{If his mother yet liveth, well may she thank God for this son.}

          Failed to perform.  May affirm very truly
          What woman soever in all of the nations
          Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth,
       20 That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward
          In the birth of the bairn.  Now, Beowulf dear,

{Hereafter, Beowulf, thou shalt be my son.}

          Most excellent hero, I’ll love thee in spirit
          As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward
          The relationship new.  No lack shall befall thee
       25 Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee. 
          Full often for lesser service I’ve given
[34] Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious,

{Thou hast won immortal distinction.}

          To a weaker in war-strife.  By works of distinction
          Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish
       30 Forever and ever.  The All-Ruler quite thee
          With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!”

{Beowulf replies:  I was most happy to render thee this service.}

          Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow’s offspring: 
          “That labor of glory most gladly achieved we,
          The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured
       35 The enemy’s grapple; I would grant it much rather
          Thou wert able to look at the creature in person,
          Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings! 
          On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him,
          With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple
       40 Low he should lie in life-and-death struggle
          ’Less his body escape; I was wholly unable,

{I could not keep the monster from escaping, as God did not will that I should.}

          Since God did not will it, to keep him from going,
          Not held him that firmly, hated opposer;
          Too swift was the foeman.  Yet safety regarding
       45 He suffered his hand behind him to linger,
          His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher;

{He left his hand and arm behind.}

          No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature
          Found him there nathless:  the hated destroyer
          Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils,
       50 But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him
          Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing
          In baleful bonds:  there banished for evil
          The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal,

{God will give him his deserts.}

          How the God of glory shall give him his earnings.”
       55 Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf,

{Unferth has nothing more to say, for Beowulf’s actions speak louder than words.}