XXIX. HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC'S RECEPTION.
Gewât him Þâ se hearda mid his hond-scole
sylf äfter sande sæ-wong tredan,
wîde waroõas. Woruld-candel scân,
sigel sûõan fûs: hî sîõ drugon,
elne geeodon, tô Þäs Þe eorla hleó,
bonan OngenÞeówes burgum on innan,
geongne gûõ-cyning gôdne gefrunon
hringas dælan. Higelâce wäs
sîõ Beówulfes snûde gecýõed,
Þät Þær on worõig wîgendra hleó,
lind-gestealla lifigende cwom,
heaõo-lâces hâl tô hofe gongan.
Hraõe wäs gerýmed, swâ se rîca bebeád,
fêõe-gestum flet innan-weard.
Gesät Þâ wiõ sylfne, se Þâ säcce genäs,
mæg wiõ mæge, syõõan man-dryhten
Þurh hleóõor-cwyde holdne gegrêtte
meaglum wordum. Meodu-scencum
hwearf geond Þät reced Häreões dôhtor:
lufode Þâ leóde, lîõ-wæge bär
hælum tô handa. Higelâc ongan
sînne geseldan in sele Þam heán
fägre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bräc,
hwylce Sæ-Geáta sîõas wæron:
"Hû lomp eów on lâde, leófa Biówulf,
"Þâ Þu færinga feorr gehogodest,
"säcce sêcean ofer sealt wäter,
"hilde tô Hiorote? Ac Þu Hrôõgâre
"wîd-cûõne weán wihte gebêttest,
"mærum Þeódne? Ic Þäs môd-ceare
"sorh-wylmum seáõ, sîõe ne trûwode
"leófes mannes; ic Þe lange bäd,
"Þät Þu Þone wäl-gæst wihte ne grêtte,
"lête Sûõ-Dene sylfe geweorõan
"gûõe wiõ Grendel. Gode ic Þanc secge,
"Þäs Þe ic Þe gesundne geseón môste."
Biówulf maõelode, bearn EcgÞiówes:
"Þät is undyrne, dryhten Higelâc,
"mære gemêting monegum fira,
"hwylc orleg-hwîl uncer Grendles
"wearõ on Þam wange, Þær he worna fela
"Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede,
"yrmõe tô aldre; ic Þät eal gewräc,
"swâ ne gylpan Þearf Grendeles mâga
"ænig ofer eorõan uht-hlem Þone,
"se Þe lengest leofaõ lâõan cynnes,
"fenne bifongen. Ic Þær furõum cwom,
"tô Þam hring-sele Hrôõgâr grêtan:
"sôna me se mæra mago Healfdenes,
"syõõan he môd-sefan mînne cûõe,
"wiõ his sylfes sunu setl getæhte.
"Weorod wäs on wynne; ne seah ic wîdan feorh
"under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra
"medu-dreám mâran. Hwîlum mæru cwên,
"friõu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf,
"bædde byre geonge; oft hió beáh-wriõan
"secge sealde, ær hió tô setle geóng.
"Hwîlum for duguõe dôhtor Hrôõgâres
"eorlum on ende ealu-wæge bär,
"Þâ ic Freáware flet-sittende
"nemnan hýrde, Þær hió nägled sinc
"häleõum sealde: sió gehâten wäs,
"geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frôdan;
"hafaõ Þäs geworden wine Scyldinga
"rîces hyrde and Þät ræd talaõ,
"Þät he mid Þý wîfe wäl-fæhõa dæl,
"säcca gesette. Oft nô seldan hwær
"äfter leód-hryre lytle hwîle
"bon-gâr bûgeõ, Þeáh seó brýd duge!
XXX. BEóWULF'S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.
"Mäg Þäs Þonne ofÞyncan Þeóden Heaõobeardna
"and Þegna gehwâm Þâra leóda,
"Þonne he mid fæmnan on flett gæõ,
"dryht-bearn Dena duguõa biwenede:
"on him gladiaõ gomelra lâfe
"heard and hring-mæl, Heaõobeardna gestreón,
"Þenden hie Þâm wæpnum wealdan môston,
"ôõ Þät hie forlæddan tô Þam lind-plegan
"swæse gesîõas ond hyra sylfra feorh.
"Þonne cwiõ ät beóre, se Þe beáh gesyhõ,
"eald äsc-wîga, se Þe eall geman
"gâr-cwealm gumena (him biõ grim sefa),
"onginneõ geômor-môd geongne cempan
"Þurh hreõra gehygd higes cunnian,
"wîg-bealu weccean and Þät word âcwyõ:
"'Meaht Þu, mîn wine, mêce gecnâwan,
"'Þone Þin fäder tô gefeohte bär
"'under here-grîman hindeman sîõe,
"'dýre îren, Þær hyne Dene slôgon,
"'weóldon wäl-stôwe, syõõan wiõer-gyld läg,
"'äfter häleõa hryre, hwate Scyldungas?
