Page:Gummere (1909) The Oldest English Epic.djvu/130

114 in greed of vengeance, Grendel’s mother set forth all doleful. Dead was her son through war-hate of Weders; now, woman monstrous, with fury fell a foeman she slew, avenged her offspring. From Æschere old, loyal councillor, life was gone; nor might they e’en, when morning broke, those Danish people, their death-done comrade burn with brands, on balefire lay the man they mourned. Under mountain stream she had carried the corpse with cruel hands. For Hrothgar that was the heaviest sorrow of all that had laden the lord of his folk. The leader then, by thy life, besought me (sad was his soul) in the sea-waves’ coil to play the hero and hazard my being for glory of prowess: my guerdon he pledged. I then in the waters—’tis widely known— that sea-floor-guardian savage found. Hand-to-hand there a while we struggled; billows welled blood; in the briny hall her head I hewed with a hardy blade from Grendel’s mother,—and gained my life, though not without danger. My doom was not yet. Then the haven-of-heroes, Healfdene’s son, gave me in guerdon great gifts of price.

 

“So held this king to the customs old, that I wanted for nought in the wage I gained, the meed of my might; he made me gifts, 