, that field of hell. 　　Grendel this monster grim was called, 　　march-riever [5] mighty, in moorland living, 　　in fen and fastness; fief of the giants 　　the hapless wight a while had kept 　　since the Creator his exile doomed. 　　On kin of Cain was the killing avenged 　　by sovran God for slaughtered Abel. 　　Ill fared his feud, [6] and far was he driven, 　　for the slaughter's sake, from sight of men. 　　Of Cain awoke all that woful breed, 　　Etins [7] and elves and evil-spirits, 　　as well as the giants that warred with God 　　weary while: but their wage was paid them! 　　[1] That is, "The Hart," or "Stag," so called from decorations in the gables that resembled the antlers of a deer. This hall has been carefully described in a pamphlet by Heyne. The building was rectangular, with opposite doors -- mainly west and east -- and a hearth in the middle of the single room. A row of pillars down each side, at some distance from the walls, made a space which was raised a little above the main floor, and was furnished with two rows of seats. On one side, usually south, was the high-seat midway between the doors. Opposite this, on the other raised space, was another seat of honor. At the banquet soon to be described, Hrothgar sat in the south or chief high-seat, and Beowulf opposite to him. The scene for a flying (see below, v.499) was thus very effectively set. Planks on trestles -- the "board" of later English literature -- formed the tables just in front of the long rows of seats, and were taken away after banquets, when the retainers were ready to stretch themselves out for sleep on the benches. 　　[2] Fire was the usual end of these halls. See v. 781 below. One thinks of the splendid scene at the end of the Nibelungen, of the Nialssaga, of Saxo's story of Amlethus, and many a less famous instance. 　　[3] It is to be supposed that all hearers of this poem knew how Hrothgar's hall was burnt, -- perhaps in the unsuccessful attack made on him by his son-in-law Ingeld. 　　[4] A skilled minstrel. The Danes are heathens, as one is told presently; but this lay of beginnings is taken from Genesis. 　　[5] A disturber of the border, one who sallies from his haunt in the fen and roams over the country near by. This probably pagan nuisance is now furnished with biblical credentials as a fiend or devil in good standing, so that all Christian Englishmen might read about him. "Grendel" may mean one who grinds and crushes. 　　[6] Cain's. 　　[7] Giants.

故事大纲

　　这首史诗以简短的古丹麦家谱作为开始。齐尔德.谢冯是古丹麦第一位伟大的国王，他以他征服敌人的能力而闻名。后来，齐尔德成为了荷罗斯加的曾祖父，而荷罗斯加就是贝奥武夫时代古丹麦的国王。荷罗斯加和他的祖先一样，是一位好君王，他希望借着建造名叫希奥罗特的大殿来庆贺他的统治。 　　当大殿建成之后，荷罗斯加举行了盛大的庆典。盛大的宴会引起了怪兽哥伦多的注意，它决定进行夜袭。次日早晨，荷罗斯加和他的领主知道了这次流血事件，就为失丧的武士哀悼。就这样，开始了哥伦多和古丹麦的战争。 　　十二年过去了。哥伦多进攻古丹麦的消息传到了另外一个部族－－耶阿特(瑞典南方的斯堪的纳维亚)。伟大的领主贝奥武夫决定去帮助古丹麦人：他率领他最好的武士们出航，到达了丹麦的领土。当他们一到，荷罗斯加的一位领主乌尔夫加断定这位耶阿特人配得上与荷罗斯加交谈。荷罗斯加记起当年他曾经帮助过贝奥武夫的父亲埃格希奥平定纷争，因此，他愉快地接受了贝奥武夫的帮助。 　　希奥罗特大殿再次举行了盛大的庆典来向贝奥武夫表示敬意。庆典过程中，一位名叫恩费尔特的领主为了和贝奥武夫比赛投巨石，就讥讽他曾经输掉的游泳比赛。贝奥武夫在与他的较量过程中说出了他的英雄般胜利的故事，同伴们都为他的勇气而欢呼庆祝。在庆典的高潮时，丹麦的王后薇尔皙欧走上前来，端着蜂蜜酒。她先敬献给荷罗斯加，接着是大殿中的其他人，最后才是贝奥武夫。当他拿到杯子的时候，贝奥武夫告诉薇尔皙欧他将会除掉哥伦多或者在希奥罗特被杀死。这简短的声明大大感动了薇尔皙欧和在场的丹麦人，庆典继续举行。最后，所有人都退场了。在他们离开前，荷罗斯加承诺，如果贝奥武夫可以打败哥伦多，他将赐给贝奥武夫所有的一切。贝奥武夫说，他会让神来决定结局。他和他的领主武士们就睡在希奥罗特大殿中去等待哥伦多。 　　最后，哥伦多和以前一样到了希奥罗特，饥饿地寻找新鲜的血肉之躯。当哥伦多吞吃他的一个部下时，贝奥武夫谨慎地观察着。当哥伦多冲向贝奥武夫的时候，他抓住哥伦多的臂膀不放。哥伦多因为贝奥武夫紧扭它的手臂而痛苦地挣扎。贝奥武夫抓着哥伦多的手