Project Gutenberg's Beowulf, by James A. Harrison and Robert Sharp, eds.
Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
*Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts*
*eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971*
****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!****
Title: Beowulf
Author: James A. Harrison and Robert Sharp, eds.
Release Date: January, 2006 [EBook #9700] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on October 12, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***
Produced by Karl Hagen and PG Distributed Proofreaders
** Preface to the Project Gutenberg Edition of Beowulf **
This text is a corrected version of the fourth edition of Harrison and Sharp in its entirety. It comes in two basic versions. The base version, available in 8-bit (Latin-1) text and HTML, presents the original text as printed. This file contains the original version. It preserves the source-text's idiosyncratic use of accented vowels with the exception of y-circumflex, which is replaced by y-acute (ý) to fit within the Latin-1 character set. Manifestly unintentional errors in the text have been corrected. In general, this has only been done when the text is internally inconsistent (e.g., a quotation in the glossary does not match the main text). Forms that represent deliberate editorial choice have not been altered, even where they appear wrong. (For example, some of the markings of vowel length do not reflect current scholarly consensus.) Where an uncorrected problem may confuse the reader, I have inserted a note explaining the difficulty, signed KTH. A complete list of the changes made is appended at the end of the file. In order to make the text more useful to modern readers, I have also produced a revised edition, available in Unicode (UTF-8) and HTML. Notes from the source text that indicate changes adopted in later editions have been incorporated directly into the text and apparatus. Further, long vowels are indicated with macrons, as is the common practice of most modern editions. Finally, the quantity of some words has been altered to the values currently accepted as correct. Quantities have not been changed when the difference is a matter of editorial interpretation (e.g., gäst vs. gæst in l. 102, etc.) A list of these altered quantities appears at the end of the list of corrections. Your browser must support the Unicode character set to use the revised version.
Explanation of the Vowel Accenting
In general, Harrison and Sharp use circumflex accents over vowels to mark long vowels. For ash, however, the actual character 'æ' represents the long vowel. Short ash is rendered with a-umlaut (ä). The long diphthongs (eo, ea, etc.) are indicated with an acute accent over the second vowel (eó, eá, etc.).
** End of PG Preface **
I. BEÓWULF:
_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.
PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION.
The favor with which the successive editions of "Beówulf" have been received during the past thirteen years emboldens the editors to continue the work of revision in a fourth issue, the most noticeable feature of which is a considerable body of explanatory Notes, now for the first time added. These Notes mainly concern themselves with new textual readings, with here and there grammatical, geographical, and archæological points that seemed worthy of explanation. Parallelisms and parallel passages are constantly compared, with the view of making the poem illustrate and explain itself. A few emendations and textual changes are suggested by the editors with all possible diffidence; numerous corrections have been made in the Glossary and List of Names; and the valuable parts of former Appendices have been embodied in the Notes.
For the Notes, the editors are much indebted to the various German periodicals mentioned on page 116, to the recent publications of Professors Earle and J. L. Hall, to Mr. S. A. Brooke, and to the Heyne-Socin edition of "Beówulf." No change has been made in the system of accentuation, though a few errors in quantity have been corrected. The editors are looking forward to an eventual fifth edition, in which an entirely new text will be presented.
October, 1893.
NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION.
This third edition of the American issue of Beówulf will, the editors hope, be found more accurate and useful than either of the preceding editions. Further corrections in text and glossary have been made, and some additional new readings and suggestions will be found in two brief appendices at the back of the book. Students of the metrical system of Beówulf will find ample material for their studies in Sievers' exhaustive essay on that subject (Beiträge, X. 209-314).
Socin's edition of Heyne's Beówulf (called the fifth edition) has been utilized to some extent in this edition, though it unfortunately came too late to be freely used. While it repeats many of the omissions and inaccuracies of Heyne's fourth edition, it contains much that is valuable to the student, particularly in the notes and commentary. Students of the poem, which has been subjected to much searching criticism during the last decade, will also derive especial help from the contributions of Sievers and Kluge on difficult questions appertaining to it. Wülker's new edition (in the Grein _Bibliothek_) is of the highest value, however one may dissent from particular textual views laid down in the 'Berichtigter Text.' Paul and Braune's Beiträge contain a varied miscellany of hints, corrections, and suggestions principally embodying the views of Kluge, Cosijn, Sievers, and Bugge, some of the more important of which are found in the appendices to the present and the preceding edition. Holder and Zupitza, Sarrazin and Hermann Möller (Kiel, 1883), Heinzel (Anzeiger f.d. Alterthum, X.), Gering (Zacher's Zeitschrift, XII.), Brenner (Eng. Studien, IX.), and the contributors to Anglia, have assisted materially in the textual and metrical interpretation of the poem.
The subject of Anglo-Saxon quantity has been discussed in several able essays by Sievers, Sweet, Ten Brink (Anzeiger, f.d. Alterthum, V.), Kluge (Beiträge, XI.), and others; but so much is uncertain in this field that the editors have left undisturbed the marking of vowels found in the text of their original edition, while indicating in the appendices the now accepted views of scholars on the quantity of the personal pronouns (mê, wê, þû, þê, gê, hê); the adverb nû, etc. Perhaps it would be best to banish absolutely all attempts at marking quantities except in cases where the Ms. has them marked.
An approximately complete Bibliography of Beówulf literature will be found in Wülker's Grundriss and in Garnett's translation of the poem.
JAMES A. HARRISON,
ROBERT SHARP.
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,
LEXINGTON, VA., May, 1888.
NOTE TO THE SECOND REVISED EDITION.
The editors feel so encouraged at the kind reception accorded their edition of Beówulf (1883), that, in spite of its many shortcomings, they have determined to prepare a second revised edition of the book, and thus endeavor to extend its sphere of usefulness. About twenty errors had, notwithstanding a vigilant proof-reading, crept into the text,--errors in single letters, accents, and punctuation. These have been corrected, and it is hoped that the text has been rendered generally accurate and trustworthy. In the List of Names one or two corrections have been made, and in the Glossary numerous mistakes in gender, classification, and translation, apparently unavoidable in a first edition, have been rectified. Wherever these mistakes concern single letters, or occupy very small space, they have been corrected in the plates; where they are longer, and the expense of correcting them in the plates would have been very great, the editors have thought it best to include them in an Appendix of Corrections and Additions, which will be found at the back of the book. Students are accordingly referred to this Appendix for important longer corrections and additions. It is believed that the value of the book has been much enhanced by an Appendix of Recent Readings, based on late criticisms and essays from the pens of Sievers, Kluge, Cosijn, Holder, Wülker, and Sweet. A perplexed student, in turning to these suggested readings, will often find great help in unravelling obscure or corrupt passages.
The objectionable ä and æ, for the short and the long diphthong, have been retained in the revised edition, owing to the impossibility of removing them without entirely recasting the plates.
In conclusion, the editors would acknowledge their great indebtedness to the friends and critics whose remarks and criticisms have materially aided in the correction of the text,--particularly to Profs. C.P.G. Scott, Baskervill, Price, and J.M. Hart; to Prof. J.W. Bright; and to the authorities of Cornell University, for the loan of periodicals necessary to the completeness of the revision. While the second revised edition still contains much that might be improved, the editors cannot but hope that it is an advance on its predecessor, and that it will continue its work of extending the study of Old English throughout the land.
JUNE, 1885.
NOTE I.
The present work, carefully edited from Heyne's fourth edition, (Paderborn, 1879), is designed primarily for college classes in Anglo-Saxon, rather than for independent investigators or for seekers after a restored or ideal text. The need of an American edition of "Beówulf" has long been felt, as, hitherto, students have had either to send to Germany for a text, or secure, with great trouble, one of the scarce and expensive English editions. Heyne's first edition came out in 1863, and was followed in 1867 and 1873 by a second and a third edition, all three having essentially the same text.
So many important contributions to the "Beówulf" literature were, however, made between 1873 and 1879 that Heyne found it necessary to put forth a new edition (1879). In this new, last edition, the text was subjected to a careful revision, and was fortified by the views, contributions, and criticisms of other zealous scholars. In it the collation of the unique "Beówulf" Ms. (Vitellius A. 15: Cottonian Mss. of the British Museum), as made by E. Kölbing in Herrig's Archiv (Bd. 56; 1876), was followed wherever the present condition of the Ms. had to be discussed; and the researches of Bugge, Bieger, and others, on single passages, were made use of. The discussion of the metrical structure of the poem, as occurring in the second and third editions, was omitted in the fourth, owing to the many controversies in which the subject is still involved. The present editor has thought it best to do the same, though, happily, the subject of Old English Metrik is undergoing a steady illumination through the labors of Schipper and others.
Some errors and misplaced accents in Heyne's text have been corrected in the present edition, in which, as in the general revision of the text, the editor has been most kindly aided by Prof. J.M. Garnett, late Principal of St. John's College, Maryland.
In the preparation of the present school edition it has been thought best to omit Heyne's notes, as they concern themselves principally with conjectural emendations, substitutions of one reading for another, and discussions of the condition of the Ms. Until Wülker's text and the photographic fac-simile of the original Ms. are in the hands of all scholars, it will be better not to introduce such matters in the school room, where they would puzzle without instructing.
For convenience of reference, the editor has added a head-line to each "fit" of the poem, with a view to facilitate a knowledge of its episodes.
WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,
LEXINGTON, VA., June, 1882.
NOTE II.
The editors now have the pleasure of presenting to the public a complete text and a tolerably complete glossary of "Beówulf." The edition is the first published in America, and the first of its special kind presented to the English public, and it is the initial volume of a "Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry," to be edited under the same auspices and with the coöperation of distinguished scholars in this country. Among these scholars may be mentioned Professors F.A. March of Lafayette College, T.K. Price of Columbia College, and W.M. Baskervill of Vanderbilt University.
In the preparation of the Glossary the editors found it necessary to abandon a literal and exact translation of Heyne for several reasons, and among others from the fact that Heyne seems to be wrong in the translation of some of his illustrative quotations, and even translates the same passage in two or three different ways under different headings. The orthography of his glossary differs considerably from the orthography of his text. He fails to discriminate with due nicety the meanings of many of the words in his vocabulary, while criticism more recent than his latest edition (1879) has illustrated or overthrown several of his renderings. The references were found to be incorrect in innumerable instances, and had to be verified in every individual case so far as this was possible, a few only, which resisted all efforts at verification, having to be indicated by an interrogation point (?). The references are exceedingly numerous, and the labor of verifying them was naturally great. To many passages in the Glossary, where Heyne's translation could not be trusted with entire certainty, the editors have added other translations of phrases and sentences or of special words; and in this they have been aided by a careful study of the text and a comparison and utilization of the views of Kemble and Professor J.M. Garnett (who takes Grein for his foundation). Many new references have been added; and the various passages in which Heyne fails to indicate whether a given verb is weak or strong, or fails to point out the number, etc., of the illustrative form, have been corrected and made to harmonize with the general plan of the work. Numerous misprints in the glossary have also been corrected, and a brief glossary to the Finnsburh-fragment, prepared by Dr. Wm. Hand Browne, and supplemented and adapted by the editor-in-chief, has been added.
The editors think that they may without immodesty put forth for themselves something more than the claim of being re-translators of a translation: the present edition is, so far as they were able to make it so, an adaptation, correction, and extension of the work of the great German scholar to whose loving appreciation of the Anglo-Saxon epic all students of Old English owe a debt of gratitude. While following his usually sure and cautious guidance, and in the main appropriating his results, they have thought it best to deviate from him in the manner above indicated, whenever it seemed that he was wrong. The careful reader will notice at once the marks of interrogation which point out these deviations, or which introduce a point of view illustrative of, or supplementary to, the one given by the German editor. No doubt the editors are wrong themselves in many places,--"Beówulf" is a most difficult poem,--but their view may at least be defended by a reference to the original text, which they have faithfully and constantly consulted.
A good many cognate Modern English words have been introduced here and there in the Glossary with a view to illustration, and other addenda will be found between brackets and parenthetical marks.
It is hoped that the present edition of the most famous of Old English poems will do something to promote a valuable and interesting study.
JAMES A. HARRISON,
_Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va._
ROBERT SHARP,
_University of Louisiana, New Orleans_.
April, 1883.
The responsibility of the editors is as follows: H. is responsible for the Text, and for the Glossary from hrînan on; S. for the List of Names, and for the Glossary as far as hrînan.
ARGUMENT.
The only national [Anglo-Saxon] epic which has been preserved entire is Beówulf. Its argument is briefly as follows:--The poem opens with a few verses in praise of the Danish Kings, especially Scild, the son of Sceaf. His death is related, and his descendants briefly traced down to Hroðgar. Hroðgar, elated with his prosperity and success in war, builds a magnificent hall, which he calls Heorot. In this hall Hroðgar and his retainers live in joy and festivity, until a malignant fiend, called Grendel, jealous of their happiness, carries off by night thirty of Hroðgar's men, and devours them in his moorland retreat. These ravages go on for twelve years. Beówulf, a thane of Hygelac, King of the Goths, hearing of Hroðgar's calamities, sails from Sweden with fourteen warriors--to help him. They reach the Danish coast in safety; and, after an animated parley with Hroðgar's coastguard, who at first takes them for pirates, they are allowed to proceed to the royal hall, where they are well received by Hroðgar. A banquet ensues, during which Beówulf is taunted by the envious Hunferhð about his swimming-match with Breca, King of the Brondings. Beówulf gives the true account of the contest, and silences Hunferhð. At night-fall the King departs, leaving Beówulf in charge of the hall. Grendel soon breaks in, seizes and devours one of Beówulf's companions; is attacked by Beówulf, and, after losing an arm, which is torn off by Beówulf, escapes to the fens. The joy of Hroðgar and the Danes, and their festivities, are described, various episodes are introduced, and Beówulf and his companions receive splendid gifts. The next night Grendel's mother revenges her son by carrying off Æschere, the friend and councillor of Hroðgar, during the absence of Beówulf. Hroðgar appeals to Beówulf for vengeance, and describes the haunts of Grendel and his mother. They all proceed thither; the scenery of the lake, and the monsters that dwell in it, are described. Beówulf plunges into the water, and attacks Grendel's mother in her dwelling at the bottom of the lake. He at length overcomes her, and cuts off her head, together with that of Grendel, and brings the heads to Hroðgar. He then takes leave of Hroðgar, sails back to Sweden, and relates his adventures to Hygelac. Here the first half of the poem ends. The second begins with the accession of Beówulf to the throne, after the fall of Hygelac and his son Heardred. He rules prosperously for fifty years, till a dragon, brooding over a hidden treasure, begins to ravage the country, and destroys Beówulf's palace with fire. Beówulf sets out in quest of its hiding-place, with twelve men. Having a presentiment of his approaching end, he pauses and recalls to mind his past life and exploits. He then takes leave of his followers, one by one, and advances alone to attack the dragon. Unable, from the heat, to enter the cavern, he shouts aloud, and the dragon comes forth. The dragon's scaly hide is proof against Beówulf's sword, and he is reduced to great straits. Then Wiglaf, one of his followers, advances to help him. Wiglaf's shield is consumed by the dragon's fiery breath, and he is compelled to seek shelter under Beówulf's shield of iron. Beówulf's sword snaps asunder, and he is seized by the dragon. Wiglaf stabs the dragon from underneath, and Beówulf cuts it in two with his dagger. Feeling that his end is near, he bids Wiglaf bring out the treasures from the cavern, that he may see them before he dies. Wiglaf enters the dragon's den, which is described, returns to Beówulf, and receives his last commands. Beówulf dies, and Wiglaf bitterly reproaches his companions for their cowardice. The disastrous consequences of Beówulf's death are then foretold, and the poem ends with his funeral.--H. Sweet, in Warton's History of English Poetry, Vol. II. (ed. 1871). Cf. also Ten Brink's History of English Literature.
BEÓWULF.
I. THE PASSING OF SCYLD.
Hwät! we Gâr-Dena in geâr-dagum
þeód-cyninga þrym gefrunon,
hû þâ äðelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scêfing sceaðena þreátum,
5 monegum mægðum meodo-setla ofteáh.
Egsode eorl, syððan ærest wearð
feá-sceaft funden: he þäs frôfre gebâd,
weôx under wolcnum, weorð-myndum ðâh,
ôð þät him æghwylc þâra ymb-sittendra
10 ofer hron-râde hýran scolde,
gomban gyldan: þät wäs gôd cyning!
þäm eafera wäs äfter cenned
geong in geardum, þone god sende
folce tô frôfre; fyren-þearfe ongeat,
15 þät hie ær drugon aldor-leáse
lange hwîle. Him þäs lîf-freá,
wuldres wealdend, worold-âre forgeaf;
Beówulf wäs breme (blæd wîde sprang),
Scyldes eafera Scede-landum in.
20 Swâ sceal geong guma, gôde gewyrcean,
fromum feoh-giftum on fäder wine,
þät hine on ylde eft gewunigen
wil-gesîðas, þonne wîg cume,
leóde gelæsten: lof-dædum sceal
25 in mægða gehwære man geþeón.
Him þâ Scyld gewât tô gescäp-hwîle
fela-hrôr fêran on freán wære;
hi hyne þâ ätbæron tô brimes faroðe.
swæse gesîðas, swâ he selfa bäd,
30 þenden wordum weóld wine Scyldinga,
leóf land-fruma lange âhte.
Þær ät hýðe stôd hringed-stefna,
îsig and ûtfûs, äðelinges fär;
â-lêdon þâ leófne þeóden,
35 beága bryttan on bearm scipes,
mærne be mäste. Þær wäs mâdma fela,
of feor-wegum frätwa gelæded:
ne hýrde ic cymlîcor ceól gegyrwan
hilde-wæpnum and heaðo-wædum,
40 billum and byrnum; him on bearme läg
mâdma mänigo, þâ him mid scoldon
on flôdes æht feor gewîtan.
Nalas hi hine lässan lâcum teódan,
þeód-gestreónum, þonne þâ dydon,
45 þe hine ät frumsceafte forð onsendon
ænne ofer ýðe umbor wesende:
þâ gyt hie him âsetton segen gyldenne
heáh ofer heáfod, lêton holm beran,
geâfon on gâr-secg: him wäs geômor sefa,
50 murnende môd. Men ne cunnon
secgan tô soðe sele-rædende,
häleð under heofenum, hwâ þäm hläste onfêng.
II. THE HALL HEOROT.
Þâ wäs on burgum Beówulf Scyldinga,
leóf leód-cyning, longe þrage
55 folcum gefræge (fäder ellor hwearf,
aldor of earde), ôð þät him eft onwôc
heáh Healfdene; heóld þenden lifde,
gamol and gûð-reów, gläde Scyldingas.
Þäm feówer bearn forð-gerîmed
60 in worold wôcun, weoroda ræswan,
Heorogâr and Hrôðgâr and Hâlga til;
hýrde ic, þat Elan cwên Ongenþeówes wäs
Heaðoscilfinges heals-gebedde.
Þâ wäs Hrôðgâre here-spêd gyfen,
65 wîges weorð-mynd, þät him his wine-mâgas
georne hýrdon, ôð þät seó geogoð geweôx,
mago-driht micel. Him on môd bearn,
þät heal-reced hâtan wolde,
medo-ärn micel men gewyrcean,
70 þone yldo bearn æfre gefrunon,
and þær on innan eall gedælan
geongum and ealdum, swylc him god sealde,
bûton folc-scare and feorum gumena.
Þâ ic wîde gefrägn weorc gebannan
75 manigre mægðe geond þisne middan-geard,
folc-stede frätwan. Him on fyrste gelomp
ädre mid yldum, þät hit wearð eal gearo,
heal-ärna mæst; scôp him Heort naman,
se þe his wordes geweald wîde häfde.
80 He beót ne âlêh, beágas dælde,
sinc ät symle. Sele hlifade
heáh and horn-geáp: heaðo-wylma bâd,
lâðan lîges; ne wäs hit lenge þâ gen
þät se ecg-hete âðum-swerian
85 äfter wäl-nîðe wäcnan scolde.
Þâ se ellen-gæst earfoðlîce
þrage geþolode, se þe in þýstrum bâd,
þät he dôgora gehwâm dreám gehýrde
hlûdne in healle; þær wäs hearpan swêg,
90 swutol sang scôpes. Sägde se þe cûðe
frum-sceaft fira feorran reccan,
cwäð þät se älmihtiga eorðan worhte,
wlite-beorhtne wang, swâ wäter bebûgeð,
gesette sige-hrêðig sunnan and mônan
95 leóman tô leóhte land-bûendum,
and gefrätwade foldan sceátas
leomum and leáfum; lîf eác gesceôp
cynna gehwylcum, þâra þe cwice hwyrfað.
Swâ þâ driht-guman dreámum lifdon
100 eádiglîce, ôð þät ân ongan
fyrene fremman, feónd on helle:
wäs se grimma gäst Grendel hâten,
mære mearc-stapa, se þe môras heóld,
fen and fästen; fîfel-cynnes eard
105 won-sælig wer weardode hwîle,
siððan him scyppend forscrifen häfde.
In Caines cynne þone cwealm gewräc,
êce drihten, þäs þe he Abel slôg;
ne gefeah he þære fæhðe, ac he hine feor forwräc,
110 metod for þý mâne man-cynne fram.
Þanon untydras ealle onwôcon,
eotenas and ylfe and orcnêas,
swylce gigantas, þâ wið gode wunnon
lange þrage; he him þäs leán forgeald.
III. GRENDEL'S VISITS.
115 Gewât þâ neósian, syððan niht becom,
heán hûses, hû hit Hring-Dene
äfter beór-þege gebûn häfdon.
Fand þâ þær inne äðelinga gedriht
swefan äfter symble; sorge ne cûðon,
120 won-sceaft wera. Wiht unhælo
grim and grædig gearo sôna wäs,
reóc and rêðe, and on räste genam
þritig þegna: þanon eft gewât
hûðe hrêmig tô hâm faran,
125 mid þære wäl-fylle wîca neósan.
Þâ wäs on uhtan mid ær-däge
Grendles gûð-cräft gumum undyrne:
þâ wäs äfter wiste wôp up âhafen,
micel morgen-swêg. Mære þeóden,
130 äðeling ær-gôd, unblîðe sät,
þolode þrýð-swýð, þegn-sorge dreáh,
syððan hie þäs lâðan lâst sceáwedon,
wergan gâstes; wäs þät gewin tô strang,
lâð and longsum. Näs hit lengra fyrst,
135 ac ymb âne niht eft gefremede
morð-beala mâre and nô mearn fore
fæhðe and fyrene; wäs tô fäst on þâm.
Þâ wäs eáð-fynde, þe him elles hwær
gerûmlîcor räste sôhte,
140 bed äfter bûrum, þâ him gebeácnod wäs,
gesägd sôðlîce sweotolan tâcne
heal-þegnes hete; heóld hine syððan
fyr and fästor, se þäm feónde ätwand.
Swâ rîxode and wið rihte wan
145 âna wið eallum, ôð þät îdel stôd
hûsa sêlest. Wäs seó hwîl micel:
twelf wintra tîd torn geþolode
wine Scyldinga, weána gehwelcne,
sîdra sorga; forþam syððan wearð
150 ylda bearnum undyrne cûð,
gyddum geômore, þätte Grendel wan,
hwîle wið Hrôðgâr;-- hete-nîðas wäg,
fyrene and fæhðe fela missera,
singale säce, sibbe ne wolde
155 wið manna hwone mägenes Deniga
feorh-bealo feorran, feó þingian,
ne þær nænig witena wênan þorfte
beorhtre bôte tô banan folmum;
atol äglæca êhtende wäs,
160 deorc deáð-scûa duguðe and geogoðe
seomade and syrede. Sin-nihte heóld
mistige môras; men ne cunnon,
hwyder hel-rûnan hwyrftum scrîðað.
Swâ fela fyrena feónd man-cynnes,
165 atol ân-gengea, oft gefremede
heardra hýnða; Heorot eardode,
sinc-fâge sel sweartum nihtum
(nô he þone gif-stôl grêtan môste,
mâððum for metode, ne his myne wisse);
170 þät wäs wræc micel wine Scyldinga,
môdes brecða. Monig-oft gesät
rîce tô rûne; ræd eahtedon,
hwät swîð-ferhðum sêlest wære
wið fær-gryrum tô gefremmanne.
175 Hwîlum hie gehêton ät härg-trafum
wig-weorðunga, wordum bædon,
þät him gâst-bona geóce gefremede
wið þeód-þreáum. Swylc wäs þeáw hyra,
hæðenra hyht; helle gemundon
180 in môd-sefan, metod hie ne cûðon,
dæda dêmend, ne wiston hie drihten god,
ne hie hûru heofena helm hêrian ne cûðon,
wuldres waldend. Wâ bið þäm þe sceal
þurh slîðne nîð sâwle bescûfan
185 in fýres fäðm, frôfre ne wênan,
wihte gewendan; wel bið þäm þe môt
äfter deáð-däge drihten sêcean
and tô fäder fäðmum freoðo wilnian.
IV. HYGELAC'S THANE.
Swâ þâ mæl-ceare maga Healfdenes
190 singala seáð; ne mihte snotor häleð
weán onwendan: wäs þät gewin tô swýð,
lâð and longsum, þe on þâ leóde becom,
nýd-wracu nîð-grim, niht-bealwa mæst.
Þät fram hâm gefrägn Higelâces þegn,
195 gôd mid Geátum, Grendles dæda:
se wäs mon-cynnes mägenes strengest
on þäm däge þysses lîfes,
äðele and eácen. Hêt him ýð-lidan
gôdne gegyrwan; cwäð he gûð-cyning
200 ofer swan-râde sêcean wolde,
mærne þeóden, þâ him wäs manna þearf.
Þone sîð-fät him snotere ceorlas
lyt-hwôn lôgon, þeáh he him leóf wære;
hwetton higerôfne, hæl sceáwedon.
205 Häfde se gôda Geáta leóda
cempan gecorone, þâra þe he cênoste
findan mihte; fîftena sum
sund-wudu sôhte; secg wîsade,
lagu-cräftig mon, land-gemyrcu.
210 Fyrst forð gewât: flota wäs on ýðum,
bât under beorge. Beornas gearwe
on stefn stigon; streámas wundon
sund wið sande; secgas bæron
on bearm nacan beorhte frätwe,
215 gûð-searo geatolîc; guman ût scufon,
weras on wil-sîð wudu bundenne.
Gewât þâ ofer wæg-holm winde gefýsed
flota fâmig-heals fugle gelîcost,
ôð þät ymb ân-tîd ôðres dôgores
220 wunden-stefna gewaden häfde,
þät þâ lîðende land gesâwon,
brim-clifu blîcan, beorgas steápe,
sîde sæ-nässas: þâ wäs sund liden,
eoletes ät ende. Þanon up hraðe
225 Wedera leóde on wang stigon,
sæ-wudu sældon (syrcan hrysedon,
gûð-gewædo); gode þancedon,
þäs þe him ýð-lâde eáðe wurdon.
Þâ of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,
230 se þe holm-clifu healdan scolde,
beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas,
fyrd-searu fûslîcu; hine fyrwyt bräc
môd-gehygdum, hwät þâ men wæron.
Gewât him þâ tô waroðe wicge rîdan
235 þegn Hrôðgâres, þrymmum cwehte
mägen-wudu mundum, meðel-wordum frägn:
"Hwät syndon ge searo-häbbendra
"byrnum werede, þe þus brontne ceól
"ofer lagu-stræte lædan cwômon,
240 "hider ofer holmas helmas bæron?
"Ic wäs ende-sæta, æg-wearde heóld,
"þät on land Dena lâðra nænig
"mid scip-herge sceððan ne meahte.
"Nô her cûðlîcor cuman ongunnon
245 "lind-häbbende; ne ge leáfnes-word
"gûð-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson,
"mâga gemêdu. Næfre ic mâran geseah
"eorla ofer eorðan, þonne is eówer sum,
"secg on searwum; nis þät seld-guma
250 "wæpnum geweorðad, näfne him his wlite leóge,
"ænlîc an-sýn. Nu ic eówer sceal
"frum-cyn witan, ær ge fyr heonan
"leáse sceáweras on land Dena
"furður fêran. Nu ge feor-bûend,
255 "mere-lîðende, mînne gehýrað
"ân-fealdne geþôht: ôfost is sêlest
"tô gecýðanne, hwanan eówre cyme syndon."
V. THE ERRAND.
Him se yldesta andswarode,
werodes wîsa, word-hord onleác:
260 "We synt gum-cynnes Geáta leóde
"and Higelâces heorð-geneátas.
"Wäs mîn fäder folcum gecýðed,
"äðele ord-fruma Ecgþeów hâten;
"gebâd wintra worn, ær he on weg hwurfe,
265 "gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman
"witena wel-hwylc wîde geond eorðan.--
"We þurh holdne hige hlâford þinne,
"sunu Healfdenes, sêcean cwômon,
"leód-gebyrgean: wes þu ûs lârena gôd!
270 "Habbað we tô þäm mæran micel ærende
"Deniga freán; ne sceal þær dyrne sum
"wesan, þäs ic wêne. Þu wâst, gif hit is,
"swâ we sôðlice secgan hýrdon,
"þät mid Scyldingum sceaða ic nât hwylc,
275 "deógol dæd-hata, deorcum nihtum
"eáweð þurh egsan uncûðne nîð,
"hýnðu and hrâ-fyl. Ic þäs Hrôðgâr mäg
"þurh rûmne sefan ræd gelæran,
"hû he frôd and gôd feónd oferswýðeð,
280 "gyf him ed-wendan æfre scolde
"bealuwa bisigu, bôt eft cuman
"and þâ cear-wylmas côlran wurðað;
"oððe â syððan earfoð-þrage,
"þreá-nýd þolað, þenden þær wunað
285 "on heáh-stede hûsa sêlest."
Weard maðelode, þær on wicge sät
ombeht unforht: "Æghwäðres sceal
"scearp scyld-wîga gescâd witan,
"worda and worca, se þe wel þenceð.
290 "Ic þät gehýre, þät þis is hold weorod
"freán Scyldinga. Gewîtað forð beran
"wæpen and gewædu, ic eów wîsige:
"swylce ic magu-þegnas mîne hâte
"wið feónda gehwone flotan eówerne,
295 "niw-tyrwedne nacan on sande
"ârum healdan, ôð þät eft byreð
"ofer lagu-streámas leófne mannan
"wudu wunden-hals tô Weder-mearce.
"Gûð-fremmendra swylcum gifeðe bið,
300 "þät þone hilde-ræs hâl gedîgeð."
Gewiton him þâ fêran (flota stille bâd,
seomode on sâle sîd-fäðmed scyp,
on ancre fäst); eofor-lîc scionon
ofer hleór-beran gehroden golde
305 fâh and fýr-heard, ferh wearde heóld.
Gûðmôde grummon, guman onetton,
sigon ätsomne, ôð þät hy säl timbred
geatolîc and gold-fâh ongytan mihton;
þät wäs fore-mærost fold-bûendum
310 receda under roderum, on þäm se rîca bâd;
lixte se leóma ofer landa fela.
Him þâ hilde-deór hof môdigra
torht getæhte, þät hie him tô mihton
gegnum gangan; gûð-beorna sum
315 wicg gewende, word äfter cwäð:
"Mæl is me tô fêran; fäder alwalda
"mid âr-stafum eówic gehealde
"sîða gesunde! ic tô sæ wille,
"wið wrâð werod wearde healdan."
VI. BEÓWULF'S SPEECH.
320 Stræt wäs stân-fâh, stîg wîsode
gumum ätgädere. Gûð-byrne scân
heard hond-locen, hring-îren scîr
song in searwum, þâ hie tô sele furðum
in hyra gryre-geatwum gangan cwômon.
325 Setton sæ-mêðe sîde scyldas,
rondas regn-hearde wið þäs recedes weal,
bugon þâ tô bence; byrnan hringdon,
gûð-searo gumena; gâras stôdon,
sæ-manna searo, samod ätgädere,
330 äsc-holt ufan græg: wäs se îren-þreát
wæpnum gewurðad. Þâ þær wlonc häleð
oret-mecgas äfter äðelum frägn:
"Hwanon ferigeað ge fätte scyldas,
"græge syrcan and grîm-helmas,
335 "here-sceafta heáp?-- Ic eom Hrôðgâres
"âr and ombiht. Ne seah ic el-þeódige
"þus manige men môdiglîcran.
"Wên' ic þät ge for wlenco, nalles for wräc-sîðum,
"ac for hige-þrymmum Hrôðgâr sôhton."
340 Him þâ ellen-rôf andswarode,
wlanc Wedera leód word äfter spräc,
heard under helme: "We synt Higelâces
"beód-geneátas; Beówulf is mîn nama.
"Wille ic âsecgan suna Healfdenes,
345 "mærum þeódne mîn ærende,
"aldre þînum, gif he ûs geunnan wile,
"þät we hine swâ gôdne grêtan môton."
Wulfgâr maðelode (þät wäs Wendla leód,
wäs his môd-sefa manegum gecýðed,
350 wîg and wîs-dôm): "ic þäs wine Deniga,
"freán Scildinga frinan wille,
"beága bryttan, swâ þu bêna eart,
"þeóden mærne ymb þînne sîð ;
"and þe þâ andsware ädre gecýðan,
355 "þe me se gôda âgifan þenceð."
Hwearf þâ hrädlîce, þær Hrôðgâr sät,
eald and unhâr mid his eorla gedriht;
eode ellen-rôf, þät he for eaxlum gestôd
Deniga freán, cûðe he duguðe þeáw.
360 Wulfgâr maðelode tô his wine-drihtne:
"Her syndon geferede feorran cumene
"ofer geofenes begang Geáta leóde:
"þone yldestan oret-mecgas
"Beówulf nemnað. Hy bênan synt,
365 "þät hie, þeóden mîn, wið þe môton
"wordum wrixlan; nô þu him wearne geteóh,
"þînra gegn-cwida glädnian, Hrôðgâr!
"Hy on wîg-geatwum wyrðe þinceað
"eorla geæhtlan; hûru se aldor deáh,
370 "se þæm heaðo-rincum hider wîsade."
VII. HROTHGAR'S WELCOME.
Hrôðgâr maðelode, helm Scyldinga:
"Ic hine cûðe cniht-wesende.
"Wäs his eald-fäder Ecgþeó hâten,
"þäm tô hâm forgeaf Hrêðel Geáta
375 "ângan dôhtor; is his eafora nu
"heard her cumen, sôhte holdne wine.
"þonne sägdon þät sæ-lîðende,
"þâ þe gif-sceattas Geáta fyredon
"þyder tô þance, þät he þrittiges
380 "manna mägen-cräft on his mund-grîpe
"heaðo-rôf häbbe. Hine hâlig god
"for âr-stafum us onsende,
"tô West-Denum, þäs ic wên häbbe,
"wið Grendles gryre: ic þäm gôdan sceal
385 "for his môd-þräce mâdmas beódan.
"Beó þu on ôfeste, hât hig in gân,
"seón sibbe-gedriht samod ätgädere;
"gesaga him eác wordum, þät hie sint wil-cuman
"Deniga leódum." Þâ wið duru healle
390 Wulfgâr eode, word inne âbeád:
"Eów hêt secgan sige-drihten mîn,
"aldor Eást-Dena, þät he eówer äðelu can
"and ge him syndon ofer sæ-wylmas,
"heard-hicgende, hider wil-cuman.
395 "Nu ge môton gangan in eówrum guð-geatawum,
"under here-grîman, Hrôðgâr geseón;
"lætað hilde-bord her onbidian,
"wudu wäl-sceaftas, worda geþinges."
Ârâs þâ se rîca, ymb hine rinc manig,
400 þryðlîc þegna heáp; sume þær bidon,
heaðo-reáf heóldon, swâ him se hearda bebeád.
Snyredon ätsomne, þâ secg wîsode
under Heorotes hrôf; hyge-rôf eode,
heard under helme, þät he on heoðe gestôd.
405 Beówulf maðelode (on him byrne scân,
searo-net seówed smiðes or-þancum):
"Wes þu Hrôðgâr hâl! ic eom Higelâces
"mæg and mago-þegn; häbbe ic mærða fela
"ongunnen on geogoðe. Me wearð Grendles þing
410 "on mînre êðel-tyrf undyrne cûð:
"secgað sæ-lîðend, þät þes sele stande,
"reced sêlesta, rinca gehwylcum
"îdel and unnyt, siððan æfen-leóht
"under heofenes hâdor beholen weorðeð.
415 "Þâ me þät gelærdon leóde mîne,
"þâ sêlestan, snotere ceorlas,
"þeóden Hrôðgâr, þät ic þe sôhte;
"forþan hie mägenes cräft mînne cûðon:
"selfe ofersâwon, þâ ic of searwum cwom,
420 "fâh from feóndum, þær ic fîfe geband,
"ýðde eotena cyn, and on ýðum slôg
"niceras nihtes, nearo-þearfe dreáh,
"wräc Wedera nîð (weán âhsodon)
"forgrand gramum; and nu wið Grendel sceal,
425 "wið þam aglæcan, âna gehegan
"þing wið þyrse. Ic þe nu þâ,
"brego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille,
"eodor Scyldinga, ânre bêne;
"þät þu me ne forwyrne, wîgendra hleó,
430 "freó-wine folca, nu ic þus feorran com,
"þät ic môte âna and mînra eorla gedryht,
"þes hearda heáp, Heorot fælsian.
"Häbbe ic eác geâhsod, þät se äglæca
"for his won-hýdum wæpna ne rêceð;
435 "ic þät þonne forhicge, swâ me Higelâc sîe,
"mîn mon-drihten, môdes blîðe,
"þät ic sweord bere oððe sîdne scyld
"geolo-rand tô gûðe; ac ic mid grâpe sceal
"fôn wið feónde and ymb feorh sacan,
440 "lâð wið lâðum; þær gelýfan sceal
"dryhtnes dôme se þe hine deáð nimeð.
"Wên' ic þät he wille, gif he wealdan môt,
"in þäm gûð-sele Geátena leóde
"etan unforhte, swâ he oft dyde
445 "mägen Hrêðmanna. Nâ þu mînne þearft
"hafalan hýdan, ac he me habban wile
"dreóre fâhne, gif mec deáð nimeð;
"byreð blôdig wäl, byrgean þenceð,
"eteð ân-genga unmurnlîce,
450 "mearcað môr-hopu: nô þu ymb mînes ne þearft
"lîces feorme leng sorgian.
"Onsend Higelâce, gif mec hild nime,
"beadu-scrûda betst, þät mîne breóst wereð,
"hrägla sêlest; þät is Hrêðlan lâf,
455 "Wêlandes geweorc. Gæð â Wyrd swâ hió scel!"
VIII. HROTHGAR TELLS OF GRENDEL.
Hrôðgâr maðelode, helm Scyldinga:
"for were-fyhtum þu, wine mîn Beówulf,
"and for âr-stafum ûsic sôhtest.
"Geslôh þin fäder fæhðe mæste,
460 "wearð he Heaðolâfe tô hand-bonan
"mid Wilfingum; þâ hine Wedera cyn
"for here-brôgan habban ne mihte.
"Þanon he gesôhte Sûð-Dena folc
"ofer ýða gewealc, Âr-Scyldinga;
465 "þâ ic furðum weóld folce Deninga,
"and on geogoðe heóld gimme-rîce
"hord-burh häleða: þâ wäs Heregâr deád,
"mîn yldra mæg unlifigende,
"bearn Healfdenes. Se wäs betera þonne ic!
470 "Siððan þâ fæhðe feó þingode;
"sende ic Wylfingum ofer wäteres hrycg
"ealde mâdmas: he me âðas swôr.
"Sorh is me tô secganne on sefan mînum
"gumena ængum, hwät me Grendel hafað
475 "hýnðo on Heorote mid his hete-þancum,
"fær-nîða gefremed. Is mîn flet-werod,
"wîg-heáp gewanod; hie Wyrd forsweóp
"on Grendles gryre. God eáðe mäg
"þone dol-scaðan dæda getwæfan!
480 "Ful oft gebeótedon beóre druncne
"ofer ealo-wæge oret-mecgas,
"þät hie in beór-sele bîdan woldon
"Grendles gûðe mid gryrum ecga.
"Þonne wäs þeós medo-heal on morgen-tîd,
485 "driht-sele dreór-fâh, þonne däg lixte,
"eal benc-þelu blôde bestýmed,
"heall heoru-dreóre: âhte ic holdra þý läs,
"deórre duguðe, þe þâ deáð fornam.
"Site nu tô symle and onsæl meoto,
490 "sige-hrêð secgum, swâ þîn sefa hwette!"
Þâ wäs Geát-mäcgum geador ätsomne
on beór-sele benc gerýmed;
þær swîð-ferhðe sittan eodon
þryðum dealle. Þegn nytte beheóld,
495 se þe on handa bär hroden ealo-wæge,
scencte scîr wered. Scôp hwîlum sang
hâdor on Heorote; þær wäs häleða dreám,
duguð unlytel Dena and Wedera.
IX. HUNFERTH OBJECTS TO BEÓWULF.
Ûnferð maðelode, Ecglâfes bearn,
500 þe ät fôtum sät freán Scyldinga;
onband beadu-rûne (wäs him Beówulfes sîð,
môdges mere-faran, micel äf-þunca,
forþon þe he ne ûðe, þät ænig ôðer man
æfre mærða þon mâ middan-geardes
505 gehêdde under heofenum þonne he sylfa):
"Eart þu se Beówulf, se þe wið Brecan wunne,
"on sîdne sæ ymb sund flite,
"þær git for wlence wada cunnedon
"and for dol-gilpe on deóp wäter
510 "aldrum nêðdon? Ne inc ænig mon,
"ne leóf ne lâð, beleán mihte
"sorh-fullne sîð; þâ git on sund reón,
"þær git eágor-streám earmum þehton,
"mæton mere-stræta, mundum brugdon,
515 "glidon ofer gâr-secg; geofon ýðum weól,
"wintres wylme. Git on wäteres æht
"seofon niht swuncon; he þe ät sunde oferflât,
"häfde mâre mägen. Þâ hine on morgen-tîd
"on Heaðo-ræmas holm up ätbär,
520 "þonon he gesôhte swæsne êðel
"leóf his leódum lond Brondinga,
"freoðo-burh fägere, þær he folc âhte,
"burg and beágas. Beót eal wið þe
"sunu Beánstânes sôðe gelæste.
525 "Þonne wêne ic tô þe wyrsan geþinges,
"þeáh þu heaðo-ræsa gehwær dohte,
"grimre gûðe, gif þu Grendles dearst
"niht-longne fyrst neán bîdan!"
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
530 "Hwät þu worn fela, wine mîn Ûnferð,
"beóre druncen ymb Brecan spræce,
"sägdest from his sîðe! Sôð ic talige,
"þät ic mere-strengo mâran âhte,
"earfeðo on ýðum, þonne ænig ôðer man.
535 "Wit þät gecwædon cniht-wesende
"and gebeótedon (wæron begen þâ git
"on geogoð-feore) þät wit on gâr-secg ût
"aldrum nêðdon; and þät geäfndon swâ.
"Häfdon swurd nacod, þâ wit on sund reón,
540 "heard on handa, wit unc wið hron-fixas
"werian þôhton. Nô he wiht fram me
"flôd-ýðum feor fleótan meahte,
"hraðor on holme, nô ic fram him wolde.
"Þâ wit ätsomne on sæ wæron
545 "fîf nihta fyrst, ôð þät unc flôd tôdrâf,
"wado weallende, wedera cealdost,
"nîpende niht and norðan wind
"heaðo-grim andhwearf; hreó wæron ýða,
"Wäs mere-fixa môd onhrêred:
550 "þær me wið lâðum lîc-syrce mîn,
"heard hond-locen, helpe gefremede;
"beado-hrägl broden on breóstum läg,
"golde gegyrwed. Me tô grunde teáh
"fâh feónd-scaða, fäste häfde
555 "grim on grâpe: hwäðre me gyfeðe wearð,
"þät ic aglæcan orde geræhte,
"hilde-bille; heaðo-ræs fornam
"mihtig mere-deór þurh mîne hand.
X. BEÓWULF'S CONTEST WITH BRECA.--THE FEAST.
"Swâ mec gelôme lâð-geteónan
560 "þreátedon þearle. Ic him þênode
"deóran sweorde, swâ hit gedêfe wäs;
"näs hie þære fylle gefeán häfdon,
"mân-fordædlan, þät hie me þêgon,
"symbel ymb-sæton sæ-grunde neáh,
565 "ac on mergenne mêcum wunde
"be ýð-lâfe uppe lægon,
"sweordum âswefede, þät syððan nâ
"ymb brontne ford brim-lîðende
"lâde ne letton. Leóht eástan com,
570 "beorht beácen godes; brimu swaðredon,
"þät ic sæ-nässas geseón mihte,
"windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereð
"unfægne eorl, ðonne his ellen deáh!
"Hwäðere me gesælde, þät ic mid sweorde ofslôh
575 "niceras nigene. Nô ic on niht gefrägn
"under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,
"ne on êg-streámum earmran mannan;
"hwäðere ic fâra feng feore gedîgde,
"siðes wêrig. Þâ mec sæ ôðbär,
580 "flôd äfter faroðe, on Finna land,
"wadu weallendu. Nô ic wiht fram þe
"swylcra searo-nîða secgan hýrde,
"billa brôgan: Breca næfre git
"ät heaðo-lâce, ne gehwäðer incer
585 "swâ deórlîce dæd gefremede
"fâgum sweordum . . . . . . .
". . . . . . . nô ic þäs gylpe;
"þeáh þu þînum brôðrum tô banan wurde,
"heáfod-mægum; þäs þu in helle scealt
590 "werhðo dreógan, þeáh þîn wit duge,
"Secge ic þe tô sôðe, sunu Ecglâfes,
"þät næfre Grendel swâ fela gryra gefremede,
"atol äglæca ealdre þînum,
"hýnðo on Heorote, gif þîn hige wære,
595 "sefa swâ searo-grim, swâ þu self talast.
"Ac he hafað onfunden, þät he þâ fæhðe ne þearf,
"atole ecg-þräce eówer leóde
"swîðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga;
"nymeð nýd-bâde, nænegum ârað
600 "leóde Deniga, ac he on lust wîgeð,
"swefeð ond sendeð, secce ne wêneð
"tô Gâr-Denum. Ac him Geáta sceal
"eafoð and ellen ungeâra nu
"gûðe gebeódan. Gæð eft se þe môt
605 "tô medo môdig, siððan morgen-leóht
"ofer ylda bearn ôðres dôgores,
"sunne swegl-wered sûðan scîneð!"
Þâ wäs on sâlum sinces brytta
gamol-feax and gûð-rôf, geóce gelýfde
610 brego Beorht-Dena; gehýrde on Beówulfe
folces hyrde fäst-rædne geþôht.
Þær wäs häleða hleahtor; hlyn swynsode,
word wæron wynsume. Eode Wealhþeów forð,
cwên Hrôðgâres, cynna gemyndig,
615 grêtte gold-hroden guman on healle,
and þâ freólîc wîf ful gesealde
ærest Eást-Dena êðel-wearde,
bäd hine blîðne ät þære beór-þege,
leódum leófne; he on lust geþeah
620 symbel and sele-ful, sige-rôf kyning.
Ymb-eode þâ ides Helminga
duguðe and geogoðe dæl æghwylcne;
sinc-fato sealde, ôð þät sæl âlamp,
þät hió Beówulfe, beág-hroden cwên,
625 môde geþungen, medo-ful ätbär;
grêtte Geáta leód, gode þancode
wîs-fäst wordum, þäs þe hire se willa gelamp,
þät heó on ænigne eorl gelýfde
fyrena frôfre. He þät ful geþeah,
630 wäl-reów wîga ät Wealhþeón,
and þâ gyddode gûðe gefýsed,
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
"Ic þät hogode, þâ ic on holm gestâh,
"sæ-bât gesät mid mînra secga gedriht,
635 "þät ic ânunga eówra leóda
"willan geworhte, oððe on wäl crunge,
"feónd-grâpum fäst. Ic gefremman sceal
"eorlîc ellen, oððe ende-däg
"on þisse meodu-healle mînne gebîdan."
640 Þam wîfe þâ word wel lîcodon,
gilp-cwide Geátes; eode gold-hroden
freólîcu folc-cwên tô hire freán sittan.
Þâ wäs eft swâ ær inne on healle
þryð-word sprecen, þeód on sælum,
645 sige-folca swêg, ôð þät semninga
sunu Healfdenes sêcean wolde
æfen-räste; wiste ät þäm ahlæcan
tô þäm heáh-sele hilde geþinged,
siððan hie sunnan leóht geseón ne meahton,
650 oððe nîpende niht ofer ealle,
scadu-helma gesceapu scrîðan cwôman,
wan under wolcnum. Werod eall ârâs.
Grêtte þâ giddum guma ôðerne,
Hrôðgâr Beówulf, and him hæl âbeád,
655 wîn-ärnes geweald and þät word âcwäð:
"Næfre ic ænegum men ær âlýfde,
"siððan ic hond and rond hebban mihte,
"þryð-ärn Dena bûton þe nu þâ.
"Hafa nu and geheald hûsa sêlest;
660 "gemyne mærðo, mägen-ellen cýð,
"waca wið wrâðum! Ne bið þe wilna gâd,
"gif þu þät ellen-weorc aldre gedîgest."
XI. THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.
Þâ him Hrôðgâr gewât mid his häleða gedryht,
eodur Scyldinga ût of healle;
665 wolde wîg-fruma Wealhþeó sêcan,
cwên tô gebeddan Häfde kyninga wuldor
Grendle tô-geánes, swâ guman gefrungon,
sele-weard âseted, sundor-nytte beheóld
ymb aldor Dena, eoton weard âbeád;
670 hûru Geáta leód georne trûwode
môdgan mägnes, metodes hyldo.
Þâ he him of dyde îsern-byrnan,
helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,
îrena cyst ombiht-þegne,
675 and gehealdan hêt hilde-geatwe.
Gespräc þâ se gôda gylp-worda sum
Beówulf Geáta, ær he on bed stige:
"Nô ic me an here-wæsmum hnâgran talige
"gûð-geweorca, þonne Grendel hine;
680 "forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,
"aldre beneótan, þeáh ic eal mæge.
"Nât he þâra gôda, þät he me on-geán sleá,
"rand geheáwe, þeáh þe he rôf sîe
"nîð-geweorca; ac wit on niht sculon
685 "secge ofersittan, gif he gesêcean dear
"wîg ofer wæpen, and siððan witig god
"on swâ hwäðere hond hâlig dryhten
"mærðo dême, swâ him gemet þince."
Hylde hine þâ heaðo-deór, hleór-bolster onfêng
690 eorles andwlitan; and hine ymb monig
snellîc sæ-rinc sele-reste gebeáh.
Nænig heora þôhte þät he þanon scolde
eft eard-lufan æfre gesêcean,
folc oððe freó-burh, þær he âfêded wäs,
695 ac hie häfdon gefrunen, þät hie ær tô fela micles
in þäm wîn-sele wäl-deáð fornam,
Denigea leóde. Ac him dryhten forgeaf
wîg-spêda gewiofu, Wedera leódum
frôfor and fultum, þät hie feónd heora
700 þurh ânes cräft ealle ofercômon,
selfes mihtum: sôð is gecýðed,
þät mihtig god manna cynnes
weóld wîde-ferhð. Com on wanre niht
scrîðan sceadu-genga. Sceótend swæfon,
705 þâ þät horn-reced healdan scoldon,
ealle bûton ânum. Þät wäs yldum cûð,
þät hie ne môste, þâ metod nolde,
se syn-scaða under sceadu bregdan;
ac he wäccende wrâðum on andan
710 bâd bolgen-môd beadwa geþinges.
XII. GRENDEL'S RAID.
Þâ com of môre under mist-hleoðum
Grendel gongan, godes yrre bär.
Mynte se mân-scaða manna cynnes
sumne besyrwan in sele þam heán;
715 wôd under wolcnum, tô þäs þe he wîn-reced,
gold-sele gumena, gearwost wisse
fättum fâhne. Ne wäs þät forma sîð,
þät he Hrôðgâres hâm gesôhte:
næfre he on aldor-dagum ær ne siððan
720 heardran häle, heal-þegnas fand!
Com þâ tô recede rinc sîðian
dreámum bedæled. Duru sôna onarn
fýr-bendum fäst, syððan he hire folmum hrân;
onbräd þâ bealo-hydig, þâ he âbolgen wäs,
725 recedes mûðan. Raðe äfter þon
on fâgne flôr feónd treddode,
eode yrre-môd; him of eágum stôd
lîge gelîcost leóht unfäger.
Geseah he in recede rinca manige,
730 swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ätgädere,
mago-rinca heáp: þâ his môd âhlôg,
mynte þät he gedælde, ær þon däg cwôme,
atol aglæca, ânra gehwylces
lîf wið lîce, þâ him âlumpen wäs
735 wist-fylle wên. Ne wäs þät wyrd þâ gen,
þät he mâ môste manna cynnes
þicgean ofer þâ niht. Þrýð-swýð beheóld
mæg Higelâces, hû se mân-scaða
under fær-gripum gefaran wolde.
740 Ne þät se aglæca yldan þôhte,
ac he gefêng hraðe forman siðe
slæpendne rinc, slât unwearnum,
bât bân-locan, blôd êdrum dranc,
syn-snædum swealh: sôna häfde
745 unlyfigendes eal gefeormod
fêt and folma. Forð neár ätstôp,
nam þâ mid handa hige-þihtigne
rinc on räste; ræhte ongeán
feónd mid folme, he onfêng hraðe
750 inwit-þancum and wið earm gesät.
Sôna þät onfunde fyrena hyrde,
þät he ne mêtte middan-geardes
eorðan sceáta on elran men
mund-gripe mâran: he on môde wearð
755 forht on ferhðe, nô þý ær fram meahte;
hyge wäs him hin-fûs, wolde on heolster fleón,
sêcan deófla gedräg: ne wäs his drohtoð þær,
swylce he on ealder-dagum ær gemêtte.
Gemunde þâ se gôda mæg Higelâces
760 æfen-spræce, up-lang âstôd
and him fäste wiðfêng. Fingras burston;
eoten wäs ût-weard, eorl furður stôp.
Mynte se mæra, þær he meahte swâ,
wîdre gewindan and on weg þanon
765 fleón on fen-hopu; wiste his fingra geweald
on grames grâpum. Þät wäs geócor sîð,
þät se hearm-scaða tô Heorute âteáh:
dryht-sele dynede, Denum eallum wearð,
ceaster-bûendum, cênra gehwylcum,
770 eorlum ealu-scerwen. Yrre wæron begen,
rêðe rên-weardas. Reced hlynsode;
þâ wäs wundor micel, þät se wîn-sele
wiðhäfde heaðo-deórum, þät he on hrusan ne feól,
fäger fold-bold; ac he þäs fäste wäs
775 innan and ûtan îren-bendum
searo-þoncum besmiðod. Þær fram sylle âbeág
medu-benc monig mîne gefræge,
golde geregnad, þær þâ graman wunnon;
þäs ne wêndon ær witan Scyldinga,
780 þät hit â mid gemete manna ænig
betlîc and bân-fâg tôbrecan meahte,
listum tôlûcan, nymðe lîges fäðm
swulge on swaðule. Swêg up âstâg
niwe geneahhe; Norð-Denum stôd
785 atelîc egesa ânra gehwylcum
þâra þe of wealle wôp gehýrdon,
gryre-leóð galan godes andsacan,
sige-leásne sang, sâr wânigean
helle häftan. Heóld hine tô fäste
790 se þe manna wäs mägene strengest
on þäm däge þysses lîfes.
XIII. BEÓWULF TEARS OFF GRENDEL'S ARM.
Nolde eorla hleó ænige þinga
þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forlætan,
ne his lîf-dagas leóda ænigum
795 nytte tealde. Þær genehost brägd
eorl Beówulfes ealde lâfe,
wolde freá-drihtnes feorh ealgian
mæres þeódnes, þær hie meahton swâ;
hie þät ne wiston, þâ hie gewin drugon,
800 heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas,
and on healfa gehwone heáwan þôhton,
sâwle sêcan, þät þone syn-scaðan
ænig ofer eorðan îrenna cyst,
gûð-billa nân grêtan nolde;
805 ac he sige-wæpnum forsworen häfde,
ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedâl
on þäm däge þysses lîfes
earmlîc wurðan and se ellor-gâst
on feónda geweald feor sîðian.
