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Then the People of the Geats got ready the mighty funeral pyre, and hung it round with helmets and battle-shields, and bright byrnies as he had asked. And in the midst they lay the famous Prince, and they lamented the Hero, their dear lord. Then the warriors began to stir up the greatest of bale-fires on the cliff-side. And the reek of the wood-smoke went up swart, over the flame, which was resounding, and its roar mingled with weeping (and the tumult of winds was still), until it had broken the body, all hot into the heart. And unhappy in their thinkings, and with minds full of care, they proclaim the death of their lord, likewise a sorrowful song the Bride....⁸²

Then the People of the Geats prepared the mighty funeral pyre. They hung helmets, battle-shields, and shining mail armor around it, as he had asked. In the middle they laid the famous Prince and mourned the Hero, their beloved lord. Then the warriors began to kindle the greatest of funeral fires on the cliffside. Black wood-smoke rose above the roaring flames, and the fire’s roar mingled with weeping. (The winds were still.) The fire burned until its heat had consumed the body, right to the heart. Grieving and full of worry, they announced their lord’s death. Likewise, the Bride sang a sorrowful song....⁸²

And heaven swallowed up the smoke. Then on the cliff-slopes the people of the Geats erected a mound, very high and very broad, that it might be beholden from afar by the wave-farers; and they set up the beacon of the mighty in battle in ten days. And the leavings of the funeral fire they surrounded with a wall, so that very proud men might find it to be most worthy of reverence.

And heaven swallowed up the smoke. Then the Geats built a very high, very broad mound on the cliff slopes so sailors could see it from afar. In ten days, they built this beacon for the mighty warrior. And they built a wall around the remains of the funeral fire, so that very proud men might deeply honor the site.

And they did on the barrow rings and necklaces, and all such adornments as formerly warlike men had taken of the hoard. And they allowed the earth to hold the treasure of earls, the gold on the ground, where it still is to be found as useless to men as it always was.⁸³ Then the battle-dear men rode round about the mound, the children of the Athelings, twelve of them there were in all, and would be uttering their sorrows and lamenting their King, and reciting a dirge, and speaking of their champion. And they talked of his earlship and of his brave works, and deemed them doughty, as is fitting that a man should praise his lord in words and cherish him in his heart when he shall have gone forth from the fleeting body. So the People of the Geats lamented over the fall of their lord, his hearth-companions, and said that he was a world-king, and the mildest, the gentlest of men, and most tender to his people, and most eager for their praise.

They placed rings, necklaces, and all the other ornaments that warriors had taken from the hoard on the burial mound. They left the treasure of earls to the earth, the gold buried in the ground. There it still lies, as useless to people as it always was.⁸³ Then twelve men who loved battle, the sons of the Athelings, rode around the mound. They voiced their grief and mourned their King, singing a funeral song and speaking of their champion. They spoke of his noble leadership and brave deeds, praising his courage. It is fitting for a man to praise his lord in words and cherish him in his heart after death. So the People of the Geats, his companions at the hearth, mourned the loss of their lord. They said he was a king among kings, the mildest and gentlest of men. He was the most caring toward his people and the most eager for their praise.