3180 Swā
begnornodon
Gēata lēode
hlāfordes hryre, heorð-genēatas,
cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-þwǣrust,
lēodum līðost and lof-geornost.
hlāfordes hryre, heorð-genēatas,
cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-þwǣrust,
lēodum līðost and lof-geornost.
Beowulf
XXX
hilde-geatwa, þā hē tō holme stāg.
Nealles Hetware hrēmge þorfton
2365 fēðe-wīges, þē him foran ongēan
linde bǣron: lȳt eft becwōm
fram þām hild-frecan hāmes nīosan.
Oferswam þā sioleða bigong sunu Ecgþēowes,
earm ān-haga eft tō lēodum,
2370 þǣr him Hygd gebēad hord and rīce,
bēagas and brego-stōl: bearne ne truwode,
þæt hē wið æl-fylcum ēðel-stōlas
healdan cūðe, þā wæs Hygelāc dēad.
Nō þȳ ǣr fēa-sceafte findan meahton
2375 æt þām æðelinge ǣnige þinga,
þæt hē Heardrēde hlāford wǣre,
oððe þone cyne-dōm cīosan wolde;
hwæðre hē him on folce frēond-lārum hēold,
ēstum mid āre, oð þæt hē yldra wearð,
2380 Weder-Gēatum wēold. Hyne wræc-mæcgas
ofer sǣ sōhtan, suna Ōhteres:
hæfdon hȳ forhealden helm Scylfinga,
þone sēlestan sǣ-cyninga,
þāra þe in Swīo-rīce sinc brytnade,
2385 mǣrne þēoden. Him þæt tō mearce wearð;
hē þǣr orfeorme feorh-wunde hlēat
sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelāces;
and him eft gewāt Ongenþīowes bearn
hāmes nīosan, syððan Heardrēd læg;
2390 lēt þone brego-stōl Bīowulf healdan,
Gēatum wealdan: þæt wæs gōd cyning.
XXXIV. RETROSPECT OF BĒOWULF. --STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS.
Sē þæs lēod-hryres lēan gemunde
uferan dōgrum, Ēadgilse wearð
fēa-sceaftum fēond. Folce gestepte
2395 ofer sǣ sīde sunu Ōhteres
wigum and wǣpnum: hē gewræc syððan
cealdum cear-sīðum, cyning ealdre binēat.
Swā hē nīða gehwane genesen hæfde,
slīðra geslyhta, sunu Ecgþīowes,
2400 ellen-weorca, oð þone ānne dæg,
þē hē wið þām wyrme gewegan sceolde.
Gewāt þā twelfa sum torne gebolgen
dryhten Gēata dracan scēawian;
hæfde þā gefrūnen, hwanan sīo fǣhð ārās,
2405 bealo-nīð biorna; him tō bearme cwōm
māððum-fæt mǣre þurh þæs meldan hond,
Sē wæs on þām þrēate þreotteoða secg,
sē þæs orleges ōr onstealde,
hæft hyge-giōmor, sceolde hēan þonon
2410 wong wīsian: hē ofer willan gīong
tō þæs þe hē eorð-sele ānne wisse,
hlǣw under hrūsan holm-wylme nēh,
ȳð-gewinne, sē wæs innan full
wrǣtta and wīra: weard unhīore,
2415 gearo gūð-freca, gold-māðmas hēold,
eald under eorðan; næs þæt ȳðe cēap,
tō gegangenne gumena ǣnigum.
Gesæt þā on næsse nīð-heard cyning,
þenden hǣlo ābēad heorð-genēatum
2420 gold-wine Gēata: him wæs geōmor sefa,
wǣfre and wæl-fūs, Wyrd ungemete nēah,
sē þone gomelan grētan sceolde,
sēcean sāwle hord, sundur gedǣlan
līf wið līce: nō þon lange wæs
2425 feorh æðelinges flǣsce bewunden.
Bīowulf maðelade, bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Fela ic on giogoðe guð-rǣsa genæs,
"orleg-hwīla: ic þæt eall gemon.
"Ic wæs syfan-wintre, þā mec sinca baldor,
2430 "frēa-wine folca æt mīnum fæder genam,
"hēold mec and hæfde Hrēðel cyning,
"geaf mē sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde;
"næs ic him tō līfe lāðra ōwihte
"beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,
2435 "Herebeald and Hæðcyn, oððe Hygelāc mīn.
"Wæs þām yldestan ungedēfelīce
"mǣges dǣdum morðor-bed strēd,
"syððan hyne Hæðcyn of horn-bogan,
"his frēa-wine flāne geswencte,
2440 "miste mercelses and his mǣg ofscēt,
"brōðor ōðerne, blōdigan gāre:
"þæt wæs feoh-lēas gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad
"hreðre hyge-mēðe; sceolde hwæðre swā þēah
"æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.
2445 "Swā bið geōmorlīc gomelum ceorle
"tō gebīdanne, þæt his byre rīde
"giong on galgan, þonne hē gyd wrece,
"sārigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað
"hrefne tō hrōðre and hē him helpe ne mæg,
2450 "eald and in-frōd, ǣnige gefremman.
"Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce
"eaforan ellor-sīð; ōðres ne gȳmeð
"tō gebīdanne burgum on innan
"yrfe-weardes, þonne se ān hafað
2455 "þurh dēaðes nȳd dǣda gefondad.
"Gesyhð sorh-cearig on his suna būre
"wīn-sele wēstne, wind-gereste,
"rēote berofene; rīdend swefað
"hæleð in hoðman; nis þǣr hearpan swēg,
2460 "gomen in geardum, swylce þǣr iū wǣron.
XXXV. MEMORIES OF PAST TIME. -THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE.
"Gewīteð þonne on sealman, sorh-lēoð gæleð
"ān æfter ānum: þūhte him eall tō rūm,
"wongas and wīc-stede. Swā Wedra helm
"æfter Herebealde heortan sorge
2465 "weallende wæg, wihte ne meahte
"on þām feorh-bonan fǣhðe gebētan:
"nō þȳ ǣr hē þone heaðo-rinc hatian ne meahte
"lāðum dǣdum, þēah him lēof ne wæs.
"Hē þā mid þǣre sorge, þē him sīo sār belamp,
2470 "gum-drēam ofgeaf, godes lēoht gecēas;
"eaferum lǣfde, swā dēð ēadig mon,
"lond and lēod-byrig, þā hē of līfe gewāt.
"Þā wæs synn and sacu Swēona and Gēata,
"ofer wīd wæter wrōht gemǣne,
2475 "here-nīð hearda, syððan Hrēðel swealt,
"oððe him Ongenþēowes eaferan wǣran
"frome fyrd-hwate, frēode ne woldon
"ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hrēosna-beorh
"eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon.
2480 "Þæt mǣg-wine mīne gewrǣcan,
"fǣhðe and fyrene, swā hyt gefrǣge wæs,
"þēah þe ōðer hit ealdre gebohte,
"heardan cēape: Hæðcynne wearð,
"Gēata dryhtne, gūð onsǣge.
2485 "Þā ic on morgne gefrægn mǣg ōðerne
"billes ecgum on bonan stǣlan,
"þǣr Ongenþēow Eofores nīosade:
"gūð-helm tōglād, gomela Scylfing
"hrēas heoro-blāc; hond gemunde
2490 "fǣhðo genōge, feorh-sweng ne oftēah.
"Ic him þā māðmas, þē hē mē sealde,
"geald æt gūðe, swā mē gifeðe wæs,
"lēohtan sweorde: hē mē lond forgeaf,
"eard ēðel-wyn. Næs him ǣnig þearf,
2495 "þæt hē tō Gifðum oððe tō Gār-Denum
"oððe in Swīo-rīce sēcean þurfe
"wyrsan wīg-frecan, weorðe gecȳpan;
"symle ic him on fēðan beforan wolde,
"āna on orde, and swā tō aldre sceall
2500 "sæcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,
"þæt mec ǣr and sīð oft gelǣste,
"syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð
"tō hand-bonan, Hūga cempan:
"nalles hē þā frætwe Frēs-cyninge,
2505 "brēost-weorðunge bringan mōste,
"ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde,
"æðeling on elne. Ne wæs ecg bona,
"ac him hilde-grāp heortan wylmas,
"bān-hūs gebræc. Nū sceall billes ecg,
2510 "hond and heard sweord ymb hord wīgan. "
Bēowulf maðelode, bēot-wordum spræc
nīehstan sīðe: "Ic genēðde fela
"gūða on geogoðe; gȳt ic wylle,
"frōd folces weard, fǣhðe sēcan,
2515 "mǣrðum fremman, gif mec se mān-sceaða
"of eorð-sele ūt gesēceð! "
Gegrētte þā gumena gehwylcne,
hwate helm-berend hindeman sīðe,
swǣse gesīðas: "Nolde ic sweord beran,
2520 "wǣpen tō wyrme, gif ic wiste hū
"wið þām āglǣcean elles meahte
"gylpe wiðgrīpan, swā ic giō wið Grendle dyde;
"ac ic þǣr heaðu-fȳres hātes wēne,
"rēðes and-hāttres: forþon ic mē on hafu
2525 "bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard
"oferflēon fōtes trem, fēond unhȳre,
"ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle, swā unc Wyrd getēoð,
"metod manna gehwæs. Ic eom on mōde from,
"þæt ic wið þone gūð-flogan gylp ofersitte.
2530 "Gebīde gē on beorge byrnum werede,
"secgas on searwum, hwæðer sēl mǣge
"æfter wæl-rǣse wunde gedȳgan
"uncer twēga. Nis þæt ēower sīð,
"nē gemet mannes, nefne mīn ānes,
2535 "þæt hē wið āglǣcean eofoðo dǣle,
"eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall
"gold gegangan oððe gūð nimeð,
"feorh-bealu frēcne, frēan ēowerne! "
Ārās þā bī ronde rōf ōretta,
2540 heard under helm, hioro-sercean bær
under stān-cleofu, strengo getruwode
ānes mannes: ne bið swylc earges sīð.
Geseah þā be wealle, sē þe worna fela,
gum-cystum gōd, gūða gedīgde,
2545 hilde-hlemma, þonne hnitan fēðan,
(stōd on stān-bogan) strēam ūt þonan
brecan of beorge; wæs þǣre burnan wælm
heaðo-fȳrum hāt: ne meahte horde nēah
unbyrnende ǣnige hwīle
2550 dēop gedȳgan for dracan lēge.
Lēt þā of brēostum, þā hē gebolgen wæs,
Weder-Gēata lēod word ūt faran,
stearc-heort styrmde; stefn in becōm
heaðo-torht hlynnan under hārne stān.
2555 Hete wæs onhrēred, hord-weard oncnīow
mannes reorde; næs þǣr māra fyrst,
frēode tō friclan. From ǣrest cwōm
oruð āglǣcean ūt of stāne,
hāt hilde-swāt; hrūse dynede.
2560 Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswāf
wið þām gryre-gieste, Gēata dryhten:
þā wæs hring-bogan heorte gefȳsed
sæcce tō sēceanne. Sweord ǣr gebrǣ
gōd gūð-cyning gomele lāfe,
2565 ecgum unglēaw, ǣghwæðrum wæs
bealo-hycgendra brōga fram ōðrum.
Stīð-mōd gestōd wið stēapne rond
winia bealdor, þā se wyrm gebēah
snūde tōsomne: hē on searwum bād.
2570 Gewāt þā byrnende gebogen scrīðan tō,
gescīfe scyndan. Scyld wēl gebearg
līfe and līce lǣssan hwīle
mǣrum þēodne, þonne his myne sōhte,
þǣr hē þȳ fyrste forman dōgore
2575 wealdan mōste, swā him Wyrd ne gescrāf
hrēð æt hilde. Hond up ābræd
Gēata dryhten, gryre-fāhne slōh
incge lāfe, þæt sīo ecg gewāc
brūn on bāne, bāt unswīðor,
2580 þonne his þīod-cyning þearfe hæfde,
bysigum gebǣded. Þā wæs beorges weard
æfter heaðu-swenge on hrēoum mōde,
wearp wæl-fȳre, wīde sprungon
hilde-lēoman: hrēð-sigora ne gealp
2585 gold-wine Gēata, gūð-bill geswāc
nacod æt nīðe, swā hyt nō sceolde,
īren ǣr-gōd. Ne wæs þæt ēðe sīð,
þæt se mǣra maga Ecgþēowes
grund-wong þone ofgyfan wolde;
2590 sceolde wyrmes willan wīc eardian
elles hwergen, swā sceal ǣghwylc mon
ālǣtan lǣn-dagas. Næs þā long tō þon,
þæt þā āglǣcean hȳ eft gemētton.
Hyrte hyne hord-weard, hreðer ǣðme wēoll,
2595 nīwan stefne: nearo þrowode
fȳre befongen sē þe ǣr folce wēold.
Nealles him on hēape hand-gesteallan,
æðelinga bearn ymbe gestōdon
hilde-cystum, ac hȳ on holt bugon,
2600 ealdre burgan. Hiora in ānum wēoll
sefa wið sorgum: sibb ǣfre ne mæg
wiht onwendan, þām þe wēl þenceð.
XXXVI. WIGLAF HELPS BĒOWULF IN THE FEUD
Wīglāf wæs hāten Wēoxstānes sunu,
lēoflīc lind-wiga, lēod Scylfinga,
2605 mǣg Ælfheres: geseah his mon-dryhten
under here-grīman hāt þrowian.
