Beouwulf

XXV. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE: HE DISCOURSES.

Beówulf maõelode, bearn EcgÞeówes: "Hwät! we Þe Þâs sæ-lâc, sunu Healfdenes, "leód Scyldinga, lustum brôhton, "tîres tô tâcne, Þe Þu her tô lôcast. "Ic Þät unsôfte ealdre gedîgde: "wîge under wätere weorc genêõde "earfoõlîce, ät-rihte wäs "gûõ getwæfed, nymõe mec god scylde. "Ne meahte ic ät hilde mid Hruntinge "wiht gewyrcan, Þeáh Þät wæpen duge, "ac me geûõe ylda waldend, "Þät ic on wage geseah wlitig hangian "eald sweord eácen (oftost wîsode "winigea leásum) Þät ic Þý wæpne gebräd. "Ofslôh Þâ ät Þære säcce (Þâ me sæl âgeald) "hûses hyrdas. Þâ Þät hilde-bil "forbarn, brogden mæl, swâ Þät blôd gesprang, "hâtost heaõo-swâta: ic Þät hilt Þanan "feóndum ätferede; fyren-dæda wräc, "deáõ-cwealm Denigea, swâ hit gedêfe wäs. "Ic hit Þe Þonne gehâte, Þät Þu on Heorote môst "sorh-leás swefan mid Þînra secga gedryht, "and Þegna gehwylc Þînra leóda, "duguõe and iogoõe, Þät Þu him ondrædan ne Þearft, "Þeóden Scyldinga, on Þâ healfe, "aldor-bealu eorlum, swâ Þu ær dydest." Þâ wäs gylden hilt gamelum rince. hârum hild-fruman, on hand gyfen, enta ær-geweorc, hit on æht gehwearf äfter deófla hryre Denigea freán, wundor-smiõa geweorc, and Þâ Þâs worold ofgeaf grom-heort guma, godes andsaca, morõres scyldig, and his môdor eác; on geweald gehwearf worold-cyninga Þäm sêlestan be sæm tweónum Þâra Þe on Sceden-igge sceattas dælde. Hrôõgâr maõelode, hylt sceáwode, ealde lâfe, on Þäm wäs ôr writen fyrn-gewinnes: syõõan flôd ofslôh, gifen geótende, giganta cyn, frêcne gefêrdon: Þät wäs fremde Þeód êcean dryhtne, him Þäs ende-leán Þurh wäteres wylm waldend sealde. Swâ wäs on Þæm scennum scîran goldes Þurh rûn-stafas rihte gemearcod, geseted and gesæd, hwâm Þät sweord geworht, îrena cyst ærest wære, wreoõen-hilt and wyrm-fâh. Þâ se wîsa spräc sunu Healfdenes (swîgedon ealle): "Þät lâ mäg secgan, se Þe sôõ and riht "fremeõ on folce, (feor eal gemon "eald êõel-weard), Þät Þes eorl wære "geboren betera! Blæd is âræred "geond wîd-wegas, wine mîn Beówulf, "Þîn ofer Þeóda gehwylce. Eal Þu hit geÞyldum healdest, "mägen mid môdes snyttrum. Ic Þe sceal mîne gelæstan "freóde, swâ wit furõum spræcon; Þu scealt tô frôfre weorõan "eal lang-twidig leódum Þînum, "häleõum tô helpe. Ne wearõ Heremôd swâ "eaforum Ecgwelan, âr-Scyldingum; "ne geweôx he him tô willan, ac tô wäl-fealle "and tô deáõ-cwalum Deniga leódum; "breát bolgen-môd beód-geneátas, "eaxl-gesteallan, ôõ Þät he âna hwearf, "mære Þeóden. mon-dreámum from: "Þeáh Þe hine mihtig god mägenes wynnum, "eafeõum stêpte, ofer ealle men "forõ gefremede, hwäõere him on ferhõe greów "breóst-hord blôd-reów: nallas beágas geaf "Denum äfter dôme; dreám-leás gebâd, "Þät he Þäs gewinnes weorc Þrowade, "leód-bealo longsum. Þu Þe lær be Þon, "gum-cyste ongit! ic Þis gid be Þe "âwräc wintrum frôd. Wundor is tô secganne, "hû mihtig god manna cynne "Þurh sîdne sefan snyttru bryttaõ, "eard and eorl-scipe, he âh ealra geweald. "Hwîlum he on lufan læteõ hworfan "monnes môd-geÞonc mæran cynnes, "seleõ him on êõle eorõan wynne, "tô healdanne hleó-burh wera, "gedêõ him swâ gewealdene worolde dælas, "sîde rîce, Þät he his selfa ne mäg "for his un-snyttrum ende geÞencean; "wunaõ he on wiste, nô hine wiht dweleõ, "âdl ne yldo, ne him inwit-sorh "on sefan sweorceõ, ne gesacu ôhwær, "ecg-hete eóweõ, ac him eal worold "wendeõ on willan; he Þät wyrse ne con, "ôõ Þät him on innan ofer-hygda dæl "weaxeõ and wridaõ, Þonne se weard swefeõ, "sâwele hyrde: biõ se slæp tô fäst, "bisgum gebunden, bona swîõe neáh, "se Þe of flân-bogan fyrenum sceóteõ.

