{"id":1628,"date":"2019-07-09T23:22:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T23:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/epcc-britlit1\/?post_type=chapter&p=1628"},"modified":"2019-07-22T15:14:05","modified_gmt":"2019-07-22T15:14:05","slug":"beowulf-1","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/epcc-britlit1\/chapter\/beowulf-1\/","title":{"raw":"Beowulf 1: Grendel attacks Heorot.","rendered":"Beowulf 1: Grendel attacks Heorot."},"content":{"raw":"
<\/div>\r\n
Lesslie Hall, the translator, provides a running commentary on the text of Beowulf<\/em>, giving summaries and paraphrases.\u00a0 These comments are set in brackets and presented in brown:\u00a0 [like this]\u00a0\u00a0Some unusual terms from Hall's list are highlighted in yellow:\u00a0\u00a0henchman.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
Hrothgar Builder of Heorot<\/span><\/div>\r\n
\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
. . . .<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given,<\/span><\/div>\r\n
Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen<\/span><\/div>\r\n
Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood,<\/span><\/div>\r\n15<\/span>\r\n
A numerous band. It burned in his spirit<\/span><\/div>\r\n
To urge his folk to found a great building,<\/div>\r\n
A mead-hall grander than men of the era<\/div>\r\n[He is eager to build a great hall in which he may feast his retainers]<\/span>\r\n
Ever had heard of, and in it to share<\/div>\r\n
With young and old all of the blessings<\/div>\r\n20<\/span>\r\n
The Lord had allowed him to save life and retainers.<\/div>\r\n
Then the work from afar was assigned<\/div>\r\n
To many races in middle-earth\u2019s regions,<\/div>\r\n
To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened<\/div>\r\n
Early \u2019mong men, that \u2019twas finished entirely,<\/div>\r\n25<\/span>\r\n
The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it<\/div>\r\n[The hall is completed, and is called Heorot<\/strong>, after the antlers of deer called hart<\/strong> which are displayed on the walls.]<\/span>\r\n
Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded \u2019mong earlmen.<\/div>\r\n
His promise he broke not, rings he lavished,<\/div>\r\n
Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up<\/div>\r\n
High and horn-crested, huge between antlers:<\/div>\r\n30<\/span>\r\n\r\n[The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen\u2019s joy.]<\/span>\r\n
Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness,<\/div>\r\n35<\/span>\r\n
That light-hearted laughter loud in the building<\/div>\r\n
Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music,<\/div>\r\n
Clear song of the singer. He said that was able<\/div>\r\n[The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old account of the creation.]<\/span>\r\n
To tell from of old earthmen\u2019s beginnings,<\/div>\r\n
That Father Almighty earth had created,<\/div>\r\n40<\/span>\r\n
The winsome wold that the water encircleth,<\/div>\r\n
Set exultingly the sun\u2019s and the moon\u2019s beams<\/div>\r\n
To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,<\/div>\r\n
And earth He embellished in all her regions<\/div>\r\n
With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too<\/div>\r\n45<\/span>\r\n
On all the kindreds that live under heaven.<\/div>\r\n[The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread.]<\/span>\r\n
So blessed with abundance, brimming with joy,<\/div>\r\n
The warriors abided, till a certain one began to<\/div>\r\n
Dog them with deeds of direful malice,<\/div>\r\n
A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger<\/div>\r\n50<\/span>\r\n
Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous<\/div>\r\n
Who dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness;<\/div>\r\n
The wan-mooded being abode for a season<\/div>\r\n
In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator<\/div>\r\n
Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder,<\/div>\r\n55<\/span>\r\n
The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father<\/div>\r\n[Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in general.]<\/span>\r\n
The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance;<\/div>\r\n
In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him<\/div>\r\n
From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for,<\/div>\r\n
Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures,<\/div>\r\n60<\/span>\r\n
Elves and giants, monsters of ocean,<\/div>\r\n
Came into being, and the giants that longtime<\/div>\r\n
Grappled with God; He gave them requital.<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

