venture and presented to
him the hilt of the wonderful sword. Again the king thanked him from the
depth of his heart for his valiant deeds; and as before a fair feast was
prepared and the warriors made merry till night came and they repaired
to rest, certain this time of their safety.

Now on the morrow Beowulf and his nobles made ready to depart to their
own land; and when they were fully equipped they went to bid farewell to
Hrothgar. Then Beowulf spoke, saying:

"Now are we voyagers eager to return to our lord Higelac. We have been
right well and heartily entertained, O king, and if there is aught
further that I can ever do for thee, then I shall be ready for thy
service. If ever I hear that thy neighbors are again persecuting thee, I
will bring a thousand thanes to thy aid; and I know that Higelac will
uphold me in this."

"Dear are thy words to me, O Beowulf," Hrothgar made answer, "and great
is thy wisdom. If Fate should take away the life of Higelac; the Geats
could have no better king than thou; and hereafter there shall never
more be feuds between the Danes and the Geats, for thou by thy great
deeds hast made a lasting bond of friendship between them."

Then Hrothgar gave more gifts to Beowulf and bade him seek his beloved
people and afterwards come back again to visit him, for so dearly had he
grown to love him that he longed to see him again.

So the two embraced and bade each other farewell with great affection,
and then at last Beowulf went down to where his ship rode at anchor and
sailed away with his followers to his own country, taking with him the
many gifts that Hrothgar had made to him. And coming to Higelac's court,
he told him of his adventures, and having shown him the treasure, gave
it all up to him, so loyal and true was he. But Higelac in return gave
Beowulf a goodly sword and seven thousand pieces of gold and a
manor-house, also a princely seat for him to dwell in. There Beowulf
lived in peace, and not for many years was he called to fresh
adventures.

BEOWULF AND THE FIRE-DRAGON

After his return to the land of the Geats, Beowulf served Higelac
faithfully till the day of the king's death, which befell in an
expedition that he made to Friesland. Beowulf was with him on that
disastrous journey, and only with difficulty did he escape with his
life. But when he returned as a poor solitary fugitive to his people,
Hygd, Higelac's wife, offered him the kingdom and the king's treasures,
for