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A hero is hired to kill a monster that has been plaguing the land.

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seated Uncle and nephew; their peace was yet mutual, True each to the other. And Unferth the spokesman Sat at the feet of the lord of the Scyldings: Each trusted his spirit that his mood was courageous, Though at fight he had failed in faith to his kinsmen. Said the queen of the Scyldings: “My lord and protector, Treasure-bestower, take thou this beaker; Joyance attend thee, gold-friend of heroes, And greet thou the Geatmen with gracious responses! So ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen, In gifts not niggardly; anear and afar now Peace thou enjoyest. Report hath informed me Thou’lt have for a bairn the battle-brave hero. Now is Heorot cleansèd, ring-palace gleaming; Give while thou mayest many rewards, And bequeath to thy kinsmen kingdom and people, On wending thy way to the Wielder’s splendor. I know good Hrothulf, that the noble young troopers He’ll care for and honor, lord of the Scyldings, If earth-joys thou endest earlier than he doth; I reckon that recompense he’ll render with kindness Our offspring and issue, if that all he remember, What favors of yore, when he yet was an infant, We awarded to him for his worship and pleasure.” Then she turned by the bench where her sons were carousing, Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the heroes’ offspring, The war-youth together; there the good one was sitting ’Twixt the brothers twain, Beowulf Geatman.

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