Section XXXIX

Wiglaf mourns the sight of his beloved lord Beowulf lying helpless at the end of his life, having reached a tragic limit.

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.

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.

Beowulf's treasure is paid for with his death, and both he and the dragon have reached the end of their brief lives.

The ten thanes who lacked courage to face the dragon in battle now return shamefully from the thicket where they hid.

Blushing with shame, the cowardly warriors return bearing shields and armor to where their lord lies dying.

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.

The author affirms that God's power determines the actions and outcomes of every hero, as He continues to do.

Wiglaf is prepared to deliver stern and bitter condemnation to those whose courage had failed them.

Wiglaf declares that their lord wasted his armor and gifts upon cowardly thanes who were unable to stand by him in battle.

Beowulf's generosity in bestowing armor and weapons was wasted on men too cowardly to use them when their king needed them.

Despite his comrades' failure, God granted Beowulf the ability to avenge himself with his weapon alone when strength was required.

Wiglaf acknowledges his own meager protection to his lord, though he strained his strength to help his kinsman against the dragon.

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.

With the ring-lord dead, all ornament-taking, weapon-bestowing, and home-joyance cease for the thanes and their kindred.

When distant nobles learn of the thanes' dastardly desertion of their lord, the warriors will lose their inherited rights and lands.

Wiglaf concludes his rebuke by declaring that death is more pleasant than living an infamous life of cowardice and shame.