{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/beo/beo24.htm","path":"neu/beo/beo24.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/beo/beo24.htm","text":"'MID the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant,\nold-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof,\nwarriors' heirloom, weapon unmatched,\n-- save only 'twas more than other men\nto bandy-of-battle could bear at all --\nas the giants had wrought it, ready and keen.\nSeized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings' chieftain,\nbold and battle-grim, brandished the sword,\nreckless of life, and so wrathfully smote\nthat it gripped her neck and grasped her hard,\nher bone-rings breaking: the blade pierced through\nthat fated-one's flesh: to floor she sank.\nBloody the blade: he was blithe of his deed.\nThen blazed forth light. 'Twas bright within\nas when from the sky there shines unclouded\nheaven's candle. The hall he scanned.\nBy the wall then went he; his weapon raised\nhigh by its hilts the Hygelac-thane,\nangry and eager. That edge was not useless\nto the warrior now. He wished with speed\nGrendel to guerdon for grim raids many,\nfor the war he waged on Western-Danes\noftener far than an only time,\nwhen of Hrothgar's hearth-companions\nhe slew in slumber, in sleep devoured,\nfifteen men of the folk of Danes,\nand as many others outward bore,\nhis horrible prey. Well paid for that\nthe wrathful prince! For now prone he saw\nGrendel stretched there, spent with war,\nspoiled of life, so scathed had left him\nHeorot's battle. The body sprang far\nwhen after death it endured the blow,\nsword-stroke savage, that severed its head.\nSoon,[1] then, saw the sage companions\nwho waited with Hrothgar, watching the flood,\nthat the tossing waters turbid grew,\nblood-stained the mere. Old men together,\nhoary-haired, of the hero spake;\nthe warrior would not, they weened, again,\nproud of conquest, come to seek\ntheir mighty master. To many it seemed\nthe wolf-of-the-waves had won his life.\nThe ninth hour came. The noble Scyldings\nleft the headland; homeward went\nthe gold-friend of men.[2] But the guests sat on,\nstared at the surges, sick in heart,\nand wished, yet weened not, their winsome lord again to see.\nNow that sword began,\nfrom blood of the fight, in battle-droppings,[3]\nwar-blade, to wane: 'twas a wondrous thing\nthat all of it melted as ice is wont\nwhen frosty fetters the Father loosens,\nunwinds the wave-bonds, wielding all\nseasons and times: the true God he!\nNor took from that dwelling the duke of the Geats\nprecious things, though a plenty he saw,\nsave only the head and that hilt withal\nblazoned with jewels: the blade had melted,\nburned was the bright sword, her blood was so hot,\nso poisoned the hell-sprite who perished within there.\nSoon he was swimming who safe saw in combat\ndownfall of demons; up-dove through the flood.\nThe clashing waters were cleansed now,\nwaste of waves, where the wandering fiend\nher life-days left and this lapsing world.\nSwam then to strand the sailors'-refuge,\nsturdy-in-spirit, of sea-booty glad,\nof burden brave he bore with him.\nWent then to greet him, and God they thanked,\nthe thane-band choice of their chieftain blithe,\nthat safe and sound they could see him again.\nSoon from the hardy one helmet and armor\ndeftly they doffed: now drowsed the mere,\nwater 'neath welkin, with war-blood stained.\nForth they fared by the footpaths thence,\nmerry at heart the highways measured,\nwell-known roads. Courageous men\ncarried the head from the cliff by the sea,\nan arduous task for all the band,\nthe firm in fight, since four were needed\non the shaft-of-slaughter[4] strenuously\nto bear to the gold-hall Grendel's head.\nSo presently to the palace there\nfoemen fearless, fourteen Geats,\nmarching came. Their master-of-clan\nmighty amid them the meadow-ways trod.\nStrode then within the sovran thane\nfearless in fight, of fame renowned,\nhardy hero, Hrothgar to greet.\nAnd next by the hair into hall was borne\nGrendel's head, where the henchmen were drinking,\nan awe to clan and queen alike,\na monster of marvel: the men looked on.\n[1] After the killing of the monster and Grendel's decapitation.\n[2] Hrothgar.\n[3] The blade slowly dissolves in blood-stained drops like icicles.\n[4] Spear.","title":"Beowulf: Part XXIII","type":"page"}