Beowulf Part 21

Many a serpent, mere-dragons wondrous Trying the waters, nickers a-lying On the cliffs of the nesses, which at noonday full often 45 Go on the sea-deeps their sorrowful journey, Wild-beasts and wormkind; away then they hastened

{One of them is killed by Beowulf.}

Hot-mooded, hateful, they heard the great clamor, The war-trumpet winding. One did the Geat-prince [50] Sunder from earth-joys, with arrow from bowstring, 50 From his sea-struggle tore him, that the trusty war-missile

{The dead beast is a poor swimmer}

Pierced to his vitals; he proved in the currents Less doughty at swimming whom death had offcarried.

Soon in the waters the wonderful swimmer Was straitened most sorely with sword-pointed boar-spears, 55 Pressed in the battle and pulled to the cliff-edge; The liegemen then looked on the loath-fas.h.i.+oned stranger.

{Beowulf prepares for a struggle with the monster.}

Beowulf donned then his battle-equipments, Cared little for life; inlaid and most ample, The hand-woven corslet which could cover his body, 60 Must the wave-deeps explore, that war might be powerless To harm the great hero, and the hating one's grasp might Not peril his safety; his head was protected By the light-flas.h.i.+ng helmet that should mix with the bottoms, Trying the eddies, treasure-emblazoned, 65 Encircled with jewels, as in seasons long past The weapon-smith worked it, wondrously made it, With swine-bodies fas.h.i.+oned it, that thenceforward no longer Brand might bite it, and battle-sword hurt it.

And that was not least of helpers in prowess

{He has Unferth's sword in his hand.}

70 That Hrothgar's spokesman had lent him when straitened; And the hilted hand-sword was Hrunting ent.i.tled, Old and most excellent 'mong all of the treasures; Its blade was of iron, blotted with poison, Hardened with gore; it failed not in battle 75 Any hero under heaven in hand who it brandished, Who ventured to take the terrible journeys, The battle-field sought; not the earliest occasion That deeds of daring 'twas destined to 'complish.

{Unferth has little use for swords.}

Ecglaf's kinsman minded not soothly, 80 Exulting in strength, what erst he had spoken Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent to A sword-hero bolder; himself did not venture 'Neath the strife of the currents his life to endanger, [51] To fame-deeds perform; there he forfeited glory, 85 Repute for his strength. Not so with the other When he clad in his corslet had equipped him for battle.

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,}

5 Should I lay down my life in lending thee a.s.sistance, 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 beloved,

{and send Higelac the jewels thou hast given me}

10 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.

15 And the ancient heirloom Unferth permit thou, The famed one to have, the heavy-sword splendid[1]

The hard-edged weapon; with Hrunting to aid me, I shall gain me glory, or grim-death shall take me."

{Beowulf is eager for the fray.}

The atheling of Geatmen uttered these words and 20 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 25 The course of the currents kept in her fury, Grisly and greedy, that the grim one's dominion

[52]

{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 30 His body unscathed: 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 35 (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 40 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, flas.h.i.+ng resplendent.

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

{Beowulf attacks the mother of Grendel.}

45 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 will not bite.}

The sword would not bite, her life would not injure, 50 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, 55 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 st.u.r.dy.

60 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 [53] (He shrank not from battle) seized by the shoulder[2]

The mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggle 65 Swung he his enemy, since his anger was kindled, That she fell to the floor. With furious grapple

{Beowulf falls.}

She gave him requital[3] 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.}

70 Foot-going champion. Then she sat on the hall-guest And wielded her war-knife wide-bladed, flas.h.i.+ng, For her son would take vengeance, her one only bairn.

{His armor saves his life.}