In off the moors, down through the mist-bands God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping. The bane of the race of men roamed forth, hunting for a prey in the high hall.

In off the moors, down through the mist-bands
God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping.
The bane of the race of men roamed forth,
hunting for a prey in the high hall.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 710-713: Grendel sets off to attack the mead-hall, where Beowulf and his companions stay in wait for the demon. This is to be the beginning of the fight with Grendel, who is described in dark, forboding tones through use of imagery and allusions to biblical stories.

Beowulf Quotes