I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend. Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgment by God.

‘I have heard moreover that the monster scorns
in his reckless way to use weapons;
therefore to heighten Hygelac’s fame
and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce
sword and the shelter of the broad shield,
the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand
is how it will be, a life-and-death
fight with the fiend. Whichever one death fells
must deem it a just judgment by God.’

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 433-440: Beowulf announces that he will fight Grendel without weapons, in hand-to-hand combat, gaining more glory for Geatish king Hygelac.

Beowulf Quotes