But　the　evil　one　ambushed　old　and　young
  death…shadow　dark；　and　dogged　them　still；
  lured；　or　lurked　in　the　livelong　night
  of　misty　moorlands：　men　may　say　not
  where　the　haunts　of　these　Hell…Runes＇3＇　be。
  Such　heaping　of　horrors　the　hater　of　men；
  lonely　roamer；　wrought　unceasing；
  harassings　heavy。　O'er　Heorot　he　lorded；
  gold…bright　hall；　in　gloomy　nights；
  and　ne'er　could　the　prince＇4＇　approach　his　throne；
  'twas　judgment　of　God；　　or　have　joy　in　his　hall。
  Sore　was　the　sorrow　to　Scyldings'…friend；
  heart…rending　misery。　Many　nobles
  sat　assembled；　and　searched　out　counsel
  how　it　were　best　for　bold…hearted　men
  against　harassing　terror　to　try　their　hand。
  Whiles　they　vowed　in　their　heathen　fanes
  altar…offerings；　asked　with　words＇5＇
  that　the　slayer…of…souls　would　succor　give　them
  for　the　pain　of　their　people。　Their　practice　this；
  their　heathen　hope；　'twas　Hell　they　thought　of
  in　mood　of　their　mind。　Almighty　they　knew　not；
  Doomsman　of　Deeds　and　dreadful　Lord；
  nor　Heaven's…Helmet　heeded　they　ever；
  Wielder…of…Wonder。　　Woe　for　that　man
  who　in　harm　and　hatred　hales　his　soul
  to　fiery　embraces；　　nor　favor　nor　change
  awaits　he　ever。　But　well　for　him
  that　after　death…day　may　draw　to　his　Lord；
  and　friendship　find　in　the　Father's　arms！
  ＇1＇　The　smaller　buildings　within　the　main　enclosure　but　separate
  from　the　hall。　＇2＇　Grendel。　＇3＇　〃Sorcerers…of…hell。〃　＇4＇
  Hrothgar；　who　is　the　〃Scyldings'…friend〃　of　170。　＇5＇　That　is；　in
  formal　or　prescribed　phrase。
  III
  THUS　seethed　unceasing　the　son　of　Healfdene
  with　the　woe　of　these　days；　not　wisest　men
  assuaged　his　sorrow；　too　sore　the　anguish；
  loathly　and　long；　that　lay　on　his　folk；
  most　baneful　of　burdens　and　bales　of　the　night。
  This　heard　in　his　home　Hygelac's　thane；
  great　among　Geats；　of　Grendel's　doings。
  He　was　the　mightiest　man　of　valor
  in　that　same　day　of　this　our　life；
  stalwart　and　stately。　A　stout　wave…walker
  he　bade　make　ready。　Yon　battle…king；　said　he；
  far　o'er　the　swan…road　he　fain　would　seek；
  the　noble　monarch　who　needed　men！
  The　prince's　journey　by　prudent　folk
  was　little　blamed；　though　they　loved　him　dear；
  they　whetted　the　hero；　and　hailed　good　omens。
  And　now　the　bold　one　from　bands　of　Geats
  comrades　chose；　the　keenest　of　warriors
  e'er　he　could　find；　with　fourteen　men
  the　sea…wood＇1＇　he　sought；　and；　sailor　proved；
  led　them　on　to　the　land's　confines。
  Time　had　now　flown；＇2＇　afloat　was　the　ship；
  boat　under　bluff。　On　board　they　climbed；
  warriors　ready；　waves　were　churning
  sea　with　sand；　the　sailors　bore
  on　the　breast　of　the　bark　their　bright　array；
  their　mail　and　weapons：　the　men　pushed　off；
  on　its　willing　way；　the　well…braced　craft。
  Then　moved　o'er　the　waters　by　might　of　the　wind
  that　bark　like　a　bird　with　breast　of　foam；
  till　in　season　due；　on　the　second　day；
  the　curved　prow　such　course　had　run
  that　sailors　now　could　see　the　land；
  sea…cliffs　shining；　steep　high　hills；
  headlands　broad。　Their　haven　was　found；
