X. BEóWULF'S CONTEST WITH BRECA.--THE FEAST.
"Swâ mec gelôme lâõ-geteónan
"Þreátedon Þearle. Ic him Þênode
"deóran sweorde, swâ hit gedêfe wäs;
"näs hie Þære fylle gefeán häfdon,
"mân-fordædlan, Þät hie me Þêgon,
"symbel ymb-sæton sæ-grunde neáh,
"ac on mergenne mêcum wunde
"be ýõ-lâfe uppe lægon,
"sweordum âswefede, Þät syõõan nâ
"ymb brontne ford brim-lîõende
"lâde ne letton. Leóht eástan com,
"beorht beácen godes; brimu swaõredon,
"Þät ic sæ-nässas geseón mihte,
"windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereõ
"unfægne eorl, õonne his ellen deáh!
"Hwäõere me gesælde, Þät ic mid sweorde ofslôh
"niceras nigene. Nô ic on niht gefrägn
"under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,
"ne on êg-streámum earmran mannan;
"hwäõere ic fâra feng feore gedîgde,
"siões wêrig. Þâ mec sæ ôõbär,
"flôd äfter faroõe, on Finna land,
"wadu weallendu. Nô ic wiht fram Þe
"swylcra searo-nîõa secgan hýrde,
"billa brôgan: Breca næfre git
"ät heaõo-lâce, ne gehwäõer incer
"swâ deórlîce dæd gefremede
"fâgum sweordum . . . . . . .
". . . . . . . nô ic Þäs gylpe;
"Þeáh Þu Þînum brôõrum tô banan wurde,
"heáfod-mægum; Þäs Þu in helle scealt
"werhõo dreógan, Þeáh Þîn wit duge,
"Secge ic Þe tô sôõe, sunu Ecglâfes,
"Þät næfre Grendel swâ fela gryra gefremede,
"atol äglæca ealdre Þînum,
"hýnõo on Heorote, gif Þîn hige wære,
"sefa swâ searo-grim, swâ Þu self talast.
"Ac he hafaõ onfunden, Þät he Þâ fæhõe ne Þearf,
"atole ecg-Þräce eówer leóde
"swîõe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga;
"nymeõ nýd-bâde, nænegum âraõ
"leóde Deniga, ac he on lust wîgeõ,
"swefeõ ond sendeõ, secce ne wêneõ
"tô Gâr-Denum. Ac him Geáta sceal
"eafoõ and ellen ungeâra nu
"gûõe gebeódan. Gæõ eft se Þe môt
"tô medo môdig, siõõan morgen-leóht
"ofer ylda bearn ôõres dôgores,
"sunne swegl-wered sûõan scîneõ!"
Þâ wäs on sâlum sinces brytta
gamol-feax and gûõ-rôf, geóce gelýfde
brego Beorht-Dena; gehýrde on Beówulfe
folces hyrde fäst-rædne geÞôht.
Þær wäs häleõa hleahtor; hlyn swynsode,
word wæron wynsume. Eode WealhÞeów forõ,
cwên Hrôõgâres, cynna gemyndig,
grêtte gold-hroden guman on healle,
and Þâ freólîc wîf ful gesealde
ærest Eást-Dena êõel-wearde,
bäd hine blîõne ät Þære beór-Þege,
leódum leófne; he on lust geÞeah
symbel and sele-ful, sige-rôf kyning.
Ymb-eode Þâ ides Helminga
duguõe and geogoõe dæl æghwylcne;
sinc-fato sealde, ôõ Þät sæl âlamp,
Þät hió Beówulfe, beág-hroden cwên,
môde geÞungen, medo-ful ätbär;
grêtte Geáta leód, gode Þancode
wîs-fäst wordum, Þäs Þe hire se willa gelamp,
Þät heó on ænigne eorl gelýfde
fyrena frôfre. He Þät ful geÞeah,
wäl-reów wîga ät WealhÞeón,
and Þâ gyddode gûõe gefýsed,
Beówulf maõelode, bearn EcgÞeówes:
"Ic Þät hogode, Þâ ic on holm gestâh,
"sæ-bât gesät mid mînra secga gedriht,
"Þät ic ânunga eówra leóda
"willan geworhte, oõõe on wäl crunge,
"feónd-grâpum fäst. Ic gefremman sceal
"eorlîc ellen, oõõe ende-däg
"on Þisse meodu-healle mînne gebîdan."
