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Chapter 40

A PERILOUS path, it proved, he 119 trod

who heinously hid, that hall within,

wealth under wall! Its watcher had killed

one of a few, 120 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.

For 121 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. 122

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............

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