for that blow, in streams

flowed ’neath his hair. No fear felt he,

stout old Scylfing, but straightway repaid

in better bargain that bitter stroke

and faced his foe with fell intent.

Nor swift enough was the son of Wonred

answer to render the aged chief;

too soon on his head the helm was cloven;

blood-bedecked he bowed to earth,

and fell adown; not doomed was he yet,

and well he waxed, though the wound was sore.

Then the hardy Hygelac-thane, 115

when his brother fell, with broad brand smote,

giants’ sword crashing through giants’-helm

across the shield-wall: sank the king,

his folk’s old herdsman, fatally hurt.

There were many to bind the brother’s wounds

and lift him, fast as fate allowed

his people to wield the place-of-war.

But Eofor took from Ongentheow,

earl from other, the iron-breastplate,

hard sword hilted, and helmet too,

and the hoar-chief’s harness to Hygelac carried,

who took the trappings, and truly promised

rich fee ’mid folk, — and fulfilled it so.

For that grim strife gave the Geatish lord,

Hrethel’s offspring, when home he came,

to Eofor and Wulf a wealth of treasure,

Each of them had a hundred thousand 116

in land and linked rings; nor at less price reckoned

mid-earth men such mighty deeds!

And to Eofor he gave his only daughter

in pledge of grace, the pride of his home.

“Such is the feud, the foeman’s rage,

death-hate of men: so I deem it sure

that the Swedish folk will ............