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[lines 2672b-2708a in sections XXXVI and XXXVII and 8th line from the bottom of folio 189A197r, through folio 189A197v to 3rd line from the top of folio 189r on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
In this part of the story Beowulf, who is now the king of his own people, decides to fight a hopeless battle with a fire-breathing dragon which has been killing Beowulf's people after one of those people stole a chalice from a treasure-filled cave which the dragon had been guarding for three-hundred years. In what will be the last fight of his life, Beowulf is abandoned by all of his men except Wiglaf, who overcomes his own fear and runs into the flames to be by Beowulf's side. Beowulf is failed by his sword "Nægling" (his strike is stronger than any sword ever made - it is interesting that the two swords in the story which failed in their task both have names while the two swords which succeeded do not) and the dragon is killed by a swordstrike by Wiglaf combined with a knifestab from Beowulf. As the dragon is struck by Wiglaf it bites Beowulf on the neck and Beowulf dies from poison from the bite.
In this passage, Wiglaf allows his hand to be severely burned in order to strike at the dragon at a critical moment, and where it is most vulnerable. We might recall that when Beowulf first saw Grendel at Heorot, it was when Grendel was killing and eating one of Hrothgar's men. When Grendel reached out to grab his next victim, he felt Beowulf's grip on his arm. That was Beowulf's moment of truth, when he decided to step up and do what was necessary: he was going to fight Grendel, despite what he had just witnessed. The moment in which Wiglaf allows his hand to be burned is his own moment of truth, and it is by this act that the mantle is symbolically passed from Beowulf to Wiglaf -- it is Wiglaf's right of passage into a position of leadership and moral authority.
When you read later of Wiglaf scolding the soldiers who ran into the forest, remember that while they listened to him talk, they must have been looking at his hand, and thinking about how courageous he had been.
At this moment, Wiglaf has just run into the flames to be by Beowulf's side and the dragon has charged at them both, incinerating Wiglaf's shield.
Beowulf and Wiglaf Kill the Dragon -- Audio: beowulf-audio-2672b-2708a-benslade.mp3
138 seconds, 2.2Mb, Sampling Rate=22,050, 16bit -- lines 2672b-2708a
Click to hear Ben Slade read about Beowulf and Wiglaf fighting the dragon in Old English (or right click and "Save-As" to save to your hard drive)
Ben Slade's Beowulf page is at http://www.heorot.dk.
After those words, the furious serpent, a cruel demon of malice, came blazing with surges of fire to attack its foes, the men it hated, a second time. His shield was burned to the rim by the waves of fire; his shirt of mail could not possibly have helped the young warrior, but the young man managed with daring to get behind his kinsman's shield when his own had been burnt to ashes by the flames. Then once more the king of battles fixed his mind on renown. With all his might and main, he struck so hard with his war-sword that it stuck in the serpent's head, driven in by the force. Nægling fell to pieces. Beowulf's old and iron-colored sword failed him in the fight. It was not granted him that the edge of any iron might help him in battle. The hand was too strong and, as my story has it, sought too much in its swing from every kind of blade. Even when he bore into battle a weapon tempered by blood, he was not the least bit better off for it.
Then the destroyer of that people, the ferocious fire-dragon, was bent on attack a third time. It rushed at the brave man, when the chance was given it; hot and vicious in battle, it took hold of his whole neck with its sharp teeth. He was soaked with his life's blood; his blood welled out of him in waves.
Then I have heard that the good soldier of that great king standing beside him made plain in his lord's time of need the daring, the skill and the courage that was his by nature. He paid no heed to the dragon's head; the hand of the great-hearted man was badly burned when he came to his kinsman's aid. Soldier-like in his armor, he struck the vicious demon a little below the head, so that the sword sank in deep, bright and plated with gold, and the fire then began to slacken. Then the king himself once more came to his senses: he drew the murderous knife, keen and sharpened for battle, which he wore on his mail-shirt. The bulwark of the Weders cut the serpent in half. They had struck down their enemy-- their daring had driven the life out of it -- and they both had killed it, princes bound by ties of blood. ---
[Wiglaf's] shield was burnt up . . . . . by the fiery waves; his corselet might not furnish help to the young warrior. But the young man hastily went under his kinsman's shield, as his own was destroyed by the flames. Then still the warrior-king bethought him of his deeds of fame; with all his might and force he struck with his good sword, so that it descended on [the Dragon's] head, by fury urged. Nægling, Beowulf's own sword, old and grey-bladed, was shivered in pieces; it failed in the conflict; it was not granted to him that the edges of steel blades might help him in the fight; the hand was too strong which, from what I could learn, with its swinging stroke over-tasked every blade; when he to the conflict bore a weapon, wonderously hard, it was not a whit the better for him.
