Be happy at home, hero-friends visit
Or the lordly troop-castle where he lived from his childhood;
They had heard how slaughter had snatched from the wine-hall,
35 Had recently ravished, of the race of the Scyldings

{But God raised up a deliverer.}

Too many by far. But the Lord to them granted
The weaving of war-speed, to Wederish heroes
Aid and comfort, that every opponent
By one man's war-might they worsted and vanquished,

{God rules the world.}

40 By the might of himself; the truth is established
That God Almighty hath governed for ages
Kindreds and nations. A night very lurid

{Grendel comes to Heorot.}

The trav'ler-at-twilight came tramping and striding.
The warriors were sleeping who should watch the horned-building,

{Only one warrior is awake.}

45 One only excepted. 'Mid earthmen 'twas 'stablished,
Th' implacable foeman was powerless to hurl them
To the land of shadows, if the Lord were unwilling;
But serving as warder, in terror to foemen,
He angrily bided the issue of battle.[2]