XXXII. THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.

Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . cräft

sôhte sylfes willum, se þe him sâre gesceôd,

ac for þreá-nêdlan þeów nât-hwylces

häleða bearna hete-swengeas fleáh,

for ofer-þearfe and þær inne fealh

secg syn-bysig. Sôna in þâ tîde

þät . . . . . þam gyste . . . . br . g . stôd,

hwäðre earm-sceapen . . . . . . .

. . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fæs begeat,

sinc-fät geseah: þær wäs swylcra fela

in þam eorð-scräfe ær-gestreóna,

swâ hy on geâr-dagum gumena nât-hwylc

eormen-lâfe äðelan cynnes

þanc-hycgende þær gehýdde,

deóre mâðmas. Ealle hie deáð fornam

ærran mælum, and se ân þâ gen

leóda duguðe, se þær lengest hwearf,

weard wine-geômor wîscte þäs yldan,

þät he lytel fäc long-gestreóna

brûcan môste. Beorh eal gearo

wunode on wonge wäter-ýðum neáh,

niwe be nässe nearo-cräftum fäst:

þær on innan bär eorl-gestreóna

hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dæl

fättan goldes, feá worda cwäð:

"Heald þu nu, hruse, nu häleð ne môston,

"eorla æhte. Hwät! hit ær on þe

"gôde begeâton; gûð-deáð fornam,

"feorh-bealo frêcne fyra gehwylcne,

"leóda mînra, þâra þe þis lîf ofgeaf,

"gesâwon sele-dreám. Nâh hwâ sweord wege

"oððe fetige fäted wæge,

"drync-fät deóre: duguð ellor scôc.

"Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde

"fätum befeallen: feormiend swefað,

"þâ þe beado-grîman býwan sceoldon,

"ge swylce seó here-pâd, sió ät hilde gebâd

"ofer borda gebräc bite îrena,

"brosnað äfter beorne. Ne mäg byrnan hring

"äfter wîg-fruman wîde fêran

"häleðum be healfe; näs hearpan wyn,

"gomen gleó-beámes, ne gôd hafoc

"geond säl swingeð, ne se swifta mearh

"burh-stede beáteð. Bealo-cwealm hafað

"fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!"

Swâ giômor-môd giohðo mænde,

ân äfter eallum unblîðe hweóp,

däges and nihtes, ôð þät deáðes wylm

hrân ät heortan. Hord-wynne fond

eald uht-sceaða opene standan,

se þe byrnende biorgas sêceð

nacod nîð-draca, nihtes fleógeð

fýre befangen; hyne fold-bûend

wîde gesâwon. He gewunian sceall

hlâw under hrusan, þær he hæðen gold

warað wintrum frôd; ne byð him wihte þê sêl.

Swâ se þeód-sceaða þreó hund wintra

heóld on hrusan hord-ärna sum

eácen-cräftig, ôð þät hyne ân âbealh

mon on môde: man-dryhtne bär

fäted wæge, frioðo-wære bäd

hlâford sînne. Þâ wäs hord râsod,

onboren beága hord, bêne getîðad

feá-sceaftum men. Freá sceáwode

fira fyrn-geweorc forman sîðe.

Þâ se wyrm onwôc, wrôht wäs geniwad;

stonc þâ äfter stâne, stearc-heort onfand

feóndes fôt-lâst; he tô forð gestôp,

dyrnan cräfte, dracan heáfde neáh.

Swâ mäg unfæge eáðe gedîgan

weán and wräc-sîð, se þe waldendes

hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard sôhte

georne äfter grunde, wolde guman findan,

þone þe him on sweofote sâre geteóde:

hât and hreóh-môd hlæw oft ymbe hwearf,

ealne ûtan-weardne; ne þær ænig mon

wäs on þære wêstenne. Hwäðre hilde gefeh,

beado-weorces: hwîlum on beorh äthwearf,

sinc-fät sôhte; he þät sôna onfand,

þät häfde gumena sum goldes gefandod

heáh-gestreóna. Hord-weard onbâd

earfoðlîce, ôð þät æfen cwom;

wäs þâ gebolgen beorges hyrde,

wolde se lâða lîge forgyldan

drinc-fät dýre. Þâ wäs däg sceacen

wyrme on willan, nô on wealle leng

bîdan wolde, ac mid bæle fôr,

fýre gefýsed. Wäs se fruma egeslîc

leódum on lande, swâ hyt lungre wearð

on hyra sinc-gifan sâre geendod.