Gemunde þā þā āre, þē hē him ǣr forgeaf
wīc-stede weligne Wǣgmundinga,
folc-rihta gehwylc, swā his fæder āhte;
2610 ne mihte þā forhabban, hond rond gefēng,
geolwe linde, gomel swyrd getēah,
þæt wæs mid eldum Ēanmundes lāf,
suna Ōhteres, þām æt sæcce wearð
wracu wine-lēasum Wēohstānes bana
2615 mēces ecgum, and his māgum ætbær
brūn-fāgne helm, hringde byrnan,
eald sweord eotonisc, þæt him Onela forgeaf,
his gædelinges gūð-gewǣdu,
fyrd-searo fūslīc: nō ymbe þā fǣhðe spræc,
2620 þēah þe hē his brōðor bearn ābredwade.
Hē frætwe gehēold fela missēra,
bill and byrnan, oð þæt his byre mihte
eorl-scipe efnan, swā his ǣr-fæder;
geaf him þā mid Gēatum gūð-gewǣda
2625 ǣghwæs unrīm; þā hē of ealdre gewāt,
frōd on forð-weg. Þā wæs forma sīð
geongan cempan, þæt hē gūðe rǣs
mid his frēo-dryhtne fremman sceolde;
ne gemealt him se mōd-sefa, nē his mǣges lāf
2630 gewāc æt wīge: þæt se wyrm onfand,
syððan hīe tōgædre gegān hæfdon.
Wīglāf maðelode word-rihta fela,
sægde gesīðum, him wæs sefa geōmor:
"Ic þæt mǣl geman, þǣr wē medu þēgun,
2635 "þonne wē gehēton ūssum hlāforde
"in bīor-sele, þē ūs þās bēagas geaf,
"þæt wē him þā gūð-geatwa gyldan woldon,
"gif him þyslīcu þearf gelumpe,
"helmas and heard sweord: þē hē ūsic on herge gecēas
2640 "tō þyssum sīð-fate sylfes willum,
"onmunde ūsic mǣrða and mē þās māðmas geaf,
"þē hē ūsic gār-wīgend gōde tealde,
"hwate helm-berend, þēah þe hlāford ūs
"þis ellen-weorc āna āþōhte
2645 "tō gefremmanne, folces hyrde,
"forþām hē manna mǣst mǣrða gefremede,
"dǣda dollīcra. Nū is sē dæg cumen,
"þæt ūre man-dryhten mægenes behōfað
"gōdra gūð-rinca: wutun gangan tō,
2650 "helpan hild-fruman, þenden hyt sȳ,
"glēd-egesa grim! God wāt on mec,
"þæt mē is micle lēofre, þæt mīnne līc-haman
"mid mīnne gold-gyfan glēd fæðmie.
"Ne þynceð mē gerysne, þæt wē rondas beren
2655 "eft tō earde, nemne wē ǣror mǣgen
"fāne gefyllan, feorh ealgian
"Wedra þīodnes. Ic wāt geare,
"þæt nǣron eald-gewyrht, þæt hē āna scyle
"Gēata duguðe gnorn þrowian,
2660 "gesīgan æt sæcce: sceal ūrum þæt sweord and helm,
"byrne and byrdu-scrūd bām gemǣne. "
Wōd þā þurh þone wæl-rēc, wīg-heafolan bær
frēan on fultum, fēa worda cwæð:
"Lēofa Bīowulf, lǣst eall tela,
2665 "swā þū on geoguð-fēore geāra gecwǣde,
"þæt þū ne ālǣte be þē lifigendum
"dōm gedrēosan: scealt nū dǣdum rōf,
"æðeling ān-hȳdig, ealle mægene
"feorh ealgian; ic þē fullǣstu! "
2670 Æfter þām wordum wyrm yrre cwōm,
atol inwit-gæst ōðre sīðe,
fȳr-wylmum fāh fīonda nīosan,
lāðra manna; līg-ȳðum forborn
bord wið ronde: byrne ne meahte
2675 geongum gār-wigan gēoce gefremman:
ac se maga geonga under his mǣges scyld
elne geēode, þā his āgen wæs
glēdum forgrunden. Þā gēn gūð-cyning
mǣrða gemunde, mægen-strengo,
2680 slōh hilde-bille, þæt hyt on heafolan stōd
nīðe genȳded: Nægling forbærst,
geswāc æt sæcce sweord Bīowulfes
gomol and grǣg-mǣl. Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,
þæt him īrenna ecge mihton
2685 helpan æt hilde; wæs sīo hond tō strong,
sē þe mēca gehwane mīne gefrǣge
swenge ofersōhte, þonne hē tō sæcce bær
wǣpen wundrum heard, næs him wihte þē sēl.
Þā wæs þēod-sceaða þriddan sīðe,
2690 frēcne fȳr-draca fǣhða gemyndig,
rǣsde on þone rōfan, þā him rūm āgeald,
hāt and heaðo-grim, heals ealne ymbefēng
biteran bānum; hē geblōdegod wearð
sāwul-drīore; swāt ȳðum wēoll.
XXXVII. BĒOWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.
2695 Þā ic æt þearfe gefrægn þēod-cyninges
and-longne eorl ellen cȳðan,
cræft and cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs;
ne hēdde hē þæs heafolan, ac sīo hand gebarn
mōdiges mannes, þǣr hē his mǣges healp,
2700 þæt hē þone nīð-gæst nioðor hwēne slōh,
secg on searwum, þæt þæt sweord gedēaf
fāh and fǣted, þæt þæt fȳr ongon
sweðrian syððan. Þā gēn sylf cyning
gewēold his gewitte, wæll-seaxe gebrǣ,
2705 biter and beadu-scearp, þæt hē on byrnan wæg:
forwrāt Wedra helm wyrm on middan.
Fēond gefyldan (ferh ellen wræc),
and hī hyne þā bēgen ābroten hæfdon,
sib-æðelingas: swylc sceolde secg wesan,
2710 þegn æt þearfe. Þæt þām þēodne wæs
sīðast sīge-hwīle sylfes dǣdum,
worlde geweorces. Þā sīo wund ongon,
þē him se eorð-draca ǣr geworhte,
swelan and swellan. Hē þæt sōna onfand,
2715 þæt him on brēostum bealo-nīð wēoll,
attor on innan. Þā se æðeling gīong,
þæt hē bī wealle, wīs-hycgende,
gesæt on sesse; seah on enta geweorc,
hū þā stān-bogan stapulum fæste
2720 ēce eorð-reced innan hēoldon.
Hyne þā mid handa heoro-drēorigne
þēoden mǣrne þegn ungemete till,
wine-dryhten his wætere gelafede,
hilde-sædne and his helm onspēon.
2725 Bīowulf maðelode, hē ofer benne spræc,
wunde wæl-blēate (wisse hē gearwe,
þæt hē dæg-hwīla gedrogen hæfde
eorðan wynne; þā wæs eall sceacen
dōgor-gerīmes, dēað ungemete nēah):
2730 "Nū ic suna mīnum syllan wolde
"gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr mē gifeðe swā
"ǣnig yrfe-weard æfter wurde,
"līce gelenge. Ic þās lēode hēold
"fīftig wintra: næs se folc-cyning
2735 "ymbe-sittendra ǣnig þāra,
"þē mec gūð-winum grētan dorste,
"egesan þēon. Ic on earde bād
"mǣl-gesceafta, hēold mīn tela,
"ne sōhte searo-nīðas, nē mē swōr fela
2740 "āða on unriht. Ic þæs ealles mæg,
"feorh-bennum sēoc, gefēan habban:
"forþām mē wītan ne þearf waldend fīra
"morðor-bealo māga, þonne mīn sceaceð
"līf of līce. Nū þū lungre
2745 "geong, hord scēawian under hārne stān,
"Wīglāf lēofa, nū se wyrm ligeð,
"swefeð sāre wund, since berēafod.
"Bīo nū on ofoste, þæt ic ǣr-welan,
"gold-ǣht ongite, gearo scēawige
2750 "swegle searo-gimmas, þæt ic þȳ sēft mǣge
"æfter māððum-welan mīn ālǣtan
"līf and lēod-scipe, þone ic longe hēold. "
XXXVIII. THE JEWEL-HOARD. THE PASSING OF BEOWULF.
Þā ic snūde gefrægn sunu Wīhstānes
æfter word-cwydum wundum dryhtne
2755 hȳran heaðo-sīocum, hring-net beran,
brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hrōf.
Geseah þā sige-hrēðig, þā hē bī sesse gēong,
mago-þegn mōdig māððum-sigla fela,
gold glitinian grunde getenge,
2760 wundur on wealle and þæs wyrmes denn,
ealdes ūht-flogan, orcas stondan,
fyrn-manna fatu feormend-lēase,
hyrstum behrorene: þǣr wæs helm monig,
eald and ōmig, earm-bēaga fela,
2765 searwum gesǣled. Sinc ēaðe mæg,
gold on grunde, gumena cynnes
gehwone ofer-hīgian, hȳde sē þe wylle!
Swylce hē siomian geseah segn eall-gylden
hēah ofer horde, hond-wundra mǣst,
2770 gelocen leoðo-cræftum: of þām lēoma stōd,
þæt hē þone grund-wong ongitan meahte,
wrǣte giond-wlītan. Næs þæs wyrmes þǣr
onsȳn ǣnig, ac hyne ecg fornam.
Þā ic on hlǣwe gefrægn hord rēafian,
2775 eald enta geweorc ānne mannan,
him on bearm hladan bunan and discas
sylfes dōme, segn ēac genom,
bēacna beorhtost; bill ǣr-gescōd
(ecg wæs īren) eald-hlāfordes
2780 þām þāra māðma mund-bora wæs
longe hwīle, līg-egesan wæg
hātne for horde, hioro-weallende,
middel-nihtum, oð þæt hē morðre swealt.
Ār wæs on ofoste eft-sīðes georn,
2785 frætwum gefyrðred: hyne fyrwet bræc,
hwæðer collen-ferð cwicne gemētte
in þām wong-stede Wedra þēoden,
ellen-sīocne, þǣr hē hine ǣr forlēt.
Hē þā mid þām māðmum mǣrne þīoden,
2790 dryhten sīnne drīorigne fand
ealdres æt ende: hē hine eft ongon
wæteres weorpan, oð þæt wordes ord
brēost-hord þurhbræc. Bēowulf maðelode,
gomel on giohðe (gold scēawode):
2795 "Ic þāra frætwa frēan ealles þanc
"wuldur-cyninge wordum secge,
"ēcum dryhtne, þē ic hēr on starie,
"þæs þe ic mōste mīnum lēodum
"ǣr swylt-dæge swylc gestrȳnan.
2800 "Nū ic on māðma hord mīne bebohte
"frōde feorh-lege, fremmað gē nū
"lēoda þearfe; ne mæg ic hēr leng wesan.
"Hātað heaðo-mǣre hlǣw gewyrcean,
"beorhtne æfter bǣle æt brimes nosan;
2805 "se scel tō gemyndum mīnum lēodum
"hēah hlīfian on Hrones næsse,
"þæt hit sǣ-līðend syððan hātan
"Bīowulfes biorh, þā þe brentingas
"ofer flōda genipu feorran drīfað. "
2810 Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne
þīoden þrīst-hȳdig, þegne gesealde,
geongum gār-wigan, gold-fāhne helm,
bēah and byrnan, hēt hyne brūcan well:
"Þū eart ende-lāf ūsses cynnes,
2815 "Wǣgmundinga; ealle Wyrd forswēof,
"mīne māgas tō metod-sceafte,
"eorlas on elne: ic him æfter sceal. "
Þæt wæs þām gomelan gingeste word
brēost-gehygdum, ǣr hē bǣl cure,
2820 hāte heaðo-wylmas: him of hreðre gewāt
sāwol sēcean sōð-fæstra dōm.
XXXIX. THE COWARD-THANES.
Þā wæs gegongen guman unfrōdum
earfoðlīce, þæt hē on eorðan geseah
þone lēofestan līfes æt ende
2825 blēate gebǣran. Bona swylce læg,
egeslīc eorð-draca, ealdre berēafod,
bealwe gebǣded: bēah-hordum leng
wyrm wōh-bogen wealdan ne mōste,
ac him īrenna ecga fornāmon,
2830 hearde heaðo-scearpe homera lāfe,
þæt se wīd-floga wundum stille
hrēas on hrūsan hord-ærne nēah,
nalles æfter lyfte lācende hwearf
middel-nihtum, māðm-ǣhta wlonc
2835 ansȳn ȳwde: ac hē eorðan gefēoll
for þæs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.
Hūru þæt on lande lȳt manna þāh
mægen-āgendra mīne gefrǣge,
þēah þe hē dǣda gehwæs dyrstig wǣre,
2840 þæt hē wið attor-sceaðan oreðe gerǣsde,
oððe hring-sele hondum styrede,
gif hē wæccende weard onfunde
būan on beorge. Bīowulfe wearð
dryht-māðma dǣl dēaðe forgolden;
2845 hæfde ǣghwæðer ende gefēred
lǣnan līfes. Næs þā lang tō þon,
þæt þā hild-latan holt ofgēfan,
tȳdre trēow-logan tȳne ætsomne,
þā ne dorston ǣr dareðum lācan
2850 on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe;
ac hȳ scamiende scyldas bǣran,
gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr se gomela læg:
wlitan on Wīglāf. Hē gewērgad sæt,
fēðe-cempa frēan eaxlum nēah,
2855 wehte hyne wætre; him wiht ne spēow;
ne meahte hē on eorðan, þēah hē ūðe wēl,
on þām frum-gāre feorh gehealdan,
nē þæs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;
wolde dōm godes dǣdum rǣdan
2860 gumena gehwylcum, swā hē nū gēn dēð.
Þā wæs æt þām geongan grim andswaru
ēð-begēte þām þe ǣr his elne forlēas.
