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75 Beowulf By J.Lesslie HallThe mother of Grendel; then mighty in struggleSwung he his enemy, since his anger was kindled,That she fell to the floor. With furious grappleShe gave him requital 3 early thereafter,And stretched out to grab him; the strongest of warriorsFaint-mooded stumbled, till he fell in his traces,Foot-going champion. Then she sat on the hall-guestAnd wielded her war-knife wide-bladed, flashing,For her son would take vengeance, her one only bairn.His breast-armor woven bode on his shoulder;It guarded his life, the entrance defended’Gainst sword-point and edges. Ecgtheow’s son thereHad fatally journeyed, champion of Geatmen,In the arms of the ocean, had the armor not given,Close-woven corslet, comfort and succor,And had God most holy not awarded the victory,All-knowing Lord; easily did heaven’sRuler most righteous arrange it with justice;Uprose he erect ready for battle.43 If ‘hand-léan’ be accepted (as the MS. has it), the line will read: She hand-reward gave him early thereafter.4 Sw. and S. change H.-So.’s semicolon (v. 1557) to a comma, and translate: The Ruler of Heaven arranged it injustice easily, after he arose again.www.globalgrey.co.uk