The sun has crossed the celestial equator from north to south; in 9th century England and in the land of the Geats it begins to grow dark. At line 2200, the last act of Beowulf's story begins:
Eft þæt geiode ufaran dogrum / hilde hlæmmum, syððan Hygelac læg, / ond Heardrede hildemeceas / under bordhreoðan to bonan wurdon...