Beowulf (Harrison and Sharp)

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Anonymous, edited by James A. Harrison Robert Sharp

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Source: James A. Harrison and Robert Sharp, eds. (1883) from Project Gutenberg (with corrections)

68136BeowulfJames A. Harrison Robert SharpAnonymous

I. BĒOWULF:

AN ANGLO-SAXON POEM.

II. THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURH:

A FRAGMENT.

WITH TEXT AND GLOSSARY ON THE

BASIS OF M. HEYNE.

EDITED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED, BY

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

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

AND

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

FOURTH EDITION. REVISED, WITH NOTES.

GINN & COMPANY BOSTON-NEW YORK-CHICAGO-LONDON

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

DEDICATED

TO

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

AND

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

/Preface

BĒOWULF

THE PASSING OF SCYLD.

Hwæt! Wē Gār‐Denain geār‐dagumþēod‐cyningaþrym gefrūnon,hū þā æðelingasellen fremedon.Oft Scyld Scēfingsceaðena þrēatum,monegum mǣgðummeodo‐setla oftēah.Egsode eorl,syððan ǣrest wearðfēa‐sceaft funden:hē þæs frōfre gebād,wēox under wolcnum,weorð‐myndum þāh,oð þæt him ǣghwylcþāra ymb‐sittendra10ofer hron‐rādehȳran scolde,gomban gyldan:þæt wæs gōd cyning!þǣm eafera wæsæfter cennedgeong in geardum,þone god sendefolce tō frōfre;fyren‐þearfe ongeat,þæt hīe ǣr drugonaldor‐lēaselange hwīle.Him þæs līf‐frēa,wuldres wealdend,worold‐āre forgeaf;Bēowulf wæs brēme(blǣd wīde sprang),Scyldes eaferaScede‐landum in.20Swā sceal geong guma,gōde gewyrcean,fromum feoh‐giftumon fæder wine,þæt hine on yldeeft gewunigenwil‐gesīðas,þonne wīg cume,lēode gelǣsten:lof‐dǣdum scealin mǣgða gehwǣreman geþēon.Him þā Scyld gewāttō gescæp‐hwīlefela‐hrōr fēranon frēan wǣre;hī hyne þā ætbǣrontō brimes faroðe.swǣse gesīðas,swā hē selfa bæd,30þenden wordum wēoldwine Scyldinga,lēof land‐frumalange āhte.Þǣr æt hȳðe stōdhringed‐stefna,īsig and ūtfūs,æðelinges fær;ā‐lēdon þālēofne þēoden,bēaga bryttanon bearm scipes,mǣrne be mæste.Þǣr wæs mādma fela,of feor‐wegumfrætwa gelǣded:ne hȳrde ic cȳmlīcorcēol gegyrwanhilde‐wǣpnumand heaðo‐wǣdum,40billum and byrnum;him on bearme lægmādma mænigo,þā him mid scoldonon flōdes ǣhtfeor gewītan.Nalas hī hine lǣssanlācum tēodan,þēod‐gestrēonum,þonne þā dydon,þē hine æt frumsceafteforð onsendonǣnne ofer ȳðeumbor wesende:þā gȳt hīe him āsettonsegen gyldennehēah ofer hēafod,lēton holm beran,gēafon on gār‐secg:him wæs geōmor sefa,50murnende mōd.Men ne cunnonsecgan tō soðesele‐rǣdende,hæleð under heofenum,hwā þǣm hlæste onfēng.

THE HALL HEOROT.

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

GRENDEL'S VISITS.

Gewāt þā nēosian,syððan niht becōm,hēan hūses,hū hit Hring‐Deneæfter bēor‐þegegebūn hæfdon.Fand þā þǣr inneæðelinga gedrihtswefan æfter symble;sorge ne cūðon,won‐sceaft wera.Wiht unhǣlo 120grim and grǣdiggearo sōna wæs,rēoc and rēðe,and on ræste genamþrītig þegna:þanon eft gewāthūðe hrēmigtō hām faran,mid þǣre wæl‐fyllewīca nēosan.Þā wæs on ūhtanmid ǣr‐dægeGrendles gūð‐cræftgumum undyrne:þā wæs æfter wistewōp up āhafen,micel morgen‐swēg.Mǣre þēoden,æðeling ǣr‐gōd,unblīðe sæt, 130þolode þrȳð‐swȳð,þegn‐sorge drēah,syððan hīe þæs lāðanlāst scēawedon,wergan gāstes;wæs þæt gewin tō strang,lāð and longsum.Næs hit lengra fyrst,ac ymb āne nihteft gefremedemorð‐beala māreand nō mearn forefǣhðe and fyrene;wæs tō fæst on þām.Þā wæs ēað‐fynde,þē him elles hwǣrgerūmlīcorræste sōhte,bed æfter būrum,þā him gebēacnod wæs, 140gesægd sōðlīcesweotolan tācneheal‐þegnes hete;hēold hine syððanfyr and fæstor,sē þǣm fēonde ætwand.Swā rīxodeand wið rihte wanāna wið eallum,oð þæt īdel stōdhūsa sēlest.Wæs sēo hwīl micel:twelf wintra tīdtorn geþolodewine Scyldinga,wēana gehwelcne,sīdra sorga;forþām syððan wearðylda bearnumundyrne cūð, 150gyddum geōmore,þætte Grendel wan,hwīle wið Hrōðgār;‐‐hete‐nīðas wæg,fyrene and fǣhðefela missēra,singāle sæce,sibbe ne woldewið manna hwonemægenes Denigafeorh‐bealo feorran,fēo þingian,nē þǣr nǣnig witenawēnan þorftebeorhtre bōtetō banan folmum;atol ǣglǣcaēhtende wæs,deorc dēað‐scūaduguðe and geogoðe 160seomade and syrede.Sin‐nihte hēoldmistige mōras;men ne cunnon,hwyder hel‐rūnanhwyrftum scrīðað.Swā fela fyrenafēond man‐cynnes,atol ān‐gengea,oft gefremedeheardra hȳnða;Heorot eardode,sinc‐fāge selsweartum nihtum(nō hē þone gif‐stōlgrētan mōste,māððum for metode,nē his myne wisse);þæt wæs wrǣc micelwine Scyldinga, 170mōdes brecða.Monig‐oft gesætrīce tō rūne;rǣd eahtedon,hwæt swīð‐ferhðumsēlest wǣrewið fǣr‐gryrumtō gefremmanne.Hwīlum hīe gehētonæt hærg‐trafumwīg‐weorðunga,wordum bǣdon,þæt him gāst‐bonagēoce gefremedewið þēod‐þrēaum.Swylc wæs þēaw hyra,hǣðenra hyht;helle gemundonin mōd‐sefan,metod hīe ne cūðon, 180dǣda dēmend,ne wiston hīe drihten god,nē hīe hūru heofena helmherian ne cūðon,wuldres waldend.Wā bið þǣm þe scealþurh slīðne nīðsāwle bescūfanin fȳres fæðm,frōfre ne wēnan,wihte gewendan;wēl bið þǣm þe mōtæfter dēað‐dægedrihten sēceanand tō fæder fæðmumfreoðo wilnian.

