Beowulf Quotes

...that demon, that fiend, Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild marshes, and made his home in a hell not hell but earth. He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God, punished forever for the crime of Abel's death. The Almighty drove those demons out, and their exile was bitter, shut away from men; they split into a thousand forms of evil--spirits and fiends, goblins, monsters, giants, a brood forever opposing the Lord's will, and again and again defeated.

Narrator

Though he lived in Herot, when the night hid him, he never dared to touch king Hrothgar's glorious throne, protected by God--God, whose love Grendel could not know.

Narrator

In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac's follower and the strongest of the Geats--greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world--heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out, proclaiming that he'd go to that famous king, would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, now when help was needed.

Narrator

A soldier should know the difference between words and deeds, and keep that knowledge clear in his brain.

Danish Coastguard

Our Holy Father has sent him as a sign of His grace, a mark of His favor, to help us defeat Grendel and end that terror. I shall greet him with treasures, gifts to reward his courage in coming to us.

Hrothgar

That this one favor you should not refuse me--that I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall. I have heard, too, that the monster's scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I. My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster. God must decide who will be given to death's cold grip. Grendel's plan, I think, will be what it has been before, to invade this hall and gorge his belly with our bodies. If he can, if he can. And I think, if my time will have come, there'll be nothing to mourn over, no corpse to prepare for its grave: Grendel will carry our bloody flesh to the moors, crunch on our bones and smear torn scraps of our skin on the walls of his den.

Beowulf

You've been lucky in your battles, Beowulf, but I think your luck may change if you challenge Grendel, staying a whole night through in this hall, waiting where that fiercest of demons can find you.

Unferth

When we crossed the sea, my comrades and I, I already knew that all my purpose was this: to win the goodwill of your people or die in battle, pressed in Grendel's fierce grip. Let me live in greatness and courage, or here in this hall welcome my death!

Beowulf

Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold and famous fighter, but his claws and teeth scratching at my shield, his clumsy fists beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him with my hands empty--unless his heart fails him, seeing a soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid. Let God in His wisdom extend His hand where He wills, reward whom He chooses!

Beowulf

But God's dread loom was woven with defeat for the monster, good fortune for the Geats; help against Grendel was with them, and through the might of a single man they would win. Who doubts that God in His wisdom and strength holds the earth forever in His hands?

Narrator

Let God be thanked! Grendel's terrible anger hung over our heads too long, dropping down misery; but the Almighty makes miracles when He pleases, wonder after wonder, and this world rests in His hands.

Hrothgar

The monster would have murdered again and again had not God, and the hero's courage, turned fate aside. Then and now men must lie in their Maker's holy hands, moved only as He wills: our hearts must seek out that will. The world, and its long days full of labor, brings good and evil; all who remain here meet both.

Narrator

Wear these bright jewels, beloved Beowulf; enjoy them, and the rings, and the gold, O fortunate young warrior; grow richer, let your fame and your strength go hand in hand; and lend these two boys your wise and gentle hear! I'll remember your kindness. Your glory is too great to forget: it will last forever...

Welthow

...that prince remembered God's grace and the strength He'd given him and relied on the Lord for all the help, the comfort and support he would need. He killed the monster, as God had meant him to do, tore the fiend apart and forced him to run as rapidly as he could toward death's cold waiting hands.

Narrator

Let your sorrow end! It is better for us all to avenge our friends, not mourn them forever. Each of us will come to the end of the life on earth; he who can earn it should fight for the glory of his name; fame after death is the noblest of goals. Arise, guardian of this kingdom, let us go, as quickly as we can, and have a look at this lady monster. I promise you this: she'll find no shelter, no hole in the ground, no towering tree, no deep bottom of a lake, where her sins can hide. Be patient for one more day of misery; I ask for no longer.

Beowulf

Only Beowulf would risk his life in that lake; Unferth was afraid, gave up that chance to work wonders, win glory and a hero's fame. But Beowulf and fear were strangers; he stood ready to dive into battle.

Narrator

But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle. He tossed his sword aside, angry; the steel-edged blade lay where he'd dropped it. If weapons were useless he'd use his hands, the strength in his fingers. So fame comes to the men who mean to win it and care about nothing else!

Narrator

...this prince of the Geats, Beowulf, was born a better man! Your fame is everywhere, my friend, reaches to the ends of the earth, and you hold it in your heart wisely...

Hrothgar

Our eternal Lord grants some men wisdom, some wealth, makes others great. The world is God's, He allows a man to grow famous, and his family rich, gives him land and towns to rule and delight in, lets his kingdom reach as far as the world runs--and who in human wisdom, in the middle of such power, remembers that it all will end, and too soon?

Hrothgar

...push away pride! Your strength, your power, are yours for how many years? Soon you'll return them where they came from, sickness or a sword's edge will end them, or a grasping fire, or the flight of a spear, or surging waves, or a knife's bit, or the terror of old age, or your eyes darkening over. It will come, death comes faster than you think, no one can flee it.

Hrothgar

Their words brought misery, Beowulf's sorrow beat at his heart: he accused himself of breaking God's law, of bringing the Almighty's anger down on his people. Reproach pounded in his breast, gloomy and dark, and the world seemed a different place.

Narrator

But Beowulf's heart was heavy: his soul sensed how close fate had come, felt something, not fear but knowledge of old age. His armor was strong, but his arm hung like his heart. Body and soul might part here; his blood might be spilled, his spirit torn from his flesh.

Narrator

I've never known fear; as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.

Beowulf

I'd use no sword, no weapon, if this beast could be killed without it, crushed to death like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn limb from limb. But his breath will be burning hot, poison will pour from his tongue. I feel no shame, with shield and sword and armor, against this monster: when he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins. My heart is firm, my hands calm: I need no hot words. Wait for me close by, my friends. We shall see, soon, who will survive this bloody battle, stand when the fighting is done. No one else could do what I mean to, here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster. No one could try. And this dragon's treasure, his gold and everything hidden in that tower, will be mine or war will sweep me to a bitter death!

Beowulf

No one could have kept life in their lord's body, or turned aside the Lord's will: world and men and all move as He orders, and always have, and always will.

Narrator

With God's good grace he helped himself, swung his sword alone, won his own revenge. The help I gave him was nothing, but all I was able to give; I went to him knowing that nothing but Beowulf's strength could save us...

Wiglaf

...when the brave Geats hear how you bolted and ran none of your race will have anything left but their lives. And death would be better for them all, and for you, than the kind of life you can lead, branded with disgrace!

Wiglaf

And then twelve of the bravest Geats rode their horses around the tower, telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, praising him for heroic deeds, for a life as noble as his name. So should all men raise up words for their lords, warm with love, when their shield and protector leaves his body behind, sends his soul on high. And so Beowulf's followers rode, mourning their beloved leader, crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.

Narrator

No one could have kept life in their lord's body, or turned aside the Lord's will: world and men and all move as He orders, and always have, and always will."

Narrator

With God's good grace he helped himself, swung his sword alone, won his own revenge. The help I gave him was nothing, but all I was able to give; I went to him knowing that nothing but Beowulf's strength could save us...

Wiglaf

...when the brave Geats hear how you bolted and ran none of your race will have anything left but their lives. And death would be better for them all, and for you, than the kind of life you can lead, branded with disgrace!

Wiglaf

And then twelve of the bravest Geats rode their horses around the tower, telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, praising him for heroic deeds, for a life as noble as his name. So should all men raise up words for their lords, warm with love, when their shield and protector leaves his body behind, sends his soul on high. And so Beowulf's followers rode, mourning their beloved leader, crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.

Narrator