Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, together with Sellic Spell

by J. R. R. Tolkien

  was the blade stained with a device of branching venom,

  made hard in the blood of battle. Never had it in warfare

  betrayed any man of those that had wielded it with hands,

  1220 who had dared to achieve adventures perilous upon battle-

  fields against their foes. This was not the first time that it

  was required to accomplish valorous deeds. Verily the son

  of Ecglaf mighty of valour remembered not that which he

  had before spoken being filled with wine, when he lent that

  1225 weapon to a swordsman worthier than was he. He durst

  not himself beneath the warring waves adventure his life

  and deeds of prowess perform. There he forfeited glory for

  heroic deeds. Not so that other, who now had arrayed him

  for battle. Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘Forget not,

  1230 1230 O thou the son renowned of Healfdene, wise prince from

  whom men get love and gifts of gold, now that I haste to

  mine adventure, that which was aforetime spoken between

  us: if I should at thy need lay down my life, that thou

  wouldst ever be to me when I was gone in father’s stead. Be

  1235 thou protector of the knights that follow me, the companions

  at my side, if battle take me. And send thou, too, those

  precious gifts that thou hast given me, beloved Hrothgar,

  unto Hygelac. Then by that gold may the son of Hrethel,

  Lord of the Geats, when he gazeth upon that treasure, perceive

  1240 and understand that, finding a giver of rings, a lord

  endowed with generous virtue, I earned his bounty while I

  might. And let Unferth, that man of wide renown, receive

  back his olden heirloom, his sword cunningly adorned with

  flowing lines and hard of edge. For myself glory will I earn

  1245 with Hrunting, or death shall take me!’

  After these words the prince of the windloving Geats

  hastened dauntless forth, for no answer would he wait. The

  surging sea engulfed that warrior bold. Thereafter a long

  hour of the day it was ere he could descry the level floor.

  1250 Straightway that creature that with cruel lust, ravenous and

  grim, had a hundred seasons held the watery realm, perceived

  that there from on high some man was come to espy the

  dwelling of inhuman things. She clutched then at him, seized

  in her dire claws the warrior bold. No whit the sooner did

  1255 she hurt his body unharmed within; the ring-mail fended

  him about, that she might not pierce with cruel fingers the

  supple-linked shirt that clad him in the fray. Then that she-

  wolf of the waves to the sea-bottom coming bore the mail-

  clad prince unto her own abode. Even so, in no wise could

  1260 he wield his weapons – wroth was he thereat! - so many a

  monster strange beset him sorely as they swam, and many

  a beast of the sea with fell tusks at his hauberk tore; fierce

  destroyers pressed upon him.

  Now then the good man perceived that he was in some

  1265 abysmal hall, he knew not what, wherein no water did him

  any hurt, nor might the sudden onrush of the flood touch

  him by reason of the vaulted chamber. A light as of fire he

  saw with gleaming flames there shining bright. Then did that

  gallant one perceive the monstrous woman of the sea, she-

  1270 wolvish outlaw of the deep. To his warlike sword he lent a

  mighty force, nor did his hand hold back the blow; and on

  her head the weapon ring-adorned sang out its lusting song

  of war. Soon did the invader learn that in battle shining it

  would bite not there nor harm her life; nay, that blade failed

  1275 the prince at need, which aforetime had endured many a

  clash of blows, oft-times had cloven helm and harness of the

  doomed. This was the first venture for that dearly-prizéd

  thing wherein its glory fell.

  Again he made on, no laggard in valour, remembering his

  1280 renownéd deeds, that kinsman of Hygelac. As he fought in

  ire he cast away that blade with twisted ornament and curiously

  bound, and upon the earth it lay steeledged and strong.

  He trusted in his strength and the grasp of his own mighty

  hands. Such shall a man’s faith be, when he thinks to win

  1285 enduring fame in war: no care for his life will trouble him.

  Then seized the prince of Geatish warriors Grendel’s mother

  by her locks, ruing not the cruel deed, and his mortal foe he

  threw, for now he grim in war was filled with wrath, and she

  was bowed unto the floor. Again she swiftly answered him

  1290 with like, and grappling cruelly she clutched at him. Then

  stumbled, desperate at heart, that warrior most strong, that

  champion of the host, and he in turn was thrown. Then did

  she bestride the invader of her hall, and drew her knife with

  broad and burnished blade: she thought to avenge her son

  1295 and only child. Upon his shoulders hung the woven net of

  mail about his breast; this now his life defended, and with-

  stood the entry of both point and edge. In that hour had the

  son of Ecgtheow, champion of the Geats, come to ill end

  beneath the widespread earth, had not his corslet, the stout

  1300 net of rings, furnished him help in fight and fray – there Holy

  God did rule the victory in battle. The allseeing Lord who

  governeth the heavens on high with ease did give decision to

  the right, when Beowulf again sprang up.