GRENDEL THE MURDERER.<\/h2>\r\n[Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes]<\/span>\r\n
When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit<\/div>\r\n
The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it<\/div>\r\n
For beds and benches when the banquet was over.<\/div>\r\n
Then he found there reposing many a noble<\/div>\r\n5<\/span>\r\n
Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,<\/div>\r\n
Misery knew not. The monster of evil<\/div>\r\n
Greedy and cruel tarried but little,<\/div>\r\n[He drags off thirty of them, and devours them]<\/span>\r\n
Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers<\/div>\r\n
Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed<\/div>\r\n10<\/span>\r\n
Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to,<\/div>\r\n
With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.<\/div>\r\n
In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking,<\/div>\r\n
Was Grendel\u2019s prowess revealed to the warriors:<\/div>\r\n[A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel\u2019s horrible deed is fully realized.]<\/span>\r\n
Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted,<\/div>\r\n15<\/span>\r\n
Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous,<\/div>\r\n
The long-worthy atheling, sat very woeful,<\/div>\r\n
Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen,<\/div>\r\n
When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer,<\/div>\r\n
The spirit accurs\u00e8d: too crushing that sorrow,<\/div>\r\n[The monster returns the next night.]<\/span>\r\n\r\n20<\/span>\r\n
Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried,<\/div>\r\n
But one night after continued his slaughter<\/div>\r\n
Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little<\/div>\r\n
From malice and murder; they mastered him fully.<\/div>\r\n
He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for<\/div>\r\n25<\/span>\r\n
A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges,<\/div>\r\n
A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice<\/div>\r\n
Told him truly by token apparent<\/div>\r\n
The hall-thane\u2019s hatred: he held himself after<\/div>\r\n
Further and faster who the foeman did baffle.<\/div>\r\n30<\/span>\r\n
So ruled he and strongly strove against justice<\/div>\r\n
Lone against all men, till empty uptowered<\/div>\r\n[King Hrothgar\u2019s agony and suspense last twelve years.]<\/span>\r\n
The choicest of houses. Long was the season:<\/div>\r\n
Twelve-winters\u2019 time torture suffered<\/div>\r\n
The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction,<\/div>\r\n35<\/span>\r\n
Endless agony; hence it after became<\/div>\r\n
Certainly known to the children of men<\/div>\r\n
Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar<\/div>\r\n
Grendel struggled:\u2014his grudges he cherished,<\/div>\r\n
Murderous malice, many a winter,<\/div>\r\n40<\/span>\r\n
Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he<\/div>\r\n
Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of<\/div>\r\n
The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle,<\/div>\r\n
No counsellor needed count for a moment<\/div>\r\n
On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;<\/div>\r\n[Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.]<\/span>\r\n\r\n45<\/span>\r\n
The monster of evil fiercely did harass,<\/div>\r\n
The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger,<\/div>\r\n
Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then<\/div>\r\n
The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where<\/div>\r\n
Witches and wizards wander and ramble.<\/div>\r\n50<\/span>\r\n
So the foe of mankind many of evils<\/div>\r\n
Grievous injuries, often accomplished,<\/div>\r\n
Horrible hermit; Heorot he frequented,<\/div>\r\n
Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen<\/div>\r\n[God is against the monster.]<\/span>\r\n
(Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,<\/div>\r\n55<\/span>\r\n
The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not).<\/div>\r\n
\u2019Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings<\/div>\r\nThe king and his council deliberate in vain.<\/span>\r\n
Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private<\/div>\r\n
Sat the king in his council; conference held they<\/div>\r\n
What the braves should determine \u2019gainst terrors unlooked for.<\/div>\r\n[They invoke the aid of their gods.]<\/span>\r\n\r\n60<\/span>\r\n
At the shrines of their idols often they promised<\/div>\r\n
Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they<\/div>\r\n
The devil from hell would help them to lighten<\/div>\r\n
Their people\u2019s oppression. Such practice they used then,<\/div>\r\n
Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered<\/div>\r\n65<\/span>\r\n
In innermost spirit, God they knew not,<\/div>\r\n[The true God they do not know.]<\/span>\r\n
Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler,<\/div>\r\n
No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven,<\/div>\r\n
The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who<\/div>\r\n
Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to<\/div>\r\n70<\/span>\r\n
The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for,<\/div>\r\n
Wax no wiser; well for the man who,<\/div>\r\n
Living his life-days, his Lord may face<\/div>\r\n
And find defence in his Father\u2019s embrace!<\/div>\r\n
<\/div>\r\n
\r\n
<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
<\/div>\n
Lesslie Hall, the translator, provides a running commentary on the text of Beowulf<\/em>, giving summaries and paraphrases.\u00a0 These comments are set in brackets and presented in brown:\u00a0 [like this]\u00a0\u00a0Some unusual terms from Hall’s list are highlighted in yellow:\u00a0\u00a0henchman.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Hrothgar Builder of Heorot<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
. . . .<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given,<\/span><\/div>\n
Waxing of war-fame, that willingly kinsmen<\/span><\/div>\n
Obeyed his bidding, till the boys grew to manhood,<\/span><\/div>\n

