the well-loved land prince
     Long did rule them.  The ring-stemmed vessel,
     Bark of the atheling, lay there at anchor,
     Icy in glimmer and eager for sailing;
     The beloved leader laid they down there,
     Giver of rings, on the breast of the vessel,
     The famed by the mainmast.  A many of jewels,
     Of fretted embossings, from far-lands brought over,
     Was placed near at hand then; and heard I not ever
     That a folk ever furnished a float more superbly
     With weapons of warfare, weeds for the battle,
     Bills and burnies; on his bosom sparkled
     Many a jewel that with him must travel
     On the flush of the flood afar on the current. 
     And favors no fewer they furnished him soothly,
     Excellent folk-gems, than others had given him
     Lone on the main, the merest of infants: 
     And a gold-fashioned standard they stretched under heaven
     High o’er his head, let the holm-currents bear him,
     Seaward consigned him:  sad was their spirit,
     Their mood very mournful.  Men are not able
     Soothly to tell us, they in halls who reside,
     Heroes under heaven, to what haven he hied.

                            They guard the wolf-coverts,
     Lands inaccessible, wind-beaten nesses,
     Fearfullest fen-deeps, where a flood from the mountains
     ’Neath mists of the nesses netherward rattles,
     The stream under earth:  not far is it henceward
     Measured by mile-lengths the mere-water standeth,
     Which forests hang over, with frost-whiting covered,
     A firm-rooted forest, the floods overshadow. 
     There ever at night one an ill-meaning portent,
     A fire-flood may see; ’mong children of men
     None liveth so wise that wot of the bottom;
     Though harassed by hounds the heath-stepper seek for,
     Fly to the forest, firm-antlered he-deer,
     Spurred from afar, his spirit he yieldeth,
     His life on the shore, ere in he will venture
     To cover his head.  Uncanny the place is: 
     Thence upward ascendeth the surging of waters,
     Wan to the welkin, when the wind is stirring
     The weather unpleasing, till the air groweth gloomy,
     Then the heavens lower.

[Beowulf has plunged into the water of the mere in pursuit of Grendel’s mother, and is a whole day in reaching the bottom.  He is seized by the monster and carried to her cavern, where the combat ensues.]

     The earl then discovered he was down in some cavern
     Where no water whatever anywise harmed him,
     And the clutch of the current could come not anear him,
     Since the roofed-hall prevented; brightness a-gleaming,
     Fire-light he saw, flashing resplendent. 
     The good one saw then the sea-bottom’s monster,
     The mighty mere-woman:  he made a great onset
     With weapon-of-battle;