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Beowulf

Old English

Hwæt, wē Gār-Dena in gēardagum,

þēodcyninga þrym gefrūnon,

hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon !

Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaþena þrēatum,

monegum mægþum meodosetla oftēah,

egsode eorl[as], syððan ǣrest wearð

fēasceaft funden; hē þæs frōfre gebād,

wēox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þāh,

oð þæt him ǣghwylc ymbsittendra

ofer hronrāde hȳran scolde,

gomban gyldan; þæt wæs gōd cyning!

Ðǣm eafera wæs æfter cenned

geong in geardum, þone God sende

folce tō frōfre; fyrenðearfe ongeat,

þē hīe ǣr drugon aldor(lē)ase

lange hwīle; him þæs Liffrea,

wuldres Wealdend woroldāre forgeaf;

Bēowulf wæs brēme -- blǣd wīde sprang --

Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in.

Swā sceal (geong g)uma gōde gewyrcean,

fromum feohgiftum on fæder (bea)rme,

þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen

wilgesīþas, þonne wīg cume,

lēode gelǣsten; lofdǣdum sceal

in mǣgþa gehwǣre man geþeon.

Him ðā Scyld gewāt tō gescæphwīle

felahrōr fēran on Frēan wǣre;

hī hyne þā ætbǣron tō brimes faroðe,

swǣse gesīþas, swā hē selfa bæd,

þenden wordum wēold wine Scyldinga --

lēof landfruma lange āhte.

þǣr æt hȳðe stōd hringedstefna

īsig ond ūtfūs, æþelinges fær;

ālēdon þā lēofne þēoden,

bēaga bryttan on bearm scipes,

mǣrne be mæste. þǣr wæs mādma fela

of feorwegum frætwa gelǣded;

ne hȳrde ic cȳmlīcor cēol gegyrwan

hildewǣpnum ond heaðowǣdum,

billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg

mādma mænigo, þā him mid scoldon

on flōdes ǣht feor gewītan.

Nalæs hī hine lǣssan lācum tēodan,

þēodgestrēonum, þon þā dydon,

þē hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon

ǣnne ofer ȳðe umborwesende.

þā gȳt hīe him āsetton segen g(yl)denne

hēah ofer hēafod, lēton holm beran,

gēafon on gārsecg; him wæs geōmor sefa,

murnende mōd. Men ne cunnon

secgan tō sōðe, selerǣdende,

hǣleð under heofenum, hwā þǣm hlæste onfēng.

Ðā wæs on burgum Bēowulf Scyldinga,

lēof lēodcyning longe þrāge

folcum gefrǣge --fæder ellor hwearf,

aldor of earde --, oþ þæt him eft onwōc

hēah Healfdene; hēold þenden lifde

gamol ond gūðrēouw glæde Scyldingas.

Ðǣm fēower bearn forðgerīmed

in worold wōcun, weoroda rǣswa[n],

Heorogār ond Hrōðgār ond Hālga til,

hȳrde ic þæt [...... wæs On]elan cwēn,

Heaðo-Scilfingas healsgebedda.

þā wæs Hrōðgāre herespēd gyfen,

wīges weorðmynd, þæt him his winemāgas

georne hȳrdon, oðð þæt sēo geogoð gewēox,

magodriht micel. Him on mōd bearn,

þæt healreced hātan wolde,

medoærn micel men gewyrcean ......

þon[n]e yldo bearn ǣfre gefrūnon,

ond þǣer on innan eall gedǣlan

geongum ond ealdum, swylc him God sealde,

būton folcscare ond feorum gumena.

Ðā ic wīde gefrægn weorc gebannan

manigre mǣgþe geond þisne middangeard,

folcstede frætwan. Him on fyrste gelomp

ǣdre mid yldum, þæt hit wearð ealgearo,

healærna mǣst; scōp him Heort naman

sē þe his wordes geweald wīde hæfde.

Hē bēot ne ālēh, bēagas dǣlde,

sinc æt symle. Sele hlīfade

hēah ond horngēap; heaðowylma bād,

lāðan līges; ne wæs hit lenge þā gēn,

þæt se ecghete āþumswēoran

æfter wælnīðe wæcnan scolde.

Ðā se ellengǣst earfoðlīce

þrāge geþolode, sē þe in þȳstrum bād,

þæt hē dōgora gehwām drēam gehȳrde

hlūdne in healle; þǣr wæs hearpan swēg,

swutol sang scopes. Sægde sē þe cūþe

frumsceaft fīra feorran reccan,

cwæð þæt se Ælmihtiga eorðan worh(te),

wlitebeorhtne wang, swā wæter bebūgetð,

gesette sigehrēþig sunnan ond mōnan

lēoman tō lēohte landbūendum,

ond gefrætwade foldan scēatas

leomum ond lēafum, līf ēac gesceōp

cynna gehwylcum þāra ðe cwice hwyrfaþ. --

Swā ðā drihtguman drēamum lifdon,

ēadiglīce, oð ðæt ān ongan

fyrene fre(m)man fēond on helle;

wæs se grimma gǣst Grendel hāten,

mǣre mearcstapa, sē þe mōras hēold,

fen ond fæsten; fīfelcynnes eard

wonsǣlī wer weardode hwīle,

siþðan him Scyppend forscrifen hæfde

in Cāines cynne -- þone cwealm gewræc

ēce Drihten, þæs þe hē ābel slōg;

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

Metod for þȳ māne mancynne fram.

þanon untȳdras ealle onwōcon,

eotenas ond ylfe ond orcneas,

swylce gīgantas, þā wið Gode wunnon

lange þrāge ; hē him ðæs lēan forgeald.

Gewāt ðā nēosian, syþðan niht becōm,

hean hūses, hū hit Hring-Dene

æfter bēorþege gebūn hæfdon.

Fand þā ðǣr inne æþelinga gedriht

swefan æfter symble; sorge ne cūðon,

wonsceaft wera. Wiht unhǣlo,

grim ond grǣdig, gearo sōna wæs,

rēoc ond rēþe, ond on ræste genam

þrītig þegna; þanon eft gewāt

hūðe hrēmig tō hām faran,

mid þǣre wælfylle wīca nēosan.

Ðā wæs on ūhtan mid ǣrdæge

Grendles gūðcræft gumum undyrne;

þā wæs æfter wiste wōp ūp āhafen,

micel morgenswēg. Mǣre þēoden,

æþeling ǣrgōd, unblīðe sæt,

þolode ðrȳðswȳð þegnsorge drēah,

syðþan hīe þæs lāðan lāst scēawedon,

wergan gāstes; wæs þæt gewin tō strang,

lāð ond longsum! Næs hit lengra fyrst,

ac ymb āne niht eft gefremede

morðbeala māre, ond nō mearn fore,

fǣhðe ond fyrene; wæs tō fæst on þām.

þā wæs ēaðfynde þē him elles hwǣr

gerūmlīcor ræste [sōhte],

bed æfter būrum, ðā him gebēacnod wæs,

gesægd sōðlīce sweotolan tācne

healðegnes hete; hēold hyne syðþan

fyr ond fæstor sē þǣm fēonde ætwand.

Swā rīxode ond wið rihte wan,

āna wið eallum, oð þæt īdel stōd

hūsa sēlest. Wæs sēo hwīl micel;

twelf wintra tīd torn geþolode

wine Scyldinga, wēana gehwelcne,

sīdra sorga; forðām [secgum] wearð,

ylda bearnum undyrne cūð

gyddum geōmore, þætte Grendel wan

hwīle wið Hrōþgār, hetenīðas wæg,

fyrene ond fǣhðe fela missēra,

singāle sæce; sibbe ne wolde

wið manna hwone mægenes Deniga,

feorhbealo feorran, fēa þingian,

nē þǣr nǣnig witena wēnan þorfte

beorhtre bōte tō banan folmum;

(ac se) ǣglǣca ēhtende wæs,

deorc dēaþscua, duguþe ond geogoþe,

seomade ond syrede; sinnihte hēold

mistige mōras; men ne cunnon,

hwyder helrūnan hwyrftum scrīþað.

Swā fela fyrena fēond mancynnes,

atol āngengea oft gefremede,

heardra hȳnða; Heorot eardode,

sincfāge sel sweartum nihtum ; --

nō hē þone gifstōl grētan mōste,

māþðum for Metode, nē his myne wisse.--

þæt wæs wrǣc micel wine Scyldinga,

mōdes brecða. Monig oft gesæt

rīce tō rūne; rǣd eahtedon,

hwæt swīðferhðum sēlest wǣre

wið fǣrgryrum tō gefremmanne.

Hwīlum hīe gehēton æt bærgtrafum

wīgweorþunga, wordum bǣdon,

þæt him gāstbona gēoce gefremede

wið þēodþrēaum. Swylc wæs þēaw hyra,

hǣþenra hyht; helle gemundon

in mōdsefan, Metod hīe ne cūþon,

dǣda Dēmend, ne wiston hīe Drihten God,

nē hīe hūru heofena Helm herian ne cūþon,

wuldres Waldend. Wā bið þǣm ðe sceal

þurh slīðne nīð sāwle bescūfan

in fȳres fæþm, frōfre ne wēnan,

wihte gewendan ! Wēl bið þǣm þe mōt

æfter dēaðdæge Drihten sēcean

ond tō Fæder fæþmum freoðo wilnian !

Swā ðā mǣlceare maga Healfdenes

singāla sēað; ne mihte snotor hæleð

wēan onwendan; wæs þæt gewin tō swȳð,

lāþ ond longsum, þē on ðā lēode becōm,

nȳdwracu nīþgrim, nihtbealwa mǣst.

þæt fram hām gefrægn Higelāces þegn

gōd mid Gēatum, Grendles dǣda;

sē wæs moncynnes mægenes strengest

on þǣm dæge þysses līfes,

æþele ond ēacen. Hēt him ȳðlidan

gōdne gegyrwan; cwæð, hē gūðcyning

ofer swanrāde sēcean wolde,

mǣrne þēoden, þā him wæs manna þearf.

Ðone sīðfæt him snotere ceorlas

lȳthwōn lōgon, þēah hē him lēof wǣre;

hwetton hige(r)ōfne, hǣl scēawedon.

Hæfde se gōda Gēata lēoda

cempan gecorone þāra þe hē cēnoste

findan mihte; fīftȳna sum

sundwudu sōhte, secg wīsade,

lagucræftig mon landgemyrcu.

Fyrst forð gewāt; flota wæs on ȳðum,

bāt under beorge. Beornas gearwe

on stefn stigon,-- strēamas wundon,

sund wið sande; secgas bǣron

on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe,

gūðsearo geatolīc; guman ūt scufon,

weras on wilsīð wudu bundenne.

Gewāt þā ofer wǣgholm winde gefȳsed

flota fāmīheals fugle gelīcost,

oð þæt ymb āntīd ōþres dōgores

wundenstefna gewaden hæfde,

þæt ðā līðende land gesāwon,

brimclifu blīcan, beorgas stēape,

sīde sǣnæssas; þā wæs sund liden,

eoletes æt ende. þanon ūp hraðe

Wedera lēode on wang stigon,

sǣwudu sǣldon,-- syrcan hrysedon,

gūðgewǣdo; Gode þancedon

þæs þe him ȳþlāde ēaðe wurdon.

þā of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,

sē þe holmclifu healdan scolde,

beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas,

fyrdsearu fūslicu; hine fyrwyt bræc

mōdgehygdum, hwæt þā men wǣron.

Gewāt him þā tō waroðe wicge rīdan

þegn Hrōðgāres, þrymmum cwehte

mægenwudu mundum, meþelwordum frægn:

'Hwæt syndon gē searohæbbendra,

byrnum werede, þē þus brontne cēol

ofer lagustrǣte lǣdan cwōmon,

hider ofer holmas ? [Hwæt, ic hwī]le wæs

endesǣta, ǣgwearde hēold,

þē on land Dena lāðra nǣnig

mid scipherge sceðþan ne meahte.

Nō hēr cūðlīcor cuman ongunnon

lindhæbbende, nē gē lēafnesword

gūðfremmendra gearwe ne wisson,

māga gemēdu. Nǣfre ic māran geseah

eorla ofer eorþan, ðonne is ēower sum,

secg on searwum; nis þæt seldaguma,

wǣpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite lēoge,

ǣnlīc ansȳn. Nū ic ēowed sceal

frumcyn witan, ǣr gē fyr heonan

lēasscēaweras on land Dena

furþur fēran. Nū gē feorbūend

merelīðende, mīn[n]e gehȳrað

ānfealdne geþōht: ofost is sēlest

tō gecȳðanne, hwanan ēowre cyme syndon.'

Him se yldesta andswarode,

werodes wīsa, wordhord onlēac:

'Wē synt gumcynnes Gēata lēode

ond Higelāces heorðgenēatas.

Wæs mīn fæder folcum gecȳþed,

æþele ordfruma, Ecgþēow hāten;

gebād wintra worn, ǣr hē on weg hwurfe,

gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman

witena wēlhwylc wīde geond eorþan.

Wē þurh holdne hige hlāford þīnne,

sunu Healfdenes sēcean cwōmon,

lēodgebyrgean; wes þū ūs lārena gōd !

Habbað wē tō þǣm mǣran micel ǣrende

Deniga frean; ne sceal þǣr dyrne sum

wesan, þæs ic wēne. þū wāst, gif hit is

swā wē sōþlīce secgan hȳrdon,

þæt mid Scyldingum sceaðona ic nāt hwylc,

dēogol dǣdhata deorcum nihtum

ēaweð þurh egsan uncūðne nīð,

hȳnðu ond hrāfyl. Ic þæs Hrōðgār mæg

þurh rūmne sefan rǣd gelǣran,

hū hē frōd ond gōd fēond oferswȳðeþ --

gyf him edwenden ǣfre scolde

bealuwa bisigu bōt eft cuman --,

ond þā cearwylmas cōlran wurðaþ;

oððe ā syþðan earfoðþrāge,

þrēanȳd þolað, þenden þǣr wunað

on hēahstede hūsa sēlest.'

Weard maþelode, ðǣr on wicge sæt,

ombeht unforht: 'ǣghwæþres sceal

scearp scyldwiga gescād witan,

worda ond worca, sē þe wēl þenceð.

Ic þæt gehȳre, þæt þis is hold weorod

frēan Scyldinga. Gewītaþ forð beran

wǣpen ond gewǣdu, ic ēow wīsige;

swylce ic maguþegnas mīne hāte

wið fēonda gehwone flotan ēowerne,

nīwtyrwydne nacan on sande

ārum healdan, oþ ðæt eft byreð

ofer lagustrēamas lēofne mannan

wudu wundenhals tō Wedermearce,

gōdfremmendra swylcum gifeþe bið,

þæt þone hilderǣs hāl gedīgeð.'

Gewiton him þā fēran,-- flota stille bād,

seomode on sāle sīdfæþmed scip,

on ancre fæst. Eoforlīc scionon

ofer hlēorber[g]an gehroden golde,

fāh ond fȳrheard,-- ferhwearde hēold.

gūþmōdgum men. Guman ōnetton,

sigon ætsomne, oþ þæt hȳ [s]æl timbred

geatolīc ond goldfāh ongyton mihton;

þæt wæs foremǣrost foldbūendum

receda under roderum, on þǣm se rīca bād;

līxta se lēoma ofer landa fela.

Him þā hildedēor [h]of mōdigra

torht getǣhte, þæt hīe him tō mihton

gegnum gangan; gūðbeorna sum

wicg gewende, word æfter cwæð:

'Mǣl is mē tō fēran; Fæder alwalda

mid ārstafum ēowic gehealde

sīða gesunde! Ic tō sǣ wille,

wið wrāð werod wearde healdan.'

Strǣt wæs stānfāh, stīg wīsode

gumum ætgædere. Gūðbyrne scān

heard hondlocen, hringīren scīr

song in searwum, þā hīe tō sele furðum

in hyra gryregeatwum gangan cwōmon.

Setton sǣmēþe sīde scyldas,

rondas regnbearde wið þæs recedes weal;

bugon þā tō bence,-- byrnan hringdon,

gūðsearo gumena; gāras stōdon,

sǣmanna searo samod ætgædere,

æscholt ufan grǣg; wæs se īrenþrēat

wǣpnum gewurþad. þā ðǣr wlonc hæleð

ōretmecgas æfter æþelum frægn:

'Hwanon ferigeað gē fǣtte scyldas,

grǣge syrcan, ond grīmhelmas,

heresceafta hēap ? Ic eom Hrōðgāres

ār ond ombiht. Ne seah ic elþēodige

þus manige men mōdiglīcran.

Wēn' ic þæt gē for wlenco, nalles for wræcsīðum,

ac for higeþrymmum Hrōðgār sōhton.'

Him þā ellenrōf andswarode,

wlanc Wedera lēod, word æfter spræc

heard under helme: 'Wē synt Higelāces

bēodgenēatas; Bēowulf is mīn nama.

Wille ic āsecgan sunu Healfdenes,

mǣrum þēodne mīn ǣrende,

aldre þīnum, gif hē ūs geunnan wile,

þæt wē hine swā gōdne grētan mōton.'

Wulfgār maþelode --þæt wæs Wendla lēod,

wæs his mōdsefa manegum gecȳðed,

wīg ond wīsdōm --: 'Ic þæs wine Deniga,

frēan Scildinga frīnan wille,

bēaga bryttan, swā þū bēna eart,

þēoden mǣrne ymb þīnne sīð,

ond þē þā andsware ǣdre gecȳðan,

ðē mē se gōda āgifan þenceð.'

Hwearf þā hrædlīce þǣr Hrōðgār sæt

eald ond anhār mid his eorla gedriht;

ēode ellenrōf, þæt hē for eaxlum gestōd

Deniga frean; cūþe hē duguðe þēaw.

Wulfgār maðelode tō his winedrihtne:

'Hēr syndon geferede, feorran cumene

ofer geofenes begang Gēata lēode;

þone yldestan ōretmecgas

Bēowulf nemnað. Hȳ bēnan synt,

þæt hīe, þēoden mīn, wið þē mōton

wordum wrixlan; nō ðū him wearne getēoh

ðīnra gegncwida, glædman Hrōðgār

Hȳ on wīggetāwum wyrðe þinceað

eorla geæhtlan; hūru se aldor dēah,

sē þǣm heaðorincum hider wīsade.'

Hrōðgār maþelode, helm Scyldinga:

'Ic hine cūðe cnihtwesende;

wæs his ealdfæder Ecgþēo hāten,

ðǣm tō hām forgeaf Hrēþel Gēata

āngan dohtor; is his eafora nū

heard hēr cumen, sōhte holdne wine.

Ðonne sægdon þæt sǣlīþende,

þā ðe gifsceattas Gēata fyredon

þyder tō þance, þæt hē þrtiges

manna mægencræft on his mundgripe

heaþorōf hæbbe. Hine hālig God

for ārstafum ūs onsende,

tō West-Denum, þæs ic wēn hæbbe,

wið Grendles gryre. Ic þǣm gōdan sceal

for his mōdþræce mādmas bēodan.

Bēo ðū on ofeste, hāt in gân

sēon sibbegedriht samod ætgædere;

gesaga him ēac wordum, þæt hīe sint wilcuman

Deniga lēodum.' [þā wið duru healle

Wulfgār ēode,] word inne ābēad:

'ēow hēt secgan sigedrihten mīn,

aldor ēast-Dena, þæt hē ēower æþelu can,

ond gē him syndon ofer sǣwylmas

heardhicgende hider wilcuman.

Nū gē mōton gangan in ēowrum gūðsearwum,

under heregrīman Hrōðgār gesēon;

lǣtað hildebord hēr onbīdan,

wudu wælsceaftas worda geþinges.'

ārās þā se rīca, ymb hine rinc manig,

þrȳðlīc þegna hēap; sume þǣr bidon,

heaðorēaf hēoldon, swā him se hearda bebēad.

Snyredon ætsomne --secg wīsode--

under Heorotes hrōf; [heaþorinc ēode,]

heard under helme, þæt hē on heo[r]ðe gestōd.

Bēowulf maðelode --on him byrne scān,

searonet seowed smiþes orþancum--:

'Wæs þū, Hrōðgār, hāl! Ic eom Higelāces

mǣg ond magoðegn; hæbbe ic mǣrða fela

ongunnen on geogoþe. Mē wearð Grendles þing

on mīnre ēþeltyrf undyrne cūð;

secgað sǣlīðend, þæt þæs sele stande,

reced sēlesca rinca gehwylcum

īdel ond unnyt, siððan ǣfenlēoht

under heofenes haðor beholen weorþeð.

þā mē þæt gelǣrdon lēode mīne,

þā sēlestan, snotere ceorlas,

þēoden Hrōðgār, þæt ic þē sōhte,

forþan hīe mægenes cræft mīn[n]e cūþon;

selfe ofersāwon, ðā ic of searwum cwōm,

fāh from fēondum, þǣr ic fīfe geband,

ȳðde eotena cyn, ond on ȳðum slōg

niceras nihtes, nearoþearfe drēah,

wræc Wedera nīð -- wēan āhsodon --

forgrand gramum; ond nū wið Grendel sceal,

wið þām āglǣcan āna gehēgan

ðing wið þyrse. Ic þē nū ðā,

brego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille,

eodor Scyldinga, ānre bēne,

þæt ðū mē ne forwyrne, wīgendra hlēo,

frēowine folca, nū ic þus feorran cōm,

þæt ic mōte āna [ond] mīnra eorla gedryht,

þes hearda hēap, Heorot fǣlsian.

Hǣbbe ic ēac geāhsod, þæt se ǣglǣca

for his wonhȳdum wǣpna ne recceð;

ic þæt þonne forhicge, swā mē Higelāc sīe,

mīn mondrihten mōdes blīðe,

þæt ic sweord bere oþðe sīdne scyld,

geolorand tō gūþe, ac ic mid grāpe sceal

fōn wið fēonde ond ymb feorh sacan,

lāð wið lāþum; ðǣr gelȳfan sceal

Dryhtnes dōme sē þe hine dēað nimerð.

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

in þǣm gūðsele Gēotena lēode

etan unforhte, swā hē oft dyde,

mægenhrēð manna. Nā þū mīnne þearft

hafalan hȳdan, ac hē mē habban wile

d[r]ēore fāhne, gif mec dēað nimeð;

byreð blōdig wæl, byrgean þenceð,

eteð āngenga unmurnlīce,

mearcað mōropu; nō ðū ymb mīnes ne þearft

līces feorme leng sorgian.

Onsend Higelāce, gif mec hild nime,

beaduscrūda betst, þæt mīne brēost wereð,

hrægla sēlest; þæt is Hrǣdlan lāf,

Wēlandes geweorc. Gǣð ā wyrd swā hīo scel!'

Hrōðgāt maþelode, helm Scyldinga:

'For [g]ewy[r]htum þū, wine mīn Bēowulf,

ond for ārstafum ūsic sōhtest.

Geslōh þīn fæder fǣhðe mǣste;

wearþ, hē Heaþolāfe tō handbonan

mid Wilfingum; ðā hine Wedera cyn

for herebrōgan habban ne mihte.

þanon hē gesōhte Sūð-Dena folc

ofer ȳaða gewealc, ār-Scyldinga;

ðā ic furþum wēold folce Deniga

ond on geogoðe hēold ginne rīce,

hordburh hæleþa ; ðā wæs Heregār dēad,

mīn yldra mǣg unlifigende,

bearn Healfdenes; sē wæs betera ðonne ic!

Siððan þā fǣhðe fēo þingode;

sende ic Wylfingum ofer wæteres hrycg

ealde mādmas; hē mē āþas swōr.

Sorh is mē tō secgan on sefan mīnum

gumena ǣngum, hwæt mē Grendel hafað

hȳnðo on Heorote mid his heteþancum,

fǣrnīða gefremed; is mīn fletwerod,

wīghēap gewanod; hīe wyrd forswēop

on Grendles gryre. God ēaþe mæg

þone dolsceaðan dǣda getwǣfan!

Ful oft gebēotedon bēore druncne

ofer ealdowǣge ōretmecgas,

þæt hīe in bēorsele bīdan woldon

Grendles gūþe mid gryrum ecga.

Ðonne wæs þeos medoheal on morgentīd,

drihtsele drēorfāh, þonne dæg līxte,

eal bencþelu blōde bestȳmed,

heall heorutrēore; āhte ic hoidra þȳ lǣs,

dēorre duguðe, þē þā dēað fornam.

Site nū tō symle ond onsǣl meoto,

sigehrēð secgum, swā þīn sefa hwette.'

þā wæs Gēatmæcgum geador ætsomne

on bēorele benc gerȳmed;

þǣr swiðferhþe sittan ēodon,

þrȳðum dealle. þegn nytte behēold,

sē þe on handa bær hroden ealowǣge,

scencte scīr wered. Scop hwīlum sang

hādor on Heorote. þǣr wæs hæleða drēam,

duguð unlȳtel Dena ond Wedera.

Unferð maþelode, Ecglāfes bearn,

þē æt fōtum sæt frēan Scyldinga,

onband beadūrne-- wæs him Bēowulfes sīð,

mōdges merefaran, micel æfþunca,

forpon þe hē ne ūþe, þæt ǣnig ōðer man

ǣfre mǣrða þon mā middangeardes

gehēde under heofenum þonne hē sylfa--:

'Eart þū sē Bēowulf, sē þe wið Brecan wunne,

on sīdne sǣ ymb sund flite,

ðǣr git for wlence wada cunnedon

ond for dolgilpe on dēop wæter

aldrum nēþdon ? Nē inc ǣnig mon,

nē lēof nē lāð, belēan mlhte

sorhfullne sīð, þā git on sund reon;

þǣr git ēagorstrēam earmum þehton,

mǣton merestrǣta, mundum brugdon,

glidon ofer gārsecg; geofon ȳpum wēol,

wintrys wylm[um]. Git on wæteres ǣht

seofon niht swuncon; hē þē æt sunde oferflāt,

hæfde māre mægen. þā hine on morgentīd

on Heaþo-Rǣmas holm ūp ætbær;

ðonon hē gesōhte swǣsne ēþel,

lēof his lēodum, lond Brondinga,

freoðoburh fægere, þǣr hē folc āhte,

burh ond bēagas. Bēot eal wið þē

sunu Bēanstānes sōðe gelæste.

Ðonne wēne ic tō þē wyrsan geþingea,

ðēah þū heaðorǣsa gehwǣr dohte,

grimre gūðe, gif þū Grendles dearst

nihtlongne fyrst nean bīdan.'

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

'Hwæt, þū worn fela, wine mīn Unferð,

bēore druncen ymb Brecan sprǣce,

sægdest from his siðe ! Sōð ic talige,

þæt ic merestrengo māran āhte,

earfeþo on ȳþum, ðonne ǣnig ōper man.

Wit þæt gecwǣdon cnihtwesende

ond gebēotedon --wǣron bēgen þā gīt

on geogofðfēore-- þæt wit on gārsecg ūt

aldrum nēðdon, ond þæt geæfndon swā.

Hæfdon swurd nacod, þā wit on sund reon,

heard on handa; wit unc wið hronfixas

werian þōhton. Nō hē wiht fram mē

flōdȳþum feor flēotan meahte,

hraþor on holme, nō ic fiam him wolde.

Ðā wit ætsomne on sǣ wǣron

fīf nihta fyrst, oþ þæt unc flōd tōdrāf,

wado weallende, wedera cealdost,

nīpende niht, ond norþanwind

heaðogrim ondhwearf; hrēo wǣron ȳþa.

Wæs merefixa mōd onhrēred;

þǣr mē wið lāðum licsyrce mīn

heard hondlocen helpe gefremede,

beadohrægl brōden, on brēostum læg

golde gegyrwed. Mē tō grunde tēah

fāh fēondscaða, fæste hæfde

grim on grāpe; hwæþre mē gyfeþe wearð,

þæt ic āglǣcan orde gerǣhte,

hildebille; heaþorǣs fornam

mihtig merēdeor þurh mīne hand.

Swā mec gelōme lāðgetēonan

þrēatedon þearle. Ic him þēnode

dēoran sweorde, swā hit gedēfe wæs.

Næs hīe ðǣre fylle gefēan hæfdon,

mānfordǣdlan, þæt hīe mē þgon,

symbel ymbsǣton sǣgrunde nēah;

ac on mergenne mēcum wunde

be ȳðlāfe uppe lǣgon,

sweo[r]dum āswefede, þæt syðþan nā

ymb brontne ford brimlīðende

lāde ne letton. Lēoht ēastan cōm,

beorht bēacen Godes, brimu swaþredon,

þæt ic sǣnæssas gesēon mihte,

windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereð

unfǣgne eorl, þonne his ellen dēah!

Hwæþere mē gesǣlde, þæt ic mid sweorde ofslōh

niceras nigene. Nō ic on niht gefrægn

under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,

nē on ēgstrēamum earmran mannon;

hwæþere ic fāra feng fēore gedīgde

sīþes wērig. Ðā mec sǣ oþbær,

flōd æfter faroðe on Finna land,

wadu weallendu. Nō ic wiht fram þē

swylcra searonīða secgan hȳrde,

billa brōgan. Breca nǣfre gīt

æt heaðolāce, nē gehwæþer incer,

swā dēoilīce dǣd gefremede

fāgum sweordum --nō ic þæs [fela] gylpe--,

þēah ðū þīnum brōðrum tō banan wurde,

hēafodmǣgum; þæs þū in helle scealt

werhðo drēogan, þēah þīn wit duge.

Secge ic þē tō sōðe, sunu Ecglāfes,

þæt nǣfre Gre[n]del swā fela gryra gefremede,

atol ǣglǣca ealdre þīnum,

hȳnðo on Heorote, gif þīn hige wǣre,

sefa swā searogrim, swā þū self talast;

ac hē hafað onfunden, þæt hē þā fǣhðe ne þearf,

atole ecgþræce ēower lēode

swīðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga;

nymeð nȳdbāde, nǣnegum ārað

lēode Deniga, ac hē lust wigeð,

swefeð ond sendeþ, secce ne wēneþ

tō Gār-Denum. Ac ic him Gēata sceal

eafoð ond ellen ungeāra nū,

gūþe gebēodan. Gǣþ eft sē þe mæt

tō medo mōdig, siþþan morgenlēoht

ofer ylda beayn ōþres dōgores,

sunne sweglwered sūþan scīneð!'

þā wæs on sālum sinces brytta

gamolfeax ond gūðrōf; gēoce gelȳfde

brego Beorht-Dena; gehȳrde on Bēowulfe

folces hyrde fæstrǣdne geþōht.

Ðǣr wæs hæleþa hleahtor, hlyn swynsode,

word wǣron wynsume. Eode Wealhþēow forð,

cwēn Hrōðgāres cynna gemyndig,

grētte goldhroden guman on healle,

ond þā frēolīc wīf ful gesealde

ǣrest ēast-Dena ēþelwearde,

bæd hine blīðne æt þǣre bēorþege,

lēoduni lēofne; hē on lust geþeah

symbel ond seleful, sigerōf kyning.

Ymbēode þā ides Helminga

duguþe ond geogoþe dǣl ǣghwylcne,

sincfato sealde, oþ þæt sǣl ālamp,

þæt hīo Bēowulfe, bēaghroden cwēn

mōde geþungen medoful ætbær;

grētte Gēata lēod, Gode þancode

wīsfæst wordum þæs ðe hire se willa gelamp,

þæt hēo on ǣnigne eorl gelȳfde

fyrena frōfre. Hē þæt ful geþeah,

wælrēow wiga æt Wealhþeon,

ond þā gyddode gūþe gefȳsed;

Bēowulf maþelode, beam Ecgþēowes:

'Ic þæt hogode, þā ic on holm gestāh,

sǣbāt gesæt mid mīnra secga gedriht,

þæt ic ānunga ēowra lēoda

willan geworhte, oþðe on wæl crunge

fēondgrāpum fæst. Ic gefremman sceal

eorlīc ellen, oþðe endedæg

on þisse meoduhealle mīnne gebīdan !'

Ðām wīfe þā word wēl līcodon,

gilpcwide Gēates; ēode goldhroden

frēolicu folccwēn tō hire frēan sittan.

þā wæs eft swā ǣr inne on healle

þrȳðword sprecen, ðēod on sǣlum,

sigefolca swēg, op þæt semninga

sunu Healfdenes sēcean wolde

ǣfenræste; wiste þǣem āhlǣcan

tō þǣm hēahsele hilde geþinged,

siððan hīe sunnan lēoht gesēon meahton,

oþðenīpende niht ofer ealle,

scaduhelma gesceapu scrīðan cwōman

wan under wolcnum. Werod eall ārās.

[Ge]grētte þā guma ōperne,

Hrōðgār Bēowulf, ond him hǣl ābēad,

wīnærnes geweald, ond þæt word ācwæð:

'Nǣfre ic ǣnegum men ǣr ālȳfde,

siþðan ic hond ond rond hebban mihte,

ðrȳþærn Dena būton þē nū ðā.

Hafa nū ond geheald hūsa sēlest,

gemyne mǣrþo, mægenellen cȳð,

waca wið wrāþum ! Ne bið þē wilna gād,

gif þū þæt ellenweorc aldre gedīgest.'

Ðā him Hrōþgār gewāt mid his hæleþa gedryht,

eodur Scyldinga ūt of healle;

wolde wīgfruma Wealhþēo sēcan,

cwēn tō gebeddan. Hæfde Kyningwuldor

Grendle tōgēanes, swā guman gefrungon,

seleweard āseted; sundornytte behēold

ymb aldor Dena, eotonweard' ābēad.

Hūru Gēata lēod georne trūowde

mōdgan mægnes, Metodes hyldo.--

Ðā hē him of dyde īsernbyrnan,

helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,

īrena cyst ombihtþegne,

ond gehealdan hēt hildegeatwe.

Gespræc þā se gōda gylpworda sum,

Bēowulf Gēata, ǣr hē on bed stige:

'Nō ic mē an herewæsmun hnāgran talige

gūþgeweorca, þonne Grendel hine;

forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,

aldre benēotan, þēah ic eal mæge;

nāt hē þāra gōda, þæt hē mē ongēan slea,

rand gehēawe, þēah ðe hē rōf sīe

nīþgeweorca; ac wit on niht sculon

secge ofersittan, gif hē gesēcean dear

wīg ofer wǣpen, ond siþðan wītig God

on swā hwæþere hond hālig Dryhten

mǣrðo dēme, swā him gemet þince.'

Hylde hine þā heaþodēor, hlēorbolster onfēng

eorles andwlitan, ond hine ymb monig

snellīc sǣrinc selereste gebēah.

Nǣnig heora þōhte, þæt hē þanon scolde

eft eardlufan ǣfre gesēcean,

folc oþðe frēoburh, þǣr hē āfēded wæs;

ac hīe hæfdon gefrūinen, þæt hīe ǣr tō fela micles

in þǣm wīnsele wældēað fornam,

Denigea lēode. Ac him Dryhten forgeaf

wīgspēda gewiofu, Wedera leōdum,

frōfor ond fultum, þæt hīe fēond heora

ðurh ānes cræft ealle ofercōmon,

selfes mibtum. Sōð is gecȳþed,

þæt mihtig God manna cynnes

wēold wīdeferhð. Cōm on wanre niht

scrīðan sceadugenga. Scēotend swǣfon,

þā þæt hornreced healdan scoldon,

ealle būton ānum. þæt wæs yldum cūþ,

þæt hīe ne mōste, þā Metod nolde,

se s[c]ynscaþa under sceadu bregdan;--

ac hē wæccende wrālum on andan

bād bolgenmōd beadwa geþinges.

Ðā cōm of mōre under misthleoþum

Grendel gongan, Godes yrre bær;

mynte se mānscaða manna cynnes

sumne besyrwan in sele þām hēan.

Wōd under wolcnum tō þæs þe hē wīnreced,

goldsele gumena gearwost wisse

fǣttum fāhne. Ne wæs þæt forma sīð,

þæt hē Hrōþgāres hām gesōhte;

nǣfre hē on aldordagum ǣr nē siþðan

heardran hǣle, healðegnas fand !

Cōm þā tō recede rinc sīðian

drēamurn bedǣled. Duru sōna onarn

fȳrbendum fæst, syþðan hē hire folmum (æthr)ān;

onbrǣd þā bealohȳdig, ðā (hē ge)bolgen wæs,

recedes mūþan. Raþe æfter þon

on fāgne flōr fēond treddode,

ēode yrremōd; him of ēagum stōd

ligge gelīcost lēoht unfǣger.

Geseah hē in recede rinca manige,

swefan sibbegedriht samod ætgædere,

magorinca hēap. þā his mōd āhlōg;

mynte þæt hē gedǣlde, ǣr þon dæg cwōme,

atol āglǣca ānra gehwylces

līf wið līce, þā him ālumpen wæs

wistfylle wēn. Ne wæs þæt wyrd þā gēn,

þæt hē mā mōste manna cynnes

ðicgean ofer þā niht. þrȳðswȳð behēold

mǣg Higelāces, hū se mānscaða

under fǣrgripum gefaran wolde.

Nē þæt se āglǣca yldan þōhte,

ac hē gefēng hraðe forman sīðe

slǣpendne rinc, slāt unwearnum,

bāt bānlocan, blōd ēdrum dranc,

synsnǣdum swealh; sōna hæfde.

unlyfigendes eal gefeormod,

fēt ond folma. Forð nēar ætstōp,

nam þā mid handa higeþīhtigne

rinc on ræste, rǣhte tōgēan[es]

fēond mid folme; hē onfēng hraþe

inwitþancum ond wið earm gesæt.

Sōna þæt onfunde fyrena hyrde,

þæt hē ne mētte middangeardes,

eorþan scēata on elran men

mundgripe māran; hē on mōde wearð

forht on ferhðe; nō þȳ ǣr fram meahte.

Hyge wæs him hinfūs, wolde on heolster flēon,

sēcan dēofla gedræg; ne wæs his drohtoð þǣr

swylce hē on ealderdagum ǣr gemētte.

Gemunde þā se gōda, mǣg Higelāces,

ǣfensprǣce, ūplang āstōd

ond him fæste wiðfēng; fingras burston;

eoten wæs ūtweard, eorl furþur stōp.

Mynte se mǣra, (þ)er hē meahte swā,

wīdre gewindan ond on weg þanon

flēon on fenhopu; wiste his fingra geweald

on grames grāpum. þæt wæs gēocor sīð,

þæt se hearmscaþa tō Heorute ātēah !

Dryhtsele dynede; Denum eallum wearð,

ceasterbūiendum, cēnra gehwylcum,

eorlum ealuscerwen. Yrre wǣron bēgen,

rēþe renweardas. Reced hlynsode.

þā wæs wundor micel, þæt se wīnsele

wiðhaefde heaþodēorum, þæt hē on hrūsan ne fēol,

fǣger foldbold; ac hē þæs fæste wæs

innan ond ūtan īrenbendum

searoþoncum besmiþod. þǣr fram sylle ābēag

medubenc monig mīne gefrǣge

golde geregnad, þǣr þā graman wunnon.

þæs ne wēndon ǣr witan Scyldinga,

þæt hit ā mid gemete manna ǣnig

betlic ond bānfāg tōbrecan meahte,

listum tōlūcan, nymþe līges fæþm

swulge on swaþule. Swēg ūp āstāg

nīwe geneahhe: Norð-Denum stōd

atelic egesa, ānra gehwylcum

þāra þe of wealle wōp gehȳrdon,

gryrelēoð galan Godes andsacan,

sigelēasne sang, sār wānigean

helle hæfton. Hēold hine fæste

sē þe manna wæs mægene strengest

on þæm dæge þysses līfes.

Nolde eorla hlēo ǣnige þinga

þone cwealmcuman cwicne forlǣtan,

nē his līfdagas lēoda ǣnigum

nytte tealde. þǣr genehosc brægd

eorl Bēowulfes ealde lāfe,

wolde frēadrihtnes feorh ealgian,

mǣres þēodnes, ðǣer hīe meahton swā.

Hīe þæt ne wiston, þā hīe gewin drugon,

heardhicgende hildemecgas,

ond on healfa gehwone hēawan þōhton,

sāwle sēcan: þone synscaðan

ǣnig ofer eorþan īrenna cyst,

gūðbilla nān grētan nolde;

ac hē sigewǣpnum forsworen hæfde,

ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldorgedāl

on ðǣm dæge þysses līfes

earmlīc wurðan, ond se ellorgāst

on fēonda geweald feor siðian.--

Ðā þæt onfunde sē þē fela ǣror

mōdes myrðe manna cynne,

fyrene gefremede --hē fāg wið God--,

þæt him se līchoma lǣtan nolde,

ac hine se mōdega mǣg Hygelāces

hæfde be honda; wæs gehwæþer ōðrum

lifigende lāð. Līcsār gebād

atol ǣglǣca; him on eaxle wearð

syndolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon,

burston bānlocan. Bēowulfe wearð

gūðhrēð gyfeþe; scolde Grendel þonan

feorhsēoc fleon under fenhleoðu,

sēcean wynlēas wīc; wiste þē geornor,

þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen,

dōgera dægrīm. Denum eallum wearð

æfter þām wælrǣse willa gelumpen.

Hæfde þā gefǣlsod sē þe ǣr feorran cōm

snotor ond swȳðferhð sele Hrōðgāres,

genered wið nīðe. Nihtweorce gefeh,

ellenmǣrþum. Hæfde ēast-Denum

Gēatmecga lēod gilp gelǣsted,

swylce oncȳþðe ealle gebētte,

inwidsorge, þē hīe ǣr drugon

ond for prēanȳdum þolian scoldon,

torn unlȳtel. þæt wæs tācen sweotol,

syþðan hildedēor hond ālegde,

earm ond eaxle --þǣr wæs eal geador

Grendles grāpe-- under gēapne hr(ōf).

Ðā wæs on morgen mīne gefrǣge

ymb þā gifhealle gūðrinc monig

fērdon folctogan feorran ond nean

geond wīdwegas wundor scēawian,

lāþes lāstas. Nō his līfgedāl

sārlīc þūhte secga ǣnegum

þāra þe tīrlēases trode scēawode,

hū hē wērigmōd on weg þanon,

nīða ofercumen, on nicera mere

fǣge ond geflȳmed feorhlāstas bær.

Ðǣr wæs on blōde brim weallende,

atol ȳða geswing eal gemenged,

hāton heolfre, heorodrēore wēol;

dēaðfǣge dēof; siððan drēama lēas

in fenfreoðo feorh ālegde,

hǣþene sāwle; þǣr him hel onfēng.

þanon eft gewiton ehldgesīðas

swylce geong manig of gomenwāpe,

fram mere mōdge mēarum rīdan,

beornas on blancum. Ðǣr wæs Bēowulfes

mǣrðo mǣned; monig oft gecwæð,

þætte sūð nē norð be sǣm twēonum

ofer eormengrund ōþer nǣnig

under swegles begong sēlra nǣre

rondhæbbendra, rīces wyrðra.--

Nē hīe hūru winedrihten wiht ne lōgon,

glædne Hrōðgār, ac þæt wæs gōd cyning.--

Hwīlum heaþorōfe hlēapan lēton,

on geflit faran fealwe mēaras,

ðǣer him foldwegas fægere þūhton,

cystum cūðe. Hwīlum cyninges þegn,

guma gilphlæden, gidda gemyndig,

sē ðe ealfela ealdgesegena

worn gemunde --word ōþer fand

sōðe gebunden-- secg eft ongan

sīð Bēowulfes snyttrum styrian,

ond on spēd wrecan spel gerāde,

wordum wrixlan; wēlhwylc gecwæð,

þæt hē fram Sigemunde[s] secgan hȳrde

ellendǣdum, uncūþes fela,

Wælsinges gewin, wīde sīðas,

þāra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,

fǣhðe ond fyrena, būton Fitela mid hine,

þonne hē swulces hwæt secgan wolde,

eam his nefan, swā hīe ā wǣron

æt nīða gehwām nȳdgesteallan;

hæfdon ealfela eotena cynnes

sweordum gesǣged. Sigemunde gesprong

æfter dēaðdæge dōm unlȳtel,

syþðban wīges heard wyrm ācwealde,

hordes hyrde; hē under hārne stān,

æþelinges bearn āna genēðde

frēcne dǣde, ne wæs him Fitela mid;

hwæþre him gesǣlde, ðæt þæt swurd þurhwōd

wrǣtīcne wyrm, þæt hit on wealle ætstōd,

dryhtlīc īren; draca morðre swealt.

Hæfde āglǣca elne gegongen,

þæt hē bēahhordes brūcan mōste

selfes dōme; sǣbāt gehleōd,

bær on bearm scipes beorhte frætwa,

Wælses eafera; wyrm hāt gemealt.

Sē wæs wreccena wīde mǣrost

ofer werþēode, wīgendra hlēo

ellendǣdum --hē þæs ǣr onðāh--,

siððan Heremōdes hild sweðrode,

eafoð ond ellen. Hē mid ēotenum wearð

on fēonda geweald forð forlācen,

snūde forsended. Hine sorhwylmas

lemede tō lange; hē his lēodum wearð,

eallum æþellingum tō aldorceare;

swylce oft bemearn ǣrran mǣlum

swīðferhþes sīð snotor ceorl monig,

sē þe him bealwa tō bōte gelȳfde,

þæt þæt ðōdnes bearn geþēon scolde,

fæderæþelum onfōn, folc gehealdan,

hord ond hlēoburh, hæleþa rīce,

ēpel Scyldinga. Hē þǣr eallum wearð

mǣg Higelāces manna cynne,

frēondum gefægra; hine fyren onwōd.

Hwīlum flītende fealwe strǣte

mēarum mǣton. Ðā wæs morgenlēoht

scofen ond scynded. ēode scealc monig

swīðhicgende tō sele þām hēan

searowundor sēon; swylce self cyning

of brȳdbūire, bēahhorda weard,

tryddode tīrfæst getrume micle,

cystum gecȳþed, ond his cwēn mid him

medostigge mæt mægpa hōse.

Hrōðgār maþelode -- hē tō healle gēong,

stōd on stapole, geseah stēapne hrōf

golde fāhne ond Grendles hond--:

'Ðisse ansȳne Alwealdan þanc

lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lāþes gebād,

grynna æt Grendle; ā mæg God wyrcan

wunder æfter wundre, wuldres Hyrde.

Ðæt wæs ungeāra, þæt ic ǣnigra mē

wēana ne wēnde tō wīdan feore

bōte gebīdan, ponne blōde fāh

hūisa sēlest heorodrēorig stōd,--

wēa wīdscofen witena gehwylcum

ðāra þe ne wēndon, þæt hīe wīdeferhð

lēoda landgeweorc lāþum beweredon

scuccum ond scinnum. Nū scealc hafað

þurh Drihtnes miht dǣd gefremede,

ðē wē ealle ǣr ne meahton

snyttrum besyrwan. Hwæt, þæt secgan mæg

efne swā hwylc mægþa, swā ðone magan cende

æfter gumcynnum, gyf hēo gȳt lyfað,

þæt hyre Ealdmetod ēste wǣre

bearngebyrdo. Nū ic, Bēowulf, þec,

secg[a] betsta, mē for sunu wylle

frēogan on ferhþe; heald forð tela

nīwe sibbe. Ne bið þē [n]ǣnigra gād

worolde wilna, þe ic geweald hæbbe.

Ful oft ic for lǣssan lēan teohhode,

hordweorþunge hnāhran rince,

sǣmran æt sæcce. þū þē self hafast

dǣdum gefremed, þǣt þīn [dōm] lyfað

āwa tō aldre. Alwalda þec

gōde forgylde, swā hē nū gȳt dyde!'

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ec[g]þēowes:

' Wē þæt ellenweorc ēstum miclum,

feohtan fremedon, frēcne genēðdon

eafoð uncūies. ūþe ic swīþor,

þæt ðū hine selfne gesēon mōste,

fēond on frætewum fylwliigne!

Ic hine hrædlīce heardan clammum

on wælbedde wrīpan þōhte,

þæt hē for mundgripe mīnum scolde

licgean līfbysig, būtan his līc swice;

ic hine ne mihte, þā Metod nolde,

ganges getwǣman, nō ic him ǣæs georne ætfealh,

feorhgenīðlan; wæs tō foremihtig

fēond on fēþe. Hwæpere hē his folme forlēt

tō līfwrape lāst weardian,

earm ond eaxle; nō þǣr ǣnige swā þēah

fēasceaft guma frōfre gebohte;

nō þȳ leng leofað lāðgetēona

synnum geswenced, ac hyne sār hafað

in nīdgripe nearwe befongen,

balwon bendum; ðǣr ābīdan sceal

maga māne fāh miclan dōmes,

hū him scīr Metod scrīfan wille.'

Ðā wæs swīgra secg, sunu Ec[g]lāfes,

on gylpsprǣce gūðgeweorca,

siþðan æþelingas eorles cræfte

ofer hēanne hrōf hand scēawedon,

fēondes fingras; foran ǣghwylc wæs,

stī[r]a nægla gehwylc stȳle gelīcost,

hǣþenes handsporu hilderinces

egl[u] unhēoru; ǣghwylc gecwæð,

þæt him heardra nān hrīnan wolde

īren ǣrgōd, þæt ðæs āhlǣcan

blōdge beadufolme onberan wolde.

Ðā wæs hāten hreþe Heort innanweard

folmum gefrætwod; fela þǣra wæs,

wera ond wīfa, þē þæt wīnreced,

gestsele gyredon. Goldfāg scinon

web æfter wāgum, wundorsīona fela

secga gehwylcum þāra þe on swylc starað.

Wæs þæt beorhte bold tōbrocen swiðe

eal inneweard īrenbendum fæst,

heorras tōhlidene; hrōf āna genæs

ealles ansund, þē se āglǣca

fyrendǣdum fāg on flēam gewand

aldres orwēna. Nō þæt ȳðe byð

tō befleonne --fremme sē þe wille--,

ac gesēcan sceal sāwlberendra

nȳde genȳdde, niþða bearna,

grundbūendra gearwe stōwe,

þǣr his līchoma legerbedde fæst

swefeþ æfter symle. þā wæs sǣl ond mǣl,

þæt tō healle gang Healfdenes sunu;

wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.

Ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgþe māran weorode

ymb hyra sincgyfan sēl gebǣran.

Bugon þā tō bence blǣdāgande,

fylle gefǣgon, fægere geþǣgon

medoful manig; māgas þāra

swīðhicgende on sele þām hēan,

Hrōðgār ond Hrōþulf. Heorot innan wæs

frēondum āfylled; nalles fācenstafas

þēod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.--

Forgeaf þā Bēowulfe bearn Healfdenes

segen gyldenne sigores tō lēane,

hroden hiltcumbor, helm ond byrnan;

mǣre māðþumsweord manige gesāwon

beforan beorn beran. Bēowulf geþah

ful on flette; nō hē þǣre feohgyfte

for sc[ē]oten[d]um scamigan ðorfte,--

ne gefrægn ic frēondlīcor fēower mādmas

golde gegyrede gummanna fela

in ealobence ōðrum gesellan.

Ymb þæs helmes hrōf hēafodbeorge

wīrum bewunden wala ūtan hēold,

þæt him fēla lāf frēcne ne meahte

scūrheard sceþðan, þonne scyldfreca

ongēan gramum gangan scolde.

Heht ðā eorla hlēo eahta mēaras

fǣtedhlēore on flet teon,

in under eoderas; þāra ānum stōd

sadol searwum fāh, since gewurþad;

þæt wæs hildesetl hēahcyninges,

ðonne sweorda gelāc sunu Healfdenes

efnan wolde,-- nǣfre on ōre læg

wīdcūþes wīg, ðonne walu fēollon.

Ond ðā Bēowulfe bēga gehwæpres

eodor Ingwina onweald gēteah,

wicga ond wǣpna; hēt hine wēl brūcan.

Swā manlīce mǣre þēoden,

hordweard hæleþa heaþorǣsas geald

mēarum ond mādmum, swā hȳ nǣfre man lŷhð,

sē þe secgan wile sōð æfter rihte.

Ðā gȳt ǣghwylcum eorla drihten

þāra þe mid Bēowulfe brimlāde tēah,

on þǣre medubence māþðoum gesealde,

yrfelāfe, ond þone ǣnne heht

golde forgyldan, þone ðe Grendel ǣr

māne ācwealde,-- swā hē hyra mā wolde,

nefne him wītig God wyrd forstōde

ond ðæs mannes mōd. Metod eallum wēold

gumena cynnes, swā hē nū gīt dêð.

Forþan biō andgit ǣghwǣr sēlest,

ferhðes foreþanc. Fela sceal gebīdan

lēofes ond lāþes sē þe longe hēr

on ðyssum windagum worolde brūceð !

þǣr wæs sang ond swēg samod ætgædere

fore Healfdenes hildewīsan,

gomenwudu grēted, gid oft wrecen,

ðonne healgamen Hrōþgāres scop

æfter medobence mǣnan scolde,

[be] Finnes eaferum, ðā hīe se fǣr begeat.

Hæleð Healf-Dena, Hnæf Scyldinga,

in Frēswæle feallan scolde.

Nē hūru Hildeburh herian þorfte

ēotena trēowe; unsynnum wearð

beloren lēofum æt þām lindp]egan

bearnum ond brōðrum; hīe on gebyrd hruron

gāre wunde; þæt wæs geōmuru ides!

Nalles hōlinga Hōces dohtor

meotodsceaft bemearn, syþðan morgen cōm,

ðā hēo under swegle gesēon meahte

morþorbealo māga, þǣr hē[o] ǣr mǣste hēold

worolde wynne. Wīg ealle fornam

Finnes þegnas nemne fēaum ānum,

þæt hē ne mehte on þǣm meðelstede

wīg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan,

nē þā wēalāfe wīge forþringan

þēodnes ðegne; ac hig him geðingo budon,

þæt hīe him ōðer flet eal gerȳmdon,

healle ond hēahsetl, þæt hīe healfre geweald

wið ēotena bearn āgan mōston,

ond æt feohgyftum Folcwaldan sunu

dōgra gehwylce Dene weorþode,

Hengestes hēap hringum wenede

efne swā swīðe sincgestrēonum

fǣttan goldes, swā hē Frēsena cyn

on bēorsele byldan wolde.

Ðā hīe getrūwedon on twā healfa

fæste frioðuwǣre. Fin Hengeste

elne unflitme āðum benemde,

þæt hē þā wēalāfe weotena dōme

ārum hēolde, þæt ðǣr ǣnig mon

wordum nē worcum wǣre ne brǣce,

nē þurh inwitsearo ǣfre gemǣnden,

ðēah hīe hira bēaggyfan banan folgedon

ðēodenlēase, þā him swā geþearfod wæs;

gyf þonne Frȳsna hwylc frēcnan sprǣce

ðæs morðorhetes myndgiend wǣre,

þonne hit sweordes ecg sēðan scolde.--

ād wæs geæfiled, ond icge gold

āhæfen of horde. Here-Scyldinga

betst beadorinca wæs on bǣl gearu.

Æt þǣm āde wæs ēþgesȳne

swātfāh syrce, swȳn ealgylden,

eofer īrenheard, æþeling manig

wundum āwyrded; sume on wæle crungon!

Hēt ðā Hildeburh æt Hnæfes āde

hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befæstan,

bānfatu bærnan, ond on bǣl dôn

ēame on eaxle. Ides gnornode,

geōmrode giddum. Gūðrinc āstāh.

Wand tō wolcnum wælfyra mǣst,

hlynode for hlāwe; hafelan multon,

bengeato burston, ðonne blōd ætspranc,

lāðbite līces. Līg ealle forswealg,

gǣsta gīfrost, þāra ðē þǣr gūð fornam

bēga folces; wæs hira blǣd scacen.

Gewiton him ðā wīgend wīca nēosian

frēondum befeallen, Frȳsland gesēon,

hāmas ond hēaburh. Hengest ðā gȳt

wælfāgne winter wunode mid Finne

[ea]l unhlitme; eard gemunde,

þēah þe hē meahte on mere drīfan

hringedstefnan,-- holm storme wēol,

won wið winde, winter ȳpe belēac

īsgebinde, oþ ðæt ōþer cōm

gēar in geardas,-- swā nū gȳt dêð,

þā ðe syngāles sēle bewitiað,

wuldortorhtan weder. Ðā wæs winter scacen,

fæger foldan bearm; fundode wrecca,

gist of geardum; hē tō gyrnwræce

swīðor þōhte þonne tō sǣlāde,

gif hē torngemōt þurhtēon mihte,

þæt hē ēotena bearn inne gemunde.

Swā hē ne forwyrnde woroldrǣdenne,

þonne him Hūnlāfing hildelēoman,

billa sēlest on bearm dyde;

þæs wǣron mid ēotenum ecge cūðe.

Swylce ferhðfrecan Fin eft begeat

sweordbealo slīðen æt his selfes hām,

siþðan grimne gripe Gūðlāf ond ōslāf

æfter sǣsīðe sorge mǣndon,

ætwiton wēana dǣl; ne meahte wǣfre mōd

forhabban in hreþre. Ðā wæs heal roden

fēonda fēorum, swilce Fin slægen,

cyning on corþre, ond sēo cwēn numen.

Scēotend Scyldinga tō scypon feredon

eal ingesteald eorðcyninges,

swylce hīe æt Finnes hām findan meahton

sigla searogimma. Hīe on sǣlāde

drihtlīce wīf tō Denum feredon,

lǣddon tō lēodum. Lēoð wæs āsungen,

glēomannes gyd. Gamen eft āstāh,

beorhtode bencswēg, byrelas sealdon

wīn of wunderfatum. þā cwōm Wealhþēo forð

gān under gyldnum bēage þǣr þā godan twēgen

sǣton suhtergefæderan; þā gȳt wæs hiera sib ætgædere,

ǣghwylc ōðrum trȳwe. Swylce þǣr Unferþ 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 ðā ides Scyldinga:

'Onfōh þissum fulle, frēodrihten mīn,

sinces brytta! þū on sǣlum wes,

goldwine gumena, ond tō Gēatum spræc

mildum wordum, swā sceal man dôn !

Bēo wið Gēatas glæd, geofena gemyndig,

nēan ond feorran þū nū hafast.

Mē man sægde, þæt þū ðē for sunu wolde

hereri[n]c habban. Heorot is gefǣlsod,

bēahsele beorhta; brūc þenden þū mōte

manigra mēdo, ond þīnum māgum lǣf

folc ond rīce, þonne ðū forð scyle,

metodsceaft seon. Ic mīnne can

glædne Hrōþulf, þæt hē þā geogoðe wile

ārum healdan, gyf þū ǣr þonne hē,

wine Scildinga, worold oflǣtest;

wēne ic þæt hē mid gōde gyldan wille

uncran eaferan, gif hē þæt eal gemon,

hwæt wit tō willan ond tō worðmyndum

umborwesendum ǣr ārna gefremedon.'

Hwearf þā bī bence, þǣr hyre byre wǣron,

Hrēðrīc ond Hrōðmund, ond hæleþa bearn,

giogoð ætgædere; þǣr se gōda sæt,

Bēowulf Gēata be þǣm gebrōðrum twǣm.

Him wæs ful boren, ond frēondlaþu

wordum bewægned, ond wunden gold

ēstum geēawed, earm[h]rēade twā,

hrægl ond hringas, healsbēaga mǣst

þāra þe ic on foldan gefrægen hæbbe.

Nǣnigne ic under swegle sēlran hȳrde

hordmāðûm hæleþa, syþðan Hāma ætwæg

tō þǣre byrhtan byrig Brōsinga mene,

sigle ond sincfæt,-- searonīðas flēah

Eormenrīces, gecēas ēcne rǣd.--

þone hring hæfde Hlgelāc Gēata,

nefa Swertinges nȳhstan siðe,

siðþan hē under segne sinc ealgode,

wælrēaf werede; hyne wyrd fornam,

syþðan hē for wlenco wēan āhsode,

fǣhðe tō Frȳsum. Hē þā frætwe wæg,

eorclanstānas ofer ȳða ful,

rīce þēoden; hē under rande gecranc.

Gehwearf þā in Francna fæþm feorh cyninges,

brēostgewǣdu, ond se bēah somod;

wyrsan wīgfrecan wæl rēafedon

æfter gūðsceare, Gēata lēode

hrēawīc hēoldon.-- Heal swēge onfēng.

Wealhðēo maþelode, hēo fore þǣm werede spræc:

' Brūc ðisses bēages, Bēowulf lēofa,

hyse, mid hǣle, ond þisses hrægles nēot,

þēo[d]gestrēona, ond geþēoh tela,

cen þec mid cræfte, ond þyssum cnyhtum wes

lāra līðe! Ic þē þæs lēan geman.

Hafast þū gefēred, þæt ðe feor ond nēah

ealne wīdeferhþ weras ehtigað,

efne swā sīde swā sǣ bebūgeð

windgeard weallas. Wes þenden þū lifige,

æþeling, ēadig! Ic þē an tela

sincgestrēona. Bēo þū suna mīnum

dǣdum gedēfe, drēamhealdende!

Hēr is ǣghwylc eorl ōþrum getrȳwe,

mōdes milde, mandrihtne hol[d],

þegnas syndon geþwǣre, þēod ealgearo,

druncne dryhtguman; dō swā ic bidde !'

ēode þā tō setle. þǣr wæs symbla cyst,

druncon wīn weras. Wyrd ne cūþon,

geōsceaft grimme, swā hit āgangen wearð

eorla manegum, syþðan ǣfen cwōm,

ond him Hrōþgār gewāt. tō hofe sīnum,

rīce tō ræste. Reced weardode

unrīm eorla, swā hīe oft ǣr dydon.

Bencþelu beredon; hit geondbrǣded wearð

beddum ond bolstrum. Bēorscealca sum

fūs ond fǣge fletræste gebēag.

Setton him tō hēafdon hilderandas,

bordwudu beorhtan; þǣr on bence wæs

ofer æþelinge ȳþgesēne

heaþostēapa helm, hringed byrne,

þrecwudu þrymlīc. Wæs þēaw hyra,

þæt hīe oft wǣron an wīg gearwe,

gē æt hām gē on herge, gē gehwæþer þāra

efne swylce mǣla, swylce hira mandryhtne

þearf gesǣlde; wæs sēo þēod tilu.

Sigon þā tō slǣpe. Sum sāre angeald

ǣfenræste, swā him fuL oft gelamp,

siþðan goldsele Grendel warode,

unriht æfnde, oþ þæt ende becwōm,

swylt æfter synnum. þæt gesȳne wearþ,

widcūþ werum, þætte wrecend þā gȳt

lifde æfter lāþum, lange þrāge,

æfter gūðceare; Grendles mōdor,

ides āglǣcwīf yrmþe gemunde,

sē þe wæteregesan wunian scolde,

cealde strēamas, siþðan Cāin wearð

tō ecgbanan āngan brēþer,

fæderenmǣge; hē þā fāg gewāt,

morþre gemearcod mandrēam fleon,

wēsten warode. þanon wōc fela

geōsceaftgāsta; wæs þǣra Grendel sum,

heorowearh hetelīc, sē æt Heorote fand

wæccendne wer wīges bīdan;

þǣer him āglǣca ætgrǣpe wearð;

hwæþre hē gemunde mægenes strenge,

gimfæste gife, ðē him God sealde,

ond him tō Anwaldan āre gelȳfde,

frōfre ond fultum; ðȳ hē þone fēond ofercwōm,

gehnǣgde helle gāst. þā hē hēan gewāt,

drēame bedǣled dēaþwīc seon,

mancynnes fēond. Ond his mōdor þā gȳt

gīfre ond galgmōd gegān wolde

sorhfulne sīð, sunu dēoð wrecan.

Cōm þā tō Heorote, ðǣr Hring-Dene

geond þæt sæld swǣfun. þā ðǣr sōna wearð

edhwyrft eorlum, siþðan inne fealh

Grendles mōdor. Wæs se gryre lǣssa

efne swā micle, swā bið mægþa cræft,

wīggryre wīfes be wǣpnedmen,

þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþrūen,

sweord swāte fāh swīn ofer helme

ecgum dyhtig andweard scireð.

Ðā wæs on healle heardecg togen

sweord ofer setlum, sīdrand manig

hafen handa fæst; helm ne gemunde,

byrnan sīde, þā hine se brōga angeat.

Hēo wæs on ofste, wolde ūt þanon,

fēore beorgan, þā hēo onfunden wæs;

hraðe hēo æþelinga ānne hæfde

fæste befangen, þā hēo tō fenne gang.

Sē wæs Hrōþgāre hæleþa lēofost

on gesīðes hād be sǣm twēonum,

rīce randwiga, þone ðe hēo on ræste ābrēat,

blǣdfæstne beorn. Næs Bēowulf þǣr,

ac wæs ōper in ǣr geteohhod

æfter māþðumgife mǣrum Gēate.

Hrēam wearð in Heorote; hēo under heolfre genam

cūþe folme; cearu wæs genīwod,

geworden in wīcun. Ne wæs þæt gewrixle til,

þæt hīe on bā healfa bicgan scoldon

frēonda fēorum! þā wæs frōd cyning,

hār hilderinc on hrēon mōde,

syðþan hē aldorþegn unlyfigendne,

þone dēorestan dēadne wisse.

Hraþe wæs tō būre Bēowulf fetod,

sigorēadig secg. Samod ǣrdæge

ēode eorla sum, æþele cempa

self mid gesīðum þǣr se snotera bād,

hwæþer him Alwalda ǣfre wille

æfter wēaspelle wyrpe gefremman.

Gang ðā æfter flōre fyrdwyrðe man

mid his handscale --healwudu dynede--,

þæt hē þone wīsan wordum nǣgde

frēan Ingwina, frægn gif him wǣre

æfter nēodlaðu[m] niht getǣse.

Hrōðgār maþelode, helm Scyldinga:

' Ne frīn þū æfter sǣlum ! Sorh is genīwod

Denigea lēodum. Dēad is Æschere,

Yrmenlāfes yldra brōþor,

mīn rūnwita ond mīn rǣdbora,

eaxlgestealla, þonne wē on orlege

hafelan weredon, þonne hniton fēþan,

eoferas cnysedan. Swy(lc) scolde eorl wesan,

[æþling] ǣrgōd, swylc Æschere wæs!

Wearð him on Heorote tō handbanan

wælgǣst wǣfre; ic ne wāt hwæder

atol ǣse wlanc eftsiðas tēah,

fylle gefægnod. Hēo þā fǣhðe wræc,

þē þū gystran niht Grendel cwealdest

þurh hǣstne hād heardum clammum,

forþan hē tō lange lēode mīne

wanode ond wyrde. Hē æt wīge gecrang

ealdres scyldig, ond nū ōþer cwōm

mihtig mānscaða, wolde hyre mǣg wrecan,

gē feor hafað fǣhðe gestǣled,

þæs þe þincean mæg þegne monegum,

sē þe æfter sincgyfan on sefan grēoteþ,--

hreþerbealo hearde; nū sēo hand ligeð,

sē þe ēow wēlhwylcra wilna dohte.

Ic þæt londbūend, lēode mæine,

selerǣdende secgan hȳrde,

þæt hīe gesāwon swylce twēgen

micle mearcstapan mōras healdan,

ellorgǣstas. Ðǣra ōðer wæs,

þæs þe hīe gewislīcost gewitan meahton,

idese onlīcnes; ōðer earmsceapen

on weres wæstmum wræclāstas træd,

næfne hē wæs māra þonne ǣnig man ōþer;

þone on gēardagum Grendel nemdon

foldbūende; nō hīe fæder cunnon,

hwæþer him ǣnig wæs ǣr ācenned

dyrnra gāsta. Hīe dȳgel lond

warigeað wulfhleoþu, windige næssas,

frēcne fengelād, ðǣr fyrgenstrēam

under næssa genipu niþer gewīteð,

flōd under foldan. Nis þæt feor heonon

mīlgemearces, þæt se mere standeð;

ofer þǣm hongiað hrmde bearwas,

wudu wyrtum fæst wæter oferhelmað.

þǣr mæg nihta gehwǣm nīðwundor sēon,

fȳr on flōde. Nō þæs frōd leofað

gumena bearna, þæt þone grund wite.

Ðēah þe hǣðstapa hundum geswenced,

heorot hornum trum holtwudu sēce,

feorran geflȳmed, ǣr hē feorh seleð,

aldor on ōfre, ǣr hē in wille,

hafelan [beorgan]; nis þæt hēoru stōw!

þonon ȳðgeblond ūp āstīgeð

won tō wolcnum, þonne wind styreþ

lāð. gewidru, oð þæt lyft drysmaþ,

roderas rēotað. Nū is se rǣd gelang

eft æt þē ānum. Eard gīt ne const,

frēcne stōwe, ðǣr þū findan miht

sinnigne secg; sēc gif þū dyrre!

Ic þē þā fǣhðe fēo lēanige,

ealdgestrēonum, swā ic ǣr dyde,

wundnum golde, gyf þū on weg cymest.'

Bēowulf maeþlode, beam Ecgþēowes:

'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 dēaþe; þæt bið drihtguman

unlifgendum æfter sēlest.

ārīs, rīces weard, uton hraþe fēran,

Grendles māgan gang scēawigan.

Ic hit þē gehāte: nō hē on helm losaþ,

nē on foldan fæþm, nē on fyrgenholt,

nē on gyfenes grund, gā þǣr hē wille !

Ðȳs dōgor þū geþyld hafa

wēana gehwy]ces, swā ic þē wēne tō.'

āhlēop ðā se gomela, Gode þancode,

mihtigan Drihtne, þæs se man gespræc.

þā wæs Hrōðgāre hors gebǣted,

wicg wundenfeax. Wīsa fengel

geatolīc gende; gumfēþa stōp

lindhæbbendra. Lāstas wǣron

æfter waldswaþum wīde gesȳne,

gang ofer grundas, [swā] gegnum fōr

ofer myrcan mōr, magoþegna bær

þone sēlestan sāwollēasne

þāra þe mid Hrōðgāre hām eahtode.

Oferēode þā æþelinga bearn

stēap stānhliðo, stīge nearwe,

enge ānpðas, uncūð gelād,

neowle næssas, nicorhūisa fela;

hē fēara sum beforan gengde

wīsra monna wong scēawian,

oþ þæt hē fǣringa fyrgenbēamas

ofer hārne stān hleonian funde,

wynlēasne wudu; wæter under stōd

drēorig ond gedrēfed. Denum eallum wæs,

winum Scyldinga weorce on mōde

tō geþohanne, ðegne monegum,

oncȳð eorla gehwǣm, syðþan Æscheres

on þām holmclife hafelan mētton.