Þam wîfe Þâ word wel lîcodon,
gilp-cwide Geátes; eode gold-hroden
freólîcu folc-cwên tô hire freán sittan.
Þâ wäs eft swâ ær inne on healle
Þryõ-word sprecen, Þeód on sælum,
sige-folca swêg, ôõ Þät semninga
sunu Healfdenes sêcean wolde
æfen-räste; wiste ät Þäm ahlæcan
tô Þäm heáh-sele hilde geÞinged,
siõõan hie sunnan leóht geseón ne meahton,
oõõe nîpende niht ofer ealle,
scadu-helma gesceapu scrîõan cwôman,
wan under wolcnum. Werod eall ârâs.
Grêtte Þâ giddum guma ôõerne,
Hrôõgâr Beówulf, and him hæl âbeád,
wîn-ärnes geweald and Þät word âcwäõ:
"Næfre ic ænegum men ær âlýfde,
"siõõan ic hond and rond hebban mihte,
"Þryõ-ärn Dena bûton Þe nu Þâ.
"Hafa nu and geheald hûsa sêlest;
"gemyne mærõo, mägen-ellen cýõ,
"waca wiõ wrâõum! Ne biõ Þe wilna gâd,
"gif Þu Þät ellen-weorc aldre gedîgest."
XI. THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.
Þâ him Hrôõgâr gewât mid his häleõa gedryht,
eodur Scyldinga ût of healle;
wolde wîg-fruma WealhÞeó sêcan,
cwên tô gebeddan Häfde kyninga wuldor
Grendle tô-geánes, swâ guman gefrungon,
sele-weard âseted, sundor-nytte beheóld
ymb aldor Dena, eoton weard âbeád;
hûru Geáta leód georne trûwode
môdgan mägnes, metodes hyldo.
Þâ he him of dyde îsern-byrnan,
helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,
îrena cyst ombiht-Þegne,
and gehealdan hêt hilde-geatwe.
Gespräc Þâ se gôda gylp-worda sum
Beówulf Geáta, ær he on bed stige:
"Nô ic me an here-wæsmum hnâgran talige
"gûõ-geweorca, Þonne Grendel hine;
"forÞan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,
"aldre beneótan, Þeáh ic eal mæge.
"Nât he Þâra gôda, Þät he me on-geán sleá,
"rand geheáwe, Þeáh Þe he rôf sîe
"nîõ-geweorca; ac wit on niht sculon
"secge ofersittan, gif he gesêcean dear
"wîg ofer wæpen, and siõõan witig god
"on swâ hwäõere hond hâlig dryhten
"mærõo dême, swâ him gemet Þince."
Hylde hine Þâ heaõo-deór, hleór-bolster onfêng
eorles andwlitan; and hine ymb monig
snellîc sæ-rinc sele-reste gebeáh.
Nænig heora Þôhte Þät he Þanon scolde
eft eard-lufan æfre gesêcean,
folc oõõe freó-burh, Þær he âfêded wäs,
ac hie häfdon gefrunen, Þät hie ær tô fela micles
in Þäm wîn-sele wäl-deáõ fornam,
Denigea leóde. Ac him dryhten forgeaf
wîg-spêda gewiofu, Wedera leódum
frôfor and fultum, Þät hie feónd heora
Þurh ânes cräft ealle ofercômon,
selfes mihtum: sôõ is gecýõed,
Þät mihtig god manna cynnes
weóld wîde-ferhõ. Com on wanre niht
scrîõan sceadu-genga. Sceótend swæfon,
Þâ Þät horn-reced healdan scoldon,
ealle bûton ânum. Þät wäs yldum cûõ,
Þät hie ne môste, Þâ metod nolde,
se syn-scaõa under sceadu bregdan;
ac he wäccende wrâõum on andan
bâd bolgen-môd beadwa geÞinges.
XII. GRENDEL'S RAID.
Þâ com of môre under mist-hleoõum
Grendel gongan, godes yrre bär.
