Hrothgar, king of the Danes, and Beowulf, mighty warrior, feasted in the great hall Heorot. Hrothgar lamented once more the many warriors slain by the monster Grendel, but Beowulf was sure he would prevail. Prompted by one of Hrothgar’s men, Beowulf began to tell of one of his youthful exploits, a contest in which he and his friend Breca each swam in the sea for five days and nights with only a sword to protect them from the monsters around them.