[6] The parenthesis is by some emended so as to read:  (1) (He (i.e. God) is the hope of men); (2) (he is the hope of heroes).  Gr.’s reading has no parenthesis, but says:  ... could touch, unless God himself, true king of victories, gave to whom he would to open the treasure, the secret place of enchanters, etc.  The last is rejected on many grounds.

XLII.

WIGLAF’S SAD STORY.—­THE HOARD CARRIED OFF.

          Then ’twas seen that the journey prospered him little
          Who wrongly within had the ornaments hidden[1]
          Down ’neath the wall.  The warden erst slaughtered
          Some few of the folk-troop:  the feud then thereafter
        5 Was hotly avenged.  ’Tis a wonder where,[2]
          When the strength-famous trooper has attained to the end of
          Life-days allotted, then no longer the man may
          Remain with his kinsmen where mead-cups are flowing. 
          So to Beowulf happened when the ward of the barrow,
       10 Assaults, he sought for:  himself had no knowledge
          How his leaving this life was likely to happen. 
          So to doomsday, famous folk-leaders down did
          Call it with curses—­who ’complished it there—­
[104] That that man should be ever of ill-deeds convicted,
       15 Confined in foul-places, fastened in hell-bonds,
          Punished with plagues, who this place should e’er ravage.[3]
          He cared not for gold:  rather the Wielder’s
          Favor preferred he first to get sight of.[4]

{Wiglaf addresses his comrades.}

          Wiglaf discoursed then, Wihstan his son: 
       20 “Oft many an earlman on one man’s account must
          Sorrow endure, as to us it hath happened. 
          The liegelord beloved we could little prevail on,
          Kingdom’s keeper, counsel to follow,
          Not to go to the guardian of the gold-hoard, but let him
       25 Lie where he long was, live in his dwelling
          Till the end of the world.  Met we a destiny
          Hard to endure:  the hoard has been looked at,
          Been gained very grimly; too grievous the fate that[5]
          The prince of the people pricked to come thither.
       30 I was therein and all of it looked at,
          The building’s equipments, since access was given me,
          Not kindly at all entrance permitted

{He tells them of Beowulf’s last moments.}

          Within under earth-wall.  Hastily seized I
          And held in my hands a huge-weighing burden
       35 Of hoard-treasures costly, hither out bare them
          To my liegelord beloved:  life was yet in him,
          And consciousness also; the old one discoursed then
          Much and mournfully, commanded to greet you,