In The Hall
ord Hrothgar sat at the end of the hall. Unferth stood as a prisoner nearby, guarded by two warriors. Beowulf looked stern under his helmet as he marched quickly under Heorot's roof to where the white-haired lord was sitting.
'Hail to you, Hrothgar. My name is Beowulf, son of Edgetheow. I am Hygelac's warrior and his kinsman.'
'I knew your father, he was a great warrior,' Hrothgar replied. 'You have met with ill treatment in our land. Unferth has not acted well. He will pay your men for the wounds they have received. We will send him away from our people, though I will be sorry to see him go. Unferth is one of my bravest warriors. He does not think before he rushes into things.'
'He has not rushed into fighting Grendel, I see', Beowulf said. 'It was a bad thing he did today. Mothers and fathers will feel their houses empty of their sons because of the men who died there on the beach.
Still, do not send him away. Sit him there on the farthest bench and let him listen to what I have to say. Perhaps he will learn something.'
'You are a good man, Beowulf', Hrothgar said. 'Now tell us why you have come to see us from so far away.'
Beowulf began:
' I have heard that this hall becomes useless to your people after the sun falls below the edge of the sky at evening. Tales of Grendels's attacks have reached me at home in the land of the Geats.
I have often struggled against my people's enemies in battle. A whole family of giants I once trapped and destroyed. By night, far out at sea, I killed water-monsters and put up with great difficulties among the dark waves.
Now it is for me alone to sort out the monster Grendel. People say that Grendel doesn't bother with weapons, and neither shall I. I will beat him with my bare hands and my body's strength.'
Hrothgar was full of joy.
'Beowulf my friend, you have come to us out of loving kindness. Your father began a terrible feud by killing one of the tribe of the Wylfings. Your father's people, the Geats, could not protect him. I was a young man then, and I brought Danish warriors to help the Geats. To end the feud I paid the Wylfings with treasure for the loss of the man's life. Now you can repay me.
See how few warriors I have left. See how my people live in fear. Grendel has brought such terror to our lives. Now sit down to the feast with your men and tell us what you plan to do.'
The Danish warriors made way on the mead-benches for Beowulf's men. They sat in a group together while the glowing mead was poured out for them to drink.
Then Hrothgar's wife Wealtheow came forward. She was well known for the wisdom of her mind. She gave the jewelled cup first to her husband and wished him joy at the beer-drinking. Then she took the precious goblet to each group of warriors in turn, the old and the young. Then her hands, flashing with rings, held out the cup to Beowulf. She greeted the Geatish leader and gave thanks to God that now a noble warrior had come as she had hoped for so long. She knew she could trust him.
Beowulf spoke:
'I decided as I set out to sea, that I would rid the Danes of this monster for ever, or else die in the mead-hall held fast in his grip. Before you all now, I make this boast, that alone, without weapons of any kind, I will defeat Grendel. I am sure I am as good a fighter as Grendel. Let God decide the winner.'
Wealtheow liked this speech well.
'Never before has Heorot been trusted to any other man', she told Beowulf. Tonight you must have and hold the great hall of the Danes. Keep watch, be brave, and think of the glory you must gain.'
Then again there was laughter in the hall, the happiness of heroes. The Geats and the Danes sat together. Words of courage and sounds of joy were heard once more in Heorot. The clear voice of the poet rose in the hall.
At last everyone got up to go to bed. Hrothgar and Wealtheow with their people left the hall. Only the Geats stayed behind.
