BP+Stella


 * Lines 2187-2220**



They firmly believed that he lacked force, that the prince was a weakling; //They believed strongly that the prince was weak// but presently every affront to his deserving was reversed. //but every remark made towards him was nullified.// The battle-famed king, bulwark of his earls, ordered a gold-chased heirloom of Hrethel' s  to be brought in; //the famous strong king, a noble defender,// ordered Hrethel's valuable object to be brought in. it was the best example of a gem-studded sword in the Geat treasury. This he laid on Beowulf's lap and then rewarded him with land as well, //He rewarded Beowulf with a gem studded sword along with land//

seven thousand hides, and a hall and a throne. //seven thousand money, and a fame hall along with a throne.// Both owned land by birth in that country, ancestral grounds; but the greater right and sway were inherited by the higher born.

A lot was to happen in later days in the fury of battle. Hygelac fell and the shelter of Heardred's shield proved useless against the fierce aggression of the Shylfings: //After a long period, Hygelac fell from a battle this proved that Heardred's shield was considered useless compared to the Shylfings://

ruthless swordsmen, seasoned campaigners, //such as heartless swordsmen, experienced campaingers,// they came against him and his conquering nation, //they were all against Hygelac and his nation// and with cruel force cut him down //and with cruel force they took him down// so that afterwards the wide kingdom reverted to Beowulf. He ruled it well //so that afterwards the nation was ruled by Beowulf// for fifty winters, grew old and wise //for fifty years, he had grown old and wise// as warden of the land //as the protector of the land// until one began to dominate the dark, a dragon on the prowl //until someone began to step interfered, a dragon who creep// from the steep vaults of a stone-roofed barrow //down at the steep vaults of a stone-roofed barrow// where he guarded a hoard; there was a hidden passage, //where he guarded goods; there was a hidden passage,// unknown to men, but someone managed //this passage was a secret to the men, but someone managed// to enter by it and interfere //to discover this passage// with the heathen trove. He had handled and removed //and with religious trove he removed// a gem-studded goblet; it gained him nothing, //a gem- studded cup; but it only affected him negatively,// though with a thief's wiles he had outwitted //with the thief's cunning skills, he defeated// the sleeping dragon; that drove him into rage, //the sleeping dragon; this made him furious// as the people of that country would soon discover //and from that result people would soon suffer//