Legends That Every Child Should Know | Page 7

was to fall on
them.
Hrothgar's men sank to rest, but death was to be the portion of one.
Grendel the monster was dead, but Grendel's mother still lived. Furious
at the death of her son, she crept to the great hall, and made her way in,
clutched an earl, the King's dearest friend, and crushed him in his sleep.
Great was the uproar, though the terror was less than when Grendel
came. The knights leapt up, sword in hand; the witch hurried to escape,

she wanted to get out with her life.
The aged King felt bitter grief when he heard that his dearest friend was
slain. He sent for Beowulf, who, like the King, had had his own
sleeping bower that night. The youth stood before Hrothgar and hoped
that all was well.
"Do not ask if things go well," said the sorrowing King, "we have fresh
grief this morning. My dearest friend and noblest knight is slain.
Grendel you yourself destroyed through the strength given you by God,
but another monster has come to avenge his death. I have heard the
country folk say that there were two huge fiends to be seen stalking
over the moors, one like a woman, as near as they could make out, the
other had the form of a man, but was huger far. It was he they called
Grendel. These two haunt a fearful spot, a land of untrodden bogs and
windy cliffs. A waterfall plunges into the blackness below, and twisted
trees with gnarled roots overhang it. An unearthly fire is seen gleaming
there night after night. None can tell the depth of the stream. Even a
stag, hunted to death, will face his foes on the bank rather than plunge
into those waters. It is a fearful spot. You are our only help, dare you
enter this horrible haunt?"
Quick was Beowulf's answer: "Sorrow not, O King! Rouse yourself
quickly, and let us track the monster. Each of us must look for death,
and he who has the chance should do mighty deeds before it comes. I
promise you Grendel's kin shall not escape me, if she hide in the depths
of the earth or of the ocean."
The King sprang up gladly, and Beowulf and his friends set out. They
passed stony banks and narrow gullies, the haunts of goblins.
Suddenly they saw a clump of gloomy trees, overhanging a dreary pool.
A shudder ran through them, for the pool was blood-red.
All sat down by the edge of the pool, while the horn sounded a cheerful
blast. In the water were monstrous sea-snakes, and on jutting points of
land were dragons and strange beasts: they tumbled away, full of rage,
at the sound of the horn.

One of Beowulf's men took aim at a monster with his arrow, and
pierced him through, so that he swam no more.
Beowulf was making ready for the fight. He covered his body with
armour lest the fiend should clutch him. On his head was a white
helmet, decorated with figures of boars worked in silver. No weapon
could hurt it. His sword was a wonderful treasure, with an edge of iron;
it had never failed any one who had needed it in battle.
"Be like a father to my men, if I perish," said Beowulf to Hrothgar,
"and send the rich gifts you have given me to my King. He will see that
I had good fortune while life lasted. Either I will win fame, or death
shall take me."
He dashed away, plunging headlong into the pool. It took nearly the
whole day before he reached the bottom, and while he was still on his
way the water-witch met him. For a hundred years she had lived in
those depths. She made a grab at him, and caught him in her talons, but
his coat of mail saved him from her loathsome fingers. Still she
clutched him tight, and bore him in her arms to the bottom of the lake;
he had no power to use his weapons, though he had courage enough.
Water-beasts swam after him and battered him with their tusks.
Then he saw that he was in a vast hall, where there was no water, but a
strange, unearthly glow of firelight. At once the fight began, but the
sword would not bite--it failed its master in his need; for the first time
its fame broke down. Away Beowulf threw it in anger, trusting to the
strength of his hands. He cared nothing for his own life, for he thought
but of honour.
He seized the witch by the shoulder and swayed her so that she sank on
the pavement. Quickly she recovered, and closed in on him; he
staggered and fell, worn out. She sat on