[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.
Frederick Rebsamen's 2004 book is a slightly updated version of his 1991 book.
The revisions are shown here in magenta.
{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.
}
[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.
Frederick Rebsamen's 2004 book is a slightly updated version of his 1991 book.
The revisions are shown here in magenta.
{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.
}
[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
Frederick Rebsamen's 2004 book is a slightly updated version of his 1991 book.
The revisions are shown here in magenta.
{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.
}
He grabbed her then
Grendel's hell-mother
grappled her shoulders
in his great handvice
tugged at her arms
with angry heartstrength
twisted her backwards
bent her to the floor.
She clamped his arms
in her cold fiendgrip
returned his tugging
with tight claw-fingers -
she toppled him over
with towering strength
raging with fire-eyes
felled him to the floor
leaped on his chest
lifted her shortsword
broad murder-knife
burning to avenge
her only offspring.
Over his breastcage
a hand-locked mailcoat
harbored his life
countered the piercing
of point and edge.
He would soon have died there
deep under the earth
but his hard battle-coat
held against that thrust -
close-woven steelmesh
clenched against swordbite
kept him from death -
the Deemer of this world
decided that contest
the Shaper of mankind (2004: the King of mankind)
strengthened that warrior
as he stood to his feet.
He saw then glittering
a great hoard-weapon
smith-wrought by giants
a sword for victory
blade for a champion
best of war-weapons
gleaming with goldwork
greater in steel-weight
than any other man
could manage in warfare.
He seized it by the hilt,
Shield-Danes' hall-guest, (2004: the heavy wonder-sword)
[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.
Frederick Rebsamen's 2004 book is a slightly updated version of his 1991 book.
The revisions are shown here in magenta.
{At this moment Beowulf has just discovered Grendel's lifeless body lying in the cave.
}
He saw him then
Grendel lying there (2004: Grendel slumped there)
with a gaping shoulder-wound (2004: with a great shoulder-wound)
[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.
Frederick Rebsamen's 2004 book is a slightly updated version of his 1991 book.
The revisions are shown here in magenta.
{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.
}
Hard flame-launching
shriveled the shieldwood
seared through mailcoats -
now helpless to endure (2004: now helpless to bear)
