No More Learning

Nō ic on niht gefrægn
"under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,
"nē on ēg-strēamum earmran mannan;
"hwæðere ic fāra feng fēore gedīgde,
"siðes wērig. Þā mec sǣ oðbær,
580 "flōd æfter faroðe, on Finna land,
"wadu weallendu. Nō ic wiht fram þē
"swylcra searo-nīða secgan hȳrde,
"billa brōgan: Breca nǣfre gīt
"æt heaðo-lāce, nē gehwæðer incer
585 "swā dēorlīce dǣd gefremede
"fāgum sweordum . . . . . . .
". . . . . . . nō ic þæs gylpe;
"þēah þū þīnum brōðrum tō banan wurde,
"hēafod-mǣgum; þæs þū in helle scealt
590 "werhðo drēogan, þēah þīn wit duge,
"Secge ic þē tō sōðe, sunu Ecglāfes,
"þæt nǣfre Grendel swā fela gryra gefremede,
"atol ǣglǣca ealdre þīnum,
"hȳnðo on Heorote, gif þīn hige wǣre,
595 "sefa swā searo-grim, swā þū self talast.
"Ac hē hafað onfunden, þæt hē þā fǣhðe ne þearf,
"atole ecg-þræce ēower lēode
"swīðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga;
"nymeð nȳd-bāde, nǣnegum ārað
600 "lēode Deniga, ac hē on lust wīgeð,
"swefeð ond sendeð, secce ne wēneð
"tō Gār-Denum. Ac him Gēata sceal
"eafoð and ellen ungeāra nū
"gūðe gebēodan. Gǣð eft sē þe mōt
605 "tō medo mōdig, siððan morgen-lēoht
"ofer ylda bearn ōðres dōgores,
"sunne swegl-wered sūðan scīneð! "
Þā wæs on sālum sinces brytta
gamol-feax and gūð-rōf, gēoce gelȳfde
610 brego Beorht-Dena; gehȳrde on Bēowulfe
folces hyrde fæst-rǣdne geþōht.
Þǣr wæs hæleða hleahtor; hlyn swynsode,
word wǣron wynsume. Ēode Wealhþēow forð,
cwēn Hrōðgāres, cynna gemyndig,
615 grētte gold-hroden guman on healle,
and þā frēolīc wīf ful gesealde
ǣrest Ēast-Dena ēðel-wearde,
bæd hine blīðne æt þǣre bēor-þege,
lēodum lēofne; hē on lust geþeah
620 symbel and sele-ful, sige-rōf kyning.
Ymb-ēode þā ides Helminga
duguðe and geogoðe dǣl ǣghwylcne;
sinc-fato sealde, oð þæt sǣl ālamp,
þæt hīo Bēowulfe, bēag-hroden cwēn,
625 mōde geþungen, medo-ful ætbær;
grētte Gēata lēod, gode þancode
wīs-fæst wordum, þæs þe hire se willa gelamp,
þæt hēo on ǣnigne eorl gelȳfde
fyrena frōfre. Hē þæt ful geþeah,
630 wæl-rēow wiga æt Wealhþēon,
and þā gyddode gūðe gefȳsed,
Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Ic þæt hogode, þā ic on holm gestāh,
"sǣ-bāt gesæt mid mīnra secga gedriht,
635 "þæt ic ānunga ēowra lēoda
"willan geworhte, oððe on wæl crunge,
"fēond-grāpum fæst. Ic gefremman sceal
"eorlīc ellen, oððe ende-dæg
"on þisse meodu-healle mīnne gebīdan. "
640 Þām wīfe þā word wēl līcodon,
gilp-cwide Gēates; ēode gold-hroden
frēolīcu folc-cwēn tō hire frēan sittan.
Þā wæs eft swā ǣr inne on healle
þrȳð-word sprecen, þēod on sǣlum,
645 sige-folca swēg, oð þæt semninga
sunu Healfdenes sēcean wolde
ǣfen-ræste; wiste æt þǣm āhlǣcan
tō þǣm hēah-sele hilde geþinged,
siððan hīe sunnan lēoht gesēon ne meahton,
650 oððe nīpende niht ofer ealle,
scadu-helma gesceapu scrīðan cwōman,
wan under wolcnum. Werod eall ārās.
Grētte þā giddum guma ōðerne,
Hrōðgār Bēowulf, and him hǣl ābēad,
655 wīn-ærnes geweald and þæt word ācwæð:
"Nǣfre ic ǣnegum men ǣr ālȳfde,
"siððan ic hond and rond hebban mihte,
"þrȳð-ærn Dena būton þē nū þā.
"Hafa nū and geheald hūsa sēlest;
660 "gemyne mǣrðo, mægen-ellen cȳð,
"waca wið wrāðum! Ne bið þē wilna gād,
"gif þū þæt ellen-weorc aldre gedīgest. "


XI. THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.

Þā him Hrōðgār gewāt mid his hæleða gedryht,
eodur Scyldinga ūt of healle;
665 wolde wīg-fruma Wealhþēo sēcan,
cwēn tō gebeddan Hæfde kyninga wuldor
Grendle tō-gēanes, swā guman gefrungon,
sele-weard āseted, sundor-nytte behēold
ymb aldor Dena, eoton weard ābēad;
670 hūru Gēata lēod georne truwode
mōdgan mægnes, metodes hyldo.
Þā hē him of dyde īsern-byrnan,
helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,
īrena cyst ombiht-þegne,
675 and gehealdan hēt hilde-geatwe.
Gespræc þā se gōda gylp-worda sum
Bēowulf Gēata, ǣr hē on bed stige:
"Nō ic mē an here-wǣsmum hnāgran talige
"gūð-geweorca, þonne Grendel hine;
680 "forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,
"aldre benēotan, þēah ic eal mǣge.
"Nāt hē þāra gōda, þæt hē mē on-gēan slēa,
"rand gehēawe, þēah þe hē rōf sīe
"nīð-geweorca; ac wit on niht sculon
685 "secge ofersittan, gif hē gesēcean dear
"wīg ofer wǣpen, and siððan wītig god
"on swā hwæðere hond hālig dryhten
"mǣrðo dēme, swā him gemet þince. "
Hylde hine þā heaðo-dēor, hlēor-bolster onfēng
690 eorles andwlitan; and hine ymb monig
snellīc sǣ-rinc sele-reste gebēah.
Nǣnig heora þōhte þæt hē þanon scolde
eft eard-lufan ǣfre gesēcean,
folc oððe frēo-burh, þǣr hē āfēded wæs,
695 ac hīe hæfdon gefrūnen, þæt hīe ǣr tō fela micles
in þǣm wīn-sele wæl-dēað fornam,
Denigea lēode. Ac him dryhten forgeaf
wīg-spēda gewiofu, Wedera lēodum
frōfor and fultum, þæt hīe fēond heora
700 þurh ānes cræft ealle ofercōmon,
selfes mihtum: sōð is gecȳðed,
þæt mihtig god manna cynnes
wēold wīde-ferhð. Cōm on wanre niht
scrīðan sceadu-genga. Scēotend swǣfon,
705 þā þæt horn-reced healdan scoldon,
ealle būton ānum. Þæt wæs yldum cūð,
þæt hīe ne mōste, þā metod nolde,
se syn-scaða under sceadu bregdan;
ac hē wæccende wrāðum on andan
710 bād bolgen-mōd beadwa geþinges.


XII. GRENDEL'S RAID.

Þā cōm of mōre under mist-hleoðum
Grendel gongan, godes yrre bær.
Mynte se mān-scaða manna cynnes
sumne besyrwan in sele þām hēan;
715 wōd under wolcnum, tō þæs þe hē wīn-reced,
gold-sele gumena, gearwost wisse
fǣttum fāhne. Ne wæs þæt forma sīð,
þæt hē Hrōðgāres hām gesōhte:
nǣfre hē on aldor-dagum ǣr nē siððan
720 heardran hæle, heal-þegnas fand!
Cōm þā tō recede rinc sīðian
drēamum bedǣled. Duru sōna onarn
fȳr-bendum fæst, syððan hē hire folmum hrān;
onbræd þā bealo-hȳdig, þā hē ābolgen wæs,
725 recedes mūðan. Raðe æfter þon
on fāgne flōr fēond treddode,
ēode yrre-mōd; him of ēagum stōd
līge gelīcost lēoht unfǣger.
Geseah hē in recede rinca manige,
730 swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere,
mago-rinca hēap: þā his mōd āhlōg,
mynte þæt hē gedǣlde, ǣr þon dæg cwōme,
atol āglǣca, ānra gehwylces
līf wið līce, þā him ālumpen wæs
735 wist-fylle wēn. Ne wæs þæt wyrd þā gēn,
þæt hē mā mōste manna cynnes
þicgean ofer þā niht. Þrȳð-swȳð behēold
mǣg Higelāces, hū se mān-scaða
under fǣr-gripum gefaran wolde.
740 Nē þæt se āglǣca yldan þōhte,
ac hē gefēng hraðe forman siðe
slǣpendne rinc, slāt unwearnum,
bāt bān-locan, blōd ēdrum dranc,
syn-snǣdum swealh: sōna hæfde
745 unlyfigendes eal gefeormod
fēt and folma. Forð nēar ætstōp,
nam þā mid handa hige-þīhtigne
rinc on ræste; rǣhte ongēan
fēond mid folme, hē onfēng hraðe
750 inwit-þancum and wið earm gesæt.
Sōna þæt onfunde fyrena hyrde,
þæt hē ne mētte middan-geardes
eorðan scēata on elran men
mund-gripe māran: hē on mōde wearð
755 forht on ferhðe, nō þȳ ǣr fram meahte;
hyge wæs him hin-fūs, wolde on heolster flēon,
sēcan dēofla gedræg: ne wæs his drohtoð þǣr,
swylce hē on ealder-dagum ǣr gemētte.
Gemunde þā se gōda mǣg Higelāces
760 ǣfen-sprǣce, up-lang āstōd
and him fæste wiðfēng. Fingras burston;
eoten wæs ūt-weard, eorl furður stōp.
Mynte se mǣra, þǣr hē meahte swā,
wīdre gewindan and on weg þanon
765 flēon on fen-hopu; wiste his fingra geweald
on grames grāpum. Þæt wæs gēocor sīð,
þæt se hearm-scaða tō Heorute ātēah:
dryht-sele dynede, Denum eallum wearð,
ceaster-būendum, cēnra gehwylcum,
770 eorlum ealu-scerwen. Yrre wǣron bēgen,
rēðe rēn-weardas. Reced hlynsode;
þā wæs wundor micel, þæt se wīn-sele
wiðhæfde heaðo-dēorum, þæt hē on hrūsan ne fēol,
fǣger fold-bold; ac hē þæs fæste wæs
775 innan and ūtan īren-bendum
searo-þoncum besmiðod. Þǣr fram sylle ābēag
medu-benc monig mīne gefrǣge,
golde geregnad, þǣr þā graman wunnon;
þæs ne wēndon ǣr witan Scyldinga,
780 þæt hit ā mid gemete manna ǣnig
betlīc and bān-fāg tōbrecan meahte,
listum tōlūcan, nymðe līges fæðm
swulge on swaðule. Swēg up āstāg
nīwe geneahhe; Norð-Denum stōd
785 atelīc egesa ānra gehwylcum
þāra þe of wealle wōp gehȳrdon,
gryre-lēoð galan godes andsacan,
sige-lēasne sang, sār wānigean
helle hæftan. Hēold hine tō fæste
790 sē þe manna wæs mægene strengest
on þǣm dæge þysses līfes.


