The fight between Beowulf and Grendel is explained in historiadelingles.
(X.)Hrothgar and his warriors left the hall to protect the Scyldings.The bed of the queen would be sought by the war-chief.The King of Glory had a special mission to the prince of the Danes, and he kept watch against monsters.
The man of the Geats had faith in the ruler.Then he took off his shirt of armor, the helmet from his head, handed his sword to an attendant, and bade him keep guard over his war-gear.Before he went to his bed, Beowulf of the Geats claimed that he was no poorer in war-strength than Grendel was.I might take away his life, but I won't put him to sleep with a sword.He is strong in fight and knows how to cut my shield in pieces.If he dare seek war without weapon, we will forgo the sword in the night, and God will assign glory to whichever hand seems good to Him.
Many brave seamen lay down to hall-rest after the battle-brave one laid himself down.They didn't think he would ever return to his hometown, people or town, for they knew how many men had been killed in the wine-hall.The Lord granted to weave for them good fortune in war, for the folk of the Weather-Geats, comfort and help that they should overcome their foe through the might of one man, through his sole strength: the truth has been made known that mighty God has always ruled mankind.
The walker was gliding in darkness.All but one of the warriors should hold the horned house.When the Ruler did not want the hostile creature to drag them away, it was known to men.He was lying awake and waiting for the outcome of the fight.
It's called (XI.)From the moor under the mist-hills, there was a man wearing God's anger.The foul ravager was going to catch a man in the high hall.The wine-hall, a treasure-house of men, was shining with gold as he moved under the clouds.He had gone to Hrothgar's home before.He never found harder luck or harder hall-thanes before or since.The creature was deprived of joy and walked to the hall.The door was fastened with fire-forged bands when he touched it.He tore it open because of evil desire.The foe stepped onto the floor angrily.A light that looked like a flame came from his eyes.A group of war-men were asleep in the hall as he saw them.He thought that before the day came he would divide the life from the body for there had come to him a hope of full-feasting.When the night was over, he should have eaten more of mankind.
The evildoer was watched by the kinsman of hygelac.The monster didn't mean to delay it, but he pounced on the sleeping man, tore into his bones, drank the blood from his veins, and ate the dead man's feet.He stepped closer, then felt his arm for the brave-hearted man on the bed, reached out towards him, the foe with his hand, and at once in fierce response Beowulf seized it and sat up, leaning on his own arm.The fosterer of crimes knew that there was a harder hand- grip from another man.He became frightened because he didn't want to escape sooner.He wanted to get away, so he would flee to his hiding place.He hadn't met anything like that before in the days of his life.The good man, the kinsman of Hygelac, stood upright and laid hold of him: his fingers cracked.The earl stepped forward as the giant pulled away.The notorious one thought to move farther away, wherever he could, and flee his way from there to his fen-retreat.That was a difficult journey for the despoiler.The noise from the hall was terrible for the Danes, the house-dwellers, and the brave man.Two people meant to control the hall.The building sounded different.It was so firmly made with iron bands, both inside and outside, that it did not fall to the ground.I have heard that there were many gold-adorned benches on the floor when the furious ones fought.No wise man of the Scyldings thought that any man with bright horns could break it down and destroy it in a way that would cause it to catch fire.The noise rose up and sounded strange.The fear came upon the North-Danes when they heard the weeping from the wall.He who was the strongest of men was held fast.
The year is XII.He did not consider his life-days of use to any of the nations when he decided to kill the guest.More than enough of Beowulf's earls drew swords, old heirlooms, wished to protect the life of their famous prince, however they might.They didn't know when they entered the fight, hardy-spirited warriors, that they would have to hew him on every side, to seek his soul, and that not any of the best of irons on earth, no warsword, would touch the evil-doer.The alien spirit was to travel far off into the power of fiends when he died.He who had brought trouble of heart to mankind, and had been at war with God, found that his body would not do him any good, for the great-hearted kinsman of Hygelac had him by the hand.Each was not nice to the other.The monster lived to feel pain in his body, his shoulder was torn open, and his bone-locks broke.The Glory in battle was given to Beowulf.He must flee from there and find a home in the fenslopes.He knew the full number of his days when his life was over.The Danes were happy after the fight.He who had recently come from far off, was wise and stout-hearted and saved Hrothgar's house.He made famous his courage by rejoicing in his night's work.The man of the Geats had fulfilled his promise to the East-Danes, so they too had had to suffer from harsh necessity.When the battle-brave man set the hand up under the curved roof, it was obvious that he was holding it all together.
The source is Beowulf.Tuso, Joseph F.Donaldson and Talbot translated it.W.W.Norton & Co. was founded in New York in 1974.