  Lo! among the war-gear there he beheld a sword endowed

  1305 with charms of victory, a blade gigantic, old, with edges

  stern, the pride of men of arms: the choicest of weapons

  that, albeit greater than any other man might have borne

  unto the play of war, a good and costly thing, the work of

  giants. Now he grasped its linkéd hilt, that champion of the

  1310 Scyldings’ cause, in fierce mood and fell he flashed forth the

  ring-adornéd blade; despairing of his life with ire he smote,

  and on her neck it bitter seized, and shivered the bony joints.

  Through and through the sword pierced her body doomed.

  She sank upon the floor. The sword was wet. The knight

  1315 rejoiced him in the deed.

  The flame flashed forth, light there blazed within, even as

  of heaven radiantly shines the candle of the sky. He gazed

  about that house, then turning went along the wall, grasping

  upraised that hard weapon by the hilt, in ire undaunted

  1320 the knight of Hygelac. That blade the warrior bold did not

  despise; nay, he thought now swiftly to requite Grendel for

  those many dire assaults that he had made upon the Western

  Danes, far oftener than that one last time, slaying in slumber

  the companions of Hrothgar’s hearth, devouring as they

  1325 slept fifteen of the people of the Danes, and others as many

  bearing forth away, a plunder hideous. For that he had given

  him his reward, that champion in his wrath, so that on his

  couch he saw now Grendel lying weary of war, bereft of

  life, such hurt had he erewhile in battle got at Heorot. Far

  1330 asunder sprang the corpse, when Grendel in death endured

  a stroke of hard sword fiercely swung; his head was cloven

  from him.

  Soo
n did the wise men, who about Hrothgar kept watch

  upon the deep, this sight behold, that the sea’s confuséd

  1335 waves were all mingled and were stained with blood. About

  their good lord old men with greying hair then said with one

  accord that never again they hoped to see that noble knight,

  or that he would come in triumph and victory to see their

  king renowned; of one mind in this were many then, that the

  1340 she-wolf of the sea had broken him.

  Now came the ninth hour of the day. The gallant Scyldings

  forsook the headland; he from whom they had love and gifts

  of gold departed thence. The strangers sat sick at heart and

  gazed upon the mere. They wished, and hoped not, that they

  1345 might see the dear form of their lord. In that hour the valiant

  sword began, after the hot blood of battle touched it, to drip

  away in fearful icicles. A thing of wonder that; for it melted

  all, most like unto ice when the Father looseneth the bonds

  of frost and unlocks the enchainéd pools, even He who hath

  1350 the governance of seasons and of times, who is the stead-

  fast designer of the world. In those abodes no more did the

  prince of the windloving Geats take of the hoarded treasures,

  though many such he looked upon, save that head alone, and

  the hilt too, all bright with gems; the sword had melted now

  1355 away, and all its woven ornament was consumed; so hot that

  blood, so venomous was that alien creature that there had

  perished in the hall. Soon was he swimming swift, who had

  erewhile lived to see his enemies fall in war. Up dived he

  through the water. The confuséd waves, those regions vast,

  1360 all were purged, now that the alien creature had given up the

  days of life and this swift-passing world.

  Lo! to the land came swimming, dauntless of heart, the

  chieftain of seafaring men, rejoicing in the plunder of the

  sea and the huge burden of the things he bore. Then the

  1365 proud company of his knights went forth to meet him,

  giving thanks to God, welcoming their prince with joy, that

  they might look upon him there unharmed. Swiftly then

  were loosed the helm and corslet from that valiant one. The

  waters of the lake lay dark and still beneath the clouds stained

  1370 with deadly gore. Thence in heart rejoicing they measured

  with their marching feet the way across the land, the road

  well-known. Royalhearted men from that cliff beside the

  deep they bore the head – a weary task for each of those

  most brave: four must on a spear-shaft there with labour

  1375 grievous carry to the golden hall the head of Grendel, until

  anon they came striding thither, gallant, eager in arms, those

  fourteen Geats. Their liege lord with them, proudly among

  his company, trod the level ways about the hall of mead.

  Now in came striding that prince of knights daring in deeds,

  1380 honoured with men’s praise, a mighty man of valour greeting

  Hrothgar. Now Grendel’s head by its locks was borne upon

  the hall’s floor where men were drinking, hideous in the sight

  of men and of the lady in their midst, a marvellous thing to

  look upon with eyes. Men gazed thereon.

  1385 Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘Lo! this plunder of

  the sea, O son of Healfdene, Scyldings’ prince, we gladly have

  brought to thee, the token of my triumph which here thou

  lookest on. Hardly did I save my life therein, in war beneath

  the water, perilously did dare that deed. Well nigh were there

  1390 my days of battle ended, were not God my shield. Nor might

  I in that combat with Hrunting aught achieve, good though

  that weapon be. Nay, the Lord of men vouchsafed to me that

  on the wall I saw hanging fair a mighty sword and old – oft

  and again hath He guided those bereft of friends – and that

  1395 weapon now I drew, slew then in that strife, when space

  was granted me, the guardians of the house. Thereupon that

  blade of war with woven ornament was all consumed, even

  as the blood sprang out, gore most hot in battle. The hilt

  I bore thence from my foes, their evil deeds avenged, the

  1400 death and torment of the Danes, even as was meet. This do

  I promise thee henceforth, that thou mayest in Heorot sleep

  untroubled amid the proud host of thy men, thou and each

  one of thy knights and captains, the proven and the young

  that thou wilt not from that quarter have need to fear for

  1405 them, King of the Scyldings, the bane of good men’s lives, as

  once thou didst.’

