APPENDIX READING: from BeowulfExcerpts from: Beowelf. Trans bated by Seamus Heamey . Londen: Fober amd Faber, 199%. from SecHon Ome , evemls related to Hee Birst fight KR wu a> w ‘The fortunes of war favoured Hrothgar. P64 Friends and kinsmen flocked to his ranks, Young followers, a force that grew toa mighty army. So his mind turned to hall-building: be handed down orders for men to work on a great mead-hall meant to be a wonder ofthe world for ever {& would be his throne-room and there he would dispense his God-given goods to young and old — but not the common land or people's lives. ar and wide through the world, Fhave heard, orders for work to adorn that wallstead ‘were seat to many peoples. And soon it stood there, finished and veady, in full view, the hall of halls, Heorot was the name lhe had setled on it, whose utterance wat law. Nor did he renege, but doled out rings and torques atthe table, The ball towered, its gables wide and high and awaiting a barbarous burning. That doom abided, but in time it would come: the ill instinct unleashed among in-laws, the blood-lust rampant. ‘Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark, sureed a hard grievance. It harrowed hima to hear the din of the lond banquet very day in the hall, the harp being struck and the clear song of asilled poet telling with mastery of man’s beginnings, how the Almighty had made tho earth a gleaming plain girdled wth waters; in His splendour He set the sun and the moon to be ea:th’s lamplight, lanterns for men, snd filled the broad lap of the world ‘with branches and leaves; and quickened life in every other thing that moved. €. 92 (64-981 No bimes imkoded on Heir page, from 2.64 te £. 492. King Meothase bade Heowot Hall Heorotis restend.Grendel a onstee So times were pleasasit for the people there dscended fom ‘camecks', gis pod a4 until finally one, a fiend out of hel, ‘began to work his evil inthe world. Grendel was the name ofthis grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dweit fora time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’ dan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel the Eternal Lord had exacted a price: Cain got uo good from committing that murder because the Almighty made him anathema and out ofthe curse of his exile there sprang ‘ogres and clves and evil phantoms and the giants too who strove with God ‘time and again until He gave them their reward. So, after nightfall, Grendel set out for the lofty house, to see how the Ring-Danes were settling into it after their drink, and there be came upon thera, a company of asleep from their feasting, insensible to pain and human sorrow. Suddenly then the God-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his las, lushéd up and inflamed from the raid; blundering back with the butchered corpses. ‘Then as dawn brightened and the day broke Grende?’s powers of destruction were plain: thei wassail was over, they wept to heaven and mourned under morning, Their mighty prince, the storied leader, sat stricken and helpless, humiliated by the loss of his guard, R. 3d [99-431] at the demon’s tal, in deep distess. He was mumb with grief, but got no respite for one night later merciless Grendel struck again with more gruesome murders. Malignant by nature, he never showed remorse. Tbwas easy then to meet with a man shifting himself to a safer distance to bed in the bothis, for who could be blind to the evidence of his eyes the obviousness of that hall-watcher's hate? Whoever escaped Kept a weather-eye open and moved away. So Grendel ruled in defiance of right, one against all, until the greatest house in the world stood empty, 2 deserted wallstead. Tor twelve winters, seasons of woe, the lord of the Shieldings suffered under his load of sorrows and s0, before long, ‘the news was known over the whole world. Sad lays were sung about the beset king, the vicious raids and ravages of Grendel, his long and unrelenting feud, nothing but war; how he would never patley or make peace with any Dane ‘nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death-price. No counsellor could ever expect ‘ir reparation from those rabid hands. All were endangered: young and old were hunted down by that dark death shadow ‘who lurked and swooped in the long nights ‘onthe misty moors; nobody knows ‘where these reavers from hell roam on their errands, So Grendel waged his lonely war, inflicting constant cruelties on the people, £. 16S ‘[ag2-a65]‘The Dass, Bat pressed, cu for bap tabetha wie Aribecourat King Hass Gatvanior pieparsto help Hester ~ high Dont and powerful He ordered 2 boat #198 auocious hurt. He took over Heorot, —&. 166 haunted the glittering hall ater dark, but the throne ‘itself, the treasure-scat, he was kept fron approachings he was the Lord's outcast. ‘Thesé sere hatid tithes, heart-breaking {or the prtice of the Shieldings; powerful counsellors, ‘te highest in the and, would lend advice, plotting bow best she bold defenders ‘might resist and beat off sudden attacks Sometimes at pagan shrines they vowed offerings to idols, swore oaths that the Kile of souls might come to their aid and save the people. That was their way, their heathenish hopes deep in their hearts they remembered hell. ‘The Almighty Judge ‘of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World, was unknown to them. Oh, cursed is he ‘who in time of trouble has to thrast his soul in the fire's embrace, forfeiting help: hhe has nowhere to turn. But blesed is he ‘ho after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the Father's embrace. So that troubled time continued, woe that never stopped, steady affliction for Halfdane’s son;goo hard an ordeal. ‘There was panic after dark, people endured raids in the night, riven by the terror. ‘When he heard about Grendel, Hygelae’s thane ‘was on home ground, over in Geatlannd. ‘Thiere was no one ese like him alive. In his-day, he was the mightiest man on earth, that would ply the waves. He announced his plan: 4. 