Even though Beowulf has urged most of his warriors not to enter the fight, those who followed him run away when they face the danger - all except Wiglaf, who had told all of them that he would rather die fighting by Beowulf's side than survive and spend the rest of his days as a coward. This is a bad omen for the future of the kingdom. Their benefactor and protector Beowulf is will soon die from a mortal wound, leaving his people to face any kind of peril without a hero to help them and guard them. If there is only one loyal and courageous, therefore honorable man (Wiglaf) left, and the rest of them are fearful cowards, the future of this kingdom is not going to be bright. In fact, the kingdom is going to fall apart.
