[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.
}
But one of Hygelac's followers, in his far-off country, heard about Grendel's doings. Well-born, stalwart, and the strongest of living men, this man was a hero among the Geats. He ordered a seaworthy vessel to be equipped, and announced that he was crossing the sea to pay a visit to Hrothgar, since that famous prince stood in need of men. The wise did not really blame him for undertaking this expedition, although they loved him; but they urged him on, and watched the omens. From among the Geats the hero picked the bravest men that he could find, and took fourteen of them with him to the ship. Himself an experienced seaman, he led the way to the shore.
Soon the boat was launched and afloat below the headland. The soldiers, in full harness, came aboard by the prow and stowed a cargo of polished armour and magnificent war-equipment amidships, while the sea churned and surf beat against the beach. Then the adventurers, bound on the voyage they had eagerly desired, pushed off their well-braced vessel. With a fair wind behind and a bone in her teeth, the curved prow skimmed over the sea like a bird, until in due course on the second day she had sailed far enough for the voyagers to make a landfall -- glistening cliffs, high mountains, and broad promontories.
[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.
}
The hero had no intention of allowing the murderous visitor to escape with his life, for it was of no use to anyone. Many of Beowulf's followers brandished their ancestral swords to defend, if possible, the life of their beloved leader. When they joined the struggle, meaning to hack at Grendel from every quarter until they found a vulnerable spot, these stout-hearted fighting-men did not realize that no earthly blade or sword of the finest metal could touch the miscreant, who had laid a spell on every kind of edged weapon. His death was to be a miserable one, and his outcast spirit to pass far into the power of devils. It was now that Grendel, the enemy of God who had wontonly committed numberless attrocities against the human race, discovered that his bodily strength was of no use when the valiant kinsman of Hygelac had got hold of him by the claw. Neither would give the other quarter. The fiend suffered excruciating pain. An enormous wound became visible in his shoulder; his sinews snapped, and tendons burst.
[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 Geat prince did not hesitate, but seized Grendel's mother by the shoulder. In his rage he flung his antagonist crashing to the floor. But she immediately came back at him with ferocious grapple, closing in till the hero, who was strongest of fighting-men, weakened, stumbled, and took a fall. Then she threw herself on her visitor, unsheathing her broad bright-bladed dagger to avenge her only child. The woven chainmail about his shoulders saved his life by denying entrance to point and edge. Yet the son of Ecgtheow, champion of the Geats, would have perished deep underground if that chainmail corslet had not helped him. For God brought about the victory. Once Beowulf had struggled to his feet, the holy and omniscient ruler of the sky easily settled the issue in favour of the right.
During the struggle he saw a sword which had won fame in battle. It was a prize weapon, an ancient blade forged by the giants. But for the fact that it was too large for an ordinary man to use in combat, it was a choice weapon; a splendid sword, the handiwork of titans. Raging, berserk, in despair of life, he swung its whorled blade and furiously struck, so that the sword caught her on the neck and slashed clean through her backbone into her doomed body. She fell to the ground, and blood dripped from the sword. The hero rejoiced in his 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.
}
The hero had settled that account, and now saw Grendel lying dead and mutilated, just as the fight as Heorot had left him. The corpse bounded up at the sword-stroke, and Beowulf severed its head as it lay lifeless.
[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 lad slipped quickly behind his kinsman's shield as soon as the flames had burnt his own to cinders.
But the king was still mindful of his fame and struck so hard with his sword that, driven by the impetus, it struck square in the Dragon's head. Yet Beowulf's patterned sword, Nægling, failed him. It shivered to splinters. Never had it been his luck that a sword should be of use to him during a fight. His hand, they say, was so strong that the force of his blows overtaxed any weapon. Even when he carried one which was hardened in battle he was no better off.
The flame-spitting Dragon screwed up its courage for a third attack. When it saw its chance it set savagely upon the hero, catching him around the neck with lacerating fangs. A torrent of gore gushed out, and Beowulf was spattered with his own life-blood.
But we are told that in the king's extremity his kinsman Wiglaf displayed his inherited skill and daring. Though he was protected by his armour, the brave fellow's hand was severely scorched in helping his kinsman; by not aiming at the head, he struck the creature slightly lower. His golden sword plunged in with such effect that from that moment the fire began to abate. Collecting his wits, the king pulled out a razor-sharp dagger which he wore at his corslet, and ripped open the belly of the Worm. Together the kinsmen killed their adversary.
