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,