XXXIX. THE COWARD-THANES.
Þâ wäs gegongen guman unfrôdum
earfoõlîce, Þät he on eorõan geseah
Þone leófestan lîfes ät ende
bleáte gebæran. Bona swylce läg,
egeslîc eorõ-draca, ealdre bereáfod,
bealwe gebæded: beáh-hordum leng
wyrm woh-bogen wealdan ne môste,
ac him îrenna ecga fornâmon,
hearde heaõo-scearpe homera lâfe,
Þät se wîd-floga wundum stille
hreás on hrusan hord-ärne neáh,
nalles äfter lyfte lâcende hwearf
middel-nihtum, mâõm-æhta wlonc
ansýn ýwde: ac he eorõan gefeóll
for Þäs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.
Hûru Þät on lande lyt manna Þâh
mägen-âgendra mîne gefræge,
Þeáh Þe he dæda gehwäs dyrstig wære,
Þät he wiõ âttor-sceaõan oreõe geræsde,
oõõe hring-sele hondum styrede,
gif he wäccende weard onfunde
bûan on beorge. Biówulfe wearõ
dryht-mâõma dæl deáõe forgolden;
häfde æghwäõer ende gefêred
lænan lîfes. Näs Þâ lang tô Þon,
Þät Þâ hild-latan holt ofgêfan,
tydre treów-logan tyne ätsomne,
Þâ ne dorston ær dareõum lâcan
on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan Þearfe;
ac hy scamiende scyldas bæran,
gûõ-gewædu, Þær se gomela läg:
wlitan on Wîglâf. He gewêrgad sät,
fêõe-cempa freán eaxlum neáh,
wehte hyne wätre; him wiht ne speów;
ne meahte he on eorõan, Þeáh he ûõe wel,
on Þam frum-gâre feorh gehealdan,
ne Þäs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;
wolde dôm godes dædum rædan
gumena gehwylcum, swâ he nu gen dêõ.
Þâ wäs ät Þam geongan grim andswaru
êõ-begête Þâm Þe ær his elne forleás.
Wîglâf maõelode, Weohstânes sunu,
secg sârig-ferõ seah on unleófe:
"Þät lâ mäg secgan, se Þe wyle sôõ sprecan,
"Þät se mon-dryhten, se eów Þâ mâõmas geaf,
"eóred-geatwe, Þe ge Þær on standaõ,
"Þonne he on ealu-bence oft gesealde
"heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,
"Þeóden his Þegnum, swylce he Þryõlîcost
"ôhwær feor oõõe neáh findan meahte,
"Þät he genunga gûõ-gewædu
"wrâõe forwurpe. Þâ hyne wîg beget,
"nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum
"gylpan Þorfte; hwäõre him god ûõe,
"sigora waldend, Þät he hyne sylfne gewräc
"âna mid ecge, Þâ him wäs elnes Þearf,
"Ic him lîf-wraõe lytle meahte
"ätgifan ät gûõe and ongan swâ Þeáh
"ofer mîn gemet mæges helpan:
"symle wäs Þý sæmra, Þonne ic sweorde drep
"ferhõ-genîõlan, fýr unswîõor
"weóll of gewitte. Wergendra tô lyt
"Þrong ymbe Þeóden, Þâ hyne sió Þrag becwom.
"Nu sceal sinc-Þego and swyrd-gifu
"eall êõel-wyn eówrum cynne,
"lufen âlicgean: lond-rihtes môt
"Þære mæg-burge monna æghwylc
"îdel hweorfan, syõõan äõelingas
"feorran gefricgean fleám eówerne,
"dôm-leásan dæd. Deáõ biõ sêlla
"eorla gehwylcum Þonne edwît-lîf!"
XL. THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.
Hêht Þâ Þät heaõo-weorc tô hagan biódan
up ofer êg-clif, Þær Þät eorl-weorod
morgen-longne däg môd-giômor sät,
bord-häbbende, bega on wênum
ende-dôgores and eft-cymes
leófes monnes. Lyt swîgode
niwra spella, se Þe näs gerâd,
ac he sôõlîce sägde ofer ealle;
"Nu is wil-geofa Wedra leóda,
"dryhten Geáta deáõ-bedde fäst,
"wunaõ wäl-reste wyrmes dædum;
"him on efn ligeõ ealdor-gewinna,
"siex-bennum seóc: sweorde ne meahte
"on Þam aglæcean ænige Þinga
"wunde gewyrcean. Wîglâf siteõ
"ofer Biówulfe, byre Wihstânes,
"eorl ofer ôõrum unlifigendum,
"healdeõ hige-mêõum heáfod-wearde
"leófes and lâões. Nu ys leódum wên
"orleg-hwîle, syõõan underne
"Froncum and Frysum fyll cyninges
"wîde weorõeõ. Wäs sió wrôht scepen
"heard wiõ Hûgas, syõõan Higelâc cwom
"faran flot-herge on Fresna land,
"Þær hyne Hetware hilde gehnægdon,
"elne geeodon mid ofer-mägene,
"Þät se byrn-wîga bûgan sceolde,
"feóll on fêõan: nalles frätwe geaf
"ealdor dugoõe; ûs wäs â syõõan
"Merewioinga milts ungyfeõe.
