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BeouwulfXXXIII. BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE. Þâ se gäst ongan glêdum spîwan, beorht hofu bärnan; bryne-leóma stôd eldum on andan; nô Þær âht cwices lâõ lyft-floga læfan wolde. Wäs Þäs wyrmes wîg wîde gesýne, nearo-fâges nîõ neán and feorran, hû se gûõ-sceaõa Geáta leóde hatode and hýnde: hord eft gesceát, dryht-sele dyrnne ær däges hwîle. Häfde land-wara lîge befangen, bæle and bronde; beorges getrûwode, wîges and wealles: him seó wên geleáh. Þâ wäs Biówulfe brôga gecýõed snûde tô sôõe, Þät his sylfes him bolda sêlest bryne-wylmum mealt, gif-stôl Geáta. Þät Þam gôdan wäs hreów on hreõre, hyge-sorga mæst: wênde se wîsa, Þät he wealdende, ofer ealde riht, êcean dryhtne bitre gebulge: breóst innan weóll Þeóstrum geÞoncum, swâ him geÞýwe ne wäs. Häfde lîg-draca leóda fästen, eá-lond ûtan, eorõ-weard Þone glêdum forgrunden. Him Þäs gûõ-cyning, Wedera Þióden, wräce leornode. Hêht him Þâ gewyrcean wîgendra hleó eall-îrenne, eorla dryhten wîg-bord wrätlîc; wisse he gearwe, Þät him holt-wudu helpan ne meahte, lind wiõ lîge. Sceolde læn-daga äõeling ær-gôd ende gebîdan worulde lîfes and se wyrm somod; Þeáh Þe hord-welan heólde lange. Oferhogode Þâ hringa fengel, Þät he Þone wîd-flogan weorode gesôhte, sîdan herge; nô he him Þâ säcce ondrêd, ne him Þäs wyrmes wîg for wiht dyde, eafoõ and ellen; forÞon he ær fela nearo nêõende nîõa gedîgde, hilde-hlemma, syõõan he Hrôõgâres, sigor-eádig secg, sele fælsode and ät gûõe forgrâp Grendeles mægum, lâõan cynnes. Nô Þät läsest wäs hond-gemota, Þær mon Hygelâc slôh, syõõan Geáta cyning gûõe ræsum, freá-wine folces Freslondum on, Hrêõles eafora hioro-dryncum swealt, bille gebeáten; Þonan Biówulf com sylfes cräfte, sund-nytte dreáh; + häfde him on earme ... XXX hilde-geatwa, Þâ he tô holme stâg. Nealles Hetware hrêmge Þorfton fêõe-wîges, Þe him foran ongeán linde bæron: lyt eft becwom fram Þam hild-frecan hâmes niósan. Oferswam Þâ sióleõa bigong sunu EcgÞeówes, earm ân-haga eft tô leódum, Þær him Hygd gebeád hord and rîce, beágas and brego-stôl: bearne ne trûwode, Þät he wiõ äl-fylcum êõel-stôlas healdan cûõe, Þâ wäs Hygelâc deád. Nô Þý ær feá-sceafte findan meahton ät Þam äõelinge ænige Þinga, Þät he Heardrêde hlâford wære, oõõe Þone cyne-dôm ciósan wolde; hwäõre he him on folce freónd-lârum heóld, êstum mid âre, ôõ Þät he yldra wearõ, Weder-Geátum weóld. Hyne wräc-mäcgas ofer sæ sôhtan, suna ôhteres: häfdon hy forhealden helm Scylfinga, Þone sêlestan sæ-cyninga, Þâra Þe in Swió-rîce sinc brytnade, mærne Þeóden. Him Þät tô mearce wearõ; he Þær orfeorme feorh-wunde hleát sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelâces; and him eft gewât OngenÞiówes bearn hâmes niósan, syõõan Heardrêd läg; lêt Þone brego-stôl Biówulf healdan, Geátum wealdan: Þät wäs gôd cyning. XXXIV. RETROSPECT OF BEóWULF.--STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS. Se Þäs leód-hryres leán gemunde uferan dôgrum, Eádgilse wearõ feá-sceaftum feónd. Folce gestepte ofer sæ sîde sunu ôhteres wîgum and wæpnum: he gewräc syõõan cealdum cear-sîõum, cyning ealdre bineát. Swâ he nîõa gehwane genesen häfde, slîõra geslyhta, sunu EcgÞiówes, ellen-weorca, ôõ Þone ânne däg, Þe he wiõ Þam wyrme gewegan sceolde. Gewât Þâ twelfa sum torne gebolgen dryhten Geáta dracan sceáwian; häfde Þâ gefrunen, hwanan sió fæhõ ârâs, bealo-nîõ biorna; him tô bearme cwom mâõõum-fät mære Þurh Þäs meldan hond, Se wäs on Þam Þreáte Þreotteoõa secg, se Þäs orleges ôr onstealde, häft hyge-giômor, sceolde heán Þonon