810 Þâ þät onfunde se þe fela æror
môdes myrðe manna cynne
fyrene gefremede (he wäs fâg wið god)
þät him se lîc-homa læstan nolde,
ac hine se môdega mæg Hygelâces
815 häfde be honda; wäs gehwäðer ôðrum
lifigende lâð. Lîc-sâr gebâd
atol äglæca, him on eaxle wearð
syn-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon
burston bân-locan. Beówulfe wearð
820 gûð-hrêð gyfeðe; scolde Grendel þonan
feorh-seóc fleón under fen-hleoðu,
sêcean wyn-leás wîc; wiste þê geornor,
þät his aldres wäs ende gegongen,
dôgera däg-rîm. Denum eallum wearð
825 äfter þam wäl-ræse willa gelumpen.
Häfde þâ gefælsod, se þe ær feorran com,
snotor and swýð-ferhð sele Hrôðgâres,
genered wið nîðe. Niht-weorce gefeh,
ellen-mærðum; häfde Eást-Denum
830 Geát-mecga leód gilp gelæsted,
swylce oncýððe ealle gebêtte,
inwid-sorge, þe hie ær drugon
and for þreá-nýdum þolian scoldon,
torn unlytel. Þät wäs tâcen sweotol,
835 syððan hilde-deór hond âlegde,
earm and eaxle (þær wäs eal geador
Grendles grâpe) under geápne hrôf.
XIV. THE JOY AT HEOROT.
Þâ wäs on morgen mîne gefræge
ymb þâ gif-healle gûð-rinc monig:
840 fêrdon folc-togan feorran and neán
geond wîd-wegas wundor sceáwian,
lâðes lâstas. Nô his lîf-gedâl
sârlîc þûhte secga ænegum,
þâra þe tîr-leáses trode sceáwode,
845 hû he wêrig-môd on weg þanon,
nîða ofercumen, on nicera mere
fæge and geflýmed feorh-lâstas bär.
Þær wäs on blôde brim weallende,
atol ýða geswing eal gemenged
850 hâtan heolfre, heoro-dreóre weól;
deáð-fæge deóg, siððan dreáma leás
in fen-freoðo feorh âlegde
hæðene sâwle, þær him hel onfêng.
Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesîðas,
855 swylce geong manig of gomen-wâðe,
fram mere môdge, mearum rîdan,
beornas on blancum. Þær wäs Beówulfes
mærðo mæned; monig oft gecwäð,
þätte sûð ne norð be sæm tweonum
860 ofer eormen-grund ôðer nænig
under swegles begong sêlra nære
rond-häbbendra, rîces wyrðra.
Ne hie hûru wine-drihten wiht ne lôgon,
glädne Hrôðgâr, ac þät wäs gôd cyning.
865 Hwîlum heaðo-rôfe hleápan lêton,
on geflît faran fealwe mearas,
þær him fold-wegas fägere þûhton,
cystum cûðe; hwîlum cyninges þegn,
guma gilp-hläden gidda gemyndig,
870 se þe eal-fela eald-gesegena
worn gemunde, word ôðer fand
sôðe gebunden: secg eft ongan
sîð Beówulfes snyttrum styrian
and on spêd wrecan spel gerâde,
875 wordum wrixlan, wel-hwylc gecwäð,
þät he fram Sigemunde secgan hýrde,
ellen-dædum, uncûðes fela,
Wälsinges gewin, wîde sîðas,
þâra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,
880 fæhðe and fyrene, bûton Fitela mid hine,
þonne he swylces hwät secgan wolde
eám his nefan, swâ hie â wæron
ät nîða gehwâm nýd-gesteallan:
häfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes
885 sweordum gesæged. Sigemunde gesprong
äfter deáð-däge dôm unlýtel,
syððan wîges heard wyrm âcwealde,
hordes hyrde; he under hârne stân,
äðelinges bearn, âna genêðde
890 frêcne dæde; ne wäs him Fitela mid.
Hwäðre him gesælde, þät þät swurd þurhwôd
wrätlîcne wyrm, þät hit on wealle ätstôd,
dryhtlîc îren; draca morðre swealt.
Häfde aglæca elne gegongen,
895 þät he beáh-hordes brûcan môste
selfes dôme: sæ-bât gehlôd,
bär on bearm scipes beorhte frätwa,
Wälses eafera; wyrm hât gemealt.
Se wäs wreccena wîde mærost
900 ofer wer-þeóde, wîgendra hleó
ellen-dædum: he þäs âron þâh.
Siððan Heremôdes hild sweðrode
eafoð and ellen. He mid eotenum wearð
on feónda geweald forð forlâcen,
905 snûde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas
lemede tô lange, he his leódum wearð,
eallum äðelingum tô aldor-ceare;
swylce oft bemearn ærran mælum
swîð-ferhðes sîð snotor ceorl monig,
910 se þe him bealwa tô bôte gelýfde,
þät þät þeódnes bearn geþeón scolde,
fäder-äðelum onfôn, folc gehealdan,
hord and hleó-burh, häleða rîce,
êðel Scyldinga. He þær eallum wearð,
915 mæg Higelâces manna cynne,
freóndum gefägra; hine fyren onwôd.
Hwîlum flîtende fealwe stræte
mearum mæton. Þâ wäs morgen-leóht
scofen and scynded. Eode scealc monig
920 swîð-hicgende tô sele þam heán,
searo-wundor seón, swylce self cyning,
of brýd-bûre beáh-horda weard,
tryddode tîr-fäst getrume micle,
cystum gecýðed, and his cwên mid him
925 medo-stîg gemät mägða hôse.
XV. HROTHGAR'S GRATULATION.
Hrôðgâr maðelode (he tô healle geóng,
stôd on stapole, geseah steápne hrôf
golde fâhne and Grendles hond):
"þisse ansýne al-wealdan þanc
930 "lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lâðes gebâd,
"grynna ät Grendle: â mäg god wyrcan
"wunder äfter wundre, wuldres hyrde!
"Þät wäs ungeâra, þät ic ænigra me
"weána ne wênde tô wîdan feore
935 "bôte gebîdan þonne blôde fâh
"hûsa sêlest heoro-dreórig stôd;
"weá wîd-scofen witena gehwylcne
"þâra þe ne wêndon, þät hie wîde-ferhð
"leóda land-geweorc lâðum beweredon
940 "scuccum and scinnum. Nu scealc hafað
"þurh drihtnes miht dæd gefremede,
"þe we ealle ær ne meahton
"snyttrum besyrwan. Hwät! þät secgan mäg
"efne swâ hwylc mägða, swâ þone magan cende
945 "äfter gum-cynnum, gyf heó gyt lyfað,
"þät hyre eald-metod êste wære
"bearn-gebyrdo. Nu ic Beówulf
"þec, secg betsta, me for sunu wylle
"freógan on ferhðe; heald forð tela
950 "niwe sibbe. Ne bið þe nænigra gâd
"worolde wilna, þe ic geweald häbbe.
"Ful-oft ic for lässan leán teohhode
"hord-weorðunge hnâhran rince,
"sæmran ät säcce. Þu þe self hafast
955 "dædum gefremed, þät þîn dôm lyfað
"âwâ tô aldre. Alwalda þec
"gôde forgylde, swâ he nu gyt dyde!"
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
"We þät ellen-weorc êstum miclum,
960 "feohtan fremedon, frêcne genêðdon
"eafoð uncûðes; ûðe ic swîðor,
"þät þu hinc selfne geseón môste,
"feónd on frätewum fyl-wêrigne!
"Ic hine hrädlîce heardan clammum
965 "on wäl-bedde wrîðan þôhte,
"þät he for mund-gripe mînum scolde
"licgean lîf-bysig, bûtan his lîc swice;
"ic hine ne mihte, þâ metod nolde,
"ganges getwæman, nô ic him þäs georne ätfealh,
970 "feorh-genîðlan; wäs tô fore-mihtig
"feónd on fêðe. Hwäðere he his folme forlêt
"tô lîf-wraðe lâst weardian,
"earm and eaxle; nô þær ænige swâ þeáh
"feá-sceaft guma frôfre gebohte:
975 "nô þý leng leofað lâð-geteóna
"synnum geswenced, ac hyne sâr hafað
"in nýd-gripe nearwe befongen,
"balwon bendum: þær âbîdan sceal
"maga mâne fâh miclan dômes,
980 "hû him scîr metod scrîfan wille."
Þâ wäs swîgra secg, sunu Ecglâfes,
on gylp-spræce gûð-geweorca,
siððan äðelingas eorles cräfte
ofer heáhne hrôf hand sceáwedon,
985 feóndes fingras, foran æghwylc;
wäs stêde nägla gehwylc, stýle gelîcost,
hæðenes hand-sporu hilde-rinces
egle unheóru; æg-hwylc gecwäð,
þät him heardra nân hrînan wolde
990 îren ær-gôd, þät þäs ahlæcan
blôdge beadu-folme onberan wolde.
XVI. THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.
Þâ wäs hâten hreðe Heort innan-weard
folmum gefrätwod: fela þæra wäs
wera and wîfa, þe þät wîn-reced,
995 gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fâg scinon
web äfter wagum, wundor-sióna fela
secga gehwylcum þâra þe on swylc starað
Wäs þät beorhte bold tôbrocen swîðe
eal inne-weard îren-bendum fäst,
1000 heorras tôhlidene; hrôf âna genäs
ealles ansund, þâ se aglæca
fyren-dædum fâg on fleám gewand,
aldres or-wêna. Nô þät ýðe byð
tô befleónne (fremme se þe wille!)
1005 ac gesacan sceal sâwl-berendra
nýde genýdde niðða bearna
grund-bûendra gearwe stôwe,
þær his lîc-homa leger-bedde fäst
swefeð äfter symle. Þâ wäs sæl and mæl,
1010 þät tô healle gang Healfdenes sunu;
wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.
Ne gefrägen ic þâ mægðe mâran weorode
ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sêl gebæran.
Bugon þâ tô bence blæd-âgende,
1015 fylle gefægon. Fägere geþægon
medo-ful manig mâgas + þâra
swîð-hicgende on sele þam heán,
Hrôðgâr and Hrôðulf. Heorot innan wäs
freóndum âfylled; nalles fâcen-stafas
1020 Þeód-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.
Forgeaf þâ Beówulfe bearn Healfdenes
segen gyldenne sigores tô leáne,
hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;
mære mâððum-sweord manige gesâwon
1025 beforan beorn beran. Beówulf geþah
ful on flette; nô he þære feoh-gyfte
for sceótendum scamigan þorfte,
ne gefrägn ic freóndlîcor feówer mâdmas
golde gegyrede gum-manna fela
1030 in ealo-bence ôðrum gesellan.
Ymb þäs helmes hrôf heáfod-beorge
wîrum bewunden walan ûtan heóld,
þät him fêla lâfe frêcne ne meahton
scûr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca
1035 ongeán gramum gangan scolde.
Hêht þâ eorla hleó eahta mearas,
fäted-hleóre, on flet teón
in under eoderas; þâra ânum stôd
sadol searwum fâh since gewurðad,
1040 þät wäs hilde-setl heáh-cyninges,
þonne sweorda gelâc sunu Healfdenes
efnan wolde; næfre on ôre läg
wîd-cûðes wîg, þonne walu feóllon.
And þâ Beówulfe bega gehwäðres
1045 eodor Ingwina onweald geteáh,
wicga and wæpna; hêt hine wel brûcan.
Swâ manlîce mære þeóden,
hord-weard häleða heaðo-ræsas geald
mearum and mâdmum, swâ hý næfre man lyhð,
1050 se þe secgan wile sôð äfter rihte.
XVII. SONG OF HROTHGAR'S POET--THE LAY OF HNAEF AND HENGEST.
Þâ gyt æghwylcum eorla drihten
þâra þe mid Beówulfe brim-lâde teáh,
on þære medu-bence mâððum gesealde,
yrfe-lâfe, and þone ænne hêht
1055 golde forgyldan, þone þe Grendel ær
mâne âcwealde, swâ he hyra mâ wolde,
nefne him witig god wyrd forstôde
and þäs mannes môd: metod eallum weóld
gumena cynnes, swâ he nu git dêð;
1060 forþan bið andgit æghwær sêlest,
ferhðes fore-þanc! fela sceal gebîdan
leófes and lâðes, se þe longe her
on þyssum win-dagum worolde brûceð.
Þær wäs sang and swêg samod ätgädere
1065 fore Healfdenes hilde-wîsan,
gomen-wudu grêted, gid oft wrecen,
þonne heal-gamen Hrôðgâres scôp
äfter medo-bence mænan scolde
Finnes eaferum, þâ hie se fær begeat:
1070 "Häleð Healfdenes, Hnäf Scyldinga,
"in Fr..es wäle feallan scolde.
"Ne hûru Hildeburh hêrian þorfte
"Eotena treówe: unsynnum wearð
"beloren leófum ät þam lind-plegan
1075 "bearnum and brôðrum; hie on gebyrd hruron
"gâre wunde; þät wäs geômuru ides.
"Nalles hôlinga Hôces dôhtor
"meotod-sceaft bemearn, syððan morgen com,
"þâ heó under swegle geseón meahte
1080 "morðor-bealo mâga, þær heó ær mæste heóld
"worolde wynne: wîg ealle fornam
"Finnes þegnas, nemne feáum ânum,
"þät he ne mehte on þäm meðel-stede
"wîg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan,
1085 "ne þâ weá-lâfe wîge forþringan
"þeódnes þegne; ac hig him geþingo budon,
"þät hie him ôðer flet eal gerýmdon,
"healle and heáh-setl, þät hie healfre geweald
"wið Eotena bearn âgan môston,
1090 "and ät feoh-gyftum Folcwaldan sunu
"dôgra gehwylce Dene weorðode,
"Hengestes heáp hringum wenede,
"efne swâ swîðe sinc-gestreónum
"fättan goldes, swâ he Fresena cyn
1095 "on beór-sele byldan wolde.
"Þâ hie getrûwedon on twâ healfa
"fäste frioðu-wære; Fin Hengeste
"elne unflitme âðum benemde,
"þät he þâ weá-lâfe weotena dôme
1100 "ârum heolde, þät þær ænig mon
"wordum ne worcum wære ne bræce,
"ne þurh inwit-searo æfre gemænden,
"þeáh hie hira beág-gyfan banan folgedon
"þeóden-leáse, þâ him swâ geþearfod wäs:
1105 "gyf þonne Frysna hwylc frêcnan spræce
"þäs morðor-hetes myndgiend wære,
"þonne hit sweordes ecg syððan scolde.
"Âð wäs geäfned and icge gold
"âhäfen of horde. Here-Scyldinga
1110 "betst beado-rinca wäs on bæl gearu;
"ät þäm âde wäs êð-gesýne
"swât-fâh syrce, swýn eal-gylden,
"eofer îren-heard, äðeling manig
"wundum âwyrded; sume on wäle crungon.
1115 "Hêt þâ Hildeburh ät Hnäfes âde
"hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befästan,
"bân-fatu bärnan and on bæl dôn.
"Earme on eaxle ides gnornode,
"geômrode giddum; gûð-rinc âstâh.
1120 "Wand tô wolcnum wäl-fýra mæst,
"hlynode for hlâwe; hafelan multon,
"ben-geato burston, þonne blôd ätspranc
"lâð-bite lîces. Lîg ealle forswealg,
"gæsta gîfrost, þâra þe þær gûð fornam
1125 "bega folces; wäs hira blæd scacen.
XVIII. THE GLEEMAN'S TALE IS ENDED.
"Gewiton him þâ wîgend wîca neósian,
"freóndum befeallen Frysland geseón,
"hâmas and heá-burh. Hengest þâ gyt
"wäl-fâgne winter wunode mid Finne
1130 "ealles unhlitme; eard gemunde,
"þeáh þe he ne meahte on mere drîfan
"hringed-stefnan; holm storme weól,
"won wið winde; winter ýðe beleác
"îs-gebinde ôð þät ôðer com
1135 "geâr in geardas, swâ nu gyt dêð,
"þâ þe syngales sêle bewitiað,
"wuldor-torhtan weder. Þâ wäs winter scacen,
"fäger foldan bearm; fundode wrecca,
"gist of geardum; he tô gyrn-wräce
1140 "swîðor þôhte, þonne tô sæ-lâde,
"gif he torn-gemôt þurhteón mihte,
"þät he Eotena bearn inne gemunde.
"Swâ he ne forwyrnde worold-rædenne,
"þonne him Hûnlâfing hilde-leóman,
1145 "billa sêlest, on bearm dyde:
"þäs wæron mid Eotenum ecge cûðe.
"Swylce ferhð-frecan Fin eft begeat
"sweord-bealo slîðen ät his selfes hâm,
"siððan grimne gripe Gûðlaf ond Ôslâf
1150 "äfter sæ-siðe sorge mændon,
"ätwiton weána dæl; ne meahte wäfre môd
"forhabban in hreðre. Þâ wäs heal hroden
"feónda feorum, swilce Fin slägen,
"cyning on corðre, and seó cwên numen.
1155 "Sceótend Scyldinga tô scypum feredon
"eal in-gesteald eorð-cyninges,
"swylce hie ät Finnes hâm findan meahton
"sigla searo-gimma. Hie on sæ-lâde
"drihtlîce wîf tô Denum feredon,
1160 "læddon tô leódum." Leóð wäs âsungen,
gleó-mannes gyd. Gamen eft âstâh,
beorhtode benc-swêg, byrelas sealdon
wîn of wunder-fatum. Þâ cwom Wealhþeó forð
gân under gyldnum beáge, þær þâ gôdan twegen
1165 sæton suhter-gefäderan; þâ gyt wäs hiera sib ätgädere
æghwylc ôðrum trýwe. Swylce þær Ûnferð þyle
ät fôtum sät freán Scyldinga: gehwylc hiora his ferhðe treówde,
þät he häfde môd micel, þeáh þe he his mâgum nære
ârfäst ät ecga gelâcum. Spräc þâ ides Scyldinga:
1170 "Onfôh þissum fulle, freó-drihten mîn,
"sinces brytta; þu on sælum wes,
"gold-wine gumena, and tô Geátum sprec
"mildum wordum! Swâ sceal man dôn.
"Beó wið Geátas gläd, geofena gemyndig;
1175 "neán and feorran þu nu friðu hafast.
"Me man sägde, þät þu þe for sunu wolde
"here-rinc habban. Heorot is gefælsod,
"beáh-sele beorhta; brûc þenden þu môte
"manigra mêda and þînum mâgum læf
1180 "folc and rîce, þonne þu forð scyle
"metod-sceaft seón. Ic mînne can
"glädne Hrôðulf, þät he þâ geogoðe wile
"ârum healdan, gyf þu ær þonne he,
"wine Scildinga, worold oflætest;
1185 "wêne ic, þät he mid gôde gyldan wille
"uncran eaferan, gif he þät eal gemon,
"hwät wit tô willan and tô worð-myndum
"umbor wesendum ær ârna gefremedon."
Hwearf þâ bî bence, þær hyre byre wæron,
1190 Hrêðrîc and Hrôðmund, and häleða bearn,
giogoð ätgädere; þær se gôda sät
Beówulf Geáta be þæm gebrôðrum twæm.
XIX. BEÓWULF'S JEWELLED COLLAR. THE HEROES REST.
Him wäs ful boren and freónd-laðu
wordum bewägned and wunden gold
1195 êstum geeáwed, earm-hreáde twâ,
hrägl and hringas, heals-beága mæst
þâra þe ic on foldan gefrägen häbbe.
Nænigne ic under swegle sêlran hýrde
hord-mâððum häleða, syððan Hâma ätwäg
1200 tô þære byrhtan byrig Brosinga mene,
sigle and sinc-fät, searo-nîðas fealh
Eormenrîces, geceás êcne ræd.
Þone hring häfde Higelâc Geáta,
nefa Swertinges, nýhstan sîðe,
1205 siððan he under segne sinc ealgode,
wäl-reáf werede; hyne Wyrd fornam,
syððan he for wlenco weán âhsode,
fæhðe tô Frysum; he þâ frätwe wäg,
eorclan-stânas ofer ýða ful,
1210 rîce þeóden, he under rande gecranc;
gehwearf þâ in Francna fäðm feorh cyninges,
breóst-gewædu and se beáh somod:
wyrsan wîg-frecan wäl reáfedon
äfter gûð-sceare, Geáta leóde
1215 hreâ-wîc heóldon. Heal swêge onfêng.
Wealhþeó maðelode, heó fore þäm werede spräc:
"Brûc þisses beáges, Beówulf, leófa
"hyse, mid hæle, and þisses hrägles neót
"þeód-gestreóna, and geþeóh tela,
1220 "cen þec mid cräfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes
"lâra lîðe! ic þe þäs leán geman.
"Hafast þu gefêred, þät þe feor and neáh
"ealne wîde-ferhð weras ehtigað,
"efne swâ sîde swâ sæ bebûgeð
1225 "windige weallas. Wes, þenden þu lifige,
"äðeling eádig! ic þe an tela
"sinc-gestreóna. Beó þu suna mînum
"dædum gedêfe dreám healdende!
"Her is æghwylc eorl ôðrum getrýwe,
1230 "môdes milde, man-drihtne hold,
"þegnas syndon geþwære, þeód eal gearo:
"druncne dryht-guman, dôð swâ ic bidde!"
Eode þâ tô setle. Þær wäs symbla cyst,
druncon wîn weras: wyrd ne cûðon,
1235 geó-sceaft grimme, swâ hit âgangen wearð
eorla manegum, syððan æfen cwom
and him Hrôðgâr gewât tô hofe sînum,
rîce tô räste. Reced weardode
unrîm eorla, swâ hie oft ær dydon:
1240 benc-þelu beredon, hit geond-bræded wearð
beddum and bolstrum. Beór-scealca sum
fûs and fæge flet-räste gebeág.
Setton him tô heáfdum hilde-randas,
bord-wudu beorhtan; þær on bence wäs
1245 ofer äðelinge ýð-gesêne
heaðo-steápa helm, hringed byrne,
þrec-wudu þrymlîc. Wäs þeáw hyra,
þät hie oft wæron an wîg gearwe,
ge ät hâm ge on herge, ge gehwäðer þâra
1250 efne swylce mæla, swylce hira man-dryhtne
þearf gesælde; wäs seó þeód tilu.
XX. GRENDEL'S MOTHER ATTACKS THE RING-DANES.
Sigon þâ tô slæpe. Sum sâre angeald
æfen-räste, swâ him ful-oft gelamp,
siððan gold-sele Grendel warode,
1255 unriht äfnde, ôð þät ende becwom,
swylt äfter synnum. Þät gesýne wearð,
wîd-cûð werum, þätte wrecend þâ gyt
lifde äfter lâðum, lange þrage
äfter gûð-ceare; Grendles môdor,
1260 ides aglæc-wîf yrmðe gemunde,
se þe wäter-egesan wunian scolde,
cealde streámas, siððan Cain wearð
tô ecg-banan ângan brêðer,
fäderen-mæge; he þâ fâg gewât,
1265 morðre gemearcod man-dreám fleón,
wêsten warode. Þanon wôc fela
geósceaft-gâsta; wäs þæra Grendel sum,
heoro-wearh hetelîc, se ät Heorote fand
wäccendne wer wîges bîdan,
1270 þær him aglæca ät-græpe wearð;
hwäðre he gemunde mägenes strenge,
gim-fäste gife, þe him god sealde,
and him tô anwaldan âre gelýfde,
frôfre and fultum: þý he þone feónd ofercwom,
1275 gehnægde helle gâst: þâ he heán gewât,
dreáme bedæled deáð-wîc seón,
man-cynnes feónd. And his môdor þâ gyt
gîfre and galg-môd gegân wolde
sorh-fulne sîð, suna deáð wrecan.
1280 Com þâ tô Heorote, þær Hring-Dene
geond þät säld swæfun. Þâ þær sôna wearð
ed-hwyrft eorlum, siððan inne fealh
Grendles môdor; wäs se gryre lässa
efne swâ micle, swâ bið mägða cräft,
1285 wîg-gryre wîfes be wæpned-men,
þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþuren,
sweord swâte fâh swîn ofer helme,
ecgum dyhtig andweard scireð.
Þâ wäs on healle heard-ecg togen,
1290 sweord ofer setlum, sîd-rand manig
hafen handa fäst; helm ne gemunde,
byrnan sîde, þe hine se brôga angeat.
Heó wäs on ôfste, wolde ût þanon
feore beorgan, þâ heó onfunden wäs;
1295 hraðe heó äðelinga ânne häfde
fäste befangen, þâ heó tô fenne gang;
se wäs Hrôðgâre häleða leófost
on gesîðes hâd be sæm tweonum,
rîce rand-wîga, þone þe heó on räste âbreát,
1300 blæd-fästne beorn. Näs Beówulf þær,
ac wäs ôðer in ær geteohhod
äfter mâððum-gife mærum Geáte.
Hreám wearð on Heorote. Heó under heolfre genam
cûðe folme; cearu wäs geniwod
1305 geworden in wîcum: ne wäs þät gewrixle til,
þät hie on bâ healfa bicgan scoldon
freónda feorum. Þâ wäs frôd cyning,
hâr hilde-rinc, on hreón môde,
syððan he aldor-þegn unlyfigendne,
1310 þone deórestan deádne wisse.
Hraðe wäs tô bûre Beówulf fetod,
sigor-eádig secg. Samod ær-däge
eode eorla sum, äðele cempa
self mid gesîðum, þær se snottra bâd,
1315 hwäðre him al-walda æfre wille
äfter weá-spelle wyrpe gefremman.
Gang þâ äfter flôre fyrd-wyrðe man
mid his hand-scale (heal-wudu dynede)
þät he þone wîsan wordum hnægde
1320 freán Ingwina; frägn gif him wære
äfter neód-laðu niht getæse.
XXI. SORROW AT HEOROT: ÆSCHERE'S DEATH.
Hrôðgâr maðelode, helm Scildinga:
"Ne frin þu äfter sælum! Sorh is geniwod
"Denigea leódum. Deád is Äsc-here,
1325 "Yrmenlâfes yldra brôðor,
"mîn rûn-wita and mîn ræd-bora,
"eaxl-gestealla, þonne we on orlege
"hafelan weredon, þonne hniton fêðan,
"eoferas cnysedan; swylc scolde eorl wesan
1330 "äðeling ær-gôd, swylc Äsc-here wäs.
"Wearð him on Heorote tô hand-banan
"wäl-gæst wäfre; ic ne wât hwäder
"atol æse wlanc eft-sîðas teáh,
"fylle gefrægnod. Heó þâ fæhðe wräc,
1335 "þe þu gystran niht Grendel cwealdest
"þurh hæstne hâd heardum clammum,
"forþan he tô lange leóde mîne
"wanode and wyrde. He ät wîge gecrang
"ealdres scyldig, and nu ôðer cwom
1340 "mihtig mân-scaða, wolde hyre mæg wrecan,
"ge feor hafað fæhðe gestæled,
"þäs þe þincean mäg þegne monegum,
"se þe äfter sinc-gyfan on sefan greóteð,
"hreðer-bealo hearde; nu seó hand ligeð,
1345 "se þe eów wel-hwylcra wilna dohte.
"Ic þät lond-bûend leóde mîne
"sele-rædende secgan hýrde,
"þät hie gesâwon swylce twegen
"micle mearc-stapan môras healdan,
1350 "ellor-gæstas: þæra ôðer wäs,
"þäs þe hie gewislîcost gewitan meahton,
"idese onlîcnes, ôðer earm-sceapen
"on weres wästmum wräc-lâstas träd,
"näfne he wäs mâra þonne ænig man ôðer,
1355 "þone on geâr-dagum Grendel nemdon
"fold-bûende: nô hie fäder cunnon,
"hwäðer him ænig wäs ær âcenned
"dyrnra gâsta. Hie dýgel lond
"warigeað, wulf-hleoðu, windige nässas,
1360 "frêcne fen-gelâd, þær fyrgen-streám
"under nässa genipu niðer gewîteð,
"flôd under foldan; nis þät feor heonon
"mîl-gemearces, þät se mere standeð,
"ofer þäm hongiað hrîmge bearwas,
1365 "wudu wyrtum fäst, wäter oferhelmað.
"Þær mäg nihta gehwæm nîð-wundor seón,
"fýr on flôde; nô þäs frôd leofað
"gumena bearna, þät þone grund wite;
"þeáh þe hæð-stapa hundum geswenced,
1370 "heorot hornum trum holt-wudu sêce,
"feorran geflýmed, ær he feorh seleð,
"aldor on ôfre, ær he in wille,
"hafelan hýdan. Nis þät heóru stôw:
"þonon ýð-geblond up âstîgeð
1375 "won tô wolcnum, þonne wind styreð
"lâð gewidru, ôð þät lyft drysmað,
"roderas reótað. Nu is ræd gelang
"eft ät þe ânum! Eard git ne const,
"frêcne stôwe, þær þu findan miht
1380 "sinnigne secg: sêc gif þu dyrre!
"Ic þe þâ fæhðe feó leánige,
"eald-gestreónum, swâ ic ær dyde,
"wundnum golde, gyf þu on weg cymest."
XXII. BEÓWULF SEEKS THE MONSTER IN THE HAUNTS OF THE NIXIES.
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
1385 "Ne sorga, snotor guma! sêlre bið æghwæm,
"þät he his freónd wrece, þonne he fela murne;
"ûre æghwylc sceal ende gebîdan
"worolde lîfes; wyrce se þe môte
"dômes ær deáðe! þät bið driht-guman
1390 "unlifgendum äfter sêlest.
"Ârîs, rîces weard; uton hraðe fêran,
"Grendles mâgan gang sceáwigan!
"Ic hit þe gehâte: nô he on helm losað,
"ne on foldan fäðm, ne on fyrgen-holt,
1395 "ne on gyfenes grund, gâ þær he wille.
"Þys dôgor þu geþyld hafa
"weána gehwylces, swâ ic þe wêne tô!"
Âhleóp þâ se gomela, gode þancode,
mihtigan drihtne, þäs se man gespräc.
1400 Þâ wäs Hrôðgâre hors gebæted,
wicg wunden-feax. Wîsa fengel
geatolîc gengde; gum-fêða stôp
lind-häbbendra. Lâstas wæron
äfter wald-swaðum wîde gesýne,
1405 gang ofer grundas; gegnum fôr þâ
ofer myrcan môr, mago-þegna bär
þone sêlestan sâwol-leásne,
þâra þe mid Hrôðgâre hâm eahtode.
Ofer-eode þâ äðelinga bearn
1410 steáp stân-hliðo, stîge nearwe,
enge ân-paðas, un-cûð gelâd,
neowle nässas, nicor-hûsa fela;
he feára sum beforan gengde
wîsra monna, wong sceáwian,
1415 ôð þät he færinga fyrgen-beámas
ofer hârne stân hleonian funde,
wyn-leásne wudu; wäter under stôd
dreórig and gedrêfed. Denum eallum wäs,
winum Scyldinga, weorce on môde,
1420 tô geþolianne þegne monegum,
oncýð eorla gehwæm, syððan Äsc-heres
on þam holm-clife hafelan mêtton.
Flôd blôde weól (folc tô sægon)
hâtan heolfre. Horn stundum song
1425 fûslîc fyrd-leóð. Fêða eal gesät;
gesâwon þâ äfter wätere wyrm-cynnes fela,
sellîce sæ-dracan sund cunnian,
swylce on näs-hleoðum nicras licgean,
þâ on undern-mæl oft bewitigað
1430 sorh-fulne sîð on segl-râde,
wyrmas and wil-deór; hie on weg hruron
bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongeâton,
gûð-horn galan. Sumne Geáta leód
of flân-bogan feores getwæfde,
1435 ýð-gewinnes, þät him on aldre stôd
here-stræl hearda; he on holme wäs
sundes þe sænra, þe hyne swylt fornam.
Hräðe wearð on ýðum mid eofer-spreótum
heoro-hôcyhtum hearde genearwod,
1440 nîða genæged and on näs togen
wundorlîc wæg-bora; weras sceáwedon
gryrelîcne gist. Gyrede hine Beówulf
eorl-gewædum, nalles for ealdre mearn:
scolde here-byrne hondum gebroden,
1445 sîd and searo-fâh, sund cunnian,
seó þe bân-côfan beorgan cûðe,
þät him hilde-grâp hreðre ne mihte,
eorres inwit-feng, aldre gesceððan;
ac se hwîta helm hafelan werede,
1450 se þe mere-grundas mengan scolde,
sêcan sund-gebland since geweorðad,
befongen freá-wrâsnum, swâ hine fyrn-dagum
worhte wæpna smið, wundrum teóde,
besette swîn-lîcum, þät hine syððan nô
1455 brond ne beado-mêcas bîtan ne meahton.
Näs þät þonne mætost mägen-fultuma,
þät him on þearfe lâh þyle Hrôðgâres;
wäs þäm häft-mêce Hrunting nama,
þät wäs ân foran eald-gestreóna;
1460 ecg wäs îren âter-teárum fâh,
âhyrded heaðo-swâte; næfre hit ät hilde ne swâc
manna ængum þâra þe hit mid mundum bewand,
se þe gryre-sîðas gegân dorste,
folc-stede fâra; näs þät forma sîð,
1465 þät hit ellen-weorc äfnan scolde.
Hûru ne gemunde mago Ecglâfes
eafoðes cräftig, þät he ær gespräc
wîne druncen, þâ he þäs wæpnes onlâh
sêlran sweord-frecan: selfa ne dorste
1470 under ýða gewin aldre genêðan,
driht-scype dreógan; þær he dôme forleás,
ellen-mærðum. Ne wäs þäm ôðrum swâ,
syððan he hine tô gûðe gegyred häfde.
XXIII. THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
1475 "geþenc nu, se mæra maga Healfdenes,
"snottra fengel, nu ic eom sîðes fûs,
"gold-wine gumena, hwät wit geó spræcon,
"gif ic ät þearfe þînre scolde
"aldre linnan, þät þu me â wære
1480 "forð-gewitenum on fäder stäle;
"wes þu mund-bora mînum mago-þegnum,
"hond-gesellum, gif mec hild nime:
"swylce þu þâ mâdmas, þe þu me sealdest,
"Hrôðgâr leófa, Higelâce onsend.
1485 "Mäg þonne on þäm golde ongitan Geáta dryhten,
"geseón sunu Hrêðles, þonne he on þät sinc starað,
"þät ic gum-cystum gôdne funde
"beága bryttan, breác þonne môste.
"And þu Ûnferð læt ealde lâfe,
1490 "wrätlîc wæg-sweord wîd-cûðne man
"heard-ecg habban; ic me mid Hruntinge
"dôm gewyrce, oððe mec deáð nimeð."
Äfter þæm wordum Weder-Geáta leód
êfste mid elne, nalas andsware
1495 bîdan wolde; brim-wylm onfêng
hilde-rince. Þâ wäs hwîl däges,
ær he þone grund-wong ongytan mehte.
Sôna þät onfunde, se þe flôda begong
heoro-gîfre beheóld hund missera,
1500 grim and grædig, þät þær gumena sum
äl-wihta eard ufan cunnode.
Grâp þâ tôgeánes, gûð-rinc gefêng
atolan clommum; nô þý ær in gescôd
hâlan lîce: hring ûtan ymb-bearh,
1505 þät heó þone fyrd-hom þurh-fôn ne mihte,
locene leoðo-syrcan lâðan fingrum.
Bär þâ seó brim-wylf, þâ heó tô botme com,
hringa þengel tô hofe sînum,
swâ he ne mihte nô (he þäs môdig wäs)
1510 wæpna gewealdan, ac hine wundra þäs fela
swencte on sunde, sæ-deór monig
hilde-tuxum here-syrcan bräc,
êhton aglæcan. Þâ se eorl ongeat,
þät he in nið-sele nât-hwylcum wäs,
1515 þær him nænig wäter wihte ne sceðede,
ne him for hrôf-sele hrînan ne mehte
fær-gripe flôdes: fýr-leóht geseah,
blâcne leóman beorhte scînan.
Ongeat þâ se gôda grund-wyrgenne,
1520 mere-wîf mihtig; mägen-ræs forgeaf
hilde-bille, hond swenge ne ofteáh,
þät hire on hafelan hring-mæl âgôl
grædig gûð-leóð. Þâ se gist onfand,
þät se beado-leóma bîtan nolde,
1525 aldre sceððan, ac seó ecg geswâc
þeódne ät þearfe: þolode ær fela
hond-gemôta, helm oft gescär,
fæges fyrd-hrägl: þät wäs forma sîð
deórum mâðme, þät his dôm âläg.
1530 Eft wäs ân-ræd, nalas elnes lät,
mærða gemyndig mæg Hygelâces;
wearp þâ wunden-mæl wrättum gebunden
yrre oretta, þät hit on eorðan läg,
stîð and stýl-ecg; strenge getrûwode,
1535 mund-gripe mägenes. Swâ sceal man dôn,
þonne he ät gûðe gegân þenceð
longsumne lof, nâ ymb his lîf cearað.
Gefêng þâ be eaxle (nalas for fæhðe mearn)
Gûð-Geáta leód Grendles môdor;
1540 brägd þâ beadwe heard, þâ he gebolgen wäs,
feorh-genîðlan, þät heó on flet gebeáh.
Heó him eft hraðe and-leán forgeald
grimman grâpum and him tôgeánes fêng;
oferwearp þâ wêrig-môd wîgena strengest,
1545 fêðe-cempa, þät he on fylle wearð.
Ofsät þâ þone sele-gyst and hyre seaxe geteáh,
brâd and brûn-ecg wolde hire bearn wrecan,
ângan eaferan. Him on eaxle läg
breóst-net broden; þät gebearh feore,
1550 wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstôd.
Häfde þâ forsîðod sunu Ecgþeówes
under gynne grund, Geáta cempa,
nemne him heaðo-byrne helpe gefremede,
here-net hearde, and hâlig god
1555 geweóld wîg-sigor, witig drihten;
rodera rædend hit on ryht gescêd,
ýðelîce syððan he eft âstôd.
XXIV. BEÓWULF SLAYS THE SPRITE.
Geseah þâ on searwum sige-eádig bil,
eald sweord eotenisc ecgum þyhtig,
1560 wîgena weorð-mynd: þät wäs wæpna cyst,
bûton hit wäs mâre þonne ænig mon ôðer
tô beadu-lâce ätberan meahte
gôd and geatolîc giganta geweorc.
He gefêng þâ fetel-hilt, freca Scildinga,
1565 hreóh and heoro-grim hring-mæl gebrägd,
aldres orwêna, yrringa slôh,
þät hire wið halse heard grâpode,
bân-hringas bräc, bil eal þurh-wôd
fægne flæsc-homan, heó on flet gecrong;
1570 sweord wäs swâtig, secg weorce gefeh.
Lixte se leóma, leóht inne stôd,
efne swâ of hefene hâdre scîneð
rodores candel. He äfter recede wlât,
hwearf þâ be wealle, wæpen hafenade
1575 heard be hiltum Higelâces þegn,
yrre and ân-ræd. Näs seó ecg fracod
hilde-rince, ac he hraðe wolde
Grendle forgyldan gûð-ræsa fela
þâra þe he geworhte tô West-Denum
1580 oftor micle þonne on ænne sîð,
þonne he Hrôðgâres heorð-geneátas
slôh on sweofote, slæpende frät
folces Denigea fýf-tyne men
and ôðer swylc ût of-ferede,
1585 lâðlîcu lâc. He him þäs leán forgeald,
rêðe cempa, tô þäs þe he on räste geseah
gûð-wêrigne Grendel licgan,
aldor-leásne, swâ him ær gescôd
hild ät Heorote; hrâ wîde sprong,
1590 syððan he äfter deáðe drepe þrowade,
heoro-sweng heardne, and hine þâ heáfde becearf,
Sôna þät gesâwon snottre ceorlas,
þâ þe mid Hrôðgâre on holm wliton,
þät wäs ýð-geblond eal gemenged,
1595 brim blôde fâh: blonden-feaxe
gomele ymb gôdne ongeador spræcon,
þät hig þäs äðelinges eft ne wêndon,
þät he sige-hrêðig sêcean côme
mærne þeóden; þâ þäs monige gewearð,
1600 þät hine seó brim-wylf âbroten häfde.
Þâ com nôn däges. Näs ofgeâfon
hwate Scyldingas; gewât him hâm þonon
gold-wine gumena. Gistas sêtan,
môdes seóce, and on mere staredon,
1605 wiston and ne wêndon, þät hie heora wine-drihten
selfne gesâwon. Þâ þät sweord ongan
äfter heaðo-swâte hilde-gicelum
wîg-bil wanian; þät wäs wundra sum,
þät hit eal gemealt îse gelîcost,
1610 þonne forstes bend fäder onlæteð,
onwindeð wäl-râpas, se þe geweald hafað
sæla and mæla; þät is sôð metod.
Ne nom he in þæm wîcum, Weder-Geáta leód,
mâðm-æhta mâ, þêh he þær monige geseah,
1615 bûton þone hafelan and þâ hilt somod,
since fâge; sweord ær gemealt,
forbarn broden mæl: wäs þät blôd tô þäs hât,
ættren ellor-gæst, se þær inne swealt.
Sôna wäs on sunde, se þe ær ät säcce gebâd
1620 wîg-hryre wrâðra, wäter up þurh-deáf;
wæron ýð-gebland eal gefælsod,
eácne eardas, þâ se ellor-gâst
oflêt lîf-dagas and þâs lænan gesceaft.
Com þâ tô lande lid-manna helm
1625 swîð-môd swymman, sæ-lâce gefeah,
mägen-byrðenne þâra þe he him mid häfde.
Eodon him þâ tôgeánes, gode þancodon,
þryðlîc þegna heáp, þeódnes gefêgon,
þäs þe hi hyne gesundne geseón môston.
1630 Þâ wäs of þäm hrôran helm and byrne
lungre âlýsed: lagu drusade,
wäter under wolcnum, wäl-dreóre fâg.
Fêrdon forð þonon fêðe-lâstum
ferhðum fägne, fold-weg mæton,
1635 cûðe stræte; cyning-balde men
from þäm holm-clife hafelan bæron
earfoðlîce heora æghwäðrum
fela-môdigra: feówer scoldon
on ðäm wäl-stenge weorcum geferian
1640 tô þäm gold-sele Grendles heáfod,
ôð þät semninga tô sele cômon
frome fyrd-hwate feówer-tyne
Geáta gongan; gum-dryhten mid
môdig on gemonge meodo-wongas träd.
1645 Þâ com in gân ealdor þegna,
dæd-cêne mon dôme gewurðad,
häle hilde-deór. Hrôðgâr grêtan:
Þâ wäs be feaxe on flet boren
Grendles heáfod, þær guman druncon,
1650 egeslîc for eorlum and þære idese mid:
wlite-seón wrätlîc weras onsâwon.
XXV. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE: HE DISCOURSES.
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
"Hwät! we þe þâs sæ-lâc, sunu Healfdenes,
"leód Scyldinga, lustum brôhton,
1655 "tîres tô tâcne, þe þu her tô lôcast.
"Ic þät unsôfte ealdre gedîgde:
"wîge under wätere weorc genêðde
"earfoðlîce, ät-rihte wäs
"gûð getwæfed, nymðe mec god scylde.
1660 "Ne meahte ic ät hilde mid Hruntinge
"wiht gewyrcan, þeáh þät wæpen duge,
"ac me geûðe ylda waldend,
"þät ic on wage geseah wlitig hangian
"eald sweord eácen (oftost wîsode
1665 "winigea leásum) þät ic þý wæpne gebräd.
"Ofslôh þâ ät þære säcce (þâ me sæl âgeald)
"hûses hyrdas. Þâ þät hilde-bil
"forbarn, brogden mæl, swâ þät blôd gesprang,
"hâtost heaðo-swâta: ic þät hilt þanan
1670 "feóndum ätferede; fyren-dæda wräc,
"deáð-cwealm Denigea, swâ hit gedêfe wäs.
"Ic hit þe þonne gehâte, þät þu on Heorote môst
"sorh-leás swefan mid þînra secga gedryht,
"and þegna gehwylc þînra leóda,
1675 "duguðe and iogoðe, þät þu him ondrædan ne þearft,
"þeóden Scyldinga, on þâ healfe,
"aldor-bealu eorlum, swâ þu ær dydest."
Þâ wäs gylden hilt gamelum rince.
hârum hild-fruman, on hand gyfen,
1680 enta ær-geweorc, hit on æht gehwearf
äfter deófla hryre Denigea freán,
wundor-smiða geweorc, and þâ þâs worold ofgeaf
grom-heort guma, godes andsaca,
morðres scyldig, and his môdor eác;
1685 on geweald gehwearf worold-cyninga
þäm sêlestan be sæm tweónum
þâra þe on Sceden-igge sceattas dælde.
Hrôðgâr maðelode, hylt sceáwode,
ealde lâfe, on þäm wäs ôr writen
1690 fyrn-gewinnes: syððan flôd ofslôh,
gifen geótende, giganta cyn,
frêcne gefêrdon: þät wäs fremde þeód
êcean dryhtne, him þäs ende-leán
þurh wäteres wylm waldend sealde.
1695 Swâ wäs on þæm scennum scîran goldes
þurh rûn-stafas rihte gemearcod,
geseted and gesæd, hwâm þät sweord geworht,
îrena cyst ærest wære,
wreoðen-hilt and wyrm-fâh. Þâ se wîsa spräc
1700 sunu Healfdenes (swîgedon ealle):
"Þät lâ mäg secgan, se þe sôð and riht
"fremeð on folce, (feor eal gemon
"eald êðel-weard), þät þes eorl wære
"geboren betera! Blæd is âræred
1705 "geond wîd-wegas, wine mîn Beówulf,
"þîn ofer þeóda gehwylce. Eal þu hit geþyldum healdest,
"mägen mid môdes snyttrum. Ic þe sceal mîne gelæstan
"freóde, swâ wit furðum spræcon; þu scealt tô frôfre weorðan
"eal lang-twidig leódum þînum,
1710 "häleðum tô helpe. Ne wearð Heremôd swâ
"eaforum Ecgwelan, Âr-Scyldingum;
"ne geweôx he him tô willan, ac tô wäl-fealle
"and tô deáð-cwalum Deniga leódum;
"breát bolgen-môd beód-geneátas,
1715 "eaxl-gesteallan, ôð þät he âna hwearf,
"mære þeóden. mon-dreámum from:
"þeáh þe hine mihtig god mägenes wynnum,
"eafeðum stêpte, ofer ealle men
"forð gefremede, hwäðere him on ferhðe greów
1720 "breóst-hord blôd-reów: nallas beágas geaf
"Denum äfter dôme; dreám-leás gebâd,
"þät he þäs gewinnes weorc þrowade,
"leód-bealo longsum. Þu þe lær be þon,
"gum-cyste ongit! ic þis gid be þe
1725 "âwräc wintrum frôd. Wundor is tô secganne,
"hû mihtig god manna cynne
"þurh sîdne sefan snyttru bryttað,
"eard and eorl-scipe, he âh ealra geweald.
"Hwîlum he on lufan læteð hworfan
1730 "monnes môd-geþonc mæran cynnes,
"seleð him on êðle eorðan wynne,
"tô healdanne hleó-burh wera,
"gedêð him swâ gewealdene worolde dælas,
"sîde rîce, þät he his selfa ne mäg
1735 "for his un-snyttrum ende geþencean;
"wunað he on wiste, nô hine wiht dweleð,
"âdl ne yldo, ne him inwit-sorh
"on sefan sweorceð, ne gesacu ôhwær,
"ecg-hete eóweð, ac him eal worold
1740 "wendeð on willan; he þät wyrse ne con,
"ôð þät him on innan ofer-hygda dæl
"weaxeð and wridað, þonne se weard swefeð,
"sâwele hyrde: bið se slæp tô fäst,
"bisgum gebunden, bona swîðe neáh,
1745 "se þe of flân-bogan fyrenum sceóteð.
XXVI. THE DISCOURSE IS ENDED.--BEÓWULF PREPARES TO LEAVE.
"Þonne bið on hreðre under helm drepen
"biteran stræle: him bebeorgan ne con
"wom wundor-bebodum wergan gâstes;
"þinceð him tô lytel, þät he tô lange heóld,
1750 "gýtsað grom-hydig, nallas on gylp seleð
"fätte beágas and he þâ forð-gesceaft
"forgyteð and forgýmeð, þäs þe him ær god sealde
"wuldres waldend, weorð-mynda dæl.
"Hit on ende-stäf eft gelimpeð,
1755 "þät se lîc-homa læne gedreóseð,
"fæge gefealleð; fêhð ôðer tô,
"se þe unmurnlîce mâdmas dæleð,
"eorles ær-gestreón, egesan ne gýmeð.
"Bebeorh þe þone bealo-nîð, Beówulf leófa,
1760 "secg se betsta, and þe þät sêlre geceós,
"êce rædas; oferhyda ne gým,
"mære cempa! Nu is þînes mägnes blæd
"âne hwîle; eft sôna bið,
"þät þec âdl oððe ecg eafoðes getwæfeð,
1765 "oððe fýres feng oððe flôdes wylm,
"oððe gripe mêces oððe gâres fliht,
"oððe atol yldo, oððe eágena bearhtm
"forsiteð and forsworceð; semninga bið,
"þät þec, dryht-guma, deáð oferswýðeð.
1770 "Swâ ic Hring-Dena hund missera
"weóld under wolcnum, and hig wîge beleác
"manigum mægða geond þysne middan-geard,
"äscum and ecgum, þät ic me ænigne
"under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde.
1775 "Hwät! me þäs on êðle edwenden cwom,
"gyrn äfter gomene, seoððan Grendel wearð,
"eald-gewinna, in-genga mîn:
"ic þære sôcne singales wäg
"môd-ceare micle. Þäs sig metode þanc,
1780 "êcean drihtne, þäs þe ic on aldre gebâd,
"þät ic on þone hafelan heoro-dreórigne
"ofer eald gewin eágum starige!
"Gâ nu tô setle, symbel-wynne dreóh
"wîgge weorðad: unc sceal worn fela
1785 "mâðma gemænra, siððan morgen bið."
Geát wäs gläd-môd, geóng sôna tô,
setles neósan, swâ se snottra hêht.
Þâ wäs eft swâ ær ellen-rôfum,
flet-sittendum fägere gereorded
1790 niówan stefne. Niht-helm geswearc
deorc ofer dryht-gumum. Duguð eal ârâs;
wolde blonden-feax beddes neósan,
gamela Scylding. Geát ungemetes wel,
rôfne rand-wîgan restan lyste:
1795 sôna him sele-þegn sîðes wêrgum,
feorran-cundum forð wîsade,
se for andrysnum ealle beweotede
þegnes þearfe, swylce þý dôgore
heáðo-lîðende habban scoldon.
1800 Reste hine þâ rûm-heort; reced hlifade
geáp and gold-fâh, gäst inne swäf,
ôð þät hrefn blaca heofones wynne
blîð-heort bodode. Þâ com beorht sunne
scacan ofer grundas; scaðan onetton,
1805 wæron äðelingas eft tô leódum
fûse tô farenne, wolde feor þanon
cuma collen-ferhð ceóles neósan.
Hêht þâ se hearda Hrunting beran,
sunu Ecglâfes, hêht his sweord niman,
1810 leóflîc îren; sägde him þäs leánes þanc,
cwäð he þone gûð-wine gôdne tealde,
wîg-cräftigne, nales wordum lôg
mêces ecge: þät wäs môdig secg.
And þâ sîð-frome searwum gearwe
1815 wîgend wæron, eode weorð Denum
äðeling tô yppan, þær se ôðer wäs
häle hilde-deór, Hrôðgâr grêtte.
XXVII. THE PARTING WORDS.
Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
"Nu we sæ-lîðend secgan wyllað
1820 "feorran cumene, þät we fundiað
"Higelâc sêcan. Wæron her tela
"willum bewenede; þu ûs wel dohtest.
"Gif ic þonne on eorðan ôwihte mäg
"þînre môd-lufan mâran tilian,
1825 "gumena dryhten, þonne ic gyt dyde,
"gûð-geweorca ic beó gearo sôna.
"Gif ic þät gefricge ofer flôda begang,
"þät þec ymbe-sittend egesan þýwað,
"swâ þec hetende hwîlum dydon,
1830 "ic þe þûsenda þegna bringe,
"häleða tô helpe. Ic on Higelâce wât,
"Geáta dryhten, þeáh þe he geong sý,
"folces hyrde, þät he mec fremman wile
"wordum and worcum, þät ic þe wel herige,
1835 "and þe tô geóce gâr-holt bere
"mägenes fultum, þær þe bið manna þearf;
"gif him þonne Hrêðrîc tô hofum Geáta
"geþingeð, þeódnes bearn, he mäg þær fela
"freónda findan: feor-cýððe beóð
1840 "sêlran gesôhte þäm þe him selfa deáh."
Hrôðgâr maðelode him on andsware:
"Þe þâ word-cwydas wittig drihten
"on sefan sende! ne hýrde ic snotorlîcor
"on swâ geongum feore guman þingian:
1845 "þu eart mägenes strang and on môde frôd,
"wîs word-cwida. Wên ic talige,
"gif þät gegangeð, þät þe gâr nymeð,
"hild heoru-grimme Hrêðles eaferan,
"âdl oððe îren ealdor þînne,
1850 "folces hyrde, and þu þîn feorh hafast,
"þät þe Sæ-Geátas sêlran näbben
"tô geceósenne cyning ænigne,
"hord-weard häleða, gif þu healdan wylt
"mâga rîce. Me þîn môd-sefa
1855 "lîcað leng swâ wel, leófa Beówulf:
"hafast þu gefêred, þät þâm folcum sceal,
"Geáta leódum and Gâr-Denum
"sib gemænum and sacu restan,
"inwit-nîðas, þe hie ær drugon;
1860 "wesan, þenden ic wealde wîdan rîces,
"mâðmas gemæne, manig ôðerne
"gôdum gegrêtan ofer ganotes bäð;
"sceal hring-naca ofer heáðu bringan
"lâc and luf-tâcen. Ic þâ leóde wât
1865 "ge wið feónd ge wið freónd fäste geworhte
"æghwäs untæle ealde wîsan."
Þâ git him eorla hleó inne gesealde,
mago Healfdenes mâðmas twelfe,
hêt hine mid þæm lâcum leóde swæse
1870 sêcean on gesyntum, snûde eft cuman.
Gecyste þâ cyning äðelum gôd,
þeóden Scildinga, þegen betstan
and be healse genam; hruron him teáras,
blonden-feaxum: him wäs bega wên,
1875 ealdum infrôdum, ôðres swîðor,
þät hî seoððan geseón môston
môdige on meðle. Wäs him se man tô þon leóf,
þät he þone breóst-wylm forberan ne mehte,
ac him on hreðre hyge-bendum fäst
1880 äfter deórum men dyrne langað
beorn wið blôde. Him Beówulf þanan,
gûð-rinc gold-wlanc gräs-moldan träd,
since hrêmig: sæ-genga bâd
âgend-freán, se þe on ancre râd.
1885 Þâ wäs on gange gifu Hrôðgâres
oft geæhted: þät wäs ân cyning
æghwäs orleahtre, ôð þät hine yldo benam
mägenes wynnum, se þe oft manegum scôd.
XXVIII. BEÓWULF RETURNS TO GEATLAND.--THE QUEENS HYGD AND THRYTHO.
Cwom þâ tô flôde fela-môdigra
1890 häg-stealdra heáp; hring-net bæron,
locene leoðo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand
eft-sîð eorla, swâ he ær dyde;
nô he mid hearme of hliðes nosan
gästas grêtte, ac him tôgeánes râd;
1895 cwäð þät wilcuman Wedera leódum
scawan scîr-hame tô scipe fôron.
Þâ wäs on sande sæ-geáp naca
hladen here-wædum, hringed-stefna
mearum and mâðmum: mäst hlifade
1900 ofer Hrôðgâres hord-gestreónum.
He þäm bât-wearde bunden golde
swurd gesealde, þät he syððan wäs
on meodu-bence mâðme þý weorðra,
yrfe-lâfe. Gewât him on ýð-nacan,
1905 drêfan deóp wäter, Dena land ofgeaf.
Þâ wäs be mäste mere-hrägla sum,
segl sâle fäst. Sund-wudu þunede,
nô þær wêg-flotan wind ofer ýðum
sîðes getwæfde; sæ-genga fôr,
1910 fleát fâmig-heals forð ofer ýðe,
bunden-stefna ofer brim-streámas,
þät hie Geáta clifu ongitan meahton,
cûðe nässas. Ceól up geþrang,
lyft-geswenced on lande stôd.
1915 Hraðe wäs ät holme hýð-weard gearo,
se þe ær lange tîd, leófra manna
fûs, ät faroðe feor wlâtode;
sælde tô sande sîd-fäðme scip
oncer-bendum fäst, þý läs hym ýða þrym
1920 wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte.
Hêt þâ up beran äðelinga gestreón,
frätwe and fät-gold; näs him feor þanon
tô gesêcanne sinces bryttan:
Higelâc Hrêðling þær ät hâm wunað,
1925 selfa mid gesîðum sæ-wealle neáh;
bold wäs betlîc, brego-rôf cyning,
heá on healle, Hygd swîðe geong,
wîs, wel-þungen, þeáh þe wintra lyt
under burh-locan gebiden häbbe
1930 Häreðes dôhtor: näs hió hnâh swâ þeáh,
ne tô gneáð gifa Geáta leódum,
mâðm-gestreóna. Mod Þryðo wäg,
fremu folces cwên, firen ondrysne:
nænig þät dorste deór genêðan
1935 swæsra gesîða, nefne sin-freá,
þät hire an däges eágum starede;
ac him wäl-bende weotode tealde,
hand-gewriðene: hraðe seoððan wäs
äfter mund-gripe mêce geþinged,
1940 þät hit sceaðen-mæl scyran môste,
cwealm-bealu cýðan. Ne bið swylc cwênlîc þeáw
idese tô efnanne, þeáh þe hió ænlîcu sý,
þätte freoðu-webbe feores onsäce
äfter lîge-torne leófne mannan.
1945 Hûru þät onhôhsnode Heminges mæg;
ealo drincende ôðer sædan,
þät hió leód-bealewa läs gefremede,
inwit-nîða, syððan ærest wearð
gyfen gold-hroden geongum cempan,
1950 äðelum dióre, syððan hió Offan flet
ofer fealone flôd be fäder lâre
sîðe gesôhte, þær hió syððan wel
in gum-stôle, gôde mære,
lîf-gesceafta lifigende breác,
1955 hióld heáh-lufan wið häleða brego,
ealles mon-cynnes mîne gefræge
þone sêlestan bî sæm tweónum
eormen-cynnes; forþam Offa wäs
geofum and gûðum gâr-cêne man,
1960 wîde geweorðod; wîsdôme heóld
êðel sînne, þonon Eómær wôc
häleðum tô helpe, Heminges mæg,
nefa Gârmundes, nîða cräftig.
XXIX. HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC'S RECEPTION.
Gewât him þâ se hearda mid his hond-scole
1965 sylf äfter sande sæ-wong tredan,
wîde waroðas. Woruld-candel scân,
sigel sûðan fûs: hî sîð drugon,
elne geeodon, tô þäs þe eorla hleó,
bonan Ongenþeówes burgum on innan,
1970 geongne gûð-cyning gôdne gefrunon
hringas dælan. Higelâce wäs
sîð Beówulfes snûde gecýðed,
þät þær on worðig wîgendra hleó,
lind-gestealla lifigende cwom,
1975 heaðo-lâces hâl tô hofe gongan.
Hraðe wäs gerýmed, swâ se rîca bebeád,
fêðe-gestum flet innan-weard.
Gesät þâ wið sylfne, se þâ säcce genäs,
mæg wið mæge, syððan man-dryhten
1980 þurh hleóðor-cwyde holdne gegrêtte
meaglum wordum. Meodu-scencum
hwearf geond þät reced Häreðes dôhtor:
lufode þâ leóde, lîð-wæge bär
hælum tô handa. Higelâc ongan
1985 sînne geseldan in sele þam heán
fägre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bräc,
hwylce Sæ-Geáta sîðas wæron:
"Hû lomp eów on lâde, leófa Biówulf,
"þâ þu færinga feorr gehogodest,
1990 "säcce sêcean ofer sealt wäter,
"hilde tô Hiorote? Ac þu Hrôðgâre
"wîd-cûðne weán wihte gebêttest,
"mærum þeódne? Ic þäs môd-ceare
"sorh-wylmum seáð, sîðe ne trûwode
1995 "leófes mannes; ic þe lange bäd,
"þät þu þone wäl-gæst wihte ne grêtte,
"lête Sûð-Dene sylfe geweorðan
"gûðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge,
"þäs þe ic þe gesundne geseón môste."
2000 Biówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþiówes:
"Þät is undyrne, dryhten Higelâc,
"mære gemêting monegum fira,
"hwylc orleg-hwîl uncer Grendles
"wearð on þam wange, þær he worna fela
2005 "Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede,
"yrmðe tô aldre; ic þät eal gewräc,
"swâ ne gylpan þearf Grendeles mâga
"ænig ofer eorðan uht-hlem þone,
"se þe lengest leofað lâðan cynnes,
2010 "fenne bifongen. Ic þær furðum cwom,
"tô þam hring-sele Hrôðgâr grêtan:
"sôna me se mæra mago Healfdenes,
"syððan he môd-sefan mînne cûðe,
"wið his sylfes sunu setl getæhte.
2015 "Weorod wäs on wynne; ne seah ic wîdan feorh
"under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra
"medu-dreám mâran. Hwîlum mæru cwên,
"friðu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf,
"bædde byre geonge; oft hió beáh-wriðan
2020 "secge sealde, ær hió tô setle geóng.
"Hwîlum for duguðe dôhtor Hrôðgâres
"eorlum on ende ealu-wæge bär,
"þâ ic Freáware flet-sittende
"nemnan hýrde, þær hió nägled sinc
2025 "häleðum sealde: sió gehâten wäs,
"geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frôdan;
"hafað þäs geworden wine Scyldinga
"rîces hyrde and þät ræd talað,
"þät he mid þý wîfe wäl-fæhða dæl,
2030 "säcca gesette. Oft nô seldan hwær
"äfter leód-hryre lytle hwîle
"bon-gâr bûgeð, þeáh seó brýd duge!
XXX. BEÓWULF'S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.
"Mäg þäs þonne ofþyncan þeóden Heaðobeardna
"and þegna gehwâm þâra leóda,
2035 "þonne he mid fæmnan on flett gæð,
"dryht-bearn Dena duguða biwenede:
"on him gladiað gomelra lâfe
"heard and hring-mæl, Heaðobeardna gestreón,
"þenden hie þâm wæpnum wealdan môston,
2040 "ôð þät hie forlæddan tô þam lind-plegan
"swæse gesîðas ond hyra sylfra feorh.
"Þonne cwið ät beóre, se þe beáh gesyhð,
"eald äsc-wîga, se þe eall geman
"gâr-cwealm gumena (him bið grim sefa),
2045 "onginneð geômor-môd geongne cempan
"þurh hreðra gehygd higes cunnian,
"wîg-bealu weccean and þät word âcwyð:
"'Meaht þu, mîn wine, mêce gecnâwan,
"'þone þin fäder tô gefeohte bär
2050 "'under here-grîman hindeman sîðe,
"'dýre îren, þær hyne Dene slôgon,
"'weóldon wäl-stôwe, syððan wiðer-gyld läg,
"'äfter häleða hryre, hwate Scyldungas?
"'Nu her þâra banena byre nât-hwylces,
2055 "'frätwum hrêmig on flet gæð,
"'morðres gylpeð and þone mâððum byreð,
"'þone þe þu mid rihte rædan sceoldest!'"
"Manað swâ and myndgað mæla gehwylce
"sârum wordum, ôð þät sæl cymeð,
2060 "þät se fæmnan þegn fore fäder dædum
"äfter billes bite blôd-fâg swefeð,
"ealdres scyldig; him se ôðer þonan
"losað lifigende, con him land geare.
"Þonne bióð brocene on bâ healfe
2065 "âð-sweord eorla; syððan Ingelde
"weallað wäl-nîðas and him wîf-lufan
"äfter cear-wälmum côlran weorðað.
"Þý ic Heaðobeardna hyldo ne telge,
"dryht-sibbe dæl Denum unfæcne,
2070 "freónd-scipe fästne. Ic sceal forð sprecan
"gen ymbe Grendel, þät þu geare cunne,
"sinces brytta, tô hwan syððan wearð
"hond-ræs häleða. Syððan heofones gim
"glâd ofer grundas, gäst yrre cwom,
2075 "eatol æfen-grom, ûser neósan,
"þær we gesunde säl weardodon;
"þær wäs Hondsció hild onsæge,
"feorh-bealu fægum, he fyrmest läg,
"gyrded cempa; him Grendel wearð,
2080 "mærum magu-þegne tô mûð-bonan,
"leófes mannes lîc eall forswealg.
"Nô þý ær ût þâ gen îdel-hende
"bona blôdig-tôð bealewa gemyndig,
"of þam gold-sele gongan wolde,
2085 "ac he mägnes rôf mîn costode,
"grâpode gearo-folm. Glôf hangode
"sîd and syllîc searo-bendum fäst,
"sió wäs orþoncum eall gegyrwed
"deófles cräftum and dracan fellum:
2090 "he mec þær on innan unsynnigne,
"diór dæd-fruma, gedôn wolde,
"manigra sumne: hyt ne mihte swâ,
"syððan ic on yrre upp-riht âstôd.
"Tô lang ys tô reccenne, hû ic þam leód-sceaðan
2095 "yfla gehwylces ond-leán forgeald;
"þær ic, þeóden mîn, þîne leóde
"weorðode weorcum. He on weg losade,
"lytle hwîle lîf-wynna breác;
"hwäðre him sió swîðre swaðe weardade
2100 "hand on Hiorte and he heán þonan,
"môdes geômor mere-grund gefeóll.
"Me þone wäl-ræs wine Scildunga
"fättan golde fela leánode,
"manegum mâðmum, syððan mergen com
2105 "and we tô symble geseten häfdon.
"Þær wäs gidd and gleó; gomela Scilding
"fela fricgende feorran rehte;
"hwîlum hilde-deór hearpan wynne,
"gomen-wudu grêtte; hwîlum gyd âwräc
2110 "sôð and sârlîc; hwîlum syllîc spell
"rehte äfter rihte rûm-heort cyning.
"Hwîlum eft ongan eldo gebunden,
"gomel gûð-wîga gioguðe cwîðan
"hilde-strengo; hreðer inne weóll,
2115 "þonne he wintrum frôd worn gemunde.
"Swâ we þær inne andlangne däg
"nióde nâman, ôð þät niht becwom
"ôðer tô yldum. Þâ wäs eft hraðe
"gearo gyrn-wräce Grendeles môdor,
2120 "sîðode sorh-full; sunu deáð fornam,
"wîg-hete Wedra. Wîf unhýre
"hyre bearn gewräc, beorn âcwealde
"ellenlîce; þær wäs Äsc-here,
"frôdan fyrn-witan, feorh ûðgenge;
2125 "nôðer hy hine ne môston, syððan mergen cwom,
"deáð-wêrigne Denia leóde
"bronde forbärnan, ne on bæl hladan
"leófne mannan: hió þät lîc ätbär
"feóndes fäðmum under firgen-streám.
2130 "Þät wäs Hrôðgâre hreówa tornost
"þâra þe leód-fruman lange begeâte;
"þâ se þeóden mec þîne lîfe
"healsode hreóh-môd, þät ic on holma geþring
"eorl-scipe efnde, ealdre genêðde,
2135 "mærðo fremede: he me mêde gehêt.
"Ic þâ þäs wälmes, þe is wîde cûð,
"grimne gryrelîcne grund-hyrde fond.
"Þær unc hwîle wäs hand gemæne;
"holm heolfre weóll and ic heáfde becearf
2140 "in þam grund-sele Grendeles môdor
"eácnum ecgum, unsôfte þonan
"feorh ôðferede; näs ic fæge þâ gyt,
"ac me eorla hleó eft gesealde
"mâðma menigeo, maga Healfdenes.
XXXI. HE GIVES PRESENTS TO HYGELAC. HYGELAC REWARDS HIM. HYGELAC'S DEATH.
BEÓWULF REIGNS.
2145 "Swâ se þeód-kyning þeáwum lyfde;
"nealles ic þâm leánum forloren häfde,
"mägnes mêde, ac he me mâðmas geaf,
"sunu Healfdenes, on sînne sylfes dôm;
"þâ ic þe, beorn-cyning, bringan wylle,
2150 "êstum geýwan. Gen is eall ät þe
"lissa gelong: ic lyt hafo
"heáfod-mâga, nefne Hygelâc þec!"
Hêt þâ in beran eafor, heáfod-segn,
heaðo-steápne helm, hâre byrnan,
2155 gûð-sweord geatolîc, gyd äfter wräc:
"Me þis hilde-sceorp Hrôðgâr sealde,
"snotra fengel, sume worde hêt,
"þät ic his ærest þe eft gesägde,
"cwäð þät hyt häfde Hiorogâr cyning,
2160 "leód Scyldunga lange hwîle:
"nô þý ær suna sînum syllan wolde,
"hwatum Heorowearde, þeáh he him hold wære,
"breóst-gewædu. Brûc ealles well!"
Hýrde ic þät þâm frätwum feówer mearas
2165 lungre gelîce lâst weardode,
äppel-fealuwe; he him êst geteáh
meara and mâðma. Swâ sceal mæg dôn,
nealles inwit-net ôðrum bregdan,
dyrnum cräfte deáð rênian
2170 hond-gesteallan. Hygelâce wäs,
nîða heardum, nefa swýðe hold
and gehwäðer ôðrum hrôðra gemyndig.
Hýrde ic þät he þone heals-beáh Hygde gesealde,
wrätlîcne wundur-mâððum, þone þe him Wealhþeó geaf,
2175 þeódnes dôhtor, þrió wicg somod
swancor and sadol-beorht; hyre syððan wäs
äfter beáh-þege breóst geweorðod.
Swâ bealdode bearn Ecgþeówes,
guma gûðum cûð, gôdum dædum,
2180 dreáh äfter dôme, nealles druncne slôg
heorð-geneátas; näs him hreóh sefa,
ac he man-cynnes mæste cräfte
gin-fästan gife, þe him god sealde,
heóld hilde-deór. Heán wäs lange,
2185 swâ hyne Geáta bearn gôdne ne tealdon,
ne hyne on medo-bence micles wyrðne
drihten wereda gedôn wolde;
swýðe oft sägdon, þät he sleac wære,
äðeling unfrom: edwenden cwom
2190 tîr-eádigum menn torna gehwylces.
Hêt þâ eorla hleó in gefetian,
heaðo-rôf cyning, Hrêðles lâfe,
golde gegyrede; näs mid Geátum þâ
sinc-mâððum sêlra on sweordes hâd;
2195 þät he on Biówulfes bearm âlegde,
and him gesealde seofan þûsendo,
bold and brego-stôl. Him wäs bâm samod
on þam leód-scipe lond gecynde,
eard êðel-riht, ôðrum swîðor
2200 sîde rîce, þam þær sêlra wäs.
Eft þät geiode ufaran dôgrum
hilde-hlämmum, syððan Hygelâc läg
and Heardrêde hilde-mêceas
under bord-hreóðan tô bonan wurdon,
2205 þâ hyne gesôhtan on sige-þeóde
hearde hilde-frecan, Heaðo-Scilfingas,
nîða genægdan nefan Hererîces.
Syððan Beówulfe brâde rîce
on hand gehwearf: he geheóld tela
2210 fîftig wintru (wäs þâ frôd cyning,
eald êðel-weard), ôð þät ân ongan
deorcum nihtum draca rîcsian,
se þe on heáre hæðe hord beweotode,
stân-beorh steápne: stîg under läg,
2215 eldum uncûð. Þær on innan gióng
niða nât-hwylces neóde gefêng
hæðnum horde hond . d . . geþ . . hwylc
since fâhne, he þät syððan . . . . .
. . . þ . . . lð . þ . . l . g
2220 slæpende be fýre, fyrena hyrde
þeófes cräfte, þät sie . . . . ðioð . . . . .
. idh . folc-beorn, þät he gebolgen wäs.
XXXII. THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.
Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . cräft
sôhte sylfes willum, se þe him sâre gesceôd,
2225 ac for þreá-nêdlan þeów nât-hwylces
häleða bearna hete-swengeas fleáh,
for ofer-þearfe and þær inne fealh
secg syn-bysig. Sôna in þâ tîde
þät . . . . . þam gyste . . . . br . g . stôd,
2230 hwäðre earm-sceapen . . . . . . .
. . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fæs begeat,
sinc-fät geseah: þær wäs swylcra fela
in þam eorð-scräfe ær-gestreóna,
swâ hy on geâr-dagum gumena nât-hwylc
2235 eormen-lâfe äðelan cynnes
þanc-hycgende þær gehýdde,
deóre mâðmas. Ealle hie deáð fornam
ærran mælum, and se ân þâ gen
leóda duguðe, se þær lengest hwearf,
2240 weard wine-geômor wîscte þäs yldan,
þät he lytel fäc long-gestreóna
brûcan môste. Beorh eal gearo
wunode on wonge wäter-ýðum neáh,
niwe be nässe nearo-cräftum fäst:
2245 þær on innan bär eorl-gestreóna
hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dæl
fättan goldes, feá worda cwäð:
"Heald þu nu, hruse, nu häleð ne môston,
"eorla æhte. Hwät! hit ær on þe
2250 "gôde begeâton; gûð-deáð fornam,
"feorh-bealo frêcne fyra gehwylcne,
"leóda mînra, þâra þe þis lîf ofgeaf,
"gesâwon sele-dreám. Nâh hwâ sweord wege
"oððe fetige fäted wæge,
2255 "drync-fät deóre: duguð ellor scôc.
"Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde
"fätum befeallen: feormiend swefað,
"þâ þe beado-grîman býwan sceoldon,
"ge swylce seó here-pâd, sió ät hilde gebâd
2260 "ofer borda gebräc bite îrena,
"brosnað äfter beorne. Ne mäg byrnan hring
"äfter wîg-fruman wîde fêran
"häleðum be healfe; näs hearpan wyn,
"gomen gleó-beámes, ne gôd hafoc
2265 "geond säl swingeð, ne se swifta mearh
"burh-stede beáteð. Bealo-cwealm hafað
"fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!"
Swâ giômor-môd giohðo mænde,
ân äfter eallum unblîðe hweóp,
2270 däges and nihtes, ôð þät deáðes wylm
hrân ät heortan. Hord-wynne fond
eald uht-sceaða opene standan,
se þe byrnende biorgas sêceð
nacod nîð-draca, nihtes fleógeð
2275 fýre befangen; hyne fold-bûend
wîde gesâwon. He gewunian sceall
hlâw under hrusan, þær he hæðen gold
warað wintrum frôd; ne byð him wihte þê sêl.
Swâ se þeód-sceaða þreó hund wintra
2280 heóld on hrusan hord-ärna sum
eácen-cräftig, ôð þät hyne ân âbealh
mon on môde: man-dryhtne bär
fäted wæge, frioðo-wære bäd
hlâford sînne. Þâ wäs hord râsod,
2285 onboren beága hord, bêne getîðad
feá-sceaftum men. Freá sceáwode
fira fyrn-geweorc forman sîðe.
Þâ se wyrm onwôc, wrôht wäs geniwad;
stonc þâ äfter stâne, stearc-heort onfand
2290 feóndes fôt-lâst; he tô forð gestôp,
dyrnan cräfte, dracan heáfde neáh.
Swâ mäg unfæge eáðe gedîgan
weán and wräc-sîð, se þe waldendes
hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard sôhte
2295 georne äfter grunde, wolde guman findan,
þone þe him on sweofote sâre geteóde:
hât and hreóh-môd hlæw oft ymbe hwearf,
ealne ûtan-weardne; ne þær ænig mon
wäs on þære wêstenne. Hwäðre hilde gefeh,
2300 beado-weorces: hwîlum on beorh äthwearf,
sinc-fät sôhte; he þät sôna onfand,
þät häfde gumena sum goldes gefandod
heáh-gestreóna. Hord-weard onbâd
earfoðlîce, ôð þät æfen cwom;
2305 wäs þâ gebolgen beorges hyrde,
wolde se lâða lîge forgyldan
drinc-fät dýre. Þâ wäs däg sceacen
wyrme on willan, nô on wealle leng
bîdan wolde, ac mid bæle fôr,
2310 fýre gefýsed. Wäs se fruma egeslîc
leódum on lande, swâ hyt lungre wearð
on hyra sinc-gifan sâre geendod.
XXXIII. BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.
Þâ se gäst ongan glêdum spîwan,
beorht hofu bärnan; bryne-leóma stôd
2315 eldum on andan; nô þær âht cwices
lâð lyft-floga læfan wolde.
Wäs þäs wyrmes wîg wîde gesýne,
nearo-fâges nîð neán and feorran,
hû se gûð-sceaða Geáta leóde
2320 hatode and hýnde: hord eft gesceát,
dryht-sele dyrnne ær däges hwîle.
Häfde land-wara lîge befangen,
bæle and bronde; beorges getrûwode,
wîges and wealles: him seó wên geleáh.
2325 Þâ wäs Biówulfe brôga gecýðed
snûde tô sôðe, þät his sylfes him
bolda sêlest bryne-wylmum mealt,
gif-stôl Geáta. Þät þam gôdan wäs
hreów on hreðre, hyge-sorga mæst:
2330 wênde se wîsa, þät he wealdende,
ofer ealde riht, êcean dryhtne
bitre gebulge: breóst innan weóll
þeóstrum geþoncum, swâ him geþýwe ne wäs.
Häfde lîg-draca leóda fästen,
2335 eá-lond ûtan, eorð-weard þone
glêdum forgrunden. Him þäs gûð-cyning,
Wedera þióden, wräce leornode.
Hêht him þâ gewyrcean wîgendra hleó
eall-îrenne, eorla dryhten
2340 wîg-bord wrätlîc; wisse he gearwe,
þät him holt-wudu helpan ne meahte,
lind wið lîge. Sceolde læn-daga
äðeling ær-gôd ende gebîdan
worulde lîfes and se wyrm somod;
2345 þeáh þe hord-welan heólde lange.
Oferhogode þâ hringa fengel,
þät he þone wîd-flogan weorode gesôhte,
sîdan herge; nô he him þâ säcce ondrêd,
ne him þäs wyrmes wîg for wiht dyde,
2350 eafoð and ellen; forþon he ær fela
nearo nêðende nîða gedîgde,
hilde-hlemma, syððan he Hrôðgâres,
sigor-eádig secg, sele fælsode
and ät gûðe forgrâp Grendeles mægum,
2355 lâðan cynnes. Nô þät läsest wäs
hond-gemota, þær mon Hygelâc slôh,
syððan Geáta cyning gûðe ræsum,
freá-wine folces Freslondum on,
Hrêðles eafora hioro-dryncum swealt,
2360 bille gebeáten; þonan Biówulf com
sylfes cräfte, sund-nytte dreáh;
+ häfde him on earme ... XXX
hilde-geatwa, þâ he tô holme stâg.
Nealles Hetware hrêmge þorfton
2365 fêðe-wîges, þe him foran ongeán
linde bæron: lyt eft becwom
fram þam hild-frecan hâmes niósan.
Oferswam þâ sióleða bigong sunu Ecgþeówes,
earm ân-haga eft tô leódum,
2370 þær him Hygd gebeád hord and rîce,
beágas and brego-stôl: bearne ne trûwode,
þät he wið äl-fylcum êðel-stôlas
healdan cûðe, þâ wäs Hygelâc deád.
Nô þý ær feá-sceafte findan meahton
2375 ät þam äðelinge ænige þinga,
þät he Heardrêde hlâford wære,
oððe þone cyne-dôm ciósan wolde;
hwäðre he him on folce freónd-lârum heóld,
êstum mid âre, ôð þät he yldra wearð,
2380 Weder-Geátum weóld. Hyne wräc-mäcgas
ofer sæ sôhtan, suna Ôhteres:
häfdon hy forhealden helm Scylfinga,
þone sêlestan sæ-cyninga,
þâra þe in Swió-rîce sinc brytnade,
2385 mærne þeóden. Him þät tô mearce wearð;
he þær orfeorme feorh-wunde hleát
sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelâces;
and him eft gewât Ongenþiówes bearn
hâmes niósan, syððan Heardrêd läg;
2390 lêt þone brego-stôl Biówulf healdan,
Geátum wealdan: þät wäs gôd cyning.
XXXIV. RETROSPECT OF BEÓWULF.--STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS.
Se þäs leód-hryres leán gemunde
uferan dôgrum, Eádgilse wearð
feá-sceaftum feónd. Folce gestepte
2395 ofer sæ sîde sunu Ôhteres
wîgum and wæpnum: he gewräc syððan
cealdum cear-sîðum, cyning ealdre bineát.
Swâ he nîða gehwane genesen häfde,
slîðra geslyhta, sunu Ecgþiówes,
2400 ellen-weorca, ôð þone ânne däg,
þe he wið þam wyrme gewegan sceolde.
Gewât þâ twelfa sum torne gebolgen
dryhten Geáta dracan sceáwian;
häfde þâ gefrunen, hwanan sió fæhð ârâs,
2405 bealo-nîð biorna; him tô bearme cwom
mâððum-fät mære þurh þäs meldan hond,
Se wäs on þam þreáte þreotteoða secg,
se þäs orleges ôr onstealde,
häft hyge-giômor, sceolde heán þonon
2410 wong wîsian: he ofer willan gióng
tô þäs þe he eorð-sele ânne wisse,
hlæw under hrusan holm-wylme nêh,
ýð-gewinne, se wäs innan full
wrätta and wîra: weard unhióre,
2415 gearo gûð-freca, gold-mâðmas heóld,
eald under eorðan; näs þät ýðe ceáp,
tô gegangenne gumena ænigum.
Gesät þâ on nässe nîð-heard cyning,
þenden hælo âbeád heorð-geneátum
2420 gold-wine Geáta: him wäs geômor sefa,
wäfre and wäl-fûs, Wyrd ungemete neáh,
se þone gomelan grêtan sceolde,
sêcean sâwle hord, sundur gedælan
lîf wið lîce: nô þon lange wäs
2425 feorh äðelinges flæsce bewunden.
Biówulf maðelade, bearn Ecgþeówes:
"Fela ic on giogoðe guð-ræsa genäs,
"orleg-hwîla: ic þät eall gemon.
"Ic wäs syfan-wintre, þâ mec sinca baldor,
2430 "freá-wine folca ät mînum fäder genam,
"heóld mec and häfde Hrêðel cyning,
"geaf me sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde;
"näs ic him tô lîfe lâðra ôwihte
"beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,
2435 "Herebeald and Hæðcyn, oððe Hygelâc mîn.
"Wäs þam yldestan ungedêfelîce
"mæges dædum morðor-bed strêd,
"syððan hyne Hæðcyn of horn-bogan,
"his freá-wine flâne geswencte,
2440 "miste mercelses and his mæg ofscêt,
"brôðor ôðerne, blôdigan gâre:
"þät wäs feoh-leás gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad
"hreðre hyge-mêðe; sceolde hwäðre swâ þeáh
"äðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.
2445 "Swâ bið geômorlîc gomelum ceorle
"tô gebîdanne, þät his byre rîde
"giong on galgan, þonne he gyd wrece,
"sârigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað
"hrefne tô hrôðre and he him helpe ne mäg,
2450 "eald and in-frôd, ænige gefremman.
"Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce
"eaforan ellor-sîð; ôðres ne gýmeð
"tô gebîdanne burgum on innan
"yrfe-weardes, þonne se ân hafað
2455 "þurh deáðes nýd dæda gefondad.
"Gesyhð sorh-cearig on his suna bûre
"wîn-sele wêstne, wind-gereste,
"reóte berofene; rîdend swefað
"häleð in hoðman; nis þær hearpan swêg,
2460 "gomen in geardum, swylce þær iú wæron.
XXXV. MEMORIES OF PAST TIME.--THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE.
"Gewîteð þonne on sealman, sorh-leóð gäleð
"ân äfter ânum: þûhte him eall tô rûm,
"wongas and wîc-stede. Swâ Wedra helm
"äfter Herebealde heortan sorge
2465 "weallende wäg, wihte ne meahte
"on þam feorh-bonan fæhðe gebêtan:
"nô þý ær he þone heaðo-rinc hatian ne meahte
"lâðum dædum, þeáh him leóf ne wäs.
"He þâ mid þære sorge, þe him sió sâr belamp,
2470 "gum-dreám ofgeaf, godes leóht geceás;
"eaferum læfde, swâ dêð eádig mon,
"lond and leód-byrig, þâ he of lîfe gewât.
"Þâ wäs synn and sacu Sweona and Geáta,
"ofer wîd wäter wrôht gemæne,
2175 "here-nîð hearda, syððan Hrêðel swealt,
"oððe him Ongenþeówes eaferan wæran
"frome fyrd-hwate, freóde ne woldon
"ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hreosna-beorh
"eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon.
2480 "Þät mæg-wine mîne gewræcan,
"fæhðe and fyrene, swâ hyt gefræge wäs,
"þeáh þe ôðer hit ealdre gebohte,
"heardan ceápe: Hæðcynne wearð,
"Geáta dryhtne, gûð onsæge.
2485 "Þâ ic on morgne gefrägn mæg ôðerne
"billes ecgum on bonan stælan,
"þær Ongenþeów Eofores niósade:
"gûð-helm tôglâd, gomela Scylfing
"hreás heoro-blâc; hond gemunde
2490 "fæhðo genôge, feorh-sweng ne ofteáh.
"Ic him þâ mâðmas, þe he me sealde,
"geald ät gûðe, swâ me gifeðe wäs,
"leóhtan sweorde: he me lond forgeaf,
"eard êðel-wyn. Näs him ænig þearf,
2495 "þät he tô Gifðum oððe tô Gâr-Denum
"oððe in Swió-rîce sêcean þurfe
"wyrsan wîg-frecan, weorðe gecýpan;
"symle ic him on fêðan beforan wolde,
"âna on orde, and swâ tô aldre sceall
2500 "säcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,
"þät mec ær and sîð oft gelæste,
"syððan ic for dugeðum Däghrefne wearð
"tô hand-bonan, Hûga cempan:
"nalles he þâ frätwe Fres-cyninge,
2505 "breóst-weorðunge bringan môste,
"ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde,
"äðeling on elne. Ne wäs ecg bona,
"ac him hilde-grâp heortan wylmas,
"bân-hûs gebräc. Nu sceall billes ecg,
2510 "hond and heard sweord ymb hord wîgan."
Beówulf maðelode, beót-wordum spräc
niéhstan sîðe: "Ic genêðde fela
"gûða on geogoðe; gyt ic wylle,
"frôd folces weard, fæhðe sêcan,
2515 "mærðum fremman, gif mec se mân-sceaða
"of eorð-sele ût gesêceð!"
Gegrêtte þâ gumena gehwylcne,
hwate helm-berend hindeman sîðe,
swæse gesîðas: "Nolde ic sweord beran,
2520 "wæpen tô wyrme, gif ic wiste hû
"wið þam aglæcean elles meahte
"gylpe wiðgrîpan, swâ ic gió wið Grendle dyde;
"ac ic þær heaðu-fýres hâtes wêne,
"rêðes and-hâttres: forþon ic me on hafu
2525 "bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard
"oferfleón fôtes trem, feónd unhýre,
"ac unc sceal weorðan ät wealle, swâ unc Wyrd geteóð,
"metod manna gehwäs. Ic eom on môde from,
"þät ic wið þone gûð-flogan gylp ofersitte.
2530 "Gebîde ge on beorge byrnum werede,
"secgas on searwum, hwäðer sêl mæge
"äfter wäl-ræse wunde gedýgan
"uncer twega. Nis þät eówer sîð,
"ne gemet mannes, nefne mîn ânes,
2535 "þät he wið aglæcean eofoðo dæle,
"eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall
"gold gegangan oððe gûð nimeð,
"feorh-bealu frêcne, freán eówerne!"
Ârâs þâ bî ronde rôf oretta,
2540 heard under helm, hioro-sercean bär
under stân-cleofu, strengo getrûwode
ânes mannes: ne bið swylc earges sîð.
Geseah þâ be wealle, se þe worna fela,
gum-cystum gôd, gûða gedîgde,
2545 hilde-hlemma, þonne hnitan fêðan,
(stôd on stân-bogan) streám ût þonan
brecan of beorge; wäs þære burnan wälm
heaðo-fýrum hât: ne meahte horde neáh
unbyrnende ænige hwîle
2550 deóp gedýgan for dracan lêge.
Lêt þâ of breóstum, þâ he gebolgen wäs,
Weder-Geáta leód word ût faran,
stearc-heort styrmde; stefn in becom
heaðo-torht hlynnan under hârne stân.
2555 Hete wäs onhrêred, hord-weard oncniów
mannes reorde; näs þær mâra fyrst,
freóde tô friclan. From ærest cwom
oruð aglæcean ût of stâne,
hât hilde-swât; hruse dynede.
2560 Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswâf
wið þam gryre-gieste, Geáta dryhten:
þâ wäs hring-bogan heorte gefýsed
säcce tô sêceanne. Sweord ær gebräd
gôd gûð-cyning gomele lâfe,
2565 ecgum ungleáw, æghwäðrum wäs
bealo-hycgendra brôga fram ôðrum.
Stîð-môd gestôd wið steápne rond
winia bealdor, þâ se wyrm gebeáh
snûde tôsomne: he on searwum bâd.
2570 Gewât þâ byrnende gebogen scrîðan tô,
gescîfe scyndan. Scyld wel gebearg
lîfe and lîce lässan hwîle
mærum þeódne, þonne his myne sôhte,
þær he þý fyrste forman dôgore
2575 wealdan môste, swâ him Wyrd ne gescrâf
hrêð ät hilde. Hond up âbräd
Geáta dryhten, gryre-fâhne slôh
incge lâfe, þät sió ecg gewâc
brûn on bâne, bât unswîðor,
2580 þonne his þiód-cyning þearfe häfde,
bysigum gebæded. Þâ wäs beorges weard
äfter heaðu-swenge on hreóum môde,
wearp wäl-fýre, wîde sprungon
hilde-leóman: hrêð-sigora ne gealp
2585 gold-wine Geáta, gûð-bill geswâc
nacod ät nîðe, swâ hyt nô sceolde,
îren ær-gôd. Ne wäs þät êðe sîð,
þät se mæra maga Ecgþeówes
grund-wong þone ofgyfan wolde;
2590 sceolde wyrmes willan wîc eardian
elles hwergen, swâ sceal æghwylc mon
âlætan læn-dagas. Näs þâ long tô þon,
þät þâ aglæcean hy eft gemêtton.
Hyrte hyne hord-weard, hreðer æðme weóll,
2595 niwan stefne: nearo þrowode
fýre befongen se þe ær folce weóld.
Nealles him on heápe hand-gesteallan,
äðelinga bearn ymbe gestôdon
hilde-cystum, ac hy on holt bugon,
2600 ealdre burgan. Hiora in ânum weóll
sefa wið sorgum: sibb æfre ne mäg
wiht onwendan, þam þe wel þenceð.
XXXVI. WIGLAF HELPS BEÓWULF IN THE FEUD.
Wîglâf wäs hâten Weoxstânes sunu,
leóflîc lind-wiga, leód Scylfinga,
2605 mæg Älfheres: geseah his mon-dryhten
under here-grîman hât þrowian.
Gemunde þâ þâ âre, þe he him ær forgeaf
wîc-stede weligne Wægmundinga,
folc-rihta gehwylc, swâ his fäder âhte;
2610 ne mihte þâ forhabban, hond rond gefêng,
geolwe linde, gomel swyrd geteáh,
þät wäs mid eldum Eánmundes lâf,
suna Ôhteres, þam ät säcce wearð
wracu wine-leásum Weohstânes bana
2615 mêces ecgum, and his mâgum ätbär
brûn-fâgne helm, hringde byrnan,
eald sweord eotonisc, þät him Onela forgeaf,
his gädelinges gûð-gewædu,
fyrd-searo fûslîc: nô ymbe þâ fæhðe spräc,
2620 þeáh þe he his brôðor bearn âbredwade.
He frätwe geheóld fela missera,
bill and byrnan, ôð þät his byre mihte
eorl-scipe efnan, swâ his ær-fäder;
geaf him þâ mid Geátum gûð-gewæda
2625 æghwäs unrîm; þâ he of ealdre gewât,
frôd on forð-weg. Þâ wäs forma sîð
geongan cempan, þät he gûðe ræs
mid his freó-dryhtne fremman sceolde;
ne gemealt him se môd-sefa, ne his mæges lâf
2630 gewâc ät wîge: þät se wyrm onfand,
syððan hie tôgädre gegân häfdon.
Wîglâf maðelode word-rihta fela,
sägde gesîðum, him wäs sefa geômor:
"Ic þät mæl geman, þær we medu þêgun,
2635 "þonne we gehêton ûssum hlâforde
"in biór-sele, þe ûs þâs beágas geaf,
"þät we him þâ gûð-geatwa gyldan woldon,
"gif him þyslîcu þearf gelumpe,
"helmas and heard sweord: þê he ûsic on herge geceás
2640 "tô þyssum sîð-fate sylfes willum,
"onmunde ûsic mærða and me þâs mâðmas geaf,
"þê he ûsic gâr-wîgend gôde tealde,
"hwate helm-berend, þeáh þe hlâford ûs
"þis ellen-weorc âna âþôhte
2645 "tô gefremmanne, folces hyrde,
"forþam he manna mæst mærða gefremede,
"dæda dollîcra. Nu is se däg cumen,
"þät ûre man-dryhten mägenes behôfað
"gôdra gûð-rinca: wutun gangan tô,
2650 "helpan hild-fruman, þenden hyt sý,
"glêd-egesa grim! God wât on mec,
"þät me is micle leófre, þät mînne lîc-haman
"mid mînne gold-gyfan glêd fäðmie.
"Ne þynceð me gerysne, þät we rondas beren
2655 "eft tô earde, nemne we æror mægen
"fâne gefyllan, feorh ealgian
"Wedra þiódnes. Ic wât geare,
"þät næron eald-gewyrht, þät he âna scyle
"Geáta duguðe gnorn þrowian,
2660 "gesîgan ät säcce: sceal ûrum þät sweord and helm,
"byrne and byrdu-scrûd bâm gemæne."
Wôd þâ þurh þone wäl-rêc, wîg-heafolan bär
freán on fultum, feá worda cwäð:
"Leófa Biówulf, læst eall tela,
2665 "swâ þu on geoguð-feore geâra gecwæde,
"þät þu ne âlæte be þe lifigendum
"dôm gedreósan: scealt nu dædum rôf,
"äðeling ân-hydig, ealle mägene
"feorh ealgian; ic þe fullæstu!"
2670 Äfter þâm wordum wyrm yrre cwom,
atol inwit-gäst ôðre sîðe,
fýr-wylmum fâh fiónda niósan,
lâðra manna; lîg-ýðum forborn
bord wið ronde: byrne ne meahte
2675 geongum gâr-wigan geóce gefremman:
ac se maga geonga under his mæges scyld
elne geeode, þâ his âgen wäs
glêdum forgrunden. Þâ gen gûð-cyning
mærða gemunde, mägen-strengo,
2680 slôh hilde-bille, þät hyt on heafolan stôd
nîðe genýded: Nägling forbärst,
geswâc ät säcce sweord Biówulfes
gomol and græg-mæl. Him þät gifeðe ne wäs,
þät him îrenna ecge mihton
2685 helpan ät hilde; wäs sió hond tô strong,
se þe mêca gehwane mîne gefræge
swenge ofersôhte, þonne he tô säcce bär
wæpen wundrum heard, näs him wihte þê sêl.
Þâ wäs þeód-sceaða þriddan sîðe,
2690 frêcne fýr-draca fæhða gemyndig,
ræsde on þone rôfan, þâ him rûm âgeald,
hât and heaðo-grim, heals ealne ymbefêng
biteran bânum; he geblôdegod wearð
sâwul-drióre; swât ýðum weóll.
XXXVII. BEÓWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.
2695 Þâ ic ät þearfe gefrägn þeód-cyninges
and-longne eorl ellen cýðan,
cräft and cênðu, swâ him gecynde wäs;
ne hêdde he þäs heafolan, ac sió hand gebarn
môdiges mannes, þær he his mæges healp,
2700 þät he þone nîð-gäst nioðor hwêne slôh,
secg on searwum, þät þät sweord gedeáf
fâh and fäted, þät þät fýr ongon
sweðrian syððan. Þâ gen sylf cyning
geweóld his gewitte, wäll-seaxe gebräd,
2705 biter and beadu-scearp, þät he on byrnan wäg:
forwrât Wedra helm wyrm on middan.
Feónd gefyldan (ferh ellen wräc),
and hi hyne þâ begen âbroten häfdon,
sib-äðelingas: swylc sceolde secg wesan,
2710 þegn ät þearfe. Þät þam þeódne wäs
sîðast sîge-hwîle sylfes dædum,
worlde geweorces. Þâ sió wund ongon,
þe him se eorð-draca ær geworhte,
swêlan and swellan. He þät sôna onfand,
2715 þät him on breóstum bealo-nîð weóll,
âttor on innan. Þâ se äðeling gióng,
þät he bî wealle, wîs-hycgende,
gesät on sesse; seah on enta geweorc,
hû þâ stân-bogan stapulum fäste
2720 êce eorð-reced innan heóldon.
Hyne þâ mid handa heoro-dreórigne
þeóden mærne þegn ungemete till,
wine-dryhten his wätere gelafede,
hilde-sädne and his helm onspeón.
2725 Biówulf maðelode, he ofer benne spräc,
wunde wäl-bleáte (wisse he gearwe,
þät he däg-hwîla gedrogen häfde
eorðan wynne; þâ wäs eall sceacen
dôgor-gerîmes, deáð ungemete neáh):
2730 "Nu ic suna mînum syllan wolde
"gûð-gewædu, þær me gifeðe swâ
"ænig yrfe-weard äfter wurde,
"lîce gelenge. Ic þâs leóde heóld
"fîftig wintra: näs se folc-cyning
2735 "ymbe-sittendra ænig þâra,
"þe mec gûð-winum grêtan dorste,
"egesan þeón. Ic on earde bâd
"mæl-gesceafta, heóld mîn tela,
"ne sôhte searo-nîðas, ne me swôr fela
2740 "âða on unriht. Ic þäs ealles mäg,
"feorh-bennum seóc, gefeán habban:
"forþam me wîtan ne þearf waldend fira
"morðor-bealo mâga, þonne mîn sceaceð
"lîf of lîce. Nu þu lungre
2745 "geong, hord sceáwian under hârne stân,
"Wîglâf leófa, nu se wyrm ligeð,
"swefeð sâre wund, since bereáfod.
"Bió nu on ôfoste, þät ic ær-welan,
"gold-æht ongite, gearo sceáwige
2750 "swegle searo-gimmas, þät ic þý sêft mæge
"äfter mâððum-welan mîn âlætan
"lîf and leód-scipe, þone ic longe heóld."
XXXVIII. THE JEWEL-HOARD. THE PASSING OF BEOWULF.
Þâ ic snûde gefrägn sunu Wihstânes
äfter word-cwydum wundum dryhtne
2755 hýran heaðo-siócum, hring-net beran,
brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hrôf.
Geseah þâ sige-hrêðig, þâ he bî sesse geóng,
mago-þegn môdig mâððum-sigla fela,
gold glitinian grunde getenge,
2760 wundur on wealle and þäs wyrmes denn,
ealdes uht-flogan, orcas stondan,
fyrn-manna fatu feormend-leáse,
hyrstum behrorene: þær wäs helm monig,
eald and ômig, earm-beága fela,
2765 searwum gesæled. Sinc eáðe mäg,
gold on grunde, gumena cynnes
gehwone ofer-higian, hýde se þe wylle!
Swylce he siomian geseah segn eall-gylden
heáh ofer horde, hond-wundra mæst,
2770 gelocen leoðo-cräftum: of þam leóma stôd,
þät he þone grund-wong ongitan meahte,
wräte giond-wlîtan. Näs þäs wyrmes þær
onsýn ænig, ac hyne ecg fornam.
Þâ ic on hlæwe gefrägn hord reáfian,
2775 eald enta geweorc ânne mannan,
him on bearm hladan bunan and discas
sylfes dôme, segn eác genom,
beácna beorhtost; bill ær-gescôd
(ecg wäs îren) eald-hlâfordes
2780 þam þâra mâðma mund-bora wäs
longe hwîle, lîg-egesan wäg
hâtne for horde, hioro-weallende,
middel-nihtum, ôð þät he morðre swealt.
Âr wäs on ôfoste eft-sîðes georn,
2785 frätwum gefyrðred: hyne fyrwet bräc,
hwäðer collen-ferð cwicne gemêtte
in þam wong-stede Wedra þeóden,
ellen-siócne, þær he hine ær forlêt.
He þâ mid þâm mâðmum mærne þióden,
2790 dryhten sînne driórigne fand
ealdres ät ende: he hine eft ongon
wäteres weorpan, ôð þät wordes ord
breóst-hord þurhbräc. Beówulf maðelode,
gomel on giohðe (gold sceáwode):
2795 "Ic þâra frätwa freán ealles þanc
"wuldur-cyninge wordum secge,
"êcum dryhtne, þe ic her on starie,
"þäs þe ic môste mînum leódum
"ær swylt-däge swylc gestrýnan.
2800 "Nu ic on mâðma hord mîne bebohte
"frôde feorh-lege, fremmað ge nu
"leóda þearfe; ne mäg ic her leng wesan.
"Hâtað heaðo-mære hlæw gewyrcean,
"beorhtne äfter bæle ät brimes nosan;
2805 "se scel tô gemyndum mînum leódum
"heáh hlifian on Hrones nässe,
"þät hit sæ-lîðend syððan hâtan
"Biówulfes biorh, þâ þe brentingas
"ofer flôda genipu feorran drîfað."
2810 Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne
þióden þrîst-hydig, þegne gesealde,
geongum gâr-wigan, gold-fâhne helm,
beáh and byrnan, hêt hyne brûcan well:
"Þu eart ende-lâf ûsses cynnes,
2815 "Wægmundinga; ealle Wyrd forsweóf,
"mîne mâgas tô metod-sceafte,
"eorlas on elne: ic him äfter sceal."
Þät wäs þam gomelan gingeste word
breóst-gehygdum, ær he bæl cure,
2820 hâte heaðo-wylmas: him of hreðre gewât
sâwol sêcean sôð-fästra dôm.
XXXIX. THE COWARD-THANES.
Þâ wäs gegongen guman unfrôdum
earfoðlîce, þät he on eorðan geseah
þone leófestan lîfes ät ende
2825 bleáte gebæran. Bona swylce läg,
egeslîc eorð-draca, ealdre bereáfod,
bealwe gebæded: beáh-hordum leng
wyrm woh-bogen wealdan ne môste,
ac him îrenna ecga fornâmon,
2830 hearde heaðo-scearpe homera lâfe,
þät se wîd-floga wundum stille
hreás on hrusan hord-ärne neáh,
nalles äfter lyfte lâcende hwearf
middel-nihtum, mâðm-æhta wlonc
2835 ansýn ýwde: ac he eorðan gefeóll
for þäs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.
Hûru þät on lande lyt manna þâh
mägen-âgendra mîne gefræge,
þeáh þe he dæda gehwäs dyrstig wære,
2840 þät he wið âttor-sceaðan oreðe geræsde,
oððe hring-sele hondum styrede,
gif he wäccende weard onfunde
bûan on beorge. Biówulfe wearð
dryht-mâðma dæl deáðe forgolden;
2845 häfde æghwäðer ende gefêred
lænan lîfes. Näs þâ lang tô þon,
þät þâ hild-latan holt ofgêfan,
tydre treów-logan tyne ätsomne,
þâ ne dorston ær dareðum lâcan
2850 on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe;
ac hy scamiende scyldas bæran,
gûð-gewædu, þær se gomela läg:
wlitan on Wîglâf. He gewêrgad sät,
fêðe-cempa freán eaxlum neáh,
2855 wehte hyne wätre; him wiht ne speów;
ne meahte he on eorðan, þeáh he ûðe wel,
on þam frum-gâre feorh gehealdan,
ne þäs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;
wolde dôm godes dædum rædan
2860 gumena gehwylcum, swâ he nu gen dêð.
Þâ wäs ät þam geongan grim andswaru
êð-begête þâm þe ær his elne forleás.
Wîglâf maðelode, Weohstânes sunu,
secg sârig-ferð seah on unleófe:
2865 "Þät lâ mäg secgan, se þe wyle sôð sprecan,
"þät se mon-dryhten, se eów þâ mâðmas geaf,
"eóred-geatwe, þe ge þær on standað,
"þonne he on ealu-bence oft gesealde
"heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,
2870 "þeóden his þegnum, swylce he þryðlîcost
"ôhwær feor oððe neáh findan meahte,
"þät he genunga gûð-gewædu
"wrâðe forwurpe. Þâ hyne wîg beget,
"nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum
2875 "gylpan þorfte; hwäðre him god ûðe,
"sigora waldend, þät he hyne sylfne gewräc
"âna mid ecge, þâ him wäs elnes þearf,
"Ic him lîf-wraðe lytle meahte
"ätgifan ät gûðe and ongan swâ þeáh
2880 "ofer mîn gemet mæges helpan:
"symle wäs þý sæmra, þonne ic sweorde drep
"ferhð-genîðlan, fýr unswîðor
"weóll of gewitte. Wergendra tô lyt
"þrong ymbe þeóden, þâ hyne sió þrag becwom.
2885 "Nu sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu
"eall êðel-wyn eówrum cynne,
"lufen âlicgean: lond-rihtes môt
"þære mæg-burge monna æghwylc
"îdel hweorfan, syððan äðelingas
2890 "feorran gefricgean fleám eówerne,
"dôm-leásan dæd. Deáð bið sêlla
"eorla gehwylcum þonne edwît-lîf!"
XL. THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.
Hêht þâ þät heaðo-weorc tô hagan biódan
up ofer êg-clif, þær þät eorl-weorod
2895 morgen-longne däg môd-giômor sät,
bord-häbbende, bega on wênum
ende-dôgores and eft-cymes
leófes monnes. Lyt swîgode
niwra spella, se þe näs gerâd,
2900 ac he sôðlîce sägde ofer ealle;
"Nu is wil-geofa Wedra leóda,
"dryhten Geáta deáð-bedde fäst,
"wunað wäl-reste wyrmes dædum;
"him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,
2905 "siex-bennum seóc: sweorde ne meahte
"on þam aglæcean ænige þinga
"wunde gewyrcean. Wîglâf siteð
"ofer Biówulfe, byre Wihstânes,
"eorl ofer ôðrum unlifigendum,
2910 "healdeð hige-mêðum heáfod-wearde
"leófes and lâðes. Nu ys leódum wên
"orleg-hwîle, syððan underne
"Froncum and Frysum fyll cyninges
"wîde weorðeð. Wäs sió wrôht scepen
2915 "heard wið Hûgas, syððan Higelâc cwom
"faran flot-herge on Fresna land,
"þær hyne Hetware hilde gehnægdon,
"elne geeodon mid ofer-mägene,
"þät se byrn-wîga bûgan sceolde,
2920 "feóll on fêðan: nalles frätwe geaf
"ealdor dugoðe; ûs wäs â syððan
"Merewioinga milts ungyfeðe.
"Ne ic tô Sweó-þeóde sibbe oððe treówe
"wihte ne wêne; ac wäs wîde cûð,
2925 "þätte Ongenþió ealdre besnyðede
"Hæðcyn Hrêðling wið Hrefna-wudu,
"þâ for on-mêdlan ærest gesôhton
"Geáta leóde Gûð-scilfingas.
"Sôna him se frôda fäder Ôhtheres,
2930 "eald and eges-full ond-slyht âgeaf,
"âbreót brim-wîsan, brýd âheórde,
"gomela ió-meowlan golde berofene,
"Onelan môdor and Ôhtheres,
"and þâ folgode feorh-genîðlan
2935 "ôð þät hî ôðeodon earfoðlîce
"in Hrefnes-holt hlâford-leáse.
"Besät þâ sin-herge sweorda lâfe
"wundum wêrge, weán oft gehêt
"earmre teohhe andlonge niht:
2940 "cwäð he on mergenne mêces ecgum
"getan wolde, sume on galg-treówum
"fuglum tô gamene. Frôfor eft gelamp
"sârig-môdum somod ær-däge,
"syððan hie Hygelâces horn and býman
2945 "gealdor ongeâton. Þâ se gôda com
"leóda dugoðe on lâst faran.
XLI. HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS.
"Wäs sió swât-swaðu Sweona and Geáta,
"wäl-ræs wera wîde gesýne,
"hû þâ folc mid him fæhðe tôwehton.
2950 "Gewât him þâ se gôda mid his gädelingum,
"frôd fela geômor fästen sêcean,
"eorl Ongenþió ufor oncirde;
"häfde Higelâces hilde gefrunen,
"wlonces wîg-cräft, wiðres ne trûwode,
2955 "þät he sæ-mannum onsacan mihte,
"heáðo-lîðendum hord forstandan,
"bearn and brýde; beáh eft þonan
"eald under eorð-weall. Þâ wäs æht boden
"Sweona leódum, segn Higelâce.
2960 "Freoðo-wong þone forð ofereodon,
"syððan Hrêðlingas tô hagan þrungon.
"Þær wearð Ongenþió ecgum sweorda,
"blonden-fexa on bîd wrecen,
"þät se þeód-cyning þafian sceolde
2965 "Eofores ânne dôm: hyne yrringa
"Wulf Wonrêding wæpne geræhte,
"þät him for swenge swât ædrum sprong
"forð under fexe. Näs he forht swâ þêh,
"gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraðe
2970 "wyrsan wrixle wäl-hlem þone,
"syððan þeód-cyning þyder oncirde:
"ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrêdes
"ealdum ceorle ond-slyht giofan,
"ac he him on heáfde helm ær gescer,
2975 "þät he blôde fâh bûgan sceolde,
"feóll on foldan; näs he fæge þâ git,
"ac he hyne gewyrpte, þeáh þe him wund hrîne,
"Lêt se hearda Higelâces þegn
"brâdne mêce, þâ his brôðor läg,
2980 "eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm,
"brecan ofer bord-weal: þâ gebeáh cyning,
"folces hyrde, wäs in feorh dropen.
"Þâ wæron monige, þe his mæg wriðon,
"ricone ârærdon, þâ him gerýmed wearð,
2985 "þät hie wäl-stôwe wealdan môston.
"Þenden reáfode rinc ôðerne,
"nam on Ongenþió îren-byrnan,
"heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod;
"hâres hyrste Higelâce bär.
2990 "He þâm frätwum fêng and him fägre gehêt
"leána fore leódum and gelæste swâ:
"geald þone gûð-ræs Geáta dryhten,
"Hrêðles eafora, þâ he tô hâm becom,
"Jofore and Wulfe mid ofer-mâðmum,
2995 "sealde hiora gehwäðrum hund þûsenda
"landes and locenra beága; ne þorfte him þâ leán ôðwîtan
"mon on middan-gearde, syððan hie þâ mærða geslôgon;
"and þâ Jofore forgeaf ângan dôhtor,
"hâm-weorðunge, hyldo tô wedde.
3000 "Þät ys sió fæhðo and se feónd-scipe,
"wäl-nîð wera, þäs þe ic wên hafo,
"þe ûs sêceað tô Sweona leóde,
"syððan hie gefricgeað freán ûserne
"ealdor-leásne, þone þe ær geheóld
3005 "wið hettendum hord and rîce,
"äfter häleða hryre hwate Scylfingas,
"folc-ræd fremede oððe furður gen
"eorl-scipe efnde. Nu is ôfost betost,
"þät we þeód-cyning þær sceáwian
3010 "and þone gebringan, þe ûs beágas geaf,
"on âd-färe. Ne scel ânes hwät
"meltan mid þam môdigan, ac þær is mâðma hord.
"gold unrîme grimme geceápod
"and nu ät sîðestan sylfes feore
3015 "beágas gebohte; þâ sceal brond fretan,
"äled þeccean, nalles eorl wegan
"mâððum tô gemyndum, ne mägð scýne
"habban on healse hring-weorðunge,
"ac sceall geômor-môd golde bereáfod
3020 "oft nalles æne el-land tredan,
"nu se here-wîsa hleahtor âlegde,
"gamen and gleó-dreám. Forþon sceall gâr wesan
"monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden,
"häfen on handa, nalles hearpan swêg
3025 "wîgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn
"fûs ofer fægum, fela reordian,
"earne secgan, hû him ät æte speów,
"þenden he wið wulf wäl reáfode."
Swâ se secg hwata secgende wäs
3030 lâðra spella; he ne leág fela
wyrda ne worda. Weorod eall ârâs,
eodon unblîðe under Earna näs
wollen-teáre wundur sceáwian.
Fundon þâ on sande sâwul-leásne
3035 hlim-bed healdan, þone þe him hringas geaf
ærran mælum: þâ wäs ende-däg
gôdum gegongen, þät se gûð-cyning,
Wedra þeóden, wundor-deáðe swealt.