Wīglāf maðelode, Wēohstānes sunu,
secg sārig-ferð seah on unlēofe:
2865 "Þæt lā mæg secgan, sē þe wyle sōð sprecan,
"þæt se mon-dryhten, se ēow þā māðmas geaf,
"ēored-geatwe, þē gē þǣr on standað,
"þonne hē on ealu-bence oft gesealde
"heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,
2870 "þēoden his þegnum, swylce hē þrȳðlīcost
"ōhwǣr feor oððe nēah findan meahte,
"þæt hē gēnunga gūð-gewǣdu
"wrāðe forwurpe. Þā hyne wīg beget,
"nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum
2875 "gylpan þorfte; hwæðre him god ūðe,
"sigora waldend, þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræc
"āna mid ecge, þā him wæs elnes þearf,
"Ic him līf-wraðe lȳtle meahte
"ætgifan æt gūðe and ongan swā þēah
2880 "ofer mīn gemet mǣges helpan:
"symle wæs þȳ sǣmra, þonne ic sweorde drep
"ferhð-genīðlan, fȳr unswīðor
"wēoll of gewitte. Wergendra tō lȳt
"þrong ymbe þēoden, þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.
2885 "Nū sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu
"eall ēðel-wyn ēowrum cynne,
"lufen ālicgean: lond-rihtes mōt
"þǣre mǣg-burge monna ǣghwylc
"īdel hweorfan, syððan æðelingas
2890 "feorran gefricgean flēam ēowerne,
"dōm-lēasan dǣd. Dēað bið sēlla
"eorla gehwylcum þonne edwīt-līf! "
XL. THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.
Heht þā þæt heaðo-weorc tō hagan bīodan
up ofer ēg-clif, þǣr þæt eorl-weorod
2895 morgen-longne dæg mōd-giōmor sæt,
bord-hæbbende, bēga on wēnum
ende-dōgores and eft-cymes
lēofes monnes. Lȳt swīgode
nīwra spella, sē þe næs gerād,
2900 ac hē sōðlīce sægde ofer ealle;
"Nū is wil-geofa Wedra lēoda,
"dryhten Gēata dēað-bedde fæst,
"wunað wæl-reste wyrmes dǣdum;
"him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,
2905 "siex-bennum sēoc: sweorde ne meahte
"on þām āglǣcean ǣnige þinga
"wunde gewyrcean. Wīglāf siteð
"ofer Bīowulfe, byre Wīhstānes,
"eorl ofer ōðrum unlifigendum,
2910 "healdeð hige-mēðum hēafod-wearde
"lēofes and lāðes. Nū ys lēodum wēn
"orleg-hwīle, syððan underne
"Froncum and Frȳsum fyll cyninges
"wīde weorðeð. Wæs sīo wrōht scepen
2915 "heard wið Hūgas, syððan Higelāc cwōm
"faran flot-herge on Frēsna land,
"þǣr hyne Hetware hilde gehnǣgdon,
"elne geēodon mid ofer-mægene,
"þæt se byrn-wiga būgan sceolde,
2920 "fēoll on fēðan: nalles frætwe geaf
"ealdor dugoðe; ūs wæs ā syððan
"Merewīoinga milts ungyfeðe.
"Nē ic tō Swēo-þēode sibbe oððe trēowe
"wihte ne wēne; ac wæs wīde cūð,
2925 "þætte Ongenþīo ealdre besnyðede
"Hæðcyn Hrēðling wið Hrefna-wudu,
"þā for on-mēdlan ǣrest gesōhton
"Gēata lēode Gūð-scilfingas.
"Sōna him se frōda fæder Ōhtheres,
2930 "eald and eges-full ond-slyht āgeaf,
"ābrēot brim-wīsan, brȳd āhēorde,
"gomela īo-meowlan golde berofene,
"Onelan mōdor and Ōhtheres,
"and þā folgode feorh-genīðlan
2935 "oð þæt hī oðēodon earfoðlīce
"in Hrefnes-holt hlāford-lēase.
"Besæt þā sin-herge sweorda lāfe
"wundum wērge, wēan oft gehēt
"earmre teohhe andlonge niht:
2940 "cwæð hē on mergenne mēces ecgum
"gētan wolde, sume on galg-trēowum
"fuglum tō gamene. Frōfor eft gelamp
"sārig-mōdum somod ǣr-dæge,
"syððan hīe Hygelāces horn and bȳman
2945 "gealdor ongeāton. Þā se gōda cōm
"lēoda dugoðe on lāst faran.
XLI. HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS
"Wæs sīo swāt-swaðu Swēona and Gēata,
"wæl-rǣs wera wīde gesȳne,
"hū þā folc mid him fǣhðe tōwehton.
2950 "Gewāt him þā se gōda mid his gædelingum,
"frōd fela geōmor fæsten sēcean,
"eorl Ongenþīo ufor oncirde;
"hæfde Higelāces hilde gefrūnen,
"wlonces wīg-cræft, wiðres ne truwode,
2955 "þæt hē sǣ-mannum onsacan mihte,
"hēaðo-līðendum hord forstandan,
"bearn and brȳde; bēah eft þonan
"eald under eorð-weall. Þā wæs ǣht boden
"Swēona lēodum, segn Higelāce.
2960 "Freoðo-wong þone forð oferēodon,
"syððan Hrēðlingas tō hagan þrungon.
"Þǣr wearð Ongenþīo ecgum sweorda,
"blonden-fexa on bīd wrecen,
"þæt se þēod-cyning þafian sceolde
2965 "Eofores ānne dōm: hyne yrringa
"Wulf Wonrēding wǣpne gerǣhte,
"þæt him for swenge swāt ǣdrum sprong
"forð under fexe. Næs hē forht swā þēh,
"gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraðe
2970 "wyrsan wrixle wæl-hlem þone,
"syððan þēod-cyning þyder oncirde:
"ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrēdes
"ealdum ceorle ond-slyht giofan,
"ac hē him on hēafde helm ǣr gescer,
2975 "þæt hē blōde fāh būgan sceolde,
"fēoll on foldan; næs hē fǣge þā gīt,
"ac hē hyne gewyrpte, þēah þe him wund hrīne,
"Lēt se hearda Higelāces þegn
"brādne mēce, þā his brōðor læg,
2980 "eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm,
"brecan ofer bord-weal: þā gebēah cyning,
"folces hyrde, wæs in feorh dropen.
"Þā wǣron monige, þē his mǣg wriðon,
"ricone ārǣrdon, þā him gerȳmed wearð,
2985 "þæt hīe wæl-stōwe wealdan mōston.
"Þenden rēafode rinc ōðerne,
"nam on Ongenþīo īren-byrnan,
"heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod;
"hāres hyrste Higelāce bær.
2990 "Hē þām frætwum fēng and him fægre gehēt
"lēana fore lēodum and gelǣste swā:
"geald þone gūð-rǣs Gēata dryhten,
"Hrēðles eafora, þā hē tō hām becōm,
"Jofore and Wulfe mid ofer-māðmum,
2995 "sealde hiora gehwæðrum hund þūsenda
"landes and locenra bēaga; ne þorfte him þā lēan oðwītan
"mon on middan-gearde, syððan hīe þā mǣrða geslōgon;
"and þā Jofore forgeaf āngan dōhtor,
"hām-weorðunge, hyldo tō wedde.
3000 "Þæt ys sīo fǣhðo and se fēond-scipe,
"wæl-nīð wera, þæs þe ic wēn hafo,
"þē ūs sēceað tō Swēona lēode,
"syððan hīe gefricgeað frēan ūserne
"ealdor-lēasne, þone þe ǣr gehēold
3005 "wið hettendum hord and rīce,
"æfter hæleða hryre hwate Scylfingas,
"folc-rǣd fremede oððe furður gēn
"eorl-scipe efnde. Nū is ofost betost,
"þæt wē þēod-cyning þǣr scēawian
3010 "and þone gebringan, þē ūs bēagas geaf,
"on ād-fære. Ne scel ānes hwæt
"meltan mid þām mōdigan, ac þǣr is māðma hord.
"gold unrīme grimme gecēapod
"and nū æt sīðestan sylfes fēore
3015 "bēagas gebohte; þā sceal brond fretan,
"ǣled þeccean, nalles eorl wegan
"māððum tō gemyndum, nē mægð scȳne
"habban on healse hring-weorðunge,
"ac sceall geōmor-mōd golde berēafod
3020 "oft nalles ǣne el-land tredan,
"nū se here-wīsa hleahtor ālegde,
"gamen and glēo-drēam. Forþon sceall gār wesan
"monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden,
"hæfen on handa, nalles hearpan swēg
3025 "wīgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn
"fūs ofer fǣgum, fela reordian,
"earne secgan, hū him æt ǣte spēow,
"þenden hē wið wulf wæl rēafode. "
Swā se secg hwata secgende wæs
3030 lāðra spella; hē ne lēag fela
wyrda nē worda. Weorod eall ārās,
ēodon unblīðe under Earna næs
wollen-tēare wundur scēawian.
Fundon þā on sande sāwul-lēasne
3035 hlim-bed healdan, þone þe him hringas geaf
ǣrran mǣlum: þā wæs ende-dæg
gōdum gegongen, þæt se gūð-cyning,
Wedra þēoden, wundor-dēaðe swealt.
Ǣr hī gesēgan syllīcran wiht,
3040 wyrm on wonge wiðer-ræhtes þǣr
lāðne licgean: wæs se lēg-draca,
grimlīc gryre-gæst, glēdum beswǣled,
sē wæs fīftiges fōt-gemearces.
lang on legere, lyft-wynne hēold
3045 nihtes hwīlum, nyðer eft gewāt
dennes nīosian; wæs þā dēaðe fæst,
hæfde eorð-scrafa ende genyttod.
Him big stōdan bunan and orcas,
discas lāgon and dȳre swyrd,
3050 ōmige þurh-etone, swā hīe wið eorðan fæðm
þūsend wintra þǣr eardodon:
þonne wæs þæt yrfe ēacen-cræftig,
iū-monna gold galdre bewunden,
þæt þām hring-sele hrīnan ne mōste
3055 gumena ǣnig, nefne god sylfa,
sigora sōð-cyning, sealde þām þe hē wolde
(hē is manna gehyld) hord openian,
efne swā hwylcum manna, swā him gemet þūhte.
XLII. WĪGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.
Þā wæs gesȳne, þæt se sīð ne þāh
3060 þām þe unrihte inne gehȳdde
wrǣte under wealle. Weard ǣr ofslōh
fēara sumne; þā sīo fǣhð gewearð
gewrecen wrāðlīce. Wundur hwār, þonne
eorl ellen-rōf ende gefēre
3065 līf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mæg
mon mid his māgum medu-seld būan.
Swā wæs Bīowulfe, þā hē biorges weard
sōhte, searo-nīðas: seolfa ne cūðe,
þurh hwæt his worulde gedāl weorðan sceolde;
3070 swā hit oð dōmes dæg dīope benemdon
þēodnas mǣre, þā þæt þǣr dydon,
þæt se secg wǣre synnum scildig,
hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fæst,
wommum gewītnad, sē þone wong strāde.
3075 Næs hē gold-hwæt: gearwor hæfde
āgendes ēst ǣr gescēawod.
Wīglāf maðelode, Wīhstānes sunu:
"Oft sceall eorl monig ānes willan
"wrǣc ādrēogan, swā ūs geworden is.
3080 "Ne meahton wē gelǣran lēofne þēoden,
"rīces hyrde rǣd ǣnigne,
"þæt hē ne grētte gold-weard þone,
"lēte hyne licgean, þǣr hē longe wæs,
"wīcum wunian oð woruld-ende.
3085 "Hēoldon hēah gesceap: hord ys gescēawod,
"grimme gegongen; wæs þæt gifeðe tō swīð,
"þē þone þēoden þyder ontyhte.
"Ic wæs þǣr inne and þæt eall geond-seh,
"recedes geatwa, þā mē gerȳmed wæs,
3090 "nealles swǣslīce sīð ālȳfed
"inn under eorð-weall. Ic on ofoste gefēng
"micle mid mundum mægen-byrðenne
"hord-gestrēona, hider ūt ætbær
"cyninge mīnum: cwico wæs þā gēna,
3095 "wīs and gewittig; worn eall gespræc
"gomol on gehðo and ēowic grētan hēt,
"bæd þæt gē geworhton æfter wines dǣdum
"in bǣl-stede beorh þone hēan
"micelne and mǣrne, swā hē manna wæs
3100 "wīgend weorð-fullost wīde geond eorðan,
"þenden hē burh-welan brūcan mōste.
"Uton nū efstan ōðre sīðe
"sēon and sēcean searo-geþræc,
"wundur under wealle! ic ēow wīsige,
3105 "þæt gē genōge nēan scēawiað
"bēagas and brād gold. Sīe sīo bǣr gearo
"ǣdre geæfned, þonne wē ūt cymen,
"and þonne geferian frēan ūserne,
"lēofne mannan, þǣr hē longe sceal
3110 "on þæs waldendes wǣre geþolian. "
Hēt þā gebēodan byre Wīhstānes,
hæle hilde-dīor, hæleða monegum
bold-āgendra, þæt hīe bǣl-wudu
feorran feredon, folc-āgende
3115 gōdum tōgēnes: "Nū sceal glēd fretan
"(weaxan wonna lēg) wigena strengel,
"þone þe oft gebād īsern-scūre,
"þonne strǣla storm, strengum gebǣded,
"scōc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte hēold,
3120 "feðer-gearwum fūs flāne full-ēode. "
Hūru se snotra sunu Wīhstānes
ācīgde of corðre cyninges þegnas
syfone tōsomne þā sēlestan,
ēode eahta sum under inwit-hrōf;
3125 hilde-rinc sum on handa bær
ǣled-lēoman, sē þe on orde gēong.
Næs þā on hlytme, hwā þæt hord strude,
syððan or-wearde ǣnigne dǣl
secgas gesēgon on sele wunian,
3130 lǣne licgan: lȳt ǣnig mearn,
þæt hī ofostlice ūt geferedon
dȳre māðmas; dracan ēc scufun,
wyrm ofer weall-clif, lēton wǣg niman,
flōd fæðmian frætwa hyrde.
