Beowulf (Harrison and Sharp)

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68136BeowulfAnonymous

I. BĒOWULF:

AN ANGLO-SAXON POEM.

II. THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURH:

A FRAGMENT.

WITH TEXT AND GLOSSARY ON THE

BASIS OF M. HEYNE.

EDITED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED, BY

JAMES A. HARRISON, LL.D., LITT. D.,

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND MODERN LANGUAGES, WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,

AND

ROBERT SHARP (PH.D. LIPS.), PROFESSOR OF GREEK AND ENGLISH, TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA.

FOURTH EDITION. REVISED, WITH NOTES.

GINN & COMPANY BOSTON-NEW YORK-CHICAGO-LONDON

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1883, by JAMES ALBERT HARRISON AND ROBERT SHARP in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

DEDICATED

TO

PROFESSOR F. A. MARCH, OF LAFAYETTE COLLEGE, PA.,

AND

FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, ESQ. FOUNDER OF THE "NEW SHAKSPERE SOCIETY," THE "CHAUCER SOCIETY," ETC., ETC.


First page of the manuscript

BĒOWULF[edit]

THE PASSING OF SCYLD.[edit]

Hwæt! Wē Gār‐Denain geār‐dagum
þēod‐cyningaþrym gefrūnon,
hū þā æðelingasellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scēfingsceaðena þrēatum,
monegum mǣgðummeodo‐setla oftēah.
Egsode eorl,syððan ǣrest wearð
fēa‐sceaft funden:hē þæs frōfre gebād,
wēox under wolcnum,weorð‐myndum ðāh,
oð þæt him ǣghwylcþāra ymb‐sittendra
10ofer hron‐rādehȳran scolde,
gomban gyldan:þæt wæs gōd cyning!
þǣm eafera wæsæfter cenned
geong in geardum,þone god sende
folce tō frōfre;fyren‐þearfe ongeat,
þæt hīe ǣr drugonaldor‐lēase
lange hwīle.Him þæs līf‐frēa,
wuldres wealdend,worold‐āre forgeaf;
Bēowulf wæs brēme(blǣd wīde sprang),
Scyldes eaferaScede‐landum in.
20Swā sceal geong guma,gōde gewyrcean,
fromum feoh‐giftumon fæder wine,
þæt hine on yldeeft gewunigen
wil‐gesīðas,þonne wīg cume,
lēode gelǣsten:lof‐dǣdum sceal
in mǣgða gehwǣreman geþēon.
Him þā Scyld gewāttō gescæp‐hwīle
fela‐hrōr fēranon frēan wǣre;
hī hyne þā ætbǣrontō brimes faroðe.
swǣse gesīðas,swā hē selfa bæd,
30þenden wordum wēoldwine Scyldinga,
lēof land‐frumalange āhte.
Þǣr æt hȳðe stōdhringed‐stefna,
īsig and ūtfūs,æðelinges fær;
ā‐lēdon þālēofne þēoden,
bēaga bryttanon bearm scipes,
mǣrne be mæste.Þǣr wæs mādma fela,
of feor‐wegumfrætwa gelǣded:
ne hȳrde ic cȳmlīcorcēol gegyrwan
hilde‐wǣpnumand heaðo‐wǣdum,
40billum and byrnum;him on bearme læg
mādma mænigo,þā him mid scoldon
on flōdes ǣhtfeor gewītan.
Nalas hī hine lǣssanlācum tēodan,
þēod‐gestrēonum,þonne þā dydon,
þē hine æt frumsceafteforð onsendon
ǣnne ofer ȳðeumbor wesende:
þā gȳt hīe him āsettonsegen gyldenne
hēah ofer hēafod,lēton holm beran,
gēafon on gār‐secg:him wæs geōmor sefa,
50murnende mōd.Men ne cunnon
secgan tō soðesele‐rǣdende,
hæleð under heofenum,hwā þǣm hlæste onfēng.

THE HALL HEOROT.[edit]

Þā wæs on burgumBēowulf Scyldinga,
lēof lēod‐cyning,longe þrāge
folcum gefrǣge(fæder ellor hwearf,
aldor of earde),oð þæt him eft onwōc
hēah Healfdene;hēold þenden lifde,
gamol and gūð‐rēow,glæde Scyldingas.
Þǣm fēower bearnforð‐gerīmed
in worold wōcun,weoroda rǣswan, 60
Heorogār and Hrōðgārand Hālga til;
hȳrde ic, þat Elan cwēnOngenþēowes wæs
Heaðoscilfingesheals‐gebedde.
Þā wæs Hrōðgārehere‐spēd gyfen,
wīges weorð‐mynd,þæt him his wine‐māgas
georne hȳrdon,oð þæt sēo geogoð gewēox,
mago‐driht micel.Him on mōd bearn,
þæt heal‐recedhātan wolde,
medo‐ærn micelmen gewyrcean,
þone yldo bearnǣfre gefrūnon, 70
and þǣr on innaneall gedǣlan
geongum and ealdum,swylc him god sealde,
būton folc‐scareand feorum gumena.
Þā ic wīde gefrægnweorc gebannan
manigre mǣgðegeond þisne middan‐geard,
folc‐stede frætwan.Him on fyrste gelomp
ǣdre mid yldum,þæt hit wearð eal gearo,
heal‐ærna mǣst;scōp him Heort naman,
sē þe his wordes gewealdwīde hæfde.
Hē bēot ne ālēh,bēagas dǣlde, 80
sinc æt symle.Sele hlīfade
hēah and horn‐gēap:heaðo‐wylma bād,
lāðan līges;ne wæs hit lenge þā gēn
þæt se ecg‐heteāðum‐swerian
æfter wæl‐nīðewæcnan scolde.
Þā se ellen‐gǣstearfoðlīce
þrāge geþolode,sē þe in þȳstrum bād,
þæt hē dōgora gehwāmdrēam gehȳrde
hlūdne in healle;þǣr wæs hearpan swēg,
swutol sang scopes.Sægde sē þe cūðe 90
frum‐sceaft fīrafeorran reccan,
cwæð þæt se ælmihtigaeorðan worhte,
wlite‐beorhtne wang,swā wæter bebūgeð,
gesette sige‐hrēðigsunnan and mōnan
lēoman tō lēohteland‐būendum,
and gefrætwadefoldan scēatas
leomum and lēafum;līf ēac gesceōp
cynna gehwylcum,þāra þe cwice hwyrfað.
Swā þā driht‐gumandrēamum lifdon
ēadiglīce,oð þæt ān ongan 100
fyrene fremman,fēond on helle:
wæs se grimma gæstGrendel hāten,
mǣre mearc‐stapa,sē þe mōras hēold,
fen and fæsten;fīfel‐cynnes eard
won‐sǣlig werweardode hwīle,
siððan him scyppendforscrifen hæfde.
In Caines cynneþone cwealm gewræc,
ēce drihten,þæs þe hē Ābel slōg;
ne gefeah hē þǣre fǣhðe,ac hē hine feor forwræc,
metod for þȳ māneman‐cynne fram. 110
Þanon untȳdrasealle onwōcon,
eotenas and ylfeand orcnēas,
swylce gīgantas,þā wið gode wunnon
lange þrāge;hē him þæs lēan forgeald.

GRENDEL'S VISITS.[edit]

Gewāt þā nēosian,syððan niht becōm,
hēan hūses,hū hit Hring‐Dene
æfter bēor‐þegegebūn hæfdon.
Fand þā þǣr inneæðelinga gedriht
swefan æfter symble;sorge ne cūðon,
won‐sceaft wera.Wiht unhǣlo 120
grim and grǣdiggearo sōna wæs,
rēoc and rēðe,and on ræste genam
þrītig þegna:þanon eft gewāt
hūðe hrēmigtō hām faran,
mid þǣre wæl‐fyllewīca nēosan.
Þā wæs on ūhtanmid ǣr‐dæge
Grendles gūð‐cræftgumum undyrne:
þā wæs æfter wistewōp up āhafen,
micel morgen‐swēg.Mǣre þēoden,
æðeling ǣr‐gōd,unblīðe sæt, 130
þolode þrȳð‐swȳð,þegn‐sorge drēah,
syððan hīe þæs lāðanlāst scēawedon,
wergan gāstes;wæs þæt gewin tō strang,
lāð and longsum.Næs hit lengra fyrst,
ac ymb āne nihteft gefremede
morð‐beala māreand nō mearn fore
fǣhðe and fyrene;wæs tō fæst on þām.
Þā wæs ēað‐fynde,þē him elles hwǣr
gerūmlīcorræste sōhte,
bed æfter būrum,þā him gebēacnod wæs, 140
gesægd sōðlīcesweotolan tācne
heal‐þegnes hete;hēold hine syððan
fyr and fæstor,sē þǣm fēonde ætwand.
Swā rīxodeand wið rihte wan
āna wið eallum,oð þæt īdel stōd
hūsa sēlest.Wæs sēo hwīl micel:
twelf wintra tīdtorn geþolode
wine Scyldinga,wēana gehwelcne,
sīdra sorga;forþām syððan wearð
ylda bearnumundyrne cūð, 150
gyddum geōmore,þætte Grendel wan,
hwīle wið Hrōðgār;‐‐hete‐nīðas wæg,
fyrene and fǣhðefela missēra,
singāle sæce,sibbe ne wolde
wið manna hwonemægenes Deniga
feorh‐bealo feorran,fēo þingian,
nē þǣr nǣnig witenawēnan þorfte
beorhtre bōtetō banan folmum;
atol ǣglǣcaēhtende wæs,
deorc dēað‐scūaduguðe and geogoðe 160
seomade and syrede.Sin‐nihte hēold
mistige mōras;men ne cunnon,
hwyder hel‐rūnanhwyrftum scrīðað.
Swā fela fyrenafēond man‐cynnes,
atol ān‐gengea,oft gefremede
heardra hȳnða;Heorot eardode,
sinc‐fāge selsweartum nihtum
(nō hē þone gif‐stōlgrētan mōste,
māððum for metode,nē his myne wisse);
þæt wæs wrǣc micelwine Scyldinga, 170
mōdes brecða.Monig‐oft gesæt
rīce tō rūne;rǣd eahtedon,
hwæt swīð‐ferhðumsēlest wǣre
wið fǣr‐gryrumtō gefremmanne.
Hwīlum hīe gehētonæt hærg‐trafum
wīg‐weorðunga,wordum bǣdon,
þæt him gāst‐bonagēoce gefremede
wið þēod‐þrēaum.Swylc wæs þēaw hyra,
hǣðenra hyht;helle gemundon
in mōd‐sefan,metod hīe ne cūðon, 180
dǣda dēmend,ne wiston hīe drihten god,
nē hīe hūru heofena helmherian ne cūðon,
wuldres waldend.Wā bið þǣm þe sceal
þurh slīðne nīðsāwle bescūfan
in fȳres fæðm,frōfre ne wēnan,
wihte gewendan;wēl bið þǣm þe mōt
æfter dēað‐dægedrihten sēcean
and tō fæder fæðmumfreoðo wilnian.

HYGELAC'S THANE.[edit]

Swā þā mǣl‐cearemaga Healfdenes
singāla sēað;ne mihte snotor hæleð 190
wēan onwendan:wæs þæt gewin tō swȳð,
lāð and longsum,þē on þā lēode becōm,
nȳd‐wracu nīð‐grim,niht‐bealwa mǣst.
Þæt fram hām gefrægnHigelāces þegn,
gōd mid Gēatum,Grendles dǣda:
sē wæs mon‐cynnesmægenes strengest
on þǣm dægeþysses līfes,
æðele and ēacen.Hēt him ȳð‐lidan
gōdne gegyrwan;cwæð hē gūð‐cyning
ofer swan‐rādesēcean wolde, 200
mǣrne þēoden,þā him wæs manna þearf.
Þone sīð‐fæt himsnotere ceorlas
lȳt‐hwōn lōgon,þēah hē him lēof wǣre;
hwetton higerōfne,hǣl scēawedon.
Hæfde se gōdaGēata lēoda
cempan gecorone,þāra þe hē cēnoste
findan mihte;fīftȳna sum
sund‐wudu sōhte;secg wīsade,
lagu‐cræftig mon,land‐gemyrcu.
Fyrst forð gewāt:flota wæs on ȳðum, 210
bāt under beorge.Beornas gearwe
on stefn stigon;strēamas wundon
sund wið sande;secgas bǣron
on bearm nacanbeorhte frætwe,
gūð‐searo geatolīc;guman ūt scufon,
weras on wil‐sīðwudu bundenne.
Gewāt þā ofer wǣg‐holmwinde gefȳsed
flota fāmig‐healsfugle gelīcost,
oð þæt ymb ān‐tīdōðres dōgores
wunden‐stefnagewaden hæfde, 220
þæt þā līðendeland gesāwon,
brim‐clifu blīcan,beorgas stēape,
sīde sǣ‐næssas:þā wæs sund liden,
eoletes æt ende.Þanon up hraðe
Wedera lēodeon wang stigon,
sǣ‐wudu sǣldon(syrcan hrysedon,
gūð‐gewǣdo);gode þancedon,
þæs þe him ȳð‐lādeēaðe wurdon.
Þā of wealle geseahweard Scildinga,
sē þe holm‐clifuhealdan scolde, 230
beran ofer bolcanbeorhte randas,
fyrd‐searu fūslīcu;hine fyrwyt bræc
mōd‐gehygdum,hwæt þā men wǣron.
Gewāt him þā tō waroðewicge rīdan
þegn Hrōðgāres,þrymmum cwehte
mægen‐wudu mundum,meðel‐wordum frægn:
"Hwæt syndon gēsearo‐hæbbendra
byrnum werede,þē þus brontne cēol
ofer lagu‐strǣtelǣdan cwōmon,
hider ofer holmashelmas bǣron? 240
Ic wæs ende‐sǣta,ǣg‐wearde hēold,
þæt on land Denalāðra nǣnig
mid scip‐hergesceððan ne meahte.
Nō hēr cūðlīcorcuman ongunnon
lind‐hæbbende;nē gē lēafnes‐word
gūð‐fremmendragearwe ne wisson,
māga gemēdu.Nǣfre ic māran geseah
eorla ofer eorðan,þonne is ēower sum,
secg on searwum;nis þæt seld‐guma
wǣpnum geweorðad,næfne him his wlite lēoge, 250
ǣnlīc an‐sȳn.Nū ic ēower sceal
frum‐cyn witan,ǣr gē fyr heonan
lēase scēawerason land Dena
furður fēran.Nū gē feor‐būend,
mere‐līðende,mīnne gehȳrað
ān‐fealdne geþōht:ofost is sēlest
tō gecȳðanne,hwanan ēowre cyme syndon."

THE ERRAND.[edit]

Him se yldestaandswarode,
werodes wīsa,word‐hord onlēac:
"Wē synt gum‐cynnesGēata lēode 260
and Higelācesheorð‐genēatas.
Wæs mīn fæderfolcum gecȳðed,
æðele ord‐frumaEcgþēow hāten;
gebād wintra worn,ǣr hē on weg hwurfe,
gamol of geardum;hine gearwe geman
witena wēl‐hwylcwīde geond eorðan.‐
Wē þurh holdne higehlāford þinne,
sunu Healfdenes,sēcean cwōmon,
lēod‐gebyrgean:wes þū ūs lārena gōd!
Habbað wē tō þǣm mǣranmicel ǣrende 270
Deniga frēan;ne sceal þǣr dyrne sum
wesan, þæs ic wēne.Þū wāst, gif hit is,
swā wē sōðlicesecgan hȳrdon,
þæt mid Scyldingumsceaða ic nāt hwylc,
dēogol dǣd‐hata,deorcum nihtum
ēaweð þurh egsanuncūðne nīð,
hȳnðu and hrā‐fyl.Ic þæs Hrōðgār mæg
þurh rūmne sefanrǣd gelǣran,
hū hē frōd and gōdfēond oferswȳðeð,
gyf him ed‐wendanǣfre scolde 280
bealuwa bisigu,bōt eft cuman
and þā cear‐wylmascōlran wurðað;
oððe ā syððanearfoð‐þrāge,
þrēa‐nȳd þolað,þenden þǣr wunað
on hēah‐stedehūsa sēlest."
Weard maðelode,þǣr on wicge sæt
ombeht unforht:"Ǣghwæðres sceal
scearp scyld‐wigagescād witan,
worda and worca,sē þe wēl þenceð.
Ic þæt gehȳre,þæt þis is hold weorod 290
frēan Scyldinga.Gewītað forð beran
wǣpen and gewǣdu,ic ēow wīsige:
swylce ic magu‐þegnasmīne hāte
wið fēonda gehwoneflotan ēowerne,
nīw‐tyrwednenacan on sande
ārum healdan,oð þæt eft byreð
ofer lagu‐strēamaslēofne mannan
wudu wunden‐halstō Weder‐mearce.
Gūð‐fremmendraswylcum gifeðe bið,
þæt þone hilde‐rǣshāl gedīgeð." 300
Gewiton him þā fēran(flota stille bād,
seomode on sālesīd‐fæðmed scyp,
on ancre fæst);eofor‐līc scionon
ofer hlēor‐berangehroden golde
fāh and fȳr‐heard,ferh wearde hēold.
Gūðmōde grummon,guman ōnetton,
sigon ætsomne,oð þæt hȳ sæl timbred
geatolīc and gold‐fāhongytan mihton;
þæt wæs fore‐mǣrostfold‐būendum
receda under roderum,on þǣm se rīca bād; 310
līxte se lēomaofer landa fela.
Him þā hilde‐dēorhof mōdigra
torht getǣhte,þæt hīe him tō mihton
gegnum gangan;gūð‐beorna sum
wicg gewende,word æfter cwæð:
"Mǣl is mē tō fēran;fæder alwalda
mid ār‐stafumēowic gehealde
sīða gesunde!ic tō sǣ wille,
wið wrāð werodwearde healdan."

BĒOWULF'S SPEECH.[edit]

Strǣt wæs stān‐fāh,stīg wīsode 320
gumum ætgædere.Gūð‐byrne scān
heard hond‐locen,hring‐īren scīr
song in searwum,þā hīe tō sele furðum
in hyra gryre‐geatwumgangan cwōmon.
Setton sǣ‐mēðesīde scyldas,
rondas regn‐heardewið þæs recedes weal,
bugon þā tō bence;byrnan hringdon,
gūð‐searo gumena;gāras stōdon,
sǣ‐manna searo,samod ætgædere,
æsc‐holt ufan grǣg:wæs se īren‐þrēat 330
wǣpnum gewurðad.Þā þǣr wlonc hæleð
ōret‐mecgasæfter æðelum frægn:
"Hwanon ferigeað gēfǣtte scyldas,
grǣge syrcanand grīm‐helmas,
here‐sceafta hēap?‐‐Ic eom Hrōðgāres
ār and ombiht.Ne seah ic el‐þēodige
þus manige menmōdiglīcran.
Wēn' ic þæt gē for wlenco,nalles for wræc‐sīðum,
ac for hige‐þrymmumHrōðgār sōhton."
Him þā ellen‐rōfandswarode, 340
wlanc Wedera lēodword æfter spræc,
heard under helme:"Wē synt Higelāces
bēod‐genēatas;Bēowulf is mīn nama.
Wille ic āsecgansuna Healfdenes,
mǣrum þēodnemīn ǣrende,
aldre þīnum,gif hē ūs geunnan wile,
þæt wē hine swā gōdnegrētan mōton."
Wulfgār maðelode(þæt wæs Wendla lēod,
wæs his mōd‐sefamanegum gecȳðed,
wīg and wīs‐dōm):"ic þæs wine Deniga, 350
frēan Scildingafrīnan wille,
bēaga bryttan,swā þū bēna eart,
þēoden mǣrneymb þīnne sīð ;
and þē þā andswareǣdre gecȳðan,
þē mē se gōdaāgifan þenceð."
Hwearf þā hrædlīce,þǣr Hrōðgār sæt,
eald and unhārmid his eorla gedriht;
ēode ellen‐rōf,þæt hē for eaxlum gestōd
Deniga frēan,cūðe hē duguðe þēaw.
Wulfgār maðelodetō his wine‐drihtne: 360
"Hēr syndon geferedefeorran cumene
ofer geofenes begangGēata lēode:
þone yldestanōret‐mecgas
Bēowulf nemnað.Hȳ bēnan synt,
þæt hīe, þēoden mīn,wið þē mōton
wordum wrixlan;nō þū him wearne getēoh,
þīnra gegn‐cwidaglædnian, Hrōðgār!
Hȳ on wīg‐geatwumwyrðe þinceað
eorla geæhtlan;hūru se aldor dēah,
sē þǣm heaðo‐rincumhider wīsade." 370

HROTHGAR'S WELCOME.[edit]

