38 BEOWULF, GBENDEL AND HIS MOTHER 



with swords and other weapons, not knowing that they 

 were of no avail against the monster. But the Jute 

 yielded never a whit, he pressed Grendel harder and 

 harder with that mighty hand-grip of his, and by sheer 

 strength tore off the monster's hand, arm, and shoulder. 

 Grendel fled ; back to the lake he went, to the Nixes' 

 mere, where the water for days afterwards was troubled 

 and discoloured with blood. 



As for Beowulf, the grateful King could hardly thank 



him enough. A feast was prepared, the walls of the 



great hall were covered with cloth of gold, and the hero 



received a war-banner, helmet, and breastplate, besides 



golden cups, a superb golden collar, and many other 



precious things. When the banquet was over they all 



retired to rest, as they supposed, in safety. But an 



avenger was at hand, Grendel's mother, a monstrous 



witch, ravenous, wrathful, and cruel as her son. She 



burst into Heorot, seized the man who was the King's 



favourite amongst all his nobles, and carried him off to 



the lake. She also took with her Grendel's blood-stained 



hand, which had been put up as a trophy. Beowulf was 



not in the Palace at the time, for another lodging had 



been given to him; but he was quickly summoned 



after this new disaster. ' Never fear,' said he, ' I 



promise thee she shall not escape, neither by water, 



nor into the earth, nor into the mountain forest, 



nor into the bottom of the sea, let her go where she 



will.' So they made ready at once to go to the lake, 



which was about a mile from the Palace ; a gloomy 



water it was, overhung with trees, and how deep 



none had ever found out ; every night, men said, a 



strange fire was to be seen on its surface, so none 



cared about going there. However, the King's horse 



was now saddled, and his men-at-arms were ready ; 



Beowulf put on armour to protect his body from the 



enemy's grip, and a white helmet guarded his head. One 



of Hrothgar"s men lent him a short sword that had never 