3135 Þǣr wæs wunden gold on wǣn hladen,
ǣghwæs unrīm, æðeling boren,
hār hilde-rinc tō Hrones næsse.
XLIII. BĒOWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.
Him þā gegiredan Gēata lēode
ād on eorðan un-wāclīcne,
3140 helmum behongen, hilde-bordum,
beorhtum byrnum, swā hē bēna wæs;
ālegdon þā tō-middes mǣrne þēoden
hæleð hīofende, hlāford lēofne.
Ongunnon þā on beorge bǣl-fȳra mǣst
3145 wīgend weccan: wudu-rēc āstāh
sweart ofer swioðole, swōgende lēg,
wōpe bewunden (wind-blond gelæg)
oð þæt hē þā bān-hūs gebrocen hæfde,
hāt on hreðre. Higum unrōte
3150 mōd-ceare mǣndon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;
swylce giōmor-gyd lat . con meowle
. . . . . wunden heorde . . .
serg (? ) cearig sǣlde geneahhe
þæt hīo hyre . . . . gas hearde
3155 . . . . . ede wælfylla wonn . .
hildes egesan hyðo
haf mid heofon rēce swealh (? )
Geworhton þā Wedra lēode
hlǣw on hlīðe, sē wæs hēah and brād,
3160 wǣg-līðendum wīde gesȳne,
and betimbredon on tȳn dagum
beadu-rōfes bēcn: bronda betost
wealle beworhton, swā hyt weorðlīcost
fore-snotre men findan mihton.
3165 Hī on beorg dydon bēg and siglu,
eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ǣr
nīð-hȳdige men genumen hæfdon;
forlēton eorla gestrēon eorðan healdan,
gold on grēote, þǣr hit nū gēn lifað
3170 eldum swā unnyt, swā hit ǣror wæs.
Þā ymbe hlǣw riodan hilde-dēore,
æðelinga bearn ealra twelfa,
woldon ceare cwīðan, kyning mǣnan,
word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,
3175 eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc
duguðum dēmdon, swā hit ge-dēfe bið,
þæt mon his wine-dryhten wordum herge,
ferhðum frēoge, þonne hē forð scile
of līc-haman lǣne weorðan.
3180 Swā begnornodon Gēata lēode
hlāfordes hryre, heorð-genēatas,
cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-þwǣrust,
lēodum līðost and lof-geornost.
APPENDIX
THE ATTACK IN FINNSBURG.
". . . . . . . . . . . næs byrnað nǣfre. "
Hleoðrode þā heaðo-geong cyning:
"Ne þis ne dagað ēastan, ne hēr draca ne flēogeð,
"ne hēr þisse healle hornas ne byrnað,
5 "ac fēr forð berað fugelas singað,
"gylleð grǣg-hama, gūð-wudu hlynneð,
"scyld scefte oncwyð. Nū scȳneð þes mōna
"waðol under wolcnum; nū ārīsað wēa-dǣda,
"þē þisne folces nīð fremman willað.
10 "Ac onwacnigeað nū, wīgend mīne,
"hebbað ēowre handa, hicgeað on ellen,
"winnað on orde, wesað on mōde! "
Þā ārās monig gold-hladen þegn, gyrde hine his swurde;
þā tō dura ēodon drihtlīce cempan,
15 Sigeferð and Eaha, hyra sweord getugon,
and æt ōðrum durum Ordlāf and Gūðlāf,
and Hengest sylf; hwearf him on lāste.
Þā gīt Gārulf Gūðere styrode,
þæt hīe swā frēolīc feorh forman sīðe
20 tō þǣre healle durum hyrsta ne bǣran,
nū hyt nīða heard ānyman wolde:
ac hē frægn ofer eal undearninga,
dēor-mōd hæleð, hwā þā duru hēolde.
"Sigeferð is mīn nama (cwæð hē), ic eom Secgena lēod,
25 "wrecca wīde cūð. Fela ic wēana gebād,
"heardra hilda; þē is gȳt hēr witod,
"swæðer þū sylf tō mē sēcean wylle. "
Þā wæs on wealle wæl-slihta gehlyn,
sceolde cēlod bord cēnum on handa
30 bān-helm berstan. Buruh-þelu dynede,
oð þæt æt þǣre gūðe Gārulf gecrang,
ealra ǣrest eorð-būendra,
Gūðlāfes sunu; ymbe hine gōdra fela.
Hwearf flacra hrǣw hræfn, wandrode
35 sweart and sealo-brūn; swurd-lēoma stōd
swylce eal Finns-buruh fȳrenu wǣre.
Ne gefrægn ic nǣfre wurðlīcor æt wera hilde
sixtig sige-beorna sēl gebǣran,
ne nǣfre swānas swētne medo sēl forgyldan,
40 þonne Hnæfe guldon his hæg-stealdas.
Hig fuhton fīf dagas, swā hyra nān ne fēol
driht-gesīða, ac hig þā duru hēoldon.
Þā gewāt him wund hæleð on wæg gangan,
sǣde þæt his byrne ābrocen wǣre,
45 here-sceorpum hrōr, and ēac wæs his helm þyrl.
Þā hine sōna frægn folces hyrde,
hū þā wīgend hyra wunda genǣson
oððe hwæðer þǣra hyssa . . . . . . .
LIST OF NAMES; NOTES; AND GLOSSARY.
ABBREVIATIONS
m. : masculine.
f. : feminine.
n. : neuter.
nom. , gen. : nominative, genitive, etc.
w. : weak.
w. v. : weak verb.
st. : strong.
st. v. : strong verb.
I. , II. , III. : first, second, third person.
comp. : compound.
imper. : imperative.
w. : with.
instr. : instrumental.
G. and Goth. : Gothic.
O. N. : Old Norse.
O. S. : Old Saxon.
O. H. G. : Old High German.
M. H. G. : Middle High German.
The vowel æ = _a_ in _glad_ }
The diphthong ǣ = _a_ in _hair_ } approximately.
The names Leo, Bugge, Rieger, etc. , refer to authors of emendations.
Words beginning with ge- will be found under their root-word.
Obvious abbreviations, like subj. , etc. , are not included in this list.
LIST OF NAMES.
Ābel, Cain's brother, 108.
Ælf-here (gen. Ælf-heres, 2605), a kinsman of Wīglāf's, 2605.
Æsc-here, confidential adviser of King Hrōðgār (1326), older brother of
Yrmenlāf (1325), killed by Grendel's mother, 1295, 1324, 2123.
Bān-stān, father of Breca, 524.
Bēo-wulf, son of Scyld, king of the Danes, 18, 19. After the death of his
father, he succeeds to the throne of the Scyldings, 53. His son is
Healfdene, 57.
Bēo-wulf (Bīowulf, 1988, 2390; gen. Bēowulfes, 857, etc. , Bīowulfes, 2195,
2808, etc. ; dat. Bēowulfe, 610, etc. , Bīowulfe, 2325, 2843), of the race of
the Gēatas. His father is the Wǣgmunding Ecgþēow (263, etc. ); his mother a
daughter of Hrēðel, king of the Gēatas (374), at whose court he is brought
up after his seventh year with Hrēðel's sons, Herebeald, Hæðcyn, and
Hygelāc, 2429 ff. In his youth lazy and unapt (2184 f. , 2188 f. ); as man he
attains in the gripe of his hand the strength of thirty men, 379. Hence his
victories in his combats with bare hands (711 ff. , 2502 ff. ), while fate
denies him the victory in the battle with swords, 2683 f. His
swimming-match with Breca in his youth, 506 ff. Goes with fourteen Gēatas
to the assistance of the Danish king, Hrōðgār, against Grendel, 198 ff. His
combat with Grendel, and his victory, 711 ff. , 819 ff. He is, in
consequence, presented with rich gifts by Hrōðgār, 1021 ff. His combat with
Grendel's mother, 1442 ff. Having again received gifts, he leaves Hrōðgār
(1818-1888), and returns to Hygelāc, 1964 ff. --After Hygelāc's last battle
and death, he flees alone across the sea, 2360 f. In this battle he crushes
Dæghrefn, one of the Hūgas, to death, 2502 f. He rejects at the same time
Hygelāc's kingdom and the hand of his widow (2370 ff. ), but carries on the
government as guardian of the young Heardrēd, son of Hygelāc, 2378 ff.
After Heardrēd's death, the kingdom falls to Bēowulf, 2208,
2390. --Afterwards, on an expedition to avenge the murdered Heardrēd, he
kills the Scylfing, Ēadgils (2397), and probably conquers his country.
--His fight with the drake, 2539 ff. His death, 2818. His burial, 3135 ff.
Breca (acc. Brecan, 506, 531), son of Bēanstān, 524. Chief of the
Brondings, 521. His swimming-match with Bēowulf, 506 ff.
Brondingas (gen. Brondinga, 521), Breca, their chief, 521.
Brōsinga mene, corrupted from, or according to Müllenhoff, written by
mistake for, Breosinga mene (O. N. , Brisinga men, cf. Haupts Zeitschr. XII.
304), collar, which the Brisingas once possessed.
Cain (gen. Caines, 107): descended from him are Grendel and his kin, 107,
1262 ff.
Dæg-hrefn (dat. Dæghrefne, 2502), a warrior of the Hūgas, who, according to
2504-5, compared with 1203, and with 1208, seems to have been the slayer of
King Hygelāc, in his battle against the allied Franks, Frisians, and Hūgas.
Is crushed to death by Bēowulf in a hand-to-hand combat, 2502 ff.
Dene (gen. Dena, 242, etc. , Denia, 2126, Deniga, 271, etc. ; dat. Denum,
768, etc. ), as subjects of Scyld and his descendants, they are also called
Scyldings; and after the first king of the East Danes, Ing (Runenlied, 22),
Ing-wine, 1045, 1320. They are also once called Hrēðmen, 445. On account of
their renowned warlike character, they bore the names Gār-Dene, 1, 1857,
Hring-Dene (Armor-Danes), 116, 1280, Beorht-Dene, 427, 610. The great
extent of this people is indicated by their names from the four quarters of
the heavens: Ēast-Dene, 392, 617, etc. , West-Dene, 383, 1579, Sūð-Dene,
463, Norð-Dene, 784. --Their dwelling-place "in Scedelandum," 19, "on
Scedenigge," 1687, "be sǣm twēonum," 1686.
Ecg-lāf (gen. Ecglāfes, 499), Hunferð's father, 499.
Ecg-þēow (nom. Ecgþēow, 263, Ecgþēo, 373; gen. Ecgþēowes, 529, etc. ,
Ecgþīowes, 2000), a far-famed hero of the Gēatas, of the house of the
Wǣgmundings. Bēowulf is the son of Ecgþēow, by the only daughter of Hrēðel,
king of the Gēatas, 262, etc. Among the Wylfings, he has slain Heaðolāf
(460), and in consequence he goes over the sea to the Danes (463), whose
king, Hrōðgār, by means of gold, finishes the strife for him, 470.
Ecg-wela (gen. Ecg-welan, 1711). The Scyldings are called his descendants,
1711. Grein considers him the founder of the older dynasty of Danish kings,
which closes with Heremōd. See Heremōd.
Elan, daughter of Healfdene, king of the Danes, (? ) 62. According to the
restored text, she is the wife of Ongenþēow, the Scylfing, 62, 63.
Earna-næs, the Eagle Cape in the land of the Gēatas, where occurred
Bēowulf's fight with the drake, 3032.
Ēadgils (dat. Ēadgilse, 2393), son of Ōhthere, and grandson of Ongenþēow,
the Scylfing, 2393. His older brother is
Ēanmund (gen. Ēanmundes, 2612). What is said about both in our poem
(2201-2207, 2380-2397, 2612-2620) is obscure, but the following may be
conjectured:--
The sons of Ōhthere, Ēanmund and Ēadgils, have rebelled against their
father (2382), and must, in consequence, depart with their followers from
Swīorīce, 2205-6, 2380. They come into the country of the Gēatas to
Heardrēd (2380), but whether with friendly or hostile intent is not stated;
but, according to 2203 f. , we are to presume that they came against
Heardrēd with designs of conquest. At a banquet (on feorme; or feorme, MS. )
Heardrēd falls, probably through treachery, by the hand of one of the
brothers, 2386, 2207. The murderer must have been Ēanmund, to whom,
according to 2613, "in battle the revenge of Wēohstān brings death. "
Wēohstān takes revenge for his murdered king, and exercises upon Ēanmund's
body the booty-right, and robs it of helm, breastplate, and sword
(2616-17), which the slain man had received as gifts from his uncle, Onela,
2617-18. But Wēohstān does not speak willingly of this fight, although he
has slain Onela's brother's son, 2619-20. --After Heardrēd's and Ēanmund's
death, the descendant of Ongenþēow, Ēadgils, returns to his home, 2388. He
must give way before Bēowulf, who has, since Heardrēd's death, ascended the
throne of the Gēatas, 2390. But Bēowulf remembers it against him in after
days, and the old feud breaks out anew, 2392-94. Ēadgils makes an invasion
into the land of the Gēatas (2394-95), during which he falls at the hands
of Bēowulf, 2397. The latter must have then obtained the sovereignty over
the Swēonas (3005-6, where only the version, Scylfingas, can give a
satisfactory sense).
Eofor (gen. Eofores, 2487, 2965; dat. Jofore, 2994, 2998), one of the
Gēatas, son of Wonrēd and brother of Wulf (2965, 2979), kills the Swedish
king, Ongenþēow (2487 ff. , 2978-82), for which he receives from King
Hygelāc, along with other gifts, his only daughter in marriage, 2994-99.
