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and as many others outward bore；
his horrible prey。 Well paid for that
the wrathful prince！ For now prone he saw
Grendel stretched there； spent with war；
spoiled of life； so scathed had left him
Heorot's battle。 The body sprang far
when after death it endured the blow；
sword…stroke savage； that severed its head。
Soon；＇1＇ then； saw the sage companions
who waited with Hrothgar； watching the flood；
that the tossing waters turbid grew；
blood…stained the mere。 Old men together；
hoary…haired； of the hero spake；
the warrior would not； they weened； again；
proud of conquest； come to seek
their mighty master。 To many it seemed
the wolf…of…the…waves had won his life。
The ninth hour came。 The noble Scyldings
left the headland； homeward went
the gold…friend of men。＇2＇ But the guests sat on；
stared at the surges； sick in heart；
and wished； yet weened not； their winsome lord
again to see。
Now that sword began；
from blood of the fight； in battle…droppings；＇3＇
war…blade； to wane： 'twas a wondrous thing
that all of it melted as ice is wont
when frosty fetters the Father loosens；
unwinds the wave…bonds； wielding all
seasons and times： the true God he！
Nor took from that dwelling the duke of the Geats
save only the head and that hilt withal
blazoned with jewels： the blade had melted；
burned was the bright sword； her blood was so hot；
so poisoned the hell…sprite who perished within there。
Soon he was swimming who safe saw in combat
downfall of demons； up…dove through the flood。
The clashing waters were cleansed now；
waste of waves； where the wandering fiend
her life…days left and this lapsing world。
Swam then to strand the sailors'…refuge；
sturdy…in…spirit； of sea…booty glad；
of burden brave he bore with him。
Went then to greet him； and God they thanked；
the thane…band choice of their chieftain blithe；
that safe and sound they could see him again。
Soon from the hardy one helmet and armor
deftly they doffed： now drowsed the mere；
water 'neath welkin； with war…blood stained。
Forth they fared by the footpaths thence；
merry at heart the highways measured；
well…known roads。 Courageous men
carried the head from the cliff by the sea；
an arduous task for all the band；
the firm in fight； since four were needed
on the shaft…of…slaughter＇4＇ strenuously
to bear to the gold…hall Grendel's head。
So presently to the palace there
foemen fearless； fourteen Geats；
marching came。 Their master…of…clan
mighty amid them the meadow…ways trod。
Strode then within the sovran thane
fearless in fight； of fame renowned；
hardy hero； Hrothgar to greet。
And next by the hair into hall was borne
Grendel's head； where the henchmen were drinking；
an awe to clan and queen alike；
a monster of marvel： the men looked on。
＇1＇ After the killing of the monster and Grendel's decapitation。
＇2＇ Hrothgar。 ＇3＇ The blade slowly dissolves in blood…stained
drops like icicles。 ＇4＇ Spear。
XXIV
BEOWULF spake； bairn of Ecgtheow：
〃Lo； now； this sea…booty； son of Healfdene；
Lord of Scyldings； we've lustily brought thee；
sign of glory； thou seest it here。
Not lightly did I with my life escape！
In war under water this work I essayed
with endless effort； and even so
my strength had been lost had the Lord not shielded me。
Not a whit could I with Hrunting do
in work of war； though the weapon is good；
yet a sword the Sovran of Men vouchsafed me
to spy on the wall there； in splendor hanging；
old； gigantic； how oft He guides
the friendless wight！ and I fought with that brand；
felling in fight； since fate was with me；
the house's wardens。 That war…sword then
all burned； bright blade； when the blood gushed o'er it；
battle…sweat hot； but the hilt I brought back
from my foes。 So avenged I their fiendish deeds
death…fall of Danes； as was due and right。
And this is my hest； that in Heorot now
safe thou canst sleep with thy soldier band；
and every thane of all thy folk
both old and young； no evil fear；
Scyldings' lord； from that side again；
aught ill for thy earls； as erst thou must！〃
Then the golden hilt； for that gray…haired leader；
hoary hero； in hand was laid；
giant…wrought； old。 So owned and enjoyed it
after downfall of devils； the Danish lord；
wonder…smiths' work； since the world was rid
of that grim…souled fiend； the foe of God；
murder…marked； and his mother as well。
Now it passed into power of the people's king；
best of all that the oceans bound
who have scattered their gold o'er Scandia's isle。
Hrothgar spake the hilt he viewed；
heirloom old； where was etched the rise
of that far…off fight when the floods o'erwhelmed；
raging waves； the race of giants
（fearful their fate！）； a folk estranged
from God Eternal： whence guerdon due
in that waste of waters the Wielder paid them。
So on the guard of shining gold
in runic staves it was rightly said
for whom the serpent…traced sword was wrought；
best of blades； in bygone days；
and the hilt well wound。 The wise…one spake；
son of Healfdene； silent were all：
〃Lo； so may he say who sooth and right
follows 'mid folk； of far times mindful；
a land…warden old；＇1＇ that this earl belongs
to the better breed！ So； borne aloft；
thy fame must fly； O friend my Beowulf；
far and wide o'er folksteads many。 Firmly thou
shalt all maintain；
mighty strength with mood of wisdom。 Love of
mine will I assure thee；
as； awhile ago； I promised； thou shalt prove a stay
in future；
in far…off years； to folk of thine；
to the heroes a help。 Was not Heremod thus
to offspring of Ecgwela； Honor…Scyldings；
nor grew for their grace； but for grisly slaughter；
for doom of death to the Danishmen。
He slew； wrath…swollen； his shoulder…comrades；
companions at board！ So he passed alone；
chieftain haughty； from human cheer。
Though him the Maker with might endowed；
delights of power； and uplifted high
above all men； yet blood…fierce his mind；
his breast…hoard； grew； no bracelets gave he
to Danes as was due； he endured all joyless
strain of struggle and stress of woe；
long feud with his folk。 Here find thy lesson！
Of virtue advise thee！ This verse I have said for thee；
wise from lapsed winters。 Wondrous seems
how to sons of men Almighty God
in the strength of His spirit sendeth wisdom；
estate； high station： He swayeth all things。
Whiles He letteth right lustily fare
the heart of the hero of high…born race；
in seat ancestral assigns him bliss；
his folk's sure fortress in fee to hold；
puts in his power great parts of the earth；
empire so ample； that end of it
this wanter…of…wisdom weeneth none。
So he waxes in wealth； nowise can harm him
illness or age； no evil cares
shadow his spirit； no sword…hate threatens
from ever an enemy： all the world
wends at his will； no worse he knoweth；
till all within him obstinate pride
waxes and wakes while the warden slumbers；
the spirit's sentry； sleep is too fast