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hand-rush of heroes. When heaven’s bright jewel O’er earthfields had glided, the stranger came raging, The horrible night-fiend, us for to visit, Where wholly unharmed the hall we were guarding. To Hondscio happened a hopeless contention, Death to the doomed one, dead he fell foremost, Girded war-champion; to him Grendel became then, To the vassal distinguished, a tooth-weaponed murderer, The well-beloved henchman’s body all swallowed. Not the earlier off empty of hand did The bloody-toothed murderer, mindful of evils, Wish to escape from the gold-giver’s palace, But sturdy of strength he strove to outdo me, Hand-ready grappled. A glove was suspended Spacious and wondrous, in art-fetters fastened, Which was fashioned entirely by touch of the craftman From the dragon’s skin by the devil’s devices: He down in its depths would do me unsadly One among many, deed-doer raging, Though sinless he saw me; not so could it happen When I in my anger upright did stand. ’Tis too long to recount how requital I furnished For every evil to the earlmen’s destroyer; ’Twas there, my prince, that I proudly distinguished Thy land with my labors. He left and retreated, He lived his life a little while longer: Yet his right-hand guarded his footstep in Heorot, And sad-mooded thence to the sea-bottom fell he, Mournful in mind. For the might-rush of battle The friend of the Scyldings, with gold that was plated, With ornaments many, much requited me, When daylight had dawned, and down to the banquet We had sat us together. There was chanting and joyance: The age-stricken Scylding asked many questions And of old-times related; oft light-ringing harp-strings, Joy-telling wood, were touched by the brave one; Now he uttered measures, mourning and truthful, Then the large-hearted land-king a legend of wonder Truthfully told us. Now troubled with years The age-hoary warrior afterward began to Mourn for the might that marked him in youth-days; His breast within boiled, when burdened with winters Much he remembered. From morning till night then We joyed us therein as etiquette suffered, Till the second night season came unto earth-folk. Then early thereafter, the mother of Grendel Was ready for vengeance,