3 Beowulf – Introduction and Part 1

“Vikingaskepp på havet. Sköldar hänger längst relingen” by Swedish National Maritime Museums under CC Share-Alike 3.0. Wikimedia Commons.

Introduction

by Allegra Villarreal

 

An epic poem of 3,182 lines, Beowulf is regarded as one of (if not the) most important works of Old English literature. This poem is known from a single manuscript found in the Nowell Codex, and dated to 1,000 CE. It suffered damage in 1731, during the Cotton Library fire at Ashburham House where it had been stored; efforts to bind and restore it were made but in the process some letters were lost.  Thankfully, the original was transcribed long before, likely by two different monks, the latter of whom  is also thought to be the scribe of Judith (which may account for their similarities in writing style). This manuscript also includes accounts of saints’ lives and tales of travel to the Orient; while wildly different in terms of content, all the stories in the Nowell codex focus on heroes and monsters, good and evil. Beowulf, as a literary work, represents the culmination of an era of early English history; several decades after its transcription, the Normans would invade and bring with them new customs, language and forever transform English literature.

 

Summary of the Poem

This story, while written in England, is set in Scandinavia and follows the exploits of a great warrior of the Geats, Beowulf. At the story’s open, he appears to the aid of the Danes and their king, Hrothgar, by slaying a monster known as Grendel who has been attacking the mead-hall of Heorot for years. In the aftermath, Grendel’s mother is enraged to the point of attacking the mead-hall herself; she too is ultimately killed by Beowulf. Victorious, he sails back to his homeland and becomes king of the Geats, reigning without significant incident for 50 years. In old age, Beowulf must again take up arms to defeat a dragon who hoards gems and shining weapons. Though he wins handedly, he is mortally wounded in the process and dies as a revered warrior king.

 

Themes

The story is often divided into three parts (each devoted to the slaying of a monster) and though it may seem that the focus here is on the exploits of battle, there are some deeper themes here. The first monster, Grendel, is identified as “one of Cain’s clan” – a monster that is also vaguely human, an outcast who is “spurned and joyless.” He envies the comradery of Hrothgar’s men, their closeness as a tribe. When he is killed, it is maternal anguish that motivates his unnamed mother to avenge the death of her son and when he enters the dragon’s lair, it is Beowulf who is called “invader” (Puchner 887). The line between monster and man is murkier than one might, at first, assume. Similarly, the ties of kinship and clan speak to the importance of communal life during this time as an antidote to solitude and protection against certain death. In many ways, this story explores what it means to be human, to be part of a collective, and, most importantly, what the nature of heroism truly is.

 

Historical Background

The story appears to be set in the sixth century, a time when the British Isles were first settled by Germanic tribes from the north. These tribes likely brought with them folktales and songs from their native lands which may have filtered their way, thematically and linguistically, into this tale. We date it to this time as it does feature historical figures (such as Beowulf’s lord, Hygelac, who died around 520) though there is no known historical figure called “Beowulf”  (Robinson 14).

The poem was recorded by Christian Anglo-Saxons, though it is set during a time period when the characters themselves would have held pagan beliefs. The Germanic warrior society presented shows the importance of hierarchy in that context, and while some scholars point to a particularly Christian or pagan reading of the text, what is certain is that there are only allusions to the Old Testament and Christ is never mentioned. Richard North, in discussing this ambiguity states: “As yet we are no closer to finding out why the first audience of Beowulf liked to hear stories about people routinely classified as damned. This question is pressing, given… that Anglo-Saxons saw the Danes as ‘heathens’ rather than as foreigners” (qtd. in “Beowulf”).

 

Literary Style

While it was written in 1000 CE, it likely has an older provenance through oral storytelling; those listening to the tale in the year 1,000 would have found its antiquated language strange and removed even in its own day. Written in a West Saxon dialect of Anglo-Saxon/Old English, the poem is most notable for its use of alliteration (repeated initial consonants), which is different from the French-inspired forms that would later dominate English poetry. The poem also consists of half lines, with two stressed words each, followed by a “caesura” or natural pause (Catlin). This lends a rhythm to the reading that is entirely different from other forms such as the iambic pentameter (which was also inherited from the French). An example can be found here as Justin A. Jackson, Professor of English, reads the opening lines.

Another standard feature of Anglo-Saxon (and Norse) writing is its use of kennings: a type of metaphor that signifies a person or thing by a characteristic or quality; examples from Beowulf include: “dwelling place” for residence, “earth hall” for burial mounds, “stout hearted” for bravery and “helmet bearer” for warrior (Paradine). This metaphoric language adds another level of meaning to a revered and often challenging text.

Works Cited

Catlin, Sally. “Anglo-Saxon Alliterative Epics.” Vision: A Resource for Writers, 2002. http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue9/poetry.htm

Paradine, Gerald. “Kennings.” Pace University, n.d. http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs991b/kenning.html

Puchner, Martin, ed. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Norton, 2013.

Robinson, Bonnie J. and Getty, Laura, British Literature I: Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century and Neoclassicism. English Open Textbooks, 2018. https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/english-textbooks/17

 

 

Discussion Questions

  1. While Beowulf is seen as an ideal character and hero, was there anything lacking in his character that makes him less honorable?
  2. Compare Beowulf to what we consider to be a hero in today’s society. How do they differ?
  3. Does the heroic code expressed in Beowulf conflict with a Christian sensibility?
  4. What is the status of gold and gift-giving in the poem? Who gives gifts, who receives them, and why? Are the modern concepts of wealth, payment, monetary worth and greed appropriate for the world of Beowulf?
  5. Can Beowulf’s journey be better described as an attempt to find oneself or to actually protect Herot, the Danes, and eventually his own life?

Further Resources

  • A podcast covering the history, culture and literary value of Beowulf (from the “In Our Time” BBC series).
  • An infographic depicting the intersection of Beowulf and our modern pop culture (in terms of monsters and dragons).
  • An audiobook version of Beowulf Parts I & II.

 

Reading: Beowulf

I. The Life and Death of Scyld

Lo! the Spear-Danes’ glory through splendid achievements The famous race of Spear-Danes.
The folk-kings’ former fame we have heard of,
How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.
Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers Scyld, their mighty king,
5 From many a people their mead-benches tore. in honor of whom they are often called Scyldings.
Since first he found him friendless and wretched,
 He is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar,
The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it,
 so prominent in the poem.
Waxed ’neath the welkin, world-honor gained,
Till all his neighbors o’er sea were compelled to
10
Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute:
An excellent atheling! After was borne him
A son and heir, young in his dwelling, A son is born to him
Whom God-Father sent to solace the people.
 who receives the name of Beowulf—
15
That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile
 a name afterwards made so
Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital,
 famous by the hero of the poem
Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him.
Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory
Of Scyld’s great son in the lands of the Danemen.
20
So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered
 The ideal Teutonic king lavishes gifts
The friends of his father, with fees in abundance
 on his vassals.
Must be able to earn that when age approacheth
Eager companions aid him requitingly,
When war assaults him serve him as liegemen:
25
By praise-worthy actions must honor be got
’Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated
Scyld then departed to the All-Father’s keeping
Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him
 Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate.
To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades,
30
As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings
Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince
Long did rule them.3 The ring-stemmèd vessel,

Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor,
35
The belovèd leader laid they down there,
 By his own request, his body is
Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel,
 laid on a vessel and wafted
The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels,
 seaward.
Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,
Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever
40
That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly
With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,
Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled
Many a jewel that with him must travel
On the flush of the flood afar on the current.
45
And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly,
Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him
Who when first he was born outward did send him
 He leaves Daneland on the breast
Lone on the main, the merest of infants:
 of a bark.
And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven
50
High o’er his head, let the holm-currents bear him,
Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit,
Their mood very mournful. Men are not able
Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,
 No one knows whither the boat drifted.
Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.

II. Scyld’s Successors–Hrothgar’s Great Mead-Hall

In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings,
 Beowulf succeeds his father Scyld.
Belovèd land-prince, for long-lasting season
Was famed mid the folk (his father departed,
The prince from his dwelling), till afterward sprang
5
Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime
He graciously governed, grim-mooded, agèd.
Four bairns of his body born in succession
 Healfdene’s birth.
Woke in the world, war-troopers’ leader
Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good;
10 Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow’s consort,
The well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylfing leader.
 He has three sons–one of them,
Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given,
 Hrothgar–and a daughter named
Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen
 Elan. Hrothgar becomes a mighty king.
Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood,
A numerous band. It burned in his spirit
To urge his folk to found a great building,
A mead-hall grander than men of the era
 He is eager to build a great hall
Ever had heard of, and in it to share
 in which he may feast his retainers.
With young and old all of the blessings
20 The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers.
Then the work I find afar was assigned
To many races in middle-earth’s regions,
To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened
Early ’mong men, that ’twas finished entirely,
25 The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it
Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded ’mong earlmen.
 The hall is completed, called Heorot.
His promise he brake not, rings he lavished,
Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up
High and horn-crested, huge between antlers:
30
It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon;
Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath
Arise for a woman’s husband and father.
Then the mighty war-spirit endured for a season,
Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, The monster Grendel is madly
35
That light-hearted laughter loud in the building
 envious of the Danemen’s joy.
Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music,
Clear song of the singer. He said that was able
To tell from of old earthmen’s beginnings,
 [The course of the story is interreupted
That Father Almighty earth had created,
 by a short reference to an old
40
The winsome wold that the water encircleth,
 account of the creation.]
Set exultingly the sun’s and the moon’s beams
To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,
And earth He embellished in all her regions
With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too
45 On all the kindreds that live under heaven.
So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance,
 The glee of the warriors is overcast
The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to
 by a horrible dread.
Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice,
A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger
50
Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous
Who dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness;
The wan-mooded being abode for a season
In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator
Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder,
55 The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father
The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance;
 Cain is referred to as a progenitor
In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him
 of Grendel, and of monsters
From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for,
 in general.
Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures,
60
Elves and giants, monsters of ocean,
Came into being, and the giants that longtime
Grappled with God; He gave them requital.

