A Thane of Wessex

, and I sat me down under an old thorn tree on a little rise where I could see about me. I had come out of the woods, and all the moor was open to the west and south so far as

that, desperate as I was, only the sound of a pack of them in full cry would

have feared them, thinking of Beowulf, son of Hygelac, and what befell him and his comrades from th

r. Then a sheet of water stretched out almost under my feet, and thousands of wildfowl rose and fled noisily, to fall again into further pools with splash and mighty clatter. I must skirt this pool, and so came presentl

d otter; or from the evil spirits of the marsh, I knew not nor cared. For now the long imprisonment and the day's terrible doings, and

grass would catch my foot and hinder me I cursed it for being in league with Matelga

as the hut of a charcoal burner, and the light came from the kiln close by, which was open, and the man himself was standin

e clank of my armour, and turned round in the crimson light of the glowing coals to see what came. As he saw me standing he

ly me; but I staggered to his hut, and I reme

e dungeon, and groaned, but would not open my eyes. But

del! are

great sleep, for out of the open door I saw the Quantock hills, blue a

ld see no one, for the sun shone in my face: but

freckled all over where his woollen jerkin and leather hose did n

, for I would always play with children, made a wry fac

ood Grendel,

ghts for a little, and so answered him back, won

am Grende

the night, saying that you had come out of the fen, all f

the coll

he priest, and has gone to get the hermit.

you afra

he holy man drives you away. So I looked in through a crack, and saw y

?' I asked, for I was pleased wi

l," he

not Grendel. He fled

sked the boy, with a

as I was with the long sleep, I had waked sound in mind and body again, and longed for food, and I think that finding this strange chi

took an iron cauldron, and hoisted it on the great round

efore if we eat it he will think Grendel got it -

n the world, I stopped before saying that I would pay him w

been full of roe deer venison, was empty, an

aid the urchin, "Dudda wil

y n

of what it

the deer, and that he would surely be in fear when he

Nor you nor I know what wa

r, and looking roguishly at me, gathered

, "or I shall be beaten. But I would I had seen G

d I, "a stout warrior will you b

ere, and I took the urchin and kissed him, for

as I knew they would, did I give way to them. So I told him to bide here with me till

told me tales of the wood and stream and meres to which I must answer no

got home from Brent, and then but by hearsay, till

from notice, and I would bide here this next night, and so make my plans well, and g

there try the little weapons I had when I was his size, so much his ways took from me the thought of my trouble. But that slip brought it all back again, and for a time I

of a little bell somewhere in the wood; but Turkil slept on,

I, as Grendel, was to be exorcised. But though I thought not of it, exorcism there had been

, but in Latin, so that I could not know what he read. And on either side of him were two youths, also vested, one bearing a great candle t

lked. Then some of the men were armed with bills and short swords, and a few with bows. All, I

the kiln and a little behind it; so that before

ople in turn. After that had gone on for a little time, Turkil woke and sat up, but I bad

ading began, so near that I could hear the words, o

icum Grendel voc

further, for the old priest saw at once, as it seemed, that I was but a mortal. Not so some of his train, for several turned to fly, sorely fe

d seen weeping gave a great cry and rushed at me, seizing my little comrade from my arms, for I

from his playmates with the intention of "seeing Grendel" as he

ith something of a smile, and t

had not been here. Search, my children, and see if there be t

ning my arms as he did so, to guess my rank. My handsome sword and belt seemed to decide him, for though the

ou are a stranger, and you meet me on a strange errand. I am the pri

replied but yesterday morning -- so hesi

t the next thing to i

ubtless had my own reason for withholding whatever

the night, and, being sorely weary, slept in this empty

is mother and ran to me, saying that he must go home, and that I mus

spoke to her, begging her to forgive the boy, as he had been a pleasant comrade to me

surely grow up a valiant man. Then Turkil must kiss me in going, bidding me come and see him again, and I knew not how to escape promising that, though it was a poor promise that could not be kept, seeing that I must

the father of Turkil was the chief franklin there, though of little account elsewhere. He had not yet come back from th

, telling excitedly how that the kiln was raked out, and tha

fiend, good sir?" as

ould have fled me as he fled that he took me for. But that he was sore terrified I have no doubt, for it seemed that he neither recognized me, nor

end finding Dudda no prey of his, departe

repeating the proper prayers the while, which he did willingly, kno

ll refused, having other things to be done which they said might not he fore

I was speaking with the priest, dared not quest

oming back from Brent. Glad should I be of lodging here tonight, and g

other men wanted to ask me news of the Moot, but I put them off, saying that I had not sat thereon, but had passe

them to the youths who had acted as his acolytes bade them depart also, having given them s

tly holding the old man in high veneration, bowed aw

old priest

ese fens are haunted by fiends, even as holy Guthlac found in the land of the Gyrwa's,v being sorely troubled by them. But I have seen none, though I dwell in this fen much as

adding that I was nigh worn out, and so, finding a resting place, slept without heeding him

y laugh, looking sidewise to see th

- for truly mail-clad men are never seen here, and thy face, my son, is of the grimmest, for all you ar

gly, at me, and I rebelled against it: but he was so saintly

think you came out to exorcise the same by name, for I

hed a little a

e who were fiends in the days of the false gods are fiends yet, and if Grendel then, so also Grendel now, though he may have many other names. And knowing that name from their songs, small wonder that the terror that came

and his words had come to me, and I wondered if I would tell my troubles to this old man as he bade me. But, though to think of it sho

, and must have watched my face a

le on your mind, as one who has watched the faces of men as long as I may well see. An

ed me somewhat, and I

to be told. I will take myself and it away

me as one who fain woul

ghtly on such as I, my son, sa

his counsel: but I would not. Still, I would

ht wherewith to reward this honest man for lodging and guidance

send him somewhat? or he will lead you to

one might call me friend -- I was alone. These words brought it home to me more clearly than before, and the lone

I think if he had shrunk from me, the telling h

on my shoulder -- even as the

ne. I will repay

ght them a promise sent by the mouth of this prophe

r never one who would lie told the evil of himself as you have told me. Fooli

e, too, was silent for a little, looking out over the marsh, and

w I will say what is given me to say. Cast out you are from the Wessex land, but before long Wessex shall be beholden to you. Not long shall Matelgar, the treac

w, Father?" I aske

, shall be. Fighting there is for you, both within and without: but the battle within will be the sorest: for I know t

od man strove with me with many and sweet words, till he h

de me kneel, and I knelt, who had thought in my pride never to humble myself before

the child, should remember me in their prayers. And, for he was very thoughtful, he told me that he would take such order

and then, calling my host, supped with him, and