"'Nu her Þâra banena byre nât-hwylces,
"'frätwum hrêmig on flet gæõ,
"'morõres gylpeõ and Þone mâõõum byreõ,
"'Þone Þe Þu mid rihte rædan sceoldest!'"
"Manaõ swâ and myndgaõ mæla gehwylce
"sârum wordum, ôõ Þät sæl cymeõ,
"Þät se fæmnan Þegn fore fäder dædum
"äfter billes bite blôd-fâg swefeõ,
"ealdres scyldig; him se ôõer Þonan
"losaõ lifigende, con him land geare.
"Þonne bióõ brocene on bâ healfe
"âõ-sweord eorla; syõõan Ingelde
"weallaõ wäl-nîõas and him wîf-lufan
"äfter cear-wälmum côlran weorõaõ.
"Þý ic Heaõobeardna hyldo ne telge,
"dryht-sibbe dæl Denum unfæcne,
"freónd-scipe fästne. Ic sceal forõ sprecan
"gen ymbe Grendel, Þät Þu geare cunne,
"sinces brytta, tô hwan syõõan wearõ
"hond-ræs häleõa. Syõõan heofones gim
"glâd ofer grundas, gäst yrre cwom,
"eatol æfen-grom, ûser neósan,
"Þær we gesunde säl weardodon;
"Þær wäs Hondsció hild onsæge,
"feorh-bealu fægum, he fyrmest läg,
"gyrded cempa; him Grendel wearõ,
"mærum magu-Þegne tô mûõ-bonan,
"leófes mannes lîc eall forswealg.
"Nô Þý ær ût Þâ gen îdel-hende
"bona blôdig-tôõ bealewa gemyndig,
"of Þam gold-sele gongan wolde,
"ac he mägnes rôf mîn costode,
"grâpode gearo-folm. Glôf hangode
"sîd and syllîc searo-bendum fäst,
"sió wäs orÞoncum eall gegyrwed
"deófles cräftum and dracan fellum:
"he mec Þær on innan unsynnigne,
"diór dæd-fruma, gedôn wolde,
"manigra sumne: hyt ne mihte swâ,
"syõõan ic on yrre upp-riht âstôd.
"Tô lang ys tô reccenne, hû ic Þam leód-sceaõan
"yfla gehwylces ond-leán forgeald;
"Þær ic, Þeóden mîn, Þîne leóde
"weorõode weorcum. He on weg losade,
"lytle hwîle lîf-wynna breác;
"hwäõre him sió swîõre swaõe weardade
"hand on Hiorte and he heán Þonan,
"môdes geômor mere-grund gefeóll.
"Me Þone wäl-ræs wine Scildunga
"fättan golde fela leánode,
"manegum mâõmum, syõõan mergen com
"and we tô symble geseten häfdon.
"Þær wäs gidd and gleó; gomela Scilding
"fela fricgende feorran rehte;
"hwîlum hilde-deór hearpan wynne,
"gomen-wudu grêtte; hwîlum gyd âwräc
"sôõ and sârlîc; hwîlum syllîc spell
"rehte äfter rihte rûm-heort cyning.
"Hwîlum eft ongan eldo gebunden,
"gomel gûõ-wîga gioguõe cwîõan
"hilde-strengo; hreõer inne weóll,
"Þonne he wintrum frôd worn gemunde.
"Swâ we Þær inne andlangne däg
"nióde nâman, ôõ Þät niht becwom
"ôõer tô yldum. Þâ wäs eft hraõe
"gearo gyrn-wräce Grendeles môdor,
"sîõode sorh-full; sunu deáõ fornam,
"wîg-hete Wedra. Wîf unhýre
"hyre bearn gewräc, beorn âcwealde
"ellenlîce; Þær wäs äsc-here,
"frôdan fyrn-witan, feorh ûõgenge;
"nôõer hy hine ne môston, syõõan mergen cwom,
"deáõ-wêrigne Denia leóde
"bronde forbärnan, ne on bæl hladan
"leófne mannan: hió Þät lîc ätbär
"feóndes fäõmum under firgen-streám.
"Þät wäs Hrôõgâre hreówa tornost
"Þâra Þe leód-fruman lange begeâte;
"Þâ se Þeóden mec Þîne lîfe
"healsode hreóh-môd, Þät ic on holma geÞring
"eorl-scipe efnde, ealdre genêõde,
"mærõo fremede: he me mêde gehêt.
"Ic Þâ Þäs wälmes, Þe is wîde cûõ,
"grimne gryrelîcne grund-hyrde fond.
