Old English

Hwæt wē Gār-Dena in geār-dagum

þēod-cyninga þrym gefrūnon,

hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon.

Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaþena þrēatum,

monegum mǣgþum meodo-setla oftēah;

egsode Eorle, syððan ǣrest wearð

fēasceaft funden; hē þæs frōfre gebād:

wēox under wolcnum, weorð-myndum þāh,

oðþæt him ǣghwylc þāra ymb-sittendra

10

ofer hron-rāde hȳran scolde,

gomban gyldan: þæt wæs gōd cyning!

Đǣm eafera wæs æfter cenned

geong in geardum, þone God sende

folce tō frōfre; fyren-ðearfe ongeat,

þæt hīe ǣr drugon aldor-lēase

lange hwīle; him þæs Līf-frēa,

wuldres Wealdend, worold-āre forgeaf;

Bēowulf wæs brēme —blæd wīde sprang—

Scyldes eafera, Scede-landum in.

20

Swā sceal geong guma gōde gewyrcean,

fromum feoh-giftum on fæder bearme,

þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen

wil-gesīþas, þonne wīg cume,

lēode gelǣsten; lof-dǣdum sceal

in mǣgþa gehwære man geþēon.

Him ðā Scyld gewāt tō gescæp-hwīle,

fela-hrōr, fēran on Frēan wǣre.

Hī hyne þā ætbǣron tō brimes faroðe,

swǣse gesīþas, swā hē selfa bæd,

30

þenden wordum wēold wine Scyldinga,

lēof land-fruma lange āhte.

Þǣr æt hȳðe stōd hringed-stefna,

īsig ond ūt-fūs, æþelinges fær;

ālēdon þā lēofne þēoden,

bēaga bryttan on bearm scipes,

mǣrne be mæste; þǣr wæs mādma fela

of feor-wegum, frætwa, gelǣded.

Ne hȳrde ic cȳmlīcor cēol gegyrwan

hilde-wǣpnum ond heaðo-wǣdum,

40

billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg

mādma mænigo, þā him mid scoldon

on flōdes ǣht feor gewītan.

Nalæs hī hine lǣssan lācum tēodan,

þēod-gestrēonum, þon þā dydon,

þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon

ǣnne ofer ȳðe umbor-wesende.

Þā gȳt hī him āsetton segend gyldenne

hēah ofer hēafod, lēton holm beran,

gēafon on gār-secg; him wæs geōmor sefa,

50

murnende mōd. Men ne cunnon

secgan tō sōðe, sele-rǣdende,

hæleð under heofenum, hwā þǣm hlæste onfēng.

Đā wæs on burgum Bēowulf Scyldinga,

lēof lēod-cyning, longe þrāge

folcum gefrǣge; fæder ellor hwearf,

aldor of earde. Oþþæt him eft onwōc

hēah Healfdene; hēold, þenden lifde,

gamol ond gūð-rēouw, glæde Scyldingas.

Đǣm fēower bearn forð-gerīmed

60

in worold wōcun: weoroda rǣswan,

Heorogār, ond Hrōðgār ond Hālga til;

hȳrde ic þæt . . . . . wæs Onelan cwēn,

Heaðo-Scilfingas heals-gebedda.

Þā wæs Hrōðgāre here-spēd gyfen,

wīges weorð-mynd, þæt him his wine-māgas

georne hȳrdon, oððþæt sēo geogoð gewēox

mago-driht micel. Him on mōd be-arn

þæt heal-reced hātan wolde,

medo-ærn micel men gewyrcean,

70

þonne yldo bearn ǣfre gefrūnon,

ond þǣr on innan eall gedǣlan

geongum ond ealdum, swylc him God sealde,

būton folc-scare ond feorum gumena.

Đā ic wīde gefrægn weorc gebannan

manigre mǣgþe geond þisne middan-geard,

folc-stede frætwan. Him on fyrste gelomp,

ǣdre mid yldum, þæt hit wearð eal-gearo,

heal-ærna mǣst; scōp him Heort naman,

sē þe his wordes geweald wīde hæfde.

80

Hē bēot ne ālēh, bēagas dǣlde,

sinc æt symle. Sele hlīfade

hēah ond horn-gēap, heaðo-wylma bād,

lāðan līges; ne wæs hit lenge þā gēn,

þæt se ecg-hete āþum-swerian

æfter wæl-nīðe wæcnan scolde.