HYGELAC'S THANE.

Swā þā mǣl‐cearemaga Healfdenessingāla sēað;ne mihte snotor hæleð 190wēan onwendan:wæs þæt gewin tō swȳð,lāð and longsum,þē on þā lēode becōm,nȳd‐wracu nīð‐grim,niht‐bealwa mǣst.Þæt fram hām gefrægnHigelāces þegn,gōd mid Gēatum,Grendles dǣda:sē wæs mon‐cynnesmægenes strengeston þǣm dægeþysses līfes,æðele and ēacen.Hēt him ȳð‐lidangōdne gegyrwan;cwæð hē gūð‐cyningofer swan‐rādesēcean wolde, 200mǣrne þēoden,þā him wæs manna þearf.Þone sīð‐fæt himsnotere ceorlaslȳt‐hwōn lōgon,þēah hē him lēof wǣre;hwetton higerōfne,hǣl scēawedon.Hæfde se gōdaGēata lēodacempan gecorone,þāra þe hē cēnostefindan mihte;fīftȳna sumsund‐wudu sōhte;secg wīsade,lagu‐cræftig mon,land‐gemyrcu.Fyrst forð gewāt:flota wæs on ȳðum, 210bāt under beorge.Beornas gearweon stefn stigon;strēamas wundonsund wið sande;secgas bǣronon bearm nacanbeorhte frætwe,gūð‐searo geatolīc;guman ūt scufon,weras on wil‐sīðwudu bundenne.Gewāt þā ofer wǣg‐holmwinde gefȳsedflota fāmig‐healsfugle gelīcost,oð þæt ymb ān‐tīdōðres dōgoreswunden‐stefnagewaden hæfde, 220þæt þā līðendeland gesāwon,brim‐clifu blīcan,beorgas stēape,sīde sǣ‐næssas:þā wæs sund liden,eoletes æt ende.Þanon up hraðeWedera lēodeon wang stigon,sǣ‐wudu sǣldon(syrcan hrysedon,gūð‐gewǣdo);gode þancedon,þæs þe him ȳð‐lādeēaðe wurdon.Þā of wealle geseahweard Scildinga,sē þe holm‐clifuhealdan scolde, 230beran ofer bolcanbeorhte randas,fyrd‐searu fūslīcu;hine fyrwyt bræcmōd‐gehygdum,hwæt þā men wǣron.Gewāt him þā tō waroðewicge rīdanþegn Hrōðgāres,þrymmum cwehtemægen‐wudu mundum,meðel‐wordum frægn:"Hwæt syndon gēsearo‐hæbbendrabyrnum werede,þē þus brontne cēolofer lagu‐strǣtelǣdan cwōmon,hider ofer holmashelmas bǣron? 240Ic wæs ende‐sǣta,ǣg‐wearde hēold,þæt on land Denalāðra nǣnigmid scip‐hergesceððan ne meahte.Nō hēr cūðlīcorcuman ongunnonlind‐hæbbende;nē gē lēafnes‐wordgūð‐fremmendragearwe ne wisson,māga gemēdu.Nǣfre ic māran geseaheorla ofer eorðan,þonne is ēower sum,secg on searwum;nis þæt seld‐gumawǣpnum geweorðad,næfne him his wlite lēoge, 250ǣnlīc an‐sȳn.Nū ic ēower scealfrum‐cyn witan,ǣr gē fyr heonanlēase scēawerason land Denafurður fēran.Nū gē feor‐būend,mere‐līðende,mīnne gehȳraðān‐fealdne geþōht:ofost is sēlesttō gecȳðanne,hwanan ēowre cyme syndon."

THE ERRAND.

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

BĒOWULF'S SPEECH.

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

HROTHGAR'S WELCOME.

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

HROTHGAR TELLS OF GRENDEL.

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

HUNFERTH OBJECTS TO BĒOWULF.

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

BĒOWULF'S CONTEST WITH BRECA.-THE FEAST.

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

THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.

Þā him Hrōðgār gewātmid his hæleða gedryht,eodur Scyldingaūt of healle;wolde wīg‐frumaWealhþēo sēcan,cwēn tō gebeddanHæfde kyninga wuldorGrendle tō‐gēanes,swā guman gefrungon,sele‐weard āseted,sundor‐nytte behēoldymb aldor Dena,eoton weard ābēad;hūru Gēata lēodgeorne truwodemōdgan mægnes,metodes hyldo. 670Þā hē him of dydeīsern‐byrnan,helm of hafelan,sealde his hyrsted sweord,īrena cystombiht‐þegne,and gehealdan hēthilde‐geatwe.Gespræc þā se gōdagylp‐worda sumBēowulf Gēata,ǣr hē on bed stige:"Nō ic mē an here‐wǣsmumhnāgran taligegūð‐geweorca,þonne Grendel hine;forþan ic hine sweordeswebban nelle,aldre benēotan,þēah ic eal mǣge. 680Nāt hē þāra gōda,þæt hē mē on‐gēan slēa,rand gehēawe,þēah þe hē rōf sīenīð‐geweorca;ac wit on niht sculonsecge ofersittan,gif hē gesēcean dearwīg ofer wǣpen,and siððan wītig godon swā hwæðere hondhālig dryhtenmǣrðo dēme,swā him gemet þince."Hylde hine þā heaðo‐dēor,hlēor‐bolster onfēngeorles andwlitan;and hine ymb monigsnellīc sǣ‐rincsele‐reste gebēah. 690Nǣnig heora þōhteþæt hē þanon scoldeeft eard‐lufanǣfre gesēcean,folc oððe frēo‐burh,þǣr hē āfēded wæs,ac hīe hæfdon gefrūnen,þæt hīe ǣr tō fela miclesin þǣm wīn‐selewæl‐dēað fornam,Denigea lēode.Ac him dryhten forgeafwīg‐spēda gewiofu,Wedera lēodumfrōfor and fultum,þæt hīe fēond heoraþurh ānes cræftealle ofercōmon,selfes mihtum:sōð is gecȳðed, 700þæt mihtig godmanna cynneswēold wīde‐ferhð.Cōm on wanre nihtscrīðan sceadu‐genga.Scēotend swǣfon,þā þæt horn‐recedhealdan scoldon,ealle būton ānum.Þæt wæs yldum cūð,þæt hīe ne mōste,þā metod nolde,se syn‐scaðaunder sceadu bregdan;ac hē wæccendewrāðum on andanbād bolgen‐mōdbeadwa geþinges.