III. Grendel the Murderer

When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit
The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it
For beds and benches when the banquet was over.
Then he found there reposing many a noble
5
Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,
Misery knew not. The monster of evil
Greedy and cruel tarried but little,
Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers
 He drags off 30 of them, and devours them.
Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed
10
Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to,
With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.
In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking,
Was Grendel’s prowess revealed to the warriors:
Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted, A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel’s
15
Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous,
 horrible deed is fully realized.
The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful,
Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen,
When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer,
The spirit accursèd: too crushing that sorrow,
20
Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried,
 The monster returns the following night.
But one night after continued his slaughter
Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little
From malice and murder; they mastered him fully.
He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for
25
A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges,
A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice
Told him truly by token apparent
The hall-thane’s hatred: he held himself after
Further and faster who the foeman did baffle.
30
So ruled he and strongly strove against justice
Lone against all men, till empty uptowered
The choicest of houses. Long was the season:
 King Hrothgar’s agony and suspense
Twelve-winters’ time torture suffered
 last 12 years.
The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction,
35
Endless agony; hence it after3 became
Certainly known to the children of men
Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar
Grendel struggled:—his grudges he cherished,
Murderous malice, many a winter,
40
Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he
4Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of
The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle,
No counsellor needed count for a moment
On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;
45
The monster of evil fiercely did harass,
 Grendel’s unremitting in his persecutions.
The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger,
Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then
The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where
Witches and wizards wander and ramble.
50
So the foe of mankind many of evils
Grievous injuries, often accomplished,
Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented,
Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen
(Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,
55
The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not).
 God is against the monster.
’Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings
Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private
Sat the king in his council; conference held they
 The king and his council deliberate
What the braves should determine ’gainst terrors unlooked for.
 in vain; they pray to their gods.
60
At the shrines of their idols often they promised
Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they
The devil from hell would help them to lighten
Their people’s oppression. Such practice they used then,
Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered
65 In innermost spirit, God they knew not,
Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler,
No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven,
 The true God they do not know.
The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who
Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to
70
The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for,
Wax no wiser; well for the man who,
Living his life-days, his Lord may face
And find defence in his Father’s embrace!

IV. Beowulf goes to Hrothgar’s Assistance

So Healfdene’s kinsman constantly mused on
 Hrothgar sees no way of escape from
His long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever
 the persecution of Grendel.
Was not anywise able evils to ’scape from:
Too crushing the sorrow that came to the people,
5 Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture,
Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac’s liegeman,
 Beowulf, the Geat, hero of the poem,
Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel’s achievements
 hears of Hrothgar’s sorrow, and
Heard in his home:1 of heroes then living
 resolves to go to his assistance.
He was stoutest and strongest, sturdy and noble.
10
He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty;
He said he the war-king would seek o’er the ocean,
The folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers.
For the perilous project prudent companions
Chided him little, though loving him dearly;
15 They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory.
The excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen
 With 14 carefully chosen companions,
Had liegemen selected, likest to prove them
 he sets out for Daneland.
Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions
The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them,
20
A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country.
Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water,
The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then
Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted
The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried
25
On the breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels,
Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then,
Warmen the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure.
The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze,
 The vessel sailed like a bird.
Likest a bird, glided the waters,
30
Till twenty and four hours thereafter
 In 24 hours they reach the shores
The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance
 of Hrothgar’s dominions.
That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments,
The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains,
Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits
35
At the end of the ocean. Up thence quickly
The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland,
Fastened their vessel (battle weeds rattled,
War burnies clattered), the Wielder they thanked
That the ways o’er the waters had waxen so gentle.
40
Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings
 They are hailed by the Danish coast
Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o’er the gangway
 guard.
Brave ones bearing beauteous targets,
Armor all ready, anxiously thought he,
Musing and wondering what men were approaching.
45
High on his horse then Hrothgar’s retainer
Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished
His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness.
“Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors
Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving
 His challenge.
50
A high riding ship o’er the shoals of the waters,
And hither ’neath helmets have hied o’er the ocean?
I have been strand-guard, standing as warden,
Lest enemies ever anywise ravage
Danish dominions with army of war-ships.
55
More boldly never have warriors ventured
Hither to come; of kinsmen’s approval,
Word-leave of warriors, I ween that ye surely
Nothing have known. Never a greater one
Of earls o’er the earth have I had a sight of
 He is struck by Beowulf’s appearance.
60
Than is one of your number, a hero in armor;
No low-ranking fellow4 adorned with his weapons,
But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving,
And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey
65
As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings
And farther fare, I fully must know now
What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers,
Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion
Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting
Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from.”

V. The Geats Reach Heorot

The chief of the strangers rendered him answer,
 Beowulf courteously replies.
War-troopers’ leader, and word-treasure opened:
“We are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland,
 We are Geats.
And Higelac’s hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered
5
My father was known, a noble head-warrior
 My father Ecgtheow was well-known
Ecgtheow titled; many a winter
 in his day.
He lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey,
Old from his dwelling; each of the counsellors
Widely mid world-folk well remembers him.
10
We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy people,
 Our intentions towards King Hrothgar
The son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit,
 are of the kindest.
Folk-troop’s defender: be free in thy counsels!
To the noble one bear we a weighty commission,
The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween,
15
Naught of our message. Thou know’st if it happen,
 Is it true that a monster is slaying
As we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler,
 Danish heroes?
Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky
By deeds very direful ’mid the Danemen exhibits
Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction
20 And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish
I am able to render counsel to Hrothgar,
 I can help your king to free himself
How he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer,
 from his horrible creature.
If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,
Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler,
25
Or ever hereafter he agony suffer
And troublous distress, while towereth upward
The handsomest of houses high on the summit.”
Bestriding his stallion, the strand-watchman answered,
 The coast-guard reminds Beowulf
The doughty retainer: “The difference surely
 that it is easier to say than to do.
30
’Twixt words and works, the warlike shield-bearer
Who judgeth wisely well shall determine.
This band, I hear, beareth no malice
To the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye then onward
 I am satisfied of your good intentions
With weapons and armor. I shall lead you in person;
 and shall lead you to the palace.
35
To my war-trusty vassals command I shall issue
To keep from all injury your excellent vessel,
Your fresh-tarred craft, ’gainst every opposer
 Your boat shall be well cared for
Close by the sea-shore, till the curved-neckèd bark shall
 during your stay here.
Waft back again the well-beloved hero
40 O’er the way of the water to Weder dominions.
To warrior so great ’twill be granted sure
 He again compliments Beowulf.
In the storm of strife to stand secure.”
Onward they fared then (the vessel lay quiet,
The broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable,
45
Firmly at anchor); the boar-signs glistened
Bright on the visors vivid with gilding,
Blaze-hardened, brilliant; the boar acted warden.
The heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen,
Descended together, till they saw the great palace, The land is perhaps rolling.
50 The well-fashioned wassail-hall wondrous and gleaming:
’Mid world-folk and kindreds that was widest reputed
 Heorot flashes on their view.
Of halls under heaven which the hero abode in;
Its lustre enlightened lands without number.
Then the battle-brave hero showed them the glittering
55
Court of the bold ones, that they easily thither
Might fare on their journey; the aforementioned warrior
Turning his courser, quoth as he left them:
“’Tis time I were faring; Father Almighty
 The coast-guard, having discharged
Grant you His grace, and give you to journey
 his duty, bids them God-speed.
60
Safe on your mission! To the sea I will get me
’Gainst hostile warriors as warden to stand.”