Đa se ellen-gǣst earfoðlīce

þrāge geþolode, sē þe in þȳstrum bād,

þæt hē dōgora gehwām drēam gehȳrde

hlūdne in healle; þǣr wæs hearpan swēg,

90

swutol sang scopes. Sægde sē þe cūþe

frumsceaft fīra feorran reccan,

cwæð þæt se Ælmihtiga eorðan worhte,

wlite-beorhtne wang, swā wæter bebūgeð:

gesette sige-hrēþig sunnan ond mōnan

lēoman tō lēohte land-būendum,

ond gefrætwade foldan scēatas

leomum ond lēafum; līf ēac gesceōp

cynna gehwylcum, þāra ðe cwice hwyrfaþ.

Swā ðā driht-guman drēamum lifdon,

100

ēadiglīce, oððæt ān ongan

fyrene fremman fēond on helle.

Wæs se grimma gæst Grendel hāten,

mǣre mearc-stapa, sē þe mōras hēold,

fen ond fæsten; fīfel-cynnes eard

won-sǣlī wer weardode hwīle,

siþðan him Scyppend forscrifen hæfde

in Caines cynne— þone cwealm gewræc

ēce Drihten, þæs þe hē Ābel slōg.

Ne gefeah hē þǣre fǣhðe, ac hē hine feor forwræc,

110

Metod for þȳ māne, man-cynne fram.

Þanon untȳdras ealle onwōcon,

eotenas ond ylfe ond orcnēas,

swylce gīgantas, þā wið Gode wunnon

lange þrāge; hē him ðæs lēan forgeald.

Gewāt ðā nēosian, syþðan niht becōm,

hēan hūses, hū hit Hring-Dene

æfter bēor-þege gebūn hæfdon;

fand þā ðǣr inne æþelinga gedriht

swefan æfter symble— sorge ne cūðon,

120

wonsceaft wera. Wiht unhǣlo,

grim ond grǣdig, gearo sōna wæs,

rēoc ond rēþe, ond on ræste genam

þrītig þegna; þanon eft gewāt

hūðe hrēmig tō hām faran,

mid þǣre wæl-fylle wīca nēosan.

Đā wæs on ūhtan mid ǣr-dæge

Grendles gūð-cræft gumum undyrne;

þā wæs æfter wiste wōp up āhafen,

micel morgen-swēg. Mǣre þēoden,

130

æþeling ǣr-gōd, unblīðe sæt,

þolode ðrȳð-swȳð, þegn-sorge drēah,

syðþan hīe þæs lāðan lāst scēawedon

wergan gāstes. Wæs þæt gewin tō strang,

lāð ond longsum. Næs hit lengra fyrst,

ac ymb āne niht eft gefremede

morð-beala māre ond nō mearn fore,

fǣhðe ond fyrene; wæs tō fæst on þām.

Þā wæs eāð-fynde þe him elles hwǣr

gerūmlīcor ræste sōhte,

140

bed æfter būrum, ðā him gebēacnod wæs,

gesægd sōðlīce sweotolan tācne

heal-ðegnes hete; hēold hyne syðþan

fyr ond fæstor sē þǣm fēonde ætwand.

Swā rīxode ond wið rihte wan

āna wið eallum, oðþæt īdel stōd

hūsa sēlest. Wæs sēo hwīl micel:

twelf wintra tīd torn geþolode

wine Scyldinga, wēana gehwelcne,

sīdra sorga; forðām secgum wearð,

150

ylda bearnum, undyrne cūð,

gyddum geōmore, þætte Grendel wan

hwīle wið Hrōþgār, hete-nīðas wæg,

fyrene ond fǣhðe fela missēra,

singāle sæce; sibbe ne wolde

wið manna hwone mægenes Deniga,

feorh-bealo feorran, fēa þingian,

nē þǣr nǣnig witena wēnan þorfte

beorhtre bōte tō banan folmum;

ac se ǣglǣca ēhtende wæs,

160

deorc dēaþ-scūa duguþe ond geogoþe,

seomade ond syrede; sin-nihte hēold

mistige mōras; men ne cunnon

hwyder hel-rūnan hwyrftum scrīþað.

Swā fela fyrena fēond man-cynnes,

atol ān-gengea, oft gefremede,

heardra hȳnða; Heorot eardode,

sinc-fāge sel sweartum nihtum;

nō hē þone gif-stōl grētan mōste,

māþðum for Metode, nē his myne wisse.