Then, for the third time, the great scather, the fierce Fire-drake, was minded to attack; he rushed on the bold [chief], then he amply requited him, hot and exceedingly fierce; he clasped him round the neck in his horrid coils; he [Beowulf] was drenched in his life-blood; the blood spurted out in streams.
Then I learnt that at his true prince's need the earl displayed unceasing valour, strength, and energy, as to him was natural; nor did he keep clear of his [the Dragon's] head, but the hand of the valiant man was burnt, when he helped by his prowess; then (?) he, the armed soldier, beat down a little of the malignant enemy, so that the sword drove down, many-hued and with plated hilt, so that the fire began after that to abate. Then again the king himself recovered his senses, his deadly knife he drew, bitter and exceeding sharp, that he bore on his corselet. The protector of the Weders slashed the Serpent in the middle. They felled the foe: the valour expelled his life, and they both, the noble kinsmen, had despatched him;
Scarce had he spoken when the worm came on against his foes a second time in his wrath and wreathed with flame, and Wiglaf's shield caught fire and burned to the rim and his byrnie was of no help at all, wherefor the young warrior got him behind the iron shield of Beowulf when his own was consumed. Then once more the warrior king bethinking him of his renown struck with main strength that the sword, with all his hate behind it, stood in the dragon's head. But Nægling, the ancient sword of Beowulf, brake its grey and patterned blade, and failed him in the fight. Such was the strength of his hand that he got but little good of a sword in battle, so straining it with the stroke that he was no whit the better for it.
Then for a third time the dread fire-drake, as room served him, made a rush at the hero and in his neck the sharp teeth sank deep so that the blood gushed forth. Then it was that Wiglaf showed the valor that was in his race, for he paid no heed to the drake's head and though his hand was scorched as he came at close quarters he struck at the under parts of the beast and drove home his sword, whereat the fire began to abate. And the king himself then, who was still in his senses, drew the knife, battle-sharp, he wore at his byrnie and hacked the worm a-two at his middle.
They had felled their foe; their strength thrust forth his life;
And they both the twain utterly destroyed him,
kinsmen princes; so ought a man to be,
thegn when he is needed.
--- The buckler was burnt to the boss by the flames; his byrnie could not help the youthful warrior. But the young man quickly leapt under his kinsman's shield, for his own was consumed by the fire. Then again the warrior king was mindful of glory, smote mightily with his battle-sword, that it stuck in the serpent's head, driven by wrath. Nægling burst asunder; Beowulf's sword, old and gray of hue, failed in the fight. It was not granted to him that blades of iron should help him in the battle. The hand was too strong and, I have heard, overtaxed every sword with its stroke when he bore to the fight the wondrously hard weapon. It was not at all the better for him.
Then for the third time the folk-ravisher, the fell fire-dragon, was mindful of the feud, and rushed upon the man of renown when chance offered, --hot and battle-grim, clasped him all about the neck with his sharp tusks. He was bloodied with his life-blood. The blood surged forth in waves.
Then at the king's need, as I heard tell, the earl, upstanding, showed valor, strength and courage, as was his nature. He did not attack the head; nevertheless the bold warrior's hand was burnt when he helped his kinsman by striking the fell stranger sonewhat lower. Thus did the warrior in arms, so that the sword plunged in, shining and gold-adorned; wherefore the fire afterwards began to grow less. Then the king himself still had control of his senses, drew the war-knife, keen and battle-sharp, that he wore on his byrnie. The protector of the Weders slashed the serpent in the middle. They cut down the fiend-- strength drove out life; together the warrior kinsman had destroyed him. ---
The fire advanced in waves and burned Wiglaf's shield to the boss. His mail-coat could not afford the young armed warrior safety but the young man bravely carried on under cover of his kinsman's shield when his own had been destroyed by the fiery gobbets.
