Saga Six Pack (Annotated)

XXIII. BEOWULF’S FIGHT WITH GRENDEL’S MOTHER.

XXIII. BEOWULF’S FIGHT WITH GRENDEL’S MOTHER.––––––––

Beowulf makes a parting speech to Hrothgar

––––––––

Beowulf spake, Ecgtheow’s son:

“Recall now, oh, famous kinsman of Healfdene,

Prince very prudent, now to part I am ready,

Gold-friend of earlmen, what erst we agreed on,

If I fail, act as a kind liegelord to my thanes,

Should I lay down my life in lending thee assistance,

When my earth-joys were over, thou wouldst evermore serve me

In stead of a father; my faithful thanemen,

My trusty retainers, protect thou and care for,

Fall I in battle: and, Hrothgar belovèd,

and send Higelac the jewels thou hast given me

Send unto Higelac the high-valued jewels

Thou to me hast allotted. The lord of the Geatmen

May perceive from the gold, the Hrethling may see it

I should like my king to know how generous a lord I found thee to be.

When he looks on the jewels, that a gem-giver found I

Good over-measure, enjoyed him while able.

And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou,

The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid

The hard-edgèd weapon; with Hrunting to aid me,

I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me.”

The atheling of Geatmen uttered these words and

Heroic did hasten, not any rejoinder

Was willing to wait for; the wave-current swallowed

He is a whole day reaching the bottom of the sea.

The doughty-in-battle. Then a day’s-length elapsed ere

He was able to see the sea at its bottom.

Early she found then who fifty of winters

The course of the currents kept in her fury,

Grisly and greedy, that the grim one’s dominion

Grendel’s mother knows that some one has reached her domains.

Some one of men from above was exploring.

Forth did she grab them, grappled the warrior

With horrible clutches; yet no sooner she injured

His body unscathèd: the burnie out-guarded,

That she proved but powerless to pierce through the armor,

The limb-mail locked, with loath-grabbing fingers.

The sea-wolf bare then, when bottomward came she,

She grabs him, and bears him to her den.

The ring-prince homeward, that he after was powerless

(He had daring to do it) to deal with his weapons,

But many a mere-beast tormented him swimming,

Sea-monsters bite and strike him.

Flood-beasts no few with fierce-biting tusks did

Break through his burnie, the brave one pursued they.

The earl then discovered he was down in some cavern

Where no water whatever anywise harmed him,

And the clutch of the current could come not anear him,

Since the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-gleaming

Fire-light he saw, flashing resplendent.

The good one saw then the sea-bottom’s monster,

The mighty mere-woman; he made a great onset

With weapon-of-battle, his hand not desisted

From striking, that war-blade struck on her head then

A battle-song greedy. The stranger perceived then

The sword would not bite, her life would not injure,

But the falchion failed the folk-prince when straitened:

Erst had it often onsets encountered,

Oft cloven the helmet, the fated one’s armor:

’Twas the first time that ever the excellent jewel

Had failed of its fame. Firm-mooded after,

Not heedless of valor, but mindful of glory,

Was Higelac’s kinsman; the hero-chief angry

Cast then his carved-sword covered with jewels

That it lay on the earth, hard and steel-pointed;

The hero throws down all weapons, and again trusts to his hand-grip.

He hoped in his strength, his hand-grapple sturdy.

So any must act whenever he thinketh

To gain him in battle glory unending,

And is reckless of living. The lord of the War-Geats

(He shrank not from battle) seized by the shoulder

The mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggle

Swung he his enemy, since his anger was kindled,

That she fell to the floor. With furious grapple

She gave him requital early thereafter,

And stretched out to grab him; the strongest of warriors

Faint-mooded stumbled, till he fell in his traces,

The monster sits on him with drawn sword.

Foot-going champion. Then she sat on the hall-guest

And wielded her war-knife wide-bladed, flashing,

For her son would take vengeance, her one only bairn.

His breast-armor woven bode on his shoulder;

It guarded his life, the entrance defended

’Gainst sword-point and edges. Ecgtheow’s son there

Had fatally journeyed, champion of Geatmen,

In the arms of the ocean, had the armor not given,

Close-woven corslet, comfort and succor,

God arranged for his escape.

And had God most holy not awarded the victory,

All-knowing Lord; easily did heaven’s

Ruler most righteous arrange it with justice;

Uprose he erect ready for battle.