460 the perilous voyage, when seaward ye swam
with arms outspread o'er the ocean-stream,
measured the sea-ways, smote with your hands,
o'er the main glided. With winter's fury
the ocean-waves boiled; for a sennight ye toiled
on the water's domain. He conquered thee

what swift mischiefs done. My courtiers are though everywhere thou hast excelled in grim

Then we together were in the sea
a five night's space, till it drove us asunder.
Weltering waves, coldest of tempests,

2 The divine smith, or Vulcan, of northern legend. cloudy night, and the fierce north wind

1

grimly assaulted us; rough were the billows.
The rage of the sea-fishes was aroused.
Then my body-sark, hard and hand-locked,
afforded me help against my foes;

my braided war-shirt lay on my breast,
with gold adorned. A speckled monster
drew me to bottom, a grim one held me
fast in his grasp. Yet was it granted
that with the point I reached the creature,
with my war-falchion. A deadly blow,
dealt by my hand, destroyed the sea-beast.

551 from the Spear-Danes. But now of the Geats
the strength and valor shall I unexpectedly
show him in battle. Thereafter may all go
elate to the mead, after the light
of the ether-robed sun on the second day
shines from the south o'er the children of
men.''†

570

put to sleep by the sword; so that ne'er after
stopt they the way for ocean-sailers
over the surge. Light came from the east,
God's bright beacon, the seas grew calm,
so that the sea-nesses I might see,
windy walls. Fate often saves
an undoomed man when his valor avails.

"Yes, 'twas my lot with sword to slay
nickers nine. I have heard of no harder
struggle by night 'neath heaven's vault,
nor of man more harried in ocean-streams.

Then was rejoiced the treasure-distributor; hoary-locked, war-famed, the bright Danes' lord trusted in succor; the people's shepherd

610

from Beowulf heard his steadfast resolve.
There was laughter of men, the din resounded
words were winsome. Wealhtheow came forth,
Hrothgar's queen; mindful of courtesy,
the gold-adorned greeted the men in the hall.
First then the woman, high-born, handed the
cup to the East-Danes' country's guardian,
bade him be blithe at the beer-drinking,
dear to his people. He gladly partook of
the feast, and the hall-cup, battle-famed king.
Round then went the dame of the Helm-
620

ings1

on every side, among old and young,
costly cups proffered, till came occasion
that she, the high-minded, ring-adorned queen
the mead-cup bore unto Beowulf.

She greeted the lord of the Geats, thanked
God,

Yet with life I escaped from the grasp of that she in any warrior might trust

dangers,

aweary of toil. Then the sea bore me,
the flood with its current, the boiling fiords,
to the Finns' land.

"Now never of thee

have I heard tell such feats of daring,
such falchion-terrors. Ne'er yet Breca
at game of war, nor either of you,
so valiantly performed a deed

sagacious in words, that her wish had befallen,

for comfort 'gainst crimes. He took the cup, the warrior fierce, from Wealhtheow's hand, and then made speech, eager for battle,— Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow:

631

581

"I resolved, when I went on the main with my warrior-band and sat in the seaboat, that I would wholly accomplish the will of your people in this, or bow in death, fast in the foe's grasp. I shall perform deeds of valor, or look to find

with shining swords (thereof I boast not),
tho' thou of thy brothers wast murderer,
of thy chief kinsmen, wherefore in hell
shalt thou suffer damnation, keen tho' thy wit
be.

In sooth I say to thee, son of Eeglaf,
that never had Grendel, the fiendish wretch,
such horrors committed against thy prince,
such harm in Heorot, were thy spirit,
thy mind, as war-fierce as thou supposest.
But he has found that he need not greatly
care for the hatred of your people,

here in this mead-hall my last day."

The Geat's proud speech the woman liked

650 gave woven victory,* to the Weders' people comfort and succor, so that they all by the might of one, by his single powers, their foe overcame. Shown is it truly that mighty God ruleth the race of men.

a sleeping warrior, tore him unawares,

to any folk. There many a warrior
of Beowulf's drew his ancient sword;

bit his bone-casings, drank his veins' blood,

in great morsels swallowed him. Soon had he they would defend the life of their lord,

devoured all of the lifeless one,

feet and hands. He stepped up nearer,
took then with his hand the doughty-minded

warrior at rest; with his hand the foe
reached towards him. He instantly grappled
with the evil-minded, and on his arm rested.
Soon as the criminal realized