Flōd blōde wēol --folc tō sǣgon----

hātan heolfre. Horn stundum song

fūslīc f(yrd)lēoð. Fēþa eal gesæt.

Gesāwon ðā æfter wætere wyrmcynnes fela,

sellice sǣdracan sund cunnian,

swylce on næshleoðum nicras licgean,

ðā on undernmǣl oft bewitigað

sorhfulne sīð on seglrāde,

wyrmas ond wildēor. Hīe on weg hruron

bitere ond gebolgne; bearhtm ongēaton,

gūðhorn galan. Sumne Gēata lēod

of flānbogan fēores getwǣfde,

ȳðgewinnes, þæt him on aldre stōd

herestrǣl hearda; hē on holme wæs

sundes þē sǣnra, ðē hyne swylt fornam.

Hræþe wearð on ȳðum mid eofersprēotum

heorohōcyhtum hearde genearwod,

nīða genǣged, ond on naes togen,

wundorlic wǣgbora; weras scēawedon

gryrelīcne gist. Gyrede hine Bēowulf

eorlgewǣdum, nalles for ealdre mearn;

scolde herebyrne hondum gebrōden,

sīd ond searofāh sund cunnian,

sō ðe bāncofan beorgan cūþe,

þæt him hildegrāp hreþre ne mihte,

eorres inwitfeng aldre gesceþðan;

ac se hwīta helm hafelan werede,

sē þe meregrundas mengan scolde,

sēcan sundgebland since geweorðad,

befongen frēawrāsnum, swā hine fyrndagum

worhte wǣpna smið, wundrum tēode,

besette swīnlīcum, þæt hine syðþan nō

brond nē beadomēcas bītan ne meahton.

Næs þæt þonne mǣtost mægenfultuma,

þæt him on ðearfe lāh ðyle Hrōðgþares;

wæs þǣm hæftmēce Hrunting nama;

þæt wæs ān foran ealdgestrēona;

ecg wæs īren, ātertānum fāh,

āhyrded heaþoswāte; nǣfre hit æt hilde ne swāc

manna ǣngum þāra þe hit mid mundum bewand,

sē ðe gryresīðas gegān dorste,

folcstede fāra; næs þæt forma sīeth;,

þæt hit ellenweorc æfnan scolde.

Hūru ne gemunde mago Ecglāfes

eafoþes cræftig, þæt hē ǣr gespræc

wīne druncen, þā hē þæs wǣpnes onlāh

sēlran sweordfrecan; selfa ne dorste

under ȳða gewin aldre genēþan,

drihtscype drēogan; þǣr hē dōme forlēas,

ellenmǣrðum. Ne wæs þǣm ōðrum swā,

syðþan hē hine tō gūðe gegyred hæfde.

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

'Geþenc nū, se mǣa maga Healfdenes,

snottra fengel, nū ic eom sīðes fūs,

goidwine gumena, hwæt wit geō sprǣcon,

gif ic æt þearfe þīnre scolde

aldre linnan, þæt ðū mē ā wǣre

forðgewitenum on fæder stǣle.

Wes þū mundbora mīnum magoþegnum,

hondgesellum, gif mec hild nime;

swylce þū ðā mādmas, þē þū mē sealdest,

Hrōðgār lēofa, Higelāce onsend.

Mæg þonne on þǣm golde ongitan Gēata dryhten,

gesēon sunu Hrǣdles, þonne hē on þæt sinc starað,

þæt ic gumcystum gōdne funde

bēaga bryttan, brēac þonne mōste.

Ond þū Unferð lǣt ealde lāfe,

wrǣtlīc wǣgsweord wīdcūðne man

heardecg habban; ic mē mid Hruntinge

dōm gewyrce, oþðe mec dēað nimeð,

Æfter þǣm wordum Weder-Gēata lēod

efste mid elne,--- nalas andsware

bīdan wolde; brimwylm onfēng

hilderince. Ðā wæs hwīl dæges,

ǣr hē þone grundwong ongytan mehte.

Sōna þæt onfunde sē ðe flōda begong

heorogīfre behēold hund missēra,

grim ond grǣdig, þæt þǣr gumena sum

ælwihta eard ufan cunnode.

Grāp þā tōgēanes, gūðrinc gefēng

atolan clommum; nō þȳ ǣr in gescōd

hālan līce; hring ūtan ymbbearh,

þæt hēo þone fyrdhom ðurhfōn ne mihte,

locene leoðosyrcan lāþan fingrum.

Bær þā sēo brimwyl[f], þā hēo tō botme cōm,

hringa þengel tō hofe sīnum,

swā hē ne mihte nō -- hē þǣm mōdig wæs----

wǣpna gewealdan, ac hine wundra þæs fela

swe[n]cte on sunde, sǣdēor monig

hildetūxum heresyrcan bræc,

ēhton āglǣcan. Ðā se eorl ongeat,

þæt hē [in] nīðsele nāthwylcum wæs,

ðǣr him nǣnig wæter wihte ne sceþede,

nē him for hrōfsele hrīnan ne mehte

fǣrgripe flōdes; fȳrlēoht geseah,

blācne lēoman beorhte scīnan.

Ongeat þā se gōda grundwyrgenne,

merewīf mihtig;' mægenrǣs forgeaf

hildebille, hond sweng ne oftēah,

þæt hire on hafelan hringmǣl āgōl

grǣdig gūðlēoð. Ðā se gist onfand,

þæt se beadolēoma bītan nolde,

aldre sceþðan, ac sēo ecg geswāc

ðēodne æt þearfe; ðolode ǣr fela

hondgemōta, helm oft gescær,

fǣges fyrdhrægl; ðā wæs forma sīð

dēorum mādme, þæt his dōm ālæg.

Eft wæs anrǣd, nalas elnes læt,

mǣrða gemyndig mǣg Hȳlāces:

wearp ðā wundenmǣl wrǣttum gebunden

yrre ōretta, þæt hit on eorðan læg,

stīð ond stȳlecg; strenge getruwode,

mundgripe mægenes. Swā sceal man dôn,

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;

brægd þā beadwe heard, þā hē gebolgen wæs,

feorhgenīðlan, þæt hēo on flet gebēah.

Hēo him eft hraþe andlēan forgeald

grimman grāpum ond him tōgēanes fēng;

oferwearp þā wērigmōd wigena strengest,

fēþecempa, þæt hē on fylle wearð.

Ofsæt þā þone selegyst, ond hyre seax getēah

brād [ond] brūnecg; wolde hire bearn wrecan,

āngan eaferan. Him on eaxle læg

brēostnet brōden; þæt gebearh fēore,

wið ord ond wið ecge ingang forstōd.

Hæfde ðā forsīðod sunu Ecgþēowes

under gynne grund, Gēata cempa,

nemne him heaðobyrne helpe gefremede,

herenet hearde, ---- ond hālig God

gewēold wīgsigor; wītig Drihten,

rodera Rǣdend hit on ryht gescēd

ȳðelīce, syþðan hē eft āstōd.

Geseah ðā on searwum sigeēadig bil,

ealdsweord eotenisc ecgum þȳhtig,

wigena weorðmynd; þæt [wæs] wǣpna cyst ----

būton hit wæs māre ðonne ǣnig mon ōðer

tō beadulāce ætberan meahte,

gōd ond geatolīc, gīganta geweorc.

Hē gefēng þā fetelhilt, freca Scyldinga

hrēoh ond heorogrim, hrlngmǣl gebrægd

aldres orwēna, yrringa slōh,

þæt hire wið halse heard grāpode,

bānhringas bræc; bil eal ðurhwōd

fǣgne flǣschoman; hēo on flet gecrong,

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

heard be hiltum Higelāces ðegn

yrre ond anrǣd,-- næs sēo ecg fracod

hildetince, ac hē hraþe wolde

Grendle forgyldan gūðrǣsa fela

ðāra þe hē geworhte tō West-Denum

oftor micle ðonne on ǣnne sīð,

þonne hē Hrōðgāres heorðgenēatas

slōh on sweofote, slǣpende frǣt

folces Denigea fȳftȳne men,

ond ōðer swylc ūt offerede,

lāðlicu lāc. Hē him þæs lēan forgeald,

rēþe cempa, tō ðæs þe hē on ræste geseah

gūðwērigne Grendel licgan,

aldorlēasne, swā him ǣr gescōd

hild æt Heorote. Hrā wīde sprong,

syþðan hē æfter dēaðe drepe þrōwade,

heorosweng heardne, ond hine þā hēafde becearf.

Sōna þæt gesāwon snottre ceorlas,

þā ðe mid Hrōðgāre on holm wliton,

þæt wæs ȳðgeblond eal gemenged,

brim blōde fāh. Blondenfeaxe,

gomele ymb gōdne ongeador sprǣcon,

þæt hig þæs æðelinges eft ne wēndon,

þæt hē sigehrēðig sēcean cōme

mǣrne þēoden; þā ðæs monige gewearþ,

þæt hine sēo brimwylf ābroten hæfde.

Ðā cōm nōn dæges. Næs ofgēafon

hwate Scyldingas; gewāt him hām þonon

goldwine gumena. Gistas sētan

mōdes sēoce ond on mere staredon;

wīston ond ne wēndon, þæt hīe heora winedrihten

selfne gesāwon.---- þā þæt sweord ongan

æfter heaþoswāte hildegicelum,

wīgbil wanian; þæt wæs wundra sum,

þæt hit eal gemealt īse gelīcost,

ðonne forstes bend Fæder onlǣteð,

onwindeð wǣlrāpas, sē geweald hafað

sǣla ond mǣla; þæt is sōð Metod.

Ne nōm hē in þǣm wīcum, Weder-Gēata lēod,

māðmǣhta mā, þēh hē þǣr monige geseah,

būton þone hafelan ond þā hilt somod

since fāge; sweord ǣr gemealt,

forbarn brōdenmǣl; wæs þæt blōd tō þæs hāt,

ættren ellorgǣst, sē þǣr inne swealt.

Sōna wæs on sunde sē þe ǣr æt sæcce gebād

wīghryre wrāðra, wæter ūp þurhdēaf;

wǣron ȳðgeblana eal gefǣlsod,

ēacne eardas, þā se ellorgāst

oflēt līfdagas ond þās lǣnan gesceaft.

Cōm þā tō lande lidmanna helm

swīðmōd swymman; sǣlāce gefeah,

mægenbyrþenne þāra þe hē him mid hæfde.

ēodon him þā tōgēanes, Gode þancodon,

ðrȳðlīc þegna hēap, þēodnes gefēgon,

þæs þe hī hyne gesundne gesēon mōston.

Ðā wæs of þǣm hrōran helm ond byrne

lungre ālȳsed. Lagu drūsade,

wæter under wolcnum, wældrēore fāg.

Fērdon forð þonon fēþelāstum

ferhþum fægne, foldweg mǣton,

cæuþe strǣte; cyningbalde men

from þǣm holmclife hafelan bǣron

earfoðlīce heora ǣghwæþrum

felamōdigra; fēower scoldon

on þǣm wælstenge weorcum geferian

tō þǣm goldsele Grendles hēafod,----

oþ ðæt semninga tō sele cōmon

frome fyrdhwate fēowertȳne

Gēata gongan; gumdryhten mid

mōdig on gemonge meodowongas træd.

Ðā cōm in gan ealdor ðegna,

dǣdcēne mon dōme gewurþad,

hæle hildedēor, Hrōðgār grētan.

þā wæs be feaxe on flet boren

Grendles hēafod, þǣr guman druncon,

egeslīc for eorlum ond þǣre idese mid,

wlitesēon wrǣtlīc; weras on sāwon.

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēovwes:

'Hwæt, wē þē þās sǣlþac, sunu Healfdenes,

lēod Scyldinga, lustum brōhton

tīres tō tācne, þē þū hēr tō lōcast.

Ic þæt unsōfte ealdre gedīgde,

wigge under wætere, weorc genēþde

earfoðlīce; ætrihte wæs

gūð getwǣfed, nymðe mec God scylde.

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

ealdsweord ēacen -- oftost wīsode

winigea lēasum --, þæt ic ðȳ wǣpne gebrǣd.

Ofslōh ðā æt þǣre sæcce, þā mē sǣl āgeald,

hūses hyrdas. þā þæt hildebil

forbarn brogdenmǣl, swā þæt blōd gesprang,

hātost heaþoswāta. Ic þæt hilt þanan

fēondum ætferede; fyrendǣda wræc,

dēa ðcwealm Denigea, swā hit gedēfe wæs.

Ic hit þē þonne gehāte, þæt þū on Heorote mōst

sorhlēas swefan mid þīnra secga gedryht,

ond þegna gehwylc þīnra lēoda,

duguðe ond iogoþe, þæt þū him ondrǣdan ne þearft,

þēoden Scyldinga, on þā healfe,

aldorbealu eorlum, swā þū ǣr dydest.'

Ðā wæs gylden hilt gamelum rince,

hārum hildfruman on hand gyfen,

enta ǣrgeweorc; hit on ǣht gehwearf

æfter dēofla hryre Denigea frean,

wundorsmiþa geweorc; ond þā þās worold ofgeaf

gromheort guma, Godes andsaca,

morðres scyldig, ond his mōdor ēac;

on geweald gehwearf woroldcyninga

ðǣm sēlestan be sǣm twēonum

ðāra þe on Scedenigge sceattas dǣlde.

Hrōðgār maðelode-- hylt scēawode,

ealde lāfe, on ðǣm wæs ōr writen

fyrngewinnes; syðþan flōd ofslōh,

gifen gēotende gīganta cyn,

frēcne gefērdon; þæt wæs fremde þēod

ēcean Dryhtne; him þæs endelēan

þurh wæteres wylm Waldend sealde.

Swā wæs on ðǣm scennum scīran goldes

þurh rūnstafas rihte gemearcod,

geseted ond gesǣd, hwām þæt sweord geworht,

īrena cyst ǣrest wǣre,

wreoþenhilt ond wyrmfāh. Ðā se wæisa spræc

sunu Healfdenes --swīgedon ealle--:

'Þæt, lā, mæg secgan sē þe sōð ond riht

fremeð on folce, feor eal gemon,

eald ēþelweard, þæt ðes eorl wǣre

geboren betera ! Blǣd is ārǣred

geond wīdwegas, wine mīn Bēowulf,

ðīn ofer þēoda gehwylce. Eal þū hit geþyldum healdest,

mægen mid mōdes snyttrum. Ic þē sceal mīne gelǣstan

frēode, swā wit furðum sprǣcon. Ðū scealt tō frōfre weorþan

eal langtwidig lēodum þīnum,

hæleðum tō helpe. Ne wearð Heremōd swā

eaforum Ecgwelan, ār-Scyldingum;

ne gewēox hē him tō willan, ac tō wælfealle

ond tō dēaðcwalum Deniga lēodum;

brēat bolgenmōd bēodgenēatas,

eaxlgesteallan, oþ þæt hē āna hwearf,

mǣre þēoden mondrēamum from.

Ðēah þe hine mihtig God mægenes wynnum,

eafeþum stēpte, ofer ealle men

forð gefremede, hwæþere him on ferhþe grēow

brēosthord blōdrēow; nallas bēagas geaf

Denum æfter dōme; drēamlēas gebād,

þæt hē þæs gewinnes weorc þrōwade,

lēodbealo longsum. Ðū þē lǣr be þon,

gumcyste ongit! Ic þis gid be þē

āwræc wintrum frōd. Wundor is tō secgan,

hū mihtig God manna cynne

þurh sīdne sefan snyttru bryttaþ,

eard ond eorlscipe; hē āh ealra geweald.

Hwīlum hē on lufan lǣteð hworfan

monnes mōdgeþonc mǣran cynnes,

seleð him on ēþle eorþan wynne

tō healdanne hlēoburh wera,

gedēð him swā gewealdene worolde dǣlas,

sīde rīce, þæt hē his selfa ne mæg

his unsnyttrum ende geþencean.

Wunað hē on wiste; nō hine wiht dweleð

ādl nē yldo, nē him inwitsorh

on sefa(n) sweorceð, nē gesacu ōhwǣr

ecghete ēoweð, ac him eal worold

wendeð on willan; hē þæt wyrse ne con --,

oð þæt him on innan oferhygda dǣl

weaxeð ond wrīdað; þonne se weard swefeð,

sāwele hyrde; bið se slǣp tō fæst,

bisgum gebunden, bona swīðe nēah,

sē þe of flānbogan fyrenum scēoteð.

þonne bið on hreþre under helm drepen

biteran strǣle -- him bebeorgan ne con --,

wōm wundorbebodum wergan gāstes;

þinceð him tō lȳtel, þæt hē lange hēold,

gȳtsað gromhȳdig, nallas on gylp seleð

fǣtte bēagas, ond hē þā forðgesceaft

forgyteð ond forgæymeð, þæs þe him ǣr God sealde,

wuldres Waldend, weorðmynda dǣl.

Hit on endestæf eft gelimpeð,

þæt se līchoma lǣne gedrēoseð,

fǣge gefealleð; fēhð ōþer tō,

sē þe unmurnlīce mādmas dǣleþ,

eorles ǣrgestrēon, egesan ne gȳmeð.

Bebeorh þē ðone bealonīð, Bēowulf lēofa,

secg[a] betsta, ond 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 eafoþes getwǣfeð,

oððe fȳres feng, oððe flōdes wylm,

oððe gripe mēces, oððe gāres fliht,

oððe atol yldo; oððe ēagena bearhtm

forsiteð ond forsworceð; semninga bið,

þæt ðec, dryhtguma, dēað oferswȳðeð.

Swā ic Hring-Dena hund missēra

wēold under wolcnum ond hig wigge belēac

manigum mǣgþa geond þysne middangeard,

æscum ond ecgum, þæt ic mē ǣnigne

under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde.

Hwæt, mē þæs on ēþle edwenden cwōm,

gyrn æfter gomene, seoþðan Grendel wearð,

ealdgewinna, ingenga mīn;

ic þǣre sōcne singāles wæg

mōdceare micle, þæs sig Metode þanc,

ēcean Dryhtne, þæs ðe ic on aldre gebād,

þæt ic on þone hafelan heorodrēorigne

ofer eald gewin ēagum starige!

Gā nū tō setle, symbelwynne drēoh

wīggeweorþad; unc sceal worn fela

māþma gemǣnra, siþðan morgen bið.'

Gēat wæs glædmōd, gēong sōna tō,

set]es nēosan, swā se snottra heht.

þā wæs eft swā ǣr ellenrōfum,

fletsittendum fægere gereorded

nīowan stefne.-- Nihthelm geswearc

deorc ofer dryhtgumum. Duguð eal ārās;

wolde blondenfeax beddes nēosan,

gamela Scylding. Gēat unigmetes wēl,

rōfne randwigan restan lyste;

sōna him seleþegn sīðes wērgum,

feorrancundum forð wīsade,

sē for andrysnum ealle beweotede

þegnes þearfe, swylce þȳ dōgore

heaþolīðende habban scoldon.

Reste hine þā rūmheort; reced hlīuade

gēap ond goldfāh; gæst inne swæf,

oþ þæt hrefn blaca heofones wynne

blīðheort bodode. Ðā cōm beorht scacan

[scīma ofer sceadwa]; scaþan ōnetton,

wǣron æþelingas eft tō lēodum

fūse tō farenne; wolde feor þanon

cuma collenferhð cēoles nēosan.

Heht þā se hearda Hrunting beran

sunu Ecglāfes, heht his sweord niman,

lēoflīc īren; -- sægde him þæs lēanes þanc,

cwæð hē þone gūðwine gōdne tealde,

wīgcræftigne, nales wordum lōg

mēces ecge; þæt wæs mōdig secg.--

Ond þā siðfrome, searwum gearwe

wīgend wǣron; ēode weorð Denum

æþeling tðo yppan, þǣr se ōþer wæs,

hæle hildedēor Hrōðgār grētte.

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

'Nū wē sǣlīðend secgan wyllað

feorran cumene, þæt wē fundiaþ

Higelāc sēcan. Wǣron hēr tela,

willum bewenede; þū ūs wēl dohtest.

Gif ic þonne on eorþan ōwihte mæg

þīnre mōdlufan māran tilian,

gumena dryhten, ðonne ic gȳt dyde,

gūðgeweorca, ic bēo gearo sōna.

Gif ic þæt gefricge ofer flōda begang,

þæt þec ymbsittend egesan þæwað,

swā þec hetende hwīlum dydon,

ic ðē þūsenda þegna bringe,

hæleþa tðo helpe. Ic on Higelāce wāt,

Gēata dryhten, þēah ðe hē geong sŷ,

folces hyrde, þæt hē mec fremman wile

wordum ond weorcum, þæt ic þē wēl herige

ond þē tō gēoce gārholt bere,

mægenes fultum, þǣr ðē bið manna þearf.

Gif him þonne Hrēþrīc tō hofum Gēata

geþingeð þðeodnes beam, hē mæg þǣer fela

frðeonda findan; feorcȳþðe bēoð

sēlran gesōhte þǣm þe him selfa dēah.

Hrōðgār maþelode him on andsware:

'þē þā wordcwydas wigtig Drihten

on sefan sende; ne hȳrde ic snotorlīcor

on swā geongum feore guman þingian.

þū eart mægenes strang, ond on mōde frōd,

wīs wordcwida ! Wēn ic talige,

gif þæt gegangeð, þæt ðe gār nymeð,

hild heorugrimme Hrēþles eaferan,

ādl oþðe īren ealdor ðīnne,

folces hyrde, ond þū þīn feorh hafast,

þæt þe Sǣ-Gēatas sēlran næbben

tō gecēosenne cyning ǣnigne,

hordweard hæleþa, gyf þū healdan wylt

māga rīce. Mē þīn mōdsefa

læicað leng swā wēl, lēofa Bēowulf.

Hafast þū gefēred, þæt þām folcum sceal,

Gēata lēodum ond Gār-Denum

sib gemǣne, ond sacu restan,

inwitnīþas, þē hīe ǣr drugon,

wesan, þenden ic wealde wīdan rīces,

māþmas gemǣne, manig ōþerne

gōdum gegrēttan ofer ganotes bæð

sceal hringnaca ofer heafu bringan

lāc ond luftācen. Ic þā lēode wāt

gē wið fēond gē wið frēond fæste geworhte,

ǣghwæs untǣle ealde wīsan.'

Ðā gīt him eorla hlēo inne gesealde,

mago Healfdenes māþmas twelfe;

hēt [h]ine mid þǣm lācum lēode swǣse

sēcean on gesyntum, snūde eft cuman.

Gecyste þā cyning æþelum gōd,

þēoden Scyldinga ðegn[a] betstan

ond be healse genam; hruron him tēaras

blondenfeaxum. Him wæs bēga wēn

ealdum infrōdum, ōþres swīðor,

þæt h[ī]e seoðða(n) [nō] gesēon mōston,

mōdige on meþle. Wæs him se man tō þon lēof,

þæt hē þone brēostwylm forberan ne mehte;

ac him on hreþre hygebendum fæst

æfter dēorum men dyrne langað

born wið blōde. Him Bēowulf þanan,

gūðrinc goldwlanc græsmoldan træd

since hrēmig; sǣgenga bād

āge[n]dfrean, sē þe on ancre rād.

þā wæs on gange gifu Hrōðgāres

oft geæhted ; þæt wæs ān cyning

ǣghwæs orleahtre, oþ þæt hine yldo benam

mægenes wynnum, sē þe oft manegum scōd.

Cwōm þā tō flōde felamōdigra,

hægstealdra [hēap]; hringnet bǣron,

locene leoðosyrcan. Landweard onfand

eftsīð eorla, swā hē ǣr dyde;

nō hē mid hearme of hliðes nōsan

gæs(tas) grētte, ac him tōgēanes rād,

cwæð þæt wilcuman Wedera lēodum

scaþan scīrhame tō scipe fōron.

þā wæs on sande sǣgēap naca

hladen herewǣdum hringedstefna,

mēarum ond māðmum; mæst hlīfade

ofer Hrōðgāres hordgestrēonum.

Hē þǣm bātweard bunden golde

swurd gesealde, þæt hē syðþan wæs

on meodubence māþme þȳ weorþra,

yrfelāfe. Gewāt him on naca

drēfan dēop wæter, Dena land ofgeaf.

þā wæs be mæste merehrægla sum,

segl sāle fæst; sundwudu þunede;

nō þǣr wēgflotan wind ofer ȳðum

sīðes getwǣfde; sǣgenga fōr,

flēat fāmigheals forð ofer ȳðe,

bundenstefna ofer brimstrēamas,

þæt hīe Gēata clifu ongitan meahton,

cūþe næssas; cēol ūp geþrang

lyftgeswenced, on lande stōd.

Hraþe wæs æt holme hȳweard geara,

sē þe ǣr lange tīd lēofra manna

fūs æt faroðe feor wlātode;

sǣlde tō sande sīdfæþme scip

oncerbendum fæst, þȳ lǣs hym ȳþa ðrym

wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte.

Hēt þā ūp beran æþelinga gestrēon,

frætwe ond fǣtgold; næs him feor þanon

tō gesēcanne sinces bryttan,

Higelāc Hrēþling, þǣr æt hām wunað

selfa mid gesīðum sǣwealle nēah.

Bold wæs betlīc, bregorōf cyning,

hea healle, Hygd swīðe geong,

wīs wēlþungen, þēah ðe wintra lȳt

under burhlocan gebiden hæbbe,

Hæreþes dohtor; næs hīo hnāh swā þēah,

nē tō gnēað gifa Gēata lēodum,

māþmgestrēona. Mōdþrȳðo wæg,

fremu folces cwēn firen' ondrysne;

nǣnig þæt dorste dēor genēþan

swǣsra gesīða, nefne sinfrea,

þæt hire an dæges ēagum starede;

ac him wælbende weotode tealde

handgewriþene; hraþe seoþðan wæs

æfter mundgripe mēce geþinged,

þæt hit sceādenmǣl scȳran mōste,

cwealmbealu cȳðan. Ne bið swylc cwēnlīc þēaw

idese tō efnanne, þēah ðe hīo ǣnlicu sȳ,

þætte freoðuwebbe fēores onsǣce

æfter ligetorne lēofne mannan.

Hūru þæt onhōhsnod[e] Hemminges mǣg:

ealodrincende ōðer sǣdan,

þæt hīo lēodbealewa lǣs gefremede,

inwitnīða, syððan ǣrest wearð

gyfen goldhroden geongum cempan,

æðelum dīore, syððan hīo Offan flet

ofer fealone flōd be fæder lāre

sīðe gesōhte; ðǣr hīo syððan well

in gumstōle, gōde mǣre,

līfgesceafta lifigende brēac,

hīold hēahlufan wið hæleþa brego,

ealles moncynnes mīne gefrǣge

þone sēlestan bī sǣm twēonum,

eormencynnes; forðām Offa wæs

geofum ond gūðum, gārcēne man,

wīde geweorðod, wīsdōme hēold

ēðel sīnne;-- þonon ēomēr wōc

hæleðum tō helpe, Hem[m]inges mǣg,

nefa Gārmundes, nīða cræftig.

Gewāt him ðā se hearda mid his hondscole

sylf æfter sande sǣwong tredan,

wīde waroðas. Woruldcandel scān,

sigel sūðan fūs. Hī sīð drugon,

elne geēodon, tō ðæs ðe eorla hlēo,

bonan Ongenþēoes burgum in innan,

geongne gūðcyning gōdne gefrūnon

hringas dǣlan. Higelāce wæs

sīð Bēowulfes snūde gecȳðed,

þæt ðǣr on worðig wīgendra hlēo,

lindgestealla lifigende cwōm,

heaðolāces hāl tō hofe gongan.

Hraðe wæs gerȳmed, swā se rīca bebēad,

fēðegestum flet innanweard.

Gesæt þā wið sylfne sē ðā sæcce genæs,

mǣg wið mǣge, syððan mandryhten

þurh hlēoðorcwyde holdne gegrētte,

mēaglum wordum. Meoduscencum hwearf

geond þæt healreced Hæreðes dohtor,

lufode ðā lēode, līðwǣge bær

hæleðum tō handa. Higelāc ongan

sīnne geseldan in sele þām hēan

fægre fricgcean, hyne fyrwet bræc,

hwylce Sǣ-Gēata sīðas wǣron:

'Hū lomp ēow on lāde, lēofa Bīowulf,

þā ðū fǣringa feorr gehogodest

sæcce sēcean ofer sealt wæter,

hilde tō Hiorote? Ac ðū Hrōðgāre

wīdcūðne wēan wihte gebēttest,

mǣrum ðēodne? Ic ðæs mōdceare

sorhwylmum sēað, sīðe ne trūwode

lēofes mannes; ic ðē lange bæd,

þæt ðū þone wælgǣst wihte ne grētte,

lēte Sūð-Dene sylfe geweorðan

gūðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge,

þæs ðe ic ðē gesundne gesēon mōste.'

Bīowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgðīoes:

'þæt is undyrne, dryhten Higelāc,

(micel) gemēting, monegum fīra,

hwylc (orleg)hwīl uncer Grendles

wearð on ðām wange, þǣr hē worna fela

Sige-Scyldingum sorge gefremede,

yrmðe tō aldre; ic ðæt eall gewræc,

swā begylpan [ne] þearf Grendeles māga

(ǣnig) ofer eorðan ūhthlem þone,

sē ðe lengest leofað lāðan cynnes,

f(ācne) bifongen.-- Ic ðǣr furðum cwōm

tō ðām hringsele Hrōðgār grētan;

sōna mē se mǣra mago Healfdenes,

syððan hē mōdsefan mīnne cūðe,

wið his sylfes sunu setl getǣhte.

Weorod wæs on wynne; ne seah ic wīdan feorh

under heofones hwealf healsittendra

medudrēam māran. Hwīlum mǣru cwēn,

friðusibb folca flet eall geondhwearf,

bælde byre geonge; oft hīo bēahwriðan

secge (sealde), ǣr hīe tō setle gēong.

Hwīlum for (d)uguðe dohtor Hrōðgāres

eorlum on ende ealuwǣge bær,

þā ic Frēaware fletsittende

nemnan hȳrde, þǣr hīo (næ)gled sinc

hæleðum sealde. Sīo gehāten (is),

geong goldhroden, gladum suna Frōdan;

(h)afað þæs geworden wine Scyldinga,

rīces hyrde, ond þæt rǣd talað,

þæt hē mid ðȳ wīfe wælfǣða dǣl,

sæcca gesette. Oft seldan hwǣr

æfter lēodhryre lȳtle hwīle

bongār būgeð, þēah sēo brȳd duge !

Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncan ðēodne Heaðo-Beardna

ond þegna gehwām þāra leoda,

þonne hē mid fǣmnan on flett geað, --

dryhtbearn Dena duguða biwenede;

on him gladiað gomelra lāfe,

heard ond hringmǣl Heaða-Bear[d]na gestrēon,

þenden hīe ðām wǣpnum wealdan mōston, --

oð ðæt hīe forlǣddan tō ðām lindplegan

swǣse gesīðas ond hyra sylfra feorh.

þonne cwið æt bēore sē ðe bēah gesyhð,

eald æscwiga, sē ðe eall gem(an),

gārcwealm gumena -- him bið grim sefa --,

onginneð geōmormōd geong(um) cempan

þurh hreðra gehygd higes cunnian,

wīgbealu weccean, ond þæt word ācwyð:

"Meaht ðū, mīn wine, mēce gecnāwan,

þone þīn fæder tō gefeohte bær

under heregrīman hindeman sīðe,

dȳre īren, þǣr hyne Dene slōgon,

wēoldon wælstōwe, syððan Wiðergyld læg,

æfter hæleþa hryre, hwate Scyldungas ?

Nū hēr þāra banena byre nāthwylces

frætwum hrēmig on flet geað,

morðres gylpeð, ond þone māðþum byreð,

þone þe ðū mid rihte rǣan sceoldest.'"

Manað swā ond myndgað mǣla gehwylce

sārum wordum, oð ðætsǣt cymeð,

þæt se fǣmnan þegn fore fæder dǣdum

æfter billes bite blōdfāg swefeð,

ealdres scyldig; him se ōðer þonan

losað (li)figende, con him land geare.

þonne bīoð (āb)rocene on bā healfe

āðsweord eorla; (syð)ðan Ingelde

weallað wælnīðas, ond him wīflufan

æfter cearwælmum cōlran weorðað.

þȳ ic Heaðo-Bear[d]na hyldo ne telge,

dryhtsibbe dǣl Denum unfǣcne,

fiēondscipe fæstne. Ic sceal forð sprecan

gēn ymbe Grendel, þæt ðū geare cunne,

sinces brytta, tō hwan syððan wearð

hondrǣs hæleða. Syððan heofones gim

glād ofer grundas, gǣst yrre cwōm,

eatol ǣfengrom ūser nēosan,

ðǣr wē gesunde sæl weardodon.

þǣr wæs Hondsciō hild onsǣge,

feorhbealu fǣgum; hē fyrmest læg,

gyrded cempa; him Grendel wearð,

mǣrum maguþegne tō mūðbonan,

lēofes mannes līc eall forswealg.

Nō ðȳ ǣr ūt ðā gēh īdelhende

bona blōdigtōð, bealewa gemyndig,

of ðām goldsele gongan wolde;

ac hē mægnes rōf mīn costode,

grāpode gearofolm. Glōf hangode

sīd ond syllīc, searobendum fæst;

sīo wæs orðoncum eall, gegyrwed

dēofles cræftum ond dracan fellum.

Hē mec þǣr on innan unsynnigne,

dīor dǣdfruma gedōn wolde

manigra sumne; hyt ne mihte swā,

syððan ic on yrre uppriht āstōd.

Tō lang ys tō reccenne, hū i(c ð)ām lēodsceaðan

yfla gehwylces ondlēan forgeald;

þǣr ic, þēoden mīn, þīne lēode

weorðode weorcum. Hē on weg losade,

lȳtle hwīle līfwynna br(ēa)c;

hwæþre him sīo swīðre swaðe weardade

hand on Hiorte, ond hē hēan ðonan,

mōdes geōmor meregrund gefēoll.

Mē þone wælrǣs wine Scildunga

fǣttan golde fela lēanode,

manegum māðmum, syððan mergen cōm,

ond wē tō symble geseten hæfdon.

þǣr wæs gidd ond glēo; gomela Scilding,

felafricgende feorran rehte

hwīlum hildedēor hearpan wynne,

gomenwudu grētte, hwīlum gyd āwræc

sōð ond sārlīc, hwīlum syllīc spell

rehte æfter rihte rūmheort cyning;

hwīlum eft ongan eldo gebunden,

gomel gūðwiga gioguðe cwīðan,

hildestrengo; hreðer inne wēoll,

þonne hē wintrum frōd worn gemunde.

Swā wē þǣr inne andlangne dæg

nīode nāman, oð ðæt niht becwōm

ōðer tō yldum. þā wæs eft hraðe

gearo gyrnwræce Grendeles mōdor,

sīðode sorhfull; sunu dēað fornam,

wīghete Wedra. Wīf unhȳre

hyre beam gewræc, beorn ācwealde

ellenlīce; þǣr wæs Æschere,

frōdan fyrnwitan feorh ūðgenge.

