And it happened that while we were all intent on this reading (and I never heard one read as brother Guthlac read to us) the sub-prior came in to call me, and pulling back the hangings of the doorway, stood listening, where I could see him.

First of all he looked pleased to find his people so employed.  Then when the crash of the fighting verses came to his ears he started a little, and looked round.  The good brothers were like to forget their frocks, for their fists were clenched and their eyes sparkled, and their teeth were set, and verily I believe each man of them thought himself one of Beowulf’s comrades, if not the hero himself.

Whereupon the sub-prior and I were presently grinning at one another.

“Ho!” said he, all of a sudden.  “Now were I Swithun, where would you heathens spend tonight?  Surely in the cells!”

Then for a moment they thought Grendel had indeed come, such power has verse like this in the mouth of a good reader, and they started up, one and all.

And the reader saw who it was, and that there was no hiding the book from him, so they stood agape and terrified, for by this time the good man had managed to look mighty stern.

“Good Father,” said I, seeing that someone must needs speak, “I am but a fighting man, and the brothers were considering my weakness.”

“H’m,” said the sub-prior, seeming in great wrath.  “Is there no fighting to be read from Holy Writ that you must take these pagan vanities from where you ought not?  Go to!  Yet, by reason of your care for the bishop’s thane, your penance shall be light now and not heavy hereafter.  Brother Guthlac shall read aloud in refectory today the story of David and Goliath, and you brother,” pointing to one, “that of Ahab at Ramoth, and you, of Joshua at Jericho,” and so he went on till each had a chapter of war assigned him, and I thought it an easy penance.

“But,” he added, “and until all these are read, your meals shall be untasted before you.”

Then the brothers looked at one another, for it was certain that all this reading would last till the meal must be left for vespers.

Then the sub-prior bade the reader take back the book and go to his own cell, and beckoning me, we passed out and left the brothers in much dismay, not knowing what should befall them from the abbot when he heard.

So I ventured to tell the sub-prior how this came about, and he smiled, saying that he should not tell Tatwine the Abbot, for the brothers were seldom in much fault, and that maybe it was laudable to search even pagan books for the manners of fiends, seeing that forewarned was forearmed.

Then he said that surely he wished (but this I need tell none else) that he had been there in my place to hear Guthlac read it.  Also that he was minded to make the old rhyme more Christian-like, if he could, writing parts of it afresh.  And this he has done since, so that any man may read it; but it is not so good as the old one [ix].