SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

The role of Wiglaf 237
III The role of Wiglaf in Beowulf's last battle
Questions are raised here which can only be answered
by extending the enquiry further; in fact, the defence of
those warriors with Swedish attachments is found elsewhere,
in the account of Beowulf's last battle. After
a long reign the valiant warrior is engaged with the dragon.
His sword fails, the end of his life is at hand. His retainers
see him struck by the dragon, but none moves to help his
lord - save one:
Hiora in anum weoll
sefa wii5 sorgum; sibb'sefre ne mseg
wiht onwendan pam i5e wel pencei5.
Wiglaf wees haten, Weoxstanes sunu,
leoflic lindwiga, leod Scylfinga,
mseg lElfheres; geseah his mondryhten
under heregriman hat prowian.
Gemunde i5a i5a are, pe he him ser forgeaf,
wicstede weligne Wsegmundinga,
folcrihta gehwylc, swa his freder ahte;
ne mihte i5a forhabban, hond rond gefeng,
geolwe linde, gomel swyrd geteah;
pret wees mid eldum Eanmundes laf,
suna Ohtere[s]; pam ret ssecce weare,
wrseccatn) wineleasum Weohstan bana
meces ecgum, ond his magum eetbser
brunfagne helm, hringde byrnan,
ealdsweord etonisc; pret him Onela forgeaf,
his gredelinges gui5gewredu,
fyrdsearo fuslic, - no ymbe i5a frehi5e sprrec,
peah i5a he his brooor beam abredwade.
He [i5a] frtetwe geheold fela missera,
bill ond byman, oi5 i5ret his byre mihte
eorlscipe efnan swa his zerfasder ;
geaf him i5a mid Geatum gui5gewreda,
seghwses unrim, pa he of ealdre gewat
frod on fori5weg. - :Pa wses forma sii5
geongan cempan, pret he guee rses
mid his freodryhtne fremman sceolde. (2599b-2627)
The mind of a certain one surged with grief: for those who are
right thinking, the claims of kinship cannot ever be set aside.