[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.
}
Thus from home heard Hygelac's thane,
good man of the Geats, of Grendel's deeds;
he was of mankind the greatest in might
in those days of this life,
noble and mighty. He ordered prepared
a wave-traveler; he said he would seek
over the swan-road the warrior-king,
the great lord, who needed men.
With that adventure wise men
found little fault, though he was dear to them,
they urged on the valiant one, examined the omens.
From the people of the Geats the good man
chose cahmpions, the best of those
he could find-- they were fifteen in all--
and sought the sea-wood. The warrior led them,
the sea-skilled man, to the land-boundary.
A time passed; a floater was on the waves,
a craft under the cliffs. Ready soldiers
climbed into the prow; currents eddied,
swimming along the shore. The warriors carried
into the bosom of the ship bright weapons
and noble battle-armor. The men shoved off
on a longed-for adventure in the well-braced ship,
[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.
}
He held him fast,
he who of them was the strongest in might
n those days of this life.
Nor would the protector of men by any means
leave alive the murderous-visitor,
nor did any of the men consider useful
his life-days. There most often
Beowulf's men drew old swords;
they wished to defend their lord's life,
the fame of the leader as best they could.
They did not know, when they drew into the fray,
stern-minded sword-soldiers,
and on every side thought to hew,
to seek the life of the evil-enemy,
that throughout the earth none of the best of swords,
[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 war-Geats then seized by the shoulder
Grendel's mother-- he did not mourn for that feud.
The strong one flung into the fight the mortal foe
when he was enraged, so that she fell on the hall-floor.
She quickly after paid him requital
with fierce grips and seized him against her.
The strongest of men then stumbled disheartened
so that he fell, foot-warrior.
She then sat on her hall-guest and drew her knife.
broad and bright-edged; she wished to avenge her son,
her only progeny. On his shoulder lay
the woven breast-net: that saved his life--
it withstood entry against point and edge.
Then Ecgtheow's son had perished
under the earth, champion of the Geats,
but the battle-byrnie provided help,
hard war-net, and holy god
brought him battle-victory-- the wise lord,
ruler of the heavens, decided it rightly,
quite easily, once he again stood up.
He saw then among the armor a victory-blessed blade,
an old monstrous sword with firm edges,
honor-memorial of men; that was the best of weapons,
though it was larger than any other man
could carry into battle-play,
good and noble, the work of giants.
He grasped the ring-hilt, adventurer of the Scyldings,
fierece and battle-grim, drew the ring-decorated one,
despairing of life, and angrily struck
so that it grievously gripped against her neck.
Bone-rings broke; the blade passed entirely through
the death-fated flesh-home. She crashed on the floor.
The sword was bloody; the soldier rejoiced in the deed.
[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.
}
The fire flowed in waves,
burnt up the shield to the rim; the byrnie could not
provide help for the young spear-warrior,
but the young kinsman went with courage
under his kinsman's shield when his own was
consumed in flames. Then yet the war-king
remembered glory, with might-strength struck
with battle-blade so that it stood in the head,
compelled by ferocity: Naegling burst,
failed in battle, Beowulf's sword,
old and gray. To him it was not given
that edges of iron could
help in battle; the hand was too strong,
that which with a stroke, I have heard,
overtaxed each sword when he to battle bore
weapons hard with wounds, nor was he any the better for them.
Then the enemy of the people was for a third time
mindful of the feud, fearsome fire-dragon.
He rushed the renowned one when the chance was granted him,
hot and battle-grim, completely clasped the neck,
the bones of the fierce one. He was bloodied
with soul's -blood: the fluid welled in waves.
Then in his need I have heard of the king
that the man at his side showed courage,
skill and boldness, as was natural to him.
Nor did he heed that head, but the hand
of the brave man was burned when he helped his kinsman
because he struck the evil-guest somewhat farther down,
man in armor, so that the sword dived in,
shining and gold-coated, such that the fire began
to abate afterwards. Then the king himself yet
ruled his senses, drew his slaughter-knife,
bitter and battle-sharp, that he bore in his byrnie.
The protector of the Weathers cut the worm through the middle.
