Section XXXIX
The cowardly thanes return; Wiglaf rebukes them bitterly for abandoning their lord.
17 argumentative units
- 01Wiglaf's grief at beholding the fallen lord
Wiglaf mourns the sight of his beloved lord Beowulf lying helpless at the end of his life, having reached a tragic limit.
- 02The dragon's defeat and end
The dragon, now deprived of life by the warrior's swords and hammers, will never again govern his hoards or fly through the air exulting in jewels.
- 03Claim that few warriors would have dared face the monster
The author observes that few warriors, regardless of their past achievements, would have had the courage to face the dragon's breath or assault its hoard-hall.
- 04Both lord and dragon have paid the price
Beowulf's treasure is paid for with his death, and both he and the dragon have reached the end of their brief lives.
- 05The cowardly thanes emerge from hiding
The ten thanes who lacked courage to face the dragon in battle now return shamefully from the thicket where they hid.
- 06The thanes' shame-driven return with weapons
Blushing with shame, the cowardly warriors return bearing shields and armor to where their lord lies dying.
- 07Wiglaf's helplessness despite his efforts
Wiglaf's attempt to revive his lord with water proves futile, as neither he nor anyone can change the will of God or preserve Beowulf's life.
- 08God governs the fate of all heroes
The author affirms that God's power determines the actions and outcomes of every hero, as He continues to do.
- 09Wiglaf prepares harsh words for the cowards
Wiglaf is prepared to deliver stern and bitter condemnation to those whose courage had failed them.
- 10Wiglaf's taunt: the lord's wasted generosity
Wiglaf declares that their lord wasted his armor and gifts upon cowardly thanes who were unable to stand by him in battle.
- 11The lord's war-gear was squandered on poltroons
Beowulf's generosity in bestowing armor and weapons was wasted on men too cowardly to use them when their king needed them.
- 12Beowulf achieved victory unaided by divine grace
Despite his comrades' failure, God granted Beowulf the ability to avenge himself with his weapon alone when strength was required.
- 13Wiglaf's own limited but earnest assistance
Wiglaf acknowledges his own meager protection to his lord, though he strained his strength to help his kinsman against the dragon.
- 14Wiglaf's aid weakened the dragon but was insufficient
Wiglaf's strikes on his enemy reduced the dragon's strength and made its fire burn less intensely, yet too few protectors came to the king's aid.
- 15Consequence: the end of the lord's gift-giving
With the ring-lord dead, all ornament-taking, weapon-bestowing, and home-joyance cease for the thanes and their kindred.
- 16The thanes' shame will be known to distant nobility
When distant nobles learn of the thanes' dastardly desertion of their lord, the warriors will lose their inherited rights and lands.
- 17Death is preferable to living in dishonor
Wiglaf concludes his rebuke by declaring that death is more pleasant than living an infamous life of cowardice and shame.