[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.
}
Then heard in his home Hygelac's kinsman,
great among the Geats, of Grendel's deeds.
Mighty he was, of men the brawniest,
of mortal heroes highest in power,
both strong and noble. 'Make ready a ship,'
he bade them, and said, a battle-king he
over the swan-road would seek out the prince,
the king so renowned who had need of men.
His prudent henchmen to hold him back
made little attempt, though beloved was he;
they praised the venture, and viewed the omens.
From the Geats the chieftain had chosen his warriors,
the keenest among them as comrades and friends.
With fourteen followers whom he found to his liking
he marched to the shore, to the ship that waited,
a mariner trained with his men behind him.
The hour had come; at the hill's base rode
the boat on the waves. The warriors mounted
the prow of the ship, while the surf came splashing,
sea against sand; they stowed their gear,
their weapons bright in the breast of the vessel,
their war-gear splendid. Then the warriors eager
pushed out the boat well-bound and sturdy.
Over the waters by the wind impelled
went the foamy-necked ship like a flying bird.
For a day it waded the deep unchecked,
the craft with its prow that was proudly uplifted,
[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 guardian of warriors
would in no wise leave alive the destroyer,
accounting him wholly an encumbrance to folk.
Round about Beowulf brandished his comrades
their ancient weapons, wished to protect
the life of their prince, their lord so glorious,
if they in any wise a way might find.
They were not aware when they went to the battle,
those warriors eager who entered the fray,
hacking and hewing with hearts that were bold,
seeking with iron the soul of the monster,
that him no weapon, no war-bill on earth,
though the choicest of swords, might cleave or harm;
for he had upon him the power of a spell,
an enchantment had woven that warded from him
the edge of them all. Yet his end was to be,
when the time of death came, the day of departure,
[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 prince of the Geats was glad in the struggle;
manful in contest he caught by the shoulder
the mother of Grendel, gripped her so fiercely
in his furious onrush that she fell to the ground.
She recovered quickly and caught him in turn,
repaid the attack with a terrible onset.
Though the strongest of warriors, he with weariness staggered
and crashed to the earth. The creature uncanny
pressed down upon him and drew her broad knife
with its shining edge her son to avenge,
her only born. But his armor woven,
a corslet linked, his life protected,
kept from entering sword-edge and sword-point.
Save for his armor, the son of Ecgtheow,
the prince of the Geats, would have gone his far journey
that day under ground. His doughty corslet
helped him and saved him; the holy Lord
the victory gave, for God the wise,
the Heavenly Counsellor decreed it thus.
He won to his feet, and the war-gear among
saw a victory-bringing blade gigantic,
a sword strong of edge, ancient, splendid,
a glory of warriors, of weapons the choicest.
So mighty it was that no man but he
could ever have wielded that work of giants
or borne into battle the beautiful sword.
The Scyldings' defender, fierce and enraged,
siezed the chased hilt, swung the sword on high,
for his life was at stake; then struck with fury.
So strong was the blow that the bones of her neck
broke with the might of it; the blade pierced through
[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.
}
Him the champion
sternly requited when he saw at rest
the lifeless body of Grendel lying,
doomed in the struggle he suffered at Heorot,
dead in the cavern. His corpse sprang wide
as the sword-blade fell, for the stroke of the hero
[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.
}
--- In the heat of the flames
his shield with its boss was burned, while his corselet
was useless to aid the youthful warrior,
but the shield of his kinsman gave shelter to him
when his own devoured in the vomit of flame.
Then the king once more, the mighty in battle,
remembered his glory, with main strength struck,
wielded with fury his war-blade Nægling,
and drove it home in the head of the dragon.
But shivered and failed the sword of Beowulf,
the gray and ancient. His gift it was not
that blades of iron might ever in battle
help him to conquer. His hand was too strong,
the strain too great when he struck, I am told,
for any weapon he wielded in combat,
though wondrously tempered; nor well was it for him.
Then a third time advanced the violent foe,
the furious dragon in a fiery charge;
rushed on the chieftain when its chance had come
with a fierce attack, and fastened its jaws
in the neck of Beowulf, whose blood with his life
poured out from the wound in waves of gore.
In the king's distress his comrade in arms
showed forth his courage by a feat of might,
with the boldness and strength that were bred in his line.