Hrōðgār maðelode,helm Scyldinga:
"Ic hine cūðecniht‐wesende.
Wæs his eald‐fæderEcgþēo hāten,
þǣm tō hām forgeafHrēðel Gēata
āngan dōhtor;is his eafora nū
heard hēr cumen,sōhte holdne wine.
þonne sægdon þætsǣ‐līðende,
þā þe gif‐sceattasGēata fyredon
þyder tō þance,þæt hē þrīttiges
manna mægen‐cræfton his mund‐grīpe 380
heaðo‐rōf hæbbe.Hine hālig god
for ār‐stafumus onsende,
tō West‐Denum,þæs ic wēn hæbbe,
wið Grendles gryre:ic þǣm gōdan sceal
for his mōd‐þræcemādmas bēodan.
Bēo þū on ofeste,hāt hig in gān,
sēon sibbe‐gedrihtsamod ætgædere;
gesaga him ēac wordum,þæt hīe sint wil‐cuman
Deniga lēodum."Þā wið duru healle
Wulfgār ēode,word inne ābēad: 390
"Ēow hēt secgansige‐drihten mīn,
aldor Ēast‐Dena,þæt hē ēower æðelu can
and gē him syndonofer sǣ‐wylmas,
heard‐hicgende,hider wil‐cuman.
Nū gē mōton ganganin ēowrum guð‐geatawum,
under here‐grīman,Hrōðgār gesēon;
lǣtað hilde‐bordhēr onbidian,
wudu wæl‐sceaftas,worda geþinges."
Ārās þā se rīca,ymb hine rinc manig,
þrȳðlīc þegna hēap;sume þǣr bidon, 400
heaðo‐rēaf hēoldon,swā him se hearda bebēad.
Snyredon ætsomne,þā secg wīsode
under Heorotes hrōf;hyge‐rōf ēode,
heard under helme,þæt hē on heoðe gestōd.
Bēowulf maðelode(on him byrne scān,
searo‐net sēowedsmiðes or‐þancum):
"Wes þū Hrōðgār hāl!ic eom Higelāces
mǣg and mago‐þegn;hæbbe ic mǣrða fela
ongunnen on geogoðe.Mē wearð Grendles þing
on mīnre ēðel‐tyrfundyrne cūð: 410
secgað sǣ‐līðend,þæt þes sele stande,
reced sēlesta,rinca gehwylcum
īdel and unnyt,siððan ǣfen‐lēoht
under heofenes hādorbeholen weorðeð.
Þā mē þæt gelǣrdonlēode mīne,
þā sēlestan,snotere ceorlas,
þēoden Hrōðgār,þæt ic þē sōhte;
forþan hīe mægenes cræftmīnne cūðon:
selfe ofersāwon,þā ic of searwum cwōm,
fāh from fēondum,þǣr ic fīfe geband, 420
ȳðde eotena cyn,and on ȳðum slōg
niceras nihtes,nearo‐þearfe drēah,
wræc Wedera nīð(wēan āhsodon)
forgrand gramum;and nū wið Grendel sceal,
wið þām āglǣcan,āna gehegan
þing wið þyrse.Ic þē nū þā,
brego Beorht‐Dena,biddan wille,
eodor Scyldinga,ānre bēne;
þæt þū mē ne forwyrne,wīgendra hlēo,
frēo‐wine folca,nū ic þus feorran cōm, 430
þæt ic mōte ānaand mīnra eorla gedryht,
þes hearda hēap,Heorot fǣlsian.
Hæbbe ic ēac geāhsod,þæt se ǣglǣca
for his won‐hȳdumwǣpna ne rēceð;
ic þæt þonne forhicge,swā mē Higelāc sīe,
mīn mon‐drihten,mōdes blīðe,
þæt ic sweord bereoððe sīdne scyld
geolo‐rand tō gūðe;ac ic mid grāpe sceal
fōn wið fēondeand ymb feorh sacan,
lāð wið lāðum;þǣr gelȳfan sceal 440
dryhtnes dōmesē þe hine dēað nimeð.
Wēn' ic þæt hē wille,gif hē wealdan mōt,
in þǣm gūð‐seleGēatena lēode
etan unforhte,swā hē oft dyde
mægen Hrēðmanna.Nā þū mīnne þearft
hafalan hȳdan,ac hē mē habban wile
drēore fāhne,gif mec dēað nimeð;
byreð blōdig wæl,byrgean þenceð,
eteð ān‐gengaunmurnlīce,
mearcað mōr‐hopu:nō þū ymb mīnes ne þearft 450
līces feormeleng sorgian.
Onsend Higelāce,gif mec hild nime,
beadu‐scrūda betst,þæt mīne brēost wereð,
hrægla sēlest;þæt is Hrēðlan lāf,
Wēlandes geweorc.Gǣð ā Wyrd swā hīo scel!"

HROTHGAR TELLS OF GRENDEL.[edit]

Hrōðgār maðelode,helm Scyldinga:
"for were‐fyhtum þū,wine mīn Bēowulf,
and for ār‐stafumūsic sōhtest.
Geslōh þin fæderfǣhðe mǣste,
wearð hē Heaðolāfetō hand‐bonan 460
mid Wilfingum;þā hine Wedera cyn
for here‐brōganhabban ne mihte.
Þanon hē gesōhteSūð‐Dena folc
ofer ȳða gewealc,Ār‐Scyldinga;
þā ic furðum wēoldfolce Deninga,
and on geogoðe hēoldgimme‐rīce
hord‐burh hæleða:þā wæs Heregār dēad,
mīn yldra mǣgunlifigende,
bearn Healfdenes.Sē wæs betera þonne ic!
Siððan þā fǣhðefēo þingode; 470
sende ic Wylfingumofer wæteres hrycg
ealde mādmas:hē mē āðas swōr.
Sorh is mē tō secganneon sefan mīnum
gumena ǣngum,hwæt mē Grendel hafað
hȳnðo on Heorotemid his hete‐þancum,
fǣr‐nīða gefremed.Is mīn flet‐werod,
wīg‐hēap gewanod;hīe Wyrd forswēop
on Grendles gryre.God ēaðe mæg
þone dol‐scaðandǣda getwǣfan!
Ful oft gebēotedonbēore druncne 480
ofer ealo‐wǣgeōret‐mecgas,
þæt hīe in bēor‐selebīdan woldon
Grendles gūðemid gryrum ecga.
Þonne wæs þēos medo‐healon morgen‐tīd,
driht‐sele drēor‐fāh,þonne dæg līxte,
eal benc‐þelublōde bestȳmed,
heall heoru‐drēore:āhte ic holdra þȳ lǣs,
dēorre duguðe,þē þā dēað fornam.
Site nū tō symleand onsǣl meoto,
sige‐hrēð secgum,swā þīn sefa hwette!" 490
Þā wæs Gēat‐mæcgumgeador ætsomne
on bēor‐selebenc gerȳmed;
þǣr swīð‐ferhðesittan ēodon
þrȳðum dealle.Þegn nytte behēold,
sē þe on handa bærhroden ealo‐wǣge,
scencte scīr wered.Scop hwīlum sang
hādor on Heorote;þǣr wæs hæleða drēam,
duguð unlȳtelDena and Wedera.

HUNFERTH OBJECTS TO BĒOWULF.[edit]

Unferð maðelode,Ecglāfes bearn,
þē æt fōtum sætfrēan Scyldinga; 500
onband beadu‐rūne(wæs him Bēowulfes sīð,
mōdges mere‐faran,micel æf‐þunca,
forþon þe hē ne ūðe,þæt ǣnig ōðer man
ǣfre mǣrða þon māmiddan‐geardes
gehēdde under heofenumþonne hē sylfa):
"Eart þū sē Bēowulf,sē þe wið Brecan wunne,
on sīdne sǣymb sund flite,
þǣr git for wlencewada cunnedon
and for dol‐gilpeon dēop wæter
aldrum nēðdon?Nē inc ǣnig mon, 510
nē lēof nē lāð,belēan mihte
sorh‐fullne sīð;þā git on sund rēon,
þǣr git ēagor‐strēamearmum þehton,
mǣton mere‐strǣta,mundum brugdon,
glidon ofer gār‐secg;geofon ȳðum wēol,
wintres wylme.Git on wæteres ǣht
seofon niht swuncon;hē þē æt sunde oferflāt,
hæfde māre mægen.Þā hine on morgen‐tīd
on Heaðo‐rǣmasholm up ætbær,
þonon hē gesōhteswǣsne ēðel 520
lēof his lēodumlond Brondinga,
freoðo‐burh fægere,þǣr hē folc āhte,
burg and bēagas.Bēot eal wið þē
sunu Bēanstānessōðe gelǣste.
Þonne wēne ic tō þēwyrsan geþinges,
þēah þū heaðo‐rǣsagehwǣr dohte,
grimre gūðe,gif þū Grendles dearst
niht‐longne fyrstnēan bīdan!"
Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Hwæt! þū worn fela,wine mīn Unferð, 530
bēore druncenymb Brecan sprǣce,
sægdest from his sīðe!Sōð ic talige,
þæt ic mere‐strengomāran āhte,
earfeðo on ȳðum,þonne ǣnig ōðer man.
Wit þæt gecwǣdoncniht‐wesende
and gebēotedon(wǣron bēgen þā gīt
on geogoð‐feore)þæt wit on gār‐secg ūt
aldrum nēðdon;and þæt geæfndon swā.
Hæfdon swurd nacod,þā wit on sund rēon,
heard on handa,wit unc wið hron‐fixas 540
werian þōhton.Nō hē wiht fram mē
flōd‐ȳðum feorflēotan meahte,
hraðor on holme,nō ic fram him wolde.
Þā wit ætsomneon sǣ wǣron
fīf nihta fyrst,oð þæt unc flōd tōdrāf,
wado weallende,wedera cealdost,
nīpende nihtand norðan wind
heaðo‐grim andhwearf;hrēo wǣron ȳða,
Wæs mere‐fixamōd onhrēred:
þǣr mē wið lāðumlīc‐syrce mīn, 550
heard hond‐locen,helpe gefremede;
beado‐hrægl brōdenon brēostum læg,
golde gegyrwed.Mē tō grunde tēah
fāh fēond‐scaða,fæste hæfde
grim on grāpe:hwæðre mē gyfeðe wearð,
þæt ic āglǣcanorde gerǣhte,
hilde‐bille;heaðo‐rǣs fornam
mihtig mere‐dēorþurh mīne hand.

BĒOWULF'S CONTEST WITH BRECA.-THE FEAST.[edit]

Swā mec gelōmelāð‐getēonan
þrēatedon þearle.Ic him þēnode 560
dēoran sweorde,swā hit gedēfe wæs;
næs hīe þǣre fyllegefēan hæfdon,
mān‐fordǣdlan,þæt hīe mē þēgon,
symbel ymb‐sǣtonsǣ‐grunde nēah,
ac on mergennemēcum wunde
be ȳð‐lāfeuppe lǣgon,
sweordum āswefede,þæt syððan nā
ymb brontne fordbrim‐līðende
lāde ne letton.Lēoht ēastan cōm,
beorht bēacen godes;brimu swaðredon, 570
þæt ic sǣ‐næssasgesēon mihte,
windige weallas.Wyrd oft nereð
unfǣgne eorl,ðonne his ellen dēah!
Hwæðere mē gesǣlde,þæt ic mid sweorde ofslōh
niceras nigene.Nō ic on niht gefrægn
under heofones hwealfheardran feohtan,
nē on ēg‐strēamumearmran mannan;
hwæðere ic fāra fengfēore gedīgde,
siðes wērig.Þā mec sǣ oðbær,
flōd æfter faroðe,on Finna land, 580
wadu weallendu.Nō ic wiht fram þē
swylcra searo‐nīðasecgan hȳrde,
billa brōgan:Breca nǣfre gīt
æt heaðo‐lāce,nē gehwæðer incer
swā dēorlīcedǣd gefremede
fāgum sweordum. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .nō ic þæs gylpe;
þēah þū þīnum brōðrumtō banan wurde,
hēafod‐mǣgum;þæs þū in helle scealt
werhðo drēogan,þēah þīn wit duge,
Secge ic þē tō sōðe,sunu Ecglāfes, 590
þæt nǣfre Grendel swā felagryra gefremede,
atol ǣglǣcaealdre þīnum,
hȳnðo on Heorote,gif þīn hige wǣre,
sefa swā searo‐grim,swā þū self talast.
Ac hē hafað onfunden,þæt hē þā fǣhðe ne þearf,
atole ecg‐þræceēower lēode
swīðe onsittan,Sige‐Scyldinga;
nymeð nȳd‐bāde,nǣnegum ārað
lēode Deniga,ac hē on lust wīgeð,
swefeð ond sendeð,secce ne wēneð 600
tō Gār‐Denum.Ac him Gēata sceal
eafoð and ellenungeāra nū
gūðe gebēodan.Gǣð eft sē þe mōt
tō medo mōdig,siððan morgen‐lēoht
ofer ylda bearnōðres dōgores,
sunne swegl‐weredsūðan scīneð!"
Þā wæs on sālumsinces brytta
gamol‐feax and gūð‐rōf,gēoce gelȳfde
brego Beorht‐Dena;gehȳrde on Bēowulfe
folces hyrdefæst‐rǣdne geþōht. 610
Þǣr wæs hæleða hleahtor;hlyn swynsode,
word wǣron wynsume.Ēode Wealhþēow forð,
cwēn Hrōðgāres,cynna gemyndig,
grētte gold‐hrodenguman on healle,
and þā frēolīc wīfful gesealde
ǣrest Ēast‐Denaēðel‐wearde,
bæd hine blīðneæt þǣre bēor‐þege,
lēodum lēofne;hē on lust geþeah
symbel and sele‐ful,sige‐rōf kyning.
Ymb‐ēode þāides Helminga 620
duguðe and geogoðedǣl ǣghwylcne;
sinc‐fato sealde,oð þæt sǣl ālamp,
þæt hīo Bēowulfe,bēag‐hroden cwēn,
mōde geþungen,medo‐ful ætbær;
grētte Gēata lēod,gode þancode
wīs‐fæst wordum,þæs þe hire se willa gelamp,
þæt hēo on ǣnigneeorl gelȳfde
fyrena frōfre.Hē þæt ful geþeah,
wæl‐rēow wigaæt Wealhþēon,
and þā gyddodegūðe gefȳsed, 630
Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Ic þæt hogode,þā ic on holm gestāh,
sǣ‐bāt gesætmid mīnra secga gedriht,
þæt ic ānungaēowra lēoda
willan geworhte,oððe on wæl crunge,
fēond‐grāpum fæst.Ic gefremman sceal
eorlīc ellen,oððe ende‐dæg
on þisse meodu‐heallemīnne gebīdan."
Þām wīfe þā wordwēl līcodon,
gilp‐cwide Gēates;ēode gold‐hroden 640
frēolīcu folc‐cwēntō hire frēan sittan.
Þā wæs eft swā ǣrinne on healle
þrȳð‐word sprecen,þēod on sǣlum,
sige‐folca swēg,oð þæt semninga
sunu Healfdenessēcean wolde
ǣfen‐ræste;wiste æt þǣm āhlǣcan
tō þǣm hēah‐selehilde geþinged,
siððan hīe sunnan lēohtgesēon ne meahton,
oððe nīpendeniht ofer ealle,
scadu‐helma gesceapuscrīðan cwōman, 650
wan under wolcnum.Werod eall ārās.
Grētte þā giddumguma ōðerne,
Hrōðgār Bēowulf,and him hǣl ābēad,
wīn‐ærnes gewealdand þæt word ācwæð:
"Nǣfre ic ǣnegum menǣr ālȳfde,
siððan ic hond and rondhebban mihte,
þrȳð‐ærn Denabūton þē nū þā.
Hafa nū and gehealdhūsa sēlest;
gemyne mǣrðo,mægen‐ellen cȳð,
waca wið wrāðum!Ne bið þē wilna gād, 660
gif þū þæt ellen‐weorcaldre gedīgest."

THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.[edit]

Þā him Hrōðgār gewātmid his hæleða gedryht,
eodur Scyldingaūt of healle;
wolde wīg‐frumaWealhþēo sēcan,
cwēn tō gebeddanHæfde kyninga wuldor
Grendle tō‐gēanes,swā guman gefrungon,
sele‐weard āseted,sundor‐nytte behēold
ymb aldor Dena,eoton weard ābēad;
hūru Gēata lēodgeorne truwode
mōdgan mægnes,metodes hyldo. 670
Þā hē him of dydeīsern‐byrnan,
helm of hafelan,sealde his hyrsted sweord,
īrena cystombiht‐þegne,
and gehealdan hēthilde‐geatwe.
Gespræc þā se gōdagylp‐worda sum
Bēowulf Gēata,ǣr hē on bed stige:
"Nō ic mē an here‐wǣsmumhnāgran talige
gūð‐geweorca,þonne Grendel hine;
forþan ic hine sweordeswebban nelle,
aldre benēotan,þēah ic eal mǣge. 680
Nāt hē þāra gōda,þæt hē mē on‐gēan slēa,
rand gehēawe,þēah þe hē rōf sīe
nīð‐geweorca;ac wit on niht sculon
secge ofersittan,gif hē gesēcean dear
wīg ofer wǣpen,and siððan wītig god
on swā hwæðere hondhālig dryhten
mǣrðo dēme,swā him gemet þince."
Hylde hine þā heaðo‐dēor,hlēor‐bolster onfēng
eorles andwlitan;and hine ymb monig
snellīc sǣ‐rincsele‐reste gebēah. 690
Nǣnig heora þōhteþæt hē þanon scolde
eft eard‐lufanǣfre gesēcean,
folc oððe frēo‐burh,þǣr hē āfēded wæs,
ac hīe hæfdon gefrūnen,þæt hīe ǣr tō fela micles
in þǣm wīn‐selewæl‐dēað fornam,
Denigea lēode.Ac him dryhten forgeaf
wīg‐spēda gewiofu,Wedera lēodum
frōfor and fultum,þæt hīe fēond heora
þurh ānes cræftealle ofercōmon,
selfes mihtum:sōð is gecȳðed, 700
þæt mihtig godmanna cynnes
wēold wīde‐ferhð.Cōm on wanre niht
scrīðan sceadu‐genga.Scēotend swǣfon,
þā þæt horn‐recedhealdan scoldon,
ealle būton ānum.Þæt wæs yldum cūð,
þæt hīe ne mōste,þā metod nolde,
se syn‐scaðaunder sceadu bregdan;
ac hē wæccendewrāðum on andan
bād bolgen‐mōdbeadwa geþinges.

GRENDEL'S RAID.[edit]

Þā cōm of mōreunder mist‐hleoðum 710
Grendel gongan,godes yrre bær.
Mynte se mān‐scaðamanna cynnes
sumne besyrwanin sele þām hēan;
wōd under wolcnum,tō þæs þe hē wīn‐reced,
gold‐sele gumena,gearwost wisse
fǣttum fāhne.Ne wæs þæt forma sīð,
þæt hē Hrōðgāreshām gesōhte:
nǣfre hē on aldor‐dagumǣr nē siððan
heardran hæle,heal‐þegnas fand!
Cōm þā tō recederinc sīðian 720
drēamum bedǣled.Duru sōna onarn
fȳr‐bendum fæst,syððan hē hire folmum hrān;
onbræd þā bealo‐hȳdig,þā hē ābolgen wæs,
recedes mūðan.Raðe æfter þon
on fāgne flōrfēond treddode,
ēode yrre‐mōd;him of ēagum stōd
līge gelīcostlēoht unfǣger.
Geseah hē in recederinca manige,
swefan sibbe‐gedrihtsamod ætgædere,
mago‐rinca hēap:þā his mōd āhlōg, 730
mynte þæt hē gedǣlde,ǣr þon dæg cwōme,
atol āglǣca,ānra gehwylces
līf wið līce,þā him ālumpen wæs
wist‐fylle wēn.Ne wæs þæt wyrd þā gēn,
þæt hē mā mōstemanna cynnes
þicgean ofer þā niht.Þrȳð‐swȳð behēold
mǣg Higelāces,hū se mān‐scaða
under fǣr‐gripumgefaran wolde.
Nē þæt se āglǣcayldan þōhte,
ac hē gefēng hraðeforman siðe 740
slǣpendne rinc,slāt unwearnum,
bāt bān‐locan,blōd ēdrum dranc,
syn‐snǣdum swealh:sōna hæfde
unlyfigendeseal gefeormod
fēt and folma.Forð nēar ætstōp,
nam þā mid handahige‐þīhtigne
rinc on ræste;rǣhte ongēan
fēond mid folme,hē onfēng hraðe
inwit‐þancumand wið earm gesæt.
Sōna þæt onfundefyrena hyrde, 750
þæt hē ne mēttemiddan‐geardes
eorðan scēataon elran men
mund‐gripe māran:hē on mōde wearð
forht on ferhðe,nō þȳ ǣr fram meahte;
hyge wæs him hin‐fūs,wolde on heolster flēon,
sēcan dēofla gedræg:ne wæs his drohtoð þǣr,
swylce hē on ealder‐dagumǣr gemētte.
Gemunde þā se gōdamǣg Higelāces
ǣfen‐sprǣce,up‐lang āstōd
and him fæste wiðfēng.Fingras burston; 760
eoten wæs ūt‐weard,eorl furður stōp.
Mynte se mǣra,þǣr hē meahte swā,
wīdre gewindanand on weg þanon
flēon on fen‐hopu;wiste his fingra geweald
on grames grāpum.Þæt wæs gēocor sīð,
þæt se hearm‐scaðatō Heorute ātēah:
dryht‐sele dynede,Denum eallum wearð,
ceaster‐būendum,cēnra gehwylcum,
eorlum ealu‐scerwen.Yrre wǣron bēgen,
rēðe rēn‐weardas.Reced hlynsode; 770
þā wæs wundor micel,þæt se wīn‐sele
wiðhæfde heaðo‐dēorum,þæt hē on hrūsan ne fēol,
fǣger fold‐bold;ac hē þæs fæste wæs
innan and ūtanīren‐bendum
searo‐þoncum besmiðod.Þǣr fram sylle ābēag
medu‐benc monigmīne gefrǣge,
golde geregnad,þǣr þā graman wunnon;
þæs ne wēndon ǣrwitan Scyldinga,
þæt hit ā mid gemetemanna ǣnig
betlīc and bān‐fāgtōbrecan meahte, 780
listum tōlūcan,nymðe līges fæðm
swulge on swaðule.Swēg up āstāg
nīwe geneahhe;Norð‐Denum stōd
atelīc egesaānra gehwylcum
þāra þe of weallewōp gehȳrdon,
gryre‐lēoð galangodes andsacan,
sige‐lēasne sang,sār wānigean
helle hæftan.Hēold hine tō fæste
sē þe manna wæsmægene strengest
on þǣm dægeþysses līfes. 790

BĒOWULF TEARS OFF GRENDEL'S ARM.[edit]

Nolde eorla hlēoǣnige þinga
þone cwealm‐cumancwicne forlǣtan,
nē his līf‐dagaslēoda ǣnigum
nytte tealde.Þǣr genehost brægd
eorl Bēowulfesealde lāfe,
wolde frēa‐drihtnesfeorh ealgian
mǣres þēodnes,þǣr hīe meahton swā;
hīe þæt ne wiston,þā hīe gewin drugon,
heard‐hicgendehilde‐mecgas,
and on healfa gehwonehēawan þōhton, 800
sāwle sēcan,þæt þone syn‐scaðan
ǣnig ofer eorðanīrenna cyst,
gūð‐billa nāngrētan nolde;
ac hē sige‐wǣpnumforsworen hæfde,
ecga gehwylcre.Scolde his aldor‐gedāl
on þǣm dægeþysses līfes
earmlīc wurðanand se ellor‐gāst
on fēonda gewealdfeor sīðian.
Þā þæt onfundesē þe fela ǣror
mōdes myrðemanna cynne 810
fyrene gefremede(hē wæs fāg wið god)
þæt him se līc‐homalǣstan nolde,
ac hine se mōdegamǣg Hygelāces
hæfde be honda;wæs gehwæðer ōðrum
lifigende lāð.Līc‐sār gebād
atol ǣglǣca,him on eaxle wearð
syn‐dolh sweotol,seonowe onsprungon
burston bān‐locan.Bēowulfe wearð
gūð‐hrēð gyfeðe;scolde Grendel þonan
feorh‐sēoc flēonunder fen‐hleoðu, 820
sēcean wyn‐lēas wīc;wiste þē geornor,
þæt his aldres wæsende gegongen,
dōgera dæg‐rīm.Denum eallum wearð
æfter þām wæl‐rǣsewilla gelumpen.
Hæfde þā gefǣlsod,sē þe ǣr feorran cōm,
snotor and swȳð‐ferhðsele Hrōðgāres,
genered wið nīðe.Niht‐weorce gefeh,
ellen‐mǣrðum;hæfde Ēast‐Denum
Gēat‐mecga lēodgilp gelǣsted,
swylce oncȳððeealle gebētte, 830
inwid‐sorge,þē hīe ǣr drugon
and for þrēa‐nȳdumþolian scoldon,
torn unlȳtel.Þæt wæs tācen sweotol,
syððan hilde‐dēorhond ālegde,
earm and eaxle(þǣr wæs eal geador
Grendles grāpe)under gēapne hrōf.

THE JOY AT HEOROT.[edit]

Þā wæs on morgenmīne gefrǣge
ymb þā gif‐heallegūð‐rinc monig:
fērdon folc‐toganfeorran and nēan
geond wīd‐wegaswundor scēawian, 840
lāðes lāstas.Nō his līf‐gedāl
sārlīc þūhtesecga ǣnegum,
þāra þe tīr‐lēasestrode scēawode,
hū hē wērig‐mōdon weg þanon,
nīða ofercumen,on nicera mere
fǣge and geflȳmedfeorh‐lāstas bær.
Þǣr wæs on blōdebrim weallende,
atol ȳða geswingeal gemenged
hātan heolfre,heoro‐drēore wēol;
dēað‐fǣge dēog,siððan drēama lēas 850
in fen‐freoðofeorh ālegde
hǣðene sāwle,þǣr him hel onfēng.
Þanon eft gewitoneald‐gesīðas,
swylce geong manigof gomen‐wāðe,
fram mere mōdge,mēarum rīdan,
beornas on blancum.Þǣr wæs Bēowulfes
mǣrðo mǣned;monig oft gecwæð,
þætte sūð nē norðbe sǣm tweonum
ofer eormen‐grundōðer nǣnig
under swegles begongsēlra nǣre 860
rond‐hæbbendra,rīces wyrðra.
Nē hīe hūru wine‐drihtenwiht ne lōgon,
glædne Hrōðgār,ac þæt wæs gōd cyning.
Hwīlum heaðo‐rōfehlēapan lēton,
on geflīt faranfealwe mēaras,
þǣr him fold‐wegasfægere þūhton,
cystum cūðe;hwīlum cyninges þegn,
guma gilp‐hlædengidda gemyndig,
sē þe eal‐felaeald‐gesegena
worn gemunde,word ōðer fand 870
sōðe gebunden:secg eft ongan
sīð Bēowulfessnyttrum styrian
and on spēd wrecanspel gerāde,
wordum wrixlan,wēl‐hwylc gecwæð,
þæt hē fram Sigemundesecgan hȳrde,
ellen‐dǣdum,uncūðes fela,
Wælsinges gewin,wīde sīðas,
þāra þe gumena bearngearwe ne wiston,
fǣhðe and fyrene,būton Fitela mid hine,
þonne hē swylces hwætsecgan wolde 880
ēam his nefan,swā hīe ā wǣron
æt nīða gehwāmnȳd‐gesteallan:
hæfdon eal‐felaeotena cynnes
sweordum gesǣged.Sigemunde gesprong
æfter dēað‐dægedōm unlȳtel,
syððan wīges heardwyrm ācwealde,
hordes hyrde;hē under hārne stān,
æðelinges bearn,āna genēðde
frēcne dǣde;ne wæs him Fitela mid.
Hwæðre him gesǣlde,þæt þæt swurd þurhwōd 890
wrǣtlīcne wyrm,þæt hit on wealle ætstōd,
dryhtlīc īren;draca morðre swealt.
Hæfde āglǣcaelne gegongen,
þæt hē bēah‐hordesbrūcan mōste
selfes dōme:sǣ‐bāt gehlōd,
bær on bearm scipesbeorhte frætwa,
Wælses eafera;wyrm hāt gemealt.
Sē wæs wreccenawīde mǣrost
ofer wer‐þēode,wīgendra hlēo
ellen‐dǣdum:hē þæs āron þāh. 900
Siððan Heremōdeshild sweðrode
eafoð and ellen.Hē mid eotenum wearð
on fēonda gewealdforð forlācen,
snūde forsended.Hine sorh‐wylmas
lemede tō lange,hē his lēodum wearð,
eallum æðelingumtō aldor‐ceare;
swylce oft bemearnǣrran mǣlum
swīð‐ferhðes sīðsnotor ceorl monig,
sē þe him bealwa tōbōte gelȳfde,
þæt þæt þēodnes bearngeþēon scolde, 910
fæder‐æðelum onfōn,folc gehealdan,
hord and hlēo‐burh,hæleða rīce,
ēðel Scyldinga.Hē þǣr eallum wearð,
mǣg Higelācesmanna cynne,
frēondum gefægra;hine fyren onwōd.
Hwīlum flītendefealwe strǣte
mēarum mǣton.Þā wæs morgen‐lēoht
scofen and scynded.Ēode scealc monig
swīð‐hicgendetō sele þām hēan,
searo‐wundor sēon,swylce self cyning, 920
of brȳd‐būrebēah‐horda weard,
tryddode tīr‐fæstgetrume micle,
cystum gecȳðed,and his cwēn mid him
medo‐stīg gemætmægða hōse.

HROTHGAR'S GRATULATION.[edit]

Hrōðgār maðelode(hē tō healle gēong,
stōd on stapole,geseah stēapne hrōf
golde fāhneand Grendles hond):
"þisse ansȳneal‐wealdan þanc
lungre gelimpe!Fela ic lāðes gebād,
grynna æt Grendle:ā mæg god wyrcan 930
wunder æfter wundre,wuldres hyrde!
Þæt wæs ungeāra,þæt ic ǣnigra mē
wēana ne wēndetō wīdan feore
bōte gebīdanþonne blōde fāh
hūsa sēlestheoro‐drēorig stōd;
wēa wīd‐scofenwitena gehwylcne
þāra þe ne wēndon,þæt hīe wīde‐ferhð
lēoda land‐geweorclāðum beweredon
scuccum and scinnum.Nū scealc hafað
þurh drihtnes mihtdǣd gefremede, 940
þē wē ealleǣr ne meahton
snyttrum besyrwan.Hwæt! þæt secgan mæg
efne swā hwylc mægða,swā þone magan cende
æfter gum‐cynnum,gyf hēo gȳt lyfað,
þæt hyre eald‐metodēste wǣre
bearn‐gebyrdo.Nū ic Bēowulf
þec, secg betsta,mē for sunu wylle
frēogan on ferhðe;heald forð tela
nīwe sibbe.Ne bið þē nǣnigra gād
worolde wilna,þē ic geweald hæbbe. 950
Ful‐oft ic for lǣssanlēan teohhode
hord‐weorðungehnāhran rince,
sǣmran æt sæcce.Þū þē self hafast
dǣdum gefremed,þæt þīn dōm lyfað
āwa tō aldre.Alwalda þec
gōde forgylde,swā hē nū gȳt dyde!"
Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Wē þæt ellen‐weorcēstum miclum,
feohtan fremedon,frēcne genēðdon
eafoð uncūðes;ūðe ic swīðor, 960
þæt þū hinc selfnegesēon mōste,
fēond on frætewumfyl‐wērigne!
Ic hine hrædlīceheardan clammum
on wæl‐beddewrīðan þōhte,
þæt hē for mund‐gripemīnum scolde
licgean līf‐bysig,būtan his līc swice;
ic hine ne mihte,þā metod nolde,
ganges getwǣman,nō ic him þæs georne ætfealh,
feorh‐genīðlan;wæs tō fore‐mihtig
fēond on fēðe.Hwæðere hē his folme forlēt 970
tō līf‐wraðelāst weardian,
earm and eaxle;nō þǣr ǣnige swā þēah
fēa‐sceaft gumafrōfre gebohte:
nō þȳ leng leofaðlāð‐getēona
synnum geswenced,ac hyne sār hafað
in nȳd‐gripenearwe befongen,
balwon bendum:þǣr ābīdan sceal
maga māne fāhmiclan dōmes,
hū him scīr metodscrīfan wille."
Þā wæs swīgra secg,sunu Ecglāfes, 980
on gylp‐sprǣcegūð‐geweorca,
siððan æðelingaseorles cræfte
ofer hēahne hrōfhand scēawedon,
fēondes fingras,foran ǣghwylc;
wæs stēde nægla gehwylc,stȳle gelīcost,
hǣðenes hand‐sporuhilde‐rinces
egle unhēoru;ǣg‐hwylc gecwæð,
þæt him heardra nānhrīnan wolde
īren ǣr‐gōd,þæt þæs āhlǣcan
blōdge beadu‐folmeonberan wolde. 990

THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.[edit]

Þā wæs hāten hreðeHeort innan‐weard
folmum gefrætwod:fela þǣra wæs
wera and wīfa,þē þæt wīn‐reced,
gest‐sele gyredon.Gold‐fāg scinon
web æfter wāgum,wundor‐sīona fela
secga gehwylcumþāra þe on swylc starað
Wæs þæt beorhte boldtōbrocen swīðe
eal inne‐weardīren‐bendum fæst,
heorras tōhlidene;hrōf āna genæs
ealles ansund,þā se āglǣca 1000
fyren‐dǣdum fāgon flēam gewand,
aldres or‐wēna.Nō þæt ȳðe byð
tō beflēonne(fremme sē þe wille!)
ac gesacan scealsāwl‐berendra
nȳde genȳddeniðða bearna
grund‐būendragearwe stōwe,
þǣr his līc‐homaleger‐bedde fæst
swefeð æfter symle.Þā wæs sǣl and mǣl,
þæt tō healle gangHealfdenes sunu;
wolde self cyningsymbel þicgan. 1010
Ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgðemāran weorode
ymb hyra sinc‐gyfansēl gebǣran.
Bugon þā tō benceblǣd‐āgende,
fylle gefǣgon.Fægere geþǣgon
medo‐ful manigmāgas þāra
swīð‐hicgendeon sele þām hēan,
Hrōðgār and Hrōðulf.Heorot innan wæs
frēondum āfylled;nalles fācen‐stafas
Þēod‐Scyldingasþenden fremedon.
Forgeaf þā Bēowulfebearn Healfdenes 1020
segen gyldennesigores tō lēane,
hroden hilte‐cumbor,helm and byrnan;
mǣre māððum‐sweordmanige gesāwon
beforan beorn beran.Bēowulf geþah
ful on flette;nō hē þǣre feoh‐gyfte
for scēotendumscamigan þorfte,
ne gefrægn ic frēondlīcorfēower mādmas
golde gegyredegum‐manna fela
in ealo‐benceōðrum gesellan.
Ymb þæs helmes hrōfhēafod‐beorge 1030
wīrum bewundenwalan ūtan hēold,
þæt him fēla lāfefrēcne ne meahton
scūr‐heard sceððan,þonne scyld‐freca
ongēan gramumgangan scolde.
Heht þā eorla hlēoeahta mēaras,
fǣted‐hlēore,on flet tēon
in under eoderas;þāra ānum stōd
sadol searwum fāhsince gewurðad,
þæt wæs hilde‐setlhēah‐cyninges,
þonne sweorda gelācsunu Healfdenes 1040
efnan wolde;nǣfre on ōre læg
wīd‐cūðes wīg,þonne walu fēollon.
And þā Bēowulfebēga gehwæðres
eodor Ingwinaonweald getēah,
wicga and wǣpna;hēt hine wēl brūcan.
Swā manlīcemǣre þēoden,
hord‐weard hæleðaheaðo‐rǣsas geald
mēarum and mādmum,swā hȳ nǣfre man lyhð,
sē þe secgan wilesōð æfter rihte.

SONG OF HROTHGAR'S POET-THE LAY OF HNAEF AND HENGEST.[edit]

Þā gȳt ǣghwylcumeorla drihten 1050
þāra þe mid Bēowulfebrim‐lāde tēah,
on þǣre medu‐bencemāððum gesealde,
yrfe‐lāfe,and þone ǣnne heht
golde forgyldan,þone þe Grendel ǣr
māne ācwealde,swā hē hyra mā wolde,
nefne him wītig godwyrd forstōde
and þæs mannes mōd:metod eallum wēold
gumena cynnes,swā hē nū gīt dēð;
forþan bið andgitǣghwǣr sēlest,
ferhðes fore‐þanc!fela sceal gebīdan 1060
lēofes and lāðes,sē þe longe hēr
on þyssum win‐dagumworolde brūceð.
Þǣr wæs sang and swēgsamod ætgædere
fore Healfdeneshilde‐wīsan,
gomen‐wudu grēted,gid oft wrecen,
þonne heal‐gamenHrōðgāres scop
æfter medo‐bencemǣnan scolde
Finnes eaferum,þā hīe se fǣr begeat:
"Hæleð Healfdenes,Hnæf Scyldinga,
in Fr..es wælefeallan scolde. 1070
Nē hūru Hildeburhherian þorfte
Eotena trēowe:unsynnum wearð
beloren lēofumæt þām lind‐plegan
bearnum and brōðrum;hīe on gebyrd hruron
gāre wunde;þæt wæs geōmuru ides.
Nalles hōlingaHōces dōhtor
meotod‐sceaft bemearn,syððan morgen cōm,
þā hēo under sweglegesēon meahte
morðor‐bealo māga,þǣr hēo ǣr mǣste hēold
worolde wynne:wīg ealle fornam 1080
Finnes þegnas,nemne fēaum ānum,
þæt hē ne mehteon þǣm meðel‐stede
wīg Hengestewiht gefeohtan,
nē þā wēa‐lāfewīge forþringan
þōodnes þegne; ac hig him geþingo budon,
þæt hīe him ōðer fleteal gerȳmdon,
healle and hēah‐setl,þæt hīe healfre geweald
wið Eotena bearnāgan mōston,
and æt feoh‐gyftumFolcwaldan sunu
dōgra gehwylceDene weorðode, 1090
Hengestes hēaphringum wenede,
efne swā swīðesinc‐gestrēonum
fǣttan goldes,swā hē Frēsena cyn
on bēor‐selebyldan wolde.
Þā hīe getruwedonon twā healfa
fæste frioðu‐wǣre;Fin Hengeste
elne unflitmeāðum benemde,
þæt hē þā wēa‐lāfeweotena dōme
ārum heolde,þæt þǣr ǣnig mon
wordum nē worcumwǣre ne brǣce, 1100
nē þurh inwit‐searoǣfre gemǣnden,
þēah hīe hira bēag‐gyfanbanan folgedon
þēoden‐lēase,þā him swā geþearfod wæs:
gyf þonne Frȳsna hwylcfrēcnan sprǣce
þæs morðor‐hetesmyndgiend wǣre,
þonne hit sweordes ecgsyððan scolde.
Āð wæs geæfnedand icge gold
āhæfen of horde.Here‐Scyldinga
betst beado‐rincawæs on bǣl gearu;
æt þǣm āde wæsēð‐gesȳne 1110
swāt‐fāh syrce,swȳn eal‐gylden,
eofer īren‐heard,æðeling manig
wundum āwyrded;sume on wæle crungon.
Hēt þā Hildeburhæt Hnæfes āde
hire selfre sunusweoloðe befæstan,
bān‐fatu bærnanand on bǣl dōn.
Earme on eaxleides gnornode,
geōmrode giddum;gūð‐rinc āstāh.
Wand tō wolcnumwæl‐fȳra mǣst,
hlynode for hlāwe;hafelan multon, 1120
ben‐geato burston,þonne blōd ætspranc
lāð‐bite līces.Līg ealle forswealg,
gǣsta gīfrost,þāra þe þǣr gūð fornam
bēga folces;wæs hira blǣd scacen.

THE GLEEMAN'S TALE IS ENDED.[edit]

"Gewiton him þā wīgendwīca nēosian,
frēondum befeallenFrȳsland gesēon,
hāmas and hēa‐burh.Hengest þā gȳt
wæl‐fāgne winterwunode mid Finne
ealles unhlitme;eard gemunde,
þēah þe hē ne meahteon mere drīfan 1130
hringed‐stefnan;holm storme wēol,
won wið winde;winter ȳðe belēac
īs‐gebindeoð þæt ōðer cōm
geār in geardas,swā nū gȳt dēð,
þā þe syngalessēle bewitiað,
wuldor‐torhtan weder.Þā wæs winter scacen,
fæger foldan bearm;fundode wrecca,
gist of geardum;hē tō gyrn‐wræce
swīðor þōhte,þonne tō sǣ‐lāde,
gif hē torn‐gemōtþurhtēon mihte, 1140
þæt hē Eotena bearninne gemunde.
Swā hē ne forwyrndeworold‐rǣdenne,
þonne him Hūnlāfinghilde‐lēoman,
billa sēlest,on bearm dyde:
þæs wǣron mid Eotenumecge cūðe.
Swylce ferhð‐frecanFin eft begeat
sweord‐bealo slīðenæt his selfes hām,
siððan grimne gripeGūðlaf ond Ōslāf
æfter sǣ‐siðesorge mǣndon,
ætwiton wēana dǣl;ne meahte wǣfre mōd 1150
forhabban in hreðre.Þā wæs heal hroden
fēonda fēorum,swilce Fin slægen,
cyning on corðre,and sēo cwēn numen.
Scēotend Scyldingatō scypum feredon
eal in‐gestealdeorð‐cyninges,
swylce hīe æt Finnes hāmfindan meahton
sigla searo‐gimma.Hīe on sǣ‐lāde
drihtlīce wīftō Denum feredon,
lǣddon tō lēodum."Lēoð wæs āsungen,
glēo‐mannes gyd.Gamen eft āstāh, 1160
beorhtode benc‐swēg,byrelas sealdon
wīn of wunder‐fatum.Þā cwōm Wealhþēo forð
gān under gyldnum bēage,þǣr þā gōdan twēgen
sǣton suhter‐gefæderan;þā gȳt wæs hiera sib ætgædere
ǣghwylc ōðrum trȳwe.Swylce þǣr Unferð þyle
æt fōtum sæt frēan Scyldinga:gehwylc hiora his ferhðe trēowde,
þæt hē hæfde mōd micel,þēah þe hē his māgum nǣre
ārfæst æt ecga gelācum.Spræc þā ides Scyldinga:
"Onfōh þissum fulle,frēo‐drihten mīn,
sinces brytta;þū on sǣlum wes, 1170
gold‐wine gumena,and tō Gēatum sprec
mildum wordum!Swā sceal man dōn.
Bēo wið Gēatas glæd,geofena gemyndig;
nēan and feorranþū nū friðu hafast.
Mē man sægde,þæt þū þē for sunu wolde
here‐rinc habban.Heorot is gefǣlsod,
bēah‐sele beorhta;brūc þenden þū mōte
manigra mēdaand þīnum māgum lǣf
folc and rīce,þonne þū forð scyle
metod‐sceaft sēon.Ic mīnne can 1180
glædne Hrōðulf,þæt hē þā geogoðe wile
ārum healdan,gyf þū ǣr þonne hē,
wine Scildinga,worold oflǣtest;
wēne ic, þæt hē mid gōdegyldan wille
uncran eaferan,gif hē þæt eal gemon,
hwæt wit tō willanand tō worð‐myndum
umbor wesendum ǣrārna gefremedon."
Hwearf þā bī bence,þǣr hyre byre wǣron,
Hrēðrīc and Hrōðmund,and hæleða bearn,
giogoð ætgædere;þǣr se gōda sæt 1190
Bēowulf Gēatabe þǣm gebrōðrum twǣm.