170

Þæt wæs wrǣc micel wine Scyldinga,

mōdes brecða. Monig oft gesæt

rīce tō rūne, rǣd eahtedon,

hwæt swīð-ferhðum sēlest wǣre

wið fǣr-gryrum tō gefremmanne.

Hwīlum hīe gehēton æt hærg-trafum

wīg-weorþunga, wordum bǣdon,

þæt him gāst-bona gēoce gefremede

wið þēod-þrēaum. Swylc wæs þēaw hyra,

hǣþenra hyht; helle gemundon

180

in mōd-sefan, Metod hīe ne cūþon,

dǣda Dēmend, ne wiston hīe Drihten God

nē hīe hūru heofena Helm herian ne cūþon,

wuldres Waldend. Wā bið þǣm ðe sceal

þurh slīðne nīð sāwle bescūfan

in fȳres fæþm, frōfre ne wēnan,

wihte gewendan! Wēl bið þǣm þe mōt

æfter dēað-dæge Drihten sēcean

ond tō Fæder fæþmum freoðo wilnian!

Swā ðā mǣl-ceare maga Healfdenes

190

singāla sēað; ne mihte snotor hæleð

wēan onwendan; wæs þæt gewin tō swȳð,

lāþ ond longsum, þe on ðā lēode becōm,

nȳd-wracu nīþ-grim, niht-bealwa mæst.

Þæt fram hām gefrægn Higelāces þegn,

gōd mid Gēatum, Grendles dǣda;

sē wæs mon-cynnes mægenes strengest

on þǣm dæge þysses līfes,

æþele ond ēacen. Hēt him ȳð-lidan

gōdne gegyrwan; cwæð, hē gūð-cyning

200

ofer swan-rāde sēcean wolde,

mǣrne þēoden, þā him wæs manna þearf.

Đone sīð-fæt him snotere ceorlas

lȳt-hwōn lōgon, þēah hē him lēof wǣre;

hwetton hige-rōfne, hǣl scēawedon.

Hæfde se gōda Gēata lēoda

cempan gecorone, þāra þe hē cēnoste

findan mihte; fīf-tȳna sum

sund-wudu sōhte; secg wīsade,

lagu-cræftig mon, land-gemyrcu.

210

Fyrst forð gewāt; flota wæs on ȳðum,

bāt under beorge. Beornas gearwe

on stefn stigon— strēamas wundon,

sund wið sande; secgas bǣron

on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe,

gūð-searo geatolīc; guman ūt scufon,

weras on wil-sīð wudu bundenne.

Gewāt þā ofer wǣg-holm, winde gefȳsed,

flota fāmī-heals, fugle gelīcost,

oðþæt ymb ān-tīd ōþres dōgores

220

wunden-stefna gewaden hæfde,

þæt ðā līðende land gesāwon,

brim-clifu blīcan, beorgas stēape,

sīde sǣ-næssas; þā wæs sund liden,

ēo-letes æt ende. Þanon up hraðe

Wedera lēode on wang stigon,

sǣ-wudu sǣldon —syrcan hrysedon,

gūð-gewǣdo; Gode þancedon,

þæs þe him ȳþ-lāde ēaðe wurdon.

Þā of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,

230

sē þe holm-clifu healdan scolde,

beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas,

fyrd-searu fūslicu; hine fyrwyt bræc

mōd-gehygdum, hwæt þā men wǣron.

Gewāt him þā tō waroðe wicge rīdan

þegn Hrōðgāres, þrymmum cwehte

mægen-wudu mundum, meþel-wordum frægn:

“Hwæt syndon gē searo-hæbbendra,

byrnum werede, þe þus brontne cēol

ofer lagu-strǣte lǣdan cwōmon,

240

hider ofer holmas? Ic hwīle wæs

ende-sǣta, ǣg-wearde hēold,

þē on land Dena lāðra nǣnig

mid scip-herge sceðþan ne meahte.

