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Beowulf

by Anonymous

The oldest surviving epic in English. A Geatish warrior crosses the sea to fight three monsters across a lifetime — Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon — in a poem about courage, kingship, and the long defeat that all heroes face.

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Chapters
  1. Chapter 1Fitt I — The Life and Death of Scyld
  2. Chapter 2Fitt II — Scyld's Successors — Hrothgar's Great Mead-hall
  3. Chapter 3Fitt III — Grendel the Murderer
  4. Chapter 4Fitt IV — Beowulf Goes to Hrothgar's Assistance
  5. Chapter 5Fitt V — The Geats Reach Heorot
  6. Chapter 6Fitt VI — Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace
  7. Chapter 7Fitt VII — Hrothgar and Beowulf
  8. Chapter 8Fitt VIII — Hrothgar and Beowulf — Continued
  9. Chapter 9Fitt IX — Unferth Taunts Beowulf
  10. Chapter 10Fitt X — Beowulf Silences Unferth — Glee is High
  11. Chapter 11Fitt XI — All Sleep Save One
  12. Chapter 12Fitt XII — Grendel and Beowulf
  13. Chapter 13Fitt XIII — Grendel is Vanquished
  14. Chapter 14Fitt XIV — Rejoicing of the Danes
  15. Chapter 15Fitt XV — Hrothgar's Gratitude
  16. Chapter 16Fitt XVI — Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts Upon His Deliverer
  17. Chapter 17Fitt XVII — Banquet (continued) — The Scop's Song of Finn and Hnæf
  18. Chapter 18Fitt XVIII — The Finn Episode (continued) — The Banquet Continues
  19. Chapter 19Fitt XIX — Beowulf Receives Further Honor
  20. Chapter 20Fitt XX — The Mother of Grendel
  21. Chapter 21Fitt XXI — Hrothgar's Account of the Monsters
  22. Chapter 22Fitt XXII — Beowulf Seeks Grendel's Mother
  23. Chapter 23Fitt XXIII — Beowulf's Fight with Grendel's Mother
  24. Chapter 24Fitt XXIV — Beowulf is Double-conqueror
  25. Chapter 25Fitt XXV — Beowulf Brings His Trophies — Hrothgar's Gratitude
  26. Chapter 26Fitt XXVI — Hrothgar Moralizes — Rest After Labor
  27. Chapter 27Fitt XXVII — Sorrow at Parting
  28. Chapter 28Fitt XXVIII — The Homeward Journey — The Two Queens
  29. Chapter 29Fitt XXIX — Beowulf and Higelac
  30. Chapter 30Fitt XXX — Beowulf Narrates His Adventures to Higelac
  31. Chapter 31Fitt XXXI — Gift-giving is Mutual
  32. Chapter 32Fitt XXXII — The Hoard and the Dragon
  33. Chapter 33Fitt XXXIII — Brave Though Aged — Reminiscences
  34. Chapter 34Fitt XXXIV — Beowulf Seeks the Dragon — Beowulf's Reminiscences
  35. Chapter 35Fitt XXXV — Reminiscences (continued) — Beowulf's Last Battle
  36. Chapter 36Fitt XXXVI — Wiglaf the Trusty — Beowulf is Deserted by Friends and by Sword
  37. Chapter 37Fitt XXXVII — The Fatal Struggle — Beowulf's Last Moments
  38. Chapter 38Fitt XXXVIII — Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon's Den — Beowulf's Death
  39. Chapter 39Fitt XXXIX — The Dead Foes — Wiglaf's Bitter Taunts
  40. Chapter 40Fitt XL — The Messenger of Death
  41. Chapter 41Fitt XLI — The Messenger's Retrospect
  42. Chapter 42Fitt XLII — Wiglaf's Sad Story — The Hoard Carried Off
  43. Chapter 43Fitt XLIII — The Burning of Beowulf

Fitt I — The Life and Death of Scyld

Lo! the Spear-Danes' glory through splendid achievements The folk-kings' former fame we have heard of, How princes displayed then their prowess-in-battle.

Oft Scyld the Scefing from scathers in numbers From many a people their mead-benches tore. Since first he found him friendless and wretched, The earl had had terror: comfort he got for it, Waxed 'neath the welkin, world-honor gained, Till all his neighbors o'er sea were compelled to Bow to his bidding and bring him their tribute: An excellent atheling! After was borne him

A son and heir, young in his dwelling, Whom God-Father sent to solace the people. He had marked the misery malice had caused them, That reaved of their rulers they wretched had erstwhile Long been afflicted. The Lord, in requital, Wielder of Glory, with world-honor blessed him. Famed was Beowulf, far spread the glory Of Scyld's great son in the lands of the Danemen. So the carle that is young, by kindnesses rendered The friends of his father, with fees in abundance Must be able to earn that when age approacheth Eager companions aid him requitingly, When war assaults him serve him as liegemen: By praise-worthy actions must honor be got 'Mong all of the races. At the hour that was fated

Scyld then departed to the All-Father's keeping Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him To the flood of the current, his fond-loving comrades, As himself he had bidden, while the friend of the Scyldings Word-sway wielded, and the well-lovèd land-prince Long did rule them. The ring-stemmèd vessel, Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor, Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing; The belovèd leader laid they down there, Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel, The famed by the mainmast. A many of jewels, Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over, Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle, Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled Many a jewel that with him must travel On the flush of the flood afar on the current. And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly, Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him

Who when first he was born outward did send him Lone on the main, the merest of infants: And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven High o'er his head, let the holm-currents bear him, Seaward consigned him: sad was their spirit, Their mood very mournful. Men are not able

Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside, Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.