Still the warrior-king kept his mind on matters of glory: in the might of his strength he struck with his battle-blade so that, given impetus by his hatred, it stuck fast in the head.
Nægling broke; Beowulf's old and grey-coloured sword failed him in the struggle. It was not allotted him that the edges of iron weapons could assist him in the fight; that hand of his which, as I have heard, asked over much of every blade in the wielding, was too strong when he carried the weapon toughened by bleeding wounds into the struggle, and he was none the better off.
Then for a third time the ravager of the nation, the ferocious and fiery dragon, determined upon aggressive moves, and when the opportunity offered itself to him he rushed, hot and fierce in the assault, upon the renowned man and grabbed him right round his neck with his cruel tusks. Beowulf was smothered with blood, his life-blood; the gore welled out in pulsing streams.
I have heard that then, in the people's king's time of need, the earl at his side displayed courage, skill and daring, as was instinctive in him. He did not bother about the head but the brave man's hand was burnt as he helped his kinsman in that he, this man in his armour, struck the spiteful creature somewhat lower down, so that the sword, gleaming and gold-plated, plunged in; and forthwith the fire began to abate.
Still the king himself was in command of his senses; he unsheathed a deadly knife, cruel and sharp in conflict which he was carrying in his mail-coat. The protective lord of the Weder-Geats slashed the reptile apart in the middle. They had felled the foe -- their courage had ousted his life -- and the two of them together, noble kinsmen, had destroyed him.
... With waves of flame the shield burned up to the rim; the burny could give no help to the young spear-warrior: but the young man bravely went under his kinsman's shield when his own was burned away by the gledes. Then again the war king minded him of great deeds, struck with main strength with his battle-bill, so that it stood in the [dragon's] head, driven by hate. Nægling broke: Beowulf's swrod failed in the fight, ancient and gray-marked. It was not given him that edges of irons might help him in battle; that hand was too strong, which in its swing overtaxed every sword, as I have heard, when he bore to the fight a weapon wondrously hard: no whit was it the better for him. Then was the people-scather, the fierce fire-dragon, for a third time mindful of the feud-- rushed upon the brave one where room offered him, hot and battle-grim, and encircled all his neck with biting bones. He was made bloody with life-blood; the blood welled in waves.
Then I heard that at the folk-king's need the earl showed endless courage, craft and keenness, as was natural to him. He heeded not the [dragon's ] head (but the brave man's hand was burned where he helped his kinsman), so that he smote the spite-guest a little downwards, the man in armor, in such wise that the sword dived in, bright and plated, and the fire began to wane afterwards. Then the king himself again had use of his wits, drew his slaughter-knife, biting and battle-sharp, that he wore on his burny: the helm of the Weders cut the worm in two in the middle. They felled the foe, strength drove out life, and they had both killed him, the kinsman-athelings;...
After these words the dragon, the foe fell and fearful, came in wrath a second time, bedight with surges of flame, to seek the men, his loathing. The shield of the young spearsman burned to the boss in the waves of fire, and his burnie might yield him no aid. But the young retainer went him speedily under his kinsman's shield, for his own was consumed utterly by the fire. Then once more the war-king bethought him of the meeds of glory, and in the might of his strength struck with his war-sword, so that it drave into the dragon's head, urged by hate. Nægling was broken; the sword of Beowulf, old and gray-hued, betrayed him in the strife; it was not given him that edge of steel might help him in the battle. His hand was too strong, as I have heard tell, trying overmuch any sword by its blow; when he bore to the fight a weapon wondrous hard, no whit was he the better for it.
Then the spoiler of the people, the fell fire-drake, was of mind a third time for the strife, rushed, hot and battle-grim, upon the valliant one, when he gave him ground, and with his bitter fangs took in all the throat of the hero. Beowulf was bloodied with his life-blood; the blood welled forth in waves.
