THAT battle-toil bade he at burg to announce,at the fort on the cliff, where, full of sorrow,all the morning earls had sat,daring shieldsmen, in doubt of twain:would they wail as dead, or welcome home,their lord beloved? Little {38a} kept backof the tidings new, but told them all,the herald that up the headland rode. --"Now the willing-giver to Weder folkin death-bed lies; the Lord of Geatson the slaughter-bed sleeps by the serpent's deed!And beside him is stretched that slayer-of-menwith knife-wounds sick: {38b} no sword availedon the awesome thing in any wiseto work a wound. There Wiglaf sitteth,Weohstan's bairn, by Beowulf's side,the living earl by the other dead,and heavy of heart a head-watch {38c} keepso'er friend and foe. -- Now our folk may lookfor waging of war when once unhiddento Frisian and Frank the fall of the kingis spread afar. -- The strife beganwhen hot on the Hugas {38d} Hygelac felland fared with his fleet to the Frisian land.Him there the Hetwaras humbled in war,plied with such prowess their power o'erwhelmingthat the bold-in-battle bowed beneath itand fell in fight. To his friends no wisecould that earl give treasure! And ever sincethe Merowings' favor has failed us wholly.Nor aught expect I of peace and faithfrom Swedish folk. 'Twas spread afarhow Ongentheow reft at RavenswoodHaethcyn Hrethling of hope and life,when the folk of Geats for the first time soughtin wanton pride the Warlike-Scylfings.Soon the sage old sire {38e} of Ohtere,ancient and awful, gave answering blow;the sea-king {38f} he slew, and his spouse redeemed,his good wife rescued, though robbed of her gold,mother of Ohtere and Onela.Then he followed his foes, who fled before himsore beset and stole their way,bereft of a ruler, to Ravenswood.
With his host he besieged there what swords had left,the weary and wounded; woes he threatenedthe whole night through to that hard-pressed throng:some with the morrow his sword should kill,some should go to the gallows-treefor rapture of ravens. But rescue camewith dawn of day for those desperate menwhen they heard the horn of Hygelac sound,tones of his trumpet; the trusty kinghad followed their trail with faithful band.