Out of the mists of the marsh, as dark came on, strode the monster, Grendel. With one blow of his mighty arms, he broke the bolts and bars of the doors and entered the hall where the warriors lay sleeping. With a loud laugh, he seized one of them and tore him asunder. Beowulf watched him as he sprang on his prey and saw his method of attack.
The monster came the next night, and when he entered the hall hungry for a feast, he looked over the warriors who were asleep and started to seize one in his terrible arms. But Beowulf was as quick as Grendel and caught the monster’s arm in his own mighty grasp and twisted it round and round.
The fight that ensued was terrible. The tables were overturned, the castle shook with the noise and the people in the town were awakened with the sounds of the battle. The roar of the monster could be heard a mile, but Beowulf uttered not a sound.
The sleeping warriors rose up and joined in the fight; but Grendel’s hide was thicker than armor and their swords were useless. The blows they rained upon him made no impression.
At last Grendel tore loose, leaving his arm in Beowulf’s grasp. Bleeding and exhausted he crawled back to the marsh where they found his dead body the next day.
BEOWULF SLAYS THE WATER WITCH
An old legend in which the hero overcomes the terrors of the sea.
After Beowulf had slain the terrible Grendel, there was great rejoicing. The furniture in the hall was all restored; the tapestries and carpets were made new; embroideries were hung on the gold benches and a great feast was prepared. Never before was so splendid a banquet. After the feast the king gave Beowulf and his warriors many presents, coats of arms, horses and gold-handled swords. When the feast was over, the minstrels sang songs and everybody lay down to sleep.
But away down in the sea, the Water Witch, the mother of the dead Grendel, nursed her wrath, and at night came up to the land, and went straight to the Hall to avenge her son. While they slept she crept in through the cracks in the door and seized a warrior and bore him off to the sea to drown him. She was almost as horrible as Grendel himself. The warriors arose in great fear and called for Beowulf.