I heard tell that then in the folk-king's need his earl gave proof of lasting prowess, of the strength and boldness in him. He heeded not the head of the dragon, albeit the brave man's hand was burned in aiding his kinsman, so he might, the mailed warrior, smite the fell foe a little lower, in such wise the shining sword, decked with gold, sank in, and the fire thereafter began to fail. Then the king came to himself once more, and drew the war-dagger, bitter and sharp for battle, he wore on his burnie. The helm of the Weders cut the dragon in two in the middle. They felled the foe, their prowess cast forth his life, and they both, kinsman athelings, had overthrown him.
So fierce was the heat that the shield was consumed even to the boss. Nor could the coat of mail protect him. Under his lord's shield did Wiglaf shelter himself when that his own was in ashes. Then Beowulf remembered his strength and smote with all his might. Full on the head with mighty blow he smote the Worm. But Naegling his sword flew in splinters, good weapon though it was and famed in story. It failed him indeed, nor yet of its own defect. So strong was the champion's arm that it overtaxed all swords whatsoever. Let the edge be keen beyond all nature, yet it failed when Beowulf struck with all his strength.
Then for the third time the Worm came on, the fiery monster, wrought to rage beyond all bearing. For a space the King fell back, and the Worm seized his neck, compassing it round with savage teeth so that the blood of his life gushed out in a great stream.
And now the youth Wiglaf put forth all the valour and strength that were in him to help his kinsman the King. He heeded not the fire, though grievously it scorched his hand, but smote the Worm underneath, where the skin failed somewhat in hardness. He drove the good sword into the monster's body, and straightway the fire began to abate. Then the King recovered himself somewhat and drew his war-knife, keen of edge, that he wore upon his coat of mail, and gashed the Worm in the middle. So these two together subdued the monstrous inhabitant of the barrow.
--- His shield was burnt up to the boss by waves of fire, his corslet could afford the youthful spear-warrior no help; but the young man did valorously under his kinsman's shield after his own was destroyed by the flames. Then once more the warlike prince was mindful of glorious deeds. By main force he struck with his battle-sword so that it stuck in the head, driven in by the onslaught. Nægling snapped! Beowulf's old, grey-hued sword failed him in the fray. It was not granted him that iron blades should help him in the fight. The hand was too strong which, so I have heard, by its stroke overstrained every sword, when he bore to the fray a weapon wondrous hard; it was none the better for him.
Then a third time the people's foe, the dread fiery dragon, was intent on fighting. He rushed upon the hero, when occassion favoured him, hot and fierce in battle, and enclosed his whole neck between sharp teeth; he was bathed in life-blood-- the gore gushed out in streams.
I am told that then in the dire need of the people's king, the noble warrior stood up and showed his courage, his skill and daring, as his nature was. He cared not about the head: but the brave man's hand was scorched the while he helped the kinsman, so that he, the man in armour, struck the vengeful stranger a little lower down, in such wise that the sword, gleaming and overlaid, plunged in, and the fire began thenceforth to abate.
Then the king himself once more gained sway over his senses, drew the keen deadly knife, sharp in battle, that he wore upon his corslet, and the protector of the Geats cut through the serpent in the middle. They had felled the foe: daring had driven out his life, and they, the kindred nobles, had destroyed him. ---
He donn'd
The warrior helm, and thro' the deadly steam
Press'd to his master's aid and shortly spoke.
"Now, much loved lord, think of thine early youth,
How thou didst pledge thyself, while life was thine,
To work the doom of justice. Now great Beowulf,
Now fearless chief, thy faithful thane is nigh."
The accession of so formidable an opponent, naturally provoked a yet fiercer attack on the part of the dragon. The contest which followed is but obscurely and confusedly described, the poet evidently wanting the power, or perhaps rather the means, of conveying a clear and intelligible picture of a struggle in which three several combatants were engaged at once. We learn, however, that after both this and the succeeding onset, the event was still doubtful.
Canto XXXVII.
