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Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived — John Shaqi

Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They LivedLong, William J. (William Joseph)

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Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived

Name: Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived
Author: Long, William J. (William Joseph)

Long, William J. (William Joseph)

American literature -- History and criticism; English literature -- History and criticism

Once more there is joy in Heorot, songs, speeches, the liberal
    giving of gifts. Thinking all danger past, the Danes sleep in the
    hall; but at midnight comes the mother of Grendel, raging to avenge
    her son. Seizing the king's bravest companion she carries him away,
    and he is never seen again.

    Here is another adventure for Beowulf. To old Hrothgar, lamenting
    his lost earl, the hero says simply:

      Wise chief, sorrow not. For a man it is meet
      His friend to avenge, not to mourn for his loss;
      For death comes to all, but honor endures:
      Let him win it who will, ere Wyrd to him calls,
      And fame be the fee of a warrior dead!

    Following the trail of the _Brimwylf_ or _Merewif_
    (sea-wolf or sea-woman) Beowulf and his companions pass through
    desolate regions to a wild cliff on the shore. There a friend
    offers his good sword Hrunting for the combat, and Beowulf accepts
    the weapon, saying:

                   ic me mid Hruntinge
      Dom gewyrce, oththe mec death nimeth.
                         I with Hrunting
      Honor will win, or death shall me take.

    [Sidenote: THE DRAGON'S CAVE]

    Then he plunges into the black water, is attacked on all sides by
    the _Grundwrygen_ or bottom monsters, and as he stops to fight
    them is seized by the _Merewif_ and dragged into a cave, a
    mighty "sea-hall" free from water and filled with a strange light.
    On its floor are vast treasures; its walls are adorned with
    weapons; in a corner huddles the wounded Grendel. All this Beowulf
    sees in a glance as he turns to fight his new foe.

    Follows then another terrific combat, in which the brand Hrunting
    proves useless. Though it rings out its "clanging war-song" on the
    monster's scales, it will not "bite" on the charmed body. Beowulf
    is down, and at the point of death, when his eye lights on a huge
    sword forged by the jotuns of old. Struggling to his feet he seizes
    the weapon, whirls it around his head for a mighty blow, and the
    fight is won. Another blow cuts off the head of Grendel, but at the
    touch of the poisonous blood the steel blade melts like ice before
    the fire.

    Leaving all the treasures, Beowulf takes only the golden hilt of
    the magic sword and the head of Grendel, reënters the sea and
    mounts up to his companions. They welcome him as one returned from
    the dead. They relieve him of helmet and byrnie, and swing away in
    a triumphal procession to Heorot. The hero towers among them, a
    conspicuous figure, and next to him comes the enormous head of
    Grendel carried on a spear-shaft by four of the stoutest thanes.

    [Sidenote: THE FIREDRAKE]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Outlines of English and American Literature: An Introduction to the Chief Writers of England and America, to the Books They Wrote, and to the Times in Which They Lived

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