199 ‘ual the swan's road and search out that king, ‘the famous prince who needed defenders. ‘Nobody tried to keep him from going, no elder denied him, dear ashe was to them Instead, they inspected omens and spurred his ambition to go, whilst he moved about lke the leader he was, enlisting men, the best he could find; with fourteen others the warzir boarded the host as captain, acanny pilot along coast and currents. P, 204\ by Hrothgan Wjptand axtayed with gold, rte Then twas ie ol ein the echoing bal 64a Keowtis proud tall'and the people happy, ee louid aiid excited; spate enough ialfdacie’ heir had to be away to his night’s rest. He realized thatthe demon was going to descend on the hall, thathe had plotted all day, rom dawn-light ‘ull darkness gathered again over the world and sealthy night shapes came stealing forth ‘under the cloud-raurk. The company stood as the two leaders took lave ofeach other: “Hrothgar wished Beowulf health and good luck, named him hall-warden and announced as follows: ‘Never, since my hand could hold a shield have T entrusted or given contxol cof the Danes’ hall to anyone but you. ‘Ward and guard it for its the greatest of houses. $e on your mettle now, keep in mind your fame, beware of the enemy. There's nothing you wish for that won't be yours ifyou win through alive’ Hlrothgar departed then with his house-guard ‘Tae lord of the Shisldings, their shelter in war, left-the mead-hall to lie with Wealhtheow, his queen and bedmate. The King of Glory (@s people learned) had posted a lookout ‘who was a match for Grendel, @ guard against monsters, special protection to the Danish prince. [And the Geat placed complete trast in is strength of limb and the Lord's favour. He begaa to remove his iron breast-mal, ‘00k off the helmet and handed his attendant the patterned sword, « smith’s masterpiece, ordering hith to keep the equipment guarded, ‘Aad before he bedded down, Beowulf ‘hat prince of goodness, proudly asserted: ‘when it comes to fighting, T count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel So it won't be a cutting edge I'l wield 10 mow him down, easily as I might. He has no idea ofthe arts of war, of shield or sword-pla, although he does possess a wild strength. No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he shall face me sf face me he dares. And may the Divine Lord in His wisdom grant the glory of victory to whichever side He sees St! “Then down the brave man lay with his bolster under his head and his whole company of sa-rovers at rest beside him. : None of them expected he would ever see his homeland again or get back to his native place and the people who reared him. ‘They knew too well the way it was before, hhow often the Danes had fallen prey to death in the mead-hall. But the Lord was weaving a victory on his war-loom for the Weather-Geats. "Whrough the strength of one they all prevail ‘hey woilld crush their enemy and come through in triumph and gladness. The truth is clear: ‘Almighty God ules over mankind i ‘Then out of the night #70 3 came the shadow-stalker, stealthy and swifts 4 the hall-guards were slack, asleep at their posts, FA0S all except one; it was widely understood F206 that as long 2s God disallowed it, S207 the fiend could not bear them to his shadow-bourne. F One man, however, was in fighting mood, [675-708] 4. 675 Beowal ecounete The Gets wet Grendel atk Fragment that witbe amatysed im choss nase Sete aenasalunas re ee ae sis tier cer dsrYT awake and on edge, spoiling for action. hand and foot. Venturing closer, 4S his talon was raised to attack Beowulf where he lay on the bed, he was bearing in eT ith open claw when the elert hero's 88 comeback and armlock forestalled him utterly. 4 The captain of evil discovered himself Beowalight wit PS in a handgrip harder than anything Gaia Gren sts" cif the modi, dowm through the mist-bands FH Cod-cursed Grendel came greedily loping. ‘FIZ The bane of the race of men roamed forth, 413 hunting for a-prey in the high hall. * HY Under the cloud-murk he moved towards it ‘TIS. atid it shone above him, a sheer keep y UG of fortiied gold. Nor was that the fist time FIZ he had scouted the grounds of Hrothgar’s dwelling — FIP although never in hs lif, before or since, FAY did he find harder fortmne or hall-defenders. }2o Spurned and joyless, he journeyed on ahead YI aid arrived at the Bawn. The iron-braced door i 322 turned on its hinge when his hands touched it. FQ Then his rage boiled over, he ripped open 3Wj_ the mouth of the building, maddening for blood, WIS. pacing the length of the patterned floor i 326 With his loathsome tread, while baleful light 323 flame more than light, flared from his eyes x 32Y He saw many men in the mansion, sleeping, 327 aranked company of kinsmen and warriors ¥Jo quartered together, And his glee was demonic, $3y picturing the mayhem: before morning 2 }32_ he would rip life from limb and devour them, Ei BBY feed on their flesh; but his fate thet night Fi AG was due to change, his days of ravening Fi 3 2g bad come to an end. b AGatwanine ighty and canny, Petia," FBC Wipyilacélcnsman wacky meng 332 for the frst move the monster would make 2 EBV Nor did the creature keep him waiting i FY but struck suddenly and started in; [40 he grabbed and mauiled a man on his bench, E41 bit into his bone-lappings, bolted dowm his blood E42 and gorged on his in lumps leaving the body on the face ofthe earth. Every bone in his body $53 quailed and recoiled, but he could not escape._ © He was desperate to flee to his den and hide with the devils litter, for in all his days he had never been clamped or comered like this. ‘Then Hygelac’s trusty retainer recalled | his bedtime speech, sprang to his feet and got a firm hold. Fingers were bursting, the monster back-tracking, the man overpowering, | The dread of the land was desperate to escape, | to take a roundabout road and flee to his lair in the fens. The latching power ‘in his fingers weakened it was the worst tip the terror-monger had taken to Heorot. ‘And now the timbers trembled and sang, a hall-session that harrowed every Dane inside the stockade: stumbling in fury, the two contenders crashed through the building. ‘The hall clatered and hammered, but soraehow survived the onslaught and kept standing: it was handsomely structured, a sturdy frame ‘raced with the best of blacksmith’s work inside and out. The story goes | that as the pai struggled, mead-benches were smashed and sprung off the floor, gold fittings and all. Before then, no Shielding elder would believe | there was any power or person upon each =. FBZ 4 [709-12] [743-78] 5ee ——— rool thaner dsfnd bi, Guede dfet, ely Beowulf Bisbou ‘capable of wrecking their horn-rigged hall 0.334 uunleis the buming embrace of a fire ‘engulf ilaine:"Then an extraordinary ‘wall arose)aid bewildering fear ‘citine! over the Danes. Everyone felt it who head that czy as it echoed off the wall, 4 God cursed scitsen and strain of catastrophe, the how of the loser, the lament of the hell-serf Xeening his wound. He was overwhelmed, ‘manacled tight by the man who of all men ‘was foremost and strongest in the days of tis life. Fut the earl-troop’s leader was not inclined to allow his caller to depart alive: be did not consider that life of much account to anyone anywhere. Time and again, Beowull’s warriors worked to defend thcir lord's life, laying about them a5 best they could with their ancestral blades, Stalwart ia action, they kept striking out ‘on every side, secking to cut straight to the soul: When they joined the struggle there was something they could not have known at the time, that no blade on earth, no blacksmnith’s art ‘ould ever damage their demon opponent. Hie had conjured the harm from the cutting edge of every weapon. But his going avay ‘out of this world and the days of his life ‘would be agony to him, and his alien spirit ‘woild travel far into fiends’ keeping. “Then he whohad harrowed the hearts of msen. ‘with pain and affliction in former times and had given offence also to God found that his bodily powers failed him. Hiygelac’s kinismian kept hirn helplessly #. 82 6 [7-812] locked in a handgrip. Aslong as either lived, £. 23 te was batfu othe other, The monster's whole boy wes in pln, a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder. Sinews split and the bone lappings burst. Beowulf was granted ‘the glory of winning; Grendel was driven under the fen-banks, fatally burt, to is desolate lai, His Gays were numbered, the end of his life was coming over him, he knew it for certains and one bloody clash had filled the dearest wishes of the Danes. ‘The man who hed lately landed armong them, prowd and sure, had purge the ball, ‘Kept it from harm; he was happy with his nightwork ‘and the courage he had shawn. The Geat captain had boldly fulfilled his boast to the Danes: Te bad healed and relieved a huge disses ‘unremitting humiliations, ‘the hard fate they'd been forced to undergo, to small ition, les proof of tis Could be seen in the hand the hero displayed high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's Shoulder and arm, his awesome asp. {3S eee => {asa} aees SHU im Section One, bot events hene are rated fo the Second adversary, amd He second gigt. f. tase for his night’s ease, as had happened to them often, sever cince Grendel occupied the gold-hall, ‘commiting evil until the end came, death afer his crimes. Them it became clear, obvious to everyone once the fight was over, ‘that an avenger lurked and was still alive, srimly biding time. Grendel’s mother, monstrous hell-bride, brooded on her wrongs. She had been forced down into featful waters, the cold depths, after Cain had killed his father’s son, felled his own brother with a sword. Branded an outlaw, marked by having murdered, he moved into the wilds, shunned:company and jay. And from Cain there sprang mishegotten spirits, among them Grendel, the banished and accursed, duc to come to grips ‘with thar watcher in Heorot waiting to do battle. ‘The manster wrenched and wrestled with him ‘but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strenigth, ‘the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: he reed for help on the Lord of all, on His care and favour, So he overcame the foe, brought down the hell-brute, Broken and bowed, outcast from all sweetness, the enemy of mankind _ made for his desth-den. But wow his mother P12? Ancthertzeat They went to sleep. And one paid dearly iasking inthe sit FOE fet [2243-77] had sallied forth on a savage journey, 2.123% srieFracked and ravenous, desperate for revenge. She came to-Heorat. There inside the ball, Govndete ether anes lay aslep, eas who would soon endure wae a great reversal, once Grendel’s mother attacked and entered. Her onslaught was less only by as much as an amazon warriors strength is less than an armed man’s ‘when the hefted sword, its hamanered elge and gleaming blade slathered in blood, razes the sturdy boar-ridge off a helmet. Then in the hall, hard-honed swords were grabbed from the bench, many a broad shield ited and braced; there a ite thought of helmets or woven mail when they woke in terror. “The hell-dam was in panic, desperate to get ut, in mortal terror the moment she was found. She had pounced and taken one of the retainers in a tight hold, then headed for the fen. ‘To Hirothgar, this man was the most beloved of the fiends he trusted between the two seas. She had done away with a great warrior, ambushed him at est. Beowulf was elsewhere. : Karlie, after the award of the treasure, the Geat had been given another lodging. ‘There was uproar in Heorot. She had snatched their trophy, Grendel's bloodied arm. It was a fresh blow to the afliced bawn. The bargain was hard, both parties having to pay swith the lives of fiends, And the old Tord, the grey-haired warrior, was heartsore and weary shen he heard the nevs: his highest placed adviser, his dearest companion, was dead and gone. 2. 