Here's a translation of my favorite part of Beowulf, Grendel's approach to Heorot (lines 702b-733a). It is, along with the funeral of Scyld Scefing at the beginning, and of Beowulf himself at the end, perhaps the most famous passage in the poem. The translation is written in the same style of alliterative half-lines as the original, to give you a feel for the flow of the meter, and how alliteration was used to both emphasize and contrast words. Obviously translations of poetry into poetry require a little less-than-literal rendering of the original, but I'm actually pretty happy with how close I was able to come, at least compared to some other translations out there.

(This is actually a modified/tweaked version of what I posted in the Tenth Muse.)

                 Through hueless night
Came the shade sure on      while shameless slept
The heralded guards       of that horned hall—
All save for one!      Now as all men knew
That cursed creature      could not avail,
If God had graced them,      to garb them in darkness.
And so waited that one,      worked up with rage,
The fight’s outcome his only thought.

Then up from the moors,      through mist, o’er hill,
Still Grendel came,       God’s doom bearing.
His terror-intent:      to taste of mankind—
A horrible feast      in the high banquet hall.
Under cover of cloud       he came near enough
Where lo! He espied      the splendor of men,
With its gables of gold      that gleamed brilliantly.
No first visit this,      the fiend now made
To Hrothgar’s home,      his hope to destroy.
Nor harder nor harsher      he hallwardens found
Before then or since.      His fate was at hand.

To the hall’s very door      that hellfiend came,
Joyless and dire.      The door bound with iron
Burst into pieces            when brushed with his hand.
Through the mouth of the hall      he moved quickly,
Senseless, seething,      and swollen with rage.
On the fine-patterned floor      the fiend treaded.
He entered, angry,      eyes all aglow,
As if Hell looked out      with its hideous flame.
He saw in that moment      the many, asleep,
Gathered together,      not guessing their doom.
Beholding that sight,      he swelled in delight.
He planned out his meal      --how pleased he would be,
Ere day should dawn,      to dine upon each
Of the sons of mankind!      He saw hope there
Of a plentiful feast.