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liegemen saw her。 Yet a single atheling up she seized fast and firm； as she
fled to the moor。 He was for Hrothgar of heroes the dearest； of trusty
vassals betwixt the seas； whom she killed on his couch； a clansman
famous； in battle brave。 Nor was Beowulf there； another house had been
held apart； after giving of gold； for the Geat renowned。 Uproar filled
Heorot； the hand all had viewed； blood…flecked； she bore with her； bale
was returned； dole in the dwellings： 'twas dire exchange where Dane and
Geat were doomed to give the lives of loved ones。 Long…tried king； the
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hoary hero； at heart was sad when he knew his noble no more lived； and
dead indeed was his dearest thane。 To his bower was Beowulf brought in
haste； dauntless victor。 As daylight broke； along with his earls the atheling
lord； with his clansmen； came where the king abode waiting to see if the
Wielder…of…All would turn this tale of trouble and woe。 Strode o'er floor
the famed…in…strife； with his hand…companions； the hall resounded；
wishing to greet the wise old king； Ingwines' lord； he asked if the night
had passed in peace to the prince's mind。
＇1＇ They had laid their arms on the benches near where they slept。
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XX
HROTHGAR spake； helmet…of…Scyldings： 〃Ask not of pleasure！
Pain is renewed to Danish folk。 Dead is Aeschere； of Yrmenlaf the elder
brother； my sage adviser and stay in council； shoulder…comrade in stress of
fight when warriors clashed and we warded our heads； hewed the helm…
boars； hero famed should be every earl as Aeschere was！ But here in
Heorot a hand hath slain him of wandering death…sprite。 I wot not
whither；＇1＇ proud of the prey； her path she took； fain of her fill。 The feud
she avenged that yesternight； unyieldingly； Grendel in grimmest grasp
thou killedst； seeing how long these liegemen mine he ruined and
ravaged。 Reft of life； in arms he fell。 Now another comes； keen and cruel；
her kin to avenge； faring far in feud of blood： so that many a thane shall
think； who e'er sorrows in soul for that sharer of rings； this is hardest of
heart…bales。 The hand lies low that once was willing each wish to please。
Land…dwellers here＇2＇ and liegemen mine； who house by those parts； I
have heard relate that such a pair they have sometimes seen； march…
stalkers mighty the moorland haunting； wandering spirits： one of them
seemed； so far as my folk could fairly judge； of womankind； and one；
accursed； in man's guise trod the misery…track of exile； though huger than
human bulk。 Grendel in days long gone they named him； folk of the land；
his father they knew not； nor any brood that was born to him of
treacherous spirits。 Untrod is their home； by wolf…cliffs haunt they and
windy headlands； fenways fearful； where flows the stream from mountains
gliding to gloom of the rocks； underground flood。 Not far is it hence in
measure of miles that the mere expands； and o'er it the frost…bound forest
hanging； sturdily rooted； shadows the wave。 By night is a wonder weird to
see； fire on the waters。 So wise lived none of the sons of men； to search
those depths！ Nay； though the heath…rover； harried by dogs； the horn…proud
hart； this holt should seek； long distance driven； his dear life first on the
brink he yields ere he brave the plunge to hide his head： 'tis no happy
place！ Thence the welter of waters washes up wan to welkin when winds
bestir evil storms； and air grows dusk； and the heavens weep。 Now is help
once more with thee alone！ The land thou knowst not； place of fear； where
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thou findest out that sin…flecked being。 Seek if thou dare！ I will reward
thee； for waging this fight； with ancient treasure； as erst I did； with
winding gold； if thou winnest back。〃
＇1＇ He surmises presently where she is。 ＇2＇ The connection is not
difficult。 The words of mourning； of acute grief； are said； and according to
Germanic sequence of thought； inexorable here； the next and only topic is
revenge。 But is it possible？ Hrothgar leads up to his appeal and promise
with a skillful and often effective description of the horrors which
surround the monster's home and await the attempt of an avenging foe。
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XXI
BEOWULF spake； bairn of Ecgtheow： 〃Sorrow not； sage！ It beseems
us better friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them。 Each of us all
must his end abide in the ways of the world； so win who may glory ere
death！ When his days are told； that is the warrior's worthiest doom。 Rise；
O realm…warder！ Ride we anon； and mark the trail of the mother of
Grendel。 No harbor shall hide her heed my promise！ enfolding of field
or forested mountain or floor of the flood； let her flee where she will！ But
thou this day endure in patience； as I ween thou wilt； thy woes each one。〃
Leaped up the graybeard： God he thanked； mighty Lord； for the man's
brave words。 For Hrothgar soon a horse was saddled wave…maned steed。
The sovran wise stately rode on； his shield…armed men followed in force。
The footprints led along the woodland； widely seen； a path o'er the plain；
where she passed； and trod the murky moor； of men…at…arms she bore the
bravest and best one； dead； him who with Hrothgar the homestead ruled。
On then went the atheling…born o'er stone…cliffs steep and strait defiles；
narrow passes and unknown ways； headlands sheer； and the haunts of the
Nicors。 Foremost he＇1＇ fared； a few at his side of the wiser men； the ways
to scan； till he found in a flash the forested hill hanging over the hoary
rock； a woful wood： the waves below were dyed in blood。 The Danish
men had sorrow of soul； and for Scyldings all； for many a hero； 'twas hard
to bear； ill for earls； when Aeschere's head they found by the flood on the
foreland there。 Waves were welling； the warriors saw； hot with blood； but
the horn sang oft battle…song bold。 The band sat down； and watched on the
water worm…like things； sea…dragons strange that sounded the deep； and
nicors that lay on the ledge of the ness such as oft essay at hour of morn
on the road…of…sails their ruthless quest； and sea…snakes and monsters。
These started away； swollen and savage that song to hear； that war…horn's
blast。 The warden of Geats； with bolt from bow； then balked of life； of
wave…work； one monster； amid its heart went the keen war…shaft； in water
it seemed less doughty in swimming whom death had seized。 Swift on the
billows； with boar…spears well hooked and barbed； it was hard beset； done
to death and dragged on the headland； wave…roamer wondrous。 Warriors
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viewed the grisly guest。 Then girt him Beowulf in martial mail； nor
mourned for his life。 His breastplate broad and bright of hues； woven by
hand； should the waters try； well could it ward the warrior's body that
battle should break on his breast in vain nor harm his heart by the hand of
a foe。 And the helmet white that his head protected was destined to dare
the deeps of the flood； through wave…whirl win： 'twas wound with chains；
decked with gold； as in days of yore the weapon…smith worked it
wondrously； with swine…forms set it； that swords nowise； brandished in
battle； could bite that helm。 Nor was that the meanest of mighty helps
which Hrothgar's orator offered at need： 〃Hrunting〃 they named the hilted
sword； of old…time heirlooms easily first； iron was its edge； all etched with
poison； with battle…blood hardened； nor blenched it at fig