1310 [ia78-s401 eBBeowaits summoned, Hevthgr ents the deuh ofkis, Beoinuf vas quickly bought tothe chamber: @, 1311 ‘the Witiner of fights, the arch-warrior, me fist-fting in with his fellow troops to where the king in his Wisdom waited, sill wondering whether Almighty God ‘would ever turn the tide of his misfortunes. So BeoVhulf entefed with his band in attendance and the wooden oot-boards banged and rang a he advanced, hnmying to address the printe of the Ingwins, asking if he’d rested, since the agent ummons had come as suprise. ‘Then Hirothgar, the Shieldings’ helmet, spoke: “Rest? What is rét? Sorrow has returned. Alas for the Danes! Aeschere is dead. He was Yrmenlaf's elder brother and a soul-mate to me, a trae mentor, ‘my right-hand man when the ranks clashed and our boar-crests ad to take a battering in the line of action. Aebchere was everything the world admires in‘ wise man anda friend. ‘Then this roaming killer came in fury ‘and dlaughtered him in Heorot. Where she is hiding, _lutting on the corpse and glorying in her escape, T cannot tel she has taken up the fend because of ast night, when you killed Grendel, ‘wrestled and racked him in ruinous combat since for too long he had terrorized us with his depredations. He died in battle, tid with his lifes and now this powerful other one arrives, this force for evil riven to aveage her kinsman’s death. (Or soit seems to thanes in their grief, in the anguish every thane endures, at thelloss of a ringugiver, now thatthe hand that bestowed so richly bas been stilled in death. 1345 ~ (aaas-4g) © ‘Thave heard it said by my people in hall, {21586 recouany People shout ‘Be monte counsellors who live in the upland country, that they have seen two such creatures prowling the moors, huge marauders from some other world. One of these things, as far as anyone can ever discern, looks like 2 woman; the other, warped in the shape of a man, moves beyond the pale Digger then any man, an unnatural birth called Grendel by the country people in former days. They are fatherless creatures, and their whole ancestry is hidden in a past of demons and ghosts. They dwell apart amnong wolves on the hills, on windswept erags and treacherous keshes, where cold streams pour down the mountain and disappear under mist and moorland. ‘A few miles from here a frost-stifened wood waits and keeps watch above a mere; the overhanging bank isa maze of tree-roots mirrored in its surface. ‘At night there, something uncanny happens the water burns. And the mere-bottom hhas never been sounded by the sons of men. (On its bank, the heather-stepper halts: the hart in flight from pursaing hounds syill turn to face them with fitm-set horns and die in the wood rather than dive ‘beneath its surface. That is no good place. ‘When wind blows up and stormy weather sakes clouds scud and the skies weep, out ofits depths a dirty surge is pitched towards the heavens. Now help depends ~ cere 7 again on you and on you alone. ‘The gap of danger where the demon waits is still unknown to you. Seek it if you dare. ‘Tre basoted mere £. 13% Lis4e-a6] 45 4.32.Reo olatce Heothgu’scourge “Wise sir, do-not grieve. It is always better Hi prodaias the heie code thet sides da rae + thet will be his best and only bulwark. The expedition to emere I will compensate you for scting the feud, 138 1 as Tid the last time with lavish wealth, coffers of coiled go, if you come back” Beowulf son of Eegtheow, spoke: +0 avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us living in this world ‘eins Waiting for our end. Let whoever can ‘win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, So arise, my lord, and le us innmediately set forth on the trail ofthis toll-dam. J guarantee you: she will not getaway, not to dens under ground nor upland groves nor the ocean floor. She'll have nowhere to flee to. Endure your troubles today. Bear up and be the man J expect you to be.” ‘With thatthe old Jord sprang to his feet and praised God for Beowulf’ pledge. ‘Then a bit and halter were brought for his horse with the plaited mane. The wise king mounted the royal saddle and rode out in style with a force of shield-bearers. The forest paths ‘were marked all over Wwith the monster’ tracks, her tral on the ground wherever she had gone across dark mooriand, dragging away the body of that thane, Hrothgar’s best counsellor and overseer of the country. So the noble prince proceeded undismayed up fells and screes, long narrow footpaths and ways where they were forced into single fil, ledges on cifs'above lirs of water-monsters. “He went in front with a few men, ‘good judges of the lie of the land, PL ibiG ries (osei-aua) | and suddenly disedvertd the dismal wood, (2 ras ‘mountain trees growing out at an angle above grey stones: the bloodshot water surged underneath, [twas a sore blow toll ofthe Danes, frends ofthe Shieldings, a lbart to each and every one of that noble company when they came upon Aeschere’s head at the foot of the cliff. Bverybody gaed asthe hot gore kept wallowing up and an urgent war-horn repeated its notes: the whole party sat down to wateh. The water was infested with all kinds of reptiles. There were writhing see-dragons and monsters slouching on slopes by the diff, serpents and wild things such as those that often surface at dawn to roam the sll-road and doom the voyage. Down they plunged, lashing in anger at the loud call ofthe bale bugle. An arrow fm the bow ofthe Geat clef got one of them as he surged to the surface: the seasoned shaft stuck deep in his flank and his freedom in the water ‘got less and less. It was his last swim. He was swiftly overchelmed in the shallows, prodded by bazbed bosr-peas, ‘omered, beaten, pulled up oa the bank, a sange lake-bith a loathsome catch ten gazed atin we Beowulf got ready, donned his war gear, indifferent to death; his mighty, hand-forged, fine-webbed mail would soon meet with the menace