[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 faraway home Hygelac's thane, famous among Geats, heard the Grendel stories. Of all men, he was the strongest of his time, in his world the noblest, the tallest.
He commissioned a good wave rider; he made it known that he would seek, across the swan's course, the battle king. He would find the chief who was in need of warriors. No wise men cautioned him against the venture, though they loved him; they emboldened his mighty soul; they studied the omens.
The prince of Geats had chosen bold fighters, the finest, the bravest of champions. Fourteen men followed him to the sea bark; a sea-learned man showed them the shore. In little time they secured the craft, then freed the boat beneath the hanging crags. They clambered up on the prow. The tide slept and wakened while they stored their weapons in the belly of the ship -- their embellished armor, battle wear. Then, eager as they were, they shoved off their well-made wave crester.
Across seas watched only by heaven's eye they sailed, the foam-necked rider flying like a wind-blown bird, until, on only the second day, the crescent prow had traveled so far that land was sighted -- glittering sea cliffs, rock-strewn shores, wide headlands. Thus they consumed the ocean; their journey was complete.
[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.
}
That most powerful of men in his own lifetime hugged the monster to his breast. The savior of warriors would not let hell's visitor escape from death; he knew the murderer alive was useless to folk.
Beowulf's men drew forth their swords, heirlooms all; to defend their renowned captain's life was their wish. The loyal soldiers could not know as they brandished their weapons that the finest iron in this world, the sharpest edge, was nothing to him, the wide-destroying creature. Every weapon of war had been bewitched by him.
His breath was relinquishing, life forsaking, would be horrible to him; this alien soul would be forced to travel deep into the power of fiends.
Then he found, the one who carried torment to humans through his awful sins -- in contention with God -- that his skin was no shield to him, that the nephew of Hygelac owned his hand. Then each, alive, was abomination to the other.
The gruesome monster was body wounded by the warrior; his arm was torn from his shoulder; tendons quivered, muscles slid, separated from bones. Beowulf was given the victory;
[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.
}
He took her shoulder -- never did he evade the fight -- the War-Geat prince against Grendel's mother; he was stout in combat, now that he was pushed to fury, and flung his death enemy to the ground.
Up she came; she smote him with her nailed hand, an awful blow; she hugged him to her breast; then the foot warrior, of champions the strongest, stumbled. Tired in his soul, he fell to the ground.
She hunkered on her hall guest and pulled her broad bright dagger, a sharp tool, to buy back the life of her son, her only kin.
Across the width of his shoulders was the iron breast net; it saved his life, stopped the point and edge from entering.
He might have died then, the son of Ecgtheow, the warrior-Geat, far beneath where men used the earth, if his battle-shirt, his armored mesh, had not been of help to him and if Holy God had not made him victorious, the Heaven Ruler; He decided it easily.
The hero stood up again. He noticed among the hall gear a champion blade, a sword fashioned by giants, a perfect edge, a warrior's famed weapon, the best there was, but so much bigger than any other man could have lifted in war meeting; good it was, and great, a giant's work.
He took it up at the ring-embellished hilt, the benefactor of the Scyldings; battle-grim, fierce, despairing of life after this, he raised the killing tool and swung it at her throat, hard; it sliced through skin and flesh, severed the bone rings of her fated neck; she sank to the ground. The sword was blood slick; the man, gladdened.
[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 repaid him, the fierce champion, for now he saw, laid on the ground, the lifeless body of Grendel, his arm gone from the death battle at Heorot.
The corpse sprang apart as he pushed the blade deep into it with a hard-driven stroke; he carved off the 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.
}
Fire waves enveloped the shield; it burned to the boss; his mail shirt was of no use to the young fighter, but he was courageous -- he dove under his kinsman's shield, his own in ashes from the fire.
Then the war king recollected his former honor, and with great fervor wielded his blade, dealt his sword's edge, hard; it stuck in the head; Naegling burst asunder -- the sword of Beowulf, ancient and shining.
It was not granted that iron edges would help him in the fight; the hand was too strong, as I have heard, that swung each sword, wound-tempered weapon, that he brought to war; thus he was no better for it.
The folk hounder, that fire dragon, for the third time lunged at the famed fighter, saw his chance, hot and war grim, caught him and sank bitter fangs into the neck; he wore blood, the blood of the king, life's blood in waves welling.
Then I have heard that, at the folk king's need, his warrior stood hardly beside him, with craft and boldness as was his birthright. Nor did he go for the head, he whose worthy hand was burnt up when, to aid his kinsman, the armed hero pierced that hateful barrow holder lower down -- gleaming, golden, the sword drove in. Only after that did the flames abate.
The king, the help of the Weders, once more pulled himself together, yanked his death gnawer, that battle-keen knife, from his chained shirt, and cut the beast in two.
Imprudence had seized his soul, but together the two noble warriors had felled their foe, had ravaged him.