VI. Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace

The highway glistened with many-hued pebble,
A by-path led the liegemen together.
Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened,
The ring-sword radiant rang ’mid the armor
5 As the party was approaching the palace together
In warlike equipments. ’Gainst the wall of the building
 They set their arms and armor against
Their wide-fashioned war-shields they weary did set then,
 the wall.
Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then;
Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes;
10
The lances stood up then, all in a cluster,
The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted
With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers
Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero
 A Danish hero asks them whence and
Asked of the champions questions of lineage:
 why they are come.
15
“From what borders bear ye your battle-shields plated,
Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies,
Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?—
To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman.
’Mong folk from far-lands found I have never
20
Men so many of mien more courageous.
 He expresses no little admiration
I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws,
 for the strangers.
But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar.”
Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered,
 Beowulf replies.
The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question,
25
Hardy ’neath helmet: “Higelac’s mates are we;
 We are Higelac’s table-companions,
Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene,
 and bear an important commission to
The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell
 your prince.
To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing
He’ll grant we may greet him so gracious to all men.”
30
Wulfgar replied then (he was prince of the Wendels,
His boldness of spirit was known unto many,
His prowess and prudence): “The prince of the Scyldings,
The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey,
 Wulfgar, the thane, says that he will go
The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it,
 and ask Hrothgar whether he will see
35
The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early
 the strangers.
What answer the good one mindeth to render me.”
He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting,
Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him;
The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder
40
Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen
The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then
His friendly liegelord: “Folk of the Geatmen
O’er the way of the waters are wafted hither,
 He thereupon urges his liegelord to receive
Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank
 the visitors courteously.
45
The battle-champions Beowulf title.
They make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain,
To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar,
Friendly answer refuse not to give them!
In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem
50
Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty
 Hrothgar, too, is struck with Beowulf’s

Who headed the heroes hitherward coming.”

 appearance.

VII. Hrothgar and Beowulf

Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings:
 Hrothgar remembers Beowulf as a youth,
“I remember this man as the merest of striplings.
 and also remembers his father.
His father long dead now was Ecgtheow titled,
Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his
5
One only daughter; his battle-brave son
Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend.
Seafaring sailors asserted it then,
Who valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen carried
As peace-offering thither, that he thirty men’s grapple
 Beowulf is reported to have the strength of
10 Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle. 30 men.
The holy Creator usward sent him,
To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render
’Gainst Grendel’s grimness gracious assistance:
I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage.
15
Hasten to bid them hither to speed them,
To see assembled this circle of kinsmen;
Tell them expressly they’re welcome in sooth to
The men of the Danes.” To the door of the building
Wulfgar went then, this word-message shouted:
20
“My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you,
 Wulfgar invites the strangers in.
The East-Danes’ atheling, that your origin knows he,
And o’er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither,
Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter
Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets,
25
To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards,
Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring.”
The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman,
An excellent thane-group; some there did await them,
And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded.
30
Together they hied them, while the hero did guide them,
’Neath Heorot’s roof; the high-minded went then
Sturdy ’neath helmet till he stood in the building.
Beowulf spake (his burnie did glisten,
His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman):
35
“Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac’s kinsman
 Beowulf salutes Hrothgar, and then
And vassal forsooth; many a wonder
 proceeds to boast of his youthful
I dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel,
 achievements.
In far-off fatherland I fully did know of:
Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth,
40
Excellent edifice, empty and useless
To all the earlmen after evenlight’s glimmer
’Neath heaven’s bright hues hath hidden its glory.
This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them,
Carles very clever, to come and assist thee,
45 Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of
The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me
When I came from the contest, when covered with gore
Foes I escaped from, where five I had bound,
The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying
50
The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows,
The Weders avenged (woes had they suffered)
Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel
I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil,
 He intends to fight Grendel unaided.
The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore
55
Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain,
Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition:
Not to refuse me, defender of warriors,
Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee,
That I may unaided, my earlmen assisting me,
60
This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot.
I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature
From veriest rashness recks not for weapons;
I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious,
 Since the monster uses no weapons,
My liegelord belovèd, lenient of spirit,
65 To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target,
A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip
The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then,
 I, too, shall disdain to use any.
Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on
The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of.
70
I ween he will wish, if he win in the struggle,
To eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat-folk,
Boldly to swallow them, as of yore he did often
The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble
A head-watch to give me; he will have me dripping
75
And dreary with gore, if death overtake me,
 In case of my defeat, thou wilt not have the
Will bear me off bleeding, biting and mouthing me,
 trouble of burying me.
The hermit will eat me, heedless of pity,
Marking the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then
Find me my food. If I fall in the battle, Should I fall, send my armor to my lord,
80
Send to Higelac the armor that serveth
 King Higelac.
To shield my bosom, the best of equipments,
Richest of ring-mails; ’tis the relic of Hrethla,
The work of Wayland. Goes Weird as she must go!”

VIII. Hrothgar and Beowulf–Continued

Hrothgar discoursed, helm of the Scyldings:
 Hrothgar responds.
“To defend our folk and to furnish assistance,
Thou soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf.
The fiercest of feuds thy father engaged in, Reminiscences of Beowulf’s father,
5
Heatholaf killed he in hand-to-hand conflict
 Ecgtheow.
’Mid Wilfingish warriors; then the Wederish people
For fear of a feud were forced to disown him.
Thence flying he fled to the folk of the South-Danes,
The race of the Scyldings, o’er the roll of the waters;
10
I had lately begun then to govern the Danemen,
The hoard-seat of heroes held in my youth,
Rich in its jewels: dead was Heregar,
My kinsman and elder had earth-joys forsaken,
Healfdene his bairn. He was better than I am!
15
That feud thereafter for a fee I compounded;
O’er the weltering waters to the Wilfings I sent
Ornaments old; oaths did he swear me.
It pains me in spirit to any to tell it,
 Hrothgar recounts to Beowulf the horrors
What grief in Heorot Grendel hath caused me,
 of Grendel’s persecutions.
20
What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing.
Waned is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop;
Weird hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel.
God can easily hinder the scather
From deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer
25
O’er the ale-vessel promised warriors in armor
 My thanes have made many boasts,
They would willingly wait on the wassailing-benches
 but have not executed them.
A grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges.
Then this mead-hall at morning with murder was reeking,
The building was bloody at breaking of daylight,
30
The bench-deals all flooded, dripping and bloodied,
The folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers,
Dear-beloved warriors, whom death had laid hold of.
Sit at the feast now, thy intents unto heroes,
 Sit down to the feast, and give us comfort.
Thy victor-fame show, as thy spirit doth urge thee!”
35
For the men of the Geats then together assembled,
 A bench is made ready for Beowulf and his
In the beer-hall blithesome a bench was made ready;
 party.
There warlike in spirit they went to be seated,
Proud and exultant. A liegeman did service,
Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum,
40 And gleaming-drink poured. The gleeman sang whilom The gleeman sings.
Hearty in Heorot; there was heroes’ rejoicing,
 The heroes all rejoice together.
A numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen.

IX. Unferth Taunts Beowulf

Unferth spoke up, Ecglaf his son,
 Unferth, a than of Hrothgar, is jealous
Who sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings,
 of Beowulf, and undertakes to twit him.
Opened the jousting (the journey of Beowulf,
Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth
5
And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never
That any man else on earth should attain to,
Gain under heaven, more glory than he):
“Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle,
On the wide sea-currents at swimming contended,
 Did you take part in a swimming-match
10 Where to humor your pride the ocean ye tried, with Breca?
From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies
In care of the waters? And no one was able
Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you
Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming,
15
Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover,
The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them,
Glided the ocean; angry the waves were,
With the weltering of winter. In the water’s possession,
Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee,
20
In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning
On the Heathoremes’ shore the holm-currents tossed him,
Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers,
Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings,
The peace-castle pleasant, where a people he wielded,
25 Had borough and jewels. The pledge that he made thee
The son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished.
 Breca outdid you entirely.
Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue,
Though ever triumphant in onset of battle,
 Much more will Grendel outdo you, if you
A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest
 vie with him in prowess.
30 For the space of a night near-by to wait for!”
Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow:
 Beowulf retaliates.
“My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly,
Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken,
 O friend Unferth, you are fuddles with beer,
Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it,
 and cannot talk coherently.
35
That greater strength in the waters I had then,
Ills in the ocean, than any man else had.
We made agreement as the merest of striplings
Promised each other (both of us then were
Younkers in years) that we yet would adventure We simply kept an engagement made in early
40
Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished.
 life.
While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded
Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected
To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable
To swim on the waters further than I could, He could not excel me, and I
45
More swift on the waves, nor would I from him go.
 would not excel him.
Then we two companions stayed in the ocean
Five nights together, till the currents did part us,
 After 5 days the currents separated us.
The weltering waters, weathers the bleakest,
And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled
50
Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows.
The mere fishes’ mood was mightily ruffled:
And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet,
Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me;
My battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded,
55
Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me,
 A horrible sea-beast attacked me, but I
A hateful fiend-scather, seized me and held me,
 slew him.
Grim in his grapple: ’twas granted me, nathless,
To pierce the monster with the point of my weapon,
My obedient blade; battle offcarried
60 The mighty mere-creature by means of my hand-blow.

