A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

Never a thought did they give to the Grendel,--
"A haunter of marshes, a holder of moors, ... Secret The land he
inhabits; dark, wolf-haunted ways Of the windy hillside, by the
treacherous tarn; Or where, covered up in its mist, the hill stream
Downward flows."
Soundly slept Hrothgar, nor opened eye until, in the bright light of the
morning, he was roused by terrified servants, forgetful of his august
royalty, impelled by terror, crying aloud their terrible tale. They had
come, they said, to lay on the floor of the banqueting-hall, sweet, fresh
rushes from the meadows, and to clear away all trace of the feasting
overnight. But the two-and-thirty knights who, in full armour, had lain
down to sleep were all gone, and on the floor was the spoor of
something foul and noisome, and on the walls and on the trampled
rushes were great and terrible smears of human blood.
They tracked the Grendel back to the marsh from whence he had come,
and shuddered at the sight of bestial footprints that left blood-stains
behind.
Terrible indeed was the grief of Hrothgar, but still more terrible was his
anger. He offered a royal reward to any man who would slay the
Grendel, and full gladly ten of his warriors pledged themselves to sleep
that night in the great hall and to slay the Grendel ere morning came.
But dawn showed once more a piteous sight. Again there were only
trampled and blood-stained rushes, with the loathsome smell of unclean
flesh. Again the foul tracks of the monster were found where it had
padded softly back to its noisome fens.
There were many brave men in the kingdom of Hrothgar the Dane, and
yet again did they strive to maintain the dignity of the great hall, Heorot,
and to uphold the honour of their king. But through twelve dismal years
the Grendel took its toll of the bravest in the realm, and to sleep in the
place that Hrothgar had built as monument to his magnificent
supremacy, ever meant, for the sleeper, shameful death. Well content
was the Grendel, that grew fat and lusty amongst the grey mists of the