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Beowulf

Standing by him there were bowls and flagons
There were platters lying there, and precious swords
Quite rusted through, as they had rested there
A thousand winters in the womb of the earth

And this gold of former men was full of power
The huge inheritance, hedged about with a spell
No one among the men was permitted to touch
That golden store of rings unless God Himself
The true King of Victories, the Protector of mankind
Enabled one He chose to open the hoard
Whichever among men should seem meet to Him

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‘I wish to put into words my thanks
to the King of Glory, the Giver of All
the Lord of Eternity, for these treasures that I gaze upon
that I should have been able to acquire for my people
before my death day an endowment such as this
my life’s full portion I have paid out now
for this hoard of treasure; you must attend the people’s
needs henceforward; no further may I stay.
Bid men of battle build me a tomb
Fair after fire, on the foreland by the sea
That shall stand as a reminder of me to my people
Towering high above the Hronesness
So that ocean travellers shall afterwards name it
Beowulf’s barrow, bending in the distance
Their masted ships through the mists upon the sea