XI. THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.

Þâ him Hrôðgâr gewât mid his häleða gedryht,

eodur Scyldinga ût of healle;

wolde wîg-fruma Wealhþeó sêcan,

cwên tô gebeddan Häfde kyninga wuldor

Grendle tô-geánes, swâ guman gefrungon,

sele-weard âseted, sundor-nytte beheóld

ymb aldor Dena, eoton weard âbeád;

hûru Geáta leód georne trûwode

môdgan mägnes, metodes hyldo.

Þâ he him of dyde îsern-byrnan,

helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,

îrena cyst ombiht-þegne,

and gehealdan hêt hilde-geatwe.

Gespräc þâ se gôda gylp-worda sum

Beówulf Geáta, ær he on bed stige:

"Nô ic me an here-wæsmum hnâgran talige

"gûð-geweorca, þonne Grendel hine;

"forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,

"aldre beneótan, þeáh ic eal mæge.

"Nât he þâra gôda, þät he me on-geán sleá,

"rand geheáwe, þeáh þe he rôf sîe

"nîð-geweorca; ac wit on niht sculon

"secge ofersittan, gif he gesêcean dear

"wîg ofer wæpen, and siððan witig god

"on swâ hwäðere hond hâlig dryhten

"mærðo dême, swâ him gemet þince."

Hylde hine þâ heaðo-deór, hleór-bolster onfêng

eorles andwlitan; and hine ymb monig

snellîc sæ-rinc sele-reste gebeáh.

Nænig heora þôhte þät he þanon scolde

eft eard-lufan æfre gesêcean,

folc oððe freó-burh, þær he âfêded wäs,

ac hie häfdon gefrunen, þät hie ær tô fela micles

in þäm wîn-sele wäl-deáð fornam,

Denigea leóde. Ac him dryhten forgeaf

wîg-spêda gewiofu, Wedera leódum

frôfor and fultum, þät hie feónd heora

þurh ânes cräft ealle ofercômon,

selfes mihtum: sôð is gecýðed,

þät mihtig god manna cynnes

weóld wîde-ferhð. Com on wanre niht

scrîðan sceadu-genga. Sceótend swæfon,

þâ þät horn-reced healdan scoldon,

ealle bûton ânum. Þät wäs yldum cûð,

þät hie ne môste, þâ metod nolde,

se syn-scaða under sceadu bregdan;

ac he wäccende wrâðum on andan

bâd bolgen-môd beadwa geþinges.