"He who seeks out barrows, flies by night, the smooth malicious dragon, burning and wrapped in flame."
Beowulf
The poet continues to speak of the "dread fiery dragon" which, for three hundred years, guarded its treasure: "ancient heirlooms as some man or other in days of yore had cautiously hid there, the vast legacy of a noble race, precious treasure....a vast amount of the princely wealth, the plated gold worthy of being hoarded."
