[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.
}
Far off in his home a thane of Hygelac, named Beowulf, famed among the Geats, heard of the deeds of Grendel. He was a man of mighty valor, noble and powerful. At once he made ready. He would sail far over the sea and seek out the king of the Danes, who had need of men. Nor did Beowulf's kinsmen discourage him from the dangerous journey, though they loved him dearly.
Then this bold Geat chose the comrades he would take with him, the keenest warriors he could find, fourteen in number. Time passed and the ship was ready; the boat was drawn up under the bluff, where the waves were churning the sea with the sand. The warriors bore to the vessel their shining war-gear, their mail, and weapons. The men pushed off and the boat, built of strong timbers, was on its way. Like a bird sped by the wind the ship moved over the waters. They sailed over their course with such swiftness that on the second day they sighted the land of the Danes. They saw the sea-cliffs shining, the steep hills, and the broad headlands. Their journey was ended.
[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.
}
--- Caught in Beowulf's fierce grip, Grendel cried aloud in anguish. Beowulf would not suffer that murderous one to live.
Now many of Beowulf's warriors drew their weapons to aid their lord. They did not know, as they came close to Grendel, striking at him from every side with their swords, that no blade fashioned on earth could do him harm. He laid his spell on every weapon and none could hurt him. But the evil one, who had wrought murder many a time in days past, found that his strength had failed him. The bold kinsman of Hygelac held him fast. As they struggled the monster took a fearful hurt; a great wound showed on his shoulder, his sinews cracked and the bones broke. Now was the victory given to Beowulf, and Grendel, sick unto death, fled to his den in the dark moor. He knew that his wound was mortal-- that the end of his days had come, the last of his life on earth.
[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 lord of the Geats-- he shrank not from the combat-- seized Grendel's mother by the shoulders. So fiercely he flung her, in his great wrath, that she fell to the ground. She rose swiftly and grappled with him, clutching with her sharp claws. Worn with struggle, Beowulf, mightiest of warriors, stumbled and fell to earth. The monster hurled herself on the stranger in her hall and drew her dagger to avenge her son. Then had the son of Ecgtheow, bravest of the Geats, gone to his death had not his breast-mail, his stout battle-coat, withstood the blade. Quickly he gained his feet, unharmed by the blow.
Then Beowulf caught sight of an old sword of the giants hanging on the wall, a weapon unmatched and prized by ancient warriors, save that it was heavier than most men could wield. The giants had wrought it and made its edges ready and keen. Beowulf, bold and grim with battle, seized it by the chain hilt. Reckless of his life, he brandished the sword and smote his enemy with such wrath that the hard edge gripped her neck and the bones broke. The blade pierced her flesh and she sank lifeless to the floor.
[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 would now pay Grendel back for the many raids he had waged on the Danish folk. And with a savage sword-stroke Beowulf cut off Grendel's 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.
}
As he spoke, the dragon came on once again, a fearful foe, made with hate, breathing fire. The shield of the young spearsman burned to the boss in the waves of flame and his breastplate gave him no shelter. Quickly he went under his kinsman's shield, since his own was consumed by the fire. Again Beowulf remembered his deeds of glory and with a mighty blow drove his sword into the dragon's head, a blow made strong with hate. But the sword broke. The sword of Beowulf failed him in the strife; it was not given to him that the edge of steel might help him much in battle. His hand was too strong and the weight of of his blow was often too great for the blade carried, no matter how sturdy the blade.
Then for the third time the fiery dragon rushed on the hero. Its bitter fangs sank in his neck, and the waves of blood gushed over Beowulf's breast.
It was now, when his prince was hard beset, that Wiglaf made known his skill and enduring courage. Heedless of danger, though his hand was burned, he came to his kinsman's aid. On the lower side of its body, beneath the scales, he smote the dragon with his sword and drove in the bright and and burnished steel. It was a telling blow and the flames of the dragon weakened. Then Beowulf gathered his strength once more and drew his war-knife, a sharp and biting dagger that hung from his breatsplate. And the king of the Geats cut the dragon in two through the middle. So they felled their foe and flung forth its life. Thus they killed the dragon, the two kinsmen together.