"Ne ic tô Sweó-Þeóde sibbe oõõe treówe
"wihte ne wêne; ac wäs wîde cûõ,
"Þätte OngenÞió ealdre besnyõede
"Hæõcyn Hrêõling wiõ Hrefna-wudu,
"Þâ for on-mêdlan ærest gesôhton
"Geáta leóde Gûõ-scilfingas.
"Sôna him se frôda fäder ôhtheres,
"eald and eges-full ond-slyht âgeaf,
"âbreót brim-wîsan, brýd âheórde,
"gomela ió-meowlan golde berofene,
"Onelan môdor and ôhtheres,
"and Þâ folgode feorh-genîõlan
"ôõ Þät hî ôõeodon earfoõlîce
"in Hrefnes-holt hlâford-leáse.
"Besät Þâ sin-herge sweorda lâfe
"wundum wêrge, weán oft gehêt
"earmre teohhe andlonge niht:
"cwäõ he on mergenne mêces ecgum
"getan wolde, sume on galg-treówum
"fuglum tô gamene. Frôfor eft gelamp
"sârig-môdum somod ær-däge,
"syõõan hie Hygelâces horn and býman
"gealdor ongeâton. Þâ se gôda com
"leóda dugoõe on lâst faran.
XLI. HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS.
"Wäs sió swât-swaõu Sweona and Geáta,
"wäl-ræs wera wîde gesýne,
"hû Þâ folc mid him fæhõe tôwehton.
"Gewât him Þâ se gôda mid his gädelingum,
"frôd fela geômor fästen sêcean,
"eorl OngenÞió ufor oncirde;
"häfde Higelâces hilde gefrunen,
"wlonces wîg-cräft, wiõres ne trûwode,
"Þät he sæ-mannum onsacan mihte,
"heáõo-lîõendum hord forstandan,
"bearn and brýde; beáh eft Þonan
"eald under eorõ-weall. Þâ wäs æht boden
"Sweona leódum, segn Higelâce.
"Freoõo-wong Þone forõ ofereodon,
"syõõan Hrêõlingas tô hagan Þrungon.
"Þær wearõ OngenÞió ecgum sweorda,
"blonden-fexa on bîd wrecen,
"Þät se Þeód-cyning Þafian sceolde
"Eofores ânne dôm: hyne yrringa
"Wulf Wonrêding wæpne geræhte,
"Þät him for swenge swât ædrum sprong
"forõ under fexe. Näs he forht swâ Þêh,
"gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraõe
"wyrsan wrixle wäl-hlem Þone,
"syõõan Þeód-cyning Þyder oncirde:
"ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrêdes
"ealdum ceorle ond-slyht giofan,
"ac he him on heáfde helm ær gescer,
"Þät he blôde fâh bûgan sceolde,
"feóll on foldan; näs he fæge Þâ git,
"ac he hyne gewyrpte, Þeáh Þe him wund hrîne,
"Lêt se hearda Higelâces Þegn
"brâdne mêce, Þâ his brôõor läg,
"eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm,
"brecan ofer bord-weal: Þâ gebeáh cyning,
"folces hyrde, wäs in feorh dropen.
"Þâ wæron monige, Þe his mæg wriõon,
"ricone ârærdon, Þâ him gerýmed wearõ,
"Þät hie wäl-stôwe wealdan môston.
"Þenden reáfode rinc ôõerne,
"nam on OngenÞió îren-byrnan,
"heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod;
"hâres hyrste Higelâce bär.
"He Þâm frätwum fêng and him fägre gehêt
"leána fore leódum and gelæste swâ:
"geald Þone gûõ-ræs Geáta dryhten,
"Hrêõles eafora, Þâ he tô hâm becom,
"Jofore and Wulfe mid ofer-mâõmum,
"sealde hiora gehwäõrum hund Þûsenda
"landes and locenra beága; ne Þorfte him Þâ leán ôõwîtan
"mon on middan-gearde, syõõan hie Þâ mærõa geslôgon;
"and Þâ Jofore forgeaf ângan dôhtor,
"hâm-weorõunge, hyldo tô wedde.
"Þät ys sió fæhõo and se feónd-scipe,
"wäl-nîõ wera, Þäs Þe ic wên hafo,
"Þe ûs sêceaõ tô Sweona leóde,
"syõõan hie gefricgeaõ freán ûserne
"ealdor-leásne, Þone Þe ær geheóld
"wiõ hettendum hord and rîce,
"äfter häleõa hryre hwate Scylfingas,
"folc-ræd fremede oõõe furõur gen
"eorl-scipe efnde. Nu is ôfost betost,
"Þät we Þeód-cyning Þær sceáwian
"and Þone gebringan, Þe ûs beágas geaf,
"on âd-färe. Ne scel ânes hwät
"meltan mid Þam môdigan, ac Þær is mâõma hord.
"gold unrîme grimme geceápod
"and nu ät sîõestan sylfes feore
"beágas gebohte; Þâ sceal brond fretan,
"äled Þeccean, nalles eorl wegan
"mâõõum tô gemyndum, ne mägõ scýne
"habban on healse hring-weorõunge,
"ac sceall geômor-môd golde bereáfod
"oft nalles æne el-land tredan,
"nu se here-wîsa hleahtor âlegde,
"gamen and gleó-dreám. ForÞon sceall gâr wesan
"monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden,
"häfen on handa, nalles hearpan swêg
"wîgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn
"fûs ofer fægum, fela reordian,
"earne secgan, hû him ät æte speów,
"Þenden he wiõ wulf wäl reáfode."
Swâ se secg hwata secgende wäs
lâõra spella; he ne leág fela
wyrda ne worda. Weorod eall ârâs,
eodon unblîõe under Earna näs
wollen-teáre wundur sceáwian.
Fundon Þâ on sande sâwul-leásne
hlim-bed healdan, Þone Þe him hringas geaf
ærran mælum: Þâ wäs ende-däg
gôdum gegongen, Þät se gûõ-cyning,
Wedra Þeóden, wundor-deáõe swealt.
ær hî gesêgan syllîcran wiht,
wyrm on wonge wiõer-rähtes Þær
lâõne licgean: wäs se lêg-draca,
grimlîc gryre-gäst, glêdum beswæled,
se wäs fîftiges fôt-gemearces.
lang on legere, lyft-wynne heóld
nihtes hwîlum, nyõer eft gewât
dennes niósian; wäs Þâ deáõe fäst,
häfde eorõ-scrafa ende genyttod.
Him big stôdan bunan and orcas,
discas lâgon and dýre swyrd,
ômige Þurh-etone, swâ hie wiõ eorõan fäõm
Þûsend wintra Þær eardodon:
Þonne wäs Þät yrfe eácen-cräftig,
iú-monna gold galdre bewunden,
Þät Þam hring-sele hrînan ne môste
gumena ænig, nefne god sylfa,
sigora sôõ-cyning, sealde Þam Þe he wolde
(he is manna gehyld) hord openian,
efne swâ hwylcum manna, swâ him gemet Þûhte.
XLII. WîGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.
Þâ wäs gesýne, Þät se sîõ ne Þâh
Þam Þe unrihte inne gehýdde
wräte under wealle. Weard ær ofslôh
feára sumne; Þâ sió fæhõ gewearõ
gewrecen wrâõlîce. Wundur hwâr, Þonne
eorl ellen-rôf ende gefêre
lîf-gesceafta, Þonne leng ne mäg
mon mid his mâgum medu-seld bûan.
Swâ wäs Biówulfe, Þâ he biorges weard
sôhte, searo-nîõas: seolfa ne cûõe,
Þurh hwät his worulde gedâl weorõan sceolde;
swâ hit ôõ dômes däg diópe benemdon
Þeódnas mære, Þâ Þät Þær dydon,
Þät se secg wære synnum scildig,
hergum geheaõerod, hell-bendum fäst,
wommum gewitnad, se Þone wong strâde.
Näs he gold-hwät: gearwor häfde
âgendes êst ær gesceáwod.
Wîglâf maõelode, Wihstânes sunu:
"Oft sceall eorl monig ânes willan
"wræc âdreógan, swâ ûs geworden is.
"Ne meahton we gelæran leófne Þeóden,
"rîces hyrde ræd ænigne,
"Þät he ne grêtte gold-weard Þone,
"lête hyne licgean, Þær he longe wäs,
"wîcum wunian ôõ woruld-ende.
"Heóldon heáh gesceap: hord ys gesceáwod,
"grimme gegongen; wäs Þät gifeõe tô swîõ,
"Þe Þone Þeóden Þyder ontyhte.