GRENDEL'S RAID.

Þā cōm of mōreunder mist‐hleoðum 710Grendel gongan,godes yrre bær.Mynte se mān‐scaðamanna cynnessumne besyrwanin sele þām hēan;wōd under wolcnum,tō þæs þe hē wīn‐reced,gold‐sele gumena,gearwost wissefǣttum fāhne.Ne wæs þæt forma sīð,þæt hē Hrōðgāreshām gesōhte:nǣfre hē on aldor‐dagumǣr nē siððanheardran hæle,heal‐þegnas fand!Cōm þā tō recederinc sīðian 720drēamum bedǣled.Duru sōna onarnfȳr‐bendum fæst,syððan hē hire folmum hrān;onbræd þā bealo‐hȳdig,þā hē ābolgen wæs,recedes mūðan.Raðe æfter þonon fāgne flōrfēond treddode,ēode yrre‐mōd;him of ēagum stōdlīge gelīcostlēoht unfǣger.Geseah hē in recederinca manige,swefan sibbe‐gedrihtsamod ætgædere,mago‐rinca hēap:þā his mōd āhlōg, 730mynte þæt hē gedǣlde,ǣr þon dæg cwōme,atol āglǣca,ānra gehwylceslīf wið līce,þā him ālumpen wæswist‐fylle wēn.Ne wæs þæt wyrd þā gēn,þæt hē mā mōstemanna cynnesþicgean ofer þā niht.Þrȳð‐swȳð behēoldmǣg Higelāces,hū se mān‐scaðaunder fǣr‐gripumgefaran wolde.Nē þæt se āglǣcayldan þōhte,ac hē gefēng hraðeforman siðe 740slǣpendne rinc,slāt unwearnum,bāt bān‐locan,blōd ēdrum dranc,syn‐snǣdum swealh:sōna hæfdeunlyfigendeseal gefeormodfēt and folma.Forð nēar ætstōp,nam þā mid handahige‐þīhtignerinc on ræste;rǣhte ongēanfēond mid folme,hē onfēng hraðeinwit‐þancumand wið earm gesæt.Sōna þæt onfundefyrena hyrde, 750þæt hē ne mēttemiddan‐geardeseorðan scēataon elran menmund‐gripe māran:hē on mōde wearðforht on ferhðe,nō þȳ ǣr fram meahte;hyge wæs him hin‐fūs,wolde on heolster flēon,sēcan dēofla gedræg:ne wæs his drohtoð þǣr,swylce hē on ealder‐dagumǣr gemētte.Gemunde þā se gōdamǣg Higelācesǣfen‐sprǣce,up‐lang āstōdand him fæste wiðfēng.Fingras burston; 760eoten wæs ūt‐weard,eorl furður stōp.Mynte se mǣra,þǣr hē meahte swā,wīdre gewindanand on weg þanonflēon on fen‐hopu;wiste his fingra gewealdon grames grāpum.Þæt wæs gēocor sīð,þæt se hearm‐scaðatō Heorute ātēah:dryht‐sele dynede,Denum eallum wearð,ceaster‐būendum,cēnra gehwylcum,eorlum ealu‐scerwen.Yrre wǣron bēgen,rēðe rēn‐weardas.Reced hlynsode; 770þā wæs wundor micel,þæt se wīn‐selewiðhæfde heaðo‐dēorum,þæt hē on hrūsan ne fēol,fǣger fold‐bold;ac hē þæs fæste wæsinnan and ūtanīren‐bendumsearo‐þoncum besmiðod.Þǣr fram sylle ābēagmedu‐benc monigmīne gefrǣge,golde geregnad,þǣr þā graman wunnon;þæs ne wēndon ǣrwitan Scyldinga,þæt hit ā mid gemetemanna ǣnigbetlīc and bān‐fāgtōbrecan meahte, 780listum tōlūcan,nymðe līges fæðmswulge on swaðule.Swēg up āstāgnīwe geneahhe;Norð‐Denum stōdatelīc egesaānra gehwylcumþāra þe of weallewōp gehȳrdon,gryre‐lēoð galangodes andsacan,sige‐lēasne sang,sār wānigeanhelle hæftan.Hēold hine tō fæstesē þe manna wæsmægene strengeston þǣm dægeþysses līfes. 790

BĒOWULF TEARS OFF GRENDEL'S ARM.

Nolde eorla hlēoǣnige þingaþone cwealm‐cumancwicne forlǣtan,nē his līf‐dagaslēoda ǣnigumnytte tealde.Þǣr genehost brægdeorl Bēowulfesealde lāfe,wolde frēa‐drihtnesfeorh ealgianmǣres þēodnes,þǣr hīe meahton swā;hīe þæt ne wiston,þā hīe gewin drugon,heard‐hicgendehilde‐mecgas,and on healfa gehwonehēawan þōhton, 800sāwle sēcan,þæt þone syn‐scaðanǣnig ofer eorðanīrenna cyst,gūð‐billa nāngrētan nolde;ac hē sige‐wǣpnumforsworen hæfde,ecga gehwylcre.Scolde his aldor‐gedālon þǣm dægeþysses līfesearmlīc wurðanand se ellor‐gāston fēonda gewealdfeor sīðian.Þā þæt onfundesē þe fela ǣrormōdes myrðemanna cynne 810fyrene gefremede(hē wæs fāg wið god)þæt him se līc‐homalǣstan nolde,ac hine se mōdegamǣg Hygelāceshæfde be honda;wæs gehwæðer ōðrumlifigende lāð.Līc‐sār gebādatol ǣglǣca,him on eaxle wearðsyn‐dolh sweotol,seonowe onsprungonburston bān‐locan.Bēowulfe wearðgūð‐hrēð gyfeðe;scolde Grendel þonanfeorh‐sēoc flēonunder fen‐hleoðu, 820sēcean wyn‐lēas wīc;wiste þē geornor,þæt his aldres wæsende gegongen,dōgera dæg‐rīm.Denum eallum wearðæfter þām wæl‐rǣsewilla gelumpen.Hæfde þā gefǣlsod,sē þe ǣr feorran cōm,snotor and swȳð‐ferhðsele Hrōðgāres,genered wið nīðe.Niht‐weorce gefeh,ellen‐mǣrðum;hæfde Ēast‐DenumGēat‐mecga lēodgilp gelǣsted,swylce oncȳððeealle gebētte, 830inwid‐sorge,þē hīe ǣr drugonand for þrēa‐nȳdumþolian scoldon,torn unlȳtel.Þæt wæs tācen sweotol,syððan hilde‐dēorhond ālegde,earm and eaxle(þǣr wæs eal geadorGrendles grāpe)under gēapne hrōf.

