yet must I, the guardian of my people, though I be full of years, seek
still another feud. And again will I win glory if the wicked spoiler
of my land will but come forth from his lair."
Much he spoke. With loving words he bade farewell to each one of his
men, greeting his dear comrades for the last time.
"I would not bear a sword or weapon against the winged beast," he said
at length, "if I knew how else I might grapple with the wretch, as of
old I did with Grendel. But I ween this war-fire is hot, fierce, and
poisonous. Therefore I have clad me in a coat of mail, and bear this
shield all of iron. I will not flee a single step from the guardian of
the treasure. But to us upon this rampart it shall be as fate will.
"Now let me make no more vaunting speech. Ready to fight am I. Let me
forth against the winged beast. Await ye here on the mount, clad in
your coats of mail, your arms ready. Abide ye here until ye see which
of us twain in safety cometh forth from the clash of battle.
"It is no enterprise for you, or for any common man. It is mine alone.
Alone I needs must go against the wretch and prove myself a warrior.
I must with courage win the gold, or else deadly, baleful war shall
fiercely snatch me, your lord, from life."
Then Beowulf arose. He was all clad in shining armor, his gold-decked
helmet was upon his head, and taking his shield in hand he strode
under the stony cliffs towards the cavern's mouth. In the strength of
his single arm he trusted against the fiery dragon.
No enterprise this for a coward.
III
HOW BEOWULF OVERCAME THE DRAGON
Beowulf left his comrades upon the rocky point jutting out into the
sea, and alone he strode onward until he spied a great stone arch.
From beneath the arch, from out the hillside, flowed a stream seething
with fierce, hot fire. In this way the dragon guarded his lair, for it
was impossible to pass such a barrier unhurt.
So upon the edge of this burning river Beowulf stood and called aloud
in anger. Stout of heart and wroth against the winged beast was he.
The King's voice echoed like a war-cry through the cavern. The dragon
heard it and was aroused to fresh hate of man. For the guardian of the
treasure-hoard knew well the sound of mortal voice. Now was there no
long pause ere battle raged.
First from out the cavern flamed forth the breath of the winged
beast. Hot sweat of battle rose from out the rock. The earth shook and
growling thunder trembled through the air.
The dragon, ringed around with many-colored scales, was now hot for
battle, and, as the hideous beast crept forth, Beowulf raised his
mighty shield and rushed against him.
Already the King had drawn his sword. It was an ancient heirloom, keen
of edge and bright. Many a time it had been dyed in blood; many a time
it had won glory and victory.
But ere they closed, the mighty foes paused. Each knew the hate and
deadly power of the other.
The mighty Prince, firm and watchful, stood guarded by his shield. The
dragon, crouching as in ambush, awaited him.
Then suddenly like a flaming arch the dragon bent and towered, and
dashed upon the Lord of the Goths. Up swung the arm of the hero, and
dealt a mighty blow to the grisly, many-colored beast. But the famous
sword was all too weak against such a foe. The edge turned and bit
less strongly than its great king had need, for he was sore pressed.
His shield, too, proved no strong shelter from the wrathful dragon.
The warlike blow made greater still the anger of the fiery foe. Now he
belched forth flaming fire. All around fierce lightnings darted.
Beowulf no longer hoped for glorious victory. His sword had failed
him. The edge was turned and blunted upon the scaly foe. He had never
thought the famous steel would so ill serve him. Yet he fought on
ready to lose his life in such good contest.
Again the battle paused, again the King and dragon closed in fight.
The dragon-guardian of the treasure had renewed his courage. His heart
heaved and boiled with fire, and fresh strength breathed from him.
Beowulf was wrapped in flame. Dire was his need.
Yet of all his comrades none came near to help. Nay, as they watched
the conflict they were filled with base fear, and fled to the wood
hard by for refuge.
Only one among them sorrowed for his master, and as he watched his
heart was wrung with grief.
Wiglaf was this knight called, and he was Beowulf's kinsman. Now when
he saw his liege lord hard pressed in battle he remembered all the
favors Beowulf had heaped upon him. He remembered all the honors
and the wealth which he owed to his King. Then could he no longer be
still. Shield and spear he seized, but ere he sped to aid his King he
turned to his comrades.
