{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/beo/beo03.htm","path":"neu/beo/beo03.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/beo/beo03.htm","text":"WENT he forth to find at fall of night\nthat haughty house, and heed wherever\nthe Ring-Danes, outrevelled, to rest had gone.\nFound within it the atheling band\nasleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow,\nof human hardship. Unhallowed wight,\ngrim and greedy, he grasped betimes,\nwrathful, reckless, from resting-places,\nthirty of the thanes, and thence he rushed\nfain of his fell spoil, faring homeward,\nladen with slaughter, his lair to seek.\nThen at the dawning, as day was breaking,\nthe might of Grendel to men was known;\nthen after wassail was wail uplifted,\nloud moan in the morn. The mighty chief,\natheling excellent, unblithe sat,\nlabored in woe for the loss of his thanes,\nwhen once had been traced the trail of the fiend,\nspirit accurst: too cruel that sorrow,\ntoo long, too loathsome. Not late the respite;\nwith night returning, anew began\nruthless murder; he recked no whit,\nfirm in his guilt, of the feud and crime.\nThey were easy to find who elsewhere sought\nin room remote their rest at night,\nbed in the bowers,[1] when that bale was shown,\nwas seen in sooth, with surest token, --\nthe hall-thane's[2] hate. Such held themselves\nfar and fast who the fiend outran!\nThus ruled unrighteous and raged his fill\none against all; until empty stood\nthat lordly building, and long it bode so.\nTwelve years' tide the trouble he bore,\nsovran of Scyldings, sorrows in plenty,\nboundless cares. There came unhidden\ntidings true to the tribes of men,\nin sorrowful songs, how ceaselessly Grendel\nharassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him,\nwhat murder and massacre, many a year,\nfeud unfading, -- refused consent\nto deal with any of Daneland's earls,\nmake pact of peace, or compound for gold:\nstill less did the wise men ween to get\ngreat fee for the feud from his fiendish hands.\nBut the evil one ambushed old and young\ndeath-shadow dark, and dogged them still,\nlured, or lurked in the livelong night\nof misty moorlands: men may say not\nwhere the haunts of these Hell-Runes[3] be.\nSuch heaping of horrors the hater of men,\nlonely roamer, wrought unceasing,\nharassings heavy. O'er Heorot he lorded,\ngold-bright hall, in gloomy nights;\nand ne'er could the prince[4] approach his throne,\n-- 'twas judgment of God, -- or have joy in his hall.\nSore was the sorrow to Scyldings'-friend,\nheart-rending misery. Many nobles\nsat assembled, and searched out counsel\nhow it were best for bold-hearted men\nagainst harassing terror to try their hand.\nWhiles they vowed in their heathen fanes\naltar-offerings, asked with words[5]\nthat the slayer-of-souls would succor give them\nfor the pain of their people. Their practice this,\ntheir heathen hope; 'twas Hell they thought of\nin mood of their mind. Almighty they knew not,\nDoomsman of Deeds and dreadful Lord,\nnor Heaven's-Helmet heeded they ever,\nWielder-of-Wonder. -- Woe for that man\nwho in harm and hatred hales his soul\nto fiery embraces; -- nor favor nor change\nawaits he ever. But well for him\nthat after death-day may draw to his Lord,\nand friendship find in the Father's arms!\n[1] The smaller buildings within the main enclosure but separate from the hall.\n[2] Grendel.\n[3] \"Sorcerers-of-hell.\"\n[4] Hrothgar, who is the \"Scyldings'-friend\" of 170.\n[5] That is, in formal or prescribed phrase.","title":"Beowulf: Part II","type":"page"}