THE JOY AT HEOROT.

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

HROTHGAR'S GRATULATION.

Hrōðgār maðelode(hē tō healle gēong,stōd on stapole,geseah stēapne hrōfgolde fāhneand Grendles hond):"þisse ansȳneal‐wealdan þanclungre gelimpe!Fela ic lāðes gebād,grynna æt Grendle:ā mæg god wyrcan 930wunder æfter wundre,wuldres hyrde!Þæt wæs ungeāra,þæt ic ǣnigra mēwēana ne wēndetō wīdan feorebōte gebīdanþonne blōde fāhhūsa sēlestheoro‐drēorig stōd;wēa wīd‐scofenwitena gehwylcneþāra þe ne wēndon,þæt hīe wīde‐ferhðlēoda land‐geweorclāðum beweredonscuccum and scinnum.Nū scealc hafaðþurh drihtnes mihtdǣd gefremede, 940þē wē ealleǣr ne meahtonsnyttrum besyrwan.Hwæt! þæt secgan mægefne swā hwylc mægða,swā þone magan cendeæfter gum‐cynnum,gyf hēo gȳt lyfað,þæt hyre eald‐metodēste wǣrebearn‐gebyrdo.Nū ic Bēowulfþec, secg betsta,mē for sunu wyllefrēogan on ferhðe;heald forð telanīwe sibbe.Ne bið þē nǣnigra gādworolde wilna,þē ic geweald hæbbe. 950Ful‐oft ic for lǣssanlēan teohhodehord‐weorðungehnāhran rince,sǣmran æt sæcce.Þū þē self hafastdǣdum gefremed,þæt þīn dōm lyfaðāwa tō aldre.Alwalda þecgōde forgylde,swā hē nū gȳt dyde!"Bēowulf maðelode,bearn Ecgþēowes:"Wē þæt ellen‐weorcēstum miclum,feohtan fremedon,frēcne genēðdoneafoð uncūðes;ūðe ic swīðor, 960þæt þū hinc selfnegesēon mōste,fēond on frætewumfyl‐wērigne!Ic hine hrædlīceheardan clammumon wæl‐beddewrīðan þōhte,þæt hē for mund‐gripemīnum scoldelicgean līf‐bysig,būtan his līc swice;ic hine ne mihte,þā metod nolde,ganges getwǣman,nō ic him þæs georne ætfealh,feorh‐genīðlan;wæs tō fore‐mihtigfēond on fēðe.Hwæðere hē his folme forlēt 970tō līf‐wraðelāst weardian,earm and eaxle;nō þǣr ǣnige swā þēahfēa‐sceaft gumafrōfre gebohte:nō þȳ leng leofaðlāð‐getēonasynnum geswenced,ac hyne sār hafaðin nȳd‐gripenearwe befongen,balwon bendum:þǣr ābīdan scealmaga māne fāhmiclan dōmes,hū him scīr metodscrīfan wille."Þā wæs swīgra secg,sunu Ecglāfes, 980on gylp‐sprǣcegūð‐geweorca,siððan æðelingaseorles cræfteofer hēahne hrōfhand scēawedon,fēondes fingras,foran ǣghwylc;wæs stēde nægla gehwylc,stȳle gelīcost,hǣðenes hand‐sporuhilde‐rincesegle unhēoru;ǣg‐hwylc gecwæð,þæt him heardra nānhrīnan woldeīren ǣr‐gōd,þæt þæs āhlǣcanblōdge beadu‐folmeonberan wolde. 990

THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.

Þā wæs hāten hreðeHeort innan‐weardfolmum gefrætwod:fela þǣra wæswera and wīfa,þē þæt wīn‐reced,gest‐sele gyredon.Gold‐fāg scinonweb æfter wāgum,wundor‐sīona felasecga gehwylcumþāra þe on swylc staraðWæs þæt beorhte boldtōbrocen swīðeeal inne‐weardīren‐bendum fæst,heorras tōhlidene;hrōf āna genæsealles ansund,þā se āglǣca 1000fyren‐dǣdum fāgon flēam gewand,aldres or‐wēna.Nō þæt ȳðe byðtō beflēonne(fremme sē þe wille!)ac gesacan scealsāwl‐berendranȳde genȳddeniðða bearnagrund‐būendragearwe stōwe,þǣr his līc‐homaleger‐bedde fæstswefeð æfter symle.Þā wæs sǣl and mǣl,þæt tō healle gangHealfdenes sunu;wolde self cyningsymbel þicgan. 1010Ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgðemāran weorodeymb hyra sinc‐gyfansēl gebǣran.Bugon þā tō benceblǣd‐āgende,fylle gefǣgon.Fægere geþǣgonmedo‐ful manigmāgas þāraswīð‐hicgendeon sele þām hēan,Hrōðgār and Hrōðulf.Heorot innan wæsfrēondum āfylled;nalles fācen‐stafasÞēod‐Scyldingasþenden fremedon.Forgeaf þā Bēowulfebearn Healfdenes 1020segen gyldennesigores tō lēane,hroden hilte‐cumbor,helm and byrnan;mǣre māððum‐sweordmanige gesāwonbeforan beorn beran.Bēowulf geþahful on flette;nō hē þǣre feoh‐gyftefor scēotendumscamigan þorfte,ne gefrægn ic frēondlīcorfēower mādmasgolde gegyredegum‐manna felain ealo‐benceōðrum gesellan.Ymb þæs helmes hrōfhēafod‐beorge 1030wīrum bewundenwalan ūtan hēold,þæt him fēla lāfefrēcne ne meahtonscūr‐heard sceððan,þonne scyld‐frecaongēan gramumgangan scolde.Heht þā eorla hlēoeahta mēaras,fǣted‐hlēore,on flet tēonin under eoderas;þāra ānum stōdsadol searwum fāhsince gewurðad,þæt wæs hilde‐setlhēah‐cyninges,þonne sweorda gelācsunu Healfdenes 1040efnan wolde;nǣfre on ōre lægwīd‐cūðes wīg,þonne walu fēollon.And þā Bēowulfebēga gehwæðreseodor Ingwinaonweald getēah,wicga and wǣpna;hēt hine wēl brūcan.Swā manlīcemǣre þēoden,hord‐weard hæleðaheaðo‐rǣsas gealdmēarum and mādmum,swā hȳ nǣfre man lyhð,sē þe secgan wilesōð æfter rihte.

