Scyldings, when first I ruled the Danish folk and in youth held wide domain and the treasure-city of men. Heregar then was dead; my elder brother was no longer living, Healfdene's son. He was a better man than I Afterwards I settled the feud for money, sent over the water's back age-old treasures to the Wylfings. He swore oaths1 to me. Sorrow in my soul it is for me to say to any man what shame Grendel has done to me in Heorot through his hatred, what dread attacks he has made. My hall-company is wasted away, my band of warriors. Fate has swept them off through Grendel's terror. God may easily keep the mad ravisher from his deeds. Full oft warriors drunken with beer have boasted over their alecups that they would bide in the beer-hall Grendel's attack with the terror of swords. Then in the morning, when day dawned, this mead-hall, the warriors' room, was smeared with blood-all the benches dripping with gore-the hall stained with the blood of strife. I possessed the fewer liegemen, a beloved band, for them that death took away. Sit down now together and reveal thy hope of victory to my men as thy mood moves thee.2

Then was a bench cleared in the meadhall for the Geat-folk all together. There the mighty ones went to sit, exulting in their strength. A thane fulfilled his office, who bore in his hand the fretted ale-cup, poured out the bright mead. At times the scop sang clear-toned in Heorot. There was joy for the heroes, no small band of Danes and Weders.

his secret grudge. The coming of Beowulf, the daring sea-farer, vexed him strongly, for he did not wish that under Heaven any other man should ever achieve greater glory in the world than he himself. "Art thou the Beowulf that contended with Breca, competed in swimming in the broad sea, when you two for daring braved the waves and for boastfulness ventured with your lives in deep water? Nor might any man, either friend or foe, dissuade you from the dangerous journey when you swam in the sea. There you enfolded the ocean stream in your arms, traversed the searoads, pressed back with your hands, and glided over the ocean. The deep was swollen with waves in the winter's flood. A seven-night you toiled in the water's power. He overcame you in swimming, had greater might. Then in the morning the flood bore him up among the Heathoreames. Thence, dear to his people, he sought his home, the land of the Brondings, the fair strong town where he had kinsmen, court, and riches. The son of Beanstan truly carried out all his boast with thee. Therefore I foresee a worse issue will come to thee, though thou hast everywhere been brave in the storm of battle, in grim fight-if thou durst abide Grendel a nightlong time nearby."

Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's son: "Well, my friend Unferth, drunken with beer thou hast said full much about Breca, hast spoken about his adventure. The truth I maintain,-that I had more strength in the water, endured more hardships on the waves than any other man. We agreed and boasted, boys that we were we were both still in our youth -that out on the ocean we would venture with our lives, and so we carried out our boast. We had naked swords, hard in hand, when we swam in the sea; we thought to defend ourselves against

whales. He might not swim at all far from me in the ocean waves, faster in the sea, nor would I go from him. We were together on the deep the space of five nights, until the flood drove us apart the seething waters, coldest of weathers, darkening night-and the grim north wind turned against us. Fierce were the waves. The temper of the whales was roused. There my body-mail, hard hand-locked, was a help to me against the enemy; the woven warshirt, gold-adorned, lay on my breast. A dire foe drew me to the ocean bed, fast held me, grim of grip. But it was my fate that I should reach the monster with my sword, my battle-blade. Through my hand the storm of battle carried off the mighty seabeast.

IX

BEOWULF CONTINUES HIS ACCOUNT OF THE SWIMMING MATCH WITH BRECA

So the loathsome spoilers oft pressed me hard. I served them with the well-loved sword, as was fitting. By no means had they the joy of their fill, the grim destroyers, devouring me, sitting around the feast nigh the sea-bottom. But in the morning, wounded by swords they lay up on the beach, put to sleep by the battle-blades, so that never afterwards the fell creatures hindered farers on the high sea.

Light came from the east, God's bright beacon, and the waters grew calm, so that I could see the bluffs, the windy walls. Fate oft protects an earl not yet doomed to die, when his courage is great! At any rate it happened that I slew with the sword nine sea-monsters. Never heard I of harder fight at night under heaven's vault, nor of a man harder pressed on the sea. Yet I escaped with life from

the clutches of foes, though weary of my journey. Then the sea, the flood and the swelling waves, bore me with the stream to the land of the Finns. Never concerning thee have I heard tell of such battles, the terror of swords. Breca never yet-nor either of you-in battle did so bold a deed with gleaming swords—I will not boast much about it-though thou didst kill thy brothers, thy near kinsmen. For that thou shalt suffer punishment in Hell, though thy wit be strong. I tell thee truly, son of Ecglaf, that Grendel, the terrible monster, would never have done so many outrages to thy lord, harm to Heorot, if thy heart and mind were so fierce in battle as thou thyself dost claim. But he has found that he need not greatly fear the feud, the cruel turmoil of swords, of your people, the Victory-Scyldings.^ He takes forced tribute, shows mercy to none of the Danish folk, but has his pleasure, kills and sends hence, expects no fight from the Spear-Danes. But soon now I will offer him battle, strength and valor of the Geats. He who may shall go back proud to the mead, after the morning light, the brightclad sun, shines from the south other day over the children men!

