eldertongue

Old English poem

Bēowulf

The poem line by line, in the spelling of the edition below. Every word the dictionary has a page for is a link to that entry, so a line can be read and its words looked up without leaving the page.

  • 3,184 lines
  • 18,998 words
  • 14,426 of them link to an entry
  • 4,118 headwords in the poem
  • 1,695 of those have an entry page

Text: Project Gutenberg ebook #9701, Bēowulf: an Anglo-Saxon poem, edited by James A. Harrison and Robert Sharp, 4th edition (1883), 1906 printing. Public domain. Line numbers are the edition's own. · Report a problem with this page

Headword index — 4,118 headwords

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

  • kyning
  • kyninga

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

Y

Æ

Ð

  • ðah
  • ðonne
  • ðæm

Þ

Ꝥ

1 Hwæt! wē Gār-Dena in geār-dagum

2 þēod-cyninga þrym gefrūnon,

3 hū þā æðelingas ellen fremedon.

4 Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaðena þrēatum,

5 monegum mǣgðum meodo-setla oftēah.

6 Egsode eorl, syððan ǣrest wearð

7 fēa-sceaft funden: hē þæs frōfre gebād,

8 wēox under wolcnum, weorð-myndum ðāh,

9 oð þæt him ǣghwylc þāra ymb-sittendra

10 ofer hron-rāde hȳran scolde,

11 gomban gyldan: þæt wæs gōd cyning!

12 þǣm eafera wæs æfter cenned

13 geong in geardum, þone god sende

14 folce tō frōfre; fyren-þearfe ongeat,

15 þæt hīe ǣr drugon aldor-lēase

16 lange hwīle. Him þæs līf-frēa,

17 wuldres wealdend, worold-āre forgeaf;

18 Bēowulf wæs brēme (blǣd wīde sprang),

19 Scyldes eafera Scede-landum in.

20 Swā sceal geong guma, gōde gewyrcean,

21 fromum feoh-giftum on fæder wine,

22 þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen

23 wil-gesīðas, þonne wīg cume,

24 lēode gelǣsten: lof-dǣdum sceal

25 in mǣgða gehwǣre man geþēon.

26 Him þā Scyld gewāt tō gescæp-hwīle

27 fela-hrōr fēran on frēan wǣre;

28 hī hyne þā ætbǣron tō brimes faroðe.

29 swǣse gesīðas, swā hē selfa bæd,

30 þenden wordum wēold wine Scyldinga,

31 lēof land-fruma lange āhte.

32 Þǣr æt hȳðe stōd hringed-stefna,

33 īsig and ūtfūs, æðelinges fær;

34 ā-lēdon þā lēofne þēoden,

35 bēaga bryttan on bearm scipes,

36 mǣrne be mæste. Þǣr wæs mādma fela,

37 of feor-wegum frætwa gelǣded:

38 ne hȳrde ic cȳmlīcor cēol gegyrwan

39 hilde-wǣpnum and heaðo-wǣdum,

40 billum and byrnum; him on bearme læg

41 mādma mænigo, þā him mid scoldon

42 on flōdes ǣht feor gewītan.

43 Nalas hī hine lǣssan lācum tēodan,

44 þēod-gestrēonum, þonne þā dydon,

45 þē hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon

46 ǣnne ofer ȳðe umbor wesende:

47 þā gȳt hīe him āsetton segen gyldenne

48 hēah ofer hēafod, lēton holm beran,

49 gēafon on gār-secg: him wæs geōmor sefa,

50 murnende mōd. Men ne cunnon

51 secgan tō soðe sele-rǣdende,

52 hæleð under heofenum, hwā þǣm hlæste onfēng.

53 Þā wæs on burgum Bēowulf Scyldinga,

54 lēof lēod-cyning, longe þrāge

55 folcum gefrǣge (fæder ellor hwearf,

56 aldor of earde), oð þæt him eft onwōc

57 hēah Healfdene; hēold þenden lifde,

58 gamol and gūð-rēow, glæde Scyldingas.

59 Þǣm fēower bearn forð-gerīmed

60 in worold wōcun, weoroda rǣswan,

61 Heorogār and Hrōðgār and Hālga til;

62 hȳrde ic, þat Elan cwēn Ongenþēowes wæs

63 Heaðoscilfinges heals-gebedde.

64 Þā wæs Hrōðgāre here-spēd gyfen,

65 wīges weorð-mynd, þæt him his wine-māgas

66 georne hȳrdon, oð þæt sēo geogoð gewēox,

67 mago-driht micel. Him on mōd bearn,

68 þæt heal-reced hātan wolde,

69 medo-ærn micel men gewyrcean,

70 þone yldo bearn ǣfre gefrūnon,

71 and þǣr on innan eall gedǣlan

72 geongum and ealdum, swylc him god sealde,

73 būton folc-scare and feorum gumena.

74 Þā ic wīde gefrægn weorc gebannan

75 manigre mǣgðe geond þisne middan-geard,

76 folc-stede frætwan. Him on fyrste gelomp

77 ǣdre mid yldum, þæt hit wearð eal gearo,

78 heal-ærna mǣst; scōp him Heort naman,

79 sē þe his wordes geweald wīde hæfde.

80 Hē bēot ne ālēh, bēagas dǣlde,

81 sinc æt symle. Sele hlīfade

82 hēah and horn-gēap: heaðo-wylma bād,

83 lāðan līges; ne wæs hit lenge þā gēn

84 þæt se ecg-hete āðum-swerian

85 æfter wæl-nīðe wæcnan scolde.

86 Þā se ellen-gǣst earfoðlīce

87 þrāge geþolode, sē þe in þȳstrum bād,

88 þæt hē dōgora gehwām drēam gehȳrde

89 hlūdne in healle; þǣr wæs hearpan swēg,

90 swutol sang scopes. Sægde sē þe cūðe

91 frum-sceaft fīra feorran reccan,

92 cwæð þæt se ælmihtiga eorðan worhte,

93 wlite-beorhtne wang, swā wæter bebūgeð,

94 gesette sige-hrēðig sunnan and mōnan

95 lēoman tō lēohte land-būendum,

96 and gefrætwade foldan scēatas

97 leomum and lēafum; līf ēac gesceōp

98 cynna gehwylcum, þāra þe cwice hwyrfað.

99 Swā þā driht-guman drēamum lifdon

100 ēadiglīce, oð þæt ān ongan

101 fyrene fremman, fēond on helle:

102 wæs se grimma gæst Grendel hāten,

103 mǣre mearc-stapa, sē þe mōras hēold,

104 fen and fæsten; fīfel-cynnes eard

105 won-sǣlig wer weardode hwīle,

106 siððan him scyppend forscrifen hæfde.

107 In Caines cynne þone cwealm gewræc,

108 ēce drihten, þæs þe hē Ābel slōg;

109 ne gefeah hē þǣre fǣhðe, ac hē hine feor forwræc,

110 metod for þȳ māne man-cynne fram.

111 Þanon untȳdras ealle onwōcon,

112 eotenas and ylfe and orcnēas,

113 swylce gīgantas, þā wið gode wunnon

114 lange þrāge; hē him þæs lēan forgeald.

115 Gewāt þā nēosian, syððan niht becōm,

116 hēan hūses, hū hit Hring-Dene

117 æfter bēor-þege gebūn hæfdon.

118 Fand þā þǣr inne æðelinga gedriht

119 swefan æfter symble; sorge ne cūðon,

120 won-sceaft wera. Wiht unhǣlo

121 grim and grǣdig gearo sōna wæs,

122 rēoc and rēðe, and on ræste genam

123 þrītig þegna: þanon eft gewāt

124 hūðe hrēmig tō hām faran,

125 mid þǣre wæl-fylle wīca nēosan.

126 Þā wæs on ūhtan mid ǣr-dæge

127 Grendles gūð-cræft gumum undyrne:

128 þā wæs æfter wiste wōp up āhafen,

129 micel morgen-swēg. Mǣre þēoden,

130 æðeling ǣr-gōd, unblīðe sæt,

131 þolode þrȳð-swȳð, þegn-sorge drēah,

132 syððan hīe þæs lāðan lāst scēawedon,

133 wergan gāstes; wæs þæt gewin tō strang,

134 lāð and longsum. Næs hit lengra fyrst,

135 ac ymb āne niht eft gefremede

136 morð-beala māre and nō mearn fore

137 fǣhðe and fyrene; wæs tō fæst on þām.

138 Þā wæs ēað-fynde, þē him elles hwǣr

139 gerūmlīcor ræste sōhte,

140 bed æfter būrum, þā him gebēacnod wæs,

141 gesægd sōðlīce sweotolan tācne

142 heal-þegnes hete; hēold hine syððan

143 fyr and fæstor, sē þǣm fēonde ætwand.

144 Swā rīxode and wið rihte wan

145 āna wið eallum, oð þæt īdel stōd

146 hūsa sēlest. Wæs sēo hwīl micel:

147 twelf wintra tīd torn geþolode

148 wine Scyldinga, wēana gehwelcne,

149 sīdra sorga; forþām syððan wearð

150 ylda bearnum undyrne cūð,

151 gyddum geōmore, þætte Grendel wan,

152 hwīle wið Hrōðgār;-- hete-nīðas wæg,

153 fyrene and fǣhðe fela missēra,

154 singāle sæce, sibbe ne wolde

155 wið manna hwone mægenes Deniga

156 feorh-bealo feorran, fēo þingian,

157 nē þǣr nǣnig witena wēnan þorfte

158 beorhtre bōte tō banan folmum;

159 atol ǣglǣca ēhtende wæs,

160 deorc dēað-scūa duguðe and geogoðe

161 seomade and syrede. Sin-nihte hēold

162 mistige mōras; men ne cunnon,

163 hwyder hel-rūnan hwyrftum scrīðað.

164 Swā fela fyrena fēond man-cynnes,

165 atol ān-gengea, oft gefremede

166 heardra hȳnða; Heorot eardode,

167 sinc-fāge sel sweartum nihtum

168 (nō hē þone gif-stōl grētan mōste,

169 māððum for metode, nē his myne wisse);

170 þæt wæs wrǣc micel wine Scyldinga,

171 mōdes brecða. Monig-oft gesæt

172 rīce tō rūne; rǣd eahtedon,

173 hwæt swīð-ferhðum sēlest wǣre

174 wið fǣr-gryrum tō gefremmanne.

175 Hwīlum hīe gehēton æt hærg-trafum

176 wīg-weorðunga, wordum bǣdon,

177 þæt him gāst-bona gēoce gefremede

178 wið þēod-þrēaum. Swylc wæs þēaw hyra,

179 hǣðenra hyht; helle gemundon

180 in mōd-sefan, metod hīe ne cūðon,

181 dǣda dēmend, ne wiston hīe drihten god,

182 nē hīe hūru heofena helm herian ne cūðon,

183 wuldres waldend. Wā bið þǣm þe sceal

184 þurh slīðne nīð sāwle bescūfan

185 in fȳres fæðm, frōfre ne wēnan,

186 wihte gewendan; wēl bið þǣm þe mōt

187 æfter dēað-dæge drihten sēcean

188 and tō fæder fæðmum freoðo wilnian.

189 Swā þā mǣl-ceare maga Healfdenes

190 singāla sēað; ne mihte snotor hæleð

191 wēan onwendan: wæs þæt gewin tō swȳð,

192 lāð and longsum, þē on þā lēode becōm,

193 nȳd-wracu nīð-grim, niht-bealwa mǣst.

194 Þæt fram hām gefrægn Higelāces þegn,

195 gōd mid Gēatum, Grendles dǣda:

196 sē wæs mon-cynnes mægenes strengest

197 on þǣm dæge þysses līfes,

198 æðele and ēacen. Hēt him ȳð-lidan

199 gōdne gegyrwan; cwæð hē gūð-cyning

200 ofer swan-rāde sēcean wolde,

201 mǣrne þēoden, þā him wæs manna þearf.

202 Þone sīð-fæt him snotere ceorlas

203 lȳt-hwōn lōgon, þēah hē him lēof wǣre;

204 hwetton higerōfne, hǣl scēawedon.

205 Hæfde se gōda Gēata lēoda

206 cempan gecorone, þāra þe hē cēnoste

207 findan mihte; fīftȳna sum

208 sund-wudu sōhte; secg wīsade,

209 lagu-cræftig mon, land-gemyrcu.

210 Fyrst forð gewāt: flota wæs on ȳðum,

211 bāt under beorge. Beornas gearwe

212 on stefn stigon; strēamas wundon

213 sund wið sande; secgas bǣron

214 on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe,

215 gūð-searo geatolīc; guman ūt scufon,

216 weras on wil-sīð wudu bundenne.

217 Gewāt þā ofer wǣg-holm winde gefȳsed

218 flota fāmig-heals fugle gelīcost,

219 oð þæt ymb ān-tīd ōðres dōgores

220 wunden-stefna gewaden hæfde,

221 þæt þā līðende land gesāwon,

222 brim-clifu blīcan, beorgas stēape,

223 sīde sǣ-næssas: þā wæs sund liden,

224 eoletes æt ende. Þanon up hraðe

225 Wedera lēode on wang stigon,

226 sǣ-wudu sǣldon (syrcan hrysedon,

227 gūð-gewǣdo); gode þancedon,

228 þæs þe him ȳð-lāde ēaðe wurdon.

229 Þā of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,

230 sē þe holm-clifu healdan scolde,

231 beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas,

232 fyrd-searu fūslīcu; hine fyrwyt bræc

233 mōd-gehygdum, hwæt þā men wǣron.

234 Gewāt him þā tō waroðe wicge rīdan

235 þegn Hrōðgāres, þrymmum cwehte

236 mægen-wudu mundum, meðel-wordum frægn:

237 "Hwæt syndon gē searo-hæbbendra

238 "byrnum werede, þē þus brontne cēol

239 "ofer lagu-strǣte lǣdan cwōmon,

240 "hider ofer holmas helmas bǣron?

241 "Ic wæs ende-sǣta, ǣg-wearde hēold,

242 "þæt on land Dena lāðra nǣnig

243 "mid scip-herge sceððan ne meahte.

244 "Nō hēr cūðlīcor cuman ongunnon

245 "lind-hæbbende; nē gē lēafnes-word

246 "gūð-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson,

247 "māga gemēdu. Nǣfre ic māran geseah

248 "eorla ofer eorðan, þonne is ēower sum,

249 "secg on searwum; nis þæt seld-guma

250 "wǣpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite lēoge,

251 "ǣnlīc an-sȳn. Nū ic ēower sceal

252 "frum-cyn witan, ǣr gē fyr heonan

253 "lēase scēaweras on land Dena

254 "furður fēran. Nū gē feor-būend,

255 "mere-līðende, mīnne gehȳrað

256 "ān-fealdne geþōht: ofost is sēlest

257 "tō gecȳðanne, hwanan ēowre cyme syndon."

258 Him se yldesta andswarode,

259 werodes wīsa, word-hord onlēac:

260 "Wē synt gum-cynnes Gēata lēode

261 "and Higelāces heorð-genēatas.

262 "Wæs mīn fæder folcum gecȳðed,

263 "æðele ord-fruma Ecgþēow hāten;

264 "gebād wintra worn, ǣr hē on weg hwurfe,

265 "gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman

266 "witena wēl-hwylc wīde geond eorðan.-

267 "Wē þurh holdne hige hlāford þinne,

268 "sunu Healfdenes, sēcean cwōmon,

269 "lēod-gebyrgean: wes þū ūs lārena gōd!

270 "Habbað wē tō þǣm mǣran micel ǣrende

271 "Deniga frēan; ne sceal þǣr dyrne sum

272 "wesan, þæs ic wēne. Þū wāst, gif hit is,

273 "swā wē sōðlice secgan hȳrdon,

274 "þæt mid Scyldingum sceaða ic nāt hwylc,

275 "dēogol dǣd-hata, deorcum nihtum

276 "ēaweð þurh egsan uncūðne nīð,

277 "hȳnðu and hrā-fyl. Ic þæs Hrōðgār mæg

278 "þurh rūmne sefan rǣd gelǣran,

279 "hū hē frōd and gōd fēond oferswȳðeð,

280 "gyf him ed-wendan ǣfre scolde

281 "bealuwa bisigu, bōt eft cuman

282 "and þā cear-wylmas cōlran wurðað;

283 "oððe ā syððan earfoð-þrāge,

284 "þrēa-nȳd þolað, þenden þǣr wunað

285 "on hēah-stede hūsa sēlest."

286 Weard maðelode, þǣr on wicge sæt

287 ombeht unforht: "Ǣghwæðres sceal

288 "scearp scyld-wiga gescād witan,

289 "worda and worca, sē þe wēl þenceð.

290 "Ic þæt gehȳre, þæt þis is hold weorod

291 "frēan Scyldinga. Gewītað forð beran

292 "wǣpen and gewǣdu, ic ēow wīsige:

293 "swylce ic magu-þegnas mīne hāte

294 "wið fēonda gehwone flotan ēowerne,

295 "nīw-tyrwedne nacan on sande

296 "ārum healdan, oð þæt eft byreð

297 "ofer lagu-strēamas lēofne mannan

298 "wudu wunden-hals tō Weder-mearce.

299 "Gūð-fremmendra swylcum gifeðe bið,

300 "þæt þone hilde-rǣs hāl gedīgeð."

301 Gewiton him þā fēran (flota stille bād,

302 seomode on sāle sīd-fæðmed scyp,

303 on ancre fæst); eofor-līc scionon

304 ofer hlēor-beran gehroden golde

305 fāh and fȳr-heard, ferh wearde hēold.

306 Gūðmōde grummon, guman ōnetton,

307 sigon ætsomne, oð þæt hȳ sæl timbred

308 geatolīc and gold-fāh ongytan mihton;

309 þæt wæs fore-mǣrost fold-būendum

310 receda under roderum, on þǣm se rīca bād;

311 līxte se lēoma ofer landa fela.

312 Him þā hilde-dēor hof mōdigra

313 torht getǣhte, þæt hīe him tō mihton

314 gegnum gangan; gūð-beorna sum

315 wicg gewende, word æfter cwæð:

316 "Mǣl is mē tō fēran; fæder alwalda

317 "mid ār-stafum ēowic gehealde

318 "sīða gesunde! ic tō sǣ wille,

319 "wið wrāð werod wearde healdan."

320 Strǣt wæs stān-fāh, stīg wīsode

321 gumum ætgædere. Gūð-byrne scān

322 heard hond-locen, hring-īren scīr

323 song in searwum, þā hīe tō sele furðum

324 in hyra gryre-geatwum gangan cwōmon.

325 Setton sǣ-mēðe sīde scyldas,

326 rondas regn-hearde wið þæs recedes weal,

327 bugon þā tō bence; byrnan hringdon,

328 gūð-searo gumena; gāras stōdon,

329 sǣ-manna searo, samod ætgædere,

330 æsc-holt ufan grǣg: wæs se īren-þrēat

331 wǣpnum gewurðad. Þā þǣr wlonc hæleð

332 ōret-mecgas æfter æðelum frægn:

333 "Hwanon ferigeað gē fǣtte scyldas,

334 "grǣge syrcan and grīm-helmas,

335 "here-sceafta hēap?-- Ic eom Hrōðgāres

336 "ār and ombiht. Ne seah ic el-þēodige

337 "þus manige men mōdiglīcran.

338 "Wēn' ic þæt gē for wlenco, nalles for wræc-sīðum,

339 "ac for hige-þrymmum Hrōðgār sōhton."

340 Him þā ellen-rōf andswarode,

341 wlanc Wedera lēod word æfter spræc,

342 heard under helme: "Wē synt Higelāces

343 "bēod-genēatas; Bēowulf is mīn nama.

344 "Wille ic āsecgan suna Healfdenes,

345 "mǣrum þēodne mīn ǣrende,

346 "aldre þīnum, gif hē ūs geunnan wile,

347 "þæt wē hine swā gōdne grētan mōton."

348 Wulfgār maðelode (þæt wæs Wendla lēod,

349 wæs his mōd-sefa manegum gecȳðed,

350 wīg and wīs-dōm): "ic þæs wine Deniga,

351 "frēan Scildinga frīnan wille,

352 "bēaga bryttan, swā þū bēna eart,

353 "þēoden mǣrne ymb þīnne sīð ;

354 "and þē þā andsware ǣdre gecȳðan,

355 "þē mē se gōda āgifan þenceð."

356 Hwearf þā hrædlīce, þǣr Hrōðgār sæt,

357 eald and unhār mid his eorla gedriht;

358 ēode ellen-rōf, þæt hē for eaxlum gestōd

359 Deniga frēan, cūðe hē duguðe þēaw.

360 Wulfgār maðelode tō his wine-drihtne:

361 "Hēr syndon geferede feorran cumene

362 "ofer geofenes begang Gēata lēode:

363 "þone yldestan ōret-mecgas

364 "Bēowulf nemnað. Hȳ bēnan synt,

365 "þæt hīe, þēoden mīn, wið þē mōton

366 "wordum wrixlan; nō þū him wearne getēoh,

367 "þīnra gegn-cwida glædnian, Hrōðgār!

368 "Hȳ on wīg-geatwum wyrðe þinceað

369 "eorla geæhtlan; hūru se aldor dēah,

370 "sē þǣm heaðo-rincum hider wīsade."

371 Hrōðgār maðelode, helm Scyldinga:

372 "Ic hine cūðe cniht-wesende.

373 "Wæs his eald-fæder Ecgþēo hāten,

374 "þǣm tō hām forgeaf Hrēðel Gēata

375 "āngan dōhtor; is his eafora nū

376 "heard hēr cumen, sōhte holdne wine.

377 "þonne sægdon þæt sǣ-līðende,

378 "þā þe gif-sceattas Gēata fyredon

379 "þyder tō þance, þæt hē þrīttiges

380 "manna mægen-cræft on his mund-grīpe

381 "heaðo-rōf hæbbe. Hine hālig god

382 "for ār-stafum us onsende,

383 "tō West-Denum, þæs ic wēn hæbbe,

384 "wið Grendles gryre: ic þǣm gōdan sceal

385 "for his mōd-þræce mādmas bēodan.

386 "Bēo þū on ofeste, hāt hig in gān,

387 "sēon sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere;

388 "gesaga him ēac wordum, þæt hīe sint wil-cuman

389 "Deniga lēodum." Þā wið duru healle

390 Wulfgār ēode, word inne ābēad:

391 "Ēow hēt secgan sige-drihten mīn,

392 "aldor Ēast-Dena, þæt hē ēower æðelu can

393 "and gē him syndon ofer sǣ-wylmas,

394 "heard-hicgende, hider wil-cuman.

395 "Nū gē mōton gangan in ēowrum guð-geatawum,

396 "under here-grīman, Hrōðgār gesēon;

397 "lǣtað hilde-bord hēr onbidian,

398 "wudu wæl-sceaftas, worda geþinges."

399 Ārās þā se rīca, ymb hine rinc manig,

400 þrȳðlīc þegna hēap; sume þǣr bidon,

401 heaðo-rēaf hēoldon, swā him se hearda bebēad.

402 Snyredon ætsomne, þā secg wīsode

403 under Heorotes hrōf; hyge-rōf ēode,

404 heard under helme, þæt hē on heoðe gestōd.