"Ic wäs Þær inne and Þät eall geond-seh,
"recedes geatwa, Þâ me gerýmed wäs,
"nealles swæslîce sîõ âlýfed
"inn under eorõ-weall. Ic on ôfoste gefêng
"micle mid mundum mägen-byrõenne
"hord-gestreóna, hider ût ätbär
"cyninge mînum: cwico wäs Þâ gena,
"wîs and gewittig; worn eall gespräc
"gomol on gehõo and eówic grêtan hêt,
"bäd Þät ge geworhton äfter wines dædum
"in bæl-stede beorh Þone heán
"micelne and mærne, swâ he manna wäs
"wîgend weorõ-fullost wîde geond eorõan,
"Þenden he burh-welan brûcan môste.
"Uton nu êfstan ôõre sîõe
"seón and sêcean searo-geÞräc,
"wundur under wealle! ic eów wîsige,
"Þät ge genôge neán sceáwiaõ
"beágas and brâd gold. Sîe sió bær gearo
"ädre geäfned, Þonne we ût cymen,
"and Þonne geferian freán ûserne,
"leófne mannan, Þær he longe sceal
"on Þäs waldendes wære geÞolian."
Hêt Þâ gebeódan byre Wihstânes,
häle hilde-diór, häleõa monegum
bold-âgendra, Þät hie bæl-wudu
feorran feredon, folc-âgende
gôdum tôgênes: "Nu sceal glêd fretan
"(weaxan wonna lêg) wîgena strengel,
"Þone Þe oft gebâd îsern-scûre,
"Þonne stræla storm, strengum gebæded,
"scôc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte heóld,
"feõer-gearwum fûs flâne full-eode."
Hûru se snotra sunu Wihstânes
âcîgde of corõre cyninges Þegnas
syfone tôsomne Þâ sêlestan,
eode eahta sum under inwit-hrôf;
hilde-rinc sum on handa bär
äled-leóman, se Þe on orde geóng.
Näs Þâ on hlytme, hwâ Þät hord strude,
syõõan or-wearde ænigne dæl
secgas gesêgon on sele wunian,
læne licgan: lyt ænig mearn,
Þät hi ôfostlice ût geferedon
dýre mâõmas; dracan êc scufun,
wyrm ofer weall-clif, lêton wæg niman,
flôd fäõmian frätwa hyrde.
Þær wäs wunden gold on wæn hladen,
æghwäs unrîm, äõeling boren,
hâr hilde-rinc tô Hrones nässe.
XLIII. BEóWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.
Him Þâ gegiredan Geáta leóde
âd on eorõan un-wâclîcne,
helmum behongen, hilde-bordum,
beorhtum byrnum, swâ he bêna wäs;
âlegdon Þâ tô-middes mærne Þeóden
häleõ hiófende, hlâford leófne.
Ongunnon Þâ on beorge bæl-fýra mæst
wîgend weccan: wudu-rêc âstâh
sweart ofer swioõole, swôgende lêg,
wôpe bewunden (wind-blond geläg)
ôõ Þät he Þâ bân-hûs gebrocen häfde,
hât on hreõre. Higum unrôte
môd-ceare mændon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;
swylce giômor-gyd + lat . con meowle
. . . . . wunden heorde . . .
serg (?) cearig sælde geneahhe
Þät hio hyre . . . . gas hearde
. . . . . ede wälfylla wonn . .
hildes egesan hyõo
haf mid heofon rêce swealh (?)
Geworhton Þâ Wedra leóde
hlæw on hliõe, se wäs heáh and brâd,
wæg-lîõendum wîde gesýne,
and betimbredon on tyn dagum
beadu-rôfes bêcn: bronda betost
wealle beworhton, swâ hyt weorõlîcost
fore-snotre men findan mihton.
Hî on beorg dydon bêg and siglu,
eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ær
nîõ-hydige men genumen häfdon;
forlêton eorla gestreón eorõan healdan,
gold on greóte, Þær hit nu gen lifaõ
eldum swâ unnyt, swâ hit æror wäs.
Þâ ymbe hlæw riodan hilde-deóre,
äõelinga bearn ealra twelfa,
woldon ceare cwîõan, kyning mænan,
word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,
eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc
duguõum dêmdon, swâ hit ge-dêfe biõ,
Þät mon his wine-dryhten wordum hêrge,
ferhõum freóge, Þonne he forõ scile
of lîc-haman læne weorõan.
Swâ begnornodon Geáta leóde
hlâfordes hryre, heorõ-geneátas,
cwædon Þät he wære woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-Þwærust,
leódum lîõost and lof-geornost.