under water. Tt would keep the bone-cage of his body safe: so enemy's clasp could eros im ia it, 0.154% “Beowalf ars for fhe undereater no vicious armilock choke his life out. (uns-49] aecw et Bit ‘To guard his head he had a glittering helmet £21454 that was due to be muddied on the mere-bottom and blurred in the upswisl. Itwas of beaten gold, princely Beadgear hooped and hasped by a weapou-smith who had worked wonders in days gone by and émbellished it with boar-shepes; sincé then it had resiited every sword. ‘And another itein lent by Unferth at that inomént of need was of no small importance: the bréhon handed him a hilted weapon, a rare and ancient sword named Hrunting. ‘Theron blade with its il-boding patterns hhad been tempered in blood. It had never filed the hand of anyone who hefted it in battle, anyone who had fought and faced the worst in the gap of danger. This was not the frst time ithad been called to perform heroic feats. When he lent that blade to the better swordsman, Unferth, the strong-built son of Ecgla, could hardly have remembered the ranting speech he had made in his cups, He was not man enough to face the turmoil of fight under water ‘and the risk to his ie. So there he lost fame and repute, It was different for the other rigged out in his goar, ready to do battle Beowulf, son of Regtheow, spoke: “Wisest of kings, now that I bave come to the point of action, I ask you to recall whet we'said earlier: that you, son of Halfdane and gbld-friend to retainers, that you, if1 should fall and suffer death while serving your cause, would act like a father to me afterwards. If this combat kills mi, take care cof my young company, my comradesin arms. €, 1482 8 [n4ag-2] And be sure also, my beloved Hrothgar, the3 to send Hygelac the treasures I received. Let the lord of the Geats gaze on that gold, let Hrethel’s son take note of it and see that found a cing-giver of rare magnificence and enjoyed the good of his generosity ‘And Unferth isto have whet { inherited: to that far farmed man I bequeath my ovn sharp-honed, wave-sheened wonderblade. ‘With Hunting T shal gain glory or die” Mier these words, the prince of the Weather-Geats ‘was impatient to be away and plunged suddenly: ‘without more ado, he dived into the heaving depths of the lake, It was the best part of a day before be could see the solid bottom. Quicldy the one who haunted those waters, who had scavenged and gone her gluttonous zounds for a hundred seasons, sensed a human observing her outlandish lair from above. So she hinged and clutched and managed to catch him in her brutal grips but his body, for ell that, remained unscathed: the mesh of the chain-matl saved him on the outside. Her savage talons failed to rip the web of his wat-shirt. "Thea once she touched bottom, that wolfish swimmer carried the ring mailed prince to her court so that for all his courage he could never use the weapons he carried; and a bewildering horde came at him from the depths, droves of sea-beasts ‘who attacked with tusks and tore a his cain-mail in a ghastly onslaught. The gallent man could see he had entered some hellish tura-hole and yet the water did not work against him because the hall-roofing held off Beovaisexprured by Greet LSU ([s483-s6] 2 4.34.ignened let do damage He igus beck vei ia bate So'F his batle-torch extinguished: the shining blade theforce ofthe currents then he saw firdight, €. IS TF ‘a gleam and flare-up, a glimmer of brightness. “The hero obsccved that swamp-thing from hell the tarn-heg in al er terible strength, ‘then heaved his war‘sword and sirang his rm: the decorated blade came down ringing and singing on her head. But he soon found ‘yefused to bite. It spared her and failed ‘the man in bis need, Ithad gone through many a hand-to-hand fight, had hewed the armour ‘and helmets of the doomed, but here at last the fabulous powers of that heirloom failed. Hiygelacs kinsman kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart. ‘Then, in a fury, he flung his sword away. ‘The keen, inlaid, worm-loop-patterned steel ‘was hurled fo the ground: he would have to rely con the might of his erm. So must a man do ‘who intends to gain enduring glory {in a combat. Life doesn’t cost him 2 thought. "Then the prince of War-Geats, warming to this fight with Grendel's mother, gripped her shoulder and laid about him in a batle frenzy: he pitched his killer opponent to the floor but she rose quickly and retaliated, grappled him tightly in her grim embrace. The sure-footed fighter felt suddenly daunted, the strongest of warriors stumbled and fell So she pounced upon hirn and pulled out a broad, whetted lmife: now she would avenge her only child, But the mesh of chain-meil on Beovwul’s sfoulder shielded his life, fumed the edge and tip ofthe blade, 0.1850 so [hs12-s0) | | | bi | | ‘The son of Eegtheow would surely have perished and the Geats lost sheir warrior under the wide earth had the strong links and locks of his war-gear not helped to save him: holy God decided the victory It was easy for the Lord, the Ruler of Heaven, to redress the balance ‘once Beowulf got back om his fet. "Then he saw a blade that boded well, ‘a sword in her armoury, an ancient heirloom from the days of the giants, an ideal weapon, one that eny warrior would envy, bat so huge and heevy of itself ‘only Beownlf coula wild it in battle, So the Shieldings’ hero, hard-pressed and enraged, took a firm hold ofthe hilt and sivang the blade in an arc, a resolute blow that bit deep into her neck-bone and severed it entirely, toppling the doomed house of her flesh; she fell to the floor. ‘The sword dripped blood, the swordsman was elated. ‘A light appeared and the place brightened. the way the sky does when heaven’s candle is shining clearly. He inspected the vault: swith sword held bigh, its hil raised to guard and threaten, Hygelac’s thane scouted along the wall in Grendel's wake. [Now the weapon was to prove its worth. ‘The warvior determined to take revenge for every gross act Grendel had committed and not only for that one occasion when he'd come to slaughter the sleeping troops, fifteen of Hrothgar’s house-guards surprised on their benches and ruthlessly devoured, and as many again cajtied away, [1554-84], £. 