2885 "Nu sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu "eall êðel-wyn eówrum cynne, "lufen âlicgean: lond-rihtes môt "þære mæg-burge monna æghwylc "îdel hweorfan, syððan äðelingas 2890 "feorran gefricgean fleám eówerne, "dôm-leásan dæd. Deáð bið sêlla "eorla gehwylcum þonne edwît-lîf!" XL. THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY. Hêht þâ þät heaðo-weorc tô hagan biódan up ofer êg-clif, þær þät eorl-weorod 2895 morgen-longne däg môd-giômor sät, bord-häbbende, bega on wênum ende-dôgores and eft-cymes leófes monnes. Lyt swîgode niwra spella, se þe näs gerâd, 2900 ac he sôðlîce sägde ofer ealle; "Nu is wil-geofa Wedra leóda, "dryhten Geáta deáð-bedde fäst, "wunað wäl-reste wyrmes dædum; "him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna, 2905 "siex-bennum seóc: sweorde ne meahte "on þam aglæcean ænige þinga "wunde gewyrcean. Wîglâf siteð "ofer Biówulfe, byre Wihstânes, "eorl ofer ôðrum unlifigendum, 2910 "healdeð hige-mêðum heáfod-wearde "leófes and lâðes. Nu ys leódum wên "orleg-hwîle, syððan underne "Froncum and Frysum fyll cyninges "wîde weorðeð. Wäs sió wrôht scepen 2915 "heard wið Hûgas, syððan Higelâc cwom "faran flot-herge on Fresna land, "þær hyne Hetware hilde gehnægdon, "elne geeodon mid ofer-mägene, "þät se byrn-wîga bûgan sceolde, 2920 "feóll on fêðan: nalles frätwe geaf "ealdor dugoðe; ûs wäs â syððan "Merewioinga milts ungyfeðe. "Ne ic tô Sweó-þeóde sibbe oððe treówe "wihte ne wêne; ac wäs wîde cûð, 2925 "þätte Ongenþió ealdre besnyðede "Hæðcyn Hrêðling wið Hrefna-wudu, "þâ for on-mêdlan ærest gesôhton "Geáta leóde Gûð-scilfingas. "Sôna him se frôda fäder Ôhtheres, 2930 "eald and eges-full ond-slyht âgeaf, "âbreót brim-wîsan, brýd âheórde, "gomela ió-meowlan golde berofene, "Onelan môdor and Ôhtheres, "and þâ folgode feorh-genîðlan 2935 "ôð þät hî ôðeodon earfoðlîce "in Hrefnes-holt hlâford-leáse. "Besät þâ sin-herge sweorda lâfe "wundum wêrge, weán oft gehêt "earmre teohhe andlonge niht: 2940 "cwäð he on mergenne mêces ecgum "getan wolde, sume on galg-treówum "fuglum tô gamene. Frôfor eft gelamp "sârig-môdum somod ær-däge, "syððan hie Hygelâces horn and býman 2945 "gealdor ongeâton. Þâ se gôda com "leóda dugoðe on lâst faran. XLI. HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS.