easures to his
             enemies. Hrothgar then immediately begins discussing his troubles with Grendel and explains
             his displeasure in seeing his mead hall abandoned by his warriors. The Danes and the Geat
             warriors then go to Heorot where they are entertained by scops and drink mead.
             During the banquet, a courtier of Hrothgar named Unferth is overcome by jealousy of Beowulf's
             reputation and challenges the merit of his courageous feats. Unferth tells of a swimming
             competition from Beowulf''s past in which Beowulf was defeated by a warrior named Breca.
             Beowulf explains that both warriors were armed only with swords to protect them from sea
             monsters and that after match had lasted five nights, the two men became separated. Beowulf
             was then attacked by a monster and was forced underwater where he slayed the monster with his
             sword and later killed nine additional monsters before ending the competition. Beowulf asserts
             that the hindrances with which he was forced to contend during the race justified his late finish
             ...