frum-sceaft fira feorran reccan,
cwäð þät se älmihtiga eorðan worhte,
wlite-beorhtne wang, swâ wäter bebûgeð,
gesette sige-hrêðig sunnan and mônan
95 leóman tô leóhte land-bûendum,
and gefrätwade foldan sceátas
leomum and leáfum; lîf eác gesceôp
cynna gehwylcum, þâra þe cwice hwyrfað.
Swâ þâ driht-guman dreámum lifdon
100 eádiglîce, ôð þät ân ongan
fyrene fremman, feónd on helle:
wäs se grimma gäst Grendel hâten,
mære mearc-stapa, se þe môras heóld,
fen and fästen; fîfel-cynnes eard
105 won-sælig wer weardode hwîle,
siððan him scyppend forscrifen häfde.
In Caines cynne þone cwealm gewräc,
êce drihten, þäs þe he Abel slôg;
ne gefeah he þære fæhðe, ac he hine feor forwräc,
110 metod for þý mâne man-cynne fram.
Þanon untydras ealle onwôcon,
eotenas and ylfe and orcnêas,
swylce gigantas, þâ wið gode wunnon
lange þrage; he him þäs leán forgeald.


III. GRENDEL'S VISITS.

115 Gewât þâ neósian, syððan niht becom,
heán hûses, hû hit Hring-Dene