"When our lord and King gave us swords and armor," he cried, "did we
not promise to follow him in battle whenever he had need? When he of
his own will chose us for this expedition he reminded us of our fame.
He said he knew us to be good warriors, bold helmet-wearers. And
although indeed our liege lord thought to do this work of valor alone,
without us, because more than any man he hath done glorious and rash
deeds, lo! now is the day come that hath need of strength and of good
warriors. Come, let us go to him. Let us help our chieftain although
the grim terror of fire be hot.
"Heaven knoweth I would rather the flame would blast my body than his
who gave me gold. It seemeth not fitting to me that we should bear
back our shields to our homes unless we may first fell the foe and
defend the life of our King. Nay, it is not of the old custom of the
Goths that the King alone should suffer, that he alone should sink in
battle. Our lord should be repaid for his gifts to us, and so he shall
be by me even if death take us twain."
But none would hearken to Wiglaf. So alone he sped through the deadly
smoke and flame, till to his master's side he came offering aid.
"My lord Beowulf," he cried, "fight on as thou didst in thy
youth-time. Erstwhile didst thou say that thou wouldst not let thy
greatness sink so long as life lasteth. Defend thou thy life with all
might. I will support thee to the utmost."
When the dragon heard these words his fury was doubled. The fell
wicked beast came on again belching forth fire, such was his hatred of
men. The flame-waves caught Wiglaf's shield, for it was but of wood.
It was burned utterly, so that only the stud of steel remained. His
coat of mail alone was not enough to guard the young warrior from
the fiery enemy. But right valiantly he went on fighting beneath the
shelter of Beowulf's shield now that his own was consumed to ashes by
the flames.
Then again the warlike King called to mind his ancient glories, again
he struck with main strength with his good sword upon the monstrous
head. Hate sped the blow.
But alas! as it descended the famous sword Nægling snapped asunder.
Beowulf's sword had failed him in the conflict, although it was an old
and well-wrought blade. To him it was not granted that weapons should
help him in battle. The hand that swung the sword was too strong. His
might overtaxed every blade however wondrously the smith had welded
it.
And now a third time the fell fire-dragon was roused to wrath. He
rushed upon the King. Hot, and fiercely grim the great beast seized
Beowulf's neck in his horrid teeth. The hero's life-blood gushed
forth, the crimson stream darkly dyed his bright armor.
Then in the great King's need his warrior showed skill and courage.
Heeding not the flames from the awful mouth, Wiglaf struck the dragon
below the neck. His hand was burned with the fire, but his sword dived
deep into the monster's body and from that moment the flames began to
abate.
The horrid teeth relaxed their hold, and Beowulf, quickly recovering
himself, drew his deadly knife. Battle-sharp and keen it was, and with
it the hero gashed the dragon right in the middle.
The foe was conquered. Glowing in death he fell. They twain had
destroyed the winged beast. Such should a warrior be, such a thane in
need.
To the King it was a victorious moment. It was the crown of all his
deeds.
Then began the wound which the fire-dragon had wrought him to burn and
to swell. Beowulf soon found that baleful poison boiled in his heart.
Well knew he that the end was nigh. Lost in deep thought he sat upon
the mound and gazed wondering at the cave. Pillared and arched with
stone-work it was within, wrought by giants and dwarfs of old time.
And to him came Wiglaf his dear warrior and tenderly bathed his wound
with water.
Then spake Beowulf, in spite of his deadly wound he spake, and all his
words were of the ending of his life, for he knew that his days of joy
upon this earth were past.
"Had a son been granted to me, to him I should have left my
war-garments. Fifty years have I ruled this people, and there has been
no king of all the nations round who durst meet me in battle. I have
known joys and sorrows, but no man have I betrayed, nor many false
oaths have I sworn. For all this may I rejoice, though I be now sick
with mortal wounds. The Ruler of Men may not upbraid me with treachery
or murder of kinsmen when my soul shall depart from its body.
"But now, dear Wiglaf, go thou quickly to the hoard of gold which
lieth under the hoary rock. The dragon lieth dead; now sleepeth he
for ever, sorely wounded and bereft of his treasure. Then haste thee,
Wiglaf, for I would see the ancient wealth, the gold treasure, the
jewels, the curious gems. Haste thee to bring it hither; then after
that I have seen it, I shall the more contentedly give up my life and
the kingship that I so long have held."