405 Bēowulf maðelode (on him byrne scān,

406 searo-net sēowed smiðes or-þancum):

407 "Wes þū Hrōðgār hāl! ic eom Higelāces

408 "mǣg and mago-þegn; hæbbe ic mǣrða fela

409 "ongunnen on geogoðe. Mē wearð Grendles þing

410 "on mīnre ēðel-tyrf undyrne cūð:

411 "secgað sǣ-līðend, þæt þes sele stande,

412 "reced sēlesta, rinca gehwylcum

413 "īdel and unnyt, siððan ǣfen-lēoht

414 "under heofenes hādor beholen weorðeð.

415 "Þā mē þæt gelǣrdon lēode mīne,

416 "þā sēlestan, snotere ceorlas,

417 "þēoden Hrōðgār, þæt ic þē sōhte;

418 "forþan hīe mægenes cræft mīnne cūðon:

419 "selfe ofersāwon, þā ic of searwum cwōm,

420 "fāh from fēondum, þǣr ic fīfe geband,

421 "ȳðde eotena cyn, and on ȳðum slōg

422 "niceras nihtes, nearo-þearfe drēah,

423 "wræc Wedera nīð (wēan āhsodon)

424 "forgrand gramum; and nū wið Grendel sceal,

425 "wið þām āglǣcan, āna gehegan

426 "þing wið þyrse. Ic þē nū þā,

427 "brego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille,

428 "eodor Scyldinga, ānre bēne;

429 "þæt þū mē ne forwyrne, wīgendra hlēo,

430 "frēo-wine folca, nū ic þus feorran cōm,

431 "þæt ic mōte āna and mīnra eorla gedryht,

432 "þes hearda hēap, Heorot fǣlsian.

433 "Hæbbe ic ēac geāhsod, þæt se ǣglǣca

434 "for his won-hȳdum wǣpna ne rēceð;

435 "ic þæt þonne forhicge, swā mē Higelāc sīe,

436 "mīn mon-drihten, mōdes blīðe,

437 "þæt ic sweord bere oððe sīdne scyld

438 "geolo-rand tō gūðe; ac ic mid grāpe sceal

439 "fōn wið fēonde and ymb feorh sacan,

440 "lāð wið lāðum; þǣr gelȳfan sceal

441 "dryhtnes dōme sē þe hine dēað nimeð.

442 "Wēn' ic þæt hē wille, gif hē wealdan mōt,

443 "in þǣm gūð-sele Gēatena lēode

444 "etan unforhte, swā hē oft dyde

445 "mægen Hrēðmanna. Nā þū mīnne þearft

446 "hafalan hȳdan, ac hē mē habban wile

447 "drēore fāhne, gif mec dēað nimeð;

448 "byreð blōdig wæl, byrgean þenceð,

449 "eteð ān-genga unmurnlīce,

450 "mearcað mōr-hopu: nō þū ymb mīnes ne þearft

451 "līces feorme leng sorgian.

452 "Onsend Higelāce, gif mec hild nime,

453 "beadu-scrūda betst, þæt mīne brēost wereð,

454 "hrægla sēlest; þæt is Hrēðlan lāf,

455 "Wēlandes geweorc. Gǣð ā Wyrd swā hīo scel!"

456 Hrōðgār maðelode, helm Scyldinga:

457 "for were-fyhtum þū, wine mīn Bēowulf,

458 "and for ār-stafum ūsic sōhtest.

459 "Geslōh þin fæder fǣhðe mǣste,

460 "wearð hē Heaðolāfe tō hand-bonan

461 "mid Wilfingum; þā hine Wedera cyn

462 "for here-brōgan habban ne mihte.

463 "Þanon hē gesōhte Sūð-Dena folc

464 "ofer ȳða gewealc, Ār-Scyldinga;

465 "þā ic furðum wēold folce Deninga,

466 "and on geogoðe hēold gimme-rīce

467 "hord-burh hæleða: þā wæs Heregār dēad,

468 "mīn yldra mǣg unlifigende,

469 "bearn Healfdenes. Sē wæs betera þonne ic!

470 "Siððan þā fǣhðe fēo þingode;

471 "sende ic Wylfingum ofer wæteres hrycg

472 "ealde mādmas: hē mē āðas swōr.

473 "Sorh is mē tō secganne on sefan mīnum

474 "gumena ǣngum, hwæt mē Grendel hafað

475 "hȳnðo on Heorote mid his hete-þancum,

476 "fǣr-nīða gefremed. Is mīn flet-werod,

477 "wīg-hēap gewanod; hīe Wyrd forswēop

478 "on Grendles gryre. God ēaðe mæg

479 "þone dol-scaðan dǣda getwǣfan!

480 "Ful oft gebēotedon bēore druncne

481 "ofer ealo-wǣge ōret-mecgas,

482 "þæt hīe in bēor-sele bīdan woldon

483 "Grendles gūðe mid gryrum ecga.

484 "Þonne wæs þēos medo-heal on morgen-tīd,

485 "driht-sele drēor-fāh, þonne dæg līxte,

486 "eal benc-þelu blōde bestȳmed,

487 "heall heoru-drēore: āhte ic holdra þȳ lǣs,

488 "dēorre duguðe, þē þā dēað fornam.

489 "Site nū tō symle and onsǣl meoto,

490 "sige-hrēð secgum, swā þīn sefa hwette!"

491 Þā wæs Gēat-mæcgum geador ætsomne

492 on bēor-sele benc gerȳmed;

493 þǣr swīð-ferhðe sittan ēodon

494 þrȳðum dealle. Þegn nytte behēold,

495 sē þe on handa bær hroden ealo-wǣge,

496 scencte scīr wered. Scop hwīlum sang

497 hādor on Heorote; þǣr wæs hæleða drēam,

498 duguð unlȳtel Dena and Wedera.

499 Unferð maðelode, Ecglāfes bearn,

500 þē æt fōtum sæt frēan Scyldinga;

501 onband beadu-rūne (wæs him Bēowulfes sīð,

502 mōdges mere-faran, micel æf-þunca,

503 forþon þe hē ne ūðe, þæt ǣnig ōðer man

504 ǣfre mǣrða þon mā middan-geardes

505 gehēdde under heofenum þonne hē sylfa):

506 "Eart þū sē Bēowulf, sē þe wið Brecan wunne,

507 "on sīdne sǣ ymb sund flite,

508 "þǣr git for wlence wada cunnedon

509 "and for dol-gilpe on dēop wæter

510 "aldrum nēðdon? Nē inc ǣnig mon,

511 "nē lēof nē lāð, belēan mihte

512 "sorh-fullne sīð; þā git on sund rēon,

513 "þǣr git ēagor-strēam earmum þehton,

514 "mǣton mere-strǣta, mundum brugdon,

515 "glidon ofer gār-secg; geofon ȳðum wēol,

516 "wintres wylme. Git on wæteres ǣht

517 "seofon niht swuncon; hē þē æt sunde oferflāt,

518 "hæfde māre mægen. Þā hine on morgen-tīd

519 "on Heaðo-rǣmas holm up ætbær,

520 "þonon hē gesōhte swǣsne ēðel

521 "lēof his lēodum lond Brondinga,

522 "freoðo-burh fægere, þǣr hē folc āhte,

523 "burg and bēagas. Bēot eal wið þē

524 "sunu Bēanstānes sōðe gelǣste.

525 "Þonne wēne ic tō þē wyrsan geþinges,

526 "þēah þū heaðo-rǣsa gehwǣr dohte,

527 "grimre gūðe, gif þū Grendles dearst

528 "niht-longne fyrst nēan bīdan!"

529 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

530 "Hwæt! þū worn fela, wine mīn Unferð,

531 "bēore druncen ymb Brecan sprǣce,

532 "sægdest from his sīðe! Sōð ic talige,

533 "þæt ic mere-strengo māran āhte,

534 "earfeðo on ȳðum, þonne ǣnig ōðer man.

535 "Wit þæt gecwǣdon cniht-wesende

536 "and gebēotedon (wǣron bēgen þā gīt

537 "on geogoð-feore) þæt wit on gār-secg ūt

538 "aldrum nēðdon; and þæt geæfndon swā.

539 "Hæfdon swurd nacod, þā wit on sund rēon,

540 "heard on handa, wit unc wið hron-fixas

541 "werian þōhton. Nō hē wiht fram mē

542 "flōd-ȳðum feor flēotan meahte,

543 "hraðor on holme, nō ic fram him wolde.

544 "Þā wit ætsomne on sǣ wǣron

545 "fīf nihta fyrst, oð þæt unc flōd tōdrāf,

546 "wado weallende, wedera cealdost,

547 "nīpende niht and norðan wind

548 "heaðo-grim andhwearf; hrēo wǣron ȳða,

549 "Wæs mere-fixa mōd onhrēred:

550 "þǣr mē wið lāðum līc-syrce mīn,

551 "heard hond-locen, helpe gefremede;

552 "beado-hrægl brōden on brēostum læg,

553 "golde gegyrwed. Mē tō grunde tēah

554 "fāh fēond-scaða, fæste hæfde

555 "grim on grāpe: hwæðre mē gyfeðe wearð,

556 "þæt ic āglǣcan orde gerǣhte,

557 "hilde-bille; heaðo-rǣs fornam

558 "mihtig mere-dēor þurh mīne hand.

559 "Swā mec gelōme lāð-getēonan

560 "þrēatedon þearle. Ic him þēnode

561 "dēoran sweorde, swā hit gedēfe wæs;

562 "næs hīe þǣre fylle gefēan hæfdon,

563 "mān-fordǣdlan, þæt hīe mē þēgon,

564 "symbel ymb-sǣton sǣ-grunde nēah,

565 "ac on mergenne mēcum wunde

566 "be ȳð-lāfe uppe lǣgon,

567 "sweordum āswefede, þæt syððan nā

568 "ymb brontne ford brim-līðende

569 "lāde ne letton. Lēoht ēastan cōm,

570 "beorht bēacen godes; brimu swaðredon,

571 "þæt ic sǣ-næssas gesēon mihte,

572 "windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereð

573 "unfǣgne eorl, ðonne his ellen dēah!

574 "Hwæðere mē gesǣlde, þæt ic mid sweorde ofslōh

575 "niceras nigene. Nō ic on niht gefrægn

576 "under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,

577 "nē on ēg-strēamum earmran mannan;

578 "hwæðere ic fāra feng fēore gedīgde,

579 "siðes wērig. Þā mec sǣ oðbær,

580 "flōd æfter faroðe, on Finna land,

581 "wadu weallendu. Nō ic wiht fram þē

582 "swylcra searo-nīða secgan hȳrde,

583 "billa brōgan: Breca nǣfre gīt

584 "æt heaðo-lāce, nē gehwæðer incer

585 "swā dēorlīce dǣd gefremede

586 "fāgum sweordum . . . . . . .

587 ". . . . . . . nō ic þæs gylpe;

588 "þēah þū þīnum brōðrum tō banan wurde,

589 "hēafod-mǣgum; þæs þū in helle scealt

590 "werhðo drēogan, þēah þīn wit duge,

591 "Secge ic þē tō sōðe, sunu Ecglāfes,

592 "þæt nǣfre Grendel swā fela gryra gefremede,

593 "atol ǣglǣca ealdre þīnum,

594 "hȳnðo on Heorote, gif þīn hige wǣre,

595 "sefa swā searo-grim, swā þū self talast.

596 "Ac hē hafað onfunden, þæt hē þā fǣhðe ne þearf,

597 "atole ecg-þræce ēower lēode

598 "swīðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga;

599 "nymeð nȳd-bāde, nǣnegum ārað

600 "lēode Deniga, ac hē on lust wīgeð,

601 "swefeð ond sendeð, secce ne wēneð

602 "tō Gār-Denum. Ac him Gēata sceal

603 "eafoð and ellen ungeāra nū

604 "gūðe gebēodan. Gǣð eft sē þe mōt

605 "tō medo mōdig, siððan morgen-lēoht

606 "ofer ylda bearn ōðres dōgores,

607 "sunne swegl-wered sūðan scīneð!"

608 Þā wæs on sālum sinces brytta

609 gamol-feax and gūð-rōf, gēoce gelȳfde

610 brego Beorht-Dena; gehȳrde on Bēowulfe

611 folces hyrde fæst-rǣdne geþōht.

612 Þǣr wæs hæleða hleahtor; hlyn swynsode,

613 word wǣron wynsume. Ēode Wealhþēow forð,

614 cwēn Hrōðgāres, cynna gemyndig,

615 grētte gold-hroden guman on healle,

616 and þā frēolīc wīf ful gesealde

617 ǣrest Ēast-Dena ēðel-wearde,

618 bæd hine blīðne æt þǣre bēor-þege,

619 lēodum lēofne; hē on lust geþeah

620 symbel and sele-ful, sige-rōf kyning.

621 Ymb-ēode þā ides Helminga

622 duguðe and geogoðe dǣl ǣghwylcne;

623 sinc-fato sealde, oð þæt sǣl ālamp,

624 þæt hīo Bēowulfe, bēag-hroden cwēn,

625 mōde geþungen, medo-ful ætbær;

626 grētte Gēata lēod, gode þancode

627 wīs-fæst wordum, þæs þe hire se willa gelamp,

628 þæt hēo on ǣnigne eorl gelȳfde

629 fyrena frōfre. Hē þæt ful geþeah,

630 wæl-rēow wiga æt Wealhþēon,

631 and þā gyddode gūðe gefȳsed,

632 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

633 "Ic þæt hogode, þā ic on holm gestāh,

634 "sǣ-bāt gesæt mid mīnra secga gedriht,

635 "þæt ic ānunga ēowra lēoda

636 "willan geworhte, oððe on wæl crunge,

637 "fēond-grāpum fæst. Ic gefremman sceal

638 "eorlīc ellen, oððe ende-dæg

639 "on þisse meodu-healle mīnne gebīdan."

640 Þām wīfe þā word wēl līcodon,

641 gilp-cwide Gēates; ēode gold-hroden

642 frēolīcu folc-cwēn tō hire frēan sittan.

643 Þā wæs eft swā ǣr inne on healle

644 þrȳð-word sprecen, þēod on sǣlum,

645 sige-folca swēg, oð þæt semninga

646 sunu Healfdenes sēcean wolde

647 ǣfen-ræste; wiste æt þǣm āhlǣcan

648 tō þǣm hēah-sele hilde geþinged,

649 siððan hīe sunnan lēoht gesēon ne meahton,

650 oððe nīpende niht ofer ealle,

651 scadu-helma gesceapu scrīðan cwōman,

652 wan under wolcnum. Werod eall ārās.

653 Grētte þā giddum guma ōðerne,

654 Hrōðgār Bēowulf, and him hǣl ābēad,

655 wīn-ærnes geweald and þæt word ācwæð:

656 "Nǣfre ic ǣnegum men ǣr ālȳfde,

657 "siððan ic hond and rond hebban mihte,

658 "þrȳð-ærn Dena būton þē nū þā.

659 "Hafa nū and geheald hūsa sēlest;

660 "gemyne mǣrðo, mægen-ellen cȳð,

661 "waca wið wrāðum! Ne bið þē wilna gād,

662 "gif þū þæt ellen-weorc aldre gedīgest."

663 Þā him Hrōðgār gewāt mid his hæleða gedryht,

664 eodur Scyldinga ūt of healle;

665 wolde wīg-fruma Wealhþēo sēcan,

666 cwēn tō gebeddan Hæfde kyninga wuldor

667 Grendle tō-gēanes, swā guman gefrungon,

668 sele-weard āseted, sundor-nytte behēold

669 ymb aldor Dena, eoton weard ābēad;

670 hūru Gēata lēod georne truwode

671 mōdgan mægnes, metodes hyldo.

672 Þā hē him of dyde īsern-byrnan,

673 helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,

674 īrena cyst ombiht-þegne,

675 and gehealdan hēt hilde-geatwe.

676 Gespræc þā se gōda gylp-worda sum

677 Bēowulf Gēata, ǣr hē on bed stige:

678 "Nō ic mē an here-wǣsmum hnāgran talige

679 "gūð-geweorca, þonne Grendel hine;

680 "forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,

681 "aldre benēotan, þēah ic eal mǣge.

682 "Nāt hē þāra gōda, þæt hē mē on-gēan slēa,

683 "rand gehēawe, þēah þe hē rōf sīe

684 "nīð-geweorca; ac wit on niht sculon

685 "secge ofersittan, gif hē gesēcean dear

686 "wīg ofer wǣpen, and siððan wītig god

687 "on swā hwæðere hond hālig dryhten

688 "mǣrðo dēme, swā him gemet þince."

689 Hylde hine þā heaðo-dēor, hlēor-bolster onfēng

690 eorles andwlitan; and hine ymb monig

691 snellīc sǣ-rinc sele-reste gebēah.

692 Nǣnig heora þōhte þæt hē þanon scolde

693 eft eard-lufan ǣfre gesēcean,

694 folc oððe frēo-burh, þǣr hē āfēded wæs,

695 ac hīe hæfdon gefrūnen, þæt hīe ǣr tō fela micles

696 in þǣm wīn-sele wæl-dēað fornam,

697 Denigea lēode. Ac him dryhten forgeaf

698 wīg-spēda gewiofu, Wedera lēodum

699 frōfor and fultum, þæt hīe fēond heora

700 þurh ānes cræft ealle ofercōmon,

701 selfes mihtum: sōð is gecȳðed,

702 þæt mihtig god manna cynnes

703 wēold wīde-ferhð. Cōm on wanre niht

704 scrīðan sceadu-genga. Scēotend swǣfon,

705 þā þæt horn-reced healdan scoldon,

706 ealle būton ānum. Þæt wæs yldum cūð,

707 þæt hīe ne mōste, þā metod nolde,

708 se syn-scaða under sceadu bregdan;

709 ac hē wæccende wrāðum on andan

710 bād bolgen-mōd beadwa geþinges.

711 Þā cōm of mōre under mist-hleoðum

712 Grendel gongan, godes yrre bær.

713 Mynte se mān-scaða manna cynnes

714 sumne besyrwan in sele þām hēan;

715 wōd under wolcnum, tō þæs þe hē wīn-reced,

716 gold-sele gumena, gearwost wisse

717 fǣttum fāhne. Ne wæs þæt forma sīð,

718 þæt hē Hrōðgāres hām gesōhte:

719 nǣfre hē on aldor-dagum ǣr nē siððan

720 heardran hæle, heal-þegnas fand!

721 Cōm þā tō recede rinc sīðian

722 drēamum bedǣled. Duru sōna onarn

723 fȳr-bendum fæst, syððan hē hire folmum hrān;

724 onbræd þā bealo-hȳdig, þā hē ābolgen wæs,

725 recedes mūðan. Raðe æfter þon

726 on fāgne flōr fēond treddode,

727 ēode yrre-mōd; him of ēagum stōd

728 līge gelīcost lēoht unfǣger.

729 Geseah hē in recede rinca manige,

730 swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere,

731 mago-rinca hēap: þā his mōd āhlōg,

732 mynte þæt hē gedǣlde, ǣr þon dæg cwōme,

733 atol āglǣca, ānra gehwylces

734 līf wið līce, þā him ālumpen wæs

735 wist-fylle wēn. Ne wæs þæt wyrd þā gēn,

736 þæt hē mā mōste manna cynnes

737 þicgean ofer þā niht. Þrȳð-swȳð behēold

738 mǣg Higelāces, hū se mān-scaða

739 under fǣr-gripum gefaran wolde.

740 Nē þæt se āglǣca yldan þōhte,

741 ac hē gefēng hraðe forman siðe

742 slǣpendne rinc, slāt unwearnum,

743 bāt bān-locan, blōd ēdrum dranc,

744 syn-snǣdum swealh: sōna hæfde

745 unlyfigendes eal gefeormod

746 fēt and folma. Forð nēar ætstōp,

747 nam þā mid handa hige-þīhtigne

748 rinc on ræste; rǣhte ongēan

749 fēond mid folme, hē onfēng hraðe

750 inwit-þancum and wið earm gesæt.

751 Sōna þæt onfunde fyrena hyrde,

752 þæt hē ne mētte middan-geardes

753 eorðan scēata on elran men

754 mund-gripe māran: hē on mōde wearð

755 forht on ferhðe, nō þȳ ǣr fram meahte;

756 hyge wæs him hin-fūs, wolde on heolster flēon,

757 sēcan dēofla gedræg: ne wæs his drohtoð þǣr,

758 swylce hē on ealder-dagum ǣr gemētte.

759 Gemunde þā se gōda mǣg Higelāces

760 ǣfen-sprǣce, up-lang āstōd

761 and him fæste wiðfēng. Fingras burston;

762 eoten wæs ūt-weard, eorl furður stōp.

763 Mynte se mǣra, þǣr hē meahte swā,

764 wīdre gewindan and on weg þanon

765 flēon on fen-hopu; wiste his fingra geweald

766 on grames grāpum. Þæt wæs gēocor sīð,

767 þæt se hearm-scaða tō Heorute ātēah:

768 dryht-sele dynede, Denum eallum wearð,

769 ceaster-būendum, cēnra gehwylcum,

770 eorlum ealu-scerwen. Yrre wǣron bēgen,

771 rēðe rēn-weardas. Reced hlynsode;

772 þā wæs wundor micel, þæt se wīn-sele

773 wiðhæfde heaðo-dēorum, þæt hē on hrūsan ne fēol,

774 fǣger fold-bold; ac hē þæs fæste wæs

775 innan and ūtan īren-bendum

776 searo-þoncum besmiðod. Þǣr fram sylle ābēag

777 medu-benc monig mīne gefrǣge,

778 golde geregnad, þǣr þā graman wunnon;

779 þæs ne wēndon ǣr witan Scyldinga,

780 þæt hit ā mid gemete manna ǣnig

781 betlīc and bān-fāg tōbrecan meahte,

782 listum tōlūcan, nymðe līges fæðm

783 swulge on swaðule. Swēg up āstāg

784 nīwe geneahhe; Norð-Denum stōd

785 atelīc egesa ānra gehwylcum

786 þāra þe of wealle wōp gehȳrdon,

787 gryre-lēoð galan godes andsacan,

788 sige-lēasne sang, sār wānigean

789 helle hæftan. Hēold hine tō fæste

790 sē þe manna wæs mægene strengest

791 on þǣm dæge þysses līfes.

792 Nolde eorla hlēo ǣnige þinga

793 þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forlǣtan,

794 nē his līf-dagas lēoda ǣnigum

795 nytte tealde. Þǣr genehost brægd

796 eorl Bēowulfes ealde lāfe,

797 wolde frēa-drihtnes feorh ealgian

798 mǣres þēodnes, þǣr hīe meahton swā;

799 hīe þæt ne wiston, þā hīe gewin drugon,

800 heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas,

801 and on healfa gehwone hēawan þōhton,

802 sāwle sēcan, þæt þone syn-scaðan

803 ǣnig ofer eorðan īrenna cyst,

804 gūð-billa nān grētan nolde;

805 ac hē sige-wǣpnum forsworen hæfde,

806 ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedāl

807 on þǣm dæge þysses līfes

808 earmlīc wurðan and se ellor-gāst

809 on fēonda geweald feor sīðian.