XIII. BĒOWULF TEARS OFF GRENDEL'S ARM.

Nolde eorla hlēo ǣnige þinga
þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forlǣtan,
nē his līf-dagas lēoda ǣnigum
795 nytte tealde. Þǣr genehost brægd
eorl Bēowulfes ealde lāfe,
wolde frēa-drihtnes feorh ealgian
mǣres þēodnes, þǣr hīe meahton swā;
hīe þæt ne wiston, þā hīe gewin drugon,
800 heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas,
and on healfa gehwone hēawan þōhton,
sāwle sēcan, þæt þone syn-scaðan
ǣnig ofer eorðan īrenna cyst,
gūð-billa nān grētan nolde;
805 ac hē sige-wǣpnum forsworen hæfde,
ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedāl
on þǣm dæge þysses līfes
earmlīc wurðan and se ellor-gāst
on fēonda geweald feor sīðian.
810 Þā þæt onfunde sē þe fela ǣror
mōdes myrðe manna cynne
fyrene gefremede (hē wæs fāg wið god)
þæt him se līc-homa lǣstan nolde,
ac hine se mōdega mǣg Hygelāces
815 hæfde be honda; wæs gehwæðer ōðrum
lifigende lāð. Līc-sār gebād
atol ǣglǣca, him on eaxle wearð
syn-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon
burston bān-locan. Bēowulfe wearð
820 gūð-hrēð gyfeðe; scolde Grendel þonan
feorh-sēoc flēon under fen-hleoðu,
sēcean wyn-lēas wīc; wiste þē geornor,
þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen,
dōgera dæg-rīm. Denum eallum wearð
825 æfter þām wæl-rǣse willa gelumpen.
Hæfde þā gefǣlsod, sē þe ǣr feorran cōm,
snotor and swȳð-ferhð sele Hrōðgāres,
genered wið nīðe. Niht-weorce gefeh,
ellen-mǣrðum; hæfde Ēast-Denum
830 Gēat-mecga lēod gilp gelǣsted,
swylce oncȳððe ealle gebētte,
inwid-sorge, þē hīe ǣr drugon
and for þrēa-nȳdum þolian scoldon,
torn unlȳtel. Þæt wæs tācen sweotol,
835 syððan hilde-dēor hond ālegde,
earm and eaxle (þǣr wæs eal geador
Grendles grāpe) under gēapne hrōf.


XIV. THE JOY AT HEOROT.

Þā wæs on morgen mīne gefrǣge
ymb þā gif-healle gūð-rinc monig:
840 fērdon folc-togan feorran and nēan
geond wīd-wegas wundor scēawian,
lāðes lāstas. Nō his līf-gedāl
sārlīc þūhte secga ǣnegum,
þāra þe tīr-lēases trode scēawode,
845 hū hē wērig-mōd on weg þanon,
nīða ofercumen, on nicera mere
fǣge and geflȳmed feorh-lāstas bær.
Þǣr wæs on blōde brim weallende,
atol ȳða geswing eal gemenged
850 hātan heolfre, heoro-drēore wēol;
dēað-fǣge dēog, siððan drēama lēas
in fen-freoðo feorh ālegde
hǣðene sāwle, þǣr him hel onfēng.
Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesīðas,
855 swylce geong manig of gomen-wāðe,
fram mere mōdge, mēarum rīdan,
beornas on blancum. Þǣr wæs Bēowulfes
mǣrðo mǣned; monig oft gecwæð,
þætte sūð nē norð be sǣm tweonum
860 ofer eormen-grund ōðer nǣnig
under swegles begong sēlra nǣre
rond-hæbbendra, rīces wyrðra.
Nē hīe hūru wine-drihten wiht ne lōgon,
glædne Hrōðgār, ac þæt wæs gōd cyning.
865 Hwīlum heaðo-rōfe hlēapan lēton,
on geflīt faran fealwe mēaras,
þǣr him fold-wegas fægere þūhton,
cystum cūðe; hwīlum cyninges þegn,
guma gilp-hlæden gidda gemyndig,
870 sē þe eal-fela eald-gesegena
worn gemunde, word ōðer fand
sōðe gebunden: secg eft ongan
sīð Bēowulfes snyttrum styrian
and on spēd wrecan spel gerāde,
875 wordum wrixlan, wēl-hwylc gecwæð,
þæt hē fram Sigemunde secgan hȳrde,
ellen-dǣdum, uncūðes fela,
Wælsinges gewin, wīde sīðas,
þāra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,
880 fǣhðe and fyrene, būton Fitela mid hine,
þonne hē swylces hwæt secgan wolde
ēam his nefan, swā hīe ā wǣron
æt nīða gehwām nȳd-gesteallan:
hæfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes
885 sweordum gesǣged. Sigemunde gesprong
æfter dēað-dæge dōm unlȳtel,
syððan wīges heard wyrm ācwealde,
hordes hyrde; hē under hārne stān,
æðelinges bearn, āna genēðde
890 frēcne dǣde; ne wæs him Fitela mid.
Hwæðre him gesǣlde, þæt þæt swurd þurhwōd
wrǣtlīcne wyrm, þæt hit on wealle ætstōd,
dryhtlīc īren; draca morðre swealt.
Hæfde āglǣca elne gegongen,
895 þæt hē bēah-hordes brūcan mōste
selfes dōme: sǣ-bāt gehlōd,
bær on bearm scipes beorhte frætwa,
Wælses eafera; wyrm hāt gemealt.
Sē wæs wreccena wīde mǣrost
900 ofer wer-þēode, wīgendra hlēo
ellen-dǣdum: hē þæs āron þāh.
Siððan Heremōdes hild sweðrode
eafoð and ellen. Hē mid eotenum wearð
on fēonda geweald forð forlācen,
905 snūde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas
lemede tō lange, hē his lēodum wearð,
eallum æðelingum tō aldor-ceare;
swylce oft bemearn ǣrran mǣlum
swīð-ferhðes sīð snotor ceorl monig,
910 sē þe him bealwa tō bōte gelȳfde,
þæt þæt þēodnes bearn geþēon scolde,
fæder-æðelum onfōn, folc gehealdan,
hord and hlēo-burh, hæleða rīce,
ēðel Scyldinga. Hē þǣr eallum wearð,
915 mǣg Higelāces manna cynne,
frēondum gefægra; hine fyren onwōd.

Hwīlum flītende fealwe strǣte
mēarum mǣton. Þā wæs morgen-lēoht
scofen and scynded. Ēode scealc monig
920 swīð-hicgende tō sele þām hēan,
searo-wundor sēon, swylce self cyning,
of brȳd-būre bēah-horda weard,
tryddode tīr-fæst getrume micle,
cystum gecȳðed, and his cwēn mid him
925 medo-stīg gemæt mægða hōse.


XV. HROTHGAR'S GRATULATION.

Hrōðgār maðelode (hē tō healle gēong,
stōd on stapole, geseah stēapne hrōf
golde fāhne and Grendles hond):
"þisse ansȳne al-wealdan þanc
930 "lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lāðes gebād,
"grynna æt Grendle: ā mæg god wyrcan
"wunder æfter wundre, wuldres hyrde!
"Þæt wæs ungeāra, þæt ic ǣnigra mē
"wēana ne wēnde tō wīdan feore
935 "bōte gebīdan þonne blōde fāh
"hūsa sēlest heoro-drēorig stōd;
"wēa wīd-scofen witena gehwylcne
"þāra þe ne wēndon, þæt hīe wīde-ferhð
"lēoda land-geweorc lāðum beweredon
940 "scuccum and scinnum. Nū scealc hafað
"þurh drihtnes miht dǣd gefremede,
"þē wē ealle ǣr ne meahton
"snyttrum besyrwan. Hwæt! þæt secgan mæg
"efne swā hwylc mægða, swā þone magan cende
945 "æfter gum-cynnum, gyf hēo gȳt lyfað,
"þæt hyre eald-metod ēste wǣre
"bearn-gebyrdo. Nū ic Bēowulf
"þec, secg betsta, mē for sunu wylle
"frēogan on ferhðe; heald forð tela
950 "nīwe sibbe. Ne bið þē nǣnigra gād
"worolde wilna, þē ic geweald hæbbe.
"Ful-oft ic for lǣssan lēan teohhode
"hord-weorðunge hnāhran rince,
"sǣmran æt sæcce. Þū þē self hafast
955 "dǣdum gefremed, þæt þīn dōm lyfað
"āwa tō aldre. Alwalda þec
"gōde forgylde, swā hē nū gȳt dyde! "
Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Wē þæt ellen-weorc ēstum miclum,
960 "feohtan fremedon, frēcne genēðdon
"eafoð uncūðes; ūðe ic swīðor,
"þæt þū hinc selfne gesēon mōste,
"fēond on frætewum fyl-wērigne!
"Ic hine hrædlīce heardan clammum
965 "on wæl-bedde wrīðan þōhte,
"þæt hē for mund-gripe mīnum scolde
"licgean līf-bysig, būtan his līc swice;
"ic hine ne mihte, þā metod nolde,
"ganges getwǣman, nō ic him þæs georne ætfealh,
970 "feorh-genīðlan; wæs tō fore-mihtig
"fēond on fēðe. Hwæðere hē his folme forlēt
"tō līf-wraðe lāst weardian,
"earm and eaxle; nō þǣr ǣnige swā þēah
"fēa-sceaft guma frōfre gebohte:
975 "nō þȳ leng leofað lāð-getēona
"synnum geswenced, ac hyne sār hafað
"in nȳd-gripe nearwe befongen,
"balwon bendum: þǣr ābīdan sceal
"maga māne fāh miclan dōmes,
980 "hū him scīr metod scrīfan wille. "
Þā wæs swīgra secg, sunu Ecglāfes,
on gylp-sprǣce gūð-geweorca,
siððan æðelingas eorles cræfte
ofer hēahne hrōf hand scēawedon,
985 fēondes fingras, foran ǣghwylc;
wæs stēde nægla gehwylc, stȳle gelīcost,
hǣðenes hand-sporu hilde-rinces
egle unhēoru; ǣg-hwylc gecwæð,
þæt him heardra nān hrīnan wolde
990 īren ǣr-gōd, þæt þæs āhlǣcan
blōdge beadu-folme onberan wolde.


