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sword； of old…time heirlooms easily first； iron was its edge； all etched with
poison； with battle…blood hardened； nor blenched it at fight in hero's hand
who held it ever； on paths of peril prepared to go to folkstead＇2＇ of foes。
Not first time this it was destined to do a daring task。 For he bore not in
mind； the bairn of Ecglaf sturdy and strong； that speech he had made；
drunk with wine； now this weapon he lent to a stouter swordsman。 Himself；
though； durst not under welter of waters wager his life as loyal liegeman。
So lost he his glory； honor of earls。 With the other not so； who girded him
now for the grim encounter。
＇1＇ Hrothgar is probably meant。 ＇2＇ Meeting place。
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XXI
BEOWULF spake； bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃Have mind； thou honored
offspring of Healfdene gold…friend of men； now I go on this quest； sovran
wise； what once was said： if in thy cause it came that I should lose my life；
thou wouldst loyal bide to me； though fallen； in father's place！ Be guardian；
thou； to this group of my thanes； my warrior…friends； if War should seize
me； and the goodly gifts thou gavest me； Hrothgar beloved； to Hygelac
send！ Geatland's king may ken by the gold； Hrethel's son see； when he
stares at the treasure； that I got me a friend for goodness famed； and joyed
while I could in my jewel…bestower。 And let Unferth wield this wondrous
sword； earl far…honored； this heirloom precious； hard of edge： with
Hrunting I seek doom of glory； or Death shall take me。〃
After these words the Weder…Geat lord boldly hastened； biding never
answer at all： the ocean floods closed o'er the hero。 Long while of the day
fled ere he felt the floor of the sea。
Soon found the fiend who the flood…domain sword…hungry held these
hundred winters； greedy and grim； that some guest from above； some man；
was raiding her monster…realm。 She grasped out for him with grisly claws；
and the warrior seized； yet scathed she not his body hale； the breastplate
hindered； as she strove to shatter the sark of war； the linked harness； with
loathsome hand。 Then bore this brine…wolf； when bottom she touched； the
lord of rings to the lair she haunted whiles vainly he strove； though his
valor held； weapon to wield against wondrous monsters that sore beset
him； sea…beasts many tried with fierce tusks to tear his mail； and swarmed
on the stranger。 But soon he marked he was now in some hall； he knew not
which； where water never could work him harm； nor through the roof
could reach him ever fangs of the flood。 Firelight he saw； beams of a blaze
that brightly shone。 Then the warrior was ware of that wolf…of…the…deep；
mere…wife monstrous。 For mighty stroke he swung his blade； and the blow
withheld not。 Then sang on her head that seemly blade its war…song wild。
But the warrior found the light…of…battle＇1＇ was loath to bite； to harm the
heart： its hard edge failed the noble at need； yet had known of old strife
hand to hand； and had helmets cloven； doomed men's fighting…gear。 First
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time； this； for the gleaming blade that its glory fell。 Firm still stood； nor
failed in valor； heedful of high deeds； Hygelac's kinsman； flung away
fretted sword； featly jewelled； the angry earl； on earth it lay steel…edged
and stiff。 His strength he trusted； hand…gripe of might。 So man shall do
whenever in war he weens to earn him lasting fame； nor fears for his life！
Seized then by shoulder； shrank not from combat； the Geatish war…prince
Grendel's mother。 Flung then the fierce one； filled with wrath； his deadly
foe； that she fell to ground。 Swift on her part she paid him back with grisly
grasp； and grappled with him。 Spent with struggle； stumbled the warrior；
fiercest of fighting…men； fell adown。 On the hall…guest she hurled herself；
hent her short sword； broad and brown…edged；＇2＇ the bairn to avenge； the
sole…born son。 On his shoulder lay braided breast…mail； barring death；
withstanding entrance of edge or blade。 Life would have ended for
Ecgtheow's son； under wide earth for that earl of Geats； had his armor of
war not aided him； battle…net hard； and holy God wielded the victory；
wisest Maker。 The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause； and easily rose the
earl erect。
＇1＇ Kenning for 〃sword。〃 Hrunting is bewitched； laid under a spell of
uselessness； along with all other swords。 ＇2＇ This brown of swords；
evidently meaning burnished； bright； continues to be a favorite adjective in
the popular ballads。
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Beowulf Anonymous
XXIII
'MID the battle…gear saw he a blade triumphant； old…sword of Eotens；
with edge of proof； warriors' heirloom； weapon unmatched； save only
'twas more than other men to bandy…of…battle could bear at all as the
giants had wrought it； ready and keen。 Seized then its chain…hilt the
Scyldings' chieftain； bold and battle…grim； brandished the sword； reckless
of life； and so wrathfully smote that it gripped her neck and grasped her
hard； her bone…rings breaking： the blade pierced through that fated…one's
flesh： to floor she sank。 Bloody the blade： he was blithe of his deed。 Then
blazed forth light。 'Twas bright within as when from the sky there shines
unclouded heaven's candle。 The hall he scanned。 By the wall then went he；
his weapon raised high by its hilts the Hygelac…thane； angry and eager。
That edge was not useless to the warrior now。 He wished with speed
Grendel to guerdon for grim raids many； for the war he waged on Western…
Danes oftener far than an only time； when of Hrothgar's hearth…
companions he slew in slumber； in sleep devoured； fifteen men of the folk
of Danes； and as many others outward bore； his horrible prey。 Well paid
for that the wrathful prince！ For now prone he saw Grendel stretched there；
spent with war； spoiled of life； so scathed had left him Heorot's battle。 The
body sprang far when after death it endured the blow； sword…stroke savage；
that severed its head。 Soon；＇1＇ then； saw the sage companions who waited
with Hrothgar； watching the flood； that the tossing waters turbid grew；
blood…stained the mere。 Old men together； hoary…haired； of the hero spake；
the warrior would not； they weened； again； proud of conquest； come to
seek their mighty master。 To many it seemed the wolf…of…the…waves had
won his life。 The ninth hour came。 The noble Scyldings left the headland；
homeward went the gold…friend of men。＇2＇ But the guests sat on； stared at
the surges； sick in heart； and wished； yet weened not； their winsome lord
again to see。
Now that sword began； from blood of the fight； in battle…droppings；＇3＇
war…blade； to wane： 'twas a wondrous thing that all of it melted as ice is
wont when frosty fetters the Father loosens； unwinds the wave…bonds；
wielding all seasons and times： the true God he！ Nor took from that
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dwelling the duke of the Geats save only the head and that hilt withal
blazoned with jewels： the blade had melted； burned was the bright sword；
her blood was so hot； so poisoned the hell…sprite who perished within there。
Soon he was swimming who safe saw in combat downfall of demons； up…
dove through the flood。 The clashing waters were cleansed now； waste of
waves； where the wandering fiend her life…days left and this lapsing world。
Swam then to strand the sailors'…refuge； sturdy…in…spirit； of sea…booty glad；
of burden brave he bore with him。 Went then to greet him； and God they
thanked； the thane…band choice of their chieftain blithe； that safe and
sound they could see him again。 Soon from the hardy one helmet and
armor deftly they doffed： now drowsed the mere； water 'neath welkin； with
war…blood stained。 Forth they fared by the footpaths thence； merry at heart
the highways measured； well…known roads。 Courageous men carr