  their　journey　ended。　Up　then　quickly
  the　Weders'＇3＇　clansmen　climbed　ashore；
  anchored　their　sea…wood；　with　armor　clashing
  and　gear　of　battle：　God　they　thanked
  or　passing　in　peace　o'er　the　paths　of　the　sea。
  Now　saw　from　the　cliff　a　Scylding　clansman；
  a　warden　that　watched　the　water…side；
  how　they　bore　o'er　the　gangway　glittering　shields；
  war…gear　in　readiness；　wonder　seized　him
  to　know　what　manner　of　men　they　were。
  Straight　to　the　strand　his　steed　he　rode；
  Hrothgar's　henchman；　with　hand　of　might
  he　shook　his　spear；　and　spake　in　parley。
  〃Who　are　ye；　then；　ye　armed　men；
  mailed　folk；　that　yon　mighty　vessel
  have　urged　thus　over　the　ocean　ways；
  here　o'er　the　waters？　A　warden　I；
  sentinel　set　o'er　the　sea…march　here；
  lest　any　foe　to　the　folk　of　Danes
  with　harrying　fleet　should　harm　the　land。
  No　aliens　ever　at　ease　thus　bore　them；
  linden…wielders：＇4＇　yet　word…of…leave
  clearly　ye　lack　from　clansmen　here；
  my　folk's　agreement。　　A　greater　ne'er　saw　I
  of　warriors　in　world　than　is　one　of　you；
  yon　hero　in　harness！　No　henchman　he
  worthied　by　weapons；　if　witness　his　features；
  his　peerless　presence！　I　pray　you；　though；　tell
  your　folk　and　home；　lest　hence　ye　fare
  suspect　to　wander　your　way　as　spies
  in　Danish　land。　Now；　dwellers　afar；
  ocean…travellers；　take　from　me
  simple　advice：　the　sooner　the　better
  I　hear　of　the　country　whence　ye　came。〃
  ＇1＇　Ship。　＇2＇　That　is；　since　Beowulf　selected　his　ship　and　led
  his　men　to　the　harbor。　＇3＇　One　of　the　auxiliary　names　of　the
  Geats。　＇4＇　Or：　Not　thus　openly　ever　came　warriors　hither；　yet。。。
  IV
  To　him　the　stateliest　spake　in　answer；
  the　warriors'　leader　his　word…hoard　unlocked：
  〃We　are　by　kin　of　the　clan　of　Geats；
  and　Hygelac's　own　hearth…fellows　we。
  To　folk　afar　was　my　father　known；
  noble　atheling；　Ecgtheow　named。
  Full　of　winters；　he　fared　away
  aged　from　earth；　he　is　honored　still
  through　width　of　the　world　by　wise　men　all。
  To　thy　lord　and　liege　in　loyal　mood
  we　hasten　hither；　to　Healfdene's　son；
  people…protector：　be　pleased　to　advise　us！
  To　that　mighty…one　come　we　on　mickle　errand；
  to　the　lord　of　the　Danes；　nor　deem　I　right
  that　aught　be　hidden。　We　hear　　thou　knowest
  if　sooth　it　is　　the　saying　of　men；
  that　amid　the　Scyldings　a　scathing　monster；
  dark　ill…doer；　in　dusky　nights
  shows　terrific　his　rage　unmatched；
  hatred　and　murder。　To　Hrothgar　I
  in　greatness　of　soul　would　succor　bring；
  so　the　Wise…and…Brave＇1＇　may　worst　his　foes；
  if　ever　the　end　of　ills　is　fated；
  of　cruel　contest；　if　cure　shall　follow；
  and　the　boiling　care…waves　cooler　grow；
  else　ever　afterward　anguish…days
  he　shall　suffer　in　sorrow　while　stands　in　place
  high　on　its　hill　that　house　unpeered！〃
  Astride　his　steed；　the　strand…ward　answered；
  clansman　unquailing：　〃The　keen…souled　thane
  must　be　skilled　to　sever　and　sunder　duly
  words　and　works；　if　he　well　intends。
  I　gather；　this　band　is　graciously　bent
  to　the　Scyldings'　master。　March；　then；　bearing