Eormen-rīc (gen. Eormenrīces, 1202), king of the Goths (cf. about him, W.
Grimm, Deutsche Heldensage, p. 2, ff. ).
hilde-geatwa, þā hē tō holme stāg.
Nealles Hetware hrēmge þorfton
2365 fēðe-wīges, þē him foran ongēan
linde bǣron: lȳt eft becwōm
fram þām hild-frecan hāmes nīosan.
Oferswam þā sioleða bigong sunu Ecgþēowes,
earm ān-haga eft tō lēodum,
2370 þǣr him Hygd gebēad hord and rīce,
bēagas and brego-stōl: bearne ne truwode,
þæt hē wið æl-fylcum ēðel-stōlas
healdan cūðe, þā wæs Hygelāc dēad.
Nō þȳ ǣr fēa-sceafte findan meahton
2375 æt þām æðelinge ǣnige þinga,
þæt hē Heardrēde hlāford wǣre,
oððe þone cyne-dōm cīosan wolde;
hwæðre hē him on folce frēond-lārum hēold,
ēstum mid āre, oð þæt hē yldra wearð,
2380 Weder-Gēatum wēold. Hyne wræc-mæcgas
ofer sǣ sōhtan, suna Ōhteres:
hæfdon hȳ forhealden helm Scylfinga,
þone sēlestan sǣ-cyninga,
þāra þe in Swīo-rīce sinc brytnade,
2385 mǣrne þēoden. Him þæt tō mearce wearð;
hē þǣr orfeorme feorh-wunde hlēat
sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelāces;
and him eft gewāt Ongenþīowes bearn
hāmes nīosan, syððan Heardrēd læg;
2390 lēt þone brego-stōl Bīowulf healdan,
Gēatum wealdan: þæt wæs gōd cyning.
XXXIV. RETROSPECT OF BĒOWULF. --STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS.
Sē þæs lēod-hryres lēan gemunde
uferan dōgrum, Ēadgilse wearð
fēa-sceaftum fēond. Folce gestepte
2395 ofer sǣ sīde sunu Ōhteres
wigum and wǣpnum: hē gewræc syððan
cealdum cear-sīðum, cyning ealdre binēat.
Swā hē nīða gehwane genesen hæfde,
slīðra geslyhta, sunu Ecgþīowes,
2400 ellen-weorca, oð þone ānne dæg,
þē hē wið þām wyrme gewegan sceolde.
Gewāt þā twelfa sum torne gebolgen
dryhten Gēata dracan scēawian;
hæfde þā gefrūnen, hwanan sīo fǣhð ārās,
2405 bealo-nīð biorna; him tō bearme cwōm
māððum-fæt mǣre þurh þæs meldan hond,
Sē wæs on þām þrēate þreotteoða secg,
sē þæs orleges ōr onstealde,
hæft hyge-giōmor, sceolde hēan þonon
2410 wong wīsian: hē ofer willan gīong
tō þæs þe hē eorð-sele ānne wisse,
hlǣw under hrūsan holm-wylme nēh,
ȳð-gewinne, sē wæs innan full
wrǣtta and wīra: weard unhīore,
2415 gearo gūð-freca, gold-māðmas hēold,
eald under eorðan; næs þæt ȳðe cēap,
tō gegangenne gumena ǣnigum.
Gesæt þā on næsse nīð-heard cyning,
þenden hǣlo ābēad heorð-genēatum
2420 gold-wine Gēata: him wæs geōmor sefa,
wǣfre and wæl-fūs, Wyrd ungemete nēah,
sē þone gomelan grētan sceolde,
sēcean sāwle hord, sundur gedǣlan
līf wið līce: nō þon lange wæs
2425 feorh æðelinges flǣsce bewunden.
Bīowulf maðelade, bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Fela ic on giogoðe guð-rǣsa genæs,
"orleg-hwīla: ic þæt eall gemon.
"Ic wæs syfan-wintre, þā mec sinca baldor,
2430 "frēa-wine folca æt mīnum fæder genam,
"hēold mec and hæfde Hrēðel cyning,
"geaf mē sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde;
"næs ic him tō līfe lāðra ōwihte
"beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,
2435 "Herebeald and Hæðcyn, oððe Hygelāc mīn.
"Wæs þām yldestan ungedēfelīce
"mǣges dǣdum morðor-bed strēd,
"syððan hyne Hæðcyn of horn-bogan,
"his frēa-wine flāne geswencte,
2440 "miste mercelses and his mǣg ofscēt,
"brōðor ōðerne, blōdigan gāre:
"þæt wæs feoh-lēas gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad
"hreðre hyge-mēðe; sceolde hwæðre swā þēah
"æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.
2445 "Swā bið geōmorlīc gomelum ceorle
"tō gebīdanne, þæt his byre rīde
"giong on galgan, þonne hē gyd wrece,
"sārigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað
"hrefne tō hrōðre and hē him helpe ne mæg,
2450 "eald and in-frōd, ǣnige gefremman.
"Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce
"eaforan ellor-sīð; ōðres ne gȳmeð
"tō gebīdanne burgum on innan
"yrfe-weardes, þonne se ān hafað
2455 "þurh dēaðes nȳd dǣda gefondad.
"Gesyhð sorh-cearig on his suna būre
"wīn-sele wēstne, wind-gereste,
"rēote berofene; rīdend swefað
"hæleð in hoðman; nis þǣr hearpan swēg,
2460 "gomen in geardum, swylce þǣr iū wǣron.
XXXV. MEMORIES OF PAST TIME. -THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE.
"Gewīteð þonne on sealman, sorh-lēoð gæleð
"ān æfter ānum: þūhte him eall tō rūm,
"wongas and wīc-stede. Swā Wedra helm
"æfter Herebealde heortan sorge
2465 "weallende wæg, wihte ne meahte
"on þām feorh-bonan fǣhðe gebētan:
"nō þȳ ǣr hē þone heaðo-rinc hatian ne meahte
"lāðum dǣdum, þēah him lēof ne wæs.
"Hē þā mid þǣre sorge, þē him sīo sār belamp,
2470 "gum-drēam ofgeaf, godes lēoht gecēas;
"eaferum lǣfde, swā dēð ēadig mon,
"lond and lēod-byrig, þā hē of līfe gewāt.
"Þā wæs synn and sacu Swēona and Gēata,
"ofer wīd wæter wrōht gemǣne,
2475 "here-nīð hearda, syððan Hrēðel swealt,
"oððe him Ongenþēowes eaferan wǣran
"frome fyrd-hwate, frēode ne woldon
"ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hrēosna-beorh
"eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon.
2480 "Þæt mǣg-wine mīne gewrǣcan,
"fǣhðe and fyrene, swā hyt gefrǣge wæs,
"þēah þe ōðer hit ealdre gebohte,
"heardan cēape: Hæðcynne wearð,
"Gēata dryhtne, gūð onsǣge.
2485 "Þā ic on morgne gefrægn mǣg ōðerne
"billes ecgum on bonan stǣlan,
"þǣr Ongenþēow Eofores nīosade:
"gūð-helm tōglād, gomela Scylfing
"hrēas heoro-blāc; hond gemunde
2490 "fǣhðo genōge, feorh-sweng ne oftēah.
"Ic him þā māðmas, þē hē mē sealde,
"geald æt gūðe, swā mē gifeðe wæs,
"lēohtan sweorde: hē mē lond forgeaf,
"eard ēðel-wyn. Næs him ǣnig þearf,
2495 "þæt hē tō Gifðum oððe tō Gār-Denum
"oððe in Swīo-rīce sēcean þurfe
"wyrsan wīg-frecan, weorðe gecȳpan;
"symle ic him on fēðan beforan wolde,
"āna on orde, and swā tō aldre sceall
2500 "sæcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,
"þæt mec ǣr and sīð oft gelǣste,
"syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð
"tō hand-bonan, Hūga cempan:
"nalles hē þā frætwe Frēs-cyninge,
2505 "brēost-weorðunge bringan mōste,
"ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde,
"æðeling on elne. Ne wæs ecg bona,
"ac him hilde-grāp heortan wylmas,
"bān-hūs gebræc. Nū sceall billes ecg,
2510 "hond and heard sweord ymb hord wīgan. "
Bēowulf maðelode, bēot-wordum spræc
nīehstan sīðe: "Ic genēðde fela
"gūða on geogoðe; gȳt ic wylle,
"frōd folces weard, fǣhðe sēcan,
2515 "mǣrðum fremman, gif mec se mān-sceaða
"of eorð-sele ūt gesēceð! "
Gegrētte þā gumena gehwylcne,
hwate helm-berend hindeman sīðe,
swǣse gesīðas: "Nolde ic sweord beran,
2520 "wǣpen tō wyrme, gif ic wiste hū
"wið þām āglǣcean elles meahte
"gylpe wiðgrīpan, swā ic giō wið Grendle dyde;
"ac ic þǣr heaðu-fȳres hātes wēne,
"rēðes and-hāttres: forþon ic mē on hafu
2525 "bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard
"oferflēon fōtes trem, fēond unhȳre,
"ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle, swā unc Wyrd getēoð,
"metod manna gehwæs. Ic eom on mōde from,
"þæt ic wið þone gūð-flogan gylp ofersitte.
2530 "Gebīde gē on beorge byrnum werede,
"secgas on searwum, hwæðer sēl mǣge
"æfter wæl-rǣse wunde gedȳgan
"uncer twēga. Nis þæt ēower sīð,
"nē gemet mannes, nefne mīn ānes,
2535 "þæt hē wið āglǣcean eofoðo dǣle,
"eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall
"gold gegangan oððe gūð nimeð,
"feorh-bealu frēcne, frēan ēowerne! "
Ārās þā bī ronde rōf ōretta,
2540 heard under helm, hioro-sercean bær
under stān-cleofu, strengo getruwode
ānes mannes: ne bið swylc earges sīð.
Geseah þā be wealle, sē þe worna fela,
gum-cystum gōd, gūða gedīgde,
2545 hilde-hlemma, þonne hnitan fēðan,
(stōd on stān-bogan) strēam ūt þonan
brecan of beorge; wæs þǣre burnan wælm
heaðo-fȳrum hāt: ne meahte horde nēah
unbyrnende ǣnige hwīle
2550 dēop gedȳgan for dracan lēge.
Lēt þā of brēostum, þā hē gebolgen wæs,
Weder-Gēata lēod word ūt faran,
stearc-heort styrmde; stefn in becōm
heaðo-torht hlynnan under hārne stān.
2555 Hete wæs onhrēred, hord-weard oncnīow
mannes reorde; næs þǣr māra fyrst,
frēode tō friclan. From ǣrest cwōm
oruð āglǣcean ūt of stāne,
hāt hilde-swāt; hrūse dynede.
2560 Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswāf
wið þām gryre-gieste, Gēata dryhten:
þā wæs hring-bogan heorte gefȳsed
sæcce tō sēceanne. Sweord ǣr gebrǣ
gōd gūð-cyning gomele lāfe,
2565 ecgum unglēaw, ǣghwæðrum wæs
bealo-hycgendra brōga fram ōðrum.
Stīð-mōd gestōd wið stēapne rond
winia bealdor, þā se wyrm gebēah
snūde tōsomne: hē on searwum bād.
2570 Gewāt þā byrnende gebogen scrīðan tō,
gescīfe scyndan. Scyld wēl gebearg
līfe and līce lǣssan hwīle
mǣrum þēodne, þonne his myne sōhte,
þǣr hē þȳ fyrste forman dōgore
2575 wealdan mōste, swā him Wyrd ne gescrāf
hrēð æt hilde. Hond up ābræd
Gēata dryhten, gryre-fāhne slōh
incge lāfe, þæt sīo ecg gewāc
brūn on bāne, bāt unswīðor,
2580 þonne his þīod-cyning þearfe hæfde,
bysigum gebǣded. Þā wæs beorges weard
æfter heaðu-swenge on hrēoum mōde,
wearp wæl-fȳre, wīde sprungon
hilde-lēoman: hrēð-sigora ne gealp
2585 gold-wine Gēata, gūð-bill geswāc
nacod æt nīðe, swā hyt nō sceolde,
īren ǣr-gōd. Ne wæs þæt ēðe sīð,
þæt se mǣra maga Ecgþēowes
grund-wong þone ofgyfan wolde;
2590 sceolde wyrmes willan wīc eardian
elles hwergen, swā sceal ǣghwylc mon
ālǣtan lǣn-dagas. Næs þā long tō þon,
þæt þā āglǣcean hȳ eft gemētton.
Hyrte hyne hord-weard, hreðer ǣðme wēoll,
2595 nīwan stefne: nearo þrowode
fȳre befongen sē þe ǣr folce wēold.
Nealles him on hēape hand-gesteallan,
æðelinga bearn ymbe gestōdon
hilde-cystum, ac hȳ on holt bugon,
2600 ealdre burgan. Hiora in ānum wēoll
sefa wið sorgum: sibb ǣfre ne mæg
wiht onwendan, þām þe wēl þenceð.
XXXVI. WIGLAF HELPS BĒOWULF IN THE FEUD
Wīglāf wæs hāten Wēoxstānes sunu,
lēoflīc lind-wiga, lēod Scylfinga,
2605 mǣg Ælfheres: geseah his mon-dryhten
under here-grīman hāt þrowian.
Gemunde þā þā āre, þē hē him ǣr forgeaf
wīc-stede weligne Wǣgmundinga,
folc-rihta gehwylc, swā his fæder āhte;
2610 ne mihte þā forhabban, hond rond gefēng,
geolwe linde, gomel swyrd getēah,
þæt wæs mid eldum Ēanmundes lāf,
suna Ōhteres, þām æt sæcce wearð
wracu wine-lēasum Wēohstānes bana
2615 mēces ecgum, and his māgum ætbær
brūn-fāgne helm, hringde byrnan,
eald sweord eotonisc, þæt him Onela forgeaf,
his gædelinges gūð-gewǣdu,
fyrd-searo fūslīc: nō ymbe þā fǣhðe spræc,
2620 þēah þe hē his brōðor bearn ābredwade.