XVI. THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.

Þā wæs hāten hreðe Heort innan-weard
folmum gefrætwod: fela þǣra wæs
wera and wīfa, þē þæt wīn-reced,
995 gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fāg scinon
web æfter wāgum, wundor-sīona fela
secga gehwylcum þāra þe on swylc starað
Wæs þæt beorhte bold tōbrocen swīðe
eal inne-weard īren-bendum fæst,
1000 heorras tōhlidene; hrōf āna genæs
ealles ansund, þā se āglǣca
fyren-dǣdum fāg on flēam gewand,
aldres or-wēna. Nō þæt ȳðe byð
tō beflēonne (fremme sē þe wille! )
1005 ac gesacan sceal sāwl-berendra
nȳde genȳdde niðða bearna
grund-būendra gearwe stōwe,
þǣr his līc-homa leger-bedde fæst
swefeð æfter symle. Þā wæs sǣl and mǣl,
1010 þæt tō healle gang Healfdenes sunu;
wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.
Ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgðe māran weorode
ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sēl gebǣran.
Bugon þā tō bence blǣd-āgende,
1015 fylle gefǣgon. Fægere geþǣgon
medo-ful manig māgas þāra
swīð-hicgende on sele þām hēan,
Hrōðgār and Hrōðulf. Heorot innan wæs
frēondum āfylled; nalles fācen-stafas
1020 Þēod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.
Forgeaf þā Bēowulfe bearn Healfdenes
segen gyldenne sigores tō lēane,
hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;
mǣre māððum-sweord manige gesāwon
1025 beforan beorn beran. Bēowulf geþah
ful on flette; nō hē þǣre feoh-gyfte
for scēotendum scamigan þorfte,
ne gefrægn ic frēondlīcor fēower mādmas
golde gegyrede gum-manna fela
1030 in ealo-bence ōðrum gesellan.
Ymb þæs helmes hrōf hēafod-beorge
wīrum bewunden walan ūtan hēold,
þæt him fēla lāfe frēcne ne meahton
scūr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca
1035 ongēan gramum gangan scolde.
Heht þā eorla hlēo eahta mēaras,
fǣted-hlēore, on flet tēon
in under eoderas; þāra ānum stōd
sadol searwum fāh since gewurðad,
1040 þæt wæs hilde-setl hēah-cyninges,
þonne sweorda gelāc sunu Healfdenes
efnan wolde; nǣfre on ōre læg
wīd-cūðes wīg, þonne walu fēollon.
And þā Bēowulfe bēga gehwæðres
1045 eodor Ingwina onweald getēah,
wicga and wǣpna; hēt hine wēl brūcan.
Swā manlīce mǣre þēoden,
hord-weard hæleða heaðo-rǣsas geald
mēarum and mādmum, swā hȳ nǣfre man lyhð,
1050 sē þe secgan wile sōð æfter rihte.


XVII. SONG OF HROTHGAR'S POET-THE LAY OF HNAEF AND HENGEST.

Þā gȳt ǣghwylcum eorla drihten
þāra þe mid Bēowulfe brim-lāde tēah,
on þǣre medu-bence māððum gesealde,
yrfe-lāfe, and þone ǣnne heht
1055 golde forgyldan, þone þe Grendel ǣr
māne ācwealde, swā hē hyra mā wolde,
nefne him wītig god wyrd forstōde
and þæs mannes mōd: metod eallum wēold
gumena cynnes, swā hē nū gīt dēð;
1060 forþan bið andgit ǣghwǣr sēlest,
ferhðes fore-þanc! fela sceal gebīdan
lēofes and lāðes, sē þe longe hēr
on þyssum win-dagum worolde brūceð.
Þǣr wæs sang and swēg samod ætgædere
1065 fore Healfdenes hilde-wīsan,
gomen-wudu grēted, gid oft wrecen,
þonne heal-gamen Hrōðgāres scop
æfter medo-bence mǣnan scolde
Finnes eaferum, þā hīe se fǣr begeat:
1070 "Hæleð Healfdenes, Hnæf Scyldinga,
"in Fr. . es wæle feallan scolde.
"Nē hūru Hildeburh herian þorfte
"Eotena trēowe: unsynnum wearð
"beloren lēofum æt þām lind-plegan
1075 "bearnum and brōðrum; hīe on gebyrd hruron
"gāre wunde; þæt wæs geōmuru ides.
"Nalles hōlinga Hōces dōhtor
"meotod-sceaft bemearn, syððan morgen cōm,
"þā hēo under swegle gesēon meahte
1080 "morðor-bealo māga, þǣr hēo ǣr mǣste hēold
"worolde wynne: wīg ealle fornam
"Finnes þegnas, nemne fēaum ānum,
"þæt hē ne mehte on þǣm meðel-stede
"wīg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan,
1085 "nē þā wēa-lāfe wīge forþringan
"þōodnes þegne; ac hig him geþingo budon,
"þæt hīe him ōðer flet eal gerȳmdon,
"healle and hēah-setl, þæt hīe healfre geweald
"wið Eotena bearn āgan mōston,
1090 "and æt feoh-gyftum Folcwaldan sunu
"dōgra gehwylce Dene weorðode,
"Hengestes hēap hringum wenede,
"efne swā swīðe sinc-gestrēonum
"fǣttan goldes, swā hē Frēsena cyn
1095 "on bēor-sele byldan wolde.
"Þā hīe getruwedon on twā healfa
"fæste frioðu-wǣre; Fin Hengeste
"elne unflitme āðum benemde,
"þæt hē þā wēa-lāfe weotena dōme
1100 "ārum heolde, þæt þǣr ǣnig mon
"wordum nē worcum wǣre ne brǣce,
"nē þurh inwit-searo ǣfre gemǣnden,
"þēah hīe hira bēag-gyfan banan folgedon
"þēoden-lēase, þā him swā geþearfod wæs:
1105 "gyf þonne Frȳsna hwylc frēcnan sprǣce
"þæs morðor-hetes myndgiend wǣre,
"þonne hit sweordes ecg syððan scolde.
"Āð wæs geæfned and icge gold
"āhæfen of horde. Here-Scyldinga
1110 "betst beado-rinca wæs on bǣl gearu;
"æt þǣm āde wæs ēð-gesȳne
"swāt-fāh syrce, swȳn eal-gylden,
"eofer īren-heard, æðeling manig
"wundum āwyrded; sume on wæle crungon.
1115 "Hēt þā Hildeburh æt Hnæfes āde
"hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befæstan,
"bān-fatu bærnan and on bǣl dōn.
"Earme on eaxle ides gnornode,
"geōmrode giddum; gūð-rinc āstāh.
1120 "Wand tō wolcnum wæl-fȳra mǣst,
"hlynode for hlāwe; hafelan multon,
"ben-geato burston, þonne blōd ætspranc
"lāð-bite līces. Līg ealle forswealg,
"gǣsta gīfrost, þāra þe þǣr gūð fornam
1125 "bēga folces; wæs hira blǣd scacen.


XVIII. THE GLEEMAN'S TALE IS ENDED.

"Gewiton him þā wīgend wīca nēosian,
"frēondum befeallen Frȳsland gesēon,
"hāmas and hēa-burh. Hengest þā gȳt
"wæl-fāgne winter wunode mid Finne
1130 "ealles unhlitme; eard gemunde,
"þēah þe hē ne meahte on mere drīfan
"hringed-stefnan; holm storme wēol,
"won wið winde; winter ȳðe belēac
"īs-gebinde oð þæt ōðer cōm
1135 "geār in geardas, swā nū gȳt dēð,
"þā þe syngales sēle bewitiað,
"wuldor-torhtan weder. Þā wæs winter scacen,
"fæger foldan bearm; fundode wrecca,
"gist of geardum; hē tō gyrn-wræce
1140 "swīðor þōhte, þonne tō sǣ-lāde,
"gif hē torn-gemōt þurhtēon mihte,
"þæt hē Eotena bearn inne gemunde.
"Swā hē ne forwyrnde worold-rǣdenne,
"þonne him Hūnlāfing hilde-lēoman,
1145 "billa sēlest, on bearm dyde:
"þæs wǣron mid Eotenum ecge cūðe.
"Swylce ferhð-frecan Fin eft begeat
"sweord-bealo slīðen æt his selfes hām,
"siððan grimne gripe Gūðlaf ond Ōslāf
1150 "æfter sǣ-siðe sorge mǣndon,
"ætwiton wēana dǣl; ne meahte wǣfre mōd
"forhabban in hreðre. Þā wæs heal hroden
"fēonda fēorum, swilce Fin slægen,
"cyning on corðre, and sēo cwēn numen.
1155 "Scēotend Scyldinga tō scypum feredon
"eal in-gesteald eorð-cyninges,
"swylce hīe æt Finnes hām findan meahton
"sigla searo-gimma. Hīe on sǣ-lāde
"drihtlīce wīf tō Denum feredon,
1160 "lǣddon tō lēodum. " Lēoð wæs āsungen,
glēo-mannes gyd. Gamen eft āstāh,
beorhtode benc-swēg, byrelas sealdon
wīn of wunder-fatum. Þā cwōm Wealhþēo forð
gān under gyldnum bēage, þǣr þā gōdan twēgen
1165 sǣton suhter-gefæderan; þā gȳt wæs hiera sib ætgædere
ǣghwylc ōðrum trȳwe. Swylce þǣr Unferð þyle
æt fōtum sæt frēan Scyldinga: gehwylc hiora his ferhðe trēowde,
þæt hē hæfde mōd micel, þēah þe hē his māgum nǣre
ārfæst æt ecga gelācum. Spræc þā ides Scyldinga:
1170 "Onfōh þissum fulle, frēo-drihten mīn,
"sinces brytta; þū on sǣlum wes,
"gold-wine gumena, and tō Gēatum sprec
"mildum wordum! Swā sceal man dōn.
"Bēo wið Gēatas glæd, geofena gemyndig;
1175 "nēan and feorran þū nū friðu hafast.
"Mē man sægde, þæt þū þē for sunu wolde
"here-rinc habban. Heorot is gefǣlsod,
"bēah-sele beorhta; brūc þenden þū mōte
"manigra mēda and þīnum māgum lǣf
1180 "folc and rīce, þonne þū forð scyle
"metod-sceaft sēon. Ic mīnne can
"glædne Hrōðulf, þæt hē þā geogoðe wile
"ārum healdan, gyf þū ǣr þonne hē,
"wine Scildinga, worold oflǣtest;
1185 "wēne ic, þæt hē mid gōde gyldan wille
"uncran eaferan, gif hē þæt eal gemon,
"hwæt wit tō willan and tō worð-myndum
"umbor wesendum ǣr ārna gefremedon. "
Hwearf þā bī bence, þǣr hyre byre wǣron,
1190 Hrēðrīc and Hrōðmund, and hæleða bearn,
giogoð ætgædere; þǣr se gōda sæt
Bēowulf Gēata be þǣm gebrōðrum twǣm.