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

Þā gȳt ǣghwylcumeorla drihten 1050þāra þe mid Bēowulfebrim‐lāde tēah,on þǣre medu‐bencemāððum gesealde,yrfe‐lāfe,and þone ǣnne hehtgolde forgyldan,þone þe Grendel ǣrmāne ācwealde,swā hē hyra mā wolde,nefne him wītig godwyrd forstōdeand þæs mannes mōd:metod eallum wēoldgumena cynnes,swā hē nū gīt dēð;forþan bið andgitǣghwǣr sēlest,ferhðes fore‐þanc!fela sceal gebīdan 1060lēofes and lāðes,sē þe longe hēron þyssum win‐dagumworolde brūceð.Þǣr wæs sang and swēgsamod ætgæderefore Healfdeneshilde‐wīsan,gomen‐wudu grēted,gid oft wrecen,þonne heal‐gamenHrōðgāres scopæfter medo‐bencemǣnan scoldeFinnes eaferum,þā hīe se fǣr begeat:"Hæleð Healfdenes,Hnæf Scyldinga,in Fr..es wælefeallan scolde. 1070Nē hūru Hildeburhherian þorfteEotena trēowe:unsynnum wearðbeloren lēofumæt þām lind‐pleganbearnum and brōðrum;hīe on gebyrd hrurongāre wunde;þæt wæs geōmuru ides.Nalles hōlingaHōces dōhtormeotod‐sceaft bemearn,syððan morgen cōm,þā hēo under sweglegesēon meahtemorðor‐bealo māga,þǣr hēo ǣr mǣste hēoldworolde wynne:wīg ealle fornam 1080Finnes þegnas,nemne fēaum ānum,þæt hē ne mehteon þǣm meðel‐stedewīg Hengestewiht gefeohtan,nē þā wēa‐lāfewīge forþringanþōodnes þegne; ac hig him geþingo budon,þæt hīe him ōðer fleteal gerȳmdon,healle and hēah‐setl,þæt hīe healfre gewealdwið Eotena bearnāgan mōston,and æt feoh‐gyftumFolcwaldan sunudōgra gehwylceDene weorðode, 1090Hengestes hēaphringum wenede,efne swā swīðesinc‐gestrēonumfǣttan goldes,swā hē Frēsena cynon bēor‐selebyldan wolde.Þā hīe getruwedonon twā healfafæste frioðu‐wǣre;Fin Hengesteelne unflitmeāðum benemde,þæt hē þā wēa‐lāfeweotena dōmeārum heolde,þæt þǣr ǣnig monwordum nē worcumwǣre ne brǣce, 1100nē þurh inwit‐searoǣfre gemǣnden,þēah hīe hira bēag‐gyfanbanan folgedonþēoden‐lēase,þā him swā geþearfod wæs:gyf þonne Frȳsna hwylcfrēcnan sprǣceþæs morðor‐hetesmyndgiend wǣre,þonne hit sweordes ecgsyððan scolde.Āð wæs geæfnedand icge goldāhæfen of horde.Here‐Scyldingabetst beado‐rincawæs on bǣl gearu;æt þǣm āde wæsēð‐gesȳne 1110swāt‐fāh syrce,swȳn eal‐gylden,eofer īren‐heard,æðeling manigwundum āwyrded;sume on wæle crungon.Hēt þā Hildeburhæt Hnæfes ādehire selfre sunusweoloðe befæstan,bān‐fatu bærnanand on bǣl dōn.Earme on eaxleides gnornode,geōmrode giddum;gūð‐rinc āstāh.Wand tō wolcnumwæl‐fȳra mǣst,hlynode for hlāwe;hafelan multon, 1120ben‐geato burston,þonne blōd ætspranclāð‐bite līces.Līg ealle forswealg,gǣsta gīfrost,þāra þe þǣr gūð fornambēga folces;wæs hira blǣd scacen.

THE GLEEMAN'S TALE IS ENDED.

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

BĒOWULF'S JEWELLED COLLAR. THE HEROES REST.

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

GRENDEL'S MOTHER ATTACKS THE RING-DANES.

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

SORROW AT HEOROT: AESCHERE'S DEATH

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

BĒOWULF SEEKS THE MONSTER IN THE HAUNTS OF THE NIXIES.

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

THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.

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

BĒOWULF SLAYS THE SPRITE.

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

HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE: HE DISCOURSES.

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

THE DISCOURSE IS ENDED.-BĒOWULF PREPARES TO LEAVE.

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

THE PARTING WORDS.

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

BĒOWULF RETURNS TO GEATLAND.-THE QUEENS HYGD AND THRYTHO.

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

HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC'S RECEPTION.

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

BĒOWULF'S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.

"Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncanþēoden Heaðobeardnaand þegna gehwāmþāra lēoda,þonne hē mid fǣmnanon flett gǣð,dryht‐bearn Denaduguða biwenede:on him gladiaðgomelra lāfeheard and hring‐mǣl,Heaðobeardna gestrēon,þenden hīe þām wǣpnumwealdan mōston,oð þæt hīe forlǣddantō þām lind‐pleganswǣse gesīðasond hyra sylfra feorh. 2040Þonne cwið æt bēore,sē þe bēah gesyhð,eald æsc‐wiga,sē þe eall gemangār‐cwealm gumena(him bið grim sefa),onginneð geōmor‐mōdgeongne cempanþurh hreðra gehygdhiges cunnian,wīg‐bealu wecceanand þæt word ācwyð:'Meaht þū, mīn wine,mēce gecnāwan,þone þin fædertō gefeohte bærunder here‐grīmanhindeman sīðe,dȳre īren,þǣr hyne Dene slōgon, 2050wēoldon wæl‐stōwe,syððan wiðer‐gyld læg,æfter hæleða hryre,hwate Scyldungas?Nu hēr þāra banenabyre nāt‐hwylces,frætwum hrēmigon flet gǣð,morðres gylpeðand þone māððum byreð,þone þe þū mid rihterǣdan sceoldest!'Manað swā and myndgaðmǣla gehwylcesārum wordum,oð þæt sǣl cymeð,þæt se fǣmnan þegnfore fæder dǣdumæfter billes biteblōd‐fāg swefeð, 2060ealdres scyldig;him se ōðer þonanlosað lifigende,con him land geare.Þonne bīoð broceneon bā healfeāð‐sweord eorla;syððan Ingeldeweallað wæl‐nīðasand him wīf‐lufanæfter cear‐wælmumcōlran weorðað.Þȳ ic Heaðobeardnahyldo ne telge,dryht‐sibbe dǣlDenum unfǣcne,frēond‐scipe fæstne.Ic sceal forð sprecangēn ymbe Grendel,þæt þū geare cunne, 2070sinces brytta,tō hwan syððan wearðhond‐rǣs hæleða.Syððan heofones gimglād ofer grundas,gæst yrre cwōm,eatol ǣfen‐grom,ūser nēosan,þǣr wē gesundesæl weardodon;þǣr wæs Hondscīohild onsǣge,feorh‐bealu fǣgum,hē fyrmest læg,gyrded cempa;him Grendel wearð,mǣrum magu‐þegnetō mūð‐bonan,lēofes manneslīc eall forswealg. 2080Nō þȳ ǣr ūt þā gēnīdel‐hendebona blōdig‐tōðbealewa gemyndig,of þām gold‐selegongan wolde,ac hē mægnes rōfmīn costode,grāpode gearo‐folm.Glōf hangodesīd and syllīcsearo‐bendum fæst,sīo wæs orþoncumeall gegyrweddēofles cræftumand dracan fellum:hē mec þǣr on innanunsynnigne,dīor dǣd‐fruma,gedōn wolde, 2090manigra sumne:hyt ne mihte swā,syððan ic on yrreupp‐riht āstōd.Tō lang ys tō reccenne,hū ic þām lēod‐sceaðanyfla gehwylcesond‐lēan forgeald;þǣr ic, þēoden mīn,þīne lēodeweorðode weorcum.Hē on weg losade,lȳtle hwīlelīf‐wynna brēac;hwæðre him sīo swīðreswaðe weardadehand on Hiorteand hē hēan þonan,mōdes geōmormere‐grund gefēoll. 2100Mē þone wæl‐rǣswine Scildungafǣttan goldefela lēanode,manegum māðmum,syððan mergen cōmand wē tō symblegeseten hæfdon.Þǣr wæs gidd and glēo;gomela Scildingfela fricgendefeorran rehte;hwīlum hilde‐dēorhearpan wynne,gomen‐wudu grētte;hwīlum gyd āwræcsōð and sārlīc;hwīlum syllīc spellrehte æfter rihterūm‐heort cyning. 2110Hwīlum eft onganeldo gebunden,gomel gūð‐wigagioguðe cwīðanhilde‐strengo;hreðer inne wēoll,þonne hē wintrum frōdworn gemunde.Swā wē þǣr inneandlangne dægnīode nāman,oð þæt niht becwōmōðer tō yldum.Þā wæs eft hraðegearo gyrn‐wræceGrendeles mōdor,sīðode sorh‐full;sunu dēað fornam,wīg‐hete Wedra.Wīf unhȳre 2120hyre bearn gewræc,beorn ācwealdeellenlīce;þǣr wæs Æsc‐here,frōdan fyrn‐witan,feorh ūðgenge;nōðer hȳ hine ne mōston,syððan mergen cwōm,dēað‐wērigneDenia lēodebronde forbærnan,nē on bǣl hladanlēofne mannan:hīo þæt līc ætbærfēondes fæðmumunder firgen‐strēam.Þæt wæs Hrōðgārehrēowa tornostþāra þe lēod‐frumanlange begeāte; 2130þā se þēoden mecþīne līfehealsode hrēoh‐mōd,þæt ic on holma geþringeorl‐scipe efnde,ealdre genēðde,mǣrðo fremede:hē mē mēde gehēt.Ic þā þæs wælmes,þē is wīde cūð,grimne gryrelīcnegrund‐hyrde fond.Þǣr unc hwīle wæshand gemǣne;holm heolfre wēolland ic hēafde becearfin þām grund‐seleGrendeles mōdorēacnum ecgum,unsōfte þonan 2140feorh oðferede;næs ic fǣge þā gȳt,ac mē eorla hlēoeft gesealdemāðma menigeo,maga Healfdenes.

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

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

THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.

Nealles mid geweoldumwyrm‐horda . . . cræftsōhte sylfes willum,sē þe him sāre gesceōd,ac for þrēa‐nēdlanþēow nāt‐hwylceshæleða bearnahete‐swengeas flēah,for ofer‐þearfeand þǣr inne fealhsecg syn‐bysig.Sōna in þā tīdeþæt . . . . . þām gyste. . . . br . g . stōd,hwæðre earm‐sceapen . . . . . . .. . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fǣs begeat, 2230sinc‐fæt geseah:þǣr wæs swylcra felain þām eorð‐scræfeǣr‐gestrēona,swā hȳ on geār‐dagumgumena nāt‐hwylceormen‐lāfeæðelan cynnesþanc‐hycgendeþǣr gehȳdde,dēore māðmas.Ealle hīe dēað fornamǣrran mǣlum,and se ān þā gēnlēoda duguðe,sē þǣr lengest hwearf,weard wine‐geōmorwīscte þæs yldan,þæt hē lȳtel fæclong‐gestrēona 2240brūcan mōste.Beorh eal gearowunode on wongewæter‐ȳðum nēah,nīwe be næssenearo‐cræftum fæst:þǣr on innan bæreorl‐gestrēonahringa hyrdehard‐fyrdne dǣlfǣttan goldes,fēa worda cwæð:"Heald þū nū, hrūse,nū hæleð ne mōston,eorla ǣhte.Hwæt! hit ǣr on þēgōde begeāton;gūð‐dēað fornam,feorh‐bealo frēcnefȳra gehwylcne, 2250lēoda mīnra,þāra þe þis līf ofgeaf,gesāwon sele‐drēam.Nāh hwā sweord wegeoððe fetigefǣted wǣge,drync‐fæt dēore:duguð ellor scōc.Sceal se hearda helmhyrsted goldefǣtum befeallen:feormiend swefað,þā þe beado‐grīmanbȳwan sceoldon,gē swylce sēo here‐pād,sīo æt hilde gebādofer borda gebræcbite īrena,brosnað æfter beorne.Ne mæg byrnan hring 2260æfter wīg‐frumanwīde fēranhæleðum be healfe;næs hearpan wyn,gomen glēo‐bēames,nē gōd hafocgeond sæl swingeð,nē se swifta mearhburh‐stede bēateð.Bealo‐cwealm hafaðfela feorh‐cynnafeorr onsended!"Swā giōmor‐mōdgiohðo mǣnde,ān æfter eallumunblīðe hwēop,dæges and nihtes,oð þæt dēaðes wylmhrān æt heortan.Hord‐wynne fond 2270eald ūht‐sceaðaopene standan,sē þe byrnendebiorgas sēceðnacod nīð‐draca,nihtes flēogeðfȳre befangen;hyne fold‐būendwīde gesāwon.Hē gēwunian sceallhlāw under hrūsan,þǣr hē hǣðen goldwarað wintrum frōd;ne byð him wihte þē sēl.Swā se þēod‐sceaðaþrēo hund wintrahēold on hrūsanhord‐ærna sumēacen‐cræftig,oð þæt hyne ān ābealh 2280mon on mōde:man‐dryhtne bærfǣted wǣge,frioðo‐wǣre bædhlāford sīnne.Þā wæs hord rāsod,onboren bēaga hord,bēne getīðadfēa‐sceaftum men.Frēa scēawodefīra fyrn‐geweorcforman sīðe.Þā se wyrm onwōc,wrōht wæs genīwad;stonc þā æfter stāne,stearc‐heort onfandfēondes fōt‐lāst;hē tō forð gestōp,dyrnan cræfte,dracan hēafde nēah. 2290Swā mæg unfǣgeēaðe gedīganwēan and wræc‐sīð,sē þe waldendeshyldo gehealdeð.Hord‐weard sōhtegeorne æfter grunde,wolde guman findan,þone þe him on sweofotesāre getēode:hāt and hrēoh‐mōdhlǣw oft ymbe hwearf,ealne ūtan‐weardne;nē þǣr ǣnig monwæs on þǣre wēstenne.Hwæðre hilde gefeh,beado‐weorces:hwīlum on beorh æthwearf,sinc‐fæt sōhte;hē þæt sōna onfand, 2300þæt hæfde gumena sumgoldes gefandodhēah‐gestrēona.Hord‐weard onbādearfoðlīce,oð þæt ǣfen cwōm;wæs þā gebolgenbeorges hyrde,wolde se lāðalīge forgyldandrinc‐fæt dȳre.Þā wæs dæg sceacenwyrme on willan,nō on wealle lengbīdan wolde,ac mid bǣle fōr,fȳre gefȳsed.Wæs se fruma egeslīclēodum on lande,swā hyt lungre wearð 2310on hyra sinc‐gifansāre geendod.

BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.

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

RETROSPECT OF BĒOWULF.--STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS.

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

MEMORIES OF PAST TIME.-THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE.

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

WIGLAF HELPS BĒOWULF IN THE FEUD

Wīglāf wæs hātenWēoxstānes sunu,lēoflīc lind‐wiga,lēod Scylfinga,mǣg Ælfheres:geseah his mon‐dryhtenunder here‐grīmanhāt þrowian.Gemunde þā þā āre,þē hē him ǣr forgeafwīc‐stede weligneWǣgmundinga,folc‐rihta gehwylc,swā his fæder āhte;ne mihte þā forhabban,hond rond gefēng,geolwe linde,gomel swyrd getēah, 2610þæt wæs mid eldumĒanmundes lāf,suna Ōhteres,þām æt sæcce wearðwracu wine‐lēasumWēohstānes banamēces ecgum,and his māgum ætbærbrūn‐fāgne helm,hringde byrnan,eald sweord eotonisc,þæt him Onela forgeaf,his gædelingesgūð‐gewǣdu,fyrd‐searo fūslīc:nō ymbe þā fǣhðe spræc,þēah þe hē his brōðorbearn ābredwade.Hē frætwe gehēoldfela missēra, 2620bill and byrnan,oð þæt his byre mihteeorl‐scipe efnan,swā his ǣr‐fæder;geaf him þā mid Gēatumgūð‐gewǣdaǣghwæs unrīm;þā hē of ealdre gewāt,frōd on forð‐weg.Þā wæs forma sīðgeongan cempan,þæt hē gūðe rǣsmid his frēo‐dryhtnefremman sceolde;ne gemealt him se mōd‐sefa,nē his mǣges lāfgewāc æt wīge:þæt se wyrm onfand,syððan hīe tōgædregegān hæfdon. 2630Wīglāf maðelodeword‐rihta fela,sægde gesīðum,him wæs sefa geōmor:"Ic þæt mǣl geman,þǣr wē medu þēgun,þonne wē gehētonūssum hlāfordein bīor‐sele,þē ūs þās bēagas geaf,þæt wē him þā gūð‐geatwagyldan woldon,gif him þyslīcuþearf gelumpe,helmas and heard sweord:þē hē ūsic on herge gecēastō þyssum sīð‐fatesylfes willum,onmunde ūsic mǣrðaand mē þās māðmas geaf, 2640þē hē ūsic gār‐wīgendgōde tealde,hwate helm‐berend,þēah þe hlāford ūsþis ellen‐weorcāna āþōhtetō gefremmanne,folces hyrde,forþām hē manna mǣstmǣrða gefremede,dǣda dollīcra.Nū is sē dæg cumen,þæt ūre man‐dryhtenmægenes behōfaðgōdra gūð‐rinca:wutun gangan tō,helpan hild‐fruman,þenden hyt sȳ,glēd‐egesa grim!God wāt on mec, 2650þæt mē is micle lēofre,þæt mīnne līc‐hamanmid mīnne gold‐gyfanglēd fæðmie.Ne þynceð mē gerysne,þæt wē rondas bereneft tō earde,nemne wē ǣror mǣgenfāne gefyllan,feorh ealgianWedra þīodnes.Ic wāt geare,þæt nǣron eald‐gewyrht,þæt hē āna scyleGēata duguðegnorn þrowian,gesīgan æt sæcce:sceal ūrum þæt sweord and helm,byrne and byrdu‐scrūdbām gemǣne." 2660Wōd þā þurh þone wæl‐rēc,wīg‐heafolan bærfrēan on fultum,fēa worda cwæð:"Lēofa Bīowulf,lǣst eall tela,swā þū on geoguð‐fēoregeāra gecwǣde,þæt þū ne ālǣtebe þē lifigendumdōm gedrēosan:scealt nū dǣdum rōf,æðeling ān‐hȳdig,ealle mægenefeorh ealgian;ic þē fullǣstu!"Æfter þām wordumwyrm yrre cwōm,atol inwit‐gæstōðre sīðe, 2670fȳr‐wylmum fāhfīonda nīosan,lāðra manna;līg‐ȳðum forbornbord wið ronde:byrne ne meahtegeongum gār‐wigangēoce gefremman:ac se maga geongaunder his mǣges scyldelne geēode,þā his āgen wæsglēdum forgrunden.Þā gēn gūð‐cyningmǣrða gemunde,mægen‐strengo,slōh hilde‐bille,þæt hyt on heafolan stōdnīðe genȳded:Nægling forbærst, 2680geswāc æt sæccesweord Bīowulfesgomol and grǣg‐mǣl.Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,þæt him īrennaecge mihtonhelpan æt hilde;wæs sīo hond tō strong,sē þe mēca gehwanemīne gefrǣgeswenge ofersōhte,þonne hē tō sæcce bærwǣpen wundrum heard,næs him wihte þē sēl.Þā wæs þēod‐sceaðaþriddan sīðe,frēcne fȳr‐dracafǣhða gemyndig,rǣsde on þone rōfan,þā him rūm āgeald, 2690hāt and heaðo‐grim,heals ealne ymbefēngbiteran bānum;hē geblōdegod wearðsāwul‐drīore;swāt ȳðum wēoll.

BĒOWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.

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

THE JEWEL-HOARD. THE PASSING OF BEOWULF.

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

THE COWARD-THANES.

Þā wæs gegongenguman unfrōdumearfoðlīce,þæt hē on eorðan geseahþone lēofestanlīfes æt endeblēate gebǣran.Bona swylce læg,egeslīc eorð‐draca,ealdre berēafod,bealwe gebǣded:bēah‐hordum lengwyrm wōh‐bogenwealdan ne mōste,ac him īrennaecga fornāmon,hearde heaðo‐scearpehomera lāfe,þæt se wīd‐flogawundum stille 2830hrēas on hrūsanhord‐ærne nēah,nalles æfter lyftelācende hwearfmiddel‐nihtum,māðm‐ǣhta wloncansȳn ȳwde:ac hē eorðan gefēollfor þæs hild‐frumanhond‐geweorce.Hūru þæt on landelȳt manna þāhmægen‐āgendramīne gefrǣge,þēah þe hē dǣda gehwæsdyrstig wǣre,þæt hē wið attor‐sceaðanoreðe gerǣsde,oððe hring‐selehondum styrede, 2840gif hē wæccendeweard onfundebūan on beorge.Bīowulfe wearðdryht‐māðma dǣldēaðe forgolden;hæfde ǣghwæðerende gefēredlǣnan līfes.Næs þā lang tō þon,þæt þā hild‐latanholt ofgēfan,tȳdre trēow‐logantȳne ætsomne,þā ne dorston ǣrdareðum lācanon hyra man‐dryhtnesmiclan þearfe;ac hȳ scamiendescyldas bǣran, 2850gūð‐gewǣdu,þǣr se gomela læg:wlitan on Wīglāf.Hē gewērgad sæt,fēðe‐cempafrēan eaxlum nēah,wehte hyne wætre;him wiht ne spēow;ne meahte hē on eorðan,þēah hē ūðe wēl,on þām frum‐gārefeorh gehealdan,nē þæs wealdendes willanwiht oncirran;wolde dōm godesdǣdum rǣdangumena gehwylcum,swā hē nū gēn dēð.Þā wæs æt þām geongangrim andswaru 2860ēð‐begēte þām þe ǣrhis elne forlēas.Wīglāf maðelode,Wēohstānes sunu,secg sārig‐ferðseah on unlēofe:"Þæt lā mæg secgan,sē þe wyle sōð sprecan,þæt se mon‐dryhten,se ēow þā māðmas geaf,ēored‐geatwe,þē gē þǣr on standað,þonne hē on ealu‐benceoft gesealdeheal‐sittendumhelm and byrnan,þēoden his þegnum,swylce hē þrȳðlīcostōhwǣr feor oððe nēahfindan meahte, 2870þæt hē gēnungagūð‐gewǣduwrāðe forwurpe.Þā hyne wīg beget,nealles folc‐cyningfyrd‐gesteallumgylpan þorfte;hwæðre him god ūðe,sigora waldend,þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræcāna mid ecge,þā him wæs elnes þearf,Ic him līf‐wraðelȳtle meahteætgifan æt gūðeand ongan swā þēahofer mīn gemetmǣges helpan:symle wæs þȳ sǣmra,þonne ic sweorde drep 2880ferhð‐genīðlan,fȳr unswīðorwēoll of gewitte.Wergendra tō lȳtþrong ymbe þēoden,þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.Nū sceal sinc‐þegoand swyrd‐gifueall ēðel‐wynēowrum cynne,lufen ālicgean:lond‐rihtes mōtþǣre mǣg‐burgemonna ǣghwylcīdel hweorfan,syððan æðelingasfeorran gefricgeanflēam ēowerne,dōm‐lēasan dǣd.Dēað bið sēlla 2890eorla gehwylcumþonne edwīt‐līf!"

THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.

Heht þā þæt heaðo‐weorctō hagan bīodanup ofer ēg‐clif,þǣr þæt eorl‐weorodmorgen‐longne dægmōd‐giōmor sæt,bord‐hæbbende,bēga on wēnumende‐dōgoresand eft‐cymeslēofes monnes.Lȳt swīgodenīwra spella,sē þe næs gerād,ac hē sōðlīcesægde ofer ealle;"Nū is wil‐geofaWedra lēoda, 2900dryhten Gēatadēað‐bedde fæst,wunað wæl‐restewyrmes dǣdum;him on efn ligeðealdor‐gewinna,siex‐bennum sēoc:sweorde ne meahteon þām āglǣceanǣnige þingawunde gewyrcean.Wīglāf siteðofer Bīowulfe,byre Wīhstānes,eorl ofer ōðrumunlifigendum,healdeð hige‐mēðumhēafod‐weardelēofes and lāðes.Nū ys lēodum wēn 2910orleg‐hwīle,syððan underneFroncum and Frȳsumfyll cyningeswīde weorðeð.Wæs sīo wrōht scepenheard wið Hūgas,syððan Higelāc cwōmfaran flot‐hergeon Frēsna land,þǣr hyne Hetwarehilde gehnǣgdon,elne geēodonmid ofer‐mægene,þæt se byrn‐wigabūgan sceolde,fēoll on fēðan:nalles frætwe geafealdor dugoðe;ūs wæs ā syððan 2920Merewīoingamilts ungyfeðe.Nē ic tō Swēo‐þēodesibbe oððe trēowewihte ne wēne;ac wæs wīde cūð,þætte Ongenþīoealdre besnyðedeHæðcyn Hrēðlingwið Hrefna‐wudu,þā for on‐mēdlanǣrest gesōhtonGēata lēodeGūð‐scilfingas.Sōna him se frōdafæder Ōhtheres,eald and eges‐fullond‐slyht āgeaf,ābrēot brim‐wīsan,brȳd āhēorde, 2930gomela īo‐meowlangolde berofene,Onelan mōdorand Ōhtheres,and þā folgodefeorh‐genīðlanoð þæt hī oðēodonearfoðlīcein Hrefnes‐holthlāford‐lēase.Besæt þā sin‐hergesweorda lāfewundum wērge,wēan oft gehētearmre teohheandlonge niht:cwæð hē on mergennemēces ecgumgētan wolde,sume on galg‐trēowum 2940fuglum tō gamene.Frōfor eft gelampsārig‐mōdumsomod ǣr‐dæge,syððan hīe Hygelāceshorn and bȳmangealdor ongeāton.Þā se gōda cōmlēoda dugoðeon lāst faran.

HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS

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

WĪGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.

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

BĒOWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.

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

Appendix

This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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