X. Beowulf Silences Unferth–Glee is High

“So ill-meaning enemies often did cause me
Sorrow the sorest. I served them, in quittance,
With my dear-lovèd sword, as in sooth it was fitting;
 My dear sword always served me faithfully.
They missed the pleasure of feasting abundantly
5
Ill-doers evil, of eating my body,
Of surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean;
But wounded with edges early at morning
They were stretched a-high on the strand of the ocean,
Put to sleep with the sword, that sea-going travelers I put a stop to the outrages of the sea-monsters.
10
No longer thereafter were hindered from sailing
The foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the east,
God’s beautiful beacon; the billows subsided,
That well I could see the nesses projecting,
The blustering crags. Weird often saveth Forture helps the brave earl.
15
The undoomed hero if doughty his valor!
But me did it fortune to fell with my weapon
Nine of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder
’Neath dome of the heaven heard I but rarely,
Nor of wight more woful in the waves of the ocean;
20 Yet I ’scaped with my life the grip of the monsters,
Weary from travel. Then the waters bare me
 After that escape I drifted to Finland.
To the land of the Finns, the flood with the current,
The weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me
 I’ve never heard of your doing any such bold
Of deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth,
 deeds.
25
And of sword-terror none; never hath Breca
At the play of the battle, nor either of you two,
Feat so fearless performèd with weapons
Glinting and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no boasting;
30
Though with cold-blooded cruelty thou killedst thy brothers,
 You are a slayer of brothers, and will suffer
Thy nearest of kin; thou needs must in hell get
 damnation, wise as you may be.
Direful damnation, though doughty thy wisdom.
I tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf,
Never had Grendel such numberless horrors,
35
The direful demon, done to thy liegelord,
Harrying in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy,
Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them.
 Had your acts been as brave as your words,
He hath found out fully that the fierce-burning hatred,
 Grendel had not ravaged your land so long.
The edge-battle eager, of all of your kindred,
40
Of the Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him:
Oaths he exacteth, not any he spares
Of the folk of the Danemen, but fighteth with pleasure,
 The monster is not afraid of the Danes,
Killeth and feasteth, no contest expecteth
From Spear-Danish people. But the prowess and valor but he will soon learn to dread the Geats.
45
Of the earls of the Geatmen early shall venture
To give him a grapple. He shall go who is able
Bravely to banquet, when the bright-light of morning
Which the second day bringeth, the sun in its ether-robes,
 On the second day, any warrior may go un-
O’er children of men shines from the southward!”
 molested to the mead-banquet.
50 Then the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure
Was blithesome and joyous, the Bright-Danish ruler
 Hrothgar’s spirits are revived.
Expected assistance; the people’s protector
Heard from Beowulf his bold resolution.
 The old king trusts Beowulf.
There was laughter of heroes; loud was the clatter,
55 The words were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced then, Queen Wealhtheow plays hostess.
Consort of Hrothgar, of courtesy mindful,
Gold-decked saluted the men in the building,
And the freeborn woman the beaker presented
 She offers the cup to her husband first.
To the lord of the kingdom, first of the East-Danes,
60
Bade him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing,
Lief to his liegemen; he lustily tasted
Of banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler.
The Helmingish lady then graciously circled
’Mid all the liegemen lesser and greater:
65
Treasure-cups tendered, till time was afforded
 She gives presents to the heroes.
That the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen
Might bear to Beowulf the bumper o’errunning;
 She then offers the cup to Beowulf.
She greeted the Geat-prince, God she did thank,
Most wise in her words, that her wish was accomplished,
70
That in any of earlmen she ever should look for
Solace in sorrow. He accepted the beaker,
Battle-bold warrior, at Wealhtheow’s giving,
Then equipped for combat quoth he in measures,
 Beowulf states to the queen the object of
Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow:
 his visit.
75 “I purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean,
When I boarded my boat with a band of my liegemen,
 I determined to do or die.
I would work to the fullest the will of your people
Or in foe’s-clutches fastened fall in the battle.
Deeds I shall do of daring and prowess,
80
Or the last of my life-days live in this mead-hall.”
These words to the lady were welcome and pleasing,
The boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings broidered
Went the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by.
Then again as of yore was heard in the building Glee is high.
85
Courtly discussion, conquerors’ shouting,
Heroes were happy, till Healfdene’s son would
Go to his slumber to seek for refreshing;
For the horrid hell-monster in the hall-building knew he
A fight was determined,2 since the light of the sun they
90
No longer could see, and lowering darkness
O’er all had descended, and dark under heaven
Shadowy shapes came shying around them.
The liegemen all rose then. One saluted the other,
 Hrothgar retires, leaving Beowulf in charge of the hall.
Hrothgar Beowulf, in rhythmical measures,
95
Wishing him well, and, the wassail-hall giving
To his care and keeping, quoth he departing:
“Not to any one else have I ever entrusted,
But thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen,
Since high I could heave my hand and my buckler.
100
Take thou in charge now the noblest of houses;
Be mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess,
Watch ’gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no enjoyments,
Survive thou safely adventure so glorious!”

XI. All Sleep Save One

Then Hrothgar departed, his earl-throng attending him,
 Hrothgar retires.
Folk-lord of Scyldings, forth from the building;
The war-chieftain wished then Wealhtheow to look for,
The queen for a bedmate. To keep away Grendel
5
The Glory of Kings had given a hall-watch,
 God has provided a watch for the hall.
As men heard recounted: for the king of the Danemen
He did special service, gave the giant a watcher:
And the prince of the Geatmen implicitly trusted
His warlike strength and the Wielder’s protection. Beowulf is selfconfident; he prepares for rest.
10
His armor of iron off him he did then,
His helmet from his head, to his henchman committed
His chased-handled chain-sword, choicest of weapons,
And bade him bide with his battle-equipments.
The good one then uttered words of defiance,
15 Beowulf Geatman, ere his bed he upmounted:
“I hold me no meaner in matters of prowess,
In warlike achievements, than Grendel does himself;
 Beowulf boasts of his ability to cope with Grendel.
Hence I seek not with sword-edge to sooth him to slumber,
Of life to bereave him, though well I am able.
20
No battle-skill has he, that blows he should strike me,
 We will fight with nature’s weapons only.
To shatter my shield, though sure he is mighty
In strife and destruction; but struggling by night we
Shall do without edges, dare he to look for
Weaponless warfare, and wise-mooded Father
25 The glory apportion, God ever-holy,
On which hand soever to him seemeth proper.”
Then the brave-mooded hero bent to his slumber,
 God may decide who shall conquer.
The pillow received the cheek of the noble;
And many a martial mere-thane attending
30 Sank to his slumber. Seemed it unlikely The Geatish warriors lie down.
That ever thereafter any should hope to
Be happy at home, hero-friends visit
 They thought they would never see their homes.
Or the lordly troop-castle where he lived from his childhood;
They had heard how slaughter had snatched from the wine-hall,
35 Had recently ravished, of the race of the Scyldings
Too many by far. But the Lord to them granted
 But God raised up a deliverer.
The weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes
Aid and comfort, that every opponent
By one man’s war-might they worsted and vanquished,
40
By the might of himself; the truth is established
That God Almighty hath governed for ages
Kindreds and nations. A night very lurid
The trav’ler-at-twilight came tramping and striding.
The warriors were sleeping who should watch the horned-building,
 Grendel comes to Heorot.
45
One only excepted. ’Mid earthmen ’twas ’stablished,
Th’ implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them
 Only one warrior is awake.
To the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling;
But serving as warder, in terror to foemen,
He angrily bided the issue of battle.

