“The blood-stained trace of Swedes and Geatmen,
          The death-rush of warmen, widely was noticed,
          How the folks with each other feud did awaken. 
          The worthy one went then[1] with well-beloved comrades,
        5 Old and dejected to go to the fastness,
          Ongentheo earl upward then turned him;
          Of Higelac’s battle he’d heard on inquiry,
          The exultant one’s prowess, despaired of resistance,
          With earls of the ocean to be able to struggle,
       10 ’Gainst sea-going sailors to save the hoard-treasure,
          His wife and his children; he fled after thenceward
          Old ’neath the earth-wall.  Then was offered pursuance
          To the braves of the Swedemen, the banner[2] to Higelac.
[100] They fared then forth o’er the field-of-protection,
       15 When the Hrethling heroes hedgeward had thronged them. 
          Then with edges of irons was Ongentheow driven,
          The gray-haired to tarry, that the troop-ruler had to
          Suffer the power solely of Eofor: 

{Wulf wounds Ongentheow.}

          Wulf then wildly with weapon assaulted him,
       20 Wonred his son, that for swinge of the edges
          The blood from his body burst out in currents,
          Forth ’neath his hair.  He feared not however,
          Gray-headed Scylfing, but speedily quited

{Ongentheow gives a stout blow in return.}

          The wasting wound-stroke with worse exchange,
       25 When the king of the thane-troop thither did turn him: 
          The wise-mooded son of Wonred was powerless
          To give a return-blow to the age-hoary man,
          But his head-shielding helmet first hewed he to pieces,
          That flecked with gore perforce he did totter,
       30 Fell to the earth; not fey was he yet then,
          But up did he spring though an edge-wound had reached him.

{Eofor smites Ongentheow fiercely.}

          Then Higelac’s vassal, valiant and dauntless,
          When his brother lay dead, made his broad-bladed weapon,
          Giant-sword ancient, defence of the giants,
       35 Bound o’er the shield-wall; the folk-prince succumbed then,

{Ongentheow is slain.}

          Shepherd of people, was pierced to the vitals. 
          There were many attendants who bound up his kinsman,
          Carried him quickly when occasion was granted
          That the place of the slain they were suffered to manage.
       40 This pending, one hero plundered the other,
          His armor of iron from Ongentheow ravished,
          His hard-sword hilted and helmet together;

{Eofor takes the old king’s war-gear to Higelac.}

          The old one’s equipments he carried to Higelac. 
          He the jewels received, and rewards ’mid the troopers
       45 Graciously promised, and so did accomplish: 
          The king of the Weders requited the war-rush,
          Hrethel’s descendant, when home he repaired him,