Shall fail and shall dim: then shall it be forthright

That thee, lordly man, the death over-masters.

E'en so I the Ring-Danes for an hundred of seasons

Did wield under the welkin and lock'd them by war

From many a kindred the Middle-Garth over

With ash-spears and edges, in such wise that not ever

Under the sky's run of my foemen I reckoned.

What! to me in my land came a shifting of that,

Came grief after game, sithence Grendel befell,

My foeman of old, mine ingoer soothly.