Ær hî gesêgan syllîcran wiht,
3040 wyrm on wonge wiðer-rähtes þær
lâðne licgean: wäs se lêg-draca,
grimlîc gryre-gäst, glêdum beswæled,
se wäs fîftiges fôt-gemearces.
lang on legere, lyft-wynne heóld
3045 nihtes hwîlum, nyðer eft gewât
dennes niósian; wäs þâ deáðe fäst,
häfde eorð-scrafa ende genyttod.
Him big stôdan bunan and orcas,
discas lâgon and dýre swyrd,
3050 ômige þurh-etone, swâ hie wið eorðan fäðm
þûsend wintra þær eardodon:
þonne wäs þät yrfe eácen-cräftig,
iú-monna gold galdre bewunden,
þät þam hring-sele hrînan ne môste
3055 gumena ænig, nefne god sylfa,
sigora sôð-cyning, sealde þam þe he wolde
(he is manna gehyld) hord openian,
efne swâ hwylcum manna, swâ him gemet þûhte.
XLII. WÎGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.
Þâ wäs gesýne, þät se sîð ne þâh
3060 þam þe unrihte inne gehýdde
wräte under wealle. Weard ær ofslôh
feára sumne; þâ sió fæhð gewearð
gewrecen wrâðlîce. Wundur hwâr, þonne
eorl ellen-rôf ende gefêre
3065 lîf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mäg
mon mid his mâgum medu-seld bûan.
Swâ wäs Biówulfe, þâ he biorges weard
sôhte, searo-nîðas: seolfa ne cûðe,
þurh hwät his worulde gedâl weorðan sceolde;
3070 swâ hit ôð dômes däg diópe benemdon
þeódnas mære, þâ þät þær dydon,
þät se secg wære synnum scildig,
hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fäst,
wommum gewitnad, se þone wong strâde.
3075 Näs he gold-hwät: gearwor häfde
âgendes êst ær gesceáwod.
Wîglâf maðelode, Wihstânes sunu:
"Oft sceall eorl monig ânes willan
"wræc âdreógan, swâ ûs geworden is.
3080 "Ne meahton we gelæran leófne þeóden,
"rîces hyrde ræd ænigne,
"þät he ne grêtte gold-weard þone,
"lête hyne licgean, þær he longe wäs,
"wîcum wunian ôð woruld-ende.
3085 "Heóldon heáh gesceap: hord ys gesceáwod,
"grimme gegongen; wäs þät gifeðe tô swîð,
"þe þone þeóden þyder ontyhte.
"Ic wäs þær inne and þät eall geond-seh,
"recedes geatwa, þâ me gerýmed wäs,
3090 "nealles swæslîce sîð âlýfed
"inn under eorð-weall. Ic on ôfoste gefêng
"micle mid mundum mägen-byrðenne
"hord-gestreóna, hider ût ätbär
"cyninge mînum: cwico wäs þâ gena,
3095 "wîs and gewittig; worn eall gespräc
"gomol on gehðo and eówic grêtan hêt,
"bäd þät ge geworhton äfter wines dædum
"in bæl-stede beorh þone heán
"micelne and mærne, swâ he manna wäs
3100 "wîgend weorð-fullost wîde geond eorðan,
"þenden he burh-welan brûcan môste.
"Uton nu êfstan ôðre sîðe
"seón and sêcean searo-geþräc,
"wundur under wealle! ic eów wîsige,
3105 "þät ge genôge neán sceáwiað
"beágas and brâd gold. Sîe sió bær gearo
"ädre geäfned, þonne we ût cymen,
"and þonne geferian freán ûserne,
"leófne mannan, þær he longe sceal
3110 "on þäs waldendes wære geþolian."
Hêt þâ gebeódan byre Wihstânes,
häle hilde-diór, häleða monegum
bold-âgendra, þät hie bæl-wudu
feorran feredon, folc-âgende
3115 gôdum tôgênes: "Nu sceal glêd fretan
"(weaxan wonna lêg) wîgena strengel,
"þone þe oft gebâd îsern-scûre,
"þonne stræla storm, strengum gebæded,
"scôc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte heóld,
3120 "feðer-gearwum fûs flâne full-eode."
Hûru se snotra sunu Wihstânes
âcîgde of corðre cyninges þegnas
syfone tôsomne þâ sêlestan,
eode eahta sum under inwit-hrôf;
3125 hilde-rinc sum on handa bär
äled-leóman, se þe on orde geóng.
Näs þâ on hlytme, hwâ þät hord strude,
syððan or-wearde ænigne dæl
secgas gesêgon on sele wunian,
3130 læne licgan: lyt ænig mearn,
þät hi ôfostlice ût geferedon
dýre mâðmas; dracan êc scufun,
wyrm ofer weall-clif, lêton wæg niman,
flôd fäðmian frätwa hyrde.
3135 Þær wäs wunden gold on wæn hladen,
æghwäs unrîm, äðeling boren,
hâr hilde-rinc tô Hrones nässe.
XLIII. BEÓWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.
Him þâ gegiredan Geáta leóde
âd on eorðan un-wâclîcne,
3140 helmum behongen, hilde-bordum,
beorhtum byrnum, swâ he bêna wäs;
âlegdon þâ tô-middes mærne þeóden
häleð hiófende, hlâford leófne.
Ongunnon þâ on beorge bæl-fýra mæst
3145 wîgend weccan: wudu-rêc âstâh
sweart ofer swioðole, swôgende lêg,
wôpe bewunden (wind-blond geläg)
ôð þät he þâ bân-hûs gebrocen häfde,
hât on hreðre. Higum unrôte
3150 môd-ceare mændon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;
swylce giômor-gyd + lat . con meowle
. . . . . wunden heorde . . .
serg (?) cearig sælde geneahhe
þät hio hyre . . . . gas hearde
3155 . . . . . ede wälfylla wonn . .
hildes egesan hyðo
haf mid heofon rêce swealh (?)
Geworhton þâ Wedra leóde
hlæw on hliðe, se wäs heáh and brâd,
3160 wæg-lîðendum wîde gesýne,
and betimbredon on tyn dagum
beadu-rôfes bêcn: bronda betost
wealle beworhton, swâ hyt weorðlîcost
fore-snotre men findan mihton.
3165 Hî on beorg dydon bêg and siglu,
eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ær
nîð-hydige men genumen häfdon;
forlêton eorla gestreón eorðan healdan,
gold on greóte, þær hit nu gen lifað
3170 eldum swâ unnyt, swâ hit æror wäs.
Þâ ymbe hlæw riodan hilde-deóre,
äðelinga bearn ealra twelfa,
woldon ceare cwîðan, kyning mænan,
word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,
3175 eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc
duguðum dêmdon, swâ hit ge-dêfe bið,
þät mon his wine-dryhten wordum hêrge,
ferhðum freóge, þonne he forð scile
of lîc-haman læne weorðan.
3180 Swâ begnornodon Geáta leóde
hlâfordes hryre, heorð-geneátas,
cwædon þät he wære woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-þwærust,
leódum lîðost and lof-geornost.
APPENDIX
THE ATTACK IN FINNSBURG. [Footnote: See v. 1069 _seqq._]
". . . . . . . . . . . näs byrnað næfre."
Hleoðrode þâ heaðo-geong cyning:
"Ne þis ne dagað eástan, ne her draca ne fleógeð,
"ne her þisse healle hornas ne byrnað,
5 "ac fêr forð berað fugelas singað,
"gylleð græg-hama, gûð-wudu hlynneð,
"scyld scefte oncwyð. Nu scýneð þes môna
"waðol under wolcnum; nu ârîsað weá-dæda,
"þe þisne folces nîð fremman willað.
10 "Ac onwacnigeað nu, wîgend mîne,
"hebbað eówre handa, hicgeað on ellen,
"winnað on orde, wesað on môde!"
Þâ ârâs monig gold-hladen þegn, gyrde hine his swurde;
þâ tô dura eodon drihtlîce cempan,
15 Sigeferð and Eaha, hyra sweord getugon,
and ät ôðrum durum Ordlâf and Gûðlâf,
and Hengest sylf; hwearf him on lâste.
Þâ git Gârulf Gûðere styrode,
þät hie swâ freólîc feorh forman sîðe
20 tô þære healle durum hyrsta ne bæran,
nu hyt nîða heard ânyman wolde:
ac he frägn ofer eal undearninga,
deór-môd häleð, hwâ þâ duru heólde.
"Sigeferð is mîn nama (cwäð he), ic eom Secgena leód,
25 "wrecca wîde cûð. Fela ic weána gebâd,
"heardra hilda; þe is gyt her witod,
"swäðer þu sylf tô me sêcean wylle."
Þâ wäs on wealle wäl-slihta gehlyn,
sceolde cêlod bord cênum on handa
30 bân-helm berstan. Buruh-þelu dynede,
ôð þät ät þære gûðe Gârulf gecrang,
ealra ærest eorð-bûendra,
Gûðlâfes sunu; ymbe hine gôdra fela.
Hwearf flacra hræw hräfn, wandrode
35 sweart and sealo-brûn; swurd-leóma stôd
swylce eal Finns-buruh fýrenu wære.
Ne gefrägn ic næfre wurðlîcor ät wera hilde
sixtig sige-beorna sêl gebæran,
ne næfre swânas swêtne medo sêl forgyldan,
40 þonne Hnäfe guldon his häg-stealdas.
Hig fuhton fîf dagas, swâ hyra nân ne feól
driht-gesîða, ac hig þâ duru heóldon.
Þâ gewât him wund häleð on wäg gangan,
sæde þät his byrne âbrocen wære,
45 here-sceorpum hrôr, and eác wäs his helm þyrl.
Þâ hine sôna frägn folces hyrde,
hû þâ wîgend hyra wunda genæson
oððe hwäðer þæra hyssa . . . . . . .
LIST OF NAMES; NOTES; AND GLOSSARY.
ABBREVIATIONS
m.: masculine.
f.: feminine.
n.: neuter.
nom., gen.: nominative, genitive, etc.
w.: weak.
w. v.: weak verb.
st.: strong.
st. v.: strong verb.
I., II., III.: first, second, third person.
comp.: compound.
imper.: imperative.
w.: with.
instr.: instrumental.
G. and Goth.: Gothic.
O.N.: Old Norse.
O.S.: Old Saxon.
O.H.G.: Old High German.
M.H.G.: Middle High German.
The vowel ä = _a_ in glad }
The diphthong æ = _a_ in hair } approximately.
The names Leo, Bugge, Rieger, etc., refer to authors of emendations.
Words beginning with ge- will be found under their root-word.
Obvious abbreviations, like subj., etc., are not included in this list.
LIST OF NAMES.
Abel, Cain's brother, 108.
Älf-here (gen. Älf-heres, 2605), a kinsman of Wîglâf's, 2605.
Äsc-here, confidential adviser of King Hrôðgâr (1326), older brother of Yrmenlâf (1325), killed by Grendel's mother, 1295, 1324, 2123.
Bân-stân, father of Breca, 524.
Beó-wulf, son of Scyld, king of the Danes, 18, 19. After the death of his father, he succeeds to the throne of the Scyldings, 53. His son is Healfdene, 57.
Beó-wulf (Biówulf, 1988, 2390; gen. Beówulfes, 857, etc., Biówulfes, 2195, 2808, etc.; dat. Beówulfe, 610, etc., Biówulfe, 2325, 2843), of the race of the Geátas. His father is the Wægmunding Ecgþeów (263, etc.); his mother a daughter of Hrêðel, king of the Geátas (374), at whose court he is brought up after his seventh year with Hrêðel's sons, Herebeald, Hæðcyn, and Hygelâc, 2429 ff. In his youth lazy and unapt (2184 f., 2188 f.); as man he attains in the gripe of his hand the strength of thirty men, 379. Hence his victories in his combats with bare hands (711 ff., 2502 ff.), while fate denies him the victory in the battle with swords, 2683 f. His swimming-match with Breca in his youth, 506 ff. Goes with fourteen Geátas to the assistance of the Danish king, Hrôðgâr, against Grendel, 198 ff. His combat with Grendel, and his victory, 711 ff., 819 ff. He is, in consequence, presented with rich gifts by Hrôðgâr, 1021 ff. His combat with Grendel's mother, 1442 ff. Having again received gifts, he leaves Hrôðgâr (1818-1888), and returns to Hygelâc, 1964 ff.--After Hygelâc's last battle and death, he flees alone across the sea, 2360 f. In this battle he crushes Däghrefn, one of the Hûgas, to death, 2502 f. He rejects at the same time Hygelâc's kingdom and the hand of his widow (2370 ff.), but carries on the government as guardian of the young Heardrêd, son of Hygelâc, 2378 ff. After Heardrêd's death, the kingdom falls to Beówulf, 2208, 2390.--Afterwards, on an expedition to avenge the murdered Heardrêd, he kills the Scylfing, Eádgils (2397), and probably conquers his country. --His fight with the drake, 2539 ff. His death, 2818. His burial, 3135 ff.
Breca (acc. Brecan, 506, 531), son of Beánstân, 524. Chief of the Brondings, 521. His swimming-match with Beówulf, 506 ff.
Brondingas (gen. Brondinga, 521), Breca, their chief, 521.
Brosinga mene, corrupted from, or according to Müllenhoff, written by mistake for, Breosinga mene (O.N., Brisinga men, cf. Haupts Zeitschr. XII. 304), collar, which the Brisingas once possessed.
Cain (gen. Caines, 107): descended from him are Grendel and his kin, 107, 1262 ff.
Däg-hrefn (dat. Däghrefne, 2502), a warrior of the Hûgas, who, according to 2504-5, compared with 1203, and with 1208, seems to have been the slayer of King Hygelâc, in his battle against the allied Franks, Frisians, and Hûgas. Is crushed to death by Beówulf in a hand-to-hand combat, 2502 ff.
Dene (gen. Dena, 242, etc., Denia, 2126, Deniga, 271, etc.; dat. Denum, 768, etc.), as subjects of Scyld and his descendants, they are also called Scyldings; and after the first king of the East Danes, Ing (Runenlied, 22), Ing-wine, 1045, 1320. They are also once called Hrêðmen, 445. On account of their renowned warlike character, they bore the names Gâr-Dene, 1, 1857, Hring-Dene (Armor-Danes), 116, 1280, Beorht-Dene, 427, 610. The great extent of this people is indicated by their names from the four quarters of the heavens: Eást-Dene, 392, 617, etc., West-Dene, 383, 1579, Sûð-Dene, 463, Norð-Dene, 784.--Their dwelling-place "in Scedelandum," 19, "on Scedenigge," 1687, "be sæm tweónum," 1686.
Ecg-lâf (gen. Ecglâfes, 499), Hûnferð's father, 499.
Ecg-þeów (nom. Ecgþeów, 263, Ecgþeó, 373; gen. Ecgþeówes, 529, etc., Ecgþiówes, 2000), a far-famed hero of the Geátas, of the house of the Wægmundings. Beówulf is the son of Ecgþeów, by the only daughter of Hrêðel, king of the Geátas, 262, etc. Among the Wylfings, he has slain Heaðolâf (460), and in consequence he goes over the sea to the Danes (463), whose king, Hrôðgâr, by means of gold, finishes the strife for him, 470.
Ecg-wela (gen. Ecg-welan, 1711). The Scyldings are called his descendants, 1711. Grein considers him the founder of the older dynasty of Danish kings, which closes with Heremôd. See Heremôd.
Elan, daughter of Healfdene, king of the Danes, (?) 62. According to the restored text, she is the wife of Ongenþeów, the Scylfing, 62, 63.
Earna-näs, the Eagle Cape in the land of the Geátas, where occurred Beówulf's fight with the drake, 3032.
Eádgils (dat. Eádgilse, 2393), son of Ôhthere, and grandson of Ongenþeów, the Scylfing, 2393. His older brother is
Eánmund (gen. Eánmundes, 2612). What is said about both in our poem (2201-2207, 2380-2397, 2612-2620) is obscure, but the following may be conjectured:--
The sons of Ôhthere, Eánmund and Eádgils, have rebelled against their father (2382), and must, in consequence, depart with their followers from Swiórîce, 2205-6, 2380. They come into the country of the Geátas to Heardrêd (2380), but whether with friendly or hostile intent is not stated; but, according to 2203 f., we are to presume that they came against Heardrêd with designs of conquest. At a banquet (on feorme; or feorme, MS.) Heardrêd falls, probably through treachery, by the hand of one of the brothers, 2386, 2207. The murderer must have been Eánmund, to whom, according to 2613, "in battle the revenge of Weohstân brings death." Weohstân takes revenge for his murdered king, and exercises upon Eánmund's body the booty-right, and robs it of helm, breastplate, and sword (2616-17), which the slain man had received as gifts from his uncle, Onela, 2617-18. But Weohstân does not speak willingly of this fight, although he has slain Onela's brother's son, 2619-20.--After Heardrêd's and Eánmund's death, the descendant of Ongenþeów, Eádgils, returns to his home, 2388. He must give way before Beówulf, who has, since Heardrêd's death, ascended the throne of the Geátas, 2390. But Beówulf remembers it against him in after days, and the old feud breaks out anew, 2392-94. Eádgils makes an invasion into the land of the Geátas (2394-95), during which he falls at the hands of Beówulf, 2397. The latter must have then obtained the sovereignty over the Sweonas (3005-6, where only the version, Scylfingas, can give a satisfactory sense).
Eofor (gen. Eofores, 2487, 2965; dat. Jofore, 2994, 2998), one of the Geátas, son of Wonrêd and brother of Wulf (2965, 2979), kills the Swedish king, Ongenþeów (2487 ff., 2978-82), for which he receives from King Hygelâc, along with other gifts, his only daughter in marriage, 2994-99.
Eormen-rîc (gen. Eormenrîces, 1202), king of the Goths (cf. about him, W. Grimm, Deutsche Heldensage, p. 2, ff.). Hâma has wrested the Brosinga mene from him, 1202.
Eomær, son of Offa and Þryðo (cf. Þryðo), 1961.
Finn (gen. Finnes, 1069, etc.; dat. Finne, 1129), son of Folcwalda (1090), king of the North Frisians, i.e. of the Eotenas, husband of Hildeburg, a daughter of Hôc, 1072, 1077. He is the hero of the inserted poem on the Attack in Finnsburg, the obscure incidents of which are, perhaps, as follows: In Finn's castle, Finnsburg, situated in Jutland (1126-28), the Hôcing, Hnäf, a relative--perhaps a brother--of Hildeburg is spending some time as guest. Hnäf, who is a liegeman of the Danish king, Healfdene, has sixty men with him (Finnsburg, 38). These are treacherously attacked one night by Finn's men, 1073. For five days they hold the doors of their lodging-place without losing one of their number (Finnsburg, 41, 42). Then, however, Hnäf is slain (1071), and the Dane, Hengest, who was among Hnäf's followers, assumes the command of the beleaguered band. But on the attacking side the fight has brought terrible losses to Finn's men. Their numbers are diminished (1081 f.), and Hildeburg bemoans a son and a brother among the fallen (1074 f., cf. 1116, 1119). Therefore the Frisians offer the Danes peace (1086) under the conditions mentioned (1087-1095), and it is confirmed with oaths (1097), and money is given by Finn in propitiation (1108). Now all who have survived the battle go together to Friesland, the homo proper of Finn, and here Hengest remains during the winter, prevented by ice and storms from returning home (Grein). But in spring the feud breaks out anew. Gûðlâf and Oslâf avenge Hnäf's fall, probably after they have brought help from home (1150). In the battle, the hall is filled with the corpses of the enemy. Finn himself is killed, and the queen is captured and carried away, along with the booty, to the land of the Danes, 1147-1160.
Finna land. Beówulf reaches it in his swimming-race with Breca, 580.
Fitela, the son and nephew of the Wälsing, Sigemund, and his companion in arms, 876-890. (Sigemund had begotten Fitela by his sister, Signý. Cf. more at length Leo on Beówulf, p. 38 ff., where an extract from the legend of the Walsungs is given.)
Folc-walda (gen. Folc-waldan, 1090), Finn's father, 1090.
Francan (gen. Francna, 1211; dat. Froncum, 2913). King Hygelâc fell on an expedition against the allied Franks, Frisians, and Hûgas, 1211, 2917.
Fresan, Frisan, Frysan (gen. Fresena, 1094, Frysna, 1105, Fresna, 2916: dat. Frysum, 1208, 2913). To be distinguished, are: 1) North Frisians, whose king is Finn, 1069 ff.; 2) West Frisians, in alliance with the Franks and Hûgas, in the war against whom Hygelâc falls, 1208, 2916. The country of the former is called Frysland, 1127; that of the latter, Fresna land, 2916.
Fr..es wäl (in Fr..es wäle, 1071), mutilated proper name.
Freáwaru, daughter of the Danish king, Hrôðgâr; given in marriage to Ingeld, the son of the Heaðobeard king, Frôda, in order to end a war between the Danes and the Heaðobeardnas, 2023 ff., 2065.
Frôda (gen. Frôdan), father of Ingeld, the husband of Freáware, 2026.
Gârmund (gen. Gârmundes, 1963) father of Offa. His grandson is Eómær, 1961-63.
Geátas (gen. Geáta, 205, etc.; dat. Geátum, 195, etc.), a tribe in Southern Scandinavia, to which the hero of this poem belongs; also called Wedergeátas, 1493, 2552; or, Wederas, 225, 423, etc.; Gûðgeátas, 1539; Sægeátas, 1851, 1987. Their kings named in this poem are: Hrêðel; Hæðcyn, second son of Hrêðel; Hygelâc, the brother of Hæðcyn; Heardrêd, son of Hygelâc; then Beówulf.
Gifðas (dat. Gifðum, 2495), Gepidæ, mentioned in connection with Danes and Swedes, 2495.
Grendel, a fen-spirit (102-3) of Cain's race, 107, 111, 1262, 1267. He breaks every night into Hrôðgâr's hall and carries off thirty warriors, 115 ff., 1583ff. He continues this for twelve years, till Beówulf fights with him (147, 711 ff.), and gives him a mortal wound, in that he tears out one of his arms (817), which is hung up as a trophy in the roof of Heorot, 837. Grendel's mother wishes to avenge her son, and the following night breaks into the hall and carries off Äschere, 1295. Beówulf seeks for and finds her home in the fen-lake (1493 ff.), fights with her (1498 ff.), and kills her (1567); and cuts off the head of Grendel, who lay there dead (1589), and brings it to Hrôðgâr, 1648.
Gûð-lâf and Oslâf, Danish warriors under Hnäf, whose death they avenge on Finn, 1149.
Hâlga, with the surname, til, the younger brother of the Danish king, Hrôðgâr, 61. His son is Hrôðulf, 1018, 1165, 1182.
Hâma wrests the Brosinga mene from Eormenrîc, 1199.
Häreð (gen. Häreðes, 1982), father of Hygd, the wife of Hygelâc, 1930, 1982.
Hæðcyn (dat. Hæðcynne, 2483), second son of Hrêðel, king of the Geátas, 2435. Kills his oldest brother, Herebeald, accidentally, with an arrow, 2438 ff. After Hrêðel's death, he obtains the kingdom, 2475, 2483. He falls at Ravenswood, in the battle against the Swedish king, Ongenþeów, 2925. His successor is his younger brother, Hygelâc, 2944 ff., 2992.
Helmingas (gen. Helminga, 621). From them comes Wealhþeów, Hrôðgâr's wife, 621.
Heming (gen. Heminges, 1945, 1962). Offa is called Heminges mæg, 1945; Eómær, 1962. According to Bachlechner (Pfeiffer's Germania, I., p. 458), Heming is the son of the sister of Gârmund, Offa's father.
Hengest (gen. Hengestes, 1092; dat. Hengeste, 1084): about him and his relations to Hnäf and Finn, see Finn.
Here-beald (dat. Herebealde, 2464), the oldest son of Hrêðel, king of the Geátas (2435), accidentally killed with an arrow by his younger brother, Hæðcyn, 2440.
Here-môd (gen. Heremôdes, 902), king of the Danes, not belonging to the Scylding dynasty, but, according to Grein, immediately preceding it; is, on account of his unprecedented cruelty, driven out, 902 ff., 1710.
Here-rîc (gen. Hererîces, 2207) Heardrêd is called Hererîces nefa, 2207. Nothing further is known of him.
Het-ware or Franks, in alliance with the Frisians and the Hûgas, conquer Hygelâc, king of the Geátas, 2355, 2364 ff., 2917.
Healf-dene (gen. Healfdenes, 189, etc.), son of Beówulf, the Scylding (57); rules the Danes long and gloriously (57 f.); has three sons, Heorogâr, Hrôðgâr, and Hâlga (61), and a daughter, Elan, who, according to the renewed text of the passage, wäs married to the Scylfing, Ongenþeów, 62, 63.
Heard-rêd (dat. Heardrêde, 2203, 2376), son of Hygelâc, king of the Geátas, and Hygd. After his father's death, while still under age, he obtains the throne (2371, 2376, 2379); wherefore Beówulf, as nephew of Heardrêd's father, acts as guardian to the youth till he becomes older, 2378. He is slain by Ôhthere's sons, 2386. This murder Beówulf avenges on Eádgils, 2396-97.
Heaðo-beardnas (gen. -beardna, 2033, 2038, 2068), the tribe of the Lombards. Their king, Frôda, has fallen in a war with the Danes, 2029, 2051. In order to end the feud, King Hrôðgâr has given his daughter, Freáwaru, as wife to the young Ingeld, the son of Frôda, a marriage that does not result happily; for Ingeld, though he long defers it on account of his love for his wife, nevertheless takes revenge for his father, 2021-2070 (Wîdsîð, 45-49).
Heaðo-lâf (dat. Heaðo-lâfe, 460), a Wylfingish warrior. Ecgþeów, Beówulf's father, kills him, 460.
Heaðo-ræmas reached by B. in the swimming-race with Beówulf, 519.
Heoro-gâr (nom. 61; Heregâr, 467; Hiorogâr, 2159), son of Healfdene, and older brother of Hrôðgâr, 61. His death is mentioned, 467. He has a son, Heoroweard, 2162. His coat of mail Beówulf has received from Hrôðgâr (2156), and presents it to Hygelâc, 2158.
Heoro-weard (dat. Heorowearde, 2162), Heorogâr's son, 2161-62.
Heort, 78. Heorot, 166 (gen. Heorotes, 403; dat. Heorote, 475, Heorute, 767, Hiorte, 2100). Hrôðgâr's throne-room and banqueting hall and assembly-room for his liegemen, built by him with unusual splendor, 69, 78. In it occurs Beówulf's fight with Grendel, 720 ff. The hall receives its name from the stag's antlers, of which the one-half crowns the eastern gable, the other half the western.
Hildeburh, daughter of Hôc, relative of the Danish leader, Hnäf, consort of the Frisian king, Finn. After the fall of the latter, she becomes a captive of the Danes, 1072, 1077, 1159. See also under Finn.
Hnäf (gen. Hnäfes, 1115), a Hôcing (Wîdsîð, 29), the Danish King Healfdene's general, 1070 ff. For his fight with Finn, his death and burial, see under Finn.
Hond-sció, warrior of the Geátas: dat. 2077.
Hôc (gen. Hôces, 1077), father of Hildeburh, 1077; probably also of Hnäf (Wîdsîð, 29).
Hrêðel (gen. Hrêðles, 1486), son of Swerting, 1204. King of the Geátas, 374. He has, besides, a daughter, who is married to Ecgþeów, and has borne him Beówulf, (374), three sons, Herebeald, Hæðcyn, and Hygelâc, 2435. The eldest of these is accidentally killed by the second, 2440. On account of this inexpiable deed, Hrêðel becomes melancholy (2443), and dies, 2475.
Hrêðla (gen. Hrêðlan, MS. Hrædlan, 454), the same as Hrêðel (cf. Müllenhoff in Haupts Zeitschrift, 12, 260), the former owner of Beówulf's coat of mail, 454.
Hrêð-men (gen. Hrêð-manna, 445), the Danes are so called, 445.
Hrêð-rîc, son of Hrôðgâr, 1190, 1837.
Hrefna-wudu, 2926, or Hrefnes-holt, 2936, the thicket near which the Swedish king, Ongenþeów, slew Hæðcyn, king of the Geátas, in battle.
Hreosna-beorh, promontory in the land of the Geátas, near which Ongenþeów's sons, Ôhthere and Onela, had made repeated robbing incursions into the country after Hrêðel's death. These were the immediate cause of the war in which Hrêðel's son, King Hæðcyn, fell, 2478 ff.
Hrôð-gâr (gen. Hrôðgâres, 235, etc.; dat. Hrôðgâre, 64, etc.), of the dynasty of the Scyldings; the second of the three sons of King Healfdene, 61. After the death of his elder brother, Heorogâr, he assumes the government of the Danes, 465, 467 (yet it is not certain whether Heorogâr was king of the Danes before Hrôðgâr, or whether his death occurred while his father, Healfdene, was still alive). His consort is Wealhþeów (613), of the stock of the Helmings (621), who has borne him two sons, Hrêðrîc and Hrôðmund (1190), and a daughter, Freáware (2023), who has been given in marriage to the king of the Heaðobeardnas, Ingeld. His throne-room (78 ff.), which has been built at great cost (74 ff.), is visited every night by Grendel (102, 115), who, along with his mother, is slain by Beówulf (711 ff., 1493 ff). Hrôðgâr's rich gifts to Beówulf, in consequence, 1021, 1818; he is praised as being generous, 71 ff., 80, 1028 ff., 1868 ff.; as being brave, 1041 ff., 1771 ff.; and wise, 1699, 1725.--Other information about Hrôðgâr's reign for the most part only suggested: his expiation of the murder which Ecgþeów, Beówulf's father, committed upon Heaðolâf, 460, 470; his war with the Heaðobeardnas; his adjustment of it by giving his daughter, Freáware, in marriage to their king, Ingeld; evil results of this marriage, 2021-2070.--Treachery of his brother's son, Hrôðulf, intimated, 1165-1166.
Hrôð-mund, Hrôðgâr's son, 1190.
Hrôð-ulf, probably a son of Hâlga, the younger brother of King Hrôðgâr, 1018, 1182. Wealhþeów expresses the hope (1182) that, in case of the early death of Hrôðgâr, Hrôð-ulf would prove a good guardian to Hrôðgâr's young son, who would succeed to the government; a hope which seems not to have been accomplished, since it appears from 1165, 1166 that Hrôð-ulf has abused his trust towards Hrôðgâr.
Hrones-näs (dat. -nässe, 2806, 3137), a promontory on the coast of the country of the Geátas, visible from afar. Here is Beówulf's grave-mound, 2806, 3137.
Hrunting (dat. Hruntinge, 1660), Hûnferð's sword, is so called, 1458, 1660.
Hûgas (gen. Hûga, 2503), Hygelâc wars against them allied with the Franks and Frisians, and falls, 2195 ff. One of their heroes is called Däghrefn, whom Beówulf slays, 2503.
[H]ûn-ferð, the son of Ecglâf, þyle of King Hrôðgâr. As such, he has his place near the throne of the king, 499, 500, 1167. He lends his sword, Hrunting, to Beówulf for his battle with Grendel's mother, 1456 f. According to 588, 1168, he slew his brothers. Since his name is always alliterated with vowels, it is probable that the original form was, as Rieger (Zachers Ztschr., 3, 414) conjectures, Unferð.
Hûn-lâfing, name of a costly sword, which Finn presents to Hengest, 1144. See Note.
Hygd (dat. Hygde, 2173), daughter of Häreð, 1930; consort of Hygelâc, king of the Geátas, 1927; her son, Heardrêd, 2203, etc.--Her noble, womanly character is emphasized, 1927 ff.
Hyge-lâc (gen. Hige-lâces, 194, etc., Hygelâces, 2387; dat. Higelâce, 452, Hygelâce, 2170), king of the Geátas, 1203, etc. His grandfather is Swerting, 1204; his father, Hrêðel, 1486, 1848; his older brothers, Herebeald and Hæðcyn, 2435; his sister's son, Beówulf, 374, 375. After his brother, Hæðcyn, is killed by Ongenþeów, he undertakes the government (2992 in connection with the preceding from 2937 on). To Eofor he gives, as reward for slaying Ongenþeów, his only daughter in marriage, 2998. But much later, at the time of the return of Beówulf from his expedition to Hrôðgâr, we see him married to the very young Hygd, the daughter of Häreð, 1930. The latter seems, then, to have been his second wife. Their son is Heardrêd, 2203, 2376, 2387.--Hygelâc falls during an expedition against the Franks, Frisians, and Hûgas, 1206, 1211, 2356-59, 2916-17.
Ingeld (dat. Ingelde, 2065), son of Frôda, the Heaðobeard chief, who fell in a battle with the Danes, 2051 ff. in order to end the war, Ingeld is married to Freáwaru, daughter of the Danish king, Hrôðgâr, 2025-30. Yet his love for his young wife can make him forget only for a short while his desire to avenge his father. He finally carries it out, excited thereto by the repeated admonitions of an old warrior, 2042-70 (Wîdsîð, 45-59).
Ing-wine (gen. Ingwina, 1045, 1320), friends of Ing, the first king of the East Danes. The Danes are so called, 1045, 1320.
Mere-wioingas (gen. Mere-wioinga, 2922), as name of the Franks, 2922.
Nägling, the name of Beówulf's sword, 2681.
Offa (gen. Offan, 1950), king of the Angles (Wîdsîð, 35), the son of Gârmund, 1963; married (1950) to Þryðo (1932), a beautiful but cruel woman, of unfeminine spirit (1932 ff.), by whom he has a son, Eómær, 1961.
Ôht-here (gen. Ôhtheres, 2929, 2933; Ôhteres, 2381, 2393, 2395, 2613), son of Ongenþeów, king of the Swedes, 2929. His sons are Eánmund (2612) and Eádgils, 2393.
Onela (gen. Onelan, 2933), Ôhthere's brother, 2617, 2933.
Ongen-þeów (nom. -þeów, 2487, -þió, 2952; gen. -þeówes, 2476, -þiówes, 2388; dat. -þió, 2987), of the dynasty of the Scylfings; king of the Swedes, 2384. His wife is, perhaps, Elan, daughter of the Danish king, Healfdene (62), and mother of two sons, Onela and Ôhthere, 2933. She is taken prisoner by Hæðcyn, king of the Geátas, on an expedition into Sweden, which he undertakes on account of her sons' plundering raids into his country, 2480 ff. She is set free by Ongenþeów (2931), who kills Hæðcyn, 2925, and encloses the Geátas, now deprived of their leader, in the Ravenswood (2937 ff.), till they are freed by Hygelâc, 2944. A battle then follows, which is unfavorable to Ongenþeów's army. Ongenþeów himself, attacked by the brothers, Wulf and Eofor, is slain by the latter, 2487 ff., 2962 ff.
Ôs-lâf, a warrior of Hnäf's, who avenges on Finn his leader's death, 1149 f.
Scede-land, 19. Sceden-îg (dat. Sceden-îgge, 1687), O.N., Scân-ey, the most southern portion of the Scandinavian peninsula, belonging to the Danish kingdom, and, in the above-mentioned passages of our poem, a designation of the whole Danish kingdom.
Scêf or Sceáf. See Note.
Scyld (gen. Scyldes, 19), a Scêfing. 4. His son is Beówulf, 18, 53: his grandson, Healfdene, 57; his great-grandson, Hrôðgâr, who had two brothers and a sister, 59 ff.--Scyld dies, 26; his body, upon a decorated ship, is given over to the sea (32 ff.), just as he, when a child, drifted alone, upon a ship, to the land of the Danes, 43 ff. After him his descendants bear his name.
Scyldingas (Scyldungas, 2053; gen. Scyldinga, 53, etc., Scyldunga, 2102, 2160; dat. Scyldingum, 274, etc.), a name which is extended also to the Danes, who are ruled by the Scyldings, 53, etc. They are also called Âr-Scyldingas, 464; Sige-Scyldingas, 598, 2005; Þeód-Scyldingas, 1020; Here-Scyldingas, 1109.
Scylfingas, a Swedish royal family, whose relationship seems to extend to the Geátas, since Wîglâf, the son of Wihstân, who in another place, as a kinsman of Beówulf, is called a Wægmunding (2815), is also called leód Scylfinga, 2604. The family connections are perhaps as follows:--
Scylf.
|
------------------------
Wægmund. .......
| |
Ecgþeów. Weohstân. Ongenþeów.
| | |
Beówulf. Wîglâf. Onela. Ôhthere.
|
-----------------
Eáumund. Eádgils.
The Scylfings are also called Heaðo-Scilfingas, 63, Gûð-Scylfingas, 2928.
Sige-mund (dat. -munde, 876, 885), the son of Wäls, 878, 898. His (son and) nephew is Fitela, 880, 882. His fight with the drake, 887 ff.
Swerting (gen. Swertinges, 1204), Hygelâc's grandfather, and Hrêðel's father, 1204.
Sweon (gen. Sweona, 2473, 2947, 3002), also Sweó-þeód, 2923. The dynasty of the Scylfings rules over them, 2382, 2925. Their realm is called Swiórice, 2384, 2496.
Þryðo, consort of the Angle king, Offa, 1932, 1950. Mother of Eómær, 1961, notorious on account of her cruel, unfeminine character, 1932 ff. She is mentioned as the opposite to the mild, dignified Hygd, the queen of the Geátas.
Wäls (gen. Wälses, 898), father of Sigemund, 878, 898.
Wæg-mundingas (gen. Wægmundinga, 2608, 2815). The Wægmundings are on one side, Wihstân and his son Wîglâf; on the other side, Ecgþeów and his son Beówulf (2608, 2815). See under Scylfingas.
Wederas (gen. Wedera, 225, 423, 498, etc.), or Weder-geátas. See Geátas.
Wêland (gen. Wêlandes, 455), the maker of Beówulf's coat of mail, 455.
Wendlas (gen. Wendla, 348): their chief is Wulfgâr. See Wulfgâr. The Wendlas are, according to Grundtvig and Bugge, the inhabitants of Vendill, the most northern part of Jutland, between Limfjord and the sea.
Wealh-þeów (613, Wealh-þeó, 665, 1163), the consort of King Hrôðgâr, of the stock of the Helmings, 621. Her sons are Hrêðrîc and Hrôðmund, 1190; her daughter, Freáwaru, 2023.
Weoh-stân (gen. Weox-stânes, 2603, Weoh-stânes, 2863, Wih-stânes, 2753, 2908, etc.), a Wægmunding (2608), father of Wîglâf, 2603. In what relationship to him Älfhere, mentioned 2605, stands, is not clear.--Weohstân is the slayer of Eánmund (2612), in that, as it seems, he takes revenge for his murdered king, Heardrêd. See Eánmund.
Wîg-lâf, Weohstân's son, 2603, etc., a Wægmunding, 2815, and so also a Scylfing, 2604; a kinsman of Älfhere, 2605. For his relationship to Beówulf, see the genealogical table under Scylfingas.--He supports Beówulf in his fight with the drake, 2605 ff., 2662 ff. The hero gives him, before his death, his ring, his helm, and his coat of mail, 2810 ff.
Won-rêd (gen. Wonrêdes, 2972), father of Wulf and Eofor, 2966, 2979.
Wulf (dat. Wulfe, 2994), one of the Geátas, Wonrêd's son. He fights in the battle between the armies of Hygelâc and Ongenþeów with Ongenþeów himself, and gives him a wound (2966), whereupon Ongenþeów, by a stroke of his sword, disables him, 2975. Eofor avenges his brother's fall by dealing Ongenþeów a mortal blow, 2978 ff.
Wulf-gâr, chief of the Wendlas, 348, lives at Hrôðgâr's court, and is his "âr and ombiht," 335.
Wylfingas (dat. Wylfingum, 461). Ecgþeów has slain Heoðolâf, a warrior of this tribe, 460.
Yrmen-lâf, younger brother of Äschere, 1325.
ADDITIONAL.
Eotenas (gen. pl. Eotena, 1073, 1089, 1142; dat. Eotenum, 1146), the subjects of Finn, the North Frisians: distinguished from eoton, giant. Vid eoton. Cf. Bugge, Beit., xii. 37; Earle, Beowulf in Prose, pp. 146, 198.
Hrêðling, son of Hrêðel, Hygelâc: nom. sg. 1924; nom. pl., the subjects of Hygelâc, the Geats, 2961.
Scêfing, the son (?) of Scêf, or Sceáf, reputed father of Scyld, 4. See Note.
ABBREVIATIONS.
B.: Bugge.
Br.: S.A. Brooke, Hist. of Early Eng. Lit.
C.: Cosijn.
E.: Earle, Deeds of Beowulf in Prose.
G.: Garnett, Translation of Beowulf
Gr.: Grein.
H.: Heyne.
Ha.: Hall, Translation of Beowulf.
H.-So.: Heyne-Socin, 5th ed.
Ho.: Holder.
K.: Kemble.
Kl.: Kluge.
Müllenh.: Müllenhoff.
R.: Rieger.
S.: Sievers.
Sw.: Sweet, Anglo-Saxon Reader, 6th ed.
Ten Br.: Ten Brink.
Th.: Thorpe.
Z.: Zupitza.
PERIODICALS.
Ang.: Anglia.
Beit.: Paul und Branne's Beiträge.
Eng. Stud.: Englische Studien.
Germ.: Germania.
Haupts Zeitschr.: Haupts Zeitschrift, etc. Mod. Lang. Notes: Modern Language Notes.
Tidskr.: Tidskrift for Philologi. Zachers Zeitschr.: Zachers Zeitschrift, etc.
NOTES.
l. 1. hwät: for this interjectional formula opening a poem, cf. _Andreas, Daniel, Juliana, Exodus, Fata Apost., Dream of the Rood_, and the "Listenith lordinges!" of mediaeval lays.--E. Cf. Chaucer, Prologue, ed. Morris, l. 853:
"Sin I shal beginne the game,
What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name!"
we ... gefrunon is a variant on the usual epic formulæ ic gefrägn (l. 74) and mîne gefræge (l. 777). _Exodus, Daniel, Phoenix_, etc., open with the same formula.
l. 1. "Gâr was the javelin, armed with two of which the warrior went into battle, and which he threw over the 'shield-wall.' It was barbed."--Br. 124. Cf. Maldon, l. 296; Judith, l. 224; _Gnom. Verses_, l. 22; etc.
l. 4. "Scild of the Sheaf, not 'Scyld the son of Scaf'; for it is too inconsistent, even in myth, to give a patronymic to a foundling. According to the original form of the story, Sceáf was the foundling; he had come ashore with a sheaf of corn, and from that was named. This form of the story is preserved in Ethelwerd and in William of Malmesbury. But here the foundling is Scyld, and we must suppose he was picked up with the sheaf, and hence his cognomen."--E., p. 105. Cf. the accounts of Romulus and Remus, of Moses, of Cyrus, etc.
l. 6. egsian is also used in an active sense (not in the Gloss.), = _to terrify_.
l. 15. S. suggests þâ (_which_) for þät, as object of dreógan; and for aldor-leáse, Gr. suggested aldor-ceare.--_Beit._ ix. 136.
S. translates: "For God had seen the dire need which the rulerless ones before endured."
l. 18. "Beowulf (that is, Beaw of the Anglo-Saxon genealogists, not our Beowulf, who was a Geat, not a Dane), 'the son of Scyld in Scedeland.' This is our ancestral myth,--the story of the first culture-hero of the North; 'the patriarch,' as Rydberg calls him, 'of the royal families of Sweden, Denmark, Angeln, Saxland, and England.'"--Br., p. 78. Cf. _A.-S. Chron._ an. 855.
H.-So. omits parenthetic marks, and reads (after S., _Beit._ ix. 135) eaferan; cf. _Fata Apost._: lof wîde sprang þeódnes þegna.
"The name Beowulf means literally 'Bee-wolf,' wolf or ravager of the bees, = bear. Cf. beorn, 'hero,' originally 'bear,' and beohata, 'warrior,' in Cædmon, literally 'bee-hater' or 'persecutor,' and hence identical in meaning with beowulf."--Sw.
Cf. "Arcite and Palamon,
That foughten breme, as it were bores two."
--Chaucer, Knightes Tale, l. 841, ed. Morris.
Cf. M. Müller, _Science of Lang._, Sec. Series, pp. 217, 218; and Hunt's Daniel, 104.
l. 19. Cf. l. 1866, where Scedenig is used, = Scania, in Sweden(?).
l. 21. wine is pl.; cf. its apposition wil-gesîðas below. H.-So. compares _Héliand_, 1017, for language almost identical with ll. 20, 21.
l. 22. on ylde: cf.
"_In elde_ is bothe wisdom and usage."
--Chaucer, Knightes Tale, l. 1590, ed. Morris.
l. 26. Reflexive objects often pleonastically accompany verbs of motion; cf. ll. 234, 301, 1964, etc.
l. 28. faroð = _shore, strand, edge._ Add these to the meanings in the Gloss.
l. 31. The object of âhte is probably geweald, to be supplied from wordum weóld of l. 30.--H.-So.
R., Kl., and B. all hold conflicting views of this passage: _Beit._ xii. 80, ix. 188; _Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 382, etc. Kl. suggests lændagas for lange.
l. 32. "hringed-stefna is sometimes translated 'with curved prow,' but it means, I think, that in the prow were fastened rings through which the cables were passed that tied it to the shore."--Br., p. 26. Cf. ll. 1132, 1898. Hring-horni was the mythic ship of the Edda. See Toller-Bosworth for three different views; and cf. wunden-stefna (l. 220), hring-naca (l. 1863).
ll. 34-52. Cf. the burial of Haki on a funeral-pyre ship, _Inglinga Saga;_ the burial of Balder, Sinfiötli, Arthur, etc.
l. 35. "And this [their joy in the sea] is all the plainer from the number of names given to the ship-names which speak their pride and affection. It is the Ætheling's vessel, the Floater, the Wave-swimmer, the Ring-sterned, the Keel, the Well-bound wood, the Sea-wood, the Sea-ganger, the Sea-broad ship, the Wide-bosomed, the Prow-curved, the Wood of the curved neck, the Foam-throated floater that flew like a bird."--Br., p. 168.
l. 49. "We know from Scandinavian graves ... that the illustrious dead were buried ... in ships, with their bows to sea-ward; that they were however not sent to sea, but were either burnt in that position, or mounded over with earth."--E. See Du Chaillu, The Viking Age, xix.
l. 51. (1) sele-rædende (K., S., C.); (2) sêle-rædenne (H.); (3) sele-rædende (H.-So.). Cf. l. 1347; and see Ha.
l. 51. E. compares with this canto Tennyson's "Passing of Arthur" and the legendary burial-journey of St. James of Campostella, an. 800.
l. 53. The poem proper begins with this, "There was once upon a time," the first 52 lines being a prelude. Eleven of the "fitts," or cantos, begin with the monosyllable þâ, four with the verb gewîtan, nine with the formula Hrôðgâr (Beówulf, Unferð) maðelode, twenty-four with monosyllables in general (him, swâ, sê, hwät, þâ, hêht, wäs, mäg, cwôm, stræt).
l. 58. gamel. "The ... characteristics of the poetry are the use of archaic forms and words, such as mec for mé, the possessive sín, gamol, dógor, swát for eald, dæg, blód, etc., after they had become obsolete in the prose language, and the use of special compounds and phrases, such as hildenædre (_war-adder_) for 'arrow,' gold-gifa (_gold-giver_) for 'king,' ... goldwine gumena (_goldfriend of men, distributor of gold to men_) for 'king,'" etc.--Sw. Other poetic words are ides, ielde (_men_), etc.
l. 60. H.-So. reads ræswa (referring to Heorogâr alone), and places a point (with the Ms.) after Heorogâr instead of after ræswa. Cf. l. 469; see B., _Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 193.
l. 62. Elan here (OHG. _Elana, Ellena, Elena, Elina, Alyan_) is thought by B. (_Tidskr_. viii. 43) to be a remnant of the masc. name Onela, and he reads: [On-]elan ewên, Heaðoscilfingas(=es) healsgebedda.
l. 68. For hê, omitted here, cf. l. 300. Pronouns are occasionally thus omitted insubord. clauses.--Sw.
l. 70. þone, here = þonne, than, and micel = mâre? The passage, by a slight change, might be made to read, medo-ärn micle mâ gewyrcean,--þone = by much larger than,--in which þone (þonne) would come in naturally.
l. 73. folc-scare. Add folk-share to the meanings in the Gloss.; and cf. gûð-scearu.
l. 74. ic wide gefrägn: an epic formula very frequent in poetry, = _men said._ Cf. Judith, ll. 7, 246; Phoenix, l. 1; and the parallel (noun) formula, mîne gefræge, ll. 777, 838, 1956, etc.
ll. 78-83. "The hall was a rectangular, high-roofed, wooden building, its long sides facing north and south. The two gables, at either end, had stag-horns on their points, curving forwards, and these, as well as the ridge of the roof, were probably covered with shining metal, and glittered bravely in the sun."--Br., p. 32.
l. 84. _Son-in-law and father-in-law;_ B., a so-called dvanda compound. Cf. l. 1164, where a similar compound means _uncle and nephew;_ and Wîdsîð's suhtorfædran, used of the same persons.
l. 88. "The word dreám conveys the buzz and hum of social happiness, and more particularly the sound of music and singing."--E. Cf. l. 3021; and Judith, l. 350; Wanderer, l. 79, etc.
ll. 90-99. There is a suspicious similarity between this passage and the lines attributed by Bede to Cædmon:
Nû wê sculan herian heofonrices Weard, etc. --Sw., p. 47.
ll. 90-98 are probably the interpolation of a Christian scribe.
ll. 92-97. "The first of these Christian elements [in _Beówulf_] is the sense of a fairer, softer world than that in which the Northern warriors lived.... Another Christian passage (ll. 107, 1262) derives all the demons, eotens, elves, and dreadful sea-beasts from the race of Cain. The folly of sacrificing to the heathen gods is spoken of (l. 175).... The other point is the belief in immortality (ll. 1202, 1761)."--Br. 71.
l. 100. Cf. l. 2211, where the third dragon of the poem is introduced in the same words. Beowulf is the forerunner of that other national dragon-slayer, St. George.
l. 100. onginnan in _Beówulf_ is treated like verbs of motion and modal auxiliaries, and takes the object inf. without tô; cf. ll. 872, 1606, 1984, 244. Cf. gan (= _did_) in Mid. Eng.: gan espye (Chaucer, _Knightes Tale_, l. 254, ed. Morris).
l. 101. B. and H.-So. read, feónd on healle; cf. l. 142.--_Beit._ xii.
ll. 101-151. "Grimm connects [Grendel] with the Anglo-Saxon grindel (_a bolt_ or _bar_).... It carries with it the notion of the bolts and bars of hell, and hence _a fiend._ ... Ettmüller was the first ... to connect the name with grindan, _to grind, to crush to pieces, to utterly destroy._ Grendel is then _the tearer, the destroyer_."--Br., p. 83.
l. 102. gäst = stranger (Ha.); cf. ll. 1139, 1442, 2313, etc.
l. 103. See Ha., p. 4.
l. 106. "The perfect and pluperfect are often expressed, as in Modern English, by hæfð and hæfde with the past participle."--Sw. Cf. ll. 433, 408, 940, 205 (p. p. inflected in the last two cases), etc.
l. 106. S. destroys period here, reads in Caines, etc., and puts þone ... drihten in parenthesis.
l. 108. þäs þe = because, especially after verbs of thanking (cf. ll. 228, 627, 1780, 2798); according as (l. 1351).
l. 108. The def. article is omitted with Drihten (_Lord_) and Deofol (_devil_; cf. l. 2089), as it is, generally, sparingly employed in poetry; cf. tô sæ (l. 318), ofer sæ (l. 2381), on lande (l. 2311), tô räste (l. 1238), on wicge (l. 286), etc., etc.
l. 119. weras (S., H.-So.); wera (K., Th.).--_Beit._ ix. 137.
l. 120. unfælo = uncanny (R.).
l. 131. E. translates, _majestic rage;_ adopting Gr.'s view that swyð is = Icel. sviði, a burn or burning. Cf. l. 737.
l. 142. B. supposes heal-þegnes to be corrupted from helþegnes; cf. l. 101.--_Beit._ xii. 80. See Gûðlâc, l. 1042.
l. 144. See Ha., p. 6, for S.'s rearrangement.
l. 146. S. destroys period after sêlest, puts wäs ... micel in parenthesis, and inserts a colon after tîd.
l. 149. B. reads sârcwidum for syððan.
l. 154. B. takes sibbe for accus. obj. of wolde, and places a comma after Deniga.--_Beit._ xii. 82.
l. 159. R. suggests ac se for atol.
l. 168. H.-So. plausibly conjectures this parenthesis to be a late insertion, as, at ll. 180-181, the Danes also are said to be heathen. Another commentator considers the throne under a "spell of enchantment," and therefore it could not be touched.
l. 169. ne ... wisse: nor had he desire to do so (W.). See Ha., p. 7, for other suggestions.
l. 169. myne wisse occurs in Wanderer, l. 27.
l. 174. The gerundial inf. with tô expresses purpose, defines a noun or adjective, or, with the verb be, expresses duty or necessity passively; cf. ll. 257, 473, 1004, 1420, 1806, etc. Cf. tô + inf. at ll. 316, 2557.
ll. 175-188. E. regards this passage as dating the time and place of the poem relatively to the times of heathenism. Cf. the opening lines, _In days of yore_, etc., as if the story, even then, were very old.
l. 177. gâst-bona is regarded by Ettmüller and G. Stephens (_Thunor_, p. 54) as an epithet of Thor (= _giant-killer_), a kenning for Thunor or Thor, meaning both man and monster.--E.
l. 189. Cf. l. 1993, where similar language is used. H.-So. takes both môd-ceare and mæl-ceare as accus., others as instr.
ll. 190, 1994. seáð: for this use of seóðan cf. Bede, _Eccles. Hist._, ed. Miller, p. 128, where p. p. soden is thus used.
l. 194. fram hâm = in his home (S., H.-So.); but fram hâm may be for fram him (_from them_, i.e. his people, or _from Hrothgar's_). Cf. Ha., p. 8.
l. 197. Cf. ll. 791, 807, for this fixed phrase.
l. 200. See _Andreas, Elene_, and Juliana for swan-râd (_= sea_). "The swan is said to breed wild now no further away than the North of Sweden." --E. Cf. ganotes bäð, l. 1862.
l. 203. Concessive clauses with þeáh, þeáh þe, þeáh ... eal, vary with subj. and ind., according as fact or contingency is dominant in the mind; cf. ll. 526, 1168, 2032, etc. (subj.), 1103, 1614 (ind.). Cf. gif, nefne.
l. 204. hæl, an OE. word found in Wülker's Glossaries in various forms, = _augury, omen, divination_, etc. Cf. hælsere, augur; hæl, _omen;_ hælsung, augurium, hælsian, etc. Cf. Tac., Germania, 10.
l. 207. C. adds "= _impetrare_" to the other meanings of findan given in the Gloss.
l. 217. Cf. l. 1910; and Andreas, l. 993.--E. E. compares Byron's
"And fast and falcon-like the vessel flew,"
--_Corsair_, i.17.
and Scott's
"Merrily, merrily bounds the bark." --_Lord of the Isles_, iv. 7.
l. 218. Cf.
"The fomy stedes on the golden brydel
Gnawinge."
--Chaucer, Knightes Tale, l. 1648, ed. Morris.
l. 219. Does ân-tîd mean hour (Th.), or corresponding hour = ând-tîd (H.-So.), or in due time (E.), or after a time, when ôþres, etc., would be adv. gen.? See C., _Beit._ viii. 568.
l. 224. eoletes may = (1) voyage; (2) _toil, labor_; (3) _hurried journey;_ but sea or fjord appears preferable.
ll. 229-257. "The scenery ... is laid on the coast of the North Sea and the Kattegat, the first act of the poem among the Danes in Seeland, the second among the Geats in South Sweden."--Br., p. 15.
l. 239. "A shoal of simple terms express in _Beówulf_ the earliest sea-thoughts of the English.... The simplest term is Sæ.... To this they added Wæter, Flod, Stream, Lagu, Mere, Holm, Grund, Heathu, Sund, Brim, Garsecg, Eagor, Geofon, Fifel, Hron-rad, Swan-rad, Segl-rad, Ganotes-bæð."--Br., p. 163-166.
l. 239. "The infinitive is often used in poetry after a verb of motion where we should use the present participle."--Sw. Cf. ll. 711, 721, 1163 1803, 268, etc. Cf. German spazieren fahren reiten, etc., and similar constructions in French, etc.
l. 240, W. reads hringed-stefnan for helmas bæron. B. inserts (?) after holmas and begins a new line at the middle of the verse. S. omits B.'s "on the wall."
l. 245. Double and triple negatives strengthen each other and do not produce an affirmative in A.-S. or M. E. The neg. is often prefixed to several emphatic words in the sentence, and readily contracts with vowels, and h or w; cf. ll. 863, 182, 2125, 1509, 575, 583, 3016, etc.
l. 249. seld-guma = _man-at-arms in another's house_ (Wood); = _low-ranking fellow_ (Ha.); stubenhocker, stay-at-home (Gr.), Scott's "carpet knight," Marmion, i. 5.
l. 250. näfne (nefne, nemne) usually takes the subj., = unless; cf. ll. 1057, 3055, 1553. For ind., = except, see l. 1354. Cf. bûtan, gif, þeáh.
l. 250. For a remarkable account of armor and weapons in _Beówulf_, see S. A. Brooke, _Hist. of Early Eng. Lit_. For general "Old Teutonic Life in Beówulf," see J. A. Harrison, Overland Monthly.
l. 252. ær as a conj. generally has subj., as here; cf. ll. 264, 677, 2819, 732. For ind., cf. l. 2020.
l. 253. leás = loose, roving. Ettmüller corrected to leáse.
l. 256. This proverb (ôfest, etc.) occurs in Exod. (Hunt), l. 293.
l. 258. An "elder" may be a very young man; hence yldesta, = eminent, may be used of Beowulf. Cf. _Laws of Ælfred_, C. 17: Nâ þät ælc eald sý, ac þät he eald sý on wîsdôme.
l. 273. Verbs of hearing and seeing are often followed by acc. with inf.; cf. ll. 229, 1024, 729, 1517, etc. Cf. German construction with _sehen, horen_, etc., French construction with _voir, entendre_, etc., and the classical constructions.
l. 275. dæd-hata = instigator. Kl. reads dæd-hwata.
l. 280. ed-wendan, n. (B.; cf. 1775), = edwenden, limited by bisigu. So ten Br. = Tidskr. viii. 291.
l. 287. "Each is denoted ... also by the strengthened forms 'æghwæðer ('ægðer), éghwæðer, etc. This prefixed 'æ, óe corresponds to the Goth, aiw, OHG. eo, io, and is umlauted from á, ó by the i of the gi which originally followed."--Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 190.
l. 292. "All through the middle ages suits of armour are called 'weeds.'"--E.
l. 303. "An English warrior went into battle with a boar-crested helmet, and a round linden shield, with a byrnie of ringmail ... with two javelins or a single ashen spear some eight or ten feet long, with a long two-edged sword naked or held in an ornamental scabbard.... In his belt was a short, heavy, one-edged sword, or rather a long knife, called the seax ... used for close quarters."--Br., p. 121.
l. 303. For other references to the boar-crest, cf. ll. 1112, 1287, 1454; Grimm, _Myth._ 195; Tacitus, Germania, 45. "It was the symbol of their [the Baltic Æstii's] goddess, and they had great faith in it as a preservative from hard knocks."--E. See the print in the illus. ed. of Green's Short History, Harper & Bros.
l. 303. "See Kemble, Saxons in England, chapter on heathendom, and Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, chapter on Freyr, for the connection these and other writers establish between the Boar-sign and the golden boar which Freyr rode, and his worship."--Br., p. 128. Cf. Elene, l. 50.
l. 304. Gering proposes hleór-bergan = cheek-protectors; cf. _Beit._ xii. 26. "A bronze disk found at Öland in Sweden represents two warriors in helmets with boars as their crests, and cheek-guards under; these are the hleór-bergan."--E. Cf. hauberk, with its diminutive habergeon, < A.-S. heals, neck + beorgan, to cover or protect; and harbor, < A.-S. here, army + beorgan, id.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ xii. 123. Cf. cinberge, Hunt's _Exod._ l. 175.
l. 305. For ferh wearde and gûðmôde grummon, B. and ten Br. read ferh-wearde (l. 305) and gûðmôdgum men (l. 306), = _the boar-images ... guarded the lives of the warlike men_.
l. 311. leóma: cf. Chaucer, Nonne Preestes Tale, l. 110, ed. Morris:
"To dremen in here dremes
Of armes, and of fyr with rede lemes."
l. 318. On the double gender of sæ, cf. Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 147; and note the omitted article at ll. 2381, 318, 544, with the peculiar tmesis of between at ll. 859, 1298, 1686, 1957. So _Cædmon_, l. 163 (Thorpe), _Exod._ l. 562 (Hunt), etc.
l. 320. Cf. l. 924; and Andreas, l. 987, where almost the same words occur. "Here we have manifestly before our eye one of those ancient causeways, which are among the oldest visible institutions of civilization." --E.
l. 322. S. inserts comma after scîr, and makes hring-îren (= _ring-mail_) parallel with gûð-byrne.
l. 325. Cf. l. 397. "The deposit of weapons outside before entering a house was the rule at all periods.... In provincial Swedish almost everywhere a church porch is called våkenhus,... i.e. weapon-house, because the worshippers deposited their arms there before they entered the house."--E., after G. Stephens.
l. 333. Cf. Dryden's "mingled metal _damask'd_ o'er with gold."--E.
l. 336. "æl-, el-, kindred with Goth. aljis, other, e.g. in ælþéodig, elþéodig, foreign."--Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 47.
l. 336. Cf. l. 673 for the functions of an ombiht-þegn.
l. 343. Cf. l. 1714 for the same beód-geneátas,--"the predecessor title to that of the Knights of the Table Round."--E. Cf. Andreas (K.), l. 2177.
l. 344. The future is sometimes expressed by willan + inf., generally with some idea of volition involved; cf. ll. 351, 427, etc. Cf. the use of willan as principal vb. (with omitted inf.) at ll. 318, 1372, 543, 1056; and sculan, ll. 1784, 2817.
l. 353. sîð here, and at l. 501, probably means arrival. E. translates the former by visit, the latter by adventure.
l. 357. unhâr = _hairless, bald_ (Gr., etc.).
l. 358. eode is only one of four or five preterits of gân (gongan, gangan, gengan), viz. geóng (gióng: ll. 926, 2410, etc.), gang (l. 1296, etc.), gengde (ll. 1402, 1413). Sievers, p. 217, apparently remarks that eode is "probably used only in prose." (?!). Cf. geng, _Gen._ ll. 626, 834; _Exod._ (Hunt) l. 102.
l. 367. The MS. and H.-So. read with Gr. and B. glädman Hrôðgâr, abandoning Thorkelin's glädnian. There is a glass. hilaris glädman.--_Beit._ xii. 84; same as gläd.
l. 369. dugan is a "preterit-present" verb, with new wk. preterit, like sculan, durran, magan, etc. For various inflections, see ll. 573, 590, 1822, 526. Cf. do in "that will _do_"; doughty, etc.
l. 372. Cf. l. 535 for a similar use; and l. 1220. Bede, _Eccles. Hist._, ed. Miller, uses the same expression several times. "Here, and in all other places where cniht occurs in this poem, it seems to carry that technical sense which it bore in the military hierarchy [of a noble youth placed out and learning the elements of the art of war in the service of a qualified warrior, to whom he is, in a military sense, a servant], before it bloomed out in the full sense of knight."--E.
l. 373. E. remarks of the hyphened eald-fäder, "hyphens are risky toys to play with in fixing texts of pre-hyphenial antiquity"; eald-fäder could only = grandfather. eald here can only mean honored, and the hyphen is unnecessary. Cf. "old fellow," "my old man," etc.; and Ger. alt-vater.
l. 378. Th. and B. propose Geátum, as presents from the Danish to the Geatish king.--_Beit._ xii.
l. 380. häbbe. The subj. is used in indirect narration and question, wish and command, purpose, result, and hypothetical comparison with swelce = _as if_.
ll. 386, 387. Ten Br. emends to read: "Hurry, bid the kinsman-throng go into the hall together."
l. 387. sibbe-gedriht, for Beowulf's friends, occurs also at l. 730. It is subject-acc. to seón. Cf. ll. 347, 365, and Hunt's Exod. l. 214.
l. 404. "Here, as in the later Icelandic halls, Beowulf saw Hrothgar enthroned on a high seat at the east end of the hall. The seat is sacred. It has a supernatural quality. Grendel, the fiend, cannot approach it."--Br., p. 34. Cf. l. 168.
l. 405. "At Benty Grange, in Derbyshire, an Anglo-Saxon barrow, opened in 1848, contained a coat of mail. 'The iron chain work consists of a large number of links of two kinds attached to each other by small rings half an inch in diameter; one kind flat and lozenge-shaped ... the others all of one kind, but of different lengths.'"--Br., p. 126.
l. 407. Wes ... hâl: this ancient Teutonic greeting afterwards grew into wassail. Cf. Skeat's Luke, i. 28; Andreas (K.), 1827; Layamon, l. 14309, etc.
l. 414. "The distinction between wesan and weorðan [in passive relations] is not very clearly defined, but wesan appears to indicate a state, weorðan generally an action."--Sw. Cf. Mod. German werden and sein in similar relations.
l. 414. Gr. translates hâdor by receptaculum; cf. Gering, _Zachers Zeitschr._ xii. 124. Toller-Bosw. ignores Gr.'s suggestion.
ll. 420, 421. B. reads: þær ic (_on_) fîfelgeban (= _ocean_) ýðde eotena cyn. Ten Br. reads: þær ic fîfelgeban ýðde, eotena hâm. Ha. suggests fîfelgeband = monster-band, without further changes.
l. 420. R. reads þæra = of them, for þær.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 399; _Beit._ xii. 367.
l. 420. "niht has a gen., nihtes, used for the most part only adverbially, and almost certainly to be regarded as masculine."--Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 158.
l. 425. Cf. also ll. 435, 635, 2345, for other examples of Beowulf's determination to fight single-handed.
l. 441. þe hine = whom, as at l. 1292, etc. The indeclinable þe is often thus combined with personal pronouns, = relative, and is sometimes separated from them by a considerable interval.--Sw.
l. 443. The MS. has Geotena. B. and Fahlbeck, says H.-So., do not consider the Geátas, but the Jutes, as the inhabitants of Swedish West-Gothland. Alfred translates Juti by Geátas, but Jutland by Gotland. In the laws they are called Guti.--_Beit._ xii. 1, etc.
l. 444. B., Gr., and Ha. make unforhte an adv. = fearlessly, modifying etan. Kl. reads anforhte = timid.
l. 446. Cf. l. 2910. Th. translates: thou wilt not need my head to hide (i.e. _bury_). Simrock supposes a dead-watch or lyke-wake to be meant. Wood, _thou wilt not have to bury so much as my head!_ H.-So. supposes heáfod-weard, a guard of honor, such as sovereigns or presumptive rulers had, to be meant by hafalan hýdan; hence, you need not give me any guard, etc. Cf. Schmid, _Gesetze der A._, 370-372.
l. 447. S. places a colon after nimeð.
l. 451. H.-So., Ha., and B. (_Beit._ xii. 87) agree essentially in translating feorme, food. R. translates _consumption of my corpse. Maintenance, support_, seems preferable to either.
l. 452. Rönning (after Grimm) personifies Hild.--_Beovulfs Kvadet_, l. 59. Hildr is the name of one of the Scandinavian Walkyries, or battle-maidens, who transport the spirits of the slain to Walhalla. Cf. Kent's Elene, l. 18, etc.
l. 455. "The war-smiths, especially as forgers of the sword, were garmented with legend, and made into divine personages. Of these Weland is the type, husband of a swan maiden, and afterwards almost a god."-- Br., p. 120. Cf. A. J. C. Hare's account of "Wayland Smith's sword with which Henry II. was knighted," and which hung in Westminster Abbey to a late date.--_Walks in London_, ii. 228.
l. 455. This is the ælces mannes wyrd of Boethius (Sw., p. 44) and the wyrd bið swîðost of Gnomic Verses, 5. There are about a dozen references to it in _Beówulf_.
l. 455. E. compares the fatalism of this concluding hemistich with the Christian tone of l. 685 _seq._
ll. 457, 458. B. reads wære-ryhtum ( = _from the obligations of clientage_).
l. 480. Cf. l. 1231, where the same sense, "flown with wine," occurs.
l. 488. "The duguð, the mature and ripe warriors, the aristocracy of the nation, are the support of the throne."--E. The M. E. form of the word, douth, occurs often. Associated with geogoð, ll. 160 and 622.
l. 489. Kl. omits comma after meoto and reads (with B.) sige-hrêð-secgum, = disclose thy thought to the victor-heroes. Others, as Körner, convert meoto into an imperative and divide on sæl = think upon happiness. But cf. onband beadu-rûne, l. 501. B. supposes onsæl meoto =_speak courteous words_. Tidskr. viii. 292; _Haupts Zeitschr._ xi. 411; _Eng. Stud_. ii. 251.
l. 489. Cf. the invitation at l. 1783.
l. 494. Cf. Grimm's Andreas, l. 1097, for deal, =_proud, elated, exulting; Phoenix_ (Bright), l. 266.
l. 499. MS. has Hunferð, but the alliteration requires Ûnferð, as at ll. 499, 1166, 1489; and cf. ll. 1542, 2095, 2930. See List of Names.
l. 501. sîð = arrival (?); cf. l. 353.
l. 504. þon mâ = the more (?), may be added to the references under þon.
l. 506. E. compares the taunt of Eliab to David, I Sam. xvii. 28.
l. 509. dol-gilp = idle boasting. The second definition in the Gloss. is wrong.
l. 513. "Eagor-stream might possibly be translated the stream of Eagor, the awful terror-striking stormy sea in which the terrible [Scandinavian] giant dwelt, and through which he acted."--Br., p. 164. He remarks, "The English term eagre still survives in provincial dialect for the tide-wave or bore on rivers. Dryden uses it in his _Threnod. Angust._ 'But like an eagre rode in triumph o'er the tide.' Yet we must be cautious," etc. Cf. Fox's Boethius, ll. 20, 236; Thorpe's _Cædmon_, 69, etc.
l. 524. Krüger and B. read Bânstânes.--_Beit._ ix. 573.
l. 525. R. reads wyrsan (= wyrses: cf. Mod. Gr. _guten Muthes_) geþinges; but H.-So. shows that the MS. wyrsan ... þingea = wyrsena þinga, _can stand_; cf. gen. pl. banan, Christ, l. 66, etc.
l. 534. Insert, under eard-lufa (in Gloss.), earfoð, st. n., _trouble, difficulty, struggle_; acc. pl. earfeðo, 534.
l. 545 _seq._ "Five nights Beowulf and Breca kept together, not swimming, but sailing in open boats (to swim the seas is to sail the seas), then storm drove them asunder ... Breca is afterwards chief of the Brondings, a tribe mentioned in _Wîdsíth_. The story seems legendary, not mythical."--Br., pp. 60, 61.
ll. 574-578. B. suggests swâ þær for hwäðere, = so there it befell me. But the word at l. 574 seems = however, and at l. 578 = yet; cf. l. 891; see S.; _Beit._ ix. 138; Tidskr. viii. 48; Zacher, iii. 387, etc.
l. 586. Gr. and Grundt. read fâgum sweordum (no ic þäs fela gylpe!), supplying fela and blending the broken half-lines into one. Ho. and Kl. supply geflites.
l. 599. E. translates nýd-bâde by blackmail; adding "nêd bâd, toll; nêd bâdere, tolltaker."--Land Charters, Gloss, v.
l. 601. MS. has ond = and in three places only (601, 1149, 2041); elsewhere it uses the symbol 7 = and.
l. 612. _seq._ Cf. the drinking ceremony at l. 1025. "The royal lady offers the cup to Beowulf, not in his turn where he sate among the rest, but after it has gone the round; her approach to Beowulf is an act apart."--E.
l. 620. "The [loving] cup which went the round of the company and was tasted by all," like the Oriel and other college anniversary cups.--E.
l. 622. Cf. ll. 160, 1191, for the respective places of young and old.
l. 623. Cf. the circlet of gold worn by Wealhþeów at l. 1164.
l. 631. gyddode. Cf. Chaucer, _Prol._ l. 237 (ed. Morris):
"Of yeddynges he bar utterly the prys."
Cf. giddy.
l. 648. Kl. suggests a period after geþinged, especially as B. (_Tidskr_. viii. 57) has shown that oþþe is sometimes = ond. Th. supplies ne.
l. 650. oþþe here and at ll. 2476, 3007, probably = and.
l. 651. Cf. 704, where sceadu-genga (the night-ganger of Leechdoms, ii. 344) is applied to the demon.--E.
l. 659. Cf. l. 2431 for same formula, "to have and to hold" of the Marriage Service.--E.
l. 681. B. considers þeáh ... eal a precursor of Mod. Eng. although.
l. 682. gôdra = advantages in battle (Gr.), battle-skill (Ha.), _skill in war_ (H.-So.). Might not nât be changed to nah = ne + âh (cf. l. 2253), thus justifying the translation ability (?) --_he has not the ability to_, etc.
l. 695. Kl. reads hiera.--_Beit._ ix. 189. B. omits hîe as occurring in the previous hemistich.--_Beit._ xii. 89.
l. 698. "Here Destiny is a web of cloth."--E., who compares the Greek Clotho, "spinster of fate." Women are also called "weavers of peace," as l. 1943. Cf. Kent's Elene, l. 88; _Wîdsîð_, l. 6, etc.
l. 711. B. translates þâ by when and connects with the preceding sentences, thus rejecting the ordinary canto-division at l. 711. He objects to the use of com as principal vb. at ll. 703, 711, and 721. (_Beit_, xii.)
l. 711. "Perhaps the Gnomic verse which tells of Thyrs, the giant, is written with Grendel in the writer's mind,--þyrs sceal on fenne gewunian âna inuan lande, _the giant shall dwell in the fen, alone in the land_ (Sweet's Read., p. 187)."--Br. p. 36.
l. 717. Dietrich, in _Haupt._ xi. 419, quotes from Ælfric, _Hom._ ii. 498: hê beworhte þâ bigelsas mid gyldenum læfrum, _he covered the arches with gold-leaf_,--a Roman custom derived from Carthage. Cf. Mod. Eng. oriel = aureolum, a gilded room.--E. (quoting Skeat). Cf. ll. 2257, 1097, 2247, 2103, 2702, 2283, 333, 1751, for various uses of gold-sheets.
l. 720. B. and ten Br. suggest hell-thane (Grendel) for heal-þegnas, and make häle refer to Beowulf. Cf. l. 142.
l. 723. Z. reads [ge]hrân.
l. 727. For this use of standan, cf. ll. 2314, 2770; and Vergil, _Ecl._ ii. 26:
"Cum placidum ventis staret mare."
l. 757. gedräg. Tumult is one of the meanings of this word. Here, appar. = _occupation, lair_.
l. 759. R. reads môdega for gôda, "because the attribute cannot be separated from the word modified unless the two alliterate."
l. 762. Cf. Andreas, l. 1537, for a similar use of ût = off.--E.
l. 769. The foreign words in _Beówulf_ (as ceaster-here) are not numerous; others are (aside from proper names like _Cain, Abel_, etc.) deófol (diabolus), candel (l. 1573), ancor (l. 303), scrîfan (for- ge-), segn (l. 47), gigant (l. 113), mîl- (l. 1363), stræt (l. 320), ombeht (l. 287), gim (l. 2073), etc.
l. 770. MS. reads cerwen, a word conceived by B. and others to be part of a fem. compd.: -scerwen like -wenden in ed-wenden, -ræden, etc. (cf. meodu-scerpen in Andreas, l. 1528); emended to -scerwen, _a great scare under the figure of a mishap at a drinking-bout_; one might compare bescerwan, to deprive, from bescyrian (Grein, i. 93), hence ealu-seerwen would = _a sudden taking away, deprivation, of the beer_.--H.-So., p. 93. See B., Tidskr. viii. 292.
l. 771. Ten Br. reads rêðe, rênhearde, = _raging, exceeding bold_.
l. 792. Instrumental adverbial phrases like ænige þinga, nænige þinga (_not at all_), hûru þinga (_especially_) are not infrequent. See Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 178; March, _A.-S. Gram._, p. 182.
l. 811. myrðe. E. translates in wanton mood. Toller-Bosw. does not recognize sorrow as one of the meanings of this word.
ll. 850, 851. S. reads deóp for deóg and erases semicolon after weól, = the death-stained deep welled with sword-gore; cf. l. 1424. B. reads deáð-fæges deóp, etc., = _the deep welled with the doomed one's gore_.--_Beit._ xii. 89.
l. 857. The meaning of blaneum is partly explained by fealwe mearas below, l. 866. Cf. Layamon's "and leop on his _blancke" = steed_, l. 23900; Kent's Elene, l. 1185.
l. 859. Körner, _Eng. Stud_. i. 482, regards the oft-recurring be sæm tweónum as a mere formula = on earth; cf. ll. 1298, 1686. tweóne is part of the separable prep. between; see be-. Cf. Baskerville's Andreas, l. 558.
l. 865. Cf. _Voyage of Ôhthere and Wulfstân_ for an account of funeral horse-racing, Sweet's Read., p. 22.
l. 868. See Ha., p. 31, for a variant translation.
l. 871 _seq._ R. considers this a technical description of improvised alliterative verse, suggested by and wrought out on the spur of the moment.
l. 872. R. and B. propose secg[an], = rehearse, for secg, which suits the verbs in the next two lines.
ll. 878-98. "It pleases me to think that it is in English literature we possess the first sketch of that mighty saga [the Volsunga Saga = Wälsinges gewin] which has for so many centuries engaged all the arts, and at last in the hands of Wagner the art of music."--Br., p. 63. Cf. _Nibelung. Lied_, l. 739.
l. 894. Intransitive verbs, as gân, weorðan, sometimes take habban, "to indicate independent action."--Sw. Cf. hafað ... geworden, l. 2027.
l. 895. "brûcan (_enjoy_) always has the genitive."--Sw.; cf. l. 895; acc., gen., instr., dat., according to March, _A.-S. Gram._, p. 151.
l. 898. Scherer proposes hâte, = from heat, instr. of hât, heat; cf. l. 2606.
l. 901. hê þäs âron þâh = he throve in honor (B.). Ten Br. inserts comma after þâh, making siððan introduce a depend. clause.--_Beit._ viii. 568. Cf. weorð-myndum þâh, l. 8; ll. 1155, 1243.--H.-So.
l. 902. Heremôdes is considered by Heinzel to be a mere epithet = _the valiant_; which would refer the whole passage to Sigmund (Sigfrid), the eotenas, l. 903, being the Nibelungen. This, says H.-So., gets rid of the contradiction between the good "Heremôd" here and the bad one, l. 1710 _seq._--B. however holds fast to Heremôd.--_Beit._ xii. 41. on feónda geweald, l. 904,--_into the hands of devils_, says B.; cf. ll. 809, 1721, 2267; Christ, l. 1416; Andreas, l. 1621; for hine fyren onwôd, cf. _Gen._ l. 2579; Hunt's _Dan._ 17: hîe wlenco anwôd.
l. 902 _seq._ "Heremôd's shame is contrasted with the glory of Sigemund, and with the prudence, patience, generosity, and gentleness of Beowulf as a chieftain."--Br., p. 66.
l. 906. MS. has lemede. Toller-Bosw. corrects to lemedon.
l. 917. Cf. Hunt's _Exod._, l. 170, for similar language.
l. 925. hôs, G. hansa, company, "the word from which the mercantile association of the 'Hanseatic' towns took their designation."--E.
l. 927. on staþole = on the floor (B., Rask, ten Br.).--_Beit._ xii. 90.
l. 927. May not steápne here = bright, from its being immediately followed by golde fâhne? Cf. Chaucer's "his eyen stepe," _Prol._ l. 201 (ed. Morris); Cockayne's _Ste. Marherete_, pp. 9, 108; _St. Kath._, l. 1647.
l. 931. grynna may be for gyrnna (= _sorrows_), gen. plu. of gyrn, as suggested by one commentator.
l. 937. B. (_Beit._ xii. 90) makes gehwylcne object of wîd-scofen (häfde). Gr. makes weá nom. absolute.
l. 940. scuccum: cf. G. scheuche, scheusal; Prov. Eng. old-shock; perhaps the pop. interjection _O shucks!_ (!)
l. 959. H. explains we as a "plur. of majesty," which Beówulf throws off at l. 964.
l. 963. feónd þone frätgan (B. _Beit._ xii. 90).
l. 976. synnum. "Most abstract words in the poetry have a very wide range of meanings, diverging widely from the prose usage, synn, for instance, means simply _injury, mischief, hatred_, and the prose meaning sin is only a secondary one; hata in poetry is not only hater, but _persecutor, enemy_, just as nîð is both hatred and _violence, strength_; heard is sharp as well as hard."--Sw.
l. 986. S. places wäs at end of l. 985 and reads stîðra nägla, omitting gehwylc and the commas after that and after sceáwedon. _Beit._ ix. 138; stêdra (H.-So.); hand-sporu (H.-So.) at l. 987.
l. 986. Miller (_Anglia_, xii. 3) corrects to æghwylene, in apposition to fingras.
l. 987. hand-sporu. See Anglia, vii. 176, for a discussion of the intrusion of u into the nom. of n-stems.
l. 988. Cf. ll. 2121, 2414, for similar use of unheóru = ungeheuer.
l. 992. B. suggests heátimbred for hâten, and gefrätwon for -od; Kl., hroden (_Beit._ ix. 189).
l. 995, 996. Gold-embroidered tapestries seem to be meant by web = aurifrisium.
l. 997. After þâra þe = of those that, the depend, vb. often takes sg. for pl.; cf. ll. 844, 1462, 2384, 2736.--Sw.; Dietrich.
l. 998. "Metathesis of l takes place in seld for setl, bold for botl," etc.--Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 96. Cf. Eng. proper names, _Bootle, Battle_field, etc.--Skeat, Principles, i. 250.
l. 1000. heorras: cf. Chaucer, _Prol._ (ed. Morris) l. 550:
"Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre."
ll. 1005-1007. See _Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 391, and _Beit._ xii. 368, for R.'s and B.'s views of this difficult passage.
l. 1009. Cf. l. 1612 for sæl and mæl, surviving still in E. Anglia in "mind your seals and meals," = times and occasions, i.e. have your wits about you.--E.
ll. 1012, 1013. Cf. ll. 753, 754 for two similar comparatives used in conjunction.
l. 1014. Cf. l. 327 for similar language.
ll. 1015, 1016. H.-So. puts these two lines in parentheses (fylle ... þâra). Cf. B., _Beit._ xii. 91.
l. 1024. One of the many famous swords spoken of in the poem. See Hrunting, ll. 1458, 1660; Hûnlâfing, l. 1144, etc. Cf. Excalibur, Roland's sword, the Nibelung Balmung, etc.
l. 1034. scûr-heard. For an ingenious explanation of this disputed word see Professor Pearce's article in _Mod. Lang. Notes_, Nov. 1, 1892, and ensuing discussion.
l. 1039. eoderas is of doubtful meaning. H. and Toller-Bosw. regard the word here = _enclosure, palings of the court_. Cf. _Cædmon_, ll. 2439, 2481. The passage throws interesting light on horses and their trappings
l. 1043. Grundt. emends wîg to wicg, = charger; and E. quotes Tacitus, Germania, 7.
l. 1044. "Power over each and both"; cf. "all and some," "one and all."
For Ingwin, see List of Names.
l. 1065. Gr. contends that fore here = de, _concerning, about_ (Ebert's _Jahrb._, 1862, p. 269).
l. 1069. H.-So. supplies fram after eaferum, to govern it, = concerning (?). Cf. Fight at Finnsburg, Appendix.
l. 1070. For the numerous names of the Danes, "bright-" "spear-" "east-" "west-" "ring-" Danes, see these words.
l. 1073. Eotenas = _Finn's people, the Frisians_; cf. ll. 1089, 1142, 1146, etc., and _Beit._ xii. 37. Why they are so called is not known.
l. 1084. R. proposes wiht Hengeste wið gefeohtan (_Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 394). Kl., wið H. wiht gefeohtan.
ll. 1085 and 1099. weá-lâf occurs in Wulfstan, _Hom._ 133, ed. Napier.--E. Cf. daroða lâf, _Brunanb._, l. 54; âdes lâfe, Phoenix, 272 (Bright), etc.
l. 1098. elne unflitme = _so dass der eid (der inhalt des eides) nicht streitig war_.--B., _Beit._ iii. 30. But cf. 1130, where Hengist and Finn are again brought into juxtaposition and the expression ealles (?) unhlitme occurs.
l. 1106. The pres. part. + be, as myndgiend wære here, is comparatively rare in original A.-S. literature, but occurs abundantly in translations from the Latin. The periphrasis is generally meaningless. Cf. l. 3029.
l. 1108. Körner suggests ecge, = sword, in reference to a supposed old German custom of placing ornaments, etc., on the point of a sword or spear (_Eng. Stud._ i. 495). Singer, ince-gold = bright gold; B., andiége = Goth, _andaugjo, evidently_. Cf. incge lâfe, l. 2578. Possibly: and inge (= _young men_) gold âhôfon of horde. For inge, cf. Hunt's _Exod._ l. 190.
ll. 1115-1120. R. proposes (hêt þâ ...) bânfatu bärnan ond on bæl dôn, earme on eaxe = to place the arms in the ashes, reading gûðrêc = battle-reek, for -rinc (_Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 395). B., Sarrazin (_Beit._ xi. 530), Lichtenfeld (_Haupts Zeitschr._ xvi. 330), C., etc., propose various emendations. See H.-So., p. 97, and _Beit._ viii. 568. For gùðrinc âstâh, cf. Old Norse, _stiga á bál_, "ascend the bale-fire."
l. 1116. sweoloðe. "On Dartmoor the burning of the furze up the hillsides to let new grass grow, is called zwayling."--E. Cf. sultry, G. _schwül_, etc.
l. 1119. Cf. wudu-rêc âstâh, l. 3145; and Exod. (Hunt), l. 450: wælmist âstâh.
l. 1122. ätspranc = _burst forth, arose_ (omitted from the Gloss.), < ät + springan.
l. 1130. R. and Gr. read elne unflitme, = loyally and without contest, as at l. 1098. Cf. Ha., p. 39; H.-So., p. 97.
l. 1137. scacen = gone; cf. ll. 1125, 2307, 2728.
l. 1142. "The sons of the Eotenas" (B., _Beit._ xii. 31, who conjectures a gap after 1142).
l. 1144. B. separates thus: Hûn Lâfing, = _Hûn placed the sword Lâfing_, etc.--_Beit._ xii. 32; cf. R., _Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 396. Heinzel and Homburg make other conjectures (Herrig's Archiv, 72, 374, etc.).
l. 1143. B., H.-So., and Möller read: worod rædenne, þonne him Hûn Lâfing, = _military brotherhood, when Hûn laid upon his breast_ (the sword) _Lâfing_. There is a sword _Laufi, Lövi_ in the Norse sagas; but swords, armor, etc., are often called the leaving (lâf) of files, hammers, etc., especially a precious heirloom; cf. ll. 454, 1033, 2830, 2037, 2629, 796, etc., etc.
l. 1152. roden = reddened (B., Tidskr. viii. 295).
l. 1160. For ll. 1069-1160, containing the Finn episode, cf. Möller, _Alteng. Volksepos_, 69, 86, 94; Heinzel, _Anz. f. dtsch. Altert._, 10, 226; B., _Beit._ xii. 29-37. Cf. _Wîdsîð_, l. 33, etc.
ll. 1160, 1161. leóð (lied = _song, lay_) and gyd here appear synonyms.
ll. 1162-1165. "Behind the wars and tribal wanderings, behind the contentions of the great, we watch in this poem the steady, continuous life of home, the passions and thoughts of men, the way they talked and moved and sang and drank and lived and loved among one another and for one another."--Br., p. 18.
l. 1163. Cf. wonderwork. So _wonder-death, wonder-bidding, wonder-treasure, -smith, -sight_, etc. at ll. 1748, 3038, 2174, 1682, 996, etc. Cf. the German use of the same intensive, = wondrous, in _wunder-schön_, etc.
l. 1165. þâ gyt points to some future event when "each" was not "true to other," undeveloped in this poem, suhtor-gefäderan = Hrôðgâr and Hrôðulf, l. 1018. Cf. âðum-swerian, l. 84.
l. 1167 almost repeats l. 500, ät fôtum, etc., where Ûnferð is first introduced.
l. 1191. E. sees in this passage separate seats for youth and middle-aged men, as in English college halls, chapels, convocations, and churches still.
l. 1192. ymbutan, round about, is sometimes thus separated: ymb hie ûtan; cf. _Voyage of Ôhthere_, etc. (Sw.), p. 18, l. 34, etc.; _Beówulf_, ll. 859, 1686, etc.
l. 1194. bewägned, a [Greek: hapax legomenon], tr. offered by Th. Probably a p. p. wägen, made into a vb. by -ian, like _own, drown_, etc. Cf. hafenian ( < hafen, < hebban), etc.
l. 1196. E. takes the expression to mean "mantle and its rings or broaches." "Rail" long survived in Mid. Eng. (_Piers Plow_., etc.).
l. 1196. This necklace was afterwards given by Beowulf to Hygd, ll. 2173, 2174.
ll. 1199-1215. From the obscure hints in the passage, a part of the poem may be approximately dated,--if Hygelâc is the Chochi-laicus of Gregory of Tours, _Hist. Francorum_, iii. 3,--about A.D. 512-20.
l. 1200. The Breosinga men (Icel. _Brisinga men_) is the necklace of the goddess Freya; cf. _Elder Edda, Hamarshemt_. Hâma stole the necklace from the Gothic King Eormenrîc; cf. _Traveller's Song_, ll. 8, 18, 88, 111. The comparison of the two necklaces leads the poet to anticipate Hygelâc's history,--a suggestion of the poem's mosaic construction.
l. 1200. For Brôsinga mene, cf. B., _Beit._ xii. 72. C. suggests fleáh, = fled, for fealh, placing semicolon after byrig, and making hê subject of fleáh and geceás.
l. 1202. B. conjectures geceás êcne ræd to mean _he became a pious man and at death went to heaven_. Heime (Hâma) in the Thidrekssaga goes into a cloister = to choose the better part (?). Cf. H.-So., p. 98. But cf. Hrôðgâr's language to Beowulf, ll. 1760, 1761.
l. 1211. S. proposes feoh, = property, for feorh, which would be a parallel for breóst-gewædu ... beáh below.
l. 1213. E. remarks that in the Laws of Cnut, i. 26, the devil is called se wôdfreca werewulf, the ravening werwolf.
l. 1215. C. proposes heals-bêge onfêng. _Beit._ viii. 570. For hreâ- Kl. suggests hræ-.
l. 1227. The son referred to is, according to Ettmüller, the one that reigns after Hrôðgâr.
l. 1229. Kl. suggests sî, = be, for is.
l. 1232. S. gives wine-elated as the meaning of druncne.--_Beit._ ix. 139; Kl. ibid. 189, 194. But cf. Judith, ll. 67, 107.
l. 1235. Cf. l. 119 for similarity of language.
l. 1235. Kl. proposes gea-sceaft; but cf. l. 1267.
l. 1246. Ring armor was common in the Middle Ages. E. points out the numerous forms of byrne in cognate languages,--Gothic, Icelandic, OHG., Slavonic, O. Irish, Romance, etc. Du Chaillu, The Viking Age, i. 126. Cf. Murray's _Dict._ s. v.
l. 1248. ânwîg-gearwe = ready for single combat (C.); but cf. Ha. p. 43; _Beit._ ix. 210, 282.
l. 1252. Some consider this fitt the beginning of Part (or Lay) II. of the original epic, if not a separate work in itself.
l. 1254. K., W., and Ho. read farode = _wasted;_ Kolbing reads furode; but cf. wêsten warode, l. 1266. MS. has warode.
ll. 1255-1258. This passage is a good illustration of the constant parallelism of word and phrase characteristic of A.-S. poetry, and is quoted by Sw. The changes are rung on ende and swylt, on gesýne and wîdcûð, etc.
l. 1259. "That this story of Grendel's mother was originally a separate lay from the first seems to be suggested by the fact that the monsters are described over again, and many new details added, such as would be inserted by a new singer who wished to enhance and adorn the original tale."--Br., p. 41.
l. 1259. Cf. l. 107, which also points to the ancestry of murderers and monsters and their descent from "Cain."
l. 1261. The MS. has se þe, m.; changed by some to seo þe. At ll. 1393, 1395, 1498, Grendel's mother is referred to as m.; at ll. 1293, 1505, 1541-1546, etc., as f., the uncertain pronoun designating a creature female in certain aspects, but masculine in demonic strength and savageness.--H.-So.; Sw. p. 202. Cf. the masc. epithets at ll. 1380, 2137, etc.
l. 1270. âglæca = Grendel, though possibly referring to Beowulf, as at l. 1513.--Sw.
l. 1273. "It is not certain whether anwalda stands for onwealda, or whether it should be read ânwealda, = only ruler.--Sw.
l. 1279. The MS. has sunu þeod wrecan, which R. changes to sunu þeód-wrecan, þeód- = monstrous; but why not regard þeód as opposition to sunu, = _her son, the prince?_ See Sweet's Reader, and Körner's discussion, _Eng. Stud._ i. 500.
l. 1281. Ten Br. suggests (for sôna) sâra = _return of sorrows._
l. 1286. "geþuren (twice so written in MSS.) stands for geþrúen, forged, and is an isolated p. p."--Cook's Sievers' Gram., 209. But see Toller-Bosw. for examples; Sw., Gloss.; March, p. 100, etc.
ll. 1292. þe hine = _whom;_ cf. ll. 441, 1437, 1292; _Hêliand_, l. 1308.
l. 1298. be sæm tweonum; cf. l. 1192; Hunt's Exod. l. 442; and Mod. Eng. "to _us_-ward, etc.--Earle's _Philol._, p. 449. Cf. note, l. 1192.
l. 1301. C. proposes ôðer him ärn = another apartment was assigned him.
l. 1303. B. conjectures under hrôf genam; but Ha., p. 45, shows this to be unnecessary, under also meaning in, as in (or _under_) these circumstances.
l. 1319. E. and Sw. suggest nægde or nêgde, accosted, < nêgan = Mid. Ger. _nêhwian_, pr. p. _nêhwiandans, approach_. For hnægan, _press down, vanquish_, see ll. 1275, 1440, etc.
l. 1321. C. suggests neád-lâðum for neód-laðu, after crushing hostility; but cf. freónd-laðu, l. 1193.
l. 1334. K. and ten Br. conjecture gefägnod = rejoicing in her fill, a parallel to æse wlanc, l. 1333.
l. 1340. B. translates: "and she has executed a deed of blood-vengeance of far-reaching consequence."--_Beit._ xii. 93.
l. 1345. B. reads geó for eów (_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 205).
ll. 1346-1377. "This is a fine piece of folk-lore in the oldest extant form.... The authorities for the story are the rustics (ll. 1346, 1356)." --E.
l. 1347. Cf. sele-rædende at l. 51.
l. 1351. "The ge [of gewitan] may be merely a scribal error,--a repetition (dittography) of the preceding ge of gewislîcost."--Sw.
l. 1352. ides, like firas, men, etc., is a poetic word supposed by Grimm to have been applied, like Gr. [Greek: númphæ], to superhuman or semi-divine women.
ll. 1360-1495 _seq._ E. compares this Dantesque tarn and scenery with the poetical accounts of _Æneid_, vii. 563; Lucretius, vi. 739, etc.
l. 1360. firgenstreám occurs also in the Phoenix (Bright, p. 168) l. 100; Andreas, ll. 779, 3144 (K.); Gnomic Verses, l. 47, etc.
l. 1363. The genitive is often thus used to denote measure = by or in miles; cf. l. 3043; and contrast with partitive gen. at l. 207.
l. 1364. The MS. reads hrinde = hrînende (?), which Gr. adopts; K. and Th. read hrinde-bearwas; hringde, encircling (Sarrazin, _Beit._ xi. 163); hrîmge = frosty (Sw.); with frost-whiting covered (Ha.). See Morris, Blickling Hom., Preface, vi., vii.
l. 1364. Cf. Ruin, hrîmige edoras behrofene, _rimy, roofless halls_.
l. 1366. nîðwundor may = nið- (as in nið-sele, _q. v._) wundor, _wonder of the deep_.
l. 1368. The personal pronoun is sometimes omitted in subordinate and even independent clauses; cf. wite here; and Hunt's Exod., l. 319.
l. 1370. hornum. Such "datives of manner or respect" are not infrequent with adj.
l. 1371. "seleð is not dependent on ær, for in that case it would be in the subjunctive, but ær is simply an adverb, correlative with the conjunction ær in the next line: 'he will (sooner) give up his life, before he will,' etc."--Sw.
l. 1372. Cf. ll. 318 and 543 for willan with similar omitted inf.
l. 1373. heafola is found only in poetry.--Sw. It occurs thirteen or fourteen times in this poem. Cf. the poetic gamol, swât (l. 2694), etc., for eald, blôd.
l. 1391. uton: hortatory subj. of wîtan, go, = _let us go;_ cf. French allons, Lat. eamus, Ital. andiamo, etc. + inf. Cf. ll. 2649, 3102.
l. 1400. H. is dat. of person indirectly affected, = advantage.
l. 1402. geatolîc probably = in his equipments, as B. suggests (_Beit._ xii. 83), comparing searolîc.
ll. 1402, 1413 reproduce the wk. form of the pret. of gân (Goth, _gaggida_). Cf. Andreas, l. 1096, etc.
l. 1405. S. (_Beit._ ix. 140) supplies [þær heó] gegnum fôr; B. (_ibid._ xii. 14) suggests hwær heó.
l. 1411. B., Gr., and E. take ân-paðas = paths wide enough for only one, like Norwegian einstig; cf. stîge nearwe, just above. Trail is the meaning. Cf. enge ânpaðas, uncûð gelâd, _Exod._ (Hunt), l. 58.
l. 1421. Cf. oncýð, l. 831. The whole passage (ll. 1411-1442) is replete with suggestions of walrus-hunting, seal-fishing, harpooning of sea-animals (l. 1438), etc.
l. 1425. E. quotes from the 8th cent. Corpus Gloss., "_Falanx_ foeða."
l. 1428. For other mention of nicors, cf. ll. 422, 575, 846. E. remarks, "it survives in the phrase 'Old Nick' ... a word of high authority ... Icel. nykr, water-goblin, Dan. _nök, nisse_, Swed. _näcken_, G. _nix, nixe_, etc." See Skeat, _Nick._
l. 1440. Sw. reads gehnæged, prostrated, and regards nîða as gen. pl. "used instrumentally," = _by force._
l. 1441. -bora = _bearer, stirrer;_ occurs in other compds., as mund-, ræd-, wæg-bora.
l. 1447. him = for him, a remoter dative of reference.--Sw.
l. 1455. Gr. reads brondne, = flaming.
l. 1457. león is the inf. of lâh; cf. onlâh (< onleón) at l. 1468. lîhan was formerly given as the inf.; cf. læne = læhne.
l. 1458. Cf. the similar dat. of possession as used in Latin.
l. 1458. H.-So. compares the Icelandic saga account of Grettir's battle with the giant in the cave. häft-mêce may be = Icel. heptisax (_Anglia_, iii. 83), "hip-knife."
l. 1459. "The sense seems to be 'pre-eminent among the old treasures.' ... But possibly foran is here a prep. with the gen.: 'one before the old treasures.'".--Sw. For other examples of foran, cf. ll. 985, 2365.
l. 1460. âter-teárum = poison-drops (C., _Beit._ viii. 571; S., ibid. xi. 359).
l. 1467. þät, comp. relative, = that which; "we testify that we do know."
l. 1480. forð-gewitenum is in appos. to me, = mihi defuncto.--M. Callaway, _Am. Journ. of Philol._, October, 1889.
l. 1482. nime. Conditional clauses of doubt or future contingency take gif or bûton with subj.; cf. ll. 452, 594; of fact or certainty, the ind.; cf. ll. 442, 447, 527, 662, etc. For bûton, cf. ll. 967, 1561.
l. 1487. "findan sometimes has a preterit funde in W. S. after the manner of the weak preterits."--Cook's Sievers' Cram., p, 210.
l. 1490. Kl. reads wäl-sweord, = battle-sword.
l. 1507. "This cave under the sea seems to be another of those natural phenomena of which the writer had personal knowledge (ll. 2135, 2277), and which was introduced by him into the mythical tale to give it a local color. There are many places of this kind. Their entrance is under the lowest level of the tide."--Br., p. 45.
l. 1514. B. (_Beit._ xii. 362) explains niðsele, hrôfsele as _roof-covered hall in the deep_; cf. Grettir Saga (_Anglia_, iii. 83).
l. 1538. Sw., R., and ten Br. suggest feaxe for eaxle, = _seized by the hair_.
l. 1543. and-leán (R.); cf. l. 2095. The MS. has hand-leán.
l. 1546. Sw. and S. read seax.--_Beit._ ix. 140.
l. 1557. H.-So. omits comma and places semicolon after ýðelîce; Sw. and S. place comma after gescêd.
l. 1584. ôðer swylc = another fifteen (Sw.); = fully as many (Ha.).
ll. 1592-1613 _seq._ Cf. Anglia, iii; 84 (Grettir Saga).
l. 1595. blondenfeax = grizzly-haired (Bright, Reader, p. 258); cf. _Brunanb._, l. 45 (Bright).
l. 1599. gewearð, impers. vb., = _agree, decide = many agreed upon this, that_, etc. (Ha., p. 55; cf. ll. 2025-2027, 1997; B., _Beit._ xii. 97).
l. 1605. C. supposes wiston = wîscton = wished.--_Beit._ viii. 571.
l. 1607. broden mæl is now regarded as a comp. noun, = _inlaid or damascened sword_.--W., Ho.
l. 1611. wäl-râpas = _water-ropes = bands of frost_ (l. 1610) (?). Possibly the Prov. Eng. weele, whirlpool. Cf. wæl, gurges, Wright, Voc., _Gnom. Verses_, l. 39.--E.
l. 1611. wægrâpas (Sw.) = wave-bands (Ha.).
l. 1622. B. suggests eatna = eotena, eardas, haunts of the giants (Northumbr. ea for eo).
l. 1635. cyning-holde (B., _Beit._ xii. 369); cf. l. 290.
l. 1650. H., Gr., and Ettmüller understand idese to refer to the queen.
l. 1651. Cf. Anglia, iii. 74, _Beit._ xi. 167, for coincidences with the Grettir Saga (13th cent.).
l. 1657. Restore MS. reading wigge in place of wîge.
l. 1664. B. proposes eotenise ... èste for eácen ... oftost, omitting brackets (_Zackers Zeitschr._ iv. 206). G. translates _mighty ... often_.
l. 1675. ondrædan. "In late texts the final n of the preposition on is frequently lost when it occurs in a compound word or stereotyped phrase, and the prefix then appears as a: abútan, amang, aweg, aright, adr'ædan."--Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 98.
ll. 1680-1682. Giants and their work are also referred to at ll. 113, 455, 1563, 1691, etc.
l. 1680. Cf. ceastra ... orðanc enta geweorc, Gnomic Verses, l. 2; Sweet's Reader, p. 186.
ll. 1687-1697. "In this description of the writing on the sword, we see the process of transition from heathen magic to the notions of Christian times .... The history of the flood and of the giants ... were substitutes for names of heathen gods, and magic spells for victory."--E. Cf. Mohammedan usage.
ll. 1703, 1704. þät þê eorl nære geboren betera (B., _Tidskr._ 8, 52).
l. 1715. âna hwearf = he died solitary and alone (B., _Beit._ xii. 38); = lonely (Ha.); = alone (G.).
l. 1723. leód-bealo longsum = eternal hell-torment (B., _Beit._ xii. 38, who compares _Ps. Cott._ 57, lîf longsum).
l. 1729. E. translates on lufan, towards possession; Ha., _to possessions_.
l. 1730. môdgeþonc, like lig, sæ, segn, niht, etc., is of double gender (m., n. in the case of môdgeþ.).
l. 1741. The doctrine of nemesis following close on [Greek: hubris], or overweening pride, is here very clearly enunciated. The only protector against the things that "assault and hurt" the soul is the "Bishop and Shepherd of our souls" (l. 1743).
l. 1745 appears dimly to fore-shadow the office of the evil archer Loki, who in the Scandinavian mythology shoots Balder with a mistletoe twig. The language closely resembles that of Psalm 64.
l. 1748. Kl. regards wom = wô(u)m; cf. wôh-bogen, l. 2828. See Gloss., p. 295, under wam. Contrast the construction of bebeorgan a few lines below (l. 1759), where the dat. and acc. are associated.
l. 1748. See Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 167, for declension of wôh, wrong = gen. wôs or wôges, dat. wô(u)m, etc.; pl. gen. wôra, dat. wô(u)m, etc.; and cf. declension of heáh, hreóh, rûh, etc.
l. 1748. wergan gâstes; cf. _Blickl. Hom._ vii.; Andreas, l. 1171. "_Auld Wearie_ is used in Scotland, or was used a few years ago, ... to mean the devil."--E. Bede's _Eccles. Hist._ contains (naturally) many examples of the expression = devil.
l. 1750. on gyld = in reward (B. _Beit._ xii. 95); Ha. translates boastfully; G., for boasting; Gr., to incite to boastfulness. Cf. Christ, l. 818.
l. 1767. E. thinks this an allusion to the widespread superstition of the evil eye (_mal occhio, mauvais æil_). Cf. Vergil, _Ecl._ iii. 103. He remarks that Pius IX., Gambetta, and President Carnot were charged by their enemies with possessing this weapon.
l. 1784. wigge geweorðad (MS. wigge weorðad) is C.'s conjecture; cf. Elene, l. 150. So G., honored in war.
l. 1785. The future generally implied in the present of beón is plainly seen in this line; cf. ll. 1826, 661, 1830, 1763, etc.
l. 1794. Some impers. vbs. take acc. (as here, Geat) of the person affected; others (as þyncan) take the dat. of the person, as at ll. 688, 1749, etc. Cf. verbs of dreaming, being ashamed, desiring, etc.--March, A.-S. Gram., p. 145.
l. 1802. E. remarks that the blaca hrefn here is a bird of good omen, as opposed to se wonna hrefn of l. 3025. The raven, wolf, and eagle are the regular epic accompaniments of battle and carnage. Cf. ll. 3025-3028; Maldon, 106; Judith, 205-210, etc.
l. 1803. S. emends to read: "then came the light, going bright after darkness: the warriors," etc. Cf. Ho., p. 41, l. 23. G. puts period before "the warriors." For onettan, cf. Sw.'s Gloss, and Bright's Read., Gloss.
ll. 1808-1810. Müllenh. and Grundt. refer se hearda to Beowulf, correct sunu (MS.) to suna Ecglâfes (i.e. Unferth); [_he_] (Beo.) thanked him (Un.) for the loan. Cf. ll. 344, 581, 1915.
ll. 1823-1840. "Beowulf departing pledges his services to Hroðgar, to be what afterwards in the mature language of chivalry was called his 'true knight'"--E.
l. 1832. Kl. corrects to dryhtne, in appos. with Higelâce.
l. 1835 gâr-holt more properly means spear-shaft; cf. äsc-holt.
l. 1855. sêl = better (Grundt.; B., _Beit._ xii. 96), instead of MS. wel.
ll. 1855-1866. "An ideal picture of international amity according to the experience and doctrine of the eighth century."--E.
l. 1858. S. and Kl. correct to gemæne, agreeing with sib.--_Beit._ ix. 140, 190.
l. 1862. "The gannet is a great diver, plunging down into the sea from a considerable height, such as forty feet."--E.
l. 1863. Kl. suggests heafu, = seas.
l. 1865. B. proposes geþôhte, = with firm thought, for geworhte; cf. l. 611.
l. 1876. geseón = see again (Kl., _Beit._ ix. 190). S. and B. insert nâ to modify geseón and explain Hrôðgâr's tears. Ha. and G. follow Heyne's text. Cf. l. 567.
l. 1881. Is beorn here = bearn (be-arn?) of l. 67? or more likely = born, barn, = _burned?_--S., Th.
l. 1887. orleahtre is a _[Greek: hapax legomenon]_. E. compares Tennyson's "blameless" king. Cf. also ll. 2015, 2145; and the gôd cyning of l. 11.
l. 1896. scaðan = warriors (cf. l. 1804) has been proposed by C.; but cf. l. 253.
l. 1897. The boat had been left, at ll. 294-302, in the keeping of Hrôðgâr's men; at l. 1901 the bât-weard is specially honored by Beowulf with a sword and becomes a "sworded squire."--E. This circumstance appears to weld the poem together. Cf. also the speed of the journey home with ymb ân-tîd ôþres dôgores of l. 219, and the similarity of language in both passages (fâmig-heals, clifu, nässas, sælde, brim, etc.).--The nautical terms in Beowulf would form an interesting study.
l. 1904. R. proposes, gewât him on naca, = the vessel set out, on alliterating as at l. 2524 (_Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 402). B. reads on nacan, but inserts irrelevant matter (_Beit._ xii. 97).
l. 1913. Cf. the same use of ceól, = ship, in the _A.-S. Chron._, ed. Earle-Plummer; Gnomic Verses, etc.
l. 1914. S. inserts þät hê before on lande.
l. 1916. B. makes leófra manna depend on wlâtode, = _looked for the dear men ready at the coast_ (_Beit._ xii. 97).
l. 1924. Gr., W., and Ho. propose wunade, = _remained;_ but cf. l. 1929. S. conceives ll. 1924, 1925 as "direct speech" (_Beit._ ix. 141).
l. 1927 _seq._ "The women of Beowulf are of the fine northern type; trusted and loved by their husbands and by the nobles and people; generous, gentle, and holding their place with dignity."--Br., p. 67. Thrytho is the exception, l. 1932 _seq._
l. 1933. C. suggests frêcnu, = _dangerous, bold_, for Thrytho could not be called "excellent." G. writes "Modthrytho" as her name. The womanly Hygd seems purposely here contrasted with the terrible Thrytho, just as, at l. 902 _seq._, Sigemund and Heremôd are contrasted. For Thrytho, etc., cf. Gr., _Jahrb. für rom. u. eng. Lit._ iv. 279; Müllenhoff, _Haupts Zeitschr._ xiv. 216; Matthew Paris; Suchier, _Beit._ iv. 500-521; R. _Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 402; B., _ibid._ iv. 206; Körner, _Eng. Stud._ i. 489-492; H.-So., p. 106.
l. 1932-1963. K. first pointed out the connection between the historical Offa, King of Mercia, and his wife Cwendrida, and the Offa and Þryðo (Gr.'s Drida of the _Vita Offæ Secundi_) of the present passage. The tale is told of her, not of Hygd.
l. 1936. Suchier proposes andæges, = eye to eye; Leo proposes ândæges, = the whole day; G., by day. No change is necessary if an be taken to govqern hire, = on her, and däges be explained (like nihtes, etc.) as a genitive of time, = by day.
l. 1943. R. and Suchier propose onsêce, = _seek, require_; but cf. 2955.
l. 1966. Cf. the heofoncandel of Exod. l. 115 (Hunt). Shak.'s 'night's candles.'
l. 1969. Cf. l. 2487 _seq._ for the actual slayer of Ongenþeów, i.e. Eofor, to whom Hygelâc gave his only daughter as a reward, l. 2998.
l. 1981. meodu-scencum = with mead-pourers or mead-cups (G., Ha.); draught or cup of mead (Toller-Bosw.).
l. 1982. K., Th., W., H. supply [heal-]reced; Holler [heá-].
l. 1984. B. defends the MS., reading hæ nû (for hæðnû), which he regards as = Heinir, the inhabitants of the Jutish "heaths" (hæð). Cf. H.-So., p. 107; _Beit._ xii. 9.
l. 1985. sînne. "In poetry there is a reflexive possessive of the third person, sîn (declined like mîn). It is used not only as a true reflexive, but also as a non-reflexive (= Lat. _ejus_)"--Sw.; Cook's Sievers' Gram., p. 185. Cf. ll. 1508, 1961, 2284, 2790.
l. 1994. Cf. l. 190 for a similar use of seáð; cf. to "glow" with emotion, "boil" with indignation, "burn" with anger, etc. weallan is often so used; cf. ll. 2332, 2066, etc.
l. 2010. B. proposes fâcne, = in treachery, for fenne. Cf. Juliana, l. 350; _Beit._ xii. 97.
l. 2022. Food of specific sorts is rarely, if at all, mentioned in the poem. Drink, on the other hand, occurs in its primitive varieties,--_ale_ (as here: ealu-wæg), _mead, beer, wine, lîð_ (cider? Goth. _leiþus_, Prov. Ger. _leit-_ in leit-haus, ale-house), etc.
l. 2025. Kl. proposes is for wäs.
l. 2027. Cf. l. 1599 for a similar use of weorðan, = _agree, be pleased with_ (Ha.); appear (Sw., Reader, 6th ed.).
ll. 2030, 2031. Ten Br. proposes: oft seldan ( = _gave_) wære äfter leód-hryre: lytle hwîle bongâr bûgeð, þeáh seó brýd duge = _oft has a treaty been given after the fall of a prince: but little while the murder-spear resteth, however excellent the bride be._ Cf. Kl., _Beit._ ix. 190; B., _Beit._ xii. 369; R., _Zachers Zeitschr._ in. 404; Ha., p. 69; G., p. 62.
l. 2036. Cf. Kl, _Beit._ ix. 191; R., _Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 404.
l. 2042. For beáh B. reads bâ, = both, i.e. Freaware and the Dane.
l. 2063. Thorkelin and Conybeare propose wîgende, = fighting, for lifigende.
l. 2068. W.'s edition begins section xxx. (not marked in the MS.) with this line. Section xxxix. (xxxviii. in copies A and B, xxxix. in Thorkelin) is not so designated in the MS., though þâ (at l. 2822) is written with capitals and xl. begins at l. 2893.
l. 2095. Cf. l. 1542, and note.
l. 2115 _seq._ B. restores thus:
Þær on innan gióng
niðða nâthwylc, neóde tô gefêng
hæðnum horde; hond ätgenam
seleful since fâh; nê hê þät syððan âgeaf,
þeáh þe hê slæpende besyrede hyrde
þeófes cräfte: þät se þióden onfand,
bý-folc beorna, þät hê gebolgen wäs.
--_Beit._ xii. 99; _Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 210.
l. 2128. ätbär here = bear away, not given in the Gloss.
l. 2129. B. proposes færunga, = suddenly, for Gr.'s reading in the text.--_Beit._ xii. 98.
l. 2132. MS. has þine life, which Leo translates by thy leave (= ON. _leyfi_); B., by thy life.--_Beit._ xii. 369.
l. 2150. B. renders gen, etc., by "now I serve thee alone again as my gracious king" (_Beit._ xii. 99).
l. 2151. The forms hafu [hafo], hafast, hafað, are poetic archaisms.--Sw.
l. 2153. Kl. proposes ealdor, = prince, for eafor. W. proposes the compd. eafor-heáfodsegn, = helm; cf. l. 1245.
l. 2157. The wk. form of the adj. is frequent in the vocative, especially when postponed: "Beowulf leófa," l. 1759. So, often, in poetry in nom.: wudu selesta, etc.
l. 2158. ærest is possibly the verbal subs. from ârîsan, _to arise, = arising, origin_. R. suggested ærist, _arising, origin_. Cf. Bede, _Eccles. Hist._, ed. Miller, where the word is spelt as above, but = (as usual) resurrection. See Sweet, Reader, p. 211; E.-Plummer's Chronicle, p. 302, etc. The MS. has est. See Ha., p. 73; S., _Beit._ x. 222; and cf. l. 2166.
l. 2188. Gr., W., H. supply [wên]don, = weened, instead of Th.'s [oft säg]don.
l. 2188. The "slack" Beowulf, like the sluggish Brutus, ultimately reveals his true character, and is presented with a historic sword of honor. It is "laid on his breast" (l. 2195) as Hun laid Lâfing on Hengest's breast, l. 1145.
l. 2188. "The boy was at first slothful, and the Geats thought him an unwarlike prince, and long despised him. Then, like many a lazy third son in the folk tales, a change came, he suddenly showed wonderful daring and was passionate for adventure."--Br., p. 22.
l. 2196. "Seven of thousands, manor and lordship" (Ha.). Kl., _Beit._ ix. 191, thinks with Ettm. that þûsendo means a hide of land (see Schmid, _Ges. der Angl_, 610), Bede's familia = 1/2 sq. meter; seofan being used (like hund, l. 2995) only for the alliteration.
l. 2196. "A vast Honour of 7000 hides, a mansion, and a judgment-seat" [throne].--E.
l. 2210. MS. has the more correct wintra.
l. 2211. Cf. similar language about the dragon at l. 100. Beowulf's "jubilee" is fitly solemnized by his third and last dragon-fight.
l. 2213. B. proposes sê þe on hearge hæðen hord beweotode; cf. Ha., p. 75.
l. 2215. "The dragon lies round the treasures in a cave, as Fafnir, like a Python, lay coiled over his hoard. So constant was this habit among the dragons that gold is called Worms' bed, Fafnir's couch, Worms' bed-fire. Even in India, the cobras ... are guardians of treasure."--Br., p. 50.
l. 2216. neóde. E. translates deftly; Ha., with ardor. H.-So. reads neóde, = _with desire, greedily_, instr. of neód.
l. 2223. E. begins his "Part Third" at this point as he begins "Part Second" at l. 1252, each dragon-fight forming part of a trilogy.
ll. 2224, 2225. B. proposes: nealles mid gewealdum wyrmes weard gäst sylfes willum.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 211; _Beit._ xii. 100.
l. 2225. For þeów read þegn.--K. and Z.
l. 2225. þeów, st. m., _slave, serf_ (not in H.-So.).
l. 2227. For ofer-þearfe read ærnes þearfa.--Z.
ll. 2229-2231. B. proposes:
secg synbysig sôna onwlâtode,
þeáh þâm gyste gryrebrôga stôd,
hwäðre earmsceapen innganges þearfa
. . . . . . . . . .
feásceapen, þâ hyne se fær begeat.
--_Beit._ xii. 101. Cf. Ha., p. 69.
l. 2232. W. suggests seah or seîr for geseah, and Gr. suggests searolîc.
l. 2233. Z. surmises eorð-hûse (for -scräfe).
l. 2241. B. proposes læn-gestreóna, = transitory, etc.; Th., R. propose leng (= _longer_) gestreóna; S. accepts the text but translates "the long accumulating treasure."
l. 2246. B. proposed (1) hard-fyndne, = hard to find; (2) hord-wynne dæl,--_a deal of treasure-joy_ (cf. l. 2271).--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 211; _Beit._ xii. 102.
l. 2247. fecword = banning words (?) MS. has fec.
l. 2254. Others read feor-[mie], = furbish, for fetige: _I own not one who may_, etc.
l. 2261. The Danes themselves were sometimes called the "Ring-Danes," = clad in ringed (or a ring of) armor, or possessing rings. Cf. ll. 116, 1280.
l. 2264. Note the early reference to hawking. Minstrelsy (hearpan wyn), saga-telling, racing, swimming, harpooning of sea-animals, feasting, and the bestowal of jewels, swords, and rings, are the other amusements most frequent in _Beówulf_.
l. 2264. Cf. Maldon, ll. 8, 9, for a reference to hawking.
l. 2276. Z. suggests swýðe ondrædað; Ho. puts gesêcean for Gr.'s gewunian.
l. 2277. Z. and K. read: hord on hrûsan. "Three hundred winters," at l. 2279, is probably conventional for "a long time," like hund missera, l. 1499; hund þûsenda, l. 2995; þritig (of Beowulf's strength), l. 379; þritig (of the men slain by Grendel), l. 123; seofan þûsendo, l. 2196, etc.
l. 2285. B. objects to hord as repeated in ll. 2284, 2285; but cf. Ha., p. 77. C. prefers sum to hord. onboren = inminutus; cf. B., _Beit._ xii. 102.
l. 2285. onberan is found also at line 991, = carry off, with on- = E. _un--(un-bind, -loose, -tie_, etc.), G. _ent-_. The negro still pronounces on-do, etc.
l. 2299. Cf. H.-So., p. 112, for a defense of the text as it stands. B. proposes "nor was there any man in that desert who rejoiced in conflict," etc. So ten Br.
l. 2326. B. and ten Br,. propose hâm, = home, for him.--_Beit._ xii. 103.
l. 2335. E. translates eálond utan by _the sea-board front, the water-washed land on the (its) outside_. See B., _Beit._ xii. 1, 5.
l. 2346. Cf. l. 425, where Beowulf resolves to fight the dragon single-handed. E. compares Guy of Warwick, ll. 49, 376.
l. 2355. Ten Br. proposes laðan cynne as apposition to mægum.
l. 2360. Cf. Beowulf's other swimming-feat with Breca, ll. 506 _seq._
l. 2362. Gr. inserts âna, = lone-going, before xxx.: approved by B.; and Krüger, _Beit._ ix. 575. Cf. l. 379.
l. 2362. "Beowulf has the strength of thirty men in the original tale. Here, then, the new inventor makes him carry off thirty coats of mail."--Br., p. 48.
l. 2364. Hetware = Chattuarii, a nation allied against Hygelâc in his Frisian expedition; cf. ll. 1208 _seq._, 2917, etc.
l. 2368. B. proposes quiet sea as trans, of sióleða bigong, and compares Goth. anasilan, to be still; Swed. dial, sil, still water between waterfalls.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 214.
l. 2380. hyne--Heardrêd; so him, l. 2358.
l. 2384. E. calls attention to Swió-rîce as identical with the modern Sverige = Sweden; cf. l. 2496.
l. 2386. Gr. reads on feorme, = at the banquet; cf. Möller, _Alteng. Volksepos_, 111, who reads (f)or feorme. The MS. has or.
l. 2391. Cf. l. 11.
l. 2394. B., Gr., and Mûllenh. understand ll. 2393-2397 to mean that Eádgils, Ôhthere's son, driven from Sweden, returns later, supported by Beowulf, takes the life of his uncle Onela, and probably becomes himself O.'s successor and king of Sweden. For another view see H.-So., p. 115. MS. has freond (l. 2394), which Leo, etc., change to feónd. G. translates friend.--_Beit._ xii. 13; _Anzeiger f. d. Altert_. iii. 177.
l. 2395. Eádgils is Ôhthere's son; cf. l. 2381; Onela is Ôhthere's brother; cf. ll. 2933, 2617.
l. 2402. "Twelfsome"; cf. "fifteensome" at l. 207, etc. As _Beówulf_ is essentially the Epic of Philanthropy, of the true love of man, as distinguished from the ordinary love-epic, the number twelve in this passage may be reminiscent of another Friend of Man and another Twelve. In each case all but one desert the hero.
l. 2437. R. proposes stýred, = _ordered, decreed_, for strêd.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iii. 409.
l. 2439. B. corrects to freó-wine = noble friend, asking, "How can Herebeald be called Hæðcyn's freá-wine [MS.], _lord?_"
l. 2442. feohleás gefeoht, "a homicide which cannot be atoned for by money--in this case an unintentional fratricide."--Sw.
l. 2445. See Ha., pp. 82, 83, for a discussion of ll. 2445-2463. Cf. G., p. 75.
l. 2447. MS. reads wrece, justified by B. (_Tidskr_. viii. 56). W. conceives wrece as optative or hortative, and places a colon before þonne.
l. 2449. For helpan read helpe.--K., Th., S. (_Zeitschr. f. D. Phil._ xxi. 3, 357).
ll. 2454-2455. (1) Müllenh. (_Haupts Zeitschr._ xiv. 232) proposes:
þonne se ân hafað
þurh dæda nýd deáðes gefandod.
(2) B. proposes:
þurh dæda nîð deáðes gefondad.
--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 215.
l. 2458. Cf. sceótend, pl., ll. 704, 1155, like rîdend. Cf. Judith, l. 305, etc.
l. 2474. Th. considers the "wide water" here as the Mälar lake, the boundary between Swedes and Goths.
l. 2477. On oþþe = and, cf. B., Tidskr. viii. 57. See Ha., p. 83.
l. 2489. B. proposes hreá-blâc for Gr.'s heoro-.--_Tikskr_. viii. 297.
l. 2494. S. suggests êðel-wynne.
l. 2502. E. translates for dugeðum, of my prowess; so Ettmüller.
ll. 2520-2522. Gr. and S. translate, "if I knew how else I might combat the monster's boastfulness."--Ha., p. 85.
l. 2524. and-hâttres is H.'s invention. Gr. reads oreðes and âttres, _blast and venom_. Cf. oruð, l. 2558, and l. 2840 (where âttor- also occurs).
l. 2526. E. quotes fleón fôtes trym from Maldon, l. 247.
l. 2546. Gr., H.-So., and Ho. read standan stân-bogan (for stôd on stân-bogan) depending on geseah.
l. 2550. Grundt. and B. propose deór, brave one, i.e. Beowulf, for deóp.
L. 2565. MS. has ungleaw (K., Th.), unglaw (Grundt.). B. proposes unslâw, = sharp.--_Beit._ xii. 104. So H.-So., Ha., p. 86.
ll. 2570, 2571. (1) May not gescîfe (MS. to gscipe) = German schief, "crooked," "bent," "aslant," and hence be a parallel to gebogen, _bent, coiled?_ cf. l. 2568, þâ se wyrm gebeáh snûde tôsomne, and l. 2828. Coiled serpents spring more powerfully for the coiling. (2) Or perhaps destroy comma after tô and read gescäpe, = his fate; cf. l. 26: him þâ Scyld gewât tô gescäp-hwîle. G. appar. adopts this reading, p. 78.
l. 2589. grund-wong = the field, not the earth (so B.); H.-So., cave, as at l. 2771. So Ha., p. 87.
l. 2595. S. proposes colon after stefne.--_Beit._ ix. 141.
l. 2604. Müllenh. explains leód Scylfinga in _Anzeiger f. d. Altert._ iii. 176-178.
l. 2607. âre = _possessions, holding_ (Kl., _Beit._ ix. 192; Ha., p. 88).
l. 2609. folcrihta. Add "folk-right" to the meanings in the Gloss.; and cf. êðel-, land-riht, word-riht.
l. 2614. H.-So. reads with Gr. wræccan wineleásum Weohstân bana, = _whom, a friendless exile, W. had slain_.
ll. 2635-61. E. quotes Tacitus, Germania, xiv.: "turpe comitatui virtutem principis non adaequare." Beowulf had been deserted by his comitatus.
l. 2643. B. proposes ûser.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 216.
l. 2649. wutun; l. 3102, uton = pres. subj. pl. 1st person of wîtan, _to go_, used like Mod. Eng. let us + inf., Lat. eamus, Ital. andiamo, Fr. allons; M. E. (_Layamon_) uten. Cf. Psa. ii. 3, etc. March, _A.-S. Gram._, pp. 104, 196.
l. 2650. B. suggests hât for hyt,.--_Beit._ xii. 105.
l. 2656. fâne = fâh-ne; cf. fâra = fâh-ra, l. 578; so heánne (MS.) = heáh-ne, etc., l. 984. See Cook's Sievers' Gram.
ll. 2660, 2661. Why not read beadu-scrûd, as at l. 453, = _battle-shirt?_ B. and R. suppose two half-verses omitted between byrdu-scrûd and bâm gemæne. B. reads býwdu, = handsome, etc. Gr. suggests unc nû, = _to us two now_, for ûrum; and K. and Grundt. read beón gemæne for bâm, etc. This makes sense. Cf. Ha., p. 89.
l. 2666. Cf. the dat. absolute without preposition.
l. 2681. Nägling; cf. Hrunting, Lâfing, and other famous wundor-smiða geweorc of the poem.
l. 2687. B. changes þonne into þone (rel. pro.) = which.--_Beit._ xii. 105.
l. 2688. B. supports the MS. reading, wundum.
l. 2688. Cf. l. 2278 for similar language.
l. 2698. B. (_Beit._ xii. 105) renders: "he did not heed the head of the dragon (which Beowulf with his sword had struck without effect), but he struck the dragon somewhat further down." Cf. Saxo, vi. p. 272.
l. 2698. Cf. the language used at ll. 446 and 1373, where hafelan also occurs; and hýdan.
l. 2700. hwêne; cf. Lowl. Sc. wheen, a number; Chaucer's woon, number.
l. 2702. S. proposes þâ (for þät) þät fýr, etc., = when the fire began, etc.
l. 2704. "The (hup)-seax has often been found in Saxon graves on the hip of the skeleton."--E.
l. 2707. Kl. proposes: feorh ealne wräc, = drove out all the life; cf. _Gen._ l. 1385.--_Beit._ ix. 192. S. suggests gefylde,--_he felled the foe_, etc.--_Ibid_. Parentheses seem unnecessary.
l. 2727. däg-hwîl = _time allotted, lifetime_.
l. 2745, 2745. Ho. removes geong from the beginning of l. 2745 and places it at the end of l. 2744.
l. 2750. R. proposes sigle searogimmas, as at l. 1158.
l. 2767. (1) B. proposes doubtfully oferhîgean or oferhîgan, = Goth, ufarhauhjan, p. p. ufarhauhids (Gr. [Greek: tuphwtheis]) = _exceed in value_.--_Tidskr_. viii. 60. (2) Kl. proposes oferhýdian, = _to make arrogant, infatuate_; cf. oferhýd.--_Beit._ ix. 192.
l. 2770. gelocen leoðocräftum = (1) spell-bound (Th., Arnold, E.); (2) wrought with hand-craft (G.); (3) _meshed, linked together_ (H., Ho.); cf. Elene, ll. 1251, 522.
l. 2778. B. considers bill ... ealdhlâfordes as Beowulf's short sword, with which he killed the dragon, l. 2704 (_Tidskr_. viii. 299). R. proposes ealdhlâforde. Müllenh. understands ealdhlâford to mean the former possessor of the hoard. W. agrees to this, but conceives ærgescôd as a compd. = ære calceatus, sheathed in brass. Ha. translates ærgescôd as vb. and adv.
l. 2791. Cf. l. 224, eoletes ät ende; landes ät ende, Exod. (Hunt).
l. 2792. MS. reads wäteres weorpan, which R. would change to wätere sweorfan.
l. 2806. "Men saw from its height the whales tumbling in the waves, and called it Whale's Ness (Hrones-næs)."--Br. p. 28. Cf. l. 3137.
l. 2815. Wîglâf was the next of kin, the last of the race, and hence the recipient of Beowulf's kingly insignia. There is a possible play on the word lâf (Wîg-_lâf_, ende-_lâf_).
l. 2818. gingeste word; cf. novissima verba, and Ger. _jüngst_, lately.
l. 2837. E. translates on lande, in the world, comparing _on lîfe, on worulde_.
l. 2840. geræsde = pret. of geræsan (omitted from the Gloss.), same as ræsan; cf. l. 2691.
l. 2859. B. proposes deáð ârædan, = determine death.--_Beit._ xii. 106.
l. 2861. Change geongum to geongan as a scribal error (?), but cf. Lichtenheld, _Haupts Zeitschr._ xvi. 353-355.
l. 2871. S. and W. propose ôwêr.--_Beit._ ix. 142.
l. 2873. S. punctuates: wrâðe forwurpe, þâ, etc.
l. 2874. H.-So. begins a new sentence with nealles, ending the preceding one with beget.
l. 2879. ätgifan = _to render, to afford_; omitted in Gloss.
ll. 2885-2892. "This passage ... equals the passage in Tacitus which describes the tie of chief to companion and companion to chief among the Germans, and which recounts the shame that fell on those who survived their lord."--Br., p. 56.
l. 2886. cyn thus has the meaning of gens or clan, just as in many Oriental towns all are of one blood. E. compares Tacitus, Germania, 7; and cf. "kith and kin."
l. 2892. Death is preferable to dishonor. Cf. Kemble, Saxons, i. 235.
l. 2901. The _[Greek: angelos]_ begins his _[Greek: angelia]_ here.
l. 2910. S. proposes higemêðe, _sad of soul;_ cf. ll. 2853 and 2864 (_Beit._ ix. 142). B. considers higemêðum a dat. or instr. pl. of an abstract in -u (_Beit._ xii. 106). H. makes it a dat. pl. = for the dead. For heafod-wearde, etc., cf. note on l. 446.
l. 2920-2921. B. explains "he could not this time, as usual, give jewels to his followers."--_Beit._ xii. 106.
l. 2922. The Merovingian or Frankish race.
l. 2940 _seq._ B. conjectures:
cwäð hîe on mergenne mêces ecgum
gêtan wolde, sumon galgtreowu
âheáwan on holte ond hîe âhôan on þâ
fuglum tô gamene.
--_Beit._ xii. 107, 372. Cf. S., _Beit._ ix. 143. gêtan = _cause blood to be shed._
l. 2950. B. proposes gomela for gôda; "a surprising epithet for a Geat to apply to the 'terrible' Ongentheow."--Ha. p. 99. But "good" does not necessarily mean "morally excellent," as a "good" hater, a "good" fighter.
l. 2959. See H.-So. for an explanatory quotation from Paulus Diaconus, etc. B., K., and Th. read segn Higelâces, = H.'s banner uplifted began to pursue the Swede-men.--_Beit._ xii. 108. S. suggests sæce, = pursuit.
l. 2977. gewyrpton: this vb. is also used reflexively in Exod. (Hunt), l. 130: wyrpton hie wêrige.
l. 2989. bär is Grundt.'s reading, after the MS. "The surviving victor is the heir of the slaughtered foe."--H.-So. Cf. Hildebrands Lied, ll. 61, 62.
l. 2995. "A hundred of thousands in land and rings" (Ha., p. 100). Cf. ll. 2196, 3051. Cf. B., _Beit._ xii. 20, who quotes Saxo's bis senas gentes and remarks: "Hrolf Kraki, who rewards his follower, for the slaying of the foreign king, with jewels, rich lands, and his only daughter's hand, answers to the Jutish king Hygelâc, who rewards his liegeman, for the slaying of Ongentheów, with jewels, enormous estates, and his only daughter's hand."
l. 3006. H.-So. suggests Scilfingas for Scyldingas, because, at l. 2397, Beowulf kills the Scylfing Eádgils and probably acquires his lands. Thus ll. 3002, 3005, 3006, would indicate that, after Beowulf's death, the Swedes desired to shake off his hated yoke. Müllenh., however, regards l. 3006 as a thoughtless repetition of l. 2053.--_Haupts Zeitschr._ xiv. 239.
l. 3008. Cf. the same proverb at l. 256; and _Exod._ (Hunt.) l. 293.
l. 3022. E. quotes:
"Thai token an harp _gle and game_
And maked a lai and yaf it name."
--_Weber_, l. 358.
and from Percy, "The word glee, which peculiarly denoted their art (the minstrels'), continues still in our own language ... it is to this day used in a musical sense, and applied to a peculiar piece of composition."
l. 3025. "This is a finer use than usual of the common poetic attendants of a battle, the wolf, the eagle, and the raven. The three are here like three Valkyrie, talking of all that they have done."--Br., p. 57.
l. 3033. Cf. Hunt's _Dan._ l. 731, for similar language.
l. 3039. B. supplies a supposed gap here:
[banan eác fundon bennum seócne
(nê) ær hî þæm gesêgan syllîcran wiht]
wyrm on wonge...
--_Beit._ xii. 372.
Cf. Ha., p. 102. W. and Ho. insert [þær] before gesêgan.
l. 3042. Cf. l. 2561, where gryre-giest occurs as an epithet of the dragon. B. proposes gry[re-fâh].
l. 3044. lyft-wynne, in the pride of the air, E.; _to rejoice in the air_, Ha.
l. 3057. (1) He (God) is men's hope; (2) he is the heroes' hope; (3) gehyld = the secret place of enchanters; cf. hêlsmanna gehyld, Gr.'s reading, after A.-S. hælsere, haruspex, augur.
l. 3060. B. suggests gehýðde, = plundered (i.e. by the thief), for gehýdde.
ll. 3063-3066. (1) B. suggests wundur [deáðe] hwâr þonne eorl ellenrof ende gefêre = let a brave man then somewhere meet his end by wondrous venture, etc.--_Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 241; cf. l. 3038. (2) S. supposes an indirect question introduced by hwâr and dependent upon wundur, = _a mystery is it when it happens that the hero is to die, if he is no longer to linger among his people_.--_Beit._ ix. 143. (3) Müllenh. suggests: _is it to be wondered at that a man should die when he can no longer live?_--_Zachers Zeitschr._ xiv. 241. (4) Possibly thus:
Wundrað hwät þonne,
eorl ellen-rôf, ende gefêre
lîf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mäg (etc.),
in which hwät would = þurh hwät at l. 3069, and eorl would be subject of the conjectural vb. wundrað: "the valiant earl wondereth then through what he shall attain his life's end, when he no longer may live.... So Beówulf knew not (wondered how) through what his end should come," etc. W. and Ho. join þonne to the next line. Or, for hwâr read wære: Wundur wære þonne (= gif), etc., = "would it be any wonder if a brave man," etc., which is virtually Müllenhoff's.
l. 3053. galdre bewunden, spell-bound, throws light on l. 2770, gelocen leoðo-cräftum. The "accursed" gold of legend is often dragon-guarded and placed under a spell. Even human ashes (as Shakespeare's) are thus banned. ll. 3047-3058 recall the so-called "Treasury of Atreus."
l. 3073. herh, hearh, temple, is conjectured by E. to survive in _Harrow. Temple, barrow_, etc., have thus been raised to proper names. Cf. Biówulfes biorh of l. 2808.
l. 3074. H.-So. has strude, = ravage, and compares l. 3127. MS. has strade. S. suggests stride, = tread.
l. 3074. H.-So. omits strâdan, = _tread, stride over_, from the Gloss., referring ll. 3174 and 3074 to strûdan, q. v.
l. 3075. S. proposes: näs hê goldhwätes gearwor häfde, etc., = _Beowulf had not before seen the greedy possessor's favor_.--_Beit._ ix. 143. B. reads, goldhwäte gearwor häfde, etc., making goldhwäte modify êst, = _golden favor_; but see _Beit._ xii. 373, for B.'s later view.
l. 3086-3087. B. translates, "that which (i.e. the treasure) drew the king thither was granted indeed, but it overwhelmed us."--_Beit._ xii. 109.
l. 3097. B. and S. propose äfter wine deádum, = _in memory of the dead friend_.--_Beit._ ix. 144.
l. 3106. The brâd gold here possibly includes the iú-monna gold of l. 3053 and the wunden gold of l. 3135. E. translates brâd by bullion.
l. 3114. B. supposes folc-âgende to be dat. sg. to gôdum, referring to Beowulf.
l. 3116. C. considers weaxan, = Lat. vescor, to devour, as a parallel to fretan, and discards parentheses.--_Beit._ viii. 573.
l. 3120. fûs = furnished with; a meaning which must be added to those in the Gloss.
ll. 3124-3125. S. proposes:
eóde eahta sum under inwit-hrôf
hilderinca: sum on handa bär, etc.
--_Beit._ ix. 144.
l. 3136. H.-So. corrects (after B.) to äðeling_c_, the MS. having _e_.
l. 3145. "It was their [the Icelanders'] belief that the higher the smoke rose in the air the more glorious would the burnt man be in heaven."-- Ynglinga Saga, 10 (quoted by E.). Cf. the funeral pyre of Herakles.
l. 3146-3147. B. conjectures:
... swôgende lêc
wôpe bewunden windblonda lêg
(lêc from lâcan, see Gloss.).--_Beit._ xii. 110. Why not windblonda lâc?
l. 3147. Müllenhoff rejected wind-blond geläg because a great fire raises rather than "lays" the wind; hence B., as above, = "swoughing sported the flame wound with the howling of wind-currents."
l. 3151 _seq._ B. restores conjecturally:
swylce giômor-gyd sio geó-meowle
[äfter Beówulfe] bunden-heorde
[song] sorg-cearig, sæde geneahhe,
þät hió hyre [hearm-]dagas hearde on [dr]êde,
wälfylla worn, [w]îgendes egesan,
hý[n]ðo ond häftnýd, heóf on rîce wealg.
--_Beit._ xii. 100.
Here geó-meowle = old woman or _widow;_ bunden-heorde = _with bound locks;_ heóf = _lamentation;_ cf. l. 3143. on rîce wealg is less preferable than the MS. reading, heofon rêce swealg = heaven swallowed the smoke.-- H.-So. B. thinks Beowulf's widow (geómeowle) was probably Hygd; cf. ll. 2370, 3017-3021.
l. 3162. H.-So. reads (with MS.) bronda be lâfe, for betost, and omits colon after bêcn. So B., _Zachers Zeitschr._ iv. 224.
l. 3171. E. quotes Gibbon's accounts of the burial of Attila when the "chosen squadrons of the Hun, wheeling round in measured evolutions, chanted a funeral song to the memory of a hero."
ll. 3173-3174. B. proposes:
woldon gên cwîðan [ond] kyning
wordgyd wrecan ond ymb wel sprecan.
--_Beit._ xii. 112.
l. 3183. Z., K., Th. read manna for mannum.
l. 3184. "It is the English ideal of a hero as it was conceived by an Englishman some twelve hundred years ago."--Br., p. 18.
NOTES TO THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURG.
The original MS. of this fragment has vanished, but a copy had been made and printed by Hickes in his Thesaurus Linguarum Septentrionalium, i. 192. The original was written on a single sheet attached to a codex of homilies in the Lambeth Library. Möller, _Alteng. Epos_, p. 65, places the fragment in the Finn episode, between ll. 1146 and 1147. Bugge (_Beit._ xii. 20) makes it illustrate the conflict in which Hnäf fell, _i.e._ as described in _Beówulf_ as antecedent to the events there given. Heinzel (_Anzeiger f. d. Altert_.), however, calls attention to the fact that Hengest in the fragment is called cyning, whereas in _Beówulf_, l. 1086, he is called þegn. See H.-So., p. 125.
"The Fight at Finnsburg and the lays from which our _Beówulf_ was composed were, as it seems to me, sung among the English who dwelt in the north of Denmark and the south of Sweden, and whose tribal name was the Jutes or Goths."--Br., p. 101.
l. 1. R. supposes [hor]nas, and conjectures such an introductory conversation as follows: "Is it dawning in the east, or is a fiery dragon flying about, or are the turrets of some castle burning?" questions which the king negatives in the same order. Then comes the positive declaration, "rather they are warriors marching whose armor gleams in the moonlight." --_Alt- und Angels. Lesebuch_, 1861. Heinzel and B. conjecture, [beorhtor hor]nas byrnað næfre. So. G.--_Beit._ xii. 22; _Anzeiger f. d. Altert._ x. 229.
l. 5. B. conjectures fugelas to mean arrows, and supplies:
ac hêr forð berað [fyrdsearu rincas,
flacre flânbogan], fugelas singað.
He compares Saxo, p. 95, cristatis galeis hastisque sonantibus instant, as explanatory of l. 6.--_Beit._ xii. 22. But see Brooke, _Early Eng. Literature_, who supposes fugelas = raven and eagle, while græg-hama is = wulf (the "grey-coated one"), the ordinary accompaniers of battle.
l. 11. hicgeað, etc.: cf. Maldon, l. 5; Exod. l. 218.
l. 15. Cf. B. (_Beit._ xii. 25), etc., and Saxo, p. 101, for l. 13.
ll. 18-21. H.-So. remarks: "If, according to Möller and Bugge, Gârulf is one of the attackers, one of Finn's men, this does not harmonize with his character as Gûðlâf's son (l. 33), who (l. 16, and _Beówulf_, l. 1149) is a Dane, therefore one of Finn's antagonists." B. (_Beit._ xii. 25) conjectures:
þâ gyt Gûðdene Gârulf styrode,
þät hê swâ freólîc feorh forman sîðe
tô þære healle durum hyrsta ne bære,
nû hîe nîða heard ânyman wolde;
in which Gûðdene is the same as Sigeferð, l. 24; hê (l. 22) refers to Gârulf; and hîe (l. 21) to hyrsta.
l. 27. swäðer = either (bad or good, life or death).--H.-So.
l. 29. cêlod: meaning doubtful; cf. Maldon, l. 283. G. renders "curved board"; Sw. suggests "round"? "hollow"?
l. 30. B. suggests bâr-helm, = _boar-helm._ Cf. Saxo, p. 96.--_Beit._ xii. 26.
l. 34. B. conjectures: (1) hwearf flacra hræw hräfen, wandrode; (2) hwearf flacra hræw hräfen fram ôðrum = flew from one corpse to another.--_Beit._ xii. 27.
l. 43. B. supposes wund häleð to be a Dane, folces hyrde to be Hnäf, in opposition to Holtzmann (_Germania_, viii. 494), who supposes the wounded man to be a Frisian, and folces hyrde to be their king, Finn.--_Beit._ xii. 28.
l. 45. B. adopts Th.'s reading heresceorp unhrôr = _equipments useless_.--_Beit._ xii. 28.
l. 47. "Though wounded, they had retained their strength and activity in battle."--B., _Beit._ xii. 28.
ADDENDA.
ll. 105 and 218. MS. and Ho. read won-sæli and fâmi-heals.
ll. 143, 183, 186, etc. Read þæm for þäm.
l. 299. MS. reads gôd-fremmendra. So H.-So.
l. 338. Ho. marks wräc- and its group long.
l. 530. Hwät should here probably be printed as an interj., hwät! Cf. ll. 1, 943, 2249.
l. 2263. Koeppel suggests nis for näs.
The editors are much indebted to E. Koeppel (in _Eng. Stud._ xiii. 3) for numerous corrections in text and glossary.
l. 3070. H.-So. begins a new line with swâ.
GLOSSARY
A
ac, conj. denoting contrariety: hence 1) but (like N.H.G. sondern), 109, 135, 339, etc.--2) but (N.H.G. aber), nevertheless, 602, 697, etc.--3) in direct questions: nonne, numquid, 1991.
aglæca, ahlæca, äglæca, -cea, w. m. (cf. Goth, aglo, trouble, O.N. agi, terror, + lâc, _gift, sport: = misery, vexation, = bringer of trouble_; hence): 1) _evil spirit, demon, a demon-like being_; of Grendel, 159, 433, 593, etc.; of the drake, 2535, 2906, etc.--2) _great hero, mighty warrior_; of Sigemund, 894; of Beówulf: gen. sg. aglæcan(?), 1513; of Beówulf and the drake: nom. pl. þâ aglæcean, 2593.
aglæc-wîf, st. n., _demon, devil, in the form of a woman_; of Grendel's mother, 1260.
aldor. See ealdor.
al-wealda. See eal-w.
am-biht (from and-b., Goth, and-baht-s), st. m., _servant, man-servant_: nom. sg. ombeht, of the coast-guard, 287; ombiht, of Wulfgâr, 336.
ambiht-þegn (from ambiht n. officium and þegn, which see), _servant, man-servant_: dat. sg. ombiht-þegne, of Beówulf's servant, 674.
an, prep, with the dat., _on, in, with respect to_, 678; _with, among, at, upon_ (position after the governed word), 1936; with the acc., 1248. Elsewhere on, which see.
ancor, st. m., anchor: dat. sg. ancre, 303, 1884.
ancor-bend, m. (?) f. (?), anchor-cable: dat. pl. oncer-bendum, 1919.
and, conj. (ond is usual form; for example, 601, 1149, 2041), and 33, 39, 40, etc. (See Appendix.)
anda, w. m., _excitement, vexation, horror_: dat. wrâðum on andan, 709, 2315.
and-git, st. n., _insight, understanding_: nom. sg., 1060. See gitan.
and-hâtor, st. m. n., heat coming against one: gen. sg. rêðes and-hâttres, 2524.
and-lang, -long, adj., _very long._ hence 1) _at whole length, raised up high_: acc. andlongne eorl, 2696 (cf. Bugge upon this point, Zachers Ztschr., 4, 217).--2) _continual, entire_; andlangne däg, 2116, _the whole day_; andlonge niht, 2939.
and-leán, st. n., _reward, payment in full_: acc. sg., 1542, 2095 (hand-, hond-lean, MS.).
and-risno, st. f. (see rîsan, surgere, decere), _that which is to be observed, that which is proper, etiquette_: dat. pl. for andrysnum, according to etiquette, 1797.
and-saca, w. m., adversary: godes andsaca (Grendel), 787, 1683.
and-slyht, st. m., blow in return: acc. sg., 2930, 2973 (MS. both times hond-slyht).
and-swaru, st. f., act of accosting: 1) to persons coming up, _an address_, 2861.--2) in reply to something said, an answer, 354, 1494, 1841.
and-weard, adj., _present, existing_: acc. sg. n. swîn ofer helme and-weard (_the image of the boar, which stands on his helm_), 1288.
and-wlita, w. m., countenance: acc. sg. -an, 690.
an-sund, adj., entirely unharmed: nom. sg. m., 1001.
an-sýn, f., the state of being seen: hence 1) _the exterior, the form_, 251: ansýn ýwde, showed his form, i.e. appeared, 2835.--2) _aspect, appearance_, 929; on-sýn, 2773.
an-walda, w. m., _He who rules over all, God_, 1273. See Note.
atol, adj. (also eatol, 2075, etc.), _hostile, frightful, cruel_: of Grendel, 159, 165, 593, 2075, etc.; of Grendel's mother's hands (dat. pl. atolan), 1503; of the undulation of the waves, 849; of battle, 597, 2479.--cf. O.N. atall, fortis, strenuus.
atelîc, adj., _terrible, dreadful_: atelîc egesa, 785.
Â
â, adv. (Goth, áiv, acc. from aiv-s aevum), _ever, always_, 455, 882, 931, 1479: â syððan, _ever afterwards, ever, ever after_, 283, 2921.--_ever_, 780.--Comp. nâ.
âd st. m. funeral pile: acc. sg. âd, 3139; dat. sg. âde, 1111, 1115.
âd-faru, st. f., way to the funeral pile, dat. sg. on âd-färe, 3011.
âdl, st. f. sickness, 1737, 1764, 1849.
âð, st. m., oath in general, 2740; oath of allegiance, 472 (?); _oath of reconciliation of two warring peoples_, 1098, 1108.
âð-sweord, st. n., _the solemn taking of an oath, the swearing of an oath_: nom. pl., 2065. See sweord.
âðum-swerian, m. pl., son-in-law and father-in-law: dat. pl., 84.
âgan, verb, pret. and pres., _to have, to possess_, w. acc.: III. prs. sg. âh, 1728; inf. âgan, 1089; prt. âhte, 487, 522, 533; with object, geweald, to be supplied, 31. Form contracted with the negative: prs. sg. I. nâh hwâ sweord wege (_I have no one to wield the sword_), 2253.
âgen, adj., _own, peculiar_, 2677.
âgend (prs. part. of âgan), _possessor, owner, lord_: gen. sg. âgendes, _of God_, 3076.--Compounds: blæd-, bold-, folc-, mägen-âgend.
âgend-freá, w. m., _owner, lord_: gen. sg. âgend-freán, 1884.
âhsian, ge-âhsian, w. v.: 1) _to examine, to find out by inquiring_: pret. part. ge-âhsod, 433.--2) _to experience, to endure_: pret. âhsode, 1207; pl. âhsodon, 423.
âht, st. n. (contracted from â-wiht, which see), _something, anything_: âht cwices, 2315.
ân, num. The meaning of this word betrays its apparent demonstrative character: 1) _this, that_, 2411, of the hall in the earth mentioned before; similarly, 100 (of Grendel; already mentioned), cf. also 2775.--2) one, a particular one among many, a single one, in numerical sense: ymb âne niht (_the next night_), 135; þurh ânes cräft, 700; þâra ânum, 1038; ân äfter ânum, one for the other (Hrêðel for Herebeald), 2462: similarly, ân äfter eallum, 2269; ânes hwät, _some single thing, a part_, 3011; se ân leóda duguðe, the one of the heroes of the people, 2238; ânes willan, for the sake of a single one, 3078, etc.--Hence, again, 3) _alone, distinguished_, 1459, 1886.--4) _a_, in the sense of an indefinite article: ân ... feónd, 100; gen. sg. ânre bêne (or to No.2[?]), 428; ân ... draca, 221l--5) gen. pl. ânra, in connection with a pronoun, single; ânra gehwylces, every single one, 733; ânra gehwylcum, 785. Similarly, the dat. pl. in this sense: nemne feáum ânum, except a few single ones, 1082.--6) solus, alone: in the strong form, 1378, 2965; in the weak form, 145, 425, 431, 889, etc.; with the gen., âna Geáta duguðe, _alone of the warriors of the Geátas_, 2658.--7) solitarius, _alone, lonely_, see æn.--Comp. nân.
ân-feald, adj., _simple, plain, without reserve_: acc. sg. ânfealdne geþôht, simple opinion, 256.
ân-genga, -gengea, w. m., he who goes alone, of Grendel, 165, 449.
ân-haga, w. m., he who stands alone, solitarius, 2369.
ân-hydig, adj. (like the O.N. ein-râd-r, of one resolve, i.e. of firm resolve), of one opinion, i.e. firm, brave, decided, 2668.
ânga, adj. (only in the weak form), _single, only_: acc. sg. ângan dôhtor, 375, 2998; ângan eaferan, 1548; dat. sg. ângan brêðer, 1263.
ân-päð, st. m., _lonely way, path_: acc. pl. ânpaðas, 1411.
ân-ræd, adj. (cf. under ân-hydig), _of firm resolution, resolved_, 1530, 1576.
ân-tîd, st. f., one time, i.e. the same time, ymb ân-tîd ôðres dôgores, about the same time the second day (they sailed twenty-four hours), 219.--ân stands as in ân-mod, O.H.G. ein-muoti, _harmonious, of the same disposition_.
ânunga, adv., _throughout, entirely, wholly_, 635.
âr, st. m., _ambassador, messenger_, 336, 2784.
âr, st. f., 1) _honor, dignity_: ârum healdan, to hold in honor, 296; similarly, 1100, 1183.--2) _favor, grace, support_: acc. sg. âre, 1273, 2607; dat. sg. âre, 2379; gen. pl. hwät ... ârna, 1188.--Comp. worold-âr; also written ær.
âr-fäst, adj., _honorable, upright_, 1169; of Hûnferð (with reference to 588). See fäst.
ârian, w. v., (_to be gracious_), to spare: III. sg. prs. w. dat. nænegum ârað; of Grendel, 599.
âr-stäf, st. m.,(elementum honoris), _grace, favor_: dat. pl. mid ârstafum, 317.--_Help, support_: dat. pl. for âr-stafum, to the assistance, 382, 458. See stäf.
âter-teár, m., poisonous drop: dat. pl. îren âter-teárum fâh (steel which is dipped in poison or in poisonous sap of plants), 1460.
âttor, st. n., poison, here of the poison of the dragon's bite: nom., 2716.
âttor-sceaða, w. m., _poisonous enemy, of the poisonous dragon_: gen. sg. -sceaðan, 2840.
âwâ, adv. (certainly not the dative, but a reduplicated form of â, which see), ever: âwâ tô aldre, _fôr ever and ever_, 956.
Ä
ädre, adv., _hastily, directly, immediately_, 77, 354, 3107. [ædre.]
äðele, adj., noble: nom. sg., of Beówulf, 198, 1313; of Beówulf's father, 263, where it can be understood as well in a moral as in a genealogical sense; the latter prevails decidedly in the gen. sg. äðelan cynnes, 2235.
äðeling, st. m., _nobleman, man of noble descent_, especially the appellation of a man of royal birth; so of the kings of the Danes, 3; of Scyld, 33; of Hrôðgâr, 130; of Sigemund, 889; of Beówulf, 1226, 1245, 1597, 1816, 2189, 2343, 2375, 2425, 2716, 3136; perhaps also of Däghrefn, 2507;--then, in a broader sense, also denoting other noble-born men: Äschere, 1295; Hrôðgâr's courtiers, 118, 983; Heremôd's courtiers, 907; Hengest's warriors, 1113; Beówulf's retinue, 1805, 1921, 3172; noble-born in general, 2889. --Comp. sib-äðeling.
äðelu, st. n., only in the pl., _noble descent, nobility_, in the sense of noble lineage: acc. pl. äðelu, 392; dat. pl. cyning äðelum gôd, _the king, of noble birth_, 1871; äðelum dióre, worthy on account of noble lineage, 1950; äðelum (hæleþum, MS.), 332.--Comp. fäder-äðelu.
äfnan, w. v. w. acc., _to perform, to carry out, to accomplish_: inf. ellen-weorc äfnan, to do a heroic deed, 1465; pret. unriht äfnde, perpetrated wrong, 1255.
ge-äfnan, 1) _to carry out, to do, to accomplish_: pret. pl. þät geäfndon swâ, so carried that out, 538; pret. part. âð wäs geäfned, _the oath was sworn_, 1108.--2) _get ready, prepare_: pret. part. geäfned, 3107. See efnan.
äfter (comparative of af, Ags. of, which see; hence it expresses the idea of _forth, away, from, back_), a) adv., _thereupon, afterwards_, 12, 341, 1390, 2155.--ic him äfter sceal, I shall go after them, 2817; in word äfter cwäð, 315, the sense seems to be, _spoke back, having turned_; b) prep. w. dat., 1) (temporal) after, 119, 128, 187, 825, 1939, etc.; äfter beorne, after the (death of) the hero, 2261, so 2262; äfter mâððum-welan, after (obtaining) the treasure, 2751.--2) (causal) as proceeding from something, denoting result and purpose, hence, _in consequence of, conformably to_: äfter rihte, in accordance with right, 1050, 2111; äfter faroðe, with the current, 580; so 1321, 1721, 1944, 2180, etc., äfter heaðo-swâte, in consequence of the blood of battle, 1607; äfter wälnîðe, in consequence of mortal enmity, 85; _in accordance with, on account of, after, about_: äfter äðelum (hæleþum, MS.)frägn, asked about the descent, 332; ne frin þu äfter sælum, _ask not after my welfare_, 1323; äfter sincgyfan greóteð, weeps for the giver of treasure, 1343; him äfter deórum men dyrne langað, _longs in secret for the dear man_, 1880; ân äfter ânum, one for the other, 2462, etc.--3) (local), along: äfter gumcynnum, _throughout the races of men, among men_, 945; sôhte bed äfter bûrum, sought a bed among the rooms of the castle (the castle was fortified, the hall was not), 140; äfter recede wlât, _looked along the hall_, 1573; stone äfter stâne, smelt along the rocks, 2289; äfter lyfte, along the air through the air, 2833; similarly, 996, 1068, 1317, etc.
äf-þunca, w. m., _anger, chagrin, vexatious affair_: nom., 502.
äglæcea. See aglæcea.
äled (Old Sax. eld, O.N. edl-r), st. m., fire, 3016. [æled.]
äled-leóma, w. m., _(fire-light), torch_: acc. sg. leóman, 3126. See leóma.
äl-fylce (from äl-, Goth. ali-s, [Greek: allos], and fylce, O.N. fylki, collective form from folc), st. n., _other folk, hostile army_: dat. pl. wið älfylcum, 2372.
äl-mihtig (for eal-m.), adj., almighty: nom. sg. m., of the weak form, se äl-mihtiga, 92.
äl-wiht, st. m., _being of another species, monster_: gen. pl. äl-wihta eard, of the dwelling-place of Grendel's kindred, 1501.
äppel-fealu, adj., dappled sorrel, or apple-yellow: nom. pl. äppel-fealuwe mearas, apple-yellow steeds, 2166.
ärn, st. n., house, in the compounds heal-, hord-, medo-, þryð-, win-ärn.
äsc, st. m., ash (does not occur in Beówulf in this sense), _lance, spear_, because the shaft consists of ash wood: dat. pl. (quâ instr.) äscum and ecgum, with spears and swords, 1773.
äsc-holt, st. n., _ash wood, ashen shaft_: nom. pl. äsc-holt ufan græg, the ashen shafts gray above (spears with iron points), 330.
äsc-wîga, w. m., _spear-fighter, warrior armed with the spear_: nom. sg., 2043.
ät, prep. w. dat., with the fundamental meaning of nearness to something, hence 1) local, a) _with, near, at, on, in_ (rest): ät hýðe, in harbor, 32; ät symle, at the meal, 81, ät âde, on the funeral-pile, 1111, 1115; ät þe ânum, with thee alone, 1378; ät wîge, in the fight, 1338; ät hilde, 1660, 2682; ät æte, in eating, 3027, etc. b) _to, towards, at, on_ (motion to): deáðes wylm hrân ät heortan, seized upon the heart, 2271; gehêton ät härgtrafum, vowed at (or _to_) the temples of the gods, 175. c) with verbs of taking away, away from (as starting from near an object): geþeah þät ful ät Wealhþeón, took the cup from W., 630; fela ic gebâd grynna ät Grendle, from Grendel, 931; ät mînum fäder genam, _took me from my father to himself_, 2430.--2) temporal, _at, in, at the time of_: ät frumsceafte, in the beginning, 45; ät ende, at an end, 224; fand sînne dryhten ealdres ät ende, _at the end of life, dying_, 2791; similarly, 2823; ät feohgyftum, in giving gifts, 1090; ät sîðestan, finally, 3014.
ät-græpe, adj., laying hold of, prehendens, 1270.
ät-rihte, adv., almost, 1658.
Æ
ædre, êdre, st. f., _aqueduct, canal_ (not in Beów.), vein (not in Beów.), _stream, violent pouring forth_: dat. pl. swât ædrum sprong, _the blood sprang in streams_, 2967; blôd êdrum dranc, _drank the blood in streams_(?), 743.
æðm, st. m., _breath, gasp, snort_: instr. sg. hreðer æðme weóll, _the breast_ (of the drake) heaved with snorting, 2594.
æfen, st. m., evening, 1236.
æfen-gram, adj., _hostile at evening, night-enemy_: nom. sg. m. æfen-grom, of Grendel, 2075.
æfen-leóht, st. n., evening-light: nom. sg., 413.
æfen-räst, st. f., evening-rest: acc. sg. -räste, 647, 1253.
æfen-spræc, st. f., evening-talk: acc. sg. gemunde ...æfen-spræce, thought about what he had spoken in the evening, 760.
æfre, adv., _ever, at any time_, 70, 280, 504, 693, etc.: in negative sentences, æfre ne, never, 2601.--Comp. næfre.
æg-hwâ (O.H.G. êo-ga-hwër), pron., _every, each_: dat. sg. æghwæm, 1385. The gen. sg. in adverbial sense, _in all, throughout, thoroughly_: æghwäs untæle, thoroughly blameless, 1866; æghwäs unrîm, _entirely innumerable quantity_, i.e. an enormous multitude, 2625, 3136.
æg-hwäðer (O.H.G. êo-ga-hwëdar): 1) each (of two): nom. sg. häfde æghwäðer ende gefêred, each of the two (Beówulf and the drake) _had reached the end_, 2845; dat. sg. æghwäðrum wäs brôga fram ôðrum, _to each of the two_ (Beówulf and the drake) was fear of the other, 2565; gen. sg. æghwäðres ... worda and worca, 287.--2) each (of several): dat. sg. heora æghwäðrum, 1637.
æg-hwær, adv., everywhere, 1060.
æg-hwilc (O.H.G. êo-gi-hwëlih), pron., unusquisque, every (one): 1) used as an adj.: acc. sg. m. dæl æghwylcne, 622.--2) as substantive, a) with the partitive genitive: nom. sg. æg-hwylc, 9, 2888; dat. sg. æghwylcum, 1051. b) without gen.: nom. sg. æghwylc, 985, 988; (wäs) æghwylc ôðrum trýwe, each one (of two) true to the other, 1166.
æg-weard, st. f., watch on the sea shore: acc. sg. æg-wearde, 241.
æht (abstract form from âgan, denoting the state of possessing), st. f.: 1) _possession, power_: acc. sg. on flôdes æht, 42; on wäteres æht, _into the power of the water_, 516; on æht gehwearf Denigea freán, _passed over into the possession of a Danish master_, 1680.--2) _property, possessions, goods_: acc. pl. æhte, 2249.--Comp. mâðm-, gold-æht.
æht (O.H.G. âhta), st. f., pursuit: nom. þâ wäs æht boden Sweona leódum, segn Higelâce, _then was pursuit offered to the people of the Sweonas, (their) banner to Hygelâc_ (i.e. the banner of the Swedes, taken during their flight, fell into the hands of Hygelâc), 2958.
ge-æhtan, w. v., _to prize, to speak in praise of_: pret. part. geæhted, 1866. [geähtan.]
ge-æhtla, w. m., or ge-æhtle, w. f., _a speaking of with praise, high esteem_: gen. sg. hy ... wyrðe þinceað eorla geæhtlan, _seem worthy of the high esteem of the noble-born_, 369. [geähtla.]
æn (oblique form of ân), num., one: acc. sg. m. þone ænne þone..., _the one whom_..., 1054; oftor micle þonne on ænne sîð, _much oftener than one time_, 1580; forð onsendon ænne, sent him forth alone, 46.
æne, adv., once: oft nalles æne, 3020.
ænig, pron., _one, any one_, 474, 503, 510, 534, etc.: instr. sg. nolde ... 0nige þinga, _would in no way, not at all_, 792; lyt ænig mearn, _little did any one sorrow_ (i.e. no one), 3130.--With the article: näs se folccyning ... ænig, _no people's king_, 2735.--Comp. nænig.
æn-lîc, adj., _alone, excellent, distinguished_: ænlîc ansýn, distinguished appearance, 251; þeáh þe hió ænlîcu sý, _though she be beautiful_, 1942.
ær (comparative form, from â): 1) adv., _sooner, before, beforehand_, 15, 656, 695, 758, etc., for a long time, 2596; eft swâ ær, _again as formerly_, 643; ær ne siððan, neither sooner nor later, 719; ær and sîð, sooner and later (all times), 2501; nô þý ær (_not so much the sooner_), yet not, 755, 1503, 2082, 2161, 2467.--2) conjunct., _before, ere_: a) with the ind.: ær hió tô setle geóng, 2020. b) w. subjunc.: ær ge fyr fêran, before you travel farther, 252; ær he on hwurfe 164, so 677, 2819; ær þon däg cwôme, ere the day break, 732; ær correlative to ær adv.: ær he feorh seleð, aldor an ôfre, ær he wille ..., he will sooner (rather) _leave his life upon the shore, before_ (than) he will ..., 1372.--3) prepos. with dat., before ær deáðe, before death, 1389; ær däges hwîle, before daybreak, 2321; ær swylt-däge, before the day of death, 2799.
æror, comp. adv., _sooner, before-hand_, 810; formerly, 2655.
ærra, comp. adj., earlier; instr. pl., ærran mælum, in former times, 908, 2238, 3036.
ærest, superl.: 1) adv., _first of all, foremost_, 6, 617, 1698, etc.--2) as subst. n., _relation to, the beginning_: acc. þät ic his ærest þe eft gesägde (_to tell thee in what relation it stood at first to the coat of mail that has been presented_), 2158. See Note.
ær-däg, st. m. (_before-day_), _morning-twilight, gray of morning_: dat. sg. mid ærdäge, 126; samod ærdäge, 1312, 2943.
ærende, st. n., _errand, trust_: acc. sg., 270, 345.
ær-fäder, st. m., _late father, deceased father_: nom sg. swâ his ærfäder, 2623.
ær-gestreón, st. n., _old treasure, possessions dating from old times_: acc sg., 1758; gen. sg. swylcra fela ærgestreóna, much of such old treasure, 2233. See gestreón.
ær-geweorc, st. n., work dating from old times: nom. sg. enta ær-geweorc, the old work of the giants (of the golden sword-hilt from Grendel's water-hall), 1680. See geweorc.
ær-gôd, adj., _good since old times, long invested with dignity_ or advantages: äðeling ærgôd, 130; (eorl) ærgôd, 1330; îren ærgôd (_excellent sword_), 990, 2587.
ær-wela, w. m., _old possessions, riches dating from old times_: acc. sg. ærwelan, 2748. See wela.
æs, st. n., _carcass, carrion_: dat. (instr.) sg. æse, of Äschere's corpse, 1333.
æt, st. m., _food, meat_: dat, sg., hû him ät æte speów, _how he fared well at meat_, 3027.
