Then he removed his iron mail-coatIt was well that Beowulf made this choice, for swords were not the best method for attacking Grendel:
and his helmet, handed his jewelled sword,
truest of blades, to his attendant,
commanded him to keep his war-gear
Then the good man, Beowulf of the Geats,
made a boast before he sought his bed:
"I put as much faith in my martial
might and power as Grendel puts in his.
Therefore I'll not slay him with a sword,
cut his life off so -- although I could.
Though noted for fierce deeds, he knows not
our style of fighting, how to strike me,
hew my shield; so this night shall we two
lay sword aside if he dare seek war
without a weapon...
... There his young thanesThe bare handed method proved to be successful:
swiftly drew and swung their ancient swords:
they wished to guard their glorious leader,
save their lord's life if they might do so.
Those brave, noble warriers did not know,
entering the fight with best intentions
to hew and thrust here and there and thus
seek Grendel's soul, that no sword on earth,
even the best of iron war-blades,
could make a dent in that miscreant;
for he had worked a spell on weapons
to blunt their edge....
... The dread and awsome foe
suffered sharp distress: on his shoulder
appeared a vast wound, sinews parted,
muscles tore from bones. To Beowulf
glory had been given; and Grendel,
death-sick, had to flee down the fen-slopes
to his joyless lair...