1584 {. 1581 eowalf acne « sig sword and tla his opponet He precede ‘head Greets ope arbrutl phuider Beowulf in his fury ties now settled that scores he savy the monster in his resting-place, var-weary and wrecked, a lifeless corpse) a casualty 6f the battle in Heorot. The body gaped atthe stroke dealt to it after death: Beoiwilf cut the corpse's head off. Tmmedistely.the counsellors keeping « lookout with Hrathgar, watching the lake water, sawa heave-up and surge of waves snd blood in the backwash. They bowed grey heads, spoke in their sage, esperienced way about the good vantior, how they never agsin expected lo see that prince returning in triumph to their king. It was clear to many ‘that the wolf of the deep had destroyed bi forever. The ninth hour of the day arrived, The brave Shieldings abandoned the cif-top and the king went home; but sick at beet, staring at dye mere the strangers held on. “They wished, without hope, to behold thei lord, Beowulf himselé Meanwhile, the sword ‘began to wilt into gory icicles, to slather and thaw. It was a wonderfol thing, the way it all melted as ice melts ‘when the Father eases the ftters of the frost and unravels the water-opes, He who wields power overtime, snd ti; he is the true Lord. “The Geat captain saw treasure in abundance but cared no spoils from those quarters ecept for the head and the inlaid sword-hilt ‘embossed with jewels its bladehad meted, 1616 2 (385-646) and the scrollwork on itburnt, so scalding was the blood, [G4E of the poisonous fiend who had perished there. “Then away he swam, the one who hed survived the fall ofhis enemies, failing to the surfce. “The wide water, the waves and pools, ‘were no longer infested once the wandering fiend let go of her life and this unreliable world. ‘The seafarers’ leader made for land, resolutely swimsning, delighted with bis prize, ‘the mighty load he was lugging to the surface. His thanes advanced in a troop to meet him, thanking God and taking great delight in seeing their prince back safe and sound. (Quickdy the hero's belmet and mail shirt ‘were loosed and unlaced. The lake settled, clouds darkened above the bloodshot depths. With high hearts they headed away along footpaths and trails through the fields, ronds that they knew, each of them wrestling ‘wit the head they were carrying from the lakeside cif ‘men kingly in thet courage and eapeble of difficult work. Te was a tas for four to hoist Grendel's head on a spear and beat it under strain to the bright bel, ‘But soon enough they neared the place, fourteen Geats in fine ft, ‘striding across the outlying ground in a delighted throng around their leader. f 1644 eaAOE yr rom Seckow Two, events related to the Hered fi qi om dk Beowolf “> death ea RNR! eye a TARTAR PE “The treasures that Hygelac lavished on me 2. 24TO ssoraticeats is 1 paid for when I fought, as fortune allowed me, polar ‘with my glittering sword, He gave me land and the security land brings, so he had no call 1 to go looking for some lesser champion, some mescenary from among the Gifthas j or the Spear-Danes or the men of Sweden, [marched shead of him, always there at the font of the line; and I shall ght like that for as long 2s [live as long a8 this sword shall last, which has stood me in good stead Jate and soon, ever since I killed Dagraven the Frank in front of the two amiss. He bronght back no looted breastplate to the Frisian king, but fell in battle, ‘heir standard-bearer, high-born nd brave. No swword-blade sent hiun to bis deat, iy bare hands stlled his heartbeats ‘and wrecked the bone-house. Now blade and hand, sword and sword-stroke, will assay the hoard.” Beowulf spoke, made a formal boast Bevwalflat boss. for the last time: Trisked my life 7 often when I was young. Now Lam old, ‘bat as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, ifthe evil one will only abandon bis earth-fort and face me in the open.’ ‘Then he addressed each dear companion one fine time, those fighters in their helmets, resolute and high-born: ‘I would rather not nse a Weapon if knew another way to grapple with the dragon and make good my bosst fs 1 did against Grendel in days gone by. But Tshall be mecting molten venom @. 2S 2B (2490-522) »ecw hs he raga. ii the fire he breathes, so I go forth, ini mail-shirt and shield. I won't shift a foot ‘when I meet the cave-guard: whet occurs on the Ddetwween the evo of us will turn out as fate, overseer of mei decides. I am resolved. Yscom further words against tbis sky-borne fo. “Men at arms, xemain here on the barrows, safe in your armour, to see which one of us is etter in the end et beating wounds in deadly fay, ‘This ight is nat yours, nor is it wp to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster ot to prove his worth. I shal win the gold by tay courage, or else mortal combat, doom of batle, will bear your lord away? Then he drew himself up beside his shield. "The fabled warvior in his war-shirt and helmet ‘rusted in his own strength entirely and went under the crag. No coward path. Hard by the rock-fice that hale veteran, ‘good man who had gone repeatedly nto combat and danger and come through, saw a stone arch and a gushing stzeam that burst from the barrow, blazing and wafting a deadly heat. It would be hard to survive ‘unscathed near the hoard, to hold firm against the dragon in those flaming depths. Then he gave a'shout. The lord of the Geats ‘unburdened his breast and broke out jn a storm of anger. Under the grey stone this voice challenged and resounded clearly. late vas ignited. The hoard-guard recognized ‘ahunian voice, the time was over e. 80 £2523 wall 2sss [2523-55] for peace and parleying. Pouring forth {. esse in