Providence willed not To permit him any more of men under heaven To eat in the night-time.

Providence willed not

To permit him any more of men under heaven

To eat in the night-time. Higelac's kinsman

Great sorrow endured how the dire-mooded creature

In unlooked-for assaults were likely to bear him.

No thought had the monster of deferring the matter,

But on earliest occasion he quickly laid hold of

A soldier asleep, suddenly tore him,

Bit his bone-prison, the blood drank in currents,

Swallowed in mouthfuls: he soon had the dead man's

Feet and hands, too, eaten entirely.