Mynte se mân-scaõa manna cynnes
sumne besyrwan in sele Þam heán;
wôd under wolcnum, tô Þäs Þe he wîn-reced,
gold-sele gumena, gearwost wisse
fättum fâhne. Ne wäs Þät forma sîõ,
Þät he Hrôõgâres hâm gesôhte:
næfre he on aldor-dagum ær ne siõõan
heardran häle, heal-Þegnas fand!
Com Þâ tô recede rinc sîõian
dreámum bedæled. Duru sôna onarn
fýr-bendum fäst, syõõan he hire folmum hrân;
onbräd Þâ bealo-hydig, Þâ he âbolgen wäs,
recedes mûõan. Raõe äfter Þon
on fâgne flôr feónd treddode,
eode yrre-môd; him of eágum stôd
lîge gelîcost leóht unfäger.
Geseah he in recede rinca manige,
swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ätgädere,
mago-rinca heáp: Þâ his môd âhlôg,
mynte Þät he gedælde, ær Þon däg cwôme,
atol aglæca, ânra gehwylces
lîf wiõ lîce, Þâ him âlumpen wäs
wist-fylle wên. Ne wäs Þät wyrd Þâ gen,
Þät he mâ môste manna cynnes
Þicgean ofer Þâ niht. Þrýõ-swýõ beheóld
mæg Higelâces, hû se mân-scaõa
under fær-gripum gefaran wolde.
Ne Þät se aglæca yldan Þôhte,
ac he gefêng hraõe forman siõe
slæpendne rinc, slât unwearnum,
bât bân-locan, blôd êdrum dranc,
syn-snædum swealh: sôna häfde
unlyfigendes eal gefeormod
fêt and folma. Forõ neár ätstôp,
nam Þâ mid handa hige-Þihtigne
rinc on räste; ræhte ongeán
feónd mid folme, he onfêng hraõe
inwit-Þancum and wiõ earm gesät.
Sôna Þät onfunde fyrena hyrde,
Þät he ne mêtte middan-geardes
eorõan sceáta on elran men
mund-gripe mâran: he on môde wearõ
forht on ferhõe, nô Þý ær fram meahte;
hyge wäs him hin-fûs, wolde on heolster fleón,
sêcan deófla gedräg: ne wäs his drohtoõ Þær,
swylce he on ealder-dagum ær gemêtte.
Gemunde Þâ se gôda mæg Higelâces
æfen-spræce, up-lang âstôd
and him fäste wiõfêng. Fingras burston;
eoten wäs ût-weard, eorl furõur stôp.
Mynte se mæra, Þær he meahte swâ,
wîdre gewindan and on weg Þanon
fleón on fen-hopu; wiste his fingra geweald
on grames grâpum. Þät wäs geócor sîõ,
Þät se hearm-scaõa tô Heorute âteáh:
dryht-sele dynede, Denum eallum wearõ,
ceaster-bûendum, cênra gehwylcum,
eorlum ealu-scerwen. Yrre wæron begen,
rêõe rên-weardas. Reced hlynsode;
Þâ wäs wundor micel, Þät se wîn-sele
wiõhäfde heaõo-deórum, Þät he on hrusan ne feól,
fäger fold-bold; ac he Þäs fäste wäs
innan and ûtan îren-bendum
searo-Þoncum besmiõod. Þær fram sylle âbeág
medu-benc monig mîne gefræge,
golde geregnad, Þær Þâ graman wunnon;
Þäs ne wêndon ær witan Scyldinga,
Þät hit â mid gemete manna ænig
betlîc and bân-fâg tôbrecan meahte,
listum tôlûcan, nymõe lîges fäõm
swulge on swaõule. Swêg up âstâg
niwe geneahhe; Norõ-Denum stôd
atelîc egesa ânra gehwylcum
Þâra Þe of wealle wôp gehýrdon,
gryre-leóõ galan godes andsacan,
sige-leásne sang, sâr wânigean
helle häftan. Heóld hine tô fäste
se Þe manna wäs mägene strengest
on Þäm däge Þysses lîfes.
