Have and hold now the house of the Danes! he was no longer to feast on the flesh of mankind Bend your mind and your body to this task after that night. and wake against the foe!There'll be no want of liberality Narrowly the powerful if you come out alive from this ordeal of courage.' kinsman of Hygelac kept watch how the ravager Then Hrothgar departed,the Protector of the Danes set to work with his sudden catches; passed from the hall at the head of his troop. nor did the monster mean to hang back. The war-leader sought Wealhtheow his queen, As a first step he set his hands on the companion of his bed. a sleeping soldier,savagely tore at him, Thus did the King of Glory, gnashed at his bone-joints,bolted huge gobbets, to oppose this Grendel,appoint a hall-guard sucked at his veins,and had soon eaten -so the tale went abroad-who took on a special all of the dead man,even down to his task at the court-to cope with the monster. hands and feet. The Geat prince placed all his trust Forward he stepped, in his mighty strength,his Maker's favour. stretched out his hands to seize the warrior Walking to the hall came this warlike creature calmly at rest there,reached out for him with his condemned to agony.The door gave way, unfriendly fingers:but the faster man toughened with iron,at the touch of those hands. forestalling,sat up,sent back his arm. Rage-inflamed,wreckage-ben,he ripped open The upholder of evils at once knew the jaws of the hall.Hastening on, he had not met,on middle earth's the foe then stepped onto the unstained floor. extremest acres,with any man angrily advanced:out of his eyes stood of harder hand-grip:his heart panicked. an unlovely light like that of fire. He was quit of the place no more quickly for that. He saw then in the hall a host of young soldiers, a company of kinsmen caught away in sleep, Eager to be away,he ailed for his darkness a whole warrior-band.In his heart he laughed then, and the company of devils;the dealings he had there horrible monster,his hopes swelling were like nothing he had come across in his lifetime. to a gluttonous meal.He meant to wrench Then Hygelac's brave kinsman called to mind the life from each body that lay in the place that evening's utterance,upright he stood, before night was done.It was not to be; fastened his hold till fingers were bursting. 106 107