[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.
}
Of Grendel's deeds the tidings reached a valiant
Gothic knight,
Highborn, a thane of Higelac; no mortal man in might
In this life's day was like to him. A goodly ship he
bade
Make ready the swan's path to sail, that he might
carry aid
To that great lord, the warrior king, now in his time
of need.
And, though they loved him well, wise churls but
lightly blamed the deed,
They looked for happy end to come, and whetted his
bold mind.
Now had he chosen fighting men, the keenest he
could find
Of Gothic race; fifteen in all down to the ship they
went.
A seaman skilled the landmarks told; and now the
time was spent;
Below the cliff the vessel lay afloat upon the tide,
And while the waves broke on the sand the heroes
climbed her side.
Into her lap a gleaming freight of goodly arms they
bore,
And then they pushed with willing hearts the close-
ribbed bark from shore.
Now foamy-throated o'er the seas the ship before
the gale
Flew like a bird; and far and fast the wreathed stem
did sail
Till with morn's first hour the land broke on the
sailor's sight,
The headlands great and mountains steep and sea-cliffs
[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.
}
Fast was he held by him to whom the greatest might
was given
Of all men in this day of life. For nothing under
heaven
Would he, the shield of earls, alive that murderer let
loose,
Nor the counted he his own life's-day to any folk of use.
Then many of Beowulf's earls unsheathed the good
old sword
To save the life, if so they might, of their great prince
and lord.
They knew it not, these fighters keen, when mingling
in the fray,
Thinking to hew about them well and tear the soul
away,
That not the choicest blade on earth nor war-bill e'er
could bite
That scather foul; but edge of sword and every
weapon bright
Beowulf had forsworn. Yet doomed this day to
wretched end
Was that bad sprite, and in the power of devils far to
wend!
The foe of God, who oft before in mirthful mood had
wrought
Mischief upon mankind, now found his body served
him nought;
Still of his hand the valiant thane of Higelac kept hold.
Hateful to each the other's life: sore pangs the mon-
ster tholed;
Soon on his shoulder yawned a wound, atwain sprang
sinews riven,
Sundered was flesh-- and joy of war was to Beowulf
[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.
}
Reckless of peril then the warrior Goth the shoulders
grasped
Of Grendel's dam, and full of wrath, in deadly wrestle
clasped
And flung her on the ground. But him with fierce
clutch soon she gripped
And paid him back; and overworn, though strong,
the warrior slipped,
And fell to earth. On him she sat and drew her glaive
from sheath,
Brown-edged and broad, athirst to take revenge for
her son's death.
But on his breast the linked mail lay that point and
edge withstood,
And saved his life, for then had died the Gothic
warrior good,
The son of Ecgtheow, 'neath the deep, but that the
war-mail hard,
The battle-corselet, gave him help; and holy God,
heaven's guard,
The Lord all-wise, gave judgment true when on his
feet once more
Beowulf stood. A glorious sword he saw amid the
store,
An Eoten brand, the warrior's keen edged, the
choicest made;
Only it greater was than any weaker man had swayed
In war-play; good and lordly wrought, the giant work
of old.
He seized it by the belted hilt, the Scyldings'
champion bold!
Hopeless of life, but stern and grim, the mighty blade
he drew;
Full at her neck he fiercely smote-- a stroke so hard
and true
The bone-rings broke-- through flesh foredoomed
sheer went the sword, and dead
Down on the floor she fell; the chief had joy of 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.
}
But now to him the warrior good could well the debt
repay
When, lying on the bench, he saw war-weary Grendel
[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.
}
The dragon came in wrath to seek his hated foe again.
Burned the broad targe in waves of fire; no help was
corselet then,
To that brave youth; he shelter took beneath his
kinsman's shield--
His own was burnt away. Then did the king his war-
bill wield,
Mindful of fame, and on the head he dealt a mighty
stroke.
But that good sword, the old grey steel-- Nægling--
gave way and broke!--
Not to Beowulf was it given that steel should lend
him aid
In battle-strife; too strong the arm whose swing o'er-
tasked the blade.
Though wondrous keen the sword he bore for him it
nought did gain.
A third time then the fiery drake, the people's dire-
ful bane,
Bent on revenge, when room was given, rushed on
the warrior bold,
Burning and fierce, and clasped his neck in many a
deadly fold,
So that the king was drenched with gore, in streams
the life-blood flowed.
Then, at his liege lord's need, the earl undying valour
showed,
And inborn strength and worth. His head he heeded
not to save,
Burnt was his valiant hand as help with all his
strength he gave.
Yet somewhat did the warrior armed beat down the
deadly foe.
Plunged deep the goodly hilted sword, and made the
flames burn low.
Back to the king his senses came; the fatal dirk he
drew,
Which on his corselet hung full sharp, and stabbed
the dragon through.
The noble kinsmen felled the foe; their valour took
