But henceforth 27in the counsel which god has spoken,

He became like a man. 26He attired himself with clothes 27even as does a husband. 28He seized his weapon, 29which the panther and lion 30fells in the night time cruelly. 31He captured the wild mountain goats. 32The panther he conquered. 33Among the great sheep for sacrifice 34Enkidu was their guard. 35A man, a leader, 36A hero. 37Unto .......... he elevated

Come! I will lead thee 15into the midst of Erech of the wide places, 16even unto the holy house,

And there came out stars in the heavens, 7Like a … of heaven he fell upon me. 8I bore him but he was too heavy for me. 9He bore a net but I was not able to bear it. 10I summoned the land to assemble unto him, 11that heroes might kiss his feet. 12He stood up before me1 13and they stood over against me. 14I lifted him and carried him away unto thee.”

We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy people, The son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit, [11] Folk-troop’s defender: be free in thy counsels! To the noble one bear we a weighty commission, The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween, Is it true that a monster is slaying Danish heroes? 15 Naught of our message. Thou know’st if it happen, As we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler, Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky By deeds very direful ’mid the Danemen exhibits Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction 20 And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish I can help your king to free himself from this horrible creature. I am able to render counsel to Hrothgar, How he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer, If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened,1 Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler, 25 Or ever hereafter he agony suffer And troublous distress, while towereth upward The handsomest of houses high on the summit.” The coast-guard reminds Beowulf that it is easier to say than to do.

(Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,5 55 The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not). ’Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings The king and his council deliberate in vain. Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private Sat the king in his council; conference held they What the braves should determine ’gainst terrors unlooked for.

Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,1 Misery knew not. The monster of evil Greedy and cruel tarried but little, He drags off thirty of them, and devours them Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed 10 Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to, With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward. In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking, Was Grendel’s prowess revealed to the warriors: A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel’s horrible deed is fully realized. Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted, 15 Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous, The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful, Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen, [6] When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer, The spirit accursèd: too crushing that sorrow, The monster returns the next night. 20 Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried, But one night after continued his slaughter Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little From malice and murder; they mastered him fully. He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for 25 A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges, A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice Told him truly by token apparent The hall-thane’s hatred: he held himself after Further and faster who the foeman did baffle. 30 2So ruled he and strongly strove against justice Lone against all men, till empty uptowered King Hrothgar’s agony and suspense last twelve years. The choicest of houses. Long was the season: Twelve-winters’ time torture suffered The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction, 35 Endless agony; hence it after3 became Certainly known to the children of men Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar

Then the mighty war-spirit1 endured for a season, The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen’s joy. Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, 35 That light-hearted laughter loud in the building Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music, Clear song of the singer. He said that was able [The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old account of the creation.] To tell from of old earthmen’s beginnings, That Father Almighty earth had created, 40 The winsome wold that the water encircleth, Set exultingly the sun’s and the moon’s beams To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races, And earth He embellished in all her regions With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too 45 On all the kindreds that live under heaven. The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread. So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance, The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice,

At the hour that was fated Scyld dies at the hour appointed by Fate. Scyld then departed to the All-Father’s keeping Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades, 30 As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince Long did rule them.3 The ring-stemmèd vessel, Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor, Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing; By his own request, his body is laid on a vessel and wafted seaward. 35 The belovèd leader laid they down there, Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel, The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels, Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over, Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever 40 That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle, Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled Many a jewel that with him must travel On the flush of the flood afar on the current. 45 And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly, Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him He leaves Daneland on the breast of a bark. Who when first he was born outward did send him Lone on the main, the merest of infants: And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven [3] 50 High o’er his head, let the holm-currents bear him, Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit, Their mood very mournful. Men are not able No one knows whither the boat drifted. Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,4 Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.