[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.
}
A thane of Higelac heard that from home, a man of valour among the Geatas, concerning Grendel's deeds, who was strongest of might amongst mankind, in the day of this life, noble and powerful. He bade make ready for him a good sea-boat; he said that he would seek across the wild swan's path the warrior king, the noble prince, since he had need of men. The wise townsfolk but faintly blamed in him that expedition, though he was dear to them; [rather] they whetted his confident ardour, and beheld [i.e. prognisticated] a happy issue. The good [chief] had chosen fighting men from among the tribes of the Geatas, of those that he could find keenest [for war]; with fourteen comrades he sought the vessel; a man, a skilled mariner, pointed out the landmarks. The time flew on; the ship floated on the waves; the bark [lay] under the hill. The seamen with alacrity climbed on to her stem; the streams rolled, the water [dashed] against the sand. The mariners bore a bright freight into the vessel's hold, a well-appointed war-array; the crew, -- men on a volunteer cruise, -- shoved off the banded bark. Then the foamy-necked cruiser, hurried on by the wind, flew over the sea, most like to a bird, until, about the first hour of the next day, the vessel with twisted stem had run [so far], that the mariners saw land, the sea-cliffs glittering, -- steep mountains, large headlands. Then was the ocean voyage at an end.
[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 shelter of earls [Beowulf] would not for anything have let that murderous assailant go away alive, nor counted he his life-days serviceable to any people. Then many an earl of Beowulf's drew his old sword; he would save the life of his lord and master, that great prince, so far as they might do so. They knew not, these stout sons of battle, when they encountered the strife, and thought to hew down on every side, to seek [Grendel's] life, [that] no iron on earth, though of the best, no war battle-axe, would make a dint on that foul ravager. But he [Beowulf] had forsworn the weapons of war, every edged blade. His [Grendel's] passing away from existence, on the day of this life, was doomed to be miserable, and the mighty spirit was to journey far away into the power of the fiends. [For] then did he, who many a time ere now, in mirth of mood, had wrought crimes against human kind (he was at variance with God), find that his bodily frame would do him no service; but the valiant kinsman of Higelac held him by the hand. Each was to the other hateful while living. The fiendish monster endured sore pain of the body; on his shoulder a gaping wound was apparent, the sinews started, the flesh burst. To Beowulf the glory of the fight was given;
[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.
}
Then the prince of warlike Geatas (he shrank not at all from the fray) seized Grendel's mother by the shoulder; then the doughty fighter, for he was enraged, shook his deadly adversary, so that she sank down on the place. She on her part quickly paid him back in his own coin with a terrible clutch of the hand, and grappled with him. Then that foot-soldier, strongest of warriors, weary of spirit, over-reached himself, so that he fell. Then she sat upon that hall-guest, and took her dagger, broad, brown-edged; she would avenge her bairn, her own heir. His linked coat of mail lay on his shoulder; that protected his life; against point and against edge it withstood entrance. Then would the son of Ecgtheow have gone the way of death under the vast ground, the champion of the Geatas, unless his war-corselet, that hard coat of chain-mail, had afforded him help, and holy God, the all-knowing Lord, the Ruler of the heavens, awarded victory; he settled it aright, easily when he [Beowulf] again stood up.
Then he saw among the stuff a blade blessed with victory, an old sword of Jotun times, with finest edge, the glory of warriors; that was the very pick of weapons, save that it was larger than any other man could carry forth to the game of war, -- good and properly fitted, the work of giants. He, the champion of the Scyldings, fierce and savage, seized that belted hilt; hopeless of life, he drew the ringed blade, fiercely he struck, so that it smote heavily upon her neck, burst the vertebræ; the blade drove right through her doomed carcase; she sank down on the place. The sword was gory, 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.
}
He for that had requitted him his due meed, the fierce warrior, to that degree that he [now] saw Grendel, war-weary, lying lifeless on a couch, so much had the fight at Heorot, some time before, injured him. The corpse burst asunder, when he after death suffered a slashing stroke, a hard swinging sword-cut, and [Beowulf] then cut off his head.
[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.
}
[Wiglaf's] shield was burnt up . . . . . by the fiery waves; his corselet might not furnish help to the young warrior. But the young man hastily went under his kinsman's shield, as his own was destroyed by the flames. Then still the warrior-king bethought him of his deeds of fame; with all his might and force he struck with his good sword, so that it descended on [the Dragon's] head, by fury urged. Nægling, Beowulf's own sword, old and grey-bladed, was shivered in pieces; it failed in the conflict; it was not granted to him that the edges of steel blades might help him in the fight; the hand was too strong which, from what I could learn, with its swinging stroke over-tasked every blade; when he to the conflict bore a weapon, wonderously hard, it was not a whit the better for him.
Then, for the third time, the great scather, the fierce Fire-drake, was minded to attack; he rushed on the bold [chief], then he amply requited him, hot and exceedingly fierce; he clasped him round the neck in his horrid coils; he [Beowulf] was drenched in his life-blood; the blood spurted out in streams.
Then I learnt that at his true prince's need the earl displayed unceasing valour, strength, and energy, as to him was natural; nor did he keep clear of his [the Dragon's] head, but the hand of the valiant man was burnt, when he helped by his prowess; then (?) he, the armed soldier, beat down a little of the malignant enemy, so that the sword drove down, many-hued and with plated hilt, so that the fire began after that to abate. Then again the king himself recovered his senses, his deadly knife he drew, bitter and exceeding sharp, that he bore on his corselet. The protector of the Weders slashed the Serpent in the middle. They felled the foe: the valour expelled his life, and they both, the noble kinsmen, had despatched him;