XII. Grendel and Beowulf

’Neath the cloudy cliffs came from the moor then
 Grendel comes from the fens.
Grendel going, God’s anger bare he.
The monster intended some one of earthmen
In the hall-building grand to entrap and make way with:
5
He went under welkin where well he knew of
 He goes toward the joyous building.
The wine-joyous building, brilliant with plating,
Gold-hall of earthmen. Not the earliest occasion
He the home and manor of Hrothgar had sought:
Ne’er found he in life-days later nor earlier
10
Hardier hero, hall-thanes more sturdy!
Then came to the building the warrior marching,
Bereft of his joyance. The door quickly opened
 His fingers tear the door open.
On fire-hinges fastened, when his fingers had touched it;
The fell one had flung then—his fury so bitter—
15
Open the entrance. Early thereafter
The foeman trod the shining hall-pavement,
Strode he angrily; from the eyes of him glimmered
 He strides furiously into the hall.
A lustre unlovely likest to fire.
He beheld in the hall the heroes in numbers,
20 A circle of kinsmen sleeping together,
A throng of thanemen: then his thoughts were exultant,
 He exults over his supposed prey.
He minded to sunder from each of the thanemen
The life from his body, horrible demon,
Ere morning came, since fate had allowed him
25
The prospect of plenty. Providence willed not
 Fate has decreed that he shall devour no
To permit him any more of men under heaven
 more heroes.
To eat in the night-time. Higelac’s kinsman
Great sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature
In unlooked-for assaults were likely to bear him.
30 No thought had the monster of deferring the matter,
But on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of
 Grendel immediately seizes a sleeping
A soldier asleep, suddenly tore him,
 warrior, and devours him.
Bit his bone-prison, the blood drank in currents,
Swallowed in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead man’s
35
Feet and hands, too, eaten entirely.
Nearer he strode then, the stout-hearted warrior
Snatched as he slumbered, seizing with hand-grip,
 Beowulf and Grendel grapple.
Forward the foeman foined with his hand;
Caught he quickly the cunning deviser,
40
On his elbow he rested. This early discovered
The master of malice, that in middle-earth’s regions,
’Neath the whole of the heavens, no hand-grapple greater
In any man else had he ever encountered:
 The monster is amazed at Beowulf’s
Fearful in spirit, faint-mooded waxed he,
 strength.
45 Not off could betake him; death he was pondering,
Would fly to his covert, seek the devils’ assembly:
 He is anxious to flee.
His calling no more was the same he had followed
Long in his lifetime. The liege-kinsman worthy
Of Higelac minded his speech of the evening, Beowulf recalls his boast of the evening,
50
Stood he up straight and stoutly did seize him.
 and determines to fulfill it.
His fingers crackled; the giant was outward,
The earl stepped farther. The famous one minded
To flee away farther, if he found an occasion,
And off and away, avoiding delay,
55
To fly to the fen-moors; he fully was ware of
The strength of his grapple in the grip of the foeman.
’Twas an ill-taken journey that the injury-bringing,
 Twas a luckless day for Grendel.
Harrying harmer to Heorot wandered:
The palace re-echoed; to all of the Danemen, The hall groans.
60
Dwellers in castles, to each of the bold ones,
Earlmen, was terror. Angry they both were,
Archwarders raging. Rattled the building;
’Twas a marvellous wonder that the wine-hall withstood then
The bold-in-battle, bent not to earthward,
65
Excellent earth-hall; but within and without it
Was fastened so firmly in fetters of iron,
By the art of the armorer. Off from the sill there
Bent mead-benches many, as men have informed me,
Adorned with gold-work, where the grim ones did struggle.
70
The Scylding wise men weened ne’er before
That by might and main-strength a man under heaven
Might break it in pieces, bone-decked, resplendent,
Crush it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire
In smoke should consume it. The sound mounted upward
75
Novel enough; on the North Danes fastened
 Grendel’s cries terrify the Danes.
A terror of anguish, on all of the men there
Who heard from the wall the weeping and plaining,
The song of defeat from the foeman of heaven,
Heard him hymns of horror howl, and his sorrow
80
Hell-bound bewailing. He held him too firmly
Who was strongest of main-strength of men of that era.

XIII. Grendel is Vanquished

For no cause whatever would the earlmen’s defender
 Beowulf has no idea of letting Grendel live.
Leave in life-joys the loathsome newcomer,
He deemed his existence utterly useless
To men under heaven. Many a noble
5
Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old,
Would guard the life of his lord and protector,
The far-famous chieftain, if able to do so;
While waging the warfare, this wist they but little,
Brave battle-thanes, while his body intending
10
To slit into slivers, and seeking his spirit:
 No weapon would harm Grendel; he bore
That the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons
 a charmed life.
Of all on the earth, nor any of war-bills
Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory
Swords and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with.
15
His death at that time must prove to be wretched,
And the far-away spirit widely should journey
Into enemies’ power. This plainly he saw then
Who with mirth of mood malice no little
Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen
20
(To God he was hostile), that his body would fail him,
But Higelac’s hardy henchman and kinsman
Held him by the hand; hateful to other
Was each one if living. A body-wound suffered
 Grendel is sorely wounded.
The direful demon, damage incurable
25
Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered,
 His body burst.
His body did burst. To Beowulf was given
Glory in battle; Grendel from thenceward
Must flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes,
Sick unto death, his dwelling must look for
30 Unwinsome and woful; he wist the more fully
The end of his earthly existence was nearing,
 The monster flees to hide in the moors.
His life-days’ limits. At last for the Danemen,
When the slaughter was over, their wish was accomplished.
The comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil,
35
Wise and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar,
Saved it from violence. He joyed in the night-work,
In repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen
For the East-Danish people his boast had accomplished,
Bettered their burdensome bale-sorrows fully,
40
The craft-begot evil they erstwhile had suffered
And were forced to endure from crushing oppression,
Their manifold misery. ’Twas a manifest token,
When the hero-in-battle the hand suspended,
 Beowulf suspends Grendel’s hand and arm
The arm and the shoulder (there was all of the claw
 in Heorot.
45 Of Grendel together) ’neath great-stretching hall-roof.

XIV: Rejoicing of the Danes

In the mist of the morning many a warrior
 At early dawn, warriors from far and near come
Stood round the gift-hall, as the story is told me:
 together to hear of the night’s adventures.
Folk-princes fared then from far and from near
Through long-stretching journeys to look at the wonder,
5 The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors
Who gazed on the foot-tracks of the inglorious creature
His parting from life pained very deeply,
 Few warriors lament Grendel’s destruction.
How, weary in spirit, off from those regions
In combats conquered he carried his traces,
10 Fated and flying, to the flood of the nickers.
There in bloody billows bubbled the currents,
 Grendel’s blood dyes the waters.
The angry eddy was everywhere mingled
And seething with gore, welling with sword-blood;
He death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his joyance
15
He laid down his life in the lair he had fled to,
His heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him.
Thence the friends from of old backward turned them,
And many a younker from merry adventure,
Striding their stallions, stout from the seaward,
20 Heroes on horses. There were heard very often
Beowulf’s praises; many often asserted
 Beowulf is the hero of the hour.
That neither south nor north, in the circuit of waters,
O’er outstretching earth-plain, none other was better
 He is regarded as a probably successor to Hrothgar.
’Mid bearers of war-shields, more worthy to govern,
25
’Neath the arch of the ether. Not any, however,
’Gainst the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words uttered
Of Hrothgar the gracious (a good king he).
Oft the famed ones permitted their fallow-skinned horses
To run in rivalry, racing and chasing,
30
Where the fieldways appeared to them fair and inviting,
Known for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-lord,
A man of celebrity, mindful of rhythms,
 The gleeman sings of the deeds of heroes.
Who ancient traditions treasured in memory,
New word-groups found properly bound:
35 The bard after ’gan then Beowulf’s venture
Wisely to tell of, and words that were clever
To utter skilfully, earnestly speaking,
 He sings, in alliteration, of Beowulf’s prowess.
Everything told he that he heard as to Sigmund’s
Mighty achievements, many things hidden, Also of Sigemund, who has slain a great
40
The strife of the Wælsing, the wide-going ventures
 fire-dragon.
The children of men knew of but little,
The feud and the fury, but Fitela with him,
When suchlike matters he minded to speak of,
Uncle to nephew, as in every contention
45
Each to other was ever devoted:
A numerous host of the race of the scathers
They had slain with the sword-edge. To Sigmund accrued then
No little of glory, when his life-days were over,
Since he sturdy in struggle had destroyed the great dragon,
50
The hoard-treasure’s keeper; ’neath the hoar-grayish stone he,
The son of the atheling, unaided adventured
The perilous project; not present was Fitela,
Yet the fortune befell him of forcing his weapon
Through the marvellous dragon, that it stood in the wall,
55
Well-honored weapon; the worm was slaughtered.
The great one had gained then by his glorious achievement
To reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment,
As best it did please him: his vessel he loaded,
Shining ornaments on the ship’s bosom carried,
60 Kinsman of Wæls: the drake in heat melted.
He was farthest famed of fugitive pilgrims,
Mid wide-scattered world-folk, for works of great prowess,
 Sigemund was widely famed.
War-troopers’ shelter: hence waxed he in honor.
Afterward Heremod’s hero-strength failed him, Heremod, an unfortunate Danish king, is
65
His vigor and valor. ’Mid venomous haters
 introduced by way of contrast.
To the hands of foemen he was foully delivered,
Offdriven early. Agony-billows
Oppressed him too long, to his people he became then,
 Unliked Sigemund & Beowulf, Heremod was
To all the athelings, an ever-great burden;
 a burden to his people.
70
And the daring one’s journey in days of yore
Many wise men were wont to deplore,
Such as hoped he would bring them help in their sorrow,
That the son of their ruler should rise into power,
Holding the headship held by his fathers,
75
Should govern the people, the gold-hoard and borough,
The kingdom of heroes, the realm of the Scyldings.
He to all men became then far more beloved,
Higelac’s kinsman, to kindreds and races,
 Beowulf is an honor to his race.
To his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.—
80
Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured
 The story is resumed.
The dun-colored highways. Then the light of the morning
Was hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in numbers
To the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit,
To look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then
85
From his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures,
Glorious trod with troopers unnumbered,
Famed for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife
Measured the mead-ways, with maidens attending.

