| from "BEOWULF" - lines 1251-1309 | THE VENGEANCE OF GRENDEL'S MOTHER | ||||
| trans. Louis J. Rodrigues (from Anglo-Saxon) | |||||
| .................... .................... Sigon þa to slæpe. Sum we angeald æfenræste, swa him ful oft gelamp, siþõan goldsele Grendel warode, unriht æfnde, oþ þæt ende becwom. swylt æfter synnum. Þæt gesyne wearþ, widcuþ werum, þætte wrecend þa gyt lifdle æfter laþum, lange þrage æfter guõceare; Grendles modor, ides, aglæcwif, yrmþe gemunde, se þe wæteregesan wunian scolde, cealde streamas. siþõan Cain wearõ to ecgbanan angan breþer, fæderenmæge. he þa fag gewat, morþre gemearcod, mandream fleon, westen warode. Þanon woc fela geocsceaftgasta; wæs þæra Grendel sum, heorowearh hetelic. se æt Heorote fand wæccendne wer wiges bidan; þær him aglæca ætgræpe wearõ hwæþre he gemunde mægenes strenge, gimfæste gife, õe him God sealde, ond him to Anwaldan are gelyfde, frofre ond fultum; õy he þone feond ofercwom, gehnægde helle gast. Þa he hean gewat, dreame bedæled, deaþwic seon, mancynnes feond. Ond his modor þa gyt gifre ond gaIgmod gegan wolde sorhfulne siõ, sunu deoõ wrecan. Com þa to Heorote, õær Hring-Dene geond þæt sæld swæfun. Þa õær sona wearõ edhwyrft eorlum, siþõan inne fealh Grendles modor. Wæs se gryre læssa efne swa micle, swa biõ mægþa cræft, wiggryre wifes, be wæpnedmen, þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþruen sweord swate fah, swin ofer helme ecgum dyhtig andweard scireõ. Ða wæs on healle heardecg togen sweord ofer setlum, sidrand manig hafen handa fæst; helm ne gemunde, byrnan side, þa hine se broga angeat. Heo wæs on ofste, wolde ut þanon feore beorgan, þa heo onfunden wæs; hraõe heo æþelinga anne hæfde fæste befangen, þa heo to fenne gang. Se wæs Hroþgare hæleþa leofost on gesiões had be sæm tweonum, rice randwiga, þone õe heo on ræste abreat, blædfæstne beorn. Næs Beowulf õær, ac wæs oþer in ær geteohhod æfter maþõumgife mærum Geate. Hream wearõ in Heorote; heo under heolfre genam cuþe folme; cearu wæs geniwod, geworden in wicun. Ne wæs þæt gewrixle til, þæt hie on ba healfa bicgan scoldon freonda feorum!
syõþan he aldorþegn unlyfigendne, þone deorestan deadne wisse. .................... .................... |
.................... .................... Then they sank to sleep. One paid sorely for his evening's rest, as had oft befallen them since Grendel guarded the gold-hall, wrought wrong, until the end came - death after misdeeds. It came to be seen, wide-known to men, that an avenger still lived after the hateful foe - a long time after the grievous strife. Grendel's mother, woman, monster-wife, mindful of her misery, she who had to dwell in the dread waters, cold streams, after Cain became the sword-slayer of his only brother, his father's son, had gone forth guilty, marked for his murder, fled the joys of men, inhabited the wilderness. From him sprang many fated spirits, of whom Grendel was one, a hateful outcast, who at Heorot found a watching man awaiting the fray. The monster there had laid hold of him; yet he was mindful of the mighty strength. the lavish gift which God had given him, and counted on the Lord for kindness, comfort and help. Hence he overcame the foe, subdued the hell-spirit. Then he departed abject . deprived of joy, to seek his death-place, mankind's enemy. And his mother. still greedy and gallows-grim, would go on a sorrowful venture. avenge her son's death. Then she came to Heorot, where the Ring-Danes slept throughout the hall. Then soon there came a change for the eorls, when Grendel's mother made her way in. The attack was less terrible by just so much as is women's strength. a wife's war-terror, than that of weaponed-men. when the bound, hammer-forged blade, blood-stained sword. doughty of edge, cleaves the boar on the opposing helm. Then in the hall was hard-edged sword drawn over the seats, many a broad shield heaved firmly in hand. None thought of helm, or of wide byrny, when the terror seized him. She was in haste, would depart thence, protect her life after she was perceived. Swiftly she seized one of the warriors firmly before she fled to the fen. To Hrothgar he was the most loved of heroes between the seas of the rank of retainer, a mighty shield-warrior, a well-known man, whom she slew at his rest. Beowulf was not there, for earlier another lodging had been allotted the glorious Geat, after the treasure-giving. Outcry rose in Heorot; she had seized the well-known hand covered in gore, sorrow was renewed, settled on the dwelling. That was no good bargain that on both sides they had to pay with the lives of friends!
when he learned that his counsellor was lifeless, his dearest man dead. .................... .................... |
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