15<\/span><\/p>\n

A numerous band. It burned in his spirit<\/span><\/div>\n
To urge his folk to found a great building,<\/div>\n
A mead-hall grander than men of the era<\/div>\n

[He is eager to build a great hall in which he may feast his retainers]<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever had heard of, and in it to share<\/div>\n
With young and old all of the blessings<\/div>\n

20<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord had allowed him to save life and retainers.<\/div>\n
Then the work from afar was assigned<\/div>\n
To many races in middle-earth\u2019s regions,<\/div>\n
To adorn the great folk-hall. In due time it happened<\/div>\n
Early \u2019mong men, that \u2019twas finished entirely,<\/div>\n

25<\/span><\/p>\n

The greatest of hall-buildings; Heorot he named it<\/div>\n

[The hall is completed, and is called Heorot<\/strong>, after the antlers of deer called hart<\/strong> which are displayed on the walls.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Who wide-reaching word-sway wielded \u2019mong earlmen.<\/div>\n
His promise he broke not, rings he lavished,<\/div>\n
Treasure at banquet. Towered the hall up<\/div>\n
High and horn-crested, huge between antlers:<\/div>\n

30<\/span><\/p>\n

[The Monster Grendel is madly envious of the Danemen\u2019s joy.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Bore it bitterly, he who bided in darkness,<\/div>\n

35<\/span><\/p>\n

That light-hearted laughter loud in the building<\/div>\n
Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music,<\/div>\n
Clear song of the singer. He said that was able<\/div>\n

[The course of the story is interrupted by a short reference to some old account of the creation.]<\/span><\/p>\n

To tell from of old earthmen\u2019s beginnings,<\/div>\n
That Father Almighty earth had created,<\/div>\n

40<\/span><\/p>\n

The winsome wold that the water encircleth,<\/div>\n
Set exultingly the sun\u2019s and the moon\u2019s beams<\/div>\n
To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,<\/div>\n
And earth He embellished in all her regions<\/div>\n
With limbs and leaves; life He bestowed too<\/div>\n

45<\/span><\/p>\n

On all the kindreds that live under heaven.<\/div>\n

[The glee of the warriors is overcast by a horrible dread.]<\/span><\/p>\n

So blessed with abundance, brimming with joy,<\/div>\n
The warriors abided, till a certain one began to<\/div>\n
Dog them with deeds of direful malice,<\/div>\n
A foe in the hall-building: this horrible stranger<\/div>\n

50<\/span><\/p>\n

Was Grendel entitled, the march-stepper famous<\/div>\n
Who dwelt in the moor-fens, the marsh and the fastness;<\/div>\n
The wan-mooded being abode for a season<\/div>\n
In the land of the giants, when the Lord and Creator<\/div>\n
Had banned him and branded. For that bitter murder,<\/div>\n

55<\/span><\/p>\n

The killing of Abel, all-ruling Father<\/div>\n

[Cain is referred to as a progenitor of Grendel, and of monsters in general.]<\/span><\/p>\n

The kindred of Cain crushed with His vengeance;<\/div>\n
In the feud He rejoiced not, but far away drove him<\/div>\n
From kindred and kind, that crime to atone for,<\/div>\n
Meter of Justice. Thence ill-favored creatures,<\/div>\n

60<\/span><\/p>\n

Elves and giants, monsters of ocean,<\/div>\n
Came into being, and the giants that longtime<\/div>\n
Grappled with God; He gave them requital.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

GRENDEL THE MURDERER.<\/h2>\n

[Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes]<\/span><\/p>\n

When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit<\/div>\n
The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it<\/div>\n
For beds and benches when the banquet was over.<\/div>\n
Then he found there reposing many a noble<\/div>\n