Nō hēr cūðlīcor cuman ongunnon

lind-hæbbende; nē gē lēafnes-word

gūð-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson,

māga gemēdu. Nǣfre ic māran geseah

eorla ofer eorþan, ðonne is ēower sum,

secg on searwum; nis þæt seld-guma,

250

wǣpnum geweorðad; nǣfre him his wlite lēoge,

ǣnlīc ansȳn. Nū ic ēower sceal

frum-cyn witan, ǣr gē fyr heonan

lēas-scēaweras on land Dena

furþur fēran. Nū gē feor-būend,

mere-līðende, mīnne gehȳrað

ānfealdne geþōht; ofost is sēlest

tō gecȳðanne hwanan ēowre cyme syndon.”

Him se yldesta andswarode,

werodes wīsa, word-hord onlēac:

260

“Wē synt gum-cynnes Gēata lēode

ond Higelāces heorð-genēatas;

wæs mīn fæder folcum gecȳþed,

æþele ord-fruma Ecgþēow hāten,—

gebād wintra worn, ǣr hē on weg hwurfe,

gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman

witena wēl-hwylc wīde geond eorþan.

Wē þurh holdne hige hlāford þīnne,

sunu Healfdenes, sēcean cwōmon,

lēod-gebyrgean; wes þū ūs lārena gōd!

270

Habbað wē tō þǣm mǣran micel ǣrende,

Deniga frēan; ne sceal þǣr dyrne sum

wesan, þæs ic wēne. Þū wāst—gif hit is,

swā wē sōþlīce secgan hȳrdon—

þæt mid Scyldingum sceaðona ic nāt hwylc,

dēogol dǣd-hata, deorcum nihtum

ēaweð þurh egsan uncū ðne nīð,

hȳnðu ond hrā-fyl. Ic þæs Hrōðgār mæg

þurh rūmne sefan rǣd gelǣran,

hū hē frōd ond gōd fēond oferswȳðeþ—

280

gyf him edwenden ǣfre scolde

bealuwa bisigu, bōt eft cuman—

ond þā cear-wylmas cōlran wurðaþ;

oððe ā syþðan earfoð-þrāge,

þrēa-nȳd þolað, þenden þǣr wunað

on hēah-stede hūsa sēlest.”

Weard maþelode, ðǣr on wicge sæt,

ombeht unforht; “Ǣghwæþres sceal

scearp scyld-wiga gescād witan,

worda ond worca, sē þe wēl þenceð.

290

Ic þæt gehȳre, þæt þis is hold weorod

frēan Scyldinga. Gewītaþ forð beran

wǣpen ond gewǣdu; ic ēow wīsige:

swylce ic magu-þegnas mīne hāte

wið fēonda gehwone flotan ēowerne,

nīw-tyrwydne nacan on sande

ārum healdan, oþðæt eft byreð

ofer lagu-strēamas lēofne mannan

wudu wunden-hals tō Weder-mearce:

gōd-fremmendra swylcum gifeþe bið,

300

þæt þone hilde-rǣs hāl gedīgeð.”

Gewiton him þā fēran. Flota stille bād,

seomode on sāle sīd-fæþmed scip,

on ancre fæst. Eofor-līc scionon

ofer hlēor-bergan: gehroden golde,

fāh ond fȳ-heard, ferh wearde hēold:

gūþ-mōd grummon. Guman ōnetton,

sigon ætsomne, oþþæt hȳ sæl timbred,

geatolīc ond gold-fāh ongyton mihton;

þæt wæs fore-mǣrost fold-būendum

310

receda under roderum, on þǣm se rīca bād;

līxte se lēoma ofer landa fela.

Him þā hilde-dēor hof mōdigra

torht getǣhte, þæt hīe him tō mihton

gegnum gangan; gūð-beorna sum

wicg gewende, word æfter cwæð:

“Mǣl is mē tō fēran. Fæder al-walda

mid ār-stafum ēowic gehealde

sīða gesunde! Ic tō sǣ wille,

wið wrāð werod wearde healdan.”

320

Strǣt wæs stān-fāh, stīg wīsode

gumum ætgædere. Gūð-byrne scān,

heard, hond-locen, hring-īren scīr

song in searwum. Þā hī tō sele furðum

in hyra gryre-geatwum gangan cwōmon,

setton sǣ-mēþe sīde scyldas,

rondas regn-hearde, wið þæs recedes weal;

bugon þā tō bence, byrnan hringdon,

gūð-searo gumena. Gāras stōdon,

sǣ-manna searo, samod ætgædere,

330

æsc-holt ufan grǣg; wæs sē īren-þrēat

wǣpnum gewurþad. Þā ðǣr wlonc hæleð

ōret-mecgas æfter æþelum frægn:

“Hwanon ferigeað gē fǣtte scyldas,

grǣge syrcan ond grīm-helmas,

here-sceafta hēap? Ic eom Hrōðgāres

ār ond ombiht. Ne seah ic elþēodige

þus manige men mōdiglīcran.

