Beowulf (version 2) — Sections 21-23

XXI

BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: "Sorrow not, sage!

It beseems us better friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them.

Each of us all must his end abide in the ways of the world; so win who may glory ere death!

When his days are told, that is the warrior's worthiest doom.

Rise, O realm-warder!

Ride we anon, and mark the trail of the mother of Grendel.

No harbor shall hide her -- heed my promise!

-- enfolding of field or forested mountain or floor of the flood, let her flee where she will!

But thou this day endure in patience, as I ween thou wilt, thy woes each one."

Leaped up the graybeard: God he thanked, mighty Lord, for the man's brave words.

For Hrothgar soon a horse was saddled wave-maned steed.

The sovran wise stately rode on; his shield-armed men followed in force.

The footprints led along the woodland, widely seen, a path o'er the plain, where she passed, and trod the murky moor; of men-at-arms she bore the bravest and best one, dead, him who with Hrothgar the homestead ruled.

On then went the atheling-born o'er stone-cliffs steep and strait defiles, narrow passes and unknown ways, headlands sheer, and the haunts of the Nicors.

Foremost he {21a} fared, a few at his side of the wiser men, the ways to scan, till he found in a flash the forested hill hanging over the hoary rock, a woful wood: the waves below were dyed in blood.

The Danish men had sorrow of soul, and for Scyldings all, for many a hero, 'twas hard to bear, ill for earls, when Aeschere's head they found by the flood on the foreland there.

Waves were welling, the warriors saw, hot with blood; but the horn sang oft battle-song bold.

The band sat down, and watched on the water worm-like things, sea-dragons strange that sounded the deep, and nicors that lay on the ledge of the ness -- such as oft essay at hour of morn on the road-of-sails their ruthless quest, -- and sea-snakes and monsters.

These started away, swollen and savage that song to hear, that war-horn's blast.

The warden of Geats, with bolt from bow, then balked of life, of wave-work, one monster, amid its heart went the keen war-shaft; in water it seemed less doughty in swimming whom death had seized.

Swift on the billows, with boar-spears well hooked and barbed, it was hard beset, done to death and dragged on the headland, wave-roamer wondrous.

Warriors viewed the grisly guest.

Then girt him Beowulf in martial mail, nor mourned for his life.

His breastplate broad and bright of hues, woven by hand, should the waters try;

well could it ward the warrior's body that battle should break on his breast in vain nor harm his heart by the hand of a foe.

And the helmet white that his head protected was destined to dare the deeps of the flood, through wave-whirl win: 'twas wound with chains, decked with gold, as in days of yore the weapon-smith worked it wondrously, with swine-forms set it, that swords nowise, brandished in battle, could bite that helm.

Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps which Hrothgar's orator offered at need: "Hrunting" they named the hilted sword, of old-time heirlooms easily first;

iron was its edge, all etched with poison, with battle-blood hardened, nor blenched it at fight in hero's hand who held it ever, on paths of peril prepared to go to folkstead {21b} of foes.

Not first time this it was destined to do a daring task.

For he bore not in mind, the bairn of Ecglaf sturdy and strong, that speech he had made, drunk with wine, now this weapon he lent to a stouter swordsman.

Himself, though, durst not under welter of waters wager his life as loyal liegeman.

So lost he his glory, honor of earls.

With the other not so, who girded him now for the grim encounter.

XXII

BEOWULF spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: -- "Have mind, thou honored offspring of Healfdene gold-friend of men, now I go on this quest, sovran wise, what once was said: if in thy cause it came that I should lose my life, thou wouldst loyal bide to me, though fallen, in father's place!

Be guardian, thou, to this group of my thanes, my warrior-friends, if War should seize me;

and the goodly gifts thou gavest me, Hrothgar beloved, to Hygelac send!

Geatland's king may ken by the gold, Hrethel's son see, when he stares at the treasure, that I got me a friend for goodness famed, and joyed while I could in my jewel-bestower.

And let Unferth wield this wondrous sword, earl far-honored, this heirloom precious, hard of edge: with Hrunting I seek doom of glory, or Death shall take me."

After these words the Weder-Geat lord boldly hastened, biding never answer at all: the ocean floods closed o'er the hero.

Long while of the day fled ere he felt the floor of the sea.

Soon found the fiend who the flood-domain sword-hungry held these hundred winters, greedy and grim, that some guest from above, some man, was raiding her monster-realm.

She grasped out for him with grisly claws, and the warrior seized; yet scathed she not his body hale; the breastplate hindered, as she strove to shatter the sark of war, the linked harness, with loathsome hand.

Then bore this brine-wolf, when bottom she touched, the lord of rings to the lair she haunted whiles vainly he strove, though his valor held, weapon to wield against wondrous monsters that sore beset him; sea-beasts many tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail, and swarmed on the stranger.

But soon he marked he was now in some hall, he knew not which, where water never could work him harm, nor through the roof could reach him ever fangs of the flood.

Firelight he saw, beams of a blaze that brightly shone.

Then the warrior was ware of that wolf-of-the-deep, mere-wife monstrous.

For mighty stroke he swung his blade, and the blow withheld not.

Then sang on her head that seemly blade its war-song wild.

But the warrior found the light-of-battle {22a} was loath to bite, to harm the heart: its hard edge failed the noble at need, yet had known of old strife hand to hand, and had helmets cloven, doomed men's fighting-gear.

First time, this, for the gleaming blade that its glory fell.

Firm still stood, nor failed in valor, heedful of high deeds, Hygelac's kinsman;

flung away fretted sword, featly jewelled, the angry earl; on earth it lay steel-edged and stiff.

His strength he trusted, hand-gripe of might.

So man shall do whenever in war he weens to earn him lasting fame, nor fears for his life!

Seized then by shoulder, shrank not from combat, the Geatish war-prince Grendel's mother.

Flung then the fierce one, filled with wrath, his deadly foe, that she fell to ground.

Swift on her part she paid him back with grisly grasp, and grappled with him.

Spent with struggle, stumbled the warrior, fiercest of fighting-men, fell adown.

On the hall-guest she hurled herself, hent her short sword, broad and brown-edged, {22b} the bairn to avenge, the sole-born son.

-- On his shoulder lay braided breast-mail, barring death, withstanding entrance of edge or blade.

Life would have ended for Ecgtheow's son, under wide earth for that earl of Geats, had his armor of war not aided him, battle-net hard, and holy God wielded the victory, wisest Maker.

The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause;

and easily rose the earl erect.

XXIII

'MID the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant, old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof, warriors' heirloom, weapon unmatched, -- save only 'twas more than other men to bandy-of-battle could bear at all -- as the giants had wrought it, ready and keen.

Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings' chieftain, bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword, reckless of life, and so wrathfully smote that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard, her bone-rings breaking: the blade pierced through that fated-one's flesh: to floor she sank.

Bloody the blade: he was blithe of his deed.

Then blazed forth light.

'Twas bright within as when from the sky there shines unclouded heaven's candle.

The hall he scanned.

By the wall then went he; his weapon raised high by its hilts the Hygelac-thane, angry and eager.

That edge was not useless to the warrior now.

He wished with speed Grendel to guerdon for grim raids many, for the war he waged on Western-Danes oftener far than an only time, when of Hrothgar's hearth-companions he slew in slumber, in sleep devoured, fifteen men of the folk of Danes, 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, {23a} 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.

{23b} 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, {23c} 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 {23d} 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.