What happened? Day by day[32] the feasting continued, until its noise and the festal joy of its revellers aroused a mighty enemy. Grendel[33] was a terrible troll-like monster, a man-eater, powerful, evil and cruel. This monstrous being, half-man, half-fiend, dwelt in the fens near the hill on which Heorot stood. Terrible was he, dangerous to men, of extraordinary strength, human in shape but gigantic of stature, covered with a green horny skin, on which the sword would not bite. His race, all sea-monsters, giants, goblins[34], and evil demons, were offspring of Cain[35].
Grendel was pained by the noise. He did not like people and he did not like the merry life in the banquet hall. Grendel was one of mankind’s most bitter enemies[36]; his hatred of the joyous shouts from Heorot, and his determination to stop the feasting grew on. One night he went to the hall to see what the king and his men did there. The door was open and he saw a company of thanes and warriors sitting at the tables or lying on the floor, and all of them were asleep after the feast. Grendel attacked the hall and killed and devoured thirty of Hrothgar’s warriors while they were sleeping. But Grendel did not touch the throne of Hrothgar, for it was protected by a powerful god.
When dawn broke, and the Danes[37] from their dwellings around the hall entered Heorot, great was the lamentation, and dire the dismay, for thirty noble champions had vanished, and the blood-stained tracks of the monster showed but too well the fate that had overtaken them. Hrothgar’s grief was profound, for he had lost thirty of his dearly loved bodyguards, and he himself was too old to wage a conflict[38] against the foe – a foe who repeated night by night his awful deeds.
The people were looking at the tracks of the terrible stranger on the floor of the hall. They knew that it was Grendel. “He will come again and again,” they said. “We are not safe here now.” Hrothgar and his people, helpless against Grendel’s attacks, abandoned Heorot. No champion would face the monster, and the Danes, in despair, deserted the glorious hall of which they had been so proud. Many of the thanes were frightened, and ran away and hid themselves in places where they thought the monster could not find them.
There were now fewer men in the banquet hall. And when Grendel came again one night, there was a very long struggle, but Grendel was a demon and had the strength of a demon. And so he killed some of the men and again ran away with them to the moor and devoured them.
Hrothgar could do nothing. The monster came now not only to the banquet hall, but to the houses of the people, and soon many houses were empty. And Grendel continued to kill.
The deeds of Grendel became known in all the countries of that time. Far and wide[39] spread the tidings of this terrible oppression, and many champions came from afar[40] to offer King Hrothgar their aid, but none was heroic enough to conquer the monster, and many mighty warriors lost their lives in a vain struggle against Grendel. At length[41] even these bold adventurers ceased to come; Grendel remained master of Heorot, he came often at night to the hall and slept there, and the Danes settled down in misery under the bondage of a perpetual nightly terror, while Hrothgar grew old in helpless longing for strength to rescue his people from their foe.
Twelve long years passed and there was great sorrow in the land. Hrothgar wanted to give Grendel much gold to end the war between them, but the monster refused. The banquet hall was empty now at night and there were no more feasts there. Those who had to cross the moors were in great danger, for Grendel watched for them, and caught and killed many. Many strong and brave men often sat in council[42] with Hrothgar to decide what to do.
Beowulf, a young warrior who lived in a land far from the Danes, heard of Hrothgar’s troubles and left his homeland to help Hrothgar.
When Beowulf with his men came to Hrothgar, he said: “O great king! We have heard about the terrible monster that comes in the dark nights and destroys your people. Perhaps I can help you to overcome this demon.”
“I knew you when you were a child,” said Hrothgar. “Your father was a brave warrior. Now his son has come for a friendly purpose. Your fame has come hither before you; seafarers have told me that you have the might of thirty men in your hand-grip. Great joy it is to know of your coming. If you succeed in killing Grendel, great treasures will I bestow upon you.”
Beowulf said, “I know that this monster does not use any weapons, so I shall fight with him with my hands, without armour. If he kills me, he will take my body to his home. Then I ask you to send my armour back to my country.”
The aged King Hrothgar, who had listened attentively while the hero spoke of his plans and of his possible fate, said, “I shall do what you ask. Grendel has caused us much sorrow with his hatred. I know you will kill the monster. Now let us sit down and have a feast.”
So a company of warriors sat down at the table and ate and drank, and the bards sang and it was merry again in the banquet hall. Thereupon room was made for the warriors on the long benches, and Beowulf sat in the place of honour opposite to the king: great respect was shown to him, and all men looked with wonder on this mighty hero. When evening came, Hrothgar rose to leave the hall with his men. Then the king said to Beowulf, “I trust this great hall of the Danes to you and your men. Have courage, watch for the enemy[43]. Every wish that you have shall be granted[44] if you kill the monster Grendel.”
Then Beowulf and his warriors were alone. Beowulf lay down on the floor and waited for Grendel. Then Grendel came from the moor, an awful light like fire came from his eyes. In the hall he saw a company of sleeping men and laughed loudly, as he expected to have a great meal before dawn. Grendel entered the hall and attacked, devouring one of Beowulf’s men. He stepped further into the hall and seized Beowulf, lying on the floor. Beowulf was sleeping and leaped up to clench Grendel’s hand.
The monster felt the strength of thirty men in that grip of Beowulf’s hands, and he was frightened. He wanted to escape and run away to the moor, but he could not free himself from Beowulf’s grip, and his bones cracked. Beowulf held the monster fast, and Grendel knew that his death was near.
Beowulf’s retainers drew their swords and rushed to his aid, but their blades could not pierce Grendel’s skin. The companions of Beowulf, with their swords, struck the monster on every side, but they did not know that no weapon could touch him, for he was a demon. But as much as he struggled[45], he could not free himself from Beowulf’s grip. At last[46] Beowulf tore the arm out of Grendel’s body and a great wound appeared on the shoulder of the monster. Grendel ran to his home in the moor to die.
Everybody talked about the fame of Beowulf – that in all the world there was not a braver warrior than he. Then a famous bard composed a song about the killing of Grendel. The king greeted Beowulf and embraced him, and said, “We have suffered much from Grendel. Now you, Beowulf, the best of men, have done that which all of us could not do[47]. I wish to take you into my heart as a son. Your fame will live forever because of the deed which you have performed.”