Having gained both confidence and breathing time from the exertions of his youthful ally,
Once more the Goth,
Recall'd to sense and power, drew quickly forth
The shrewd and biting blade, untried as yet,
That o'er his corslet hung -- the Sea-Danes' seax.
The glorious Goth struck lustily: -- he hath smote
Full on the breast, and pierc'd his loathsome foe,
And work'd the vengeance of his kingly heart.
Thus the heroes were left victorious; but to the elder this triumph was destined speedily to prove fatal.
Note here that Cox and Jones have Beowulf grabbing the dragon by the neck and strangling it, they have Beowulf's hand being burned, it is Wiglaf who makes the fatal cut, and Beowulf is poisoned by "fiery blood" rather than from a poisoned bite on the neck.
The flame burnt up his linden shield, but Wigláf ran boldly underneath the shield of his master and fought at his side. Then Beówulf, jealous for his single fame, though heat-oppressed and wearied, swung his great war-sword and drave it down mightily upon the head of the fire-drake. But Nagling failed him, and brake in sunder with the blow; for Beowouf's hand was too strong and overpowered every swordblade forged by mortal man, neither was it granted to him at any time that the edges of the smith's iron might avail him in war. Wildly he spurned the treacherous sword-hilt from him, and furious rushed upon the fiery worm and clutched it by the neck in the terrible gripe of his naked hands. There upon the plain he throttled it, while the burning life-blood of the fire-drake boiled up from its throat and set his hands aflame. Yet loosened he never his gripe, but held the twining worm till Wigláf carved its body in twain with his sword. Then Beówulf flung the carcase to the earth and the fire ceased.
But the fiery blood was on his hands; and they began to burn and swell; and he felt the poison course through all his veins and boil up in his breast. Then Beówulf knew that he drew nigh the end of this poor life;
The dragon welcomed Wiglaf with a blast of flame that set fire to his shield. The young warrior sweltered and crouched behind Beowulf's huge iron shield.
As the dragon wheeled, dragging its monstrous body over the scree, Beowulf stood up and crashed Naegling against its head. The sword point stuck in its skull! Then the serpent writhed and bucked and Naegling was not strong enough; it bent and it snapped.
Beowulf stared in dismay at his old grey-hued sword and at once the dragon lunged forward. It gripped Beowulf's neck between its sharp teeth. The old king was bathed in blood; it poured out of his arteries and veins.
Quickly Wiglaf took three strides and sank his sword into the dragon's belly. He buried it up to the hilt. The dragon gasped, and let go of Beowulf's neck, and at once the flames began to abate.
Then Beowulf fumbled for the deadly knife fastened to his corslet. He closed his eyes and swayed, then he launched himself forward, fell against the dragon and slit its throat.
The serpent gargled. It jerked and shuddered; it lay still.
Fire advanced in waves; shield burned to the boss; mail-shirt might give no help to the young spear-warrior; but the young man went quickly under his kinsman's shield when his own was consumed with flames. Then the war-king was again mindful of fame, struck with his war-sword with great strength so that it stuck in the head-bone, driven with force: Nægling broke, the sword of Beowulf failed in the fight, old and steel-gray. It was not ordained for him that iron edges might help in the combat. Too strong was the hand that I have heard strained every sword with its stroke, when he bore wound-hardened weapon to battle: he was none the better for it.
Then for the third time the folk-harmer, the fearful fire-dragon, was mindful of feuds, set upon the brave one when the chance came, hot and battle-grim seized all his neck with his sharp fangs: he was smeared with life-blood, gore welled out in waves.
Then, I have heard, at the need of the folk-king the earl at his side made his courage known, his might and his keenness - as was natural to him. He took no heed for that head, but the hand of the brave man was burned as he helped his kinsman, as the man in armor struck the hateful foe a little lower down, so that the sword sank in, shining and engraved, and then the fire began to subside. The king himself then still controlled his senses, drew the battle-knife, biting and war-sharp, that he wore on his mail-shirt: the protector of the Weather-Geats cut the worm through the middle. They felled the foe, courage drove his life out, and they had destroyed him together, the two noble kinsmen.
