XIII + 

Grendel Is Vanquished + 

For no cause whatever would the earlmen’s defender + 

Leave in life-joys the loathsome newcomer, + 

He deemed his existence utterly useless + 

To men under heaven. Many a noble + 

Of Beowulf brandished his battle-sword old, + 

Would guard the life of his lord and protector, + 

The far-famous chieftain, if able to do so; + 

While waging the warfare, this wist they but little, + 

Brave battle-thanes, while his body intending + 

To slit into slivers, and seeking his spirit: + 

That the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons + 

Of all on the earth, nor any of war-bills + 

Was willing to injure; but weapons of victory + 

Swords and suchlike he had sworn to dispense with. + 

His death at that time must prove to be wretched, + 

And the faraway spirit widely should journey + 

Into enemies’ power. This plainly he saw then + 

Who with mirth of mood malice no little + 

Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen + 

(To God he was hostile), that his body would fail him, + 

But Higelac’s hardy henchman and kinsman + 

Held him by the hand; hateful to other + 

Was each one if living. A body-wound suffered + 

The direful demon, damage incurable + 

Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered, + 

His body did burst. To Beowulf was given + 

Glory in battle; Grendel from thenceward + 

Must flee and hide him in the fen-cliffs and marshes, + 

Sick unto death, his dwelling must look for + 

Unwinsome and woeful; he wist the more fully + 

The end of his earthly existence was nearing, + 

His life-days’ limits. At last for the Danemen, + 

When the slaughter was over, their wish was accomplished. + 

The comer-from-far-land had cleansed then of evil, + 

Wise and valiant, the war-hall of Hrothgar, + 

Saved it from violence. He joyed in the night-work, + 

In repute for prowess; the prince of the Geatmen + 

For the East-Danish people his boast had accomplished, + 

Bettered their burdensome bale-sorrows fully, + 

The craft-begot evil they erstwhile had suffered + 

And were forced to endure from crushing oppression, + 

Their manifold misery. ’Twas a manifest token, + 

When the hero-in-battle the hand suspended, + 

The arm and the shoulder (there was all of the claw + 

Of Grendel together) ’neath great-stretching hall-roof. + 