XIX. BĒOWULF'S JEWELLED COLLAR. THE HEROES REST.

Him wæs ful boren and frēond-laðu
wordum bewægned and wunden gold
1195 ēstum geēawed, earm-hrēade twā,
hrægl and hringas, heals-bēaga mǣst
þāra þe ic on foldan gefrægen hæbbe.
Nǣnigne ic under swegle sēlran hȳrde
hord-māððum hæleða, syððan Hāma ætwæg
1200 tō þǣre byrhtan byrig Brōsinga mene,
sigle and sinc-fæt, searo-nīðas fealh
Eormenrīces, gecēas ēcne rǣd.
Þone hring hæfde Higelāc Gēata,
nefa Swertinges, nȳhstan sīðe,
1205 siððan hē under segne sinc ealgode,
wæl-rēaf werede; hyne Wyrd fornam,
syððan hē for wlenco wēan āhsode,
fǣhðe tō Frȳsum; hē þā frætwe wæg,
eorclan-stānas ofer ȳða ful,
1210 rīce þēoden, hē under rande gecranc;
gehwearf þā in Francna fæðm feorh cyninges,
brēost-gewǣdu and se bēah somod:
wyrsan wīg-frecan wæl rēafedon
æfter gūð-sceare, Gēata lēode
1215 hreā-wīc hēoldon. Heal swēge onfēng.
Wealhþēo maðelode, hēo fore þǣm werede spræc:
"Brūc þisses bēages, Bēowulf, lēofa
"hyse, mid hǣle, and þisses hrægles nēot
"þēod-gestrēona, and geþēoh tela,
1220 "cen þec mid cræfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes
"lāra līðe! ic þē þæs lēan geman.
"Hafast þū gefēred, þæt þē feor and nēah
"ealne wīde-ferhð weras ehtigað,
"efne swā sīde swā sǣ bebūgeð
1225 "windige weallas. Wes, þenden þū lifige,
"æðeling ēadig! ic þē an tela
"sinc-gestrēona. Bēo þū suna mīnum
"dǣdum gedēfe drēam healdende!
"Hēr is ǣghwylc eorl ōðrum getrȳwe,
1230 "mōdes milde, man-drihtne hold,
"þegnas syndon geþwǣre, þēod eal gearo:
"druncne dryht-guman, dōð swā ic bidde! "
Ēode þā tō setle. Þǣr wæs symbla cyst,
druncon wīn weras: wyrd ne cūðon,
1235 geō-sceaft grimme, swā hit āgangen wearð
eorla manegum, syððan ǣfen cwōm
and him Hrōðgār gewāt tō hofe sīnum,
rīce tō ræste. Reced weardode
unrīm eorla, swā hīe oft ǣr dydon:
1240 benc-þelu beredon, hit geond-brǣded wearð
beddum and bolstrum. Bēor-scealca sum
fūs and fǣge flet-ræste gebēag.
Setton him tō hēafdum hilde-randas,
bord-wudu beorhtan; þǣr on bence wæs
1245 ofer æðelinge ȳð-gesēne
heaðo-stēapa helm, hringed byrne,
þrec-wudu þrymlīc. Wæs þēaw hyra,
þæt hīe oft wǣron an wīg gearwe,
gē æt hām gē on herge, gē gehwæðer þāra
1250 efne swylce mǣla, swylce hira man-dryhtne
þearf gesǣlde; wæs sēo þēod tilu.


XX. GRENDEL'S MOTHER ATTACKS THE RING-DANES.

Sigon þā tō slǣpe. Sum sāre angeald
ǣfen-ræste, swā him ful-oft gelamp,
siððan gold-sele Grendel warode,
1255 unriht æfnde, oð þæt ende becwōm,
swylt æfter synnum. Þæt gesȳne wearð,
wīd-cūð werum, þætte wrecend þā gȳt
lifde æfter lāðum, lange þrāge
æfter gūð-ceare; Grendles mōdor,
1260 ides āglǣc-wīf yrmðe gemunde,
sē þe wæter-egesan wunian scolde,
cealde strēamas, siððan Cain wearð
tō ecg-banan āngan brēðer,
fæderen-mǣge; hē þā fāg gewāt,
1265 morðre gemearcod man-drēam flēon,
wēsten warode. Þanon wōc fela
geōsceaft-gāsta; wæs þǣra Grendel sum,
heoro-wearh hetelīc, sē æt Heorote fand
wæccendne wer wīges bīdan,
1270 þǣr him āglǣca æt-grǣpe wearð;
hwæðre hē gemunde mægenes strenge,
gim-fæste gife, þē him god sealde,
and him tō anwaldan āre gelȳfde,
frōfre and fultum: þȳ hē þone fēond ofercwōm,
1275 gehnǣgde helle gāst: þā hē hēan gewāt,
drēame bedǣled dēað-wīc sēon,
man-cynnes fēond. And his mōdor þā gȳt
gīfre and galg-mōd gegān wolde
sorh-fulne sīð, suna dēað wrecan.
1280 Cōm þā tō Heorote, þǣr Hring-Dene
geond þæt sæld swǣfun. Þā þǣr sōna wearð
ed-hwyrft eorlum, siððan inne fealh
Grendles mōdor; wæs se gryre lǣssa
efne swā micle, swā bið mægða cræft,
1285 wīg-gryre wīfes be wǣpned-men,
þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþuren,
sweord swāte fāh swīn ofer helme,
ecgum dyhtig andweard scireð.
Þā wæs on healle heard-ecg togen,
1290 sweord ofer setlum, sīd-rand manig
hafen handa fæst; helm ne gemunde,
byrnan sīde, þe hine se brōga angeat.
Hēo wæs on ofste, wolde ūt þanon
fēore beorgan, þā hēo onfunden wæs;
1295 hraðe hēo æðelinga ānne hæfde
fæste befangen, þā hēo tō fenne gang;
sē wæs Hrōðgāre hæleða lēofost
on gesīðes hād be sǣm tweonum,
rīce rand-wiga, þone þe hēo on ræste ābrēat,
1300 blǣd-fæstne beorn. Næs Bēowulf þǣr,
ac wæs ōðer in ǣr geteohhod
æfter māððum-gife mǣrum Gēate.
Hrēam wearð on Heorote. Hēo under heolfre genam
cūðe folme; cearu wæs genīwod
1305 geworden in wīcum: ne wæs þæt gewrixle til,
þæt hīe on bā healfa bicgan scoldon
frēonda fēorum. Þā wæs frōd cyning,
hār hilde-rinc, on hrēon mōde,
syððan hē aldor-þegn unlyfigendne,
1310 þone dēorestan dēadne wisse.
Hraðe wæs tō būre Bēowulf fetod,
sigor-ēadig secg. Samod ǣr-dæge
ēode eorla sum, æðele cempa
self mid gesīðum, þǣr se snottra bād,
1315 hwæðre him al-walda ǣfre wille
æfter wēa-spelle wyrpe gefremman.
Gang þā æfter flōre fyrd-wyrðe man
mid his hand-scale (heal-wudu dynede)
þæt hē þone wīsan wordum hnǣgde
1320 frēan Ingwina; frægn gif him wǣre
æfter nēod-laðu niht getǣse.


XXI. SORROW AT HEOROT: AESCHERE'S DEATH

Hrōðgār maðelode, helm Scildinga:
"Ne frīn þū æfter sǣlum! Sorh is genīwod
"Denigea lēodum. Dēad is Æsc-here,
1325 "Yrmenlāfes yldra brōðor,
"mīn rūn-wita and mīn rǣd-bora,
"eaxl-gestealla, þonne wē on orlege
"hafelan weredon, þonne hniton fēðan,
"eoferas cnysedan; swylc scolde eorl wesan
1330 "æðeling ǣr-gōd, swylc Æsc-here wæs.
"Wearð him on Heorote tō hand-banan
"wæl-gǣst wǣfre; ic ne wāt hwæder
"atol ǣse wlanc eft-sīðas tēah,
"fylle gefrǣgnod. Hēo þā fǣhðe wræc,
1335 "þē þū gystran niht Grendel cwealdest
"þurh hǣstne hād heardum clammum,
"forþan hē tō lange lēode mīne
"wanode and wyrde. Hē æt wīge gecrang
"ealdres scyldig, and nū ōðer cwōm
1340 "mihtig mān-scaða, wolde hyre mǣg wrecan,
"gē feor hafað fǣhðe gestǣled,
"þæs þe þincean mæg þegne monegum,
"sē þe æfter sinc-gyfan on sefan grēoteð,
"hreðer-bealo hearde; nū sēo hand ligeð,
1345 "sē þe ēow wēl-hwylcra wilna dohte.
"Ic þæt lond-būend lēode mīne
"sele-rǣdende secgan hȳrde,
"þæt hīe gesāwon swylce twēgen
"micle mearc-stapan mōras healdan,
1350 "ellor-gǣstas: þǣra ōðer wæs,
"þæs þe hīe gewislīcost gewitan meahton,
"idese onlīcnes, ōðer earm-sceapen
"on weres wæstmum wræc-lāstas træd,
"næfne hē wæs māra þonne ǣnig man ōðer,
1355 "þone on geār-dagum Grendel nemdon
"fold-būende: nō hīe fæder cunnon,
"hwæðer him ǣnig wæs ǣr ācenned
"dyrnra gāsta. Hīe dȳgel lond
"warigeað, wulf-hleoðu, windige næssas,
1360 "frēcne fen-gelād, þǣr fyrgen-strēam
"under næssa genipu niðer gewīteð,
"flōd under foldan; nis þæt feor heonon
"mīl-gemearces, þæt se mere standeð,
"ofer þǣm hongiað hrīmge bearwas,
1365 "wudu wyrtum fæst, wæter oferhelmað.
"Þǣr mæg nihta gehwǣm nīð-wundor sēon,
"fȳr on flōde; nō þæs frōd leofað
"gumena bearna, þæt þone grund wite;
"þēah þe hǣð-stapa hundum geswenced,
1370 "heorot hornum trum holt-wudu sēce,
"feorran geflȳmed, ǣr hē feorh seleð,
"aldor on ōfre, ǣr hē in wille,
"hafelan hȳdan. Nis þæt hēoru stōw:
"þonon ȳð-geblond up āstīgeð
1375 "won tō wolcnum, þonne wind styreð
"lāð gewidru, oð þæt lyft drysmað,
"roderas rēotað. Nū is rǣd gelang
"eft æt þē ānum! Eard gīt ne const,
"frēcne stōwe, þǣr þū findan miht
1380 "sinnigne secg: sēc gif þū dyrre!
"Ic þē þā fǣhðe fēo lēanige,
"eald-gestrēonum, swā ic ǣr dyde,
"wundnum golde, gyf þū on weg cymest. "


