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brave and wise； the best of men；
O sovran Hrothgar； to seek thee here；
for my nerve and my might they knew full well。
Themselves had seen me from slaughter come
blood…flecked from foes； where five I bound；
and that wild brood worsted。 I' the waves I slew
nicors＇1＇ by night； in need and peril
avenging the Weders；＇2＇ whose woe they sought；
crushing the grim ones。 Grendel now；
monster cruel； be mine to quell
in single battle！ So； from thee；
thou sovran of the Shining…Danes；
Scyldings'…bulwark； a boon I seek；
and； Friend…of…the…folk； refuse it not；
O Warriors'…shield； now I've wandered far；
that I alone with my liegemen here；
this hardy band； may Heorot purge！
More I hear； that the monster dire；
in his wanton mood； of weapons recks not；
hence shall I scorn so Hygelac stay；
king of my kindred； kind to me！
brand or buckler to bear in the fight；
gold…colored targe： but with gripe alone
must I front the fiend and fight for life；
foe against foe。 Then faith be his
in the doom of the Lord whom death shall take。
Fain； I ween； if the fight he win；
in this hall of gold my Geatish band
will he fearless eat； as oft before；
my noblest thanes。 Nor need'st thou then
to hide my head；＇3＇ for his shall I be；
dyed in gore； if death must take me；
and my blood…covered body he'll bear as prey；
ruthless devour it； the roamer…lonely；
with my life…blood redden his lair in the fen：
no further for me need'st food prepare！
To Hygelac send； if Hild＇4＇ should take me；
best of war…weeds； warding my breast；
armor excellent； heirloom of Hrethel
and work of Wayland。＇5＇ Fares Wyrd＇6＇ as she must。〃
＇1＇ The nicor； says Bugge； is a hippopotamus； a walrus； says ten
Brink。 But that water…goblin who covers the space from Old Nick
of jest to the Neckan and Nix of poetry and tale； is all one
needs； and Nicor is a good name for him。 ＇2＇ His own people； the
Geats。 ＇3＇ That is； cover it as with a face…cloth。 〃There will be
no need of funeral rites。〃 ＇4＇ Personification of Battle。 ＇5＇ The
Germanic Vulcan。 ＇6＇ This mighty power； whom the Christian poet
can still revere； has here the general force of 〃Destiny。〃
VII
HROTHGAR spake； the Scyldings'…helmet：
〃For fight defensive； Friend my Beowulf；
to succor and save； thou hast sought us here。
Thy father's combat＇1＇ a feud enkindled
when Heatholaf with hand he slew
among the Wylfings； his Weder kin
for horror of fighting feared to hold him。
Fleeing； he sought our South…Dane folk；
over surge of ocean the Honor…Scyldings；
when first I was ruling the folk of Danes；
wielded； youthful； this widespread realm；
this hoard…hold of heroes。 Heorogar was dead；
my elder brother； had breathed his last；
Healfdene's bairn： he was better than I！
Straightway the feud with fee＇2＇ I settled；
to the Wylfings sent； o'er watery ridges；
treasures olden： oaths he＇3＇ swore me。
Sore is my soul to say to any
of the race of man what ruth for me
in Heorot Grendel with hate hath wrought；
what sudden harryings。 Hall…folk fail me；
my warriors wane； for Wyrd hath swept them
into Grendel's grasp。 But God is able
this deadly foe from his deeds to turn！
Boasted full oft； as my beer they drank；
earls o'er the ale…cup； armed men；
that they would bide in the beer…hall here；
Grendel's attack with terror of blades。
Then was this mead…house at morning tide
dyed with gore； when the daylight broke；
all the boards of the benches blood…besprinkled；
gory the hall： I had heroes the less；
doughty dear…ones that death had reft。
But sit to the banquet； unbind thy words；
hardy hero； as heart shall prompt thee。〃
Gathered together； the Geatish men
in the banquet…hall on bench assigned；
sturdy…spirited； sat them down；
hardy…hearted。 A henchman attended；
carried the carven cup in hand；
served the clear mead。 Oft minstrels sang
blithe in Heorot。 Heroes revelled；
no dearth of warriors； Weder and Dane。
＇1＇ There is no irrelevance here。 Hrothgar sees in Beowulf's
mission a heritage of duty； a return of the good offices which
the Danish king rendered to Beowulf's father in time of dire
need。 ＇2＇ Money； for wergild； or man…price。 ＇3＇ Ecgtheow；
Beowulf's sire。
VIII
UNFERTH spake； the son of Ecglaf；
who sat at the feet of the Scyldings' lord；
unbound the battle…runes。＇1＇ Beowulf's quest；
sturdy seafarer's； sorely galled him；
ever he envied that other men
should more achieve in middle…earth
of fame under heaven than he himself。
〃Art thou that Beowulf； Breca's rival；
who emulous swam on the open sea；
when for pride the pair of you proved the floods；
and wantonly dared in waters deep
to risk your lives？ No living man；
or lief or loath； from your labor dire
could you dissuade； from swimming the main。
Ocean…tides with your arms ye covered；
with strenuous hands the sea…streets measured；
swam o'er the waters。 Winter's storm
rolled the rough waves。 In realm of sea
a sennight strove ye。 In swimming he topped thee；
had more of main！ Him at morning…tide
billows bore to the Battling Reamas；
whence he hied to his home so dear
beloved of his liegemen； to land of Brondings；
fastness fair； where his folk he ruled；
town and treasure。 In triumph o'er thee
Beanstan's bairn＇2＇ his boast achieved。
So ween I for thee a worse adventure
though in buffet of battle thou brave hast been；
in struggle grim； if Grendel's approach
thou darst await through the watch of night！〃
Beowulf spake； bairn of Ecgtheow：
〃What a deal hast uttered； dear my Unferth；
drunken with beer； of Breca now；
told of his triumph！ Truth I claim it；
that I had more of might in the sea
than any man else； more ocean…endurance。
We twain had talked； in time of youth；
and made our boast； we were merely boys；
striplings still； to stake our lives
far at sea： and so we performed it。
Naked swords； as we swam along；
we held in hand； with hope to guard us
against the whales。 Not a whit from me
could he float afar o'er the flood of waves；
haste o'er the billows； nor him I abandoned。
Together we twain on the tides abode
five nights full till the flood divided us；
churning waves and chillest weather；
darkling night； and the northern wind
ruthless rushed on us： rough was the surge。
Now the wrath of the sea…fish rose apace；
yet me 'gainst the monsters my mailed coat；
hard and hand…linked； help afforded；
battle…sark braided my breast to ward；
garnished with gold。 There grasped me firm
and haled me to bottom the hated foe；
with grimmest gripe。 'Twas granted me； though；
to pierce the monster with point of sword；
with blade of battle： huge beast of the sea
was whelmed by the hurly through hand of mine。
＇1＇ 〃Began the fight。〃 ＇2＇ Breca。
IX
ME thus often the evil monsters
thronging threatened。 With thrust of my sword；
the darling； I dealt them due return！
Nowise had they bliss from their booty then
to devour t