beowulf excerpt.

"...and boasting of how brave we'd be when beowulf needed us. he who gave us these swords and armor--all of us swore to repay him when the time came, kindness for kindness, with our lives, if he needed them. he allowed us to join him--chose us from all his great army, thinking our boasting words had some weight, believing our promises, trusting our swords. he took us for soldiers, for men. he meant to kill this monster himself, our mighty king, fight this battle alone and unaided as in the days when his strength and daring dazzled men's eyes. but, those days are over and gone. and, now our lord must lean on younger arms. and, we must go to him, while angry flames burn at his chest--help our glorious king! by almighty god, i'd rather burn myself than see flames swirling about my lord. and, who are we to carry home our shields before we've slain his enemy and ours? to run back to our homes with beowulf so hard pressed here? i swear that nothing he ever did deserved an end like this! dying miserably and alone, butchered by this savage beast--we swore that these swords and armor were each for us all!"