XIII. BEóWULF TEARS OFF GRENDEL'S ARM.
Nolde eorla hleó ænige Þinga
Þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forlætan,
ne his lîf-dagas leóda ænigum
nytte tealde. Þær genehost brägd
eorl Beówulfes ealde lâfe,
wolde freá-drihtnes feorh ealgian
mæres Þeódnes, Þær hie meahton swâ;
hie Þät ne wiston, Þâ hie gewin drugon,
heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas,
and on healfa gehwone heáwan Þôhton,
sâwle sêcan, Þät Þone syn-scaõan
ænig ofer eorõan îrenna cyst,
gûõ-billa nân grêtan nolde;
ac he sige-wæpnum forsworen häfde,
ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedâl
on Þäm däge Þysses lîfes
earmlîc wurõan and se ellor-gâst
on feónda geweald feor sîõian.
Þâ Þät onfunde se Þe fela æror
môdes myrõe manna cynne
fyrene gefremede (he wäs fâg wiõ god)
Þät him se lîc-homa læstan nolde,
ac hine se môdega mæg Hygelâces
häfde be honda; wäs gehwäõer ôõrum
lifigende lâõ. Lîc-sâr gebâd
atol äglæca, him on eaxle wearõ
syn-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon
burston bân-locan. Beówulfe wearõ
gûõ-hrêõ gyfeõe; scolde Grendel Þonan
feorh-seóc fleón under fen-hleoõu,
sêcean wyn-leás wîc; wiste Þê geornor,
Þät his aldres wäs ende gegongen,
dôgera däg-rîm. Denum eallum wearõ
äfter Þam wäl-ræse willa gelumpen.
Häfde Þâ gefælsod, se Þe ær feorran com,
snotor and swýõ-ferhõ sele Hrôõgâres,
genered wiõ nîõe. Niht-weorce gefeh,
ellen-mærõum; häfde Eást-Denum
Geát-mecga leód gilp gelæsted,
swylce oncýõõe ealle gebêtte,
inwid-sorge, Þe hie ær drugon
and for Þreá-nýdum Þolian scoldon,
torn unlytel. Þät wäs tâcen sweotol,
syõõan hilde-deór hond âlegde,
earm and eaxle (Þær wäs eal geador
Grendles grâpe) under geápne hrôf.
XIV. THE JOY AT HEOROT.
Þâ wäs on morgen mîne gefræge
ymb Þâ gif-healle gûõ-rinc monig:
fêrdon folc-togan feorran and neán
geond wîd-wegas wundor sceáwian,
lâões lâstas. Nô his lîf-gedâl
sârlîc Þûhte secga ænegum,
Þâra Þe tîr-leáses trode sceáwode,
hû he wêrig-môd on weg Þanon,
nîõa ofercumen, on nicera mere
fæge and geflýmed feorh-lâstas bär.
Þær wäs on blôde brim weallende,
atol ýõa geswing eal gemenged
hâtan heolfre, heoro-dreóre weól;
deáõ-fæge deóg, siõõan dreáma leás
in fen-freoõo feorh âlegde
hæõene sâwle, Þær him hel onfêng.
Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesîõas,
swylce geong manig of gomen-wâõe,
fram mere môdge, mearum rîdan,
beornas on blancum. Þær wäs Beówulfes
mærõo mæned; monig oft gecwäõ,
Þätte sûõ ne norõ be sæm tweonum
ofer eormen-grund ôõer nænig
under swegles begong sêlra nære
rond-häbbendra, rîces wyrõra.
Ne hie hûru wine-drihten wiht ne lôgon,
glädne Hrôõgâr, ac Þät wäs gôd cyning.
Hwîlum heaõo-rôfe hleápan lêton,
on geflît faran fealwe mearas,
Þær him fold-wegas fägere Þûhton,
cystum cûõe; hwîlum cyninges Þegn,
guma gilp-hläden gidda gemyndig,
se Þe eal-fela eald-gesegena
worn gemunde, word ôõer fand
sôõe gebunden: secg eft ongan
sîõ Beówulfes snyttrum styrian
and on spêd wrecan spel gerâde,
wordum wrixlan, wel-hwylc gecwäõ,
Þät he fram Sigemunde secgan hýrde,
ellen-dædum, uncûões fela,
Wälsinges gewin, wîde sîõas,
Þâra Þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,
fæhõe and fyrene, bûton Fitela mid hine,
Þonne he swylces hwät secgan wolde
eám his nefan, swâ hie â wæron
ät nîõa gehwâm nýd-gesteallan:
häfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes
sweordum gesæged. Sigemunde gesprong
äfter deáõ-däge dôm unlýtel,
syõõan wîges heard wyrm âcwealde,
hordes hyrde; he under hârne stân,
äõelinges bearn, âna genêõde
frêcne dæde; ne wäs him Fitela mid.
