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Then they sank down to sleep. And sorely some of them paid for their evening repose, as full often it had happened to them since Grendel came to the gold-hall and did evil, until an end was made of him, death after sins. It was easily seen and widely known to men that an avenger survived the loathsome one, for a long time after the war-sorrow. A woman, the mother of Grendel, a terrible wife, bore in mind her woes. She who was fated to dwell in the awful lake in the cold streams since Cain became a sword-slayer to his only brother, his father’s son. He then went forth marked for the murder, and fled from human joys and dwelt in the waste. And thence he awoke many a fatal demon. And Grendel was one of them, the hateful fierce wolf, who found the man wide awake awaiting the battle. And there was the monster at grips with him, yet he remembered the main strength the wide and ample gift which God gave to him, and trusted in the favour of the Almighty for himself, for comfort and help by which he vanquished the enemy and overcame the hell-sprite. Then he departed abject, bereft of joy, to visit the death-place, he the enemy of mankind.

Then they lay down to sleep. Some paid dearly for their night’s rest, as so often since Grendel first came to the gold-hall and brought suffering. His attacks continued until he met his end, dying after his sins. It was clear and widely known that an avenger had survived the hateful creature, long after the suffering he caused. Grendel’s mother, a terrifying woman, remembered her sorrows. She was doomed to live in the dreadful lake, in its cold waters, ever since Cain killed his only brother. Cain had killed his own father’s son with a sword. Marked for that murder, Cain fled from human happiness and lived in the wilderness. From him sprang many deadly demons. Grendel was one of them, a hateful, savage wolf. He found the warrior wide awake, waiting for battle. The monster grappled with the warrior, but the warrior remembered his great strength, the generous gift God had given him. He trusted in the Almighty’s favor for comfort and help. With that help, the warrior defeated his enemy and overcame the demon from hell. Then Grendel, the enemy of mankind, slunk away in misery, stripped of joy, to the place of his death.

But his mother, greedy and sad in mind would be making a sorrowful journey that she might avenge the death of her son. She came then to Hart, where the Ring-Danes were asleep in that great hall. Then soon there came misfortune to the earls when the mother of Grendel entered the chamber. Yet less was the terror, even by so much as the craft of maidens, the war-terror of a wife,²⁹ is less than that of men beweaponed—when the sword hard bound and forged by the hammer, and stained with blood, cuts the boar on the helmet of the foe with its edge. Then in the hall, the hard edge was drawn, the sword over the seats, and many a broad shield, heaved up fast by the hand. And no one heeded the helmet nor the broad shield when terror seized upon them. She was in great haste, she would go thence her life to be saving when she was discovered. Quickly she had seized one of the Athelings fast in her grip when forth she was fleeing away to the fen-land. He was to Hrothgar the dearest of heroes, in the number of his comrades by the two seas, a powerful shield-warrior, whom she killed as he slumbered, a youth of renown. Beowulf was not there. To another the place was assigned after the treasure-gift had been bestowed on the famous Geat. Then a great tumult was made in Hart, and with bloodshed she had seized the well-known hand of Grendel her son. And care was renewed in all the dwellings. Nor was that a good exchange that they on both sides should be buying with the lives of their friends.

But his mother, hungry for revenge and heavy with grief, would make a sorrowful journey to avenge her son's death. She came to Hart, where the Ring-Danes were asleep in the great hall. Misfortune soon fell on the earls when Grendel's mother entered the hall. Yet the terror was less, just as a woman's fighting skill and power in battle²⁹ are less than an armed man's. In battle, a hammer-forged sword with a firmly bound blade, stained with blood, cuts through the boar on an enemy's helmet. Then swords were drawn over the seats in the hall, and hands quickly raised many broad shields. Yet no one gave any thought to helmets or broad shields when terror seized them. Once discovered, she hurried to escape and save her life. She quickly seized one of the Athelings in her grip as she fled toward the fen-land. Of all Hrothgar's companions between the two seas, this hero was the dearest to him. He was a mighty shield-warrior, a young man of great renown, whom she killed in his sleep. Beowulf was not there. The famous Geat had been assigned another place after receiving the gift of treasure. A great uproar rose in Hart. Amid the bloodshed, she had also seized the well-known hand of her son Grendel. And grief returned to every dwelling. It was no good bargain for either side to pay with the lives of their friends.

Then was the wise King, the hoar battle-warrior, rough in his mood when he came to know that the dearest of his chief thanes was dead and bereft of life. And Beowulf quickly was fetched into the bower, he, the man all victorious. And at the dawning went one of the earls, a noble champion, he and his comrades, where the proud man was waiting, to see whether the All-wielder will ever be causing a change after woe-spells. And the battle-worthy man went along the floor with his band of followers (the hall wood³⁰ was resounding) so that he greeted the wise man with words, the Lord of the Danes, and asked him if he had had a quiet night in spite of the pressing call.

Then the wise King, the gray-haired warrior, grew bitter when he learned that his dearest chief thane was dead. Beowulf, victorious in every battle, was quickly summoned to the chamber. At dawn, one of the earls, a noble champion, went with his companions to where the proud man waited. He went to see whether the All-wielder would ever bring a change after these times of sorrow. The warrior, ready for battle, walked across the floor with his followers (the hall’s wood³⁰ echoed with their footsteps). He greeted the wise Lord of the Danes and asked whether he had passed a peaceful night despite the urgent summons.