XV. Hrothgar’s Gratitude

Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he,
He stood by the pillar, saw the steep-rising hall-roof
Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there):
“For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder
5
Early be offered! Much evil I bided,
Snaring from Grendel: God can e’er ’complish
Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory!
But lately I reckoned ne’er under heaven
Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows,
 I had given up all hope, when this brave
10
While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain
 liegeman came to our aid.
Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened
Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever
The folk-troop’s defences ’gainst foes they should strengthen,
’Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder
15
A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished
Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom
Failed to perform. May affirm very truly
What woman soever in all of the nations
 If his mother yet lives, well may she thank
Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,
 God for this son.
20
That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward
In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear,
Most excellent hero, I’ll love thee in spirit
 Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shall be my son.
As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward
The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee
25
Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee.
Full often for lesser service I’ve given
Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,
To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction
Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish
 Thou has won immortal distinction.
30
Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee
With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!”
Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s offspring:
 Beowulf replies: I was most happy to render thee
“That labor of glory most gladly achieved we,
 in this service.
The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured
35
The enemy’s grapple; I would grant it much rather
Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,
Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings!
On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,
With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple
40
Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle
’Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,
Since God did not will it, to keep him from going,
Not held him that firmly, hated opposer;
 I could not keep th emonster from escaping, as
Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding
 God did not will that I should.
45
He suffered his hand behind him to linger,
His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;
No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature
 He left his hand and arm behind.
Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer
Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,
50
But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him
Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing
In baleful bonds: there banished for evil
The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,
How the God of glory shall give him his earnings.”
55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,
From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements,
 Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf’s
Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended
 actions speak louder than words.
’Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman,
Each one before him, the enemy’s fingers;
60
Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled,
The heathen one’s hand-spur, the hero-in-battle’s
Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing,
That not any excellent edges of brave ones
Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature’s
 No sword will harm the monster.
65 Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.

XVI. Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts upon his Deliverer

Then straight was ordered that Heorot inside
 Heorot is adorned with hands.
With hands be embellished: a host of them gathered,
Of men and women, who the wassailing-building
The guest-hall begeared. Gold-flashing sparkled
5
Webs on the walls then, of wonders a many
To each of the heroes that look on such objects.
The beautiful building was broken to pieces
 The hall is defaced.
Which all within with irons was fastened,
Its hinges torn off: only the roof was
10
Whole and uninjured when the horrible creature
Outlawed for evil off had betaken him,
Hopeless of living. ’Tis hard to avoid it
(Whoever will do it!); but he doubtless must come to
 [vague passage of five verses]
The place awaiting, as Wyrd hath appointed,
15
Soul-bearers, earth-dwellers, earls under heaven,
Where bound on its bed his body shall slumber
 Hrothgar goes to the banquet.
When feasting is finished. Full was the time then
That the son of Healfdene went to the building;
The excellent atheling would eat of the banquet.
20
Ne’er heard I that people with hero-band larger
Bare them better tow’rds their bracelet-bestower.
The laden-with-glory stooped to the bench then
(Their kinsmen-companions in plenty were joyful,
Many a cupful quaffing complaisantly),
25 Doughty of spirit in the high-tow’ring palace,
Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot then inside
 Hrothgar’s nephew, Hrothulf, is present.
Was filled with friendly ones; falsehood and treachery
The Folk-Scyldings now nowise did practise.
 Hrothgar lavishes gifts upon Beowulf.
Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf
30
A golden standard, as reward for the victory,
A banner embossed, burnie and helmet;
Many men saw then a song-famous weapon
Borne ’fore the hero. Beowulf drank of
The cup in the building; that treasure-bestowing
35 He needed not blush for in battle-men’s presence.
Ne’er heard I that many men on the ale-bench
In friendlier fashion to their fellows presented
Four bright jewels with gold-work embellished.
 Four handsomer gifts were never presented.
’Round the roof of the helmet a head-guarder outside
40
Braided with wires, with bosses was furnished,
That swords-for-the-battle fight-hardened might fail
Boldly to harm him, when the hero proceeded
Forth against foemen. The defender of earls then
Commanded that eight steeds with bridles
 Hrothgar commands that 8 finely caparisoned
45
Gold-plated, gleaming, be guided to hallward,
 steeds be brought to Beowulf.
Inside the building; on one of them stood then
An art-broidered saddle embellished with jewels;
’Twas the sovereign’s seat, when the son of King Healfdene
Was pleased to take part in the play of the edges;
50
The famous one’s valor ne’er failed at the front when
Slain ones were bowing. And to Beowulf granted
The prince of the Ingwins, power over both,
O’er war-steeds and weapons; bade him well to enjoy them.
In so manly a manner the mighty-famed chieftain,
55
Hoard-ward of heroes, with horses and jewels
War-storms requited, that none e’er condemneth
Who willeth to tell truth with full justice.

XVII: Banquet (Continued) — The Scop’s Song of Finn and Hnaef

And the atheling of earlmen to each of the heroes
 Each of Beowulf’s companions receives a costly
Who the ways of the waters went with Beowulf,
 gift.
A costly gift-token gave on the mead-bench,
Offered an heirloom, and ordered that that man
5
With gold should be paid for, whom Grendel had erstwhile
Wickedly slaughtered, as he more of them had done
 The warrior killed by Grendel is to be paid for
Had far-seeing God and the mood of the hero
 in gold.
The fate not averted: the Father then governed
All of the earth-dwellers, as He ever is doing;
10
Hence insight for all men is everywhere fittest,
Forethought of spirit! much he shall suffer
Of lief and of loathsome who long in this present
Useth the world in this woful existence.
There was music and merriment mingling together
15
Touching Healfdene’s leader; the joy-wood was fingered,
 Hrothgar’s scop recalls event sin the reign
Measures recited, when the singer of Hrothgar
 of his lord’s father.
On mead-bench should mention the merry hall-joyance
Of the kinsmen of Finn, when onset surprised them:
“The Half-Danish hero, Hnæf of the Scyldings, Hnaef, the Danish general, is treacherously attacked
20
On the field of the Frisians was fated to perish.
 while staying Finn’s castle.
Sure Hildeburg needed not mention approving
The faith of the Jutemen: though blameless entirely,
When shields were shivered she was shorn of her darlings,
 Queen Hildeburg is not only wife of Finn but a
Of bairns and brothers: they bent to their fate
 kinswoman of the murdered Hnaef.
25
With war-spear wounded; woe was that woman.
Not causeless lamented the daughter of Hoce
The decree of the Wielder when morning-light came and
She was able ’neath heaven to behold the destruction
Of brothers and bairns, where the brightest of earth-joys
30
She had hitherto had: all the henchmen of Finn
 Finn’s force is almost exterminated.
War had offtaken, save a handful remaining,
That he nowise was able to offer resistance
To the onset of Hengest in the parley of battle,
Nor the wretched remnant to rescue in war from
 Hengest succeeds Hnaef as Danish general.
35 The earl of the atheling; but they offered conditions,
Another great building to fully make ready,
 Compact between the Frisians and the Danes.
A hall and a high-seat, that half they might rule with
The sons of the Jutemen, and that Folcwalda’s son would
Day after day the Danemen honor
40
When gifts were giving, and grant of his ring-store
To Hengest’s earl-troop ever so freely,
Of his gold-plated jewels, as he encouraged the Frisians
On the bench of the beer-hall. On both sides they swore then
 Equality of gifts agreed on.
A fast-binding compact; Finn unto Hengest
45
With no thought of revoking vowed then most solemnly
The woe-begone remnant well to take charge of,
His Witan advising; the agreement should no one
By words or works weaken and shatter,
By artifice ever injure its value,
50
Though reaved of their ruler their ring-giver’s slayer
They followed as vassals, Fate so requiring:
Then if one of the Frisians the quarrel should speak of
 No one shall refer to old grudges.
In tones that were taunting, terrible edges
Should cut in requital. Accomplished the oath was,
55 And treasure of gold from the hoard was uplifted.
The best of the Scylding braves was then fully
Prepared for the pile; at the pyre was seen clearly
 Danish warriors are burned on a funeral pyre.
The blood-gory burnie, the boar with his gilding,
The iron-hard swine, athelings many
60
Fatally wounded; no few had been slaughtered.
Hildeburg bade then, at the burning of Hnæf,
The bairn of her bosom to bear to the fire,
 Queen Hildeburg has her son burnt along with
That his body be burned and borne to the pyre.
 Hnaef.
The woe-stricken woman wept on his shoulder,
65
In measures lamented; upmounted the hero.
The greatest of dead-fires curled to the welkin,
On the hill’s-front crackled; heads were a-melting,
Wound-doors bursting, while the blood was a-coursing
From body-bite fierce. The fire devoured them,
70
Greediest of spirits, whom war had offcarried
From both of the peoples; their bravest were fallen.