"Þær unc hwîle wäs hand gemæne;
"holm heolfre weóll and ic heáfde becearf
"in Þam grund-sele Grendeles môdor
"eácnum ecgum, unsôfte Þonan
"feorh ôõferede; näs ic fæge Þâ gyt,
"ac me eorla hleó eft gesealde
"mâõma menigeo, maga Healfdenes.
XXXI. HE GIVES PRESENTS TO HYGELAC. HYGELAC REWARDS HIM. HYGELAC'S DEATH. BEóWULF REIGNS.
"Swâ se Þeód-kyning Þeáwum lyfde;
"nealles ic Þâm leánum forloren häfde,
"mägnes mêde, ac he me mâõmas geaf,
"sunu Healfdenes, on sînne sylfes dôm;
"Þâ ic Þe, beorn-cyning, bringan wylle,
"êstum geýwan. Gen is eall ät Þe
"lissa gelong: ic lyt hafo
"heáfod-mâga, nefne Hygelâc Þec!"
Hêt Þâ in beran eafor, heáfod-segn,
heaõo-steápne helm, hâre byrnan,
gûõ-sweord geatolîc, gyd äfter wräc:
"Me Þis hilde-sceorp Hrôõgâr sealde,
"snotra fengel, sume worde hêt,
"Þät ic his ærest Þe eft gesägde,
"cwäõ Þät hyt häfde Hiorogâr cyning,
"leód Scyldunga lange hwîle:
"nô Þý ær suna sînum syllan wolde,
"hwatum Heorowearde, Þeáh he him hold wære,
"breóst-gewædu. Brûc ealles well!"
Hýrde ic Þät Þâm frätwum feówer mearas
lungre gelîce lâst weardode,
äppel-fealuwe; he him êst geteáh
meara and mâõma. Swâ sceal mæg dôn,
nealles inwit-net ôõrum bregdan,
dyrnum cräfte deáõ rênian
hond-gesteallan. Hygelâce wäs,
nîõa heardum, nefa swýõe hold
and gehwäõer ôõrum hrôõra gemyndig.
Hýrde ic Þät he Þone heals-beáh Hygde gesealde,
wrätlîcne wundur-mâõõum, Þone Þe him WealhÞeó geaf,
Þeódnes dôhtor, Þrió wicg somod
swancor and sadol-beorht; hyre syõõan wäs
äfter beáh-Þege breóst geweorõod.
Swâ bealdode bearn EcgÞeówes,
guma gûõum cûõ, gôdum dædum,
dreáh äfter dôme, nealles druncne slôg
heorõ-geneátas; näs him hreóh sefa,
ac he man-cynnes mæste cräfte
gin-fästan gife, Þe him god sealde,
heóld hilde-deór. Heán wäs lange,
swâ hyne Geáta bearn gôdne ne tealdon,
ne hyne on medo-bence micles wyrõne
drihten wereda gedôn wolde;
swýõe oft sägdon, Þät he sleac wære,
äõeling unfrom: edwenden cwom
tîr-eádigum menn torna gehwylces.
Hêt Þâ eorla hleó in gefetian,
heaõo-rôf cyning, Hrêõles lâfe,
golde gegyrede; näs mid Geátum Þâ
sinc-mâõõum sêlra on sweordes hâd;
Þät he on Biówulfes bearm âlegde,
and him gesealde seofan Þûsendo,
bold and brego-stôl. Him wäs bâm samod
on Þam leód-scipe lond gecynde,
eard êõel-riht, ôõrum swîõor
sîde rîce, Þam Þær sêlra wäs.
Eft Þät geiode ufaran dôgrum
hilde-hlämmum, syõõan Hygelâc läg
and Heardrêde hilde-mêceas
under bord-hreóõan tô bonan wurdon,
Þâ hyne gesôhtan on sige-Þeóde
hearde hilde-frecan, Heaõo-Scilfingas,
nîõa genægdan nefan Hererîces.
Syõõan Beówulfe brâde rîce
on hand gehwearf: he geheóld tela
fîftig wintru (wäs Þâ frôd cyning,
eald êõel-weard), ôõ Þät ân ongan
deorcum nihtum draca rîcsian,
se Þe on heáre hæõe hord beweotode,
stân-beorh steápne: stîg under läg,
eldum uncûõ. Þær on innan gióng
niõa nât-hwylces neóde gefêng
hæõnum horde hond . d . . geÞ . . hwylc
since fâhne, he Þät syõõan . . . . .
. . . Þ . . . lõ . Þ . . l . g
slæpende be fýre, fyrena hyrde
Þeófes cräfte, Þät sie . . . . õioõ . . . . .
. idh . folc-beorn, Þät he gebolgen wäs.