XXII. BĒOWULF SEEKS THE MONSTER IN THE HAUNTS OF THE NIXIES.

Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:
1385 "Ne sorga, snotor guma! sēlre bið ǣghwǣm,
"þæt hē his frēond wrece, þonne hē fela murne;
"ūre ǣghwylc sceal ende gebīdan
"worolde līfes; wyrce sē þe mōte
"dōmes ǣr dēaðe! þæt bið driht-guman
1390 "unlifgendum æfter sēlest.
"Ārīs, rīces weard; uton hraðe fēran,
"Grendles māgan gang scēawigan!
"Ic hit þē gehāte: nō hē on helm losað,
"nē on foldan fæðm, nē on fyrgen-holt,
1395 "nē on gyfenes grund, gā þǣr hē wille.
"Þȳs dōgor þū geþyld hafa
"wēana gehwylces, swā ic þē wēne tō! "
Āhlēop þā se gomela, gode þancode,
mihtigan drihtne, þæs se man gespræc.
1400 Þā wæs Hrōðgāre hors gebǣted,
wicg wunden-feax. Wīsa fengel
geatolīc gengde; gum-fēða stōp
lind-hæbbendra. Lāstas wǣron
æfter wald-swaðum wīde gesȳne,
1405 gang ofer grundas; gegnum fōr þā
ofer myrcan mōr, mago-þegna bær
þone sēlestan sāwol-lēasne,
þāra þe mid Hrōðgāre hām eahtode.
Ofer-ēode þā æðelinga bearn
1410 stēap stān-hliðo, stīge nearwe,
enge ān-paðas, un-cūð gelād,
neowle næssas, nicor-hūsa fela;
hē fēara sum beforan gengde
wīsra monna, wong scēawian,
1415 oð þæt hē fǣringa fyrgen-bēamas
ofer hārne stān hleonian funde,
wyn-lēasne wudu; wæter under stōd
drēorig and gedrēfed. Denum eallum wæs,
winum Scyldinga, weorce on mōde,
1420 tō geþolianne þegne monegum,
oncȳð eorla gehwǣm, syððan Æsc-heres
on þām holm-clife hafelan mētton.
Flōd blōde wēol (folc tō sǣgon)
hātan heolfre. Horn stundum song
1425 fūslīc fyrd-lēoð. Fēða eal gesæt;
gesāwon þā æfter wætere wyrm-cynnes fela,
sellīce sǣ-dracan sund cunnian,
swylce on næs-hleoðum nicras licgean,
þā on undern-mǣl oft bewitigað
1430 sorh-fulne sīð on segl-rāde,
wyrmas and wil-dēor; hīe on weg hruron
bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongeāton,
gūð-horn galan. Sumne Gēata lēod
of flān-bogan fēores getwǣfde,
1435 ȳð-gewinnes, þæt him on aldre stōd
here-strǣl hearda; hē on holme wæs
sundes þē sǣnra, þē hyne swylt fornam.
Hræðe wearð on ȳðum mid eofer-sprēotum
heoro-hōcyhtum hearde genearwod,
1440 nīða genǣged and on næs togen
wundorlīc wǣg-bora; weras scēawedon
gryrelīcne gist. Gyrede hine Bēowulf
eorl-gewǣdum, nalles for ealdre mearn:
scolde here-byrne hondum gebrōden,
1445 sīd and searo-fāh, sund cunnian,
sēo þe bān-cofan beorgan cūðe,
þæt him hilde-grāp hreðre ne mihte,
eorres inwit-feng, aldre gesceððan;
ac se hwīta helm hafelan werede,
1450 sē þe mere-grundas mengan scolde,
sēcan sund-gebland since geweorðad,
befongen frēa-wrāsnum, swā hine fyrn-dagum
worhte wǣpna smið, wundrum tēode,
besette swīn-līcum, þæt hine syððan nō
1455 brond nē beado-mēcas bītan ne meahton.
Næs þæt þonne mǣtost mægen-fultuma,
þæt him on þearfe lāh þyle Hrōðgāres;
wæs þǣm hæft-mēce Hrunting nama,
þæt wæs ān foran eald-gestrēona;
1460 ecg wæs īren āter-tēarum fāh,
āhyrded heaðo-swāte; nǣfre hit æt hilde ne swāc
manna ǣngum þāra þe hit mid mundum bewand,
sē þe gryre-sīðas gegān dorste,
folc-stede fāra; næs þæt forma sīð,
1465 þæt hit ellen-weorc æfnan scolde.
Hūru ne gemunde mago Ecglāfes
eafoðes cræftig, þæt hē ǣr gespræc
wīne druncen, þā hē þæs wǣpnes onlāh
sēlran sweord-frecan: selfa ne dorste
1470 under ȳða gewin aldre genēðan,
driht-scype drēogan; þǣr hē dōme forlēas,
ellen-mǣrðum. Ne wæs þǣm ōðrum swā,
syððan hē hine tō gūðe gegyred hæfde.


XXIII. THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.

Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:
1475 "geþenc nū, se mǣra maga Healfdenes,
"snottra fengel, nū ic eom sīðes fūs,
"gold-wine gumena, hwæt wit geō sprǣcon,
"gif ic æt þearfe þīnre scolde
"aldre linnan, þæt þū mē ā wǣre
1480 "forð-gewitenum on fæder stǣle;
"wes þū mund-bora mīnum mago-þegnum,
"hond-gesellum, gif mec hild nime:
"swylce þū þā mādmas, þē þū mē sealdest,
"Hrōðgār lēofa, Higelāce onsend.
1485 "Mæg þonne on þǣm golde ongitan Gēata dryhten,
"gesēon sunu Hrēðles, þonne hē on þæt sinc starað,
"þæt ic gum-cystum gōdne funde
"bēaga bryttan, brēac þonne mōste.
"And þū Unferð lǣt ealde lāfe,
1490 "wrǣtlīc wǣg-sweord wīd-cūðne man
"heard-ecg habban; ic mē mid Hruntinge
"dōm gewyrce, oððe mec dēað nimeð. "
Æfter þǣm wordum Weder-Gēata lēod
efste mid elne, nalas andsware
1495 bīdan wolde; brim-wylm onfēng
hilde-rince. Þā wæs hwīl dæges,
ǣr hē þone grund-wong ongytan mehte.
Sōna þæt onfunde, sē þe flōda begong
heoro-gīfre behēold hund missēra,
1500 grim and grǣdig, þæt þǣr gumena sum
æl-wihta eard ufan cunnode.
Grāp þā tōgēanes, gūð-rinc gefēng
atolan clommum; nō þȳ ǣr in gescōd
hālan līce: hring ūtan ymb-bearh,
1505 þæt hēo þone fyrd-hom þurh-fōn ne mihte,
locene leoðo-syrcan lāðan fingrum.
Bær þā sēo brim-wylf, þā hēo tō botme cōm,
hringa þengel tō hofe sīnum,
swā hē ne mihte nō (hē þæs mōdig wæs)
1510 wǣpna gewealdan, ac hine wundra þæs fela
swencte on sunde, sǣ-dēor monig
hilde-tūxum here-syrcan bræc,
ēhton āglǣcan. Þā se eorl ongeat,
þæt hē in nið-sele nāt-hwylcum wæs,
1515 þǣr him nǣnig wæter wihte ne sceðede,
nē him for hrōf-sele hrīnan ne mehte
fǣr-gripe flōdes: fȳr-lēoht geseah,
blācne lēoman beorhte scīnan.
Ongeat þā se gōda grund-wyrgenne,
1520 mere-wīf mihtig; mægen-rǣs forgeaf
hilde-bille, hond swenge ne oftēah,
þæt hire on hafelan hring-mǣl āgōl
grǣdig gūð-lēoð. Þā se gist onfand,
þæt se beado-lēoma bītan nolde,
1525 aldre sceððan, ac sēo ecg geswāc
þēodne æt þearfe: þolode ǣr fela
hond-gemōta, helm oft gescær,
fǣges fyrd-hrægl: þæt wæs forma sīð
dēorum māðme, þæt his dōm ālæg.
1530 Eft wæs ān-rǣd, nalas elnes læt,
mǣrða gemyndig mǣg Hygelāces;
wearp þā wunden-mǣl wrǣttum gebunden
yrre ōretta, þæt hit on eorðan læg,
stīð and stȳl-ecg; strenge getruwode,
1535 mund-gripe mægenes. Swā sceal man dōn,
þonne hē æt gūðe gegān þenceð
longsumne lof, nā ymb his līf cearað.
Gefēng þā be eaxle (nalas for fǣhðe mearn)
Gūð-Gēata lēod Grendles mōdor;
1540 brægd þā beadwe heard, þā hē gebolgen wæs,
feorh-genīðlan, þæt hēo on flet gebēah.
Hēo him eft hraðe and-lēan forgeald
grimman grāpum and him tōgēanes fēng;
oferwearp þā wērig-mōd wigena strengest,
1545 fēðe-cempa, þæt hē on fylle wearð.
Ofsæt þā þone sele-gyst and hyre seaxe getēah,
brād and brūn-ecg wolde hire bearn wrecan,
āngan eaferan. Him on eaxle læg
brēost-net brōden; þæt gebearh fēore,
1550 wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstōd.
Hæfde þā forsīðod sunu Ecgþēowes
under gynne grund, Gēata cempa,
nemne him heaðo-byrne helpe gefremede,
here-net hearde, and hālig god
1555 gewēold wīg-sigor, wītig drihten;
rodera rǣdend hit on ryht gescēd,
ȳðelīce syððan hē eft āstōd.


