Beowulf: The Dragon's Wrath and the Stolen Cup

The Dragon Awakens

When the dragon awoke, new woe was kindled. O’er the stone he snuffed. The stark heart found the footprint of a foe who so far had gone in his hidden craft by the creature’s head.

Divine Protection

So may the undoomed easily flee evils and exile, if only he gain the grace of The Wielder!

The Guardian's Search

That warden of gold o’er the ground went seeking, greedy to find the man who wrought him such wrong in sleep. Savage and burning, the barrow he circled all without; nor was any there, none in the waste.

The Discovery of Theft

Yet war he desired, was eager for battle. The barrow he entered, sought the cup, and discovered soon that some one of mortals had searched his treasure, his lordly gold. The guardian waited, ill-enduring, till evening came; boiling with wrath was the barrow’s keeper, and fain with flame the foe to pay for the dear cup’s loss.

A Dreadful End

Now day was fled as the worm had wished. By its wall no more was it glad to bide, but burning flew folded in flame: a fearful beginning for sons of the soil; and soon it came, in the doom of their lord, to a dreadful end.