, placed their spears upright in a
sheaf together, and sat down on the benches, weary with their seafaring.

Then a proud liegeman of Hrothgar's stepped forward and asked:

"Whence bring ye your shields, your gray war-shirts and frowning
helmets, and this sheaf of spears? Never saw I men of more valiant
aspect."

"We are Higelac's boon companions," answered Beowulf. "Beowulf is my
name, and I desire to declare my errand to the great prince, thy lord,
if he will grant us leave to approach him."

So Wulfgar, another of Hrothgar's chieftains, went out to the king where
he sat with the assembly of his earls and told him of the arrival of the
strangers, and Hrothgar received the news with joy, for he had known
Beowulf when he was a boy, and had heard of his fame as a warrior.
Therefore he bade Wulfgar bring him to his presence, and soon Beowulf
stood before him and cried:

"Hail to thee, Hrothgar! I have heard the tale of Grendel, and my
people, who know my strength and prowess, have counseled me to seek thee
out. For I have wrought great deeds in the past, and now I shall do
battle against this monster. Men say that so thick is his tawny hide
that no weapon can injure him. I therefore disdain to carry sword or
shield into the combat, but will fight with the strength of my arm only,
and either I will conquer the fiend or he will bear away my dead body to
the moor. Send to Higelac, if I fall in the fight, my beautiful
breastplate. I have no fear of death, for Destiny must ever be obeyed."

Then Hrothgar told Beowulf of the great sorrow caused to him by
Grendel's terrible deeds, and of the failure of all the attempts that
had been made by the warriors to overcome him; and afterwards he bade
him sit down with his followers to partake of a meal.

So a bench was cleared for the Geats, and a thane waited upon them, and
all the noble warriors gathered together, and a great feast was held
once more in Heorot with song and revelry. Waltheow, Hrothgar's queen,
came forth also, and handed the wine-cup to each of the thanes, pledging
the king in joyful mood and thanking Beowulf for his offer of help.

At last all the company arose to go to rest; and Hrothgar entrusted the
guardianship of Heorot to Beowulf with cheering words, and so bade him
good night. Then all left the hall, save only a watch appointed by
Hrothgar, and Beowulf himself with his followers, who laid themselves
down to rest.

No long time passed before Grendel c