module Level.Beowulf where import System.Random import Data.Char import Types import Rand import Level.Random level :: Rand -> Int -> Level level r minheight = beowulfIntro ++ map trim randomness where randomness = formatLevel id minheight $ addFeatures (zip stream features) stream = drop 1 $ concatMap words $ withStdGen r (cycle reverseBeowulf) (infiniteStream reverseBeowulf) features = filter wanted $ featureStream r wanted ElipsesFeature = False wanted EOLFeature = False wanted _ = True trim :: String -> String trim = reverse . dropWhile isSpace . reverse infiniteStream :: [String] -> StdGen -> [String] infiniteStream l = concat . stream where stream g = let (n, g') = randomR range g in words (l !! n) : stream g' range = (0, length l - 1) addpunct :: String -> String addpunct [] = [] addpunct l = case reverse l of (c:_) | isPunctuation c -> l ++ "\n" _ -> l ++ " -- \n" beowulfIntro :: [String] beowulfIntro = [ "||| ||||||||||||" , "|| Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory ||" , "| through splendid achievements ||" , "| The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of, || " , "| How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle. ||" , "||| |||" , "| Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers ||||" ] reverseBeowulf :: [String] reverseBeowulf = map (unwords . reverse . words) $ map (addpunct . trim) $ lines $ map (\c -> if c == '↓' then '\n' else c) $ "↓\ \ From many a people their mead-benches tore. ↓\ \ Since first he found him friendless and wretched, ↓\ \ The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it, ↓\ \ Waxed 'neath the welkin, world-honor gained, ↓\ \ Till all his neighbors o'er sea were compelled to ↓\ \ Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute: ↓\ \ An excellent atheling! After was borne him ↓\ \ A son and heir, young in his dwelling, ↓\ \ Whom God-Father sent to solace the people. ↓\ \ He had marked the misery malice had caused them, ↓\ \ That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile ↓\ \ Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital, ↓\ \ Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him. ↓\ \ Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory ↓\ \ Of Scyld's great son in the lands of the Danemen. ↓\ \ So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered ↓\ \ The friends of his father, with fees in abundance ↓\ \ Must be able to earn that when age approacheth ↓\ \ Eager companions aid him requitingly, ↓\ \ When war assaults him serve him as liegemen: ↓\ \ By praise-worthy actions must honor be got ↓\ \ 'Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated ↓\ \ Scyld then departed to the All-Father's keeping ↓\ \ Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him ↓\ \ To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades, ↓\ \ As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings ↓\ \ Word-sway wielded, and the well-loved land-prince ↓\ \ Long did rule them. The ring-stemmed vessel, ↓\ \ Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor, ↓\ \ Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing; ↓\ \ The beloved leader laid they down there, ↓\ \ Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel, ↓\ \ The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels, ↓\ \ Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over, ↓\ \ Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever ↓\ \ That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly ↓\ \ With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle, ↓\ \ Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled ↓\ \ Many a jewel that with him must travel ↓\ \ On the flush of the flood afar on the current. ↓\ \ And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly, ↓\ \ Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him ↓\ \ Who when first he was born outward did send him ↓\ \ Lone on the main, the merest of infants: ↓\ \ And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven ↓\ \ High o'er his head, let the holm-currents bear him, ↓\ \ Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit, ↓\ \ Their mood very mournful. Men are not able ↓\ \ Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside, ↓\ \ Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ In the boroughs then Beowulf, bairn of the Scyldings, ↓\ \ Beloved land-prince, for long-lasting season ↓\ \ Was famed mid the folk, his father departed, ↓\ \ The prince from his dwelling, till afterward sprang ↓\ \ Great-minded Healfdene; the Danes in his lifetime ↓\ \ He graciously governed, grim-mooded, aged. ↓\ \ Four bairns of his body born in succession ↓\ \ Woke in the world, war-troopers' leader ↓\ \ Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga the good; ↓\ \ Heard I that Elan was Ongentheow's consort, ↓\ \ The well-beloved bedmate of the War-Scylfing leader. ↓\ \ Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given, ↓\ \ Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen ↓\ \ Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood, ↓\ \ A numerous band. It burned in his spirit ↓\ \ To urge his folk to found a great building, ↓\ \ A mead-hall grander than men of the era ↓\ \ Ever had heard of, and in it to share ↓\ \ With young and old all of the blessings ↓\ \ The Lord had allowed him, save life and retainers. ↓\ \ Then the work I find afar was assigned ↓\ \ To many races in middle-earth's regions, ↓\ \ To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened ↓\ \ Early 'mong men, that 'twas finished entirely, ↓\ \ The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it ↓\ \ Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded 'mong earlmen. ↓\ \ His promise he brake not, rings he lavished, ↓\ \ Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up ↓\ \ High and horn-crested, huge between antlers: ↓\ \ It battle-waves bided, the blasting fire-demon; ↓\ \ Ere long then from hottest hatred must sword-wrath ↓\ \ Arise for a woman's husband and father. ↓\ \ Then the mighty war-spirit endured for a season, ↓\ \ Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness, ↓\ \ That light-hearted laughter loud in the building ↓\ \ Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music, ↓\ \ Clear song of the singer. He said that was able ↓\ \ To tell from of old earthmen's beginnings, ↓\ \ That Father Almighty earth had created, ↓\ \ The winsome wold that the water encircleth, ↓\ \ Set exultingly the sun's and the moon's beams ↓\ \ To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races, ↓\ \ And earth He embellished in all her regions ↓\ \ With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too ↓\ \ On all the kindreds that live under heaven. ↓\ \ So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance, ↓\ \ The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to ↓\ \ Dog them with deeds of direfullest malice, ↓\ \ A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger ↓\ \ Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous ↓\ \ Who dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness; ↓\ \ The wan-mooded being abode for a season ↓\ \ In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator ↓\ \ Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder, ↓\ \ The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father ↓\ \ The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance; ↓\ \ In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him ↓\ \ From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for, ↓\ \ Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures, ↓\ \ Elves and giants, monsters of ocean, ↓\ \ Came into being, and the giants that longtime ↓\ \ Grappled with God; He gave them requital. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit ↓\ \ The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it ↓\ \ For beds and benches when the banquet was over. ↓\ \ Then he found there reposing many a noble ↓\ \ Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes, ↓\ \ Misery knew not. The monster of evil ↓\ \ Greedy and cruel tarried but little, ↓\ \ Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers ↓\ \ Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed ↓\ \ Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to, ↓\ \ With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward. ↓\ \ In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking, ↓\ \ Was Grendel's prowess revealed to the warriors: ↓\ \ Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted, ↓\ \ Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous, ↓\ \ The long-worthy atheling, sat very woful, ↓\ \ Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen, ↓\ \ When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer, ↓\ \ The spirit accursed: too crushing that sorrow, ↓\ \ Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried, ↓\ \ But one night after continued his slaughter ↓\ \ Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little ↓\ \ From malice and murder; they mastered him fully. ↓\ \ He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for ↓\ \ A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges, ↓\ \ A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice ↓\ \ Told him truly by token apparent ↓\ \ The hall-thane's hatred: he held himself after ↓\ \ Further and faster who the foeman did baffle. ↓\ \ So ruled he and strongly strove against justice ↓\ \ Lone against all men, till empty uptowered ↓\ \ The choicest of houses. Long was the season: ↓\ \ Twelve-winters' time torture suffered ↓\ \ The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction, ↓\ \ Endless agony; hence it after became ↓\ \ Certainly known to the children of men ↓\ \ Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar ↓\ \ Grendel struggled:--his grudges he cherished, ↓\ \ Murderous malice, many a winter, ↓\ \ Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he ↓\ \ Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of ↓\ \ The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle, ↓\ \ No counsellor needed count for a moment ↓\ \ On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer; ↓\ \ The monster of evil fiercely did harass, ↓\ \ The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger, ↓\ \ Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then ↓\ \ The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where ↓\ \ Witches and wizards wander and ramble. ↓\ \ So the foe of mankind many of evils ↓\ \ Grievous injuries, often accomplished, ↓\ \ Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented, ↓\ \ Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen ↓\ \ Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch, ↓\ \ The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not. ↓\ \ 'Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings ↓\ \ Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private ↓\ \ Sat the king in his council; conference held they ↓\ \ What the braves should determine 'gainst terrors unlooked for. ↓\ \ At the shrines of their idols often they promised ↓\ \ Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they ↓\ \ The devil from hell would help them to lighten ↓\ \ Their people's oppression. Such practice they used then, ↓\ \ Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered ↓\ \ In innermost spirit, God they knew not, ↓\ \ Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler, ↓\ \ No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven, ↓\ \ The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who ↓\ \ Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to ↓\ \ The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for, ↓\ \ Wax no wiser; well for the man who, ↓\ \ Living his life-days, his Lord may face ↓\ \ And find defence in his Father's embrace! ↓\ \ ↓\ \ So Healfdene's kinsman constantly mused on ↓\ \ His long-lasting sorrow; the battle-thane clever ↓\ \ Was not anywise able evils to 'scape from: ↓\ \ Too crushing the sorrow that came to the people, ↓\ \ Loathsome and lasting the life-grinding torture, ↓\ \ Greatest of night-woes. So Higelac's liegeman, ↓\ \ Good amid Geatmen, of Grendel's achievements ↓\ \ Heard in his home: of heroes then living ↓\ \ He was stoutest and strongest, sturdy and noble. ↓\ \ He bade them prepare him a bark that was trusty; ↓\ \ He said he the war-king would seek o'er the ocean, ↓\ \ The folk-leader noble, since he needed retainers. ↓\ \ For the perilous project prudent companions ↓\ \ Chided him little, though loving him dearly; ↓\ \ They egged the brave atheling, augured him glory. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The excellent knight from the folk of the Geatmen ↓\ \ Had liegemen selected, likest to prove them ↓\ \ Trustworthy warriors; with fourteen companions ↓\ \ The vessel he looked for; a liegeman then showed them, ↓\ \ A sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country. ↓\ \ Fast the days fleeted; the float was a-water, ↓\ \ The craft by the cliff. Clomb to the prow then ↓\ \ Well-equipped warriors: the wave-currents twisted ↓\ \ The sea on the sand; soldiers then carried ↓\ \ On the breast of the vessel bright-shining jewels, ↓\ \ Handsome war-armor; heroes outshoved then, ↓\ \ Warmen the wood-ship, on its wished-for adventure. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The foamy-necked floater fanned by the breeze, ↓\ \ Likest a bird, glided the waters, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Till twenty and four hours thereafter ↓\ \ The twist-stemmed vessel had traveled such distance ↓\ \ That the sailing-men saw the sloping embankments, ↓\ \ The sea cliffs gleaming, precipitous mountains, ↓\ \ Nesses enormous: they were nearing the limits ↓\ \ At the end of the ocean. Up thence quickly ↓\ \ The men of the Weders clomb to the mainland, ↓\ \ Fastened their vessel, battle weeds rattled, ↓\ \ War burnies clattered, the Wielder they thanked ↓\ \ That the ways o'er the waters had waxen so gentle. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Then well from the cliff edge the guard of the Scyldings ↓\ \ Who the sea-cliffs should see to, saw o'er the gangway ↓\ \ Brave ones bearing beauteous targets, ↓\ \ Armor all ready, anxiously thought he, ↓\ \ Musing and wondering what men were approaching. ↓\ \ High on his horse then Hrothgar's retainer ↓\ \ Turned him to coastward, mightily brandished ↓\ \ His lance in his hands, questioned with boldness. ↓\ \ Who are ye men here, mail-covered warriors ↓\ \ Clad in your corslets, come thus a-driving ↓\ \ A high riding ship o'er the shoals of the waters, ↓\ \ And hither 'neath helmets have hied o'er the ocean? ↓\ \ I have been strand-guard, standing as warden, ↓\ \ Lest enemies ever anywise ravage ↓\ \ Danish dominions with army of war-ships. ↓\ \ More boldly never have warriors ventured ↓\ \ Hither to come; of kinsmen's approval, ↓\ \ Word-leave of warriors, I ween that ye surely ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Nothing have known. Never a greater one ↓\ \ Of earls o'er the earth have _I_ had a sight of ↓\ \ Than is one of your number, a hero in armor; ↓\ \ No low-ranking fellow adorned with his weapons, ↓\ \ But launching them little, unless looks are deceiving, ↓\ \ And striking appearance. Ere ye pass on your journey ↓\ \ As treacherous spies to the land of the Scyldings ↓\ \ And farther fare, I fully must know now ↓\ \ What race ye belong to. Ye far-away dwellers, ↓\ \ Sea-faring sailors, my simple opinion ↓\ \ Hear ye and hearken: haste is most fitting ↓\ \ Plainly to tell me what place ye are come from. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ We are sprung from the lineage of the people of Geatland, ↓\ \ And Higelac's hearth-friends. To heroes unnumbered ↓\ \ ↓\ \ My father was known, a noble head-warrior ↓\ \ Ecgtheow titled; many a winter ↓\ \ He lived with the people, ere he passed on his journey, ↓\ \ Old from his dwelling; each of the counsellors ↓\ \ Widely mid world-folk well remembers him. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ We, kindly of spirit, the lord of thy people, ↓\ \ The son of King Healfdene, have come here to visit, ↓\ \ Folk-troop's defender: be free in thy counsels! ↓\ \ To the noble one bear we a weighty commission, ↓\ \ The helm of the Danemen; we shall hide, I ween, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Naught of our message. Thou know'st if it happen, ↓\ \ As we soothly heard say, that some savage despoiler, ↓\ \ Some hidden pursuer, on nights that are murky ↓\ \ By deeds very direful 'mid the Danemen exhibits ↓\ \ Hatred unheard of, horrid destruction ↓\ \ And the falling of dead. From feelings least selfish ↓\ \ ↓\ \ I am able to render counsel to Hrothgar, ↓\ \ How he, wise and worthy, may worst the destroyer, ↓\ \ If the anguish of sorrow should ever be lessened, ↓\ \ Comfort come to him, and care-waves grow cooler, ↓\ \ Or ever hereafter he agony suffer ↓\ \ And troublous distress, while towereth upward ↓\ \ The handsomest of houses high on the summit. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Bestriding his stallion, the strand-watchman answered, ↓\ \ The doughty retainer: The difference surely ↓\ \ 'Twixt words and works, the warlike shield-bearer ↓\ \ Who judgeth wisely well shall determine. ↓\ \ This band, I hear, beareth no malice ↓\ \ ↓\ \ To the prince of the Scyldings. Pass ye then onward ↓\ \ With weapons and armor. I shall lead you in person; ↓\ \ To my war-trusty vassals command I shall issue ↓\ \ To keep from all injury your excellent vessel, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Your fresh-tarred craft, 'gainst every opposer ↓\ \ Close by the sea-shore, till the curved-necked bark shall ↓\ \ Waft back again the well-beloved hero ↓\ \ O'er the way of the water to Weder dominions. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ To warrior so great 'twill be granted sure ↓\ \ In the storm of strife to stand secure. ↓\ \ Onward they fared then, the vessel lay quiet, ↓\ \ The broad-bosomed bark was bound by its cable, ↓\ \ Firmly at anchor; the boar-signs glistened ↓\ \ Bright on the visors vivid with gilding, ↓\ \ Blaze-hardened, brilliant; the boar acted warden. ↓\ \ The heroes hastened, hurried the liegemen, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Descended together, till they saw the great palace, ↓\ \ The well-fashioned wassail-hall wondrous and gleaming: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ 'Mid world-folk and kindreds that was widest reputed ↓\ \ Of halls under heaven which the hero abode in; ↓\ \ Its lustre enlightened lands without number. ↓\ \ Then the battle-brave hero showed them the glittering ↓\ \ Court of the bold ones, that they easily thither ↓\ \ Might fare on their journey; the aforementioned warrior ↓\ \ Turning his courser, quoth as he left them: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ 'Tis time I were faring; Father Almighty ↓\ \ Grant you His grace, and give you to journey ↓\ \ Safe on your mission! To the sea I will get me ↓\ \ 'Gainst hostile warriors as warden to stand. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The highway glistened with many-hued pebble, ↓\ \ A by-path led the liegemen together. ↓\ \ Firm and hand-locked the war-burnie glistened, ↓\ \ The ring-sword radiant rang 'mid the armor ↓\ \ As the party was approaching the palace together ↓\ \ ↓\ \ In warlike equipments. 'Gainst the wall of the building ↓\ \ Their wide-fashioned war-shields they weary did set then, ↓\ \ Battle-shields sturdy; benchward they turned then; ↓\ \ Their battle-sarks rattled, the gear of the heroes; ↓\ \ The lances stood up then, all in a cluster, ↓\ \ The arms of the seamen, ashen-shafts mounted ↓\ \ With edges of iron: the armor-clad troopers ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Were decked with weapons. Then a proud-mooded hero ↓\ \ Asked of the champions questions of lineage: ↓\ \ From what borders bear ye your battle-shields plated, ↓\ \ Gilded and gleaming, your gray-colored burnies, ↓\ \ Helmets with visors and heap of war-lances?-- ↓\ \ To Hrothgar the king I am servant and liegeman. ↓\ \ 'Mong folk from far-lands found I have never ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Men so many of mien more courageous. ↓\ \ I ween that from valor, nowise as outlaws, ↓\ \ But from greatness of soul ye sought for King Hrothgar. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Then the strength-famous earlman answer rendered, ↓\ \ The proud-mooded Wederchief replied to his question, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Hardy 'neath helmet: Higelac's mates are we; ↓\ \ Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene, ↓\ \ The famous folk-leader, I freely will tell ↓\ \ To thy prince my commission, if pleasantly hearing ↓\ \ He'll grant we may greet him so gracious to all men. ↓\ \ Wulfgar replied then, he was prince of the Wendels, ↓\ \ His boldness of spirit was known unto many, ↓\ \ His prowess and prudence: The prince of the Scyldings, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The friend-lord of Danemen, I will ask of thy journey, ↓\ \ The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it, ↓\ \ The folk-chief famous, and inform thee early ↓\ \ What answer the good one mindeth to render me. ↓\ \ He turned then hurriedly where Hrothgar was sitting, ↓\ \ Old and hoary, his earlmen attending him; ↓\ \ The strength-famous went till he stood at the shoulder ↓\ \ Of the lord of the Danemen, of courteous thanemen ↓\ \ The custom he minded. Wulfgar addressed then ↓\ \ His friendly liegelord: Folk of the Geatmen ↓\ \ ↓\ \ O'er the way of the waters are wafted hither, ↓\ \ Faring from far-lands: the foremost in rank ↓\ \ The battle-champions Beowulf title. ↓\ \ They make this petition: with thee, O my chieftain, ↓\ \ To be granted a conference; O gracious King Hrothgar, ↓\ \ Friendly answer refuse not to give them! ↓\ \ ↓\ \ In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem ↓\ \ Of earls to be honored; sure the atheling is doughty ↓\ \ Who headed the heroes hitherward coming. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings: ↓\ \ I remember this man as the merest of striplings. ↓\ \ His father long dead now was Ecgtheow titled, ↓\ \ Him Hrethel the Geatman granted at home his ↓\ \ One only daughter; his battle-brave son ↓\ \ Is come but now, sought a trustworthy friend. ↓\ \ Seafaring sailors asserted it then, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Who valuable gift-gems of the Geatmen carried ↓\ \ As peace-offering thither, that he thirty men's grapple ↓\ \ Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The holy Creator usward sent him, ↓\ \ To West-Dane warriors, I ween, for to render ↓\ \ 'Gainst Grendel's grimness gracious assistance: ↓\ \ I shall give to the good one gift-gems for courage. ↓\ \ Hasten to bid them hither to speed them, ↓\ \ To see assembled this circle of kinsmen; ↓\ \ Tell them expressly they're welcome in sooth to ↓\ \ The men of the Danes. To the door of the building ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Wulfgar went then, this word-message shouted: ↓\ \ My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you, ↓\ \ The East-Danes' atheling, that your origin knows he, ↓\ \ And o'er wave-billows wafted ye welcome are hither, ↓\ \ Valiant of spirit. Ye straightway may enter ↓\ \ Clad in corslets, cased in your helmets, ↓\ \ To see King Hrothgar. Here let your battle-boards, ↓\ \ Wood-spears and war-shafts, await your conferring. ↓\ \ The mighty one rose then, with many a liegeman, ↓\ \ An excellent thane-group; some there did await them, ↓\ \ And as bid of the brave one the battle-gear guarded. ↓\ \ Together they hied them, while the hero did guide them, ↓\ \ 'Neath Heorot's roof; the high-minded went then ↓\ \ Sturdy 'neath helmet till he stood in the building. ↓\ \ Beowulf spake, his burnie did glisten, ↓\ \ His armor seamed over by the art of the craftsman: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Hail thou, Hrothgar! I am Higelac's kinsman ↓\ \ And vassal forsooth; many a wonder ↓\ \ I dared as a stripling. The doings of Grendel, ↓\ \ In far-off fatherland I fully did know of: ↓\ \ Sea-farers tell us, this hall-building standeth, ↓\ \ Excellent edifice, empty and useless ↓\ \ To all the earlmen after evenlight's glimmer ↓\ \ 'Neath heaven's bright hues hath hidden its glory. ↓\ \ This my earls then urged me, the most excellent of them, ↓\ \ Carles very clever, to come and assist thee, ↓\ \ Folk-leader Hrothgar; fully they knew of ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me ↓\ \ When I came from the contest, when covered with gore ↓\ \ Foes I escaped from, where five I had bound, ↓\ \ The giant-race wasted, in the waters destroying ↓\ \ The nickers by night, bore numberless sorrows, ↓\ \ The Weders avenged, woes had they suffered ↓\ \ Enemies ravaged; alone now with Grendel ↓\ \ ↓\ \ I shall manage the matter, with the monster of evil, ↓\ \ The giant, decide it. Thee I would therefore ↓\ \ Beg of thy bounty, Bright-Danish chieftain, ↓\ \ Lord of the Scyldings, this single petition: ↓\ \ Not to refuse me, defender of warriors, ↓\ \ Friend-lord of folks, so far have I sought thee, ↓\ \ That _I_ may unaided, my earlmen assisting me, ↓\ \ This brave-mooded war-band, purify Heorot. ↓\ \ I have heard on inquiry, the horrible creature ↓\ \ ↓\ \ From veriest rashness recks not for weapons; ↓\ \ I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious, ↓\ \ My liegelord beloved, lenient of spirit, ↓\ \ To bear a blade or a broad-fashioned target, ↓\ \ A shield to the onset; only with hand-grip ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The foe I must grapple, fight for my life then, ↓\ \ Foeman with foeman; he fain must rely on ↓\ \ The doom of the Lord whom death layeth hold of. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ I ween he will wish, if he win in the struggle, ↓\ \ To eat in the war-hall earls of the Geat-folk, ↓\ \ Boldly to swallow them, as of yore he did often ↓\ \ The best of the Hrethmen! Thou needest not trouble ↓\ \ A head-watch to give me; he will have me dripping ↓\ \ ↓\ \ And dreary with gore, if death overtake me, ↓\ \ Will bear me off bleeding, biting and mouthing me, ↓\ \ The hermit will eat me, heedless of pity, ↓\ \ Marking the moor-fens; no more wilt thou need then ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Find me my food. If I fall in the battle, ↓\ \ Send to Higelac the armor that serveth ↓\ \ To shield my bosom, the best of equipments, ↓\ \ Richest of ring-mails; 'tis the relic of Hrethla, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The work of Wayland. Goes Weird as she must go! ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Hrothgar discoursed, helm of the Scyldings: ↓\ \ To defend our folk and to furnish assistance, ↓\ \ Thou soughtest us hither, good friend Beowulf. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The fiercest of feuds thy father engaged in, ↓\ \ Heatholaf killed he in hand-to-hand conflict ↓\ \ 'Mid Wilfingish warriors; then the Wederish people ↓\ \ For fear of a feud were forced to disown him. ↓\ \ Thence flying he fled to the folk of the South-Danes, ↓\ \ The race of the Scyldings, o'er the roll of the waters; ↓\ \ I had lately begun then to govern the Danemen, ↓\ \ The hoard-seat of heroes held in my youth, ↓\ \ Rich in its jewels: dead was Heregar, ↓\ \ My kinsman and elder had earth-joys forsaken, ↓\ \ Healfdene his bairn. He was better than I am! ↓\ \ That feud thereafter for a fee I compounded; ↓\ \ O'er the weltering waters to the Wilfings I sent ↓\ \ Ornaments old; oaths did he swear me. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ It pains me in spirit to any to tell it, ↓\ \ What grief in Heorot Grendel hath caused me, ↓\ \ What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing. ↓\ \ Waned is my war-band, wasted my hall-troop; ↓\ \ Weird hath offcast them to the clutches of Grendel. ↓\ \ God can easily hinder the scather ↓\ \ From deeds so direful. Oft drunken with beer ↓\ \ ↓\ \ O'er the ale-vessel promised warriors in armor ↓\ \ They would willingly wait on the wassailing-benches ↓\ \ A grapple with Grendel, with grimmest of edges! ↓\ \ Then this mead-hall at morning with murder was reeking, ↓\ \ The building was bloody at breaking of daylight, ↓\ \ The bench-deals all flooded, dripping and bloodied, ↓\ \ The folk-hall was gory: I had fewer retainers, ↓\ \ Dear-beloved warriors, whom death had laid hold of. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Sit at the feast now, thy intents unto heroes, ↓\ \ Thy victor-fame show, as thy spirit doth urge thee! ↓\ \ ↓\ \ For the men of the Geats then together assembled, ↓\ \ In the beer-hall blithesome a bench was made ready; ↓\ \ There warlike in spirit they went to be seated, ↓\ \ Proud and exultant. A liegeman did service, ↓\ \ Who a beaker embellished bore with decorum, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ And gleaming-drink poured. The gleeman sang whilom ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Hearty in Heorot; there was heroes' rejoicing, ↓\ \ A numerous war-band of Weders and Danemen. ↓\ \ Unferth spoke up, Ecglaf his son, ↓\ \ Who sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings, ↓\ \ Opened the jousting, the journey of Beowulf, ↓\ \ Sea-farer doughty, gave sorrow to Unferth ↓\ \ And greatest chagrin, too, for granted he never ↓\ \ That any man else on earth should attain to, ↓\ \ Gain under heaven, more glory than he: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Art thou that Beowulf with Breca did struggle, ↓\ \ On the wide sea-currents at swimming contended, ↓\ \ Where to humor your pride the ocean ye tried, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies ↓\ \ In care of the waters? And no one was able ↓\ \ Nor lief nor loth one, in the least to dissuade you ↓\ \ Your difficult voyage; then ye ventured a-swimming, ↓\ \ Where your arms outstretching the streams ye did cover, ↓\ \ The mere-ways measured, mixing and stirring them, ↓\ \ Glided the ocean; angry the waves were, ↓\ \ With the weltering of winter. In the water's possession, ↓\ \ Ye toiled for a seven-night; he at swimming outdid thee, ↓\ \ In strength excelled thee. Then early at morning ↓\ \ On the Heathoremes' shore the holm-currents tossed him, ↓\ \ Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers, ↓\ \ Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished. ↓\ \ Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Though ever triumphant in onset of battle, ↓\ \ A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest ↓\ \ For the space of a night near-by to wait for! ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow: ↓\ \ My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken, ↓\ \ Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it, ↓\ \ That greater strength in the waters I had then, ↓\ \ Ills in the ocean, than any man else had. ↓\ \ We made agreement as the merest of striplings ↓\ \ Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished. ↓\ \ While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded ↓\ \ Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected ↓\ \ To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable ↓\ \ ↓\ \ To swim on the waters further than I could, ↓\ \ More swift on the waves, nor _would_ I from him go. ↓\ \ Then we two companions stayed in the ocean ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Five nights together, till the currents did part us, ↓\ \ The weltering waters, weathers the bleakest, ↓\ \ And nethermost night, and the north-wind whistled ↓\ \ Fierce in our faces; fell were the billows. ↓\ \ The mere fishes' mood was mightily ruffled: ↓\ \ And there against foemen my firm-knotted corslet, ↓\ \ Hand-jointed, hardy, help did afford me; ↓\ \ My battle-sark braided, brilliantly gilded, ↓\ \ Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me, ↓\ \ A hateful fiend-scather, seized me and held me, ↓\ \ Grim in his grapple: 'twas granted me, nathless, ↓\ \ To pierce the monster with the point of my weapon, ↓\ \ My obedient blade; battle offcarried ↓\ \ The mighty mere-creature by means of my hand-blow. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ So ill-meaning enemies often did cause me ↓\ \ Sorrow the sorest. I served them, in quittance, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ With my dear-loved sword, as in sooth it was fitting; ↓\ \ They missed the pleasure of feasting abundantly, ↓\ \ Ill-doers evil, of eating my body, ↓\ \ Of surrounding the banquet deep in the ocean; ↓\ \ But wounded with edges early at morning ↓\ \ They were stretched a-high on the strand of the ocean, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Put to sleep with the sword, that sea-going travelers ↓\ \ No longer thereafter were hindered from sailing ↓\ \ The foam-dashing currents. Came a light from the east, ↓\ \ God's beautiful beacon; the billows subsided, ↓\ \ That well I could see the nesses projecting, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The blustering crags. Weird often saveth ↓\ \ The undoomed hero if doughty his valor! ↓\ \ But me did it fortune to fell with my weapon ↓\ \ Nine of the nickers. Of night-struggle harder ↓\ \ 'Neath dome of the heaven heard I but rarely, ↓\ \ Nor of wight more woful in the waves of the ocean; ↓\ \ Yet I 'scaped with my life the grip of the monsters, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Weary from travel. Then the waters bare me ↓\ \ To the land of the Finns, the flood with the current, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me ↓\ \ Of deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth, ↓\ \ And of sword-terror none; never hath Breca ↓\ \ At the play of the battle, nor either