Legends That Every Child Should Know | Page 8

him, and drew her knife to take
his life, but his good mail coat turned the point. He stood up again, and
then truly God helped him, for he saw among the armour on the wall an
old sword of huge size, the handiwork of giants. He seized it, and
smote with all his might, so that the witch gave up her life.

His heart was full of gladness, and light, calm and beautiful as that of
the sun, filled the hall. He scanned the vast chamber, and saw Grendel
lying there dead. He cut off his head as a trophy for King Hrothgar,
whose men the fiend had killed and devoured.
Now those men who were seated on the banks of the pool watching
with Hrothgar saw that the water was tinged with blood. Then the old
men spoke together of the brave Beowulf, saying they feared they
would never see him again. The day was waning fast, so they and the
King went homeward. Beowulf's men stayed on, sick at heart, gazing at
the pool. They longed, but did not expect, to see their lord and master.
Under the depths, Beowulf was making his way to them. The magic
sword melted in his hand, like snow in sunshine; only the hilt remained,
so venomous was the fiend that had been slain therewith. He brought
nothing more with him than the hilt and Grendel's head. Up he rose
through the waters where the furious sea-beasts before had chased him.
Now not one was to be seen; the depths were purified when the witch
lost her life. So he came to land, bravely swimming, bearing his spoils.
His men saw him, they thanked God, and ran to free him of his armour.
They rejoiced to get sight of him, sound and whole.
Now they marched gladly through the highways to the town. It took
four of them to carry Grendel's head. On they went, all fourteen, their
captain glorious in their midst. They entered the great hall, startling the
King and Queen, as they sat at meat, with the fearful sight of Grendel's
head.
Beowulf handed the magic hilt to Hrothgar, who saw that it was the
work of giants of old. He spake to Beowulf, while all held their peace,
praised him for his courage, said that he would love him as his son, and
bade him be a help to mankind, remembering not to glory in his own
strength, for he held it from God, and death without more ado might
subdue it altogether. "Many, many treasures," he said, "must pass from
me to you to-morrow, but now rest and feast."
Gladly Beowulf sat down to the banquet, and well he liked the thought
of the rest.

When day dawned, he bade the King farewell with noble words,
promising to help him in time of need. Hrothgar with tears and
embraces let him go, giving him fresh gifts of hoarded jewels. He wept,
for he loved Beowulf well, and knew he would never see him any
more.
The coastguard saw the gallant warriors coming, bade them welcome,
and led them to their ship. The wind whistled in the sails, and a
pleasant humming sound was heard as the good ship sped on her way.
So Beowulf returned home, having done mighty deeds and gained great
honour.
In due time Beowulf himself became King, and well he governed the
land for fifty years. Then trouble came.
A slave, fleeing from his master, stumbled by an evil chance into the
den of a dragon. There he saw a dazzling hoard of gold, guarded by the
dragon for three hundred winters. The treasure tempted him, and he
carried off a tankard of gold to give to his master, to make peace with
him.
The dragon had been sleeping, now he awoke, and sniffed the scent of
an enemy along the rock. He hunted diligently over the ground; he
wanted to find the man who had done the mischief in his sleep. In his
rage he swung around the treasure mound, dashing into it now and
again to seek the jewelled tankard. He found it hard to wait until
evening came, when he meant to avenge with fire the loss of his
treasure.
Presently the sun sank, and the dragon had his will. He set forth,
burning all the cheerful homes of men: his rage was felt far and wide.
Before dawn he shot back again to his dark home, trusting in his mound
and in his craft to defend himself.
Now Beowulf heard that his own home had been burnt to the ground. It
was a great grief to him, almost making him break out in a rage against
Providence. His breast heaved with anger.

He meant to rid his country of the plague,