Nōðer hȳ hine ne mōston, syððan mergen cwōm,

dēaðwērigne Denia lēode

bronde forbærnan, nē on bēl hladan,

lēofne mannan; hīo þæt līc ætbær

fēondes fæð(mum un)der firgenstrēam.

þæt wæs Hrōðgāre hrēowa tornost

þāra þe lēodfruman lange begēate.

þā se ðēoden mec ðine līfe

healsode hrēohmōd, þæt ic on holma geþring

eorlscipe efnde, ealdre genēðde,

mǣrðo fremede; hē mē mēde gehēt.

Ic ðā ðæs wælmes, þe is wīde cūð,

grimnne gryrelīcne grundhyrde fond.

þǣr unc hwīle wæs hand gemǣne;

holm heolfre wēoll, ond ic hēafde becearf

in ðām [gūð]sele Grendeles mōdor

ēacnum ecgum; unsōfte þonan

feorh oðferede; næs ic fǣge þā gȳt;

ac mē eorla hlēo eft gesealde

māðma menigeo, maga Healfdenes.

Swā se ðēodkyning þēawum lyfde;

nealles ic ðām lēanum forloren hæfde,

mægnes mēde, ac hē mē (māðma)s geaf,

sunu Healfdenes on (mīn)ne sylfes dōm;

ðā ic ðē, beorncyning, bringan wylle,

ēstum geȳwan. Gēn is eall æt ðē

[mīnra] lissa gelong; ic lȳt hafo

hēafodmāga nefne, Hygelāc, ðec.'

Hēt ðā in beran eafor hēafodsegn,

heaðostēapne helm, hāre byrnan,

gūðsweord geatolīc, gyd æfter wræc:

Mē ðis hildesceorp Hrōðgār sealde,

snotra fengel; sume worde hēt,

þæt ic his ǣrest ðē ēst gesægde;

cwæð þæt hyt hæfde Hiorogār cyning,

lēod Scyldunga lange hwīle;

nō ðȳ ǣr suna sīnum syllan wolde,

hwatum Heorowearde, ðēah hē him hold wǣre,

brēostgewǣdu. Brūc ealles well!'

Hȳrde ic ðæt ðām frætwum fēower mēaras

lungre, gelīce, lāst weardode,

æppelfealuwe; hē him ēst getēah

mēara ond māðma. -- Swā sceal mǣg dôn,

nealles inwitnet ōðrum bregdon

dyrnum cræfte, dēað rēn(ian)

hondgesteallan. Hygelāce wæs

nīða heardum nefa swȳðe hold,

ond gehwæðer ōðrum hrōþra gemyndig.--

Hȳrde ic þæt hē þone healsbēah Hygde gesealde,

wrǣtlicne wundurmāððum, ðone þe him Wealhðēo geaf,

ðēod(nes) dohtor, þrīo wicg somod

swancor ond sadolbeorht; hyre syððan wæs

æfter bēahðege br[ē]ost geweorðod.

Swā bealdode bearn Ecgðēowes,

guma gūðum cūð, gōdum dǣdum,

drēah æfter dōme; nealles druncne slōg

heorðgenēatas; næs him hrēoh sefa,

ac hē mancynnes mǣste cræfte

ginfæstan gife, þē him God sealde,

hēold hildedēor. Hēan wæs lange,

swā hyne Gēata bearn gōdne ne tealdon,

nē hyne on medobence micles wyrðne

drihten Wedera gedōn wolde;

swȳðe (wēn)don, þæt hē slēac wǣre,

æðeling unfrom. Edwenden cwōm

tīrēadigum menn torna gehwylces.--

Hēt ðā eorla hlēo in gefetian,

heaðorōf cyning Hrēðles lāfe

golde gegyrede; næs mid Gēatum ðā

sincmāðþum sēlra on sweordes hād;

þæt hē on Bīowulfes bearm ālegde,

ond him gesealde seofan þūsendo,

bold ond bregostōl. Him wæs bām samod

on ðām lēodscipe lond gecynde,

eard ēðelriht, ōðrum swwīðor

sīde rīce þǣr ðǣr sēlra wæs.

Eft þæt geīode ufaran dōgrum

hildehlæmmum, syððan Hygelāc læg,

ond Hear[dr]ēde hildemēceas

under bordhrēoðan tō bonan wurdon,

ðā hyne gesōhtan on sigeþēode

hearde hildfrecan, Heaðo-Scilfingas,

nīða genǣgdan nefan Hererīces --:

syððan Bēowulfe brāde rīce

on hand gehwearf; hē gehēold tela

fiftig wintra -- wæs ðā frōd cyning,

eald ēþelweard --, oð ðæt ān ongan

deorcum nihtum draca rīcs[i]an,

sē ðe on hēa(um) h(ǣþ)e hord beweotode,

stānbeorh stēapne; stīg under læg

eldum uncūð. þær on innan gīong

nið[ð]a nāthwylc, (forþ nē)h gefe(al)g

hǣðnum horde, hond (wǣge nam),

(sīd,) since fāh; nē hē þæt syððan (bemāð),

þ(ēah) ð(e hē) slǣpende besyre(d wur)de

þēofes cræfte; þæt sīe ðīod (onfand),

b(ig)folc beorna, þæt hē gebolge(n) wæs.

Nealles mid gewealdum wyrmhord ābræc,

sylfes willum, sē ðe him sāre gesceōd,

ac for þrēanēdlan þ(ēow) nāthwylces

hæleða bearna heteswengeas flēah,

(ærnes) þearfa, ond ðǣr inne fealh,

secg synbysig. Sōna † mwatide

þæt ::::: ðām gyst(e gryre)brōga stōd;

hwæðre (earm)sceapen .............

......................... sceapen

......... (þā hyne) se fǣr begeat.

Sincfæt ..... þǣr wæs swylcra fela

in ðām eorð(hū)se ǣrgestrēona,

swā hȳ on gēardagum gumena nāthwylc,

eormenlāfe æðelan cynnes,

þanchycgende þǣr gehȳdde,

dēore māðmas. Ealle hīe dēað fornam

ǣrran mǣlum, ond Sē ān ðā gēn

lēoda duguðe, sē ðǣr lengest hwearf,

weard winegeōmor wēnde þæs ylcan,

þæt hē lȳtel fæc longgestrēona

brūcan mōste. Beorh eallgearo

wunode on wonge wæterȳðum nēah,

nīwe be næsse, nearocræftum fæst;

þǣr on innan bær eorlgestrēona

hrīnga hyrde hordwyrðne dǣl,

fǣttan goldes, fēa worda cwæð:

'Heald þū nū, hrūse, nū hæleð ne mōstan,

eorla ǣhte ! Hwæt, hyt ǣr on ðē

gōde begēaton; gūðdēað fornam,

feorhbealo frēcne fȳra gehwylcne

lēoda mīnra þāra ðe þis [līf] ofgeaf,

Seoga seledrēam. Nāh, hwā sweord wege

oððe fe(o)r(mie) fǣted wǣge,

dryncfæt dēore; dug(urð) ellor s[c]eōc.

Sceal se hearda helm (hyr)stedgolde,

fǣtum befeallen; feormynd swefað,

þā ðe beadogrīman bȳwan sceoldon;

gē swylce sēo herepād, sīo æt hilde gebād

ofer borda gebræc bite īrena,

brosnað æfter beorne. Ne mæg byrnan hring

æfter wīgfruman wīde fēran,

hæleðum be healfe. Næs hearpan wyn,

gomen glēobēames, nē gōd hafoc

geond sæl swingeð, nē se swifta mearh

burhstede bēateð. Bealocwealm hafað

fela feorhcynna forð onsended!'

Swā giōmormōd giohðo mǣnde

ān æfter eallum, unblīðe hwe(arf)

dæges ond nihtes, oð ðæt dēaðes wylm

hrān æt heortan. Hordwynne fond

eald ūhtsceaða opene standan,

sē ðe byrnende biorgas sēceð,

nacod nīðdraca, nihtes flēogeð

fȳre befangen; hyne foldbūend

(swīðe ondrǣ)da(ð). Hē gesēcean sceall

(ho)r(d on) hrūisan, þǣr hē hǣðen gold

warað wintrum frōd; ne byð him wihte ðȳ sēl.

Swā se ðēodsceaða þrēo hund wintra

hēold on hrūsan hordærna sum

ēacencræftig, oð ðæt hyne ān ābealch

mon on mōde; mandryhtne bær

fǣted wǣge, frioðowǣre bæd

hlāford sīnne. Ðā wæs hord rāsod,

onboren bēaga hord, bēne getīðad

fēasceaftum men; frēa scēawode

fīra fyrngeweorc forman sīðe. --

þā se wyrm onwōc, wrōht wæs genīwad;

stonc ðā æfter stāne, stearcheort onfand

fēondes fōtlāst; hē tō forð gestōp

dyrnan cræfte dracan hēafde nēah.

Swā mæg unfǣge ēaðe gedīgan

wēan ond wrǣcsið sē ðe Waldendes

hyldo gehealdeþ ! Hordweard sōhte

georne æfter grunde, wolde guman findan

þone þe him on sweofore sāre gerēode;

hāt ond hrēohmōd hlǣw oft ymbehwearf

ealne ūtanweard; nē ðǣr ǣnig mon

on þǣre wēstenne,-- hwæðre wīges gefeh,

bea(du)[we] weorces; hwīlum on beorh æthwearf,

sincfæt sōhte; hē þæt sōna onfand,

ðæt hæfde gumena sum goldes gefandod,

hēahgestrēona. Hordweard onbād

earfoðlīce, oð ðæt ǣfen cwōm;

wæs ðā gebolgen beorges hyrde,

wolde se lāða līge forgyldan

drincfæt dȳre. þā wæs dæg sceacen

wyrme on willan; nō on wealle læ[n]g

bīdan wolde, ac mid bǣle fōr,

fȳre gefȳsed. Wæs se fruma egeslīc

lēodum on lande, swā hyt lungre wearð

on hyra sincgifan sāre geendod.

Ðā se gæst ongan glēdum spīwan,

beorht hofu bærnan,-- brynelēoma stōd

eldum on andan; nō ðǣhr āht cwices

lāð lyftfloga lǣfan wolde.

Wæs þæs wyrmes wīg wīde gesȳne,

nearofāges nīð nēan ond feorran,

hū se gūðsceaða Gēata lēode

hatode ond hȳnde; hord eft gescēat,

dryhtsele dyrnne ǣr dæges hwīle.

Hæfde landwara līge befangen,

bǣle ond bronde; beorges getrūwode,

wīges ond wealles; him sēo wēn gelēah.

þā wæs Bīowulfe brōga gecȳðed

snūde tō sōðe, þæt his sylfes hām,

bolda sēlest brynewylmum mealt,

gifstōl Gēata. þæt ðām gōdan wæs

hrēow on hreðre, hygesorga mǣst;

wēnde se wīsa, þæt hē Wealdende

ofer ealde riht ēcean Dryhtne

bitre gebulge; brēost innan wēoll

þēostrum geþoncum, swā him geþȳwe ne wæs.

Hæfde līgdraca lēoda fæsten,

ēalond ūtan, eorðweard ðone

glēdum forgrunden; him ðæs gūðkyning,

Wedera þīoden wræce leornode.

Heht him þā gewyrcean wīgendra hlēo

eallīrenne, eorla dryhten,

wīgbord wrǣtlīc; wisse hē gearwe,

þæt him holtwudu he(lpan) ne meahte,

lind wið līge. Sceolde lǣndaga

æþeling ǣrgōd ende gebīdan,

worulde līfes, ond se wyrm somod,

þēah ðe hordwelan hēolde lange.

Oferhogode ðā hringa fengel,

þæt hē þone wīdflogan weorode gesōhte,

sīdan herge; nō hē him þa sæcce ondrēd,

nē him þæs wyrmes wīg for wiht dyde,

eafoð ond ellen, forðon hē ǣr fela

nearo nēðende nīða gedīgde,

hildehlemma, syððan hē Hrōðgāres,

sigorēadig secg, sele fǣlsode,

ond æt gūðe forgrāp Grendeles mǣgum

lāðan cynnes. Nō þæt lǣsest wæs

hondgemōt[a], þǣr mon Hygelāc slōh,

syððan Gēata cyning gūðe rǣsum,

frēawine folca Frēslondum on,

Hrēðles eafora hiorodryncum swealt,

bille gebēaten. þonan Bīowulf cōm

sylfes cræfte, sundnytte drēah;

hæfde him on earme (āna) þrītig

hildegeatwa, þā hē tō holme (st)āg.

Nealles Hetware hrēmge þorf(t)on

fēðewīges, þē him foran ongēan

linde bǣron; lȳt eft becwōm

fram þām hildfrecan hāmes nīosan !

Oferswam ðā sioleða bigong sunu Ecgðēowes,

earm ānhaga eft tō lēodum;

þǣr him Hygd gebēad hord ond rīce,

bēagas ond bregostō1; bearne ne trūwode,

þæt hē wið ælfylcum ēþelstōlas

healdan cūðe, ðā wæs Hygelāc dēad.

Nō ðȳ ǣr fēasceafte findan meahton

æt ðām æðelinge ǣnige ðinga,

þæt hē Heardrēde hlāford wǣre,

oððe þone cynedōm cīosan wolde

hwæðre hē hine on folce frēondlārum hēold,

ēstum mid āre, oð ðæt hē yldra wearð,

Weder-Gēatum wēold. Hyne wræcmæcgas

ofer sǣ sōhtan, suna ōhteres;

hæfdon hȳ forhealden helm Scylfinga,

þone sēlestan sǣcyninga

þāra ðe in Swīorīce sinc brytnade,

mǣrne þēoden. Him þæt tō mearce wearð;

hē þǣr [f]or feorme feorhwunde hlēat,

sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelāces;

ond him eft gewāt Ongenðīoes bearn

hāmes nīosan, syððan Heardrēd læg,

lēt ðone bregostōl Bīowulf healdan,

Gēatum wealdan; þæt wæs gōd cyning.

Sē ðæs lēodhryres lēan gemunde

uferan dōgrum, ēadgilse wearð

fēasceaftum frēond; folce gestēpte

ofer sǣ sīde sunu ōhteres,

wigum ond wǣpnum; hē gewræc syððan

cealdum cearsīðum, cyning ealdre binēat.

Swā hē nīða gehwane genesen hæfde,

slīðra geslyhta, sunu Ecgðīowes,

ellenweorca, oð ðone 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,

bealonīð biorna; him tō bearme cwōm

māðþumfæt mǣre þurh ðæs meldan hond.

Sē wæs on ðām ðrēate þreottēoða secg,

sē ðæs orleges ōr onstealde,

hæft hygegiōmor, sceolde hēan ðonon

wong wīsian. Hē ofer willan gīong

tō ðæs ðe hē eorðsele ānne wisse,

hlǣw under hrūsan holmwylme nēh,

ȳðgewinne; sē wæs innan full

wrǣtta ond wīra. Weard unhīore,

gearo gūðfreca goldmāðmas hēold

eald under eorðan; næs þæt ȳðe cēap

tō gegangenne gumena ǣnigum.

Gesæt ðā on næsse nīðheard cyning;

þenden hǣlo ābēad heorðgenēatum,

goldwine Gēata. Him wæs geōmor sefa,

wǣfre ond wælfūs, wyrd ungemete nēah,

sē ðone gomelan grētan sceolde,

sēcean sāwle hord, sundur gedǣlan

līf wið līce; nō þon lange wæs

feorh æþelinges flǣsce bewunden.

Bīowulf maþelade, beam Ecgðēowes:

'Fela ic on giogoðe gūðrǣsa genæs,

orleghwīla; ic þæt eall gemon.

Ic wæs syfanwlntre, þā mec sinca baldor,

frēawine folca æt mīnum fæder genam;

hēold mec ond hæfde Hrēðel cyning,

geaf mē sinc ond symbel, sibbe gemunde;

næs ic him tō līfe lāðra ōwihte

beorn in burgum þonne his bearna hwylc,

Herebeald ond Hæðcyn oððe Hygelāc mīn.

Wæs þām yldestan ungedēfe

mǣges dǣdum morþorbed strêd,

syððan hyne Hæðcyn of hornbogan,

his frēawine flāne geswencte,

miste mercelses ond his mǣg ofscēt,

brōðor ōðerne blōdigan gāre.

þæt wæs feohlēas gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad,

hreðre hygemēðe; sceolde hwæðre swā þēah

æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.

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, ond hē him helpe ne mæg

eald ond infrōd ǣnige gefremman.

Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce

eaforan ellorsīð; ōðres ne gȳmeð

tō gebīdanne burgum in innan

yrfeweardas, þonne se ān hafað

þurh dēaðes nȳd dǣda gefondad.

Gesyhð sorhcearig on his suna būre

wīnsele wēstne, windge reste

rēte berofene,-- rīdend swefað,

hæleð in hoðman; nis þǣr hearpan swēg,

gomen in geardum, swylce ðǣr iū wǣron.

Gewīteð þonne on sealman, sorhlēoð gæleð

ān æfter ānum; þūhte him eall tō rūm,

wongas ond wīcstede. Swā Wedra helm

æfter Herebealde heortan sorge

weallinde wæg; wihte ne meahte

on ðām feorhbonan fǣghðe gebētan;

nō ðȳ ǣr hē þone heaðorinc hatian ne meahte

lāðum dǣdum, þēah him lēof ne wæs.

Hē ðā mid þǣre sorhge, þē him tō sār belamp,

gumdrēam ofgeaf, Godes lēoht gecēas;

eaferum lǣfde, swā dēð ēadig mon,

lond ond lēodbyrig, þā hē of līfe gewāt.

þā wæs synn ond sacu Swēona ond Gēata

ofer wīd wæter wrōht gemǣne,

herenīð hearda, syððan Hrēðel swealt,

oððe him Ongenðeowes eaferan wǣran

frome fyrdhwate, frēode ne woldon

ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hrēosnabeorh

eatolne inwitscear oft gefremedon.

þæt mǣgwine mīne gewrǣcan,

fǣhðe ond fyrene, swā hyt gefrǣge wæs,

þēah ðe ōðer his ealdre gebohte,

heardan cēape; Hæðcynne wearð,

Gēata dryhtne gūð onsǣge.

þā ic on morgne gefrægn mǣg ōðerne

billes ecgum on bonan stǣlan,

þǣr Ongenþēow Eofores nīosað;

gūðhelm tōglād, gomela Scylfing

hrēas [hilde]blāc; hond gemunde

fǣhðo genōge, feorhsweng ne oftēah.

Ic him þā māðmas, þē hē mē sealde,

geald æt gūðe, swā mē gifeðe wæs,

lēohtan sweorde; hē mē lond forgeaf,

eard ēðelwyn. Næs him ǣnig þearf,

þæt hē tō Gifðum oððe tō Gār-Denum

oððe in Swīorīce sēcean þurfe

wyrsan wīgfrecan, weorðe gecȳpan;

symle ic him on fēðan beforan wolde,

āna on orde, ond swā tō aldre sceall

sæcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,

þæt mec ǣr ond sīð oft gelǣste,

syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð

tō handbonan, Hūga cempan;--

nalles hē ðā frætwe Frēscyning[e],

brēostweorðunge bringan mōste,

ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde,

æþeling on elne; ne wæs ecg bona,

ac him hildegrāp heortan wylmas,

bānhūs gebræc. Nū sceall billes ecg,

hond ond heard sweord ymb hord wīgan.'

Bēowulf maðelode, bēotwordum spræc

nīehstan sīðe : 'Ic genēðde fela

gūða on geogoðe; gȳt ic wylle,

frōd folces weard fǣhðe sēcan,

mǣrðu fremman, gif mec se mānsceaða

of eorðsele ūt gesēceð.'

Gegrētte ðā gumena gehwylcne,

hwate helmberend hindeman sīðe,

swǣse gesīðas: 'Nolde ic sweord beran,

wǣpen tō wyrme, gif ic wiste hū

wið ðām āglǣcean elles meahte

gylpe wiðgrīpan, swā ic giō wið Grendle dyde;

ac ic ðǣr heaðufȳres hātes wēne,

[o]reðes ond attres; forðon ic mē on hafu

bord ond byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard

oferfleon fōtes trem, ac unc [furður] sceal

weorðan æt wealle, swā unc wyrd getēoð,

Metod manna gehwæs Ic eom on mōde nom,

þæt ic wið þone gūðflogan gylp ofersitte.

Gebīde gē on beorge byrnum werede,

secgas on searwum, hwæðer sēl mæge

æfter wælrǣse wunde gedȳgan

uncer twēga. Nis þæt ēower sīð,

nē gemet mannes, nefn(e) mīn ānes,

þæt hē wið āglǣcean eofoðo dǣle,

eorlscype efne. Ic mid elne sceall

gold gegangan, oððe gūð nimeð,

feorhbealu frēcne frēan ēowerne !'

ārās ðā bī ronde rōf ōretta,

heard under helme, hiorosercean bær

under stāncleofu, strengo getrūwode

ānes mannes; ne bið swylc earges sīð!

Geseah ðā be wealle sē ðe worna fela

gumcystum gōd gūða gedīgde,

hildehlemma, þonne hnitan fēðan,

sto[n]dan stānbogan, strēam ūt þonan

brecan of beorge; wæs þǣre burnan wælm

heaðofȳrum hāt; ne meahte horde nēah

unbyrnende ǣnige hwīle

dēop gedȳgan for dracan lēge.

Lēt ðā of brēostum, ðā hē gebolgen wæs,

Weder-Gēata lēod word ūt faran,

stearcheort styrmde; stefn in becōm

heaðotorht hlynnan under hārne stān.

Hete wæs onhrēred, hordweard oncnīow

mannes reorde; næs ðǣr māra fyrst

frēode tō friclan. From ǣrest cwōm

oruð āglǣcean ūt of stāne,

hāt hildeswāt; hrūse dynede.

Biorn under beorge bordrand onswāf

wið ðām gryregieste, Gēata dryhten;

ðā wæs hringbogan heorte gefȳsed

sæcce tō sēceanne. Sweord ǣr gebrǣd

gðod gūðcyning, gomele lāfe,

ecgum anglāw; ǣghwæðrum wæs

bealohycgendra brōga fram ōðrum.

Stīðmōd gestōd wið stēapne rond

winia bealdor, ðā se wyrm gebēah

snūde tōsomne; hē on searwum bād.

Gewāt ðā byrnende gebogen scrīðan,

tō gescipe scyndan. Scyld wēl gebearg

līfe ond līce lǣssan hwīle

mǣrum þēodne, þonne his myne sōhte;

ðǣr hē þȳ fyrste forman dōgore

wealdan mōste, swā him wyrd ne gescrāf

hrēð æt hilde. Hond ūp ābrǣd

Gēata dryhten, gryrefāhne slōh

incge-lāfe, þæt sīo ecg gewāc

brūn on bāne, bāt unswīðor,

þonne his ðīodcyning þearfe hæfde

bysigum gebǣded. þā wæs beorges weard

æfter heaðuswenge on hrēoum mōde,

wearp wælfȳre; wīde sprungon

hildelēoman. Hrēðsigora ne gealp

goldwine Gēata; gūðbill geswāc

nacod æt nīðe, swā hyt nō sceolde,

īren ǣrgōd. -- Ne wæs þæt ēðe sīð,

þæt se mǣra maga Ecgðēowes

grundwong þone ofgyfan wolde;

sceolde [ofer] willan wīc eardian

elles hwergen, swā sceal ǣghwylc mon

ālǣtan lǣndagas. Næs ðā long tō ðon,

þæt ðā āglǣcean hȳ eft gemētton.

Hyrte hyne hordweard, hreðer ǣme wēoll,

nīwan stefne; nearo ðrōwode

fȳre befongen sē ðe ǣr folce wēold.

Nealles him on hēape handgesteallan,

æðelinga beam ymbe gestōdon

hildecystum, ac hȳ on holt bugon,

ealdre burgan. Hiora in ānum wēoll

sefa wið sorgum; sibb' ǣfre ne mæg

wiht onwendan þām ðe wēl þenceð.

Wīglāf wæs hāten, Wēoxstānes sunu,

lēoflīc lindwiga, lēod Scylfinga,

mǣg Ælfheres; geseah his mondryhten

under heregrīnan hāt þrōwian.

Gemunde ðā ðā āre, þē hē him ǣr forgeaf,

wīcstede weligne Wǣgmundinga,

folcrihta gehwylc, swā his fæder āhte;

ne mihte ðā forhabban, bond rond gefēng,

geolwe linde, gomel swyrd getēah;

þæt wæs mid eldum ēanmundes lāf,

suna ōhtere[s] ; þām æt sæcce wearð,

wræcca(n) winelēasum Wēohstān bana

mēces ecgum, ond his māgum ætbær

brūnfāgne helm, hringde byrnan,

ealdsweord etonisc; þæt him Onela forgeaf,

his gædelinges gūðgewǣdu,

fyrdsearo fūslīc,-- nō ymbe ðā fǣhðe spræc,

þēah ðe hē his brōðor bearn ābredwade.

Hē [ðā] frætwe gehēold fela missēra,

bill ond byrnan, oð ðæt his byre mihte

eorlscipe efnan swā his ǣrfæder;

geaf him ðā mid Gēatum gūðgewǣda,

ǣghwæs unrīm, þā hē of ealdre gewāt

frōd on forðweg.-- þā wæs forma sīð

geongan cempan, þæt hē gūðe rǣs

mid his frēodryhtne fremman sceolde.

Ne gemealt him se mōdsefa, nē his mǣges lāf

gewāc æt wīge; þæt se wyrm onfand,

syððan hīe tōgædre gegān hæfdon.

Wīglāf maðelode, wordrihta fela

sægde gesīðum --him wæs sefa geōmor--:

'Ic ðæt mǣl geman, þǣr wē medu þēgun,

þonne wē gehēton ūssum hlāforde

in bīorsele, ðē ūs ðās bēagas geaf,

þæt wē him ðā gūðgeatwa gyldan woldon,

gif him þyslicu þearf gelumpe,

helmas ond heard sweord. Dē hē ūsic on herge gecēas

tō ðyssum sīðfate sylfes willum,

onmunde ūsic mǣrða, ond mē þās māðmas geaf,

þē hē ūsic gārwīgend gōde tealde,

hwate helmberend,-- þēah ðe hlāford ūs

þis ellenweorc āna āðōhte

tō gefremmanne, folces hyrde,

forðām hē manna mǣst mǣrða gefremede,

dǣda dollīcra. Nū is sē dæg cumen,

þæt ūre mandryhten mægenes behōfað,

gōdra gūðrinca; wutun gongan tō,

helpan hildfruman, þenden hyt sŷ,

glēdegesa grim ! God wāt on mec,

þæt mē is micle lēofre, þæt mīnne līchaman

mid mīnne goldgyfan glēd fæðmie.

Ne þynceð mē gerysne, þæt wē rondas beren

eft tō earde, nemne we ǣror mægen

fāne gefyllan, feorh ealgian

Wedra ðēodnes. Ic wāt geare,

þæt nǣron ealdgewyrht, þæt hē āna scyle

Gēata duguðe gnorn þrōwian,

gesīgan æt sæcce; ūrum sceal sweord ond helm,

byrne ond beaduscrūd bām gemǣne.'

Wōd þā þurh þone wælrēc, wīgheafolan bær

frēan on fultum, fēa worda cwæð:

'Lēofa Bīowulf, lǣst eall tela,

swā ðū on geoguðfēore geāra gecwǣde,

þæt ðū ne ālǣte be ðē lifigendum

dōm gedrēosan; scealt nū dǣdum rōf,

æðeling anhȳdig, ealle mægene

feorh ealgian; ic ðē fullǣstu.'

Æfter ðām wordum wyrm yrre cwōm,

atol inwitgæst ōðre sīðe

fȳrwylmum fāh fīonda nīos(i)an,

lāðra manna. Līgȳðum forborn

bord wið rond[e], byrne ne meahte

geongum gārwigan gēoce gefremman,

ac se maga geonga under his mǣges scyld

elne geēode, þā his āgen w(æs)

glēdum forgrunden. þā gēn gūðcyning

m(ærða) gemunde, mægenstrengo slōh

hildebille, þæt hyt on heafolan stōd

nīpe genȳded; Nægling forbærst,

geswāc æt sæcce sweord Bīowulfes

gomol ond grǣgmǣl. Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,

þæt him īrenna ecge mihton

helpan æt hilde; wæs sīo hond tō strong,

sē ðe mēca gehwane mīne gefrǣge

swenge ofersōhte, þonne hē tō sæcce bær

wǣpen wund[r]um heard; næs him wihte ðē sēl.

þā wæs þēodsceaða þriddan sīðe,

frēcne fȳrdraca fǣhða gemyndig,

rǣsde on ðone rōfan, þā him rūm āgeald,

hāt ond heaðogrim, heals ealne ymbefēng

biteran bānum; hē geblōdegod wearð

sāwuldrīore, swāt ȳðum wēoll.

Ðā ic æt þearfe [gefrægn] þēodcyninges

andlongne eorl ellen cȳðan,

cræft ond cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs.

Ne hēdde hē þæs heafolan, ac sīo hand gebarn

mōdiges mannes, þǣr hē his mǣges healp,

þæt hē þone nīðgest nioðor hwēne slōh,

secg on searwum, þæt ðæt sweord gedēaf

fāh ond fǣted, þæt ðæt fȳr ongon

sweðrian syððan. þā gēn sylf cyning

gewēold his gewitte, wæll-seaxe gebrǣd

biter ond beaduscearp, þæt hē on byrnan wæg;

forwrāt Wedra helm wyrm on middan.

Fēond gefyldan --ferh ellen wræc--,

ond hī hyne þā bēgen ābroten hæfdon,

sibæðelingas; swylc sceolde secg wesan,

þegn æt ðearfe! þæt ðām þēodne wæs

sīðas[t] sigehwīla sylfes dǣdum,

worlde geweorces. Dā sīo wund ongon,

þē him se eorðdraca ǣr geworhte,

swelan ond swellan; hē þæt sōna onfand,

þæt him on brēostum bealonīð(e) wēoll

attor on innan. Dā se æðeling gīong,

þæt hē bī wealle wīshycgende

gesæt on sesse; seah on enta geweorc,

hū ðā stānbogan stapulum fæste

ēce eorðreced innan healde.

Hyne þā mid handa heorodrēorigne,

þēoden mǣrne þegn ungemete till,

winedryhten his wætere gelafede

hilde sædne ond his hel(m) onspēon.

Bīowulf maþelode-- hē ofer benne spræc,

wunde wælblēate; wisse hē gearwe,

þæt hē dæghwīla gedrogen hæfde,

eorðan wynn(e); ðā wæs eall sceacen

dōgorgerīmes, dēað ungemete nēah --:

'Nū ic suna mīnum syllan wolde

gūðgewedu, þǣr mē gifeðe swā

ǣnig yrfeweard æfter wurde

lice gelenge. Ic ðās lēode hēold

fīftig wintra; næs sē folccyning,

ymbesittendra ǣnig ðāra,

þē mec gūðwinum grētan dorste,

egesan ðeon. Ic on earde bād

mǣlgesceafta, hēold mīn tela,

ne sōhte searonīðas, nē mē swōr fela

āða on unriht. Ic ðæs ealles mæg

feorhbennum sēoc gefēan habban;

forðām mē wītan ne ðearf Waldend fīra

morðorbealo māga, þonne mīn sceaceð

līf of līce. Nū ðū lungre geong

hord scēawian under hārne stān,

Wīglāf lēofa, nū se wyrm ligeð,

swefeð sāre wund, since berēafod.

Bīo nū on ofoste, þæt ic ǣrwelan,

goldǣht ongite, gearo scēawige

swegle searogimmas, þæt ic ðȳ sēft mæge

æfter māððumwelan mīn ālǣtan

līf ond lēodscipe, þone ic longe hēold.'

Ðā ic snūde gefrægn sunu Wīhstānes

æfter wordcwydum wundum dryhtne

hȳran heaðosīocum, hringnet beran,

brogdne beadusercean under beorges hrōf.

Geseah ðā sigehrēðig, þā hē bī sesse gēong,

magoþegn mōdig māððumsigla fealo,

gold glitnian grunde getenge,

wundur on wealle, ond þæs wyrmes denn,

ealdes ūhtflogan, orcas stondan,

fyrnmanna fatu, feormendlēase,

hyrstum behrorene; þǣr wæs helm monig

eald ond ōmig, earmbēaga fela

searwum gesǣled.-- Sinc ēaðe mæg,

gold on grund(e) gumcynnes gehwone

oferhīgian, hȳde sē ðe wylle !--

Swylce hē siomian geseah segn eallgylden

hēah ofer horde, hondwundra mǣst,

gelocen leoðocræftum; of ðām lēoma stōd,

þæt hē þone grundwong ongitan meahte,

wrǣte giondwlītan. Næs ðæs wyrmes þǣr

onsȳn ǣnig, ac hyne ecg fornam.

Ðā ic on hlǣwe gefrægn hord rēafian,

eald enta geweorc ānne mannan,

him on bearm hladon bunan ond discas

sylfes dōme; segn ēac genōm,

bēacna beorhtost. Bill ǣr gescōd

-- ecg wæs īren -- ealdhlāfordes

þām ðāra māðma mundbora wæs

longe hwīle, līgegesan wæg

hātne for horde, hioroweallende

middelnihtum, oð þæt hē morðre swealt.

ār wæs on ofoste, eftsīðes georn,

frætwum gefyrðred; hyne fyrwet bræc,

hwæðer collenferð cwicne gemētte

in ðām wongstede Wedra þēoden

ellensīocne, þǣr hē hine ǣr forlēt.

Hē ðā mid þām māðmum mǣrne þīoden,

dryhten sīnne drīorigne fand

ealdres æt ende; hē hine eft ongon

wæteres weorpan, oð þæt wordes ord

brēosthord þurhbræc. [Biorncyning spræc]

gomel on giohðe -- gold scēawode --:

'Ic ðāra frætwa Frēan ealles ðanc,

Wuldurcyninge wordum secge,

ēcum Dryhtne, þē ic hēr on starie,

þæs ðe ic mōste mīnum lēodum

ǣr swyltdæge swylc gestrȳnan.

Nū ic on māðma hord mīne bebohte

frōde feorhlege, fremmað gēna

lēoda þearfe; ne mæg ic hēr leng wesan.

Hātað heaðomǣre hlǣw gewyrcean

beorhtne æfter bǣle æt brimes nōsan;

sē scel tō gemyndum mīnum lēodum

hēah hlīfian on Hronesnæsse,

þæt hit sǣlīðend syððan hātan

Bīowulfes biorh, ðā ðe brentingas

ofer flōda genipu feorran drīfað.'

Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne

þīoden þrīsthȳdig, þegne gesealde,

geongum gārwigan, goldfāhne helm,

bēah ond byrnan, hēt hyne brūcan well--:

'þū eart endelāf ūsses cynnes,

Wǣgmundinga; ealle wyrd forswēop

mīne māgas tō metodsceafte,

eorlas on elne; ic him æfter sceal.'

þæt wæs þām gomelan gingæste word

brēostgehygdum, ǣr hē bǣl cure,

hāte heaðowylmas; him of hræðre gewāt

sāwol sēcean sōðfæstra dōm.

