XX. GRENDEL'S MOTHER ATTACKS THE RING-DANES.

Sigon þâ tô slæpe. Sum sâre angeald

æfen-räste, swâ him ful-oft gelamp,

siððan gold-sele Grendel warode,

unriht äfnde, ôð þät ende becwom,

swylt äfter synnum. Þät gesýne wearð,

wîd-cûð werum, þätte wrecend þâ gyt

lifde äfter lâðum, lange þrage

äfter gûð-ceare; Grendles môdor,

ides aglæc-wîf yrmðe gemunde,

se þe wäter-egesan wunian scolde,

cealde streámas, siððan Cain wearð

tô ecg-banan ângan brêðer,

fäderen-mæge; he þâ fâg gewât,

morðre gemearcod man-dreám fleón,

wêsten warode. Þanon wôc fela

geósceaft-gâsta; wäs þæra Grendel sum,

heoro-wearh hetelîc, se ät Heorote fand

wäccendne wer wîges bîdan,

þær him aglæca ät-græpe wearð;

hwäðre he gemunde mägenes strenge,

gim-fäste gife, þe him god sealde,

and him tô anwaldan âre gelýfde,

frôfre and fultum: þý he þone feónd ofercwom,

gehnægde helle gâst: þâ he heán gewât,

dreáme bedæled deáð-wîc seón,

man-cynnes feónd. And his môdor þâ gyt

gîfre and galg-môd gegân wolde

sorh-fulne sîð, suna deáð wrecan.

Com þâ tô Heorote, þær Hring-Dene

geond þät säld swæfun. Þâ þær sôna wearð

ed-hwyrft eorlum, siððan inne fealh

Grendles môdor; wäs se gryre lässa

efne swâ micle, swâ bið mägða cräft,

wîg-gryre wîfes be wæpned-men,

þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþuren,

sweord swâte fâh swîn ofer helme,

ecgum dyhtig andweard scireð.

Þâ wäs on healle heard-ecg togen,

sweord ofer setlum, sîd-rand manig

hafen handa fäst; helm ne gemunde,

byrnan sîde, þe hine se brôga angeat.

Heó wäs on ôfste, wolde ût þanon

feore beorgan, þâ heó onfunden wäs;

hraðe heó äðelinga ânne häfde

fäste befangen, þâ heó tô fenne gang;

se wäs Hrôðgâre häleða leófost

on gesîðes hâd be sæm tweonum,

rîce rand-wîga, þone þe heó on räste âbreát,

blæd-fästne beorn. Näs Beówulf þær,

ac wäs ôðer in ær geteohhod

äfter mâððum-gife mærum Geáte.

Hreám wearð on Heorote. Heó under heolfre genam

cûðe folme; cearu wäs geniwod

geworden in wîcum: ne wäs þät gewrixle til,

þät hie on bâ healfa bicgan scoldon

freónda feorum. Þâ wäs frôd cyning,

hâr hilde-rinc, on hreón môde,

syððan he aldor-þegn unlyfigendne,

þone deórestan deádne wisse.

Hraðe wäs tô bûre Beówulf fetod,

sigor-eádig secg. Samod ær-däge

eode eorla sum, äðele cempa

self mid gesîðum, þær se snottra bâd,

hwäðre him al-walda æfre wille

äfter weá-spelle wyrpe gefremman.

Gang þâ äfter flôre fyrd-wyrðe man

mid his hand-scale (heal-wudu dynede)

þät he þone wîsan wordum hnægde

freán Ingwina; frägn gif him wære

äfter neód-laðu niht getæse.