a hot batile-fume, the breath ofthe monster burst from the rock. There was a rumble underground. Down there in the barrow, Beowulf the warrior lifted his shield the outlandish thing ‘wrthed and convulsed and viciously ‘ummed on the king, whose keen-edged sword, an heirloom inkerited by ancient right, yeas already in his hand. Roused to a fury, cach antagonist stack terror inthe other. Unyielding, the lord of bis people loomed by his tall sbield, sure of his ground, ‘while the sexpent looped and unleashed its Swaddled in flames, it came gliding and flexing and racing towards its fate. Yet his shield defended the renowned leaders life and lirab fora shorter time than he meant i to: tha final day was the first time ‘when Beowulf fought and fate denied him lory in battle. So the king of the Geats raised his hand and struck herd at the enamelled scales, but scarcely cut through: the blade Hashed and slashed yet the blow ‘yas far less powerful than the hard-pressed king, hhad need of at that moment. The mound-Keeper ‘went into a spasm and spouted deadly dames: ‘when he fet the stroke, batle-ire billowed and spewed. Beowulf was filed ofa glorious victory. The glittering sword, {nfalible before that day, failed when he tnsheathed it a it never should have. For the son of Ecgtheow, it was no easy thing 1 have to give ground lke that and go ‘unwillingly to inhabit another home ina place beyond: so every man must yield ‘he leasehold of his days t.2541 Booval sword fe hin [2536-0] aAllbutoseot Bewaeband sidan toy Wigatsundsby ised, The deds of Wits fe, Weahstn, read Beforelong . 2548 C tort the fierce contenders lashed again. ‘The hoard-guard took heat, inhaled and swelled up anid got a new winds he who had once ruled ‘vas fared in fire and had to face the worst. No help or backing was to be had then. from his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood, But within one heart sorrow welled up: in a man of worth the daims of kinship cannat be denied. His name was Wigla, a son of Weobstan's, a well-regarded Shylfing warriot related to Aelitere. When he sav his lord tormented by the heat of his scalding helmet, Ite remembered-the bonntifal gifts bestowed on him, how wal he lived among the Weegmundings, the freehold he inherited from his father before him. ie could not hold back: one hand brandished the yellow-timbered shield, the other drew his sword ~ an ancient blade that was said to Rave belonged to Eanmund, the son of Ohihere, the one ‘Weohstan had slain when he was an exile without friends. He carried the arms to the victims kinfolk, the burnished helmet, the webbed chain-mail and that relic ofthe gionts. But Oneta returned the weapons.to him, rewarded Weobstan with Eanmund’s war-gear. He ignored the blood-feud, the fact that Eanmund was his brother's son. ‘Weohstan kept that war-gear fora lifetime, the sword and the mail-shirt, until it was the son's tum, to follow his father and perform his part. ‘Then, in old age, atthe end ofhisdays 4. 2623 a [2591-623 } ‘among the Weather-Geats, he bequeathed to Wight =f. 2624 innumerable weapons. 1 ‘And now the youth ‘was to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter. ‘His spirit did pot break and the ancestral blade ‘would keep its edge asthe dragon discovered as soon as they came together in the combat. Wight spec to Sad at heart, addressing his companions, shoes Wiglaf spoke wise and ent words: ‘Tremenmber that time when mead was flowing, how we pledged loyalty to our lord in the hall, promised our ring-giver we would be worth our price, anake good the git of the war-gear, those swords and helmets, as and when his need required it. e picked us out from the army deliberately, honoured us and judged us fit for this action, made me these lavish gifts — and all because he considered us the best of his arms-beating thanes, And nov, although be wanted this challenge to be one he'd face by himself alone - the shepherd of our land, :man unequalled in the quest for glory and a name for daring — the day has come ‘when this lord we serve needs sound men to give him their support. Let us go to him, help our leader through the hot dame and dread of the fire. As God is my witness T would rather my body were robed in the same burning blaze as my gold-giver’s body than go back home bearing arms. ‘That is unthinkable, unless we have first slain the foe and defended the life of the prince ofthe Westher-Geats.Twell know the things he has done for us deserve better. 2. 265% [2624-57] 83‘Widest Bev alé Wiiy should Bg aloné be left exposed to fallin battle? We must bond together, shield and helmet, mail-shirt and sword.” ‘Then he waded the dangerous reek and went ‘under arias tb his lord, saying only: ‘Go on, dear Beowalf, do everything ‘you said you would when you were sill young ‘and vowed you Would never let your nese and famne ‘be dimmed while you lived. Your deeds are famous, «0 Stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now with the whole of your strength. I sball stand by you’ ‘The deagun stad After those words, a wildness rose asin jm the dragon again and drove it to attack, heaving up fire, huiting for enemies, the humans it loathed. Flames lapped the shield, charred it to the boss, and the body-armour con the You waivior was useless to him. But Wighf did wel lider the wide in ‘Beowwalf dated with hin Once his ovm had dhattered in sparks aid ashes. ; ° ‘Tnspired again, bp bE thought 0 gly, the war-king threw 1s whole trigth Bebind a sword-atroke oot ssinc aiid commectdd With the sell. And Naepting snapped. the daagow'shicd Then the babe of that people, th oan He ra blood BeoWwal's dnciest ifon-grey sword Jet hit dows in the fight. It was never his fortune 45 be helped ft combat by the cutting edge ‘of weapons tnade of iron. When he wielded a sword, 16 matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade, huis hand was too strdag, the stroke he dealt (Lliave heard) would ruin it. He could seap no