Ðā wæs gegongen guman unfrōdum

earfoðlīce, þæt hē on eorðan geseah

þone lēofestan līfes æt ende

blēate gebmǣran. Bona swylce læg,

egeslīc eorðdraca ealdre berēafod,

bealwe gebǣded. Bēahhordum leng

wyrm wōhbogen wealdan ne mōste,

ac him īrenna ecga fornāmon,

hearde heaðoscearde homera lāfe,

þæt se wīdfloga wundum stille

hrēas on hrūsan hordærne nēah.

Nalles æfter lyfte lācende hwearf

middelnihtum, māðmǣhta wlonc

ansȳn ȳwde, ac hē eorðan gefēoll

for ðæs hildfruman hondgeweorce.

Hūru þæt on lande lȳt manna ðāh

mægenāgendra mīne gefrǣge,

þēah ðe hē dǣda gehwæs dyrstig wǣre,

þæt hē wið attorsceaðan oreðe gerǣsde,

oððe hringsele hondum styrede,

gif hē wæccende weard onfunde

būon on beorge. Bīowulfe wearð

dryhtmāðma dǣl dēaðe forgolden;

hæfde ǣghwæer ende gefēred

lǣnan līfes. Næs ðā lang tō ðon,

þæt ðā hildlatan holt ofgēfan,

tȳdre trēowlogan tȳne ætsomne,

ðā ne dorston ǣr dareðum lācan

on hyra mandryhtnes miclan þearfe;

ac hȳ scamiende scyldas bǣran,

gūðgewǣdu þǣr se gomela læg;

wlitan on Wīlāf. Hē gewērgad sæt,

fēðecempa frēan eaxlum nēah,

wehte hyne wætre; him wiht ne spēow.

Ne meahte hē on eorðan, ðēah hē ūðe wēl,

on ðām frumgāre feorh gehealdan,

nē ðæs Wealdendes wiht oncirran;

wolde dōm Godes dǣdum rǣdan

gumena gehwylcum, swā hē nū gēn dêð.

þā wæs æt ðām geongan grim andswaru

ēðbegēte þām ðe ǣr his elne forlēas.

Wīglāf maðelode, Wēohstānes sunu,

sec[g] sārigferð -- seah on unlēofe--:

'þæt, lā, mæg secgan sē ðe wyle sōð specan,

þæt se mondryhten, sē ēow þā māðmas geaf,

ēoredgeatwe, þē gē þǣr on standað, --

þonne hē on ealubence oft gesealde

healsittendum helm ond byrnan,

þēoden his þegnum, swylce hē þrȳðlīcost

ōwer feor oððe nēah findan meahte--,

þæt hē gēnunga gūðgewǣdu

wrāðe forwurpe, ðā hyne wīg beget.

Nealles folccyning fyrdgesteallum

gylpan þorfte; hwæðre him God ūðe,

sigora Waldend, þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræc

āna mid ecge, þā him wæs elnes þearf.

Ic him līfwraðe lȳtle meahte

ætgifan æt gūðe, ond ongan swā þēah

ofer mīn gemet mǣges helpan;

symle wæs þȳ sǣmra, þonne ic sweorde drep

ferhðgenīðlan, fȳr unswīðor

wēoll of gewitte. Wergendra tō lȳt

þrong ymbe þēoden, þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.

Nū sceal sincþego ond swyrdgifu,

eall ēðelwyn ēowrum cynne,

lufen ālicgean; londrihtes mōt

þǣre mǣgburge monna ǣghwylc

īdel hweorfan, syððan æðelingas

feorran gefricgean flēam ēowerne,

dōmlēasan dǣd. Dēað bið sēlla

eorla gehwylcum þonne edwītlīf!'

Heht ðā þæt heaðoweorc tō hagan bīodan

ūp ofer ecgclif, þǣr þæt eorlweorod

morgenlongne dæg mōdgiōmor sæt,

bordhæbbende, bēga on wēnum,

endedōgores ond eftcymes

lēofes monnes. Lȳt swīgode

nīwra spella sē ðe næs gerād,

ac hē sōðlīce sægde ofer ealle:

'Nū is wilgeofa Wedra lēoda,

dryhten Gēata dēaðbedde fæst,

wunað wælreste wyrmes dǣdum;

him on efn ligeð ealdorgewinna

sexbennum sēoc; sweorde ne meahte

on ðām āglǣcean ǣnige þinga

wunde gewyrcean. Wīglāf siteð

ofer Bīowulfe, byre Wīhstānes,

eorl ofer ōðrum unlifigendum,

healdeð higemǣðum hēafodwearde

lēofes ond lāðes. Nū ys lēodum wēn

orleghwīle, syððan under[ne]

Froncum ond Frȳsum fyll cyninges

wīde weorðeð. Wæs sīo wrōht scepen

heard wið Hūgas, syððan Higelāc cwōm

faran flotherge on Frēsna land,

þǣr hyne Hetware hilde genǣgdon,

elne geēodon mid ofermægene,

þæt se byrnwiga būgan sceolde,

fēoll on fēðan; nalles frætwe geat

ealdor dugoðe. ūs wæs ā syððan

Merewīoingas milts ungyfeðe. --

Nē ic te Swēoðēode sibbe oððe trēowe

wihte ne wēne, ac wæs wīde cūð,

þætte Ongenðīo ealdre besnyðede

Hæðcen Hrēþling wið Hrefnawudu,

þā for onmēdlan ǣrest gesōhton

Gēata lēode Gūð-Scilfingas.

Sōna him se frōda fæder ōhtheres,

eald ond egesfull ondslyht āgeaf,

ābrēot brimwīsan, brȳd āhredde,

gomela iōmēowlan golde berofene,

Onelan mōdor ond ōhtheres;

ond ðā folgode feorhgenīðlan,

oð ðær hī oðēodon earfoðlīce

in Hrefnesholt hlāfordlēase.

Besæt ðā sinherge sweorda lāfe

wundum wērge; wēan oft gehēt

earmre teohhe ondlonge niht,

cwæð, hē on mergenne mēces ecgum

gētan wolde, sum[e] on galgtrēowu[m]

[fuglum] tō gamene. Frōfor eft gelamp

sārigmōdum somod ǣrdæge,

syððan hīe Hygelāces horn ond bȳman,

gealdor ongēaton, þā se gōda cōm

lēoda dugoðe on lāst faran.

Wæs sīo swātswaðu Sw[ē]ona ond Gēata,

wælrǣs weora wīde gesȳne,

hū ðā folc mid him fǣhðe tōwehton.

Gewāt him ðā se gōda mid his gædelingum,

frōd felageōmor fæsten sēcean,

eorl Ongenþīo ufor oncirde;

hæfde Higelāces hilde gefrūnen,

wlonces wīgcræft; wiðres ne trūwode,

þæt hē sǣmannum onsacan mihte,

heaðolīðendum hord forstandan,

bearn ond brȳde; bēah eft þonan

eald under eorðweall. þā wæs ǣht boden

Swēona lēodum, segn Higelāce[s]

freoðwong þone forð oferēodon,

syððan Hrēðlingas tō hagan þrungon.

þǣr wearð Ongenðiow ecgum sweorda,

blondenfexa on bid wrecen,

þæt se þēodcyning ðafian sceolde

Eafores ānne dōm. Hyne yrringa

Wulf Wonrēding wǣpne gerǣhte,

þæt him for swenge swāt ǣdrum sprong

forð under fexe. Næs hē forht swā ðēh,

gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraðe

wyrsan wrixle wælhlem þone,

syððan ðēodcyning þyder oncirde.

Ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrēdes

ealdum ceorle ondslyht giofan,

ac hē him on hēafde helm ǣr gescer,

þæt hē blōde fāh būgan sceolde,

fēoll on foldan; næs hē fǣge þā gīt,

ac hē hyne gewyrpte, þēah ðe him wund hrine.

Lēt se hearda Higelāces þegn

brād[n]e mēce, þā his brōðor læg,

ealdsweord eotonisc entiscne helm

brecan ofer bordweal; ðā gebēah cyning,

folces hyrde, wæs in feorh dropen.

Ðā wǣron monige, þē his mǣg wriðon,

ricone ārǣrdon, ðā him gerȳmed wearð,

þæt hīe wælstōwe wealdan mōston.

þenden rēafode rinc ōðerne,

nam on Ongenðīo īrenbyrnan,

heard swyrd hilted, ond his helm somod;

hāres hyrste Higelāce bær.

Hē ð(ām) frætwum fēng ond him fægre gehēt

lēana (mid) lēodum, ond gelǣste swā;

geald þone gūðrǣs Gēata dryhten,

Hrēðles eafora, þā hē tō hām becōm,

Iofore ond Wulfe mid ofermāðmum,

sealde hiora gehwæðrum hund þūsenda

landes ond locenra bēaga,-- ne ðorfte him ðā lēan oðwītan

mon on middangearde, syðða[n] hīe ðā mǣrða geslōgon;

ond ðā Iofore forgeaf āngan dohtor,

hāmweorðunge, hyldo tō wedde.

þæt ys sīo fǣhðo ond se fēondscipe,

wælnīð wera, ðæs ðe ic [wēn] hafo,

þē ūs sēceað tō Swēona lēoda,

syððan hīe gefricgeað frēan ūserne

ealdorlēasne, þone ðe ǣr gehēold

wið hettendum hord ond rīce,

æfter hæleða hryre, hwate Sǣ-Gēatas,

folcrēd fremede, oððe furður gēn

eorlscipe efnde.-- Nū is ofost betost,

þæt wē þēodcyning þǣr scēawian,

ond þone gebringan, þē ūs bēagas geaf,

on ādfære. Ne scel ānes hwæt

meltan mid þām mōdigan, ac þǣr is māðma hord,

gold unrīme grimme gecēa(po)d,

ond nū æt sīðestan sylfes fēore

bēagas (geboh)te; þā sceall brond fretan,

ǣled þeccean,-- nalles eorl wegan

māððum tō gemyndum, nē mægð scȳne

habban on healse hringweorðunge,

ac sceal geōmormōd, golde berēafod

oft nalles ǣne elland tredan,

nū se herewīsa hleahtor ālegde,

gamen ond glēodrēam. Forðon sceall gār wesan

monig morgenceald mundum bewunden,

hæfen on handa, nalles hearpan swēg

wīgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn

fūs ofer fǣgum fela reordian,

earne secgan, hū him æt ǣte spēow,

þenden hē wið wulf[e] wæl rēafode.'

Swā se secg hwata secggende wæs

lāðra spella; hē ne lēag fela

wyrda nē worda. Weorod eall ārās;

ēodon unblīðe under Earnanæs,

wollentēare wundur scēawian.

Fundon ðā on sande sāwullēasne

hlimbed healdan þone þe him hringas geaf

ǣrran mǣlum; þā wæs endedæg

gōdum gegongen, þæt se gūðcyning,

Wedra þēoden wundordēaðe swealt.

ǣr hī þǣr gesēgan syllīcran wiht,

wyrm on wonge wiðerræhtes þǣr

lāðne licgean; wæs se lēgdraca

grimlīc gry(refāh) glēdum beswǣled;

sē wæs fīftiges fōtgemearces

lang on legere; lyftwynne hēold

nihtes hwīlum, nyðer eft gewāt

dennes nīosian; wæs ðā dēaðe fæst,

hæfde eorðscrafa ende genyttod.

Him big stōdan bunan ond orcas,

discas lāgon ond dȳre swyrd,

ōmige þurhetone, swā hīe wið eorðan fæðm

þūsend wintra þǣr eardodon;

þonne wæs þæt yrfe ēacencræftig,

iūmonna gold galdre bewunden,

þæt ðām hringsele hrīnan ne mōste

gumena ǣnig, nefne God sylfa,

sigora Sōðcyning sealde þām ðe hē wolde

--hē is manna gehyld-- hord openian,

efne swā hwylcum manna, swā him gemet ðūhte.

þā wæs gesȳne, þæt se sīð ne ðāh

þām ðe unrihte inne gehȳdde

wrǣte under wealle. Weard ǣr ofslōh

fēara sumne; þā sīo fǣhð gewearð

gewrecen wrāðlīce. Wundur hwār þonne

eorl ellenrōf ende gefēre

līfgesceafta, þonne leng ne mæg

mon mid his (mā)gum meduseld būan.

Swā wæs Bīowulfe, þā hē biorges weard

sōhte searonīðas; seolfa ne cūðe,

þurh hwæt his worulde gedāl weorðan sceolde.

Swā hit oð dōmes dæg dīope benemdon

þēodnas mǣre, þā ðæt þǣr dydon,

þæt se secg wǣre synnum scildig,

hergum geheaðerod, hellbendum fæst,

wommum gewītnad, sē ðone wong strude.

Næs hē goldhwæte gearwor hæfde

āgendes ēst ǣr gescēawod.

Wīglāf maðelode, Wīhstānes sunu:

'Oft sceall eorl monig ānes willan

wrǣc ādrēogan, swā ūs geworden is.

Ne meahton wē gelǣran lēofne þēoden,

rices hyrde rǣd ǣnigne,

þæt hē ne grētte goldweard þone,

lēte hyne licgean, þǣr hē longe wæs,

wīcum wunian oð woruldende,

healdon hēahgesceap. Hord ys gescēawod,

grimme gegongen; wæs þæt gifeðe tō swīð,

þē ðone [mannan] þyder ontyhte.

Ic wæs þǣr inne ond þæt eall geondseh,

recedes geatwa, þā mē gerȳmed wæs,

nealles swǣslīce sīð ālȳfed

inn under eorðweall. Ic on ofoste gefēng

micle mid mundum mægenbyrðenne

hordgestrēona, hider ūt ætbær

cyninge mīnum. Cwico wæs þā gēna,

wīs ond gewittig; worn eall gespræc

gomol on gehðo, ond ēowic grētan hēt,

bæd þæt gē geworhton æfter wines dǣdum

in bǣlstede beorh þone hean,

micelne ond mǣrne, swā hē manna wæs

wīgend weorðfullost wīde geond eorðan,

þenden hē burhwelan brūcan mōste.

Uton nū efstan ōðre [sīðe],

sēon ond sēcean searo[gimma] geþræc,

wundur under wealle; ic ēow wīsige,

þæt gē genōge nēon scēawiað

bēagas ond brād gold. Sīe sīo bǣr gearo,

ǣdre geæfned, þonne wē ūt cymen,

ond þonne geferian frēan ūserne,

lēofne mannan þǣr hē longe sceal

on ðæs Waldendes wǣre geþolian.'

Hēt ðā gebēodan byre Wīhstānes,

hæle hildedīor hæleða monegum,

boldāgendra, þæt hīe bǣlwudu

feorran feredon, folcāgende,

gōdum tōgēnes: 'Nū sceal glēd fretan

(weaxan wonna lēg) wigena strengel,

þone ðe oft gebād īsernscūre,

þonne strǣla storm strengum gebǣded

scōc ofer scildweall, sceft nytte hēold,

fæðergearwum fūs flāne fullēode.'

Hūru se snotra sunu Wīhstānes

ācīgde of corðre cyniges þegnas

syfone (tō)somne, þā sēlestan,

ēode eahta sum under inwithrōf

hilderinc[a] ; sum on handa bær

ǣledlēoman, sē ðe on orde gēong.

Næs ðā on hlytme, hwā þæt hord strude,

syððan orwearde ǣnigne dǣl

secgas gesēgon on sele wunian,

lǣne licgan; lȳt ǣnig mearn,

þæt hī ofostlīc(e) ūt geferedon

dȳre māðmas; dracan ēc scufun,

wyrm ofer weallclif, lēton wēg niman,

flōd fæðmian frætwa hyrde.

þā wæs wunden gold on wǣn hladen,

ǣghwæs unrīm, æþeling boren,

hār hilde[rinc] tō Hronesnæsse.

Him ðā gegiredan Gēata lēode

ād on eorðan unwāclīcne,

helm[um] behongen, hildebordum,

beorhtum byrnum, swā hē bēna wæs;

ālegdon ðā tōmiddes mǣrne þēoden

hæleð hīofende, hlāford-lēofne.

Ongunnon þā on beorge bǣlfȳra mǣst

wīgend weccan; wud(u)rēc āstāh

sweart ofer swioðole, swōgende lēg

wōpe bewunden -- windblond gelæg--,

oð þæt hē ðā bānhūs gebrocen hæfde

hāt on hreðre. Higum unrōte

mōdceare mǣndon, mondryhtnes cw(e)alm;

swylce giōmorgyd (s)īo g(eō)mēowle

(æfter Bīowulfe b)undenheorde

(song) sorgcearig, sǣde geneahhe,

þæt hīo hyre (hearmda)gas hearde (ondrē)de,

wælfylla worn, (wīgen)des egesan,

hȳ[n]ðo (ond) h(æftnȳ)d. Heofon rēce swe(a)lg.

Geworhton ðā Wedra lēode

hl(ǣw) on [h]liðe, sē wæs hēah ond brād,

(wǣ)glīðendum wīde g(e)sȳne,

ond betimbredon on tȳn dagum

beadurōfes bēcn, bronda lāfe

wealle beworhton, swā hyt weorðlīcost

foresnotre men findan mihton.

Hī on beorg dydon bēg ond siglu,

eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ǣr

nīðhēdige men genumen hæfdon;

forlēton eorla gestrēon eorðan healdan,

gold on grēote, þǣr hit nū gēn lifað

eldum swā unnyt, swā hi(t ǣro)r wæs.

þā ymbe hlǣw riodan hildedēore,

æþelinga bearn, ealra twelfe,

woldon (care) cwīðan, [ond] kyning mǣnan,

wordgyd wrecan, ond ymb w(er) sprecan;

eahtodan eorlscipe ond his ellenweorc

duguðum dēmdon,-- swā hit gedē(fe) bið,

þæt mon his winedryhten wordum herge,

ferhðum frēoge, þonne hē forð scile

of līchaman (lǣded) weorðan.

Swā begnornodon Gēata lēode

hlāfordes (hry)re, heorðgenēatas;

cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre wyruldcyning[a]

manna mildust ond mon(ðw)ǣrust,

lēodum līðost ond lofgeornost.

Beowulf

Modern English

LO! we of the Spear-Danes', in days of yore,

Warrior-kings' glory have heard,

How the princes heroic deeds wrought.

Oft Scyld, son of Scef, from hosts of foes,

From many tribes, their mead-seats took;

The earl caused terror since first he was

Found thus forlorn: gained he comfort for that,

Grew under the clouds, in honors throve,

Until each one of those dwelling around

Over the whale-road, him should obey,

Should tribute pay: that was a good king!

To him was a son afterwards born,

Young in his palace, one whom God sent

To the people for comfort: their distress He perceived

That they ere suffered life-eating care

So long a while. Him therefor life's Lord,

King of glory, world-honor gave:

Beowulf was noted (wide spread his fame),

The son of Scyld in Scedelands.

So shall a young man with presents cause,

With rich money-gifts in his father's house.

That him in old age may after attend

Willing comrades; when war shall come,

May stand by their chief; by deeds of praise shall

In every tribe a hero thrive!

Then Scyld departed at the hour of fate,

The warlike to go into his Lord's keeping:

They him then bore to the ocean's wave,

His trusty comrades, as he himself bade,

Whilst with words ruled the friend of the Scyldings,

Beloved land-prince; long wielded he power.

There stood at haven with curved prow,

Shining and ready, the prince's ship:

The people laid their dear war-lord,

Giver of rings, on the deck of the ship,

The mighty by th' mast. Many treasures were there,

From distant lands, ornaments brought;

Ne'er heard I of keel more comelily filled

With warlike weapons and weeds of battle,

With bills and burnies ! On his bosom lay

A heap of jewels, which with him should

Into the flood's keeping afar depart:

Not at all with less gifts did they him provide,

With princely treasures, than those had done,

Who him at his birth had erst sent forth

Alone o'er the sea when but a child.

Then placed they yet a golden standard

High over his head, let the waves bear

Their gift to the sea; sad was their soul,

Mourning their mood. Men indeed cannot

Say now in sooth, hall-possessors,

Heroes 'neath heavens, who that heap took.

Then was in the cities Beowulf, the Scyldings'

Beloved folk-king, for a long time

Renowned 'mid the nation (elsewhere went his father

The prince from his home), till from him after sprang

The great Healfdene: he ruled while he lived,

Agéd and warlike, kindly the Scyldings.

To him were four children, reckoned in order,

Born into the world, to the prince of the people,

Heorogar and Hrothgar and Halga the good.

I heard that Elan wife of Ongentheow was,

The warlike Scylfing's bed-companion.

Then was to Hrothgar war-speed given,

Honor in battle, that him his dear kinsmen

Gladly obeyed, until the youth grew,

A great band of men. It came into his mind

That he a great hall would then command,

A greater mead-hall his men to build

Than children of men ever had heard of,

And there within would he all deal out

To young and to old, as God him gave,

Except the folk-land and lives of men.

Then far and wide heard I the work was ordered

To many a tribe throughout this mid-earth

The folk-hall to deck. Him in time it befell

Quickly with men, that it was all ready,

The greatest of halls: Heort as name gave he it,

He who with his word power far and wide had.

He belied not his promise, bracelets he dealt,

Treasure at banquet. The hall arose

Lofty and pinnacled; hostile waves it awaited

Of hateful fire. Nor was it yet long

Before fierce hatred to the frightened men,

For deadly enmity, was to arise,

Since the fell spirit most spitefully

For a time endured, who in darkness abode,

That he on each day the sound of joy heard

Loud in the hall: there was harp's sound,

Clear song of the minstrel. He said, he who could

The creation of men from of old relate,

Quoth that the Almighty the earth had wrought,

The beautiful plain which water surrounds,

Victorious had set the sun and the moon

As lights for light to the land-dwellers,

And had adorned the regions of earth

With limbs and leaves, life also created

For every kind of living beings.

Thus were the warriors living in joys

Happily then, until one began

Great woes to work, a fiend of hell:

The wrathful spirit was Grendel named,

The mighty mark-stepper who the moors held,

Fen and fastness: the sea-fiend's abode

The joyless being a while in-dwelt,

Since the Creator him had proscribed.

(Upon Cain's kin that crime avenged

The Lord eternal, for that he slew Abel:

Joyed he not in that feud, but him afar banished

For that crime the Creator away from mankind:

Thence evil demons all were produced,

Eotens and elves and monsters of sea,

Such were the giants who strove against God

For a long time: He repaid them for that.)

Then went he to seek out, after night came,

The high-built house, how the Ring-Danes,

After their beer-feast, it had arranged.

He found then therein a band of nobles

Asleep after feasting: sorrows they knew not,

Misfortunes of men. The demon of death,

Grim and greedy, soon was ready,

Fierce and furious, and in rest took

Thirty of thanes; thence back he departed,

Exulting in booty, homeward to go,

With this fill of slaughter to seek out his dwelling

Then at early morn was with dawn of day

Grendel's war-craft made known to men:

Then after his meal was wailing upraised,

A great morning-cry: the mighty prince,

The honored chief, sorrowful sat,

The strong man suffered, thane-sorrow endured,

After the foeman's footsteps they beheld,

The cursed demon's: too severe was that sorrow,

Loathsome and lasting. No longer time was it,

But after one night he again wrought

More deeds of murder, and did not shrink from

Hatred and evil: too firm he was in them.

Then was easy to find one who elsewhere,

Farther removed, rest for himself sought,

A bed next the chambers, since to him was shown,

Truly was said by a manifest sign

The hall-thane's hatred: he held himself after

Further and firmer, who 'scaped from the fiend.

So then he reigned and strove against right

Alone against all, until empty stood

The finest of houses. Long was the time:

Twelve winters' time suffering endured

The friend of the Scyldings, each one of woes,

Of sorrows extreme: therefore was this misery

Openly known to the children of men,

Sadly in songs, that Grendel contended

A while against Hrothgar, hateful war waged,

Evil and enmity many half-years,

Contests continual; peacefully would not

From any one man of the might of the Danes

Life-bale remove, nor with money compound;

No one of the wise men need there expect

A ransom more splendid at the murderer's hands

The terrible demon harassing was,

Dark death-shadow, the old and the young,

Caught and entrapped them; in constant night held

The misty moors: men know not indeed

Whither hell's demons wander in crowds.

So many foul deeds the foe of mankind,

The terrible lone one, often enacted,

Direful afflictions; Heorot he dwelt in.

The costly-decked hall, on the dark nights;

Yet must he not the rich gift-stool approach

For the Creator, nor wish for it know.

That was great sorrow of the friend of the Scyldings,

Misery of mind ! Many oft sat

Mighty in council; plans they devised,

What with bold mind then would be best

'Gainst the sudden attacks for them to do.

Sometimes they vowed at their temples of idols

To their gods worship, with words they prayed

The destroyer of spirits would render them help

Against their folk-sorrows. Such was their custom,

Hope of the heathen: hell they remembered

In their minds' thoughts; the Creator they knew not,

Judge of their deeds: the good Lord they knew not,

Heaven's protector could they not praise,

The King of glory. Woe be to him who shall,

Through deadly hate, thrust down his soul

Into the fire-abyss; for comfort he'll hope not,

By no means return ! Well be to him who may,

After his death-day, seek for the Lord,

In the Father's bosom mercy beseech!

So then great sorrow Healfdene's son

Continually suffered: might not the wise chieftain

His woes remove: too great was that pain,

Loathsome and lasting, that came on the people,

Dreadful distress, greatest of night-bales.

That from home learnt Higelac's thane,

Good 'mong the Geats, the deeds of Grendel;

He was of mankind strongest in might

In the day then of this mortal life,

Noble and great. For him a ship bade he

A good one prepare, quoth, he the war-king

Over the swan-road wished to seek out,

The mighty prince, since he need had of men.

That journey to him the cunning churls

Not at all blamed, though he lear to them was.

They whetted the brave one, good omens they saw

The good one had of the Geats' people

Warriors chosen, of those whom he bravest

Was able to find: one of fifteen

The vessel he sought: a warrior made known,

A sea-crafty man, the neighboring landmarks.

Thus time went on: on the waves was the ship,

Boat under the mountain. The heroes ready

On the prow stied: the billows rolled

The sea 'gainst the sand. The warriors bore

On the deck of the ship ornaments bright,

Equipments ornate: the men shoved out,

Men on willing journey, the well-fitted wood.

Went then o'er the waves, by the wind hastened,

The foamy-necked float to a fowl most like,

Till at the same hour of the following day

The curvéd prow had traversed the water.

So that the sailors then saw the land,

The sea-cliffs shine, the mountains steep,

The broad sea-nesses. Then was the sea-goer

At the end of its voyage. Thence quickly up

The Weders' people on the plain stied,

The sea-wood tied, their battle-sarks rattled,

Their weeds of war: thanked they then God

That for them the sea-paths easy were found.

Then saw from the wall the guard of the Scyldings,

He who the sea-cliffs was set to hold,

Bear o'er the bulwarks bright-looking shields,

Weapons ready for war: wonder aroused him

In his mind's thoughts as to what these men were.

Went he then to the sea on his steed riding,

The thane of Hrothgar; with might he shook

The strong wood in his hands, with formal words spoke:

"What now are ye of arms-bearing men

With burnies protected, who thus a high keel

Over the sea-path bringing have come

O'er the waves hither, clad in helmets?

I was the coast-guard, sea-watch I kept

That no one of foes on the Danes' land

With a ship-army injury might do.

Not here more openly ever have come

Bearers of shields! Ye the permission

Of warlike men did not well know,

Consent of kinsmen ! Ne'er saw I a greater

Earl upon earth than is one of you,

A hero in armor: that is no home-stayer

With weapons adorned, unless looks belie him,

His peerless appearance. Now I of you shall

The origin learn, ere ye far hence,

Like to false spies, in the land of the Danes

Further advance. Now ye far-dwelling,

Sea-faring men, give willing ear

To my simple thought: haste now is best

To make plainly known whence is your coming.'

To him then the princely one quickly replied,

The war-band's leader his word-hoard unlocked:

"We are of the race of the Geats' people,

And are of Hygelac hearth-companions.

My own father was well-known to the folk,

A princely ruler, Ecgtheow called:

Many winters he lived ere he away went

Aged from his dwelling: him well remembers

Each one of the wise men wide through the earth.

With friendly mind we thine own lord,

Healfdene's son, seeking are come,

The people's protector. Be thou our informant.

We have to the mighty a mickle errand,

To the lord of the Danes: nor shall aught be hidden

Of this, as I think. Thou knowest, if it is,

As we indeed truly have heard it said,

That 'mong the Scyldings I know not what foe,

A secret enemy, on the dark nights,

Shows by his terror hatred unknown,

Oppression and slaughter. I for that Hrothgar

With kindly mind counsel may give,

How he, old and good, shall the foe overcome,

If yet for him ever should cease

The misery of woes, release again come,

And the care-waves cooler become;

Or ever hereafter a time of trouble,

Oppression he'll suffer, while there remains

In its high place the noblest of houses."

The warden spoke, where on his horse sat

The fearless warrior: "Of each of these shall

A wise shield-warrior the difference know,

Of words and works, he who well judgeth.

I that do hear, that this band is friendly

To the lord of the Scyldings; go then forth bearing

Your weapons and war-weeds; I shall direct you:

Likewise my war-thanes I shall command

Against any foe this vessel of yours,

The newly-tarred boat, on the sea-sand

With honor to hold, till back shall bear

O'er the sea-waves the friendly man

The curved-prowed craft to Wedermark.

To such a good-doer will it be granted,

That this battle-storm he safe shall escape."

Then journeyed they on: the boat remained still,

In the bay rested the broad-bosomed ship,

At anchor fast. The boar's likeness shone:

Over the visor, with gold adorned,

Bright and fire-hardened, the boar kept guard.

The fierce-minded hurried, the heroes hastened,

Together they went, till the well-built hall,

Shining and gold-adorned, they might perceive:

That was the foremost to dwellers on earth

Of halls under heavens, in which the king dwelt;

The light from it shone o'er many of lands.

To them then the warrior the court of the proud

Glittering showed, that they to it might

Straightway proceed, one of war-heroes:

Turned he his horse, his word then spoke:

"My time 'tis to go. May the Father Almighty

With His gracious favor you now preserve

Safe on your journey! I will at the sea

'Gainst hostile band keep guard of the coast."

The road was stone-laid, the path directed

The men together. The war-burnie shone,

Hard and hand-locked, the bright ringéd-iron

Sang in the armor, when they to the hall

In their war-weeds at first approached.

Sea-wearied they set their broad-shapen shields,

Their stout-made bucklers, against the hall's wall,

Went then to the benches; their burnies rang,

War-armor of men; their long spears stood,

The sea-men's weapons, all together,

Grey ash-shaft above; the armored band was

With weapons adorned. There then a bold warrior

Inquired of the heroes concerning their kinship:

"Whence do ye bear your gilded shields,

Gray-colored sarks and grim-looking helmets,

Heap of war-shafts? I am of Hrothgar

Attendant and servant. Ne'er saw I strangers,

So many men, with prouder looks.

I think ye for valor, and not in exile,

But for high-mindedness Hrothgar have sought."

Him then the hero famed-for-strength answered,

The brave Weders' prince, his word then spoke,

Bold under his helmet: " We are of Hygelac

Table-companions, Beowulf's my name.

I wish to tell to the son of Healfdene,

The illustrious prince, my errand to him,

Thy lord, and to know if he will us grant

That we him so good friendly may greet."

Wulfgar then spoke (he was Vandals' chief,

His strength of mind was to many well-known,

His prowess and wisdom): " I the Danes' friend,

The lord of the Scyldings, therefore will ask,

The giver of rings, as thou art a suppliant,

The illustrious prince, concerning thy errand,

And to thee the answer at once will announce,

Which to me the good one thinketh to give."

Went he then quickly to where Hrothgar sat,

Old and gray-headed, with his band of earls;

The warlike went, till he stood in the presence

Of the lord of the Danes; he knew the court's custom,

Wulfgar then spoke to his own dear lord:

" Here are arrived, come from afar

Over the sea-waves, men of the Geats;

The one most distinguished the warriors brave

Beowulf name. They are thy suppliants

That they, my prince, may with thee now

Greetings exchange: do not thou refuse them

Thy converse in turn, friendly Hrothgar !

They in their war-weeds seem very worthy

Contenders with earls: the chief is renowned

Who these war-heroes hither has led."

Hrothgar then spoke, defence of the Scyldings:

"I knew him of old when he was a child:

His agéd father was Ecgtheow named;

To him at home gave Hrethel the Geat

His only daughter: his son has now

Boldly come here, a trusty friend sought.

Then this was said by the sea-farers,

Those who did tribute for the Geats carry

Thither for favor, that he thirty men's

Great strength of might in his hand-grip,

Brave in war, has. Him holy God

For gracious help to us has sent,

To the West-Danes, as I have hope,

Against Grendel's terror: I shall to the good one

For his boldness of mind costly gifts offer.

Be thou in haste, bid them come in,

A friendly band see all together!

Tell them too in words that they are welcome

To the Danes' people."- [To the hall-door

Wulfgar then went], words within spoke:

" To you bade me say my victor-lord,

Prince of the East-Danes, that your kinship he knows,

And ye are to him over the sea-waves,

Bold-minded men, welcome hither.

Now ye may go in your war-armor,

Under your helmets, Hrothgar to see:

Let ye your battle-shields here then await,

Your spears, deadly shafts, the converse of words."

Then rose the mighty, many warriors around him,

A brave band of thanes: some there abode,

The battle-weeds kept, as them the chief bade.

They hastened together, as the guide them directed,

Under Heorot's roof: the valiant one went

Bold under his helmet, till he in the hall stood.

Beowulf spoke (on him shone the burnie,

The linked net-work forged by the smith's craft):

"Be thou, Hrothgar, hail! I am of Hygelac

Kinsman and war-thane: many exploits have I

Undertaken in youth. To me Grendel's deed

In my native land clearly was known:

The sea-farers say that this mead-hall stands,

Noblest of halls, for each one of heroes

Empty and useless, when even-light

In the brightness of heaven has been concealed.

Then did my people give me advice,

The noblest of men, craftiest of churls,

Princely Hrothgar, that I thee should seek;

For that they knew my own strength of might:

They themselves saw when I came from the battle,

Blood-stained from my foes, where sea-monsters I bound,

The eoten-race killed, and on the waves slew

The nickers by night, endured great distress,

Avenged Weders' sorrows (woes had they suffered),

Their foe-men destroyed, and now against Grendel,

Against the dread monster, alone shall decide

The fight 'gainst the giant. I of thee now then,

Prince of the Bright-Danes, desire to make,

Chief of the Scyldings, but one request,-

That do not thou refuse me, defender of warriors,

Dear friend of the people, now thus far am I come,-

That I may alone and my band of earls,

This company brave, Heorot cleanse.

Also have I heard that the dread monster

For boldness of mood recks not for weapons:

I that then do scorn - so be to me Hygelac,

My own people's-king, gracious in mind-

That I a sword bear or a broad shield

Yellow-rimmed to the battle; but I with grip shall

'Gainst my foe grapple and for life strive

Foe against foe: there shall confide

In the doom of the Lord he whom death takes.

I ween that he will, if he may prevail,

In the war-hall the folk of the Geats,

The fearless, devour, as he oft did

The might of the IIrethmen; thou needest not then

My head conceal, but me he will have

Stained with gore, if death me take,

My bloody corpse bear, think to devour it,

Will eat it alone, unpityingly,

Will mark the moor-mounds: thou needest not then

For my body's food longer take care.

