Beowulf see Grendel’s mother weeping:
Beowulf:
What is Grendel
to her or her to Grendel that she should weep for him?
Grendel’s Mother:
I will speak so
that my heart may burst
Beowulf:
Frailty thy name
is woman:
Grendel’s Mother:
Butchers and villains
bloody cannibals
How sweet a plant
have you untimely cropped
Grendel is
banished and all the world to nothing
Where is my
Grendel?
Beowulf:
Words ,words,
words
Grendel’s Mother:
Beowulf I did
love you once
Indeed my lord
you made me believe so
I was the more
deceived.
You might have
saved him: now he is gone for ever. My Grendel, sweet Grendel.
Why Beowulf would
you deny thy son and refuse thy name?
It is a wise
father that knows his only child
Beowulf:
O God! It is my
son’s face
Whom in this conflict
I unwares have kill'd.
Was ever father
so bemoan'd his son?
Grendel’s Mother:
We are but
monsters.
If you prick us
do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not
die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? I banish you!
I will have
such revenges on you all
That all the
world shall--I will do such things,--
What they are,
yet I know not: but they shall be
The terrors of
the earth.
Beowulf:
Speak hands for
me (kills her)
Grendel’s Mother:
And me, Beowulf?
…our little life is rounded with a sleep. The rest is….
Beowulf:
The
people’s enemy is gone.
Liking this - and saw the first line, "Beowulf see Grendel" and thought of the old school ladybird books, with text like "See the dog bark! See the dog chasing! Run Peter, run!" - and wondered if it was worth interweaving the two styles in this scene?
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