BARROW, &0., ON TREWAVAS HEAD. 31 1 



" recall his memory to those living near ; Avliile probably the fond- 

 " ness for reposing after death in high and open places may have 

 "been founded more deeply in the character of the people. Such 

 " a desire would seem of necessity to be called forth by a sea- 

 " faring life, which developes a high degree of openness of char- 

 " acter ; since the man who has constantly been tossed upon the 

 *' sea and has struggled with its dangers, would naturally cherish 

 " a dislike to be buried in a corner of some shut up spot, where 

 " the wind could scarcely ever sweep over his grave." 



In the Anglo-Saxon jooem of Beowulf, this hero's dying request 

 to his kinsman Wiglaf was : 



" Command the war-chiefs 



to make a mound, 



bright after the funeral pire, 



upon the nose of the promontory ; 



•which shall for a memorial 



to my people 



rise high aloft 



on Hronesness ; 



that the sea- sailors 



may aftervv'ards call it 



Beowulf's barrow, 



when the Brentings 



over the darkness of the floods 



shall sail afar." 



In compliance with this wish they raised 



" A mound over the sea ; 



it was high/and broad, 



by the sailors over the waves 



to be seen afar. 



And they built up 



during ten days 



the beacon of the war- renowned. 



They surrounded it with a wall 



in the most honourable manner 



that wise men 



coiild desire." 



This description of Beowulf's tomb, which is supposed to have 

 stood on a promontory in Durham, as regards situation, and partly 

 as regards its construction, in having a surrounding wall or circle 

 of stones, agrees very aptly with the barrow forming the subject 



