The wise man of old, life waning away;

Nor him might they even when come was the morning,

That death-weary wight, the folk of the Danes

Burn up with the brand, nor lade on the bale

The man well-belov'd, for his body she bare off

In her fathom the fiendly all under the fell-stream.

That was unto Hrothgar of sorrows the heaviest

Of them which the folk-chieftain long had befallen.

Then me did the lord king, and e'en by thy life,

Mood-heavy beseech me that I in the holm-throng