[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.
}
In his homeland, a thane of Hygelac's,
excellent among the Geats, heard of Grendel's deeds;
he was the greatest in strength among men
at that time in this life,
noble and mighty. He ordered a good ship
to be prepared for him; said he would seek
the war-king, the famous prince,
over the swan's road, since he had need of men.
Wise men found very little fault with him
for that venture, | though he was dear to them;
they encouraged the valiant man, examined the omens.
From the people of the Geats a hero
had chosen warriors, the bravest
he could find; with fourteen others
he sought the ship, a man skilled
in sea-craft led the way to the shore.
Time passed on; the ship was on the waves,
the boat under the cliff. The warriors, equipped,
climbed on the prow; currents eddied,
sea against sand. Men bore
into the bosom of the ship bright trappings,
splendid war-gear; the men shoved out
the well-braced ship, warriors on a willing journey.
[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.
}
The man of the War-Geats then seized Grendel's
mother by the hair -- he grieved not at the struggle --
hardy in battle, enraged as he was,
he flung his deadly foe so that she fell on the floor.
In turn she quickly paid him back
with fierce | grasps and clutched at him;
then weary-hearted, the strongest of fighters,
the foot-warrior, stumbled so that he fell.
Then she sat on the hall-guest and drew her dagger,
broad and bright-edged; she was minded to avenge her son,
her only offspring. Upon his shoulder lay
the woven mail-coat; that protected his life,
prevented entry of point and edge.
The son of Ecgtheow, the warrior of the Geats,
would then have perished under the wide earth,
if his war-corselet had not provided help,
his stout mail-coat -- and holy God
achieved victory in war; the wise Lord,
Ruler of the heavens, decided it aright,
easily, when he stood up again.
He saw then among the arms a victory-blest blade,
an old sword made by giants, strong in its edges,
the glory of warriors; that [was] the best of weapons,
except that it was greater than any other man
could carry to the battle-play,
good and splendid, the work of giants.
The Scylding warrior, fierce and deadly grim, seized
despairing of life, | struck angrily
so that the hard weapon caught her on the neck,
broke the bone-rings. The blade passed through
her fated body; on the floor she fell.
The sword was bloody, the man rejoiced in his deed.
[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.
}
[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.
}
...Flame advanced in waves,
the shield burned right up to the boss; the byrny
could not provide help to the young spear-warrior,
but the young man under his kinsman's shield
fought valiantly, when his own [was]
destroyed by flames. Then the war-king,
mindful again of glory, with great strength struck
with his battle-sword, so that it struck the head,
impelled by hostility; Nægling broke,
Beowulf's sword, | ancient, steel-grey,
failed him in battle. It was not granted him
that the edges of swords might
help in the battle; too strong was the hand which,
as I have heard, over-taxed every sword
with its stroke, when he bore to battle
a weapon hardened with wounds; it availed him not at all.
Then, for the third time, the ravager of the people,
the terrible fire-dragon, intent on hostile deeds,
rushed on the brave man, when occasion favoured him,
hot and battle-fierce. It clasped his whole neck
with sharp tusks; he was made bloody
with life-blood, the gore surged in streams.
Then, I have heard that, in the need of the people's king,
the eorl at his side displayed courage,
his strength and boldness, as was natural to him.
He did not pay heed to the head, but the brave man's hand
was burned when he helped his kinsman,
as the man in armour struck the malicious stranger
a little lower down, so that the sword sank in,
gleaming and gold-plated; and then the fire began
to subside. Then the king himself again
controlled his senses, drew the deadly knife,
biting and battle-sharp, that he carried on his byrny;
the | protector of the Weders cut the serpent through the middle.
They had felled the foe -- their valour had driven out its life --