an

of

Then was the gray-haired and battlefamed giver of treasure joyful. The Lord of the Danes felt sure of help. The guardian of the folk was aware in Beowulf of a resolute will. There was laughter of heroes, the joyous clamor rang, words were fair. Wealtheow went forth, Hrothgar's queen, adorned with gold, mindful of courtesy,-greeted the warriors in the hall. Then the noble wife offered the cup first to the guardian of the East-Danes, bade him be joyful at the beer-drinking, for he was dear to his people. With a good will he partook of the banquet and hall-cup, the warfamed king. Then the lady of the

Helmings1 went around to retainer and youth, all of them, passed the precious vessels, until the time came that she, the ring-decked queen, great of heart, bore the mead-cup to Beowulf. She greeted the prince of the Geats, and, wise of words, thanked God that the joy had come to her of expecting from any earl relief from their sufferings. He received the cup, the warrior fierce in battle, at the hand of Wealtheow, and then spoke, inspired by the coming battle. Beowulf said, Ecgtheow's son: "I resolved, when I set out on the water, sat down with my band of men in the ship, that I would of a surety work the will of your people, or die in battle fast in the fiend's grip. I shall do earl-like deeds of valor, or abide my last day in this mead-hall!" Full pleasing to the woman were his words, the mighty pledge of the Geat. In her gold adornments she went. the noble folk queen, to sit by her lord.

Then, as before, within the hall was strong word spoken, the company joyful, the noise of the valiant, until presently the son of Healfdene would seek his bed. He knew that an attack had been intended by the monster, against the high hall, from the time that they could see the light of the sun until over all, the shadowy night, shapes of darkness, came striding black under the heavens. All the band rose. One man greeted the other, Hrothgar Beowulf, and wished him well, gave him. power over the wine-hall, and this word spoke: "Never before have I entrusted to any man, since I might lift hand and shield, the mighty hall of the Danes but to thee now. Have now and hold the fairest of houses. Keep in mind thy fame, show valor, be watchful against the evil one! There will be no lack of good things to thee, if thou pass safely through that mighty work."

Wealtheow was of the Helming tribe,

X

THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL

Then Hrothgar, King of the Scyldings, went out of the hall with his company of warriors; the war-lord would seek Wealtheow, his queen, for bedfellow. The King of Glory had set a guard against Grendel, as men have heard; who did a special service for the Lord of the Danes, kept watch against the giant. Gladly indeed the prince of the Geats trusted in his bold might and God's grace. Then he took off his iron byrnie, the helmet from his head, gave his fairfretted sword, best of blades, to a retainer, and bade him keep the war-gear. Before he mounted his bed the valiant one, Beowulf of the Geats, spoke brave words: "No less do I deem myself of might in war-works than Grendel thinks him. Therefore I will not kill him with the sword, deprive him of life, though I well may; he knows nothing of these helps with which to strike against me and shatter my shield, though he be strong in violent deeds. But to-night we two shall set sword aside, if he dare seek fight without weapon, and afterwards may the wise God, the holy Lord, grant glory on whichever hand seems meet to Him."

Then the warrior bold in battle laid him down. The cheek-pillow received the face of the earl, and about him many a brave seaman sank upon hall-bed. None of them thought that hence he should ever again seek his dear home, his people, or the free town where he was brought up. Rather they had heard how before this a violent death had taken away far too many of the Dane-folk in the winehall. But the Lord granted the fortunes of victory to the Weders, gave them solace and help, that through one man's strength, his own might, they all over

came their enemy. The truth is well known, that mighty God has ever ruled over mankind.

In the dark night came striding the night-prowler. The warriors slept, those that were to guard the gabled hall, all except one. It was known to men that the demon scather might not cast them down to the shades-the Lord did not wish it then. But enraged, watching in anger for the wrathful one, Beowulf awaited the issue of the battle.

