[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.
}
Then at his home Hygelac's thane,
The best among the Geats, heard of Grendel's deeds.
He was mankind's best hope, the greatest in might
In his days of this life;
He was noble and lofty. He ordered a ship
Be made ready, said he would go to seek
The good king, that famous prince,
Far over the ocean, because there was need of men.
In that great gesture his tried retainers
Did not fault him; they urged on the strong warrior,
And because they loved him, they sought good signs.
This good man chose then his warriors,
The bravest of the brave that he could find
From among the Geats. And fifteen all told
Sought out the ship; the man, sea-skilled,
Along the seashore guided them to it.
Before many days the craft was on the waves,
Moored under the cliffs. Eager, the warriors
Mounted the prow -- the sea currents swirled,
Mingled water and sand; the soldiers,
Adorned with armor, bore bright trappings
Into the bosom of the ship. The men pushed out,
Men in a ready ship on a wished-for journey.
The foamy-necked vessel, most like a bird,
Slid then over the sea, thrust on by the winds,
Until after a time on the second day
The curve-prowed ship had gone far enough
So that the voyaging warriors caught sight of land,
[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 heroes would not for anything
Abandon the murderous visitor while he yet breathed,
Nor did he think that the demon might be of use
To anything that lived. Then the warriors of Beowulf,
Their renowned swords drawn in support
Were eager to defend the life of their lord,
Of the famous prince, if they but could
They did not know, when they were minded to fight,
To seek out his soul, those brave-minded
Battle-warriors, and thought to hack
From every side, that not one war-sword,
Not the best of swords from over the earth,
Could do any harm to the malefactor;
He had cast spells on each victory weapon,
On every sword. His leaving this life,
From the days of his time,
Was to be miserable, and the alien spirit,
Under the control of fiends, had far to go.
Then it was discovered by him who earlier
Brought affliction of spirit and hideous deeds
To all of mankind -- he was a foe of God --
That his body would not do as he wished,
For the kinsman of Hygelac, the high spirited one,
[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 man of the Geats seized then by the shoulder
The mother of Grendel -- not at all shrunk from that fight --
In fury fierce, at the battle enraged.
He flung the deadly foe so that she fell to the floor.
She paid him in kind quickly for that fall;
With grim-grasp she clashed against him.
The weary-in-spirit, the best of the best of men,
Splendid foot-warrior, weakened, fell over.
Then she sat upon this hall-visitor, drew out her knife,
Broad and age-colored, she wished to avenge her son,
The only kinsman she had Covering him to his shoulder lay
The light-ringed byrnie; it protected his life
Against spear point, sword edge, kept his chest safe.
The son of Ecgtheow, the Geatish warrior,
Would have then perished under the dirt-roof
If his war-corselet had not given him help,
That hard battle-net -- and the Holy God
Brought about war-victory; the wise Lord,
The Ruler of Heaven, decided on right,
Easily, when he got to his feet.
He spied then in the battle a victorious sword,
An old sword with a strong edge, made by giants
As an honor to men; that was the best of weapons,
Except that it was greater than any other man
Might have borne into battle;
Good it was and splendid, the handiwork of giants.
He seized the linked-hilt, the friend of the Scyldings,
Savage and sword-grim, drew the ring-marked sword,
Despairing of life, and angrily struck
So that against her neck the weapon slammed hard,
Her spine broke; the sword went full through
Her doomed body; she fell to the floor dead.
The sword was bloody; the man rejoiced in his work.
[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.
}
--- Waves of flame
Burned his shield to the boss, and his byrnie
Could not give help to the young spear-fighter.
But the courageous man went bravely in under
His kinsman's shield, when his own
Was consumed by the flames. Then again the battle-king,
Mindful of glories, with great strength struck
With his battle-sword, and forced by the violence
It struck in the head; Nægling burst;
Beowulf's sword, ancient and gray
Failed at the battle. It was not to be his
That the two-edged sword might be of help
To him in that warfare; it is recounted that his hand
Was too strong for any of the swords
Which he bore into battle, hard wondrous weapons.
His strength was over powering, and he paid dearly for that.
Then the spoiler of people, the audacious fire-dragon,
Was moved to attack for the third time.
When he saw his chance, burning and battle-grim,
He once again rushed the brave warrior, bit into his neck,
Tearing with his tusks; the warrior was covered with blood.
His life blood spurted out in great waves.
Then it is said at the need of the people's king,
The upright warrior made known his courage,
His strength and boldness, as was in his nature.
He made no move for the head, but this high-spirited man,
His hand badly burned, struck at the dragon's middle --
Where he stood firm for his leader, this warrior in war-gear,
So that the sword, shining and gold plated,
Struck home. Then after that the fire
Began to subside. Still the king
Had control of his senses; he drew his war-knife,
Keen and battle-sharp, always at his side.
The lord of the Weders cut deep into the dragon's belly.
The horror was killed -- their courage had cut it down --
