1 BEOWULF (part1)

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3 In Denmark back in days of old
4 There lived a king both brave and bold.
5 Heir to three generations of great warrior lords
6 Men who forged a kingdom with their swords
7 Ancestors of such fame and power
8 As were legends in their hour.
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11 This king (Hrothgar is his name)
12 Was bound with them to share great fame
13 And grew so proud he felt the need
14 To build a hall the world would read
15 As testament to his largesse
16 A symbol of his greatness.
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19 Broad and spacious, tall and bright,
20 The building was a sheer delight.
21 Within its safe and well hung walls
22 His people danced and sang.
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25 Now all among king Hrothgar’s heirs
26 Considered this inheritance theirs,
27 Until, that is, one winter’s night,
28 When evil stirred in the dark half light.
29 A creature unbeknown to them
30 Came skulking from his hidden den.
31 Abroad among the lonely moors
32 This evil had a taste for men.
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34 Named Grendel, and largely out of spite,
35 He hated men with all his might.
36 For him all courtly splendour wrangled
37 While he in squalid holes entangled
38 Among roots and mud had to languish.
39 It was a state which caused him anguish.
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42 Now jealous of Hrothgar’s fame
43 He seized his chance to smirch that name
44 And do a harm to all his crowd.
45 To pay them back - just as he’d vowed
46 For ills deemed caused by neglect of men
47 An outcast in his lonely den.
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50 Proud Danish thralls, could you not see
51 How this night-fiend gave threat to thee.
52 This Grendel with his unremitting lust for blood
53 Would cause destruction more chaotic than the flood.
54 Bring death to the most noble and fair among your fief.
55 Only the ruin of Heorot would salve his grief.
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58 Fearless and cold, stone-hearted in his look
59 This dark-time prowler now undertook
60 Great feats of horror that he might repay
61 The ills he nursed both night and day.
62 No one spared he. No babe in arms.
63 No sleeping swordsman gave him qualms.
64 He slayed them all without the slightest doubt
65 That he could see his vendetta out.
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67 The cursed fiend his lusts to meet
68 Tore thirty warriors from their seat.
69 Greedy and merciless in his quest
70 He bore them blood soaked to his nest.
71 Humiliated, brave Hrothgar was subdued.
72 Could no one help to halt this feud?
73 Restore his kingdom, his hall police,
74 What remedy could give him peace?
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76 Oft times more the demon plagued his hall
77 Tearing off great doors, smashing at its wall.
78 Weakening the power proud Hrothgar had wielded
79 “Till head bowed the king eventually yielded
80 And left his splendorous throne with jewelled seat.
81 His hall stood empty, his people were beat.
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83 For 12 years this evil ruled nights at the hall.
84 For 12 years the Danes daren’t go there at all.
85 Hard pressed, to a heathen god they turned
86 But their offerings to idols were useless and spurned.
87 Unrelenting, this creature had turned up the heat
88 And the Danes could do nothing but endure their defeat.
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90 Then from Geatland to Denmark there came
91 A warrior of stature and unparalleled fame.
92 By sea, in a boat he brought his band
93 Searching out this unfortunate land
94 Where grief and trouble were abroad
95 Where Grendel freely did maraud
96 Killing and maiming all at will.
97 This lord brought plans to make him still.
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100 Swift flew his ship o’er foam and wave
101 ‘Till it came to the cliffs where the Danes watch gave
102 Warning of all who approached their land
103 Challenging them, spear and shield in hand
104 That they might fear to come in arms that way
105 Ready to repel them should they choose to stay.
106 For without goods and meat and wine for barter
107 Such strangers could never be a trading partner.
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109 Yet Beowulf (our hero bold)
110 Brought men and weapons, made no trade for gold.
111 Sharp swords, bright shields a mail clad troop
112 Passed down the gang plank from his sloop.
113 Marched up the sandbank and topped the rise
114 A fearsome sight for the defenders eyes.
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116 In peace we come, our hero called
117 There is no need to stand appalled
118 Or fear us for we bring you aid
119 And have no wish your homes to raid.
120 Convey us quickly to your king
121 That we may speak of this fell thing
122 That cowers the people here about
123 Forsooth we can this demon out.
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125 So quickly off to Heorot hall
126 The group were taken one and all
127 To an audience with the Danish lord
128 Wherein these troubles were explored.
129 Greetings exchanged and goodly words of welcome said
130 The Geats had plans to see this dreadful monster dead
131 And spoke as if to guarantee
132 To rid all of this tyranny.
133 Oh how our mighty hero boasted
134 At the banquet good king Hrothgar hosted.
135 Of deeds well done and harms redressed
136 Of sea-beasts slain, and (quite the best)
137 Of his confidence that his strength was such
138 That no foul monster could him touch.
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140 In hand to hand combat he would succeed
141 (No weapon could achieve this deed)
142 And vanquish his malignant foe
143 Drive him out and make him go
144 Back to the wasteland and damp dank moor.
145 Tranquillity and peace he would restore.
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147 Now Unferth (one of Hrothgar’s Danes)
148 Upon listening to our hero’s claims
149 Made quick to up and express his view
150 That all this may not be quite true.
151 For sure, amidst all this do-gooding
152 Hadn’t Beowulf over-egged the pudding?
153 So Beowulf for clarity and in measured terms
154 He faces the company and reaffirms
155 His oath (which none could then deny)
156 ‘I will destroy the beast this very night, or die.’
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158 So as darkness falls and with the gloom descending
159 Tables are cleared and the brave Geats defending
160 The mead hall lay their iron tipped spears aside.
161 Curled on the floor they lie with eyes open wide.
162 Each man now fears this night may be his last.
163 And listens to the soft sounds as a stalker slides past
164 And up to the great hall where he peers within
165 Eyes ablaze with hate and sin.
166 Shadows move ‘cross the iron clad door
167 Spittle hangs down from a wide strong jaw
168 Firelight glints on a sharp hard claw.
169 Grendel is hunting his prey.
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171 Suddenly he started in,
172 Roared and grabbed the man who’d been
173 Lying closest by the porch.
174 He tore his corpse, bit off his head
175 And flung the body cross the ‘stead.
176 Caused havoc among those men and dread
177 That they might share this fate.
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179 But Beowulf who knew no fear
180 Leapt forward and grabbed the demons ear
181 Wrestled him down onto the floor
182 Held him fast and yelled for more
183 Courage from his cowering men.
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185 And Grendel struggling like a lion
186 Was bound by tendons strong as iron.
187 Across the floor the awesome beast was driven
188 Poked by spears his body shriven.
189 But no blade could truly harm his flesh
190 Dark magic helped him come afresh
191 And in one colossal effort he tried to rip
192 His left arm from our hero’s grip.
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195 But strong was the hand that held him fast
196 And tore at his shoulder ‘til at last
197 With sinews gashed and muscles shred
198 The bone was shattered and his arm fell dead.
199 Then Gendel let out a mighty roar
200 As his shoulder dropped to the blood wet floor.
201 He rushed at the exit, charged through the men
202 And ran mortally wounded to his lair on the fen.
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205 End of part 1