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Hrothgar gave answer, the protector of the Danes: ‘O my friend Beowulf, now thou hast sought us, for defence and for favour. Thy father fought in the greatest of feuds. He was banesman to Heatholaf amongst the Wylfings, when for battle-terror the King of the Geats could not hold him. Thence he sought the folk of the South Danes over the welter of waves. Then first was I ruling the Danish folk, and in my youthful days possessed the costly jewels, the treasure city of heroes. Then Heregar was dead, my elder brother not living was he, the child of Healfdene. He was a better man than I was. Then a payment of money settled the matter. I sent to the Wylfings ancient presents over the sea-ridges. And he swore to me oaths. And it is to me great sorrow in my heart to tell any man what Grendel hath done in Hart through his malice, of humiliation and sudden horror. My hall-troop has grown less, the crowd of my thanes; Weird¹³ has swept them towards the terror of Grendel. But easily may the good God restrain the deeds of the foolish scather. And drunken with beer the warriors full often boasted o’er the ale-cup that they would bide in the beer-hall the battle of Grendel with the terror of swords. Then was the mead-hall all bloodstained in the morning when dawn came shining, and all the benches were wet with gore, the hall with sword-blood. And so much the less did I rule o’er dear doughty ones whom death had taken. Now sit down to the banquet and unbind thy thoughts, thy hopes to the thanes, as thy mind inspires thee.’ Then was there room made in the beer-hall for the Geats all together. And there they went and sat down, the strong-hearted men, proud of their strength. And a thane waited on them, who bore in his hands the ale-cup bedecked, and he poured out the sparkling mead, while the clear-voiced bard kept singing in Hart. There was joy to the heroes, and a very great gathering of Danes and of Geats.

Hrothgar, protector of the Danes, answered: ‘My friend Beowulf, you have now come to us for defense and favor. Your father fought in the greatest of feuds. He killed Heatholaf among the Wylfings. The King of the Geats could not shelter him because of the threat of war. From there, your father crossed the surging waves to seek the South Danes. I had just begun to rule the Danish people. In those youthful days, I possessed costly jewels and the heroes’ treasure city. Heregar, my elder brother and the son of Healfdene, was already dead. He was a better man than I was. A payment of money then settled the feud. I sent ancient gifts across the sea to the Wylfings. And your father swore oaths to me. My heart aches deeply when I tell anyone of the humiliation and sudden horror Grendel has brought to Hart through his malice. My hall’s warriors, my band of thanes, have dwindled. Weird¹³ has swept them toward the terror of Grendel. But the good God may easily restrain the deeds of that foolish destroyer. Again and again, warriors drunk on beer boasted over their ale-cups. They swore to wait in the beer-hall and face Grendel in battle with their fearsome swords. Then, when dawn shone, the mead-hall was all stained with blood. All the benches were wet with gore, and the hall was drenched in battle-blood. And so I had fewer dear, brave men to rule, for death had taken them. Now sit down to the feast. Share your thoughts and hopes with the thanes, as your mind prompts you.’ Then room was made in the beer-hall for all the Geats together. The brave-hearted men went and sat down, proud of their strength. A thane served them, carrying a decorated ale-cup in his hands and pouring out the sparkling mead. Meanwhile, the clear-voiced bard continued singing in Hart. The warriors rejoiced, and a great crowd of Danes and Geats gathered there.