After these words were spoken, the Worm came on in fury, the fell malignant monster came on for the second time, with fire-jets flashing, to engage his enemies, hated men; with the waves of flame the shield was consumed all up to the boss; the mail-coat could not render assistance to the young warrior; but the young stripling valorously went forward under his kinsman's shield when his own was reduced to ashes by the gleeds. Then once more the warlike king remembered glory, remembered his forceful strength, so smote with battle-bill that it stood in the monster's head, desperately impelled. Nægling flew in splinters, Beowulf's sword betrayed him in battle, though old and monumental gray. To him was it not granted, that edges of iron should help him in fight; too strong was the hand of the man who with his stroke overtaxed (as I have heard say) all swords whatsoever; so that when he carried to conflict a weapon preternaturallly hard, he was none the better for it.
Then for the third time was the monstrous ravager, the infuriated fire-drake, roused to vengeance; he rushed on the heroic man, as he had yielded ground, fiery and destructive, his entire neck he enclosed with lacerating teeth; he was bloodied over with the vital stream; gore surged forth in waves.
Then I heard tell how, in the glorious king's extremity, the young noble put forth exemplary prowess of force and daring, as was his nature to; he regarded not that (formidable) head, but the valiant man's hand was scorched, while he helped his kinsman, insomuch that he smote the fell creature a little lower down, the man-at-arms did, with such effect that the sword penetrated, the chased and gilded sword, yea with such effect that the fire began to subside from that moment.
Then once more the beloved king recovered his senses, drew the war-knife, biting and battle-sharp, which he wore on his mail-coat; the crowned head of the Storm-folk gashed the Worm in the middle. They had quelled the foe, death-daring prowess had executed revenge, and they two together, cousin ethelings, had destroyed him;
The sound of another voice roused the dragon to greater fury, and again came the fiery cloud, burning up like straw Wiglaf's linden shield, and torturing both warriors as they stood behind the iron shield with their heated armour. But they fought on manfully, and Beowulf, gathering up his strength, struck the dragon such a blow on the head that his ancient sword was shivered to fragments. The dragon, enraged, now flew at Beowulf and seized him by the neck with his poisonous fangs, so that the blood gushed out in streams, and ran down his corslet. Wiglaf was filled with grief and horror at this dreadful sight, and, leaving the protection of Beowulf's iron shield, dashed forth at the dragon, piercing the scaly body in a vital part. At once the fire began to fade away, and Beowulf, mastering his anguish, drew his broad knife, and with a last effort cut the hideous reptile asunder. ---
--- In these waves of flame Wiglaf's shield was burnt up to the boss, nor could the corselet afford aid to the young spearman; but the youthful warrior valiantly took his place behind his kinsman's shield when his own had been utterly destroyed by coals of fire.
Then once again the warrior king set his mind upon glory, and in his mighty strength he dealt such a stroke with his warlike sword that it stuck fast in the head, driven deep by his violence. Nægling broke in two; Beowulf's ancient sword with its grey glinting blade had failed him in combat. It had not been granted him that steely edges might help in battle; his was too strong a hand-- so I heard tell-- which would overtax every blade by its stroke, whenever he carried into combat some wondrously hard weapon, so that for all that he was no better off.
Then for the third time, when his opportunity came, the perilous fire-dragon, the scourge of the nation, with his mind set on some bloody deed, rushed hot and fiercely grim against the bold hero and gripped his whole neck between cutting teeth. Beowulf was stained with his own dripping life-blood; gore gushed out in floods.
I have heard how in the king's hour of need the hero at his side showed the valour, strength and boldness which were his birthright. He took no heed of the head, though the hand of this brave man in his armour was burnt as he helped his kinsman by striking rather lower down at the spiteful creature, so that his gleaming gold-plated sword plunged in so well that from that time the fire began to die down. By then the king himself was master of his senses once more, and he drew a deadly knife, sharp and biting in battle, which he wore with his corselet; the helm of the Wederas ripped the serpent open in the middle. They had felled the foe, their valour taking his life by force; both these high-born kinsmen had struck him down together.