Wēn’ ic þæt gē for wlenco, nalles for wrǣc-sīðum,

ac for hige-þrymmum Hrōðgār sōhton.”

340

Him þā ellen-rōf andswarode,

wlanc Wedera lēod, word æfter spræc,

heard under helme: “Wē synt Higelāces

bēod-genēatas; Bēowulf is mīn nama.

Wille ic āsecgan sunu Healfdenes,

mǣrum þēodne mīn ǣrende,

aldre þīnum, gif hē ūs geunnan wile,

þæt wē hine swā gōdne grētan mōton.”

Wulfgār maþelode: þæt wæs Wendla lēod,

wæs his mōd-sefa manegum gecȳðed,

350

wīg ond wīsdōm: “Ic þæs wine Deniga

frēan Scildinga frīnan wille,

bēaga bryttan, swā þū bēna eart,

þēoden mǣrne, ymb þīnne sīð,

ond þē þā andsware ǣdre gecȳðan,

ðe mē se gōda āgifan þenceð.”

Hwearf þā hrædlīce, þǣr Hrōðgār sæt,

eald ond unhār mid his eorla gedriht;

ēode ellen-rōf, þæt hē for eaxlum gestōd

Deniga frēan: cūþe hē duguðe þēaw.

360

Wulfgār maðelode tō his wine-drihtne:

“Hēr syndon geferede, feorran cumene

ofer geofenes begang Gēata lēode;

þone yldestan ōret-mecgas

Bēowulf nemnað; hȳ bēnan synt,

þæt hīe, þēoden mīn, wið þē mōton

wordum wrixlan. Nō ðū him wearne getēoh

ðīnra gegn-cwida, glæd-man Hrōðgār:

hȳ on wīg-getāwum wyrðe þinceað

eorla geæhtlan; hūru se aldor dēah,

370

sē þǣm heaðo-rincum hider wīsade.”

Hrōðgār maþelode, helm Scyldinga:

“Ic hine cūðe cniht-wesende;

wæs his eald-fæder Ecgþēo hāten,

ðǣm tō hām forgeaf Hrēþel Gēata

āngan dohtor; is his eafora nū

heard hēr cumen, sōhte holdne wine.

Đonne sægdon þæt sǣ-līþende,

þā ðe gif-sceattas Gēata fyredon

þyder tō þance, þæt hē þrītiges

380

manna mægen-cræft on his mund-gripe,

heaþo-rōf hæbbe. Hine hālig God

for ār-stafum ūs onsende

tō West-Denum, þæs ic wēn hæbbe,

wið Grendles gryre. Ic þǣm gōdan sceal

for his mōd-þræce mādmas bēodan.

Bēo ðū on ofeste, hāt in gān,

sēon sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere;

gesaga him ēac wordum þæt hīe sint wil-cuman

Deniga lēodum!” Þā tō dura healle

390

Wulfgār ēode, word inne ābēad:

Ēow hēt secgan sige-drihten mīn,

aldor Ēast-Dena, þæt hē ēower æþelu can:

ond gē him syndon ofer sǣ-wylmas,

heard-hicgende, hider wil-cuman.

Nū gē mōton gangan in ēowrum gūð-getāwum,

under here-grīman, Hrōðgār gesēon;

lǣtað hilde-bord hēr onbīdan,

wudu, wæl-sceaftas, worda geþinges.”

Ārās þā se rīca, ymb hine rinc manig,

400

prȳðlīc þegna hēap; sume þǣr bidon,

heaðo-rēaf hēoldon, swā him se hearda bebēad.

Snyredon ætsomne, þā secg wīsode,

under Heorotes hrōf; ēode hilde-dēor,

heard under helme, þæt hē on hēoðe gestōd.

