Some few of folk, and the feud then became

Wrothfully wreaked. A wonder whenas

A valour-strong earl may reach on the ending

Of the fashion of life, when he longer in nowise

One man with his kinsmen may dwell in the mead-hall!

So to Beowulf was it when the burg's ward he sought.

For the hate of the weapons: he himself knew not

Wherethrough forsooth his world's sundering should be.

So until Doomsday they cursed it deeply,

Those princes the dread, who erst there had done it,