Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu/135

Rh stole with it away, while the watcher slept, by thievish wiles: for the warden’s wrath prince and people must pay betimes!

 

That way he went with no will of his own, in danger of life, to the dragon’s hoard, but for pressure of peril, some prince’s thane. He fled in fear the fatal scourge, seeking shelter, a sinful man, and entered in. At the awful sight tottered that guest, and terror seized him; yet the wretched fugitive rallied anon from fright and fear ere he fled away, and took the cup from that treasure-hoard. Of such besides there was store enough, heirlooms old, the earth below, which some earl forgotten, in ancient years, left the last of his lofty race, heedfully there had hidden away, dearest treasure. For death of yore had hurried all hence; and he alone left to live, the last of the clan, weeping his friends, yet wished to bide warding the treasure, his one delight, though brief his respite. The barrow, new-ready, to strand and sea-waves stood anear, hard by the headland, hidden and closed; there laid within it his lordly heirlooms 