A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

forth scorchingly, and its great mouth belched forth devouring flames
as it cast itself on Beowulf.
[Illustration: A STROKE SHIVERED THE SWORD]
The hero's sword flashed, and smote a stark blow upon its scaly head.
But Beowulf could not deal death strokes as once he had done, and
only for a moment was his adversary stunned. In hideous rage the
monster coiled its snaky folds around him, and the heat from his body
made the iron shield redden as though the blacksmith in his smithy
were welding it, and each ring of the armour that Beowulf wore seared
right into his flesh. His breast swelled with the agony, and his great
heart must have come near bursting for pain and for sorrow. For he saw
that panic had come on his followers and that they were fleeing, leaving
him to his fate. Yet not all of them were faithless. Wiglaf, young and
daring, a dear kinsman of Beowulf, from whom he had received many a
kindness, calling shame on the dastards who fled, rushed forward,
sword in hand, and with no protection but that of his shield of linden
wood. Like a leaf scorched in a furnace the shield curled up, but new
strength came to Beowulf with the knowledge that Wiglaf had not
failed him in his need. Together the two heroes made a gallant stand,
although blood flowed in a swift red stream from a wound that the
monster had made in Beowulf's neck with its venomous fangs, and ran
down his corselet. A stroke which left the Firedrake unharmed shivered
the sword that had seen many fights, but Wiglaf smote a shrewd blow
ere his lord could be destroyed, and Beowulf swiftly drew his broad
knife and, with an effort so great that all the life that was left in him
seemed to go with it, he shore the Firedrake asunder.
Then Beowulf knew that his end drew very near, and when he had
thanked Wiglaf for his loyal help, he bade him enter the cave and bring
forth the treasure that he might please his dying eyes by looking on the
riches that he had won for his people. And Wiglaf hastened into the
cave, for he knew that he raced with Death, and brought forth armfuls
of weapons, of magnificent ornaments, of goblets and of cups, of bars
of red gold. Handfuls of sparkling jewels, too, he brought, and each
time he came and went, seizing without choosing, whatever lay nearest,