Quickly Wiglaf obeyed his wounded lord. Into the dark cave he
descended, and there outspread before him was a wondrous sight.
Treasure of jewels, many glittering and golden, lay upon the ground.
Wondrous vessels of old time with broken ornaments were scattered
round. Here, too, lay old and rusty helmets, mingled with bracelets
and collars cunningly wrought.
Upon the walls hung golden flags. From one a light shone forth by
which the whole cavern was made clear. And all within was silent. No
sign was there of any guardian, for without lay the dragon, sleeping
death's sleep.
Quickly Wiglaf gathered of the treasures all that he could carry.
Dishes and cups he took, a golden ensign and a sword curiously
wrought. In haste he returned, for he knew not if he should find his
lord in life where he had left him.
And when Wiglaf came again to where Beowulf sat he poured the treasure
at his feet. But he found his lord in a deep swoon. Again the brave
warrior bathed Beowulf's wound and laved the stricken countenance of
his lord, until once more he came to himself.
Then spake the King: "For this treasure I give thanks to the Lord of
All. Not in vain have I given my life, for it shall be of great good
to my people in need. And now leave me, for on this earth longer I may
not stay. Say to my warriors that they shall raise a mound upon the
rocky point which jutteth seaward. High shall it stand as a memorial
to my people. Let it soar upward so that they who steer their slender
barks over the tossing waves shall call it Beowulf's mound."
The King then took from his neck the golden collar. To Wiglaf, his
young thane and kinsman, he gave it. He gave also his helmet adorned
with gold, his ring and coat of mail, and bade the warrior use them
well.
"Thou art the last of our race," he said. "Fate hath swept away all my
kinsmen, all the mighty earls. Now I too must follow them."
That was the last word of the aged King. From his bosom the soul fled
to seek the dwellings of the just. At Wiglaf's feet he lay quiet and
still.
HOW KING ARTHUR CONQUERED ROME
ADAPTED BY E. EDWARDSON
King Arthur had just brought a great war to an end, and in honor of
his victory he was holding a royal feast with the kings and princes
that were his vassals and all the knights of the Round Table, when
twelve grave and ancient men entered the banquet-hall where he sat
at table. They bore each an olive-branch in his hand, to signify that
they were ambassadors from Lucius the Emperor of Rome, and after they
had reverently made obeisance to King Arthur, they delivered their
message as follows:
"The high and mighty Emperor Lucius sends you greeting, O King of
Britain, and he commands you to acknowledge him as your lord, and
to pay the tribute which is due from this realm, and which, it is
recorded, was paid by your father and others who came before him.
Yet you rebelliously withhold it and keep it back, in defiance of
the statutes and decrees made by the first Emperor of Rome, the noble
Julius Caesar, who conquered this country. And be assured that if you
disobey this command, the Emperor Lucius will come in his might and
make war against you and your kingdom, and will inflict upon you a
chastisement that shall serve for ever as a warning to all kings and
princes not to withhold the tribute due to that noble empire to which
belongs dominion over the whole world."
Thus they spoke, and King Arthur having heard their request, bade
them withdraw, saying that he would take the advice of his counselors
before giving them his answer; but some of the younger knights that
were in the hall declared that it was a disgrace to all who were
at the feast that such language should be used to the King in their
hearing, and they would fain have fallen upon the ambassadors and
slain them. But King Arthur, hearing their murmurs, declared that any
insult or wrong suffered by the ambassadors should be punished with
death. Then he sent them to their quarters, escorted by one of his
knights, who was ordered to provide them with whatever they wanted.
"Let nothing be grudged these men of Rome," said the King "though the
demand they make is an affront alike to me and to you who are of my
court. I should be dishonored were the ambassadors not treated with
the respect due to them, seeing that they are great lords in their own
land."
As soon as the ambassadors had left the hall, King Arthur asked his
knights and lords what was their advice and counsel in the matter. The
first to give his opinion was Sir Cador of Cornwall.
