Beowulf - Chapter 15: Hrothgar's Gratitude lyrics

Hrothgar discoursed (to the hall-building went he, He stood by the pillar, saw the steep-rising hall-roof Gleaming with gold-gems, and Grendel his hand there): “For the sight we behold now, thanks to the Wielder Early be offered! Much evil I bided, Snaring from Grendel: God can e'er 'complish Wonder on wonder, Wielder of Glory! But lately I reckoned ne'er under heaven Comfort to gain me for any of sorrows, While the handsomest of houses horrid with bloodstain Gory uptowered; grief had offfrightened Each of the wise ones who weened not that ever The folk-troop's defences 'gainst foes they should strengthen, 'Gainst sprites and monsters. Through the might of the Wielder A doughty retainer hath a deed now accomplished Which erstwhile we all with our excellent wisdom Failed to perform. May affirm very truly What woman soever in all of the nations Gave birth to the child, if yet she surviveth, That the long-ruling Lord was lavish to herward In the birth of the bairn. Now, Beowulf dear, Most excellent hero, I'll love thee in spirit As bairn of my body; bear well henceforward The relationship new. No lack shall befall thee Of earth-joys any I ever can give thee. Full often for lesser service I've given Hero less hardy hoard-treasure precious, To a weaker in war-strife. By works of distinction Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory shall flourish Forever and ever. The All-Ruler quite thee With good from His hand as He hitherto did thee!” Beowulf answered, Ecgtheow's offspring: “That labor of glory most gladly achieved we, The combat accomplished, unquailing we ventured The enemy's grapple; I would grant it much rather Thou wert able to look at the creature in person, Faint unto falling, the foe in his trappings! On murder-bed quickly I minded to bind him, With firm-holding fetters, that forced by my grapple Low he should lie in life-and-d**h struggle 'Less his body escape; I was wholly unable, Since God did not will it, to keep him from going, Not held him that firmly, hated opposer; Too swift was the foeman. Yet safety regarding He suffered his hand behind him to linger, His arm and shoulder, to act as watcher; No shadow of solace the woe-begone creature Found him there nathless: the hated destroyer Liveth no longer, lashed for his evils, But sorrow hath seized him, in snare-meshes hath him Close in its clutches, keepeth him writhing In baleful bonds: there banished for evil The man shall wait for the mighty tribunal, How the God of glory shall give him his earnings.” Then the soldier kept silent, son of old Ecglaf, From boasting and bragging of battle-achievements, Since the princes beheld there the hand that depended 'Neath the lofty hall-timbers by the might of the nobleman, Each one before him, the enemy's fingers; Each finger-nail strong steel most resembled, The heathen one's hand-spur, the hero-in-battle's Claw most uncanny; quoth they agreeing, That not any excellent edges of brave ones Was willing to touch him, the terrible creature's Battle-hand bloody to bear away from him.