750

1

800

of the great prince, if so they might. They knew not, when they entered the strife, the bold and eager sons of battle, and thought to hew him on every side his life to seek, that not the choicest of irons on earth, no battle-falchion, could ever touch the wicked scather, since martial weapons he had forsworn, every edge whatever. Yet on that day of this life was his life-parting wretched to be, and the alien spirit to travel far into power of fiends. Then he who before in mirth of mood (he was God's foe) had perpetrated many crimes 'gainst the race of men, 759 found that his body would not avail him, for him the proud kinsman of Hygelac had in hand; each was to the other hateful alive. The fell wretch suffered bodily pain; a deadly wound

that in no other man of middle-earth,
of the world's regions, had he found
a stronger hand-grip, his mind grew fearful.
Yet not for that could he sooner escape.
He was bent on flight, would flee to his cavern,
the devil-pack seek; such case had never
in all his life-days befallen before.
Then Hygelac's good kinsman remembered
his evening speech; upright he stood,
and firmly grasped him; his fingers yielded.
The jotun was fleeing; the earl stept further.
The famed one considered whether he might
more widely wheel and thence away

flee to his fen-mound; he knew his fingers'
power

in the fierce one's grasp. 'Twas a dire journey
the baleful spoiler made to Heorot.
The princely hall thundered; terror was
on all the Danes, the city-dwellers,
each valiant one, while both the fierce
769
strong warriors raged; the mansion resounded.

Then was it wonder great that the wine-hall
withstood the war-beasts, nor fell to the ground,
the fair earthly dwelling; yet was it too fast,
within and without, with iron bands,
cunningly forged, though where the fierce ones
fought, I have heard, many a mead-bench,
with gold adorned, from its sill started.
Before that, weened not the Scyldings' sages
that any man ever, in any wise,
in pieces could break it, goodly and bone-
decked,

or craftily rive-only the flame's clutch
in smoke could devour it. Startling enough
the noise uprose. Over the North Danes
stood dire terror, on every one

of those who heard from the wall the whoop,
the dread lay sung by God's denier,

780

appeared on his shoulder, his sinews started,
his bone-casings burst. To Beowulf was
the war-glory given; Grendel must thence,
death-sick, under his fen-shelters flee,
seek a joyless dwelling; well he knew

810

820

There was the surge boiling with blood,
the dire swing of waves all commingled;
with clotted blood hot, with sword-gore it an honor-gift, to a feebler warrior,
welled;

of worldly desires, wherein I have power.
Full often for less have I dealt a reward,

the death-doomed dyed it, when he joyless
laid down his life in his fen-asylum,
his heathen soul. There hell received him.

952

weaker in conflict. Thou for thyself
hast wrought so well, that thy glory shall live

851 through every age. May the All-wielder

961

with good reward thee, as now He has done."
Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow's son:
"We with great good will, that arduous work,
that fight, have achieved; we boldly ventured
in war with the monster. The more do I wish
that thou himself mightest have seen,
the foe in his trappings, full weary enough.
Him I quickly, with hard and fast fetters,
on his death-bed thought to have bound,
that through my hand-grips low he should lie,
struggling for life, but his body escaped.
I was not able, the Lord did not will it,
to keep him from going; I held him not firm
enough,

the deadly foe: too strong on his feet
the enemy was. Yet his hand he left,
for his life's safety, to guard his track,
his arm and shoulder; yet not thereby
did the wretched creature comfort obtain;
nor will he, crime-doer, the longer live
with sins oppressed. For pain has him

970

in its deadly bonds; there shall he await,
the crime-stained wretch, the Final Doom,
as the Lord of Splendor shall mete it to him."

980

with a large troop stept forth, rich in glory,
for virtues famed; and his queen with him
the meadow-path measured with train of in its grip compelling straitly clasped,

maidens.

XV. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE

930

Hrothgar spake (he to the hall went, stood near the threshold, saw the steep roof shining with gold, and Grendel's hand): "Now for this sight, to the Almighty thanks! May it quickly be given! Much ill have I borne, Grendel's snares; ever can God work wonder on wonder, the King of Glory. Not long was it since, that I little weened for woes of mine through all my life, reparation to know, when, stained with blood, the best of houses all gory stood; woe was wide-spread for each of my counsellors, who did not ween that they evermore

Then less noisy was Ecglaf's son in vaunting speech of words of war, after the nobles, thro' might of the hero, over the high roof had gazed on the hand, the fingers of the foe, each for himself.* Each finger-nail was firm as steela heathen's hand-spurs and a warrior's,hideously monstrous. Every one said that no excellent iron of the bold ones would be able to touch the demon's hand, would ever sever the bloody limb.

XVI. FEASTING AND SONG

990

Then quickly 'twas ordered, that Heorot
within

by hand be adorned; many were they,
of men and women, who the wine-house,
the guest-hall, prepared; gold-shimmering shone
the webs on the walls, wondrous sights many
to each and all that gaze upon such.