l. 2153. Kl. proposes ealdor, = _prince_, for eafor. W. proposes the compd. eafor-hēafodsegn, = _helm_; cf. l. 1245. l. 2157. The wk. form of the adj. is frequent in the vocative, especially when postponed: "Beowulf lēofa," l. 1759. So, often, in poetry in nom.: wudu selesta, etc. l. 2158. ǣrest is possibly the verbal subs. from ārīsan, _to arise, = arising, origin_. R. suggested ǣrist, _arising, origin_. Cf. Bede, _Eccles. Hist._, ed. Miller, where the word is spelt as above, but = (as usual) _resurrection_. See Sweet, Reader, p. 211; E.-Plummer's _Chronicle_, p. 302, etc. The MS. has est. See Ha., p. 73; S., _Beit._ x. 222; and cf. l. 2166. l. 2188. Gr., W., H. supply [wēn]don, = _weened_, instead of Th.'s [oft sæg]don. l. 2188. The "slack" Beowulf, like the sluggish Brutus, ultimately reveals his true character, and is presented with a historic sword of honor. It is "laid on his breast" (l. 2195) as Hun laid Lāfing on Hengest's breast, l. 1145. l. 2188. "The boy was at first slothful, and the Geats thought him an unwarlike prince, and long despised him. Then, like many a lazy third son in the folk tales, a change came, he suddenly showed wonderful daring and was passionate for adventure."--Br., p. 22. l. 2196. "Seven of thousands, manor and lordship" (Ha.). Kl., _Beit._ ix. 191, thinks with Ettm. that þūsendo means a hide of land (see Schmid, _Ges. der Angl_, 610), Bede's familia = 1/2 sq. meter; seofan being used (like hund, l. 2995) only for the alliteration. l. 2196. "A vast Honour of 7000 hides, a mansion, and a judgment-seat" [throne].--E. l. 2210. MS. has the more correct wintra. l. 2211. Cf. similar language about the dragon at l. 100. Beowulf's "jubilee" is fitly solemnized by his third and last dragon-fight. l. 2213. B. proposes sē þe on hearge hǣðen hord beweotode; cf. Ha., p. 75. l. 2215. "The dragon lies round the treasures in a cave, as Fafnir, like a Python, lay coiled over his hoard. So constant was this habit among the dragons that gold is called Worms' bed, Fafnir's couch, Worms' bed-fire. Even in India, the cobras ... are guardians of treasure."--Br., p. 50. l. 2216. nēode. E. translates _deftly_; Ha., _with ardor_. H.-So. reads nēode, = _with desire, greedily_, instr. of nēod. l. 2223. E. begins his "Part Third" at this point as he begins "Part Second" at l. 1252, each dragon-fight forming part of a trilogy. ll. 2224, 2225. B. proposes: nealles mid gewealdum wyrmes weard gæst sylfes willum.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 211; _Beit._ xii. 100. l. 2225. For þēow read þegn.--K. and Z. l. 2227. For ofer-þearfe read ǣrnes þearfa.--Z. ll. 2229-2231. B. proposes: secg synbysig sōna onwlātode, þēah þām gyste gryrebrōga stōd, hwæðre earmsceapen innganges þearfa . . . . . . . . . . fēasceapen, þā hyne se fǣr begeat. --_Beit._ xii. 101. Cf. Ha., p. 69. l. 2232. W. suggests seah or seīr for geseah, and Gr. suggests searolīc. l. 2233. Z. surmises eorð-hūse (for -scræfe).