Hwäõre him gesælde, Þät Þät swurd Þurhwôd
wrätlîcne wyrm, Þät hit on wealle ätstôd,
dryhtlîc îren; draca morõre swealt.
Häfde aglæca elne gegongen,
Þät he beáh-hordes brûcan môste
selfes dôme: sæ-bât gehlôd,
bär on bearm scipes beorhte frätwa,
Wälses eafera; wyrm hât gemealt.
Se wäs wreccena wîde mærost
ofer wer-Þeóde, wîgendra hleó
ellen-dædum: he Þäs âron Þâh.
Siõõan Heremôdes hild sweõrode
eafoõ and ellen. He mid eotenum wearõ
on feónda geweald forõ forlâcen,
snûde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas
lemede tô lange, he his leódum wearõ,
eallum äõelingum tô aldor-ceare;
swylce oft bemearn ærran mælum
swîõ-ferhões sîõ snotor ceorl monig,
se Þe him bealwa tô bôte gelýfde,
Þät Þät Þeódnes bearn geÞeón scolde,
fäder-äõelum onfôn, folc gehealdan,
hord and hleó-burh, häleõa rîce,
êõel Scyldinga. He Þær eallum wearõ,
mæg Higelâces manna cynne,
freóndum gefägra; hine fyren onwôd.
Hwîlum flîtende fealwe stræte
mearum mæton. Þâ wäs morgen-leóht
scofen and scynded. Eode scealc monig
swîõ-hicgende tô sele Þam heán,
searo-wundor seón, swylce self cyning,
of brýd-bûre beáh-horda weard,
tryddode tîr-fäst getrume micle,
cystum gecýõed, and his cwên mid him
medo-stîg gemät mägõa hôse.
XV. HROTHGAR'S GRATULATION.
Hrôõgâr maõelode (he tô healle geóng,
stôd on stapole, geseah steápne hrôf
golde fâhne and Grendles hond):
"Þisse ansýne al-wealdan Þanc
"lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lâões gebâd,
"grynna ät Grendle: â mäg god wyrcan
"wunder äfter wundre, wuldres hyrde!
"Þät wäs ungeâra, Þät ic ænigra me
"weána ne wênde tô wîdan feore
"bôte gebîdan Þonne blôde fâh
"hûsa sêlest heoro-dreórig stôd;
"weá wîd-scofen witena gehwylcne
"Þâra Þe ne wêndon, Þät hie wîde-ferhõ
"leóda land-geweorc lâõum beweredon
"scuccum and scinnum. Nu scealc hafaõ
"Þurh drihtnes miht dæd gefremede,
"Þe we ealle ær ne meahton
"snyttrum besyrwan. Hwät! Þät secgan mäg
"efne swâ hwylc mägõa, swâ Þone magan cende
"äfter gum-cynnum, gyf heó gyt lyfaõ,
"Þät hyre eald-metod êste wære
"bearn-gebyrdo. Nu ic Beówulf
"Þec, secg betsta, me for sunu wylle
"freógan on ferhõe; heald forõ tela
"niwe sibbe. Ne biõ Þe nænigra gâd
"worolde wilna, Þe ic geweald häbbe.
"Ful-oft ic for lässan leán teohhode
"hord-weorõunge hnâhran rince,
"sæmran ät säcce. Þu Þe self hafast
"dædum gefremed, Þät Þîn dôm lyfaõ
"âwâ tô aldre. Alwalda Þec
"gôde forgylde, swâ he nu gyt dyde!"
Beówulf maõelode, bearn EcgÞeówes:
"We Þät ellen-weorc êstum miclum,
"feohtan fremedon, frêcne genêõdon
"eafoõ uncûões; ûõe ic swîõor,
"Þät Þu hinc selfne geseón môste,
"feónd on frätewum fyl-wêrigne!
