After many years, when the king and his son had perished in the wars,
the Goths chose Beowulf for their king. No better king could they
have, and for many years he ruled over them. He was a wise king and
brave. The people loved him much.
Then a strange story came to his ears: that far away in a dark cave
lived a terrible dragon. The way to his lair was rough and steep. In
this cave was much treasure, and the dragon was guarding it.
Many men had gathered the treasures in this cave. Swords, helmets, and
shields, and rings were hidden there in time of war, so that the enemy
could not find them. For many years these treasures were collecting
there. At last a dragon came, a fierce creature, and for three hundred
winters he had kept watch with his fiery eyes.
At last a man found the cave filled with the treasures. The dragon was
asleep, so the man took a golden cup and bore it home to his lord.
Thus the secret of the hoard became known.
When the fearful dragon awoke and found that one of his treasures had
been taken, he was very angry. Fire came from his nostrils and from
his wicked mouth. He would find the man who had done this thing.
Then the dragon began to burn all the houses round. Nothing living was
left. Ruin and death were in his path. Then he darted back to the
dark cave. He trusted in its darkness, but in vain.