Then was the good King sorrowful.  His heart boiled within him with angry thoughts.  The fire-dragon had utterly destroyed the pleasant homes of his people.  For this the war-prince greatly desired to punish him.

Therefore did Beowulf command that a great shield should be made for him, all of iron.  He knew well that a shield of wood could not help him in this need.  Wood against fire!  Nay, that were useless.  His shield must be all of iron.

Too proud, too, was Beowulf, the hero of old time, to seek the winged beast with a troop of soldiers.  Not thus would he overcome him.  He feared not for himself, nor did he dread the dragon’s war-craft.  For with his valor and his skill Beowulf had succeeded many a time.  He had been victorious in many a tumult of battle since that day when a young man and a warrior prosperous in victory, he had cleansed Hart Hall by grappling with Grendel and his kin.

And now when the great iron shield was ready, he chose eleven of his best thanes and set out to seek the dragon.  Very wrathful was the old King, very desirous that death should take his fiery foe.  He hoped, too, to win the great treasure of gold which the fell beast guarded.  For already Beowulf had learned whence the feud arose, whence came the anger which had been so hurtful to his people.  And the precious cup, the cause of all the quarrel, had been brought to him.

With the band of warriors went the slave who had stolen the cup.  He it was who must be their guide to the cave, for he alone of all men living knew the way thither.  Loth he was to be their guide.  But captive and bound he was forced to lead the way over the plain to the dragon’s hill.

Unwillingly he went with lagging footsteps until at length he came to the cave hard by the seashore.  There by the sounding waves lay the savage guardian of the treasure.  Ready for war and fierce was he.  It was no easy battle that was there prepared for any man, brave though he might be.

And now on the rocky point above the sea King Beowulf sat himself down.  Here he would bid farewell to all his thanes ere he began the combat.  For what man might tell which from that fight should come forth victorious?

Beowulf’s mind was sad.  He was now old.  His hair was white, his face was wrinkled and gray.  But still his arm was strong as that of a young man.  Yet something within him warned him that death was not far off.

So upon the rocky point he sat and bade farewell to his dear comrades.

“In my youth,” said the aged King, “many battles have I dared, and yet must I, the guardian of my people, though I be full of years, seek still another feud.  And again will I win glory if the wicked spoiler of my land will but come forth from his lair.”

Much he spoke.  With loving words he bade farewell to each one of his men, greeting his dear comrades for the last time.

“I would not bear a sword or weapon against the winged beast,” he said at length, “if I knew how else I might grapple with the wretch, as of old I did with Grendel.  But I ween this war-fire is hot, fierce, and poisonous.  Therefore I have clad me in a coat of mail, and bear this shield all of iron.  I will not flee a single step from the guardian of the treasure.  But to us upon this rampart it shall be as fate will.