ættren (see âttor), adj., poisonous: wäs þät blôd tô þäs hât, ættren ellorgâst, se ær inne swealt, _so hot was the blood, (and) poisonous the demon_ (Grendel's mother) who died therein, 1618
B
bana, bona, w. m., murderer, 158, 588, 1103, etc.: acc. sg. bonan Ongenþeówes, of Hygelâc, although in reality his men slew Ongenþeów (2965 ff.), 1969. Figuratively of inanimate objects: ne wäs ecg bona, 2507; wearð wracu Weohstânes bana, 2614.--Comp.: ecg-, feorh-, gâst-, hand-, mûð-bana.
bon-gâr, st. m. murdering spear, 2032.
ge-bannan, st. v. w. acc. of the thing and dat. of the person, _to command, to bid_: inf., 74.
bâd, st. f., pledge, only in comp.: nýd-bâd.
bân, st. n., bone: dat. sg. on bâne (on the bony skin of the drake), 2579; dat. pl. heals ealne ymbefêng biteran bânum (here of the teeth of the drake), 2693.
bân-côfa, w. m., "cubile ossium" (Grimm) of the body: dat. sg. -côfan, 1446.
bân-fâg, adj., variegated with bones, either with ornaments made of bone-work, or adorned with bone, perhaps deer-antlers; of Hrôðgâr's hall, 781. The last meaning seems the more probable.
bân-fät, st. n., bone-vessel, i.e. the body: acc. pl. bân-fatu, 1117.
bân-hring, st. m., _the bone-structure, joint, bone-joint_: acc. pl. hire wið halse ... bânhringas bräc (_broke her neck-joint_), 1568.
bân-hûs, st. n., bone-house, i.e. the body: acc. sg. bânhûs gebräc, 2509; similarly, 3148.
bân-loca, w. m., the enclosure of the bones, i.e. the body: acc. sg. bât bânlocan, bit the body, 743; nom. pl. burston bânlocan, the body burst (of Grendel, because his arm was torn out), 819.
bât, st. m., _boat, craft, ship_, 211.--Comp. sæ-bât.
bât-weard, st. m., _boat-watcher, he who keeps watch over the craft._ dat. sg. -wearde, 1901.
bäð, st. n., bath: acc. sg. ofer ganotes bäð, _over the diver's bath_ (i.e. the sea), 1862.
bärnan, w. v., _to cause to burn, to burn_: inf. hêt ... bânfatu bärnan, bade that the bodies be burned, 1117; ongan ... beorht hofu bärnan, began to consume the splendid country-seats (the dragon), 2314.
for-bärnan, w. v., consume with fire: inf. hy hine ne môston ... brondefor-bärnan, they (the Danes) could not burn him (the dead Äschere) upon the funeral-pile, 2127.
bædan (Goth, baidjan, O.N. beðia), _to incite, to encourage_: pret. bædde byre geonge, encouraged the youths (at the banquet), 2019.
ge-bædan, w. v., to press hard: pret. part. bysigum gebæded, _distressed by trouble, difficulty, danger_ (of battle), 2581; _to drive, to send forth_: stræla storm strengum gebæded, _the storm of arrows sent with strength_, 3118; overcome: draca ... bealwe gebæded, _the dragon ... overcome by the ills of battle_, 2827.
bæl (O.N. bâl), st. n., _fire, flames_: (wyrm) mid bæle fôr, _passed (through the air) with fire_, 2309; häfde landwara lîge befangan, bæle and bronde, with fire and burning, 2323.--Especially, _the fire of the funeral-pile, the funeral-pile_, 1110, 1117, 2127; ær he bæl cure, _ere he sought the burning_ (i.e. died), 2819; hâtað ... hlæw gewyrcean ... äfter bæle, _after I am burned, let a burial mound be thrown up_ (Beówulf's words), 2804.
bæl-fýr, st. n., _bale-fire, fire of the funeral-pile_: gen. pl. bælfýra mæst, 3144.
bæl-stede, st. m., place for the funeral-pile: dat. sg. in bæl=stede, 3098.
bæl-wudu, st. m., wood for the funeral-pile, 3113.
bær, st. f., bier, 3106.
ge-bæran, w. v., _to conduct one's self, behave_: inf. w. adv., ne gefrägen ic þâ mægðe ... sêl gebæran, _I did not hear that a troop bore itself better, maintained a nobler deportment_, 1013; he on eorðan geseah þone leófestan lîfes ät ende bleáte gebæran, _saw the best-beloved upon the earth, at the end of his life, struggling miserably_ (i.e. in a helpless situation), 2825.
ge-bætan (denominative from bæte, _the bit_), w. v., _to place the bit in the mouth of an animal, to bridle_: pret. part. þâ wäs Hrôðgâre hors gebæted, 1400.
be, prep. w. dat. (with the fundamental meaning near, "but not of one direction, as ät, but more general"): 1) local, _near by, near, at, on_ (rest): be ýdlâfe uppe lægon, _lay above, upon the deposit of the waves_ (upon the strand, of the slain nixies), 566; häfde be honda, _held by the hand_ (Beówulf held Grendel), 815; be sæm tweonum, _in the circuit of both the seas_, 859, 1686; be mäste, on the mast, 1906; by fýre, _by the fire_, 2220; be nässe, at the promontory, 2244; sät be þæm gebrôðrum twæm, sat by the two brothers, 1192; wäs se gryre lässa efne swâ micle swâ bið mägða cräft be wæpnedmen, _the terror was just so much less, as is the strength of woman to the warrior_ (i.e. is valued by), 1285, etc.--2) also local, but of motion from the subject in the direction of the object, _on, upon, by_: gefêng be eaxle, seized by the shoulder, 1538; âlêdon leófne þeóden be mäste, laid the dear lord near the mast, 36; be healse genam, _took him by the neck, fell upon his neck_, 1873; wæpen hafenade be hiltum, grasped the weapon by the hilt, 1757, etc.--3) with this is connected the causal force, _on account of, for, according to_: ic þis gid be þe âwräc, _I spake this solemn speech for thee, for thy sake_, 1724; þû þe lær be þon, _learn according to this, from this_, 1723; be fäder lâre, _according to her father's direction_, 1951.--4) temporal, _while, during_: be þe lifigendum, _while thou livest, during thy life_, 2666. See bî.
bed, st. n., _bed, couch_: acc. sg. bed, 140, 677; gen. sg. beddes, 1792; dat. pl. beddum, 1241.--Comp: deað-, hlin-, läger-, morðor-, wäl-bed.
ge-bedde, w. f., bed-fellow: dat. sg. wolde sêcan ewên tô gebeddan, _wished to seek the queen as bed-fellow, to go to bed with her_, 666.--Comp. heals-gebedde.
begen, fem. bâ, both: nom. m., 536, 770, 2708; acc. fem. on bâ healfa, on two sides (i.e. Grendel and his mother), 1306; dat. m. bâm, 2197; and in connection with the possessive instead of the personal pronoun, ûrum bâm, 2661; gen. n. bega, 1874, 2896; bega gehwäðres, each one of the two, 1044; bega folces, of both peoples, 1125.
ge-belgan, st. v. (properly, _to cause to swell, to swell_), to irritate: w. dat. (pret. subj.) þät he êcean dryhtne bitre gebulge, _that he had bitterly angered the eternal Lord_, 2332; pret. part. gebolgen, 1540; (gebolge, MS.), 2222; pl. gebolgne, 1432; more according to the original meaning in torne gebolgen, 2402.
â-belgan, to anger: pret. sg. w. acc. ôð þät hyne ân âbealh mon on môde, till a man angered him in his heart, 2281; pret. part. âbolgen, 724.
ben, st. f., wound: acc. sg. benne, 2725.--Comp.: feorh-, seax-ben.
benc, st. f., bench: nom. sg. benc, 492; dat. sg. bence, 327, 1014, 1189, 1244.--Comp.: ealu-, medu-benc.
benc-swêg, st. m., (_bench-rejoicing_), _rejoicing which resounds from the benches_, 1162.
benc-þel, st. n., _bench-board, the wainscotted space where the benches stand_: nom. pl. benc-þelu, 486; acc. pl. bencþelu beredon, _cleared the bench-boards_ (i.e. by taking away the benches, so as to prepare couches), 1240.
bend, st. m. f., _bond, fetter_: acc. sg. forstes bend, _frost's bond_, 1610; dat. pl. bendum, 978.--Comp.: fýr-, hell-, hyge-, îren-, oncer-, searo-, wäl-bend.
ben-geat, st. n., (_wound-gate_), wound-opening: nom. pl. ben-geato, 1122.
bera (O.N. beri), w. m., bearer: in comp. hleor-bera.
beran, st. v. w. acc., to carry; III. sg. pres. byreð, 296, 448; þone mâððum byreð, carries the treasure (upon his person), 2056; pres. subj. bere, 437; pl. beren, 2654; inf. beran, 48, 231, 291, etc.; hêht þâ se hearda Hrunting beran, to bring Hrunting, 1808; up beran, 1921; in beran, 2153; pret. bär, 495, 712, 847, etc.; mandryhtne bär fäted wæge, _brought the lord the costly vessel_, 2282; pl. bæron, 213, 1636, etc.; bæran, 2851; pret. part. boren, 1193, 1648, 3136.--The following expressions are poetic paraphrases of the forms _go, come_: þät we rondas beren eft tô earde, 2654; gewîtað forð beran wæpen and gewædu, 291; ic gefrägn sunu Wihstânes hringnet beran, 2755; wîgheafolan bär, 2662; helmas bæron, 240 (conjecture); scyldas bæran, 2851: they lay stress upon the connection of the man with his weapons.
ät-beran, to carry to: inf. tô beadulâce (_battle_) ätberan, 1562; pret. þâ hine on morgentîd on Heaðoræmas holm up ätbär, _the sea bore him up to the Heaðoræmas_, 519; hió Beówulfe medoful ätbär _brought Beówulf the mead-cup_, 625; mägenbyrðenne ... hider ût ätbär cyninge mînum, _bore the great burden hither to my king_, 3093; pl. hî hyne ätbæron tô brimes faroðe, 28.
for-beran, _to hold, to suppress_: inf. þät he þone breóstwylm forberan ne mehte, that he could not suppress the emotions of his breast, 1878.
ge-beran, _to bring forth, to bear_: pret. part. þät lâ mäg secgan se þe sôð and riht fremeð on folce ... þät þes eorl wære geboren betera (_that may every just man of the people say, that this nobleman is better born_), 1704.
ôð-beran, to bring hither: pret. þâ mec sæ ôðbär on Finna land, 579.
on-beran (O.H.G. in bëran, intpëran, but in the sense of carere), auferre, _to carry off, to take away_: inf. îren ærgôd þät þäs ahlæcan blôdge beadufolme onberan wolde, _excellent sword which would sweep off the bloody hand of the demon_, 991; pret. part. (wäs) onboren beága hord, _the treasure of the rings had been carried off_, 2285.--Compounds with the pres. part.: helm-, sâwl-berend.
berian (denominative from bär, _naked_), w. v., _to make bare, to clear_: pret. pl. bencþelu beredon, cleared the bench-place (by removing the benches), 1240.
berstan, st. v., _to break, to burst_: pret. pl. burston bânlocan, 819; bengeato burston, 1122.--_to crack, to make the noise of breaking_: fingras burston, the fingers cracked (from Beówulf's gripe), 761.
for-berstan, _break, to fly asunder_: pret. Nägling forbärst, _Nägling_ (Beówulf's sword) broke in two, 2681.
betera, adj. (comp.), better: nom. sg. m. betera, 469, 1704.
bet-lîc, adj., _excellent, splendid_: nom. sg. n., of Hrôðgâr's hall, 781; of Hygelâc's residence, 1926.
betst, betost (superl.), _best, the best_: nom. sg. m. betst beadurinca, 1110; neut. nu is ôfost betost, þät we ..., _now is haste the best, that we..._, 3008; voc. m. secg betsta, 948; neut. acc. beaduscrûda betst, 453; acc. sg. m. þegn betstan, 1872.
bêcn, st. n., _(beacon), token, mark, sign_: acc. sg. betimbredon beadu-rôfes bêcn (of Beówulf's grave-mound), 3162. See beacen.
bêg. See beág.
bên, st. f., entreaty: gen. sg. bêne, 428, 2285.
bêna, w. m., suppliant, supplex: nom. sg. swâ þu bêna eart (_as thou entreatest_), 352; swâ he bêna wäs (_as he had asked_), 3141; nom. pl. hy bênan synt, 364.
ge-betan: 1) _to make good, to remove_: pret. ac þu Hrôðgâre wîdcûðne weán wihte gebêttest, _hast thou in any way relieved Hrôðgâr of the evil known afar_, 1992; pret. part. acc. sg. swylce oncýððe ealle gebêtte, _removed all trouble_, 831. --2) to avenge: inf. wihte ne meahte on þam feorhbonan fæhðe gebêtan, could in no way avenge the death upon the slayer, 2466.
beadu, st. f., _battle, strife, combat_: dat. sg. (as instr.) beadwe, _in combat_, 1540; gen. pl. bâd beadwa ge-þinges, waited for the combats (with Grendel) that were in store for him, 710.
beadu-folm, st. f., battle-hand: acc. sg. -folme, of Grendel's hand, 991.
beado-grîma, w. m., _(battle-mask), helmet_: acc. pl. -grîman, 2258.
beado-hrägl, st. n., _(battle-garment), corselet, shirt of mail_, 552.
beadu-lâc, st. n., (_exercise in arms, tilting_), _combat, battle_: dat. sg. tô beadu-lâce, 1562.
beado-leóma, w. m., (_battle-light_), sword: nom. sg., 1524.
beado-mêce, st. m., battle-sword: nom. pl. beado-mêcas, 1455.
beado-rinc, st. m., _battle-hero, warrior_: gen. pl. betst beadorinca, 1110.
beadu-rôf, adj., strong in battle: gen. sg. -rôfes, of Beówulf, 3162.
beadu-rûn, st. f., mystery of battle: acc. sg. onband beadu-rûne, _solved the mystery of the combat_, i.e. gave battle, commenced the fight, 501.
beadu-scearp, adj., _battle-sharp, sharp for the battle_, 2705.
beadu-scrûd, st. n., (_battle-dress_), _corselet, shirt of mail_: gen. pl. beaduscrûda betst, 453.
beadu-serce, w. f., (_battle-garment_), _corselet, shirt of mail_: acc. sg. brogdne beadu-sercean (because it consists of interlaced metal rings), 2756.
beado-weorc, st. n., (_battle-work_), battle: gen. sg. gefeh beado-weorces, rejoiced at the battle, 2300.
beald, adj., _bold, brave_: in comp. cyning-beald.
bealdian, w. v., _to show one's self brave_: pret. bealdode gôdum dædum (_through brave deeds_), 2178.
bealdor, st. m., _lord, prince_: nom. sg. sinca baldor, 2429; winia bealdor, 2568.
bealu, st. n., _evil, ruin, destruction_: instr. sg. bealwe, 2827; gen. pl. bealuwa, 281; bealewa, 2083; bealwa, 910.--Comp.: cwealm-, ealdor-, hreðer-, leód-, morðor-, niht-, sweord-, wîg-bealu.
bealu, adj., _deadly, dangerous, bad_: instr. sg. hyne sâr hafað befongen balwon bendum, pain has entwined him in deadly bands, 978.
bealo-cwealm, st. m., _violent death, death by the sword_(?), 2266.
bealo-hycgende, pres. part., _thinking of death, meditating destruction_: gen. pl. æghwäðrum bealo-hycgendra, 2566.
bealo-hydig, adj., _thinking of death, meditating destruction_: of Grendel, 724.
bealo-nîð, st. m., (_zeal for destruction_), deadly enmity: nom. sg., 2405; destructive struggle: acc. sg. bebeorh þe þone bealonîð, _beware of destructive striving_, 1759; death-bringing rage: nom. sg. him on breóstum bealo-nîð weóll, in his breast raged deadly fury (of the dragon's poison), 2715.
bearhtm (see beorht): 1) st. m., _splendor, brightness, clearness_: nom. sg. eágena bearhtm, 1767.--2) _sound, tone_: acc. sg. bearhtm ongeâton, gûðhorn galan, _they heard the sound, (heard) the battle-horn sound_, 1432.
bearm, m., gremium, sinus, _lap, bosom_: nom. sg. foldan bearm, 1138; acc. sg. on bearm scipes, 35, 897; on bearm nacan, 214; him on bearm hladan bunan and discas, 2776.--2) figuratively, _possession, property_, because things bestowed were placed in the lap of the receiver (1145 and 2195, on bearm licgan, âlecgan); dat. sg. him tô bearme cwom mâððumfät mære, _came into his possession_, 2405.
bearn, st. n., 1) _child, son_: nom. sg. bearn Healfdenes, 469, etc.; Ecglâfes bearn, 499, etc.; dat. sg. bearne, 2371; nom. pl. bearn, 59; dat. pl. bearnum, 1075.--2) in a broader sense, _scion, offspring, descendant_: nom. sg. Ongenþeów's bearn, of his grandson, 2388; nom. pl. yldo. bearn, 70; gumena bearn, children of men, 879; häleða bearn, 1190; äðelinga bearn, 3172; acc. pl. ofer ylda bearn, 606; dat. pl. ylda bearnum, 150; gen. pl. niðða bearna, 1006.--Comp.: brôðor-, dryht-bearn.
bearn-gebyrdu, f., _birth, birth of a son_: gen. sg. þät hyre ealdmetod êste wære bearn-gebyrdo, _has been gracious through the birth of such a son_ (i.e. as Beówulf), 947.
bearu, st. m., (_the bearer_, hence properly only the fruit-tree, especially the oak and the beech), tree, collectively forest: nom. pl. hrîmge bearwas, rime-covered or ice-clad, 1364.
beácen, st. n., _sign, banner_, vexillum: nom. sg. beorht beácen godes, _of the sun_, 570; gen. pl. beácna beorhtost, 2778. See bêcn.
ge-beácnian, w. v., _to mark, to indicate_: pret. part. ge-beácnod, 140.
beág, st. m., _ring, ornament_: nom. sg. beáh (_neck-ring_), 1212; acc. sg. beáh (the collar of the murdered king of the Heaðobeardnas), 2042; bêg (collective for the acc. pl.), 3165; dat. sg. cwom Wealhþeó forð gân under gyldnum beáge, _she walked along under a golden head-ring, wore a golden diadem_, 1164; gen. sg. beáges (of a collar), 1217; acc. pl. beágas (rings in general), 80, 523, etc.; gen. pl. beága, 35, 352, 1488, 2285, etc.-- Comp.: earm-, heals-beág.
beág-gyfa, w. m., ring-giver, designation of the prince: gen. sg. -gyfan, 1103.
beág-hroden, adj., _adorned with rings, ornamented with clasps_: nom. sg. beághroden, cwên, of Hrôðgâr's consort, perhaps with reference to her diadem (cf. 1164), 624.
beáh-hord, st. m. n., _ring-hoard, treasure consisting of rings_: gen. sg. beáh-hordes, 895; dat. pl. beáh-hordum, 2827; gen. pl. beáh-horda weard, of King Hrôðgâr, 922.
beáh-sele, st. m., _ring-hall, hall in which the rings were distributed_: nom. sg., of Heorot, 1178.
beáh-þegu, st. f., the receiving of the ring: dat. sg. äfter beáh-þege, 2177.
beáh-wriða, w. m. ring-band, ring with prominence given to its having the form of a band: acc. sg. beáh-wriðan, 2019.
beám, st. m., tree, only in the compounds fyrgen-, gleó-beám.
beátan, st. v., _thrust, strike_: pres. sg. mearh burhstede beáteð, _the steed beats the castle-ground_ (place where the castle is built), i.e. with his hoofs, 2266; pret. part. swealt bille ge-beáten, _died, struck by the battle-axe_, 2360.
beorh, st. m.: 1) _mountain, rock_: dat. sg. beorge, 211; gen. sg. beorges, 2525, 2756; acc. pl. beorgas, 222.--2) _grave-mound, tomb-hill_: acc. sg. biorh, 2808; beorh, 3098, 3165. A grave-mound serves the drake as a retreat (cf. 2277, 2412): nom. sg. beorh, 2242; gen. sg. beorges, 2323.--Comp. stân-beorh.
beorh, st. f., _veil, covering, cap_; only in the comp. heáfod-beorh.
beorgan, st. v. (w. dat. of the interested person or thing), _to save, to shield_: inf. wolde feore beorgan, place her life in safety, 1294; here-byrne ... seó þe bâncôfan beorgan cûðe, _which could protect his body_, 1446; pret. pl. ealdre burgan, 2600.
be-beorgan (w. dat. refl. of pers. and acc. of the thing), _to take care, to defend one's self from_: inf. him be-beorgan ne con wom, _cannot keep himself from stain_ (fault), 1747; imp. bebeorh þe þone bealontð, 1759.
ge-beorgan (w, dat. of person or thing to be saved), _to save, to protect_: pret. sg. þät gebearh feore, protected the life, 1549; scyld wel gebearg lîfe and lîce, 2571.
ymb-beorgan, to surround protectingly: pret. sg. bring ûtan ymb-bearh, 1504.
beorht, byrht, adj.: 1) _gleaming, shining, radiant, shimmering_: nom. sg. beorht, of the sun, 570, 1803; beorhta, of Heorot, 1178; þät beorhte bold, 998; acc. sg. beorhtne, of Beówulf's grave-mound, 2804; dat. sg. tô þære byrhtan (here-byrhtan, MS.) byrig, 1200; acc. pl. beorhte frätwe, 214, 897; beorhte randas, 231; bordwudu beorhtan, 1244; n. beorht hofu, 2314. Superl.: beácna beorhtost, 2778. --2) _excellent, remarkable_: gen. sg. beorhtre bôte, 158. --Comp.: sadol-, wlite-beorht.
beorhte, adv., _brilliantly, brightly, radiantly_, 1518.
beorhtian, w. v., to sound clearly: pret. sg. beorhtode benc-swêg, 1162.
beorn, st. m., _hero, warrior, noble man_: nom. sg. (Hrôðgâr), 1881, (Beówulf), 2434, etc.; acc. sg. (Beów.), 1025, (Äschere), 1300; dat. sg. beorne, 2261; nom. pl. beornas (Beówulf and his companions), 211, (Hrôðgâr's guests), 857; gen. pl. biorna (Beówulf's liege-men), 2405.--Comp.: folc-, gûð-beorn.
beornan, st. v., to burn: pres. part. byrnende (of the drake), 2273.--Comp. un-byrnende.
for-beornan, _to be consumed, to burn_: pret. sg. for-barn, 1617, 1668; for-born, 2673.
ge-beornan, to be burned: pret. gebarn, 2698.
beorn-cyning, st. m., _king of warriors, king of heroes_: nom. sg. (as voc.), 2149.
beódan, st. v.: 1) _to announce, to inform, to make known_: inf. biódan, 2893.--2) _to offer, to proffer_ (as the notifying of a transaction in direct reference to the person concerned in it): pret. pl. him geþingo budon, offered them an agreement, 1086; pret. part. þâ wäs æht boden Sweona leódum, then was pursuit offered the Swedish people, 2958; inf. ic þäm gôdan sceal mâðmas beódan, I shall offer the excellent man treasures, 385.
â-beódan, _to present, to announce_: pret. word inne âbeád, _made known the words within_, 390; _to offer, to tender, to wish_: pret. him hæl âbeád, wished him health (greeted him), 654. Similarly, hælo âbeád, 2419; eoton weard âbeád, offered the giant a watcher, 669.
be-beódan, _to command, to order_: pret. swâ him se hearda bebeád, _as the strong man commanded them_, 401. Similarly, swâ se rîca bebeád, 1976.
ge-beódan: 1) _to command, to order_: inf. hêt þâ gebeódan byre Wihstânes häleða monegum, þät hie..., _the son of Wihstan caused orders to be given to many of the men..._, 3111.--2) to offer: him Hygd gebeád hord and rîce, offered him the treasure and the chief power, 2370; inf. gûðe gebeódan, to offer battle, 604.
beód-geneát, st. m., table-companion: nom. and acc. pl. geneátas, 343, 1714.
beón, verb, to be, generally in the future sense, will be: pres. sg. I. gûðgeweorca ic beó gearo sôna, _I shall immediately be ready for warlike deeds_, 1826; sg. III. wâ bið þäm þe sceal..., woe to him who...! 183; so, 186; gifeðe bið is given, 299; ne bið þe wilna gâd (_no wish will be denied thee_), 661; þær þe bið manna þearf, _if thou shalt need the warriors_, 1836; ne bið swylc cwênlîc þeáw, _is not becoming, honorable to a woman_, 1941; eft sôna bið will happen directly, 1763; similarly, 1768, etc.; pl. þonne bióð brocene, then are broken, 2064; feor cýððe beóð sêlran gesôhte þam þe..., "terrae longinquae meliores sunt visitatu ei qui..." (Grein), 1839; imp. beó (bió) þu on ôfeste, _hasten!_ 386, 2748; beó wið Geátas gläd, _be gracious to the Geátas_, 1174.
beór, st. n., beer: dat. sg. ät beóre, at beer-drinking, 2042; instr. sg. beóre druncen, 531; beóre druncne, 480.
beór-scealc, st. m., _keeper of the beer, cup-bearer_: gen. pl. beór-scealca sum (one of Hrôðgâr's followers, because they served the Geátas at meals), 1241.
beór-sele, st. m., _beer-hall, hall in which beer is drunk_: dat. sg. in (on) beórsele, 482, 492, 1095; biórsele, 2636.
beór-þegu, st. f., _beer-drinking, beer-banquet_: dat. sg. äfter beórþege, 117; ät þære beórþege, 618.
beót, st. n., _promise, binding agreement to something that is to be undertaken_: acc. sg. he beót ne âlêh, did not break his pledge, 80; beót eal ... gelæste, performed all that he had pledged himself to, 523.
ge-beótian, w. v., _to pledge one's self to an undertaking, to bind one's self_: pret. gebeótedon, 480, 536.
beót-word, st. n., same as beót: dat. pl. beót-wordum spräc, 2511.
biddan, st. v., _to beg, to ask, to pray_: pres. sg. I. dôð swâ ic bidde! 1232; inf. (w. acc. of the pers. and gen. of the thing asked for) ic þe biddan wille ânre bêne, beg thee for one, 427; pret. swâ he selfa bäd, as he himself had requested, 29; bäd hine blîðne (supply wesan) ät þære beórþege, begged him to be cheerful at the beer-banquet, 618; ic þe lange bäd þät þu..., begged you a long time that you, 1995; frioðowære bäd hlâford sînne, begged his lord for protection (acc. of pers. and gen. of thing), 2283; bäd þät ge geworhton, asked that you..., 3097; pl. wordum bædon þät..., 176.
on-bidian, w. v., to await: inf. lætað hilde-bord her onbidian ... worda geþinges, let the shields await here the result of the conference (lay the shields aside here), 397.
bil, st. n. sword: nom. sg. bil, 1568; bill, 2778; acc. sg. bil, 1558; instr. sg. bille, 2360; gen. sg. billes, 2061, etc.; instr. pl. billum, 40; gen. pl. billa, 583, 1145.--Comp.: gûð-, hilde-, wîg-bil.
bindan, st. v., _to bind, to tie_: pret. part. acc. sg. wudu bundenne, _the bound wood_, i.e. the built ship, 216; bunden golde swurd, _a sword bound with gold_, i.e. either having its hilt inlaid with gold, or having gold chains upon the hilt (swords of both kinds have been found), 1901; nom. sg. heoru bunden, 1286, has probably a similar meaning.
ge-bindan, to bind: pret. sg. þær ic fîfe geband, _where I had bound five_(?), 420; pret. part. cyninges þegn word ôðer fand sôðe gebunden, _the king's man found_ (after many had already praised Beówulf's deed) _other words_ (also referring to Beówulf, but in connection with Sigemund) rightly bound together, i.e. in good alliterative verses, as are becoming to a gid, 872; wundenmæl wrättum gebunden, sword bound with ornaments, i.e. inlaid, 1532; bisgum gebunden, bound together by sorrow, 1744; gomel gûðwîga eldo gebunden, hoary hero bound by old age (fettered, oppressed), 2112.
on-bindan, _to unbind, to untie, to loose_: pret. onband, 501.
ge-bind, st. n. coll., _that which binds, fetters_: in comp. îs-gebind.
bite, st. m., bite, figuratively of the cut of the sword: acc. sg. bite îrena, _the swords' bite_, 2260; dat. sg. äfter billes bite, 2061.--Comp. lâð-bite.
biter (primary meaning that of biting), adj.: 1) _sharp, cutting, cutting in_: acc. sg. biter (of a short sword), 2705; instr. sg. biteran stræle, 1747; instr. pl. biteran bânum, with sharp teeth, 2693.--2) _irritated, furious_: nom. pl. bitere, 1432.
bitre, adv., bitterly (in a moral sense), 2332.
bî, big (fuller form of the prep. be, which see), prep. w. dat.: 1) _near, at, on, about, by_ (as under be, No. 1): bî sæm tweónum, _in the circuit of both seas_, 1957; ârâs bî ronde, raised himself up by the shield, 2539; bî wealle gesät, sat by the wall, 2718. With a freer position: him big stôdan bunan and orcas, round about him, 3048.--2) _to, towards_ (motion): hwearf þâ bî bence, turned then towards the bench, 1189; geóng bî sesse, went to the seat, 2757.
bîd (see bîdan), st. n., tarrying hesitation: þær wearð Ongenþió on bîd wrecen, forced to tarry, 2963.
bîdan, st. v.: 1) _to delay, to stay, to remain, to wait_: inf. nô on wealle leng bîdan wolde, would not stay longer within the wall (the drake), 2309; pret. in þýstrum bâd, remained in darkness, 87; flota stille bâd, the craft lay still, 301; receda ... on þäm se rîca bâd, where the mighty one dwelt, 310; þær se snottra bâd, where the wise man (Hrôðgâr) waited, 1314; he on searwum bâd, he (Beówulf) _stood there armed_, 2569; ic on earde bâd mælgesceafta, _lived upon the paternal ground the time appointed me by fate_, 2737; pret. pl. sume þær bidon, _some remained, waited there_, 400.--2) _to await, to wait for_, with the gen. of that which is awaited: inf. bîdan woldon Grendles gûðe, _wished to await the combat with Grendel, to undertake it_, 482; similarly, 528; wîges bîdan, await the combat, 1269; nalas andsware bîdan wolde, _would await no answer_, 1495; pret. bâd beadwa geþinges, _awaited the event of the battle_, 710; sægenga bâd âgend-freán, the sea-goer (boat) _awaited its owner_, 1883; sele ... heaðowylma bâd, lâðan lîges (the poet probably means to indicate by these words that the hall Heorot was destroyed later in a fight by fire; an occurrence, indeed, about which we know nothing, but which 1165 and 1166, and again 2068 ff. seem to indicate), 82.
â-bîdan, to await, with the gen.: inf., 978.
ge-bîdan: 1) _to tarry, to wait_: imp. gebîde ge on beorge, _wait ye on the mountain_, 2530; pret. part. þeáh þe wintra lyt under burhlocan gebiden häbbe Häreðes dôhtor _although H's daughter had dwelt only a few years in the castle_, 1929.--2) _to live through, to experience, to expect_ (w. acc.): inf. sceal endedäg mînne gebîdan, shall live my last day, 639; ne wênde ... bôte gebîdan, _did not hope ... to live to see reparation_, 935; fela sceal gebîdan leófes and lâðes, _experience much good and much affliction_, 1061; ende gebîdan, 1387, 2343; pret. he þäs frôfre gebâd, received consolation (compensation) therefore, 7; gebâd wintra worn, lived a great number of years, 264; in a similar construction, 816, 930, 1619, 2259, 3117. With gen.: inf. tô gebîdanne ôðres yrfeweardes, _to await another heir_, 2453. With depend, clause: inf. tô gebîdanne þät his byre rîde on galgan, _to live to see it, that his son hang upon the gallows_, 2446; pret. dreám-leás gebâd þät he..., _joyless he experienced it, that he_..., 1721; þäs þe ic on aldre gebâd þät ic..., _for this, that I, in my old age, lived to see that_..., 1780.
on-bîdan, _to wait, to await_: pret. hordweard onbâd earfoðlîce ôð þät æfen cwom, _scarcely waited, could scarcely delay till it was evening_, 2303.
bîtan, st. v., to bite, of the cutting of swords: inf. bîtan, 1455, 1524; pret. bât bânlocan, bit into his body (Grendel), 743; bât unswîðor, _cut with less force_ (Beówulf's sword), 2579.
blanca, w. m., properly that which shines here of the horse, not so much of the white horse as the dappled: dat. pl. on blancum, 857.
ge-bland, ge-blond, st. n., _mixture, heaving mass, a turning_.--Comp.: sund-, ýð-geblond, windblond.
blanden-feax, blonden-feax, adj., mixed, i.e. having gray hair, gray-headed, as epithet of an old man: nom. sg. blondenfeax, 1792; blondenfexa, 2963; dat. sg. blondenfeaxum, 1874; nom. pl. blondenfeaxe, 1595.
bläc, adj., _dark, black_: nom. sg, hrefn blaca, 1802.
blâc, adj.: 1) _gleaming, shining_: acc. sg. blâcne leóman, _a brilliant gleam_, 1518.--2) of the white death-color, pale; in comp. heoroblâc.
blæd, st. m.: 1) _strength, force, vigor_: nom. sg. wäs hira blæd scacen (of both tribes), strength was gone, i.e. the bravest of both tribes lay slain, 1125; nu is þînes mägnes blæd âne hwîle, _now the fulness of thy strength lasts for a time_, 1762.--2) _reputation, renown, knowledge_ (with stress upon the idea of filling up, spreading out): nom. sg. blæd, 18; (þîn) blæd is âræred, thy renown is spread abroad, 1704.
blæd-âgend, pt., _having renown, renowned_: nom. pl. blæd-âgende, 1014.
blæd-fäst, adj., _firm in renown, renowned, known afar_: acc. sg. blædfästne beorn (of Äschere, with reference to 1329), 1300.
bleát, adj., _miserable, helpless_; only in comp. wäl-bleát.
bleáte, adv., _miserably, helplessly_, 2825.
blîcan, st. v., _shine, gleam_: inf., 222
blîðe, adj.: 1) _blithe, joyous, happy_ acc. sg. blîðne, 618.--2) _gracious, pleasing_: nom. sg. blîðe, 436.--Comp. un-blîðe.
blîð-heort, adj., _joyous in heart, happy_: nom. sg., 1803.
blôd, st. n., blood: nom. sg., 1122; acc. sg., 743; dat. sg. blôde, 848; äfter deórum men him langað beorn wið blôde, the hero (Hrôðgâr) _longs for the beloved man contrary to blood_, i.e. he loves him although he is not related to him by blood, 1881; dat. as instr. blôde, 486, 935, 1595, etc.
blôd-fâg, adj., _spotted with blood, bloody_, 2061.
blôdig, adj., bloody: acc. sg. f. blôdge, 991; acc. sg. n. blôdig, 448; instr. sg. blôdigan gâre, 2441.
ge-blôdian, w. v., _to make bloody, to sprinkle with blood_: pret. part. ge-blôdegod, 2693.
blôdig-tôð, adj., with bloody teeth: nom. sg. bona blôdig-tôð (of Grendel, because he bites his victims to death), 2083.
blôd-reów, adj., _bloodthirsty, bloody-minded_: nom. sg. him on ferhðe greów breóst-hord blôd-reów, _in his bosom there grew a bloodthirsty feeling_, 1720.
be-bod, st. n., _command, order_; in comp. wundor-bebod.
bodian, w. v., _(to be a messenger), to announce, to make known_: pret. hrefn blaca heofones wynne blîð-heort bodode, _the black raven announced joyfully heaven's delight_ (the rising sun), 1803.
boga, w. m., bow, of the bended form; here of the dragon, in comp. hring-boga; as an instrument for shooting, in the comp. flân-, horn-boga; bow of the arch, in comp. stân-boga.
bolca, w. m., "forus navis" (Grein), gangway; here probably the planks which at landing are laid from the ship to the shore: acc. sg. ofer bolcan, 231.
bold, st. n., _building, house, edifice_: nom. sg. (Heorot), 998; (Hygelâc's residence), 1926; (Beówulfs residence), 2197, 2327.--Comp. fold-bold.
bold-âgend, pt., _house-owner, property-holder_: gen. pl. monegum boldâgendra, 3113.
bolgen-môd, adj., _angry at heart, angry_, 710, 1714.
bolster, st. m., _bolster, cushion, pillow_: dat. pl. (reced) geond-bræded wearð beddum and bolstrum, was covered with beds and bolsters, 1241.--Comp. hleór-bolster.
bon-. See ban-.
bora, w. m., _carrier, bringer, leader_: in the comp. mund-, ræd-, wæg-bora.
bord, st. n., shield: nom. sg., 2674; acc. sg., 2525; gen. pl. ofer borda gebräc, over the crashing of the shields, 2260.--Comp.: hilde-, wîg-bord.
bord-häbbend, pt., _one having a shield, shield-bearer_: nom. pl. häbbende, 2896.
bord-hreóða, w. m., _shield-cover, shield_ with particular reference to its cover (of hides or linden bark): dat. sg. -hreóðan, 2204.
bord-rand, st. m., shield: acc. sg., 2560.
bord-weall, st. m., _shield-wall, wall of shields_: acc. sg., 2981.
bord-wudu, st. m., _shield-wood, shield_: acc. pl. beorhtan beord-wudu, 1244.
botm, st. m., bottom: dat. sg. tô botme (here of the bottom of the fen-lake), 1507.
bôt (emendation, cf. bêtan), st. f.: 1) _relief, remedy_: nom. sg., 281; acc. sg. bôte, 935; acc. sg. bôte, 910.--2) _a performance in expiation, a giving satisfaction, tribute_: gen. sg. bôte, 158.
brand, brond, st. m.: 1) _burning, fire_: nom. sg. þâ sceal brond fretan (_the burning of the body_), 3015; instr. sg. by hine ne môston ... bronde forbärnan (_could not bestow upon him the solemn burning_), 2127; häfde landwara lîge befangen, bæle and bronde, _with glow, fire, and flame_, 2323.--2) in the passage, þät hine nô brond ne beadomêcas bîtan ne meahton, 1455, brond has been translated _sword, brand_ (after the O.N. brand-r). The meaning fire may be justified as well, if we consider that the old helmets were generally made of leather, and only the principal parts were mounted with bronze. The poet wishes here to emphasize the fact that the helmet was made entirely of metal, a thing which was very unusual.--3) in the passage, forgeaf þâ Beówulfe brand Healfdenes segen gyldenne, 1021, our text, with other editions, has emendated, bearn, since brand, if it be intended as a designation of Hrôðgâr (perhaps _son_), has not up to this time been found in this sense in A.-S.
brant, bront, adj., _raging, foaming, going-high_, of ships and of waves: acc. sg. brontne, 238, 568.
brâd, adj.: 1) _extended, wide_: nom. pl. brâde rîce, 2208.--2) broad: nom. sg. heáh and brâd (of Beówulf's grave-mound), 3159; acc. sg. brâdne mêce, 2979; (seax) brâd [and] brûnecg, _the broad, short sword with bright edge_, 1547.--3) _massive, in abundance_. acc, sg. brâd gold, 3106.
ge-bräc, st. n., _noise, crash_: acc. sg. borda gebräc, 2260.
geond-brædan, w. v., _to spread over, to cover entirely_: pret. part. geond-bræded, 1240.
brecan, st. v.: 1) _to break, to break to pieces_: pret. bânhringas bräc, (the sword) broke the joints, 1568. In a moral sense: pret. subj. þät þær ænig mon wære ne bræce, that no one should break the agreement, 1101; pret. part. þonne bióð brocene ... âð-sweord eorla, _then are the oaths of the men broken_, 2064.--2) probably also simply _to break in upon something, to press upon_, w. acc.: pret. sg. sædeór monig hildetuxum heresyrcan bräc, _many a sea-animal pressed with his battle-teeth upon the shirt of mail_ (did not break it, for, according to 1549 f., 1553 f., it was still unharmed). 1512.--3) _to break out, to spring out_: inf. geseah ... streám ût brecan of beorge, saw a stream break out from the rocks, 2547; lêt se hearda Higelâces þegn brâdne mêce ... brecan ofer bordweal, caused the broadsword to spring out over the wall of shields, 2981.--4) figuratively, _to vex, not to let rest_: pret. hine fyrwyt bräc, _curiosity tormented_ (N.H.G. brachte die Neugier um), 232, 1986, 2785.
ge-brecan, to break to pieces: pret. bânhûs gebräc, _broke in pieces his body_ (Beówulf in combat with Däghrefn), 2509.
tô-brecan, to break in pieces: inf., 781; pret. part. tô-brocen, 998.
þurh-brecan, to break through, pret. wordes ord breósthord þurh-bräc, _the word's point broke through his closed breast_, i.e. a word burst out from his breast, 2793.
brecð, st. f., _condition of being broken, breach_: nom. pl. môdes brecða (_sorrow of heart_), 171.
â-bredwian, w. v. w. acc., _to fell to the ground, to kill_ (?): pret. âbredwade, 2620.
bregdan, st. v., properly to swing round, hence: 1) to swing: inf. under sceadu bregdan, _swing among the shadows, to send into the realm of shadows_, 708; pret. brägd ealde lâfe, swung the old weapon, 796; brägd feorh-genîðlan, swung his mortal enemy (Grendel's mother), threw her down, 1540; pl. git eágorstreám ... mundum brugdon, _stirred the sea with your hands_ (of the movement of the hands in swimming), 514; pret. part. broden (brogden) mæl, the drawn sword, 1617, 1668.--2) _to knit, to knot, to plait_: inf., figuratively, inwitnet ôðrum bregdan, _to weave a waylaying net for another_ (as we say in the same way, to lay a trap for another, to dig a pit for another), 2168; pret. part. beadohrägl broden, _a woven shirt of mail_ (because it consisted of metal rings joined together), 552; similarly, 1549; brogdne beadusercean, 2756.
â-bregdan, to swing: pret. hond up â-bräd, _swung, raised his hand_, 2576.
ge-bregdan: 1) swing: pret. hring-mæl gebrägd, swung the ringed sword, 1565; eald sweord eácen ... þät ic þý wæpne gebrägd, _an old heavy sword that I swung as my weapon_, 1665; with interchanging instr. and acc. wällseaxe gebräd, biter and beadu-scearp, 2704; also, _to draw out of the sheath_: sweord ær gebräd, had drawn the sword before, 2563.--2) _to knit, to knot, to plait_: pret. part. bere-byrne hondum gebroden, 1444.
on-bregdan, _to tear open, to throw open_: pret. onbräd þâ recedes mûðan, had then thrown open the entrance of the hall (onbregdan is used because the opening door swings upon its hinges), 724.
brego, st. m., _prince, ruler_: nom. sg. 427, 610.
brego-rôf, adj., _powerful, like a ruler, of heroic strength_: nom. sg. m., 1926.
brego-stôl, st. m., throne, figuratively for rule: acc. sg. him gesealde seofon þûsendo, bold and brego-stôl, seven thousand see under sceat), _a country-seat, and the dignity of a prince_, 2197; þær him Hygd gebeád ... brego-stôl, _where H. offered him the chief power_, 2371; lêt þone bregostôl Beówulf healdan, _gave over to Beówulf the chief power_ (did not prevent Beówulf from entering upon the government), 2390.
breme, adj., _known afar, renowned_. nom. sg., 18.
brenting (see brant), st. m., ship craft: nom. pl. brentingas, 2808.
â-breátan, st. v., _to break, to break in pieces, to kill_: pret. âbreót brimwîsan, killed the sea-king (King Hæðcyn), 2931. See breótan.
breóst, st. n.: 1) breast: nom. sg., 2177; often used in the pl., so acc. þät mîne breóst wereð, which protects my breast, 453; dat. pl. beadohrägl broden on breóstum läg. 552.--2) _the inmost thoughts, the mind, the heart, the bosom_: nom. sg. breóst innan weóll þeóstrum geþoncum, _his breast heaved with troubled thoughts_, 2332; dat. pl. lêt þâ of breóstum word ût faran, caused the words to come out from his bosom, 2551.
breóst-gehygd, st. n. f., _breast-thought, secret thought_: instr. pl. -gehygdum, 2819.
breóst-gewædu, st. n. pl., _breast-clothing, garment covering the breast_, of the coat of mail: nom., 1212; acc., 2163.
breóst-hord, st. m., _breast-hoard, that which is locked in the breast, heart, mind, thought, soul_: nom. sg., 1720; acc. sg., 2793.
breóst-net, st. n., _breast-net, shirt of chain-mail, coat of mail_: nom. sg. breóst-net broden, 1549.
breóst-weorðung, st. f., ornament that is worn upon the breast: acc. sg. breóst-weorðunge, 2505: here the collar is meant which Beówulf receives from Wealhþeów (1196, 2174) as a present, and which B., according to 2173, presents to Hygd, while, according to 1203, it is in the possession of her husband Hygelâc. In front the collar is trimmed with ornaments (frätwe), which hang down upon the breast, hence the name breóst-weorðung.
breóst-wylm, st. m., _heaving of the breast, emotion of the bosom_: acc. sg, 1878.
breótan, st. v., _to break, to break in pieces, to kill_: pret. breát beódgeneátas, killed his table-companions (courtiers), 1714.
â-breótan, same as above: pret. þone þe heó on räste âbreát, _whom she killed upon his couch_, 1299; pret. part. þâ þät monige gewearð, þät hine seó brimwylf âbroten häfde, many believed that the sea-wolf (Grendel's mother) had killed him, 1600; hî hyne ... âbroten häfdon, _had killed him_ (the dragon), 2708.
brim, st. n., _flood, the sea_: nom. sg., 848, 1595; gen. sg. tô brimes faroðe, to the sea, 28; ät brimes nosan, _at the sea's promontory_, 2804; nom. pl. brimu swaðredon, the waves subsided, 570.
brim-clif, st. n., _sea-cliff, cliff washed by the sea_: acc. pl. -clifu, 222.
brim-lâd, st. f., _flood-way, sea-way_: acc. sg. þâra þe mid Beówulfe brimlâde teáh, _who had travelled the sea-way with B._, 1052.
brim-lîðend, pt, _sea-farer, sailor_ acc. p. -lîðende, 568.
brim-streám, st. m., _sea-stream, the flood of the sea_: acc. pl. ofer brim-streámas, 1911.
brim-wîsa, w. m., sea-king: acc. sg. brimwîsan, of Hæðcyn, king of the Geátas, 2931.
brim-wylf, st. f., sea-wolf (designation of Grendel's mother): nom. sg. seó brimwylf, 1507, 1600.
brim-wylm, st. m., sea-wave: nom. sg., 1495.
bringan, anom. v., _to bring, to bear_: prs. sg. I. ic þe þûsenda þegna bringe tô helpe, bring to your assistance thousands of warriors, 1830; inf. sceal hringnaca ofer heáðu bringan lâc and luftâcen, _shall bring gifts and love-tokens over the high sea_, 1863; similarly, 2149, 2505; pret. pl. we þâs sælâc ... brôhton, brought this sea-offering (Grendel's head), 1654.
ge-bringan, to bring: pres. subj. pl. þat we þone gebringan ... on âdfäre, that we bring him upon the funeral-pile, 3010.
brosnian, w. v., _to crumble, to become rotten, to fall to pieces_: prs. sg. III. herepâd ... brosnað äfter beorne, _the coat of mail falls to pieces after_ (the death of) the hero, 2261.
brôðor, st. m., brother: nom. sg., 1325, 2441; dat sg. brêðer, 1263; gen. sg. his brôðor bearn, 2620; dat. pl. brôðrum, 588, 1075.
ge-brôðru, pl., _brethren, brothers_: dat. pl. sät be þæm gebrôðrum twæm, sat by the two brothers, 1192.
brôga, w. m., _terror, horror_: nom. sg., 1292, 2325, 2566; acc. sg. billa brôgan, 583.--Comp.: gryre-, here-brôga.
brûcan, st. v. w. gen., _to use, to make use of_: prs. sg. III. se þe longe her worolde brûceð, who here long makes use of the world, i.e. lives long, 1063; imp. brûc manigra mêda, _make use of many rewards, give good rewards_, 1179; to enjoy: inf. þät he beáhhordes brûcan môste, _could enjoy the ring-hoard_, 895; similarly, 2242, 3101; pret. breác lîfgesceafta, _enjoyed the appointed life, lived the appointed time_, 1954. With the genitive to be supplied: breác þonne môste, 1488; imp. brûc þisses beáges, _enjoy this ring, take this ring_, 1217. Upon this meaning depends the form of the wish, wel brûcan (compare the German geniesze froh!): inf. hêt hine wel brûcan, 1046; hêt hine brûcan well, 2813; imp. brûc ealles well, 2163.
brûn, adj., _having a brown lustre, shining_: nom. sg. sió ecg brûn, 2579.
brûn-ecg, adj., having a gleaming blade: acc. sg. n. (hyre seaxe) brâd [and] brûnecg, her broad sword with gleaming blade, 1547.
brûn-fâg, adj., gleaming like metal: acc. sg. brûnfâgne helm, 2616.
bryne-leóma, w. m., _light of a conflagration, gleam of fire _: nom. sg., 2314.
bryne-wylm, st. m., wave of fire: dat. pl. -wylmum, 2327.
brytnian (properly to break in small pieces, cf. breótan), w. v., _to bestow, to distribute_: pret. sinc brytnade, distributed presents, i.e. ruled (since the giving of gifts belongs especially to rulers), 2384.
brytta, w. m., _giver, distributer_, always designating the king: nom. sg. sinces brytta, 608, 1171, 2072; acc. sg. beága bryttan, 35, 352, 1488; sinces bryttan, 1923.
bryttian (_to be a dispenser_), w. v., _to distribute, to confer_: prs. sg. III. god manna cynne snyttru bryttað, bestows wisdom upon the human race, 1727.
brýd, st. f.: 1) _wife, consort_: acc. sg. brýd, 2931; brýde, 2957, both times of the consort of Ongenþeów (?).--2) _betrothed, bride_: nom. sg., of Hrôðgâr's daughter, Freáware, 2032.
brýd-bûr, st. n., _woman's apartment_: dat. sg. eode ... cyning of brýdbûre, the king came out of the apartment of his wife (into which, according to 666, he had gone), 922.
bunden-stefna, w. m., _(that which has a bound prow), the framed ship_: nom. sg., 1911.
bune, w. f., can or _cup, drinking-vessel_: nom. pl. bunan, 3048; acc. pl. bunan, 2776.
burh, burg, st. f., _castle, city, fortified house_: acc. sg. burh, 523; dat. sg. byrig, 1200; dat. pl. burgum, 53, 1969, 2434.--Comp.: freó, freoðo-, heá-, hleó-, hord-, leód-, mæg-burg.
burh-loca, w. m., castle-bars: dat. sg. under burh-locan, _under the castle-bars_, i.e. in the castle (Hygelâc's), 1929.
burh-stede, st. m., _castle-place, place where the castle_ or _city stands_: acc. sg. burhstede, 2266.
burh-wela, w. m., _riches, treasure of a castle_ or city: gen. sg. þenden he burh-welan brûcan môste, 3101.
burne, w. f., _spring, fountain_: gen. þære burnan wälm, _the bubbling of the spring_, 2547.
bûan, st. v.: 1) _to stay, to remain, to dwell_: inf. gif he weard onfunde bûan on beorge, if he had found the watchman dwelling on the mountain, 2843.--2) to inhabit, w. acc.: meduseld bûan, _to inhabit the mead-house_, 3066.
ge-bûan, w. acc., _to occupy a house, to take possession_: pret. part. heán hûses, hû hit Hring Dene äfter beórþege gebûn häfdon, _how the Danes, after their beer-carouse, had occupied it_ (had made their beds in it), 117.--With the pres. part. bûend are the compounds ceaster-, fold-, grund-, lond-bûend.
bûgan, st. v., _to bend, to bow, to sink; to turn, to flee_: prs. sg. III. bon-gâr bûgeð, the fatal spear sinks, i.e. its deadly point is turned down, it rests, 2032; inf. þät se byrnwîga bûgan sceolde, _that the armed hero had to sink down_ (having received a deadly blow), 2919; similarly, 2975; pret. sg. beáh eft under eorðweall, _turned, fled again behind the earth-wall_, 2957; pret. pl. bugon tô bence, turned to the bench, 327, 1014; hy on holt bugon, fled to the wood, 2599.
â-bûgan, _to bend off, to curve away from_: pret. fram sylle âbeág medubenc monig, from the threshold curved away many a mead-bench, 776.
be-bûgan, w. acc., _to surround, to encircle_: prs. swâ (_which_) wäter bebûgeð, 93; efne swâ sîde swâ sæ bebûgeð windige weallas, _as far as the sea encircles windy shores_, 1224.
ge-bûgan, _to bend, to bow, to sink_: a) intrans.: heó on flet gebeáh, sank on the floor, 1541; þâ gebeáh cyning, then sank the king, 2981; þâ se wyrm gebeáh snûde tôsomne (_when the drake at once coiled itself up_), 2568; gewât þâ gebogen scrîðan tô, advanced with curved body (the drake), 2570.--b) w. acc. of the thing to which one bends or sinks: pret. selereste gebeáh, sank upon the couch in the hall, 691; similarly gebeág, 1242.
bûr, st. n., _apartment, room_: dat. sg. bûre, 1311, 2456; dat. pl. bûrum, 140.--Comp. brýd-bûr.
bûtan, bûton (from be and ûtan, hence in its meaning referring to what is without, excluded): 1) conj. with subjunctive following, lest: bûtan his lîc swice, lest his body escape, 967. With ind. following, but: bûton hit wäs mâre þonne ænig mon ôðer tô beadulâce ätberan meahte, but it (the sword) was greater than any other man could have carried to battle, 1561. After a preceding negative verb, except: þâra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston bûton Fitela mid hine, _which the children of men did not know at all, except Fitela, who was with him_, 880; ne nom he mâðm-æhta mâ bûton þone hafelan, etc., _he took no more of the rich treasure than the head alone_, 1615.--2) prep, with dat., except: bûton folcscare, 73; bûton þe, 658; ealle bûton ânum, 706.
bycgan, w. v., _to buy, to pay_: inf. ne wäs þät gewrixle til þät hie on bâ healfa bicgan scoldon freónda feorum, _that was no good transaction, that they, on both sides_ (as well to Grendel as to his mother), _had to pay with the lives of their friends_, 1306.
be-bycgan, to sell: pret. nu ic on mâðma hord mîne bebohte frôde feorhlege (_now I, for the treasure-hoard, gave up my old life_), 2800.
ge-bycgan, _to buy, to acquire; to pay_: pret. w. acc. nô þær ænige ... frôfre gebohte, _obtained no sort of help, consolation_, 974; hit (his, MS.) ealdre gebohte, paid it with his life, 2482; pret. part. sylfes feore beágas [geboh]te, bought rings with his own life, 3015.
byldan, w. v. (_to make_ beald, which see), _to excite, to encourage, to brave deeds_: inf. w. acc. swâ he Fresena cyn on beórsele byldan wolde (by distributing gifts), 1095.
ge-byrd, st. n., "fatum destinatum" (Grein) (?): acc. sg. hie on gebyrd hruron gâre wunde, 1075.
ge-byrdu, st. f., birth; in compound, bearn-gebyrdu.
byrdu-scrûd, st. n., _shield-ornament, design upon a shield_(?): nom. sg., 2661.
byre, st. m., (_born_) son: nom. sg., 2054, 2446, 2622, etc.; nom. pl. byre, 1189. In a broader sense, _young man, youth_: acc. pl. bædde byre geonge, encouraged the youths (at the banquet), 2019.
byrðen, st. f., burden; in comp. mägen-byrðen.
byrele, st. m., _steward, waiter, cupbearer_: nom. pl. byrelas, 1162.
byrgan, w. v., _to feast, to eat_: inf., 448.
ge-byrgea, w. m., protector; in comp. leód-gebyrgea.
byrht. See beorht.
byrne, w. f., _shirt of mail, mail_: nom. sg. byrne, 405, 1630, etc.; hringed byrne, ring-shirt, consisting of interlaced rings, 1246; acc. sg. byrnan, 1023, etc.; sîde byrnan, large coat of mail, 1292; hringde byrnan, 2616; hâre byrnan, gray coat of mail (of iron), 2154; dat. sg. on byrnan, 2705; gen. sg. byrnan hring, the ring of the shirt of mail (i.e. the shirt of mail), 2261; dat. pl. byrnum, 40, 238, etc.; beorhtum byrnum, with gleaming mail, 3141.--Comp.: gûð-, here-, heaðo-, îren-, îsern-byrne.
byrnend. See beornan.
byrn-wîga, w. m., warrior dressed in a coat of mail: nom. sg., 2919.
bysgu, bisigu, st. f., _trouble, difficulty, opposition_: nom. sg. bisigu, 281; dat. pl. bisgum, 1744, bysigum, 2581.
bysig, adj., _opposed, in need_, in the compounds lîf-bysig, syn-bysig.
býme, w. f., _a wind-instrument, a trumpet, a trombone_: gen. sg. býman gealdor, the sound of the trumpet, 2944.
býwan, w. v., _to ornament, to prepare_: inf. þâ þe beado-grîman býwan sceoldon, who should prepare the helmets, 2258.
C
camp, st. m., _combat, fight between two_: dat. sg. in campe (Beówulf's with Däghrefn; cempan, MS.), 2506.
candel, st. f., _light, candle_: nom. sg. rodores candel, of the sun, 1573.--Comp. woruld-candel.
cempa, w. m., _fighter, warrior, hero_: nom. sg. äðele cempa, 1313; Geáta cempa, 1552; rêðe cempa, 1586; mære cempa (as voc.), 1762; gyrded cempa, 2079; dat. sg. geongum (geongan) cempan, 1949, 2045, 2627; Hûga cempan, 2503; acc. pl. cempan, 206.--Comp. fêðe-cempa.
cennan, w. v.: 1) to bear, w. acc.: efne swâ hwylc mägða swâ þone magan cende, who bore the son, 944; pret. part. þäm eafera wäs äfter cenned, to him was a son born, 12.--2) reflexive, _to show one's self, to reveal one's self_: imp. cen þec mid cräfte, prove yourself by your strength, 1220.