XXIV. BĒOWULF SLAYS THE SPRITE.

Geseah þā on searwum sige-ēadig bil,
eald sweord eotenisc ecgum þȳhtig,
1560 wigena weorð-mynd: þæt wæs wǣpna cyst,
būton hit wæs māre þonne ǣnig mon ōðer
tō beadu-lāce ætberan meahte
gōd and geatolīc gīganta geweorc.
Hē gefēng þā fetel-hilt, freca Scildinga,
1565 hrēoh and heoro-grim hring-mǣl gebrægd,
aldres orwēna, yrringa slōh,
þæt hire wið halse heard grāpode,
bān-hringas bræc, bil eal þurh-wōd
fǣgne flǣsc-homan, hēo on flet gecrong;
1570 sweord wæs swātig, secg weorce gefeh.
Līxte se lēoma, lēoht inne stōd,
efne swā of hefene hādre scīneð
rodores candel. Hē æfter recede wlāt,
hwearf þā be wealle, wǣpen hafenade
1575 heard be hiltum Higelāces þegn,
yrre and ān-rǣd. Næs sēo ecg fracod
hilde-rince, ac hē hraðe wolde
Grendle forgyldan gūð-rǣsa fela
þāra þe hē geworhte tō West-Denum
1580 oftor micle þonne on ǣnne sīð,
þonne hē Hrōðgāres heorð-genēatas
slōh on sweofote, slǣpende fræt
folces Denigea fȳf-tȳne men
and ōðer swylc ūt of-ferede,
1585 lāðlīcu lāc. Hē him þæs lēan forgeald,
rēðe cempa, tō þæs þe hē on ræste geseah
gūð-wērigne Grendel licgan,
aldor-lēasne, swā him ǣr gescōd
hild æt Heorote; hrā wīde sprong,
1590 syððan hē æfter dēaðe drepe þrowade,
heoro-sweng heardne, and hine þā hēafde becearf,
Sōna þæt gesāwon snottre ceorlas,
þā þe mid Hrōðgāre on holm wliton,
þæt wæs ȳð-geblond eal gemenged,
1595 brim blōde fāh: blonden-feaxe
gomele ymb gōdne ongeador sprǣcon,
þæt hig þæs æðelinges eft ne wēndon,
þæt hē sige-hrēðig sēcean cōme
mǣrne þēoden; þā þæs monige gewearð,
1600 þæt hine sēo brim-wylf ābroten hæfde.
Þā cōm nōn dæges. Næs ofgēafon
hwate Scyldingas; gewāt him hām þonon
gold-wine gumena. Gistas sētan,
mōdes sēoce, and on mere staredon,
1605 wiston and ne wēndon, þæt hīe heora wine-drihten
selfne gesāwon. Þā þæt sweord ongan
æfter heaðo-swāte hilde-gicelum
wīg-bil wanian; þæt wæs wundra sum,
þæt hit eal gemealt īse gelīcost,
1610 þonne forstes bend fæder onlǣteð,
onwindeð wæl-rāpas, sē þe geweald hafað
sǣla and mǣla; þæt is sōð metod.
Ne nom hē in þǣm wīcum, Weder-Gēata lēod,
māðm-ǣhta mā, þēh hē þǣr monige geseah,
1615 būton þone hafelan and þā hilt somod,
since fāge; sweord ǣr gemealt,
forbarn brōden mǣl: wæs þæt blōd tō þæs hāt,
ǣttren ellor-gǣst, sē þǣr inne swealt.
Sōna wæs on sunde, sē þe ǣr æt sæcce gebād
1620 wīg-hryre wrāðra, wæter up þurh-dēaf;
wǣron ȳð-gebland eal gefǣlsod,
ēacne eardas, þā se ellor-gāst
oflēt līf-dagas and þās lǣnan gesceaft.
Cōm þā tō lande lid-manna helm
1625 swīð-mōd swymman, sǣ-lāce gefeah,
mægen-byrðenne þāra þe hē him mid hæfde.
Ēodon him þā tōgēanes, gode þancodon,
þrȳðlīc þegna hēap, þēodnes gefēgon,
þæs þe hī hyne gesundne gesēon mōston.
1630 Þā wæs of þǣm hrōran helm and byrne
lungre ālȳsed: lagu drūsade,
wæter under wolcnum, wæl-drēore fāg.
Fērdon forð þonon fēðe-lāstum
ferhðum fægne, fold-weg mǣton,
1635 cūðe strǣte; cyning-balde men
from þǣm holm-clife hafelan bǣron
earfoðlīce heora ǣghwæðrum
fela-mōdigra: fēower scoldon
on ðæm wæl-stenge weorcum geferian
1640 tō þǣm gold-sele Grendles hēafod,
oð þæt semninga tō sele cōmon
frome fyrd-hwate fēower-tȳne
Gēata gongan; gum-dryhten mid
mōdig on gemonge meodo-wongas træd.
1645 Þā cōm in gān ealdor þegna,
dǣd-cēne mon dōme gewurðad,
hæle hilde-dēor. Hrōðgār grētan:
Þā wæs be feaxe on flet boren
Grendles hēafod, þǣr guman druncon,
1650 egeslīc for eorlum and þǣre idese mid:
wlite-sēon wrǣtlīc weras onsāwon.


XXV. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE: HE DISCOURSES.

Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Hwæt! wē þē þās sǣ-lāc, sunu Healfdenes,
"lēod Scyldinga, lustum brōhton,
1655 "tīres tō tācne, þē þū hēr tō lōcast.
"Ic þæt unsōfte ealdre gedīgde:
"wigge under wætere weorc genēðde
"earfoðlīce, æt-rihte wæs
"gūð getwǣfed, nymðe mec god scylde.
1660 "Ne meahte ic æt hilde mid Hruntinge
"wiht gewyrcan, þēah þæt wǣpen duge,
"ac mē geūðe ylda waldend,
"þæt ic on wāge geseah wlitig hangian
"eald sweord ēacen (oftost wīsode
1665 "winigea lēasum) þæt ic þȳ wǣpne gebrǣ.
"Ofslōh þā æt þǣre sæcce (þā mē sǣl āgeald)
"hūses hyrdas. Þā þæt hilde-bil
"forbarn, brogden mǣl, swā þæt blōd gesprang,
"hātost heaðo-swāta: ic þæt hilt þanan
1670 "fēondum ætferede; fyren-dǣda wræc,
"dēað-cwealm Denigea, swā hit gedēfe wæs.
"Ic hit þē þonne gehāte, þæt þū on Heorote mōst
"sorh-lēas swefan mid þīnra secga gedryht,
"and þegna gehwylc þīnra lēoda,
1675 "duguðe and iogoðe, þæt þū him ondrǣdan ne þearft,
"þēoden Scyldinga, on þā healfe,
"aldor-bealu eorlum, swā þū ǣr dydest. "
Þā wæs gylden hilt gamelum rince.
hārum hild-fruman, on hand gyfen,
1680 enta ǣr-geweorc, hit on ǣht gehwearf
æfter dēofla hryre Denigea frēan,
wundor-smiða geweorc, and þā þās worold ofgeaf
grom-heort guma, godes andsaca,
morðres scyldig, and his mōdor ēac;
1685 on geweald gehwearf worold-cyninga
þǣm sēlestan be sǣm twēonum
þāra þe on Sceden-igge sceattas dǣlde.
Hrōðgār maðelode, hylt scēawode,
ealde lāfe, on þǣm wæs ōr writen
1690 fyrn-gewinnes: syððan flōd ofslōh,
gifen gēotende, gīganta cyn,
frēcne gefērdon: þæt wæs fremde þēod
ēcean dryhtne, him þæs ende-lēan
þurh wæteres wylm waldend sealde.
1695 Swā wæs on þǣm scennum scīran goldes
þurh rūn-stafas rihte gemearcod,
geseted and gesǣd, hwām þæt sweord geworht,
īrena cyst ǣrest wǣre,
wreoðen-hilt and wyrm-fāh. þā se wīsa spræc
1700 sunu Healfdenes (swīgedon ealle):
"Þæt lā mæg secgan, sē þe sōð and riht
"fremeð on folce, (feor eal gemon
"eald ēðel-weard), þæt þes eorl wǣre
"geboren betera! Blǣd is ārǣred
1705 "geond wīd-wegas, wine mīn Bēowulf,
"þīn ofer þēoda gehwylce. Eal þū hit geþyldum healdest,
"mægen mid mōdes snyttrum. Ic þē sceal mīne gelǣstan
"frēode, swā wit furðum sprǣcon; þū scealt tō frōfre weorðan
"eal lang-twidig lēodum þīnum,
1710 "hæleðum tō helpe. Ne wearð Heremōd swā
"eaforum Ecgwelan, Ār-Scyldingum;
"ne gewēox hē him tō willan, ac tō wæl-fealle
"and tō dēað-cwalum Deniga lēodum;
"brēat bolgen-mōd bēod-genēatas,
1715 "eaxl-gesteallan, oð þæt hē āna hwearf,
"mǣre þēoden. mon-drēamum from:
"þēah þe hine mihtig god mægenes wynnum,
"eafeðum stēpte, ofer ealle men
"forð gefremede, hwæðere him on ferhðe grēow
1720 "brēost-hord blōd-rēow: nallas bēagas geaf
"Denum æfter dōme; drēam-lēas gebād,
"þæt hē þæs gewinnes weorc þrowade,
"lēod-bealo longsum. Þū þē lǣr be þon,
"gum-cyste ongit! ic þis gid be þē
1725 "āwræc wintrum frōd. Wundor is tō secganne,
"hū mihtig god manna cynne
"þurh sīdne sefan snyttru bryttað,
"eard and eorl-scipe, hē āh ealra geweald.
"Hwīlum hē on lufan lǣteð hworfan
1730 "monnes mōd-geþonc mǣran cynnes,
"seleð him on ēðle eorðan wynne,
"tō healdanne hlēo-burh wera,
"gedēð him swā gewealdene worolde dǣlas,
"sīde rīce, þæt hē his selfa ne mæg
1735 "for his un-snyttrum ende geþencean;
"wunað hē on wiste, nō hine wiht dweleð,
"ādl nē yldo, nē him inwit-sorh
"on sefan sweorceð, nē gesacu ōhwǣr,
"ecg-hete ēoweð, ac him eal worold
1740 "wendeð on willan; hē þæt wyrse ne con,
"oð þæt him on innan ofer-hygda dǣl
"weaxeð and wridað, þonne se weard swefeð,
"sāwele hyrde: bið se slǣp tō fæst,
"bisgum gebunden, bona swīðe nēah,
1745 "sē þe of flān-bogan fyrenum scēoteð.