5<\/span><\/p>\n

Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,<\/div>\n
Misery knew not. The monster of evil<\/div>\n
Greedy and cruel tarried but little,<\/div>\n

[He drags off thirty of them, and devours them]<\/span><\/p>\n

Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers<\/div>\n
Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed<\/div>\n

10<\/span><\/p>\n

Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to,<\/div>\n
With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.<\/div>\n
In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking,<\/div>\n
Was Grendel\u2019s prowess revealed to the warriors:<\/div>\n

[A cry of agony goes up, when Grendel\u2019s horrible deed is fully realized.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted,<\/div>\n

15<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning-cry mighty. The man-ruler famous,<\/div>\n
The long-worthy atheling, sat very woeful,<\/div>\n
Suffered great sorrow, sighed for his liegemen,<\/div>\n
When they had seen the track of the hateful pursuer,<\/div>\n
The spirit accurs\u00e8d: too crushing that sorrow,<\/div>\n

[The monster returns the next night.]<\/span><\/p>\n

20<\/span><\/p>\n

Too loathsome and lasting. Not longer he tarried,<\/div>\n
But one night after continued his slaughter<\/div>\n
Shameless and shocking, shrinking but little<\/div>\n
From malice and murder; they mastered him fully.<\/div>\n
He was easy to find then who otherwhere looked for<\/div>\n

25<\/span><\/p>\n

A pleasanter place of repose in the lodges,<\/div>\n
A bed in the bowers. Then was brought to his notice<\/div>\n
Told him truly by token apparent<\/div>\n
The hall-thane\u2019s hatred: he held himself after<\/div>\n
Further and faster who the foeman did baffle.<\/div>\n

30<\/span><\/p>\n

So ruled he and strongly strove against justice<\/div>\n
Lone against all men, till empty uptowered<\/div>\n

[King Hrothgar\u2019s agony and suspense last twelve years.]<\/span><\/p>\n

The choicest of houses. Long was the season:<\/div>\n
Twelve-winters\u2019 time torture suffered<\/div>\n
The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction,<\/div>\n

35<\/span><\/p>\n

Endless agony; hence it after became<\/div>\n
Certainly known to the children of men<\/div>\n
Sadly in measures, that long against Hrothgar<\/div>\n
Grendel struggled:\u2014his grudges he cherished,<\/div>\n
Murderous malice, many a winter,<\/div>\n

40<\/span><\/p>\n

Strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he<\/div>\n
Life-woe to lift from no liegeman at all of<\/div>\n
The men of the Dane-folk, for money to settle,<\/div>\n
No counsellor needed count for a moment<\/div>\n
On handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;<\/div>\n

[Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.]<\/span><\/p>\n

45<\/span><\/p>\n

The monster of evil fiercely did harass,<\/div>\n
The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger,<\/div>\n
Trapping and tricking them. He trod every night then<\/div>\n
The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where<\/div>\n
Witches and wizards wander and ramble.<\/div>\n

50<\/span><\/p>\n

So the foe of mankind many of evils<\/div>\n
Grievous injuries, often accomplished,<\/div>\n
Horrible hermit; Heorot he frequented,<\/div>\n
Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen<\/div>\n

[God is against the monster.]<\/span><\/p>\n

(Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,<\/div>\n

55<\/span><\/p>\n

The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not).<\/div>\n
\u2019Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings<\/div>\n

The king and his council deliberate in vain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in private<\/div>\n
Sat the king in his council; conference held they<\/div>\n
What the braves should determine \u2019gainst terrors unlooked for.<\/div>\n

[They invoke the aid of their gods.]<\/span><\/p>\n

60<\/span><\/p>\n

At the shrines of their idols often they promised<\/div>\n
Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they<\/div>\n
The devil from hell would help them to lighten<\/div>\n
Their people\u2019s oppression. Such practice they used then,<\/div>\n
Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered<\/div>\n

65<\/span><\/p>\n

In innermost spirit, God they knew not,<\/div>\n

[The true God they do not know.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler,<\/div>\n
No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven,<\/div>\n
The Wielder of Glory. Woe will be his who<\/div>\n
Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to<\/div>\n

70<\/span><\/p>\n

The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for,<\/div>\n
Wax no wiser; well for the man who,<\/div>\n
Living his life-days, his Lord may face<\/div>\n
And find defence in his Father\u2019s embrace!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Public domain content<\/div>