'forsworen' - seems to imply that Grendel put a spell on the warriors' swords, but the meaning is uncertain. An alternative reading takes forsworen to mean 'swear falsely', 'renounce on earth', and he (804a) as Beowulf. The clause would thus repeat Beowulf's renunciation of weapons in his fight with Grendel (435-440). For further discussion, see Rogers (1984).