â-cennan, to bear: pret. part. nô hie fäder cunnon, hwäðer him ænig wäs ær âcenned dyrnra gâsta, they (the people of the country) _do not know his_ (Grendel's) _father, nor whether any evil spirit has been before born to him_ (whether he has begotten a son), 1357.
cênðu, st. f., boldness: acc. sg. cênðu, 2697.
cêne, adj., _keen, warlike, bold_: gen. p.. cênra gehwylcum, 769. Superl., acc. pl. cênoste, 206.--Comp.: dæd-, gâr-cêne.
ceald, adj., cold: acc. pl. cealde streámas, 1262; dat. pl. cealdum cearsîðum, _with cold, sad journeys_, 2397. Superl. nom. sg. wedera cealdost, 546;--Comp. morgen-ceald.
cearian, w. v., _to have care, to take care, to trouble one's self_: prs. sg. III. nâ ymb his lîf cearað, takes no care for his life, 1537.
cearig, adj., _troubled, sad_: in comp. sorh-cearig.
cear-sîð, st. m., _sorrowful way, an undertaking that brings sorrow_, i.e. a warlike expedition: dat. pl. cearsîðum (of Beówulf's expeditions against Eádgils), 2397.
cearu, st. f., _care, sorrow, lamentation_: nom. sg., 1304; acc. sg. [ceare], 3173.--Comp.: ealdor-, gûð-, mæl-, môd-cearu.
cear-wälm, st. m., _care-agitation, waves of sorrow in the breast_: dat. pl. äfter cear-wälmum, 2067.
cear-wylm, st. m., same as above; nom. pl. þâ cear-wylmas, 282.
ceaster-bûend, pt, _inhabitant of a fortified place, inhabitant of a castle_: dat. pl. ceaster-bûendum, of those established in Hrôðgâr's castle, 769.
ceáp, st. m., _purchase, transaction_: figuratively, nom. sg. näs þät ýðe ceáp, no easy transaction, 2416; instr. sg. þeáh þe ôðer hit ealdre gebohte, heardan ceápe, _although the one paid it with his life, a dear purchase_, 2483.
ge-ceápian, w. v., to purchase: pret. part. gold unrîme grimme geceápod, _gold without measure, bitterly purchased_ (with Beówulf's life), 3013.
be-ceorfan, st. v., _to separate, to cut off_ (with acc. of the pers. and instr. of the thing): pret. hine þâ heáfde becearf, cut off his head, 1591; similarly, 2139.
ceorl, st. m., man: nom. sg. snotor ceorl monig, many a wise man, 909; dat. sg. gomelum ceorle, the old man (of King Hrêðel), 2445; so, ealdum ceorle, of King Ongenþeów, 2973; nom. pl. snotere ceorlas, wise men, 202, 416, 1592.
ceól, st. m., keel, figuratively for the ship: nom. sg., 1913; acc. sg. ceól, 38, 238; gen. sg. ceóles, 1807.
ceósan, st. v., to choose, hence, to assume: inf. þone cynedôm ciósan wolde, would assume the royal dignity, 2377; to seek: pret. subj. ær he bæl cure, before he sought his funeral-pile (before he died), 2819.
ge-ceósan, _to choose, to elect_: gerund, tô geceósenne cyning ænigne (sêlran), to choose a better king, 1852; imp. þe þät sêlre ge-ceós, choose thee the better (of two: bealonîð and êce rædas), 1759; pret. he ûsic on herge geceás tô þyssum siðfate, _selected us among the soldiers for this undertaking_, 2639; geceás êcne ræd, chose the everlasting gain, i.e. died, 1202; similarly, godes leóht geceás, 2470; pret. part. acc. pl. häfde ... cempan gecorone, 206.
on-cirran, w. v., _to turn, to change_: inf. ne meahte ... þäs wealdendes [willan] wiht on-cirran, could not change the will of the Almighty, 2858; pret. ufor oncirde, turned higher, 2952; þyder oncirde, turned thither, 2971.
â-cîgan, w. v., to call hither: pret. âcîgde of corðre cyninges þegnas syfone, called from the retinue of the king seven men, 3122.
clam, clom, st. m., f. n.? fetter, figuratively of a strong gripe: dat. pl. heardan clammum, 964; heardum clammum, 1336; atolan clommum (horrible claws of the mother of Grendel), 1503.
clif, cleof, st. n., _cliff, promontory_: acc. pl. Geáta clifu, 1912.--Comp.: brim-, êg-, holm-, stân-clif.
ge-cnâwan, st. v., _to know, to recognize_: inf. meaht þu, mîn wine, mêce gecnâwan, _mayst thou, my friend, recognize the sword_, 2048.
on-cnâwan, _to recognize, to distinguish_: hordweard oncniów mannes reorde, distinguished the speech of a man, 2555.
cniht, st. m., _boy, youth_: dat. pl. þyssum cnyhtum, to these boys (Hrôðgâr's sons), 1220.
cniht-wesende, prs. part., being a boy or a youth: acc. sg. ic hine cûðe cniht-wesende, knew him while still a boy, 372; nom. pl. wit þät gecwædon cniht-wesende, we both as young men said that, 535.
cnyssan, w. v., _to strike, to dash against each other_: pret. pl. þonne ... eoferas cnysedan, _when the bold warriors dashed against each other, stormed_ (in battle), 1329.
collen-ferhð, -ferð, adj., (properly, _of swollen mind_), _of uncommon thoughts, in his way of thinking, standing higher than others, high-minded_: nom. sg. cuma collen-ferhð, of Beówulf, 1807; collen-ferð, of Wîglâf, 2786.
corðer, st. n., _troop, division of an army, retinue_: dat. sg. þâ wäs ... Fin slägen, cyning on corðre, _then was Fin slain, the king in the troop_ (of warriors), 1154; of corðre cyninges, out of the retinue of the king, 3122.
costian, w. v., to try; pret. (w. gen.) he mîn costode, tried me, 2085.
côfa, w. m., _apartment, sleeping-room, couch_: in comp. bân-côfa.
côl, adj., cool: compar. cearwylmas côlran wurðað, _the waves of sorrow become cooler_, i.e. the mind becomes quiet, 282; him wîflufan ... côlran weorðað, his love for his wife cools, 2067.
cräft, st. m., the condition of being able, hence: 1) _physical strength_: nom. sg. mägða cräft, 1284; acc. sg. mägenes cräft, 418; þurh ânes cräft, 700; cräft and cênðu, 2697; dat. (instr.) sg. cräfte, 983, 1220, 2182, 2361.--2) _art, craft, skill_: dat. sg. as instr. dyrnum cräfte, with secret (magic) art, 2169; dyrnan cräfte, 2291; þeófes cräfte, _with thief's craft_, 2221; dat. pl. deófles cräftum, _by devil's art_ (sorcery), 2089.--3) great quantity (?): acc. sg. wyrm-horda cräft, 2223.--Comp.: leoðo-, mägen-, nearo-, wîg-cräft.
cräftig, adj.: 1) _strong, stout_: nom. sg. eafoðes cräftig, 1467; nîða cräftig, 1963. Comp. wîg-cräftig.--2) _adroit, skilful_: in comp. lagu-cräftig.--3) rich (of treasures); in comp. eácen-cräftig.
cringan, st. v., _to fall in combat, to fall with the writhing movement of those mortally wounded_: pret. subj. on wäl crunge, _would sink into death, would fall_, 636; pret. pl. for the pluperfect, sume on wäle crungon, 1114.
ge-cringan, same as above: pret. he under rande gecranc, _fell under his shield_, 1210; ät wîge gecrang, fell in battle, 1338; heó on flet gecrong, fell to the ground, 1569; in campe gecrong, _fell in single combat_, 2506.
cuma (_he who comes_), w. m., _newcomer, guest_: nom. sg. 1807.--Comp.: cwealm-, wil-cuma.
cuman, st. v., to come: pres. sg. II. gyf þu on weg cymest, _if thou comest from there_, 1383; III. cymeð, 2059; pres. subj. sg. III. cume, 23; pl. þonne we ût cymen, when we come out, 3107; inf. cuman, 244, 281, 1870; pret. sg. com, 430, 569, 826, 1134, 1507, 1601, etc.; cwom, 419, 2915; pret. subj. sg. cwôme, 732; pret. part. cumen, 376; pl. cumene, 361. Often with the inf. of a verb of motion, as, com gongan, 711; com sîðian, 721; com in gân, 1645; cwom gân, 1163; com scacan, 1803; cwômon lædan, 239; cwômon sêcean, 268; cwôman scrîðan, 651, etc. [pret. côm, etc.]
be-cuman, _to come, to approach, to arrive_: pret. syððan niht becom, after the night had come, 115; þe on þâ leóde becom, _that had come over the people_, 192; þâ he tô hâm becom, 2993. And with inf. following: stefn in becom ... hlynnan under hârne stân, 2553; lyt eft becwom ... hâmes niósan, 2366; ôð þät ende becwom, 1255; similarly, 2117. With acc. of pers.: þâ hyne sió þrag becwom, when this time of battle came over him, 2884.
ofer-cuman, _to overcome, to compel_: pret. þý he þone feónd ofercwom, thereby he overcame the foe, 1274: pl. hie feónd heora ... ofercômon, 700; pret. part. (w. gen.) nîða ofercumen, compelled by combats, 846.
cumbol, cumbor, st. m., banner: gen. sg. cumbles hyrde, 2506.--Comp. hilte-cumbor.
cund, adj., _originating in, descended from_: in comp. feorran-cund.
cunnan, verb pret. pres.: 1) _to know, to be acquainted with_ (w. acc. or depend, clause): sg. pres. I. ic mînne can glädne Hrôðulf þät he ... wile, _I know my gracious H., that he will_..., 1181; II. eard git ne const, thou knowest not yet the land, 1378; III. he þät wyrse ne con, _knows no worse_, 1740. And reflexive: con him land geare, knows the land well, 2063; pl. men ne cunnon hwyder helrûnan scrîðað, _men do not know whither_..., 162; pret. sg. ic hine cûðe, knew him, 372; cûðe he duguð þeáw, knew the customs of the distinguished courtiers, 359; so with the acc., 2013; seolfa ne cûðe þurh hwät..., _he himself did not know through what_..., 3068; pl. sorge ne cûðon, 119; so with the acc., 180, 418, 1234. With both (acc. and depend. clause): nô hie fäder cunnon (scil. nô hie cunnon) hwäðer him ænig wäs ær âcenned dyrnra gâsta, 1356.--2) with inf. following, _can, to be able_: prs. sg. him bebeorgan ne con, _cannot defend himself_, 1747; prs. pl. men ne cunnon secgan, cannot say, 50; pret. sg. cûðe reccan, 90; beorgan cûðe, 1446; pret. pl. hêrian ne cûðon, _could not praise_, 182; pret. subj. healdan cûðe, 2373.
cunnian, w. v., _to inquire into, to try_, w. gen. or acc.: inf. sund cunnian (figurative for _roam over the sea_), 1427, 1445; geongne cempan higes cunnian, _to try the young warrior's mind_, 2046; pret. eard cunnode, tried the home, i.e. came to it, 1501; pl. wada cunnedon, _tried the flood_, i.e. swam through the sea, 508.
cûð, adj.: 1) _known, well known; manifest, certain_: nom. sg. undyrne cûð, 150, 410; wîde cûð, 2924; acc. sg. fern. cûðe folme, 1304; cûðe stræte, 1635; nom. pl. ecge cûðe, 1146; acc. pl. cûðe nässas, 1913.--2) renowned: nom. sg. gûðum cûð, 2179; nom. pl. cystum cûðe, 868.--3) also, _friendly, dear, good_ (see un-cûð).--Comp.: un-, wîd-cûð.
cûð-lîce, adv., _openly, publicly_: comp. nô her cûðlîcor cuman ongunnon lind-häbbende, no shield-bearing men undertook more boldly to come hither (the coast-watchman means by this the secret landing of the Vikings), 244.
cwalu, st. f., _murder, fall_: in comp. deáð-cwalu.
cweccan (_to make alive_, see cwic), w. v., _to move, to swing_: pret. cwehte mägen-wudu, swung the wood of strength (= spear), 235.
cweðan, st. v., _to say, to speak_: a) absolutely: prs. sg. III. cwið ät beóre, speaks at beer-drinking, 2042.--b) w. acc.: pret. word äfter cwäð, 315; feá worda cwäð, 2247, 2663.--c) with þät following: pret. sg. cwäð, 92, 2159; pl. cwædon, 3182.--d) with þät omitted: pret. cwäð he gûð-cyning sêcean wolde, said he would seek out the war-king, 199; similarly, 1811, 2940.
â-cweðan, _to say, to speak_, w. acc.: prs. þät word âcwyð, _speaks the word_, 2047; pret. þät word âcwäð, 655.
ge-cweðan, _to say, to speak_: a) absolutely: pret. sg. II. swâ þu gecwæde, 2665.--b)w. acc.: pret. wel-hwylc gecwäð, spoke everything, 875; pl. wit þät gecwædon, 535.--c) w. þät following: pret. gecwäð, 858, 988.
cwellan, w. v., (_to make die_), _to kill, to murder_: pret. sg. II. þu Grendel cwealdest, 1335.
â-cwellan, to kill: pret. sg. (he) wyrm âcwealde, 887; þone þe Grendel ær mâne âcwealde, whom Grendel had before wickedly murdered, 1056; beorn âcwealde, 2122.
cwên, st. f.: 1) _wife, consort_ (of noble birth): nom. sg. cwên, 62; (Hrôðgâr's), 614, 924; (Finn's), 1154.--2) particularly denoting the queen: nom. sg. beághroden cwên (Wealhþeów), 624; mæru cwên, 2017; fremu folces cwên (Þryðo), 1933; acc. sg. cwên (Wealhþeów), 666.-Comp. folc-cwên.
cwên-lîc, adj., _feminine, womanly_: nom. sg. ne bið swylc cwênlîc þeáw (_such is not the custom of women, does not become a woman_), 1941.
cwealm, st. m., _violent death, murder, destruction_: acc. sg. þone cwealm gewräc, avenged the death (of Abel by Cain), 107; mændon mondryhtnes cwealm, _lamented the ruler's fall_, 3150.--Comp.: bealo-, deáð-, gâr-cwealm.
cwealm-bealu, st. n., the evil of murder: acc. sg., 1941.
cwealm-cuma, w. m., _one coming for murder, a new-comer who contemplates murder_: acc. sg. þone cwealm-cuman (of Grendel), 793.
cwic and cwico, adj., _quick, having life, alive_: acc. sg. cwicne, 793, 2786; gen. sg. âht cwices, something living, 2315; nom. pl. cwice, 98; cwico wäs þâ gena, was still alive, 3094.
cwide, st. m., _word, speech, saying_: in comp. gegn-, gilp-, hleó-, ðor- [non-existant form--KTH], word-cwide.
cwîðan, st. v., _to complain, to lament_: inf. w. acc. ongan ... gioguðe cwîðan hilde-strengo, began to lament the (departed) _battle-strength of his youth_, 2113 [ceare] cwîðan, lament their cares, 3173.
cyme, st. m., _coming, arrival_: nom. pl. hwanan eówre cyme syndon, _whence your coming is_, i. e. whence ye are, 257.--Comp. eft-cyme.
cymlîce, adv., (convenienter), _splendidly, grandly_: comp. cymlîcor, 38.
cyn, st. n., race, both in the general sense, and denoting noble lineage: nom. sg. Fresena cyn, 1094; Wedera (gara, MS.) cyn, 461; acc. sg. eotena cyn, 421; giganta cyn, 1691; dat. sg. Caines cynne, 107; manna cynne, 811, 915, 1726; eówrum (of those who desert Beówulf in battle) cynne, 2886; gen. sg. manna (gumena) cynnes, 702, etc.; mæran cynnes, 1730; lâðan cynnes, 2009, 2355; ûsses cynnes Wægmundinga, 2814; gen. pl. cynna gehwylcum, 98.--Comp.: eormen-, feorh-, frum-, gum-, man-, wyrm-cyn.
cyn, st. n., that which is suitable or proper: gen. pl. cynna (of etiquette) gemyndig, 614.
ge-cynde, adj., _innate, peculiar, natural_: nom. sg., 2198, 2697.
cyne-dôm, st. m., _kingdom, royal dignity_: acc. sg., 2377.
cyning, st. m., king: nom. acc. sg. cyning, II, 864, 921, etc.; kyning, 620, 3173; dat. sg. cyninge, 3094; gen. sg. cyninges, 868, 1211; gen. pl. kyning[a] wuldor, of God, 666.--Comp. beorn-, eorð-, folc-, guð-, heáh-, leód-, sæ-, sôð-, þeód-, worold-, wuldor-cyning.
cyning-beald, adj., "_nobly bold_" (Thorpe), excellently brave (?): nom. pl. cyning-balde men, 1635.
ge-cyssan, w. v., to kiss: pret. gecyste þâ cyning ... þegen betstan, kissed the best thane (Beówulf), 1871.
cyst (_choosing_, see ceósan), st. f., _the select, the best of a thing, good quality, excellence_: nom. sg. îrenna cyst, of the swords, 803, 1698; wæpna cyst, 1560; symbla cyst, choice banquet, 1233; acc. sg. îrena cyst, 674; dat. pl. foldwegas ... cystum cûðe, _known through excellent qualities_, 868; (cyning) cystum gecýðed, 924.--Comp. gum-, hilde-cyst.
cýð. See on-cýð.
cýðan (see cûð), w. v., _to make known, to manifest, to show_: imp. sg. mägen-ellen cýð, show thy heroic strength, 660; inf. cwealmbealu cýðan, 1941; ellen cýðan, 2696.
ge-cýðan (_to make known_, hence): 1) _to give information, to announce_: inf. andsware gecýðan, to give answer, 354; gerund, tô gecýðanne hwanan eówre cyme syndon (_to show whence ye come_), 257; pret. part. sôð is gecýðed þät ... (_the truth has become known_, it has shown itself to be true), 701; Higelâce wäs sîð Beówulfes snûde gecýðed, _the arrival of B. was quickly announced_, 1972; similarly, 2325.--2) to make celebrated, in pret. part.: wäs mîn fäder folcum gecýðed (_my father was known to warriors_), 262; wäs his môdsefa manegum gecýðed, 349; cystum gecýðed, 924.
cýððu (properly, condition of being known, hence _relationship_), st. f., _home, country, land_: in comp. feor-cýððu. [should be cýð, feor-cýð--KTH]
ge-cýpan, w. v., to purchase: inf. näs him ænig þearf þät he ... þurfe wyrsan wîgfrecan weorðe gecýpan, _had need to buy with treasures no inferior warrior_, 2497.
D
daroð, st. m., spear: dat. pl. dareðum lâcan (_to fight_), 2849.
ge-dâl, st. n., _parting, separation_: nom. sg. his worulde gedâl, _his separation from the world_ (his death), 3069.--Comp. ealdor-, lîf-gedâl.
däg, st. m., day: nom. sg. däg, 485, 732, 2647; acc. sg. däg, 2400; andlangne däg, the whole day, 2116; morgenlongne däg (_the whole morning_), 2895; ôð dômes däg, till judgment-day, 3070; dat. sg. on þäm däge þysses lîfes (eo tempore, tunc), 197, 791, 807; gen. sg. däges, 1601, 2321; hwîl däges, _a day's time, a whole day_, 1496; däges and nihtes, _day and night_, 2270; däges, by day, 1936; dat. pl. on tyn dagum, _in ten days_, 3161.--Comp. ær-, deáð-, ende-, ealdor-, fyrn-, geâr-, læn-, lîf-, swylt-, win-däg, an-däges.
däg-hwîl, st. f., day-time: acc. pl. þät he däghwîla gedrogen häfde eorðan wynne, _that he had enjoyed earth's pleasures during the days_ (appointed to him), i.e. that his life was finished, 2727.--(After Grein.)
däg-rîm, st. n., _series of days, fixed number of days_: nom. sg. dôgera dägrîm (_number of the days of his life_), 824.
dæd, st. f., _deed, action_: acc. sg. deórlîce dæd, 585; dômleásan dæd, 2891; frêcne dæde, 890; dæd, 941; acc. pl. Grendles dæda, 195; gen. pl. dæda, 181, 479, 2455, etc.; dat. pl. dædum, 1228, 2437, etc.--Comp. ellen-, fyren-, lof-dæd.
dæd-cêne, adj., bold in deed: nom. sg. dæd-cêne mon, 1646.
dæd-fruma, w. m., _doer of deeds, doer_: nom. sg., of Grendel, 2091.
dæd-bata, w. m., he who pursues with his deeds: nom. sg., of Grendel, 275.
dædla, w. m., doer: in comp. mân-for-dædla.
dæl, st. m., _part, portion_: acc. sg. dæl, 622, 2246, 3128; acc. pl. dælas, 1733.--Often dæl designates the portion of a thing or of a quality which belongs in general to an individual, as, ôð þät him on innan oferhygda dæl weaxeð, _till in his bosom his portion of arrogance increases_: i.e. whatever arrogance he has, his arrogance, 1741. Biówulfe wearð dryhtmâðma dæl deáðe, forgolden, _to Beówulf his part of the splendid treasures was paid with death_, i.e. whatever splendid treasures were allotted to him, whatever part of them he could win in the fight with the dragon, 2844; similarly, 1151, 1753, 2029, 2069, 3128.
dælan, w. v., _to divide, to bestow, to share with_, w. acc.: pres. sg. III. mâdmas dæleð, 1757; pres. subj. þät he wið aglæcean eofoðo dæle, _that he bestow his strength upon_ (strive with) the bringer of misery the drake), 2535; inf. hringas dælan, 1971; pret. beágas dælde, 80; sceattas dælde, 1687.
be-dælan, w. instr., _(to divide), to tear away from, to strip of_: pret. part. dreámum (dreáme) bedæled, deprived of the heavenly joys (of Grendel), 722, 1276.
ge-dælan: 1) to distribute: inf. (w. acc. _of the thing distributed_); bær on innan eall gedælan geongum and ealdum swylc him god sealde, distribute therein to young and old all that God had given him, 71.--2) _to divide, to separate_, with acc.: inf. sundur gedælan lîf wið lîce, separate life from the body, 2423; so pret. subj. þät he gedælde ... ânra gehwylces lîf wið lîce, 732.
denn (cf. denu, dene, vallis), st. n., _den, cave_: acc. sg. þäs wyrmes denn, 2761; gen. sg. (draca) gewât dennes niósian, 3046.
ge-defe, adj.: 1) (impersonal) _proper, appropriate_: nom. sg. swâ hit gedêfe wäs (bið), _as was appropriate, proper_, 561, 1671, 3176.--2) _good, kind, friendly_; nom sg. beó þu suna mînum dædum gedêfe, _be friendly to my son by deeds_ (support my son in deed, namely, when he shall have attained to the government), 1228.--Comp. un-ge-dêfelîce.
dêman (see dôm), w. v.: 1) _to judge, to award justly_: pres. subj. mærðo dême, 688.--2) _to judge favorably, to praise, to glorify_: pret. pl. his ellenweorc duguðum dêmdon, praised his heroic deed with all their might, 3176.
dêmend, judge: dæda dêmend (of God), 181.
deal, adj., "superbus, clarus, fretus" (Grimm): nom. pl. þryðum dealle, 494.
deád, adj., dead: nom. sg. 467, 1324, 2373; acc. sg. deádne, 1310.
deáð, st. m., _death, dying_: nom. sg, deáð, 441, 447, etc.; acc. sg. deáð, 2169; dat. sg. deáðe, 1389, 1590, (as instr.) 2844, 3046; gen. sg. deáðes wylm, 2270; deáðes nýd, 2455.--Comp. gûð-, wäl-, wundor-deáð.
deáð-bed, st. n., death-bed: dat. sg. deáð-bedde fäst, 2902.
deáð-cwalu, st. f., violent death, ruin and death: dat. pl. tô deáð-cwalum, 1713.
deáð-cwealm, st. m., _violent death, murder_: nom. sg. 1671.
deáð-däg, st. m., _death-day, dying day_: dat. sg. äfter deáð-däge (_after his death_), 187, 886.
deáð-fæge, adj., given over to death: nom. sg. (Grendel) deáð-fæge deóg, _had hidden himself, being given over to death_ (mortally wounded), 851.
deáð-scûa, w. m., _death-shadow, ghostly being, demon of death_: nom. sg. deorc deáð-scûa (of Grendel), 160.
deáð-wêrig, adj., weakened by death, i.e. dead: acc. sg. deáð-wêrigne, 2126. See wêrig.
deáð-wîc, st. n. _death's house, home of death_: acc. sg. gewât deáðwîc seón (_had died_), 1276.
deágan (O.H.G. pret. part. tougan, _hidden_), _to conceal one's self, to hide_: pret. (for pluperf.) deóg, 851.--Leo.
deorc, adj., dark: of the night, nom. sg. (nihthelm) deorc, 1791; dat. pl. deorcum nihtum, 275, 2212; of the terrible Grendel, nom. sg. deorc deáð-scûa, 160.
deófol, st. m. n., devil: gen. sg. deófles, 2089; gen. pl. deófla, of Grendel and his troop, 757, 1681.
deógol, dýgol, adj., _concealed, hidden, inaccessible, beyond information, unknown_: nom. sg. deógol dædhata (of Grendel), 275; acc. sg. dýgel lond, inaccessible land, 1358.
deóp, st. n., _deep, abyss_: acc. sg., 2550.
deóp, adv. deeply: acc. sg. deóp wäter, 509, 1905.
diópe, adj., deep: hit ôð dômes däg diópe benemdon þeódnas mære, _the illustrious rulers had charmed it deeply till the judgment-day, had laid a solemn spell upon it_, 3070.
deór, st. n., _animal, wild animal_: in comp. mere-, sæ-deór.
deór, adj.: 1) _wild, terrible_: nom. sg. diór dæd-fruma (of Grendel), 2091.--2) _bold, brave_: nom. nænig ... deór, 1934.--Comp.: heaðu-, hilde-deór.
deóre, dýre, adj.: 1) _dear, costly_ (high in price): acc. sg. dýre îren, 2051; drincfät dýre (deóre), 2307, 2255; instr. sg. deóran sweorde, 561; dat. sg. deórum mâðme, 1529; nom. pl. dýre swyrd, 3049; acc. pl. deóre (dýre) mâðmas, 2237, 3132.--2) _dear, beloved, worthy_: nom. sg. f., äðelum dióre, worthy by reason of origin, 1950; dat. sg. äfter deórum men, 1880; gen. sg. deórre duguðe, 488; superl. acc. sg. aldorþegn þone deórestan, 1310.
deór-lîc, adj., _bold, brave_: acc. sg. deórlîce dæd, 585. See deór.
disc, st. m., _disc, plate, flat dish_: nom. acc. pl. discas, 2776, 3049.
ge-dîgan. See ge-dýgan.
dol-gilp, st. m., _mad boast, foolish pride, vain-glory, thoughtless audacity_: dat. sg. for dolgilpe, 509.
dol-lîc, adj., audacious: gen. pl. mæst ... dæda dollîcra, 2647.
dol-sceaða, w. m., bold enemy: acc. sg. þone dol-scaðan (Grendel), 479.
dôgor, st. m. n., day; 1) day as a period of 24 hours: gen. sg. ymb ântîd ôðres dôgores, at the same time of the next day, 219; morgen-leóht ôðres dôgores, the morning-light of the second day, 606.--2) day in the usual sense: acc. sg. n. þys dôgor, during this day, 1396; instr. þý dôgore, 1798; forman dôgore, 2574; gen. pl. dôgora gehwâm, 88; dôgra gehwylce, 1091; dôgera dägrim, the number of his days (the days of his life), 824.--3) day in the wider sense of time: dat. pl. ufaran dôgrum, _in later days, times_, 2201, 2393.--Comp. ende-dôgor.
dôgor-gerîm, st. n., series of days: gen. sg. wäs eall sceacen dôgor-gerîmes, the whole number of his days (his life) was past, 2729.
dôhtor, st. f., daughter: nom. acc. sg. dôhtor, 375, 1077, 1930, 1982, etc.
dôm, st. m.: I., _condition, state in general_; in comp. cyne-, wis-dôm.--II., having reference to justice, hence: 1) _judgment, judicial opinion_: instr. sg. weotena dôme, _according to the judgment of the Witan_, 1099. 2) custom: äfter dôme, according to custom, 1721. 3) _court, tribunal_: gen. sg. miclan dômes, 979; ôð dômes däg, 3070, both times of the last judgment.--III., condition of freedom or superiority, hence: 4) _choice, free will_: acc. sg. on sînne sylfes dôm, _according to his own choice_, 2148; instr. sg. selfes dôme, 896, 2777. 5) _might, power_: nom. sg. dôm godes, 2859; acc. sg. Eofores ânne dôm, 2965; dat. sg. drihtnes dôme, 441. 6) _glory, honor, renown_: nom. sg. [dôm], 955; dôm unlytel, not a little glory, 886; þät wäs forma sîð deórum mâðme þät his dôm âläg, it was the first time to the dear treasure (the sword Hrunting) that its fame was not made good, 1529; acc. sg. ic me dôm gewyrce, _make renown for myself_, 1492; þät þu ne âlæte dôm gedreósan, _that thou let not honor fall_, 2667; dat. instr. sg. þær he dôme forleás, _here he lost his reputation_, 1471; dôme gewurðad, adorned with glory, 1646; gen. sg. wyrce se þe môte dômes, _let him make himself reputation, whoever is able_, 1389. 7) splendor (in heaven): acc. sôð-fästra dôm, _the glory of the saints_, 2821.
dôm-leás, adj., _without reputation, inglorious_: acc. sg. f. dômleásan dæd, 2891.
dôn, red. v., _to do, to make, to treat_: 1) absolutely: imp. dôð swâ ic bidde, do as I beg, 1232.--2) w. acc.: inf. hêt hire selfre sunu on bæl dôn, 1117; pret. þâ he him of dyde îsernbyrnan, _took off the iron corselet_, 672; (þonne) him Hûnlâfing, ... billa sêlest, on bearm dyde, _when he made a present to him of Hûnlâfing, the best of swords_, 1145; dyde him of healse hring gyldenne, took off the gold ring from his neck, 2810; ne him þäs wyrmes wîg for wiht dyde, eafoð and ellen, _nor did he reckon as anything the drake's fighting, power, and strength_, 2349; pl. hi on beorg dydon bêg and siglu, _placed in the (grave-) mound rings and ornaments_, 3165.--3) representing preceding verbs: inf. tô Geátum sprec mildum wordum! swâ sceal man dôn, as one should do, 1173; similarly, 1535, 2167; pres. metod eallum weóld, swâ he nu git dêð, _the creator ruled over all, as he still does_, 1059; similarly, 2471, 2860, and (sg. for pl.) 1135; pret. II. swâ þu ær dydest, 1677; III. swâ he nu gyt dyde, 957; similarly, 1382, 1892, 2522; pl. swâ hie oft ær dydon, 1239; similarly, 3071. With the case also which the preceding verb governs: wên' ic þät he wille ... Geátena leóde etan unforhte, swâ he oft dyde mägen Hrêðmanna, _I believe he will wish to devour the Geát people, the fearless, as he often did_ (devoured) _the bloom of the Hrêðmen_, 444; gif ic þät gefricge ... þät þec ymbesittend egesan þýwað, swâ þec hetende hwîlum dydon, _that the neighbors distress thee as once the enemy did thee_ (i.e. distressed), 1829; gif ic ôwihte mäg þînre môd-lufan mâran tilian þonne ic gyt dyde, _if I can with anything obtain thy greater love than I have yet done_, 1825; similarly, pl. þonne þâ dydon, 44.
ge-dôn, _to do, to make_, with the acc. and predicate adj.: prs. (god) gedêð him swâ gewealdene worolde dælas, makes the parts of the world (i.e. the whole world) _so subject that ..._, 1733; inf. ne hyne on medo-bence micles wyrðne drihten wereda gedôn wolde, _nor would the leader of the people much honor him at the mead-banquet_, 2187. With adv.: he mec þær on innan ... gedôn wolde, wished to place me in there, 2091.
draca, w. m., _drake, dragon_: nom. sg., 893, 2212; acc. sg. dracan, 2403, 3132; gen. sg., 2089, 2291, 2550.--Comp.: eorð-, fýr-, lêg-, lîg-, nîð-draca.
on-drædan, st. v., w. acc. of the thing and dat. of the pers., _to fear, to be afraid of_: inf. þät þu him on-drædan ne þearft ... aldorbealu, _needest not fear death for them_, 1675; pret. nô he him þâ säcce ondrêd, _was not afraid of the combat_, 2348.
ge-dräg (from dragan, in the sense se gerere), st. n., _demeanor, actions_: acc. sg. sêcan deófla gedräg, 757.
drepan, st. v., _to hit, to strike_: pret. sg. sweorde drep ferhð-genîðlan, 2881; pret. part. bið on hreðre ... drepen biteran stræle, _struck in the breast with piercing arrow_, 1746; wäs in feorh dropen (_fatally hit_), 2982.
drepe, st. m., _blow, stroke_: acc. sg. drepe, 1590.
drêfan, ge-drêfan, w. v., _to move, to agitate, to stir up_: inf. gewât ... drêfan deóp wäter (_to navigate_), 1905; pret. part. wäter under stôd dreórig and gedrêfed, 1418.
dreám, st. m., _rejoicing, joyous actions, joy_: nom. sg. häleða dreám, 497; acc. sg. dreám hlûdne, 88; þu ... dreám healdende, _thou who livest in rejoicing_ (at the drinking-carouse), who art joyous, 1228: dat. instr. sg. dreáme bedæled, 1276; gen. pl. dreáma leás, 851; dat. pl. dreámum (here adverbial) lifdon, _lived in rejoicing, joyously_, 99; dreámum bedæled, 722; the last may refer also to heavenly joys.--Comp. gleó-, gum-, man-, sele-dreám.
dreám-leás, adj., _without rejoicing, joyless_: nom. sg. of King Heremôd, 1721.
dreógan, st. v.: 1) _to lead a life, to be in a certain condition_: pret. dreáh äfter dôme, _lived in honor, honorably_, 2180; pret. pl. fyren-þearfe ongeat, þät hie ær drugon aldorleáse lange hwile, _(God) had seen the great distress, (had seen) that they had lived long without a ruler_ (?), 15.--2) _to experience, to live through, to do, to make, to enjoy_: imp. dreóh symbelwynne, _pass through the pleasure of the meal, to enjoy the meal_, 1783; inf. driht-scype dreógan (_do a heroic deed_), 1471; pret. sundnytte dreáh (_had the occupation of swimming_, i.e. swam through the sea), 2361; pret. pl. hie gewin drugon (_fought_), 799; hî sîð drugon, _made the way, went_, 1967.--3) _to experience, to bear, to suffer_: scealt werhðo dreógan, shall suffer damnation, 590; pret. þegn-sorge dreáh, _bore sorrow for his heroes_, 131; nearoþearfe dreáh, 422; pret. pl. inwidsorge þe hie ær drugon, 832; similarly, 1859.
â-dreógan, _to suffer, to endure_: inf. wræc âdreógan, 3079.
ge-dreógan, _to live through, to enjoy_, pret. part. þät he ... gedrogen häfde eorðan wynne, that he had now enjoyed the pleasures of earth (i.e. that he was at his death), 2727.
dreór, st. m., blood dropping or flowing from wounds: instr. sg. dreóre, 447.--Comp. heoru-, sâwul-, wäl-dreór.
dreór-fâh, adj., _colored with blood, spotted with blood_: nom. sg. 485.
dreórig, adj., _bloody, bleeding_: nom. sg. wäter stôd dreórig, 1418; acc. sg. dryhten sînne driórigne fand, 2790.--Comp. heoru-dreórig.
ge-dreósan, st. v., _to fall down, to sink_: pres. sg. III. lîc-homa læne gedreóseð, _the body, belonging to death, sinks down_, 1755; inf. þät þu ne âlæte dôm gedreósan, _honor fall, sink_, 2667.
drincan, st. v., to drink (with and without the acc.): pres. part. nom. pl. ealo drincende, 1946; pret. blôd êdrum dranc, _drank the blood in streams_(?), 743; pret. pl. druncon wîn weras, the men drank wine, 1234; þær guman druncon, where the men drank, 1649. The pret. part., when it stands absolutely, has an active sense: nom. pl. druncne dryhtguman, _ye warriors who have drunk, are drinking_, 1232; acc. pl. nealles druncne slôg heorð-geneátas, slew not his hearth-companions who had drunk with him, i.e. at the banquet, 2180. With the instr. it means drunken: nom. sg. beóre (wîne) druncen, 531, 1468; nom. pl. beóre druncne, 480.
drîfan, st. v., to drive: pres. pl. þâ þe brentingas ofer flôda genipu feorran drîfað, _who drive their ships thither from afar over the darkness of the sea_, 2809; inf. (w. acc.) þeáh þe he [ne] meahte on mere drîfan hringedstefnan, although he could not drive the ship on the sea, 1131.
to-drîfan, _to drive apart, to disperse_: pret. ôð þät unc flôd tôdrâf, 545.
drohtoð, st. m., mode of living or _acting, calling, employment_: nom. sg. ne wäs his drohtoð þær swylce he ær gemêtte, _there was no employment for him_ (Grendel) there such as he had found formerly, 757.
drusian, w. v. (cf. dreósan, properly, to be ready to fall; here of water), _to stagnate, to be putrid_. pret. lagu drusade (through the blood of Grendel and his mother), 1631.
dryht, driht, st. f., _company, troop, band of warriors; noble band_: in comp. mago-driht.
ge-dryht, ge-driht, st. f., _troop, band of noble warriors_: nom. sg. mînra eorla gedryht, 431; acc. sg. äðelinga gedriht, 118; mid his eorla (häleða) gedriht (gedryht), 357, 663; similarly, 634, 1673.--Comp. sibbe-gedriht.
dryht-bearn, st. n., _youth from a noble warrior band, noble young man_: nom. sg. dryhtbearn Dena, 2036.
dryhten, drihten, st. m., _commander, lord_: a) temporal lord: nom. sg. dryhten, 1485, 2001, etc.; drihten, 1051; dat. dryhtne, 2483, etc.; dryhten, 1832.--b) God: nom. drihten, 108, etc.; dryhten, 687, etc.; dat. sg. dryhtne, 1693, etc.; drihtne, 1399, etc.; gen. sg. dryhtnes, 441; drihtnes, 941.--Comp.: freá-, freó-, gum-, man-, sige-, wine-dryhten.
dryht-guma, w. m., _one of a troop of warriors, noble warrior_: dat. sg. drihtguman, 1389; nom. pl. drihtguman, 99; dryhtguman, 1232; dat. pl. ofer dryhtgumum, 1791 (of Hrôðgâr's warriors).
dryht-lîc, adj., _(that which befits a noble troop of warriors), noble, excellent_: dryhtlîc îren, excellent sword, 893; acc. sg. f. (with an acc. sg. n.) drihtlîce wîf (of Hildeburh), 1159.
dryht-mâðum, st. m., _excellent jewel, splendid treasure_: gen. pl. dryhtmâðma, 2844.
dryht-scipe, st. m., _(lord-ship) warlike virtue, bravery; heroic deed_: acc. sg. drihtscype dreógan, to do a heroic deed, 1471.
dryht-sele, st. m., _excellent, splendid hall_: nom. sg. driht-sele, 485; dryhtsele, 768; acc. sg. dryhtsele, 2321.
dryht-sib, st. f., peace or _friendship between troops of noble warriors_: gen. sg. dryhtsibbe, 2069.
drync, st. m., drink: in comp. heoru-drync.
drync-fät, st. n., _vessel for drink, to receive the drink_: acc. sg., 2255; drinc-fät, 2307.
drysmian, w. v., _to become obscure, gloomy_ (through the falling rain): pres. sg. III. lyft drysmað, 1376.
drysne, adj. See on-drysne.
dugan, v., _to avail, to be capable, to be good_: pres. sg. III. hûru se aldor deáh, especially is the prince capable, 369; ðonne his ellen deáh, _if his strength avails, is good_, 573; þe him selfa deáh, _who is capable of himself, who can rely on himself_, 1840; pres. subj. þeáh þîn wit duge, _though, indeed, your understanding be good, avail_, 590; similarly, 1661, 2032; pret. sg. þu ûs wel dohtest, _you did us good, conducted yourself well towards us_, 1822; similarly, nu seó hand ligeð se þe eów welhwylcra wilna dohte, which was helpful to each one of your desires, 1345; pret. subj. þeáh þu heaðoræsa gehwær dohte, _though thou wast everywhere strong in battle_, 526.
duguð (_state of being fit, capable_), st. f.: 1) _capability, strength_: dat. pl. for dugeðum, _in ability_(?), 2502; duguðum dêmdon, _praised with all their might_(?), 3176.--2) _men capable of bearing arms, band of warriors_, esp., noble warriors: nom. sg. duguð unlytel, 498; duguð, 1791, 2255; dat. sg. for duguðe, before the heroes, 2021; nalles frätwe geaf ealdor duguðe, gave the band of heroes no treasure (more), 2921; leóda duguðe on lâst, upon the track of the heroes of the people, i.e. after them, 2946; gen. sg. cûðe he duguðe þeáw, _the custom of the noble warriors_, 359; deórre duguðe, 488; similarly, 2239, 2659; acc. pl. duguða, 2036.--3) contrasted with geogoð, duguð designates the noted warriors of noble birth (as in the Middle Ages, knights in contrast with squires): so gen. sg. duguðe and geogoðe, 160; gehwylc ... duguðe and iogoðe, 1675; duguðe and geogoðe dæl æghwylcne, 622.
durran, v. pret. and pres. to dare; prs. sg. II. þu dearst bîdan, _darest to await_, 527; III. he gesêcean dear, 685; pres. subj. sêc gyf þu dyrre, seek (Grendel's mother), if thou dare, 1380; pret. dorste, 1463, 1469, etc.; pl. dorston, 2849.
duru, st. f., _door, gate, wicket_: nom. sg., 722; acc. sg. [duru], 389.
ge-dûfan, st. v., _to dip in, to sink into_: pret. þät sweord gedeáf (_the sword sank into the drake_, of a blow), 2701.
þurh-dûfan, _to dive through; to swim through, diving_: pret. wäter up þurh-deáf, swam through the water upwards (because he was before at the bottom), 1620.
dwellan, w. v., _to mislead, to hinder_: prs. III. nô hine wiht dweleð, âdl ne yldo, _him nothing misleads, neither sickness nor age_, 1736.
dyhtig, adj., _useful, good for_: nom. sg. n. sweord ... ecgum dyhtig, 1288.
dynnan, w. v., _to sound, to groan, to roar_: pret. dryhtsele (healwudu, hruse) dynede, 768, 1318, 2559.
dyrne, adj.: 1) _concealed, secret, retired_: nom. sg. dyrne, 271; acc. sg. dryhtsele dyrnne (of the drake's cave-hall), 2321.--2) _secret, malicious, hidden by sorcery_: dat. instr. sg. dyrnan cräfte, with secret magic art, 2291; dyrnum cräfte, 2169; gen. pl. dyrnra gâsta, of malicious spirits (of Grendel's kin), 1358.--Comp. un-dyrne.
dyrne, adv., _in secret, secretly_: him ...äfter deórum men dyrne langað, longs in secret for the dear man, 1880.
dyrstig, adj., _bold, daring_: þeáh þe he dæda gehwäs dyrstig wære, although he had been courageous for every deed, 2839.
ge-dýgan, ge-dîgan, w. v., _to endure, to overcome_, with the acc. of the thing endured: pres. sg. II. gif þu þät ellenweorc aldre gedîgest, _if thou survivest the heroic work with thy life_, 662; III. þät þone hilderæs hâl gedîgeð, that he survives the battle in safety, 300; similarly, inf. unfæge gedîgan weán and wräcsîð, 2293; hwäðer sêl mæge wunde gedýgan, which of the two can stand the wounds better (come off with life), 2532; ne meahte unbyrnende deóp gedýgan, _could not endure the deep without burning_ (could not hold out in the deep), 2550; pret. sg. I. III. ge-dîgde, 578, 1656, 2351, 2544.
dýgol. See deógol.
dýre. See deóre.
E
ecg, st. f., _edge of the sword, point_: nom. sg. sweordes ecg, 1107; ecg, 1525, etc.; acc. sg. wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstôd, _defended the entrance against point and edge_ (i.e. against spear and sword), 1550; mêces ecge, 1813; nom. pl. ecge, 1146.--_Sword, battle-axe, any cutting weapon_: nom. sg. ne wäs ecg bona (_not the sword killed him_), 2507; sió ecg brûn (Beówulf's sword Nägling), 2578; hyne ecg fornam, _the sword snatched him away_, 2773, etc.; nom. pl. ecga, 2829; dat. pl. äscum and ecgum, 1773; dat. pl. (but denoting only one sword) eácnum ecgum, 2141; gen. pl. ecga, 483, 806, 1169;--_blade_: ecg wäs îren, 1460.--Comp.: brûn-, heard-, stýl-ecg, adj.
ecg-bana, w. m., murderer by the sword: dat. sg. Cain wearð tô ecg-banan ângan brêðer, 1263.
ecg-hete, st. m., _sword-hate, enmity which the sword carries out_: nom. sg., 84, 1739.
ecg-þracu, st. f., sword-storm (of violent combat): acc. atole ecg-þräce, 597.
ed-hwyrft, st. m., return (of a former condition): þâ þær sôna wearð edhwyrft eorlum, siððan inne fealh Grendles môdor (i.e. after Grendel's mother had penetrated into the hall, the former perilous condition, of the time of the visits of Grendel, returned to the men), 1282.
ed-wendan, w. v., _to turn back, to yield, to leave off_: inf. gyf him edwendan æfre scolde bealuwa bisigu, _if for him the affliction of evil should ever cease_, 280.
ed-wenden, st. f., _turning, change_: nom. sg. edwenden, 1775; ed-wenden torna gehwylces (_reparation for former neglect_), 2189.
edwît-lîf, st. n., life in disgrace: nom. sg., 2892.
efn, adj., _even, like_, with preceding on, and with depend. dat., _upon the same level, near_: him on efn ligeð ealdorgewinna, lies near him, 2904.
efnan (see äfnan) w. v., _to carry out, to perform, to accomplish_: pres. subj. eorlscype efne (_accomplish knightly deeds_), 2536; inf. eorlscipe efnan, 2623; sweorda gelâc efnan (_to battle_), 1042; gerund. tô efnanne, 1942; pret. eorlscipe efnde, 2134, 3008.
efne, adv., _even, exactly, precisely, just_, united with swâ or swylc: efne swâ swîðe swâ, just so much as, 1093; efne swâ sîde swâ, 1224; wäs se gryre lässa efne swâ micle swâ, _by so much the less as ..._, 1284; leóht inne stôd efne swâ ... scîneð, a gleam stood therein (in the sword) _just as when ... shines_, 1572; efne swâ hwylc mägða swâ þone magan cende (_a woman who has borne such a son_), 944; efne swâ hwylcum manna swâ him gemet þûhte, to just such a man as seemed good to him, 3058; efne swylce mæla swylce ... þearf gesælde, _just at the times at which necessity commanded it_, 1250.
eft, adv.: l) _thereupon, afterwards_: 56, 1147, 2112, 3047, etc.; eft sôna bið, then it happens immediately, 1763; bôt eft cuman, help come again, 281.--2) _again, on the other side_: þät hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesîðas, that in old age again (also on their side) _willing companions should be attached to him_, 22;--_anew, again_: 135, 604, 693, 1557, etc.; eft swâ ær, again as formerly, 643.--3) retro, rursus, back: 123, 296, 854, etc.; þät hig äðelinges eft ne wêndon (_did not believe that he would come back_), 1597.
eft-cyme, st. m., return: gen. sg. eftcymes, 2897.
eft-sîð, st. m., _journey back, return_: acc. sg. 1892; gen. sg. eft-sîðes georn, 2784; acc. pl. eftsîðas teáh, went the road back, i.e. returned, 1333.
egesa, egsa (_state of terror_, active or passive): l) frightfulness: acc. sg. þurh egsan, 276; gen. egesan ne gýmeð, _cares for nothing terrible, is not troubled about future terrors_(?), 1758.--2) _terror, horror, fear_: nom. sg. egesa, 785; instr. sg. egesan, 1828, 2737.--Comp.: glêd-, lîg-, wäter-egesa.
eges-full, adj., _horrible (full of fear, fearful)_, 2930.
eges-lîc, adj., _terrible, bringing terror_: of Grendel's head, 1650; of the beginning of the fight with the drake, 2310; of the drake, 2826.
egle, adj., _causing aversion, hideous_: nom. pl. neut., or, more probably, perhaps, adverbial, egle (MS. egl), 988.
egsian (denominative from egesa), w. v., _to have terror, distress_: pret. (as pluperf.) egsode eorl(?), 6.
ehtian, w. v., _to esteem, to make prominent with praise_: III. pl. pres. þät þe ... weras ehtigað, _that thee men shall esteem, praise_, 1223.
elde (_those who generate_, cf. O.N. al-a, generare), st. m. only in the pl., men: dat. pl. eldum, 2215; mid eldum, among men, 2612.--See ylde.
eldo, st. f., age: instr. sg. eldo gebunden, 2112.
el-land, st. n., _foreign land, exile_: acc. sg. sceall ... elland tredan, (_shall be banished_), 3020.
ellen, st. n., _strength, heroic strength, bravery_: nom. sg. ellen, 573; eafoð and ellen, 903; Geáta ... eafoð and ellen, 603; acc. sg. eafoð and ellen, 2350; ellen cýðan, show bravery, 2696; ellen fremedon, _exercised heroic strength, did heroic deeds_, 3; similarly, ic gefremman sceal eorlîc ellen, 638; ferh ellen wräc, life drove out the strength, i.e. with the departing life (of the dragon) his strength left him, 2707; dat. sg. on elne, 2507, 2817; as instr. þâ wäs ät þam geongum grim andswaru êðbegête þâm þe ær his elne forleás, then it was easy for (every one of) _those who before had lost his hero-courage, to obtain rough words from the young man_ (Wîglâf), 2862; mid elne, 1494, 2536; elne, alone, in adverbial sense, _strongly, zealously_, and with the nearly related meaning, _hurriedly, transiently_, 894, 1098, 1968, 2677, 2918; gen. sg. elnes lät, 1530; þâ him wäs elnes þearf, 2877.--Comp. mägen-ellen.
ellen-dæd, st. f., heroic deed: dat. pl. -dædum, 877, 901.
ellen-gæst, st. m., _strength-spirit, demon with heroic strength_: nom. sg. of Grendel, 86.
ellen-lîce, adv., _strongly, with heroic strength_, 2123.
ellen-mærðu, st. f., renown of heroic strength, dat. pl. -mærðum, 829, 1472.
ellen-rôf, adj., renowned for strength: nom. sg. 340, 358, 3064; dat. pl. -rôfum, 1788.
ellen-seóc, adj., infirm in strength: acc. sg. þeóden ellensiócne (_the mortally wounded king, Beówulf_), 2788.
ellen-weorc, st. n., (_strength-work_), _heroic deed, achievement in battle_: acc. sg. 662, 959, 1465, etc.; gen. pl. ellen-weorca, 2400.
elles, adv., _else, otherwise_: a (modal), in another manner, 2521.--b (local), elles hwær, somewhere else, 138; elles hwergen, 2591.
ellor, adv., to some other place, 55, 2255.
ellor-gâst, -gæst, st. m., spirit living elsewhere (standing outside of the community of mankind): nom. sg. se ellorgâst (Grendel), 808; (Grendel's mother), 1622; ellorgæst (Grendel's mother), 1618; acc. pl. ellorgæstas, 1350.
ellor-sîð, st. m., _departure, death_: nom. sg. 2452.
elra, adj. (comparative of a not existing form, ele, Goth. aljis, alius), another: dat. sg. on elran men, 753.
el-þeódig, adj., _of another people: foreign_: acc. pl. el-þeódige men, 336.
ende, st. m., the extreme: hence, 1) end: nom. sg. aldres (lîfes) ende, 823, 2845; ôð þät ende becwom (scil. unrihtes), 1255; acc. sg. ende lîfgesceafta (lîfes, læn-daga), 3064, 1387, 2343; häfde eorðscrafa ende genyttod, had used the end of the earth-caves (had made use of the caves for the last time), 3047; dat. sg. ealdres (lîfes) ät ende, 2791, 2824; eoletes ät ende, 224.--2) boundary: acc. sg. sîde rîce þät he his selfa ne mäg ... ende geþencean, _the wide realm, so that he himself cannot comprehend its boundaries_, 1735.--3) _summit, head_: dat. sg. eorlum on ende, to the nobles at the end (the highest courtiers), 2022.--Comp. woruld-ende.
ende-däg, st. m., _last day, day of death_: nom. sg. 3036; acc. sg. 638.
ende-dôgor, st. m., _last day, day of death_: gen. sg. bega on wênum endedôgores and eftcymes leótes monnes (_hesitating between the belief in the death and in the return of the dear man_), 2897.
ende-lâf, st. f., last remnant: nom. sg. þu eart ende-lâf ûsses cynnes, art the last of our race, 2814.
ende-leán, st. n., final reparation: acc. sg. 1693.
ende-sæta, w. m., _he who sits on the border, boundary-guard_: nom. sg. (here of the strand-watchman), 241.
ende-stäf, st. m. (elementum finis), end: acc. sg. hit on endestäf eft gelimpeð, then it draws near to the end, 1754.
ge-endian, w. v., to end: pret. part. ge-endod, 2312.
enge, adj., narrow: acc. pl. enge ânpaðas, narrow paths, 1411.
ent, st. m., giant: gen. pl. enta ær-geweorc (the sword-hilt out of the dwelling-place of Grendel), 1680; enta geweorc (the dragon's cave), 2718; eald-enta ær-geweorc (the costly things in the dragon's cave), 2775.
entisc, adj., coming from giants: acc. sg. entiscne helm, 2980.
etan, st. v., _to eat, to consume_: pres. sg. III. blôdig wäl ... eteð ân-genga, he that goes alone (Grendel) will devour the bloody corpse, 448; inf. Geátena leóde ... etan, 444.
þurh-etan, to eat through: pret. part. pl. nom. swyrd ... þurhetone, swords eaten through (by rust), 3050.
Ê
êc. See eác.
êce, adj., everlasting; nom. êce drihten (God), 108; acc. sg. êce eorðreced, the everlasting earth-hall (the dragon's cave), 2720; geceás êcne ræd, chose the everlasting gain (died), 1202; dat. sg. êcean dryhtne, 1693, 1780, 2331; acc. pl. geceós êce rædas, 1761.
êdre. See ædre.
êð-begête, adj., _easy to obtain, ready_: nom. sg. þâ wäs ät þam geongum grim andswaru êð-begête, then from the young man (Wîglâf) _it was an easy thing to get a gruff answer_, 2862.
êðe. See eáðe.
êðel, st. m., _hereditary possessions, hereditary estate_: acc. sg. swæsne êðel, 520; dat. sg. on êðle, 1731.--In royal families the hereditary possession is the whole realm: hence, acc. sg. êðel Scyldinga, _of the kingdom of the Scyldings_, 914; (Offa) wîsdôme heóld êðel sînne, _ruled with wisdom his inherited kingdom_, 1961.
êðel-riht, st. n., hereditary privileges (rights that belong to a hereditary estate): nom. sg. eard êðel-riht, _estate and inherited privileges_, 2199.
êðel-stôl, st. m., _hereditary seat, inherited throne_: acc. pl. êðel-stôlas, 2372.
êðel-turf, st. f., _inherited ground, hereditary estate_: dat. sg. on mînre êðeltyrf, 410.
êðel-weard, st. m., lord of the hereditary estate (realm): nom. sg. êðelweard (_king_), 1703, 2211; dat. sg. Eást-Dena êðel wearde (King Hrôðgâr), 617.
êðel-wyn, st. f., joy in, or _enjoyment of, hereditary possessions_: nom. sg. nu sceal ... eall êðelwyn eówrum cynne, lufen âlicgean, _now shall your race want all home-joy, and subsistence_(?) (your race shall be banished from its hereditary abode), 2886; acc. sg. he me lond forgeaf, eard êðelwyn, _presented me with land, abode, and the enjoyment of home_, 2494.
êð-gesýne, ýð-gesêne, adj., _easy to see, visible to all_: nom. sg. 1111,