wong wîsian: he ofer willan gióng tô Þäs Þe he eorõ-sele ânne wisse, hlæw under hrusan holm-wylme nêh, ýõ-gewinne, se wäs innan full wrätta and wîra: weard unhióre, gearo gûõ-freca, gold-mâõmas heóld, eald under eorõan; näs Þät ýõe ceáp, tô gegangenne gumena ænigum. Gesät Þâ on nässe nîõ-heard cyning, Þenden hælo âbeád heorõ-geneátum gold-wine Geáta: him wäs geômor sefa, wäfre and wäl-fûs, Wyrd ungemete neáh, se Þone gomelan grêtan sceolde, sêcean sâwle hord, sundur gedælan lîf wiõ lîce: nô Þon lange wäs feorh äõelinges flæsce bewunden. Biówulf maõelade, bearn EcgÞeówes: "Fela ic on giogoõe guõ-ræsa genäs, "orleg-hwîla: ic Þät eall gemon. "Ic wäs syfan-wintre, Þâ mec sinca baldor, "freá-wine folca ät mînum fäder genam, "heóld mec and häfde Hrêõel cyning, "geaf me sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde; "näs ic him tô lîfe lâõra ôwihte "beorn in burgum, Þonne his bearna hwylc, "Herebeald and Hæõcyn, oõõe Hygelâc mîn. "Wäs Þam yldestan ungedêfelîce "mæges dædum morõor-bed strêd, "syõõan hyne Hæõcyn of horn-bogan, "his freá-wine flâne geswencte, "miste mercelses and his mæg ofscêt, "brôõor ôõerne, blôdigan gâre: "Þät wäs feoh-leás gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad "hreõre hyge-mêõe; sceolde hwäõre swâ Þeáh "äõeling unwrecen ealdres linnan. "Swâ biõ geômorlîc gomelum ceorle "tô gebîdanne, Þät his byre rîde "giong on galgan, Þonne he gyd wrece, "sârigne sang, Þonne his sunu hangaõ "hrefne tô hrôõre and he him helpe ne mäg, "eald and in-frôd, ænige gefremman. "Symble biõ gemyndgad morna gehwylce "eaforan ellor-sîõ; ôõres ne gýmeõ "tô gebîdanne burgum on innan "yrfe-weardes, Þonne se ân hafaõ "Þurh deáões nýd dæda gefondad. "Gesyhõ sorh-cearig on his suna bûre "wîn-sele wêstne, wind-gereste, "reóte berofene; rîdend swefaõ "häleõ in hoõman; nis Þær hearpan swêg, "gomen in geardum, swylce Þær iú wæron. XXXV. MEMORIES OF PAST TIME.--THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE. "Gewîteõ Þonne on sealman, sorh-leóõ gäleõ "ân äfter ânum: Þûhte him eall tô rûm, "wongas and wîc-stede. Swâ Wedra helm "äfter Herebealde heortan sorge "weallende wäg, wihte ne meahte "on Þam feorh-bonan fæhõe gebêtan: "nô Þý ær he Þone heaõo-rinc hatian ne meahte "lâõum dædum, Þeáh him leóf ne wäs. "He Þâ mid Þære sorge, Þe him sió sâr belamp, "gum-dreám ofgeaf, godes leóht geceás; "eaferum læfde, swâ dêõ eádig mon, "lond and leód-byrig, Þâ he of lîfe gewât. "Þâ wäs synn and sacu Sweona and Geáta, "ofer wîd wäter wrôht gemæne, "here-nîõ hearda, syõõan Hrêõel swealt, "oõõe him OngenÞeówes eaferan wæran "frome fyrd-hwate, freóde ne woldon "ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hreosna-beorh "eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon. "Þät mæg-wine mîne gewræcan, "fæhõe and fyrene, swâ hyt gefræge wäs, "Þeáh Þe ôõer hit ealdre gebohte, "heardan ceápe: Hæõcynne wearõ, "Geáta dryhtne, gûõ onsæge. "Þâ ic on morgne gefrägn mæg ôõerne "billes ecgum on bonan stælan, "Þær OngenÞeów Eofores niósade: "gûõ-helm tôglâd, gomela Scylfing "hreás heoro-blâc; hond gemunde "fæhõo genôge, feorh-sweng ne ofteáh. "Ic him Þâ mâõmas, Þe he me sealde, "geald ät gûõe, swâ me gifeõe wäs, "leóhtan sweorde: he me lond forgeaf, "eard êõel-wyn. Näs him ænig Þearf, "Þät he tô Gifõum oõõe tô Gâr-Denum "oõõe in Swió-rîce sêcean Þurfe "wyrsan wîg-frecan, weorõe gecýpan; "symle ic him on fêõan beforan wolde, "âna on orde, and swâ tô aldre sceall "säcce fremman, Þenden Þis sweord Þolaõ, "Þät mec ær and sîõ oft gelæste, "syõõan ic for dugeõum Däghrefne wearõ "tô