advantage. fire-breathing dragon, ‘was mad to stack for a third time: ‘When a chance éam®, he‘caughe the hero 84 ‘ {2658-901 tees? L.2eto in arush of flame and damped sharp fangs into his nec BeSwalfs body ran wet wi his if-blood i came welling out ‘Neat thing, they say, the noble son of Weohstan saw the king in danger at his side ‘and displayed his inborn bravery and strength. ‘ie lest the head alone, but bis fighting hand ‘was bumed when he came to his kinsman's aid Hie lunged at the enemy lower down 60 that his decorated sword sank into its belly and the flames grew weaker. Once more the king gathered his strength and drew a stabbing knife he carried on his belt, sharpened for battle, Fie stuck it deep into the dragon’s flank. Beowulf deat it « deadly wound. z ‘They had Killed the enemy, courage quelled his lifes that pair of kinsmen, partners in nobility, Inad destroyed the foe. So every man should act, be at hand when needed; but nov, for the kings this would be the lst of his many labours and triumphs in the wosld. €.2tu [260-723] f. 2641 ‘Wight ge pate ‘ares ed cles Beco tive he ‘al wound & 4.40.| i | ‘ ‘Wight ponders Benya ie ThE Wielag son of Weobstany spoke, 3076 “Often wen oie man follows bis‘ own will, smanyrare-hurt. This happeed to us. Nothing we edvised could ever convince the prince we loved, our land's guardian, ‘not to vex the custodian ofthe gold, Jet him lie where he was long accustomed, Jk there under earth uatil the end of the world. He Held to hs high destiny: The hoard is laid bax, Dat at a grive cost; itwas foo cruel a fate that forced the king to,that encounter. Thave been inside and seen everything amassed in the vault. Lmanaged to enter {, 208% 96 [3055-88 } although no great welcome avaited me tunder the carthwall. I quick’y gathered up a huge pile ofthe priceless treasures handpicked from the hosed and carried them here where the king could see them. He was still himself, alive, aware, and in spite of his weakness he had many requests. He wanted me to greet you ‘and order the building of a barrow that would crown the site of his pyre, serve as his memorial, in a commanding position, since of all men to have lived and thrived and lorded it on earth hhis worth and due as a warrior were the greatest. ‘Now let us again go swiftly and feast our eyes on that amazing fortune heaped under the wall. J will chow the way ‘and briag you close to those coffers packed with rings and bars of gold. Let a bier be made : ‘and got ready quickly when ve come out : and then let us bring the body of our lord, the man we loved, to where he will lodge for long time in the care of the Almighty.” ‘Then Weohstan's son, stalwart to the end, hhad orders given to owners of dwellings, ‘many people of importance in the land, to fetch wood from far and wide for the good man’s pyre. ‘Now shall ame consume ppur leader in battle, the blaze darken ound him wbo stood his ground inthe stel-hall, ‘when the arrow-storm shot from bowstrings plied the shield-wall. The shaft bit home. eather-fedged, it finned the bazb inflight.” [Neat the wise Soit of Weohstan ‘alled from among the king’sthenes. 0, 3121 [3089-221] f. 30% erepons Beowas lat wie ‘Wig gre odes Eerthe building of fines pe. goer wth sven 7 \ |sh wean fom ‘maha, «group af seven: he selected, the best £. Stee and entered with them, the eighth’ of their number, under the God-cursed roof; one raised a lighted torch and led the way. ‘No lots were cast for who should loot the hoard since it was obvious to them that every bit of it ay unprotected within the vault, there for the taking. It was no trouble to humry to work and haul out the priceless stoze. They pitched the dragon aver the eifxop, let Hides flow and backwash take the treasure-minder. ‘Then coiled gold was loaded on a cart in great abundance, and the grey-baired leader, the prince on his bier, was borne to Hronesness. * The Geat people built a pyre for Beowulf, stacked and decked it until it stood foursquere, Ihung with helmets, heavy war-shields and shining armour, just as he had ordered. ‘Then his warriors lid him in the middle of t, rmouming a lord far-femed and beloved. (Ona height they kindled the hugest of all foneral fires: fumes of woodsmoke billowed dazkly up, the blaze roared and drowned out theit weeping, wind died down and flames wrought havoc in the hot bone-house, buming it to the core, They were disconsolate ‘and wailed aloud for their lord’s decease. ‘A Geat woman too sang out in grief ‘with bair bouind up, she unburdened herself of her worst fears, @ wild Iteny ‘of nightmare and lament: her nation invaded, enemies on the rampage, bodies in piles, slavery and abasement. Heaven swallowed the simoke. 98 [120-55] faiss 4 ‘Then the Geat people began to construct. €, 3186 a mound on a headland, high and imposing, a marker that silors could see from afar, and in ten days they had done the work. 1 was their hero's memorial; what remained from the fre they housed inside it, behind a wall as worthy of him as their workmanship could make it. ‘And they buried torques in the barrow, and jewels and a trove of such things as trespassing men hhad once dared to drag from the hoard. “They let the ground keep that ancestral treasure, gold under gravel, gone to earth, as useless to. men now as it ever was. ‘Then twelve warriors rode around the tomb, chieftains’ sons, champions in battle, all of them distraught, chanting in dirges, ‘mourning his loss as a man and a king ‘They extolled his heroic nature and exploits and gave thanks for his greatness; which was the proper thing for s man should praise a prince whom he holds dear and cherish his memory when that moment comes ‘when he has to be convoyed from his bodily home. So the Geat people, his hearth-companions, sorrowed for the lord who had been laid low. ‘They said that ofall the kings upon the earth hhe was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame. Beowulf barrow His people lament P. 3182 [156-82] 99