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Beowulf, Translated Into English Verse (Vol. XXVII of The Medieval Library). Chatto & Windus, London, 1926. ISBN: none.
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[lines 194-224a in section III and 8th line from the bottom of folio 134r to 4th line from the bottom of folio 134v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{Beowulf hears about Grendel and decides to travel from his home in Geatland (southern Sweden) to Heorot (in northeast Denmark) to see if he can help out.
}
Afar in his homeland the thane of Higelac,
the Geats' hero, heard of Grendel's deeds;
among mankind in strength he was mightiest
of all on that day of this our life,
princely and powerful. He bade them prepare him
a goodly sea-farer, saying that he would visit
over the swan's path the warrior king,
the glorious prince, who stood in need of men.
For that bold venture men of wisdom
blamed him but little, though dearly they loved him;
they urged on the stout-hearted, watching the omens.
The noble prince from the Geat people
had chosen out champions, the keenest he could find;
he sought the wooden vessel with fourteen comrades;
[lines 791-819a in section XII and 8th line from the top of folio 147r to 13th line from the top of folio 147v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{At this moment Beowulf and Grendel are fighting and Grendel is howling and screaming and wishing to escape but Beowulf has grabbed Grendel's arm and is using his incredible hand-strength to hold on to him.
}
The Protector of Earls would in no wise whatever
let go with his life the murderous stranger,
deeming his life-days void of all profit
to any of the peoples. There brandished full many
an earl of Beowulf his ancient heirloom
to shield the life of his lord and master,
the glorious prince, wheresoe'er they might.
They knew not this, when they joined in the conflict--
they, the brave-hearted men of battle,
thinking to hew him on every quarter
and seek out his soul-- not the choicest of sabres
the whole world over nor any bill of battle
had power to assail the guilty scather;
nay, he had forsworn victorious weapons,
all manner of edges. A miserable death,
on that very day of this mortal life,
he was doomed to die, and the alien sprite
to the empire of fiends afar must travel.
This he discovered-- even he that aforetime
with merriment of heart on the race of mortals
wrought many crimes, against God rebelling--
that the frame of his body would hold out no longer;
nay, for Higelac's courageous kinsman
had him by the hand; each hated the other
so long as life lasted. The dread monster suffered
anguish of body; a wound past curing
showed on his shoulder; the sinews sprang asunder,
[lines 1537-1569 in sections XXII and XXIII and 5th line from the bottom of folio 163v, through folio 164r to 4th line from the top of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here. Note: there is a discussion of the word eaxle in line 1537a on my page on Shoulder Grabbing vs. Hair Pulling
{At this moment Beowulf has just failed to hurt Grendel's mother with the sword Hrunting and he tries to wrestle her as he had done with Grendel.
}
The War-Geats' chieftain, reckless of the feud,
then seized by the shoulder the mother of Grendel;
and the warrior bold-- for with rage he was swollen--
whirled his fell foe till she sank on the floor.
Quickly thereafter she made him requital
with fearful grips and clutched towards him.
He stumbled in weariness, the strongest of warriors,
the champion, so that he fell to the ground.
Then over the stranger she drew forth her dagger,
broad and brown-edged, to avenge her child,
her only son. On his shoulder was lying
the woven breast-net; that sheltered his life,
barring entry to point and to edge.
Ecgtheow's son, then, the Geats' champion,
had passed away hence 'neath the spacious earth,
had not his war-mail, his stout woven harness,
furnished him help, had not holy God,
Lord of Wisdom, brought about victory--
the Ruler of the Heavens decided it aright
easily, when he stood up the hero again.
MID other arms he saw there a victory-crowned sabre,
an old sword of giants, strong in the edges,
glory of warriors; 'twas the choicest of weapons
save that it was greater than any man else
had power to bear to the frolic of battle,
a good blade and splendid, the labour of giants.
He seized the belted hilt; the Lord of the Scyldings,
fierce and battle-grim, swung the ringed weapon--
despairing of life, he so wrathfully smote,
that sharp on the neck the sword-blade struck her,
breaking her bone-rings; the bill went right through
[lines 1584b-1590 in section XXIII and 7th line from the bottom of folio 164v to first half of the last line of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{At this moment Beowulf has just discovered Grendel's lifeless body lying in the cave.
}
[lines 2672b-2708a in sections XXXVI and XXXVII and 8th line from the bottom of folio 189A197r, through folio 189A197v to 3rd line from the top of folio 189r on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD]
Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.
{At this moment, Wiglaf has just run into the flames to be by Beowulf's side and the dragon has charged at them both, incinerating Wiglaf's shield.
}
--- With waves of flame burnt
was his buckler to the boss: nor could his byrnie
afford any aid to the young spear-warrior;
but, under the shield of his kinsman, the youth
boldly advanced when his own was consumed
by the fiery gleeds. Again the warrior king,
remembered his glory, with main strength smote
with his battle-brand, that it stood in the head,
by force driven home; Nægling was shattered
and failed in the fray, the sword of Beowulf,
old and grey-hued. It was not granted
that the edges of iron weapons should yield him
help in battle-- too strong was his hand,
who with his swing, as I have heard say,
over-taxed every blade; when he bore to the conflict
a weapon wondrous hard, it served him no better.
The folk-destroyer, the dread fire-dragon,
now for the third time remembered the feud,
rushed on the hero when space enow offered,
hot and battle-grim, and gript his whole neck
twixt his bitter teeth; he was all bloodied
by the waves of his life-blood gushing forth.
THEN at the prince's need, I learned,
the earl upstanding proclaimed his prowess,
his skill and courage as his nature was;
he heeded not the head-- the hand of the gallant
was burnt with fire where he helped his kinsman--
but somewhat lower the man-at-arms smote
the fell stranger, so that the sword plunged in
bright and jewelled, and the fire began
to wane thereafter. Once again the king
mastered his senses and drew the keen knife,
battle-sharp and bitter, that he wore on his byrnie;
the Helm of the Weders then clove the Worm asunder.
The foe they had slain-- strength drove out of his life--
