[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.
}
Meanwhile, a thane amonst the clan of
Hygelac heard of Grendel's outrages.
No greater man amongst the Geats, or amongst mankind,
Upon that day, within this life,
In strength and in nobility. A sturdy vessel of the sea
At once did he commission, swearing that he would
Sail the wild-swan's-way, and seek this
Famous battle-king, of men bereft and needy.
And from the greatest champions of the Geatish people,
He took choice of the fourteen bravest
To be found, and fifteen men approached
The ocean's timber, sure-footed, one leading.
Sea-crafted, to the land's frontier,
Where boat balanced upon waves,
Sea-cliff-shadowed ship, and soldiers
Climbed aboard, and crept down winding stream.
Safe within her breast
The men had born beautiful battle-gear,
Polished and precious and pushed out to ocean,
Men on a mission in masterly vessel.
Over water they glided, guided by the wind
Like a foamy-crested-seabird.
And on the second day, just as they were due to,
Noble-prowed and nimble-crafted,
Seafarers saw land.
Cliffs a-sparkle, steep and craggy hills
And headlands high. And there was horizon traversed,
[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.
}
[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.
}
Content to enter into feud, he caught her by the hair,
The man of the Geats, against Grendel's mother.
Contorted in fury he flung her to floor, and she fell,
Battle-hardened, bitter enemy of life.
Without delay did she repay this deed:
With gruesome grip she grabbed him nearer,
Mighty soldier, weary, stumbled,
Foot-retainer, fell to floor,
And she, unsheathing dagger, climbed upon her guest of honour,
And with bright blade gleaming, her baby to avenge,
Her son, her only child...but across his chest he wore
The woven war-net, defending against
Slashing or stabbing, withstanding penetration, and
defending his life.
Mounted upon wall, he saw a sword of victory,
Resonating glory, by giants wrought;
Pristine-edged, most perfect weapon,
But that none could bear it into battle,
No other man could lift it into play;
Crafted by a monster's race, mighty and bold,
And Beowulf took hold of that buckled-hilt,
And battle-grim, he drew it from its sheath;
Life abandoned, he lunged forward,
That the edge might connect with the neck,
Breaking bone cord. The blade sliced through
The flesh of the fated one, and she fell to 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.
}
Of the many precious treasures that man
Saw about the hall, Beowulf took only
The decapitated head of Grendel, (whose corpse he'd found),
[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.
}
Hell-bent on battle the fire beast
Launched a third attack. He saw his chance
And charged pell-mell upon his foe,
Roasting with battle-rage, ripping Beowulf by the neck,
Sinking his mouth-bones deep into blood,
And the death-sweat flowed in streams.
I have since heard it said that by the great king's side,
That young man made his valour known,
Boldness and battle-skill, virtues irrepressible within him.
Aiming away from the head of the beast,
And searing the skin off his hand, he struck the
Loathed creature somewhat lower than his lord had done,
Sunk his blade, gold and gleaming, deep into
The serpent's underside, and with this flame
Subsided. The king recovered
Consciousness. He drew a dagger,
Battle-sharp and hungry, from his coat of mail
And hacked at reptilian heart.
Together they dispatched him; dispelled his dragon life.