"Sir," said Sir Cador, "the message brought by these lords is most
welcome to me. We have spent full many days at rest and in idleness,
and now my hope is that you will wage war against the Romans. In that
war we shall, I have little doubt, win great honor."
"I am sure," answered King Arthur, "that this affair is welcome to
you, but I seek, above all, your aid in devising a grave and suitable
answer to the demand they have made. And let no man doubt that I hold
that demand to be a grievous insult. The tribute they claim, in my
opinion, not only is not due, but cannot be due; for more than one
British knight having been Emperor of Rome, it is, I hold, the duty of
Rome to acknowledge the lordship of Britain, rather than of Britain to
acknowledge that of Rome. What think ye?"
"Sir," replied King Anguish of Scotland, "you ought of right to be
lord over all other kings, for throughout Christendom there is neither
knight nor man of high estate worthy to be compared with you. My
advice is, never yield to the Romans. When they reigned over us, they
oppressed our principal men, and laid heavy and extortionate burdens
upon the land. For that cause I, standing here, solemnly vow vengeance
upon them for the evil they then did, and, to support you in your
quarrel, I will at my own cost furnish twenty thousand good fighting
men. This force I will command in person, and I will bring it to your
aid whenever you choose to summon me."
In like manner, the King of Little Britain, as Brittany was called
in those days, undertook to furnish thirty thousand men; and all the
others who were present agreed to fight on King Arthur's side, and to
assist him to the utmost of their power. So he, having thanked
them heartily for the courage and good will towards him that they
displayed, had the ambassadors summoned back into the banquet-hall and
addressed them thus:
"I would have you go back to him who sent you, and I would have you
say to him that I will pay no heed to any orders or demands that may
be brought from him; and as for tribute so far am I from allowing
that there is any tribute due from me or to any other man or prince
upon earth, be he heathen or Christian, that I claim lordship over
the empire he now has. And say further to him, that I have determined
and resolved to go to Rome with my army, to take possession of the
empire and to subdue all that behave themselves rebelliously.
Therefore, let your master and all the other men of Rome get
themselves ready to do homage to me, and to acknowledge me as their
emperor and governor, and let them know that if they refuse, they
will be punished befittingly."
Then King Arthur bade his treasurer give handsome gifts to the
ambassadors, and repay in full the cost of their journey, and he
assigned Sir Cador as their escort to see them safely out of the
country. So they took their leave, and going to Sandwich, sailed
thence, and passed through Flanders and Germany over the Alps into
Italy to the court of the Emperor.
When the Emperor heard what message King Arthur had entrusted to
them, and understood that this was indeed the reply to his demand for
tribute, he was grievously angry.
"Of truth," he said, "I never doubted that King Arthur would obey my
commands and submit, as it befits him and all other kings to submit
themselves to me."
"Sir," answered one of the ambassadors, "I beseech you not to speak
thus boastfully. In very truth my companions and myself were dismayed
when we saw King Arthur face to face, and my fear is that you have
made a rod for your own back, for his intention is to become lord over
this empire. His threats, I warn you, are no idle talk. He is a very
different man from what you hoped he was, and his court is the most
noble upon earth. Never had any one of us beheld such magnificence
as we beheld there on New Year's Day, when nine kings, besides other
princes, lords, and knights, sat at table with King Arthur. Nor do
I believe that there could be found anywhere another band of knights
worthy to be matched with the knights who sit at his Round Table, nor
a more manly man than the King himself. And since I verily believe
his ambition is such that he would not be satisfied though he had
conquered the whole world, my advice is that you have careful watch
kept upon the borders of your lands and upon the ways over the
mountains, for I am certain that you would do wisely to guard yourself
well against him."
"Well," answered Lucius, "my intention is before Easter to cross the
Alps and to descend into France and seize the lands that belong to
him there. With me I shall take my mighty warriors from Tuscany and
Lombardy, and all the subjects and allies I have shall be summoned to
my aid."
Then the Emperor picked out wise old knights and sent them east and
west throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe, to summon his allies from
Turkey, Syria, Portugal, and the other distant lands that were subject
to him; and in the meantime he assembled his forces from Rome,
and from the countries between Rome and Flanders, and he collected
together as his bodyguard fifty giants who were sons of evil spirits.
