All that day he sank into the water before he beheld the ground-bed of
the pool. Then he saw the fierce creature who for a hundred years had
held the floods. Eagerly she seized him and bore him to her dwelling.
Many a sea-monster broke through his warlike coat. At last the warrior
found himself in a great room where the waters did not enter. Then a
fierce light shone brightly upon him, and by its gleam he saw the
sea-wolf. With a loud cry he struck her with his good broad sword, but
it would not bite or injure her. This was the first time its power had
failed. Beowulf remembered his former deeds of bravery and threw down
his useless sword to use the strength of his hands alone. He seized
the sea-creature and made her bow to the earth, but fiercely she
grasped the brave warrior and overthrew him so that he was like to
perish.
Him she would have slain, but his good coat withstood her sword. The
Ruler of the Skies was his friend, for on the wall was a great sword so
heavy that other men could not use it. This sword Beowulf seized
gladly. Angrily he struck the sea-wolf, and the sword passed through
her neck. Down on the ground she sank. The warrior rejoiced in his
work. He looked through the great dwelling and saw Grendel lying
lifeless. With a strong blow Beowulf cut off the head of the monster,
but the hot blood melted the sword and nothing was left but the hilt.
The blade melted away as ice melts when the Father, who has power over
the seasons, unbinds the bands of the frost-king.
The men at the shore, watching, saw the water all coloured with blood,
and feared their great leader was dead. The king and noble Danes spoke
of the brave hero with praise and sorrow. When noon came, they went
back to the great hall sadly, thinking Beowulf the daring had been
slain by the fearful monster.