[Illustration: BEOWULF FACE TO FACE WITH THE FIRE-BREATHING DRAGON]

"Glad am I," he said, "that I have been able before my death to gain so
much for my people. But now I may no longer abide here. Bid the gallant
warriors burn my body on the headland here which juts into the sea, and
afterwards raise a huge mound on the same spot, that the sailors who
drive their vessels over the misty floods may call it Beowulf's Mound."

Then the dauntless prince undid the golden collar from his neck and gave
it to Wiglaf with his helmet and coat of mail, saying:

"Thou art the last of all our race, for Fate has swept away all my
kindred save thee to their doom, and now I also must join them," and
with these words the aged king fell back dead.

Now as Wiglaf sat by his lord, grieving sorely at his death, the other
ten thanes who had shown themselves to be faithless and cowardly
approached with shame to his side. Then Wiglaf turned to them, crying
bitterly:

"Truly our liege lord flung away utterly in vain the battle-gear that he
gave ye. Little could he boast of his comrades when the hour of need
came. I myself was able to give him some succor in the fight, but ye
should have stood by him also to defend him. But now the giving of
treasure shall cease for ye and ye will be shamed and will lose your
land-right when the nobles learn of your inglorious deed. Death is
better for every earl than ignominious life."

After this Wiglaf summoned the other earls and told them of all that had
happened and of the mound that Beowulf wished them to build. Then they
gathered together at the mouth of the cave and gazed with tears upon
their lifeless lord and looked with awe upon the huge dragon as it lay
stiff in death beside its conqueror. Afterwards, led by Wiglaf, seven
chosen earls entered the cave and brought forth all the treasure, while
others busied themselves in preparing the funeral pyre.

When all was ready and the huge pile of wood had been hung with helmets,
war-shields and bright coats of mail, as befitted the funeral pyre of a
noble warrior, the earls brought their beloved lord's body to the spot
and laid it on the wood. Then they kindled the fire and stood by
mourning and uttering sorrowful chants, while the smoke rose up and the
fire roared and the body was consumed away. Afterwards they built a
mound on the hill, making it high and broad so that it could be seen
from very far away. Ten days they spent in building it; and beca