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

"Þonne biõ on hreõre under helm drepen "biteran stræle: him bebeorgan ne con "wom wundor-bebodum wergan gâstes; "Þinceõ him tô lytel, Þät he tô lange heóld, "gýtsaõ grom-hydig, nallas on gylp seleõ "fätte beágas and he Þâ forõ-gesceaft "forgyteõ and forgýmeõ, Þäs Þe him ær god sealde "wuldres waldend, weorõ-mynda dæl. "Hit on ende-stäf eft gelimpeõ, "Þät se lîc-homa læne gedreóseõ, "fæge gefealleõ; fêhõ ôõer tô, "se Þe unmurnlîce mâdmas dæleõ, "eorles ær-gestreón, egesan ne gýmeõ. "Bebeorh Þe Þone bealo-nîõ, Beówulf leófa, "secg se betsta, and Þe Þät sêlre geceós, "êce rædas; oferhyda ne gým, "mære cempa! Nu is Þînes mägnes blæd "âne hwîle; eft sôna biõ, "Þät Þec âdl oõõe ecg eafoões getwæfeõ, "oõõe fýres feng oõõe flôdes wylm, "oõõe gripe mêces oõõe gâres fliht, "oõõe atol yldo, oõõe eágena bearhtm "forsiteõ and forsworceõ; semninga biõ, "Þät Þec, dryht-guma, deáõ oferswýõeõ. "Swâ ic Hring-Dena hund missera "weóld under wolcnum, and hig wîge beleác "manigum mægõa geond Þysne middan-geard, "äscum and ecgum, Þät ic me ænigne "under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde. "Hwät! me Þäs on êõle edwenden cwom, "gyrn äfter gomene, seoõõan Grendel wearõ, "eald-gewinna, in-genga mîn: "ic Þære sôcne singales wäg "môd-ceare micle. Þäs sig metode Þanc, "êcean drihtne, Þäs Þe ic on aldre gebâd, "Þät ic on Þone hafelan heoro-dreórigne "ofer eald gewin eágum starige! "Gâ nu tô setle, symbel-wynne dreóh "wîgge weorõad: unc sceal worn fela "mâõma gemænra, siõõan morgen biõ." Geát wäs gläd-môd, geóng sôna tô, setles neósan, swâ se snottra hêht. Þâ wäs eft swâ ær ellen-rôfum, flet-sittendum fägere gereorded niówan stefne. Niht-helm geswearc deorc ofer dryht-gumum. Duguõ eal ârâs; wolde blonden-feax beddes neósan, gamela Scylding. Geát ungemetes wel, rôfne rand-wîgan restan lyste: sôna him sele-Þegn sîões wêrgum, feorran-cundum forõ wîsade, se for andrysnum ealle beweotede Þegnes Þearfe, swylce Þý dôgore heáõo-lîõende habban scoldon. Reste hine Þâ rûm-heort; reced hlifade geáp and gold-fâh, gäst inne swäf, ôõ Þät hrefn blaca heofones wynne blîõ-heort bodode. Þâ com beorht sunne scacan ofer grundas; scaõan onetton, wæron äõelingas eft tô leódum fûse tô farenne, wolde feor Þanon cuma collen-ferhõ ceóles neósan. Hêht Þâ se hearda Hrunting beran, sunu Ecglâfes, hêht his sweord niman, leóflîc îren; sägde him Þäs leánes Þanc, cwäõ he Þone gûõ-wine gôdne tealde, wîg-cräftigne, nales wordum lôg mêces ecge: Þät wäs môdig secg. And Þâ sîõ-frome searwum gearwe wîgend wæron, eode weorõ Denum äõeling tô yppan, Þær se ôõer wäs häle hilde-deór, Hrôõgâr grêtte.

