[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 brave man of the tribe of the Geats, a thane of Hygelac, heard in his homeland of Grendel's deeds. He was the strongest and mightiest man alive, noble and stalwart. He ordered a good ship prepared for him, saying he wished to seek out the warrior king over the road of the swans, since the glorious leader had need of men. Wise men did not blame him for this venture, although he was dear to them; they encouraged the brave man, and looked at the omens. The hero had chosen the keenest champions he could find among the Geatish people, and it was as one of fifteen that he led the way to the ship, and skilled seaman guiding his band along the shore.
In good time the boat was on the waves, floating under the cliffs. Watchful men climbed the prow. The ocean streams eddied, sea washed against sand, as the men bore bright trappings and splendid armor into the ship. The men shoved out; the warriors launched the well-braced craft on the longed-for journey. Driven by the wind, the boat went over the billowy sea, foamy necked, like a bird, until in due time on the following day the curved prow had advanced so that the seafarers saw land; they sighted the shining sea cliffs, the steep banks of the shore, the broad headlands. The sea had been crossed and the voyage was 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 last thing the chief of heroes wished was to let the murderous intruder go alive; he did not consider Grendel's life to be useful to anyone. Now Beowulf's noble companions were drawing their ancient swords, wishing to defend the life of the lord, their glorious leader, in any way they could. The stouthearted warriors engaged in combat and tried to hew at the monster from every side, seeking his life, but what they did not know was that no sword could touch the evildoer, not even the choicest steel on earth: for he had cast a spell which made weapons useless, every blade!
But he was to make a miserable parting from life on that day; the alien spirit was destined to travel afar in the power of fiends. Now he who had afflicted the hearts of mankind so much in earlier days and had committed so many crimes - he was at odds with God - discovered that his body was of no use to him, for Hygelac's brave kinsman had him in his grip.
Neither could bear to see the other stay alive. The horrible monster felt mortal pain as a huge wound tore apart his shoulder; his sinews sprang open and muscle ripped from bone.
[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 leader of the Geats did not flinch from the battle: he seized Grendel's mother by the shoulder. In a fury, the bold warrior flung the deadly foe so that she fell to the floor. She quickly retaliated with grim grasps and seized him; weary in sprit, the strongest of champions stumbled and fell down.
The demon pounced on the intruder, drew her knife, broad and bright of edge - she wished to avenge her child, her only son. The woven mail which covered Beowulf's shoulder protected his life and withstood the entry of point and edge. Ecgtheow's son, the Geatish champion, would have perished then under the earth if his armor, the hard war mail, had not given him help; and holy God brought about victory in battle. The wise Lord, Ruler of the heavens, easily decided the issue rightly, after Beowulf stood up again.
Among the armor in that place he saw a victorious sword: an ancient giant's sword, strong of edge, the glory of warriors. It was the choicest of weapons except that this good and splendid work of giants was too huge for any other man to carry in battle. The grim, fierce defender of the Danes seized the chained hilt and drew the ring-marked sword, despairing of life; angrily he struck so that it took her hard against the neck and broke the bone-rings. The sword cut right through her doomed body and she fell to the floor. The sword was bloody; 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.
}
The fierce warrior had repaid him for that so that now he found Grendel lying in his resting-place, wearied by war, dead of his injuries at the fight in Heorot. The corpse burst wide open when it suffered a blow after death; Beowulf cut off its head with a hard stroke of the sword.
[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.
}
Waves of fire advanced toward them. The linden shield burnt to the rim, and the young warrior's mail could give him no help: but when his own was destroyed by flames, the youth boldly went under his kinsman's shield. The warlike king was still intent on glory, and he struck with his sword, using such great strength that it drove into the dragon's head. But the force of the blow completely shattered Beowulf's sword, Nægling: the bright heirloom failed in battle. It was not granted to him that any sword could help him in battle, for his hand was too strong. I have heard that his stroke overtaxed every sword; no matter how hard a weapon he bore to battle, it did not help him at all.
Now the enemy of men made up his mind to fight for the third time; the terrible, fiery dragon rushed at the hero when it saw its chance. The red-hot ferocious beast encircled Beowulf's neck with its bitter tusks, bathing him in his life's blood; blood flowed in streams.
But then, I have heard, in this moment of need, the noble warrior at the king's side showed his valor, the skill and boldness which was his nature. The brave man paid no attention to the dragon's head, although his hand burned as he helped his kinsman, and he struck the hostile creature lower down; the shining sword sank in so that the fire began to die down at once. Now the king himself collected his wits and drew the deadly knife, keen and battle sharp, which he wore on his armor; the protector of the Geats slashed through the serpent in the middle. They had felled the enemy - valor had driven out its life, and the two kindred noblemen had killed it.
