It was engraved all over and showed how war first came into the world and the flood destroyed the tribe of giants. They suffered a terrible severance from the Lord; the Almighty made the waters rise, drowned them in the deluge for retribution.

Hrothgar spoke; he examined the hilt,
that relic of old times. It was engraved all over
and showed how war first came into the world
and the flood destroyed the tribe of giants.
They suffered a terrible severance from the Lord;
the Almighty made the waters rise,
drowned them in the deluge for retribution.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 1687-1693: The engraved hilt of the sword that Beowulf used to kill Grendel’s mother. Depicted on the hilt is the story of the Christian God punishing evil forces in the world.

Beowulf Quotes