Putting himself at the head of this mighty host, Lucius departed from
Rome, and marching through Savoy, crossed the mountains, meaning to
lay waste the lands King Arthur had conquered. He besieged and took
a castle near Cologne, which he garrisoned with Saracens and
unbelievers. Then he passed on, plundering and pillaging the country,
till he entered Burgundy, where he halted to collect the whole of
his army before invading and laying utterly waste the land of Little
Britain.
In the meantime preparations were being made on the side of the
British. A parliament was held at York, and there it was resolved that
all the navy of the kingdom should be got ready and assembled
within fifteen days at Sandwich. Sir Baudewaine of Britain, and Sir
Constantine, the son of Sir Cador of Cornwall, were chosen by the King
to be his viceroys during his absence; and to them, in the presence
of all his lords, he confided the care of his kingdom, and he also
entrusted to them Queen Guinevere. She, when the time drew near for
the departure of her lord, wept and lamented so piteously that at last
she swooned, and was carried away to her chamber by the ladies that
attended upon her. Then King Arthur mounted his horse, and, putting
himself at the head of his troops, made proclamation in a loud voice
that should death befall him during this expedition, his wish was
that Sir Constantine, who was his heir by blood, should succeed to his
possessions and to his throne.
So King Arthur and his army came to Sandwich, where they found
awaiting them a great multitude of galleys and vessels of all sorts,
on which they embarked and set out to sea. That night, as the King lay
asleep in his cabin, he dreamed a marvelous dream. A dreadful dragon
appeared, flying out of the west. Its head was all enameled with azure
enamel. Its wings and its claws glistened like gold. Its feet were
black as jet. Its body was sheathed in scales that shone as armor
shines after it has been polished, and it had a very great and
remarkable tail. Then there came a cloud out of the east. The grimmest
beast man ever saw rode upon this cloud; it was a wild boar, roaring
and growling so hideously that it was terrifying to hear it. The
dragon flew down the wind like a falcon and struck at this boar; but
it defended itself with its grisly tusks, and wounded the dragon
in the breast so severely that its blood, pouring into the sea in
torrents, made all the waves red. Then the dragon turned and flew
away, and having mounted up to a great height, again swooped down
upon the boar and fastened its claws in the beast's back. The boar
struggled, and raged, and writhed, but all in vain. It was at the
mercy of its foe, and so merciless was the dragon that it never
loosened its grip till it had torn the boar limb from limb and bone
from bone, and scattered it piecemeal upon the surface of the sea.
Then King Arthur awoke, and, starting up in great dismay, sent for a
wise man that was on board the ship and bade him interpret the dream.
"Sir," the wise man said, "the dragon which you saw in your dream
surely betokens your own self, its golden wings signifying the
countries you have won with your sword, and its marvelous tail the
knights of the Round Table. As for the boar that was slain, that may
betoken either a tyrant that torments his people, or some hideous
and abominable giant with whom you are about to fight. And the dream
foreshadows victory for you. Therefore, though it was very dreadful,
you should take comfort from it and be of a good heart."
Before long the sailors sighted land, and the army disembarked at a
port in Flanders, where many great lords were awaiting the arrival
of King Arthur, as had been ordained. And to him, soon after he had
arrived, there came a husbandman bringing grievous news. A monstrous
giant had for years infested the country on the borders of Little
Britain, and had slain many people and devoured such numbers of
children that there were none left for him to prey upon. And being in
search of victims, and coming upon the Duchess of Little Britain as
she rode with her knights, he had laid hands upon her and carried
her off to his den in a mountain. Five hundred men that followed the
duchess could not rescue her, but they heard such heartrending cries
and shrieks that they had little doubt she had been put to death.
"Now," said the husbandman, "as you are a great and noble King and a
valiant conqueror, and as this lady was wife to Sir Howel, who is your
own cousin, take pity on her and on all of us, and avenge us upon this
vile giant."
"Alas," King Arthur replied, "this is a grievous and an evil matter.
I would give all my kingdom to have been at hand, so that I might have
saved that fair lady."
Then he asked the husbandman whether he could show him the place where
the giant would be found, and the man said that was easy to do, for
there were always two fires burning outside the den he haunted. In
that den, the husbandman believed, was stored more treasure than the
whole realm of France contained.