of you two, ↓\ \ Feat so fearless performed with weapons ↓\ \ Glinting and gleaming . . . . . . . . . . . . ↓\ \ . . . . . . . . . . . . I utter no boasting; ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Though with cold-blooded cruelty thou killedst thy brothers, ↓\ \ Thy nearest of kin; thou needs must in hell get ↓\ \ Direful damnation, though doughty thy wisdom. ↓\ \ I tell thee in earnest, offspring of Ecglaf, ↓\ \ Never had Grendel such numberless horrors, ↓\ \ The direful demon, done to thy liegelord, ↓\ \ Harrying in Heorot, if thy heart were as sturdy, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them. ↓\ \ He hath found out fully that the fierce-burning hatred, ↓\ \ The edge-battle eager, of all of your kindred, ↓\ \ Of the Victory-Scyldings, need little dismay him: ↓\ \ Oaths he exacteth, not any he spares ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Of the folk of the Danemen, but fighteth with pleasure, ↓\ \ Killeth and feasteth, no contest expecteth ↓\ \ ↓\ \ From Spear-Danish people. But the prowess and valor ↓\ \ Of the earls of the Geatmen early shall venture ↓\ \ To give him a grapple. He shall go who is able ↓\ \ Bravely to banquet, when the bright-light of morning ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Which the second day bringeth, the sun in its ether-robes, ↓\ \ O'er children of men shines from the southward! ↓\ \ Then the gray-haired, war-famed giver of treasure ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Was blithesome and joyous, the Bright-Danish ruler ↓\ \ Expected assistance; the people's protector ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Heard from Beowulf his bold resolution. ↓\ \ There was laughter of heroes; loud was the clatter, ↓\ \ The words were winsome. Wealhtheow advanced then, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Consort of Hrothgar, of courtesy mindful, ↓\ \ Gold-decked saluted the men in the building, ↓\ \ And the freeborn woman the beaker presented ↓\ \ ↓\ \ To the lord of the kingdom, first of the East-Danes, ↓\ \ Bade him be blithesome when beer was a-flowing, ↓\ \ Lief to his liegemen; he lustily tasted ↓\ \ Of banquet and beaker, battle-famed ruler. ↓\ \ The Helmingish lady then graciously circled ↓\ \ 'Mid all the liegemen lesser and greater: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Treasure-cups tendered, till time was afforded ↓\ \ That the decorous-mooded, diademed folk-queen ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Might bear to Beowulf the bumper o'errunning; ↓\ \ She greeted the Geat-prince, God she did thank, ↓\ \ Most wise in her words, that her wish was accomplished, ↓\ \ That in any of earlmen she ever should look for ↓\ \ Solace in sorrow. He accepted the beaker, ↓\ \ Battle-bold warrior, at Wealhtheow's giving, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Then equipped for combat quoth he in measures, ↓\ \ Beowulf spake, offspring of Ecgtheow: ↓\ \ I purposed in spirit when I mounted the ocean, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ When I boarded my boat with a band of my liegemen, ↓\ \ I would work to the fullest the will of your people ↓\ \ Or in foe's-clutches fastened fall in the battle. ↓\ \ Deeds I shall do of daring and prowess, ↓\ \ Or the last of my life-days live in this mead-hall. ↓\ \ These words to the lady were welcome and pleasing, ↓\ \ The boast of the Geatman; with gold trappings broidered ↓\ \ Went the freeborn folk-queen her fond-lord to sit by. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Then again as of yore was heard in the building ↓\ \ Courtly discussion, conquerors' shouting, ↓\ \ Heroes were happy, till Healfdene's son would ↓\ \ Go to his slumber to seek for refreshing; ↓\ \ For the horrid hell-monster in the hall-building knew he ↓\ \ A fight was determined, since the light of the sun they ↓\ \ No longer could see, and lowering darkness ↓\ \ O'er all had descended, and dark under heaven ↓\ \ Shadowy shapes came shying around them. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The liegemen all rose then. One saluted the other, ↓\ \ Hrothgar Beowulf, in rhythmical measures, ↓\ \ Wishing him well, and, the wassail-hall giving ↓\ \ To his care and keeping, quoth he departing: ↓\ \ Not to any one else have I ever entrusted, ↓\ \ But thee and thee only, the hall of the Danemen, ↓\ \ Since high I could heave my hand and my buckler. ↓\ \ Take thou in charge now the noblest of houses; ↓\ \ Be mindful of honor, exhibiting prowess, ↓\ \ Watch 'gainst the foeman! Thou shalt want no enjoyments, ↓\ \ Survive thou safely adventure so glorious! ↓\ \ Then Hrothgar departed, his earl-throng attending him, ↓\ \ Folk-lord of Scyldings, forth from the building; ↓\ \ The war-chieftain wished then Wealhtheow to look for, ↓\ \ The queen for a bedmate! To keep away Grendel ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The Glory of Kings had given a hall-watch, ↓\ \ As men heard recounted: for the king of the Danemen ↓\ \ He did special service, gave the giant a watcher: ↓\ \ And the prince of the Geatmen implicitly trusted ↓\ \ ↓\ \ His warlike strength and the Wielder's protection. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ His armor of iron off him he did then, ↓\ \ His helmet from his head, to his henchman committed ↓\ \ His chased-handled chain-sword, choicest of weapons, ↓\ \ And bade him bide with his battle-equipments. ↓\ \ The good one then uttered words of defiance, ↓\ \ Beowulf Geatman, ere his bed he upmounted: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ I hold me no meaner in matters of prowess, ↓\ \ In warlike achievements, than Grendel does himself; ↓\ \ Hence I seek not with sword-edge to sooth him to slumber, ↓\ \ Of life to bereave him, though well I am able. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ No battle-skill has he, that blows he should strike me, ↓\ \ To shatter my shield, though sure he is mighty ↓\ \ In strife and destruction; but struggling by night we ↓\ \ Shall do without edges, dare he to look for ↓\ \ Weaponless warfare, and wise-mooded Father ↓\ \ The glory apportion, God ever-holy, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ On which hand soever to him seemeth proper. ↓\ \ Then the brave-mooded hero bent to his slumber, ↓\ \ The pillow received the cheek of the noble; ↓\ \ ↓\ \ And many a martial mere-thane attending ↓\ \ Sank to his slumber. Seemed it unlikely ↓\ \ ↓\ \ That ever thereafter any should hope to ↓\ \ Be happy at home, hero-friends visit ↓\ \ Or the lordly troop-castle where he lived from his childhood; ↓\ \ They had heard how slaughter had snatched from the wine-hall, ↓\ \ Had recently ravished, of the race of the Scyldings ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Too many by far. But the Lord to them granted ↓\ \ The weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes ↓\ \ Aid and comfort, that every opponent ↓\ \ By one man's war-might they worsted and vanquished, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ By the might of himself; the truth is established ↓\ \ That God Almighty hath governed for ages ↓\ \ Kindreds and nations. A night very lurid ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The trav'ler-at-twilight came tramping and striding. ↓\ \ The warriors were sleeping who should watch the horned-building, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ One only excepted. 