BĒOWULF'S JEWELLED COLLAR. THE HEROES REST.[edit]

Him wæs ful borenand frēond‐laðu
wordum bewægnedand wunden gold
ēstum geēawed,earm‐hrēade twā,
hrægl and hringas,heals‐bēaga mǣst
þāra þe ic on foldangefrægen hæbbe.
Nǣnigne ic under sweglesēlran hȳrde
hord‐māððum hæleða,syððan Hāma ætwæg
tō þǣre byrhtan byrigBrōsinga mene,
sigle and sinc‐fæt,searo‐nīðas fealh 1200
Eormenrīces,gecēas ēcne rǣd.
Þone hring hæfdeHigelāc Gēata,
nefa Swertinges,nȳhstan sīðe,
siððan hē under segnesinc ealgode,
wæl‐rēaf werede;hyne Wyrd fornam,
syððan hē for wlencowēan āhsode,
fǣhðe tō Frȳsum;hē þā frætwe wæg,
eorclan‐stānasofer ȳða ful,
rīce þēoden,hē under rande gecranc;
gehwearf þā in Francna fæðmfeorh cyninges, 1210
brēost‐gewǣduand se bēah somod:
wyrsan wīg‐frecanwæl rēafedon
æfter gūð‐sceare,Gēata lēode
hreā‐wīc hēoldon.Heal swēge onfēng.
Wealhþēo maðelode,hēo fore þǣm werede spræc:
"Brūc þisses bēages,Bēowulf, lēofa
hyse, mid hǣle,and þisses hrægles nēot
þēod‐gestrēona,and geþēoh tela,
cen þec mid cræfteand þyssum cnyhtum wes
lāra līðe!ic þē þæs lēan geman. 1220
Hafast þū gefēred,þæt þē feor and nēah
ealne wīde‐ferhðweras ehtigað,
efne swā sīdeswā sǣ bebūgeð
windige weallas.Wes, þenden þū lifige,
æðeling ēadig!ic þē an tela
sinc‐gestrēona.Bēo þū suna mīnum
dǣdum gedēfedrēam healdende!
Hēr is ǣghwylc eorlōðrum getrȳwe,
mōdes milde,man‐drihtne hold,
þegnas syndon geþwǣre,þēod eal gearo: 1230
druncne dryht‐guman,dōð swā ic bidde!"
Ēode þā tō setle.Þǣr wæs symbla cyst,
druncon wīn weras:wyrd ne cūðon,
geō‐sceaft grimme,swā hit āgangen wearð
eorla manegum,syððan ǣfen cwōm
and him Hrōðgār gewāttō hofe sīnum,
rīce tō ræste.Reced weardode
unrīm eorla,swā hīe oft ǣr dydon:
benc‐þelu beredon,hit geond‐brǣded wearð
beddum and bolstrum.Bēor‐scealca sum 1240
fūs and fǣgeflet‐ræste gebēag.
Setton him tō hēafdumhilde‐randas,
bord‐wudu beorhtan;þǣr on bence wæs
ofer æðelingeȳð‐gesēne
heaðo‐stēapa helm,hringed byrne,
þrec‐wudu þrymlīc.Wæs þēaw hyra,
þæt hīe oft wǣronan wīg gearwe,
gē æt hām gē on herge,gē gehwæðer þāra
efne swylce mǣla,swylce hira man‐dryhtne
þearf gesǣlde;wæs sēo þēod tilu. 1250

GRENDEL'S MOTHER ATTACKS THE RING-DANES.[edit]

Sigon þā tō slǣpe.Sum sāre angeald
ǣfen‐ræste,swā him ful‐oft gelamp,
siððan gold‐seleGrendel warode,
unriht æfnde,oð þæt ende becwōm,
swylt æfter synnum.Þæt gesȳne wearð,
wīd‐cūð werum,þætte wrecend þā gȳt
lifde æfter lāðum,lange þrāge
æfter gūð‐ceare;Grendles mōdor,
ides āglǣc‐wīfyrmðe gemunde,
sē þe wæter‐egesanwunian scolde, 1260
cealde strēamas,siððan Cain wearð
tō ecg‐bananāngan brēðer,
fæderen‐mǣge;hē þā fāg gewāt,
morðre gemearcodman‐drēam flēon,
wēsten warode.Þanon wōc fela
geōsceaft‐gāsta;wæs þǣra Grendel sum,
heoro‐wearh hetelīc,sē æt Heorote fand
wæccendne werwīges bīdan,
þǣr him āglǣcaæt‐grǣpe wearð;
hwæðre hē gemundemægenes strenge, 1270
gim‐fæste gife,þē him god sealde,
and him tō anwaldanāre gelȳfde,
frōfre and fultum:þȳ hē þone fēond ofercwōm,
gehnǣgde helle gāst:þā hē hēan gewāt,
drēame bedǣleddēað‐wīc sēon,
man‐cynnes fēond.And his mōdor þā gȳt
gīfre and galg‐mōdgegān wolde
sorh‐fulne sīð,suna dēað wrecan.
Cōm þā tō Heorote,þǣr Hring‐Dene
geond þæt sæld swǣfun.Þā þǣr sōna wearð 1280
ed‐hwyrft eorlum,siððan inne fealh
Grendles mōdor;wæs se gryre lǣssa
efne swā micle,swā bið mægða cræft,
wīg‐gryre wīfesbe wǣpned‐men,
þonne heoru bunden,hamere geþuren,
sweord swāte fāhswīn ofer helme,
ecgum dyhtigandweard scireð.
Þā wæs on healleheard‐ecg togen,
sweord ofer setlum,sīd‐rand manig
hafen handa fæst;helm ne gemunde, 1290
byrnan sīde,þe hine se brōga angeat.
Hēo wæs on ofste,wolde ūt þanon
fēore beorgan,þā hēo onfunden wæs;
hraðe hēo æðelingaānne hæfde
fæste befangen,þā hēo tō fenne gang;
sē wæs Hrōðgārehæleða lēofost
on gesīðes hādbe sǣm tweonum,
rīce rand‐wiga,þone þe hēo on ræste ābrēat,
blǣd‐fæstne beorn.Næs Bēowulf þǣr,
ac wæs ōðer inǣr geteohhod 1300
æfter māððum‐gifemǣrum Gēate.
Hrēam wearð on Heorote.Hēo under heolfre genam
cūðe folme;cearu wæs genīwod
geworden in wīcum:ne wæs þæt gewrixle til,
þæt hīe on bā healfabicgan scoldon
frēonda fēorum.Þā wæs frōd cyning,
hār hilde‐rinc,on hrēon mōde,
syððan hē aldor‐þegnunlyfigendne,
þone dēorestandēadne wisse.
Hraðe wæs tō būreBēowulf fetod, 1310
sigor‐ēadig secg.Samod ǣr‐dæge
ēode eorla sum,æðele cempa
self mid gesīðum,þǣr se snottra bād,
hwæðre him al‐waldaǣfre wille
æfter wēa‐spellewyrpe gefremman.
Gang þā æfter flōrefyrd‐wyrðe man
mid his hand‐scale(heal‐wudu dynede)
þæt hē þone wīsanwordum hnǣgde
frēan Ingwina;frægn gif him wǣre
æfter nēod‐laðuniht getǣse. 1320

SORROW AT HEOROT: AESCHERE'S DEATH[edit]

Hrōðgār maðelode,helm Scildinga:
"Ne frīn þū æfter sǣlum!Sorh is genīwod
Denigea lēodum.Dēad is Æsc‐here,
Yrmenlāfesyldra brōðor,
mīn rūn‐witaand mīn rǣd‐bora,
eaxl‐gestealla,þonne wē on orlege
hafelan weredon,þonne hniton fēðan,
eoferas cnysedan;swylc scolde eorl wesan
æðeling ǣr‐gōd,swylc Æsc‐here wæs.
Wearð him on Heorotetō hand‐banan 1330
wæl‐gǣst wǣfre;ic ne wāt hwæder
atol ǣse wlanceft‐sīðas tēah,
fylle gefrǣgnod.Hēo þā fǣhðe wræc,
þē þū gystran nihtGrendel cwealdest
þurh hǣstne hādheardum clammum,
forþan hē tō langelēode mīne
wanode and wyrde.Hē æt wīge gecrang
ealdres scyldig,and nū ōðer cwōm
mihtig mān‐scaða,wolde hyre mǣg wrecan,
gē feor hafaðfǣhðe gestǣled, 1340
þæs þe þincean mægþegne monegum,
sē þe æfter sinc‐gyfanon sefan grēoteð,
hreðer‐bealo hearde;nū sēo hand ligeð,
sē þe ēow wēl‐hwylcrawilna dohte.
Ic þæt lond‐būendlēode mīne
sele‐rǣdendesecgan hȳrde,
þæt hīe gesāwonswylce twēgen
micle mearc‐stapanmōras healdan,
ellor‐gǣstas:þǣra ōðer wæs,
þæs þe hīe gewislīcostgewitan meahton, 1350
idese onlīcnes,ōðer earm‐sceapen
on weres wæstmumwræc‐lāstas træd,
næfne hē wæs māraþonne ǣnig man ōðer,
þone on geār‐dagumGrendel nemdon
fold‐būende:nō hīe fæder cunnon,
hwæðer him ǣnig wæsǣr ācenned
dyrnra gāsta.Hīe dȳgel lond
warigeað, wulf‐hleoðu,windige næssas,
frēcne fen‐gelād,þǣr fyrgen‐strēam
under næssa genipuniðer gewīteð, 1360
flōd under foldan;nis þæt feor heonon
mīl‐gemearces,þæt se mere standeð,
ofer þǣm hongiaðhrīmge bearwas,
wudu wyrtum fæst,wæter oferhelmað.
Þǣr mæg nihta gehwǣmnīð‐wundor sēon,
fȳr on flōde;nō þæs frōd leofað
gumena bearna,þæt þone grund wite;
þēah þe hǣð‐stapahundum geswenced,
heorot hornum trumholt‐wudu sēce,
feorran geflȳmed,ǣr hē feorh seleð, 1370
aldor on ōfre,ǣr hē in wille,
hafelan hȳdan.Nis þæt hēoru stōw:
þonon ȳð‐geblondup āstīgeð
won tō wolcnum,þonne wind styreð
lāð gewidru,oð þæt lyft drysmað,
roderas rēotað.Nū is rǣd gelang
eft æt þē ānum!Eard gīt ne const,
frēcne stōwe,þǣr þū findan miht
sinnigne secg:sēc gif þū dyrre!
Ic þē þā fǣhðefēo lēanige, 1380
eald‐gestrēonum,swā ic ǣr dyde,
wundnum golde,gyf þū on weg cymest."

BĒOWULF SEEKS THE MONSTER IN THE HAUNTS OF THE NIXIES.[edit]

Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Ne sorga, snotor guma!sēlre bið ǣghwǣm,
þæt hē his frēond wrece,þonne hē fela murne;
ūre ǣghwylc scealende gebīdan
worolde līfes;wyrce sē þe mōte
dōmes ǣr dēaðe!þæt bið driht‐guman
unlifgendumæfter sēlest.
Ārīs, rīces weard;uton hraðe fēran, 1390
Grendles māgangang scēawigan!
Ic hit þē gehāte:nō hē on helm losað,
nē on foldan fæðm,nē on fyrgen‐holt,
nē on gyfenes grund,gā þǣr hē wille.
Þȳs dōgor þūgeþyld hafa
wēana gehwylces,swā ic þē wēne tō!"
Āhlēop þā se gomela,gode þancode,
mihtigan drihtne,þæs se man gespræc.
Þā wæs Hrōðgārehors gebǣted,
wicg wunden‐feax.Wīsa fengel 1400
geatolīc gengde;gum‐fēða stōp
lind‐hæbbendra.Lāstas wǣron
æfter wald‐swaðumwīde gesȳne,
gang ofer grundas;gegnum fōr þā
ofer myrcan mōr,mago‐þegna bær
þone sēlestansāwol‐lēasne,
þāra þe mid Hrōðgārehām eahtode.
Ofer‐ēode þāæðelinga bearn
stēap stān‐hliðo,stīge nearwe,
enge ān‐paðas,un‐cūð gelād, 1410
neowle næssas,nicor‐hūsa fela;
hē fēara sumbeforan gengde
wīsra monna,wong scēawian,
oð þæt hē fǣringafyrgen‐bēamas
ofer hārne stānhleonian funde,
wyn‐lēasne wudu;wæter under stōd
drēorig and gedrēfed.Denum eallum wæs,
winum Scyldinga,weorce on mōde,
tō geþolianneþegne monegum,
oncȳð eorla gehwǣm,syððan Æsc‐heres 1420
on þām holm‐clifehafelan mētton.
Flōd blōde wēol(folc tō sǣgon)
hātan heolfre.Horn stundum song
fūslīc fyrd‐lēoð.Fēða eal gesæt;
gesāwon þā æfter wæterewyrm‐cynnes fela,
sellīce sǣ‐dracansund cunnian,
swylce on næs‐hleoðumnicras licgean,
þā on undern‐mǣloft bewitigað
sorh‐fulne sīðon segl‐rāde,
wyrmas and wil‐dēor;hīe on weg hruron 1430
bitere and gebolgne,bearhtm ongeāton,
gūð‐horn galan.Sumne Gēata lēod
of flān‐boganfēores getwǣfde,
ȳð‐gewinnes,þæt him on aldre stōd
here‐strǣl hearda;hē on holme wæs
sundes þē sǣnra,þē hyne swylt fornam.
Hræðe wearð on ȳðummid eofer‐sprēotum
heoro‐hōcyhtumhearde genearwod,
nīða genǣgedand on næs togen
wundorlīc wǣg‐bora;weras scēawedon 1440
gryrelīcne gist.Gyrede hine Bēowulf
eorl‐gewǣdum,nalles for ealdre mearn:
scolde here‐byrnehondum gebrōden,
sīd and searo‐fāh,sund cunnian,
sēo þe bān‐cofanbeorgan cūðe,
þæt him hilde‐grāphreðre ne mihte,
eorres inwit‐feng,aldre gesceððan;
ac se hwīta helmhafelan werede,
sē þe mere‐grundasmengan scolde,
sēcan sund‐geblandsince geweorðad, 1450
befongen frēa‐wrāsnum,swā hine fyrn‐dagum
worhte wǣpna smið,wundrum tēode,
besette swīn‐līcum,þæt hine syððan nō
brond nē beado‐mēcasbītan ne meahton.
Næs þæt þonne mǣtostmægen‐fultuma,
þæt him on þearfe lāhþyle Hrōðgāres;
wæs þǣm hæft‐mēceHrunting nama,
þæt wæs ān foraneald‐gestrēona;
ecg wæs īrenāter‐tēarum fāh,
āhyrded heaðo‐swāte;nǣfre hit æt hilde ne swāc 1460
manna ǣngumþāra þe hit mid mundum bewand,
sē þe gryre‐sīðasgegān dorste,
folc‐stede fāra;næs þæt forma sīð,
þæt hit ellen‐weorcæfnan scolde.
Hūru ne gemundemago Ecglāfes
eafoðes cræftig,þæt hē ǣr gespræc
wīne druncen,þā hē þæs wǣpnes onlāh
sēlran sweord‐frecan:selfa ne dorste
under ȳða gewinaldre genēðan,
driht‐scype drēogan;þǣr hē dōme forlēas, 1470
ellen‐mǣrðum.Ne wæs þǣm ōðrum swā,
syððan hē hine tō gūðegegyred hæfde.

THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.[edit]

Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"geþenc nū, se mǣramaga Healfdenes,
snottra fengel,nū ic eom sīðes fūs,
gold‐wine gumena,hwæt wit geō sprǣcon,
gif ic æt þearfeþīnre scolde
aldre linnan,þæt þū mē ā wǣre
forð‐gewitenumon fæder stǣle;
wes þū mund‐bora mīnummago‐þegnum, 1480
hond‐gesellum,gif mec hild nime:
swylce þū þā mādmas,þē þū mē sealdest,
Hrōðgār lēofa,Higelāce onsend.
Mæg þonne on þǣm golde ongitanGēata dryhten,
gesēon sunu Hrēðles,þonne hē on þæt sinc starað,
þæt ic gum‐cystumgōdne funde
bēaga bryttan,brēac þonne mōste.
And þū Unferð lǣtealde lāfe,
wrǣtlīc wǣg‐sweordwīd‐cūðne man
heard‐ecg habban;ic mē mid Hruntinge 1490
dōm gewyrce,oððe mec dēað nimeð."
Æfter þǣm wordumWeder‐Gēata lēod
efste mid elne,nalas andsware
bīdan wolde;brim‐wylm onfēng
hilde‐rince.Þā wæs hwīl dæges,
ǣr hē þone grund‐wongongytan mehte.
Sōna þæt onfunde,sē þe flōda begong
heoro‐gīfre behēoldhund missēra,
grim and grǣdig,þæt þǣr gumena sum
æl‐wihta eardufan cunnode. 1500
Grāp þā tōgēanes,gūð‐rinc gefēng
atolan clommum;nō þȳ ǣr in gescōd
hālan līce:hring ūtan ymb‐bearh,
þæt hēo þone fyrd‐homþurh‐fōn ne mihte,
locene leoðo‐syrcanlāðan fingrum.
Bær þā sēo brim‐wylf,þā hēo tō botme cōm,
hringa þengeltō hofe sīnum,
swā hē ne mihte nō(hē þæs mōdig wæs)
wǣpna gewealdan,ac hine wundra þæs fela
swencte on sunde,sǣ‐dēor monig 1510
hilde‐tūxumhere‐syrcan bræc,
ēhton āglǣcan.Þā se eorl ongeat,
þæt hē in nið‐selenāt‐hwylcum wæs,
þǣr him nǣnig wæterwihte ne sceðede,
nē him for hrōf‐selehrīnan ne mehte
fǣr‐gripe flōdes:fȳr‐lēoht geseah,
blācne lēomanbeorhte scīnan.
Ongeat þā se gōdagrund‐wyrgenne,
mere‐wīf mihtig;mægen‐rǣs forgeaf
hilde‐bille,hond swenge ne oftēah, 1520
þæt hire on hafelanhring‐mǣl āgōl
grǣdig gūð‐lēoð.Þā se gist onfand,
þæt se beado‐lēomabītan nolde,
aldre sceððan,ac sēo ecg geswāc
þēodne æt þearfe:þolode ǣr fela
hond‐gemōta,helm oft gescær,
fǣges fyrd‐hrægl:þæt wæs forma sīð
dēorum māðme,þæt his dōm ālæg.
Eft wæs ān‐rǣd,nalas elnes læt,
mǣrða gemyndigmǣg Hygelāces; 1530
wearp þā wunden‐mǣlwrǣttum gebunden
yrre ōretta,þæt hit on eorðan læg,
stīð and stȳl‐ecg;strenge getruwode,
mund‐gripe mægenes.Swā sceal man dōn,
þonne hē æt gūðegegān þenceð
longsumne lof,nā ymb his līf cearað.
Gefēng þā be eaxle(nalas for fǣhðe mearn)
Gūð‐Gēata lēodGrendles mōdor;
brægd þā beadwe heard,þā hē gebolgen wæs,
feorh‐genīðlan,þæt hēo on flet gebēah. 1540
Hēo him eft hraðeand‐lēan forgeald
grimman grāpumand him tōgēanes fēng;
oferwearp þā wērig‐mōdwigena strengest,
fēðe‐cempa,þæt hē on fylle wearð.
Ofsæt þā þone sele‐gystand hyre seaxe getēah,
brād and brūn‐ecgwolde hire bearn wrecan,
āngan eaferan.Him on eaxle læg
brēost‐net brōden;þæt gebearh fēore,
wið ord and wið ecgeingang forstōd.
Hæfde þā forsīðodsunu Ecgþēowes 1550
under gynne grund,Gēata cempa,
nemne him heaðo‐byrnehelpe gefremede,
here‐net hearde,and hālig god
gewēold wīg‐sigor,wītig drihten;
rodera rǣdendhit on ryht gescēd,
ȳðelīcesyððan hē eft āstōd.