XI

THE FIGHT WITH GRENDEL

Then from the moor under cover of darkness came Grendel stealing; God's wrath he bore. The fell spoiler meant to ensnare one of human kind in the high hall. Under the clouds he advanced to where he knew most surely the winehall stood, the gilded hall of men, bright with gold. Nor was that the first time he had sought Hrothgar's home. Never in all his days, before or since, found he harder fortune, sterner hall-thanes! Το the great house the slayer came stalking, bereft of joy. The door, braced by firehardened bands, soon gave way as he touched it with his hands. Intent on evil, he swung wide the mouth of the hall, for he was enraged. Quickly after that the fiend stepped onto advanced angry of mood. most like a flame, shone

the fair floor,

An evil light, An evil light, from his eyes. He saw within within a host of warriors, a band of kinsmen sleeping together, a troop of heroes. Then his heart leaped up. The dire fiend thought that before day came he would sever life from the body of each one, for he had hope of a full feast. Yet it was not to be his fate that he should devour more of mankind after that night. The mighty kinsman of

Hygelac watched how the wicked scather would proceed with his sudden clutchings. Nor did the fiend mean to delay, but quickly he seized, the first time, a sleeping warrior, tore him unhindered, bit into the bones, drank the blood from his veins, swallowed great pieces. Soon he had consumed all of the lifeless one, even feet and hands. Forth he stepped nearer, took with his hand the strong-hearted warrior on his resting place; the fiend reached out towards him with his grasp. Quickly Beowulf received him with hostile intent, and raised himself on his arm. Soon the keeper of crimes found that never in the world, in any other man of earth's regions, had he met a mightier handgrip. As for his spirit, he waxed fearful of soul; yet none the sooner might he get him hence. His heart yearned to escape; he would flee to his hiding place, seek the turmoil of devils. His faring there was not such as in his former life-days he had met with. Then the worthy one, Hygelac's kinsman, bore in mind his evening speech, stood upright and laid fast hold on him. His fingers cracked. The giant fought to escape. The earl strode further. The notorious one thought to reach a more distant place and flee thence away to his fen-fastnesses. He realized the power of fingers in the enemy's grip. That was a grievous time when the worker of harm drew near to Heorot! The princely hall resounded; terror fell upon the earls, all the Danes, upon the dwellers in the town, upon each of the brave. Angry were both, grim keepers of the house. The hall re-echoed. It was a great wonder that the wine-hall withstood the fierce in battle, that it did not fall to earth, the fair building, except that it was fast bound within and without skilfully with iron bands. There started from the floor, as I have heard tell, many a mead-bench, adorned with gold, where the foes contended. Never before had

the wise men of the Scyldings thought that any man at any time or in any wise might shatter it (beautified and adorned with tusks), destroy it with cunning, unless the fire's embrace should swallow it in flame. The din mounted up, most unheard of. Horrible fear filled the North-Danes, to each one of those that from the wall heard cries,-heard God's enemy sing a song of terror, a chant of defeat, hell's captive bewailing his hurt. He held him fast who of men was strongest of might in that day of this life.

XII

BEOWULF'S VICTORY AND GRENDEL'S

FLIGHT

The protector of earls would not for anything let one who came to bring death go from him alive; nor did he consider his life days good to any man. There full eagerly did Beowulf's earls brandish age-hallowed swords; they would protect the life of their lord, their renowned prince, if they could. They did not know when they engaged in fight, strong-hearted warriors, and thought to strike on all sides and seek Grendel's soul, that no war-blade nor any choicest of irons on earth would harm the fell spoiler; for he had cast his spell upon victory-weapons, on every kind of sword. His death must needs be miserable on that day of this life, and his spirit, parted from his body, must journey far in the power of the fiends. Then he who of old through his soul's affliction did many wrongs to the race of men-he strove with God-found out that his body would not avail him, for the valiant one, Hygelac's kinsman, had him by the hand. Each, living, was hateful to the other. The fell wretch suffered bodily hurt; full evident on his shoulder was a grievous

wound. The sinews parted, joints cracked. To Beowulf was granted glory in battle. Grendel, sick unto death, must flee hence under the fen-slopes to seek his joyless haunt. Full well he knew that the end of his life was come, the number of his days.

After the bloody strife joy came to all the Danes. He who, wise and brave, had come from afar, had cleansed Hrothgar's hall, rescued it from affliction. He rejoiced in his night's work, his deeds of courage. The prince of the Geats had fulfilled his boast to the East-Danes, likewise mended all their sorrow and cares that they erst had endured and of necessity must have suffered,-no little hardship. That was a manifest token when the hero laid down a hand, arm and shoulder, there all together was Grendel's clutch-under the vaulted roof.

Then in the morning, as I have heard tell, was many a warrior around the gifthall. Leaders of peoples from far and near journeyed through wide-reaching ways to see the marvel, the traces of the hateful one. Nor did his death bring regret to any of the men who viewed the footprints of the vanquished, and saw how weary of mood and overcome in the contest he bore the remains of his life on the way thence to the demons' pool, put to flight and doomed to die. There the surging water, the dreadful swirl of the waves, was all mingled with blood, boiled with hot gore, the blood of battle. Death-doomed he had dived; afterwards joyless he laid down his life, his heathen soul, in his fen retreat. There Hell received him.