“His first prey, and fiercely he fisted the carcass,
Bit him down to the bone, his blood he drank greedily,
He grabbed him in gobs, and gobbled him down.
In one moment the monster had mashed and devoured him,
Both feet and both hands, and blood on the floor.”
Rejected and Ravenous
“Greedy and gluttonous, Grendel was ravenous,
And wanted his way, but wyrd put a stop to it.”
Grendel Approaches
“The bright-patterned pavers he polluted by walking,
He stood, then he strode, anger streamed from his eyes,
Flamed, then flashed, like fire it was.”
True Hard Luck
“The hall held great heroes and hard luck for Grendel.”
He Came in His Envy
“Under mist, in the murk, till the mead-hall he spied,
He came in his cruelty—the hall crafted in gold.”
His Punishment His Sin
“Out of the marsh, by misty crags, the marauder crept.
Grendel, under God’s wrath, came greedy for blood.”
God’s War Loom
”But conquest and comfort were coming to them—
God’s war-loom was weaving to the Weders this victory.”
Deep Darkness
“And the darkness, deep darkness, brought the demon to haunt them,
And shadowy shapes came slinking around.”
Regal Service
“The Helmings’ high queen in the hall walked regally,
Carrying the cup, that queen was their servant,
Offering up mead to all elders and youths.”
The Wisdom of Wealhtheow
“Then Wealhtheow entered,
Hrothgar’s high queen, heeding all courtesies,
Greeting these guests, gold-arrayed and lovely,
That high-hearted lady handed the first cup,
To the conquering Dane-king, the cup filled to the rim.”