that where they finally ſettled. The romantic ſtory is taken up more with imaginary combats with monſters, than with domeſtic ſcenes, but it contains a few incidents of private life. The hall of king Hrothgar was viſited by a monſter named Grendel, who came at night to prey upon its inhabitants; and it was Beowulf's million to free them from this noc- turnal ſcourge. By direction of the primeval coaſt-guards, he and his men proceeded by the "ſtreet" already mentioned to the hall of Hroth- gar, at the entrance to which they laid aſide their armour and left their weapons. Beowulf found the chief and his followers drinking their ale and mead, and made known the object of his journey. "Then," ſays the poem, "there was for the ſons of the Geats (Beowulf and his followers), altogether, a bench cleared in the beer-hall; there the bold of ſpirit, free from quarrel, went to fit; the thane obſerved his office, he that in his hand bare the twiſted ale-cup; he poured the bright ſweet liquor; meanwhile the poet ſang ſerene in Heorot (the name of Hroth- gar's palace), there was joy of heroes." Thus the company paſſed their time, liſſening to the bard, boaſting of their exploits, and telling their ſtories, until Wealtheow, Hrothgar's queen, entered and "greeted the men in the hall." She now ſerved the liquor, offering the cup firſt to her huſband, and then to the reſt of the gueſts, after which fſhlie ſeated herſelf by Hrothgar, and the feſtivities continued till it was time to retire to bed. Beowulf and his followers were left to ſleep in the hall—"the wine-hall, the treaſure-houſe of men, variegated with veſſels" {fættum fáhne). Grendel came in the night, and after a dreadful combat received his death-wound from Beowulf. The noiſe in the hall was great; "a fearful terror fell on the North Danes, on each of thoſe who from the walls heard the outcry." Thefe were the watchmen ſtationed on the wall forming the chieftain's palace, that encloſed the whole maſs of buildings (of wealle).
As far as we can judge by the deſcription given in the poem, Hrothgar and his houſehold in their bowers or bed-chambers had heard little of the tumult, but they went early in the morning to the hall to rejoice in Beowulf's victory. There was great feaſting again in the hall that day, and Beowulf and his followers were rewarded with rich gifts. Afterdinner