Hē frætwe gehēold fela missēra,
bill and byrnan, oð þæt his byre mihte
eorl-scipe efnan, swā his ǣr-fæder;
geaf him þā mid Gēatum gūð-gewǣda
2625 ǣghwæs unrīm; þā hē of ealdre gewāt,
frōd on forð-weg. Þā wæs forma sīð
geongan cempan, þæt hē gūðe rǣs
mid his frēo-dryhtne fremman sceolde;
ne gemealt him se mōd-sefa, nē his mǣges lāf
2630 gewāc æt wīge: þæt se wyrm onfand,
syððan hīe tōgædre gegān hæfdon.
Wīglāf maðelode word-rihta fela,
sægde gesīðum, him wæs sefa geōmor:
"Ic þæt mǣl geman, þǣr wē medu þēgun,
2635 "þonne wē gehēton ūssum hlāforde
"in bīor-sele, þē ūs þās bēagas geaf,
"þæt wē him þā gūð-geatwa gyldan woldon,
"gif him þyslīcu þearf gelumpe,
"helmas and heard sweord: þē hē ūsic on herge gecēas
2640 "tō þyssum sīð-fate sylfes willum,
"onmunde ūsic mǣrða and mē þās māðmas geaf,
"þē hē ūsic gār-wīgend gōde tealde,
"hwate helm-berend, þēah þe hlāford ūs
"þis ellen-weorc āna āþōhte
2645 "tō gefremmanne, folces hyrde,
"forþām hē manna mǣst mǣrða gefremede,
"dǣda dollīcra. Nū is sē dæg cumen,
"þæt ūre man-dryhten mægenes behōfað
"gōdra gūð-rinca: wutun gangan tō,
2650 "helpan hild-fruman, þenden hyt sȳ,
"glēd-egesa grim! God wāt on mec,
"þæt mē is micle lēofre, þæt mīnne līc-haman
"mid mīnne gold-gyfan glēd fæðmie.
"Ne þynceð mē gerysne, þæt wē rondas beren
2655 "eft tō earde, nemne wē ǣror mǣgen
"fāne gefyllan, feorh ealgian
"Wedra þīodnes. Ic wāt geare,
"þæt nǣron eald-gewyrht, þæt hē āna scyle
"Gēata duguðe gnorn þrowian,
2660 "gesīgan æt sæcce: sceal ūrum þæt sweord and helm,
"byrne and byrdu-scrūd bām gemǣne. "
Wōd þā þurh þone wæl-rēc, wīg-heafolan bær
frēan on fultum, fēa worda cwæð:
"Lēofa Bīowulf, lǣst eall tela,
2665 "swā þū on geoguð-fēore geāra gecwǣde,
"þæt þū ne ālǣte be þē lifigendum
"dōm gedrēosan: scealt nū dǣdum rōf,
"æðeling ān-hȳdig, ealle mægene
"feorh ealgian; ic þē fullǣstu! "
2670 Æfter þām wordum wyrm yrre cwōm,
atol inwit-gæst ōðre sīðe,
fȳr-wylmum fāh fīonda nīosan,
lāðra manna; līg-ȳðum forborn
bord wið ronde: byrne ne meahte
2675 geongum gār-wigan gēoce gefremman:
ac se maga geonga under his mǣges scyld
elne geēode, þā his āgen wæs
glēdum forgrunden. Þā gēn gūð-cyning
mǣrða gemunde, mægen-strengo,
2680 slōh hilde-bille, þæt hyt on heafolan stōd
nīðe genȳded: Nægling forbærst,
geswāc æt sæcce sweord Bīowulfes
gomol and grǣg-mǣl. Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,
þæt him īrenna ecge mihton
2685 helpan æt hilde; wæs sīo hond tō strong,
sē þe mēca gehwane mīne gefrǣge
swenge ofersōhte, þonne hē tō sæcce bær
wǣpen wundrum heard, næs him wihte þē sēl.
Þā wæs þēod-sceaða þriddan sīðe,
2690 frēcne fȳr-draca fǣhða gemyndig,
rǣsde on þone rōfan, þā him rūm āgeald,
hāt and heaðo-grim, heals ealne ymbefēng
biteran bānum; hē geblōdegod wearð
sāwul-drīore; swāt ȳðum wēoll.
XXXVII. BĒOWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.
2695 Þā ic æt þearfe gefrægn þēod-cyninges
and-longne eorl ellen cȳðan,
cræft and cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs;
ne hēdde hē þæs heafolan, ac sīo hand gebarn
mōdiges mannes, þǣr hē his mǣges healp,
2700 þæt hē þone nīð-gæst nioðor hwēne slōh,
secg on searwum, þæt þæt sweord gedēaf
fāh and fǣted, þæt þæt fȳr ongon
sweðrian syððan. Þā gēn sylf cyning
gewēold his gewitte, wæll-seaxe gebrǣ,
2705 biter and beadu-scearp, þæt hē on byrnan wæg:
forwrāt Wedra helm wyrm on middan.
Fēond gefyldan (ferh ellen wræc),
and hī hyne þā bēgen ābroten hæfdon,
sib-æðelingas: swylc sceolde secg wesan,
2710 þegn æt þearfe. Þæt þām þēodne wæs
sīðast sīge-hwīle sylfes dǣdum,
worlde geweorces. Þā sīo wund ongon,
þē him se eorð-draca ǣr geworhte,
swelan and swellan. Hē þæt sōna onfand,
2715 þæt him on brēostum bealo-nīð wēoll,
attor on innan. Þā se æðeling gīong,
þæt hē bī wealle, wīs-hycgende,
gesæt on sesse; seah on enta geweorc,
hū þā stān-bogan stapulum fæste
2720 ēce eorð-reced innan hēoldon.
Hyne þā mid handa heoro-drēorigne
þēoden mǣrne þegn ungemete till,
wine-dryhten his wætere gelafede,
hilde-sædne and his helm onspēon.
2725 Bīowulf maðelode, hē ofer benne spræc,
wunde wæl-blēate (wisse hē gearwe,
þæt hē dæg-hwīla gedrogen hæfde
eorðan wynne; þā wæs eall sceacen
dōgor-gerīmes, dēað ungemete nēah):
2730 "Nū ic suna mīnum syllan wolde
"gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr mē gifeðe swā
"ǣnig yrfe-weard æfter wurde,
"līce gelenge. Ic þās lēode hēold
"fīftig wintra: næs se folc-cyning
2735 "ymbe-sittendra ǣnig þāra,
"þē mec gūð-winum grētan dorste,
"egesan þēon. Ic on earde bād
"mǣl-gesceafta, hēold mīn tela,
"ne sōhte searo-nīðas, nē mē swōr fela
2740 "āða on unriht. Ic þæs ealles mæg,
"feorh-bennum sēoc, gefēan habban:
"forþām mē wītan ne þearf waldend fīra
"morðor-bealo māga, þonne mīn sceaceð
"līf of līce. Nū þū lungre
2745 "geong, hord scēawian under hārne stān,
"Wīglāf lēofa, nū se wyrm ligeð,
"swefeð sāre wund, since berēafod.
"Bīo nū on ofoste, þæt ic ǣr-welan,
"gold-ǣht ongite, gearo scēawige
2750 "swegle searo-gimmas, þæt ic þȳ sēft mǣge
"æfter māððum-welan mīn ālǣtan
"līf and lēod-scipe, þone ic longe hēold. "
XXXVIII. THE JEWEL-HOARD. THE PASSING OF BEOWULF.
Þā ic snūde gefrægn sunu Wīhstānes
æfter word-cwydum wundum dryhtne
2755 hȳran heaðo-sīocum, hring-net beran,
brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hrōf.
Geseah þā sige-hrēðig, þā hē bī sesse gēong,
mago-þegn mōdig māððum-sigla fela,
gold glitinian grunde getenge,
2760 wundur on wealle and þæs wyrmes denn,
ealdes ūht-flogan, orcas stondan,
fyrn-manna fatu feormend-lēase,
hyrstum behrorene: þǣr wæs helm monig,
eald and ōmig, earm-bēaga fela,
2765 searwum gesǣled. Sinc ēaðe mæg,
gold on grunde, gumena cynnes
gehwone ofer-hīgian, hȳde sē þe wylle!
Swylce hē siomian geseah segn eall-gylden
hēah ofer horde, hond-wundra mǣst,
2770 gelocen leoðo-cræftum: of þām lēoma stōd,
þæt hē þone grund-wong ongitan meahte,
wrǣte giond-wlītan. Næs þæs wyrmes þǣr
onsȳn ǣnig, ac hyne ecg fornam.
Þā ic on hlǣwe gefrægn hord rēafian,
2775 eald enta geweorc ānne mannan,
him on bearm hladan bunan and discas
sylfes dōme, segn ēac genom,
bēacna beorhtost; bill ǣr-gescōd
(ecg wæs īren) eald-hlāfordes
2780 þām þāra māðma mund-bora wæs
longe hwīle, līg-egesan wæg
hātne for horde, hioro-weallende,
middel-nihtum, oð þæt hē morðre swealt.
Ār wæs on ofoste eft-sīðes georn,
2785 frætwum gefyrðred: hyne fyrwet bræc,
hwæðer collen-ferð cwicne gemētte
in þām wong-stede Wedra þēoden,
ellen-sīocne, þǣr hē hine ǣr forlēt.
Hē þā mid þām māðmum mǣrne þīoden,
2790 dryhten sīnne drīorigne fand
ealdres æt ende: hē hine eft ongon
wæteres weorpan, oð þæt wordes ord
brēost-hord þurhbræc. Bēowulf maðelode,
gomel on giohðe (gold scēawode):
2795 "Ic þāra frætwa frēan ealles þanc
"wuldur-cyninge wordum secge,
"ēcum dryhtne, þē ic hēr on starie,
"þæs þe ic mōste mīnum lēodum
"ǣr swylt-dæge swylc gestrȳnan.
2800 "Nū ic on māðma hord mīne bebohte
"frōde feorh-lege, fremmað gē nū
"lēoda þearfe; ne mæg ic hēr leng wesan.
"Hātað heaðo-mǣre hlǣw gewyrcean,
"beorhtne æfter bǣle æt brimes nosan;
2805 "se scel tō gemyndum mīnum lēodum
"hēah hlīfian on Hrones næsse,
"þæt hit sǣ-līðend syððan hātan
"Bīowulfes biorh, þā þe brentingas
"ofer flōda genipu feorran drīfað. "
2810 Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne
þīoden þrīst-hȳdig, þegne gesealde,
geongum gār-wigan, gold-fāhne helm,
bēah and byrnan, hēt hyne brūcan well:
"Þū eart ende-lāf ūsses cynnes,
2815 "Wǣgmundinga; ealle Wyrd forswēof,
"mīne māgas tō metod-sceafte,
"eorlas on elne: ic him æfter sceal. "
Þæt wæs þām gomelan gingeste word
brēost-gehygdum, ǣr hē bǣl cure,
2820 hāte heaðo-wylmas: him of hreðre gewāt
sāwol sēcean sōð-fæstra dōm.
XXXIX. THE COWARD-THANES.
Þā wæs gegongen guman unfrōdum
earfoðlīce, þæt hē on eorðan geseah
þone lēofestan līfes æt ende
2825 blēate gebǣran. Bona swylce læg,
egeslīc eorð-draca, ealdre berēafod,
bealwe gebǣded: bēah-hordum leng
wyrm wōh-bogen wealdan ne mōste,
ac him īrenna ecga fornāmon,
2830 hearde heaðo-scearpe homera lāfe,
þæt se wīd-floga wundum stille
hrēas on hrūsan hord-ærne nēah,
nalles æfter lyfte lācende hwearf
middel-nihtum, māðm-ǣhta wlonc
2835 ansȳn ȳwde: ac hē eorðan gefēoll
for þæs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.
Hūru þæt on lande lȳt manna þāh
mægen-āgendra mīne gefrǣge,
þēah þe hē dǣda gehwæs dyrstig wǣre,
2840 þæt hē wið attor-sceaðan oreðe gerǣsde,
oððe hring-sele hondum styrede,
gif hē wæccende weard onfunde
būan on beorge. Bīowulfe wearð
dryht-māðma dǣl dēaðe forgolden;
2845 hæfde ǣghwæðer ende gefēred
lǣnan līfes. Næs þā lang tō þon,
þæt þā hild-latan holt ofgēfan,
tȳdre trēow-logan tȳne ætsomne,
þā ne dorston ǣr dareðum lācan
2850 on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe;
ac hȳ scamiende scyldas bǣran,
gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr se gomela læg:
wlitan on Wīglāf. Hē gewērgad sæt,
fēðe-cempa frēan eaxlum nēah,
2855 wehte hyne wætre; him wiht ne spēow;
ne meahte hē on eorðan, þēah hē ūðe wēl,
on þām frum-gāre feorh gehealdan,
nē þæs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;
wolde dōm godes dǣdum rǣdan
2860 gumena gehwylcum, swā hē nū gēn dēð.
Þā wæs æt þām geongan grim andswaru
ēð-begēte þām þe ǣr his elne forlēas.