XXVII. THE PARTING WORDS.

Beówulf maõelode, bearn EcgÞeówes: "Nu we sæ-lîõend secgan wyllaõ "feorran cumene, Þät we fundiaõ "Higelâc sêcan. Wæron her tela "willum bewenede; Þu ûs wel dohtest. "Gif ic Þonne on eorõan ôwihte mäg "Þînre môd-lufan mâran tilian, "gumena dryhten, Þonne ic gyt dyde, "gûõ-geweorca ic beó gearo sôna. "Gif ic Þät gefricge ofer flôda begang, "Þät Þec ymbe-sittend egesan Þýwaõ, "swâ Þec hetende hwîlum dydon, "ic Þe Þûsenda Þegna bringe, "häleõa tô helpe. Ic on Higelâce wât, "Geáta dryhten, Þeáh Þe he geong sý, "folces hyrde, Þät he mec fremman wile "wordum and worcum, Þät ic Þe wel herige, "and Þe tô geóce gâr-holt bere "mägenes fultum, Þær Þe biõ manna Þearf; "gif him Þonne Hrêõrîc tô hofum Geáta "geÞingeõ, Þeódnes bearn, he mäg Þær fela "freónda findan: feor-cýõõe beóõ "sêlran gesôhte Þäm Þe him selfa deáh." Hrôõgâr maõelode him on andsware: "Þe Þâ word-cwydas wittig drihten "on sefan sende! ne hýrde ic snotorlîcor "on swâ geongum feore guman Þingian: "Þu eart mägenes strang and on môde frôd, "wîs word-cwida. Wên ic talige, "gif Þät gegangeõ, Þät Þe gâr nymeõ, "hild heoru-grimme Hrêõles eaferan, "âdl oõõe îren ealdor Þînne, "folces hyrde, and Þu Þîn feorh hafast, "Þät Þe Sæ-Geátas sêlran näbben "tô geceósenne cyning ænigne, "hord-weard häleõa, gif Þu healdan wylt "mâga rîce. Me Þîn môd-sefa "lîcaõ leng swâ wel, leófa Beówulf: "hafast Þu gefêred, Þät Þâm folcum sceal, "Geáta leódum and Gâr-Denum "sib gemænum and sacu restan, "inwit-nîõas, Þe hie ær drugon; "wesan, Þenden ic wealde wîdan rîces, "mâõmas gemæne, manig ôõerne "gôdum gegrêtan ofer ganotes bäõ; "sceal hring-naca ofer heáõu bringan "lâc and luf-tâcen. Ic Þâ leóde wât "ge wiõ feónd ge wiõ freónd fäste geworhte "æghwäs untæle ealde wîsan." Þâ git him eorla hleó inne gesealde, mago Healfdenes mâõmas twelfe, hêt hine mid Þæm lâcum leóde swæse sêcean on gesyntum, snûde eft cuman. Gecyste Þâ cyning äõelum gôd, Þeóden Scildinga, Þegen betstan and be healse genam; hruron him teáras, blonden-feaxum: him wäs bega wên, ealdum infrôdum, ôõres swîõor, Þät hî seoõõan geseón môston môdige on meõle. Wäs him se man tô Þon leóf, Þät he Þone breóst-wylm forberan ne mehte, ac him on hreõre hyge-bendum fäst äfter deórum men dyrne langaõ beorn wiõ blôde. Him Beówulf Þanan, gûõ-rinc gold-wlanc gräs-moldan träd, since hrêmig: sæ-genga bâd âgend-freán, se Þe on ancre râd. Þâ wäs on gange gifu Hrôõgâres oft geæhted: Þät wäs ân cyning æghwäs orleahtre, ôõ Þät hine yldo benam mägenes wynnum, se Þe oft manegum scôd.

