Beware of arrogance, world-famous champion! 
          But a little-while lasts thy life-vigor’s fulness;
          ’Twill after hap early, that illness or sword-edge
       20 Shall part thee from strength, or the grasp of the fire,
          Or the wave of the current, or clutch of the edges,
          Or flight of the war-spear, or age with its horrors,
          Or thine eyes’ bright flashing shall fade into darkness: 
          ’Twill happen full early, excellent hero,

{Hrothgar gives an account of his reign.}

       25 That death shall subdue thee.  So the Danes a half-century
          I held under heaven, helped them in struggles
          ’Gainst many a race in middle-earth’s regions,
          With ash-wood and edges, that enemies none
          On earth molested me.  Lo! offsetting change, now,

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{Sorrow after joy.}

       30 Came to my manor, grief after joyance,
          When Grendel became my constant visitor,
          Inveterate hater:  I from that malice
          Continually travailed with trouble no little. 
          Thanks be to God that I gained in my lifetime,
       35 To the Lord everlasting, to look on the gory
          Head with mine eyes, after long-lasting sorrow! 
          Go to the bench now, battle-adorned
          Joy in the feasting:  of jewels in common
          We’ll meet with many when morning appeareth.”
       40 The Geatman was gladsome, ganged he immediately
          To go to the bench, as the clever one bade him. 
          Then again as before were the famous-for-prowess,
          Hall-inhabiters, handsomely banqueted,
          Feasted anew.  The night-veil fell then
       45 Dark o’er the warriors.  The courtiers rose then;
          The gray-haired was anxious to go to his slumbers,
          The hoary old Scylding.  Hankered the Geatman,

{Beowulf is fagged, and seeks rest.}

          The champion doughty, greatly, to rest him: 
          An earlman early outward did lead him,
       50 Fagged from his faring, from far-country springing,
          Who for etiquette’s sake all of a liegeman’s
          Needs regarded, such as seamen at that time
          Were bounden to feel.  The big-hearted rested;
          The building uptowered, spacious and gilded,
       55 The guest within slumbered, till the sable-clad raven
          Blithely foreboded the beacon of heaven. 
          Then the bright-shining sun o’er the bottoms came going;[2]
          The warriors hastened, the heads of the peoples
          Were ready to go again to their peoples,

{The Geats prepare to leave Dane-land.}

       60 The high-mooded farer would faraway thenceward
          Look for his vessel.  The valiant one bade then,[3]

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