The Tale of Beowulf/Chapter 13
XIII. BEOWULF HATH THE VICTORY: GRENDEL IS HURT DEADLY AND LEAVETH HAND AND ARM IN THE HALL.
NAUGHT would the earls' help for anything thenceforth791That murder-comer yet quick let loose of,Nor his life-days forsooth to any of folkTold he for useful. Out then drew full manyOf Beowulf's earls the heir-loom of old days,For their lord and their master's fair life would they ward, That mighty of princes, if so might they do it.For this did they know not when they the strife dreed,Those hardy-minded men of the battle,And on every half there thought to be hewing,800And search out his soul, that the ceaseless scatherNot any on earth of the choice of all irons,Not one of the war-bills, would greet home for ever.For he had forsworn him from victory-weapons,And each one of edges. But his sundering of soulIn the days that we tell of, the day of this life,Should be weary and woeful, the ghost wending elsewhereTo the wielding of fiends to wend him afar.Then found he out this, he who mickle erst madeOut of mirth of his mood unto children of men810And had fram'd many crimes, he the foeman of God,That the body of him would not bide to avail him,But the hardy of mood, even Hygelac's kinsman,Had him fast by the hand: now was each to the otherAll loathly while living: his body-sore bidedThe monster: was manifest now on his shoulderThe unceasing wound, sprang the sinews asunder, The bone-lockers bursted. To Beowulf nowWas the battle-fame given; should Grendel thenceforth819Flee life-sick awayward and under the fen-bentsSeek his unmerry stead: now wist he more surelyThat ended his life was, and gone over for ever,His day-tale told out. But was for all Dane-folkAfter that slaughter-race all their will done.Then had he cleans'd for them, he the far-comer,Wise and stout-hearted, the high hall of Hrothgar,And sav'd it from war. So the night-work he joy'd inAnd his doughty deed done. Yea, but he for the East-DanesThat lord of the Geat-folk his boast's end had gotten,Withal their woes bygone all had he booted,830And the sorrow hate-fashion'd that afore they had dreed,And the hard need and bitter that erst they must bear,The sorrow unlittle. Sithence was clear tokenWhen the deer of the battle laid down there the handThe arm and the shoulder, and all there togetherOf the grip of that Grendel 'neath the great roof upbuilded.