XXXII. THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.
Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . cräft
sôhte sylfes willum, se Þe him sâre gesceôd,
ac for Þreá-nêdlan Þeów nât-hwylces
häleõa bearna hete-swengeas fleáh,
for ofer-Þearfe and Þær inne fealh
secg syn-bysig. Sôna in Þâ tîde
Þät . . . . . Þam gyste . . . . br . g . stôd,
hwäõre earm-sceapen . . . . . . .
. . õ . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fæs begeat,
sinc-fät geseah: Þær wäs swylcra fela
in Þam eorõ-scräfe ær-gestreóna,
swâ hy on geâr-dagum gumena nât-hwylc
eormen-lâfe äõelan cynnes
Þanc-hycgende Þær gehýdde,
deóre mâõmas. Ealle hie deáõ fornam
ærran mælum, and se ân Þâ gen
leóda duguõe, se Þær lengest hwearf,
weard wine-geômor wîscte Þäs yldan,
Þät he lytel fäc long-gestreóna
brûcan môste. Beorh eal gearo
wunode on wonge wäter-ýõum neáh,
niwe be nässe nearo-cräftum fäst:
Þær on innan bär eorl-gestreóna
hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dæl
fättan goldes, feá worda cwäõ:
"Heald Þu nu, hruse, nu häleõ ne môston,
"eorla æhte. Hwät! hit ær on Þe
"gôde begeâton; gûõ-deáõ fornam,
"feorh-bealo frêcne fyra gehwylcne,
"leóda mînra, Þâra Þe Þis lîf ofgeaf,
"gesâwon sele-dreám. Nâh hwâ sweord wege
"oõõe fetige fäted wæge,
"drync-fät deóre: duguõ ellor scôc.
"Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde
"fätum befeallen: feormiend swefaõ,
"Þâ Þe beado-grîman býwan sceoldon,
"ge swylce seó here-pâd, sió ät hilde gebâd
"ofer borda gebräc bite îrena,
"brosnaõ äfter beorne. Ne mäg byrnan hring
"äfter wîg-fruman wîde fêran
"häleõum be healfe; näs hearpan wyn,
"gomen gleó-beámes, ne gôd hafoc
"geond säl swingeõ, ne se swifta mearh
"burh-stede beáteõ. Bealo-cwealm hafaõ
"fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!"
Swâ giômor-môd giohõo mænde,
ân äfter eallum unblîõe hweóp,
däges and nihtes, ôõ Þät deáões wylm
hrân ät heortan. Hord-wynne fond
eald uht-sceaõa opene standan,
se Þe byrnende biorgas sêceõ
nacod nîõ-draca, nihtes fleógeõ
fýre befangen; hyne fold-bûend
wîde gesâwon. He gewunian sceall
hlâw under hrusan, Þær he hæõen gold
waraõ wintrum frôd; ne byõ him wihte Þê sêl.
Swâ se Þeód-sceaõa Þreó hund wintra
heóld on hrusan hord-ärna sum
eácen-cräftig, ôõ Þät hyne ân âbealh
mon on môde: man-dryhtne bär
fäted wæge, frioõo-wære bäd
hlâford sînne. Þâ wäs hord râsod,
onboren beága hord, bêne getîõad
feá-sceaftum men. Freá sceáwode
fira fyrn-geweorc forman sîõe.
Þâ se wyrm onwôc, wrôht wäs geniwad;
stonc Þâ äfter stâne, stearc-heort onfand
feóndes fôt-lâst; he tô forõ gestôp,
dyrnan cräfte, dracan heáfde neáh.
Swâ mäg unfæge eáõe gedîgan
weán and wräc-sîõ, se Þe waldendes
hyldo gehealdeõ. Hord-weard sôhte
georne äfter grunde, wolde guman findan,
Þone Þe him on sweofote sâre geteóde:
hât and hreóh-môd hlæw oft ymbe hwearf,
ealne ûtan-weardne; ne Þær ænig mon
wäs on Þære wêstenne. Hwäõre hilde gefeh,
beado-weorces: hwîlum on beorh äthwearf,
sinc-fät sôhte; he Þät sôna onfand,
Þät häfde gumena sum goldes gefandod
heáh-gestreóna. Hord-weard onbâd
earfoõlîce, ôõ Þät æfen cwom;
wäs Þâ gebolgen beorges hyrde,
wolde se lâõa lîge forgyldan
drinc-fät dýre. Þâ wäs däg sceacen
wyrme on willan, nô on wealle leng
bîdan wolde, ac mid bæle fôr,
fýre gefýsed. Wäs se fruma egeslîc
leódum on lande, swâ hyt lungre wearõ
on hyra sinc-gifan sâre geendod.