"Ic hine hrädlîce heardan clammum
"on wäl-bedde wrîõan Þôhte,
"Þät he for mund-gripe mînum scolde
"licgean lîf-bysig, bûtan his lîc swice;
"ic hine ne mihte, Þâ metod nolde,
"ganges getwæman, nô ic him Þäs georne ätfealh,
"feorh-genîõlan; wäs tô fore-mihtig
"feónd on fêõe. Hwäõere he his folme forlêt
"tô lîf-wraõe lâst weardian,
"earm and eaxle; nô Þær ænige swâ Þeáh
"feá-sceaft guma frôfre gebohte:
"nô Þý leng leofaõ lâõ-geteóna
"synnum geswenced, ac hyne sâr hafaõ
"in nýd-gripe nearwe befongen,
"balwon bendum: Þær âbîdan sceal
"maga mâne fâh miclan dômes,
"hû him scîr metod scrîfan wille."
Þâ wäs swîgra secg, sunu Ecglâfes,
on gylp-spræce gûõ-geweorca,
siõõan äõelingas eorles cräfte
ofer heáhne hrôf hand sceáwedon,
feóndes fingras, foran æghwylc;
wäs stêde nägla gehwylc, stýle gelîcost,
hæõenes hand-sporu hilde-rinces
egle unheóru; æg-hwylc gecwäõ,
Þät him heardra nân hrînan wolde
îren ær-gôd, Þät Þäs ahlæcan
blôdge beadu-folme onberan wolde.
XVI. THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.
Þâ wäs hâten hreõe Heort innan-weard
folmum gefrätwod: fela Þæra wäs
wera and wîfa, Þe Þät wîn-reced,
gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fâg scinon
web äfter wagum, wundor-sióna fela
secga gehwylcum Þâra Þe on swylc staraõ
Wäs Þät beorhte bold tôbrocen swîõe
eal inne-weard îren-bendum fäst,
heorras tôhlidene; hrôf âna genäs
ealles ansund, Þâ se aglæca
fyren-dædum fâg on fleám gewand,
aldres or-wêna. Nô Þät ýõe byõ
tô befleónne (fremme se Þe wille!)
ac gesacan sceal sâwl-berendra
nýde genýdde niõõa bearna
grund-bûendra gearwe stôwe,
Þær his lîc-homa leger-bedde fäst
swefeõ äfter symle. Þâ wäs sæl and mæl,
Þät tô healle gang Healfdenes sunu;
wolde self cyning symbel Þicgan.
Ne gefrägen ic Þâ mægõe mâran weorode
ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sêl gebæran.
Bugon Þâ tô bence blæd-âgende,
fylle gefægon. Fägere geÞægon
medo-ful manig mâgas + Þâra
swîõ-hicgende on sele Þam heán,
Hrôõgâr and Hrôõulf. Heorot innan wäs
freóndum âfylled; nalles fâcen-stafas
Þeód-Scyldingas Þenden fremedon.
Forgeaf Þâ Beówulfe bearn Healfdenes
segen gyldenne sigores tô leáne,
hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;
mære mâõõum-sweord manige gesâwon
beforan beorn beran. Beówulf geÞah
ful on flette; nô he Þære feoh-gyfte
for sceótendum scamigan Þorfte,
ne gefrägn ic freóndlîcor feówer mâdmas
golde gegyrede gum-manna fela
in ealo-bence ôõrum gesellan.
Ymb Þäs helmes hrôf heáfod-beorge
wîrum bewunden walan ûtan heóld,
Þät him fêla lâfe frêcne ne meahton
scûr-heard sceõõan, Þonne scyld-freca
ongeán gramum gangan scolde.
Hêht Þâ eorla hleó eahta mearas,
fäted-hleóre, on flet teón
in under eoderas; Þâra ânum stôd
sadol searwum fâh since gewurõad,
Þät wäs hilde-setl heáh-cyninges,
Þonne sweorda gelâc sunu Healfdenes
efnan wolde; næfre on ôre läg
wîd-cûões wîg, Þonne walu feóllon.
And Þâ Beówulfe bega gehwäõres
eodor Ingwina onweald geteáh,
wicga and wæpna; hêt hine wel brûcan.