  weapons　and　weeds　the　way　I　show　you。
  I　will　bid　my　men　your　boat　meanwhile
  to　guard　for　fear　lest　foemen　come；
  your　new…tarred　ship　by　shore　of　ocean
  faithfully　watching　till　once　again
  it　waft　o'er　the　waters　those　well…loved　thanes；
  winding…neck'd　wood；　　to　Weders'　bounds；
  heroes　such　as　the　hest　of　fate
  shall　succor　and　save　from　the　shock　of　war。〃
  They　bent　them　to　march；　　the　boat　lay　still；
  fettered　by　cable　and　fast　at　anchor；
  broad…bosomed　ship。　　Then　shone　the　boars＇2＇
  over　the　cheek…guard；　chased　with　gold；
  keen　and　gleaming；　guard　it　kept
  o'er　the　man　of　war；　as　marched　along
  heroes　in　haste；　till　the　hall　they　saw；
  broad　of　gable　and　bright　with　gold：
  that　was　the　fairest；　'mid　folk　of　earth；
  of　houses　'neath　heaven；　where　Hrothgar　lived；
  and　the　gleam　of　it　lightened　o'er　lands　afar。
  The　sturdy　shieldsman　showed　that　bright
  burg…of…the…boldest；　bade　them　go
  straightway　thither；　his　steed　then　turned；
  hardy　hero；　and　hailed　them　thus：
  〃Tis　time　that　I　fare　from　you。　Father　Almighty
  in　grace　and　mercy　guard　you　well；
  safe　in　your　seekings。　Seaward　I　go；
  'gainst　hostile　warriors　hold　my　watch。〃
  ＇1＇　Hrothgar。　＇2＇　Beowulf's　helmet　has　several　boar…images　on　it；
  he　is　the　〃man　of　war〃；　and　the　boar…helmet　guards　him　as　typical
  representative　of　the　marching　party　as　a　whole。　The　boar　was
  sacred　to　Freyr；　who　was　the　favorite　god　of　the　Germanic　tribes
  about　the　North　Sea　and　the　Baltic。　Rude　representations　of
  warriors　show　the　boar　on　the　helmet　quite　as　large　as　the　helmet
  itself。
  V
  STONE…BRIGHT　the　street：＇1＇　it　showed　the　way
  to　the　crowd　of　clansmen。　Corselets　glistened
  hand…forged；　hard；　on　their　harness　bright
  the　steel　ring　sang；　as　they　strode　along
  in　mail　of　battle；　and　marched　to　the　hall。
  There；　weary　of　ocean；　the　wall　along
  they　set　their　bucklers；　their　broad　shields；　down；
  and　bowed　them　to　bench：　the　breastplates　clanged；
  war…gear　of　men；　their　weapons　stacked；
  spears　of　the　seafarers　stood　together；
  gray…tipped　ash：　that　iron　band
  was　worthily　weaponed！　　A　warrior　proud
  asked　of　the　heroes　their　home　and　kin。
  〃Whence；　now；　bear　ye　burnished　shields；
  harness　gray　and　helmets　grim；
  spears　in　multitude？　Messenger；　I；
  Hrothgar's　herald！　Heroes　so　many
  ne'er　met　I　as　strangers　of　mood　so　strong。
  'Tis　plain　that　for　prowess；　not　plunged　into　exile；
  for　high…hearted　valor；　Hrothgar　ye　seek！〃
  Him　the　sturdy…in…war　bespake　with　words；
  proud　earl　of　the　Weders　answer　made；
  hardy　'neath　helmet：　　〃Hygelac's；　we；
  fellows　at　board；　I　am　Beowulf　named。
  I　am　seeking　to　say　to　the　son　of　Healfdene
  this　mission　of　mine；　to　thy　master…lord；
  the　doughty　prince；　if　he　deign　at　all
  grace　that　we　greet　him；　the　good　one；　now。〃
  Wulfgar　spake；　the　Wendles'　chieftain；
  whose　might　of　mind　to　many　was　known；
  his　courage　and　counsel：　〃The　king　of　Danes；
  the　Scyldings'　friend；　I　fain　will　tell；
  the　Breaker…of…Ri