“1640 But soon enough they neared the place, fourteen Geats in fine fettle, striding across the outlying ground in a delighted throng around their leader. He displays Grendel’s head in Heorot In he came then, the thane’s commander, the arch-warrior, to address Hrothgar: his courage was proven, his glory was secure. Grendel’s head was hauled by the hair, dragged across the floor where the people were drinking, a horror for both queen and company to behold. 1650 They stared in awe. It was an astonishing sight.”
- Seamus Heaney
Beowulf (Bilingual Edition)
(Via Lauren Ashley)