{Give an account of thy adventures, Beowulf dear.}

          How throve your journeying, when thou thoughtest suddenly
          Far o’er the salt-streams to seek an encounter,
          A battle at Heorot?  Hast bettered for Hrothgar,
          The famous folk-leader, his far-published sorrows
       30 Any at all?  In agony-billows

{My suspense has been great.}

          I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey
          Of the beloved liegeman; I long time did pray thee
          By no means to seek out the murderous spirit,
          To suffer the South-Danes themselves to decide on[2]
       35 Grappling with Grendel.  To God I am thankful
          To be suffered to see thee safe from thy journey.”

{Beowulf narrates his adventures.}

          Beowulf answered, bairn of old Ecgtheow: 
          “’Tis hidden by no means, Higelac chieftain,
          From many of men, the meeting so famous,
       40 What mournful moments of me and of Grendel
          Were passed in the place where he pressing affliction
          On the Victory-Scyldings scathefully brought,
          Anguish forever; that all I avenged,
          So that any under heaven of the kinsmen of Grendel

{Grendel’s kindred have no cause to boast.}

       45 Needeth not boast of that cry-in-the-morning,
          Who longest liveth of the loth-going kindred,[3]
          Encompassed by moorland.  I came in my journey
          To the royal ring-hall, Hrothgar to greet there: 

{Hrothgar received me very cordially.}

          Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene,
       50 When he understood fully the spirit that led me,
          Assign me a seat with the son of his bosom.
[69] The troop was in joyance; mead-glee greater
          ’Neath arch of the ether not ever beheld I

{The queen also showed up no little honor.}

          ’Mid hall-building holders.  The highly-famed queen,
       55 Peace-tie of peoples, oft passed through the building,
          Cheered the young troopers; she oft tendered a hero
          A beautiful ring-band, ere she went to her sitting.

{Hrothgar’s lovely daughter.}

          Oft the daughter of Hrothgar in view of the courtiers
          To the earls at the end the ale-vessel carried,
       60 Whom Freaware I heard then hall-sitters title,
          When nail-adorned jewels she gave to the heroes: 

{She is betrothed to Ingeld, in order to unite the Danes and Heathobards.}

          Gold-bedecked, youthful, to the glad son of Froda
          Her faith has been plighted; the friend of the Scyldings,
          The guard of the kingdom, hath given his sanction,[4]
       65 And counts it a vantage, for a part of the quarrels,
          A portion of hatred, to pay with the woman.
          [5]Somewhere not rarely, when the ruler has fallen,
          The life-taking lance relaxeth its fury
          For a brief breathing-spell, though the bride be charming!