So that sons of the Geatmen accounted him worthless,

And the lord of the liegemen loth was to do him

Mickle of honor, when mead-cups were passing;

They fully believed him idle and sluggish,

An indolent atheling: to the honor-blest man there

Came requital for the cuts he had suffered.

The folk-troop’s defender bade fetch to the building

The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold,

So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer

In the form of a weapon ’mong Geats of that era;