ll. 2660, 2661. Why not read beadu-scrûd, as at [l. 453], = battle-shirt? B. and R. suppose two half-verses omitted between byrdu-scrûd and bâm gemæne. B. reads býwdu, = handsome, etc. Gr. suggests unc nû, = to us two now, for ûrum; and K. and Grundt. read beón gemæne for bâm, etc. This makes sense. Cf. Ha., p. 89.
l. 2666. Cf. the dat. absolute without preposition.
l. 2681. Nägling; cf. Hrunting, Lâfing, and other famous wundor-smiða geweorc of the poem.
l. 2687. B. changes þonne into þone (rel. pro.) = which.—Beit. xii. 105.
l. 2688. B. supports the MS. reading, wundum.
l. 2688. Cf. [l. 2278] for similar language.
l. 2698. B. (Beit. xii. 105) renders: "he did not heed the head of the dragon (which Beowulf with his sword had struck without effect), but he struck the dragon somewhat further down." Cf. Saxo, vi. p. 272.
l. 2698. Cf. the language used at [ll. 446] and [1373], where hafelan also occurs; and hýdan.
l. 2700. hwêne; cf. Lowl. Sc. wheen, a number; Chaucer's woon, number.
l. 2702. S. proposes þâ (for þät) þät fýr, etc., = when the fire began, etc.