{Grendel is unremitting in his persecutions.}

       45 The monster of evil fiercely did harass,
          The ill-planning death-shade, both elder and younger,
          Trapping and tricking them.  He trod every night then
          The mist-covered moor-fens; men do not know where
          Witches and wizards wander and ramble.
       50 So the foe of mankind many of evils
          Grievous injuries, often accomplished,
          Horrible hermit; Heort he frequented,
          Gem-bedecked palace, when night-shades had fallen

{God is against the monster.}

          (Since God did oppose him, not the throne could he touch,[5]
       55 The light-flashing jewel, love of Him knew not). 
          ’Twas a fearful affliction to the friend of the Scyldings

{The king and his council deliberate in vain.}

          Soul-crushing sorrow.  Not seldom in private
          Sat the king in his council; conference held they
          What the braves should determine ’gainst terrors unlooked for.

{They invoke the aid of their gods.}

       60 At the shrines of their idols often they promised
          Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they
          The devil from hell would help them to lighten
          Their people’s oppression.  Such practice they used then,
          Hope of the heathen; hell they remembered
       65 In innermost spirit, God they knew not,

{The true God they do not know.}

          Judge of their actions, All-wielding Ruler,
          No praise could they give the Guardian of Heaven,
          The Wielder of Glory.  Woe will be his who
          Through furious hatred his spirit shall drive to
       70 The clutch of the fire, no comfort shall look for,
          Wax no wiser; well for the man who,
          Living his life-days, his Lord may face
          And find defence in his Father’s embrace!

[1] The translation is based on ‘weras,’ adopted by H.-So.—­K. and Th. read ‘wera’ and, arranging differently, render 119(2)-120:  They knew not sorrow, the wretchedness of man, aught of misfortune.—­For ‘unhaelo’ (120) R. suggests ‘unfaelo’:  The uncanny creature, greedy and cruel, etc.

[2] S. rearranges and translates:  So he ruled and struggled unjustly, one against all, till the noblest of buildings stood useless (it was a long while) twelve years’ time:  the friend of the Scyldings suffered distress, every woe, great sorrows, etc.

    [3] For ‘syethethan,’ B. suggests ‘sarcwidum’:  Hence in mournful words it
    became well known, etc.  Various other words beginning with ‘s’ have
    been conjectured.