Cóm on wanre niht		In the colourless night came
scríðan sceadugenga· scéotend swaéfon		slinking the shadow-wanderer;      the shooters slept,
þá þæt hornreced healdan scoldon		they that the horned-house      were obliged to guard,
ealle búton ánum      --þæt wæs yldum cúþ		all but one      --it was known to men
þæt híe ne móste· þá metod nolde·	706	that they could not,      when the Maker did not wish it,
se synscaþa      under sceadu bregdan--		by the malefactor      be drawn under the shadows--
ac hé wæccende wráþum on andan		but he watching      in angry indignation
bád bolgenmód beadwa geþinges.		bided in rising rage      for the result of battle.

XI
Ðá cóm of móre      under misthleoþum		Then came from the moor      under the misty cliffs
Grendel gongan· godes yrre bær·	711	Grendel walking,      God's wrath he bore;
mynte se mánscaða      manna cynnes		the vile ravager meant      from mankind
sumne besyrwan      in sele þám héan·		a sample to snare      in the high hall;
wód under wolcnum tó þæs þe hé wínreced		he waded under the clouds      until he the wine-hall,
goldsele gumena gearwost wisse		--the gold-hall of men--      mostly-certainly saw,
faéttum fáhne·      ne wæs þæt forma síð	716	shining gold;      it was not the first time
þæt hé Hróþgáres hám gesóhte·		that he Hrothgar's      home had sought;
naéfre hé on aldordagum aér ne siþðan		he never in the days of his life,      ere nor after,
heardran haéle healðegnas fand.		harder luck      or hall-thanes found.
Cóm þá to recede      rinc síðian		He came then to the hall      the fighter journeying,
dréamum bedaéled· duru sóna onarn	721	cut-off from merriment;      the door soon rushed open,
fýrbendum fæst syþðan hé hire folmum æthrán		firm with fire-forged bands,      when he tapped it with his hands
onbraéd þá bealohýdig ðá hé gebolgen wæs,		plotting evil then he tore open,      now that he was enraged,
recedes múþan· raþe æfter þon		the mouth of the building;      straight after that
on fágne flór féond treddode·		on the tessellated floor      the fiend treaded,
éode yrremód·      him of éagum stód	726	advanced angrily;      from his eyes issued,
ligge gelícost léoht unfaéger·		most like a flame,      a distorted light;
geseah hé in recede      rinca manige		he saw in the hall      many warriors
swefan sibbegedriht samod ætgædere		a sleeping company of kinsmen      gathered together
magorinca héap. Þá his mód áhlóg:		a great host of warriors.      Then his heart laughed:
mynte þæt hé gedaélde aér þon dæg cwóme	731	he intended to deprive,      ere the day came,
atol áglaéca ánra gehwylces		the cruel beast,      from each one
líf wið líce þá him álumpen wæs		life from body,      now had befallen him
wistfylle wén.      Ne wæs þæt wyrd þá gén		a hope of a full feast.      It was not his fate again
þæt hé má móste      manna cynnes		that he might more      of mankind