[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 Hygelac, excellent among the Goths, heard in his home of the deeds of Grendel. He was, in the day of this life, the strongest in might of mankind; noble and powerful. He bade make ready for him a good wave-crossing ship; said he would seek out the War-King, the great prince, over the Swan's-road, since he had need of men. Not at all did prudent people blame him for that voyage, dear to them though he was; they whetted him -- the stout hearted-one; they looked for good omens. The brave one had chosen fighting men from the people of the Goths, the keenest he could find of them; he took ship; some fifteen in all. A skilful seafaring man pointed out the landmarks.
The time passed on; the ship was on the waves, under the mountain the boat; the warriors ready, stepped up on to the prow; the billows rolled the sea upon the sand. The warriors carried into the bosom of the ship, bright ornaments, splendid war-gear; the men -- men on a willing journey -- shoved out the timber-braced craft. Then, most like to a bird, the foamy-necked floater went, wind-driven over the sea wave, until at the same hour of the next day the curved prow had ploughed along so far that the travellers saw land, the sea-cliffs shine, steep mountains, broad headlands of the sea. The sea was crossed; the 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.
}
He held him fast -- he who was strongest of men in the day of this life. The Defender of the Earls would not on any account let the death-bringer escape alive -- he did not account Grendel's life days useful to any people! There did many an earl of Beowulf's draw an old ancestral sword, wished to defend the life of the dear lord, the famous chief -- if so they might. They knew not, indeed, when they risked the contest -- stout-hearted battle heroes -- and thought to hew him on every side to seek out his soul, that not any of the choicest weapons on earth, no war-sword, was able to touch the ceaseless destroyer, because he had laid a spell upon the victorious weapons, upon every kind of blade. His life-parting from the days of this life was to be miserable, and the alien spirit was to journey far into the power of fiends. Then he who formerly in mirth of mood had devised many crimes against mankind hostile to GOD found out that his body would not last, for the brave kinsman of Hygelac had him by the hand. Each while he lived was hateful of the other. The evil monster suffered pain of body; on his shoulder was manifest a spreading wound; the sinews sprang asunder, the flesh burst. To Beowulf was given the battle-glory;...
[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.
}
... Recking naught of the fight, the lord of the Goths then seized Grendel's mother by the shoulder; hardy in battle, all furious as he was, he threw his deadly foe so that she fell to the floor. She quickly repaid him his hand-grip with her fierce claws, and held him fast, Then, weary of spirit, he overreached himself -- he, strongest of warriors and fighters on foot -- so that he fell. Then sat she upon the hall-guest and drew her knife, broad and bright-edged. She would avenge her child, her only offspring! On his shoulder lay the braided breast-net; that it was that saved his life, withstood entrance against point and against edge. Then had the son of Ecgtheow, chieftain of the Goths, perished beneath the vast ground, had not the battle-coat, the hard war-net afforded him help, and Holy GOD, the All-wise Lord, had power over victory in war. The Ruler of Heaven adjudged it right when Beowulf stood up again. Then saw he among the war-gear a victory-blessed blade, an old Eotenish sword, strong of edge, glory of warriors; it was the choicest of weapons, but it was greater than any other man could carry into battle-play, good and splendid, the work of the Giants. He, then, warrior of the Scyldings, raging and battle-fierce, seized the banded hilt, drew forth the treasure-sword; hopeless of life he struck furiously so that it held hard against her neck and broke the bone-rings; the blade went all through her doomed body; she fell on 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, fierce warrior, repaid him for that, insomuch that he saw Grendel lying at rest, war-weary, lifeless, maimed, as he was in the fight at Heorot. Far bounded the body when, after death, it suffered the stroke, the strong swing of the sword. And then he cut the head off.
[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 burned up to the boss by the fire waves; the mail-coat could afford no aid to the youthful spear-fighter; but the young man went bravely on under his kinsman's shield when his own was destroyed by the flames. Then once more the war-king remembered his renown; struck with main strength with his battle-sword so that it stood fast in the head, driven in with hostile force. 'Naegling' snapped asunder -- Beowulf's sword, ancient and grey-marked, failed in fight! It was not granted to him that edges of iron should help him in the strife. Too strong was the hand which, as I have heard, overtaxed every sword with its swing; it was no whit the better for him when he took into battle a weapon wondrous hard.
Then for the third time was the Destroyer of people, the dread Fire-drake, mindful of the feud, he rushed upon the hero, when he yielded room to him; hot and battle-fierce he enclosed his whole neck with sharp teeth. He was all bloodied over with life gore; the war-sweat welled forth in streams.
Then, as I have heard, in the need of the people's king the hero showed unceasing courage, skill, and keenness, as was natural to him; he heeded not the head -- albeit the brave man's hand was burned while he helped his kinsman -- but he struck the evil beast a little lower down -- man-at-arms that he was! -- so that the shining and gold-adorned sword plunged in, and the fire began to abate forthwith. Then, once more, the king himself got possession of his senses, drew the slaying-knife, keen and battle-sharp, which he wore on his coat-of-mail. The Weders' Protector cut through the Dragon in the middle.
They felled the foe; their might drove forth his life, and they two, the kinsmen-nobles, had then destroyed him. ...
