A thane of the king's household, a carrier of tales, a traditional singer deeply schooled in the lore of the past, linked a new theme to a strict metre. The man started to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulf's triumphs.

Meanwhile, a thane
of the king’s household, a carrier of tales,
a traditional singer deeply schooled
in the lore of the past, linked a new theme
to a strict metre. The man started
to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulf’s
triumphs.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 866-873: The Danish minstrel begins composing a song about Beowulf’s great deeds, following his fight with Grendel.

Beowulf Quotes