Beowulf's Last Words

eowulf lay by a small stream. The wound from the dragon's teeth grew worse, the poison would soon reach his heart.

Wiglaf could bear it no longer. He ran from the woods to Beowulf's side. He bathed his lord's wounds with water from the stream.

Beowulf spoke. The old man was full of pain. He knew his death was near:

'After they burn my body, tell my warriors to build a great burial mound on the cliffs that stick out into the sea. The sailors steering their ships on the gloomy waters will see it and call it Beowulf's barrow, and my people will remember me.'

These were the last words from the thoughts of the old man's heart. Wiglaf shook him and tried to wake him, but it was no use. Beowulf was dead and Wiglaf wept.

Then Wiglaf and the warriors who had been hiding in the woods carried Beowulf's body away from the barrow. They knew the dragon would soon return. Every night now it would fly through the air, glorying in its gold, showing off its fire-breathing face, bringing terror to the people.