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Then he bade them announce that battle-work at the entrenchment up over the sea-cliff where that troop of earls sat sorrowful in soul through the morning-long day, holding their shields and in expectation of the end of the day and the return of the dear man. And he who rode to and fro o’er the headland was little sparing of fresh tidings, but said to all who were sitting there, ‘Now is the joy-giver of the people of the Geats fast on his death-bed, and by the deed of the dragon he inhabits the place of rest gained by a violent death. And by his side lieth the enemy of his life, sick of his dagger-wounds. Nor could he inflict with the sword any wound on that monster. Wiglaf sits over Beowulf, he the son of Weohstan, the earl over the other one who is dead, and reverently keeps ward over the loathèd and the belovèd. But there is an expectation of a time of war to the people, since to Franks and Frisians the fall of the King has become widely known. The hard strife was shapen against the Hugs, when Hygelac came with a fleet into the Frisian lands⁷⁶ where the Hetware overcame him in battle, and by their great strength and courage brought it to pass that the shield-warrior should stoop. He fell in the troop. Nor did the Prince give jewelled armour to the doughty ones. The mercy of the Merewing⁷⁷ was not always shown to us. Nor do I expect aught of peace or good faith from the Swedish People. But it was well known that Ongentheow⁷⁸ bereft Hæthcyn the son of Hrethel⁷⁹ of life over against Ravenswood, when because of pride the warlike Swedes first sought out the people of the Geats. Soon Ongentheow the wise father of Ohthere, the ancient and terrible, gave him (Hæthcyn) a return blow, destroyed the sea-kings, and rescued his bride (Queen Elan) he the old man rescued his wife bereft of gold, the mother of Onela and of Ohthere, and then followed up the deadly foe until with difficulty they retreated all lord-less to Ravenswood. And he attacked the remnant⁸⁰ with a great army, weary though he was with his wounds. And the live-long night he vowed woe upon the wretched troop, and said that on the morrow he would by the edge of the sword slay some and hang them up on the gallows-tree for a sport of the birds. But help came to the sorrowful in soul at the dawn of day, when they heard the horn of Hygelac and the blast of his trumpet when the good man came on the track faring with the doughty warriors of the people.

Then he ordered them to report the battle at the fortifications above the sea cliff. The band of earls sat there, grieving all morning, holding their shields. They waited for the day's end and their beloved lord's return. The rider who traveled back and forth across the headland freely shared the news. He told all those sitting there, ‘Now the lord who brought joy to the Geats lies still on his deathbed. The dragon has brought him a violent death, and he has reached his final resting place. Beside him lies his deadly enemy, dying from dagger wounds. Beowulf could not wound the monster with his sword. Wiglaf, the son of Weohstan, sits beside Beowulf, the living earl beside the dead one. He keeps a reverent watch over both the hated enemy and the beloved lord. ‘But our people can expect war, now that news of the King's fall has spread among the Franks and Frisians. The bitter conflict with the Hugs began when Hygelac sailed with a fleet into the Frisian lands⁷⁶. There the Hetware defeated him in battle. Their great strength and courage brought the shield-bearing warrior down. He fell among his troops. Nor did the Prince give jeweled armor to his brave warriors. The Merewing⁷⁷ did not always show us mercy. Nor do I expect any peace or good faith from the Swedish People. ‘It was well known that Ongentheow⁷⁸ killed Hæthcyn, the son of Hrethel⁷⁹, near Ravenswood. This happened when the warlike Swedes first attacked the Geats out of pride. Soon Ongentheow, Ohthere's wise father, old and fearsome, struck back at Hæthcyn. He destroyed the sea-kings and rescued his bride (Queen Elan). The old man rescued his wife, stripped of her gold, the mother of Onela and Ohthere. Then he pursued his deadly enemies until they struggled back to Ravenswood without their lord. He attacked the survivors⁸⁰ with a great army, though his wounds had left him exhausted. All night long, he threatened the wretched band with suffering. He said that the next morning he would kill some with his sword. He would hang them on the gallows for the birds to feast on. But help came to the grieving men at dawn, when they heard Hygelac's horn and the blast of his trumpet. The good man was coming along the trail with his people's brave warriors.