Hord-wynne fond eald uht-sceaða opene standan, se þe byrnende biorgas sêceð nacod nîð-draca, nihtes fleógeð 2275 fýre befangen; hyne fold-bûend wîde gesâwon. He gewunian sceall hlâw under hrusan, þær he hæðen gold warað wintrum frôd; ne byð him wihte þê sêl. Swâ se þeód-sceaða þreó hund wintra 2280 heóld on hrusan hord-ärna sum eácen-cräftig, ôð þät hyne ân âbealh mon on môde: man-dryhtne bär fäted wæge, frioðo-wære bäd hlâford sînne. Þâ wäs hord râsod, 2285 onboren beága hord, bêne getîðad feá-sceaftum men. Freá sceáwode fira fyrn-geweorc forman sîðe. Þâ se wyrm onwôc, wrôht wäs geniwad; stonc þâ äfter stâne, stearc-heort onfand 2290 feóndes fôt-lâst; he tô forð gestôp, dyrnan cräfte, dracan heáfde neáh. Swâ mäg unfæge eáðe gedîgan weán and wräc-sîð, se þe waldendes hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard sôhte 2295 georne äfter grunde, wolde guman findan, þone þe him on sweofote sâre geteóde: hât and hreóh-môd hlæw oft ymbe hwearf, ealne ûtan-weardne; ne þær ænig mon wäs on þære wêstenne. Hwäðre hilde gefeh, 2300 beado-weorces: hwîlum on beorh äthwearf, sinc-fät sôhte; he þät sôna onfand, þät häfde gumena sum goldes gefandod heáh-gestreóna. Hord-weard onbâd earfoðlîce, ôð þät æfen cwom; 2305 wäs þâ gebolgen beorges hyrde, wolde se lâða lîge forgyldan drinc-fät dýre. Þâ wäs däg sceacen wyrme on willan, nô on wealle leng bîdan wolde, ac mid bæle fôr, 2310 fýre gefýsed. Wäs se fruma egeslîc leódum on lande, swâ hyt lungre wearð on hyra sinc-gifan sâre geendod. XXXIII. BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.