Dear Nikos

Contra Aesop, (and in a descriptive not prescriptive spirit!)

Beowulf slays a dragon, wins its treasure hoard, and expresses pleasure that
he could enrich his people, and then his people quickly consign the hoard to
his pyre 

"... Now haste is best, that we look on the people's king there and bring
him who gave us rings on his way to the funeral pyre.  Nor shall only a
small share melt with the great-hearted one, but there is a hoard of
treasure, gold uncounted, grimly purchased, and rings bought at the last now
with his own life.  These shall the fire devour, flames enfold..." 

(Beowulf, Donaldson trans., 1974, 83)

www.wtarzia.com/files/chap_4.rtf‎