XVIII. The Finn Episode (Continued)–The Banquet Continues

“Then the warriors departed to go to their dwellings,
 The survivors go to Friesland, the home of Finn.
Reaved of their friends, Friesland to visit,
Their homes and high-city. Hengest continued
Biding with Finn the blood-tainted winter, Hengest remains there all winter, unable to
5
Wholly unsundered; of fatherland thought he
 get away.
Though unable to drive the ring-stemmèd vessel
O’er the ways of the waters; the wave-deeps were tossing,
Fought with the wind; winter in ice-bonds
Closed up the currents, till there came to the dwelling
10
A year in its course, as yet it revolveth,
If season propitious one alway regardeth,
World-cheering weathers. Then winter was gone,
Earth’s bosom was lovely; the exile would get him,
 He devises schemes of vengeance.
The guest from the palace; on grewsomest vengeance
15
He brooded more eager than on oversea journeys,
Whe’r onset-of-anger he were able to ’complish,
The bairns of the Jutemen therein to remember.
Nowise refused he the duties of liegeman
When Hun of the Frisians the battle-sword Láfing,
20
Fairest of falchions, friendly did give him:
Its edges were famous in folk-talk of Jutland.
And savage sword-fury seized in its clutches
Bold-mooded Finn where he bode in his palace,
When the grewsome grapple Guthlaf and Oslaf Guthlaf and Oslaf revenge Hnaef’s slaughter.
25
Had mournfully mentioned, the mere-journey over,
For sorrows half-blamed him; the flickering spirit
Could not bide in his bosom. Then the building was covered
With corpses of foemen, and Finn too was slaughtered,
 Finn is slain.
The king with his comrades, and the queen made a prisoner.
30
The troops of the Scyldings bore to their vessels
 The jewels of Finn, and his queen are carried away by
All that the land-king had in his palace,
 the Danes.
Such trinkets and treasures they took as, on searching,
At Finn’s they could find. They ferried to Daneland
The excellent woman on oversea journey,
35
Led her to their land-folk.” The lay was concluded,
 The son-poem concluded; main story resumes.
The gleeman’s recital. Shouts again rose then,
Bench-glee resounded, bearers then offered
Wine from wonder-vats. Wealhtheo advanced then
 Skiners carry round the beaker.
Going ’neath gold-crown, where the good ones were seated
40
Uncle and nephew; their peace was yet mutual,
 Queen Wealhtheow greets Hrothgar, as he sits
True each to the other. And Unferth the spokesman
 beside Hrothulf, his nephew.
Sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings:
Each trusted his spirit that his mood was courageous,
Though at fight he had failed in faith to his kinsmen.
45
Said the queen of the Scyldings: “My lord and protector,
Treasure-bestower, take thou this beaker;
Joyance attend thee, gold-friend of heroes,
And greet thou the Geatmen with gracious responses!
 Be generous to the Geats.
So ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen,
50
In gifts not niggardly; anear and afar now
Peace thou enjoyest. Report hath informed me
Thou’lt have for a bairn the battle-brave hero.
Now is Heorot cleansèd, ring-palace gleaming;
Give while thou mayest many rewards, Have as much joy as possible in thy hall, once
55
And bequeath to thy kinsmen kingdom and people,
 more purified.
On wending thy way to the Wielder’s splendor.
I know good Hrothulf, that the noble young troopers
He’ll care for and honor, lord of the Scyldings,
 I know that Hrothulf will prove faithful if he survive
If earth-joys thou endest earlier than he doth;
 thee.
60
I reckon that recompense he’ll render with kindness
Our offspring and issue, if that all he remember,
What favors of yore, when he yet was an infant,
We awarded to him for his worship and pleasure.”
Then she turned by the bench where her sons were carousing,
65 Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the heroes’ offspring,
The war-youth together; there the good one was sitting
 Beowulf is sitting by the two royal sons.
’Twixt the brothers twain, Beowulf Geatman.

XIX. Bewoulf receives further Honor

A beaker was borne him, and bidding to quaff it
 More gifts are offered Beowulf.
Graciously given, and gold that was twisted
Pleasantly proffered, a pair of arm-jewels,
Rings and corslet, of collars the greatest
5
I’ve heard of ’neath heaven. Of heroes not any
More splendid from jewels have I heard ’neath the welkin,
Since Hama off bore the Brosingmen’s necklace,
 A famous necklace is referred to, in comparison
The bracteates and jewels, from the bright-shining city,
 with the gems presented to Beowulf.
Eormenric’s cunning craftiness fled from,
10
Chose gain everlasting. Geatish Higelac,
Grandson of Swerting, last had this jewel
When tramping ’neath banner the treasure he guarded,
The field-spoil defended; Fate offcarried him
When for deeds of daring he endured tribulation,
15
Hate from the Frisians; the ornaments bare he
O’er the cup of the currents, costly gem-treasures,
Mighty folk-leader, he fell ’neath his target;
The corpse of the king then came into charge of
The race of the Frankmen, the mail-shirt and collar:
20
Warmen less noble plundered the fallen,
When the fight was finished; the folk of the Geatmen
The field of the dead held in possession.
The choicest of mead-halls with cheering resounded.
Wealhtheo discoursed, the war-troop addressed she:
25
“This collar enjoy thou, Beowulf worthy,
 Queen Wealhtheow magnifies Beowulf’s achievements.
Young man, in safety, and use thou this armor,
Gems of the people, and prosper thou fully,
Show thyself sturdy and be to these liegemen
Mild with instruction! I’ll mind thy requital.
30
Thou hast brought it to pass that far and near
Forever and ever earthmen shall honor thee,
Even so widely as ocean surroundeth
The blustering bluffs. Be, while thou livest,
A wealth-blessèd atheling. I wish thee most truly May gifts never fail thee.
35
Jewels and treasure. Be kind to my son, thou
Living in joyance! Here each of the nobles
Is true unto other, gentle in spirit,
Loyal to leader. The liegemen are peaceful,
The war-troops ready: well-drunken heroes,
40
Do as I bid ye.” Then she went to the settle.
There was choicest of banquets, wine drank the heroes:
Weird they knew not, destiny cruel,
 They little know of the sorrow in store for them.
As to many an earlman early it happened,
When evening had come and Hrothgar had parted
45
Off to his manor, the mighty to slumber.
Warriors unnumbered warded the building
As erst they did often: the ale-settle bared they,
’Twas covered all over with beds and pillows.
Doomed unto death, down to his slumber A doomed thane is there with them.
50
Bowed then a beer-thane. Their battle-shields placed they,
Bright-shining targets, up by their heads then;
O’er the atheling on ale-bench ’twas easy to see there
Battle-high helmet, burnie of ring-mail,
And mighty war-spear. ’Twas the wont of that people They were always ready for battle.
55
To constantly keep them equipped for the battle,
At home or marching—in either condition—
At seasons just such as necessity ordered
As best for their ruler; that people was worthy.

XX. The Mother of Grendel

They sank then to slumber. With sorrow one paid for
His evening repose, as often betid them
While Grendel was holding the gold-bedecked palace,
Ill-deeds performing, till his end overtook him,
5 Death for his sins. ’Twas seen very clearly,
Known unto earth-folk, that still an avenger
 Grendel’s mother is known to be thirsting for revenge.
Outlived the loathed one, long since the sorrow
Caused by the struggle; the mother of Grendel,
Devil-shaped woman, her woe ever minded,
10 Who was held to inhabit the horrible waters,
The cold-flowing currents, after Cain had become a
 [Grendel’s progenitor, Cain, is again referred to.]
Slayer-with-edges to his one only brother,
The son of his sire; he set out then banished,
Marked as a murderer, man-joys avoiding,
15 Lived in the desert. Thence demons unnumbered
Fate-sent awoke; one of them Grendel,
 The poet again magnifies Beowulf’s valor.
Sword-cursèd, hateful, who at Heorot met with
A man that was watching, waiting the struggle,
Where a horrid one held him with hand-grapple sturdy;
20
Nathless he minded the might of his body,
The glorious gift God had allowed him,
And folk-ruling Father’s favor relied on,
His help and His comfort: so he conquered the foeman,
The hell-spirit humbled: he unhappy departed then,
25
Reaved of his joyance, journeying to death-haunts,
Foeman of man. His mother moreover
 Grendel’s mother comes to avenge her son.
Eager and gloomy was anxious to go on
Her mournful mission, mindful of vengeance
For the death of her son. She came then to Heorot
30
Where the Armor-Dane earlmen all through the building
Were lying in slumber. Soon there became then
Return to the nobles, when the mother of Grendel
Entered the folk-hall; the fear was less grievous
By even so much as the vigor of maidens,
35
War-strength of women, by warrior is reckoned,
When well-carved weapon, worked with the hammer,
Blade very bloody, brave with its edges,
Strikes down the boar-sign that stands on the helmet.
Then the hard-edgèd weapon was heaved in the building,
40
The brand o’er the benches, broad-lindens many
Hand-fast were lifted; for helmet he recked not,
For armor-net broad, whom terror laid hold of.
She went then hastily, outward would get her
Her life for to save, when some one did spy her;
45
Soon she had grappled one of the athelings
 She seizes a favorite liegemen of Hrothgar’s.
Fast and firmly, when fenward she hied her;
That one to Hrothgar was liefest of heroes
In rank of retainer where waters encircle,
A mighty shield-warrior, whom she murdered at slumber,
50 A broadly-famed battle-knight. Beowulf was absent,
But another apartment was erstwhile devoted
To the glory-decked Geatman when gold was distributed.
 Beowulf was asleep in another part of the palace.
There was hubbub in Heorot. The hand that was famous
She grasped in its gore; grief was renewed then
55
In homes and houses: ’twas no happy arrangement
In both of the quarters to barter and purchase
With lives of their friends. Then the well-agèd ruler,
The gray-headed war-thane, was woful in spirit,
When his long-trusted liegeman lifeless he knew of,
60
His dearest one gone. Quick from a room was
 Beowulf is summoned.
Beowulf brought, brave and triumphant.
As day was dawning in the dusk of the morning,
Went then that earlman, champion noble,
 He comes at Hrothgar’s summons.
Came with comrades, where the clever one bided
65
Whether God all gracious would grant him a respite
After the woe he had suffered. The war-worthy hero
With a troop of retainers trod then the pavement
(The hall-building groaned), till he greeted the wise one,
The earl of the Ingwins; asked if the night had Beowulf inquires how Hrothgar had enjoyed
70 Fully refreshed him, as fain he would have it. his night’s rest.

