and shrivelling
With battle-icicles; 'twas a wonderful marvel
That it melted entirely, likest to ice when
The Father unbindeth the bond of the frost and
Unwindeth the wave-bands, He who wieldeth dominion
Of times and of tides: a truth-firm Creator.

It is just as his followers are about to depart that Beowulf emerges
from the waters, and, when they behold his trophy and hear his tale,
they escort him back in triumph to Heorot, where the grateful Danes
again load him with presents.

His task accomplished, Beowulf returns home, where he bestows the
necklace he has won upon the Queen of the Geats, and continues
faithfully to serve the royal couple, even placing their infant son
upon the throne after their death, and defending his rights as long as
he lives. Then the people elect Beowulf king, and during a reign of
fifty years he rules them wisely and well. Old age has robbed Beowulf
of part of his fabulous strength, when his subjects are suddenly
dismayed by the ravages of a fire-breathing dragon, which has taken up
its abode in some neighboring mountains, where he gloats over a hoard
of glittering gold. A fugitive slave having made his way into the
monster's den during one of its absences and abstracted a small
portion of its treasure, the incensed firedrake, in revenge, flies all
over the land, vomiting fire and smoke in every direction, and filling
all hearts with such terror that the people implore Beowulf to deliver
them from this monster too.

Although Beowulf realizes he no longer enjoys youthful vigor, he,
nevertheless, sets out bravely with eleven men to attack the monster.
On reaching the mountain gorge, he bids his small troop stand still,
and, advancing alone, challenges the dragon to come forth. A moment
later the mountain shakes as a fire-breathing dragon rushes out to
attack Beowulf, who feels his fiery breath even through shield and
armor. With deadly fury the dragon attacks the warrior, coiling his
scaly folds around and around Beowulf, who vainly slashes at him with
his sword, for scales made him invulnerable.

Seeing his master about to be crushed to death, Wiglaf--one of
Beowulf's followers--now springs forward to aid him, thus causing
sufficient diversion to enable Beowulf to creep beneath the dragon,
and drive his sword deep into its undefended breast! Although the
monster's coils now drop limply away from his body, poor Beowulf has
been so sorely burned by its breath that he feels hi