falls; the Geat and his companions remain in the hall and "bow
themselves to repose." Grendel the "night walker came prowling in the
gloom of night ... from his eyes there issued a hideous light, most like
to fire. In the hall he saw many warriors, a kindred band, sleeping all
together, a group of clansmen. Then he laughed in his heart." He did not
tarry, but seized one of the sleepers, "tore him irresistibly, bit his
flesh, drank the blood from his veins, swallowed him by large morsels;
soon had he devoured all the corpse but the feet and hands." He then
finds himself confronted by Beowulf. The fight begins under the sounding
roof, the gilded seats are overthrown, and it was a wonder the hall
itself did not fall in; but it was "made fast with iron bands." At last
Grendel's arm is wrenched off, and he flees towards his morasses to die.

While Beowulf, loaded with treasure, returns to his own country, another
scourge appears. The mother of Grendel wishes to avenge him, and, during
the night, seizes and eats Hrothgar's favourite warrior. Beowulf comes
back and reaches the cave of the fiends under the waters; the fight is
an awful one, and the hero was about to succumb, when he caught sight of
an enormous sword forged by the giants. With it he slays the foe; and
also cuts off the head of Grendel, whose body lay there lifeless. At the
contact of this poisonous blood the blade melts entirely, "just like
ice, when the Father looseneth the bonds of frost, unwindeth the ropes
that bind the waves."

Later, after having taken part in the historic battle fought against the
Franks, in which his uncle Higelac was killed, Beowulf becomes king, and
reigns fifty years. In his old age, he has to fight for the last time, a
monster, "a fierce Fire-drake," that held a treasure. He is victorious;
but sits down wounded on a stone, feeling that he is about to die. "Now
go thou quickly, dear Wiglaf," he says to the only one of his companions
who had come to his rescue, "to spy out the hoard under the hoar rock;
... make haste now that I may examine the ancient wealth, the golden
store, may closely survey the brilliant cunningly-wrought gems, that so
I may the more tranquilly, after seeing the treasured wealth, quit my
life, and my country, which I have governed long." Bowls and dishes, a
sword "shot with brass," a standard "all gilded, ... locked by strong
spells," from which issued "a ray of light," are brought to him. He
enjoys the sight; a