 

XXI. Hrothgar’s Account of the Monsters

Hrothgar rejoined, helm of the Scyldings: Hrothgar laments the death of Aeschere, his
“Ask not of joyance! Grief is renewed to shoulder-companion.
The folk of the Danemen. Dead is Æschere,
Yrmenlaf’s brother, older than he,
5 My true-hearted counsellor, trusty adviser,
Shoulder-companion, when fighting in battle
Our heads we protected, when troopers were clashing,
And heroes were dashing; such an earl should be ever, He was my ideal hero.
An erst-worthy atheling, as Æschere proved him.
10 The flickering death-spirit became in Heorot
His hand-to-hand murderer; I can not tell whither
The cruel one turned in the carcass exulting,
By cramming discovered. The quarrel she wreaked then, This horrible creature came to avenge Grendel’s death.
That last night igone Grendel thou killedst
15 In grewsomest manner, with grim-holding clutches,
Since too long he had lessened my liege-troop and wasted
My folk-men so foully. He fell in the battle
With forfeit of life, and another has followed,
A mighty crime-worker, her kinsman avenging,
20 And henceforth hath ‘stablished her hatred unyielding,
As it well may appear to many a liegeman,
Who mourneth in spirit the treasure-bestower,
Her heavy heart-sorrow; the hand is now lifeless
Which availed you in every wish that you cherished.
25 Land-people heard I, liegemen, this saying, I have heard my vassals speak of these two uncanny
Dwellers in halls, they had seen very often monsters who lived in the moors.
A pair of such mighty march-striding creatures,
Far-dwelling spirits, holding the moorlands:
One of them wore, as well they might notice,
30 The image of woman, the other one wretched
In guise of a man wandered in exile,
Except he was huger than any of earthmen;
Earth-dwelling people entitled him Grendel
In days of yore: they know not their father,
35 Whe’r ill-going spirits any were borne him
Ever before. They guard the wolf-coverts,
Lands inaccessible, wind-beaten nesses, They inhabit the most desolate and horrible places.
Fearfullest fen-deeps, where a flood from the mountains
’Neath mists of the nesses netherward rattles,
40 The stream under earth: not far is it henceward
Measured by mile-lengths that the mere-water standeth,
Which forests hang over, with frost-whiting covered,
A firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow.
There ever at night one an ill-meaning portent
45 A fire-flood may see; ’mong children of men
None liveth so wise that wot of the bottom;
Though harassed by hounds the heath-stepper seek for,
Fly to the forest, firm-antlered he-deer, Even the hounded deer will not seek refuge in these
Spurred from afar, his spirit he yieldeth, uncanny regions.
50 His life on the shore, ere in he will venture
To cover his head. Uncanny the place is:
Thence upward ascendeth the surging of waters,
Wan to the welkin, when the wind is stirring
The weathers unpleasing, till the air groweth gloomy,
55 And the heavens lower. Now is help to be gotten
From thee and thee only! The abode thou know’st not, To thee only can I look for assistance.
The dangerous place where thou’rt able to meet with
The sin-laden hero: seek if thou darest!
For the feud I will fully fee thee with money,
60 With old-time treasure, as erstwhile I did thee,
With well-twisted jewels, if away thou shalt get thee.”

 

XXII. Beowulf Seeks Grendel’s Mother

Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s son: Beowulf exhorts the old king to arouse himself for action.
“Grieve not, O wise one! for each it is better,
His friend to avenge than with vehemence wail him;
Each of us must the end-day abide of
5 His earthly existence; who is able accomplish
Glory ere death! To battle-thane noble
Lifeless lying, ’tis at last most fitting.
Arise, O king, quick let us hasten
To look at the footprint of the kinsman of Grendel!
10 I promise thee this now: to his place he’ll escape not,
To embrace of the earth, nor to mountainous forest,
Nor to depths of the ocean, wherever he wanders.
Practice thou now patient endurance
Of each of thy sorrows, as I hope for thee soothly!”
15 Then up sprang the old one, the All-Wielder thanked he, Hrothgar rouses himself. His horse is brought.
Ruler Almighty, that the man had outspoken.
Then for Hrothgar a war-horse was decked with a bridle,
Curly-maned courser. The clever folk-leader
Stately proceeded: stepped then an earl-troop
20 Of linden-wood bearers. Her footprints were seen then They start on the track of the female monster.
Widely in wood-paths, her way o’er the bottoms,
Where she faraway fared o’er fen-country murky,
Bore away breathless the best of retainers
Who pondered with Hrothgar the welfare of country.
25 The son of the athelings then went o’er the stony,
Declivitous cliffs, the close-covered passes,
Narrow passages, paths unfrequented,
Nesses abrupt, nicker-haunts many;
One of a few of wise-mooded heroes,
30 He onward advanced to view the surroundings,
Till he found unawares woods of the mountain
O’er hoar-stones hanging, holt-wood unjoyful;
The water stood under, welling and gory.
’Twas irksome in spirit to all of the Danemen,
35 Friends of the Scyldings, to many a liegeman
Sad to be suffered, a sorrow unlittle The sight of Aeschere’s head causes them great sorrow.
To each of the earlmen, when to Æschere’s head they
Came on the cliff. The current was seething
With blood and with gore (the troopers gazed on it).
40 The horn anon sang the battle-song ready.
The troop were all seated; they saw ’long the water then
Many a serpent, mere-dragons wondrous The water is filled with serpents and sea-dragons.
Trying the waters, nickers a-lying
On the cliffs of the nesses, which at noonday full often
45 Go on the sea-deeps their sorrowful journey,
Wild-beasts and wormkind; away then they hastened
Hot-mooded, hateful, they heard the great clamor,
The war-trumpet winding. One did the Geat-prince One of them is killed by Beowulf.
Sunder from earth-joys, with arrow from bowstring,
50 From his sea-struggle tore him, that the trusty war-missile
Pierced to his vitals; he proved in the currents
Less doughty at swimming whom death had offcarried. The dead beast is a poor swimmer.
Soon in the waters the wonderful swimmer
Was straitened most sorely with sword-pointed boar-spears,
55 Pressed in the battle and pulled to the cliff-edge;
The liegemen then looked on the loath-fashioned stranger.
Beowulf donned then his battle-equipments, Beowulf prepares for a struggle with the monster.
Cared little for life; inlaid and most ample,
The hand-woven corslet which could cover his body,
60 Must the wave-deeps explore, that war might be powerless
To harm the great hero, and the hating one’s grasp might
Not peril his safety; his head was protected
By the light-flashing helmet that should mix with the bottoms,
Trying the eddies, treasure-emblazoned,
65 Encircled with jewels, as in seasons long past
The weapon-smith worked it, wondrously made it,
With swine-bodies fashioned it, that thenceforward no longer
Brand might bite it, and battle-sword hurt it.
And that was not least of helpers in prowess
70 That Hrothgar’s spokesman had lent him when straitened; He has Unferth’s sword in his hand.
And the hilted hand-sword was Hrunting entitled,
Old and most excellent ’mong all of the treasures;
Its blade was of iron, blotted with poison,
Hardened with gore; it failed not in battle
75 Any hero under heaven in hand who it brandished,
Who ventured to take the terrible journeys,
The battle-field sought; not the earliest occasion
That deeds of daring ’twas destined to ’complish.
Ecglaf’s kinsman minded not soothly, Unferth has little use for swords.
80 Exulting in strength, what erst he had spoken
Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent to
A sword-hero bolder; himself did not venture
’Neath the strife of the currents his life to endanger,
To fame-deeds perform; there he forfeited glory,
85 Repute for his strength. Not so with the other
When he clad in his corslet had equipped him for battle.

 

Source Text: 

Hall, Leslie, trans. Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Poem. D.C. Heath & Co. Publishers, 1892, licensed under no known copyright.

PDM

 

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Early English Literature Copyright © 2019 by Allegra Villarreal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book