THEN sank they to sleep. With sorrow one boughthis rest of the evening, -- as ofttime had happenedwhen Grendel guarded that golden hall,evil wrought, till his end drew nigh,slaughter for sins. 'Twas seen and toldhow an avenger survived the fiend,as was learned afar. The livelong timeafter that grim fight, Grendel's mother,monster of women, mourned her woe.She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters,cold sea-courses, since Cain cut downwith edge of the sword his only brother,his father's offspring: outlawed he fled,marked with murder, from men's delightswarded the wilds. -- There woke from himsuch fate-sent ghosts as Grendel, who,war-wolf horrid, at Heorot founda warrior watching and waiting the fray,with whom the grisly one grappled amain.But the man remembered his mighty power,the glorious gift that God had sent him,in his Maker's mercy put his trustfor comfort and help: so he conquered the foe,felled the fiend, who fled abject,reft of joy, to the realms of death,mankind's foe. And his mother now,gloomy and grim, would go that questof sorrow, the death of her son to avenge.To Heorot came she, where helmeted Danesslept in the hall. Too soon came backold ills of the earls, when in she burst,the mother of Grendel. Less grim, though, that terror,e'en as terror of woman in war is less,might of maid, than of men in armswhen, hammer-forged, the falchion hard,sword gore-stained, through swine of the helm,crested, with keen blade carves amain.Then was in hall the hard-edge drawn,the swords on the settles,[1] and shields a-manyfirm held in hand: nor helmet mindednor harness of mail, whom that horror seized.Haste was hers; she would hie afarand save her life when the liegemen saw her.Yet a single atheling up she seizedfast and firm, as she fled to the moor.He was for Hrothgar of heroes the dearest,of trusty vassals betwixt the seas,whom she killed on his couch, a clansman famous,in battle brave. -- Nor was Beowulf there;another house had been held apart,after giving of gold, for the Geat renowned. --Uproar filled Heorot; the hand all had viewed,blood-flecked, she bore with her; bale was returned,dole in the dwellings: 'twas dire exchangewhere Dane and Geat were doomed to givethe lives of loved ones. Long-tried king,the hoary hero, at heart was sadwhen he knew his noble no more lived,and dead indeed was his dearest thane.To his bower was Beowulf brought in haste,dauntless victor. As daylight broke,along with his earls the atheling lord,with his clansmen, came where the king abodewaiting to see if the Wielder-of-Allwould turn this tale of trouble and woe.Strode o'er floor the famed-in-strife,with his hand-companions, -- the hall resounded, --wishing to greet the wise old king,Ingwines' lord; he asked if the nighthad passed in peace to the prince's mind.[1] They had laid their arms on the benches near where theyslept.