Hwaet! I shall sing you a song! And it won't be too terribly long For once I was told Of a hero right bold And rather incredibly strong. A young warrior came from the Geats found the Danes in the midst of retreats They all slept in fear of the beast that is near and takes them at night for his eats Now Grendel (that was the beast's name) found our Beowulf wasn't the same. It went to cause harm but then lost its arm And Beowulf a hero became! Grendel's mother was rather put out And plotted within her redoubt But Beowulf swam Down to say "Hello ma'am" And they fought till he struck a knockout Then he took a sword down from the wall Of the monster's dank blood-spattered hall He chopped off her head (and now it is said, used it in the first game of football) Now a hero of greatest renown He went to his homeland and town There became a lord With a wonderful sword And a truly remarkable frown. One day a young dragon came by Seeking vengeance for loss and a lie It was raging and mad And ferociously bad So their boldness their fears did belie Brave Beowulf, being a king Knew what must be done with this thing Wiglaf stayed true And the dragon they slew But Beowulf was wounded to dying His body is buried, they say On a cliff on the side of the bay With him (I am told) Lies the dragon's gold And a curse that's to keep it that way. My story has come to its ends Just like Beowulf, Grendel, and friends While these heroes so bold Are right fond of gold They don't seem to know of amends