Swâ manlîce mære Þeóden,
hord-weard häleõa heaõo-ræsas geald
mearum and mâdmum, swâ hý næfre man lyhõ,
se Þe secgan wile sôõ äfter rihte.
XVII. SONG OF HROTHGAR'S POET--THE LAY OF HNAEF AND HENGEST.
Þâ gyt æghwylcum eorla drihten
Þâra Þe mid Beówulfe brim-lâde teáh,
on Þære medu-bence mâõõum gesealde,
yrfe-lâfe, and Þone ænne hêht
golde forgyldan, Þone Þe Grendel ær
mâne âcwealde, swâ he hyra mâ wolde,
nefne him witig god wyrd forstôde
and Þäs mannes môd: metod eallum weóld
gumena cynnes, swâ he nu git dêõ;
forÞan biõ andgit æghwær sêlest,
ferhões fore-Þanc! fela sceal gebîdan
leófes and lâões, se Þe longe her
on Þyssum win-dagum worolde brûceõ.
Þær wäs sang and swêg samod ätgädere
fore Healfdenes hilde-wîsan,
gomen-wudu grêted, gid oft wrecen,
Þonne heal-gamen Hrôõgâres scôp
äfter medo-bence mænan scolde
Finnes eaferum, Þâ hie se fær begeat:
"Häleõ Healfdenes, Hnäf Scyldinga,
"in Fr..es wäle feallan scolde.
"Ne hûru Hildeburh hêrian Þorfte
"Eotena treówe: unsynnum wearõ
"beloren leófum ät Þam lind-plegan
"bearnum and brôõrum; hie on gebyrd hruron
"gâre wunde; Þät wäs geômuru ides.
"Nalles hôlinga Hôces dôhtor
"meotod-sceaft bemearn, syõõan morgen com,
"Þâ heó under swegle geseón meahte
"morõor-bealo mâga, Þær heó ær mæste heóld
"worolde wynne: wîg ealle fornam
"Finnes Þegnas, nemne feáum ânum,
"Þät he ne mehte on Þäm meõel-stede
"wîg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan,
"ne Þâ weá-lâfe wîge forÞringan
"Þeódnes Þegne; ac hig him geÞingo budon,
"Þät hie him ôõer flet eal gerýmdon,
"healle and heáh-setl, Þät hie healfre geweald
"wiõ Eotena bearn âgan môston,
"and ät feoh-gyftum Folcwaldan sunu
"dôgra gehwylce Dene weorõode,
"Hengestes heáp hringum wenede,
"efne swâ swîõe sinc-gestreónum
"fättan goldes, swâ he Fresena cyn
"on beór-sele byldan wolde.
"Þâ hie getrûwedon on twâ healfa
"fäste frioõu-wære; Fin Hengeste
"elne unflitme âõum benemde,
"Þät he Þâ weá-lâfe weotena dôme
"ârum heolde, Þät Þær ænig mon
"wordum ne worcum wære ne bræce,
"ne Þurh inwit-searo æfre gemænden,
"Þeáh hie hira beág-gyfan banan folgedon
"Þeóden-leáse, Þâ him swâ geÞearfod wäs:
"gyf Þonne Frysna hwylc frêcnan spræce
"Þäs morõor-hetes myndgiend wære,
"Þonne hit sweordes ecg syõõan scolde.
"âõ wäs geäfned and icge gold
"âhäfen of horde. Here-Scyldinga
"betst beado-rinca wäs on bæl gearu;
"ät Þäm âde wäs êõ-gesýne
"swât-fâh syrce, swýn eal-gylden,
"eofer îren-heard, äõeling manig
"wundum âwyrded; sume on wäle crungon.
"Hêt Þâ Hildeburh ät Hnäfes âde
"hire selfre sunu sweoloõe befästan,
"bân-fatu bärnan and on bæl dôn.
"Earme on eaxle ides gnornode,
"geômrode giddum; gûõ-rinc âstâh.
"Wand tô wolcnum wäl-fýra mæst,
"hlynode for hlâwe; hafelan multon,
"ben-geato burston, Þonne blôd ätspranc
"lâõ-bite lîces. Lîg ealle forswealg,
"gæsta gîfrost, Þâra Þe Þær gûõ fornam
"bega folces; wäs hira blæd scacen.
