Beowulf, part one
Below you see part of the first half of the story both in Old-English and modern English. The text describes Grendel nearing King Hrothgar's Mead Hall, intent on killing and destroying. It also foreshadows the events to come. The translation below is by Michael Alexander.
Com on wanre niht scriðan sceadugenga. Sceotend swæfon, þa þæt hornreced healdan scoldon, ealle buton anum. Þæt wæs yldum cuþ, þæt hie ne moste, þa Metod nolde, se scynscaþa under sceadu bregdan;--- ac he wæccende wraþum on andan bad bolgenmod beadwa geþinges. XI Ða com of more under misthleoþum Grendel gongan, Godes yrre bær; mynte se manscaða manna cynnes sumne besyrwan in sele þam hean. Wod under wolcnum to þæs þe he winreced, goldsele gumena gearwost wisse fættum fahne. Ne wæs þæt forma sið, þæt he Hroþgares ham gesohte; næfre he on aldordagum ær ne siþðan heardran hæle, healðegnas fand! |
Gliding through the shadows came the walker in the night; the warrior slept whose task was to hold the horned building, all except one. It was well-known to men that the demon could not drag them onto the shades without God's willing it; yet the one man kept unblinking watch. He awaited, heart swelling with anger against his foe, the ordeal of battle. Down off the moorland's misting fells came Grendel stalking; God's brand was on him. The spoiler meant to snatch away from the high hall some of the human race. He came on under the clouds, clearly saw at last the gold-hall of men, the mead-drinking place nailed with gold plates. That was not the first visit he had paid to the hall of Hrothgar the Dane: he never before and never after harder luck nor hall-guards found. |
The story continues
Beowulf, of course, kills the monster single-handedly. He does so by ripping off Grendel's arm. Hrothgar's, and consequently, Beowulf's, problems however, are not solved yet. It appears that Grendel had a mother and now she returns to Hrothgar's hall to revenge her son. She carries off some men and takes them to her lair. Beowulf follows her and this fight turns out to be much harder. Eventually Beowulf slays Grendel's mother with the help of a magical sword he finds in her cave. Beowulf is welcomed back as a hero by Hrothgar and his people. they are now freed from the monster. Beowulf returns home where, eventually, he becomes king himself. He is a good king an reigns his people for more than fifty years. They are peaceful times until once more a monster is awakened. Gold is stolen from the cave of a sleeping dragon. When the dragon awakes he is furious and emerges from his cave bent on revenge. He starts terrorizing Beowulf's people and Beowulf has to ride out to meet a monster one more time.
Now, continue on the next page and read the introduction of the second part of the story. Note the change in Beowulf.
Now, continue on the next page and read the introduction of the second part of the story. Note the change in Beowulf.