Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu/172

156 that owned their homesteads, hither to bring firewood from far—o’er the folk they ruled— for the famed-one’s funeral. “Fire shall devour and wan flames feed on the fearless warrior who oft stood stout in the iron-shower, when, sped from the string, a storm of arrows shot o’er the shield- wall: the shaft held firm, featly feathered, followed the barb.” And now the sage young son of Weohstan seven chose of the chieftain’s thanes, the best he found that band within, and went with these warriors, one of eight, under hostile roof. In hand one bore a lighted torch and led the way. No lots they cast for keeping the hoard when once the warriors saw it in hall, altogether without a guardian, lying there lost. And little they mourned when they had hastily haled it out, dear-bought treasure! The dragon they cast, the worm, o’er the wall for the wave to take, and surges swallowed that shepherd of gems. Then the woven gold on a wain was laden— countless quite!—and the king was borne, hoary hero, to Hronës-Ness.

 

Then fashioned for him the folk of Geats firm on the earth a funeral-pile, 