Send thou to Hygelac, if battle me take,

Best one of war-weeds that covers my breast,

Noblest of burnies; 'tis Hraedla's bequest,

Weland's skilled work. Goes aye Weird as it will! "

Hrothgar then spoke, defence of the Scyldings:

" For fight of protection, Beowulf my friend,

And for assistance, hast thou us sought.

Thy father fought a mighty contest;

He was of Heatholaf the slayer by hand

Among the Wylfings, whem the kin of the Waras

'Gainst the terror of war him might not have

After that sought he the South-Danes' folk

Over the sea-waves, the Honor-Scyldings,

When I first ruled the folk of the Danes.

And in youth held the jewelled-rich

Hoard-city of heroes, when Heregar was dead,

My elder brother bereft of life,

The son of Healfdene; he was better than I.

Afterwards the feud with money I settled;

I sent to the Wylfings o'er the waters' ridge

Old-time treasures; he swore to me oaths.

Sorrow is in my mind for me to say

To any of men what to me Grendel hath

Of harm in Heorot with his hateful thoughts,

Of sudden woes wrought; my hall-band is,

My war-heap, vanished; Weird swept them away

Into Grendel's terror. God easily may

The mad foe restrain from his evil deeds.

Very often they boasted, drunken with beer,

Over the ale-cup, the warriors bold,

That they in the beer-hall would then await

Grendel's contest with their terrible swords.

Then was this mead-hall in the morning-time,

Lordly hall, stained with gore, when day-light shone

All the bench-rows covered with blood,

The hall with sword-gore; I had the less lieges,

Dearest companions, whom death took away.

Sit now at the feast and free from court-rules

The heroes victorious, as pleases thy mind."

Then was for the Geat-men all together

In the beer-hall a bench prepared,

Where the bold-minded hastened to sit,

Proud in their strength. The thane did his service,

Who in his hands bore a gold-adorned ale-cup.

Poured out the clear mead. Sometimes sang the minstrel

With clear voice in Heorot: there was joy of heroes,

No little band of Danes and Weders.

Hunferth then spoke, the son of Ecglaf,

Who at the feet sat of the lord of the Scyldings,

Unloosed his war-secret (was the coming of Beowulf,

The proud sea-farer, to him mickle grief,

For that he granted not that any man else

Ever more honor of this mid-earth

Should gain under heavens than he himself):

"Art thou that Beowulf who strove with Breca

On the broad sea in swimming-match,

When ye two for pride the billows tried

And for vain boasting in the deep water

Riskéd your lives? You two no man,

Nor friend nor foe, might then dissuade

From sorrowful venture, when ye on the sea swam,

When ye the sea-waves with your arms covered,

Measured the sea-ways, struck with your hands,

Glided o'er ocean; with its great billows

Welled up winter's flood. In the power of the waters

Ye seven nights strove: he in swimming thee conquered,

He had greater might. Then him in the morning

On the Heathoremes' land the ocean bore up,

Whence he did seek his pleasant home,

Dear to his people, the land of the Brondings

His fair strong city, where he had people,

A city and rings. All his boast against thee

The son of Beanstan truly fulfilled.

Then ween I for thee a worse result,

Though thou in battle wert everywhere good,

A fiercer fight, if thou Grendel darest

The space of one night nigh to abide."

Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

" Lo ! thou very much, Hunferth my friend,

Drunken with beer, hast spoken of Breca,

Hast said of his journey. I say the truth,

That I did the more sea-power possess,

Endurance 'mid waves, than any man else.

We two said this, when we were boys,

And we of this boasted (both were then still

In the prime of youth), that we out on the sea

Our lives would risk; and that we accomplished.

A naked sword had we, when we swam on the sea,

Boldly in hand: ourselves 'gainst the whales

We thought to defend. Not at all from me

On the flood-waves could he afar float,

On the sea quicker; I from him would not.

Then we two together were in the sea

The space of five nights, till flood apart drove us,

The swelling billows, coldest of storms,

Darkening night, and the north wind

Boisterous and fierce; rough were the waves.

The sea-fishes' spirit was then aroused:

There 'gainst the foes my body-sark,

Hard and hand-locked, to me help afforded;

The braided war-burnie on my breast lay,

With gold adorned. To the bottom me drew

The hostile foe; he held me fast,

Grim in his grip; yet was it granted me,

That I the monster with sword-point reached,

With battle-brand: the struggle took off

The mighty mere-beast by my own hand.

"So often upon me the hateful foes

Powerfully pressed: I punished them

With my dear sword, as it behooved me.

Not at all did they have joy of their meal,

The evil-doers, that they me might devout,

'Round their banquet might sit nigh the sea-bottom,

But in the morning wounded with swords

Around the sea-strand and upon it they lay,

With swords put to sleep, that never thereafter

Upon the high ocean the farers-by-sea

Might they let on their journey. Light from the east came,

Bright beacon of God: still were the waves,

So that I the sea-nesses might now behold,

The windy walls. Weird often preserves

An unfated earl, when his might has availed !

Yet it granted to me that I with sword slew

Nine of the nickers. Ne'er heard I at night

Under heaven's vault of a harder fight,

Nor on the sea-billows of a more wretched man —

Yet I my foes' grip with life escaped

Weary of th' journey. Then me the sea bore,

The flood o'er the waves, upon the Finns' land,

The welling waters. Not at all about thee

Of such-like contests have I heard tell,

Of terror with swords. Breca ne'er yet

In battle-play, nor either of you,

So daring a deed ever has done,

With stained swords (not of that do I boast),

Though thou thine own brothers' murderer wast,

Thy blood-relations': for this shalt thou in hell

Curses endure, though thy wit may avail!

I tell thee in truth, son of Ecglaf,

That never had Grendel wrought so many horrors,

The terrible monster, to thine own prince,

Shame in Heorot, if thy mind were,

Thy temper, so fierce, as thou thyself reckonest:

But he hath found that he the feud need not,

The terrible contest of your own people,

Very much dread, of the Victor-Scyldings;

He taketh forced pledge, he spareth no one

Of the Danes' people, but he joy beareth,

Killeth and eateth, nor weeneth of contest

With the Spear-Danes. But I to him shall

The Geats' strength and might without delay now

Offer in battle. Then shall go he who may

Proudly to mead, when morning-light

Of the second day o'er the children of men,

The sun ether-clad, shall shine from the South."

Then was in joy the giver of treasure,

Gray-haired and war-fierce; help he expected,

The ruler of Bright-Danes; in Beowulf heard

The people's shepherd the firm-set purpose.

There was laughter of heroes, the harp merry sounded,

Winsome were words. Went Wealhtheow forth,

The queen of Hrothgar, mindful of courtesies,

Gold-adorned greeted the men in the hall,

And the high-born woman then gave the cup

First to the East-Danes' home-protector,

Bade him be blithe at the beer-drinking,

Him dear to his people. In joy he received

The food and the hall-cup, victorious king.

Then around went the Helmings' lady

To every division of old and of young,

Costly gifts gave, until the time came

That she to Beowulf, the ring-adorned queen,

Noble in mind, the mead-cup bore:

She greeted the Geats' chief, thanks gave to God,

Wise in her words, that the wish to her fell,

That on any earl she might rely

For comfort in evils. Received he the cup,

The warrior fierce, at Wealhtheow's hands.

And then he spoke, ready for battle;

Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"This thought I then, when I on the sea stied,

Boarded my sea-boat with my warrior-band,

That I throughout of your own people

The will would work, or in battle fall,

Fast in fiend's grip. I shall perform

Deeds of valor, or end-day mine

In this mead-hall I shall await."

To the woman these words well-pleasing were,

Boasts of the Geat: gold-adorned went

The high-born queen to sit by her lord.

Then was as before again in the hall

Mighty word spoken, in joy were the people,

The victor-folk's shout, until all at once

The son of Healfdene wished to seek out

His evening-rest; he knew for the monster

In the high hall was battle prepared,

647a [Because in this hall the Ring-Danes never

647bDared to abide unless by day-time],

From the time that they the sun-light might see,

Till night spreading darkness over all things,

Night-wandering spirits, came advancing

Dark under the clouds. The crowd all arose:

Greeted then glad-minded one man another,

Hrothgar Beowulf, and offered him hail,

Power o'er the mead-hall, and this word spoke:

" Never to any man ere did I trust,

Since I could lift my hand and my shield,

Royal hall of the Danes except to thee now.

Have now and hold the noblest of houses,

Of glory be mindful, a hero's might show,

Watch 'gainst the foe. No wish shalt thou want,

If thou the great struggle escapest with life."

Then Hrothgar went with his warrior-band,

The prince of the Scyldings, out of the hall:

The war-prince would Wealhtheow seek,

His queen as companion. The glory of kings

Grendel against, as men heard say,

A hall-guard had set: he performed special service

For the prince of the Danes, he eoten-guard kept.

Now the prince of the Geats earnestly trusted

In his proud might, in the Creator's favor.

Then he laid him aside his iron burnie,

Helmet from head, his jewelled sword gave,

Choicest of weapons, to his servant-thane,

And bade him keep his armor of war.

Then spoke the hero some boastful words,

Beowulf the Geat, ere he on bed stied:

"I count not myself less good in war-might

For deeds of battle than Grendel himself:

Therefore with my sword I him will not kill,

Of life deprive, though I it all may.

He knows not these goods, so that he me may slay

Hew down my shield, although he be fierce

In hostile deeds: but we at night shall

From swords refrain, if he dare to seek

War without weapons; and then the wise God,

The holy Lord, on whatever hand

May the glory adjudge, as seems to Him fit."

Then lay down the warlike: the pillow received

The cheeks of the earl, and him around many

A valiant sea-warrior sought his hall-rest.

No one of these thought that thence he should

Again his dear home ever seek out,

Folk or free-city where he was reared;

But they had heard that too many before

In this wine-hall bloody death carried off

Of the folk of the Danes. But to them the Lord gave

The web of war-speed, to the folk of the Weders

Comfort and help, so that they their foes

Through the craft of one all overcame,

By the might of one self: the truth is made known

That the mighty God the race of man

Has always ruled. - Came in wan night

The shadow-goer stepping. The warriors slept,

Who the horned hall then were to hold,

All except one. That was to men known,

That them he might not, whom the Creator would not,

The hostile demon drag into darkness;

But he keeping watch for his foe in anger

Awaited enraged the result of the battle.

Then came from the moor 'neath the misty slopes

Grendel going, God's anger he bore.

The wicked foe thought of the race of man

Some one to entrap in that high hall:

He went 'neath the clouds whither he the wine-hall,

The gold-hall of men, most thoroughly knew,

Shining with gold-plates: that was not the first time

That he of Hrothgar the home had sought.

Ne'er in his life-time before nor after

Bolder warriors, hall-thanes, did he find!

Then came to the hall the being approaching,

Of joys deprived. The door soon sprang open

Fast in its fire-bands, when he with hands touched it;

Then burst the bale-bringer, since he was enraged,

The door of the hall. Soon after that

On the many-colored floor the fiendish one trod,

Mad in mind went: from his eyes stood

A loathsome light likest to flame.

He saw in the hall many of warriors.

A band in peace sleeping all together,

A heap of kin-warriors. Then laughed his mood

He thought that he would, ere day came, divide,

The terrible monster, of every one

The life from the body, since to him was fallen

A hope of much food. That no longer was fitted.

That he might more of the race of man

Devour by night. The strong-in-might saw,

The kinsman of Hygelac, how the fell foe

With his swift attacks was going to act.

That did not the monster think to delay,

But quickly he seized for the first time

A sleeping warrior, him tore unresisting,

Bit his bone-frame, drank blood from his veins,

In great bites him swallowed: soon then he had,

Deprived of life, him all devoured,

Feet even and hands. Forth nearer he stepped,

Seized then with his hands the firm-in-mind

Warrior at rest. Him reached out agaist

The fiend with his hand: quickly he seized

The cunning-in-mind and on his arm sat.

Soon this perceived the worker of evil,

That he never found in this mid-earth,

In the regions of earth, in another man

A greater hand-grip: in mood he became

In his soul frightened; he could not sooner forth.

His mind was death-ready; into darkness would flee,

The devil-band seek: his course was not there,

As he in old-days before had found.

Remembered he then, good kinsman of Hygelac,

His evening-speech; upright he stood

And him fast seized: his fingers cracked

The eoten would outwards: the earl further stepped;

The mighty one thought, whereso he might,

Afar to escape, and away thence

Flee into the marshes: he knew that his fingers

Were in his foe's grip: that was a bad journey

That the harm-bringing foe had taken to Heorot:

The royal hall sounded: for all the Danes was,

The city-dwellers, each one of the bold,

For earls the ale spilt. Angry were both

Furious contestants: the hall cracked aloud:

Then was it great wonder that the wine-hall

Withstood the fierce fighters, that it to ground fell not,

The fair folk-hall: but it was too fast

Within and without in its iron bands

By cunning skill forged. There from the sill fell

Many a mead-bench, as I have heard say,

Adorned with gold, where the foes fought.

Of this before weened not wise men of the Scyldings

That it ever with strength any of men,

Goodly and bone-adorned, to pieces might break,

With craft destroy, unless flame's embrace

In smoke should it swallow. The sound arose

Often repeated: to the North-Danes stood

Fearful terror, to every one

Of those who from the wall the weeping heard,

The terrible song sung of th' opposer of God,

The joyless song, his pain lament

The prisoner of hell. He held him too fast,

He who of men was strongest in might

In the day then of this mortal life.

The earl's defence would on no account

The bringer of woes let go alive,

Nor his life-days to any people

Did he count useful. There brandished many

An earl of Beowulf his good old sword;

His dear lord's life he would defend,

His noble chiefs, whereso they might;

They knew not indeed, when they risked the contest,

The bold-in-mind heroes of battle,

And on each side they thought to hew,

To seek his soul, that the fiendish demon

Not any on earth choicest of weapons,

No one of war-swords, was able to touch,

But he had forsworn victorious weapons,

Each one of swords. His life-leaving should,

In the day then of this mortal life,

Miserably happen, and the strange-spirit

Into his foes' power afar depart.

Then that he perceived, he who oft before

In mirth of mind against mankind

His crimes had wrought, hostile to God,

That his body's frame him would not sustain,

But him the proud kinsman of Ilygelac

Had by the hands: each was to other

Living a foe. Pain of body endured

The terrible monster: there was on his shoulder

An evident wound; apart sprang the sinews,

The bone-frame burst. To Beowulf was

Battle-fame given: Grendel should thence

Sick-of-life flee under the fen-slopes,

Seek his joyless abode; too surely he knew

That of his life the end was come,

The span of his days. To all of the Danes

By the bloody strife was the wish fulfilled;

He then had cleansed, who ere came from afar,

Wise and valiant, the hall of Hrothgar,

Saved it from sorrow, rejoiced in his night-work,

His glorious deeds. Then for the East-Danes

The prince of the Geats his boast had performed,

Likewise the sufferings all had removed,

Sorrows from foe, which they ere suffered,

And by compulsion had to endure,

No little distress. That was a clear proof,

After the battle-brave laid down the hand,

The arm and the shoulder (there all was together),

The claw of Grendel 'neath the wide roof.

Then was in the morning, as I have heard say,

Around the gift-hall many a warrior:

The people's leaders from far and near came

Through the wide ways the wonder to view,

The tracks of the foe. Ne'er did his life-severing

Sorrowful seem to any of men,

Of those who then viewed the track of the vanquished,

How weary in mind he away thence,

In fight overcome, to the mere of the nickers,

Doomed and driven, his life-tracks bore.

There was the surface welling in blood;

The frightful waves' lashing all commingled

Hot in gore boiled with the sword-blood ;

The doomed-to-death dyed them, when of joys deprived

In his fen-refuge he laid down his life,

His heathen soul, where hell him received.

Thence back again came the old companions,

And many a young one from their glad course,

From the sea proudly riding on horses,

Heroes on steeds. There then was Beowulf's

Glory proclaimed : oft many said

That south nor north by the two seas

O'er the wide earth no other one

'Neath heaven's expanse was better than he

Of bearers of shields, more worthy of rule.

They did not now at all their dear lord blame,

The friendly Hrothgar, but that was a good king.

Sometimes the battle-famed permitted to leap,

In contest to go, their yellow horses

Where the land-roads seemed to them fair,

Known for their goodness. Sometimes a king's thane,

A man renowned, mindful of songs,

He who very many of old-time sagas,

A great number remembered, framed other words

Rightly connected: the scope then began

Beowulf's exploit with skill to tell,

And with art to relate well-composed tales,

Words to exchange; he told everything

That he of Sigemund had heard men say,

His noble deeds, much of the unknown,

The Waelsing's contest, his journeys wide,

Which the children of men did not well know,

The feuds and crimes, but Fitela with him,

When he some such thing wished to relate,

Uncle to nephew, as they ever were

In every fight comrades in need:

They had very many of the race of the eotens

Slain with their swords. To Sigemund came

After his death-day no little fame

Since he, brave in war, destroyed the dragon,

The guard of the hoard: he 'neath the gray stone,

The prince's son, had risked alone

The very bold deed; not with him was Fitela;

Yet it happened to him that the sword pierced

through

The wonderful worm, that it in the wall stood,

The lordly weapon; in death lay the dragon.

The terrible one in strength had prevailed,

So that he the ring-hoard himself might enjoy

At his own will; he loaded his vessel,

Bore on the ship's bosom the ornaments bright,

The son of Waels; the worm's heat melted him.

He was of exiles the greatest by far

Among the nations, the warriors' defence

In noble deeds; for that ere had he glory.

After of IIeremod the battle-might failed.

His strength and prowess, he was 'mong the Jutes

Into his foe's power forthwith betrayed,

Sent away quickly: him waves of sorrow

Too long oppressed; he was to his people,

To all of his princes, a life-long distress:

Likewise oft lamented in former times

The brave one's journey many a wise churl,

Who trusted in him for help in misfortunes,

That the son of their prince was to grow up,

Take the place of his father, his people possess,

Hoard and head-city, kingdom of heroes,

Home of the Scyldings. He was there to all,

The kinsman of Hygelac, to the race of man,

To friends more beloved: him sorrow befell.-

Sometimes contending the yellow roads

With their horses they measured. Then was morning-light

Advanced and hastened: many a man went,

Brave now in mind, to the high hall

To see the rare wonder; the king himself also

From his bridal chamber, guardian of treasures,

Stepped strong in glory with a great crowd,

Famed for his virtues, and his queen with him

Measured the mead-path with her maiden-band.

Hrothgar then spoke (he went to the hall,

Stood by the column, looked at the high roof

Adorned with gold and at Grendel's hand):

" For this glad sight thanks to the Almighty

Quickly be given! Much evil I suffered,

Sorrows from Grendel: God may ever work

Wonder on wonder, King of glory.

Lately it was that I for myself

Of any of woes weened not my life long

Relief to obtain, since stained with blood

The noblest of houses drenched in gore stood;

Woe was brought down on every wise man,

Of those who weened not that they in their lives

The people's land-work from foes might defend,

From demons and devils. Now hath a hero,

Through the Lord's might, a deed performed,

Which we all before were not at all able

With wisdom to work. Lo! this may say

Even whatever woman brought forth this son

After man's nature, if she yet liveth,

That to her the eternal Creator was gracious

In her child-bearing. Now I thee, Beowulf,

Noblest of men, for myself as a son

Will love in lite : keep well henceforth

The kinship new. To thee shall no lack be

Of earthly wishes o'er which I have power.

Very often for less have I fixed the reward,

The share of the treasure, to warrior less brave,

One worse in the fight. Thou hast for thyself

Effected by deeds that thy fame shall live

For ever and ever. May thee the Almighty

With good repay, as He heretofore did !"

Beowulf then spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"That deed of might we, with great good-will,

That fight have fought, boldly encountered

The strength of the unknown: I rather would wish

That thou himself now mightest see,

The foe in his battle-dress wearied to death.

I quickly him with hardest grips

Thought then to bind on the death-bed,

That he by hand-grip of mine should lie

Striving for life, if his body escaped not:

I might not him, since the Creator willed not,

Cut off from escape: not so firm held I him,

The life-destroyer: too powerful was he,

The foe in his speed. Yet his hand did he let

For life-protection remain behind,

His arm and shoulder: not there, however,

Did the helpless man gain any comfort.

Not longer shall live the evil-doer

Burdened with sins, but him sore pain

In his strong grip sternly has seized,

In his bonds of bale: there shall abide

The sin-stained man the mickle doom,

How the glorious Creator to him will prescribe."

Then was more silent the son of Ecglaf

In his boasting-speech of warlike deeds,

After the princes, by the earl's might,

Upon the high roof the hand had viewed,

The foe-man's fingers, each one before him:

Each place of the nails was likest to steel,

The heathen's hand-spurs, the battle-monster's

Horrible claw: each one then said

That him would touch of warlike men

No excellent weapon, so that the demon's

Bloody war-hand it would break off.

Then quickly was ordered Heorot within

By hands to adorn: there were many of those,

Of men and of women, who that wine-hall,

That guest-room prepared. Gold-adorned shone

The webs on the walls, many wondrous sights

To each one of men, who on such look.

That building bright was very much injured,

All the interior in its iron-bands fast;

The hinges were shivered; the roof alone saved

Entirely sound, when had the monster,

Condemned for his crimes, in flight escaped,

Hopeless of life. It will not be easy

Fate to escape, let do it who will;

But each shall obtain of soul-bearing men,

By necessity fixed for the children of men,

For dwellers on earth, the place prepared,

Where his dead body, fast in his death-bed,

Shall sleep after feast. - Then was the fit time

That to the hall went Healfdene's son,

The king himself the feast would enjoy.

Ne'er heard I that folk in greater crowd

Around their ring-giver better behaved.

Went then to the benches the heroes renowned

Rejoiced at the plenty: courteously shared

Many a mead-cup the kinsmen of these,

The bold-minded ones in the high hall,

Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot within

Was filled with friends: not at all deeds of guile

Did the Folk-Scyldings at this time prepare.

Gave then to Beowulf Healfdene's son

A golden banner as victory's reward,

A wreathed standard, helmet and burnie;

A great jewelled sword many then saw

Before the chief borne. Beowulf received

The cup in the hall. Not of that treasure-giving

Before the warriors need he be ashamed:

Ne'er heard I, more courteously, that treasures four

With gold adorned, many of men

On the ale-bench to each other gave.

'Round the crown of the helmet head-protection

A loss wound with wires was keeping without,

That him the battle-swords boldly might not,

By file hardened, injure, when the shield-warrior

Against his foes in battle should go.

The earl's defence eight horses ordered,

With golden trappings, to lead in the hall

In under the barriers: on one of these stood

A saddle art-decked, with treasure adorned;

That was the battle-seat of the high king,

When in sword-play Healfdene's son

Wished to engage; ne'er at the front failed

The famed one's valor when corpses fell.

And then to Beowulf of each of the two

The prince of the Ingwins power delivered,

Of horses and weapons: bade him well use them.

So like a man the noble prince,

The hoard-keeper of heroes, contests repaid

With horses and treasures, such as never will blame

He who will speak truth according to right.

Then still on each one the prince of earls,

Of those who with Beowulf the watery waves traversed,

On the mead-bench a treasure bestowed.

A sword as an heir-loom, and bade for that one

To pay with gold, whom Grendel before

With evil killed, as he more of them would,

Had not the wise God weird averted,

And the man's courage: the Creator ruled all

Of the race of mankind, as He still doth:

Therefore is insight everywhere best,

Forethought of mind. He shall abide much

Of good and of ill, he who long here

In these days of sorrow useth the world.

There song and music was all together

About Healfdene's battle-leader;

The harp was played, the song oft rehearsed,

When joy in hall Hrothgar's minstrel

Along the mead-bench was to make known:

"He sang of Finn's sons when that danger befell

The heroes of Healfdene, when Hnaef of the Scyldings

In Frisian land was fated to fall.

Then indeed Hildeburh needed not praise

The faith of the Jutes: guiltless was she

Deprived of her dear ones in the shield-play,

Of sons and of brothers: by fate they fell

Wounded with spear: that was a sad woman.

Not without reason did the daughter of Hoc

Lament fate's decree, when morning came,

When she under heaven might then behold

The death-bale of kinsmen, where she before had

Most worldly joy. War took away all

The thanes of Finn except a few only,

So that he could not, on that meeting-place,

In fight with Hengest at all contend,

Nor even the remnant rescue by war

From the chief's thane : but they offered them terms,

That they for them other hall would provide,

Hall and high seat, that they power of half

With the Jutes' sons were to possess,

And at treasure-givings the son of Folcwalda

On every day would honor the Danes,

The band of Hengest with rings would enrich,

Even as much with costly jewels

Of plated gold, as he the Frisians

In the beer-hall would encourage.

Then they confirmed on either side

A firm peace-compact: Finn to Hengest,

In valor invincible, promised with oaths

That he the remnant, by the doom of his wise men,

In honor would hold, that no man there

By words nor works the compact should break,

Nor ever through cunning should violate it,

Though they their ring-giver's murderer followed,

Deprived of their prince, since so 'twas appointed them:

If then of the Frisians any one with bold speech

Of that bloody feud mindful should be,

Then the edge of the sword it should avenge.

The oath was confirmed and treasure of gold

From the hoard taken. Of the warlike Scyldings

The best of the warriors was at the pyre ready;

At the funeral-pile was easily seen

The blood-stained sark, the all-golden swine,

The boar of hard iron, many a prince

Destroyed by wounds: some fell in slaughter.

Hildeburh bade then at Hnaef's funeral-pyre

To consign to the flame her own dear son,

The body to burn and on the pyre place.

The wretched woman wept on his shoulder,

Mourned him in songs. The fierce smoke arose,

Wound to the clouds the greatest of fires,

Before the mound roared: the heads were melted,

The wound-openings burst; then out sprang the blood

From the wound of the body. The flame swallowed all,

Greediest of spirits, of those whom war took

Of both of the peoples: gone was their breath.

Then went the warriors to visit the dwellings,

Deprived of their friends, Friesland to see,

The homes and high city. Hengest then still

The slaughter-stained winter dwelt there with Finn,

In valor invincible; he remembered his land,

Though he might not on the sea drive

The ring-prowed ship: in storm rolled the ocean,

Fought with the wind.: winter the waves locked

In its icy bond, until came another

Year in the dwellings, as now still do

(For they ever observe suitable seasons)

The clear-shining days. Then winter was gone,

Fair was the earth's bosom: strove the exile to go,

The guest from the dwellings; he then on vengeance

More eagerly thought than on the sea-voyage,

If he might effect a hostile meeting,

And in it remember the sons of the Jutes.

So he did not escape the fate of the world

When Hunlaf's son a battle-sword,

Best of weapons, thrust in his breast;

Well-known were its edges among the Jutes.

Also, bold-minded Finn afterwards befell

Death-bringing sword-bale at his own home,

When the fierce battle Guthlaf and Oslaf

After their sea-journey in sorrow lamented,

Blamed him for their woes: his flickering life might not

Keep itself in his breast. Then was the hall covered

With bodies of foes; also was Finn slain,

The king 'mong his band, and the queen taken.

The Scyldings' warriors bore to their ships

All the possessions of the king of the land,

Such as they might find at Finn's home

Of bright jewels and gems. They on the sea-road

The royal woman to the Danes bore,

Led to their people."-The song was sung,

The gleeman's glee: the sport then arose,

Carousing resounded: the servants out-poured

Wine from the wondrous vessels. Then came Wealhtheow forth,

Going under her golden crown, where were the good ones two

Uncle and nephew sitting: then were they still at peace,

Each one true to the other. There also the orator Hunferth

Sat at the feet of the Scyldings' lord: each of them trusted his wisdom,

That he great courage had, tho' to his kinsmen he was not

Honest in play of the swords. Spoke then the queen of the Scyldings:

"Receive thou this cup, my dearest lord,

Giver of treasure. Be thou in health,

Gold-friend of men, and to the Geats speak

With mildest words, as a man shall do.

Be to the Geats kind, mindful of gifts;

Near and afar hast thou now peace.

One said to me thou for a son would

The warrior have. Heorot is cleansed,

The bright jewel-hall: use whilst thou mayest

Many rewards, and leave to thy kinsmen

Folk and kingdom, when thou shalt forth

Fate's decree see. I know well indeed

My friendly Hrothulf, that he the youth will

In honor hold, if thou sooner than he,

Friend of the Scyldings, leavest the world:

I ween that he with good will repay

Our own children, if he all remember,

What we, through good-will and also through honor,

Of kindnesses showed to him when a child."

Turned she then to the bench where were her sons,

Hrethric and Hrothmund, and the warriors' children

The youth together, where sat the good

Beowulf the Geat by the two brothers.

To him was a cup borne, and friendly greeting

Offered in words, and twisted gold

Gladly presented, arm-ornaments two,

A burnie and rings, the greatest of collars,

Of those which on earth I ever have heard of.

Under the heaven heard I of no better

Hoard-jewel of heroes, since Hama bore

To the bright city the Brosings' collar,

Bright jewel and costly; - he fell into the wiles

Of Eormenric, eternal fate chose.

This ring then had Higelac the Geat,

The grandson of Swerting, the very last time,

When he under his banner defended the treasure,

Battle-spoils guarded: Weird took him away,

When he for pride suffered great woes,

Feud from the Frisians: the jewels he bore,

The precious stones, o'er the wave-holder,

The mighty prince: he fell under his shield,

The life of the king into th' Franks' keeping went,

Breast-battle-weeds and the collar together:

Warriors inferior plundered the slain

After the overthrow of the Geats' people,

The battle-field held.-The hall resounded.

Wealhtheow then said, she before the crowd spoke

"Use this collar , Beowulf dear,

Young man, with joy, and make use of this burnie,

People's treasures, and thrive thou well;

Bear thee with might and be to these youths

Friendly in counsel; thy reward I'll remember.

Thou hast now caused that thee far and near

All thy life long men shall honor,

Even so wide as the sea encircles,

Winds through its walls. Be, whilst thou livest,

Noble prince, happy. I grant to thee well

Precious treasures. Be thou to my sons

Friendly in deeds, thou joyful one:

Here is each earl true to the other,

Mild in his mood, loyal to his liege lord;

The thanes are at peace, the people all ready;

Warriors well-drunken, do as I bid."

She went to the seat. There was choicest of feasts,

The men drank the wine: weird they knew not,

Destiny stern, as it did happen

To many of earls, when even came

And Hrothgar departed to go to his court,

The mighty to rest. The hall in-dwelt

A number of earls, as they oft before did;

They emptied the bench-space: it was over-spread

With beds and bolsters. A certain beer-servant,

Ready and fated, lay down to his rest.

They placed at their heads the battle-shields,

The bright wooden boards: there on the bench was

Over the warrior easily seen

The battle-high helmet, the ringéd burnie,

The mighty spear-shaft; their custom was

That they often were ready for combat

Both at home and in army, and in each one of them

Even at such a time as to their liege lord

Need there might be: that was a good folk.

They went then to sleep: one sorely paid for

His evening-rest, as to them often happened

When the gold-hall Grendel in-dwelt,

Evil deeds wrought, until the end came,

Death for his crimes. That became plain,

To men widely known, that still an avenger

Lived for his foes. For a long time

After the war-sorrow Grendel's mother,

A terrible woman, nourished her grief,

Who was said to inhabit the fearful waters,

The ice-cold streams, since Cain became

The murderer by sword of his only brother,

His father's son; then outlawed he went,

With murder marked, to flee human joy,

Dwelt in the waste. Thence many sprang

Of the demons of fate; of these one was Grendel,

Hateful and ravenous, who in Heorot found

A watching man awaiting the battle

Where the fell monster him was attacking:

Yet he remembered the strength of his might,

The powerful gift, which God to him gave,

And on the Lord's favor relied for himself

For comfort and help: so the fiend overcame he,

Felled the demon of hell, when he humbled departed,

Deprived of joy, his death-place to see,

The foe of mankind. And still his mother,

Greedy and raging, wished then to go

The sorrowful journey her son to avenge.

She came then to Heorot, where the Ring-Danes

Through the hall slept: then there was soon

A change to the earls, when within entered

Grendel's-mother. The terror was less

Even by so much as is woman's strength,

A woman's war-terror, esteemed by a man,

When a bound sword, forged by the hammer,

The sword stained with gore, the boar on the helmet,

Strong in its edges, opposite cleaves.

Then was in the hall the hard-edged drawn,

The sword o'er the seats, many a broad shield

Raised firm in hand: of helmet one thought not,

Of burnie broad, when terror him seized.

She was in haste, would thence away,

Her life preserve, when she was discovered.

Quickly had she of one of the warriors

Firmly laid hold, when she to fen went:

He was to Hrothgar, the dearest of men

In the office of comrade by the two seas,

A shield-warrior strong, whom she in rest killed,

A hero renowned. Not there was Beowulf,

But other room before was assigned,

After the treasure-giving, to the great Geat.

Noise was in Heorot: she in its gore took

The well-known hand. Grief was renewed

Again in the dwellings; 'twas not a good trade,

That they on both sides payment should make

With the lives of their friends. Then was the old king,

The hoary warrior, in sorrowful mood,

When he his chief thane, deprived of life,

The dearest one, knew to be dead.

Quickly was Beowulf brought to the hall,

The victory-blest hero. At dawn of day

Went one of earls, the noble warrior,

Himself with his comrades, where the wise one

awaited,

Whether for him the Almighty will ever,

After this woe-spell, a change of things work.

Went then on the floor the man war-renowned

With his band of men (the hall-wood resounded),

Until he addressed the wise one in words,

The lord of the Ingwins, asked if to him were,

As he had wished, the night undisturbed.

Hrothgar then spoke, the defence of the Scyldings:

"Ask not thou for health. Sorrow's renewed

To the Danes' people: dead is Aeschere,

Of Yrmenlaf the elder brother,

My trusted counsellor and my adviser,

My right-hand man, when we in battle

Defended our heads, when warriors engaged,

When the boars clashed: such should an earl be,

An excellent prince, as Aeschere was.

She was to him the murderer in Heorot,

The restless death-demon: I know not whither,

Proud of her prey, she frightful withdrew,

Well-known from her meal. The feud she avenged,

For that thou yester-night Grendel didst kill

In a powerful way by your hard grips,

Because he too long my own people

Lessened and killed: in battle he fell,

Of his life guilty, and now came another,

A mighty fell foe, her son would avenge,

And further has laid her feud upon us;

Wherefore it may seem to many a thane,

Who for his ring-giver mourns in his mind,

A bale hard to bear; now lies the hand helpless,

Which used to gratify all of your wishes.

I the land-dwellers, my own people,

Counsellors-in-hall, that have heard say

That they used to see a pair of such

Mickle mark-steppers holding the moors,

Spirits of elsewhere: one of these was,

As they most certainly might then perceive,

A woman's form: the other one wretched

In the likeness of man his exile trod-

Except he was greater than any man else-

Whom in yore-days Grendel they named,

The dwellers-on-earth: they know not their father,

Whether any to him was before born

Of wicked spirits. They in a dark land,

Cliffs of wolves, dwell, windy nesses,

Dangerous marshes, where mountain-stream

Under clouds of the nesses flows down below,

Lake under the earth. It is not far hence

In measure by miles that the mere stands,

Over which hang the rustling groves,

Wood firm in its roots; they cover the water.