BĒOWULF SLAYS THE SPRITE.[edit]

Geseah þā on searwumsige‐ēadig bil,
eald sweord eoteniscecgum þȳhtig,
wigena weorð‐mynd:þæt wæs wǣpna cyst,
būton hit wæs māreþonne ǣnig mon ōðer 1560
tō beadu‐lāceætberan meahte
gōd and geatolīcgīganta geweorc.
Hē gefēng þā fetel‐hilt,freca Scildinga,
hrēoh and heoro‐grimhring‐mǣl gebrægd,
aldres orwēna,yrringa slōh,
þæt hire wið halseheard grāpode,
bān‐hringas bræc,bil eal þurh‐wōd
fǣgne flǣsc‐homan,hēo on flet gecrong;
sweord wæs swātig,secg weorce gefeh.
Līxte se lēoma,lēoht inne stōd, 1570
efne swā of hefenehādre scīneð
rodores candel.Hē æfter recede wlāt,
hwearf þā be wealle,wǣpen hafenade
heard be hiltumHigelāces þegn,
yrre and ān‐rǣd.Næs sēo ecg fracod
hilde‐rince,ac hē hraðe wolde
Grendle forgyldangūð‐rǣsa fela
þāra þe hē geworhtetō West‐Denum
oftor micleþonne on ǣnne sīð,
þonne hē Hrōðgāresheorð‐genēatas 1580
slōh on sweofote,slǣpende fræt
folces Denigeafȳf‐tȳne men
and ōðer swylcūt of‐ferede,
lāðlīcu lāc.Hē him þæs lēan forgeald,
rēðe cempa,tō þæs þe hē on ræste geseah
gūð‐wērigneGrendel licgan,
aldor‐lēasne,swā him ǣr gescōd
hild æt Heorote;hrā wīde sprong,
syððan hē æfter dēaðedrepe þrowade,
heoro‐sweng heardne,and hine þā hēafde becearf, 1590
Sōna þæt gesāwonsnottre ceorlas,
þā þe mid Hrōðgāreon holm wliton,
þæt wæs ȳð‐geblondeal gemenged,
brim blōde fāh:blonden‐feaxe
gomele ymb gōdneongeador sprǣcon,
þæt hig þæs æðelingeseft ne wēndon,
þæt hē sige‐hrēðigsēcean cōme
mǣrne þēoden;þā þæs monige gewearð,
þæt hine sēo brim‐wylfābroten hæfde.
Þā cōm nōn dæges.Næs ofgēafon 1600
hwate Scyldingas; gewāt him hām þonon
gold‐wine gumena.Gistas sētan,
mōdes sēoce,and on mere staredon,
wiston and ne wēndon,þæt hīe heora wine‐drihten
selfne gesāwon.Þā þæt sweord ongan
æfter heaðo‐swātehilde‐gicelum
wīg‐bil wanian;þæt wæs wundra sum,
þæt hit eal gemealtīse gelīcost,
þonne forstes bendfæder onlǣteð,
onwindeð wæl‐rāpas,sē þe geweald hafað 1610
sǣla and mǣla;þæt is sōð metod.
Ne nom hē in þǣm wīcum,Weder‐Gēata lēod,
māðm‐ǣhta mā,þēh hē þǣr monige geseah,
būton þone hafelanand þā hilt somod,
since fāge;sweord ǣr gemealt,
forbarn brōden mǣl:wæs þæt blōd tō þæs hāt,
ǣttren ellor‐gǣst,sē þǣr inne swealt.
Sōna wæs on sunde,sē þe ǣr æt sæcce gebād
wīg‐hryre wrāðra,wæter up þurh‐dēaf;
wǣron ȳð‐geblandeal gefǣlsod, 1620
ēacne eardas,þā se ellor‐gāst
oflēt līf‐dagasand þās lǣnan gesceaft.
Cōm þā tō landelid‐manna helm
swīð‐mōd swymman,sǣ‐lāce gefeah,
mægen‐byrðenneþāra þe hē him mid hæfde.
Ēodon him þā tōgēanes,gode þancodon,
þrȳðlīc þegna hēap,þēodnes gefēgon,
þæs þe hī hyne gesundnegesēon mōston.
Þā wæs of þǣm hrōranhelm and byrne
lungre ālȳsed:lagu drūsade, 1630
wæter under wolcnum,wæl‐drēore fāg.
Fērdon forð þononfēðe‐lāstum
ferhðum fægne,fold‐weg mǣton,
cūðe strǣte;cyning‐balde men
from þǣm holm‐clifehafelan bǣron
earfoðlīceheora ǣghwæðrum
fela‐mōdigra:fēower scoldon
on ðæm wæl‐stengeweorcum geferian
tō þǣm gold‐seleGrendles hēafod,
oð þæt semningatō sele cōmon 1640
frome fyrd‐hwatefēower‐tȳne
Gēata gongan;gum‐dryhten mid
mōdig on gemongemeodo‐wongas træd.
Þā cōm in gānealdor þegna,
dǣd‐cēne mondōme gewurðad,
hæle hilde‐dēor.Hrōðgār grētan:
Þā wæs be feaxeon flet boren
Grendles hēafod,þǣr guman druncon,
egeslīc for eorlumand þǣre idese mid:
wlite‐sēon wrǣtlīcweras onsāwon. 1650

HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE: HE DISCOURSES.[edit]

Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Hwæt! wē þē þās sǣ‐lāc,sunu Healfdenes,
lēod Scyldinga,lustum brōhton,
tīres tō tācne,þē þū hēr tō lōcast.
Ic þæt unsōfteealdre gedīgde:
wigge under wætereweorc genēðde
earfoðlīce,æt‐rihte wæs
gūð getwǣfed,nymðe mec god scylde.
Ne meahte ic æt hildemid Hruntinge
wiht gewyrcan,þēah þæt wǣpen duge, 1660
ac mē geūðeylda waldend,
þæt ic on wāge geseahwlitig hangian
eald sweord ēacen(oftost wīsode
winigea lēasum)þæt ic þȳ wǣpne gebrǣ.
Ofslōh þā æt þǣre sæcce(þā mē sǣl āgeald)
hūses hyrdas.Þā þæt hilde‐bil
forbarn, brogden mǣl,swā þæt blōd gesprang,
hātost heaðo‐swāta:ic þæt hilt þanan
fēondum ætferede;fyren‐dǣda wræc,
dēað‐cwealm Denigea,swā hit gedēfe wæs. 1670
Ic hit þē þonne gehāte,þæt þū on Heorote mōst
sorh‐lēas swefanmid þīnra secga gedryht,
and þegna gehwylcþīnra lēoda,
duguðe and iogoðe,þæt þū him ondrǣdan ne þearft,
þēoden Scyldinga,on þā healfe,
aldor‐bealu eorlum,swā þū ǣr dydest."
Þā wæs gylden hiltgamelum rince.
hārum hild‐fruman,on hand gyfen,
enta ǣr‐geweorc,hit on ǣht gehwearf
æfter dēofla hryreDenigea frēan, 1680
wundor‐smiða geweorc,and þā þās worold ofgeaf
grom‐heort guma,godes andsaca,
morðres scyldig,and his mōdor ēac;
on geweald gehwearfworold‐cyninga
þǣm sēlestanbe sǣm twēonum
þāra þe on Sceden‐iggesceattas dǣlde.
Hrōðgār maðelode,hylt scēawode,
ealde lāfe,on þǣm wæs ōr writen
fyrn‐gewinnes:syððan flōd ofslōh,
gifen gēotende,gīganta cyn, 1690
frēcne gefērdon:þæt wæs fremde þēod
ēcean dryhtne,him þæs ende‐lēan
þurh wæteres wylmwaldend sealde.
Swā wæs on þǣm scennumscīran goldes
þurh rūn‐stafasrihte gemearcod,
geseted and gesǣd,hwām þæt sweord geworht,
īrena cystǣrest wǣre,
wreoðen‐hilt and wyrm‐fāh.þā se wīsa spræc
sunu Healfdenes(swīgedon ealle):
"Þæt lā mæg secgan,sē þe sōð and riht 1700
fremeð on folce,(feor eal gemon
eald ēðel‐weard),þæt þes eorl wǣre
geboren betera!Blǣd is ārǣred
geond wīd‐wegas,wine mīn Bēowulf,
þīn ofer þēoda gehwylce.Eal þū hit geþyldum healdest,
mægen mid mōdes snyttrum.Ic þē sceal mīne gelǣstan
frēode, swā wit furðum sprǣcon;þū scealt tō frōfre weorðan
eal lang‐twidiglēodum þīnum,
hæleðum tō helpe.Ne wearð Heremōd swā
eaforum Ecgwelan,Ār‐Scyldingum; 1710
ne gewēox hē him tō willan,ac tō wæl‐fealle
and tō dēað‐cwalumDeniga lēodum;
brēat bolgen‐mōdbēod‐genēatas,
eaxl‐gesteallan,oð þæt hē āna hwearf,
mǣre þēoden.mon‐drēamum from:
þēah þe hine mihtig godmægenes wynnum,
eafeðum stēpte,ofer ealle men
forð gefremede,hwæðere him on ferhðe grēow
brēost‐hord blōd‐rēow:nallas bēagas geaf
Denum æfter dōme;drēam‐lēas gebād, 1720
þæt hē þæs gewinnesweorc þrowade,
lēod‐bealo longsum.Þū þē lǣr be þon,
gum‐cyste ongit!ic þis gid be þē
āwræc wintrum frōd.Wundor is tō secganne,
hū mihtig godmanna cynne
þurh sīdne sefansnyttru bryttað,
eard and eorl‐scipe,hē āh ealra geweald.
Hwīlum hē on lufanlǣteð hworfan
monnes mōd‐geþoncmǣran cynnes,
seleð him on ēðleeorðan wynne, 1730
tō healdannehlēo‐burh wera,
gedēð him swā gewealdeneworolde dǣlas,
sīde rīce,þæt hē his selfa ne mæg
for his un‐snyttrumende geþencean;
wunað hē on wiste,nō hine wiht dweleð,
ādl nē yldo,nē him inwit‐sorh
on sefan sweorceð,nē gesacu ōhwǣr,
ecg‐hete ēoweð,ac him eal worold
wendeð on willan;hē þæt wyrse ne con,
oð þæt him on innanofer‐hygda dǣl 1740
weaxeð and wridað,þonne se weard swefeð,
sāwele hyrde:bið se slǣp tō fæst,
bisgum gebunden,bona swīðe nēah,
sē þe of flān‐boganfyrenum scēoteð.

THE DISCOURSE IS ENDED.-BĒOWULF PREPARES TO LEAVE.[edit]

"Þonne bið on hreðreunder helm drepen
biteran strǣle:him bebeorgan ne con
wom wundor‐bebodumwergan gāstes;
þinceð him tō lȳtel,þæt hē tō lange hēold,
gȳtsað grom‐hȳdig,nallas on gylp seleð
fǣtte bēagasand hē þā forð‐gesceaft 1750
forgyteð and forgȳmeð,þæs þe him ǣr god sealde
wuldres waldend,weorð‐mynda dǣl.
Hit on ende‐stæfeft gelimpeð,
þæt se līc‐homalǣne gedrēoseð,
fǣge gefealleð;fēhð ōðer tō,
sē þe unmurnlīcemādmas dǣleð,
eorles ǣr‐gestrēon,egesan ne gȳmeð.
Bebeorh þē þone bealo‐nīð,Bēowulf lēofa,
secg se betsta,and þē þæt sēlre gecēos,
ēce rǣdas;oferhȳda ne gȳm, 1760
mǣre cempa!Nū is þīnes mægnes blǣd
āne hwīle;eft sōna bið,
þæt þec ādl oððe ecgeafoðes getwǣfeð,
oððe fȳres fengoððe flōdes wylm,
oððe gripe mēcesoððe gāres fliht,
oððe atol yldo,oððe ēagena bearhtm
forsiteð and forsworceð;semninga bið,
þæt þec, dryht‐guma,dēað oferswȳðeð.
Swā ic Hring‐Denahund missēra
wēold under wolcnum,and hig wigge belēac 1770
manigum mǣgðageond þysne middan‐geard,
æscum and ecgum,þæt ic mē ǣnigne
under swegles begonggesacan ne tealde.
Hwæt! mē þæs on ēðleedwenden cwōm,
gyrn æfter gomene,seoððan Grendel wearð,
eald‐gewinna,in‐genga mīn:
ic þǣre sōcnesingāles wæg
mōd‐ceare micle.Þæs sig metode þanc,
ēcean drihtne,þæs þe ic on aldre gebād,
þæt ic on þone hafelanheoro‐drēorigne 1780
ofer eald gewinēagum starige!
Gā nū tō setle,symbel‐wynne drēoh
wīgge weorðad:unc sceal worn fela
māðma gemǣnra,siððan morgen bið."
Gēat wæs glæd‐mōd,gēong sōna tō,
setles nēosan,swā se snottra heht.
Þā wæs eft swā ǣrellen‐rōfum,
flet‐sittendumfægere gereorded
nīowan stefne.Niht‐helm geswearc
deorc ofer dryht‐gumum.Duguð eal ārās; 1790
wolde blonden‐feaxbeddes nēosan,
gamela Scylding.Gēat ungemetes wēl,
rōfne rand‐wiganrestan lyste:
sōna him sele‐þegnsīðes wērgum,
feorran‐cundumforð wīsade,
se for andrysnumealle beweotede
þegnes þearfe,swylce þȳ dōgore
hēaðo‐līðendehabban scoldon.
Reste hine þā rūm‐heort;reced hlīfade
gēap and gold‐fāh,gæst inne swæf, 1800
oð þæt hrefn blacaheofones wynne
blīð‐heort bodode.Þā cōm beorht sunne
scacan ofer grundas;scaðan ōnetton,
wǣron æðelingaseft tō lēodum
fūse tō farenne,wolde feor þanon
cuma collen‐ferhðcēoles nēosan.
Heht þā se heardaHrunting beran,
sunu Ecglāfes,heht his sweord niman,
lēoflīc īren;sægde him þæs lēanes þanc,
cwæð hē þone gūð‐winegōdne tealde, 1810
wīg‐cræftigne,nales wordum lōg
mēces ecge:þæt wæs mōdig secg.
And þā sīð‐fromesearwum gearwe
wīgend wǣron,ēode weorð Denum
æðeling tō yppan,þǣr se ōðer wæs
hæle hilde‐dēor,Hrōðgār grētte.

THE PARTING WORDS.[edit]

Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Nū wē sǣ‐līðendsecgan wyllað
feorran cumene,þæt wē fundiað
Higelāc sēcan.Wǣron hēr tela 1820
willum bewenede;þū ūs wēl dohtest.
Gif ic þonne on eorðanōwihte mæg
þīnre mōd‐lufanmāran tilian,
gumena dryhten,þonne ic gȳt dyde,
gūð‐geweorcaic bēo gearo sōna.
Gif ic þæt gefricgeofer flōda begang,
þæt þec ymbe‐sittendegesan þȳwað,
swā þec hetendehwīlum dydon,
ic þē þūsendaþegna bringe,
hæleða tō helpe.Ic on Higelāce wāt, 1830
Gēata dryhten,þēah þe hē geong sȳ,
folces hyrde,þæt hē mec fremman wile
wordum and worcum,þæt ic þē wēl herige,
and þē tō gēocegār‐holt bere
mægenes fultum,þǣr þē bið manna þearf;
gif him þonne Hrēðrīctō hofum Gēata
geþingeð, þēodnes bearn,hē mæg þǣr fela
frēonda findan:feor‐cȳððe bēoð
sēlran gesōhteþǣm þe him selfa dēah."
Hrōðgār maðelodehim on andsware: 1840
"Þē þā word‐cwydaswittig drihten
on sefan sende!ne hȳrde ic snotorlīcor
on swā geongum feoreguman þingian:
þū eart mægenes strangand on mōde frōd,
wīs word‐cwida.Wēn ic talige,
gif þæt gegangeð,þæt þe gār nymeð,
hild heoru‐grimmeHrēðles eaferan,
ādl oððe īrenealdor þīnne,
folces hyrde,and þū þīn feorh hafast,
þæt þe Sǣ‐Gēatassēlran næbben 1850
tō gecēosennecyning ǣnigne,
hord‐weard hæleða,gif þū healdan wylt
māga rīce.Mē þīn mōd‐sefa
līcað leng swā wēl,lēofa Bēowulf:
hafast þū gefēred,þæt þām folcum sceal,
Gēata lēodumand Gār‐Denum
sib gemǣnumand sacu restan,
inwit‐nīðas,þē hīe ǣr drugon;
wesan, þenden ic wealdewīdan rīces,
māðmas gemǣne,manig ōðerne 1860
gōdum gegrētanofer ganotes bæð;
sceal hring‐nacaofer hēaðu bringan
lāc and luf‐tācen.Ic þā lēode wāt
gē wið fēond gē wið frēondfæste geworhte
ǣghwæs untǣleealde wīsan."
Þā gīt him eorla hlēoinne gesealde,
mago Healfdenesmāðmas twelfe,
hēt hine mid þǣm lācumlēode swǣse
sēcean on gesyntum,snūde eft cuman.
Gecyste þācyning æðelum gōd, 1870
þēoden Scildinga,þegen betstan
and be healse genam;hruron him tēaras,
blonden‐feaxum:him wæs bēga wēn,
ealdum infrōdum,ōðres swīðor,
þæt hī seoððangesēon mōston
mōdige on meðle.Wæs him se man tō þon lēof,
þæt hē þone brēost‐wylmforberan ne mehte,
ac him on hreðrehyge‐bendum fæst
æfter dēorum mendyrne langað
beorn wið blōde.Him Bēowulf þanan, 1880
gūð‐rinc gold‐wlancgræs‐moldan træd,
since hrēmig:sǣ‐genga bād
āgend‐frēan,sē þe on ancre rād.
Þā wæs on gangegifu Hrōðgāres
oft geæhted:þæt wæs ān cyning
ǣghwæs orleahtre,oð þæt hine yldo benam
mægenes wynnum,sē þe oft manegum scōd.

BĒOWULF RETURNS TO GEATLAND.-THE QUEENS HYGD AND THRYTHO.[edit]

Cwōm þā tō flōdefela‐mōdigra
hæg‐stealdra hēap;hring‐net bǣron,
locene leoðo‐syrcan.Land‐weard onfand 1890
eft‐sīð eorla,swā hē ǣr dyde;
nō hē mid hearmeof hlīðes nosan
gæstas grētte,ac him tōgēanes rād;
cwæð þæt wilcumanWedera lēodum
scawan scīr‐hametō scipe fōron.
Þā wæs on sandesǣ‐gēap naca
hladen here‐wǣdum,hringed‐stefna
mēarum and māðmum:mæst hlīfade
ofer Hrōðgāreshord‐gestrēonum.
Hē þǣm bāt‐weardebunden golde 1900
swurd gesealde,þæt hē syððan wæs
on meodu‐bencemāðme þȳ weorðra,
yrfe‐lāfe.Gewāt him on ȳð‐nacan,
drēfan dēop wæter,Dena land ofgeaf.
Þā wæs be mæstemere‐hrægla sum,
segl sāle fæst.Sund‐wudu þunede,
nō þǣr wēg‐flotanwind ofer ȳðum
sīðes getwǣfde;sǣ‐genga fōr,
flēat fāmig‐healsforð ofer ȳðe,
bunden‐stefnaofer brim‐strēamas, 1910
þæt hīe Gēata clifuongitan meahton,
cūðe næssas.Cēol up geþrang,
lyft‐geswencedon lande stōd.
Hraðe wæs æt holmehȳð‐weard gearo,
sē þe ǣr lange tīd,lēofra manna
fūs, æt faroðefeor wlātode;
sǣlde tō sandesīd‐fæðme scip
oncer‐bendum fæst,þȳ lǣs hym ȳða þrym
wudu wynsumanforwrecan meahte.
Hēt þā up beranæðelinga gestrēon, 1920
frætwe and fǣt‐gold;næs him feor þanon
tō gesēcannesinces bryttan:
Higelāc Hrēðlingþǣr æt hām wunað,
selfa mid gesīðumsǣ‐wealle nēah;
bold wæs betlīc,brego‐rōf cyning,
hēa on healle,Hygd swīðe geong,
wīs, wēl‐þungen,þēah þe wintra lȳt
under burh‐locangebiden hæbbe
Hæreðes dōhtor:næs hīo hnāh swā þēah,
nē tō gnēað gifaGēata lēodum, 1930
māðm‐gestrēona.Mod Þrȳðo wæg,
fremu folces cwēn,firen ondrysne:
nǣnig þæt dorstedēor genēðan
swǣsra gesīða,nefne sin‐frēa,
þæt hire an dægesēagum starede;
ac him wæl‐bendeweotode tealde,
hand‐gewriðene:hraðe seoððan wæs
æfter mund‐gripemēce geþinged,
þæt hit sceaðen‐mǣlscȳran mōste,
cwealm‐bealu cȳðan.Ne bið swylc cwēnlīc þēaw 1940
idese tō efnanne,þēah þe hīo ǣnlīcu sȳ,
þætte freoðu‐webbefēores onsæce
æfter līge‐tornelēofne mannan.
Hūru þæt onhōhsnodeHeminges mǣg;
ealo drincendeōðer sǣdan,
þæt hīo lēod‐bealewalǣs gefremede,
inwit‐nīða,syððan ǣrest wearð
gyfen gold‐hrodengeongum cempan,
æðelum dīore,syððan hīo Offan flet
ofer fealone flōdbe fæder lāre 1950
sīðe gesōhte,þǣr hīo syððan wēl
in gum‐stōle,gōde mǣre,
līf‐gesceaftalifigende brēac,
hīold hēah‐lufanwið hæleða brego,
ealles mon‐cynnesmīne gefrǣge
þone sēlestanbī sǣm twēonum
eormen‐cynnes;forþām Offa wæs
geofum and gūðumgār‐cēne man,
wīde geweorðod;wīsdōme hēold
ēðel sīnne,þonon Ēomǣr wōc 1960
hæleðum tō helpe,Heminges mǣg,
nefa Gārmundes,nīða cræftig.

HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC'S RECEPTION.[edit]

Gewāt him þā se heardamid his hond‐scole
sylf æfter sandesǣ‐wong tredan,
wīde waroðas.Woruld‐candel scān,
sigel sūðan fūs:hī sīð drugon,
elne geēodon,tō þæs þe eorla hlēo,
bonan Ongenþēowesburgum on innan,
geongne gūð‐cyninggōdne gefrūnon
hringas dǣlan.Higelāce wæs 1970
sīð Bēowulfessnūde gecȳðed,
þæt þǣr on worðigwīgendra hlēo,
lind‐gesteallalifigende cwōm,
heaðo‐lāces hāltō hofe gongan.
Hraðe wæs gerȳmed,swā se rīca bebēad,
fēðe‐gestumflet innan‐weard.
Gesæt þā wið sylfne,sē þā sæcce genæs,
mǣg wið mǣge,syððan man‐dryhten
þurh hlēoðor‐cwydeholdne gegrētte
mēaglum wordum.Meodu‐scencum 1980
hwearf geond þæt recedHæreðes dōhtor:
lufode þā lēode,līð‐wǣge bær
hǣlum tō handa.Higelāc ongan
sīnne geseldanin sele þām hēan
fægre fricgean,hyne fyrwet bræc,
hwylce Sǣ‐Gēatasīðas wǣron:
"Hū lomp ēow on lāde,lēofa Bīowulf,
þā þū fǣringafeorr gehogodest,
sæcce sēceanofer sealt wæter,
hilde tō Hiorote?Ac þū Hrōðgāre 1990
wīd‐cūðne wēanwihte gebēttest,
mǣrum þēodne?Ic þæs mōd‐ceare
sorh‐wylmum sēað,sīðe ne truwode
lēofes mannes;ic þē lange bæd,
þæt þū þone wæl‐gǣstwihte ne grētte,
lēte Sūð‐Denesylfe geweorðan
gūðe wið Grendel.Gode ic þanc secge,
þæs þe ic þē gesundnegesēon mōste."
Bīowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþīowes:
"Þæt is undyrne,dryhten Higelāc, 2000
mǣre gemētingmonegum fīra,
hwylc orleg‐hwīluncer Grendles
wearð on þām wange,þǣr hē worna fela
Sige‐Scildingumsorge gefremede,
yrmðe tō aldre;ic þæt eal gewræc,
swā ne gylpan þearfGrendeles māga
ǣnig ofer eorðanūht‐hlem þone,
sē þe lengest leofaðlāðan cynnes,
fenne bifongen.Ic þǣr furðum cwōm,
tō þām hring‐seleHrōðgār grētan: 2010
sōna mē se mǣramago Healfdenes,
syððan hē mōd‐sefanmīnne cūðe,
wið his sylfes sunusetl getǣhte.
Weorod wæs on wynne;ne seah ic wīdan feorh
under heofenes hwealfheal‐sittendra
medu‐drēam māran.Hwīlum mǣru cwēn,
friðu‐sibb folcaflet eall geond‐hwearf,
bǣdde byre geonge;oft hīo bēah‐wriðan
secge sealde,ǣr hīo tō setle gēong.
Hwīlum for duguðedōhtor Hrōðgāres 2020
eorlum on endeealu‐wǣge bær,
þā ic Frēawareflet‐sittende
nemnan hȳrde,þǣr hīo nægled sinc
hæleðum sealde:sīo gehāten wæs,
geong gold‐hroden,gladum suna Frōdan;
hafað þæs gewordenwine Scyldinga
rīces hyrdeand þæt rǣd talað,
þæt hē mid þȳ wīfewæl‐fǣhða dǣl,
sæcca gesette.Oft nō seldan hwǣr
æfter lēod‐hryrelȳtle hwīle 2030
bon‐gār būgeð,þēah sēo brȳd duge!

BĒOWULF'S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.[edit]

"Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncanþēoden Heaðobeardna
and þegna gehwāmþāra lēoda,
þonne hē mid fǣmnanon flett gǣð,
dryht‐bearn Denaduguða biwenede:
on him gladiaðgomelra lāfe
heard and hring‐mǣl,Heaðobeardna gestrēon,
þenden hīe þām wǣpnumwealdan mōston,
oð þæt hīe forlǣddantō þām lind‐plegan
swǣse gesīðasond hyra sylfra feorh. 2040
Þonne cwið æt bēore,sē þe bēah gesyhð,
eald æsc‐wiga,sē þe eall geman
gār‐cwealm gumena(him bið grim sefa),
onginneð geōmor‐mōdgeongne cempan
þurh hreðra gehygdhiges cunnian,
wīg‐bealu wecceanand þæt word ācwyð:
'Meaht þū, mīn wine,mēce gecnāwan,
þone þin fædertō gefeohte bær
under here‐grīmanhindeman sīðe,
dȳre īren,þǣr hyne Dene slōgon, 2050
wēoldon wæl‐stōwe,syððan wiðer‐gyld læg,
æfter hæleða hryre,hwate Scyldungas?
Nu hēr þāra banenabyre nāt‐hwylces,
frætwum hrēmigon flet gǣð,
morðres gylpeðand þone māððum byreð,
þone þe þū mid rihterǣdan sceoldest!'
Manað swā and myndgaðmǣla gehwylce
sārum wordum,oð þæt sǣl cymeð,
þæt se fǣmnan þegnfore fæder dǣdum
æfter billes biteblōd‐fāg swefeð, 2060
ealdres scyldig;him se ōðer þonan
losað lifigende,con him land geare.
Þonne bīoð broceneon bā healfe
āð‐sweord eorla;syððan Ingelde
weallað wæl‐nīðasand him wīf‐lufan
æfter cear‐wælmumcōlran weorðað.
Þȳ ic Heaðobeardnahyldo ne telge,
dryht‐sibbe dǣlDenum unfǣcne,
frēond‐scipe fæstne.Ic sceal forð sprecan
gēn ymbe Grendel,þæt þū geare cunne, 2070
sinces brytta,tō hwan syððan wearð
hond‐rǣs hæleða.Syððan heofones gim
glād ofer grundas,gæst yrre cwōm,
eatol ǣfen‐grom,ūser nēosan,
þǣr wē gesundesæl weardodon;
þǣr wæs Hondscīohild onsǣge,
feorh‐bealu fǣgum,hē fyrmest læg,
gyrded cempa;him Grendel wearð,
mǣrum magu‐þegnetō mūð‐bonan,
lēofes manneslīc eall forswealg. 2080
Nō þȳ ǣr ūt þā gēnīdel‐hende
bona blōdig‐tōðbealewa gemyndig,
of þām gold‐selegongan wolde,
ac hē mægnes rōfmīn costode,
grāpode gearo‐folm.Glōf hangode
sīd and syllīcsearo‐bendum fæst,
sīo wæs orþoncumeall gegyrwed
dēofles cræftumand dracan fellum:
hē mec þǣr on innanunsynnigne,
dīor dǣd‐fruma,gedōn wolde, 2090
manigra sumne:hyt ne mihte swā,
syððan ic on yrreupp‐riht āstōd.
Tō lang ys tō reccenne,hū ic þām lēod‐sceaðan
yfla gehwylcesond‐lēan forgeald;
þǣr ic, þēoden mīn,þīne lēode
weorðode weorcum.Hē on weg losade,
lȳtle hwīlelīf‐wynna brēac;
hwæðre him sīo swīðreswaðe weardade
hand on Hiorteand hē hēan þonan,
mōdes geōmormere‐grund gefēoll. 2100
Mē þone wæl‐rǣswine Scildunga
fǣttan goldefela lēanode,
manegum māðmum,syððan mergen cōm
and wē tō symblegeseten hæfdon.
Þǣr wæs gidd and glēo;gomela Scilding
fela fricgendefeorran rehte;
hwīlum hilde‐dēorhearpan wynne,
gomen‐wudu grētte;hwīlum gyd āwræc
sōð and sārlīc;hwīlum syllīc spell
rehte æfter rihterūm‐heort cyning. 2110
Hwīlum eft onganeldo gebunden,
gomel gūð‐wigagioguðe cwīðan
hilde‐strengo;hreðer inne wēoll,
þonne hē wintrum frōdworn gemunde.
Swā wē þǣr inneandlangne dæg
nīode nāman,oð þæt niht becwōm
ōðer tō yldum.Þā wæs eft hraðe
gearo gyrn‐wræceGrendeles mōdor,
sīðode sorh‐full;sunu dēað fornam,
wīg‐hete Wedra.Wīf unhȳre 2120
hyre bearn gewræc,beorn ācwealde
ellenlīce;þǣr wæs Æsc‐here,
frōdan fyrn‐witan,feorh ūðgenge;
nōðer hȳ hine ne mōston,syððan mergen cwōm,
dēað‐wērigneDenia lēode
bronde forbærnan,nē on bǣl hladan
lēofne mannan:hīo þæt līc ætbær
fēondes fæðmumunder firgen‐strēam.
Þæt wæs Hrōðgārehrēowa tornost
þāra þe lēod‐frumanlange begeāte; 2130
þā se þēoden mecþīne līfe
healsode hrēoh‐mōd,þæt ic on holma geþring
eorl‐scipe efnde,ealdre genēðde,
mǣrðo fremede:hē mē mēde gehēt.
Ic þā þæs wælmes,þē is wīde cūð,
grimne gryrelīcnegrund‐hyrde fond.
Þǣr unc hwīle wæshand gemǣne;
holm heolfre wēolland ic hēafde becearf
in þām grund‐seleGrendeles mōdor
ēacnum ecgum,unsōfte þonan 2140
feorh oðferede;næs ic fǣge þā gȳt,
ac mē eorla hlēoeft gesealde
māðma menigeo,maga Healfdenes.

HE GIVES PRESENTS TO HYGELAC. HYGELAC REWARDS HIM. HYGELAC'S DEATH. BĒOWULF REIGNS.[edit]

"Swā se þēod‐kyningþēawum lyfde;
nealles ic þām lēanumforloren hæfde,
mægnes mēde,ac hē mē māðmas geaf,
sunu Healfdenes,on sīnne sylfes dōm;
þā ic þē, beorn‐cyning,bringan wylle,
ēstum geȳwan.Gēn is eall æt þē
lissa gelong:ic lȳt hafo 2150
hēafod‐māga,nefne Hygelāc þec!"
Hēt þā in beraneafor, hēafod‐segn,
heaðo‐stēapne helm,hāre byrnan,
gūð‐sweord geatolīc,gyd æfter wræc:
"Mē þis hilde‐sceorpHrōðgār sealde,
snotra fengel,sume worde hēt,
þæt ic his ǣrestþē eft gesægde,
cwæð þæt hyt hæfdeHiorogār cyning,
lēod Scyldungalange hwīle:
nō þȳ ǣr suna sīnumsyllan wolde, 2160
hwatum Heorowearde,þēah hē him hold wǣre,
brēost‐gewǣdu.Brūc ealles well!"
Hȳrde ic þæt þām frætwumfēower mēaras
lungre gelīcelāst weardode,
æppel‐fealuwe;hē him ēst getēah
mēara and māðma.Swā sceal mǣg dōn,
nealles inwit‐netōðrum bregdan,
dyrnum cræftedēað rēnian
hond‐gesteallan.Hygelāce wæs,
nīða heardum,nefa swȳðe hold 2170
and gehwæðer ōðrumhrōðra gemyndig.
Hȳrde ic þæt hē þone heals‐bēahHygde gesealde,
wrǣtlīcne wundur‐māððum,þone þe him Wealhþēo geaf,
þēodnes dōhtor,þrīo wicg somod
swancor and sadol‐beorht;hyre syððan wæs
æfter bēah‐þegebrēost geweorðod.
Swā bealdodebearn Ecgþēowes,
guma gūðum cūð,gōdum dǣdum,
drēah æfter dōme,nealles druncne slōg
heorð‐genēatas;næs him hrēoh sefa, 2180
ac hē man‐cynnesmǣste cræfte
gin‐fæstan gife,þē him god sealde,
hēold hilde‐dēor.Hēan wæs lange,
swā hyne Gēata bearngōdne ne tealdon,
nē hyne on medo‐bencemicles wyrðne
drihten weredagedōn wolde;
swȳðe oft sægdon,þæt hē slēac wǣre,
æðeling unfrom:edwenden cwōm
tīr‐ēadigum menntorna gehwylces.
Hēt þā eorla hlēoin gefetian, 2190
heaðo‐rōf cyning,Hrēðles lāfe,
golde gegyrede;næs mid Gēatum þā
sinc‐māððum sēlraon sweordes hād;
þæt hē on Bīowulfesbearm ālegde,
and him gesealdeseofan þūsendo,
bold and brego‐stōl.Him wæs bām samod
on þām lēod‐scipelond gecynde,
eard ēðel‐riht,ōðrum swīðor
sīde rīce,þām þǣr sēlra wæs.
Eft þæt geīodeufaran dōgrum 2200
hilde‐hlæmmum,syððan Hygelāc læg
and Heardrēdehilde‐mēceas
under bord‐hrēoðantō bonan wurdon,
þā hyne gesōhtanon sige‐þēode
hearde hilde‐frecan,Heaðo‐Scilfingas,
nīða genǣgdannefan Hererīces.
Syððan Bēowulfebrāde rīce
on hand gehwearf:hē gehēold tela
fīftig wintru(wæs þā frōd cyning,
eald ēðel‐weard),oð þæt ān ongan 2210
deorcum nihtumdraca rīcsian,
sē þe on hēare hǣðehord beweotode,
stān‐beorh stēapne:stīg under læg,
eldum uncūð.Þǣr on innan gīong
niða nāt‐hwylcesnēode gefēng
hǣðnum hordehond . d . . geþ . . hwylc
since fāhne,hē þæt syððan . . . . .
. . . þ . . . lð . þ . . l . g
slǣpende be fȳre,fyrena hyrde
þēofes cræfte,þæt sie . . . . ðioð . . . . . 2220
. idh . folc‐beorn,þæt hē gebolgen wæs.

THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.[edit]

Nealles mid geweoldumwyrm‐horda . . . cræft
sōhte sylfes willum,sē þe him sāre gesceōd,
ac for þrēa‐nēdlanþēow nāt‐hwylces
hæleða bearnahete‐swengeas flēah,
for ofer‐þearfeand þǣr inne fealh
secg syn‐bysig.Sōna in þā tīde
þæt . . . . . þām gyste. . . . br . g . stōd,
hwæðre earm‐sceapen . . . . . . .
. . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fǣs begeat, 2230
sinc‐fæt geseah:þǣr wæs swylcra fela
in þām eorð‐scræfeǣr‐gestrēona,
swā hȳ on geār‐dagumgumena nāt‐hwylc
eormen‐lāfeæðelan cynnes
þanc‐hycgendeþǣr gehȳdde,
dēore māðmas.Ealle hīe dēað fornam
ǣrran mǣlum,and se ān þā gēn
lēoda duguðe,sē þǣr lengest hwearf,
weard wine‐geōmorwīscte þæs yldan,
þæt hē lȳtel fæclong‐gestrēona 2240
brūcan mōste.Beorh eal gearo
wunode on wongewæter‐ȳðum nēah,
nīwe be næssenearo‐cræftum fæst:
þǣr on innan bæreorl‐gestrēona
hringa hyrdehard‐fyrdne dǣl
fǣttan goldes,fēa worda cwæð:
"Heald þū nū, hrūse,nū hæleð ne mōston,
eorla ǣhte.Hwæt! hit ǣr on þē
gōde begeāton;gūð‐dēað fornam,
feorh‐bealo frēcnefȳra gehwylcne, 2250
lēoda mīnra,þāra þe þis līf ofgeaf,
gesāwon sele‐drēam.Nāh hwā sweord wege
oððe fetigefǣted wǣge,
drync‐fæt dēore:duguð ellor scōc.
Sceal se hearda helmhyrsted golde
fǣtum befeallen:feormiend swefað,
þā þe beado‐grīmanbȳwan sceoldon,
gē swylce sēo here‐pād,sīo æt hilde gebād
ofer borda gebræcbite īrena,
brosnað æfter beorne.Ne mæg byrnan hring 2260
æfter wīg‐frumanwīde fēran
hæleðum be healfe;næs hearpan wyn,
gomen glēo‐bēames,nē gōd hafoc
geond sæl swingeð,nē se swifta mearh
burh‐stede bēateð.Bealo‐cwealm hafað
fela feorh‐cynnafeorr onsended!"
Swā giōmor‐mōdgiohðo mǣnde,
ān æfter eallumunblīðe hwēop,
dæges and nihtes,oð þæt dēaðes wylm
hrān æt heortan.Hord‐wynne fond 2270
eald ūht‐sceaðaopene standan,
sē þe byrnendebiorgas sēceð
nacod nīð‐draca,nihtes flēogeð
fȳre befangen;hyne fold‐būend
wīde gesāwon.Hē gēwunian sceall
hlāw under hrūsan,þǣr hē hǣðen gold
warað wintrum frōd;ne byð him wihte þē sēl.
Swā se þēod‐sceaðaþrēo hund wintra
hēold on hrūsanhord‐ærna sum
ēacen‐cræftig,oð þæt hyne ān ābealh 2280
mon on mōde:man‐dryhtne bær
fǣted wǣge,frioðo‐wǣre bæd
hlāford sīnne.Þā wæs hord rāsod,
onboren bēaga hord,bēne getīðad
fēa‐sceaftum men.Frēa scēawode
fīra fyrn‐geweorcforman sīðe.
Þā se wyrm onwōc,wrōht wæs genīwad;
stonc þā æfter stāne,stearc‐heort onfand
fēondes fōt‐lāst;hē tō forð gestōp,
dyrnan cræfte,dracan hēafde nēah. 2290
Swā mæg unfǣgeēaðe gedīgan
wēan and wræc‐sīð,sē þe waldendes
hyldo gehealdeð.Hord‐weard sōhte
georne æfter grunde,wolde guman findan,
þone þe him on sweofotesāre getēode:
hāt and hrēoh‐mōdhlǣw oft ymbe hwearf,
ealne ūtan‐weardne;nē þǣr ǣnig mon
wæs on þǣre wēstenne.Hwæðre hilde gefeh,
beado‐weorces:hwīlum on beorh æthwearf,
sinc‐fæt sōhte;hē þæt sōna onfand, 2300
þæt hæfde gumena sumgoldes gefandod
hēah‐gestrēona.Hord‐weard onbād
earfoðlīce,oð þæt ǣfen cwōm;
wæs þā gebolgenbeorges hyrde,
wolde se lāðalīge forgyldan
drinc‐fæt dȳre.Þā wæs dæg sceacen
wyrme on willan,nō on wealle leng
bīdan wolde,ac mid bǣle fōr,
fȳre gefȳsed.Wæs se fruma egeslīc
lēodum on lande,swā hyt lungre wearð 2310
on hyra sinc‐gifansāre geendod.

BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.[edit]

Þā se gæst onganglēdum spīwan,
beorht hofu bærnan;bryne‐lēoma stōd
eldum on andan;nō þǣr āht cwices
lāð lyft‐flogalǣfan wolde.
Wæs þæs wyrmes wīgwīde gesȳne,
nearo‐fāges nīðnēan and feorran,
hū se gūð‐sceaðaGēata lēode
hatode and hȳnde:hord eft gescēat,
dryht‐sele dyrnneǣr dæges hwīle. 2320
Hæfde land‐waralīge befangen,
bǣle and bronde;beorges getruwode,
wīges and wealles:him sēo wēn gelēah.
Þā wæs Bīowulfebrōga gecȳðed
snūde tō sōðe,þæt his sylfes him
bolda sēlestbryne‐wylmum mealt,
gif‐stōl Gēata.Þæt þām gōdan wæs
hrēow on hreðre,hyge‐sorga mǣst:
wēnde se wīsa,þæt hē wealdende,
ofer ealde riht,ēcean dryhtne 2330
bitre gebulge:brēost innan wēoll
þēostrum geþoncum,swā him geþȳwe ne wæs.
Hæfde līg‐dracalēoda fæsten,
ēa‐lond ūtan,eorð‐weard þone
glēdum forgrunden.Him þæs gūð‐cyning,
Wedera þīoden,wræce leornode.
Heht him þā gewyrceanwīgendra hlēo
eall‐īrenne,eorla dryhten
wīg‐bord wrǣtlīc;wisse hē gearwe,
þæt him holt‐wuduhelpan ne meahte, 2340
lind wið līge.Sceolde lǣn‐daga
æðeling ǣr‐gōdende gebīdan
worulde līfesand se wyrm somod;
þēah þe hord‐welanhēolde lange.
Oferhogode þāhringa fengel,
þæt hē þone wīd‐floganweorode gesōhte,
sīdan herge;nō hē him þā sæcce ondrēd,
nē him þæs wyrmes wīgfor wiht dyde,
eafoð and ellen;forþon hē ǣr fela
nearo nēðendenīða gedīgde, 2350
hilde‐hlemma,syððan hē Hrōðgāres,
sigor‐ēadig secg,sele fǣlsode
and æt gūðe forgrāpGrendeles mǣgum,
lāðan cynnes.Nō þæt lǣsest wæs
hond‐gemota,þǣr mon Hygelāc slōh,
syððan Gēata cyninggūðe rǣsum,
frēa‐wine folcesFrēslondum on,
Hrēðles eaforahioro‐dryncum swealt,
bille gebēaten;þonan Bīowulf cōm
sylfes cræfte,sund‐nytte drēah; 2360
hæfde him on earme... XXX
hilde‐geatwa,þā hē tō holme stāg.
Nealles Hetwarehrēmge þorfton
fēðe‐wīges,þē him foran ongēan
linde bǣron:lȳt eft becwōm
fram þām hild‐frecanhāmes nīosan.
Oferswam þā sioleða bigongsunu Ecgþēowes,
earm ān‐hagaeft tō lēodum,
þǣr him Hygd gebēadhord and rīce,
bēagas and brego‐stōl:bearne ne truwode, 2370
þæt hē wið æl‐fylcumēðel‐stōlas
healdan cūðe,þā wæs Hygelāc dēad.
Nō þȳ ǣr fēa‐sceaftefindan meahton
æt þām æðelingeǣnige þinga,
þæt hē Heardrēdehlāford wǣre,
oððe þone cyne‐dōmcīosan wolde;
hwæðre hē him on folcefrēond‐lārum hēold,
ēstum mid āre,oð þæt hē yldra wearð,
Weder‐Gēatum wēold.Hyne wræc‐mæcgas
ofer sǣ sōhtan,suna Ōhteres: 2380
hæfdon hȳ forhealdenhelm Scylfinga,
þone sēlestansǣ‐cyninga,
þāra þe in Swīo‐rīcesinc brytnade,
mǣrne þēoden.Him þæt tō mearce wearð;
hē þǣr orfeormefeorh‐wunde hlēat
sweordes swengum,sunu Hygelāces;
and him eft gewātOngenþīowes bearn
hāmes nīosan,syððan Heardrēd læg;
lēt þone brego‐stōlBīowulf healdan,
Gēatum wealdan:þæt wæs gōd cyning. 2390

