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."

1 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

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! To 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. that the fiend stepped onto advanced angry of mood. most like a flame, shone from his eyes. He saw 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

Quickly after the fair floor, An evil light,

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 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.

Thence again from the mere on their joyful way went old companions and many a young man, high spirited, riding on mounts, warriors on white horses. There was Beowulf's fame talked of; often many a one said that north and south from sea to sea over the spacious earth none other under heaven's expanse, none among shield-bearers, was a better man, worthier of rule. Nor, indeed, did they blame at all their good lord, gracious Hrothgar, for he was a good king! At times the famed in battle let their horses gallop, their fallow steeds, known for their excellence, run a race where the roads At times a seemed good to them. thane of the king's, a proud man with a memory stored with songs, who bore in mind many an old tradition-one word found another fittingly bound1—this warrior in his turn began dexterously to relate Beowulf's adventure and artfully to recite a skilful story, to shape his words. He told everything that he had heard of Sigemund's deeds of valor, many an unfamiliar thing, of Waelsing's fight, his long journeys of which the sons of men knew not at all, his feud and crimes, except Fitula, who was with him when he would say anything of such matters, uncle to nephew; for they were ever comrades in need at every battle.

"They had laid low with swords full many of the race of giants. To Sigemund there sprang up after his death-day no little renown since, fierce in fight, he killed the dragon, guardian of the hoard. Under the hoary rock the atheling's son performed the daring deed alone, nor

was Fitula with him. However, it chanced that the sword went through the wondrous serpent so that it stuck in the wall, a noble iron. The dragon died in that slaying. The terrible warrior had brought it about by his valor that he might enjoy the ring-hoard at his own will. The son of Waels loaded a ship, bore in the bosom of the boat the bright treasures. The dragon was consumed in its own fire.

He was far and wide most famous of heroes

1 ie., by alliteration

i.e., Sigemund's

throughout nations, protector of warriors by deeds of daring-therefore he prospered in days now past-after Heremod's valor, his strength and courage, grew less. Among the Jutes he was betrayed into the power of the enemy, was quickly put to death. Overwhelming sorrows oppressed him too long; he became to his people, to all the athelings, a great care. So, too, in former times, many a prudent man lamented the bold one's course, who trusted to him for boot of his wrongs, believed that a prince's son should prosper, should inherit the excellence of his father, guard the people, the treasure, and their sheltering city, the realm of heroes, the home of the Scyldings. Hygelac's kinsman was in this respect more pleasing to his friends, to all the race of men. Evil possessed the other."

At times in races they measured the Then yellow roads with their horses. was the morning light driven on and quickened. Many a resolute warrior went to the high hall to see the strange wonder. So, too, the King himself, famed for virtues, keeper of the treasure-hoard, walked in princely wise with a great company from his wife's bower; and beside him his queen with a train of women paced the path to the mead-hall.

XIV

HROTHGAR'S SPEECH AND BEOWULF'S
REPLY

Hrothgar spoke-he had gone to the hall, stood on the steps, looked at the high gilded roof, and at Grendel's hand: "For this sight may thanks be speedily given to the Almighty! Many a hateful thing I have endured in my life, afflictions at the hands of Grendel. God may ever work miracle after miracle, the Lord of Glory. Not long ago I thought never to expect help in any woes, when the fairest of houses stood gory, stained with blood-a widespread woe to each of the counselors, who did not think that they could ever protect the people's stronghold from the hateful ones, from demons and evil spirits. Now has a

* Beowulf

warrior through the might of the Lord performed the deed which we all through. our skill were not able to do. Lo, whoever among women brought forth such a son among the races of men, if she still lives, truly may she say that God has been gracious to her in her child-bearing. Now, Beowulf, best of warriors, I will love thee as a son in my heart. Keep thou well henceforth this new kinship. Nor shalt thou lack anything good in the world that I have in my power. Full oft I have bestowed reward for less, gift of honor to a lowlier man, to one weaker in combat. Thou hast alone done deeds for which thy fame will live for ever and ever. May the Almighty requite thee well as he has just done."

Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son: "Full gladly did we perform that work of valor, fought the fight, daringly braved the might of the unknown foe. Rather would I that thou mightest have seen him, the fiend himself, killed in his native trappings! With hard clutch I thought to bind him quickly to his death-bed, that by my handgrip he should lie in the throes of death, unless his body escape. I might not prevent him from going-the Lord did not will it. I did not hold him fast enough, the deadly foe; the enemy was too powerful in flight. But now, to save his life he left his hand behind, both arm and shoulder. Yet no help did the wretched wight get thereby. No longer does the loathly spoiler live, weighed down with sins, but pain hath clutched him close in a relentless grip with baleful bonds. There, outlawed for his wickedness, he shall abide the great judgment, how the resplendent Creator will impose doom upon him."

Then the man, the son of Ecglaf, was more quiet in his boast of battle work, since the athelings saw over the high roof as a result of the earl's prowess, the hand, the fingers of the fiend. In

front, each of the hard nails was likest to steel, the hand-spurs of the heathen, the enemy's terrible claw. Every one said that none among weapons, no timehonored sword, would touch him, would cut off the blood-stained battle-hand of the monster.

XV

THE ENTERTAINMENT AND GIFTS IN

HEOROT

Then was Heorot quickly ordered to be decorated with hands within. There were many of them, men and women, who made ready the wine-hall, the guest-place. Gold-embroidered hangings shone along the walls, many wondrous sights for all of the warriors who look upon such things. The bright building was badly shattered, though all braced with iron. bands, and the hinges were wrenched apart. The roof alone survived wholly sound when the monster, an outcast for his crimes, turned in flight, despairing of life. Death is not easy for any man to escape-try who will-but he shall seek the place forced upon him by necessity, made ready for bearers of souls-earth dwellers, the children of men where his body fast in its resting place shall sleep ever after.

Then was it the time and tide that Healfdene's son went to the hall; the king himself would partake of the banquet. Never heard I people in greater company fare better in their treasure giver. The famed warriors reclined upon the benches, rejoiced in the feast, roundly drained many a mead-cup. The kinsmen strong of heart, Hrothgar and Hrothulf,' were in the high hall. Heorot within was filled with friends. As yet the Scylding folk had wrought no treachery. Then the son of Healfdene gave to Beowulf a golden banner, the reward of victory, a 1 Hrothgar's nephew.