Bēowulf maðelode —on him byrne scān,

searo-net seowed smiþes orþancum

“Wæs þū, Hrōðgār, hāl! Ic eom Higelāces

mǣg ond mago-ðegn; hæbbe ic mǣrða fela

ongunnen on geogoþe. Mē wearð Grendles þing

410

on mīnre ēþel-tyrf undyrne cūð;

secgað sǣ-līðend, þæt þæs sele stande,

reced sēlesta, rinca gehwylcum

īdel ond unnyt, siððan ǣ fen-lēoht

under heofenes hādor beholen weorþeð.

Þā mē þæt gelǣrdon lēode mīne,

þā sēlestan, snotere ceorlas,

þēoden Hrōðgār, þæt ic þē sōhte,

forþan hīe mægenes cræft mīne cū þon:

selfe ofersāwon, ðā ic of searwum cwōm,

420

fāh from fēondum, þǣr ic fīfe geband,

ȳðde eotena cyn, ond on ȳðum slōg

niceras nihtes, nearo-þearfe drēah,

wræc Wedera nīð —wēan āhsodon—

forgrand gramum: ond nū wið Grendel sceal,

wið þām āglǣ can āna gehēgan

ðing wið þyrse. Ic þē nū ðā,

brego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille,

eodor Scyldinga, ānre bēne:

þæt ðū mē ne forwyrne, wīgendra hlēo,

430

frēo-wine folca, nū ic þus feorran cōm,

þæt ic mōte āna ond mīnra eorla gedryht,

þes hearda hēap, Heorot fǣlsian.

Hæbbe ic ēac geāhsod, þæt se ǣglǣca

for his won-hȳdum wǣpna ne recceð.

Ic þæt þonne forhicge, swā mē Higelāc sīe,

mīn mon-drihten, mōdes blīðe,

þæt ic sweord bere oþðe sīdne scyld,

geolo-rand tō gūþe; ac ic mid grāpe sceal

fōn wið fēonde ond ymb feorh sacan,

440

lāð wið lāþum; ðǣr gelȳfan sceal

Dryhtnes dōme sē þe hine dēað nimeð.

Wēn’ ic þæt hē wille, gif hē wealdan mōt,

in þǣm gū ð-sele Gēotena lēode

etan unforhte, swā hē oft dyde,

mægen hrēð-manna. Nā þū mīnne þearft

hafalan hȳdan, ac hē mē habban wile

drēore fāhne, gif mec dēað nimeð;

byreð blōdig wæl, byrgean þenceð;

eteð ān-genga unmurnlīce,

450

mearcað mōr-hopu; nō ðū ymb mīnes ne þearft

līces feorme leng sorgian.

Onsend Higelāce, gif mec hild nime,

beadu-scrūda betst, þæt mīne brēost wereð,

hrægla sēlest; þæt is Hrǣdlan lāf,

Wēlandes geweorc. Gǣð ā wyrd swā hīo scel!”

Hrōðgār maþelode, helm Scyldinga:

“For were-fyhtum þū, wine mīn Bēowulf,

ond for ār-stafum ūsic sōhtest.

Geslōh þīn fæder fǣhðe mǣste,

460

wearþ hē Heaþolāfe tō hand-bonan

mid Wilfingum; ðā hine wāra cyn

for here-brōgan habban ne mihte.

Þanon hē gesōhte Sūð-Dena folc

ofer ȳða gewealc, Ār-Scyldinga;

ðā ic furþum wēold folce Deniga

ond on geogoðe hēold grimme-rīce,

hord-burh hæleþa; ðā wæs Heregār dēad,

mīn yldra mǣg unlifigende,

bearn Healfdenes; sē wæs betera ðonne ic!

470

Siððan þā fǣhðe fēo þingode;

sende ic Wylfingum ofer wæteres hrycg

ealde mādmas; hē mē āþas swōr.

Sorh is mē tō secganne on sefan mīnum

gumena ǣngum, hwæt mē Grendel hafað

hȳnðo on Heorote mid his hete-þancum,

fǣr-nīða gefremed; is mīn flet-werod,

wīg-hēap gewanod; hīe wyrd forswēop

on Grendles gryre. God ēaþe mæg

þone dol-sceaðan dǣda getwǣfan!

480

Ful oft gebēotedon bēore druncne

ofer ealo-wǣge ōret-mecgas,

þæt hīe in bēor-sele bīdan woldon

Grendles gūþe mid gryrum ecga.

Đonne wæs þēos medo-heal on morgen-tīd,

driht-sele drēor-fāh, þonne dæg līxte,

eal benc-þelu blōde bestȳmed,

heall heoru-drēore; āhte ic holdra þȳ lǣs

dēorre duguðe, þē þā dēað fornam.

