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Unferth spake, the son of Ecglaf, who sat at the feet of the Scyldings’ lord, unbound the battle-runes. —Beowulf’s quest, sturdy seafarer’s, sorely galled him; ever he envied that other men should more achieve in middle-earth of fame under heaven than he himself.— “Art thou that Beowulf, Breca’s rival, who emulous swam on the open sea, when for pride the pair of you proved the floods, and wantonly dared in waters deep to risk your lives? No living man, or lief or loath, from your labor dire could you dissuade, from swimming the main. Ocean-tides with your arms ye covered, with strenuous hands the sea-streets measured, swam o’er the waters. Winter’s storm rolled the rough waves. In realm of sea a sennight strove ye. In swimming he topped thee, had more of main! Him at morning-tide billows bore to the Battling Reamas,