'Mid earthmen 'twas 'stablished, ↓\ \ Th' implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them ↓\ \ To the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling; ↓\ \ But serving as warder, in terror to foemen, ↓\ \ He angrily bided the issue of battle. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ 'Neath the cloudy cliffs came from the moor then ↓\ \ Grendel going, God's anger bare he! ↓\ \ The monster intended some one of earthmen ↓\ \ In the hall-building grand to entrap and make way with: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ He went under welkin where well he knew of ↓\ \ The wine-joyous building, brilliant with plating, ↓\ \ Gold-hall of earthmen. Not the earliest occasion ↓\ \ ↓\ \ He the home and manor of Hrothgar had sought: ↓\ \ Ne'er found he in life-days later nor earlier ↓\ \ Hardier hero, hall-thanes more sturdy! ↓\ \ Then came to the building the warrior marching, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Bereft of his joyance. The door quickly opened ↓\ \ On fire-hinges fastened, when his fingers had touched it; ↓\ \ The fell one had flung then--his fury so bitter-- ↓\ \ Open the entrance. Early thereafter ↓\ \ The foeman trod the shining hall-pavement, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Strode he angrily; from the eyes of him glimmered ↓\ \ A lustre unlovely likest to fire. ↓\ \ He beheld in the hall the heroes in numbers, ↓\ \ A circle of kinsmen sleeping together, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ A throng of thanemen: then his thoughts were exultant, ↓\ \ He minded to sunder from each of the thanemen ↓\ \ The life from his body, horrible demon, ↓\ \ Ere morning came, since fate had allowed him ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The prospect of plenty. Providence willed not ↓\ \ To permit him any more of men under heaven ↓\ \ To eat in the night-time. Higelac's kinsman ↓\ \ Great sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature ↓\ \ In unlooked-for assaults were likely to bear him. ↓\ \ No thought had the monster of deferring the matter, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ But on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of ↓\ \ A soldier asleep, suddenly tore him, ↓\ \ Bit his bone-prison, the blood drank in currents, ↓\ \ Swallowed in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead man's ↓\ \ Feet and hands, too, eaten entirely. ↓\ \ Nearer he strode then, the stout-hearted warrior ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Snatched as he slumbered, seizing with hand-grip, ↓\ \ Forward the foeman foined with his hand; ↓\ \ Caught he quickly the cunning deviser, ↓\ \ On his elbow he rested. This early discovered ↓\ \ The master of malice, that in middle-earth's regions, ↓\ \ 'Neath the whole of the heavens, no hand-grapple greater ↓\ \ ↓\ \ In any man else had he ever encountered: ↓\ \ Fearful in spirit, faint-mooded waxed he, ↓\ \ Not off could betake him; death he was pondering, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Would fly to his covert, seek the devils' assembly: ↓\ \ His calling no more was the same he had followed ↓\ \ Long in his lifetime. The liege-kinsman worthy ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Of Higelac minded his speech of the evening, ↓\ \ Stood he up straight and stoutly did seize him. ↓\ \ His fingers crackled; the giant was outward, ↓\ \ The earl stepped farther. The famous one minded ↓\ \ To flee away farther, if he found an occasion, ↓\ \ And off and away, avoiding delay, ↓\ \ To fly to the fen-moors; he fully was ware of ↓\ \ The strength of his grapple in the grip of the foeman! ↓\ \ ↓\ \ 'Twas an ill-taken journey that the injury-bringing, ↓\ \ Harrying harmer to Heorot wandered: ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The palace re-echoed; to all of the Danemen, ↓\ \ Dwellers in castles, to each of the bold ones, ↓\ \ Earlmen, was terror. Angry they both were, ↓\ \ Archwarders raging. Rattled the building; ↓\ \ 'Twas a marvellous wonder that the wine-hall withstood then ↓\ \ The bold-in-battle, bent not to earthward, ↓\ \ Excellent earth-hall; but within and without it ↓\ \ Was fastened so firmly in fetters of iron, ↓\ \ By the art of the armorer. Off from the sill there ↓\ \ Bent mead-benches many, as men have informed me, ↓\ \ Adorned with gold-work, where the grim ones did struggle. ↓\ \ The Scylding wise men weened ne'er before ↓\ \ That by might and main-strength a man under heaven ↓\ \ Might break it in pieces, bone-decked, resplendent, ↓\ \ Crush it by cunning, unless clutch of the fire ↓\ \ In smoke should consume it. The sound mounted upward ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Novel enough; on the North Danes fastened ↓\ \ A terror of anguish, on all of the men there ↓\ \ Who heard from the wall the weeping and plaining, ↓\ \ The song of defeat from the foeman of heaven, ↓\ \ Heard him hymns of horror howl, and his sorrow ↓\ \ Hell-bound bewailing. He held him too firmly ↓\ \ Who was strongest of main-strength of men of that era. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ For no cause whatever would the earlmen's defender ↓\ \ Leave in life-joys the loathsome newcomer, ↓\ \ He deemed his existence utterly useless ↓\ \ To men under heaven. Many a noble ↓\ \ Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old, ↓\ \ Would guard the life of his lord and protector, ↓\ \ The far-famous chieftain, if able to do so; ↓\ \ While waging the warfare, this wist they but little, ↓\ \ Brave battle-thanes, while his body intending ↓\ \ ↓\ \ To slit into slivers, and seeking his spirit: ↓\ \ That the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons ↓\ \ Of all on the earth, nor any of war-bills ↓\ \ Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory ↓\ \ Swords and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with. ↓\ \ His death at that time must prove to be wretched, ↓\ \ And the far-away spirit widely should journey ↓\ \ Into enemies' power. This plainly he saw then ↓\ \ Who with mirth of mood malice no little ↓\ \ Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen ↓\ \ To God he was hostile, that his body would fail him, ↓\ \ But Higelac's hardy henchman and kinsman ↓\ \ Held him by the hand; hateful to other ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Was each one if living. A body-wound suffered ↓\ \ The direful demon, damage incurable ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered, ↓\ \ His body did burst! To Beowulf was given ↓\ \ Glory in battle; Grendel from thenceward ↓\ \ Must flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes, ↓\ \ Sick unto death, his dwelling must look for ↓\ \ Unwinsome and woful; he wist the more fully ↓\ \ ↓\ \ The end of his earthly existence was nearing, ↓\ \ His life-days' limits. At last for the Danemen, ↓\ \ When the slaughter was over, their wish was accomplished. ↓\ \ The comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil, ↓\ \ Wise and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar, ↓\ \ Saved it from violence. He joyed in the night-work, ↓\ \ In repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen ↓\ \ For the East-Danish people his boast had accomplished, ↓\ \ Bettered their burdensome bale-sorrows fully, ↓\ \ The craft-begot evil they erstwhile had suffered ↓\ \ And were forced to endure from crushing oppression, ↓\ \ Their manifold misery. 'Twas a manifest token, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ When the hero-in-battle the hand suspended, ↓\ \ The arm and the shoulder, there was all of the claw ↓\ \ Of Grendel together, 'neath great-stretching hall-roof. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ In the mist of the morning many a warrior ↓\ \ Stood round the gift-hall, as the story is told me: ↓\ \ Folk-princes fared then from far and from near ↓\ \ Through long-stretching journeys to look at the wonder, ↓\ \ The footprints of the foeman. Few of the warriors ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Who gazed on the foot-tracks of the inglorious creature ↓\ \ His parting from life pained very deeply, ↓\ \ How, weary in spirit, off from those regions ↓\ \ In combats conquered he carried his traces, ↓\ \ Fated and flying, to the flood of the nickers. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ There in bloody billows bubbled the currents, ↓\ \ The angry eddy was everywhere mingled ↓\ \ And seething with gore, welling with sword-blood; ↓\ \ He death-doomed had hid him, when reaved of his joyance ↓\ \ He laid down his life in the lair he had fled to, ↓\ \ His heathenish spirit, where hell did receive him. ↓\ \ Thence the friends from of old backward turned them, ↓\ \ And many a younker from merry adventure, ↓\ \ Striding their stallions, stout from the seaward, ↓\ \ Heroes on horses. There were heard very often ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Beowulf's praises; many often asserted ↓\ \ That neither south nor north, in the circuit of waters, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ O'er outstretching earth-plain, none other was better ↓\ \ 'Mid bearers of war-shields, more worthy to govern, ↓\ \ 'Neath the arch of the ether. Not any, however, ↓\ \ 'Gainst the friend-lord muttered, mocking-words uttered ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Of Hrothgar the gracious (a good king he). ↓\ \ Oft the famed ones permitted their fallow-skinned horses ↓\ \ To run in rivalry, racing and chasing, ↓\ \ Where the fieldways appeared to them fair and inviting, ↓\ \ Known for their excellence; oft a thane of the folk-lord, ↓\ \ ↓\ \ A man of celebrity, mindful of rhythms, ↓\ \ Who ancient traditions treasured in memory, ↓\ \ New word-groups found properly bound: ↓\ \ The bard after 'gan then Beowulf's venture ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Wisely to tell of, and words that were clever ↓\ \ To utter skilfully, earnestly speaking, ↓\ \ Everything told he that he heard as to Sigmund's ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Mighty achievements, many things hidden, ↓\ \ The strife of the Waelsing, the wide-going ventures ↓\ \ The children of men knew of but little, ↓\ \ The feud and the fury, but Fitela with him, ↓\ \ When suchlike matters he minded to speak of, ↓\ \ Uncle to nephew, as in every contention ↓\ \ Each to other was ever devoted: ↓\ \ A numerous host of the race of the scathers ↓\ \ They had slain with the sword-edge. To Sigmund accrued then ↓\ \ No little of glory, when his life-days were over, ↓\ \ Since he sturdy in struggle had destroyed the great dragon, ↓\ \ The hoard-treasure's keeper; 'neath the hoar-grayish stone he, ↓\ \ The son of the atheling, unaided adventured ↓\ \ The perilous project; not present was Fitela, ↓\ \ Yet the fortune befell him of forcing his weapon ↓\ \ Through the marvellous dragon, that it stood in the wall, ↓\ \ Well-honored weapon; the worm was slaughtered. ↓\ \ The great one had gained then by his glorious achievement ↓\ \ To reap from the ring-hoard richest enjoyment, ↓\ \ As best it did please him: his vessel he loaded, ↓\ \ Shining ornaments on the ship's bosom carried, ↓\ \ Kinsman of Waels: the drake in heat melted. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ He was farthest famed of fugitive pilgrims, ↓\ \ Mid wide-scattered world-folk, for works of great prowess, ↓\ \ War-troopers' shelter: hence waxed he in honor. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Afterward Heremod's hero-strength failed him, ↓\ \ His vigor and valor. 'Mid venomous haters ↓\ \ To the hands of foemen he was foully delivered, ↓\ \ Offdriven early. Agony-billows ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Oppressed him too long, to his people he became then, ↓\ \ To all the athelings, an ever-great burden; ↓\ \ And the daring one's journey in days of yore ↓\ \ Many wise men were wont to deplore! ↓\ \ Such as hoped he would bring them help in their sorrow, ↓\ \ That the son of their ruler should rise into power, ↓\ \ Holding the headship held by his fathers, ↓\ \ Should govern the people, the gold-hoard and borough, ↓\ \ The kingdom of heroes, the realm of the Scyldings. ↓\ \ ↓\ \ He to all men became then far more beloved, ↓\ \ Higelac's kinsman, to kindreds and races, ↓\ \ To his friends much dearer; him malice assaulted.-- ↓\ \ ↓\ \ Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured ↓\ \ The dun-colored highways. Then the light of the morning ↓\ \ Was hurried and hastened. Went henchmen in numbers ↓\ \ To the beautiful building, bold ones in spirit, ↓\ \ To look at the wonder; the liegelord himself then ↓\ \ From his wife-bower wending, warden of treasures, ↓\ \ Glorious trod with troopers unnumbered, ↓\ \ Famed for his virtues, and with him the queen-wife ↓\ \ Measured the mead-ways, with maidens attending. "