On the Heathoremes’ shore the holm-currents tossed him, Sought he thenceward the home of his fathers, Beloved of his liegemen, the land of the Brondings, The peace-castle pleasant, where a people he wielded, Had borough and jewels. The pledge that he made thee The son of Beanstan hath soothly accomplished. Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue, Though ever triumphant in onset of battle, A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest For the space of a night near-by to wait for!” Beowulf answered, offspring of Ecgtheow: “My good friend Unferth, sure freely and wildly, Thou fuddled with beer of Breca hast spoken, Hast told of his journey! A fact I allege it, That greater strength in the waters I had then, Ills in the ocean, than any man else had. We made agreement as the merest of striplings Promised each other (both of us then were Younkers in years) that we yet would adventure Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished. While swimming the sea-floods, sword-blade unscabbarded Boldly we brandished, our bodies expected To shield from the sharks. He sure was unable To swim on the waters further than I could,