Then among the weapons he caught sight of a sword, rich in victories,
an old weapon of the giants, and doughty of edge, the glory of
warriors. It was the choicest of weapons, and it was greater than
any other man could carry to the battle-playing, and all glorious and
good, a work of the giants. And he seized it by the belted hilt, he
the warrior of the Danes, rough and battle-grim, and he brandished the
ring-sword; and despairing of life, he angrily struck so that hardly
he grasped at her neck and broke the bone-rings. And the point pierced
through the doomed flesh-covering. And she fell on the floor. The
sword was all bloody, and the man rejoiced in his work. Shone forth the
bright flame and a light stood within, even as shineth the candle [43]
from the bright heavens. And then he looked on the hall, and turned to
the wall. And the thane of Hygelac, angry and resolute, heaved hard
the weapon, taking it by the hilt. And the edge was not worthless to
the battle-warrior, for he would be quickly requiting Grendel many
a war-rush which he had done upon the West Danes, many times oftener
than once when in sleeping he smote the hearth-comrade of Hrothgar,
and fed on them sleeping, of the Danish folk, some fifteen men, and
bore forth yet another one, that loathly prey. And well he requited
him, this furious champion, when he saw the war-weary Grendel lying in
death, all void of his life as formerly in Hart the battle had scathed
him. His body sprang apart when after his death he suffered a stroke,
a hard battle-swing; and then he struck off his head.
Right soon the proud warriors, they who with Hrothgar, looked forth on
the sea, could easily see, that the surging water was all stained with
blood and the grey-haired ancients spoke together about the good man,
that they deemed not the Atheling would ever again come seeking the
famous Prince Hrothgar glorying in victory, for it seemed unto many
that the sea-wolf had destroyed him.
Then came noonday. The valiant Danes left the headland, and the
gold-friend of men [44] went homeward thence. And the strangers of
the Geats, sick in mind, sat and stared at the water. They knew and
expected not that they would see again their liege-lord himself. Then
the sword began to grow less, after the battle-sweat, into icicles
of steel. And a wonder it was that it all began to melt likest to
ice, when Our Father doth loosen the band of frost and unwinds the
icicles, He who hath power over the seasons, He is the true God. Nor
in these dwellings did the Lord of the Geats take any other treasure,
though much he saw there, except the head and the hilt, decked out
with jewels. The sword had melted, and the decorated weapon was burnt
up. The blood was too hot, and so poisonous the alien sprite who died
in that conflict. Soon Beowulf was swimming, he who formerly awaited
the onset of the hostile ones in the striving, and he dived upwards
through the water. And the weltering surge and the spacious lands
were all cleansed when the alien sprite gave up his life and this
fleeting existence.
He the stout-hearted came swimming to shore, he the Prince of the
sea-men enjoying the sea-spoils, the great burden of that which he
had with him. They advanced towards him and gave thanks to God, that
glorious crowd of thanes, and rejoiced in their lord that they could
see him once more. Then was loosed quickly from that valiant man both
helmet and shield. The sea became turbid, the water under welkin,
all stained with blood. And rejoicing in spirit the brave men went
forth with foot-tracks and passed over the earth, the well-known
pathways. And a hard task it was for each one of those proud men to
bear that head away from the sea-cliff. Four of them with difficulty
on a pole were bearing the head of Grendel to the gold-hall, until
suddenly, valiant and battle-brave, they came to the palace, fourteen
of the Geats marching along with their liege-lord who trod the field
where the mead-hall stood. Then this Prince of the thanes, this man so
bold of deed and honoured by Fate, this battle-dear warrior went into
the hall to greet King Hrothgar. Then over the floor where warriors
were drinking they bore Grendel's head, a terror to the earls and
also to the Queen. And men were looking at the splendid sight of
the treasures.