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

Cwom Þâ tô flôde fela-môdigra häg-stealdra heáp; hring-net bæron, locene leoõo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand eft-sîõ eorla, swâ he ær dyde; nô he mid hearme of hliões nosan gästas grêtte, ac him tôgeánes râd; cwäõ Þät wilcuman Wedera leódum scawan scîr-hame tô scipe fôron. Þâ wäs on sande sæ-geáp naca hladen here-wædum, hringed-stefna mearum and mâõmum: mäst hlifade ofer Hrôõgâres hord-gestreónum. He Þäm bât-wearde bunden golde swurd gesealde, Þät he syõõan wäs on meodu-bence mâõme Þý weorõra, yrfe-lâfe. Gewât him on ýõ-nacan, drêfan deóp wäter, Dena land ofgeaf. Þâ wäs be mäste mere-hrägla sum, segl sâle fäst. Sund-wudu Þunede, nô Þær wêg-flotan wind ofer ýõum sîões getwæfde; sæ-genga fôr, fleát fâmig-heals forõ ofer ýõe, bunden-stefna ofer brim-streámas, Þät hie Geáta clifu ongitan meahton, cûõe nässas. Ceól up geÞrang, lyft-geswenced on lande stôd. Hraõe wäs ät holme hýõ-weard gearo, se Þe ær lange tîd, leófra manna fûs, ät faroõe feor wlâtode; sælde tô sande sîd-fäõme scip oncer-bendum fäst, Þý läs hym ýõa Þrym wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte. Hêt Þâ up beran äõelinga gestreón, frätwe and fät-gold; näs him feor Þanon tô gesêcanne sinces bryttan: Higelâc Hrêõling Þær ät hâm wunaõ, selfa mid gesîõum sæ-wealle neáh; bold wäs betlîc, brego-rôf cyning, heá on healle, Hygd swîõe geong, wîs, wel-Þungen, Þeáh Þe wintra lyt under burh-locan gebiden häbbe Häreões dôhtor: näs hió hnâh swâ Þeáh, ne tô gneáõ gifa Geáta leódum, mâõm-gestreóna. Mod Þryõo wäg, fremu folces cwên, firen ondrysne: nænig Þät dorste deór genêõan swæsra gesîõa, nefne sin-freá, Þät hire an däges eágum starede; ac him wäl-bende weotode tealde, hand-gewriõene: hraõe seoõõan wäs äfter mund-gripe mêce geÞinged, Þät hit sceaõen-mæl scyran môste, cwealm-bealu cýõan. Ne biõ swylc cwênlîc Þeáw idese tô efnanne, Þeáh Þe hió ænlîcu sý, Þätte freoõu-webbe feores onsäce äfter lîge-torne leófne mannan. Hûru Þät onhôhsnode Heminges mæg; ealo drincende ôõer sædan, Þät hió leód-bealewa läs gefremede, inwit-nîõa, syõõan ærest wearõ gyfen gold-hroden geongum cempan, äõelum dióre, syõõan hió Offan flet ofer fealone flôd be fäder lâre sîõe gesôhte, Þær hió syõõan wel in gum-stôle, gôde mære, lîf-gesceafta lifigende breác, hióld heáh-lufan wiõ häleõa brego, ealles mon-cynnes mîne gefræge Þone sêlestan bî sæm tweónum eormen-cynnes; forÞam Offa wäs geofum and gûõum gâr-cêne man, wîde geweorõod; wîsdôme heóld êõel sînne, Þonon Eómær wôc häleõum tô helpe, Heminges mæg, nefa Gârmundes, nîõa cräftig.

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