Site nū tō symle, ond on sǣl meoto

490

sige hrēð-secga, swā þīn sefa hwette!”

Þā wæs Gēat-mæcgum geador ætsomne

on bēor-sele benc gerȳmed;

þǣr swīð-ferhþe sittan ēodon,

þrȳðum dealle; þegn nytte behēold,

sē þe on handa bær hroden ealo-wǣge,

scencte scīr-wered; scop hwīlum sang

hādor on Heorote; þǣr wæs hæleða drēam,

duguð unlȳtel Dena ond Wedera.

Unferð maþelode, Ecglāfes bearn,

500

þe æt fōtum sæt frēan Scyldinga,

onband beadu-rūne: wæs him Bēowulfes sīð,

mōdges mere-faran, micel æfþunca,

forþon þe hē ne ūþe, þæt ǣnig ōðer man

ǣfre mǣrða þon mā middan-geardes

gehēdde under heofenum þonne hē sylfa:

“Eart þū sē Bēowulf, sē þe wið Brecan wunne,

on sīdne sǣ ymb sund flite,

ðǣr git for wlence wada cunnedon

ond for dol-gilpe on dēop wæter

510

aldrum nēþdon? Nē inc ǣnig mon,

nē lēof nē lāð, belēan mihte

sorh-fullne sīð, þā git on sund rēon;

þǣr git ēagor-strēam earmum þehton,

mǣton mere-strǣta, mundum brugdon,

glidon ofer gār-secg. Geofon ȳþum wēol,

wintrys wylmum; git on wæteres ǣht

seofon niht swuncon; hē þē æt sunde oferflāt,

hæfde māre mægen; þā hine on morgen-tīd

on Heaþo-Rǣmes holm up ætbær.

520

Đonon hē gesōhte swǣsne ēðel,

lēof his lēodum, lond Brondinga,

freoðo-burh fægere, þǣr hē folc āhte,

burh ond bēagas. Bēot eal wið þē

sunu Bēanstānes sōðe gelǣste.

Đonne wēne ic tō þē wyrsan geþingea,

ðēah þū heaðo-rǣsa gehwǣr dohte,

grimre gū ðe, gif þū Grendles dearst

niht-longne fyrst nēan bīdan.”

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

530

“Hwæt þū worn fela, wine mīn Unferð,

bēore druncen ymb Brecan sprǣce,

sægdest from his sīðe! Sō ð ic talige

þæt ic mere-strengo māran āhte,

earfeþo on ȳþum, ðonne ǣnig ōþer man.

Wit þæt gecwǣdon cniht-wesende

ond gebēotedon —wǣron bēgen þā gīt

on geogoð-fēore— þæt wit on gār-secg ūt

aldrum nēðdon; ond þæt geæfndon swā.

Hæfdon swurd nacod, þā wit on sund rēon,

540

heard on handa; wit unc wið hron-fixas

werian þōhton; nō hē wiht fram mē

flōd-ȳþum feor flēotan meahte,

hraþor on holme, nō ic fram him wolde.

Đā wit ætsomne on sǣ wǣron

fīf nihta fyrst, oþþæt unc flōd tōdrāf,

wado weallende, wedera cealdost,

nīpende niht, ond norþan-wind

heaðo-grim ondhwearf. Hrēo wǣron ȳþa,

wæs mere-fixa mōd onhrēred.

550

Þǣr mē wið lāðum līc-syrce mīn,

heard, hond-locen, helpe gefremede,

beado-hrægl brōden on brēostum læg

golde gegyrwed. Mē tō grunde tēah

fāh fēond-scaða, fæste hæfde

grim on grāpe; hwæþre mē gyfeþe wearð,

þæt ic āglǣcan orde gerǣhte,

hilde-bille; heaþo-rǣs fornam

mihtig mere-dēor þurh mīne hand.

“Swā mec gelōme lāðo-getēonan

560

þrēatedon þearle; ic him þēnode

dēoran sweorde, swā hit gedēfe wæs.

Næs hīe ðǣre fylle gefēan hæfdon,

mān-fordǣdlan, þæt hīe mē þēgon,

symbel ymbsæton sǣ-grunde nēah;

ac on mergenne mēcum wunde

be ȳð-lāfe uppe lