LITERATURE

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Preserve thy strength, and these striplings here
counsel in kindness: requital be mine.
Hast done such deeds, that for days to come

thou art famed among folk both far and near,

so wide as washeth the wave of Ocean
his windy walls. Through the ways of life
prosper, O prince! I pray for thee
rich possessions. To son of mine

be helpful in deed and uphold his joys!
Here every earl to the other is true,

mild of mood, to the master loyal!
Thanes are friendly, the throng obedient,

liegemen are revelling: list and obey!

Went then to her place. That was proudest of feasts; flowed wine for the warriors. Wyrd they knew not,

destiny dire, and the doom to be seen

by many an earl when eve should come,

and Hrothgar homeward hasten away,

1 From the translation by Professor F. B. Gummere. Used by special permission of the translator and of the publishers. Copyright, 1904, The Macmillan Company.

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royal, to rest. The room was guarded

by an army of earls, as erst was done.

They bared the bench-boards; abroad they spread

beds and bolsters.

- One beer-carouser

in danger of doom lay down in the hall.
At their heads they set their shields of war,
bucklers bright; on the bench were there
over each atheling, easy to see,

the high battle-helmet, the haughty spear,

the corselet of rings. "Twas their custom so
ever to be for battle prepared,

at home, or harrying, which it were,

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even as oft as evil threatened

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their sovran king. They were clansmen good.

The Fight with Grendel's Mother
(From Beowulf)

After these words the Weder-Geat lord

boldly hastened, biding never

answer at all: and ocean floods

closed o'er the hero. Long while of the day

fled ere he felt the floor of the sea.
Soon found the fiend who the flood-domain
sword-hungry held these hundred winters,
greedy and grim, that some guest from above,
some man, was raiding her monster-realm.
She grasped out for him with grisly claws,
and the warrior seized; yet scathed she not
his body hale; the breastplate hindered,

as she strove to shatter the sark of war,

the linked harness, with loathsome hand.

On the hall-guest she hurled herself, hent her short sword.
broad and brown-edged, the bairn to avenge,

- On his shoulder lay

the sole-born son.

braided breast-mail, barring death,

withstanding entrance of edge or blade.

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Bloody the blade: he was blithe of his deed.
Then blazed forth light. "Twas bright within
as when from the sky there shines unclouded
heaven's candle. The hall he scanned.
By the wall then went he; his weapon raised
high by its hilts the Hygelac-thane,

angry and eager. That edge was not useless
to the warrior now. He wished with speed
Grendel to guerdon for grim raids many,
for the war he waged on Western-Danes
oftener far than an only time,
when of Hrothgar's hearth-companions
he slew in slumber, in sleep devoured,
fifteen men of the folk of Danes,
and as many others outward bore,

his horrible prey. Well paid for that

the wrathful prince! For now prone he saw Grendel stretched there, spent with war,

spoiled of life, so scathed had left him
Heorot's battle. The body sprang far
when after death it endured the blow,
sword-stroke savage, that severed its head.

CEDMON

Most right it is that we praise with our words,
Love in our minds, the Warden of the Skies,
Glorious King of all the hosts of men;

He speeds the strong, and is the Head of all

His high creation, the Almighty Lord.

None formed Him, no first was nor last shall be
Of the Eternal Ruler, but His sway

Is everlasting over thrones in heaven.

With powers on high, soothfast and steadfast, He
Ruled the wide home of heaven's bosom spread
By God's might for the guardians of souls,

The Son of glory. Hosts of angels shone,

Glad with their Maker; bright their bliss and rich

The fruitage of their lives; their glory sure,

They served and praised their King, with joy gave praise
To Him, their Life-Lord, in whose aiding care

They judged themselves most blessed. Sin unknown,
Offence unformed, still with their Parent Lord

They lived in peace, raising aloft in heaven

Right and truth only, ere the Angel Chief

Through Pride divided them and led astray.