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Then Hrothgar went with his warrior-band,The prince of the Scyldings, out of the hall:
The war-prince would Wealhtheow seek,
665His queen as companion. The glory of kings
Grendel against, as men heard say,
A hall-guard had set: he performed special service
For the prince of the Danes, he eoten-guard kept.
Now the prince of the Geats earnestly trusted
670In his proud might, in the Creator's favor.
Then he laid him aside his iron burnie,
Helmet from head, his jewelled sword gave,
Choicest of weapons, to his servant-thane,
And bade him keep his armor of war.
675Then spoke the hero some boastful words,
Beowulf the Geat, ere he on bed stied:
"I count not myself less good in war-might
For deeds of battle than Grendel himself:
Therefore with my sword I him will not kill,
680Of life deprive, though I it all may.
He knows not these goods, so that he me may slay
Hew down my shield, although he be fierce
In hostile deeds: but we at night shall
From swords refrain, if he dare to seek
685War without weapons; and then the wise God,
The holy Lord, on whatever hand
May the glory adjudge, as seems to Him fit."
Then lay down the warlike: the pillow received
The cheeks of the earl, and him around many
690A valiant sea-warrior sought his hall-rest.
No one of these thought that thence he should
Again his dear home ever seek out,
Folk or free-city where he was reared;
But they had heard that too many before
695In this wine-hall bloody death carried off
Of the folk of the Danes. But to them the Lord gave
The web of war-speed, to the folk of the Weders
Comfort and help, so that they their foes
Through the craft of one all overcame,
700By the might of one self: the truth is made known
That the mighty God the race of man
Has always ruled. - Came in wan night
The shadow-goer stepping. The warriors slept,
Who the horned hall then were to hold,
705All except one. That was to men known,
That them he might not, whom the Creator would not,
The hostile demon drag into darkness;
But he keeping watch for his foe in anger
Awaited enraged the result of the battle.