There one every night a strange wonder may see,

Fire on the flood: so wise a one lives not

Of the children of men that knows its bottom:

Although the heath-stepper pressed by the dogs,

The stag, strong in horns, may seek the grove,

Pursued from afar, his life will he give,

His life on the shore, ere in it he will

Hide there his head. That 's no unhaunted place;

Thence the boiling of waters rises up high

Wan to the clouds, when the wind rouses,

The hateful storms, while dark grows the air,

The heavens weep. Now is ready counsel

Again in thee alone. The abode yet thou knowest not,

The terrible place, where thou mayest find

The much-sinning being: seek if thou dare.

I for the contest thee will repay

With old-time treasures, as I before did,

With twisted gold, if thou comest away."

Beowulf then spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"Sorrow not, wise man! It is better for each

That his friend he avenge than that he mourn much

Each of us shall the end await

Of worldly life: let him who may gain

Honor ere death. That is for a warrior,

When he is dead, afterwards best.

Arise, kingdom's guardian! Let us quickly go

To view the track of Grendel's kinsman.

I promise it thee: he will not escape,

Nor in earth's bosom, nor in mountain-wood,

Nor in ocean's depths, go where he will.

Throughout this day do thou patience have

Of each of thy woes, as I ween of thee !"

Up leaped the agéd one, thanked he then God,

The mighty Lord, for what the man spoke.

Then was for Hrothgar a horse provided,

A steed with curled mane: the ruler wise

Well-equipped went; the band stepped forth

Of bearers of shields. The foot-tracks were

On the forest-paths widely perceived,

The course o'er the plain: she went straight ahead

O'er the murky moor, of knightly thanes bore

The noblest one deprived of life,

Of those who with Hrothgar defended his home.

Went he then over, the offspring of princes,

The steep, stony slopes, the narrow ways,

The strait single paths, the unknown course,

The headlands steep, many houses of nickers.

He one of few went on before,

Of the wise men, the plain to view,

Until he all at once the mountain-trees

O'er the gray stone found bending down,

The joyless wood: the water stood under

Gory and restless. To all the Danes 'twas,

To the friends of the Scyldings, bitter in mood,

To many a thane sorrow to suffer,

To each one of earls, after of Aeschere

On the holm-cliff the head they found.

The flood boiled with blood (the people looked on),

With the hot gore. The horn at times sang

The ready war-song. All the warriors sat down;

They saw then in the water many of worm-kind,

Strange sea-dragons, seeking the sea,

Such nickers lying out on the ness-slopes,

As at mid-day often prepare

A sorrowful voyage on the sail-road,

Worms and wild beasts: rushed they away

Fierce and angry; the noise they perceived

The war-horn sound. The prince of the Geats

With his arrowed bow deprived one of life,

Of strife with the sea, so that stood in his vitals

The hard war-arrow: he was in the holm

The slower in swimming, whom death took away.

Quickly was in the waves with their boar-spears,

Their hooked swords, fiercely attacked,

Pressed after with struggles and to the ness drawn,

The wonderful monster: the men looked upon

The terrible stranger. Beowulf girded him

With noble armor, not for life did he care:

The war-burnie should, woven with hands,

Wide and well-wrought, seek out the sea,

That which his body could well protect,

So that him battle-grip might not in breast,

The mad one's assault, injure in life:

But the bright helmet protected his head,

Which was to mingle with the depths of the sea,

Adorned with treasure seek the sea-waves,

Encircled with diadem, as in days of old

The weapon-smith wrought it, wondrously framed it

Set with swine-bodies, so that it never after

The flaming war-swords might be able to bite.

That was not then the least of strong helps,

That to him in need Hrothgar's orator lent:

Of that hilted sword Hrunting was name;

That was a chief one of old-time treasures;

Its edge was of iron, with poison-twigs stained,

Hardened with battle-gore; ne'er failed it in fight

Any of men, who it wielded with hand,

He who durst tread the terrible paths,

The folk-place of foes: that was not the first time,

That deeds of valor it should perform.

The kinsman of Ecglaf remembered not now,

Mighty in strength, what he before spoke

Drunken with wine, when the weapon he lent

To a better sword-bearer; he himself durst not

Under waves' tumult venture his life,

Heroic deeds work; there he lost fame,

A name for valor; not so with the other,

When he for battle himself had prepared.

Beowulf then spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"Bethink thyself now, great kinsman of Healfdene

Thou ruler wise, now I'm for the way ready,

Gold-friend of men, of what we once spoke,

If I in thy service should at any time

Of my life be deprived, that thou wouldst ever be

To me when gone hence, in stead of a father.

Be thou a protector to my knightly thanes,

My trusty comrades, if war take me off:

Also the treasures, which thou gavest me,

Do thou, dear Hrothgar, to Hygelac send.

May then by the gold the Geat's lord perceive,

Hrethel's son see, when he looks on the treasure,

That I did one find in man's virtues good,

A giver of rings, him enjoyed while I might.

And do thou let Hunferth the ancient relic,

The wonderful sword, the widely-known man

The hard-edged have. I shall with Hrunting

Fame for me gain, or death will me take."

After these words the prince of the Weder-Geats

Hastened with valor, not for an answer

Would he await. The water-flood took

The mighty warrior: then was a day's space

Ere the bottom-plain he might perceive.

Soon that discovered she who the flood's realm,

Eager for blood, for fifty years held,

Grim and greedy, that there some one of men

The monster's abode sought out from above.

She grasped then against him, the warrior seized

In her terrible claws; not sooner she injured

His body sound: the burnie him shielded,

So that she might not pierce through the corslet,

The locked linked sark, with fiendish fingers.

Bore then the sea-wolf, when she came to the bottom,

The giver of rings to her own abode,

So that he might not, tho' he was brave,

His weapons wield, but him many strange ones

Oppressed in the sea: many a sea-beast

With battle-tusks his war-sark brake;

The monsters harassed him. The earl then perceived

That he in sea-hall, he knew not what, was,

Where him no water in aught might harm,

Nor for the roofed hall might lay hold of him

Sudden grip of the flood: the fire-light he saw,

The brilliant beams brightly shining.

The good one perceived then the wolf of the bottom,

The mighty mere-woman; he gave a strong stroke

With his battle-bill, withheld not the blow,

So that on her head the ringed blade sounded

A greedy war-song. Then the stranger perceived

That the war-weapon would not cleave through,

Injure her life, but the edge failed

The prince in his need: before it endured

Many hand-meetings, the helmet oft clave,

The fated one's corslet: that was the first time

To the dear treasure that power had failed.

Again was determined, not lacking in prowess,

Mindful of fame, the kinsman of Hygelac:

Then threw the etched brand, with jewels adorned,

The angry warrior, that it on the earth lay,

Strong and steel-edged; he trusted to strength,

The hand-grip of might: so shall a man do,

When he in war thinketh to gain

Praise everlasting, nor for his life careth.

Seized then by the shoulder (cared she not for the contest)

The War-Geats' prince Grendel's mother,

Threw then battle-brave, for he was enraged,

The life-destroyer, that she on the floor fell.

She him again quickly the hand-grip repaid

With her fierce claws, and seized him fast:

Then stumbled the weary one, strongest of warriors.

The fighter-on-foot, so that he fell.

She sat on the hall-guest and drew her short sword.

Broad and brown-edged, her son would avenge,

Her only child. On his shoulder lay

The braided breast-net: that his life saved,

Against point and edge entrance withstood.

Then had he perished, Ecgtheow's son,

'Neath the broad bottom, the chief of the Geats

Had not the war-burnie lent help to him,

The hard battle-net, and had not holy God

Directed the victory, the all-knowing Lord;

The Ruler of heaven adjudged it aright;

Easily afterwards he again rose.

'Mongst the armor he saw then a victory blessed weapon,

Old sword of the eotens strong in its edges,

Honor of warriors: that was choicest of weapons,

But it was greater than any man else

To the war-play was able to bear,

Good and ornate, the hand-work of giants.

He seized the chained hilt, the Scyldings' champion,

Raging and battle-fierce, the ringed sword brandished,

Hopeless of life angrily struck,

So that 'gainst her neck it strongly grasped,

Broke the bone-rings; the bill pierced through

Her fated body: she on the floor fell;

The sword was bloody, in his deed he rejoiced.

The blade's beam shone, the light stood within,

Just as from heaven brightly doth shine

The firmament's candle. He looked through the hall

Turned then by the wall, uplifted the weapon

Strong by its hilts Higelac's thane,

Angry and firm: the edge was not useless

To the war-hero, but he quickly would

Grendel repay many warlike assaults

Of those which he wrought to the West-Danes

Oftener by far than for one time,

When he of Hrothgar the hearth-companions

Slew in their sleep, whilst sleeping ate

Of the Danes' folk fifteen of men,

And such another bore he away,

A sorrowful prey: he paid him for that,

The warrior fierce, as he in rest saw

Weary of war Grendel there lying

Of life deprived, as him before injured

The combat at Heorot. His body sprang far,

When he after death suffered the blow,

The strong sword-stroke, that struck off his head.-

Soon that perceived the cunning churls,

Those who with Hrothgar gazed on the sea,

That the waves-stirring all was commingled,

The surge stained with blood. The hoary-haired elders

Concerning the good one together thus spoke,

That they for the prince looked not again,

That he, flushed with victory, would come to seek

Their mighty chief, since it seemed to so many

That the sea-wolf him had destroyed.

Then came the ninth hour; the ness forsook

The valiant Scyldings: he departed thence home,

The gold-friend of men. The strangers sat,

Sick in their mind, and stared on the sea:

They knew and weened not, that they their dear lord

Himself might see. - The sword then began

On account of the battle-gore in clots of blood

The war-bill to vanish (that was a wonder),

So that it all melted likest to ice,

When the frost's fetters the Father unlooses,

The ice-rope unwinds, He who has control

Of times and tides: that is true Creator.

Took he not in the dwelling, the Weder-Geats' prince,

More of rich treasures, though he many there saw,

But only the head and the hilts together,

With jewels adorned: the sword ere melted,

The etched brand burnt: the blood was so hot,

The strange-spirit poisonous, who therein died.

Soon was he swimming who lived through the strife,

The foes' fierce assault, dived he up through the water:

The stirrings of waves all were cleansed,

The regions wide, when the strange-spirit

Left his life-days and this fleeting creation.

Came then to the land the seamens' protector

Strong-minded swimming, joyed in his sea-booty,

The mighty burden of what he had with him.

They went then to meet him, gave thanks to God

The brave band of thanes, rejoiced in their chief,

For that they him safe might again see.

Then from the strong one helmet and burnie

Quickly was loosed: the lake became thick,

Water under the clouds stained with war-gore.

Forth went they thence on the foot-paths

Glad in their hearts, measured the land-ways,

The well-known roads; the very bold men

From the sea-cliff were beating the head

With great exertion to each one of them:

Of the courageous four warriors should

On the spear-shaft with labor bear

To the gold-hall the head of Grendel,

Until forthwith to the hall came

Fourteen brave men and fierce in war

Of the Geats going: the lord of men with them,

Brave in the crowd, trod the mead-plains.

Then entering came the prince of the thanes,

The man brave in deeds, honored in fame,

The battle-fierce warrior, Hrothgar to greet.

Then was by the hair on the floor borne

The head of Grendel, where the men drank,

Frightful to earls and the lady also,

A wonderful sight: the men on it gazed.

Beowulf then spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"Lo! we thee this sea-booty, son of Healfdene,

Prince of the Scyldings, with joy have brought

As a token of fame, which thou gazest on here.

I that with my life scarcely escaped;

Under water in battle risked I the work

With great exertion; almost would have been

Ended the struggle, had not me God shielded.

I might not in battle with Hrunting the sword

Aught then perform, though that weapon is good:

But the Ruler of men granted to me

That I on the wall saw beautiful hanging

An old mighty sword (often has He directed

Those without friends), that I brandished the weapon.

Then I slew in the contest, when time favored me,

The house's keepers. Then did the battle-bill,

The etched brand, burn, as sprang forth the blood,

The hottest of battle-gore: I the hilt thence

Bore from my foes, avenged their ill-deeds,

Death-plague of the Danes, as it was right.

I promise thee then that thou mayest in Heorot,

Sorrowless sleep with thy warrior-band,

And each of the thanes of thine own people,

Of old and of young; thou needst not for them fear,

Chief of the Scyldings, from this direction

Life-bale for thy earls, as thou didst before,"

Then was the golden hilt to the old warrior,

The hoary war-chief, given in hand,

The old work of giants: it went into the keeping,

Since the fall of the devils, of the lord of the Danes,

The cunning smiths' work, when this world forsook

The bad-hearted being, the opposer of God.

Devoted to death, and his mother also.

It went into the power of the noblest one

Of the world-kings by the two seas,

Of those who in Sceden-ig treasure divided.

Hrothgar then spoke, on the hilt looked,

The old relic on which was the origin written

Of an old contest: the flood afterwards slew,

The rushing sea, the race of the giants;

Badly they fared: that people was hostile

To the Lord eternal; therefor a reward

Through waters' flood the Almighty them gave.

So was on the guard of purest gold

In runic letters rightly engraved,

Was set and said, for whom that sword,

Choicest of weapons, first had been wrought

With wreathed hilt snake-adorned. Then the chief spoke,

The son of Healfdene (kept silent all):

"Lo! that he may say who truth and right

Works for his people, the past all remembers,

An old home-guardian, that this earl was

One born of the best. Thy fame is wide-spread

Through distant ways, Beowulf my friend,

Over each nation: with patience thou holdest it all,

Thy might with prudence of mind. I shall to thee grant

My friendship, as we before spoke: thou shalt be for comfort,

All long-assured, to thine own people,

To heroes for help. Not so was Heremod

To the children of Ecgwela, the Honor-Scyldings;

He throve not for their pleasure, but for their slaughter,

And for death-plagues to the Danes' people:

Slew he enraged his table-companions,

His chosen comrades, till he went alone,

The mighty prince, from human joys:

Though him mighty God in joy of strength.

In power exalted, over all men

Him had uplifted, yet in his heart grew

A bloodthirsty feeling: he did not give rings

To the Danes by right: joyless abode he,

So that for this strife sorrow he suffered,

Misery lasting. By that teach thou thyself,

Practise man's virtues. This tale for thee

Have I, old in years, told. 'Tis a wonder to say

How mighty God to the race of mankind,

Through His great mind, wisdom divides,

Homes and nobility: He rules over all.

Sometimes on love permits He to turn

The thoughts of the man of mighty race,

Gives him in his home the joy of earth,

A sheltering city of men to possess,

Makes subject to him parts of the world,

A kingdom wide, so that he of it may not,

For his lack of wisdom, think of the end:

He dwells in plenty, nor him does aught check,

Sickness nor age, nor for him does sorrow

Grow dark in his mind, nor a foe anywhere

Show him sword-hate, but for him all the world

Wends at his will. He knows not the worse,

Until him within a portion of pride

Waxes and grows, when sleeps the keeper,

The guard of the soul: that sleep is too firmly

Bound up with sorrows; very nigh is the slayer,

Who from arrowed bow spitefully shoots.

Then is he in his breast pierced under his helmet

With a sharp arrow: he cannot defend him

From the evil strange-orders of that cursed spirit:

Him seems it too little what he long held;

He with evil mind covets, gives not for boasting

Gold-plated rings, and he future fate

Forgets and neglects, for God gave him before,

The Ruler of glory, a share of earth's honors.

It at the end afterwards happens

That the frail body fleeting doth fail,

Fated doth fall: another succeeds,

He who undisturbed treasures divides,

The earl's former store, cares not for its owner.

Guard against wrong-doing, Beowulf dear,

Best one of heroes, and choose thou the better,

Counsels eternal. Care not for pride,

Mighty warrior. Now is thy strength's fame

Lasting a while: soon after it shall be

That sickness or sword shall rob thee of might,

Or clutch of the fire, or swell of the flood,

Or grip of the sword, or flight of the arrow,

Or fearful old age, or light of the eyes

Shall fail and grow dark: it suddenly shall be

That thee, great warrior, death shall overcome.

So I the Ring-Danes a hundred half-years

Ruled under heavens, and secured them by war

Against many tribes throughout this mid-earth,

With spears and with swords, so that any foe

Under circuit of heaven reckoned I not.

Lo! to me in my home a change of this came,

Sorrow for joy, after Grendel became

The foe of long years, my constant home-seeker:

I from this hostility continually suffered

Much sorrow of mind. Thanks to the Creator,

The Lord eternal, whilst in life I remained,

That I on this head drenchéd with gore,

After long sorrow, look with my eyes.

Go now to thy seat, partake of feast-joy,

Thou honored in war. To us shall be many

Of treasures in common, when morning shall come."

The Geat was glad-minded went he then soon

His seat to take, as the wise one bade.

Then was as before for the courageous

Sitters-in-hall fitly prepared

Another time. Night's canopy lowered

Dark o'er the warriors. The band all arose;

The white-haired one his bed would seek

The aged Scylding. The Geat beyond measure,

The brave shield-warrior, it pleased to rest:

Soon the hall-thane him of his way weary,

The comer-from-far, forth led to his couch,

He who through courtesy all would supply

Of the wants of the thane, as at that day

The farers-by-sea were wont to have.

The great-hearted rested: the hall arose

Wide and gold-decked. the guest slept within,

Until the black raven the joy of heaven

Blithe-hearted announced, when came the bright light

Shooting o'er shadows. The warriors hastened:

The aethelings were back to their people

Ready to go: he would far thence

The high-minded guest, visit his vessel.

The brave one then bade Hrunting bear

The son of Ecglaf, bade take his sword,

Precious weapon, thanked him for the loan,

Said that he counted the war-friend good,

Mighty in battle, not in words blamed he

The edge of the sword: that was a brave man.

When for their march ready, in armor equipped,

The warriors were, went by the Danes honored

The prince to the throne, where was the other,

The battle-brave man: Hrothgar he greeted

Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"Now we sea-goers desire to say,

Comers-from-far, that we intend

Hygelac to seek: we were here well

Supplied in our wishes: thou served'st us well.

If I then on earth may in any manner

More of thy heart's love gain for myself,

Ruler of men, than I have yet done,

For works of war I soon shall be ready.

If I that learn o'er the flood's course,

That thee thy neighbors with dread oppress,

As hating thee they sometimes have done,

To thee I shall bring thousands of thanes,

Of heroes for help. Of Hygelac I know,

Lord of the Geats, though he be young

Chief of his folk, that he me will aid

By words and by deeds that I may thee honor,

And to thee for help my spear-shaft bear,

The power of my might, if thou needest men.

If Hrethric then at the courts of the Geats,

The king's son, aid seeks, he may there many

Of his friends find: far countries will be

Better sought for by him who is worthy."

Hrothgar then spoke to him in answer:

" These words to thee the all-wise Lord

Sent into thy mind: ne'er heard I more wisely

In so youthful age any man speak:

Thou art in might strong and in mind old,

A counsellor wise. I count on the hope,

If this may happen that the spear take,

Terrible battle, the son of Hrethel,

Sickness or weapon, thine own chieftain,

People's shepherd, and thou hast thy life,

That the Sea-Geats will not have a better,

To choose as their king, any one, than thee.

Hoard-keeper of heroes, if thou wilt hold

Thy kinsmen's kingdom. Me thy bold courage

Long pleases so well, Beowulf dear.

Thou hast now caused that to these nations shall,

To the Geats' people and to the Spear-Danes,

Peace be in common and strife shall cease,

The hostile contests which they ere suffered:

There shall be, whilst I wield the wide realm,

Treasures in common; many another

With presents shall greet o'er the swan's bath:

The ringed ship shall o'er the sea bring

Presents and love-tokens. I know that the people

Towards foe and towards friend are firmly disposed,

In everything blameless after old custom."

Then still to him the defence of earls gave,

The son of Healfdene, twelve jewels besides,

Bade him with these presents his own dear people

Seek in good health and quickly return.

Kissed him then the king noble in birth,

The prince of the Scyldings kissed the best thane,

And round the neck clasped; tears from him fell,

The gray-haired one: he had hope of both,

The aged man, more of the latter,

That they might again each other see,

Courageous in council. The man was so dear

That he the breast-flood could not restrain,

But in his breast, fast in his mind's fetters,

For the dear man a secret longing

Burned through his blood. - Beowulf thence,

The gold-adorned warrior, the grassy plain trod,

Proud of his treasure: the sea-goer awaited

Its own possessor, which at anchor rode.

Then was on the way the gift of Hrothgar

Often extolled: that was a king

In everything blameless, till old age removed him

From his might's joys, which has oft oppressed many

Came then to the sea the very brave ones,

The band of attendants; their burnies they bore,

Their locked body-sarks. The land-guard perceived

The return of the earls, as he before did:

He did not with harm from the cliff's head

Greet then the guests, but towards them rode,

Quoth that as welcome the Weders' people,

The mail-clad warriors, went to their ship.

Then was on the shore the spacious boat,

The ring-prowed ship, with battle-weeds laden,

With horses and jewels; the mast arose

Over Hrothgar's hoard of treasures.

He to the boat-guard, bound with gold-work,

A sword then gave, so that after he was

On the mead-bench from the jewel more honored,

The costly heir-loom. He went in his sea-boat

To stir the deep water, the Danes' land forsook.

Then was to the mast one of sea-cloths,

Sail by rope fastened. The vessel groaned;

Not there the sea-floater did the wind o'er the waves

In its course hinder: the sea-goer went,

The foamy-necked floated forth o'er the water,

The curvéd-prowed went o'er the sea-waves,

Until the Geats' cliffs they might descry,

The well-known nesses. The keel pressed up,

Urged by the wind it stood on the land.

Quickly was at the sea the harbor-guard ready,

Who long time before for the dear men

Longing had gazed afar on the ocean:

He to the shore fastened the wide-bosomed ship

With anchor-chains fast, lest the waves' force

The winsome boat might carry away.

He bade then bear up the nobles' treasures,

Jewels and beaten gold; not for them far thence

Was it to seek the giver of rings:

Hygelac, Hrethel's son, there at home dwelt,

Himself with his comrades near the sea-wall.

The building was fine, the prince a good king,

High was the hall, Hygd very young,

Wise, well-instructed, although winters few

Under the city-locks she may have dwelt,

The daughter of Haereth: she was not, though, niggardly,

Nor sparing in gifts, to the Geats' people,

In costly jewels. Modthrytho committed,

The great folk-queen, horrible crime:

No brave one durst that undertake,

Of dear companions, except her liege lord,

That on her by day he should look with his eyes:

But he wrought for himself death-fetters firm,

Twisted by hand: quickly afterwards was,

After the hand-grip, the sword appointed,

So that the carved weapon must it decide,

Tell the death-bale. Such is not queenly custom

For a woman to practise, though she be peerless,

That a peace-weaver of life should deprive,

On account of fierce anger, any dear man.

That indeed checked the kinsman of Heming.

The drinkers of ale other word said,

That she of folk-woes less did inflict,

Of hostile deeds, after she first was

Gold-adorned given to the young warrior,

The brave young noble, after she Offa's hall,

O'er the dark flood, by her father's command,

Sought in her journey, where she afterwards well,

On royal throne, by gifts renowned,

Her portion of life whilst living enjoyed,

Held her great love for the prince of heroes,

Of all mankind, as I have heard say,

The very best one by the two seas,

Of human race: for that Offa was

By gifts and war-deeds, the very brave man,

Widely renowned; with wisdom he ruled

His own possessions: thence Eomor sprang

For help to heroes, the kinsman of Heming,

Grandson of Garmund, crafty in contests.-

Went then the brave with his trusty band

Himself o'er the sand the sea-beach treading,

The wide-stretching shores: the world-candle shone,

Sun inclined from the south. They kept on their journey,

Went in their might, till the earls' defence,

The slayer of Ongentheow within in the city,

The good young war-king they then heard say

Rings was dividing. To Hygelac was

The journey of Beowulf quickly made known,

That there in the palace the warriors' defence,

His shield-companion, living was come,

Hale from the battle-play to the court going.

Quick was prepared, as the mighty one bade,

For the foot-guests the hall within.

Sat he then opposite, who 'scaped from the strife,

Kinsman with kinsman, after his lord

With courtly speech the loyal one greeted,

With mighty words. With mead-cups went

Through the high hall the daughter of Haereth;

The people she served, the ale-cups she bore

To the men at hand. Hygelac began

His comrade-in-arms in the high hall

Kindly to ask (wish to know urged him),

What were the journeys of the Sea-Geats:

"How befell on your way, Beowulf dear,

When thou so suddenly thoughtest afar

The strife to seek o'er the salt water,

Battle at Heorot? But didst thou for Hrothgar

The widely-known woe in aught remove,

For the great chief? I for that in distress,

In sorrow-waves pined: the journey I trusted not

Of the dear man. Thee long I begged

That thou the death-spirit by no means wouldst seek,

Wouldst let the South-Danes themselves put an end to

Their war against Grendel. I give thanks to God,

For that I may see thee now safe and sound."

Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"That is now plain, Hygelac lord,

Our great struggle, to many of men,

What a war-time of Grendel and me

Was in the place where he very many

Sorrows had wrought to the Victor-Scyldings,

Misery perpetual: all that I avenged,

So no kinsman of Grendel need now rejoice

At the morning-sound over the earth,

He who shall live longest of that evil race,

By danger surrounded! At first I came there

To the ringed hall Hrothgar to greet:

Soon for me the great son of Healfdene,

After he knew of my intention,

Near his own son a seat provided.

The crowd was in joy; ne'er saw I my life long

Under heaven's vault of sitters-in-hall

Greater mead-joy! Sometimes the great queen,

Peace-bringer of nations, went through all the hall,

Urged the young sons: oft she a bracelet

Gave to a warrior, ere she went to her seat.

Sometimes 'fore the court the daughter of Hrothgar

To the earls at the end the ale-cup bore,

Whom I Freaware the sitters-in-hall

Heard call by name, where she buckled treasure

Gave to the heroes. She had been promised,

Young, gold-adorned, to Froda's glad son:

Therefore it has happened to the friend of the Scyldings,

The kingdom's ruler, and he counts that a gain,

That he with the woman a part of fierce feuds,

Of quarrels appeased. Often the courtiers,

After folk's fall, in a little while

The deadly spear takes, though good be the bride.

It may therefore displease the prince of the Heathobards,

And each of the thanes of these peoples,

When he with the woman goes into the hall,

That a son of the Danes on her should attend:

For on him there shines the bequest of the aged,

Hard and ring-decked, the Heathobards' treasure,

While they with weapons were able to rule,

Until they misled to the shield-play

Their dear companions and their own lives.

Then speaks at the beer-drinking he who sees the jewel,

An old spear-warrior, who all remembers,

Spear-death of men (fierce is his mind),

Begins, sad in mood, of the young warrior

The spirit to rouse by thoughts in his mind,

War-bale to excite, and this word speaks:

'Mayst thou, my friend, know now the sword,

Which thine own father bore into battle

Under his helmet for the last time,

The precious weapon, where the Danes slew him,

The battle-place held, when dead lay Withergyld,

After heroes' fall, the Scyldings brave?

Now here a son of some one of these murderers,

In his weapons rejoicing, goes into the hall,

Boasts of the murder and bears the jewel,

Which thou with right shouldest possess '

So he advises and each time reminds

With bitter words, until the time comes

That the woman's thane, for the deeds of his father,

After the sword's stroke blood-stained sleeps,

Guilty of his life: thence will the other

Warrior escape; he knows the land well.

Then are there broken on either side

The sword-oaths of earls, after in Ingeld

Are roused deadly feuds, and in him woman's love

After care-waves cooler becomes.

Therefore I count not on the faith of the Heathobards,

Folk-peace sincere, kept with the Danes,

Friendship confirmed. - I shall speak forth

Yet about Grendel, that thou mayst well know,

Giver of treasure, what was the result

Of the hand-fight of men. After heaven's gem

Glided over the earth, the angry fiend came,

The terrible even-guest, to make us a visit,

Where we unharmed guarded the hall.

There was Hondscio destined for fight,

Life-bale to the fated: he lay the first,

The belted warrior: to him was Grendel,

To the great war-thane, a mouth-destroyer,

The dear man's body all he swallowed.

Not sooner out then yet empty-handed,

The bloody-toothed murderer mindful of woes

From the gold-hall was willing to go,

But he, strong in might, made trial of me,

With ready hand grasped me. His glove was hanging,

Wide and wonderful, in cunning bands fast;

It was all wrought with curious skill

With devil's craft and dragon's skins;

He me therein, guiltless of crime,

The fierce deed-doer, wished to destroy,

One of many: it might not be so,

After in anger upright I stood.

Too long is to tell how I the folk's foe

For each of his ills a hand-reward paid,

Where I, my prince, thine own people

Honored by deeds. Away he escaped,

A little while life's joys enjoyed:

Yet of him a trace remained behind,

His right hand in Heorot, and he humbled thence,

Sorrowing in mind, to the sea-bottom sank.

Me for this contest the friend of the Scyldings

With plated gold much rewarded,

With many treasures, when morning came,

And we at the banquet had seated ourselves.

There was song and glee: the agéd Scylding,

Who much had heard, of past times related;

Sometimes the warrior the joy of the harp,

The play-wood touched; sometimes sang a song

True and sorrowful; sometimes a strange tale

Truthfully told the wide-hearted king;

Sometimes then began, burdened with age,

The hoary warrior to tell of his youth's

Prowess in battle; his breast swelled within,

When he old in years their number remembered.

So we therein the live-long day

Partook of hall-joys, until night came on,

Another to men. Then was again quickly

Ready for vengeance the mother of Grendel.

She sorrowful went: death took off her son,

War-hate of the Weders. The wondrous woman

Her son avenged, a warrior killed

Courageously; there was from Aeschere,

The aged counsellor, life departed.

Nor might they him, when morning came,

Delivered to death, the folk of the Danes

With fire consume, and on the pyre place

The dearly-loved man; the body she bore

In the fiend's embrace 'neath the mountain-stream.

That was to Hrothgar the greatest of sorrows,

Of those that long the prince befell.

Then the chief me by thine own life

Adjured, sad in mind, that I in the sea's flood

Should do valiant deeds, should risk my life,

Should honor gain; he promised reward.

I then of the water, which is widely known,

The grim and fearful guard of the deep found.

There a while was to us a hand-to-hand fight;

The sea welled with gore, and I of the head robbed

In the ground-hall the mother of Grendel

With a strong sword; I scarcely from thence

My life bore away; not yet was I fated;

But the earl's defence to me after gave

Many of treasures, the son of Healfdene.

So the folk-king lived as was right

Not at all had I lost by these rewards,

This meed of might, but he gave me treasures,

The son of Healfdene, at mine own will,

Which I will to thee, warlike king, bring,

Willingly offer. Still on thee is all

Of favor dependent: I have very few

Of near relations save, Hygelac, thee."

He bade then bring in the boar's-head-sign

The battle-high helmet, the hoary burnie

The war-sword ornate, his word then uttered:

"This cuirass to me Hrothgar then gave,

The crafty chief, bade with some words

That I of its origin first should thee tell,

Said that it had Hiorogar king,

Prince of the Scyldings, for a long while:

Not to his son sooner would he it give,

To the brave Heoroweard, though to him he were dear,

The defence of the breast. Use thou it well!"

I heard that to the armor four horses too,

Exactly alike, in their tracks followed,

Yellow as apples: he to him gave possession

Of horses and jewels. So shall a friend do,

Not at all cunning snares weave for another,

With secret craft death for him prepare,

His hand-companion. To Hygelac was,

In battle brave, his nephew devoted.

And each to the other mindful of kindness.

I heard that the necklace he to Hygd gave,

The curious treasure which Wealhtheow gave him,

The prince's daughter, three horses likewise,

Slender and saddle-bright: to her after was,

After the ring-giving, the breast adorned.

So bravely bore him Ecgtheow's son,

The man famed in wars, by his good deeds,

He did after right, not at all slew the drunken

Hearth-companions: his mind was not cruel,

But he of mankind with greatest power,

The mighty gift, which God him gave,

The warlike one kept. Long he was despised,

As him the Geats' children did not reckon good,

Nor him at the mead-bench as worthy of much

The lord of the people would then esteem;

They weened very strongly that he was slothful,

An unwarlike prince; a change after came

To the glory-blessed man of each of his sorrows.

The earl's defence bade then bring in,

The warlike king, Hrethel's bequest

Adorned with gold: there was not 'mong the Geats

A better treasure in the shape of a sword:

That did he place in Beowulf's keeping,

And to him gave seven thousand of gold,

A house and dominion. To them both together

Among the people was inherited land,

A home and its rights, more to the other,

A wide-spread kingdom, to him who was better.

That happened after in later days

By battle-contests, when Hygelac died,

And to Heardred swords of battle

Under the shields were as a murderer,

When him there sought 'mong his victor-people

The warriors bold, the Battle-Scylfings,

By war oppressed the nephew of Hereric.

After to Beowulf the kingdom broad

Came into hand: he held it well

Fifty winters (then was the king aged

The home-keeper old) until one began

On the dark nights, a dragon, to rule,

Who on the high heath a treasure protected,

A steep stony mountain: the path under lay,

To men unknown. There within went

Some one of men, who took his desire

From the heathen hoard: a certain hand-vessel,

Adorned with gold, he there then took,

Made of red gold, so that was robbed

By the fire sleeping the treasure's guardian

By a thief's craft: the prince after learnt,

The innocent warrior, that he was enraged.

Not at all of free-will the dragon-hoard's heap

Sought he of himself, who him sorely injured,

But through necessity the thane of some one

Of the children of men hateful blows fled,

Through dire compulsion, and therein entered

The innocent man. Soon it was at that time

That there to the stranger dread terror stood:

Yet miserable he there within took,

The frightened soul who terror suffered,

A costly-wrought vessel. There were many of such

In the earth-cave, of ancient treasures,

As them in old days some one of men,

The great bequest of a noble race,

With thoughtful mind there had concealed,

The precious treasures. Death them all took away

In former times, and the only one still

Of the people's nobles who there longest lived,

The friend-mourning guardian, wished that to delay

So that he a short time longer the treasures

Might there enjoy. A mountain all ready

Stood on the plain near to the waters,

Steep by the ness, firm, inaccessible:

There within bore of noble treasures

The keeper of rings a part hard to carry

Of beaten gold, banning words spoke:

"Keep thou now, earth, since men may not,

The possession of earls. Lo! before it in thee

Good men obtained: war-death took away,

Fearful life-bale, each one of men,

Of mine own people, who gave up this life:

They saw hall-joy. I've not one to bear sword.

Or care for the cup of beaten gold,

The dear drinking-vessel: the chiefs elsewhere are gone.

The hard helmet shall, with gold adorned,

Be deprived of its jewels: the polishers sleep,

Those who the battle-mask should ever brighten;

And likewise the breast-plate, which in battle endured

O'er clash of shields the blows of weapons,

Crumbles after the warrior: nor may the ringed burnie

After the battle-chief go far and wide

By the side of heroes: there 's no harp's joy,

Play of the glee-wood, nor does the good hawk

Through the hall fly, nor the swift horse

The city-courts paw. Mighty death has

Many of mortals sent on their way."

So sad in mind in sorrow mourned

One over all, miserable lived he

By day and night, until death's wave

Touched him at heart. The precious hoard found

The old twilight-foe open standing,

He who burning the mountains seeks,

The naked dragon, who flies by night

Surrounded by fire: him the earth-dwellers

Saw from afar. He shall inhabit

The hedge on the earth, where he heathen gold

Guards old in years: he shall not be the better.

So the folk-foe three hundred winters

Held in the earth one of hoard-halls

Wondrously great, until him one angered,

A man, in his mind: he bore to his lord

The jewelled cup, a peace-offering gave

To his own lord. Then was the hoard found,

Hoard of rings borne away; the prayer was granted

To the miserable man: his lord beheld

Men's ancient work for the first time.

When the dragon awoke, strife was renewed:

He went 'round o'er the stone, the brave-minded found

His enemy's foot-track: he forth had stepped

With secret craft near the head of the dragon.

So may one not fated easily escape

Woes and exile, who the Almighty's

Favor possesses. The hoard-keeper sought

O'er the ground eagerly, would find the man,

Who to him in sleep this harm had done:

Hot and fierce-minded oft he went 'round the cave

Now all without: there was not any man

On the heath's waste. Yet in battle he joyed,

In hostile deeds: he returned to the mountain,

The precious cup sought: he that soon found,

That some one of men the gold had discovered,

The costly treasures. The hoard-keeper waited,

Angry in mind, until evening came:

Was then enraged the guard of the mountain,

Would many people with fire repay

For the dear drinking-cup. Then was the day gone

At the will of the dragon, nor in the cave longer

Would he abide, but with flame went he forth,

With fire provided. The beginning was fearful

To the folk in the land, as it too quickly

On their ring-giver sorely was ended.

Then the demon began to vomit with fire,

To burn the bright dwellings: the flame-light stood

For terror to men: not there aught living

The hateful air-flyer was willing to leave.

The worm's war-power widely was seen,

The hostile one's hate both near and far,

How the war-foe the folk of the Geats

Hated and harmed: to his hoard then he hastened,

The secret rich hall, before the day-time.

He had the land-dwellers with fire o'erwhelmed,

With flame and burning: to his mountain he trusted,

His war-might and wall: that hope him deceived.

Then was to Beowulf the terror made known

Quickly in truth, that of his own

The best of houses in fire-waves melted,

The gift-seat of the Geats. That was to the good one

Distress in mind, greatest of sorrows.

The wise one weened that he the Almighty

Against the old laws, the eternal Lord,

Had grievously angered: his breast within swelled

With gloomy thoughts, as to him was not usual.

The fire-drake had the people's fastness,

The island without, the landed possessions,

With fire destroyed: for him then the war-king,

The Weders' prince, revenge devised.

Bade then work for him the warriors' defence,

The lord of earls, all made of iron

A wonderful war-shield: he knew very well

That forest-wood him could not help,

The shield against fire. He of his fleeting days,

Excellent prince, the end should await

Of his worldly life, and the worm likewise,

Although his hoard-treasure he long had held.

Scorn did he then, the prince of rings,

That he the wide-flier with host should seek,

With a large army: he feared not the contest,

Nor did he for aught count the serpent's war-might,

His strength and prowess, for that he before many

Conflicts survived, though dangers encountering,

Clashings of battle, since he of Hrothgar,

A victory-blessed hero, the hall had cleansed,

And in battle destroyed the kinsmen of Grendel,

The hateful race. That was not the least

Of hand-encounters, where one Hygelac slew,

When the Geats' king in the contests of war,

Friendly lord of the folk, in the land of the Frisians,

The son of Hrethel, in sword-blood died,

Struck down with the brand. Thence, Beowulf came

By his own might, swam through the sea:

He had on his arm thirty and one

Of battle-equipments, when he in the sea went.

The Hetwaras did not need to be boastful

Of their foot-contest, who against him before

Were bearing their shields: few again came

From the war-hero to visit their home.

Ecgtheow's son swam o'er the sea's surface,

Unhappy alone back to his people,

Where to him Hygd offered treasure and kingdom,

Rings and king's throne: she the child trusted not,

That 'gainst other peoples the nation's seats

He knew how to hold, when Hygelac was dead.

Not sooner might the forsaken ones find

At the hands of the prince in any respect,

That he to Heardred would be a lord,

Or he the kingdom was willing to choose:

Yet he him 'mong the people with friendly lore held,

Kindly with honor, until he was older,

And the Wedergeats ruled. Him did the banished ones

Seek o'er the sea, Ohthere's sons;

They had 'gainst the lord of the Scylfings rebelled,

The most excellent one of the sea-kings,

Who in the Swedes' kingdom treasure divided,

A mighty prince. That to him was life's end:

He there at the banquet the death-wound received

With blows of the sword, Hygelac's son,

And then he departed, Ongentheow's son,

To visit his home, when Heardred lay dead,

Let Beowulf hold the royal throne,

And rule the Geats: that was a good king!

He remembered reward for that people's loss

In later days; to Eadgils he was,

To the helpless a friend, with an army supported

O'er the wide sea Ohthere's son,

With war-might and weapons: he after avenged him

For the cold care-journeys, of life the king robbed.-

So he had survived each one of struggles,

Of dangerous contests, Ecgtheow's son,

Of mighty deeds, till that very day

That he 'gainst the serpent was going to fight.

He went one of twelve, swollen with rage,

The prince of the Geats, the dragon to view;

He had then learnt whence rose the feud,

Deadly hate to his warriors: into his keeping came

The great treasure-cup through the hand of the finder.

He was in the band the thirteenth man,

Who the beginning of this contest caused,

Sad in mind, fettered, despised he should thence

Point out the plain: he against his will went

For that he knew the earth-hall alone,

Cave under the earth near the sea-waves,

Near the rushing of waters, which was within full

Of jewels and wire-work: the monstrous guard,

The ready warrior, the gold-treasures held,

Old under the earth: that was no easy purchase

To be obtained for any of men.

Sat then on the ness the warlike king

Whilst farewell he bade to his hearth-companions,

The gold-friend of the Geats: his mind was sad,

Restless and death-ready, Weird very nigh,

Which should approach the agéd man,

Seek the soul's hoard, asunder divide

The life from the body; not then was long

The life of the prince in flesh enclosed.

Beowulf spoke, Ecgtheow's son:

"Many war-struggles in youth I survived,

Times of battle; I remember all that.

I was seven winters, when me lord of treasures,

Dear ruler of peoples, took from my father;

Supported and kept me Hrethel the king,

Gave me treasure and feast, remembered our kinship;

I was never to him at all a more hateful

Man in his palace than one of his sons,

Herebeald and Haethcyn or Hygelac mine.

There was for the eldest contrary to right

By the deeds of his kinsman a death-bed prepared,

Since him did Haethcyn from his hornéd bow,

His own dear lord, with arrow pierce,

Missed he the mark and his kinsman did shoot,

One brother the other, with bloody dart:

That was fee-less fight, wickedly sinned,

Sorrow-bringing to breast; should yet, however,

The lord unavenged from life depart.

So is it sorrowful to an aged churl

To live to see that his son hang

Young on the gallows: then he utters a moan,

A sorrowful song, when his son hangs

For joy to the raven, and he him may not help,

Old and experienced, aught for him do.

Always is remembered on each one of mornings

His son's departure; he cares not another

To hope to see born in his own palace,

An heir to his throne, when this one has,

Through might of death, suffered such deeds.

He sorrowful sees in his son's dwelling

The wine-hall empty, the windy rest-place

Of merriment robbed; the warrior sleeps,

The prince in his grave; no sound of harp's there,

No sport in the courts, as there were once.

Then he goes to his chamber, sings sorrowful songs,

The one for the other: too empty all seemed,

Fields and dwelling. So the Weders' defence

For Herebeald sorrow of heart

Welling up bore: he might not at all

Upon that murderer the feud avenge;

Not sooner might he wreak his hate on the warrior

With evil deeds, though he was not to him dear.

He then with this sorrow, which befell him so sore,

Gave up human joy, God's light did choose,

Left to his sons, as a wealthy man does,

Land and chief city, when from life he departed.

Then was feud and strife of the Swedes and the Geats,

O'er the wide water contest in common,

A hard battle-struggle, after Hrethel was dead,

Whilst to them were Ongentheow's sons

Bold and warlike, friendship would not

O'er the sea keep, but around Hreosna-mount

Terrible inroads often did make.

For that mine own kinsmen vengeance did take,

For the feud and the wrong, as it was known,

Although the other it bought with his life,

A heavy price: to Haethcyn was,

To the Geats' lord, the war destructive.

Then heard I that on th' morrow one kinsman the other

With edge of the sword avenged on the murderer,

When Ongentheow Eofor sought out:

The war-helmet split, the aged Scylfing

Fell down sword-pale; his hand remembered

Of strife enough, the death-blow withheld not. -

I to him the treasures which he me gave

Repaid in war, as it was given me,

With the shining sword; he gave to me land,

A dwelling and home. There was not to him lack,

That he 'mong the Gifths, or'mong the Spear-Danes,

Or in the Swedes' kingdom, needed to seek

A warrior worse, him buy with a price:

I always would go before him on foot,

Alone in front, and so for life shall I

Enmity work, while this sword permits,

Which often stood by me early and late.

Then 'fore the courtiers was I to Daeghrefn

For a hand-slayer, the Hugs' brave warrior:

Not he the jewels to the king of the Frisians,

The breast-adornment, was able to bring,

But in battle he fell, the standard's keeper,

The prince in his might; sword was not his slayer,

But for him battle-grip the swellings of heart,

The bone-house broke. Now shall the bill's edge,

Hand and hard sword, fight for the hoard."

Beowulf said, with boastful words spoke

For the last time: "I survived many

Wars in my youth; yet now I will,

Old people's guard, the contest seek,

With honor work, if me the fell foe

From his earth-hall dare to seek out."

Greeted he then each one of men,

The brave helmet-bearers, for the last time,

His own dear comrades: " would not the sword bear,

Weapon 'gainst worm, if I knew how

Upon this monster I might otherwise

My boast maintain, as once upon Grendel.

But I there expect hot battle-fire,

Breath and poison: therefore I have on me

Shield and burnie. I will not the hill's guard,

The foe, flee from even part of one foot,

But at wall it shall be as for us Weird provides,

Each man's Creator: I am in mind brave,

So that 'gainst the war-flier from boast I refrain.

Await ye on mountain, clad in your burnies,

Heroes in armor, which one may better,

After the contest, from wounds escape

Of both of us. That is not your work,

Nor the might of a man but of me alone,

That he 'gainst the monster his strength should try,

Heroic deeds do. I shall with might

The gold obtain, or war shall take off.

Terrible life-bale, your own sovereign."

Arose then by the rock the warrior fierce

Brave under his helmet, his battle-sark bore

'Neath the stone-cliffs, to the strength trusted

Of one man alone; such is no coward's work.

He saw then by the wall (he who very many,

In man's virtues good, of contests survived,

Struggles of battle, when warriors contended)

A stony arch stand, a stream out thence

Break from the mountain; the burn's flood was

With battle-fire hot; might not near the hoard

One without burning any while then

Endure the deep for the flame of the dragon.

Let then from his breast, since he was enraged,

The Wedergeats' prince his words go forth,

The strong-hearted stormed: his voice came in,

In battle clear-sounding, 'neath the hoar stone.

Strife was stirred up; the hoard-keeper knew

The voice of a man: there was not more time

Friendship to seek. First there came forth

The breath of the monster out of the rock,

Hot battle-sweat; the earth resounded.

The man 'neath the mountain his shield upraised

'Gainst the terrible demon, the lord of the Geats:

Then was the ring-bowed eager in heart

The contest to seek. The sword ere brandished

The good war-king, the ancient relic

Sharp in its edges: to each one was

Of those bent on bale dread from the other.

The strong-minded stood against the steep rock,

The prince of friends, when the worm bent

Quickly together: he in armor awaited.

Went he then burning advancing in curves,

To his fate hasting; the shield well protected

In life and in body a lesser while

The mighty chief than his wish sought,

If he that time, on the first day,

Was to control as Weird did not permit him

Triumph in battle. His hand he uplifted,

The prince of the Geats, the fearful foe struck

With the mighty relic, so that the edge softened

Brown on the bone, bit less strongly

Than the folk-king need of it had,

Oppressed with the fight. Then was the hill's keeper,

After the battle-blow, fierce in his mood,

Threw with death-fire; far and wide spread

The flame of the battle. Of triumphs he boasted not,

The gold-friend of the Geats: the war-bill failed

Naked in fight, as it should not,

Excellent weapon. That was no easy task,

So that the mighty kinsman of Ecgtheow

The plain of this earth was to forsake,

Must at the worm's will take up his abode

Elsewhere than here; so shall every man

His fleeting life leave. It was not then long

That the fierce ones again each other met.

The hoard-keeper raged, his breast swelled with breath:

A second time he suffered distress

Surrounded by fire, who before ruled his folk.

Not at all in a band did his companions,

Children of nobles, him stand around

With warlike virtues, but they to wood went,

Protected their lives. In one of them welled

His mind with sorrows; friendship may never

Be at all put aside by one who thinks well.

Wiglaf was named Weohstan's son,

The worthy warrior, prince of the Scylfings,

Kinsman of Aelfhere. He saw his lord

Under his helmet the heat endure;

He remembered the favor, that he once to him gave

The rich dwelling-place of the Waegmundings,

Each one of folk-rights which his father possessed.

He might not then refrain, his hand seized the shield,

The yellow wood, he drew his old sword:

That was among men Eanmund's bequest,

Ohtbere's son, to whom in strife was,

To the friendless exile, Weohstan the slayer

By the edge of the sword, and he bore to his kinsmen

The brown-colored helmet, the ringed burnie,

The old giant's sword that Onela gave him,

His own relation's war-equipments,

Ready war-weapons: he spoke not of the feud,

Though he had slain his brother's son.

He the ornaments held many half-years,

Bill and burnie, until his son might

Heroic deeds work, as his old father:

He gave to him then war-weeds 'mong the Geats,

Countless number of each, when he from life went

Old on his last journey. Then was the first time

To the young warrior that in storm of war

With his dear lord he should engage;

His courage failed not, nor his kinsman's bequest

Softened in battle: that the dragon perceived,

After they two together had gone.

Wiglaf then spoke many suitable words,

Said to his comrades (sad was his mind):

"I remember that time when we received mead,

When we did promise to our dear lord

In the beer-hall, who gave us these rings,

That we for the war-weeds him would repay,

If to him such need ever should happen,

For helmets and hard swords, since in host he us chose

For this expedition of his own will,

Thought of honors for us, and gave me these treasures,

Us whom he deemed spear-warriors good,

Brave helmet-bearers, although our lord

This noble work intended alone

To accomplish for us, ward of his folk,

Because he of men most noble deeds did,

Rashly-bold actions. Now is the day come

That our own chieftain has need of the strength

Of warriors good: let us to him go.

Help the war-prince whilst there is heat,

Fierce fiery terror. God knows in me,

That to me 'tis far dearer that my own body

With my gold-giver the flame should embrace.

Not becoming, methinks, is't that we should bear shields

Again to our home, unless we may sooner

Strike down the foe, the life protect

Of the Weders' chief. I know it well,

That he does not deserve that he alone shall

Of the Geats' nobles sorrow endure,

Fall in the battle: now shall sword and helmet,

Burnie and battle-dress, to us both be common."

Went he then through the flame, his war-helmet bore

For help to his lord, spoke a few words:

"Beowulf dear! do thou all well,

As thou in thy youth long ago said'st,

That thou would'st not let for thyself living

Honor e'er cease; now shalt thou, strong in deeds,

Firm-minded prince, with all thy might

Thy life protect; I shall assist thee."

After these words the angry worm came,

The terrible demon, a second time

With fire-waves shining to seek his foes,

The hostile men. With flame-billows burned

The shield to the rim: the burnie might not

To the young spear-warrior assistance afford.

But the young hero 'neath the shield of his kinsman

With courage went. when his own was

Destroyed by flames. Then still the war-king

Was mindful of fame, of his mighty strength,

Struck with his war-bill, that it stood in the head

Forcibly driven: broke in two Naegling,

Failed in battle Beowulf's sword,

Old and gray-etched. 'T was not granted to him,

That him of the sword the edges were able

To help in the battle: that hand was too strong,

Which any of swords, by my hearsay,

With its stroke tested, when to battle he bore

The sharp-wounding weapon: 'twas not for him better.

Then was the folk-foe for the third time,

The bold fire-dragon, mindful of feuds,

Rushed on the strong one, since space him allowed,

Hot and war-fierce, clasped around all the neck

With his sharp bones: he was all bloodied

With the life-blood; gore welled in waves.

Then I heard say in the folk-king's need

The earl displayed unceasing bravery,

Strength and valor, as was natural to him:

He cared not for his head, but the hand burned

Of the brave man, where he helped with his strength,

So that the fell demon he struck somewhat lower,

The hero in armor, that the sword sank in,

Shining and gold-plated, that the fire began

After to lessen. Then still the king

His senses possessed, struck with his war-knife,

Cutting and battle-sharp, which he bore on his burnie:

The Weders' defence cut the serpent in two.

The foe they felled, force drove out life,

And they him then both had destroyed,

Kindred princes: such should a man be,

A thane in need. That was to the prince

The last of his victories by his own deeds,

Of work in the world. Then 'gan the wound,

Which on him the earth-drake before had inflicted,

To burn and to swell: that soon he perceived

That in his breast deadly ill welled,

Poison within. Then the prince went,

So that he by the rock, wise in his mind,

Sat on his seat, on the giants' work looked,

How the stone-arches, fast on their columns,

The earth-hall eternal held there within.

Then with his hands him bloody with gore,

The mighty prince, the excellent thane

His own dear lord with water laved,

Weary of battle, and his helmet unloosed.

Beowulf said: he spoke of his wound,

His deadly-pale wound (he knew very well

That he had spent his time allotted

Of the joy of earth; then was all gone

Of his days' number, death very nigh):

" Now I to my son would wish to give

These war-weeds of mine, if to me was granted

Any inheritor hereafter to be

The heir of my body. This people I ruled

Fifty of winters; there was not a folk-king,

Of those dwelling around any at all,

Who me durst meet with his war-friends,

With terror oppress. I awaited at home

The appointed time, kept mine own well,

Sought not hostilities, nor for myself swore

Many oaths falsely; I for all that,

With deadly wounds sick, now joy may have;

Hence the ruler of men need not to me charge

The murder of kinsmen, when shall depart

My life from my body. Now do thou quickly go

To see the hoard 'neath the hoar stone,

Wiglaf my dear one, now the serpent lies dead,

Sleeps sorely wounded, robbed of his treasure.

Be now in haste that I the old riches,

The treasure may view, thoroughly scan

The bright precious gems, that I may the easier,

On account of the treasure, give up mine own

Life and my people that I long held."

Then heard I that quickly Weohstan's son,

After these words, his wounded lord

Sick from battle obeyed, bore his ringed net,

His battle-sark woven, 'neath the roof of the mountain

Saw then victorious, when he by the seat went,

The brave kin-thane many of treasures.

Glittering gold on the ground lying,

Wonder on wall and the den of the worm,

The old air-flier, drinking-cups standing,

Vessels of old-time wanting the polisher,

Deprived of their ornaments. There was many a helmet

Old and rusty, many arm-bracelets

Curiously twisted. The treasure may easily,

The gold in the ground, each hoard of mankind

In value exceed, let him hide it who will.

Likewise he saw standing an all-golden banner

High over the hoard, greatest of wonders,

Wrought with hand-craft; from it light stood,

So that the ground-plain he might perceive,

Examine the treasures. There was not of the serpent

Any appearance, but sword took him off.

Then I heard say, in the cave the hoard robbed,

The old work of giants, one man alone,

Bore on his bosom the cups and the plates

At his own will; the banner he took,

Brightest of beacons, a bill sheathed with brass

(Its edge was of iron) of the old lord,

Who of these treasures was the protector

For a long while, bore fiery terror

Hot, deadly-rolling, on account of the hoard

In the midst of the night, till he in death perished.

In haste was the messenger for return ready,

Provided with treasures; wonder him moved,

Whether he the high-minded alive would find

In that grassy spot, the prince of the Weders,

Deprived of strength, where he him before left.

He then with the treasures the mighty prince,

His own dear lord, bleeding did find

At the end of his life. He began him again

With water to sprinkle, until the word's point

Brake through his breast-hoard: Beowulf spoke,

The old man in sorrow (the gold he viewed):

"I for these treasures to the Lord of all thanks,

To the glorious King, in words do speak,

To the Lord eternal, - which I here look upon,

For this that I might for mine own people

Before my death-day such treasures obtain.

Now I for the hoard of jewels have paid

Mine own aged life; do ye now supply

The needs of my people; I may not longer be here

Bid ye the war-famed a mound to make

Bright after the pyre at the sea's point,

Which shall for remembrance to mine own people

Raise itself high on the Whale's ness,

That it the sea-farers hereafter may call

Beowulf's mound, who shall their high ships

O'er the sea's mists from afar drive."

He put from his neck the golden ring,

The bold-minded prince, gave to the thane,

The young spear-warrior, his gold-adorned helm,

Collar and burnie, bade him use them well:

"Thou art the last left of our own kindred

Of the Waegmundings. Weird carried away all

Of mine own kinsmen at the time appointed,

Earls in their strength: I shall go after them."

That was to the aged the very last word

In his breast-thoughts, ere the pyre he chose,

The hot fiery waves: from his breast went

His soul to seek the doom of the saints.

Then it had happened to the young man,

With sorrow of mind, that he on the earth saw

The dearest one at the end of his life

Livid become. The slayer too lay,

The fearful earth-drake, of life bereft,

Oppressed with bale: the ring-treasures longer

The twisted serpent might not control,

But the swords' edges took him away,

The hard battle-notched leavings of hammers,

So that the wide-flier, still from his wounds,

Fell on the earth nigh the hoard-hall;

Not at all through the air did he go springing

In the midst of the night, proud of his treasures

Showed he his form: but he to earth fell

On account of the handwork of this battle-prince.

Now that in the land to few of men throve

Of might-possessors, as I have heard say,

Though he were bold in every deed,

That one should meet the poison-foe's breath,

Or the ring-hall disturb with his hands,

If he were to find the waking guard

On the mount watching. By Beowulf was

The portion of treasures paid for with death:

It had for each the end obtained

Of fleeting life. -'Twas not then long after

That the cowardly ones the wood forsook,

The unwarlike truth-breakers, ten together,

Who durst not before fight with their spears

In their liege lord's very great need:

But they ashamed bore then their shields,

Their weeds of war, where the aged one lay;

They gazed upon Wiglaf. He wearied sat,

The fighter-on-foot, near his lord's shoulders,

Refreshed him with water: it naught him availed.

He might not on earth, though he well would,

In the great prince his life retain,

Nor the Almighty's will could he change;

The doom of God in deeds would dispose

For each one of men, as He now doth.

Then was from the youth an answer grim

For him easy gotten, who before lost his valor.

Wiglaf then spoke, Weohstan's son,

The sorrowful man (he looked on the unloved):

"Lo! that may he say who will speak truth,

That the folk-king who gave you the treasures,

The war-equipments, in which ye there stand,

When he on the ale-bench often presented

To the hall-sitters helmet and burnie,

The prince to his thanes, such as anywhere bravest

From far or nigh he was able to find, -

That he without doubt the weeds of war

To no purpose wasted. When war him assailed,

Not at all did the folk-king of his comrades-in-war

Have cause to boast: yet God him granted,

The Ruler of victory, that himself he avenged

Alone with his sword, when he had need of strength.

I to him little life-defence might

In battle afford, and yet I undertook

Beyond my power my kinsman to help:

He was always the worse, when I with the sword struck

The life-destroyer: the fire ran stronger,

Welled from his breast. Too few defenders

Pressed round the prince, when the evil befell him.

Now taking of jewels and giving of swords.

All joy of home for your own kindred,

Comfort shall cease: of rights of land

Each one of men of this kindred tribe

Must be deprived, after the princes

From afar hear of your desertion,

Inglorious deed. Death shall be better

To each one of earls than a life of disgrace."

He bade then the battle-work tell at the hedge

Upon the steep cliff, where the earl-band

The morning-long day sad in mind sat,

The warriors with shields, in expectance of both,

The final day and the return

Of the dear man. Little kept silent

Of the new tidings he who rode o'er the ness,

But he in truth spoke on all sides:

" Now is the joy-giver of the folk of the Weders,

The lord of the Geats, fast in his death-bed,

Fills his grave-rest by the deeds of the worm.

Along side of him lies the life-winner too

Dead from knife's wounds; with sword might he not

Upon the monster in any way

A wound inflict. Wiglaf sits there,

Sits over Beowulf Weohstan's son,

The earl o'er the other of life deprived,

With care attentive, keeps the death-watch

Of friend and of foe. Now the people expect

A time of strife, after well-known

To the Franks and the Frisians the fall of the king

Becomes far and wide. The contest was made

Strong 'gainst the Hugs, when Higelac came

With his ship-army going to the land of the Frisians,

Where the Hetwaras felled him in battle,

Bravely him conquered with their over-might,

So that the mailed-warrior was forced to bow,

Fell midst his warriors; no ornaments gave

The prince to his nobles. To us ever after

The Merwings' friendship was not to be granted.

Nor do I from the Swedes peace or good faith

At all expect; but it was widely known

That Ongentheow of life deprived

Haethcyn, Hrethel's son, near Ravens' wood,

When through their pride at first did seek

The warlike Scylfings the folk of the Geats.

Soon to him the agéd father of Ohthere,

Old and terrible, gave a hand-stroke,

Hewed down the sea-chief, rescued his wife,

The old man his spouse, robbed of her gold,

The mother of Onela and of Ohthere,

And then he followed his deadly foes

Until they went in great distress

Into Ravens' wood, deprived of their lord.

Then besieged he with host those left by the sword,

Weary with wounds, woes oft he promised

To the miserable band the livelong night:

Said, he in the morning with the edge of the sword

Them would destroy, some on gallows hang

For sport to the fowls. Comfort afterwards came

To them sad in mind along with daylight,

After they Hygelac's horn and trumpets'

Sounding perceived, when the brave one came

In the track going of his peoples' earls.

There was bloody track of Swedes and of Geats,

The slaughter of men widely observed,

How the folk fought the feud one with another.

The good one then went with his companions,

The aged most sad, the fastness to seek,

The earl Ongentheow betook himself higher;

He had of Hygelac's prowess heard tell,

The proud one's war-craft; in resistance he trusted not,

That he the sea-men might then withstand,

His hoard protect from the sea-farers,

His children and wife; he went after thence

Old 'neath the earth-wall. Then was given pursuit

To the folk of the Swedes, their banner to Hygelac.

Forth then they went o'er the Peace-plain,

After the Hrethlings pressed into the hedge;

There Ongentheow was, with the edge of the sword,

The gray-haired one, forced to remain,

So that the folk-king had to submit

To Eofor's sole will; angrily him

Wulf, son of Wonred, attacked with his weapon,

So that for the blow blood spurted in streams

Forth under his hair. He was not though afraid.

The agéd Scylfing, but quickly repaid

In a worse way that fatal blow,

After the folk-king thither turned round:

Might not then the quick son of Wonred

To the old churl a hand-stroke give,

But he on his head his helmet first cleft,

So that, stained with blood, he had to bow,

Fell on the earth: he was not yet fated,

But he himself raised, though the wound pained him

Then the brave thane of Hygelac let

With his broad sword, when his brother lay down,

The old sword of giants, the helmet of giants

Break over the shield-rim: then bowed the king,

The herd of the folk; he was struck to his life.

Then were there many who bound up his brother,

Quickly him lifted, when for them it was settled

That they the battle-place were to possess,

Whilst one warrior the other robbed,

From Ongentheow took his burnie of iron,

His hard hilted sword and his helmet besides,

The hoary one's armor to Hygelac bore.

The armor he took and to them fairly promised

Gifts to his people, and kept his word too.

The lord of the Geats paid for the contest,

The son of Hrethel, when he came to his home,

To Eofor and Wulf with very rich jewels,

To each of them gave a hundred thousand

Of land and locked rings (for the gifts him need not reproach

Any man on mid-earth, since they heroic deeds wrought),

And then to Eofor gave his sole daughter,

The home-adornment, as a pledge of his favor.

That is the feud and that the enmity,

Hate deadly of men, wherefore I expect

That the Swedes' people against us will seek,

After they learn that our own lord

Is 'reft of his life, him who before held

Against his foes his hoard and kingdom

After heroes' fall, the Scylfings brave,

Wrought his folk's good and further still

Heroic deeds did. - Now is haste best

That we the folk-king there should behold,

And him should bring who gave us rings

To the funeral-pyre. There shall not a part only

With the brave perish, but there's hoard of treasure,

Gold without number, bitterly purchased,

And now at the last with his own life

Rings has he bought: these fire shall devour,

The flame consume; no earl shall wear

A jewel in memory, nor the beautiful maid

Have on her neck a ring-adornment,

But she shall sad in mind, robbed of her gold,

Often not once tread a strange land.

Now that the war-chief laughter has left,

Mirth and enjoyment. For this shall the spear be,

Many a one morning-cold, clasped with the fingers,

field in the hands; not at all shall harp's sound

Wake up the warriors, but the wan raven,

Eager over the fated, often shall speak,

Say to the eagle how he joyed in the eating.

When with the wolf he robbed the slain."

So the brave warrior then was telling

Some tales of evil: he did not speak falsely

His facts nor words. -The band all arose;

Sadly they went 'neath the Eagles' ness,

With flowing tears, the wonder to see.

Then they found on the sand deprived of his life,

Holding his resting-place, him who rings them gave

In former times: then was the last day

Past to the good one, so that the war-king,

The prince of the Weders, a wondrous death died.

First there they saw a stranger being,

The worm on the plain opposite there,

The loathsome one lying; the fiery dragon,

The terror grim, was scorched with flames;

He was fifty feet, in his full measure,

Long as he lay; the air he enjoyed

Sometimes at night, down again went

To visit his den: he was then fast in death,

He had enjoyed the last of earth-caves.

By him there stood pitchers and cups,

Plates too lay there and precious swords,

Rusty and eaten-through, as in the earth's bosom

A thousand of winters there they had remained,

Since that bequest exceedingly great,

The gold of the ancients, was bewitched with a spell,

So that the ringed hall might one not touch,

Any of men, unless God himself,

True King of victories, to whom He would granted

To open the hoard, the charge of enchanters,

Even so to such man, as seemed to Him right.

Then was it seen that the way did not prosper

To him who with wrong had hid within

The hoard 'neath the wall. The keeper ere slew

Some one of his foes: then was the feud

With battle avenged. Is it a wonder

When a warlike earl the end approaches

Of his life-fate, when may no longer

A man with his kinsmen a mead-hall in-dwell?

So was it to Beowulf, when he the mount's keeper,

The contest sought: he himself knew not

How his world-severing was to take place;

How it against doom's-day deeply had cursed

The mighty princes who that put there,

That that man should be guilty of sins,

Shut up in cursed places, fast in hell-bonds,

Punished with plagues, who should that plain tread

He was not gold-greedy; he rather would have

The owner's favor sooner looked on.-

Wiglaf then spoke, Weohstan's son:

"Oft many an earl for the sake of one

Sorrow shall suffer, as is happened to us.

We might not give to our dear prince,

The kingdom's ruler, any advice,

So that he might not that gold-keeper meet,

Might let him remain where he long was,

Dwell in his haunts until the world's end,

Fulfil his high fate. The hoard is looked on,

Bitterly gotten: that fate was too mighty

Which that folk-king thither enticed.

I was therein and looked through it all,

The treasures of hall, when 'twas allowed me,

Not at all friendly a journey permitted

In 'neath the earth-wall. In haste I took

A great mighty burden with my own hands

Of the hoard-treasures, bore them out hither

To mine own king: he was then still alive,

Wise and still conscious: very much spoke

The agéd in sorrow and ordered to greet you,

Bade that ye should, for your friend's deeds, make

On the place of the pyre the lofty mound,

Mickle and mighty, as he of men was

The most worthy warrior through the wide earth,

While he city-treasures still could enjoy.

Let us now hasten a second time

To see and to seek that heap of treasures,

Wonder 'neath wall. I shall direct you,

That ye may once more see now enough

Of rings and broad gold. Be the bier ready,

Quickly prepared, when we come out,

And then let us bear our own dear lord,

The man beloved, where he shall long

In the Almighty's keeping patiently wait."

Bade he then order, Weohstan's son,

The warrior brave, to many of men,

Of dwellers in houses, that they the fire-wood

Should bear from afar, the lords of the people,

To where lay the good one: "Now shall fire eat

(The wan flame shall grow) the chief of warriors,

Him who oft awaited the iron-shower,

When the storm of arrows, loosed from the strings,

Leaped over the shield-wall, the shaft did its duty,

Fitted with feathers followed the barb."

Now then the wise son of Weohstan

Called from the crowd of the kings thanes

Seven together, the choicest ones,

Went one of eight 'neath the hostile roof;

One warrior brave in his hands bore

A lighted torch, who went in front.

It was not then allotted who should plunder that hoard,

After unguarded any portion of it

The warriors saw remain in the hall,

Lie wasting away: little one sorrowed,

That they hastily carried without

The precious treasures. The dragon they shoved,

The worm, o'er the wall-cliff, let the waves take,

The flood embrace, the keeper of jewels.

There was twisted gold on a wain laden,

Of each countless heap: the prince was borne,

The hoary warrior, to the Whale's ness.

For him then prepared the folk of the Geats

A funeral-pyre on the earth firm,

Hung with helmets, with shields of war,

With burnies bright, as he had begged.

Laid they then in the midst the mighty prince,

The mourning warriors their lord beloved.

'Gan they then on the mountain the greatest of pyres

The warriors to kindle: the wood-smoke arose

From the burning pile black, the crackling flame

Mingled with mourning (the wind-roar was still),

Until it had broken the house of bone,

Hot in the breast. Sad in their minds

With sorrow they mourned their dear lord's death;

Also a sad song uttered the spouse,

Pained in her breast, grieved in her heart,

Mournful she frequently fettered her mind,

So that for her husband's most grievous blows

She wept, the grim fate of his bloody death,

. . . . . terror of fire

heaven swallowed the smoke.

Wrought they there then the folk of the Weders

A mound on the steep, which high was and broad,

For the sea-goers to see from afar,

And they built up within ten days,

The warlike one's beacon; the brightest of flames

They girt with a wall, as it most worthily

Very wise men might there devise.

They in the mound placed rings and bright jewels

All such precious things as before in the hoard

Brave-minded men had taken away.

They let the earth hold the treasure of earls,

Gold in the ground, where it still lives

As useless to men as it before was.

Then 'round the mound the battle-brave rode,

Children of nobles (they were twelve in all),

Their sorrow would tell, grieve for their king,

Their mourning utter, and about the man speak;

His earlship they praised, and his noble deeds

They extolled to the courtiers, as it is right

That one his dear lord in word should praise,

With soul him love, when he shall forth

From his own body be severed by death.

So then lamented the folk of the Geats

The fall of their lord, the hearth-companions,

Said that he was a mighty king,

Mildest to men and most tender-hearted,

To his folk most kind and fondest of praise.