RETROSPECT OF BĒOWULF.--STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS.[edit]

Sē þæs lēod‐hryreslēan gemunde
uferan dōgrum,Ēadgilse wearð
fēa‐sceaftum fēond.Folce gestepte
ofer sǣ sīdesunu Ōhteres
wigum and wǣpnum:hē gewræc syððan
cealdum cear‐sīðum,cyning ealdre binēat.
Swā hē nīða gehwanegenesen hæfde,
slīðra geslyhta,sunu Ecgþīowes,
ellen‐weorca,oð þone ānne dæg,
þē hē wið þām wyrmegewegan sceolde. 2400
Gewāt þā twelfa sumtorne gebolgen
dryhten Gēatadracan scēawian;
hæfde þā gefrūnen,hwanan sīo fǣhð ārās,
bealo‐nīð biorna;him tō bearme cwōm
māððum‐fæt mǣreþurh þæs meldan hond,
Sē wæs on þām þrēateþreotteoða secg,
sē þæs orlegesōr onstealde,
hæft hyge‐giōmor,sceolde hēan þonon
wong wīsian:hē ofer willan gīong
tō þæs þe hē eorð‐seleānne wisse, 2410
hlǣw under hrūsanholm‐wylme nēh,
ȳð‐gewinne,sē wæs innan full
wrǣtta and wīra:weard unhīore,
gearo gūð‐freca,gold‐māðmas hēold,
eald under eorðan;næs þæt ȳðe cēap,
tō gegangennegumena ǣnigum.
Gesæt þā on næssenīð‐heard cyning,
þenden hǣlo ābēadheorð‐genēatum
gold‐wine Gēata:him wæs geōmor sefa,
wǣfre and wæl‐fūs,Wyrd ungemete nēah, 2420
sē þone gomelangrētan sceolde,
sēcean sāwle hord,sundur gedǣlan
līf wið līce:nō þon lange wæs
feorh æðelingesflǣsce bewunden.
Bīowulf maðelade,bearn Ecgþēowes:
"Fela ic on giogoðeguð‐rǣsa genæs,
orleg‐hwīla:ic þæt eall gemon.
Ic wæs syfan‐wintre,þā mec sinca baldor,
frēa‐wine folcaæt mīnum fæder genam,
hēold mec and hæfdeHrēðel cyning, 2430
geaf mē sinc and symbel,sibbe gemunde;
næs ic him tō līfelāðra ōwihte
beorn in burgum,þonne his bearna hwylc,
Herebeald and Hæðcyn,oððe Hygelāc mīn.
Wæs þām yldestanungedēfelīce
mǣges dǣdummorðor‐bed strēd,
syððan hyne Hæðcynof horn‐bogan,
his frēa‐wineflāne geswencte,
miste mercelsesand his mǣg ofscēt,
brōðor ōðerne,blōdigan gāre: 2440
þæt wæs feoh‐lēas gefeoht,fyrenum gesyngad
hreðre hyge‐mēðe;sceolde hwæðre swā þēah
æðeling unwrecenealdres linnan.
Swā bið geōmorlīcgomelum ceorle
tō gebīdanne,þæt his byre rīde
giong on galgan,þonne hē gyd wrece,
sārigne sang,þonne his sunu hangað
hrefne tō hrōðreand hē him helpe ne mæg,
eald and in‐frōd,ǣnige gefremman.
Symble bið gemyndgadmorna gehwylce 2450
eaforan ellor‐sīð;ōðres ne gȳmeð
tō gebīdanneburgum on innan
yrfe‐weardes,þonne se ān hafað
þurh dēaðes nȳddǣda gefondad.
Gesyhð sorh‐cearigon his suna būre
wīn‐sele wēstne,wind‐gereste,
rēote berofene;rīdend swefað
hæleð in hoðman;nis þǣr hearpan swēg,
gomen in geardum,swylce þǣr iū wǣron.

MEMORIES OF PAST TIME.-THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE.[edit]

"Gewīteð þonne on sealman,sorh‐lēoð gæleð 2460
ān æfter ānum:þūhte him eall tō rūm,
wongas and wīc‐stede.Swā Wedra helm
æfter Herebealdeheortan sorge
weallende wæg,wihte ne meahte
on þām feorh‐bonanfǣhðe gebētan:
nō þȳ ǣr hē þone heaðo‐rinchatian ne meahte
lāðum dǣdum,þēah him lēof ne wæs.
Hē þā mid þǣre sorge,þē him sīo sār belamp,
gum‐drēam ofgeaf,godes lēoht gecēas;
eaferum lǣfde,swā dēð ēadig mon, 2470
lond and lēod‐byrig,þā hē of līfe gewāt.
Þā wæs synn and sacuSwēona and Gēata,
ofer wīd wæterwrōht gemǣne,
here‐nīð hearda,syððan Hrēðel swealt,
oððe him Ongenþēoweseaferan wǣran
frome fyrd‐hwate,frēode ne woldon
ofer heafo healdan,ac ymb Hrēosna‐beorh
eatolne inwit‐scearoft gefremedon.
Þæt mǣg‐winemīne gewrǣcan,
fǣhðe and fyrene,swā hyt gefrǣge wæs, 2480
þēah þe ōðer hitealdre gebohte,
heardan cēape:Hæðcynne wearð,
Gēata dryhtne,gūð onsǣge.
Þā ic on morgne gefrægnmǣg ōðerne
billes ecgumon bonan stǣlan,
þǣr OngenþēowEofores nīosade:
gūð‐helm tōglād,gomela Scylfing
hrēas heoro‐blāc;hond gemunde
fǣhðo genōge,feorh‐sweng ne oftēah.
Ic him þā māðmas,þē hē mē sealde, 2490
geald æt gūðe,swā mē gifeðe wæs,
lēohtan sweorde:hē mē lond forgeaf,
eard ēðel‐wyn.Næs him ǣnig þearf,
þæt hē tō Gifðumoððe tō Gār‐Denum
oððe in Swīo‐rīcesēcean þurfe
wyrsan wīg‐frecan,weorðe gecȳpan;
symle ic him on fēðanbeforan wolde,
āna on orde,and swā tō aldre sceall
sæcce fremman,þenden þis sweord þolað,
þæt mec ǣr and sīðoft gelǣste, 2500
syððan ic for dugeðumDæghrefne wearð
tō hand‐bonan,Hūga cempan:
nalles hē þā frætweFrēs‐cyninge,
brēost‐weorðungebringan mōste,
ac in campe gecrongcumbles hyrde,
æðeling on elne.Ne wæs ecg bona,
ac him hilde‐grāpheortan wylmas,
bān‐hūs gebræc.Nū sceall billes ecg,
hond and heard sweordymb hord wīgan."
Bēowulf maðelode,bēot‐wordum spræc 2510
nīehstan sīðe:"Ic genēðde fela
gūða on geogoðe;gȳt ic wylle,
frōd folces weard,fǣhðe sēcan,
mǣrðum fremman,gif mec se mān‐sceaða
of eorð‐seleūt gesēceð!"
Gegrētte þāgumena gehwylcne,
hwate helm‐berendhindeman sīðe,
swǣse gesīðas:"Nolde ic sweord beran,
wǣpen tō wyrme,gif ic wiste hū
wið þām āglǣceanelles meahte 2520
gylpe wiðgrīpan,swā ic giō wið Grendle dyde;
ac ic þǣr heaðu‐fȳreshātes wēne,
rēðes and‐hāttres:forþon ic mē on hafu
bord and byrnan.Nelle ic beorges weard
oferflēon fōtes trem,fēond unhȳre,
ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle,swā unc Wyrd getēoð,
metod manna gehwæs.Ic eom on mōde from,
þæt ic wið þone gūð‐flogangylp ofersitte.
Gebīde gē on beorgebyrnum werede,
secgas on searwum,hwæðer sēl mǣge 2530
æfter wæl‐rǣsewunde gedȳgan
uncer twēga.Nis þæt ēower sīð,
nē gemet mannes,nefne mīn ānes,
þæt hē wið āglǣceaneofoðo dǣle,
eorl‐scype efne.Ic mid elne sceall
gold geganganoððe gūð nimeð,
feorh‐bealu frēcne,frēan ēowerne!"
Ārās þā bī ronderōf ōretta,
heard under helm,hioro‐sercean bær
under stān‐cleofu,strengo getruwode 2540
ānes mannes:ne bið swylc earges sīð.
Geseah þā be wealle,sē þe worna fela,
gum‐cystum gōd,gūða gedīgde,
hilde‐hlemma,þonne hnitan fēðan,
(stōd on stān‐bogan)strēam ūt þonan
brecan of beorge;wæs þǣre burnan wælm
heaðo‐fȳrum hāt:ne meahte horde nēah
unbyrnendeǣnige hwīle
dēop gedȳganfor dracan lēge.
Lēt þā of brēostum,þā hē gebolgen wæs, 2550
Weder‐Gēata lēodword ūt faran,
stearc‐heort styrmde;stefn in becōm
heaðo‐torht hlynnanunder hārne stān.
Hete wæs onhrēred,hord‐weard oncnīow
mannes reorde;næs þǣr māra fyrst,
frēode tō friclan.From ǣrest cwōm
oruð āglǣceanūt of stāne,
hāt hilde‐swāt;hrūse dynede.
Biorn under beorgebord‐rand onswāf
wið þām gryre‐gieste,Gēata dryhten: 2560
þā wæs hring‐boganheorte gefȳsed
sæcce tō sēceanne.Sweord ǣr gebrǣ
gōd gūð‐cyninggomele lāfe,
ecgum unglēaw,ǣghwæðrum wæs
bealo‐hycgendrabrōga fram ōðrum.
Stīð‐mōd gestōdwið stēapne rond
winia bealdor,þā se wyrm gebēah
snūde tōsomne:hē on searwum bād.
Gewāt þā byrnendegebogen scrīðan tō,
gescīfe scyndan.Scyld wēl gebearg 2570
līfe and līcelǣssan hwīle
mǣrum þēodne,þonne his myne sōhte,
þǣr hē þȳ fyrsteforman dōgore
wealdan mōste,swā him Wyrd ne gescrāf
hrēð æt hilde.Hond up ābræd
Gēata dryhten,gryre‐fāhne slōh
incge lāfe,þæt sīo ecg gewāc
brūn on bāne,bāt unswīðor,
þonne his þīod‐cyningþearfe hæfde,
bysigum gebǣded.Þā wæs beorges weard 2580
æfter heaðu‐swengeon hrēoum mōde,
wearp wæl‐fȳre,wīde sprungon
hilde‐lēoman:hrēð‐sigora ne gealp
gold‐wine Gēata,gūð‐bill geswāc
nacod æt nīðe,swā hyt nō sceolde,
īren ǣr‐gōd.Ne wæs þæt ēðe sīð,
þæt se mǣramaga Ecgþēowes
grund‐wong þoneofgyfan wolde;
sceolde wyrmes willanwīc eardian
elles hwergen,swā sceal ǣghwylc mon 2590
ālǣtan lǣn‐dagas.Næs þā long tō þon,
þæt þā āglǣceanhȳ eft gemētton.
Hyrte hyne hord‐weard,hreðer ǣðme wēoll,
nīwan stefne:nearo þrowode
fȳre befongensē þe ǣr folce wēold.
Nealles him on hēapehand‐gesteallan,
æðelinga bearnymbe gestōdon
hilde‐cystum,ac hȳ on holt bugon,
ealdre burgan.Hiora in ānum wēoll
sefa wið sorgum:sibb ǣfre ne mæg 2600
wiht onwendan,þām þe wēl þenceð.

WIGLAF HELPS BĒOWULF IN THE FEUD[edit]

Wīglāf wæs hātenWēoxstānes sunu,
lēoflīc lind‐wiga,lēod Scylfinga,
mǣg Ælfheres:geseah his mon‐dryhten
under here‐grīmanhāt þrowian.
Gemunde þā þā āre,þē hē him ǣr forgeaf
wīc‐stede weligneWǣgmundinga,
folc‐rihta gehwylc,swā his fæder āhte;
ne mihte þā forhabban,hond rond gefēng,
geolwe linde,gomel swyrd getēah, 2610
þæt wæs mid eldumĒanmundes lāf,
suna Ōhteres,þām æt sæcce wearð
wracu wine‐lēasumWēohstānes bana
mēces ecgum,and his māgum ætbær
brūn‐fāgne helm,hringde byrnan,
eald sweord eotonisc,þæt him Onela forgeaf,
his gædelingesgūð‐gewǣdu,
fyrd‐searo fūslīc:nō ymbe þā fǣhðe spræc,
þēah þe hē his brōðorbearn ābredwade.
Hē frætwe gehēoldfela missēra, 2620
bill and byrnan,oð þæt his byre mihte
eorl‐scipe efnan,swā his ǣr‐fæder;
geaf him þā mid Gēatumgūð‐gewǣda
ǣghwæs unrīm;þā hē of ealdre gewāt,
frōd on forð‐weg.Þā wæs forma sīð
geongan cempan,þæt hē gūðe rǣs
mid his frēo‐dryhtnefremman sceolde;
ne gemealt him se mōd‐sefa,nē his mǣges lāf
gewāc æt wīge:þæt se wyrm onfand,
syððan hīe tōgædregegān hæfdon. 2630
Wīglāf maðelodeword‐rihta fela,
sægde gesīðum,him wæs sefa geōmor:
"Ic þæt mǣl geman,þǣr wē medu þēgun,
þonne wē gehētonūssum hlāforde
in bīor‐sele,þē ūs þās bēagas geaf,
þæt wē him þā gūð‐geatwagyldan woldon,
gif him þyslīcuþearf gelumpe,
helmas and heard sweord:þē hē ūsic on herge gecēas
tō þyssum sīð‐fatesylfes willum,
onmunde ūsic mǣrðaand mē þās māðmas geaf, 2640
þē hē ūsic gār‐wīgendgōde tealde,
hwate helm‐berend,þēah þe hlāford ūs
þis ellen‐weorcāna āþōhte
tō gefremmanne,folces hyrde,
forþām hē manna mǣstmǣrða gefremede,
dǣda dollīcra.Nū is sē dæg cumen,
þæt ūre man‐dryhtenmægenes behōfað
gōdra gūð‐rinca:wutun gangan tō,
helpan hild‐fruman,þenden hyt sȳ,
glēd‐egesa grim!God wāt on mec, 2650
þæt mē is micle lēofre,þæt mīnne līc‐haman
mid mīnne gold‐gyfanglēd fæðmie.
Ne þynceð mē gerysne,þæt wē rondas beren
eft tō earde,nemne wē ǣror mǣgen
fāne gefyllan,feorh ealgian
Wedra þīodnes.Ic wāt geare,
þæt nǣron eald‐gewyrht,þæt hē āna scyle
Gēata duguðegnorn þrowian,
gesīgan æt sæcce:sceal ūrum þæt sweord and helm,
byrne and byrdu‐scrūdbām gemǣne." 2660
Wōd þā þurh þone wæl‐rēc,wīg‐heafolan bær
frēan on fultum,fēa worda cwæð:
"Lēofa Bīowulf,lǣst eall tela,
swā þū on geoguð‐fēoregeāra gecwǣde,
þæt þū ne ālǣtebe þē lifigendum
dōm gedrēosan:scealt nū dǣdum rōf,
æðeling ān‐hȳdig,ealle mægene
feorh ealgian;ic þē fullǣstu!"
Æfter þām wordumwyrm yrre cwōm,
atol inwit‐gæstōðre sīðe, 2670
fȳr‐wylmum fāhfīonda nīosan,
lāðra manna;līg‐ȳðum forborn
bord wið ronde:byrne ne meahte
geongum gār‐wigangēoce gefremman:
ac se maga geongaunder his mǣges scyld
elne geēode,þā his āgen wæs
glēdum forgrunden.Þā gēn gūð‐cyning
mǣrða gemunde,mægen‐strengo,
slōh hilde‐bille,þæt hyt on heafolan stōd
nīðe genȳded:Nægling forbærst, 2680
geswāc æt sæccesweord Bīowulfes
gomol and grǣg‐mǣl.Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,
þæt him īrennaecge mihton
helpan æt hilde;wæs sīo hond tō strong,
sē þe mēca gehwanemīne gefrǣge
swenge ofersōhte,þonne hē tō sæcce bær
wǣpen wundrum heard,næs him wihte þē sēl.
Þā wæs þēod‐sceaðaþriddan sīðe,
frēcne fȳr‐dracafǣhða gemyndig,
rǣsde on þone rōfan,þā him rūm āgeald, 2690
hāt and heaðo‐grim,heals ealne ymbefēng
biteran bānum;hē geblōdegod wearð
sāwul‐drīore;swāt ȳðum wēoll.

BĒOWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.[edit]

Þā ic æt þearfe gefrægnþēod‐cyninges
and‐longne eorlellen cȳðan,
cræft and cēnðu,swā him gecynde wæs;
ne hēdde hē þæs heafolan,ac sīo hand gebarn
mōdiges mannes,þǣr hē his mǣges healp,
þæt hē þone nīð‐gæstnioðor hwēne slōh,
secg on searwum,þæt þæt sweord gedēaf 2700
fāh and fǣted,þæt þæt fȳr ongon
sweðrian syððan.Þā gēn sylf cyning
gewēold his gewitte,wæll‐seaxe gebrǣ,
biter and beadu‐scearp,þæt hē on byrnan wæg:
forwrāt Wedra helm wyrm on middan.
Fēond gefyldan(ferh ellen wræc),
and hī hyne þā bēgenābroten hæfdon,
sib‐æðelingas:swylc sceolde secg wesan,
þegn æt þearfe.Þæt þām þēodne wæs
sīðast sīge‐hwīlesylfes dǣdum, 2710
worlde geweorces.Þā sīo wund ongon,
þē him se eorð‐dracaǣr geworhte,
swelan and swellan.Hē þæt sōna onfand,
þæt him on brēostumbealo‐nīð wēoll,
attor on innan.Þā se æðeling gīong,
þæt hē bī wealle,wīs‐hycgende,
gesæt on sesse;seah on enta geweorc,
hū þā stān‐boganstapulum fæste
ēce eorð‐recedinnan hēoldon.
Hyne þā mid handaheoro‐drēorigne 2720
þēoden mǣrneþegn ungemete till,
wine‐dryhten hiswætere gelafede,
hilde‐sædneand his helm onspēon.
Bīowulf maðelode,hē ofer benne spræc,
wunde wæl‐blēate(wisse hē gearwe,
þæt hē dæg‐hwīlagedrogen hæfde
eorðan wynne;þā wæs eall sceacen
dōgor‐gerīmes,dēað ungemete nēah):
"Nū ic suna mīnumsyllan wolde
gūð‐gewǣdu,þǣr mē gifeðe swā 2730
ǣnig yrfe‐weardæfter wurde,
līce gelenge.Ic þās lēode hēold
fīftig wintra:næs se folc‐cyning
ymbe‐sittendraǣnig þāra,
þē mec gūð‐winumgrētan dorste,
egesan þēon.Ic on earde bād
mǣl‐gesceafta,hēold mīn tela,
ne sōhte searo‐nīðas,nē mē swōr fela
āða on unriht.Ic þæs ealles mæg,
feorh‐bennum sēoc,gefēan habban: 2740
forþām mē wītan ne þearfwaldend fīra
morðor‐bealo māga,þonne mīn sceaceð
līf of līce.Nū þū lungre
geong, hord scēawianunder hārne stān,
Wīglāf lēofa,nū se wyrm ligeð,
swefeð sāre wund,since berēafod.
Bīo nū on ofoste,þæt ic ǣr‐welan,
gold‐ǣht ongite,gearo scēawige
swegle searo‐gimmas,þæt ic þȳ sēft mǣge
æfter māððum‐welanmīn ālǣtan 2750
līf and lēod‐scipe,þone ic longe hēold."