XXVI. THE DISCOURSE IS ENDED. -BĒOWULF PREPARES TO LEAVE.

"Þonne bið on hreðre under helm drepen
"biteran strǣle: him bebeorgan ne con
"wom wundor-bebodum wergan gāstes;
"þinceð him tō lȳtel, þæt hē tō lange hēold,
1750 "gȳtsað grom-hȳdig, nallas on gylp seleð
"fǣtte bēagas and hē þā forð-gesceaft
"forgyteð and forgȳmeð, þæs þe him ǣr god sealde
"wuldres waldend, weorð-mynda dǣl.
"Hit on ende-stæf eft gelimpeð,
1755 "þæt se līc-homa lǣne gedrēoseð,
"fǣge gefealleð; fēhð ōðer tō,
"sē þe unmurnlīce mādmas dǣleð,
"eorles ǣr-gestrēon, egesan ne gȳmeð.
"Bebeorh þē þone bealo-nīð, Bēowulf lēofa,
1760 "secg se betsta, and þē þæt sēlre gecēos,
"ēce rǣdas; oferhȳda ne gȳm,
"mǣre cempa! Nū is þīnes mægnes blǣd
"āne hwīle; eft sōna bið,
"þæt þec ādl oððe ecg eafoðes getwǣfeð,
1765 "oððe fȳres feng oððe flōdes wylm,
"oððe gripe mēces oððe gāres fliht,
"oððe atol yldo, oððe ēagena bearhtm
"forsiteð and forsworceð; semninga bið,
"þæt þec, dryht-guma, dēað oferswȳðeð.
1770 "Swā ic Hring-Dena hund missēra
"wēold under wolcnum, and hig wigge belēac
"manigum mǣgða geond þysne middan-geard,
"æscum and ecgum, þæt ic mē ǣnigne
"under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde.
1775 "Hwæt! mē þæs on ēðle edwenden cwōm,
"gyrn æfter gomene, seoððan Grendel wearð,
"eald-gewinna, in-genga mīn:
"ic þǣre sōcne singāles wæg
"mōd-ceare micle. Þæs sig metode þanc,
1780 "ēcean drihtne, þæs þe ic on aldre gebād,
"þæt ic on þone hafelan heoro-drēorigne
"ofer eald gewin ēagum starige!
"Gā nū tō setle, symbel-wynne drēoh
"wīgge weorðad: unc sceal worn fela
1785 "māðma gemǣnra, siððan morgen bið. "
Gēat wæs glæd-mōd, gēong sōna tō,
setles nēosan, swā se snottra heht.
Þā wæs eft swā ǣr ellen-rōfum,
flet-sittendum fægere gereorded
1790 nīowan stefne. Niht-helm geswearc
deorc ofer dryht-gumum. Duguð eal ārās;
wolde blonden-feax beddes nēosan,
gamela Scylding. Gēat ungemetes wēl,
rōfne rand-wigan restan lyste:
1795 sōna him sele-þegn sīðes wērgum,
feorran-cundum forð wīsade,
se for andrysnum ealle beweotede
þegnes þearfe, swylce þȳ dōgore
hēaðo-līðende habban scoldon.
1800 Reste hine þā rūm-heort; reced hlīfade
gēap and gold-fāh, gæst inne swæf,
oð þæt hrefn blaca heofones wynne
blīð-heort bodode. Þā cōm beorht sunne
scacan ofer grundas; scaðan ōnetton,
1805 wǣron æðelingas eft tō lēodum
fūse tō farenne, wolde feor þanon
cuma collen-ferhð cēoles nēosan.
Heht þā se hearda Hrunting beran,
sunu Ecglāfes, heht his sweord niman,
1810 lēoflīc īren; sægde him þæs lēanes þanc,
cwæð hē þone gūð-wine gōdne tealde,
wīg-cræftigne, nales wordum lōg
mēces ecge: þæt wæs mōdig secg.
And þā sīð-frome searwum gearwe
1815 wīgend wǣron, ēode weorð Denum
æðeling tō yppan, þǣr se ōðer wæs
hæle hilde-dēor, Hrōðgār grētte.


XXVII. THE PARTING WORDS.

Bēowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Nū wē sǣ-līðend secgan wyllað
1820 "feorran cumene, þæt wē fundiað
"Higelāc sēcan. Wǣron hēr tela
"willum bewenede; þū ūs wēl dohtest.
"Gif ic þonne on eorðan ōwihte mæg
"þīnre mōd-lufan māran tilian,
1825 "gumena dryhten, þonne ic gȳt dyde,
"gūð-geweorca ic bēo gearo sōna.
"Gif ic þæt gefricge ofer flōda begang,
"þæt þec ymbe-sittend egesan þȳwað,
"swā þec hetende hwīlum dydon,
1830 "ic þē þūsenda þegna bringe,
"hæleða tō helpe. Ic on Higelāce wāt,
"Gēata dryhten, þēah þe hē geong sȳ,
"folces hyrde, þæt hē mec fremman wile
"wordum and worcum, þæt ic þē wēl herige,
1835 "and þē tō gēoce gār-holt bere
"mægenes fultum, þǣr þē bið manna þearf;
"gif him þonne Hrēðrīc tō hofum Gēata
"geþingeð, þēodnes bearn, hē mæg þǣr fela
"frēonda findan: feor-cȳððe bēoð
1840 "sēlran gesōhte þǣm þe him selfa dēah. "
Hrōðgār maðelode him on andsware:
"Þē þā word-cwydas wittig drihten
"on sefan sende! ne hȳrde ic snotorlīcor
"on swā geongum feore guman þingian:
1845 "þū eart mægenes strang and on mōde frōd,
"wīs word-cwida. Wēn ic talige,
"gif þæt gegangeð, þæt þe gār nymeð,
"hild heoru-grimme Hrēðles eaferan,
"ādl oððe īren ealdor þīnne,
1850 "folces hyrde, and þū þīn feorh hafast,
"þæt þe Sǣ-Gēatas sēlran næbben
"tō gecēosenne cyning ǣnigne,
"hord-weard hæleða, gif þū healdan wylt
"māga rīce. Mē þīn mōd-sefa
1855 "līcað leng swā wēl, lēofa Bēowulf:
"hafast þū gefēred, þæt þām folcum sceal,
"Gēata lēodum and Gār-Denum
"sib gemǣnum and sacu restan,
"inwit-nīðas, þē hīe ǣr drugon;
1860 "wesan, þenden ic wealde wīdan rīces,
"māðmas gemǣne, manig ōðerne
"gōdum gegrētan ofer ganotes bæð;
"sceal hring-naca ofer hēaðu bringan
"lāc and luf-tācen. Ic þā lēode wāt
1865 "gē wið fēond gē wið frēond fæste geworhte
"ǣghwæs untǣle ealde wīsan. "
Þā gīt him eorla hlēo inne gesealde,
mago Healfdenes māðmas twelfe,
hēt hine mid þǣm lācum lēode swǣse
1870 sēcean on gesyntum, snūde eft cuman.
Gecyste þā cyning æðelum gōd,
þēoden Scildinga, þegen betstan
and be healse genam; hruron him tēaras,
blonden-feaxum: him wæs bēga wēn,
1875 ealdum infrōdum, ōðres swīðor,
þæt hī seoððan gesēon mōston
mōdige on meðle. Wæs him se man tō þon lēof,
þæt hē þone brēost-wylm forberan ne mehte,
ac him on hreðre hyge-bendum fæst
1880 æfter dēorum men dyrne langað
beorn wið blōde. Him Bēowulf þanan,
gūð-rinc gold-wlanc græs-moldan træd,
since hrēmig: sǣ-genga bād
āgend-frēan, sē þe on ancre rād.
1885 Þā wæs on gange gifu Hrōðgāres
oft geæhted: þæt wæs ān cyning
ǣghwæs orleahtre, oð þæt hine yldo benam
mægenes wynnum, sē þe oft manegum scōd.


XXVIII. BĒOWULF RETURNS TO GEATLAND. -THE QUEENS HYGD AND THRYTHO.

Cwōm þā tō flōde fela-mōdigra
1890 hæg-stealdra hēap; hring-net bǣron,
locene leoðo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand
eft-sīð eorla, swā hē ǣr dyde;
nō hē mid hearme of hlīðes nosan
gæstas grētte, ac him tōgēanes rād;
1895 cwæð þæt wilcuman Wedera lēodum
scawan scīr-hame tō scipe fōron.
Þā wæs on sande sǣ-gēap naca
hladen here-wǣdum, hringed-stefna
mēarum and māðmum: mæst hlīfade
1900 ofer Hrōðgāres hord-gestrēonum.
Hē þǣm bāt-wearde bunden golde
swurd gesealde, þæt hē syððan wæs
on meodu-bence māðme þȳ weorðra,
yrfe-lāfe. Gewāt him on ȳð-nacan,
1905 drēfan dēop wæter, Dena land ofgeaf.
Þā wæs be mæste mere-hrægla sum,
segl sāle fæst. Sund-wudu þunede,
nō þǣr wēg-flotan wind ofer ȳðum
sīðes getwǣfde; sǣ-genga fōr,
1910 flēat fāmig-heals forð ofer ȳðe,
bunden-stefna ofer brim-strēamas,
þæt hīe Gēata clifu ongitan meahton,
cūðe næssas. Cēol up geþrang,
lyft-geswenced on lande stōd.
1915 Hraðe wæs æt holme hȳð-weard gearo,
sē þe ǣr lange tīd, lēofra manna
fūs, æt faroðe feor wlātode;
sǣlde tō sande sīd-fæðme scip
oncer-bendum fæst, þȳ lǣs hym ȳða þrym
1920 wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte.
Hēt þā up beran æðelinga gestrēon,
frætwe and fǣt-gold; næs him feor þanon
tō gesēcanne sinces bryttan:
Higelāc Hrēðling þǣr æt hām wunað,
1925 selfa mid gesīðum sǣ-wealle nēah;
bold wæs betlīc, brego-rōf cyning,
hēa on healle, Hygd swīðe geong,
wīs, wēl-þungen, þēah þe wintra lȳt
under burh-locan gebiden hæbbe
1930 Hæreðes dōhtor: næs hīo hnāh swā þēah,
nē tō gnēað gifa Gēata lēodum,
māðm-gestrēona. Mod Þrȳðo wæg,
fremu folces cwēn, firen ondrysne:
nǣnig þæt dorste dēor genēðan
1935 swǣsra gesīða, nefne sin-frēa,
þæt hire an dæges ēagum starede;
ac him wæl-bende weotode tealde,
hand-gewriðene: hraðe seoððan wæs
æfter mund-gripe mēce geþinged,
1940 þæt hit sceaðen-mǣl scȳran mōste,
cwealm-bealu cȳðan. Ne bið swylc cwēnlīc þēaw
idese tō efnanne, þēah þe hīo ǣnlīcu sȳ,
þætte freoðu-webbe fēores onsæce
æfter līge-torne lēofne mannan.
1945 Hūru þæt onhōhsnode Heminges mǣg;
ealo drincende ōðer sǣdan,
þæt hīo lēod-bealewa lǣs gefremede,
inwit-nīða, syððan ǣrest wearð
gyfen gold-hroden geongum cempan,
1950 æðelum dīore, syððan hīo Offan flet
ofer fealone flōd be fæder lāre
sīðe gesōhte, þǣr hīo syððan wēl
in gum-stōle, gōde mǣre,
līf-gesceafta lifigende brēac,
1955 hīold hēah-lufan wið hæleða brego,
ealles mon-cynnes mīne gefrǣge
þone sēlestan bī sǣm twēonum
eormen-cynnes; forþām Offa wæs
geofum and gūðum gār-cēne man,
1960 wīde geweorðod; wīsdōme hēold
ēðel sīnne, þonon Ēomǣr wōc
hæleðum tō helpe, Heminges mǣg,
nefa Gārmundes, nīða cræftig.


