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death his life will I give； though it lie in my power。 No skill is his to strike
against me； my shield to hew though he hardy be； bold in battle； we both；
this night； shall spurn the sword； if he seek me here； unweaponed； for war。
Let wisest God； sacred Lord； on which side soever doom decree as he
deemeth right。〃 Reclined then the chieftain； and cheek…pillows held the
head of the earl； while all about him seamen hardy on hall…beds sank。
None of them thought that thence their steps to the folk and fastness that
fostered them； to the land they loved； would lead them back！ Full well
they wist that on warriors many battle…death seized； in the banquet…hall； of
Danish clan。 But comfort and help； war…weal weaving； to Weder folk the
Master gave； that； by might of one； over their enemy all prevailed； by
single strength。 In sooth 'tis told that highest God o'er human kind hath
wielded ever！ Thro' wan night striding； came the walker…in…shadow。
Warriors slept whose hest was to guard the gabled hall； all save one。
'Twas widely known that against God's will the ghostly ravager him＇1＇
could not hurl to haunts of darkness； wakeful； ready； with warrior's wrath；
bold he bided the battle's issue。
＇1＇ Beowulf； the 〃one。〃
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Beowulf Anonymous
XI
THEN from the moorland； by misty crags； with God's wrath laden；
Grendel came。 The monster was minded of mankind now sundry to seize
in the stately house。 Under welkin he walked； till the wine…palace there；
gold…hall of men； he gladly discerned； flashing with fretwork。 Not first
time； this； that he the home of Hrothgar sought； yet ne'er in his life…day；
late or early； such hardy heroes； such hall…thanes； found！ To the house the
warrior walked apace； parted from peace；＇1＇ the portal opended； though
with forged bolts fast； when his fists had struck it； and baleful he burst in
his blatant rage； the house's mouth。 All hastily； then； o'er fair…paved floor
the fiend trod on； ireful he strode； there streamed from his eyes fearful
flashes； like flame to see。
He spied in hall the hero…band； kin and clansmen clustered asleep；
hardy liegemen。 Then laughed his heart； for the monster was minded； ere
morn should dawn； savage； to sever the soul of each； life from body； since
lusty banquet waited his will！ But Wyrd forbade him to seize any more of
men on earth after that evening。 Eagerly watched Hygelac's kinsman his
cursed foe； how he would fare in fell attack。 Not that the monster was
minded to pause！ Straightway he seized a sleeping warrior for the first；
and tore him fiercely asunder； the bone…frame bit； drank blood in streams；
swallowed him piecemeal： swiftly thus the lifeless corse was clear
devoured； e'en feet and hands。 Then farther he hied； for the hardy hero
with hand he grasped； felt for the foe with fiendish claw； for the hero
reclining； who clutched it boldly； prompt to answer； propped on his arm。
Soon then saw that shepherd…of…evils that never he met in this middle…
world； in the ways of earth； another wight with heavier hand…gripe； at
heart he feared； sorrowed in soul； none the sooner escaped！ Fain would
he flee； his fastness seek； the den of devils： no doings now such as oft he
had done in days of old！ Then bethought him the hardy Hygelac…thane of
his boast at evening： up he bounded； grasped firm his foe； whose fingers
cracked。 The fiend made off； but the earl close followed。 The monster
meant if he might at all to fling himself free； and far away fly to the
fens； knew his fingers' power in the gripe of the grim one。 Gruesome
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Beowulf Anonymous
march to Heorot this monster of harm had made！ Din filled the room； the
Danes were bereft； castle…dwellers and clansmen all； earls； of their ale。
Angry were both those savage hall…guards： the house resounded。 Wonder it
was the wine…hall firm in the strain of their struggle stood； to earth the fair
house fell not； too fast it was within and without by its iron bands craftily
clamped； though there crashed from sill many a mead…bench men have
told me gay with gold； where the grim foes wrestled。 So well had
weened the wisest Scyldings that not ever at all might any man that bone…
decked； brave house break asunder； crush by craft； unless clasp of fire in
smoke engulfed it。 Again uprose din redoubled。 Danes of the North with
fear and frenzy were filled； each one； who from the wall that wailing heard；
God's foe sounding his grisly song； cry of the conquered； clamorous pain
from captive of hell。 Too closely held him he who of men in might was
strongest in that same day of this our life。
＇1＇ That is； he was a 〃lost soul；〃 doomed to hell。
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Beowulf Anonymous
XII
NOT in any wise would the earls'…defence＇1＇ suffer that slaughterous
stranger to live； useless deeming his days and years to men on earth。 Now
many an earl of Beowulf brandished blade ancestral； fain the life of their
lord to shield； their praised prince； if power were theirs； never they knew； …
… as they neared the foe； hardy…hearted heroes of war； aiming their swords
on every side the accursed to kill； no keenest blade； no farest of
falchions fashioned on earth； could harm or hurt that hideous fiend！ He
was safe； by his spells； from sword of battle； from edge of iron。 Yet his end
and parting on that same day of this our life woful should be； and his
wandering soul far off flit to the fiends' domain。 Soon he found； who in
former days； harmful in heart and hated of God； on many a man such
murder wrought； that the frame of his body failed him now。 For him the
keen…souled kinsman of Hygelac held in hand； hateful alive was each to
other。 The outlaw dire took mortal hurt； a mighty wound showed on his
shoulder； and sinews cracked； and the bone…frame burst。 To Beowulf now
the glory was given； and Grendel thence death…sick his den in the dark
moor sought； noisome abode： he knew too well that here was the last of
life； an end of his days on earth。 To all the Danes by that bloody battle
the boon had come。 From ravage had rescued the roving stranger
Hrothgar's hall； the hardy and wise one had purged it anew。 His night…
work pleased him； his deed and its honor。 To Eastern Danes had the valiant
Geat his vaunt made good； all their sorrow and ills assuaged； their bale of
battle borne so long； and all the dole they erst endured pain a…plenty。
'Twas proof of this； when the hardy…in…fight a hand laid down； arm and
shoulder； all； indeed； of Grendel's gripe； 'neath the gabled roof。
＇1＇ Kenning for Beowulf。
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XIII
MANY at morning； as men have told me； warriors gathered the gift…
hall round； folk…leaders faring from far and near； o'er wide…stretched ways；
the wonder to view； trace of the traitor。 Not troublous seemed the enemy's
end to any man who saw by the gait of the graceless foe how the weary…
hearted； away from thence； baffled in battle and banned； his steps death…
marked dragged to the devils' mere。 Bloody the billows were boiling there；
turbid the tide of tumbling waves horribly seething； with sword…blood hot；
by that doomed one dyed； who in den of the moor laid forlorn his life
adown； his heathen soul； and hell received it。 Home then rode the hoary
clansmen from that merry journey； and many a youth； on horses white； the
hardy warriors； back from the mere。 Then Beowulf's glory eager they
echoed； and all averred that from sea to sea； or south or north； there was
no other in earth's domain； under vault of heaven； more valiant found； of
warriors none