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and sea…snakes and monsters。 These started away；
swollen and savage that song to hear；
that war…horn's blast。 The warden of Geats；
with bolt from bow； then balked of life；
of wave…work； one monster； amid its heart
went the keen war…shaft； in water it seemed
less doughty in swimming whom death had seized。
Swift on the billows； with boar…spears well
hooked and barbed； it was hard beset；
done to death and dragged on the headland；
wave…roamer wondrous。 Warriors viewed
the grisly guest。
Then girt him Beowulf
in martial mail； nor mourned for his life。
His breastplate broad and bright of hues；
woven by hand； should the waters try；
well could it ward the warrior's body
that battle should break on his breast in vain
nor harm his heart by the hand of a foe。
And the helmet white that his head protected
was destined to dare the deeps of the flood；
through wave…whirl win： 'twas wound with chains；
decked with gold； as in days of yore
the weapon…smith worked it wondrously；
with swine…forms set it； that swords nowise；
brandished in battle； could bite that helm。
Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps
which Hrothgar's orator offered at need：
〃Hrunting〃 they named the hilted sword；
of old…time heirlooms easily first；
iron was its edge； all etched with poison；
with battle…blood hardened； nor blenched it at fight
in hero's hand who held it ever；
on paths of peril prepared to go
to folkstead＇2＇ of foes。 Not first time this
it was destined to do a daring task。
For he bore not in mind； the bairn of Ecglaf
sturdy and strong； that speech he had made；
drunk with wine； now this weapon he lent
to a stouter swordsman。 Himself； though； durst not
under welter of waters wager his life
as loyal liegeman。 So lost he his glory；
honor of earls。 With the other not so；
who girded him now for the grim encounter。
＇1＇ Hrothgar is probably meant。 ＇2＇ Meeting place。
XXI
BEOWULF spake； bairn of Ecgtheow：
〃Have mind； thou honored offspring of Healfdene
gold…friend of men； now I go on this quest；
sovran wise； what once was said：
if in thy cause it came that I
should lose my life； thou wouldst loyal bide
to me； though fallen； in father's place！
Be guardian； thou； to this group of my thanes；
my warrior…friends； if War should seize me；
and the goodly gifts thou gavest me；
Hrothgar beloved； to Hygelac send！
Geatland's king may ken by the gold；
Hrethel's son see； when he stares at the treasure；
that I got me a friend for goodness famed；
and joyed while I could in my jewel…bestower。
And let Unferth wield this wondrous sword；
earl far…honored； this heirloom precious；
hard of edge： with Hrunting I
seek doom of glory； or Death shall take me。〃
After these words the Weder…Geat lord
boldly hastened； biding never
answer at all： the ocean floods
closed o'er the hero。 Long while of the day
fled ere he felt the floor of the sea。
Soon found the fiend who the flood…domain
sword…hungry held these hundred winters；
greedy and grim； that some guest from above；
some man； was raiding her monster…realm。
She grasped out for him with grisly claws；
and the warrior seized； yet scathed she not
his body hale； the breastplate hindered；
as she strove to shatter the sark of war；
the linked harness； with loathsome hand。
Then bore this brine…wolf； when bottom she touched；
the lord of rings to the lair she haunted
whiles vainly he strove； though his valor held；
weapon to wield against wondrous monsters
that sore beset him； sea…beasts many
tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail；
and swarmed on the stranger。 But soon he marked
he was now in some hall； he knew not which；
where water never could work him harm；
nor through the roof could reach him ever
fangs of the flood。 Firelight he saw；
beams of a blaze that brightly shone。
Then the warrior was ware of that wolf…of…the…deep；
mere…wife monstrous。 For mighty stroke
he swung his blade； and the blow withheld not。
Then sang on her head that seemly blade
its war…song wild。 But the warrior found
the light…of…battle＇1＇ was loath to bite；
to harm the heart： its hard edge failed
the noble at need； yet had known of old
strife hand to hand； and had helmets cloven；
doomed men's fighting…gear。 First time； this；
for the gleaming blade that its glory fell。
Firm still stood； nor failed in valor；
heedful of high deeds； Hygelac's kinsman；
flung away fretted sword； featly jewelled；
the angry earl； on earth it lay
steel…edged and stiff。 His strength he trusted；
hand…gripe of might。 So man shall do
whenever in war he weens to earn him
lasting fame； nor fears for his life！
Seized then by shoulder； shrank not from combat；
the Geatish war…prince Grendel's mother。
Flung then the fierce one； filled with wrath；
his deadly foe； that she fell to ground。
Swift on her part she paid him back
with grisly grasp； and grappled with him。
Spent with struggle； stumbled the warrior；
fiercest of fighting…men； fell adown。
On the hall…guest she hurled herself； hent her short sword；
broad and brown…edged；＇2＇ the bairn to avenge；
the sole…born son。 On his shoulder lay
braided breast…mail； barring death；
withstanding entrance of edge or blade。
Life would have ended for Ecgtheow's son；
under wide earth for that earl of Geats；
had his armor of war not aided him；
battle…net hard； and holy God
wielded the victory； wisest Maker。
The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause；
and easily rose the earl erect。
＇1＇ Kenning for 〃sword。〃 Hrunting is bewitched； laid under a
spell of uselessness； along with all other swords。 ＇2＇ This brown
of swords； evidently meaning burnished； bright； continues to be a
favorite adjective in the popular ballads。
XXIII
'MID the battle…gear saw he a blade triumphant；
old…sword of Eotens； with edge of proof；
warriors' heirloom； weapon unmatched；
save only 'twas more than other men
to bandy…of…battle could bear at all
as the giants had wrought it； ready and keen。
Seized then its chain…hilt the Scyldings' chieftain；
bold and battle…grim； brandished the sword；
reckless of life； and so wrathfully smote
that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard；
her bone…rings breaking： the blade pierced through
that fated…one's flesh： to floor she sank。
Bloody the blade： he was blithe of his deed。
Then blazed forth light。 'Twas bright within
as when from the sky there shines unclouded
heaven's candle。 The hall he scanned。
By the wall then went he； his weapon raised
high by its hilts the Hygelac…thane；
angry and eager。 That edge was not useless
to the warrior now。 He wished with speed
Grendel to guerdon for grim raids many；
for the war he waged on Western…Danes
oftener far than an only time；
when of Hrothgar's hearth…companions
he slew in slumber； in sleep devoured；
fifteen men of the folk of Danes；
and as many others outward bore；
his horrible prey。 Well paid for that
the wrathful p