Wīglāf maðelode, Wēohstānes sunu,
secg sārig-ferð seah on unlēofe:
2865 "Þæt lā mæg secgan, sē þe wyle sōð sprecan,
"þæt se mon-dryhten, se ēow þā māðmas geaf,
"ēored-geatwe, þē gē þǣr on standað,
"þonne hē on ealu-bence oft gesealde
"heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,
2870 "þēoden his þegnum, swylce hē þrȳðlīcost
"ōhwǣr feor oððe nēah findan meahte,
"þæt hē gēnunga gūð-gewǣdu
"wrāðe forwurpe. Þā hyne wīg beget,
"nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum
2875 "gylpan þorfte; hwæðre him god ūðe,
"sigora waldend, þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræc
"āna mid ecge, þā him wæs elnes þearf,
"Ic him līf-wraðe lȳtle meahte
"ætgifan æt gūðe and ongan swā þēah
2880 "ofer mīn gemet mǣges helpan:
"symle wæs þȳ sǣmra, þonne ic sweorde drep
"ferhð-genīðlan, fȳr unswīðor
"wēoll of gewitte. Wergendra tō lȳt
"þrong ymbe þēoden, þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.
2885 "Nū sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu
"eall ēðel-wyn ēowrum cynne,
"lufen ālicgean: lond-rihtes mōt
"þǣre mǣg-burge monna ǣghwylc
"īdel hweorfan, syððan æðelingas
2890 "feorran gefricgean flēam ēowerne,
"dōm-lēasan dǣd. Dēað bið sēlla
"eorla gehwylcum þonne edwīt-līf! "
XL. THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.
Heht þā þæt heaðo-weorc tō hagan bīodan
up ofer ēg-clif, þǣr þæt eorl-weorod
2895 morgen-longne dæg mōd-giōmor sæt,
bord-hæbbende, bēga on wēnum
ende-dōgores and eft-cymes
lēofes monnes. Lȳt swīgode
nīwra spella, sē þe næs gerād,
2900 ac hē sōðlīce sægde ofer ealle;
"Nū is wil-geofa Wedra lēoda,
"dryhten Gēata dēað-bedde fæst,
"wunað wæl-reste wyrmes dǣdum;
"him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,
2905 "siex-bennum sēoc: sweorde ne meahte
"on þām āglǣcean ǣnige þinga
"wunde gewyrcean. Wīglāf siteð
"ofer Bīowulfe, byre Wīhstānes,
"eorl ofer ōðrum unlifigendum,
2910 "healdeð hige-mēðum hēafod-wearde
"lēofes and lāðes. Nū ys lēodum wēn
"orleg-hwīle, syððan underne
"Froncum and Frȳsum fyll cyninges
"wīde weorðeð. Wæs sīo wrōht scepen
2915 "heard wið Hūgas, syððan Higelāc cwōm
"faran flot-herge on Frēsna land,
"þǣr hyne Hetware hilde gehnǣgdon,
"elne geēodon mid ofer-mægene,
"þæt se byrn-wiga būgan sceolde,
2920 "fēoll on fēðan: nalles frætwe geaf
"ealdor dugoðe; ūs wæs ā syððan
"Merewīoinga milts ungyfeðe.
"Nē ic tō Swēo-þēode sibbe oððe trēowe
"wihte ne wēne; ac wæs wīde cūð,
2925 "þætte Ongenþīo ealdre besnyðede
"Hæðcyn Hrēðling wið Hrefna-wudu,
"þā for on-mēdlan ǣrest gesōhton
"Gēata lēode Gūð-scilfingas.
"Sōna him se frōda fæder Ōhtheres,
2930 "eald and eges-full ond-slyht āgeaf,
"ābrēot brim-wīsan, brȳd āhēorde,
"gomela īo-meowlan golde berofene,
"Onelan mōdor and Ōhtheres,
"and þā folgode feorh-genīðlan
2935 "oð þæt hī oðēodon earfoðlīce
"in Hrefnes-holt hlāford-lēase.
"Besæt þā sin-herge sweorda lāfe
"wundum wērge, wēan oft gehēt
"earmre teohhe andlonge niht:
2940 "cwæð hē on mergenne mēces ecgum
"gētan wolde, sume on galg-trēowum
"fuglum tō gamene. Frōfor eft gelamp
"sārig-mōdum somod ǣr-dæge,
"syððan hīe Hygelāces horn and bȳman
2945 "gealdor ongeāton. Þā se gōda cōm
"lēoda dugoðe on lāst faran.
XLI. HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS
"Wæs sīo swāt-swaðu Swēona and Gēata,
"wæl-rǣs wera wīde gesȳne,
"hū þā folc mid him fǣhðe tōwehton.
2950 "Gewāt him þā se gōda mid his gædelingum,
"frōd fela geōmor fæsten sēcean,
"eorl Ongenþīo ufor oncirde;
"hæfde Higelāces hilde gefrūnen,
"wlonces wīg-cræft, wiðres ne truwode,
2955 "þæt hē sǣ-mannum onsacan mihte,
"hēaðo-līðendum hord forstandan,
"bearn and brȳde; bēah eft þonan
"eald under eorð-weall. Þā wæs ǣht boden
"Swēona lēodum, segn Higelāce.
2960 "Freoðo-wong þone forð oferēodon,
"syððan Hrēðlingas tō hagan þrungon.
"Þǣr wearð Ongenþīo ecgum sweorda,
"blonden-fexa on bīd wrecen,
"þæt se þēod-cyning þafian sceolde
2965 "Eofores ānne dōm: hyne yrringa
"Wulf Wonrēding wǣpne gerǣhte,
"þæt him for swenge swāt ǣdrum sprong
"forð under fexe. Næs hē forht swā þēh,
"gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraðe
2970 "wyrsan wrixle wæl-hlem þone,
"syððan þēod-cyning þyder oncirde:
"ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrēdes
"ealdum ceorle ond-slyht giofan,
"ac hē him on hēafde helm ǣr gescer,
2975 "þæt hē blōde fāh būgan sceolde,
"fēoll on foldan; næs hē fǣge þā gīt,
"ac hē hyne gewyrpte, þēah þe him wund hrīne,
"Lēt se hearda Higelāces þegn
"brādne mēce, þā his brōðor læg,
2980 "eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm,
"brecan ofer bord-weal: þā gebēah cyning,
"folces hyrde, wæs in feorh dropen.
"Þā wǣron monige, þē his mǣg wriðon,
"ricone ārǣrdon, þā him gerȳmed wearð,
2985 "þæt hīe wæl-stōwe wealdan mōston.
"Þenden rēafode rinc ōðerne,
"nam on Ongenþīo īren-byrnan,
"heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod;
"hāres hyrste Higelāce bær.
2990 "Hē þām frætwum fēng and him fægre gehēt
"lēana fore lēodum and gelǣste swā:
"geald þone gūð-rǣs Gēata dryhten,
"Hrēðles eafora, þā hē tō hām becōm,
"Jofore and Wulfe mid ofer-māðmum,
2995 "sealde hiora gehwæðrum hund þūsenda
"landes and locenra bēaga; ne þorfte him þā lēan oðwītan
"mon on middan-gearde, syððan hīe þā mǣrða geslōgon;
"and þā Jofore forgeaf āngan dōhtor,
"hām-weorðunge, hyldo tō wedde.
3000 "Þæt ys sīo fǣhðo and se fēond-scipe,
"wæl-nīð wera, þæs þe ic wēn hafo,
"þē ūs sēceað tō Swēona lēode,
"syððan hīe gefricgeað frēan ūserne
"ealdor-lēasne, þone þe ǣr gehēold
3005 "wið hettendum hord and rīce,
"æfter hæleða hryre hwate Scylfingas,
"folc-rǣd fremede oððe furður gēn
"eorl-scipe efnde. Nū is ofost betost,
"þæt wē þēod-cyning þǣr scēawian
3010 "and þone gebringan, þē ūs bēagas geaf,
"on ād-fære. Ne scel ānes hwæt
"meltan mid þām mōdigan, ac þǣr is māðma hord.
"gold unrīme grimme gecēapod
"and nū æt sīðestan sylfes fēore
3015 "bēagas gebohte; þā sceal brond fretan,
"ǣled þeccean, nalles eorl wegan
"māððum tō gemyndum, nē mægð scȳne
"habban on healse hring-weorðunge,
"ac sceall geōmor-mōd golde berēafod
3020 "oft nalles ǣne el-land tredan,
"nū se here-wīsa hleahtor ālegde,
"gamen and glēo-drēam. Forþon sceall gār wesan
"monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden,
"hæfen on handa, nalles hearpan swēg
3025 "wīgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn
"fūs ofer fǣgum, fela reordian,
"earne secgan, hū him æt ǣte spēow,
"þenden hē wið wulf wæl rēafode. "
Swā se secg hwata secgende wæs
3030 lāðra spella; hē ne lēag fela
wyrda nē worda. Weorod eall ārās,
ēodon unblīðe under Earna næs
wollen-tēare wundur scēawian.
Fundon þā on sande sāwul-lēasne
3035 hlim-bed healdan, þone þe him hringas geaf
ǣrran mǣlum: þā wæs ende-dæg
gōdum gegongen, þæt se gūð-cyning,
Wedra þēoden, wundor-dēaðe swealt.
Ǣr hī gesēgan syllīcran wiht,
3040 wyrm on wonge wiðer-ræhtes þǣr
lāðne licgean: wæs se lēg-draca,
grimlīc gryre-gæst, glēdum beswǣled,
sē wæs fīftiges fōt-gemearces.
lang on legere, lyft-wynne hēold
3045 nihtes hwīlum, nyðer eft gewāt
dennes nīosian; wæs þā dēaðe fæst,
hæfde eorð-scrafa ende genyttod.
Him big stōdan bunan and orcas,
discas lāgon and dȳre swyrd,
3050 ōmige þurh-etone, swā hīe wið eorðan fæðm
þūsend wintra þǣr eardodon:
þonne wæs þæt yrfe ēacen-cræftig,
iū-monna gold galdre bewunden,
þæt þām hring-sele hrīnan ne mōste
3055 gumena ǣnig, nefne god sylfa,
sigora sōð-cyning, sealde þām þe hē wolde
(hē is manna gehyld) hord openian,
efne swā hwylcum manna, swā him gemet þūhte.
XLII. WĪGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.
Þā wæs gesȳne, þæt se sīð ne þāh
3060 þām þe unrihte inne gehȳdde
wrǣte under wealle. Weard ǣr ofslōh
fēara sumne; þā sīo fǣhð gewearð
gewrecen wrāðlīce. Wundur hwār, þonne
eorl ellen-rōf ende gefēre
3065 līf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mæg
mon mid his māgum medu-seld būan.
Swā wæs Bīowulfe, þā hē biorges weard
sōhte, searo-nīðas: seolfa ne cūðe,
þurh hwæt his worulde gedāl weorðan sceolde;
3070 swā hit oð dōmes dæg dīope benemdon
þēodnas mǣre, þā þæt þǣr dydon,
þæt se secg wǣre synnum scildig,
hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fæst,
wommum gewītnad, sē þone wong strāde.
3075 Næs hē gold-hwæt: gearwor hæfde
āgendes ēst ǣr gescēawod.
Wīglāf maðelode, Wīhstānes sunu:
"Oft sceall eorl monig ānes willan
"wrǣc ādrēogan, swā ūs geworden is.
3080 "Ne meahton wē gelǣran lēofne þēoden,
"rīces hyrde rǣd ǣnigne,
"þæt hē ne grētte gold-weard þone,
"lēte hyne licgean, þǣr hē longe wæs,
"wīcum wunian oð woruld-ende.
3085 "Hēoldon hēah gesceap: hord ys gescēawod,
"grimme gegongen; wæs þæt gifeðe tō swīð,
"þē þone þēoden þyder ontyhte.
"Ic wæs þǣr inne and þæt eall geond-seh,
"recedes geatwa, þā mē gerȳmed wæs,
3090 "nealles swǣslīce sīð ālȳfed
"inn under eorð-weall. Ic on ofoste gefēng
"micle mid mundum mægen-byrðenne
"hord-gestrēona, hider ūt ætbær
"cyninge mīnum: cwico wæs þā gēna,
3095 "wīs and gewittig; worn eall gespræc
"gomol on gehðo and ēowic grētan hēt,
"bæd þæt gē geworhton æfter wines dǣdum
"in bǣl-stede beorh þone hēan
"micelne and mǣrne, swā hē manna wæs
3100 "wīgend weorð-fullost wīde geond eorðan,
"þenden hē burh-welan brūcan mōste.
"Uton nū efstan ōðre sīðe
"sēon and sēcean searo-geþræc,
"wundur under wealle! ic ēow wīsige,
3105 "þæt gē genōge nēan scēawiað
"bēagas and brād gold. Sīe sīo bǣr gearo
"ǣdre geæfned, þonne wē ūt cymen,
"and þonne geferian frēan ūserne,
"lēofne mannan, þǣr hē longe sceal
3110 "on þæs waldendes wǣre geþolian. "
Hēt þā gebēodan byre Wīhstānes,
hæle hilde-dīor, hæleða monegum
bold-āgendra, þæt hīe bǣl-wudu
feorran feredon, folc-āgende
3115 gōdum tōgēnes: "Nū sceal glēd fretan
"(weaxan wonna lēg) wigena strengel,
"þone þe oft gebād īsern-scūre,
"þonne strǣla storm, strengum gebǣded,
"scōc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte hēold,
3120 "feðer-gearwum fūs flāne full-ēode. "
Hūru se snotra sunu Wīhstānes
ācīgde of corðre cyninges þegnas
syfone tōsomne þā sēlestan,
ēode eahta sum under inwit-hrōf;
3125 hilde-rinc sum on handa bær
ǣled-lēoman, sē þe on orde gēong.
Næs þā on hlytme, hwā þæt hord strude,
syððan or-wearde ǣnigne dǣl
secgas gesēgon on sele wunian,
3130 lǣne licgan: lȳt ǣnig mearn,
þæt hī ofostlice ūt geferedon
dȳre māðmas; dracan ēc scufun,
wyrm ofer weall-clif, lēton wǣg niman,
flōd fæðmian frætwa hyrde.