810 Þā þæt onfunde sē þe fela ǣror

811 mōdes myrðe manna cynne

812 fyrene gefremede (hē wæs fāg wið god)

813 þæt him se līc-homa lǣstan nolde,

814 ac hine se mōdega mǣg Hygelāces

815 hæfde be honda; wæs gehwæðer ōðrum

816 lifigende lāð. Līc-sār gebād

817 atol ǣglǣca, him on eaxle wearð

818 syn-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon

819 burston bān-locan. Bēowulfe wearð

820 gūð-hrēð gyfeðe; scolde Grendel þonan

821 feorh-sēoc flēon under fen-hleoðu,

822 sēcean wyn-lēas wīc; wiste þē geornor,

823 þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen,

824 dōgera dæg-rīm. Denum eallum wearð

825 æfter þām wæl-rǣse willa gelumpen.

826 Hæfde þā gefǣlsod, sē þe ǣr feorran cōm,

827 snotor and swȳð-ferhð sele Hrōðgāres,

828 genered wið nīðe. Niht-weorce gefeh,

829 ellen-mǣrðum; hæfde Ēast-Denum

830 Gēat-mecga lēod gilp gelǣsted,

831 swylce oncȳððe ealle gebētte,

832 inwid-sorge, þē hīe ǣr drugon

833 and for þrēa-nȳdum þolian scoldon,

834 torn unlȳtel. Þæt wæs tācen sweotol,

835 syððan hilde-dēor hond ālegde,

836 earm and eaxle (þǣr wæs eal geador

837 Grendles grāpe) under gēapne hrōf.

838 Þā wæs on morgen mīne gefrǣge

839 ymb þā gif-healle gūð-rinc monig:

840 fērdon folc-togan feorran and nēan

841 geond wīd-wegas wundor scēawian,

842 lāðes lāstas. Nō his līf-gedāl

843 sārlīc þūhte secga ǣnegum,

844 þāra þe tīr-lēases trode scēawode,

845 hū hē wērig-mōd on weg þanon,

846 nīða ofercumen, on nicera mere

847 fǣge and geflȳmed feorh-lāstas bær.

848 Þǣr wæs on blōde brim weallende,

849 atol ȳða geswing eal gemenged

850 hātan heolfre, heoro-drēore wēol;

851 dēað-fǣge dēog, siððan drēama lēas

852 in fen-freoðo feorh ālegde

853 hǣðene sāwle, þǣr him hel onfēng.

854 Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesīðas,

855 swylce geong manig of gomen-wāðe,

856 fram mere mōdge, mēarum rīdan,

857 beornas on blancum. Þǣr wæs Bēowulfes

858 mǣrðo mǣned; monig oft gecwæð,

859 þætte sūð nē norð be sǣm tweonum

860 ofer eormen-grund ōðer nǣnig

861 under swegles begong sēlra nǣre

862 rond-hæbbendra, rīces wyrðra.

863 Nē hīe hūru wine-drihten wiht ne lōgon,

864 glædne Hrōðgār, ac þæt wæs gōd cyning.

865 Hwīlum heaðo-rōfe hlēapan lēton,

866 on geflīt faran fealwe mēaras,

867 þǣr him fold-wegas fægere þūhton,

868 cystum cūðe; hwīlum cyninges þegn,

869 guma gilp-hlæden gidda gemyndig,

870 sē þe eal-fela eald-gesegena

871 worn gemunde, word ōðer fand

872 sōðe gebunden: secg eft ongan

873 sīð Bēowulfes snyttrum styrian

874 and on spēd wrecan spel gerāde,

875 wordum wrixlan, wēl-hwylc gecwæð,

876 þæt hē fram Sigemunde secgan hȳrde,

877 ellen-dǣdum, uncūðes fela,

878 Wælsinges gewin, wīde sīðas,

879 þāra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,

880 fǣhðe and fyrene, būton Fitela mid hine,

881 þonne hē swylces hwæt secgan wolde

882 ēam his nefan, swā hīe ā wǣron

883 æt nīða gehwām nȳd-gesteallan:

884 hæfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes

885 sweordum gesǣged. Sigemunde gesprong

886 æfter dēað-dæge dōm unlȳtel,

887 syððan wīges heard wyrm ācwealde,

888 hordes hyrde; hē under hārne stān,

889 æðelinges bearn, āna genēðde

890 frēcne dǣde; ne wæs him Fitela mid.

891 Hwæðre him gesǣlde, þæt þæt swurd þurhwōd

892 wrǣtlīcne wyrm, þæt hit on wealle ætstōd,

893 dryhtlīc īren; draca morðre swealt.

894 Hæfde āglǣca elne gegongen,

895 þæt hē bēah-hordes brūcan mōste

896 selfes dōme: sǣ-bāt gehlōd,

897 bær on bearm scipes beorhte frætwa,

898 Wælses eafera; wyrm hāt gemealt.

899 Sē wæs wreccena wīde mǣrost

900 ofer wer-þēode, wīgendra hlēo

901 ellen-dǣdum: hē þæs āron þāh.

902 Siððan Heremōdes hild sweðrode

903 eafoð and ellen. Hē mid eotenum wearð

904 on fēonda geweald forð forlācen,

905 snūde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas

906 lemede tō lange, hē his lēodum wearð,

907 eallum æðelingum tō aldor-ceare;

908 swylce oft bemearn ǣrran mǣlum

909 swīð-ferhðes sīð snotor ceorl monig,

910 sē þe him bealwa tō bōte gelȳfde,

911 þæt þæt þēodnes bearn geþēon scolde,

912 fæder-æðelum onfōn, folc gehealdan,

913 hord and hlēo-burh, hæleða rīce,

914 ēðel Scyldinga. Hē þǣr eallum wearð,

915 mǣg Higelāces manna cynne,

916 frēondum gefægra; hine fyren onwōd.

917 Hwīlum flītende fealwe strǣte

918 mēarum mǣton. Þā wæs morgen-lēoht

919 scofen and scynded. Ēode scealc monig

920 swīð-hicgende tō sele þām hēan,

921 searo-wundor sēon, swylce self cyning,

922 of brȳd-būre bēah-horda weard,

923 tryddode tīr-fæst getrume micle,

924 cystum gecȳðed, and his cwēn mid him

925 medo-stīg gemæt mægða hōse.

926 Hrōðgār maðelode (hē tō healle gēong,

927 stōd on stapole, geseah stēapne hrōf

928 golde fāhne and Grendles hond):

929 "þisse ansȳne al-wealdan þanc

930 "lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lāðes gebād,

931 "grynna æt Grendle: ā mæg god wyrcan

932 "wunder æfter wundre, wuldres hyrde!

933 "Þæt wæs ungeāra, þæt ic ǣnigra mē

934 "wēana ne wēnde tō wīdan feore

935 "bōte gebīdan þonne blōde fāh

936 "hūsa sēlest heoro-drēorig stōd;

937 "wēa wīd-scofen witena gehwylcne

938 "þāra þe ne wēndon, þæt hīe wīde-ferhð

939 "lēoda land-geweorc lāðum beweredon

940 "scuccum and scinnum. Nū scealc hafað

941 "þurh drihtnes miht dǣd gefremede,

942 "þē wē ealle ǣr ne meahton

943 "snyttrum besyrwan. Hwæt! þæt secgan mæg

944 "efne swā hwylc mægða, swā þone magan cende

945 "æfter gum-cynnum, gyf hēo gȳt lyfað,

946 "þæt hyre eald-metod ēste wǣre

947 "bearn-gebyrdo. Nū ic Bēowulf

948 "þec, secg betsta, mē for sunu wylle

949 "frēogan on ferhðe; heald forð tela

950 "nīwe sibbe. Ne bið þē nǣnigra gād

951 "worolde wilna, þē ic geweald hæbbe.

952 "Ful-oft ic for lǣssan lēan teohhode

953 "hord-weorðunge hnāhran rince,

954 "sǣmran æt sæcce. Þū þē self hafast

955 "dǣdum gefremed, þæt þīn dōm lyfað

956 "āwa tō aldre. Alwalda þec

957 "gōde forgylde, swā hē nū gȳt dyde!"

958 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

959 "Wē þæt ellen-weorc ēstum miclum,

960 "feohtan fremedon, frēcne genēðdon

961 "eafoð uncūðes; ūðe ic swīðor,

962 "þæt þū hinc selfne gesēon mōste,

963 "fēond on frætewum fyl-wērigne!

964 "Ic hine hrædlīce heardan clammum

965 "on wæl-bedde wrīðan þōhte,

966 "þæt hē for mund-gripe mīnum scolde

967 "licgean līf-bysig, būtan his līc swice;

968 "ic hine ne mihte, þā metod nolde,

969 "ganges getwǣman, nō ic him þæs georne ætfealh,

970 "feorh-genīðlan; wæs tō fore-mihtig

971 "fēond on fēðe. Hwæðere hē his folme forlēt

972 "tō līf-wraðe lāst weardian,

973 "earm and eaxle; nō þǣr ǣnige swā þēah

974 "fēa-sceaft guma frōfre gebohte:

975 "nō þȳ leng leofað lāð-getēona

976 "synnum geswenced, ac hyne sār hafað

977 "in nȳd-gripe nearwe befongen,

978 "balwon bendum: þǣr ābīdan sceal

979 "maga māne fāh miclan dōmes,

980 "hū him scīr metod scrīfan wille."

981 Þā wæs swīgra secg, sunu Ecglāfes,

982 on gylp-sprǣce gūð-geweorca,

983 siððan æðelingas eorles cræfte

984 ofer hēahne hrōf hand scēawedon,

985 fēondes fingras, foran ǣghwylc;

986 wæs stēde nægla gehwylc, stȳle gelīcost,

987 hǣðenes hand-sporu hilde-rinces

988 egle unhēoru; ǣg-hwylc gecwæð,

989 þæt him heardra nān hrīnan wolde

990 īren ǣr-gōd, þæt þæs āhlǣcan

991 blōdge beadu-folme onberan wolde.

992 Þā wæs hāten hreðe Heort innan-weard

993 folmum gefrætwod: fela þǣra wæs

994 wera and wīfa, þē þæt wīn-reced,

995 gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fāg scinon

996 web æfter wāgum, wundor-sīona fela

997 secga gehwylcum þāra þe on swylc starað

998 Wæs þæt beorhte bold tōbrocen swīðe

999 eal inne-weard īren-bendum fæst,

1000 heorras tōhlidene; hrōf āna genæs

1001 ealles ansund, þā se āglǣca

1002 fyren-dǣdum fāg on flēam gewand,

1003 aldres or-wēna. Nō þæt ȳðe byð

1004 tō beflēonne (fremme sē þe wille!)

1005 ac gesacan sceal sāwl-berendra

1006 nȳde genȳdde niðða bearna

1007 grund-būendra gearwe stōwe,

1008 þǣr his līc-homa leger-bedde fæst

1009 swefeð æfter symle. Þā wæs sǣl and mǣl,

1010 þæt tō healle gang Healfdenes sunu;

1011 wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.

1012 Ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgðe māran weorode

1013 ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sēl gebǣran.

1014 Bugon þā tō bence blǣd-āgende,

1015 fylle gefǣgon. Fægere geþǣgon

1016 medo-ful manig māgas þāra

1017 swīð-hicgende on sele þām hēan,

1018 Hrōðgār and Hrōðulf. Heorot innan wæs

1019 frēondum āfylled; nalles fācen-stafas

1020 Þēod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.

1021 Forgeaf þā Bēowulfe bearn Healfdenes

1022 segen gyldenne sigores tō lēane,

1023 hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;

1024 mǣre māððum-sweord manige gesāwon

1025 beforan beorn beran. Bēowulf geþah

1026 ful on flette; nō hē þǣre feoh-gyfte

1027 for scēotendum scamigan þorfte,

1028 ne gefrægn ic frēondlīcor fēower mādmas

1029 golde gegyrede gum-manna fela

1030 in ealo-bence ōðrum gesellan.

1031 Ymb þæs helmes hrōf hēafod-beorge

1032 wīrum bewunden walan ūtan hēold,

1033 þæt him fēla lāfe frēcne ne meahton

1034 scūr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca

1035 ongēan gramum gangan scolde.

1036 Heht þā eorla hlēo eahta mēaras,

1037 fǣted-hlēore, on flet tēon

1038 in under eoderas; þāra ānum stōd

1039 sadol searwum fāh since gewurðad,

1040 þæt wæs hilde-setl hēah-cyninges,

1041 þonne sweorda gelāc sunu Healfdenes

1042 efnan wolde; nǣfre on ōre læg

1043 wīd-cūðes wīg, þonne walu fēollon.

1044 And þā Bēowulfe bēga gehwæðres

1045 eodor Ingwina onweald getēah,

1046 wicga and wǣpna; hēt hine wēl brūcan.

1047 Swā manlīce mǣre þēoden,

1048 hord-weard hæleða heaðo-rǣsas geald

1049 mēarum and mādmum, swā hȳ nǣfre man lyhð,

1050 sē þe secgan wile sōð æfter rihte.

1051 Þā gȳt ǣghwylcum eorla drihten

1052 þāra þe mid Bēowulfe brim-lāde tēah,

1053 on þǣre medu-bence māððum gesealde,

1054 yrfe-lāfe, and þone ǣnne heht

1055 golde forgyldan, þone þe Grendel ǣr

1056 māne ācwealde, swā hē hyra mā wolde,

1057 nefne him wītig god wyrd forstōde

1058 and þæs mannes mōd: metod eallum wēold

1059 gumena cynnes, swā hē nū gīt dēð;

1060 forþan bið andgit ǣghwǣr sēlest,

1061 ferhðes fore-þanc! fela sceal gebīdan

1062 lēofes and lāðes, sē þe longe hēr

1063 on þyssum win-dagum worolde brūceð.

1064 Þǣr wæs sang and swēg samod ætgædere

1065 fore Healfdenes hilde-wīsan,

1066 gomen-wudu grēted, gid oft wrecen,

1067 þonne heal-gamen Hrōðgāres scop

1068 æfter medo-bence mǣnan scolde

1069 Finnes eaferum, þā hīe se fǣr begeat:

1070 "Hæleð Healfdenes, Hnæf Scyldinga,

1071 "in Fr..es wæle feallan scolde.

1072 "Nē hūru Hildeburh herian þorfte

1073 "Eotena trēowe: unsynnum wearð

1074 "beloren lēofum æt þām lind-plegan

1075 "bearnum and brōðrum; hīe on gebyrd hruron

1076 "gāre wunde; þæt wæs geōmuru ides.

1077 "Nalles hōlinga Hōces dōhtor

1078 "meotod-sceaft bemearn, syððan morgen cōm,

1079 "þā hēo under swegle gesēon meahte

1080 "morðor-bealo māga, þǣr hēo ǣr mǣste hēold

1081 "worolde wynne: wīg ealle fornam

1082 "Finnes þegnas, nemne fēaum ānum,

1083 "þæt hē ne mehte on þǣm meðel-stede

1084 "wīg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan,

1085 "nē þā wēa-lāfe wīge forþringan

1086 "þōodnes þegne; ac hig him geþingo budon,

1087 "þæt hīe him ōðer flet eal gerȳmdon,

1088 "healle and hēah-setl, þæt hīe healfre geweald

1089 "wið Eotena bearn āgan mōston,

1090 "and æt feoh-gyftum Folcwaldan sunu

1091 "dōgra gehwylce Dene weorðode,

1092 "Hengestes hēap hringum wenede,

1093 "efne swā swīðe sinc-gestrēonum

1094 "fǣttan goldes, swā hē Frēsena cyn

1095 "on bēor-sele byldan wolde.

1096 "Þā hīe getruwedon on twā healfa

1097 "fæste frioðu-wǣre; Fin Hengeste

1098 "elne unflitme āðum benemde,

1099 "þæt hē þā wēa-lāfe weotena dōme

1100 "ārum heolde, þæt þǣr ǣnig mon

1101 "wordum nē worcum wǣre ne brǣce,

1102 "nē þurh inwit-searo ǣfre gemǣnden,

1103 "þēah hīe hira bēag-gyfan banan folgedon

1104 "þēoden-lēase, þā him swā geþearfod wæs:

1105 "gyf þonne Frȳsna hwylc frēcnan sprǣce

1106 "þæs morðor-hetes myndgiend wǣre,

1107 "þonne hit sweordes ecg syððan scolde.

1108 "Āð wæs geæfned and icge gold

1109 "āhæfen of horde. Here-Scyldinga

1110 "betst beado-rinca wæs on bǣl gearu;

1111 "æt þǣm āde wæs ēð-gesȳne

1112 "swāt-fāh syrce, swȳn eal-gylden,

1113 "eofer īren-heard, æðeling manig

1114 "wundum āwyrded; sume on wæle crungon.

1115 "Hēt þā Hildeburh æt Hnæfes āde

1116 "hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befæstan,

1117 "bān-fatu bærnan and on bǣl dōn.

1118 "Earme on eaxle ides gnornode,

1119 "geōmrode giddum; gūð-rinc āstāh.

1120 "Wand tō wolcnum wæl-fȳra mǣst,

1121 "hlynode for hlāwe; hafelan multon,

1122 "ben-geato burston, þonne blōd ætspranc

1123 "lāð-bite līces. Līg ealle forswealg,

1124 "gǣsta gīfrost, þāra þe þǣr gūð fornam

1125 "bēga folces; wæs hira blǣd scacen.

1126 "Gewiton him þā wīgend wīca nēosian,

1127 "frēondum befeallen Frȳsland gesēon,

1128 "hāmas and hēa-burh. Hengest þā gȳt

1129 "wæl-fāgne winter wunode mid Finne

1130 "ealles unhlitme; eard gemunde,

1131 "þēah þe hē ne meahte on mere drīfan

1132 "hringed-stefnan; holm storme wēol,

1133 "won wið winde; winter ȳðe belēac

1134 "īs-gebinde oð þæt ōðer cōm

1135 "geār in geardas, swā nū gȳt dēð,

1136 "þā þe syngales sēle bewitiað,

1137 "wuldor-torhtan weder. Þā wæs winter scacen,

1138 "fæger foldan bearm; fundode wrecca,

1139 "gist of geardum; hē tō gyrn-wræce

1140 "swīðor þōhte, þonne tō sǣ-lāde,

1141 "gif hē torn-gemōt þurhtēon mihte,

1142 "þæt hē Eotena bearn inne gemunde.

1143 "Swā hē ne forwyrnde worold-rǣdenne,

1144 "þonne him Hūnlāfing hilde-lēoman,

1145 "billa sēlest, on bearm dyde:

1146 "þæs wǣron mid Eotenum ecge cūðe.

1147 "Swylce ferhð-frecan Fin eft begeat

1148 "sweord-bealo slīðen æt his selfes hām,

1149 "siððan grimne gripe Gūðlaf ond Ōslāf

1150 "æfter sǣ-siðe sorge mǣndon,

1151 "ætwiton wēana dǣl; ne meahte wǣfre mōd

1152 "forhabban in hreðre. Þā wæs heal hroden

1153 "fēonda fēorum, swilce Fin slægen,

1154 "cyning on corðre, and sēo cwēn numen.

1155 "Scēotend Scyldinga tō scypum feredon

1156 "eal in-gesteald eorð-cyninges,

1157 "swylce hīe æt Finnes hām findan meahton

1158 "sigla searo-gimma. Hīe on sǣ-lāde

1159 "drihtlīce wīf tō Denum feredon,

1160 "lǣddon tō lēodum." Lēoð wæs āsungen,

1161 glēo-mannes gyd. Gamen eft āstāh,

1162 beorhtode benc-swēg, byrelas sealdon

1163 wīn of wunder-fatum. Þā cwōm Wealhþēo forð

1164 gān under gyldnum bēage, þǣr þā gōdan twēgen

1165 sǣton suhter-gefæderan; þā gȳt wæs hiera sib ætgædere

1166 ǣghwylc ōðrum trȳwe. Swylce þǣr Unferð þyle

1167 æt fōtum sæt frēan Scyldinga: gehwylc hiora his ferhðe trēowde,

1168 þæt hē hæfde mōd micel, þēah þe hē his māgum nǣre

1169 ārfæst æt ecga gelācum. Spræc þā ides Scyldinga:

1170 "Onfōh þissum fulle, frēo-drihten mīn,

1171 "sinces brytta; þū on sǣlum wes,

1172 "gold-wine gumena, and tō Gēatum sprec

1173 "mildum wordum! Swā sceal man dōn.

1174 "Bēo wið Gēatas glæd, geofena gemyndig;

1175 "nēan and feorran þū nū friðu hafast.

1176 "Mē man sægde, þæt þū þē for sunu wolde

1177 "here-rinc habban. Heorot is gefǣlsod,

1178 "bēah-sele beorhta; brūc þenden þū mōte

1179 "manigra mēda and þīnum māgum lǣf

1180 "folc and rīce, þonne þū forð scyle

1181 "metod-sceaft sēon. Ic mīnne can

1182 "glædne Hrōðulf, þæt hē þā geogoðe wile

1183 "ārum healdan, gyf þū ǣr þonne hē,

1184 "wine Scildinga, worold oflǣtest;

1185 "wēne ic, þæt hē mid gōde gyldan wille

1186 "uncran eaferan, gif hē þæt eal gemon,

1187 "hwæt wit tō willan and tō worð-myndum

1188 "umbor wesendum ǣr ārna gefremedon."

1189 Hwearf þā bī bence, þǣr hyre byre wǣron,

1190 Hrēðrīc and Hrōðmund, and hæleða bearn,

1191 giogoð ætgædere; þǣr se gōda sæt

1192 Bēowulf Gēata be þǣm gebrōðrum twǣm.

1193 Him wæs ful boren and frēond-laðu

1194 wordum bewægned and wunden gold

1195 ēstum geēawed, earm-hrēade twā,

1196 hrægl and hringas, heals-bēaga mǣst

1197 þāra þe ic on foldan gefrægen hæbbe.

1198 Nǣnigne ic under swegle sēlran hȳrde

1199 hord-māððum hæleða, syððan Hāma ætwæg

1200 tō þǣre byrhtan byrig Brōsinga mene,

1201 sigle and sinc-fæt, searo-nīðas fealh

1202 Eormenrīces, gecēas ēcne rǣd.

1203 Þone hring hæfde Higelāc Gēata,

1204 nefa Swertinges, nȳhstan sīðe,

1205 siððan hē under segne sinc ealgode,

1206 wæl-rēaf werede; hyne Wyrd fornam,

1207 syððan hē for wlenco wēan āhsode,

1208 fǣhðe tō Frȳsum; hē þā frætwe wæg,

1209 eorclan-stānas ofer ȳða ful,

1210 rīce þēoden, hē under rande gecranc;

1211 gehwearf þā in Francna fæðm feorh cyninges,

1212 brēost-gewǣdu and se bēah somod:

1213 wyrsan wīg-frecan wæl rēafedon

1214 æfter gūð-sceare, Gēata lēode

1215 hreā-wīc hēoldon. Heal swēge onfēng.

1216 Wealhþēo maðelode, hēo fore þǣm werede spræc:

1217 "Brūc þisses bēages, Bēowulf, lēofa

1218 "hyse, mid hǣle, and þisses hrægles nēot

1219 "þēod-gestrēona, and geþēoh tela,

1220 "cen þec mid cræfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes

1221 "lāra līðe! ic þē þæs lēan geman.

1222 "Hafast þū gefēred, þæt þē feor and nēah

1223 "ealne wīde-ferhð weras ehtigað,

1224 "efne swā sīde swā sǣ bebūgeð

1225 "windige weallas. Wes, þenden þū lifige,

1226 "æðeling ēadig! ic þē an tela

1227 "sinc-gestrēona. Bēo þū suna mīnum

1228 "dǣdum gedēfe drēam healdende!

1229 "Hēr is ǣghwylc eorl ōðrum getrȳwe,

1230 "mōdes milde, man-drihtne hold,

1231 "þegnas syndon geþwǣre, þēod eal gearo:

1232 "druncne dryht-guman, dōð swā ic bidde!"

1233 Ēode þā tō setle. Þǣr wæs symbla cyst,

1234 druncon wīn weras: wyrd ne cūðon,

1235 geō-sceaft grimme, swā hit āgangen wearð

1236 eorla manegum, syððan ǣfen cwōm

1237 and him Hrōðgār gewāt tō hofe sīnum,

1238 rīce tō ræste. Reced weardode

1239 unrīm eorla, swā hīe oft ǣr dydon:

1240 benc-þelu beredon, hit geond-brǣded wearð

1241 beddum and bolstrum. Bēor-scealca sum

1242 fūs and fǣge flet-ræste gebēag.

1243 Setton him tō hēafdum hilde-randas,

1244 bord-wudu beorhtan; þǣr on bence wæs

1245 ofer æðelinge ȳð-gesēne

1246 heaðo-stēapa helm, hringed byrne,

1247 þrec-wudu þrymlīc. Wæs þēaw hyra,

1248 þæt hīe oft wǣron an wīg gearwe,

1249 gē æt hām gē on herge, gē gehwæðer þāra

1250 efne swylce mǣla, swylce hira man-dryhtne

1251 þearf gesǣlde; wæs sēo þēod tilu.

1252 Sigon þā tō slǣpe. Sum sāre angeald

1253 ǣfen-ræste, swā him ful-oft gelamp,

1254 siððan gold-sele Grendel warode,

1255 unriht æfnde, oð þæt ende becwōm,

1256 swylt æfter synnum. Þæt gesȳne wearð,

1257 wīd-cūð werum, þætte wrecend þā gȳt

1258 lifde æfter lāðum, lange þrāge

1259 æfter gūð-ceare; Grendles mōdor,

1260 ides āglǣc-wīf yrmðe gemunde,

1261 sē þe wæter-egesan wunian scolde,

1262 cealde strēamas, siððan Cain wearð

1263 tō ecg-banan āngan brēðer,

1264 fæderen-mǣge; hē þā fāg gewāt,

1265 morðre gemearcod man-drēam flēon,

1266 wēsten warode. Þanon wōc fela

1267 geōsceaft-gāsta; wæs þǣra Grendel sum,

1268 heoro-wearh hetelīc, sē æt Heorote fand

1269 wæccendne wer wīges bīdan,

1270 þǣr him āglǣca æt-grǣpe wearð;

1271 hwæðre hē gemunde mægenes strenge,

1272 gim-fæste gife, þē him god sealde,

1273 and him tō anwaldan āre gelȳfde,

1274 frōfre and fultum: þȳ hē þone fēond ofercwōm,

1275 gehnǣgde helle gāst: þā hē hēan gewāt,

1276 drēame bedǣled dēað-wīc sēon,

1277 man-cynnes fēond. And his mōdor þā gȳt

1278 gīfre and galg-mōd gegān wolde

1279 sorh-fulne sīð, suna dēað wrecan.

1280 Cōm þā tō Heorote, þǣr Hring-Dene

1281 geond þæt sæld swǣfun. Þā þǣr sōna wearð

1282 ed-hwyrft eorlum, siððan inne fealh

1283 Grendles mōdor; wæs se gryre lǣssa

1284 efne swā micle, swā bið mægða cræft,

1285 wīg-gryre wīfes be wǣpned-men,

1286 þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþuren,

1287 sweord swāte fāh swīn ofer helme,

1288 ecgum dyhtig andweard scireð.

1289 Þā wæs on healle heard-ecg togen,

1290 sweord ofer setlum, sīd-rand manig

1291 hafen handa fæst; helm ne gemunde,

1292 byrnan sīde, þe hine se brōga angeat.

1293 Hēo wæs on ofste, wolde ūt þanon

1294 fēore beorgan, þā hēo onfunden wæs;

1295 hraðe hēo æðelinga ānne hæfde

1296 fæste befangen, þā hēo tō fenne gang;

1297 sē wæs Hrōðgāre hæleða lēofost

1298 on gesīðes hād be sǣm tweonum,

1299 rīce rand-wiga, þone þe hēo on ræste ābrēat,

1300 blǣd-fæstne beorn. Næs Bēowulf þǣr,

1301 ac wæs ōðer in ǣr geteohhod

1302 æfter māððum-gife mǣrum Gēate.

1303 Hrēam wearð on Heorote. Hēo under heolfre genam

1304 cūðe folme; cearu wæs genīwod

1305 geworden in wīcum: ne wæs þæt gewrixle til,

1306 þæt hīe on bā healfa bicgan scoldon

1307 frēonda fēorum. Þā wæs frōd cyning,

1308 hār hilde-rinc, on hrēon mōde,

1309 syððan hē aldor-þegn unlyfigendne,

1310 þone dēorestan dēadne wisse.

1311 Hraðe wæs tō būre Bēowulf fetod,

1312 sigor-ēadig secg. Samod ǣr-dæge

1313 ēode eorla sum, æðele cempa

1314 self mid gesīðum, þǣr se snottra bād,

1315 hwæðre him al-walda ǣfre wille

1316 æfter wēa-spelle wyrpe gefremman.

1317 Gang þā æfter flōre fyrd-wyrðe man

1318 mid his hand-scale (heal-wudu dynede)

1319 þæt hē þone wīsan wordum hnǣgde

1320 frēan Ingwina; frægn gif him wǣre

1321 æfter nēod-laðu niht getǣse.

1322 Hrōðgār maðelode, helm Scildinga:

1323 "Ne frīn þū æfter sǣlum! Sorh is genīwod

1324 "Denigea lēodum. Dēad is Æsc-here,

1325 "Yrmenlāfes yldra brōðor,

1326 "mīn rūn-wita and mīn rǣd-bora,

1327 "eaxl-gestealla, þonne wē on orlege

1328 "hafelan weredon, þonne hniton fēðan,

1329 "eoferas cnysedan; swylc scolde eorl wesan

1330 "æðeling ǣr-gōd, swylc Æsc-here wæs.

1331 "Wearð him on Heorote tō hand-banan

1332 "wæl-gǣst wǣfre; ic ne wāt hwæder

1333 "atol ǣse wlanc eft-sīðas tēah,

1334 "fylle gefrǣgnod. Hēo þā fǣhðe wræc,

1335 "þē þū gystran niht Grendel cwealdest

1336 "þurh hǣstne hād heardum clammum,

1337 "forþan hē tō lange lēode mīne

1338 "wanode and wyrde. Hē æt wīge gecrang

1339 "ealdres scyldig, and nū ōðer cwōm

1340 "mihtig mān-scaða, wolde hyre mǣg wrecan,

1341 "gē feor hafað fǣhðe gestǣled,

1342 "þæs þe þincean mæg þegne monegum,

1343 "sē þe æfter sinc-gyfan on sefan grēoteð,

1344 "hreðer-bealo hearde; nū sēo hand ligeð,

1345 "sē þe ēow wēl-hwylcra wilna dohte.

1346 "Ic þæt lond-būend lēode mīne

1347 "sele-rǣdende secgan hȳrde,

1348 "þæt hīe gesāwon swylce twēgen

1349 "micle mearc-stapan mōras healdan,

1350 "ellor-gǣstas: þǣra ōðer wæs,

1351 "þæs þe hīe gewislīcost gewitan meahton,

1352 "idese onlīcnes, ōðer earm-sceapen

1353 "on weres wæstmum wræc-lāstas træd,

1354 "næfne hē wæs māra þonne ǣnig man ōðer,

1355 "þone on geār-dagum Grendel nemdon

1356 "fold-būende: nō hīe fæder cunnon,

1357 "hwæðer him ǣnig wæs ǣr ācenned

1358 "dyrnra gāsta. Hīe dȳgel lond

1359 "warigeað, wulf-hleoðu, windige næssas,

1360 "frēcne fen-gelād, þǣr fyrgen-strēam

1361 "under næssa genipu niðer gewīteð,

1362 "flōd under foldan; nis þæt feor heonon

1363 "mīl-gemearces, þæt se mere standeð,

1364 "ofer þǣm hongiað hrīmge bearwas,

1365 "wudu wyrtum fæst, wæter oferhelmað.

1366 "Þǣr mæg nihta gehwǣm nīð-wundor sēon,

1367 "fȳr on flōde; nō þæs frōd leofað

1368 "gumena bearna, þæt þone grund wite;

1369 "þēah þe hǣð-stapa hundum geswenced,

1370 "heorot hornum trum holt-wudu sēce,

1371 "feorran geflȳmed, ǣr hē feorh seleð,

1372 "aldor on ōfre, ǣr hē in wille,

1373 "hafelan hȳdan. Nis þæt hēoru stōw:

1374 "þonon ȳð-geblond up āstīgeð

1375 "won tō wolcnum, þonne wind styreð

1376 "lāð gewidru, oð þæt lyft drysmað,

1377 "roderas rēotað. Nū is rǣd gelang

1378 "eft æt þē ānum! Eard gīt ne const,

1379 "frēcne stōwe, þǣr þū findan miht

1380 "sinnigne secg: sēc gif þū dyrre!

1381 "Ic þē þā fǣhðe fēo lēanige,

1382 "eald-gestrēonum, swā ic ǣr dyde,

1383 "wundnum golde, gyf þū on weg cymest."

1384 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

1385 "Ne sorga, snotor guma! sēlre bið ǣghwǣm,

1386 "þæt hē his frēond wrece, þonne hē fela murne;

1387 "ūre ǣghwylc sceal ende gebīdan

1388 "worolde līfes; wyrce sē þe mōte

1389 "dōmes ǣr dēaðe! þæt bið driht-guman

1390 "unlifgendum æfter sēlest.

1391 "Ārīs, rīces weard; uton hraðe fēran,

1392 "Grendles māgan gang scēawigan!

1393 "Ic hit þē gehāte: nō hē on helm losað,

1394 "nē on foldan fæðm, nē on fyrgen-holt,

1395 "nē on gyfenes grund, gā þǣr hē wille.

1396 "Þȳs dōgor þū geþyld hafa

1397 "wēana gehwylces, swā ic þē wēne tō!"

1398 Āhlēop þā se gomela, gode þancode,

1399 mihtigan drihtne, þæs se man gespræc.

1400 Þā wæs Hrōðgāre hors gebǣted,

1401 wicg wunden-feax. Wīsa fengel

1402 geatolīc gengde; gum-fēða stōp

1403 lind-hæbbendra. Lāstas wǣron

1404 æfter wald-swaðum wīde gesȳne,

1405 gang ofer grundas; gegnum fōr þā

1406 ofer myrcan mōr, mago-þegna bær

1407 þone sēlestan sāwol-lēasne,

1408 þāra þe mid Hrōðgāre hām eahtode.

1409 Ofer-ēode þā æðelinga bearn

1410 stēap stān-hliðo, stīge nearwe,

1411 enge ān-paðas, un-cūð gelād,

1412 neowle næssas, nicor-hūsa fela;

1413 hē fēara sum beforan gengde

1414 wīsra monna, wong scēawian,

1415 oð þæt hē fǣringa fyrgen-bēamas

1416 ofer hārne stān hleonian funde,

1417 wyn-lēasne wudu; wæter under stōd

1418 drēorig and gedrēfed. Denum eallum wæs,

1419 winum Scyldinga, weorce on mōde,

1420 tō geþolianne þegne monegum,

1421 oncȳð eorla gehwǣm, syððan Æsc-heres

1422 on þām holm-clife hafelan mētton.

1423 Flōd blōde wēol (folc tō sǣgon)

1424 hātan heolfre. Horn stundum song

1425 fūslīc fyrd-lēoð. Fēða eal gesæt;

1426 gesāwon þā æfter wætere wyrm-cynnes fela,

1427 sellīce sǣ-dracan sund cunnian,

1428 swylce on næs-hleoðum nicras licgean,

1429 þā on undern-mǣl oft bewitigað

1430 sorh-fulne sīð on segl-rāde,

1431 wyrmas and wil-dēor; hīe on weg hruron

1432 bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongeāton,

1433 gūð-horn galan. Sumne Gēata lēod

1434 of flān-bogan fēores getwǣfde,

1435 ȳð-gewinnes, þæt him on aldre stōd

1436 here-strǣl hearda; hē on holme wæs

1437 sundes þē sǣnra, þē hyne swylt fornam.

1438 Hræðe wearð on ȳðum mid eofer-sprēotum

1439 heoro-hōcyhtum hearde genearwod,

1440 nīða genǣged and on næs togen

1441 wundorlīc wǣg-bora; weras scēawedon

1442 gryrelīcne gist. Gyrede hine Bēowulf

1443 eorl-gewǣdum, nalles for ealdre mearn:

1444 scolde here-byrne hondum gebrōden,

1445 sīd and searo-fāh, sund cunnian,

1446 sēo þe bān-cofan beorgan cūðe,

1447 þæt him hilde-grāp hreðre ne mihte,

1448 eorres inwit-feng, aldre gesceððan;

1449 ac se hwīta helm hafelan werede,

1450 sē þe mere-grundas mengan scolde,

1451 sēcan sund-gebland since geweorðad,

1452 befongen frēa-wrāsnum, swā hine fyrn-dagum

1453 worhte wǣpna smið, wundrum tēode,

1454 besette swīn-līcum, þæt hine syððan nō

1455 brond nē beado-mēcas bītan ne meahton.

1456 Næs þæt þonne mǣtost mægen-fultuma,

1457 þæt him on þearfe lāh þyle Hrōðgāres;

1458 wæs þǣm hæft-mēce Hrunting nama,

1459 þæt wæs ān foran eald-gestrēona;

1460 ecg wæs īren āter-tēarum fāh,

1461 āhyrded heaðo-swāte; nǣfre hit æt hilde ne swāc

1462 manna ǣngum þāra þe hit mid mundum bewand,

1463 sē þe gryre-sīðas gegān dorste,

1464 folc-stede fāra; næs þæt forma sīð,

1465 þæt hit ellen-weorc æfnan scolde.

1466 Hūru ne gemunde mago Ecglāfes

1467 eafoðes cræftig, þæt hē ǣr gespræc

1468 wīne druncen, þā hē þæs wǣpnes onlāh

1469 sēlran sweord-frecan: selfa ne dorste

1470 under ȳða gewin aldre genēðan,

1471 driht-scype drēogan; þǣr hē dōme forlēas,

1472 ellen-mǣrðum. Ne wæs þǣm ōðrum swā,

1473 syððan hē hine tō gūðe gegyred hæfde.

1474 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

1475 "geþenc nū, se mǣra maga Healfdenes,

1476 "snottra fengel, nū ic eom sīðes fūs,

1477 "gold-wine gumena, hwæt wit geō sprǣcon,

1478 "gif ic æt þearfe þīnre scolde

1479 "aldre linnan, þæt þū mē ā wǣre

1480 "forð-gewitenum on fæder stǣle;

1481 "wes þū mund-bora mīnum mago-þegnum,

1482 "hond-gesellum, gif mec hild nime:

1483 "swylce þū þā mādmas, þē þū mē sealdest,

1484 "Hrōðgār lēofa, Higelāce onsend.

1485 "Mæg þonne on þǣm golde ongitan Gēata dryhten,

1486 "gesēon sunu Hrēðles, þonne hē on þæt sinc starað,

1487 "þæt ic gum-cystum gōdne funde

1488 "bēaga bryttan, brēac þonne mōste.

1489 "And þū Unferð lǣt ealde lāfe,

1490 "wrǣtlīc wǣg-sweord wīd-cūðne man

1491 "heard-ecg habban; ic mē mid Hruntinge

1492 "dōm gewyrce, oððe mec dēað nimeð."

1493 Æfter þǣm wordum Weder-Gēata lēod

1494 efste mid elne, nalas andsware

1495 bīdan wolde; brim-wylm onfēng

1496 hilde-rince. Þā wæs hwīl dæges,

1497 ǣr hē þone grund-wong ongytan mehte.

1498 Sōna þæt onfunde, sē þe flōda begong

1499 heoro-gīfre behēold hund missēra,

1500 grim and grǣdig, þæt þǣr gumena sum

1501 æl-wihta eard ufan cunnode.

1502 Grāp þā tōgēanes, gūð-rinc gefēng

1503 atolan clommum; nō þȳ ǣr in gescōd

1504 hālan līce: hring ūtan ymb-bearh,

1505 þæt hēo þone fyrd-hom þurh-fōn ne mihte,

1506 locene leoðo-syrcan lāðan fingrum.

1507 Bær þā sēo brim-wylf, þā hēo tō botme cōm,

1508 hringa þengel tō hofe sīnum,

1509 swā hē ne mihte nō (hē þæs mōdig wæs)

1510 wǣpna gewealdan, ac hine wundra þæs fela

1511 swencte on sunde, sǣ-dēor monig

1512 hilde-tūxum here-syrcan bræc,

1513 ēhton āglǣcan. Þā se eorl ongeat,

1514 þæt hē in nið-sele nāt-hwylcum wæs,

1515 þǣr him nǣnig wæter wihte ne sceðede,

1516 nē him for hrōf-sele hrīnan ne mehte

1517 fǣr-gripe flōdes: fȳr-lēoht geseah,

1518 blācne lēoman beorhte scīnan.

1519 Ongeat þā se gōda grund-wyrgenne,

1520 mere-wīf mihtig; mægen-rǣs forgeaf

1521 hilde-bille, hond swenge ne oftēah,

1522 þæt hire on hafelan hring-mǣl āgōl

1523 grǣdig gūð-lēoð. Þā se gist onfand,

1524 þæt se beado-lēoma bītan nolde,

1525 aldre sceððan, ac sēo ecg geswāc

1526 þēodne æt þearfe: þolode ǣr fela

1527 hond-gemōta, helm oft gescær,

1528 fǣges fyrd-hrægl: þæt wæs forma sīð

1529 dēorum māðme, þæt his dōm ālæg.

1530 Eft wæs ān-rǣd, nalas elnes læt,

1531 mǣrða gemyndig mǣg Hygelāces;

1532 wearp þā wunden-mǣl wrǣttum gebunden

1533 yrre ōretta, þæt hit on eorðan læg,

1534 stīð and stȳl-ecg; strenge getruwode,

1535 mund-gripe mægenes. Swā sceal man dōn,

1536 þonne hē æt gūðe gegān þenceð

1537 longsumne lof, nā ymb his līf cearað.

1538 Gefēng þā be eaxle (nalas for fǣhðe mearn)

1539 Gūð-Gēata lēod Grendles mōdor;

1540 brægd þā beadwe heard, þā hē gebolgen wæs,

1541 feorh-genīðlan, þæt hēo on flet gebēah.

1542 Hēo him eft hraðe and-lēan forgeald

1543 grimman grāpum and him tōgēanes fēng;

1544 oferwearp þā wērig-mōd wigena strengest,

1545 fēðe-cempa, þæt hē on fylle wearð.

1546 Ofsæt þā þone sele-gyst and hyre seaxe getēah,

1547 brād and brūn-ecg wolde hire bearn wrecan,

1548 āngan eaferan. Him on eaxle læg

1549 brēost-net brōden; þæt gebearh fēore,

1550 wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstōd.

1551 Hæfde þā forsīðod sunu Ecgþēowes

1552 under gynne grund, Gēata cempa,

1553 nemne him heaðo-byrne helpe gefremede,

1554 here-net hearde, and hālig god

1555 gewēold wīg-sigor, wītig drihten;

1556 rodera rǣdend hit on ryht gescēd,

1557 ȳðelīce syððan hē eft āstōd.

1558 Geseah þā on searwum sige-ēadig bil,

1559 eald sweord eotenisc ecgum þȳhtig,

1560 wigena weorð-mynd: þæt wæs wǣpna cyst,

1561 būton hit wæs māre þonne ǣnig mon ōðer

1562 tō beadu-lāce ætberan meahte

1563 gōd and geatolīc gīganta geweorc.

1564 Hē gefēng þā fetel-hilt, freca Scildinga,

1565 hrēoh and heoro-grim hring-mǣl gebrægd,

1566 aldres orwēna, yrringa slōh,

1567 þæt hire wið halse heard grāpode,

1568 bān-hringas bræc, bil eal þurh-wōd

1569 fǣgne flǣsc-homan, hēo on flet gecrong;

1570 sweord wæs swātig, secg weorce gefeh.

1571 Līxte se lēoma, lēoht inne stōd,

1572 efne swā of hefene hādre scīneð

1573 rodores candel. Hē æfter recede wlāt,

1574 hwearf þā be wealle, wǣpen hafenade

1575 heard be hiltum Higelāces þegn,

1576 yrre and ān-rǣd. Næs sēo ecg fracod

1577 hilde-rince, ac hē hraðe wolde

1578 Grendle forgyldan gūð-rǣsa fela

1579 þāra þe hē geworhte tō West-Denum

1580 oftor micle þonne on ǣnne sīð,

1581 þonne hē Hrōðgāres heorð-genēatas

1582 slōh on sweofote, slǣpende fræt

1583 folces Denigea fȳf-tȳne men

1584 and ōðer swylc ūt of-ferede,

1585 lāðlīcu lāc. Hē him þæs lēan forgeald,

1586 rēðe cempa, tō þæs þe hē on ræste geseah

1587 gūð-wērigne Grendel licgan,

1588 aldor-lēasne, swā him ǣr gescōd

1589 hild æt Heorote; hrā wīde sprong,

1590 syððan hē æfter dēaðe drepe þrowade,

1591 heoro-sweng heardne, and hine þā hēafde becearf,

1592 Sōna þæt gesāwon snottre ceorlas,

1593 þā þe mid Hrōðgāre on holm wliton,

1594 þæt wæs ȳð-geblond eal gemenged,

1595 brim blōde fāh: blonden-feaxe

1596 gomele ymb gōdne ongeador sprǣcon,

1597 þæt hig þæs æðelinges eft ne wēndon,

1598 þæt hē sige-hrēðig sēcean cōme

1599 mǣrne þēoden; þā þæs monige gewearð,

1600 þæt hine sēo brim-wylf ābroten hæfde.

1601 Þā cōm nōn dæges. Næs ofgēafon

1602 hwate Scyldingas; gewāt him hām þonon

1603 gold-wine gumena. Gistas sētan,

1604 mōdes sēoce, and on mere staredon,

1605 wiston and ne wēndon, þæt hīe heora wine-drihten

1606 selfne gesāwon. Þā þæt sweord ongan

1607 æfter heaðo-swāte hilde-gicelum

1608 wīg-bil wanian; þæt wæs wundra sum,

1609 þæt hit eal gemealt īse gelīcost,

1610 þonne forstes bend fæder onlǣteð,

1611 onwindeð wæl-rāpas, sē þe geweald hafað

1612 sǣla and mǣla; þæt is sōð metod.

1613 Ne nom hē in þǣm wīcum, Weder-Gēata lēod,

1614 māðm-ǣhta mā, þēh hē þǣr monige geseah,

1615 būton þone hafelan and þā hilt somod,

1616 since fāge; sweord ǣr gemealt,

1617 forbarn brōden mǣl: wæs þæt blōd tō þæs hāt,

1618 ǣttren ellor-gǣst, sē þǣr inne swealt.

1619 Sōna wæs on sunde, sē þe ǣr æt sæcce gebād

1620 wīg-hryre wrāðra, wæter up þurh-dēaf;

1621 wǣron ȳð-gebland eal gefǣlsod,

1622 ēacne eardas, þā se ellor-gāst

1623 oflēt līf-dagas and þās lǣnan gesceaft.

1624 Cōm þā tō lande lid-manna helm

1625 swīð-mōd swymman, sǣ-lāce gefeah,

1626 mægen-byrðenne þāra þe hē him mid hæfde.

1627 Ēodon him þā tōgēanes, gode þancodon,

1628 þrȳðlīc þegna hēap, þēodnes gefēgon,

1629 þæs þe hī hyne gesundne gesēon mōston.

1630 Þā wæs of þǣm hrōran helm and byrne

1631 lungre ālȳsed: lagu drūsade,

1632 wæter under wolcnum, wæl-drēore fāg.

1633 Fērdon forð þonon fēðe-lāstum

1634 ferhðum fægne, fold-weg mǣton,

1635 cūðe strǣte; cyning-balde men

1636 from þǣm holm-clife hafelan bǣron

1637 earfoðlīce heora ǣghwæðrum

1638 fela-mōdigra: fēower scoldon

1639 on ðæm wæl-stenge weorcum geferian

1640 tō þǣm gold-sele Grendles hēafod,

1641 oð þæt semninga tō sele cōmon

1642 frome fyrd-hwate fēower-tȳne

1643 Gēata gongan; gum-dryhten mid

1644 mōdig on gemonge meodo-wongas træd.

1645 Þā cōm in gān ealdor þegna,

1646 dǣd-cēne mon dōme gewurðad,

1647 hæle hilde-dēor. Hrōðgār grētan:

1648 Þā wæs be feaxe on flet boren

1649 Grendles hēafod, þǣr guman druncon,

1650 egeslīc for eorlum and þǣre idese mid:

1651 wlite-sēon wrǣtlīc weras onsāwon.

1652 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

1653 "Hwæt! wē þē þās sǣ-lāc, sunu Healfdenes,

1654 "lēod Scyldinga, lustum brōhton,

1655 "tīres tō tācne, þē þū hēr tō lōcast.

1656 "Ic þæt unsōfte ealdre gedīgde:

1657 "wigge under wætere weorc genēðde

1658 "earfoðlīce, æt-rihte wæs

1659 "gūð getwǣfed, nymðe mec god scylde.

1660 "Ne meahte ic æt hilde mid Hruntinge

1661 "wiht gewyrcan, þēah þæt wǣpen duge,

1662 "ac mē geūðe ylda waldend,

1663 "þæt ic on wāge geseah wlitig hangian

1664 "eald sweord ēacen (oftost wīsode

1665 "winigea lēasum) þæt ic þȳ wǣpne gebrǣ.

1666 "Ofslōh þā æt þǣre sæcce (þā mē sǣl āgeald)

1667 "hūses hyrdas. Þā þæt hilde-bil

1668 "forbarn, brogden mǣl, swā þæt blōd gesprang,

1669 "hātost heaðo-swāta: ic þæt hilt þanan

1670 "fēondum ætferede; fyren-dǣda wræc,

1671 "dēað-cwealm Denigea, swā hit gedēfe wæs.

1672 "Ic hit þē þonne gehāte, þæt þū on Heorote mōst

1673 "sorh-lēas swefan mid þīnra secga gedryht,

1674 "and þegna gehwylc þīnra lēoda,

1675 "duguðe and iogoðe, þæt þū him ondrǣdan ne þearft,

1676 "þēoden Scyldinga, on þā healfe,

1677 "aldor-bealu eorlum, swā þū ǣr dydest."

1678 Þā wæs gylden hilt gamelum rince.

1679 hārum hild-fruman, on hand gyfen,

1680 enta ǣr-geweorc, hit on ǣht gehwearf

1681 æfter dēofla hryre Denigea frēan,

1682 wundor-smiða geweorc, and þā þās worold ofgeaf

1683 grom-heort guma, godes andsaca,

1684 morðres scyldig, and his mōdor ēac;

1685 on geweald gehwearf worold-cyninga

1686 þǣm sēlestan be sǣm twēonum

1687 þāra þe on Sceden-igge sceattas dǣlde.

1688 Hrōðgār maðelode, hylt scēawode,

1689 ealde lāfe, on þǣm wæs ōr writen

1690 fyrn-gewinnes: syððan flōd ofslōh,

1691 gifen gēotende, gīganta cyn,

1692 frēcne gefērdon: þæt wæs fremde þēod

1693 ēcean dryhtne, him þæs ende-lēan

1694 þurh wæteres wylm waldend sealde.

1695 Swā wæs on þǣm scennum scīran goldes

1696 þurh rūn-stafas rihte gemearcod,

1697 geseted and gesǣd, hwām þæt sweord geworht,

1698 īrena cyst ǣrest wǣre,

1699 wreoðen-hilt and wyrm-fāh. þā se wīsa spræc

1700 sunu Healfdenes (swīgedon ealle):

1701 "Þæt lā mæg secgan, sē þe sōð and riht

1702 "fremeð on folce, (feor eal gemon

1703 "eald ēðel-weard), þæt þes eorl wǣre

1704 "geboren betera! Blǣd is ārǣred

1705 "geond wīd-wegas, wine mīn Bēowulf,

1706 "þīn ofer þēoda gehwylce. Eal þū hit geþyldum healdest,

1707 "mægen mid mōdes snyttrum. Ic þē sceal mīne gelǣstan

1708 "frēode, swā wit furðum sprǣcon; þū scealt tō frōfre weorðan

1709 "eal lang-twidig lēodum þīnum,

1710 "hæleðum tō helpe. Ne wearð Heremōd swā

1711 "eaforum Ecgwelan, Ār-Scyldingum;

1712 "ne gewēox hē him tō willan, ac tō wæl-fealle

1713 "and tō dēað-cwalum Deniga lēodum;

1714 "brēat bolgen-mōd bēod-genēatas,

1715 "eaxl-gesteallan, oð þæt hē āna hwearf,

1716 "mǣre þēoden. mon-drēamum from:

1717 "þēah þe hine mihtig god mægenes wynnum,

1718 "eafeðum stēpte, ofer ealle men

1719 "forð gefremede, hwæðere him on ferhðe grēow

1720 "brēost-hord blōd-rēow: nallas bēagas geaf

1721 "Denum æfter dōme; drēam-lēas gebād,

1722 "þæt hē þæs gewinnes weorc þrowade,

1723 "lēod-bealo longsum. Þū þē lǣr be þon,

1724 "gum-cyste ongit! ic þis gid be þē

1725 "āwræc wintrum frōd. Wundor is tō secganne,

1726 "hū mihtig god manna cynne

1727 "þurh sīdne sefan snyttru bryttað,

1728 "eard and eorl-scipe, hē āh ealra geweald.

1729 "Hwīlum hē on lufan lǣteð hworfan

1730 "monnes mōd-geþonc mǣran cynnes,

1731 "seleð him on ēðle eorðan wynne,

1732 "tō healdanne hlēo-burh wera,

1733 "gedēð him swā gewealdene worolde dǣlas,

1734 "sīde rīce, þæt hē his selfa ne mæg

1735 "for his un-snyttrum ende geþencean;

1736 "wunað hē on wiste, nō hine wiht dweleð,

1737 "ādl nē yldo, nē him inwit-sorh

1738 "on sefan sweorceð, nē gesacu ōhwǣr,

1739 "ecg-hete ēoweð, ac him eal worold

1740 "wendeð on willan; hē þæt wyrse ne con,

1741 "oð þæt him on innan ofer-hygda dǣl

1742 "weaxeð and wridað, þonne se weard swefeð,

1743 "sāwele hyrde: bið se slǣp tō fæst,

1744 "bisgum gebunden, bona swīðe nēah,

1745 "sē þe of flān-bogan fyrenum scēoteð.

1746 "Þonne bið on hreðre under helm drepen

1747 "biteran strǣle: him bebeorgan ne con

1748 "wom wundor-bebodum wergan gāstes;

1749 "þinceð him tō lȳtel, þæt hē tō lange hēold,

1750 "gȳtsað grom-hȳdig, nallas on gylp seleð

1751 "fǣtte bēagas and hē þā forð-gesceaft

1752 "forgyteð and forgȳmeð, þæs þe him ǣr god sealde

1753 "wuldres waldend, weorð-mynda dǣl.

1754 "Hit on ende-stæf eft gelimpeð,

1755 "þæt se līc-homa lǣne gedrēoseð,

1756 "fǣge gefealleð; fēhð ōðer tō,

1757 "sē þe unmurnlīce mādmas dǣleð,

1758 "eorles ǣr-gestrēon, egesan ne gȳmeð.

1759 "Bebeorh þē þone bealo-nīð, Bēowulf lēofa,

1760 "secg se betsta, and þē þæt sēlre gecēos,

1761 "ēce rǣdas; oferhȳda ne gȳm,

1762 "mǣre cempa! Nū is þīnes mægnes blǣd

1763 "āne hwīle; eft sōna bið,

1764 "þæt þec ādl oððe ecg eafoðes getwǣfeð,

1765 "oððe fȳres feng oððe flōdes wylm,

1766 "oððe gripe mēces oððe gāres fliht,

1767 "oððe atol yldo, oððe ēagena bearhtm

1768 "forsiteð and forsworceð; semninga bið,

1769 "þæt þec, dryht-guma, dēað oferswȳðeð.

1770 "Swā ic Hring-Dena hund missēra

1771 "wēold under wolcnum, and hig wigge belēac

1772 "manigum mǣgða geond þysne middan-geard,

1773 "æscum and ecgum, þæt ic mē ǣnigne

1774 "under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde.

1775 "Hwæt! mē þæs on ēðle edwenden cwōm,

1776 "gyrn æfter gomene, seoððan Grendel wearð,

1777 "eald-gewinna, in-genga mīn:

1778 "ic þǣre sōcne singāles wæg

1779 "mōd-ceare micle. Þæs sig metode þanc,

1780 "ēcean drihtne, þæs þe ic on aldre gebād,

1781 "þæt ic on þone hafelan heoro-drēorigne

1782 "ofer eald gewin ēagum starige!

1783 "Gā nū tō setle, symbel-wynne drēoh

1784 "wīgge weorðad: unc sceal worn fela

1785 "māðma gemǣnra, siððan morgen bið."

1786 Gēat wæs glæd-mōd, gēong sōna tō,

1787 setles nēosan, swā se snottra heht.

1788 Þā wæs eft swā ǣr ellen-rōfum,

1789 flet-sittendum fægere gereorded

1790 nīowan stefne. Niht-helm geswearc

1791 deorc ofer dryht-gumum. Duguð eal ārās;

1792 wolde blonden-feax beddes nēosan,

1793 gamela Scylding. Gēat ungemetes wēl,

1794 rōfne rand-wigan restan lyste:

1795 sōna him sele-þegn sīðes wērgum,

1796 feorran-cundum forð wīsade,

1797 se for andrysnum ealle beweotede

1798 þegnes þearfe, swylce þȳ dōgore

1799 hēaðo-līðende habban scoldon.

1800 Reste hine þā rūm-heort; reced hlīfade

1801 gēap and gold-fāh, gæst inne swæf,

1802 oð þæt hrefn blaca heofones wynne

1803 blīð-heort bodode. Þā cōm beorht sunne

1804 scacan ofer grundas; scaðan ōnetton,

1805 wǣron æðelingas eft tō lēodum

1806 fūse tō farenne, wolde feor þanon

1807 cuma collen-ferhð cēoles nēosan.

1808 Heht þā se hearda Hrunting beran,

1809 sunu Ecglāfes, heht his sweord niman,

1810 lēoflīc īren; sægde him þæs lēanes þanc,

1811 cwæð hē þone gūð-wine gōdne tealde,

1812 wīg-cræftigne, nales wordum lōg

1813 mēces ecge: þæt wæs mōdig secg.

1814 And þā sīð-frome searwum gearwe

1815 wīgend wǣron, ēode weorð Denum

1816 æðeling tō yppan, þǣr se ōðer wæs

1817 hæle hilde-dēor, Hrōðgār grētte.

1818 Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

1819 "Nū wē sǣ-līðend secgan wyllað

1820 "feorran cumene, þæt wē fundiað

1821 "Higelāc sēcan. Wǣron hēr tela

1822 "willum bewenede; þū ūs wēl dohtest.

1823 "Gif ic þonne on eorðan ōwihte mæg

1824 "þīnre mōd-lufan māran tilian,

1825 "gumena dryhten, þonne ic gȳt dyde,

1826 "gūð-geweorca ic bēo gearo sōna.

1827 "Gif ic þæt gefricge ofer flōda begang,

1828 "þæt þec ymbe-sittend egesan þȳwað,

1829 "swā þec hetende hwīlum dydon,

1830 "ic þē þūsenda þegna bringe,

1831 "hæleða tō helpe. Ic on Higelāce wāt,

1832 "Gēata dryhten, þēah þe hē geong sȳ,

1833 "folces hyrde, þæt hē mec fremman wile

1834 "wordum and worcum, þæt ic þē wēl herige,

1835 "and þē tō gēoce gār-holt bere

1836 "mægenes fultum, þǣr þē bið manna þearf;

1837 "gif him þonne Hrēðrīc tō hofum Gēata

1838 "geþingeð, þēodnes bearn, hē mæg þǣr fela

1839 "frēonda findan: feor-cȳððe bēoð

1840 "sēlran gesōhte þǣm þe him selfa dēah."

1841 Hrōðgār maðelode him on andsware:

1842 "Þē þā word-cwydas wittig drihten

1843 "on sefan sende! ne hȳrde ic snotorlīcor

1844 "on swā geongum feore guman þingian:

1845 "þū eart mægenes strang and on mōde frōd,

1846 "wīs word-cwida. Wēn ic talige,

1847 "gif þæt gegangeð, þæt þe gār nymeð,

1848 "hild heoru-grimme Hrēðles eaferan,

1849 "ādl oððe īren ealdor þīnne,

1850 "folces hyrde, and þū þīn feorh hafast,

1851 "þæt þe Sǣ-Gēatas sēlran næbben

1852 "tō gecēosenne cyning ǣnigne,

1853 "hord-weard hæleða, gif þū healdan wylt

1854 "māga rīce. Mē þīn mōd-sefa

1855 "līcað leng swā wēl, lēofa Bēowulf:

1856 "hafast þū gefēred, þæt þām folcum sceal,

1857 "Gēata lēodum and Gār-Denum

1858 "sib gemǣnum and sacu restan,

1859 "inwit-nīðas, þē hīe ǣr drugon;

1860 "wesan, þenden ic wealde wīdan rīces,

1861 "māðmas gemǣne, manig ōðerne

1862 "gōdum gegrētan ofer ganotes bæð;

1863 "sceal hring-naca ofer hēaðu bringan

1864 "lāc and luf-tācen. Ic þā lēode wāt

1865 "gē wið fēond gē wið frēond fæste geworhte

1866 "ǣghwæs untǣle ealde wīsan."

1867 Þā gīt him eorla hlēo inne gesealde,

1868 mago Healfdenes māðmas twelfe,

1869 hēt hine mid þǣm lācum lēode swǣse

1870 sēcean on gesyntum, snūde eft cuman.

1871 Gecyste þā cyning æðelum gōd,

1872 þēoden Scildinga, þegen betstan

1873 and be healse genam; hruron him tēaras,

1874 blonden-feaxum: him wæs bēga wēn,

1875 ealdum infrōdum, ōðres swīðor,

1876 þæt hī seoððan gesēon mōston

1877 mōdige on meðle. Wæs him se man tō þon lēof,

1878 þæt hē þone brēost-wylm forberan ne mehte,

1879 ac him on hreðre hyge-bendum fæst

1880 æfter dēorum men dyrne langað

1881 beorn wið blōde. Him Bēowulf þanan,

1882 gūð-rinc gold-wlanc græs-moldan træd,

1883 since hrēmig: sǣ-genga bād

1884 āgend-frēan, sē þe on ancre rād.

1885 Þā wæs on gange gifu Hrōðgāres

1886 oft geæhted: þæt wæs ān cyning

1887 ǣghwæs orleahtre, oð þæt hine yldo benam

1888 mægenes wynnum, sē þe oft manegum scōd.

1889 Cwōm þā tō flōde fela-mōdigra

1890 hæg-stealdra hēap; hring-net bǣron,

1891 locene leoðo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand

1892 eft-sīð eorla, swā hē ǣr dyde;

1893 nō hē mid hearme of hlīðes nosan

1894 gæstas grētte, ac him tōgēanes rād;

1895 cwæð þæt wilcuman Wedera lēodum

1896 scawan scīr-hame tō scipe fōron.

1897 Þā wæs on sande sǣ-gēap naca

1898 hladen here-wǣdum, hringed-stefna

1899 mēarum and māðmum: mæst hlīfade

1900 ofer Hrōðgāres hord-gestrēonum.

1901 Hē þǣm bāt-wearde bunden golde

1902 swurd gesealde, þæt hē syððan wæs

1903 on meodu-bence māðme þȳ weorðra,

1904 yrfe-lāfe. Gewāt him on ȳð-nacan,

1905 drēfan dēop wæter, Dena land ofgeaf.

1906 Þā wæs be mæste mere-hrægla sum,

1907 segl sāle fæst. Sund-wudu þunede,

1908 nō þǣr wēg-flotan wind ofer ȳðum

1909 sīðes getwǣfde; sǣ-genga fōr,

1910 flēat fāmig-heals forð ofer ȳðe,

1911 bunden-stefna ofer brim-strēamas,

1912 þæt hīe Gēata clifu ongitan meahton,

1913 cūðe næssas. Cēol up geþrang,

1914 lyft-geswenced on lande stōd.

1915 Hraðe wæs æt holme hȳð-weard gearo,

1916 sē þe ǣr lange tīd, lēofra manna

1917 fūs, æt faroðe feor wlātode;

1918 sǣlde tō sande sīd-fæðme scip

1919 oncer-bendum fæst, þȳ lǣs hym ȳða þrym

1920 wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte.

1921 Hēt þā up beran æðelinga gestrēon,

1922 frætwe and fǣt-gold; næs him feor þanon

1923 tō gesēcanne sinces bryttan:

1924 Higelāc Hrēðling þǣr æt hām wunað,

1925 selfa mid gesīðum sǣ-wealle nēah;

1926 bold wæs betlīc, brego-rōf cyning,

1927 hēa on healle, Hygd swīðe geong,

1928 wīs, wēl-þungen, þēah þe wintra lȳt

1929 under burh-locan gebiden hæbbe

1930 Hæreðes dōhtor: næs hīo hnāh swā þēah,

1931 nē tō gnēað gifa Gēata lēodum,

1932 māðm-gestrēona. Mod Þrȳðo wæg,

1933 fremu folces cwēn, firen ondrysne:

1934 nǣnig þæt dorste dēor genēðan

1935 swǣsra gesīða, nefne sin-frēa,

1936 þæt hire an dæges ēagum starede;

1937 ac him wæl-bende weotode tealde,

1938 hand-gewriðene: hraðe seoððan wæs

1939 æfter mund-gripe mēce geþinged,

1940 þæt hit sceaðen-mǣl scȳran mōste,

1941 cwealm-bealu cȳðan. Ne bið swylc cwēnlīc þēaw

1942 idese tō efnanne, þēah þe hīo ǣnlīcu sȳ,

1943 þætte freoðu-webbe fēores onsæce

1944 æfter līge-torne lēofne mannan.

1945 Hūru þæt onhōhsnode Heminges mǣg;

1946 ealo drincende ōðer sǣdan,

1947 þæt hīo lēod-bealewa lǣs gefremede,

1948 inwit-nīða, syððan ǣrest wearð

1949 gyfen gold-hroden geongum cempan,

1950 æðelum dīore, syððan hīo Offan flet

1951 ofer fealone flōd be fæder lāre

1952 sīðe gesōhte, þǣr hīo syððan wēl

1953 in gum-stōle, gōde mǣre,

1954 līf-gesceafta lifigende brēac,

1955 hīold hēah-lufan wið hæleða brego,

1956 ealles mon-cynnes mīne gefrǣge

1957 þone sēlestan bī sǣm twēonum

1958 eormen-cynnes; forþām Offa wæs

1959 geofum and gūðum gār-cēne man,

1960 wīde geweorðod; wīsdōme hēold

1961 ēðel sīnne, þonon Ēomǣr wōc

1962 hæleðum tō helpe, Heminges mǣg,

1963 nefa Gārmundes, nīða cræftig.

1964 Gewāt him þā se hearda mid his hond-scole

1965 sylf æfter sande sǣ-wong tredan,

1966 wīde waroðas. Woruld-candel scān,

1967 sigel sūðan fūs: hī sīð drugon,

1968 elne geēodon, tō þæs þe eorla hlēo,

1969 bonan Ongenþēowes burgum on innan,

1970 geongne gūð-cyning gōdne gefrūnon

1971 hringas dǣlan. Higelāce wæs

1972 sīð Bēowulfes snūde gecȳðed,

1973 þæt þǣr on worðig wīgendra hlēo,

1974 lind-gestealla lifigende cwōm,

1975 heaðo-lāces hāl tō hofe gongan.

1976 Hraðe wæs gerȳmed, swā se rīca bebēad,

1977 fēðe-gestum flet innan-weard.

1978 Gesæt þā wið sylfne, sē þā sæcce genæs,

1979 mǣg wið mǣge, syððan man-dryhten

1980 þurh hlēoðor-cwyde holdne gegrētte

1981 mēaglum wordum. Meodu-scencum

1982 hwearf geond þæt reced Hæreðes dōhtor:

1983 lufode þā lēode, līð-wǣge bær

1984 hǣlum tō handa. Higelāc ongan

1985 sīnne geseldan in sele þām hēan

1986 fægre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bræc,

1987 hwylce Sǣ-Gēata sīðas wǣron:

1988 "Hū lomp ēow on lāde, lēofa Bīowulf,

1989 "þā þū fǣringa feorr gehogodest,

1990 "sæcce sēcean ofer sealt wæter,

1991 "hilde tō Hiorote? Ac þū Hrōðgāre

1992 "wīd-cūðne wēan wihte gebēttest,

1993 "mǣrum þēodne? Ic þæs mōd-ceare

1994 "sorh-wylmum sēað, sīðe ne truwode

1995 "lēofes mannes; ic þē lange bæd,

1996 "þæt þū þone wæl-gǣst wihte ne grētte,

1997 "lēte Sūð-Dene sylfe geweorðan

1998 "gūðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge,

1999 "þæs þe ic þē gesundne gesēon mōste."

2000 Bīowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþīowes:

2001 "Þæt is undyrne, dryhten Higelāc,

2002 "mǣre gemēting monegum fīra,

2003 "hwylc orleg-hwīl uncer Grendles

2004 "wearð on þām wange, þǣr hē worna fela

2005 "Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede,

2006 "yrmðe tō aldre; ic þæt eal gewræc,

2007 "swā ne gylpan þearf Grendeles māga

2008 "ǣnig ofer eorðan ūht-hlem þone,

2009 "sē þe lengest leofað lāðan cynnes,

2010 "fenne bifongen. Ic þǣr furðum cwōm,

2011 "tō þām hring-sele Hrōðgār grētan:

2012 "sōna mē se mǣra mago Healfdenes,

2013 "syððan hē mōd-sefan mīnne cūðe,

2014 "wið his sylfes sunu setl getǣhte.

2015 "Weorod wæs on wynne; ne seah ic wīdan feorh

2016 "under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra

2017 "medu-drēam māran. Hwīlum mǣru cwēn,

2018 "friðu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf,

2019 "bǣdde byre geonge; oft hīo bēah-wriðan

2020 "secge sealde, ǣr hīo tō setle gēong.

2021 "Hwīlum for duguðe dōhtor Hrōðgāres

2022 "eorlum on ende ealu-wǣge bær,

2023 "þā ic Frēaware flet-sittende

2024 "nemnan hȳrde, þǣr hīo nægled sinc

2025 "hæleðum sealde: sīo gehāten wæs,

2026 "geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frōdan;

2027 "hafað þæs geworden wine Scyldinga

2028 "rīces hyrde and þæt rǣd talað,

2029 "þæt hē mid þȳ wīfe wæl-fǣhða dǣl,

2030 "sæcca gesette. Oft nō seldan hwǣr

2031 "æfter lēod-hryre lȳtle hwīle

2032 "bon-gār būgeð, þēah sēo brȳd duge!

2033 "Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncan þēoden Heaðobeardna

2034 "and þegna gehwām þāra lēoda,

2035 "þonne hē mid fǣmnan on flett gǣð,

2036 "dryht-bearn Dena duguða biwenede:

2037 "on him gladiað gomelra lāfe

2038 "heard and hring-mǣl, Heaðobeardna gestrēon,

2039 "þenden hīe þām wǣpnum wealdan mōston,

2040 "oð þæt hīe forlǣddan tō þām lind-plegan

2041 "swǣse gesīðas ond hyra sylfra feorh.

2042 "Þonne cwið æt bēore, sē þe bēah gesyhð,

2043 "eald æsc-wiga, sē þe eall geman

2044 "gār-cwealm gumena (him bið grim sefa),

2045 "onginneð geōmor-mōd geongne cempan

2046 "þurh hreðra gehygd higes cunnian,

2047 "wīg-bealu weccean and þæt word ācwyð:

2048 "'Meaht þū, mīn wine, mēce gecnāwan,

2049 "'þone þin fæder tō gefeohte bær

2050 "'under here-grīman hindeman sīðe,

2051 "'dȳre īren, þǣr hyne Dene slōgon,

2052 "'wēoldon wæl-stōwe, syððan wiðer-gyld læg,

2053 "'æfter hæleða hryre, hwate Scyldungas?

2054 "'Nu hēr þāra banena byre nāt-hwylces,

2055 "'frætwum hrēmig on flet gǣð,

2056 "'morðres gylpeð and þone māððum byreð,

2057 "'þone þe þū mid rihte rǣdan sceoldest!'"

2058 "Manað swā and myndgað mǣla gehwylce

2059 "sārum wordum, oð þæt sǣl cymeð,

2060 "þæt se fǣmnan þegn fore fæder dǣdum

2061 "æfter billes bite blōd-fāg swefeð,

2062 "ealdres scyldig; him se ōðer þonan

2063 "losað lifigende, con him land geare.

2064 "Þonne bīoð brocene on bā healfe

2065 "āð-sweord eorla; syððan Ingelde

2066 "weallað wæl-nīðas and him wīf-lufan

2067 "æfter cear-wælmum cōlran weorðað.

2068 "Þȳ ic Heaðobeardna hyldo ne telge,

2069 "dryht-sibbe dǣl Denum unfǣcne,

2070 "frēond-scipe fæstne. Ic sceal forð sprecan

2071 "gēn ymbe Grendel, þæt þū geare cunne,

2072 "sinces brytta, tō hwan syððan wearð

2073 "hond-rǣs hæleða. Syððan heofones gim

2074 "glād ofer grundas, gæst yrre cwōm,

2075 "eatol ǣfen-grom, ūser nēosan,

2076 "þǣr wē gesunde sæl weardodon;

2077 "þǣr wæs Hondscīo hild onsǣge,

2078 "feorh-bealu fǣgum, hē fyrmest læg,

2079 "gyrded cempa; him Grendel wearð,

2080 "mǣrum magu-þegne tō mūð-bonan,

2081 "lēofes mannes līc eall forswealg.

2082 "Nō þȳ ǣr ūt þā gēn īdel-hende

2083 "bona blōdig-tōð bealewa gemyndig,

2084 "of þām gold-sele gongan wolde,

2085 "ac hē mægnes rōf mīn costode,

2086 "grāpode gearo-folm. Glōf hangode

2087 "sīd and syllīc searo-bendum fæst,

2088 "sīo wæs orþoncum eall gegyrwed

2089 "dēofles cræftum and dracan fellum:

2090 "hē mec þǣr on innan unsynnigne,

2091 "dīor dǣd-fruma, gedōn wolde,

2092 "manigra sumne: hyt ne mihte swā,

2093 "syððan ic on yrre upp-riht āstōd.

2094 "Tō lang ys tō reccenne, hū ic þām lēod-sceaðan

2095 "yfla gehwylces ond-lēan forgeald;

2096 "þǣr ic, þēoden mīn, þīne lēode

2097 "weorðode weorcum. Hē on weg losade,

2098 "lȳtle hwīle līf-wynna brēac;

2099 "hwæðre him sīo swīðre swaðe weardade

2100 "hand on Hiorte and hē hēan þonan,

2101 "mōdes geōmor mere-grund gefēoll.

2102 "Mē þone wæl-rǣs wine Scildunga

2103 "fǣttan golde fela lēanode,

2104 "manegum māðmum, syððan mergen cōm

2105 "and wē tō symble geseten hæfdon.

2106 "Þǣr wæs gidd and glēo; gomela Scilding

2107 "fela fricgende feorran rehte;

2108 "hwīlum hilde-dēor hearpan wynne,

2109 "gomen-wudu grētte; hwīlum gyd āwræc

2110 "sōð and sārlīc; hwīlum syllīc spell

2111 "rehte æfter rihte rūm-heort cyning.

2112 "Hwīlum eft ongan eldo gebunden,

2113 "gomel gūð-wiga gioguðe cwīðan

2114 "hilde-strengo; hreðer inne wēoll,

2115 "þonne hē wintrum frōd worn gemunde.

2116 "Swā wē þǣr inne andlangne dæg

2117 "nīode nāman, oð þæt niht becwōm

2118 "ōðer tō yldum. Þā wæs eft hraðe

2119 "gearo gyrn-wræce Grendeles mōdor,

2120 "sīðode sorh-full; sunu dēað fornam,

2121 "wīg-hete Wedra. Wīf unhȳre

2122 "hyre bearn gewræc, beorn ācwealde

2123 "ellenlīce; þǣr wæs Æsc-here,

2124 "frōdan fyrn-witan, feorh ūðgenge;

2125 "nōðer hȳ hine ne mōston, syððan mergen cwōm,

2126 "dēað-wērigne Denia lēode

2127 "bronde forbærnan, nē on bǣl hladan

2128 "lēofne mannan: hīo þæt līc ætbær

2129 "fēondes fæðmum under firgen-strēam.

2130 "Þæt wæs Hrōðgāre hrēowa tornost

2131 "þāra þe lēod-fruman lange begeāte;

2132 "þā se þēoden mec þīne līfe

2133 "healsode hrēoh-mōd, þæt ic on holma geþring

2134 "eorl-scipe efnde, ealdre genēðde,

2135 "mǣrðo fremede: hē mē mēde gehēt.

2136 "Ic þā þæs wælmes, þē is wīde cūð,

2137 "grimne gryrelīcne grund-hyrde fond.

2138 "Þǣr unc hwīle wæs hand gemǣne;

2139 "holm heolfre wēoll and ic hēafde becearf

2140 "in þām grund-sele Grendeles mōdor

2141 "ēacnum ecgum, unsōfte þonan

2142 "feorh oðferede; næs ic fǣge þā gȳt,

2143 "ac mē eorla hlēo eft gesealde

2144 "māðma menigeo, maga Healfdenes.

2145 "Swā se þēod-kyning þēawum lyfde;

2146 "nealles ic þām lēanum forloren hæfde,

2147 "mægnes mēde, ac hē mē māðmas geaf,

2148 "sunu Healfdenes, on sīnne sylfes dōm;

2149 "þā ic þē, beorn-cyning, bringan wylle,

2150 "ēstum geȳwan. Gēn is eall æt þē

2151 "lissa gelong: ic lȳt hafo

2152 "hēafod-māga, nefne Hygelāc þec!"

2153 Hēt þā in beran eafor, hēafod-segn,

2154 heaðo-stēapne helm, hāre byrnan,

2155 gūð-sweord geatolīc, gyd æfter wræc:

2156 "Mē þis hilde-sceorp Hrōðgār sealde,

2157 "snotra fengel, sume worde hēt,

2158 "þæt ic his ǣrest þē eft gesægde,

2159 "cwæð þæt hyt hæfde Hiorogār cyning,

2160 "lēod Scyldunga lange hwīle:

2161 "nō þȳ ǣr suna sīnum syllan wolde,

2162 "hwatum Heorowearde, þēah hē him hold wǣre,

2163 "brēost-gewǣdu. Brūc ealles well!"

2164 Hȳrde ic þæt þām frætwum fēower mēaras

2165 lungre gelīce lāst weardode,

2166 æppel-fealuwe; hē him ēst getēah

2167 mēara and māðma. Swā sceal mǣg dōn,

2168 nealles inwit-net ōðrum bregdan,

2169 dyrnum cræfte dēað rēnian

2170 hond-gesteallan. Hygelāce wæs,

2171 nīða heardum, nefa swȳðe hold

2172 and gehwæðer ōðrum hrōðra gemyndig.

2173 Hȳrde ic þæt hē þone heals-bēah Hygde gesealde,

2174 wrǣtlīcne wundur-māððum, þone þe him Wealhþēo geaf,

2175 þēodnes dōhtor, þrīo wicg somod

2176 swancor and sadol-beorht; hyre syððan wæs

2177 æfter bēah-þege brēost geweorðod.

2178 Swā bealdode bearn Ecgþēowes,

2179 guma gūðum cūð, gōdum dǣdum,

2180 drēah æfter dōme, nealles druncne slōg

2181 heorð-genēatas; næs him hrēoh sefa,

2182 ac hē man-cynnes mǣste cræfte

2183 gin-fæstan gife, þē him god sealde,

2184 hēold hilde-dēor. Hēan wæs lange,

2185 swā hyne Gēata bearn gōdne ne tealdon,

2186 nē hyne on medo-bence micles wyrðne

2187 drihten wereda gedōn wolde;

2188 swȳðe oft sægdon, þæt hē slēac wǣre,

2189 æðeling unfrom: edwenden cwōm

2190 tīr-ēadigum menn torna gehwylces.

2191 Hēt þā eorla hlēo in gefetian,

2192 heaðo-rōf cyning, Hrēðles lāfe,

2193 golde gegyrede; næs mid Gēatum þā

2194 sinc-māððum sēlra on sweordes hād;

2195 þæt hē on Bīowulfes bearm ālegde,

2196 and him gesealde seofan þūsendo,

2197 bold and brego-stōl. Him wæs bām samod

2198 on þām lēod-scipe lond gecynde,

2199 eard ēðel-riht, ōðrum swīðor

2200 sīde rīce, þām þǣr sēlra wæs.

2201 Eft þæt geīode ufaran dōgrum

2202 hilde-hlæmmum, syððan Hygelāc læg

2203 and Heardrēde hilde-mēceas

2204 under bord-hrēoðan tō bonan wurdon,

2205 þā hyne gesōhtan on sige-þēode

2206 hearde hilde-frecan, Heaðo-Scilfingas,

2207 nīða genǣgdan nefan Hererīces.

2208 Syððan Bēowulfe brāde rīce

2209 on hand gehwearf: hē gehēold tela

2210 fīftig wintru (wæs þā frōd cyning,

2211 eald ēðel-weard), oð þæt ān ongan

2212 deorcum nihtum draca rīcsian,

2213 sē þe on hēare hǣðe hord beweotode,

2214 stān-beorh stēapne: stīg under læg,

2215 eldum uncūð. Þǣr on innan gīong

2216 niða nāt-hwylces nēode gefēng

2217 hǣðnum horde hond . d . . geþ . . hwylc

2218 since fāhne, hē þæt syððan . . . . .

2219 . . . þ . . . lð . þ . . l . g

2220 slǣpende be fȳre, fyrena hyrde

2221 þēofes cræfte, þæt sie . . . . ðioð . . . . .

2222 . idh . folc-beorn, þæt hē gebolgen wæs.

2223 Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . cræft

2224 sōhte sylfes willum, sē þe him sāre gesceōd,

2225 ac for þrēa-nēdlan þēow nāt-hwylces

2226 hæleða bearna hete-swengeas flēah,

2227 for ofer-þearfe and þǣr inne fealh

2228 secg syn-bysig. Sōna in þā tīde

2229 þæt . . . . . þām gyste . . . . br . g . stōd,

2230 hwæðre earm-sceapen . . . . . . .

2231 . . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fǣs begeat,

2232 sinc-fæt geseah: þǣr wæs swylcra fela

2233 in þām eorð-scræfe ǣr-gestrēona,

2234 swā hȳ on geār-dagum gumena nāt-hwylc

2235 eormen-lāfe æðelan cynnes

2236 þanc-hycgende þǣr gehȳdde,

2237 dēore māðmas. Ealle hīe dēað fornam

2238 ǣrran mǣlum, and se ān þā gēn

2239 lēoda duguðe, sē þǣr lengest hwearf,

2240 weard wine-geōmor wīscte þæs yldan,

2241 þæt hē lȳtel fæc long-gestrēona

2242 brūcan mōste. Beorh eal gearo

2243 wunode on wonge wæter-ȳðum nēah,

2244 nīwe be næsse nearo-cræftum fæst:

2245 þǣr on innan bær eorl-gestrēona

2246 hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dǣl

2247 fǣttan goldes, fēa worda cwæð:

2248 "Heald þū nū, hrūse, nū hæleð ne mōston,

2249 "eorla ǣhte. Hwæt! hit ǣr on þē

2250 "gōde begeāton; gūð-dēað fornam,

2251 "feorh-bealo frēcne fȳra gehwylcne,

2252 "lēoda mīnra, þāra þe þis līf ofgeaf,

2253 "gesāwon sele-drēam. Nāh hwā sweord wege

2254 "oððe fetige fǣted wǣge,

2255 "drync-fæt dēore: duguð ellor scōc.

2256 "Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde

2257 "fǣtum befeallen: feormiend swefað,

2258 "þā þe beado-grīman bȳwan sceoldon,

2259 "gē swylce sēo here-pād, sīo æt hilde gebād

2260 "ofer borda gebræc bite īrena,

2261 "brosnað æfter beorne. Ne mæg byrnan hring

2262 "æfter wīg-fruman wīde fēran

2263 "hæleðum be healfe; næs hearpan wyn,

2264 "gomen glēo-bēames, nē gōd hafoc

2265 "geond sæl swingeð, nē se swifta mearh

2266 "burh-stede bēateð. Bealo-cwealm hafað

2267 "fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!"

2268 Swā giōmor-mōd giohðo mǣnde,

2269 ān æfter eallum unblīðe hwēop,

2270 dæges and nihtes, oð þæt dēaðes wylm

2271 hrān æt heortan. Hord-wynne fond

2272 eald ūht-sceaða opene standan,

2273 sē þe byrnende biorgas sēceð

2274 nacod nīð-draca, nihtes flēogeð

2275 fȳre befangen; hyne fold-būend

2276 wīde gesāwon. Hē gēwunian sceall

2277 hlāw under hrūsan, þǣr hē hǣðen gold

2278 warað wintrum frōd; ne byð him wihte þē sēl.

2279 Swā se þēod-sceaða þrēo hund wintra

2280 hēold on hrūsan hord-ærna sum

2281 ēacen-cræftig, oð þæt hyne ān ābealh

2282 mon on mōde: man-dryhtne bær

2283 fǣted wǣge, frioðo-wǣre bæd

2284 hlāford sīnne. Þā wæs hord rāsod,

2285 onboren bēaga hord, bēne getīðad

2286 fēa-sceaftum men. Frēa scēawode

2287 fīra fyrn-geweorc forman sīðe.

2288 Þā se wyrm onwōc, wrōht wæs genīwad;

2289 stonc þā æfter stāne, stearc-heort onfand

2290 fēondes fōt-lāst; hē tō forð gestōp,

2291 dyrnan cræfte, dracan hēafde nēah.

2292 Swā mæg unfǣge ēaðe gedīgan

2293 wēan and wræc-sīð, sē þe waldendes

2294 hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard sōhte

2295 georne æfter grunde, wolde guman findan,

2296 þone þe him on sweofote sāre getēode:

2297 hāt and hrēoh-mōd hlǣw oft ymbe hwearf,

2298 ealne ūtan-weardne; nē þǣr ǣnig mon

2299 wæs on þǣre wēstenne. Hwæðre hilde gefeh,

2300 beado-weorces: hwīlum on beorh æthwearf,

2301 sinc-fæt sōhte; hē þæt sōna onfand,

2302 þæt hæfde gumena sum goldes gefandod

2303 hēah-gestrēona. Hord-weard onbād

2304 earfoðlīce, oð þæt ǣfen cwōm;

2305 wæs þā gebolgen beorges hyrde,

2306 wolde se lāða līge forgyldan

2307 drinc-fæt dȳre. Þā wæs dæg sceacen

2308 wyrme on willan, nō on wealle leng

2309 bīdan wolde, ac mid bǣle fōr,

2310 fȳre gefȳsed. Wæs se fruma egeslīc

2311 lēodum on lande, swā hyt lungre wearð

2312 on hyra sinc-gifan sāre geendod.

2313 Þā se gæst ongan glēdum spīwan,

2314 beorht hofu bærnan; bryne-lēoma stōd

2315 eldum on andan; nō þǣr āht cwices

2316 lāð lyft-floga lǣfan wolde.

2317 Wæs þæs wyrmes wīg wīde gesȳne,

2318 nearo-fāges nīð nēan and feorran,

2319 hū se gūð-sceaða Gēata lēode

2320 hatode and hȳnde: hord eft gescēat,

2321 dryht-sele dyrnne ǣr dæges hwīle.

2322 Hæfde land-wara līge befangen,

2323 bǣle and bronde; beorges getruwode,

2324 wīges and wealles: him sēo wēn gelēah.

2325 Þā wæs Bīowulfe brōga gecȳðed

2326 snūde tō sōðe, þæt his sylfes him

2327 bolda sēlest bryne-wylmum mealt,

2328 gif-stōl Gēata. Þæt þām gōdan wæs

2329 hrēow on hreðre, hyge-sorga mǣst:

2330 wēnde se wīsa, þæt hē wealdende,

2331 ofer ealde riht, ēcean dryhtne

2332 bitre gebulge: brēost innan wēoll

2333 þēostrum geþoncum, swā him geþȳwe ne wæs.

2334 Hæfde līg-draca lēoda fæsten,

2335 ēa-lond ūtan, eorð-weard þone

2336 glēdum forgrunden. Him þæs gūð-cyning,

2337 Wedera þīoden, wræce leornode.

2338 Heht him þā gewyrcean wīgendra hlēo

2339 eall-īrenne, eorla dryhten

2340 wīg-bord wrǣtlīc; wisse hē gearwe,

2341 þæt him holt-wudu helpan ne meahte,

2342 lind wið līge. Sceolde lǣn-daga

2343 æðeling ǣr-gōd ende gebīdan

2344 worulde līfes and se wyrm somod;

2345 þēah þe hord-welan hēolde lange.

2346 Oferhogode þā hringa fengel,

2347 þæt hē þone wīd-flogan weorode gesōhte,

2348 sīdan herge; nō hē him þā sæcce ondrēd,

2349 nē him þæs wyrmes wīg for wiht dyde,

2350 eafoð and ellen; forþon hē ǣr fela

2351 nearo nēðende nīða gedīgde,

2352 hilde-hlemma, syððan hē Hrōðgāres,

2353 sigor-ēadig secg, sele fǣlsode

2354 and æt gūðe forgrāp Grendeles mǣgum,

2355 lāðan cynnes. Nō þæt lǣsest wæs

2356 hond-gemota, þǣr mon Hygelāc slōh,

2357 syððan Gēata cyning gūðe rǣsum,

2358 frēa-wine folces Frēslondum on,

2359 Hrēðles eafora hioro-dryncum swealt,

2360 bille gebēaten; þonan Bīowulf cōm

2361 sylfes cræfte, sund-nytte drēah;

2362 hæfde him on earme ... XXX

2363 hilde-geatwa, þā hē tō holme stāg.

2364 Nealles Hetware hrēmge þorfton

2365 fēðe-wīges, þē him foran ongēan

2366 linde bǣron: lȳt eft becwōm

2367 fram þām hild-frecan hāmes nīosan.

2368 Oferswam þā sioleða bigong sunu Ecgþēowes,

2369 earm ān-haga eft tō lēodum,

2370 þǣr him Hygd gebēad hord and rīce,

2371 bēagas and brego-stōl: bearne ne truwode,

2372 þæt hē wið æl-fylcum ēðel-stōlas

2373 healdan cūðe, þā wæs Hygelāc dēad.

2374 Nō þȳ ǣr fēa-sceafte findan meahton

2375 æt þām æðelinge ǣnige þinga,

2376 þæt hē Heardrēde hlāford wǣre,

2377 oððe þone cyne-dōm cīosan wolde;

2378 hwæðre hē him on folce frēond-lārum hēold,

2379 ēstum mid āre, oð þæt hē yldra wearð,

2380 Weder-Gēatum wēold. Hyne wræc-mæcgas

2381 ofer sǣ sōhtan, suna Ōhteres:

2382 hæfdon hȳ forhealden helm Scylfinga,

2383 þone sēlestan sǣ-cyninga,

2384 þāra þe in Swīo-rīce sinc brytnade,

2385 mǣrne þēoden. Him þæt tō mearce wearð;

2386 hē þǣr orfeorme feorh-wunde hlēat

2387 sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelāces;

2388 and him eft gewāt Ongenþīowes bearn

2389 hāmes nīosan, syððan Heardrēd læg;

2390 lēt þone brego-stōl Bīowulf healdan,

2391 Gēatum wealdan: þæt wæs gōd cyning.

2392 Sē þæs lēod-hryres lēan gemunde

2393 uferan dōgrum, Ēadgilse wearð

2394 fēa-sceaftum fēond. Folce gestepte

2395 ofer sǣ sīde sunu Ōhteres

2396 wigum and wǣpnum: hē gewræc syððan

2397 cealdum cear-sīðum, cyning ealdre binēat.

2398 Swā hē nīða gehwane genesen hæfde,

2399 slīðra geslyhta, sunu Ecgþīowes,

2400 ellen-weorca, oð þone ānne dæg,

2401 þē hē wið þām wyrme gewegan sceolde.

2402 Gewāt þā twelfa sum torne gebolgen

2403 dryhten Gēata dracan scēawian;

2404 hæfde þā gefrūnen, hwanan sīo fǣhð ārās,

2405 bealo-nīð biorna; him tō bearme cwōm

2406 māððum-fæt mǣre þurh þæs meldan hond,

2407 Sē wæs on þām þrēate þreotteoða secg,

2408 sē þæs orleges ōr onstealde,

2409 hæft hyge-giōmor, sceolde hēan þonon

2410 wong wīsian: hē ofer willan gīong

2411 tō þæs þe hē eorð-sele ānne wisse,

2412 hlǣw under hrūsan holm-wylme nēh,

2413 ȳð-gewinne, sē wæs innan full

2414 wrǣtta and wīra: weard unhīore,

2415 gearo gūð-freca, gold-māðmas hēold,

2416 eald under eorðan; næs þæt ȳðe cēap,

2417 tō gegangenne gumena ǣnigum.

2418 Gesæt þā on næsse nīð-heard cyning,

2419 þenden hǣlo ābēad heorð-genēatum

2420 gold-wine Gēata: him wæs geōmor sefa,

2421 wǣfre and wæl-fūs, Wyrd ungemete nēah,

2422 sē þone gomelan grētan sceolde,

2423 sēcean sāwle hord, sundur gedǣlan

2424 līf wið līce: nō þon lange wæs

2425 feorh æðelinges flǣsce bewunden.

2426 Bīowulf maðelade, bearn Ecgþēowes:

2427 "Fela ic on giogoðe guð-rǣsa genæs,

2428 "orleg-hwīla: ic þæt eall gemon.

2429 "Ic wæs syfan-wintre, þā mec sinca baldor,

2430 "frēa-wine folca æt mīnum fæder genam,

2431 "hēold mec and hæfde Hrēðel cyning,

2432 "geaf mē sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde;

2433 "næs ic him tō līfe lāðra ōwihte

2434 "beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,

2435 "Herebeald and Hæðcyn, oððe Hygelāc mīn.

2436 "Wæs þām yldestan ungedēfelīce

2437 "mǣges dǣdum morðor-bed strēd,

2438 "syððan hyne Hæðcyn of horn-bogan,

2439 "his frēa-wine flāne geswencte,

2440 "miste mercelses and his mǣg ofscēt,

2441 "brōðor ōðerne, blōdigan gāre:

2442 "þæt wæs feoh-lēas gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad

2443 "hreðre hyge-mēðe; sceolde hwæðre swā þēah

2444 "æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.

2445 "Swā bið geōmorlīc gomelum ceorle

2446 "tō gebīdanne, þæt his byre rīde

2447 "giong on galgan, þonne hē gyd wrece,

2448 "sārigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað

2449 "hrefne tō hrōðre and hē him helpe ne mæg,

2450 "eald and in-frōd, ǣnige gefremman.

2451 "Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce

2452 "eaforan ellor-sīð; ōðres ne gȳmeð

2453 "tō gebīdanne burgum on innan

2454 "yrfe-weardes, þonne se ān hafað

2455 "þurh dēaðes nȳd dǣda gefondad.

2456 "Gesyhð sorh-cearig on his suna būre

2457 "wīn-sele wēstne, wind-gereste,

2458 "rēote berofene; rīdend swefað

2459 "hæleð in hoðman; nis þǣr hearpan swēg,

2460 "gomen in geardum, swylce þǣr iū wǣron.

2461 "Gewīteð þonne on sealman, sorh-lēoð gæleð

2462 "ān æfter ānum: þūhte him eall tō rūm,

2463 "wongas and wīc-stede. Swā Wedra helm

2464 "æfter Herebealde heortan sorge

2465 "weallende wæg, wihte ne meahte

2466 "on þām feorh-bonan fǣhðe gebētan:

2467 "nō þȳ ǣr hē þone heaðo-rinc hatian ne meahte

2468 "lāðum dǣdum, þēah him lēof ne wæs.

2469 "Hē þā mid þǣre sorge, þē him sīo sār belamp,

2470 "gum-drēam ofgeaf, godes lēoht gecēas;

2471 "eaferum lǣfde, swā dēð ēadig mon,

2472 "lond and lēod-byrig, þā hē of līfe gewāt.

2473 "Þā wæs synn and sacu Swēona and Gēata,

2474 "ofer wīd wæter wrōht gemǣne,

2475 "here-nīð hearda, syððan Hrēðel swealt,

2476 "oððe him Ongenþēowes eaferan wǣran

2477 "frome fyrd-hwate, frēode ne woldon

2478 "ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hrēosna-beorh

2479 "eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon.

2480 "Þæt mǣg-wine mīne gewrǣcan,

2481 "fǣhðe and fyrene, swā hyt gefrǣge wæs,

2482 "þēah þe ōðer hit ealdre gebohte,

2483 "heardan cēape: Hæðcynne wearð,

2484 "Gēata dryhtne, gūð onsǣge.

2485 "Þā ic on morgne gefrægn mǣg ōðerne

2486 "billes ecgum on bonan stǣlan,

2487 "þǣr Ongenþēow Eofores nīosade:

2488 "gūð-helm tōglād, gomela Scylfing

2489 "hrēas heoro-blāc; hond gemunde

2490 "fǣhðo genōge, feorh-sweng ne oftēah.

2491 "Ic him þā māðmas, þē hē mē sealde,

2492 "geald æt gūðe, swā mē gifeðe wæs,

2493 "lēohtan sweorde: hē mē lond forgeaf,

2494 "eard ēðel-wyn. Næs him ǣnig þearf,

2495 "þæt hē tō Gifðum oððe tō Gār-Denum

2496 "oððe in Swīo-rīce sēcean þurfe

2497 "wyrsan wīg-frecan, weorðe gecȳpan;

2498 "symle ic him on fēðan beforan wolde,

2499 "āna on orde, and swā tō aldre sceall

2500 "sæcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,

2501 "þæt mec ǣr and sīð oft gelǣste,

2502 "syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð

2503 "tō hand-bonan, Hūga cempan:

2504 "nalles hē þā frætwe Frēs-cyninge,

2505 "brēost-weorðunge bringan mōste,

2506 "ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde,

2507 "æðeling on elne. Ne wæs ecg bona,

2508 "ac him hilde-grāp heortan wylmas,

2509 "bān-hūs gebræc. Nū sceall billes ecg,

2510 "hond and heard sweord ymb hord wīgan."

2511 Bēowulf maðelode, bēot-wordum spræc

2512 nīehstan sīðe: "Ic genēðde fela

2513 "gūða on geogoðe; gȳt ic wylle,

2514 "frōd folces weard, fǣhðe sēcan,

2515 "mǣrðum fremman, gif mec se mān-sceaða

2516 "of eorð-sele ūt gesēceð!"

2517 Gegrētte þā gumena gehwylcne,

2518 hwate helm-berend hindeman sīðe,

2519 swǣse gesīðas: "Nolde ic sweord beran,

2520 "wǣpen tō wyrme, gif ic wiste hū

2521 "wið þām āglǣcean elles meahte

2522 "gylpe wiðgrīpan, swā ic giō wið Grendle dyde;

2523 "ac ic þǣr heaðu-fȳres hātes wēne,

2524 "rēðes and-hāttres: forþon ic mē on hafu

2525 "bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard

2526 "oferflēon fōtes trem, fēond unhȳre,

2527 "ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle, swā unc Wyrd getēoð,

2528 "metod manna gehwæs. Ic eom on mōde from,

2529 "þæt ic wið þone gūð-flogan gylp ofersitte.

2530 "Gebīde gē on beorge byrnum werede,

2531 "secgas on searwum, hwæðer sēl mǣge

2532 "æfter wæl-rǣse wunde gedȳgan

2533 "uncer twēga. Nis þæt ēower sīð,

2534 "nē gemet mannes, nefne mīn ānes,

2535 "þæt hē wið āglǣcean eofoðo dǣle,

2536 "eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall

2537 "gold gegangan oððe gūð nimeð,

2538 "feorh-bealu frēcne, frēan ēowerne!"

2539 Ārās þā bī ronde rōf ōretta,

2540 heard under helm, hioro-sercean bær

2541 under stān-cleofu, strengo getruwode

2542 ānes mannes: ne bið swylc earges sīð.

2543 Geseah þā be wealle, sē þe worna fela,

2544 gum-cystum gōd, gūða gedīgde,

2545 hilde-hlemma, þonne hnitan fēðan,

2546 (stōd on stān-bogan) strēam ūt þonan

2547 brecan of beorge; wæs þǣre burnan wælm

2548 heaðo-fȳrum hāt: ne meahte horde nēah

2549 unbyrnende ǣnige hwīle

2550 dēop gedȳgan for dracan lēge.

2551 Lēt þā of brēostum, þā hē gebolgen wæs,

2552 Weder-Gēata lēod word ūt faran,

2553 stearc-heort styrmde; stefn in becōm

2554 heaðo-torht hlynnan under hārne stān.

2555 Hete wæs onhrēred, hord-weard oncnīow

2556 mannes reorde; næs þǣr māra fyrst,

2557 frēode tō friclan. From ǣrest cwōm

2558 oruð āglǣcean ūt of stāne,

2559 hāt hilde-swāt; hrūse dynede.

2560 Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswāf

2561 wið þām gryre-gieste, Gēata dryhten:

2562 þā wæs hring-bogan heorte gefȳsed

2563 sæcce tō sēceanne. Sweord ǣr gebrǣ

2564 gōd gūð-cyning gomele lāfe,

2565 ecgum unglēaw, ǣghwæðrum wæs

2566 bealo-hycgendra brōga fram ōðrum.

2567 Stīð-mōd gestōd wið stēapne rond

2568 winia bealdor, þā se wyrm gebēah

2569 snūde tōsomne: hē on searwum bād.

2570 Gewāt þā byrnende gebogen scrīðan tō,

2571 gescīfe scyndan. Scyld wēl gebearg

2572 līfe and līce lǣssan hwīle

2573 mǣrum þēodne, þonne his myne sōhte,

2574 þǣr hē þȳ fyrste forman dōgore

2575 wealdan mōste, swā him Wyrd ne gescrāf

2576 hrēð æt hilde. Hond up ābræd

2577 Gēata dryhten, gryre-fāhne slōh

2578 incge lāfe, þæt sīo ecg gewāc

2579 brūn on bāne, bāt unswīðor,

2580 þonne his þīod-cyning þearfe hæfde,

2581 bysigum gebǣded. Þā wæs beorges weard

2582 æfter heaðu-swenge on hrēoum mōde,

2583 wearp wæl-fȳre, wīde sprungon

2584 hilde-lēoman: hrēð-sigora ne gealp

2585 gold-wine Gēata, gūð-bill geswāc

2586 nacod æt nīðe, swā hyt nō sceolde,

2587 īren ǣr-gōd. Ne wæs þæt ēðe sīð,

2588 þæt se mǣra maga Ecgþēowes

2589 grund-wong þone ofgyfan wolde;

2590 sceolde wyrmes willan wīc eardian

2591 elles hwergen, swā sceal ǣghwylc mon

2592 ālǣtan lǣn-dagas. Næs þā long tō þon,

2593 þæt þā āglǣcean hȳ eft gemētton.

2594 Hyrte hyne hord-weard, hreðer ǣðme wēoll,

2595 nīwan stefne: nearo þrowode

2596 fȳre befongen sē þe ǣr folce wēold.

2597 Nealles him on hēape hand-gesteallan,

2598 æðelinga bearn ymbe gestōdon

2599 hilde-cystum, ac hȳ on holt bugon,

2600 ealdre burgan. Hiora in ānum wēoll

2601 sefa wið sorgum: sibb ǣfre ne mæg

2602 wiht onwendan, þām þe wēl þenceð.

2603 Wīglāf wæs hāten Wēoxstānes sunu,

2604 lēoflīc lind-wiga, lēod Scylfinga,

2605 mǣg Ælfheres: geseah his mon-dryhten

2606 under here-grīman hāt þrowian.

2607 Gemunde þā þā āre, þē hē him ǣr forgeaf

2608 wīc-stede weligne Wǣgmundinga,

2609 folc-rihta gehwylc, swā his fæder āhte;

2610 ne mihte þā forhabban, hond rond gefēng,

2611 geolwe linde, gomel swyrd getēah,

2612 þæt wæs mid eldum Ēanmundes lāf,

2613 suna Ōhteres, þām æt sæcce wearð

2614 wracu wine-lēasum Wēohstānes bana

2615 mēces ecgum, and his māgum ætbær

2616 brūn-fāgne helm, hringde byrnan,

2617 eald sweord eotonisc, þæt him Onela forgeaf,

2618 his gædelinges gūð-gewǣdu,

2619 fyrd-searo fūslīc: nō ymbe þā fǣhðe spræc,

2620 þēah þe hē his brōðor bearn ābredwade.

2621 Hē frætwe gehēold fela missēra,

2622 bill and byrnan, oð þæt his byre mihte

2623 eorl-scipe efnan, swā his ǣr-fæder;

2624 geaf him þā mid Gēatum gūð-gewǣda

2625 ǣghwæs unrīm; þā hē of ealdre gewāt,

2626 frōd on forð-weg. Þā wæs forma sīð

2627 geongan cempan, þæt hē gūðe rǣs

2628 mid his frēo-dryhtne fremman sceolde;

2629 ne gemealt him se mōd-sefa, nē his mǣges lāf

2630 gewāc æt wīge: þæt se wyrm onfand,

2631 syððan hīe tōgædre gegān hæfdon.

2632 Wīglāf maðelode word-rihta fela,

2633 sægde gesīðum, him wæs sefa geōmor:

2634 "Ic þæt mǣl geman, þǣr wē medu þēgun,

2635 "þonne wē gehēton ūssum hlāforde

2636 "in bīor-sele, þē ūs þās bēagas geaf,

2637 "þæt wē him þā gūð-geatwa gyldan woldon,

2638 "gif him þyslīcu þearf gelumpe,

2639 "helmas and heard sweord: þē hē ūsic on herge gecēas

2640 "tō þyssum sīð-fate sylfes willum,

2641 "onmunde ūsic mǣrða and mē þās māðmas geaf,

2642 "þē hē ūsic gār-wīgend gōde tealde,

2643 "hwate helm-berend, þēah þe hlāford ūs

2644 "þis ellen-weorc āna āþōhte

2645 "tō gefremmanne, folces hyrde,

2646 "forþām hē manna mǣst mǣrða gefremede,

2647 "dǣda dollīcra. Nū is sē dæg cumen,

2648 "þæt ūre man-dryhten mægenes behōfað

2649 "gōdra gūð-rinca: wutun gangan tō,

2650 "helpan hild-fruman, þenden hyt sȳ,

2651 "glēd-egesa grim! God wāt on mec,

2652 "þæt mē is micle lēofre, þæt mīnne līc-haman

2653 "mid mīnne gold-gyfan glēd fæðmie.

2654 "Ne þynceð mē gerysne, þæt wē rondas beren

2655 "eft tō earde, nemne wē ǣror mǣgen

2656 "fāne gefyllan, feorh ealgian

2657 "Wedra þīodnes. Ic wāt geare,

2658 "þæt nǣron eald-gewyrht, þæt hē āna scyle

2659 "Gēata duguðe gnorn þrowian,

2660 "gesīgan æt sæcce: sceal ūrum þæt sweord and helm,

2661 "byrne and byrdu-scrūd bām gemǣne."

2662 Wōd þā þurh þone wæl-rēc, wīg-heafolan bær

2663 frēan on fultum, fēa worda cwæð:

2664 "Lēofa Bīowulf, lǣst eall tela,

2665 "swā þū on geoguð-fēore geāra gecwǣde,

2666 "þæt þū ne ālǣte be þē lifigendum

2667 "dōm gedrēosan: scealt nū dǣdum rōf,

2668 "æðeling ān-hȳdig, ealle mægene

2669 "feorh ealgian; ic þē fullǣstu!"

2670 Æfter þām wordum wyrm yrre cwōm,

2671 atol inwit-gæst ōðre sīðe,

2672 fȳr-wylmum fāh fīonda nīosan,

2673 lāðra manna; līg-ȳðum forborn

2674 bord wið ronde: byrne ne meahte

2675 geongum gār-wigan gēoce gefremman:

2676 ac se maga geonga under his mǣges scyld

2677 elne geēode, þā his āgen wæs

2678 glēdum forgrunden. Þā gēn gūð-cyning

2679 mǣrða gemunde, mægen-strengo,

2680 slōh hilde-bille, þæt hyt on heafolan stōd

2681 nīðe genȳded: Nægling forbærst,

2682 geswāc æt sæcce sweord Bīowulfes

2683 gomol and grǣg-mǣl. Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,

2684 þæt him īrenna ecge mihton

2685 helpan æt hilde; wæs sīo hond tō strong,

2686 sē þe mēca gehwane mīne gefrǣge

2687 swenge ofersōhte, þonne hē tō sæcce bær

2688 wǣpen wundrum heard, næs him wihte þē sēl.

2689 Þā wæs þēod-sceaða þriddan sīðe,

2690 frēcne fȳr-draca fǣhða gemyndig,

2691 rǣsde on þone rōfan, þā him rūm āgeald,

2692 hāt and heaðo-grim, heals ealne ymbefēng

2693 biteran bānum; hē geblōdegod wearð

2694 sāwul-drīore; swāt ȳðum wēoll.

2695 Þā ic æt þearfe gefrægn þēod-cyninges

2696 and-longne eorl ellen cȳðan,

2697 cræft and cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs;

2698 ne hēdde hē þæs heafolan, ac sīo hand gebarn

2699 mōdiges mannes, þǣr hē his mǣges healp,

2700 þæt hē þone nīð-gæst nioðor hwēne slōh,

2701 secg on searwum, þæt þæt sweord gedēaf

2702 fāh and fǣted, þæt þæt fȳr ongon

2703 sweðrian syððan. Þā gēn sylf cyning

2704 gewēold his gewitte, wæll-seaxe gebrǣ,

2705 biter and beadu-scearp, þæt hē on byrnan wæg:

2706 forwrāt Wedra helm wyrm on middan.

2707 Fēond gefyldan (ferh ellen wræc),

2708 and hī hyne þā bēgen ābroten hæfdon,

2709 sib-æðelingas: swylc sceolde secg wesan,

2710 þegn æt þearfe. Þæt þām þēodne wæs

2711 sīðast sīge-hwīle sylfes dǣdum,

2712 worlde geweorces. Þā sīo wund ongon,

2713 þē him se eorð-draca ǣr geworhte,

2714 swelan and swellan. Hē þæt sōna onfand,

2715 þæt him on brēostum bealo-nīð wēoll,

2716 attor on innan. Þā se æðeling gīong,

2717 þæt hē bī wealle, wīs-hycgende,

2718 gesæt on sesse; seah on enta geweorc,

2719 hū þā stān-bogan stapulum fæste

2720 ēce eorð-reced innan hēoldon.

2721 Hyne þā mid handa heoro-drēorigne

2722 þēoden mǣrne þegn ungemete till,

2723 wine-dryhten his wætere gelafede,

2724 hilde-sædne and his helm onspēon.

2725 Bīowulf maðelode, hē ofer benne spræc,

2726 wunde wæl-blēate (wisse hē gearwe,

2727 þæt hē dæg-hwīla gedrogen hæfde

2728 eorðan wynne; þā wæs eall sceacen

2729 dōgor-gerīmes, dēað ungemete nēah):

2730 "Nū ic suna mīnum syllan wolde

2731 "gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr mē gifeðe swā

2732 "ǣnig yrfe-weard æfter wurde,

2733 "līce gelenge. Ic þās lēode hēold

2734 "fīftig wintra: næs se folc-cyning

2735 "ymbe-sittendra ǣnig þāra,

2736 "þē mec gūð-winum grētan dorste,

2737 "egesan þēon. Ic on earde bād

2738 "mǣl-gesceafta, hēold mīn tela,

2739 "ne sōhte searo-nīðas, nē mē swōr fela

2740 "āða on unriht. Ic þæs ealles mæg,

2741 "feorh-bennum sēoc, gefēan habban:

2742 "forþām mē wītan ne þearf waldend fīra

2743 "morðor-bealo māga, þonne mīn sceaceð

2744 "līf of līce. Nū þū lungre

2745 "geong, hord scēawian under hārne stān,

2746 "Wīglāf lēofa, nū se wyrm ligeð,

2747 "swefeð sāre wund, since berēafod.

2748 "Bīo nū on ofoste, þæt ic ǣr-welan,

2749 "gold-ǣht ongite, gearo scēawige

2750 "swegle searo-gimmas, þæt ic þȳ sēft mǣge

2751 "æfter māððum-welan mīn ālǣtan

2752 "līf and lēod-scipe, þone ic longe hēold."

2753 Þā ic snūde gefrægn sunu Wīhstānes

2754 æfter word-cwydum wundum dryhtne

2755 hȳran heaðo-sīocum, hring-net beran,

2756 brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hrōf.

2757 Geseah þā sige-hrēðig, þā hē bī sesse gēong,

2758 mago-þegn mōdig māððum-sigla fela,

2759 gold glitinian grunde getenge,

2760 wundur on wealle and þæs wyrmes denn,

2761 ealdes ūht-flogan, orcas stondan,

2762 fyrn-manna fatu feormend-lēase,

2763 hyrstum behrorene: þǣr wæs helm monig,

2764 eald and ōmig, earm-bēaga fela,

2765 searwum gesǣled. Sinc ēaðe mæg,

2766 gold on grunde, gumena cynnes

2767 gehwone ofer-hīgian, hȳde sē þe wylle!

2768 Swylce hē siomian geseah segn eall-gylden

2769 hēah ofer horde, hond-wundra mǣst,

2770 gelocen leoðo-cræftum: of þām lēoma stōd,

2771 þæt hē þone grund-wong ongitan meahte,

2772 wrǣte giond-wlītan. Næs þæs wyrmes þǣr

2773 onsȳn ǣnig, ac hyne ecg fornam.