XXIX. HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC'S RECEPTION.

Gewāt him þā se hearda mid his hond-scole
1965 sylf æfter sande sǣ-wong tredan,
wīde waroðas. Woruld-candel scān,
sigel sūðan fūs: hī sīð drugon,
elne geēodon, tō þæs þe eorla hlēo,
bonan Ongenþēowes burgum on innan,
1970 geongne gūð-cyning gōdne gefrūnon
hringas dǣlan. Higelāce wæs
sīð Bēowulfes snūde gecȳðed,
þæt þǣr on worðig wīgendra hlēo,
lind-gestealla lifigende cwōm,
1975 heaðo-lāces hāl tō hofe gongan.
Hraðe wæs gerȳmed, swā se rīca bebēad,
fēðe-gestum flet innan-weard.
Gesæt þā wið sylfne, sē þā sæcce genæs,
mǣg wið mǣge, syððan man-dryhten
1980 þurh hlēoðor-cwyde holdne gegrētte
mēaglum wordum. Meodu-scencum
hwearf geond þæt reced Hæreðes dōhtor:
lufode þā lēode, līð-wǣge bær
hǣlum tō handa. Higelāc ongan
1985 sīnne geseldan in sele þām hēan
fægre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bræc,
hwylce Sǣ-Gēata sīðas wǣron:
"Hū lomp ēow on lāde, lēofa Bīowulf,
"þā þū fǣringa feorr gehogodest,
1990 "sæcce sēcean ofer sealt wæter,
"hilde tō Hiorote? Ac þū Hrōðgāre
"wīd-cūðne wēan wihte gebēttest,
"mǣrum þēodne? Ic þæs mōd-ceare
"sorh-wylmum sēað, sīðe ne truwode
1995 "lēofes mannes; ic þē lange bæd,
"þæt þū þone wæl-gǣst wihte ne grētte,
"lēte Sūð-Dene sylfe geweorðan
"gūðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge,
"þæs þe ic þē gesundne gesēon mōste. "
2000 Bīowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþīowes:
"Þæt is undyrne, dryhten Higelāc,
"mǣre gemēting monegum fīra,
"hwylc orleg-hwīl uncer Grendles
"wearð on þām wange, þǣr hē worna fela
2005 "Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede,
"yrmðe tō aldre; ic þæt eal gewræc,
"swā ne gylpan þearf Grendeles māga
"ǣnig ofer eorðan ūht-hlem þone,
"sē þe lengest leofað lāðan cynnes,
2010 "fenne bifongen. Ic þǣr furðum cwōm,
"tō þām hring-sele Hrōðgār grētan:
"sōna mē se mǣra mago Healfdenes,
"syððan hē mōd-sefan mīnne cūðe,
"wið his sylfes sunu setl getǣhte.
2015 "Weorod wæs on wynne; ne seah ic wīdan feorh
"under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra
"medu-drēam māran. Hwīlum mǣru cwēn,
"friðu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf,
"bǣdde byre geonge; oft hīo bēah-wriðan
2020 "secge sealde, ǣr hīo tō setle gēong.
"Hwīlum for duguðe dōhtor Hrōðgāres
"eorlum on ende ealu-wǣge bær,
"þā ic Frēaware flet-sittende
"nemnan hȳrde, þǣr hīo nægled sinc
2025 "hæleðum sealde: sīo gehāten wæs,
"geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frōdan;
"hafað þæs geworden wine Scyldinga
"rīces hyrde and þæt rǣd talað,
"þæt hē mid þȳ wīfe wæl-fǣhða dǣl,
2030 "sæcca gesette. Oft nō seldan hwǣr
"æfter lēod-hryre lȳtle hwīle
"bon-gār būgeð, þēah sēo brȳd duge!


XXX. BĒOWULF'S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.

"Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncan þēoden Heaðobeardna
"and þegna gehwām þāra lēoda,
2035 "þonne hē mid fǣmnan on flett gǣð,
"dryht-bearn Dena duguða biwenede:
"on him gladiað gomelra lāfe
"heard and hring-mǣl, Heaðobeardna gestrēon,
"þenden hīe þām wǣpnum wealdan mōston,
2040 "oð þæt hīe forlǣddan tō þām lind-plegan
"swǣse gesīðas ond hyra sylfra feorh.
"Þonne cwið æt bēore, sē þe bēah gesyhð,
"eald æsc-wiga, sē þe eall geman
"gār-cwealm gumena (him bið grim sefa),
2045 "onginneð geōmor-mōd geongne cempan
"þurh hreðra gehygd higes cunnian,
"wīg-bealu weccean and þæt word ācwyð:
"'Meaht þū, mīn wine, mēce gecnāwan,
"'þone þin fæder tō gefeohte bær
2050 "'under here-grīman hindeman sīðe,
"'dȳre īren, þǣr hyne Dene slōgon,
"'wēoldon wæl-stōwe, syððan wiðer-gyld læg,
"'æfter hæleða hryre, hwate Scyldungas?
"'Nu hēr þāra banena byre nāt-hwylces,
2055 "'frætwum hrēmig on flet gǣð,
"'morðres gylpeð and þone māððum byreð,
"'þone þe þū mid rihte rǣdan sceoldest! '"
"Manað swā and myndgað mǣla gehwylce
"sārum wordum, oð þæt sǣl cymeð,
2060 "þæt se fǣmnan þegn fore fæder dǣdum
"æfter billes bite blōd-fāg swefeð,
"ealdres scyldig; him se ōðer þonan
"losað lifigende, con him land geare.
"Þonne bīoð brocene on bā healfe
2065 "āð-sweord eorla; syððan Ingelde
"weallað wæl-nīðas and him wīf-lufan
"æfter cear-wælmum cōlran weorðað.
"Þȳ ic Heaðobeardna hyldo ne telge,
"dryht-sibbe dǣl Denum unfǣcne,
2070 "frēond-scipe fæstne. Ic sceal forð sprecan
"gēn ymbe Grendel, þæt þū geare cunne,
"sinces brytta, tō hwan syððan wearð
"hond-rǣs hæleða. Syððan heofones gim
"glād ofer grundas, gæst yrre cwōm,
2075 "eatol ǣfen-grom, ūser nēosan,
"þǣr wē gesunde sæl weardodon;
"þǣr wæs Hondscīo hild onsǣge,
"feorh-bealu fǣgum, hē fyrmest læg,
"gyrded cempa; him Grendel wearð,
2080 "mǣrum magu-þegne tō mūð-bonan,
"lēofes mannes līc eall forswealg.
"Nō þȳ ǣr ūt þā gēn īdel-hende
"bona blōdig-tōð bealewa gemyndig,
"of þām gold-sele gongan wolde,
2085 "ac hē mægnes rōf mīn costode,
"grāpode gearo-folm. Glōf hangode
"sīd and syllīc searo-bendum fæst,
"sīo wæs orþoncum eall gegyrwed
"dēofles cræftum and dracan fellum:
2090 "hē mec þǣr on innan unsynnigne,
"dīor dǣd-fruma, gedōn wolde,
"manigra sumne: hyt ne mihte swā,
"syððan ic on yrre upp-riht āstōd.
"Tō lang ys tō reccenne, hū ic þām lēod-sceaðan
2095 "yfla gehwylces ond-lēan forgeald;
"þǣr ic, þēoden mīn, þīne lēode
"weorðode weorcum. Hē on weg losade,
"lȳtle hwīle līf-wynna brēac;
"hwæðre him sīo swīðre swaðe weardade
2100 "hand on Hiorte and hē hēan þonan,
"mōdes geōmor mere-grund gefēoll.
"Mē þone wæl-rǣs wine Scildunga
"fǣttan golde fela lēanode,
"manegum māðmum, syððan mergen cōm
2105 "and wē tō symble geseten hæfdon.
"Þǣr wæs gidd and glēo; gomela Scilding
"fela fricgende feorran rehte;
"hwīlum hilde-dēor hearpan wynne,
"gomen-wudu grētte; hwīlum gyd āwræc
2110 "sōð and sārlīc; hwīlum syllīc spell
"rehte æfter rihte rūm-heort cyning.
"Hwīlum eft ongan eldo gebunden,
"gomel gūð-wiga gioguðe cwīðan
"hilde-strengo; hreðer inne wēoll,
2115 "þonne hē wintrum frōd worn gemunde.
"Swā wē þǣr inne andlangne dæg
"nīode nāman, oð þæt niht becwōm
"ōðer tō yldum. Þā wæs eft hraðe
"gearo gyrn-wræce Grendeles mōdor,
2120 "sīðode sorh-full; sunu dēað fornam,
"wīg-hete Wedra. Wīf unhȳre
"hyre bearn gewræc, beorn ācwealde
"ellenlīce; þǣr wæs Æsc-here,
"frōdan fyrn-witan, feorh ūðgenge;
2125 "nōðer hȳ hine ne mōston, syððan mergen cwōm,
"dēað-wērigne Denia lēode
"bronde forbærnan, nē on bǣl hladan
"lēofne mannan: hīo þæt līc ætbær
"fēondes fæðmum under firgen-strēam.