3135 Þǣr wæs wunden gold on wǣn hladen,
ǣghwæs unrīm, æðeling boren,
hār hilde-rinc tō Hrones næsse.
XLIII. BĒOWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.
Him þā gegiredan Gēata lēode
ād on eorðan un-wāclīcne,
3140 helmum behongen, hilde-bordum,
beorhtum byrnum, swā hē bēna wæs;
ālegdon þā tō-middes mǣrne þēoden
hæleð hīofende, hlāford lēofne.
Ongunnon þā on beorge bǣl-fȳra mǣst
3145 wīgend weccan: wudu-rēc āstāh
sweart ofer swioðole, swōgende lēg,
wōpe bewunden (wind-blond gelæg)
oð þæt hē þā bān-hūs gebrocen hæfde,
hāt on hreðre. Higum unrōte
3150 mōd-ceare mǣndon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;
swylce giōmor-gyd lat . con meowle
. . . . . wunden heorde . . .
serg (? ) cearig sǣlde geneahhe
þæt hīo hyre . . . . gas hearde
3155 . . . . . ede wælfylla wonn . .
hildes egesan hyðo
haf mid heofon rēce swealh (? )
Geworhton þā Wedra lēode
hlǣw on hlīðe, sē wæs hēah and brād,
3160 wǣg-līðendum wīde gesȳne,
and betimbredon on tȳn dagum
beadu-rōfes bēcn: bronda betost
wealle beworhton, swā hyt weorðlīcost
fore-snotre men findan mihton.
3165 Hī on beorg dydon bēg and siglu,
eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ǣr
nīð-hȳdige men genumen hæfdon;
forlēton eorla gestrēon eorðan healdan,
gold on grēote, þǣr hit nū gēn lifað
3170 eldum swā unnyt, swā hit ǣror wæs.
Þā ymbe hlǣw riodan hilde-dēore,
æðelinga bearn ealra twelfa,
woldon ceare cwīðan, kyning mǣnan,
word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,
3175 eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc
duguðum dēmdon, swā hit ge-dēfe bið,
þæt mon his wine-dryhten wordum herge,
ferhðum frēoge, þonne hē forð scile
of līc-haman lǣne weorðan.
3180 Swā begnornodon Gēata lēode
hlāfordes hryre, heorð-genēatas,
cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-þwǣrust,
lēodum līðost and lof-geornost.
APPENDIX
THE ATTACK IN FINNSBURG.
". . . . . . . . . . . næs byrnað nǣfre. "
Hleoðrode þā heaðo-geong cyning:
"Ne þis ne dagað ēastan, ne hēr draca ne flēogeð,
"ne hēr þisse healle hornas ne byrnað,
5 "ac fēr forð berað fugelas singað,
"gylleð grǣg-hama, gūð-wudu hlynneð,
"scyld scefte oncwyð. Nū scȳneð þes mōna
"waðol under wolcnum; nū ārīsað wēa-dǣda,
"þē þisne folces nīð fremman willað.
10 "Ac onwacnigeað nū, wīgend mīne,
"hebbað ēowre handa, hicgeað on ellen,
"winnað on orde, wesað on mōde! "
Þā ārās monig gold-hladen þegn, gyrde hine his swurde;
þā tō dura ēodon drihtlīce cempan,
15 Sigeferð and Eaha, hyra sweord getugon,
and æt ōðrum durum Ordlāf and Gūðlāf,
and Hengest sylf; hwearf him on lāste.
Þā gīt Gārulf Gūðere styrode,
þæt hīe swā frēolīc feorh forman sīðe
20 tō þǣre healle durum hyrsta ne bǣran,
nū hyt nīða heard ānyman wolde:
ac hē frægn ofer eal undearninga,
dēor-mōd hæleð, hwā þā duru hēolde.
"Sigeferð is mīn nama (cwæð hē), ic eom Secgena lēod,
25 "wrecca wīde cūð. Fela ic wēana gebād,
"heardra hilda; þē is gȳt hēr witod,
"swæðer þū sylf tō mē sēcean wylle. "
Þā wæs on wealle wæl-slihta gehlyn,
sceolde cēlod bord cēnum on handa
30 bān-helm berstan. Buruh-þelu dynede,
oð þæt æt þǣre gūðe Gārulf gecrang,
ealra ǣrest eorð-būendra,
Gūðlāfes sunu; ymbe hine gōdra fela.
Hwearf flacra hrǣw hræfn, wandrode
35 sweart and sealo-brūn; swurd-lēoma stōd
swylce eal Finns-buruh fȳrenu wǣre.
Ne gefrægn ic nǣfre wurðlīcor æt wera hilde
sixtig sige-beorna sēl gebǣran,
ne nǣfre swānas swētne medo sēl forgyldan,
40 þonne Hnæfe guldon his hæg-stealdas.
Hig fuhton fīf dagas, swā hyra nān ne fēol
driht-gesīða, ac hig þā duru hēoldon.
Þā gewāt him wund hæleð on wæg gangan,
sǣde þæt his byrne ābrocen wǣre,
45 here-sceorpum hrōr, and ēac wæs his helm þyrl.
Þā hine sōna frægn folces hyrde,
hū þā wīgend hyra wunda genǣson
oððe hwæðer þǣra hyssa . . . . . . .
LIST OF NAMES; NOTES; AND GLOSSARY.
ABBREVIATIONS
m. : masculine.
f. : feminine.
n. : neuter.
nom. , gen. : nominative, genitive, etc.
w. : weak.
w. v. : weak verb.
st. : strong.
st. v. : strong verb.
I. , II. , III. : first, second, third person.
comp. : compound.
imper. : imperative.
w. : with.
instr. : instrumental.
G. and Goth. : Gothic.
O. N. : Old Norse.
O. S. : Old Saxon.
O. H. G. : Old High German.
M. H. G. : Middle High German.
The vowel æ = _a_ in _glad_ }
The diphthong ǣ = _a_ in _hair_ } approximately.
The names Leo, Bugge, Rieger, etc. , refer to authors of emendations.
Words beginning with ge- will be found under their root-word.
Obvious abbreviations, like subj. , etc. , are not included in this list.
LIST OF NAMES.
Ābel, Cain's brother, 108.
Ælf-here (gen. Ælf-heres, 2605), a kinsman of Wīglāf's, 2605.
Æsc-here, confidential adviser of King Hrōðgār (1326), older brother of
Yrmenlāf (1325), killed by Grendel's mother, 1295, 1324, 2123.
Bān-stān, father of Breca, 524.
Bēo-wulf, son of Scyld, king of the Danes, 18, 19. After the death of his
father, he succeeds to the throne of the Scyldings, 53. His son is
Healfdene, 57.
Bēo-wulf (Bīowulf, 1988, 2390; gen. Bēowulfes, 857, etc. , Bīowulfes, 2195,
2808, etc. ; dat. Bēowulfe, 610, etc. , Bīowulfe, 2325, 2843), of the race of
the Gēatas. His father is the Wǣgmunding Ecgþēow (263, etc. ); his mother a
daughter of Hrēðel, king of the Gēatas (374), at whose court he is brought
up after his seventh year with Hrēðel's sons, Herebeald, Hæðcyn, and
Hygelāc, 2429 ff. In his youth lazy and unapt (2184 f. , 2188 f. ); as man he
attains in the gripe of his hand the strength of thirty men, 379. Hence his
victories in his combats with bare hands (711 ff. , 2502 ff. ), while fate
denies him the victory in the battle with swords, 2683 f. His
swimming-match with Breca in his youth, 506 ff. Goes with fourteen Gēatas
to the assistance of the Danish king, Hrōðgār, against Grendel, 198 ff. His
combat with Grendel, and his victory, 711 ff. , 819 ff. He is, in
consequence, presented with rich gifts by Hrōðgār, 1021 ff. His combat with
Grendel's mother, 1442 ff. Having again received gifts, he leaves Hrōðgār
(1818-1888), and returns to Hygelāc, 1964 ff. --After Hygelāc's last battle
and death, he flees alone across the sea, 2360 f. In this battle he crushes
Dæghrefn, one of the Hūgas, to death, 2502 f. He rejects at the same time
Hygelāc's kingdom and the hand of his widow (2370 ff. ), but carries on the
government as guardian of the young Heardrēd, son of Hygelāc, 2378 ff.
After Heardrēd's death, the kingdom falls to Bēowulf, 2208,
2390. --Afterwards, on an expedition to avenge the murdered Heardrēd, he
kills the Scylfing, Ēadgils (2397), and probably conquers his country.
--His fight with the drake, 2539 ff. His death, 2818. His burial, 3135 ff.
Breca (acc. Brecan, 506, 531), son of Bēanstān, 524. Chief of the
Brondings, 521. His swimming-match with Bēowulf, 506 ff.
Brondingas (gen. Brondinga, 521), Breca, their chief, 521.
Brōsinga mene, corrupted from, or according to Müllenhoff, written by
mistake for, Breosinga mene (O. N. , Brisinga men, cf. Haupts Zeitschr. XII.
304), collar, which the Brisingas once possessed.
Cain (gen. Caines, 107): descended from him are Grendel and his kin, 107,
1262 ff.
Dæg-hrefn (dat. Dæghrefne, 2502), a warrior of the Hūgas, who, according to
2504-5, compared with 1203, and with 1208, seems to have been the slayer of
King Hygelāc, in his battle against the allied Franks, Frisians, and Hūgas.
Is crushed to death by Bēowulf in a hand-to-hand combat, 2502 ff.
Dene (gen. Dena, 242, etc. , Denia, 2126, Deniga, 271, etc. ; dat. Denum,
768, etc. ), as subjects of Scyld and his descendants, they are also called
Scyldings; and after the first king of the East Danes, Ing (Runenlied, 22),
Ing-wine, 1045, 1320. They are also once called Hrēðmen, 445. On account of
their renowned warlike character, they bore the names Gār-Dene, 1, 1857,
Hring-Dene (Armor-Danes), 116, 1280, Beorht-Dene, 427, 610. The great
extent of this people is indicated by their names from the four quarters of
the heavens: Ēast-Dene, 392, 617, etc. , West-Dene, 383, 1579, Sūð-Dene,
463, Norð-Dene, 784. --Their dwelling-place "in Scedelandum," 19, "on
Scedenigge," 1687, "be sǣm twēonum," 1686.
Ecg-lāf (gen. Ecglāfes, 499), Hunferð's father, 499.
Ecg-þēow (nom. Ecgþēow, 263, Ecgþēo, 373; gen. Ecgþēowes, 529, etc. ,
Ecgþīowes, 2000), a far-famed hero of the Gēatas, of the house of the
Wǣgmundings. Bēowulf is the son of Ecgþēow, by the only daughter of Hrēðel,
king of the Gēatas, 262, etc. Among the Wylfings, he has slain Heaðolāf
(460), and in consequence he goes over the sea to the Danes (463), whose
king, Hrōðgār, by means of gold, finishes the strife for him, 470.
Ecg-wela (gen. Ecg-welan, 1711). The Scyldings are called his descendants,
1711. Grein considers him the founder of the older dynasty of Danish kings,
which closes with Heremōd. See Heremōd.
Elan, daughter of Healfdene, king of the Danes, (? ) 62. According to the
restored text, she is the wife of Ongenþēow, the Scylfing, 62, 63.
Earna-næs, the Eagle Cape in the land of the Gēatas, where occurred
Bēowulf's fight with the drake, 3032.
Ēadgils (dat. Ēadgilse, 2393), son of Ōhthere, and grandson of Ongenþēow,
the Scylfing, 2393. His older brother is
Ēanmund (gen. Ēanmundes, 2612). What is said about both in our poem
(2201-2207, 2380-2397, 2612-2620) is obscure, but the following may be
conjectured:--
The sons of Ōhthere, Ēanmund and Ēadgils, have rebelled against their
father (2382), and must, in consequence, depart with their followers from
Swīorīce, 2205-6, 2380. They come into the country of the Gēatas to
Heardrēd (2380), but whether with friendly or hostile intent is not stated;
but, according to 2203 f. , we are to presume that they came against
Heardrēd with designs of conquest. At a banquet (on feorme; or feorme, MS. )
Heardrēd falls, probably through treachery, by the hand of one of the
brothers, 2386, 2207. The murderer must have been Ēanmund, to whom,
according to 2613, "in battle the revenge of Wēohstān brings death. "
Wēohstān takes revenge for his murdered king, and exercises upon Ēanmund's
body the booty-right, and robs it of helm, breastplate, and sword
(2616-17), which the slain man had received as gifts from his uncle, Onela,
2617-18. But Wēohstān does not speak willingly of this fight, although he
has slain Onela's brother's son, 2619-20. --After Heardrēd's and Ēanmund's
death, the descendant of Ongenþēow, Ēadgils, returns to his home, 2388. He
must give way before Bēowulf, who has, since Heardrēd's death, ascended the
throne of the Gēatas, 2390. But Bēowulf remembers it against him in after
days, and the old feud breaks out anew, 2392-94. Ēadgils makes an invasion
into the land of the Gēatas (2394-95), during which he falls at the hands
of Bēowulf, 2397. The latter must have then obtained the sovereignty over
the Swēonas (3005-6, where only the version, Scylfingas, can give a
satisfactory sense).
Eofor (gen. Eofores, 2487, 2965; dat. Jofore, 2994, 2998), one of the
Gēatas, son of Wonrēd and brother of Wulf (2965, 2979), kills the Swedish
king, Ongenþēow (2487 ff. , 2978-82), for which he receives from King
Hygelāc, along with other gifts, his only daughter in marriage, 2994-99.
Eormen-rīc (gen. Eormenrīces, 1202), king of the Goths (cf. about him, W.
Grimm, Deutsche Heldensage, p. 2, ff. ).
