XIV
Herot, next morning light falling on
warriors all about him,
princes and leaders too
from far off lands
all men hurrying to behold,
the monsters staggering tracks.
Senselessly they gaped
feeling nay sorrow or pity
tracing his bloody, lonely flight
to the edge of the lake
Dragging his corpselike way, doomed
already weary of his vanishing life,
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The water was steaming and boiling, bloody
its heat sucking in horrible pounding ways ,
from his magic veins. The swirling surf covered his death,
hidden deep in murky darkness his miserable end,
as Hell opened to receive him.
Then young and old rejoiced,
turned back from that happy
pilgramage, mounted their hard-hooved
horse, high spirited stallions and rode them
Slowly toward Herot again, retelling on the way
Beowulf's bravery as they
jogged along.
And over and over that nowhere
On earth or under the spreading sky
Or between the seas, neither south nor north,
Was there a warrior worthier of ruling
(But no one meant Beowulf's praise to belittle
Hrothgar their kind and gracious king!)
And sometimes , when the path ran straight and clear
They would let their horses race, red
And brown and pale yellow backs streaming down the road.
And sometimes an old soldeir who had heard
Songs of ancient heros
And who could sing them all through, story after story
Would weave a net of Beowulf's
Vicotry tying the knot of his verses
Smoothly, swiftly into place with with a poet's
Quick skill, singing his new song aloud
While he shaped it, and the old songs as well,
Siegmund's,
Adventures, familiar battles fought
By that brave son of Vels.
And struggles too against evil and treachery
that no one ever knew
Except Fritla, who had fought at his uncle's side
A brave young comrade carefully listening.
When Siegmund's tongue had unwound the wonders he had done
Confiding in his closest friend,
There were tales of giants wiped from the earth,
By Siegmund's might - and forever remembered,
Fame that would last beyond life and death,
His daring battle with a treasure ladened dragon.
Heaving a hoary grey rock aside
Siegmund having gone down to the dragon alone,
Entered the hole where it hidand swung
His soldier so savagely that it slit the creature
Through, pierced it's flesh and pinned it
To a wall, hung it where his bright blade rested,
His courage and strength had earned him his kinglike treasure
Brought gold and rich rings to his treasured hands
He loaded that precious load into his ships,
And sailed of with shining cargo.
And the dragon dissolved in its own fierce blood.
No prince, no protector of his warriors, knew power
And fame and glory like Siegmund's;
His name, and and his treasure's grew great. Hermond could have hoped for at least as much
He was once the mightiest of men
But pride and defeat and betrayal
Sent him into exile with the Jutes, and he ended
His life on their swords.
That life had been misery after misery, and he spread sorrow as long
As he lived it. heaped troubles on his unhappy people's heads
Ignored all wise men's sayings, ruling only with courage
A king born, entrusted with ancient treasures
And cities full of stronghearted soldiers,
His vanity swelled him so vile and rank
That he could hear no voice save his own
He deserved to suffer and die.
But Beowulf was prince well loved, followed in friendship not fear
Hermod's heart had been hollowed by sin.
The horses ran when they could on the gravel path.
Morning slid past and was gone.
The whole brave company came riding to Herot,
Anxious to celebrate Beowulf's success and to stare at
The arm. And Hgothgar rose
From beside his wife and came with courtiers
Crowded around him. And Welthow arose
And joined him, his queen and and wife with her women
All of them walking to that wonderful hall.
Chapter 15