hand-bonan, Hûga cempan: "nalles he Þâ frätwe Fres-cyninge, "breóst-weorõunge bringan môste, "ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde, "äõeling on elne. Ne wäs ecg bona, "ac him hilde-grâp heortan wylmas, "bân-hûs gebräc. Nu sceall billes ecg, "hond and heard sweord ymb hord wîgan." Beówulf maõelode, beót-wordum spräc niéhstan sîõe: "Ic genêõde fela "gûõa on geogoõe; gyt ic wylle, "frôd folces weard, fæhõe sêcan, "mærõum fremman, gif mec se mân-sceaõa "of eorõ-sele ût gesêceõ!" Gegrêtte Þâ gumena gehwylcne, hwate helm-berend hindeman sîõe, swæse gesîõas: "Nolde ic sweord beran, "wæpen tô wyrme, gif ic wiste hû "wiõ Þam aglæcean elles meahte "gylpe wiõgrîpan, swâ ic gió wiõ Grendle dyde; "ac ic Þær heaõu-fýres hâtes wêne, "rêões and-hâttres: forÞon ic me on hafu "bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard "oferfleón fôtes trem, feónd unhýre, "ac unc sceal weorõan ät wealle, swâ unc Wyrd geteóõ, "metod manna gehwäs. Ic eom on môde from, "Þät ic wiõ Þone gûõ-flogan gylp ofersitte. "Gebîde ge on beorge byrnum werede, "secgas on searwum, hwäõer sêl mæge "äfter wäl-ræse wunde gedýgan "uncer twega. Nis Þät eówer sîõ, "ne gemet mannes, nefne mîn ânes, "Þät he wiõ aglæcean eofoõo dæle, "eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall "gold gegangan oõõe gûõ nimeõ, "feorh-bealu frêcne, freán eówerne!" ârâs Þâ bî ronde rôf oretta, heard under helm, hioro-sercean bär under stân-cleofu, strengo getrûwode ânes mannes: ne biõ swylc earges sîõ. Geseah Þâ be wealle, se Þe worna fela, gum-cystum gôd, gûõa gedîgde, hilde-hlemma, Þonne hnitan fêõan, (stôd on stân-bogan) streám ût Þonan brecan of beorge; wäs Þære burnan wälm heaõo-fýrum hât: ne meahte horde neáh unbyrnende ænige hwîle deóp gedýgan for dracan lêge. Lêt Þâ of breóstum, Þâ he gebolgen wäs, Weder-Geáta leód word ût faran, stearc-heort styrmde; stefn in becom heaõo-torht hlynnan under hârne stân. Hete wäs onhrêred, hord-weard oncniów mannes reorde; näs Þær mâra fyrst, freóde tô friclan. From ærest cwom oruõ aglæcean ût of stâne, hât hilde-swât; hruse dynede. Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswâf wiõ Þam gryre-gieste, Geáta dryhten: Þâ wäs hring-bogan heorte gefýsed säcce tô sêceanne. Sweord ær gebräd gôd gûõ-cyning gomele lâfe, ecgum ungleáw, æghwäõrum wäs bealo-hycgendra brôga fram ôõrum. Stîõ-môd gestôd wiõ steápne rond winia bealdor, Þâ se wyrm gebeáh snûde tôsomne: he on searwum bâd. Gewât Þâ byrnende gebogen scrîõan tô, gescîfe scyndan. Scyld wel gebearg lîfe and lîce lässan hwîle mærum Þeódne, Þonne his myne sôhte, Þær he Þý fyrste forman dôgore wealdan môste, swâ him Wyrd ne gescrâf hrêõ ät hilde. Hond up âbräd Geáta dryhten, gryre-fâhne slôh incge lâfe, Þät sió ecg gewâc brûn on bâne, bât unswîõor, Þonne his Þiód-cyning Þearfe häfde, bysigum gebæded. Þâ wäs beorges weard äfter heaõu-swenge on hreóum môde, wearp wäl-fýre, wîde sprungon hilde-leóman: hrêõ-sigora ne gealp gold-wine Geáta, gûõ-bill geswâc nacod ät nîõe, swâ hyt nô sceolde, îren ær-gôd. Ne wäs Þät êõe sîõ, Þät se mæra maga EcgÞeówes grund-wong Þone ofgyfan wolde; sceolde wyrmes willan wîc eardian elles hwergen, swâ sceal æghwylc mon âlætan læn-dagas. Näs Þâ long tô Þon, Þät Þâ aglæcean hy eft gemêtton. Hyrte hyne hord-weard, hreõer æõme weóll, niwan stefne: nearo Þrowode fýre befongen se Þe ær folce weóld. Nealles him on heápe hand-gesteallan, äõelinga bearn ymbe gestôdon hilde-cystum, ac hy on holt bugon, ealdre burgan. Hiora in ânum weóll sefa wiõ sorgum: sibb æfre ne mäg wiht onwendan, Þam Þe wel Þenceõ. |
