“The Water Witch! The Water Witch!” they cried. “The mother of Grendel has come upon us! What shall we do?”
Beowulf begged them to be calm. He said he would fight the Water Witch as he had her son. All the warriors went with him to the shores of the sea where the Witch lived. On the dark waters swam many dragons and serpents and slimy water-worms. Beowulf took his sword in his hand, put on his helmet and his coat of armor, through which no steel might ever pierce; then bidding the king farewell he leaped into the sea and went down and down until he touched the very bottom.
Here the Water Witch lived, and as soon as she saw Beowulf she reached out her long skinny hand to crush him. But his armor was so strong that she could not hurt him in any wise. She then dragged him into her cave. She held him so fast he could not unsheathe his sword. Terrible sea monsters attacked him on all sides. But he was unhurt.
Finally he drew his sword and attacked the Water Witch; but she was no more to be hurt by a sword than was Beowulf. Seizing her by the shoulders he dragged her down and there made a fearful fight on the floor of the sea. The water boiled and great waves rose to the top. Beowulf saw a shining dagger hanging to a rock. It glittered like diamonds and gold; as they swayed over to it, he seized it and thrust it into the heart of the Water Witch.
She sank to the floor and her blood dyed all the water red, and the people on the shore thought the setting sun had done it. Beowulf rose and saw that she was quite dead. On the floor of the cave lay the body of Grendel also. So he cut off the head of the monster and rose to the surface and swam to shore where he laid the bloody head before the king and told him the Water Witch could do him no more harm. And that was the end of Grendel and his dreadful mother.
BEOWULF SLAYS THE FIRE DRAGON
In which the brave hero stops the ravages of a fire-breathing monster.
After Beowulf had slain Grendel and the Water Witch he returned to his own country. When its ruler died, the people made Beowulf king, and he ruled over the land for fifty years.