Hapless are they whom chance hath bereft of human help.

The listless night of the cavern, the darkness of the ancient den, have taken all joy from my eyes and soul.

The ghastly ground, the crumbling barrow, and the heavy tide of filthy things have marred the grace of my youthful countenance, and sapped my wonted pith and force.

Besides all this, I have fought with the dead, enduring the heavy burden and grievous peril of the wrestle; Aswid rose again and fell on me with rending nails, by hellish might renewing ghastly warfare after he was ashes.
"Why stand ye aghast, who see me colourless?
Surely every live man fades among the dead.
"By some strange enterprise of the power of hell the spirit of Aswid was sent up from the nether world, and with cruel tooth eats the fleet-footed (horse), and has given his dog to his abominable jaws.

Not sated with devouring the horse or hound, he soon turned his swift nails upon me, tearing my cheek and taking off my ear.