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102 The Aged in his anguish, and sent farewells to ye, And bade ye that ye build him, for deeds of him, your Friend, A barrow, a high one, yonder on land’s end, Memorial, mickle barrow, where his pyre shall beFor worthiest warrior was he, wide across the earth, Whilst still he wielded burg-wealth, of all of human birth. Let us hasten yonder to seek and see anew Under wall the wonder- the heap I’ll show to you; Where of rings and broad gold anear enough ye’ll view. Be the bier ready, ordered anon, By our coming back here; we will bear him on, Our own Lord, our dear man, to where for long and late In the Wielder’s shelter he’ll abide his fate.” Then the Boy of Weohstan, Hero battle-stout, Bade order many warriors of homesteads round about Thither to fetch the bale-wood from far for him, the Great, Him, the people’s Ruler: “Now shall fire devour, As wax the murky flames now, the flighter’s Man-of- power, Him who oft abided of old the iron-shower, When the storm of arrows, speeded by the strings, Shot above the shield-wall swift on feathered wings, And shaft fulfilled its duty and drave the barb to goal.” Of sooth, the son of Weohstan, Wiglaf, wise of soul, Chose from out the followers, thane-men of the Kings, The seven best together, and under roof of hate Went he with the warriors, himself as one of eight, And one who walked ahead there bare a torch in hand. Nor was there any drawing-lots among that eager band For who that Hoard should pillage, when they saw in hall It resting reft of Keeper and lost it lying all. And little were they mourning, as out they carried fast The treasure-trove, the priceless. The Dragon, eke they cast, The Worm, over the wall-cliff,- let the wave take, Let the flood embosom the Hoard-Ward Drake. The aethelings they piled a wain with twisted gold beyond a guess, And bare the hoary Hero on, up Whale’s Ness. |