Chapter 21

Beowulf spake, the son of Ecgtheow: ‘Sorrow not, O wise man. It is better for each one to avenge his friend, when he is much mourning. Each one of us must wait for the end of his world-life. Let him work who may, ere the doom of death come; that is afterwards best for the noble dead. Arise, O ward of the kingdom. Let us go forth quickly to trace out the going of Grendel’s kinswoman. I bid thee do it. For neither in the bosom of the earth, nor in forests of the mountains, nor by the ways of the sea, go where she will, shall she escape into safety. Do thou this day be patient in every kind of trouble as I also hope to be.’ The old man leapt up and gave thanks to God, the mighty Lord, for the words of Beowulf.

Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow, said: ‘Do not grieve, wise man. It is better for anyone mourning deeply to avenge his friend. Each of us must await the end of his life in this world. Let anyone who can act do so before death comes. Such deeds are best for a noble man after death. Rise, guardian of the kingdom. Let us go quickly to follow the trail of Grendel’s kinswoman. I urge you to come. Wherever she goes, she will find no safe escape. She will not escape deep within the earth, in mountain forests, or along the sea. Be patient today through every kind of trouble, as I also hope to be.’ The old man leaped up and thanked God, the mighty Lord, for Beowulf’s words.

Then was bridled a horse for Hrothgar, a steed with twisted hair, and as a wise prince he went forth in splendid array. The troop of shield-warriors marched along. And the traces were widely seen in the forest-ways, the goings of Grendel’s mother over the ground. Forwards she had gone over the mirky moorlands, and had borne in her grasp, bereft of his soul, the best of the thanes who were wont to keep watch over Hrothgar’s homestead. Then Beowulf, the Atheling’s child, stepped o’er the steep and stony slopes and the narrow pathways, and the straitened single tracks, an unknown way, by the steep nesses, and by many a sea-monster’s cavern. And one of the wise men went on before to seek out the path, until all at once he found some mountain trees, overhanging the grey stones, a forest all joyless. And underneath was a water all bloodstained and troubled. And a grievous thing it was for all the Danes to endure, for the friends of the Scyldings,³⁴ and for many a thane, and distressful to all the earls, when they came upon the head of Aeschere on the cliffs above the sea. The flood boiled with blood and with hot gore (the folk looked upon it). And at times the horn sounded a battle-song ready prepared.

Then a horse with a braided mane was bridled for Hrothgar. The wise prince rode out in splendid gear. The troop of shield-bearing warriors marched along. Throughout the forest paths, they could see the tracks Grendel’s mother had left on the ground. She had crossed the dark moors, carrying the lifeless body of the best of Hrothgar’s household guards. Then Beowulf, the prince’s son, crossed steep, rocky slopes and followed narrow paths and cramped single tracks. The unfamiliar route led past steep headlands and the caves of many sea monsters. One of the wise men went ahead to find the way. Suddenly, he found some mountain trees hanging over gray rocks in a joyless forest. Below lay bloodstained, churning water. All the Danes suffered bitterly when they found Aeschere’s head on the cliffs above the sea. The sight grieved the friends of the Scyldings,³⁴ and many a thane, and distressed all the nobles. The water boiled with blood and hot gore (the people looked on). At times, the horn sounded a battle call, ready for action.

All the troop sat down. And many kinds of serpents they saw in the water, and wonderful dragons searching the sea, and on the cliff-slopes, monsters of the ocean were lying at full length, who at the morning tide often make a woful journey on the sail-path; and snakes and wild beasts they could see also. And these living things fell down on the path all bitter and angry when they perceived the noise, and the blast of the war-horn. And the Prince of the Geats killed one of them with his bow and arrows and ended his wave-strife, and he was in the sea, slower at swimming as death swept him away. And on the waves by fierce battle hard pressed, and with boar-spears savagely barbed, the wondrous sea-monster was assailed in the struggle and drawn up on the headland. And men were looking at the awful stranger. And Beowulf put on him his armour, that was fitting for an earl, and by no means did he lament over his life, for the hand-woven coat of mail, which was ample and of many colours, was destined to explore the deeps, and knew well how to defend his body, so that neither battle-grip nor the hostile grasp of the treacherous one might scathe breast or life; and the white helmet thereof warded his head, that which was destined to search out the bottom of the sea and the welter of waters, and which was adorned with treasures and encircled with noble chains, wondrously decked and set round with boar-images, as in days of yore a weapon-smith had made it for him, so that no brand nor battle-sword could bite him. And by no means was that the least of aids in battle that the Spokesman of Hrothgar³⁵ lent him at need, even the hilted sword which was called Hrunting. And it was one of the ancient treasures. Its edge was of iron, and poison-tipped, and hardened in battle-sweat. And never did it fail in the fight any man who brandished it in his hands, or who dared to go on fearful journeys, to the field of battle. And that was not the first time that it was to do deeds of courage. And Unferth did not think, he the kinsman of Ecglaf, crafty of strength, of what he formerly had said³⁶ when drunken with wine, he had lent that weapon to a braver sword-warrior. He himself durst not risk his life in the stress of the waters and do a glorious deed. And thereby he lost his doom of famous deeds. But thus was it not with that other, for he had got himself ready for the battle.

The whole troop sat down. They saw many kinds of serpents in the water and strange dragons roaming the sea. Along the cliff slopes, ocean monsters lay stretched out at full length. At morning tide, these creatures often make a deadly journey along the sea routes. The men could also see snakes and wild beasts. These creatures plunged down along their path, fierce and angry, when they heard the noise and the war horn’s blast. The Prince of the Geats killed one with his bow and arrows, ending its struggle in the waves. The creature swam more slowly as death swept it away. Fiercely attacked among the waves, the strange sea monster was struck with savagely barbed boar-spears. The men hauled it onto the headland and stared at the terrifying stranger. Beowulf put on his armor, fit for a nobleman, and felt no fear for his life. His roomy, multicolored, handwoven coat of mail was destined to explore the depths. The mail could protect his body well. Neither a crushing grip in battle nor the treacherous enemy’s grasp could harm his chest or threaten his life. His bright helmet protected his head. The helmet was destined to reach the sea bottom and pass through the surging waters. It was adorned with treasures, ringed with fine chains, and splendidly decorated with images of boars. Long ago, a weaponsmith had made it for him so that no blade or battle-sword could cut him. Another great help in battle was the weapon Hrothgar’s Spokesman³⁵ lent him in his time of need. This was the sword called Hrunting, one of the ancient treasures. Its iron edge was tipped with poison and hardened in the blood of battle. The sword had never failed anyone who wielded it in battle or dared make dangerous journeys to the battlefield. This would not be the first time Hrunting performed deeds of courage. Unferth, Ecglaf’s kinsman, was cunning and strong. He gave no thought to what he had said before³⁶ when drunk with wine. He had lent the weapon to a braver swordsman. Unferth himself dared not risk his life in the raging waters and perform a glorious deed. By refusing, he lost his chance to earn fame through great deeds. But Beowulf was different. He had made himself ready for battle.