THE JEWEL-HOARD. THE PASSING OF BEOWULF.[edit]

Þā ic snūde gefrægnsunu Wīhstānes
æfter word‐cwydumwundum dryhtne
hȳran heaðo‐sīocum,hring‐net beran,
brogdne beadu‐serceanunder beorges hrōf.
Geseah þā sige‐hrēðig,þā hē bī sesse gēong,
mago‐þegn mōdigmāððum‐sigla fela,
gold glitiniangrunde getenge,
wundur on wealleand þæs wyrmes denn,
ealdes ūht‐flogan,orcas stondan, 2760
fyrn‐manna fatufeormend‐lēase,
hyrstum behrorene:þǣr wæs helm monig,
eald and ōmig,earm‐bēaga fela,
searwum gesǣled.Sinc ēaðe mæg,
gold on grunde,gumena cynnes
gehwone ofer‐hīgian,hȳde sē þe wylle!
Swylce hē siomian geseahsegn eall‐gylden
hēah ofer horde,hond‐wundra mǣst,
gelocen leoðo‐cræftum:of þām lēoma stōd,
þæt hē þone grund‐wongongitan meahte, 2770
wrǣte giond‐wlītan.Næs þæs wyrmes þǣr
onsȳn ǣnig,ac hyne ecg fornam.
Þā ic on hlǣwegefrægn hord rēafian,
eald enta geweorcānne mannan,
him on bearm hladanbunan and discas
sylfes dōme,segn ēac genom,
bēacna beorhtost;bill ǣr‐gescōd
(ecg wæs īren)eald‐hlāfordes
þām þāra māðmamund‐bora wæs
longe hwīle,līg‐egesan wæg 2780
hātne for horde,hioro‐weallende,
middel‐nihtum,oð þæt hē morðre swealt.
Ār wæs on ofosteeft‐sīðes georn,
frætwum gefyrðred:hyne fyrwet bræc,
hwæðer collen‐ferðcwicne gemētte
in þām wong‐stedeWedra þēoden,
ellen‐sīocne,þǣr hē hine ǣr forlēt.
Hē þā mid þām māðmummǣrne þīoden,
dryhten sīnnedrīorigne fand
ealdres æt ende:hē hine eft ongon 2790
wæteres weorpan,oð þæt wordes ord
brēost‐hord þurhbræc.Bēowulf maðelode,
gomel on giohðe(gold scēawode):
"Ic þāra frætwafrēan ealles þanc
wuldur‐cyningewordum secge,
ēcum dryhtne,þē ic hēr on starie,
þæs þe ic mōstemīnum lēodum
ǣr swylt‐dægeswylc gestrȳnan.
Nū ic on māðma hordmīne bebohte
frōde feorh‐lege,fremmað gē nū 2800
lēoda þearfe;ne mæg ic hēr leng wesan.
Hātað heaðo‐mǣrehlǣw gewyrcean,
beorhtne æfter bǣleæt brimes nosan;
se scel tō gemyndummīnum lēodum
hēah hlīfianon Hrones næsse,
þæt hit sǣ‐līðendsyððan hātan
Bīowulfes biorh,þā þe brentingas
ofer flōda genipufeorran drīfað."
Dyde him of healsehring gyldenne
þīoden þrīst‐hȳdig,þegne gesealde, 2810
geongum gār‐wigan,gold‐fāhne helm,
bēah and byrnan,hēt hyne brūcan well:
"Þū eart ende‐lāfūsses cynnes,
Wǣgmundinga;ealle Wyrd forswēof,
mīne māgastō metod‐sceafte,
eorlas on elne:ic him æfter sceal."
Þæt wæs þām gomelangingeste word
brēost‐gehygdum,ǣr hē bǣl cure,
hāte heaðo‐wylmas:him of hreðre gewāt
sāwol sēceansōð‐fæstra dōm. 2820

THE COWARD-THANES.[edit]

Þā wæs gegongenguman unfrōdum
earfoðlīce,þæt hē on eorðan geseah
þone lēofestanlīfes æt ende
blēate gebǣran.Bona swylce læg,
egeslīc eorð‐draca,ealdre berēafod,
bealwe gebǣded:bēah‐hordum leng
wyrm wōh‐bogenwealdan ne mōste,
ac him īrennaecga fornāmon,
hearde heaðo‐scearpehomera lāfe,
þæt se wīd‐flogawundum stille 2830
hrēas on hrūsanhord‐ærne nēah,
nalles æfter lyftelācende hwearf
middel‐nihtum,māðm‐ǣhta wlonc
ansȳn ȳwde:ac hē eorðan gefēoll
for þæs hild‐frumanhond‐geweorce.
Hūru þæt on landelȳt manna þāh
mægen‐āgendramīne gefrǣge,
þēah þe hē dǣda gehwæsdyrstig wǣre,
þæt hē wið attor‐sceaðanoreðe gerǣsde,
oððe hring‐selehondum styrede, 2840
gif hē wæccendeweard onfunde
būan on beorge.Bīowulfe wearð
dryht‐māðma dǣldēaðe forgolden;
hæfde ǣghwæðerende gefēred
lǣnan līfes.Næs þā lang tō þon,
þæt þā hild‐latanholt ofgēfan,
tȳdre trēow‐logantȳne ætsomne,
þā ne dorston ǣrdareðum lācan
on hyra man‐dryhtnesmiclan þearfe;
ac hȳ scamiendescyldas bǣran, 2850
gūð‐gewǣdu,þǣr se gomela læg:
wlitan on Wīglāf.Hē gewērgad sæt,
fēðe‐cempafrēan eaxlum nēah,
wehte hyne wætre;him wiht ne spēow;
ne meahte hē on eorðan,þēah hē ūðe wēl,
on þām frum‐gārefeorh gehealdan,
nē þæs wealdendes willanwiht oncirran;
wolde dōm godesdǣdum rǣdan
gumena gehwylcum,swā hē nū gēn dēð.
Þā wæs æt þām geongangrim andswaru 2860
ēð‐begēte þām þe ǣrhis elne forlēas.
Wīglāf maðelode,Wēohstānes sunu,
secg sārig‐ferðseah on unlēofe:
"Þæt lā mæg secgan,sē þe wyle sōð sprecan,
þæt se mon‐dryhten,se ēow þā māðmas geaf,
ēored‐geatwe,þē gē þǣr on standað,
þonne hē on ealu‐benceoft gesealde
heal‐sittendumhelm and byrnan,
þēoden his þegnum,swylce hē þrȳðlīcost
ōhwǣr feor oððe nēahfindan meahte, 2870
þæt hē gēnungagūð‐gewǣdu
wrāðe forwurpe.Þā hyne wīg beget,
nealles folc‐cyningfyrd‐gesteallum
gylpan þorfte;hwæðre him god ūðe,
sigora waldend,þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræc
āna mid ecge,þā him wæs elnes þearf,
Ic him līf‐wraðelȳtle meahte
ætgifan æt gūðeand ongan swā þēah
ofer mīn gemetmǣges helpan:
symle wæs þȳ sǣmra,þonne ic sweorde drep 2880
ferhð‐genīðlan,fȳr unswīðor
wēoll of gewitte.Wergendra tō lȳt
þrong ymbe þēoden,þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.
Nū sceal sinc‐þegoand swyrd‐gifu
eall ēðel‐wynēowrum cynne,
lufen ālicgean:lond‐rihtes mōt
þǣre mǣg‐burgemonna ǣghwylc
īdel hweorfan,syððan æðelingas
feorran gefricgeanflēam ēowerne,
dōm‐lēasan dǣd.Dēað bið sēlla 2890
eorla gehwylcumþonne edwīt‐līf!"

THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.[edit]

Heht þā þæt heaðo‐weorctō hagan bīodan
up ofer ēg‐clif,þǣr þæt eorl‐weorod
morgen‐longne dægmōd‐giōmor sæt,
bord‐hæbbende,bēga on wēnum
ende‐dōgoresand eft‐cymes
lēofes monnes.Lȳt swīgode
nīwra spella,sē þe næs gerād,
ac hē sōðlīcesægde ofer ealle;
"Nū is wil‐geofaWedra lēoda, 2900
dryhten Gēatadēað‐bedde fæst,
wunað wæl‐restewyrmes dǣdum;
him on efn ligeðealdor‐gewinna,
siex‐bennum sēoc:sweorde ne meahte
on þām āglǣceanǣnige þinga
wunde gewyrcean.Wīglāf siteð
ofer Bīowulfe,byre Wīhstānes,
eorl ofer ōðrumunlifigendum,
healdeð hige‐mēðumhēafod‐wearde
lēofes and lāðes.Nū ys lēodum wēn 2910
orleg‐hwīle,syððan underne
Froncum and Frȳsumfyll cyninges
wīde weorðeð.Wæs sīo wrōht scepen
heard wið Hūgas,syððan Higelāc cwōm
faran flot‐hergeon Frēsna land,
þǣr hyne Hetwarehilde gehnǣgdon,
elne geēodonmid ofer‐mægene,
þæt se byrn‐wigabūgan sceolde,
fēoll on fēðan:nalles frætwe geaf
ealdor dugoðe;ūs wæs ā syððan 2920
Merewīoingamilts ungyfeðe.
Nē ic tō Swēo‐þēodesibbe oððe trēowe
wihte ne wēne;ac wæs wīde cūð,
þætte Ongenþīoealdre besnyðede
Hæðcyn Hrēðlingwið Hrefna‐wudu,
þā for on‐mēdlanǣrest gesōhton
Gēata lēodeGūð‐scilfingas.
Sōna him se frōdafæder Ōhtheres,
eald and eges‐fullond‐slyht āgeaf,
ābrēot brim‐wīsan,brȳd āhēorde, 2930
gomela īo‐meowlangolde berofene,
Onelan mōdorand Ōhtheres,
and þā folgodefeorh‐genīðlan
oð þæt hī oðēodonearfoðlīce
in Hrefnes‐holthlāford‐lēase.
Besæt þā sin‐hergesweorda lāfe
wundum wērge,wēan oft gehēt
earmre teohheandlonge niht:
cwæð hē on mergennemēces ecgum
gētan wolde,sume on galg‐trēowum 2940
fuglum tō gamene.Frōfor eft gelamp
sārig‐mōdumsomod ǣr‐dæge,
syððan hīe Hygelāceshorn and bȳman
gealdor ongeāton.Þā se gōda cōm
lēoda dugoðeon lāst faran.

HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS[edit]

"Wæs sīo swāt‐swaðuSwēona and Gēata,
wæl‐rǣs werawīde gesȳne,
hū þā folc mid himfǣhðe tōwehton.
Gewāt him þā se gōdamid his gædelingum,
frōd fela geōmorfæsten sēcean, 2950
eorl Ongenþīoufor oncirde;
hæfde Higelāceshilde gefrūnen,
wlonces wīg‐cræft,wiðres ne truwode,
þæt hē sǣ‐mannumonsacan mihte,
hēaðo‐līðendumhord forstandan,
bearn and brȳde;bēah eft þonan
eald under eorð‐weall.Þā wæs ǣht boden
Swēona lēodum,segn Higelāce.
Freoðo‐wong þoneforð oferēodon,
syððan Hrēðlingastō hagan þrungon. 2960
Þǣr wearð Ongenþīoecgum sweorda,
blonden‐fexaon bīd wrecen,
þæt se þēod‐cyningþafian sceolde
Eofores ānne dōm:hyne yrringa
Wulf Wonrēdingwǣpne gerǣhte,
þæt him for swengeswāt ǣdrum sprong
forð under fexe.Næs hē forht swā þēh,
gomela Scilfing,ac forgeald hraðe
wyrsan wrixlewæl‐hlem þone,
syððan þēod‐cyningþyder oncirde: 2970
ne meahte se snellasunu Wonrēdes
ealdum ceorleond‐slyht giofan,
ac hē him on hēafdehelm ǣr gescer,
þæt hē blōde fāhbūgan sceolde,
fēoll on foldan;næs hē fǣge þā gīt,
ac hē hyne gewyrpte,þēah þe him wund hrīne,
Lēt se heardaHigelāces þegn
brādne mēce,þā his brōðor læg,
eald sweord eotonisc,entiscne helm,
brecan ofer bord‐weal:þā gebēah cyning, 2980
folces hyrde,wæs in feorh dropen.
Þā wǣron monige,þē his mǣg wriðon,
ricone ārǣrdon,þā him gerȳmed wearð,
þæt hīe wæl‐stōwewealdan mōston.
Þenden rēafoderinc ōðerne,
nam on Ongenþīoīren‐byrnan,
heard swyrd hiltedand his helm somod;
hāres hyrsteHigelāce bær.
Hē þām frætwum fēngand him fægre gehēt
lēana fore lēodumand gelǣste swā: 2990
geald þone gūð‐rǣsGēata dryhten,
Hrēðles eafora,þā hē tō hām becōm,
Jofore and Wulfemid ofer‐māðmum,
sealde hiora gehwæðrumhund þūsenda
landes and locenra bēaga;ne þorfte him þā lēan oðwītan
mon on middan‐gearde,syððan hīe þā mǣrða geslōgon;
and þā Jofore forgeafāngan dōhtor,
hām‐weorðunge,hyldo tō wedde.
Þæt ys sīo fǣhðoand se fēond‐scipe,
wæl‐nīð wera,þæs þe ic wēn hafo, 3000
þē ūs sēceað tōSwēona lēode,
syððan hīe gefricgeaðfrēan ūserne
ealdor‐lēasne,þone þe ǣr gehēold
wið hettendumhord and rīce,
æfter hæleða hryrehwate Scylfingas,
folc‐rǣd fremedeoððe furður gēn
eorl‐scipe efnde.Nū is ofost betost,
þæt wē þēod‐cyningþǣr scēawian
and þone gebringan,þē ūs bēagas geaf,
on ād‐fære.Ne scel ānes hwæt 3010
meltan mid þām mōdigan,ac þǣr is māðma hord.
gold unrīmegrimme gecēapod
and nū æt sīðestansylfes fēore
bēagas gebohte;þā sceal brond fretan,
ǣled þeccean,nalles eorl wegan
māððum tō gemyndum,nē mægð scȳne
habban on healsehring‐weorðunge,
ac sceall geōmor‐mōdgolde berēafod
oft nalles ǣneel‐land tredan,
nū se here‐wīsahleahtor ālegde, 3020
gamen and glēo‐drēam.Forþon sceall gār wesan
monig morgen‐cealdmundum bewunden,
hæfen on handa,nalles hearpan swēg
wīgend weccean,ac se wonna hrefn
fūs ofer fǣgum,fela reordian,
earne secgan,hū him æt ǣte spēow,
þenden hē wið wulfwæl rēafode."
Swā se secg hwatasecgende wæs
lāðra spella;hē ne lēag fela
wyrda nē worda.Weorod eall ārās, 3030
ēodon unblīðeunder Earna næs
wollen‐tēarewundur scēawian.
Fundon þā on sandesāwul‐lēasne
hlim‐bed healdan,þone þe him hringas geaf
ǣrran mǣlum:þā wæs ende‐dæg
gōdum gegongen,þæt se gūð‐cyning,
Wedra þēoden,wundor‐dēaðe swealt.
Ǣr hī gesēgansyllīcran wiht,
wyrm on wongewiðer‐ræhtes þǣr
lāðne licgean:wæs se lēg‐draca, 3040
grimlīc gryre‐gæst,glēdum beswǣled,
sē wæs fīftigesfōt‐gemearces.
lang on legere,lyft‐wynne hēold
nihtes hwīlum,nyðer eft gewāt
dennes nīosian;wæs þā dēaðe fæst,
hæfde eorð‐scrafaende genyttod.
Him big stōdanbunan and orcas,
discas lāgonand dȳre swyrd,
ōmige þurh‐etone,swā hīe wið eorðan fæðm
þūsend wintraþǣr eardodon: 3050
þonne wæs þæt yrfeēacen‐cræftig,
iū‐monna goldgaldre bewunden,
þæt þām hring‐selehrīnan ne mōste
gumena ǣnig,nefne god sylfa,
sigora sōð‐cyning,sealde þām þe hē wolde
(hē is manna gehyld)hord openian,
efne swā hwylcum manna,swā him gemet þūhte.

WĪGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.[edit]

Þā wæs gesȳne,þæt se sīð ne þāh
þām þe unrihteinne gehȳdde
wrǣte under wealle.Weard ǣr ofslōh 3060
fēara sumne;þā sīo fǣhð gewearð
gewrecen wrāðlīce.Wundur hwār, þonne
eorl ellen‐rōfende gefēre
līf‐gesceafta,þonne leng ne mæg
mon mid his māgummedu‐seld būan.
Swā wæs Bīowulfe,þā hē biorges weard
sōhte, searo‐nīðas:seolfa ne cūðe,
þurh hwæt his worulde gedālweorðan sceolde;
swā hit oð dōmes dægdīope benemdon
þēodnas mǣre,þā þæt þǣr dydon, 3070
þæt se secg wǣresynnum scildig,
hergum geheaðerod,hell‐bendum fæst,
wommum gewītnad,sē þone wong strāde.
Næs hē gold‐hwæt:gearwor hæfde
āgendes ēstǣr gescēawod.
Wīglāf maðelode,Wīhstānes sunu:
"Oft sceall eorl monigānes willan
wrǣc ādrēogan,swā ūs geworden is.
Ne meahton wē gelǣranlēofne þēoden,
rīces hyrderǣd ǣnigne, 3080
þæt hē ne grēttegold‐weard þone,
lēte hyne licgean,þǣr hē longe wæs,
wīcum wunianoð woruld‐ende.
Hēoldon hēah gesceap:hord ys gescēawod,
grimme gegongen;wæs þæt gifeðe tō swīð,
þē þone þēodenþyder ontyhte.
Ic wæs þǣr inneand þæt eall geond‐seh,
recedes geatwa,þā mē gerȳmed wæs,
nealles swǣslīcesīð ālȳfed
inn under eorð‐weall.Ic on ofoste gefēng 3090
micle mid mundummægen‐byrðenne
hord‐gestrēona,hider ūt ætbær
cyninge mīnum:cwico wæs þā gēna,
wīs and gewittig;worn eall gespræc
gomol on gehðoand ēowic grētan hēt,
bæd þæt gē geworhtonæfter wines dǣdum
in bǣl‐stedebeorh þone hēan
micelne and mǣrne,swā hē manna wæs
wīgend weorð‐fullostwīde geond eorðan,
þenden hē burh‐welanbrūcan mōste. 3100
Uton nū efstanōðre sīðe
sēon and sēceansearo‐geþræc,
wundur under wealle!ic ēow wīsige,
þæt gē genōgenēan scēawiað
bēagas and brād gold.Sīe sīo bǣr gearo
ǣdre geæfned,þonne wē ūt cymen,
and þonne geferianfrēan ūserne,
lēofne mannan,þǣr hē longe sceal
on þæs waldendeswǣre geþolian."
Hēt þā gebēodanbyre Wīhstānes, 3110
hæle hilde‐dīor,hæleða monegum
bold‐āgendra,þæt hīe bǣl‐wudu
feorran feredon,folc‐āgende
gōdum tōgēnes:"Nū sceal glēd fretan
(weaxan wonna lēg)wigena strengel,
þone þe oft gebādīsern‐scūre,
þonne strǣla storm,strengum gebǣded,
scōc ofer scild‐weall,sceft nytte hēold,
feðer‐gearwum fūsflāne full‐ēode."
Hūru se snotrasunu Wīhstānes 3120
ācīgde of corðrecyninges þegnas
syfone tōsomneþā sēlestan,
ēode eahta sumunder inwit‐hrōf;
hilde‐rinc sumon handa bær
ǣled‐lēoman,sē þe on orde gēong.
Næs þā on hlytme,hwā þæt hord strude,
syððan or‐weardeǣnigne dǣl
secgas gesēgonon sele wunian,
lǣne licgan:lȳt ǣnig mearn,
þæt hī ofostliceūt geferedon 3130
dȳre māðmas;dracan ēc scufun,
wyrm ofer weall‐clif,lēton wǣg niman,
flōd fæðmianfrætwa hyrde.
Þǣr wæs wunden goldon wǣn hladen,
ǣghwæs unrīm,æðeling boren,
hār hilde‐rinctō Hrones næsse.

BĒOWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.[edit]

Him þā gegiredanGēata lēode
ād on eorðanun-wāclīcne,
helmum behongen,hilde-bordum, 3140
beorhtum byrnum,swā hē bēna wæs;
ālegdon þā tō-middesmǣrne þēoden
hæleð hīofende,hlāford lēofne.
Ongunnon þā on beorgebǣl-fȳra mǣst
wīgend weccan:wudu-rēc āstāh
sweart ofer swioðole,swōgende lēg,
wōpe bewunden(wind-blond gelæg)
oð þæt hē þā bān-hūsgebrocen hæfde,
hāt on hreðre.Higum unrōte
mōd-ceare mǣndonmon-dryhtnes cwealm; 3150
swylce giōmor-gydlat . con meowle
. . . . .wunden heorde . . .
serg (?) cearig sǣldegeneahhe
þæt hīo hyre . . . . gas hearde
. . . . . edewælfylla wonn . .
hildes egesanhyðo
haf midheofon rēce swealh (?)
Geworhton þāWedra lēode
hlǣw on hlīðe,sē wæs hēah and brād,
wǣg-līðendumwīde gesȳne, 3160
and betimbredonon tȳn dagum
beadu-rōfes bēcn:bronda betost
wealle beworhton,swā hyt weorðlīcost
fore-snotre menfindan mihton.
Hī on beorg dydonbēg and siglu,
eall swylce hyrsta,swylce on horde ǣr
nīð-hȳdige mengenumen hæfdon;
forlēton eorla gestrēoneorðan healdan,
gold on grēote,þǣr hit nū gēn lifað
eldum swā unnyt,swā hit ǣror wæs. 3170
Þā ymbe hlǣw riodanhilde-dēore,
æðelinga bearnealra twelfa,
woldon ceare cwīðan,kyning mǣnan,
word-gyd wrecanand ymb wer sprecan,
eahtodan eorl-scipeand his ellen-weorc
duguðum dēmdon,swā hit ge-dēfe bið,
þæt mon his wine-dryhtenwordum herge,
ferhðum frēoge,þonne hē forð scile
of līc-hamanlǣne weorðan.
Swā begnornodonGēata lēode 3180
hlāfordes hryre,heorð-genēatas,
cwǣdon þæt hē wǣreworuld-cyning
mannum mildustand mon-þwǣrust,
lēodum līðostand lof-geornost.

Appendix[edit]

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse