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Then among the weapons he caught sight of a sword, rich in victories, an old weapon of the giants, and doughty of edge, the glory of warriors. It was the choicest of weapons, and it was greater than any other man could carry to the battle-playing, and all glorious and good, a work of the giants. And he seized it by the belted hilt, he the warrior of the Danes, rough and battle-grim, and he brandished the ring-sword; and despairing of life, he angrily struck so that hardly he grasped at her neck and broke the bone-rings. And the point pierced through the doomed flesh-covering. And she fell on the floor. The sword was all bloody, and the man rejoiced in his work. Shone forth the bright flame and a light stood within, even as shineth the candle³⁸ from the bright heavens. And then he looked on the hall, and turned to the wall. And the thane of Hygelac, angry and resolute, heaved hard the weapon, taking it by the hilt. And the edge was not worthless to the battle-warrior, for he would be quickly requiting Grendel many a war-rush which he had done upon the West Danes, many times oftener than once when in sleeping he smote the hearth-comrade of Hrothgar, and fed on them sleeping, of the Danish folk, some fifteen men, and bore forth yet another one, that loathly prey. And well he requited him, this furious champion, when he saw the war-weary Grendel lying in death, all void of his life as formerly in Hart the battle had scathed him. His body sprang apart when after his death he suffered a stroke, a hard battle-swing; and then he struck off his head.

Then, among the weapons, he spotted a sword with many victories behind it. It was an ancient weapon made by giants, with a powerful edge, a treasure for warriors. It was the finest of weapons, larger than any other man could carry into battle. Splendid and well made in every way, it was the work of giants. The warrior of the Danes seized its belted hilt, fierce and hardened by battle, and swung the ring-sword. Despairing of his life, he struck in anger, barely catching her neck and breaking the rings of bone. The point pierced her doomed flesh, and she fell to the floor. The sword was covered in blood, and the man rejoiced in his work. A bright flame shone out, and light filled the hall, just as the candle³⁸ shines from the bright heavens. Then he looked around the hall and turned toward the wall. Angry and determined, Hygelac's thane gripped the weapon by its hilt and raised it with all his strength. The blade served the warrior well, for he would soon repay Grendel for his many attacks on the West Danes. Far more than once, Grendel had struck Hrothgar's companions as they slept. He had fed on some fifteen sleeping men of the Danish people and carried away yet another, his hideous prey. The furious champion repaid Grendel well when he saw him lying dead, worn out by battle and utterly lifeless. The earlier fight in Hart had left Grendel mortally wounded. His body split apart under a mighty sword stroke delivered after his death. Then the warrior cut off his head.

Right soon the proud warriors, they who with Hrothgar, looked forth on the sea, could easily see, that the surging water was all stained with blood and the grey-haired ancients spoke together about the good man, that they deemed not the Atheling would ever again come seeking the famous Prince Hrothgar glorying in victory, for it seemed unto many that the sea-wolf had destroyed him.

Very soon, the proud warriors looking out at the sea with Hrothgar could easily see the surging water. It was all stained with blood. The gray-haired elders spoke together about the good man. They did not believe the Atheling would ever return to the famous Prince Hrothgar, rejoicing in victory. For many of them thought the sea-wolf had killed him.

Then came noonday. The valiant Danes left the headland, and the gold-friend of men³⁹ went homeward thence. And the strangers of the Geats, sick in mind, sat and stared at the water. They knew and expected not that they would see again their liege-lord himself. Then the sword began to grow less, after the battle-sweat, into icicles of steel. And a wonder it was that it all began to melt likest to ice, when Our Father doth loosen the band of frost and unwinds the icicles, He who hath power over the seasons, He is the true God. Nor in these dwellings did the Lord of the Geats take any other treasure, though much he saw there, except the head and the hilt, decked out with jewels. The sword had melted, and the decorated weapon was burnt up. The blood was too hot, and so poisonous the alien sprite who died in that conflict. Soon Beowulf was swimming, he who formerly awaited the onset of the hostile ones in the striving, and he dived upwards through the water. And the weltering surge and the spacious lands were all cleansed when the alien sprite gave up his life and this fleeting existence.

Then noon came. The brave Danes left the headland, and the generous lord of men³⁹ headed home. The visiting Geats sat in distress, staring at the water. They neither knew nor expected that they would see their own lord again. Then the sword began to shrink after the bloodshed, turning into icicles of steel. It was a wonder how the whole blade began to melt like ice. So ice melts when Our Father loosens frost’s grip and thaws the icicles. He has power over the seasons. He is the true God. In those dwellings, the lord of the Geats took no treasure except the head and the jewel-covered hilt. Yet he saw much treasure there. The sword had melted, and the decorated weapon had burned away. The blood was too hot, and the strange spirit who died in the fight was so poisonous. Soon Beowulf was swimming upward through the water. Earlier, he had waited for his enemies to attack in battle. The churning waters and the vast lands were all cleansed when the strange spirit surrendered his life and fleeting existence.

He the stout-hearted came swimming to shore, he the Prince of the sea-men enjoying the sea-spoils, the great burden of that which he had with him. They advanced towards him and gave thanks to God, that glorious crowd of thanes, and rejoiced in their lord that they could see him once more. Then was loosed quickly from that valiant man both helmet and shield. The sea became turbid, the water under welkin, all stained with blood. And rejoicing in spirit the brave men went forth with foot-tracks and passed over the earth, the well-known pathways. And a hard task it was for each one of those proud men to bear that head away from the sea-cliff. Four of them with difficulty on a pole were bearing the head of Grendel to the gold-hall, until suddenly, valiant and battle-brave, they came to the palace, fourteen of the Geats marching along with their liege-lord who trod the field where the mead-hall stood. Then this Prince of the thanes, this man so bold of deed and honoured by Fate, this battle-dear warrior went into the hall to greet King Hrothgar. Then over the floor where warriors were drinking they bore Grendel’s head, a terror to the earls and also to the Queen. And men were looking at the splendid sight of the treasures.

The brave prince of the seafarers came swimming to shore, enjoying the treasures he had taken from the sea. He carried a great weight of treasure with him. The glorious band of thanes approached him and thanked God, rejoicing that they could see their lord once more. They quickly removed the brave man's helmet and shield. The sea grew murky, its waters beneath the sky all stained with blood. The brave men set off in high spirits, following familiar paths across the land. Carrying the head away from the sea-cliff was hard work for every one of those proud men. Four men struggled to carry Grendel's head on a pole toward the gold-hall. At last they reached the palace, bold and brave in battle. Fourteen Geats marched alongside their lord, who crossed the field where the mead-hall stood. Then the prince of the thanes entered the hall to greet King Hrothgar. He was bold in his deeds, favored by Fate, and a warrior who loved battle. The men carried Grendel's head across the floor where warriors were drinking. The sight terrified the earls and the Queen alike. And the men gazed at the splendid display of treasures.