So the hall was built, and the king made a great feast for his warriors.
于是国王建造大殿,为他的勇士设摆盛筵。
To each of them he gave a ring of gold, because they had fought so bravely.
他送给他们每人一枚金戒指,因为他们英勇作战。
Then he told them that they must come to this beautiful building every evening,
然后告诉他们,他们必须每天晚上来到这座美丽的大殿,
and tell stories and sing and feast together.
一起讲故事,一起唱歌,一起参加宴会。
This pleased the men, and they were sure that no other land in all the world had a king who did so much for his people.
这些人都很高兴,他们确信世界上其他国家的国王不会为他的人民做这么多。
So every night the great fires roared on the hearth.
因此,每天晚上,炉火在炉边熊熊燃烧。
The warriors sat at the long tables and feasted, while the minstrel played upon his harp and sang to them of great deeds.
武士们围坐在长桌旁大吃大喝,而乐人则弹起竖琴,为他们歌颂丰功伟绩。
Far out on the wild lands lived a wicked giant named Grendel.
在遥远的荒野上住着一个邪恶的巨人,名叫格伦德尔。
Every night as he saw the bright light shine out from the hall and heard the laughter and shouting, he was angry because the Danes gathered there were so happy.
每天晚上,当他看到大殿里灯火通明,听到欢声笑语时,他很生气,因为丹麦人聚集在一起是那么的开心。
At last one dark night he crept into the hall and killed thirty warriors.
最后,在一个漆黑的夜晚,格伦德尔蹑手蹑脚地走进大殿,杀死了三十名战士。
Then there was great sorrow among the Danes, and the good king wept for his men.
丹麦人悲痛不已,善良的国王为他的臣民哭泣。
After this the Danes would not stay in the hall at night.
从那以后,丹麦人晚上就没有呆在大殿了。
There was no more singing or telling of stories.
他们不再唱歌,也不再讲故事。
No one dared to fight a giant who was so strong that he could snap iron bars in two and break down the thickest doors.
无人敢挑战如此强壮勇猛的巨人,他能把铁条劈成两半,把最厚的门砸开。