2774 Þā ic on hlǣwe gefrægn hord rēafian,

2775 eald enta geweorc ānne mannan,

2776 him on bearm hladan bunan and discas

2777 sylfes dōme, segn ēac genom,

2778 bēacna beorhtost; bill ǣr-gescōd

2779 (ecg wæs īren) eald-hlāfordes

2780 þām þāra māðma mund-bora wæs

2781 longe hwīle, līg-egesan wæg

2782 hātne for horde, hioro-weallende,

2783 middel-nihtum, oð þæt hē morðre swealt.

2784 Ār wæs on ofoste eft-sīðes georn,

2785 frætwum gefyrðred: hyne fyrwet bræc,

2786 hwæðer collen-ferð cwicne gemētte

2787 in þām wong-stede Wedra þēoden,

2788 ellen-sīocne, þǣr hē hine ǣr forlēt.

2789 Hē þā mid þām māðmum mǣrne þīoden,

2790 dryhten sīnne drīorigne fand

2791 ealdres æt ende: hē hine eft ongon

2792 wæteres weorpan, oð þæt wordes ord

2793 brēost-hord þurhbræc. Bēowulf maðelode,

2794 gomel on giohðe (gold scēawode):

2795 "Ic þāra frætwa frēan ealles þanc

2796 "wuldur-cyninge wordum secge,

2797 "ēcum dryhtne, þē ic hēr on starie,

2798 "þæs þe ic mōste mīnum lēodum

2799 "ǣr swylt-dæge swylc gestrȳnan.

2800 "Nū ic on māðma hord mīne bebohte

2801 "frōde feorh-lege, fremmað gē nū

2802 "lēoda þearfe; ne mæg ic hēr leng wesan.

2803 "Hātað heaðo-mǣre hlǣw gewyrcean,

2804 "beorhtne æfter bǣle æt brimes nosan;

2805 "se scel tō gemyndum mīnum lēodum

2806 "hēah hlīfian on Hrones næsse,

2807 "þæt hit sǣ-līðend syððan hātan

2808 "Bīowulfes biorh, þā þe brentingas

2809 "ofer flōda genipu feorran drīfað."

2810 Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne

2811 þīoden þrīst-hȳdig, þegne gesealde,

2812 geongum gār-wigan, gold-fāhne helm,

2813 bēah and byrnan, hēt hyne brūcan well:

2814 "Þū eart ende-lāf ūsses cynnes,

2815 "Wǣgmundinga; ealle Wyrd forswēof,

2816 "mīne māgas tō metod-sceafte,

2817 "eorlas on elne: ic him æfter sceal."

2818 Þæt wæs þām gomelan gingeste word

2819 brēost-gehygdum, ǣr hē bǣl cure,

2820 hāte heaðo-wylmas: him of hreðre gewāt

2821 sāwol sēcean sōð-fæstra dōm.

2822 Þā wæs gegongen guman unfrōdum

2823 earfoðlīce, þæt hē on eorðan geseah

2824 þone lēofestan līfes æt ende

2825 blēate gebǣran. Bona swylce læg,

2826 egeslīc eorð-draca, ealdre berēafod,

2827 bealwe gebǣded: bēah-hordum leng

2828 wyrm wōh-bogen wealdan ne mōste,

2829 ac him īrenna ecga fornāmon,

2830 hearde heaðo-scearpe homera lāfe,

2831 þæt se wīd-floga wundum stille

2832 hrēas on hrūsan hord-ærne nēah,

2833 nalles æfter lyfte lācende hwearf

2834 middel-nihtum, māðm-ǣhta wlonc

2835 ansȳn ȳwde: ac hē eorðan gefēoll

2836 for þæs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.

2837 Hūru þæt on lande lȳt manna þāh

2838 mægen-āgendra mīne gefrǣge,

2839 þēah þe hē dǣda gehwæs dyrstig wǣre,

2840 þæt hē wið attor-sceaðan oreðe gerǣsde,

2841 oððe hring-sele hondum styrede,

2842 gif hē wæccende weard onfunde

2843 būan on beorge. Bīowulfe wearð

2844 dryht-māðma dǣl dēaðe forgolden;

2845 hæfde ǣghwæðer ende gefēred

2846 lǣnan līfes. Næs þā lang tō þon,

2847 þæt þā hild-latan holt ofgēfan,

2848 tȳdre trēow-logan tȳne ætsomne,

2849 þā ne dorston ǣr dareðum lācan

2850 on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe;

2851 ac hȳ scamiende scyldas bǣran,

2852 gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr se gomela læg:

2853 wlitan on Wīglāf. Hē gewērgad sæt,

2854 fēðe-cempa frēan eaxlum nēah,

2855 wehte hyne wætre; him wiht ne spēow;

2856 ne meahte hē on eorðan, þēah hē ūðe wēl,

2857 on þām frum-gāre feorh gehealdan,

2858 nē þæs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;

2859 wolde dōm godes dǣdum rǣdan

2860 gumena gehwylcum, swā hē nū gēn dēð.

2861 Þā wæs æt þām geongan grim andswaru

2862 ēð-begēte þām þe ǣr his elne forlēas.

2863 Wīglāf maðelode, Wēohstānes sunu,

2864 secg sārig-ferð seah on unlēofe:

2865 "Þæt lā mæg secgan, sē þe wyle sōð sprecan,

2866 "þæt se mon-dryhten, se ēow þā māðmas geaf,

2867 "ēored-geatwe, þē gē þǣr on standað,

2868 "þonne hē on ealu-bence oft gesealde

2869 "heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,

2870 "þēoden his þegnum, swylce hē þrȳðlīcost

2871 "ōhwǣr feor oððe nēah findan meahte,

2872 "þæt hē gēnunga gūð-gewǣdu

2873 "wrāðe forwurpe. Þā hyne wīg beget,

2874 "nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum

2875 "gylpan þorfte; hwæðre him god ūðe,

2876 "sigora waldend, þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræc

2877 "āna mid ecge, þā him wæs elnes þearf,

2878 "Ic him līf-wraðe lȳtle meahte

2879 "ætgifan æt gūðe and ongan swā þēah

2880 "ofer mīn gemet mǣges helpan:

2881 "symle wæs þȳ sǣmra, þonne ic sweorde drep

2882 "ferhð-genīðlan, fȳr unswīðor

2883 "wēoll of gewitte. Wergendra tō lȳt

2884 "þrong ymbe þēoden, þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.

2885 "Nū sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu

2886 "eall ēðel-wyn ēowrum cynne,

2887 "lufen ālicgean: lond-rihtes mōt

2888 "þǣre mǣg-burge monna ǣghwylc

2889 "īdel hweorfan, syððan æðelingas

2890 "feorran gefricgean flēam ēowerne,

2891 "dōm-lēasan dǣd. Dēað bið sēlla

2892 "eorla gehwylcum þonne edwīt-līf!"

2893 Heht þā þæt heaðo-weorc tō hagan bīodan

2894 up ofer ēg-clif, þǣr þæt eorl-weorod

2895 morgen-longne dæg mōd-giōmor sæt,

2896 bord-hæbbende, bēga on wēnum

2897 ende-dōgores and eft-cymes

2898 lēofes monnes. Lȳt swīgode

2899 nīwra spella, sē þe næs gerād,

2900 ac hē sōðlīce sægde ofer ealle;

2901 "Nū is wil-geofa Wedra lēoda,

2902 "dryhten Gēata dēað-bedde fæst,

2903 "wunað wæl-reste wyrmes dǣdum;

2904 "him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,

2905 "siex-bennum sēoc: sweorde ne meahte

2906 "on þām āglǣcean ǣnige þinga

2907 "wunde gewyrcean. Wīglāf siteð

2908 "ofer Bīowulfe, byre Wīhstānes,

2909 "eorl ofer ōðrum unlifigendum,

2910 "healdeð hige-mēðum hēafod-wearde

2911 "lēofes and lāðes. Nū ys lēodum wēn

2912 "orleg-hwīle, syððan underne

2913 "Froncum and Frȳsum fyll cyninges

2914 "wīde weorðeð. Wæs sīo wrōht scepen

2915 "heard wið Hūgas, syððan Higelāc cwōm

2916 "faran flot-herge on Frēsna land,

2917 "þǣr hyne Hetware hilde gehnǣgdon,

2918 "elne geēodon mid ofer-mægene,

2919 "þæt se byrn-wiga būgan sceolde,

2920 "fēoll on fēðan: nalles frætwe geaf

2921 "ealdor dugoðe; ūs wæs ā syððan

2922 "Merewīoinga milts ungyfeðe.

2923 "Nē ic tō Swēo-þēode sibbe oððe trēowe

2924 "wihte ne wēne; ac wæs wīde cūð,

2925 "þætte Ongenþīo ealdre besnyðede

2926 "Hæðcyn Hrēðling wið Hrefna-wudu,

2927 "þā for on-mēdlan ǣrest gesōhton

2928 "Gēata lēode Gūð-scilfingas.

2929 "Sōna him se frōda fæder Ōhtheres,

2930 "eald and eges-full ond-slyht āgeaf,

2931 "ābrēot brim-wīsan, brȳd āhēorde,

2932 "gomela īo-meowlan golde berofene,

2933 "Onelan mōdor and Ōhtheres,

2934 "and þā folgode feorh-genīðlan

2935 "oð þæt hī oðēodon earfoðlīce

2936 "in Hrefnes-holt hlāford-lēase.

2937 "Besæt þā sin-herge sweorda lāfe

2938 "wundum wērge, wēan oft gehēt

2939 "earmre teohhe andlonge niht:

2940 "cwæð hē on mergenne mēces ecgum

2941 "gētan wolde, sume on galg-trēowum

2942 "fuglum tō gamene. Frōfor eft gelamp

2943 "sārig-mōdum somod ǣr-dæge,

2944 "syððan hīe Hygelāces horn and bȳman

2945 "gealdor ongeāton. Þā se gōda cōm

2946 "lēoda dugoðe on lāst faran.

2947 "Wæs sīo swāt-swaðu Swēona and Gēata,

2948 "wæl-rǣs wera wīde gesȳne,

2949 "hū þā folc mid him fǣhðe tōwehton.

2950 "Gewāt him þā se gōda mid his gædelingum,

2951 "frōd fela geōmor fæsten sēcean,

2952 "eorl Ongenþīo ufor oncirde;

2953 "hæfde Higelāces hilde gefrūnen,

2954 "wlonces wīg-cræft, wiðres ne truwode,

2955 "þæt hē sǣ-mannum onsacan mihte,

2956 "hēaðo-līðendum hord forstandan,

2957 "bearn and brȳde; bēah eft þonan

2958 "eald under eorð-weall. Þā wæs ǣht boden

2959 "Swēona lēodum, segn Higelāce.

2960 "Freoðo-wong þone forð oferēodon,

2961 "syððan Hrēðlingas tō hagan þrungon.

2962 "Þǣr wearð Ongenþīo ecgum sweorda,

2963 "blonden-fexa on bīd wrecen,

2964 "þæt se þēod-cyning þafian sceolde

2965 "Eofores ānne dōm: hyne yrringa

2966 "Wulf Wonrēding wǣpne gerǣhte,

2967 "þæt him for swenge swāt ǣdrum sprong

2968 "forð under fexe. Næs hē forht swā þēh,

2969 "gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraðe

2970 "wyrsan wrixle wæl-hlem þone,

2971 "syððan þēod-cyning þyder oncirde:

2972 "ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrēdes

2973 "ealdum ceorle ond-slyht giofan,

2974 "ac hē him on hēafde helm ǣr gescer,

2975 "þæt hē blōde fāh būgan sceolde,

2976 "fēoll on foldan; næs hē fǣge þā gīt,

2977 "ac hē hyne gewyrpte, þēah þe him wund hrīne,

2978 "Lēt se hearda Higelāces þegn

2979 "brādne mēce, þā his brōðor læg,

2980 "eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm,

2981 "brecan ofer bord-weal: þā gebēah cyning,

2982 "folces hyrde, wæs in feorh dropen.

2983 "Þā wǣron monige, þē his mǣg wriðon,

2984 "ricone ārǣrdon, þā him gerȳmed wearð,

2985 "þæt hīe wæl-stōwe wealdan mōston.

2986 "Þenden rēafode rinc ōðerne,

2987 "nam on Ongenþīo īren-byrnan,

2988 "heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod;

2989 "hāres hyrste Higelāce bær.

2990 "Hē þām frætwum fēng and him fægre gehēt

2991 "lēana fore lēodum and gelǣste swā:

2992 "geald þone gūð-rǣs Gēata dryhten,

2993 "Hrēðles eafora, þā hē tō hām becōm,

2994 "Jofore and Wulfe mid ofer-māðmum,

2995 "sealde hiora gehwæðrum hund þūsenda

2996 "landes and locenra bēaga; ne þorfte him þā lēan oðwītan

2997 "mon on middan-gearde, syððan hīe þā mǣrða geslōgon;

2998 "and þā Jofore forgeaf āngan dōhtor,

2999 "hām-weorðunge, hyldo tō wedde.

3000 "Þæt ys sīo fǣhðo and se fēond-scipe,

3001 "wæl-nīð wera, þæs þe ic wēn hafo,

3002 "þē ūs sēceað tō Swēona lēode,

3003 "syððan hīe gefricgeað frēan ūserne

3004 "ealdor-lēasne, þone þe ǣr gehēold

3005 "wið hettendum hord and rīce,

3006 "æfter hæleða hryre hwate Scylfingas,

3007 "folc-rǣd fremede oððe furður gēn

3008 "eorl-scipe efnde. Nū is ofost betost,

3009 "þæt wē þēod-cyning þǣr scēawian

3010 "and þone gebringan, þē ūs bēagas geaf,

3011 "on ād-fære. Ne scel ānes hwæt

3012 "meltan mid þām mōdigan, ac þǣr is māðma hord.

3013 "gold unrīme grimme gecēapod

3014 "and nū æt sīðestan sylfes fēore

3015 "bēagas gebohte; þā sceal brond fretan,

3016 "ǣled þeccean, nalles eorl wegan

3017 "māððum tō gemyndum, nē mægð scȳne

3018 "habban on healse hring-weorðunge,

3019 "ac sceall geōmor-mōd golde berēafod

3020 "oft nalles ǣne el-land tredan,

3021 "nū se here-wīsa hleahtor ālegde,

3022 "gamen and glēo-drēam. Forþon sceall gār wesan

3023 "monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden,

3024 "hæfen on handa, nalles hearpan swēg

3025 "wīgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn

3026 "fūs ofer fǣgum, fela reordian,

3027 "earne secgan, hū him æt ǣte spēow,

3028 "þenden hē wið wulf wæl rēafode."

3029 Swā se secg hwata secgende wæs

3030 lāðra spella; hē ne lēag fela

3031 wyrda nē worda. Weorod eall ārās,

3032 ēodon unblīðe under Earna næs

3033 wollen-tēare wundur scēawian.

3034 Fundon þā on sande sāwul-lēasne

3035 hlim-bed healdan, þone þe him hringas geaf

3036 ǣrran mǣlum: þā wæs ende-dæg

3037 gōdum gegongen, þæt se gūð-cyning,

3038 Wedra þēoden, wundor-dēaðe swealt.

3039 Ǣr hī gesēgan syllīcran wiht,

3040 wyrm on wonge wiðer-ræhtes þǣr

3041 lāðne licgean: wæs se lēg-draca,

3042 grimlīc gryre-gæst, glēdum beswǣled,

3043 sē wæs fīftiges fōt-gemearces.

3044 lang on legere, lyft-wynne hēold

3045 nihtes hwīlum, nyðer eft gewāt

3046 dennes nīosian; wæs þā dēaðe fæst,

3047 hæfde eorð-scrafa ende genyttod.

3048 Him big stōdan bunan and orcas,

3049 discas lāgon and dȳre swyrd,

3050 ōmige þurh-etone, swā hīe wið eorðan fæðm

3051 þūsend wintra þǣr eardodon:

3052 þonne wæs þæt yrfe ēacen-cræftig,

3053 iū-monna gold galdre bewunden,

3054 þæt þām hring-sele hrīnan ne mōste

3055 gumena ǣnig, nefne god sylfa,

3056 sigora sōð-cyning, sealde þām þe hē wolde

3057 (hē is manna gehyld) hord openian,

3058 efne swā hwylcum manna, swā him gemet þūhte.

3059 Þā wæs gesȳne, þæt se sīð ne þāh

3060 þām þe unrihte inne gehȳdde

3061 wrǣte under wealle. Weard ǣr ofslōh

3062 fēara sumne; þā sīo fǣhð gewearð

3063 gewrecen wrāðlīce. Wundur hwār, þonne

3064 eorl ellen-rōf ende gefēre

3065 līf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mæg

3066 mon mid his māgum medu-seld būan.

3067 Swā wæs Bīowulfe, þā hē biorges weard

3068 sōhte, searo-nīðas: seolfa ne cūðe,

3069 þurh hwæt his worulde gedāl weorðan sceolde;

3070 swā hit oð dōmes dæg dīope benemdon

3071 þēodnas mǣre, þā þæt þǣr dydon,

3072 þæt se secg wǣre synnum scildig,

3073 hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fæst,

3074 wommum gewītnad, sē þone wong strāde.

3075 Næs hē gold-hwæt: gearwor hæfde

3076 āgendes ēst ǣr gescēawod.

3077 Wīglāf maðelode, Wīhstānes sunu:

3078 "Oft sceall eorl monig ānes willan

3079 "wrǣc ādrēogan, swā ūs geworden is.

3080 "Ne meahton wē gelǣran lēofne þēoden,

3081 "rīces hyrde rǣd ǣnigne,

3082 "þæt hē ne grētte gold-weard þone,

3083 "lēte hyne licgean, þǣr hē longe wæs,

3084 "wīcum wunian oð woruld-ende.

3085 "Hēoldon hēah gesceap: hord ys gescēawod,

3086 "grimme gegongen; wæs þæt gifeðe tō swīð,

3087 "þē þone þēoden þyder ontyhte.

3088 "Ic wæs þǣr inne and þæt eall geond-seh,

3089 "recedes geatwa, þā mē gerȳmed wæs,

3090 "nealles swǣslīce sīð ālȳfed

3091 "inn under eorð-weall. Ic on ofoste gefēng

3092 "micle mid mundum mægen-byrðenne

3093 "hord-gestrēona, hider ūt ætbær

3094 "cyninge mīnum: cwico wæs þā gēna,

3095 "wīs and gewittig; worn eall gespræc

3096 "gomol on gehðo and ēowic grētan hēt,

3097 "bæd þæt gē geworhton æfter wines dǣdum

3098 "in bǣl-stede beorh þone hēan

3099 "micelne and mǣrne, swā hē manna wæs

3100 "wīgend weorð-fullost wīde geond eorðan,

3101 "þenden hē burh-welan brūcan mōste.

3102 "Uton nū efstan ōðre sīðe

3103 "sēon and sēcean searo-geþræc,

3104 "wundur under wealle! ic ēow wīsige,

3105 "þæt gē genōge nēan scēawiað

3106 "bēagas and brād gold. Sīe sīo bǣr gearo

3107 "ǣdre geæfned, þonne wē ūt cymen,

3108 "and þonne geferian frēan ūserne,

3109 "lēofne mannan, þǣr hē longe sceal

3110 "on þæs waldendes wǣre geþolian."

3111 Hēt þā gebēodan byre Wīhstānes,

3112 hæle hilde-dīor, hæleða monegum

3113 bold-āgendra, þæt hīe bǣl-wudu

3114 feorran feredon, folc-āgende

3115 gōdum tōgēnes: "Nū sceal glēd fretan

3116 "(weaxan wonna lēg) wigena strengel,

3117 "þone þe oft gebād īsern-scūre,

3118 "þonne strǣla storm, strengum gebǣded,

3119 "scōc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte hēold,

3120 "feðer-gearwum fūs flāne full-ēode."

3121 Hūru se snotra sunu Wīhstānes

3122 ācīgde of corðre cyninges þegnas

3123 syfone tōsomne þā sēlestan,

3124 ēode eahta sum under inwit-hrōf;

3125 hilde-rinc sum on handa bær

3126 ǣled-lēoman, sē þe on orde gēong.

3127 Næs þā on hlytme, hwā þæt hord strude,

3128 syððan or-wearde ǣnigne dǣl

3129 secgas gesēgon on sele wunian,

3130 lǣne licgan: lȳt ǣnig mearn,

3131 þæt hī ofostlice ūt geferedon

3132 dȳre māðmas; dracan ēc scufun,

3133 wyrm ofer weall-clif, lēton wǣg niman,

3134 flōd fæðmian frætwa hyrde.

3135 Þǣr wæs wunden gold on wǣn hladen,

3136 ǣghwæs unrīm, æðeling boren,

3137 hār hilde-rinc tō Hrones næsse.

3138 Him þā gegiredan Gēata lēode

3139 ād on eorðan un-wāclīcne,

3140 helmum behongen, hilde-bordum,

3141 beorhtum byrnum, swā hē bēna wæs;

3142 ālegdon þā tō-middes mǣrne þēoden

3143 hæleð hīofende, hlāford lēofne.

3144 Ongunnon þā on beorge bǣl-fȳra mǣst

3145 wīgend weccan: wudu-rēc āstāh

3146 sweart ofer swioðole, swōgende lēg,

3147 wōpe bewunden (wind-blond gelæg)

3148 oð þæt hē þā bān-hūs gebrocen hæfde,

3149 hāt on hreðre. Higum unrōte

3150 mōd-ceare mǣndon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;

3151 swylce giōmor-gyd lat . con meowle

3152 . . . . . wunden heorde . . .

3153 serg (?) cearig sǣlde geneahhe

3154 þæt hīo hyre . . . . gas hearde

3155 . . . . . ede wælfylla wonn . .

3156 hildes egesan hyðo

3157 haf mid heofon rēce swealh (?)

3158 Geworhton þā Wedra lēode

3159 hlǣw on hlīðe, sē wæs hēah and brād,

3160 wǣg-līðendum wīde gesȳne,

3161 and betimbredon on tȳn dagum

3162 beadu-rōfes bēcn: bronda betost

3163 wealle beworhton, swā hyt weorðlīcost

3164 fore-snotre men findan mihton.

3165 Hī on beorg dydon bēg and siglu,

3166 eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ǣr

3167 nīð-hȳdige men genumen hæfdon;

3168 forlēton eorla gestrēon eorðan healdan,

3169 gold on grēote, þǣr hit nū gēn lifað

3170 eldum swā unnyt, swā hit ǣror wæs.

3171 Þā ymbe hlǣw riodan hilde-dēore,

3172 æðelinga bearn ealra twelfa,

3173 woldon ceare cwīðan, kyning mǣnan,

3174 word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,

3175 eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc

3176 duguðum dēmdon, swā hit ge-dēfe bið,

3177 þæt mon his wine-dryhten wordum herge,

3178 ferhðum frēoge, þonne hē forð scile

3179 of līc-haman lǣne weorðan.

3180 Swā begnornodon Gēata lēode

3181 hlāfordes hryre, heorð-genēatas,

3182 cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre woruld-cyning

3183 mannum mildust and mon-þwǣrust,

3184 lēodum līðost and lof-geornost.