XII
The earl's defence would on no accountThe bringer of woes let go alive,
Nor his life-days to any people
Did he count useful. There brandished many
795An earl of Beowulf his good old sword;
His dear lord's life he would defend,
His noble chiefs, whereso they might;
They knew not indeed, when they risked the contest,
The bold-in-mind heroes of battle,
800And on each side they thought to hew,
To seek his soul, that the fiendish demon
Not any on earth choicest of weapons,
No one of war-swords, was able to touch,
But he had forsworn victorious weapons,
805Each one of swords. His life-leaving should,
In the day then of this mortal life,
Miserably happen, and the strange-spirit
Into his foes' power afar depart.
Then that he perceived, he who oft before
810In mirth of mind against mankind
His crimes had wrought, hostile to God,
That his body's frame him would not sustain,
But him the proud kinsman of Ilygelac
Had by the hands: each was to other
815Living a foe. Pain of body endured
The terrible monster: there was on his shoulder
An evident wound; apart sprang the sinews,
The bone-frame burst. To Beowulf was
Battle-fame given: Grendel should thence
820Sick-of-life flee under the fen-slopes,
Seek his joyless abode; too surely he knew
That of his life the end was come,
The span of his days. To all of the Danes
By the bloody strife was the wish fulfilled;
825He then had cleansed, who ere came from afar,
Wise and valiant, the hall of Hrothgar,
Saved it from sorrow, rejoiced in his night-work,
His glorious deeds. Then for the East-Danes
The prince of the Geats his boast had performed,
830Likewise the sufferings all had removed,
Sorrows from foe, which they ere suffered,
And by compulsion had to endure,
No little distress. That was a clear proof,
After the battle-brave laid down the hand,
835The arm and the shoulder (there all was together),
The claw of Grendel 'neath the wide roof.