  Then was the golden hilt given to the aged chieftain’s

  hand, to the grey-haired leader of the host, the work of trolls

  of old. After the demons’ fall it passed to the dominion of

  1410 the Lord of Danes, that fabric of wondrous smiths; and since

  that fellhearted foe, the enemy of God, had left this world

  stained with murder’s guilt, yea and his mother too, it passed

  into the keeping of that most excellent of earthly kings the

  Two Seas between, who aforetime dealt out their wealth on

  1415 Sceden-isle.

  Hrothgar made answer, looking close upon the hilt,

  the relic of old days, whereon was writ the beginning of

  that ancient strife, whereafter the flood of pouring ocean

  destroyed the Giants’ race; evilly did they fare. That was

  1420 a people alien to the eternal Lord; for that a final payment

  with surging water the Almighty made to them. There too

  upon the plates of purest gold was it duly marked in lettered

  runes, set forth and declared, for whom that sword was

  fashioned first, that best of things of iron with wirewrapped

  1425 hilt and snakelike ornament. Now spake the wise king, son

  of Healfdene – all were silent: ‘Lo! this may he say who

  furthereth truth and justice among men and, aged ruler of

  his home, recalleth all things long ago, that this good knight

  was born to mastery. Thy glory is uplifted to pass down the

  1430 distant ways, Beowulf my friend, thy glory over every folk.

  All which unmoved by pride thou dost possess, keeping thy

  valour with discerning heart. I shall to thee my vow of love

  accomplish, even as at first we spake together. Thou shalt

  unto thy lieges prove a comfort destined to endure, the help

  1435 of men of might. Not such did Heremod prove to Ecgwela’s

  sons, the Scyldings proud; he grew not to their joy, but to

  their bane and fall, to death and destruction of the chieftains

  of the Danes. In the fury of his heart he destroyed the

  companions of his board, the followers at his side, until he

  1440 passed forth alone, renownéd king, the mirth of men forsaking.

  Albeit the almighty God had advanced him beyond all

  in the glad gifts of prowess and in might, nonetheless the

  secret heart within his breast grew cruel and bloody. He

  gave not things of gold unto the Danes to earn him praise;

  1445 joyless he lived on to suffer misery for that strife, the torment

  long-lasting of his folk. Learn thou from this, and

  understand what generous virtue is! These considered words

  on thy a
ccount have I here uttered to whom have the winters

  wisdom brought.

  1450 ‘Wondrous ’tis to tell how the mighty God doth apportion

  in His purpose deep unto the race of men wisdom, lands, and

  noble estate: of all things He is Lord. At whiles the heart’s

  thought of man of famous house He suffereth in delight to

  walk, granteth him in his realm earthly joy ruling over men

  1455 within his walléd town, maketh the regions of the earth as

  his to sway, a kingdom vast, so that the end thereof in his

  unwisdom he cannot himself conceive. He dwells in plenty;

  no whit do age or sickness thwart him, nor doth black care

  grieve his soul, nor strife in any place bring murderous hatred

  1460 forth; nay, all the world goeth to his desire. He knows nothing

  of worse fate, until within him a measure of arrogance

  doth grow and spread. Now sleeps the watchman, guardian

  of his soul: too sound that sleep in troubles wrapped; the

  slayer is very nigh who in malice shooteth arrows from his

  1465 bow. Then beneath his guard he is smitten to the heart with

  bitter shaft, the strange and crooked biddings of the accurséd

  spirit; he cannot himself defend. Too little now him seems

  what long he hath enjoyed, his grim heart fills with greed;

  in no wise doth he deal gold-plated rings to earn him praise,

  1470 and the doom that cometh he forgets and heeds not, because

  God, the Lord of glory, hath before granted him a portion of

  honour high. Thereafter in the final end it cometh to pass that

  his fleshly garb being mortal faileth, falls in death ordained.

  Another succeeds to all, who unrecking scattereth his precious

  1475 things, the old-hoarded treasures of that man: his wrath

  he fears not. Defend thee from that deadly malice, dear

  Beowulf, best of knights, and choose for thyself the better

  part, counsels of everlasting worth; countenance no pride, O

  champion in thy renown! Now for a little while thy valour is

  1480 in flower; but soon shall it be that sickness or the sword rob

  thee of thy might, or fire’s embrace, or water’s wave, or bite

  of blade, or flight of spear, or dreadful age; or the flashing of

  thine eyes shall fail and fade; very soon ’twill come that thee,

  proud knight, shall death lay low.

  1485 ‘Even so did I for half a hundred years beneath heaven

  rule the ring-proud Danes, and with my battle fenced them