War-famous man, by deeds that were valiant,
          He lived in honor, beloved companions
       35 Slew not carousing; his mood was not cruel,
          But by hand-strength hugest of heroes then living
          The brave one retained the bountiful gift that
          The Lord had allowed him.  Long was he wretched,
          So that sons of the Geatmen accounted him worthless,
       40 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,

{He is requited for the slights suffered in earlier days.}

          An indolent atheling:  to the honor-blest man there
          Came requital for the cuts he had suffered.
       45 The folk-troop’s defender bade fetch to the building
          The heirloom of Hrethel, embellished with gold,

{Higelac overwhelms the conqueror with gifts.}

          So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer
          In the form of a weapon ’mong Geats of that era;
          In Beowulf’s keeping he placed it and gave him
       50 Seven of thousands, manor and lordship. 
          Common to both was land ’mong the people,
[75] Estate and inherited rights and possessions,
          To the second one specially spacious dominions,
          To the one who was better.  It afterward happened
       55 In days that followed, befell the battle-thanes,

{After Heardred’s death, Beowulf becomes king.}

          After Higelac’s death, and when Heardred was murdered
          With weapons of warfare ’neath well-covered targets,
          When valiant battlemen in victor-band sought him,
          War-Scylfing heroes harassed the nephew
       60 Of Hereric in battle.  To Beowulf’s keeping
          Turned there in time extensive dominions: 

{He rules the Geats fifty years.}

          He fittingly ruled them a fifty of winters
          (He a man-ruler wise was, manor-ward old) till
          A certain one ’gan, on gloom-darkening nights, a

{The fire-drake.}

65 Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure,
A high-rising stone-cliff, on heath that was grayish: 
A path ’neath it lay, unknown unto mortals. 
Some one of earthmen entered the mountain,
The heathenish hoard laid hold of with ardor;
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    [1] This verse B. renders, ’Now serve I again thee alone as my
    gracious king.’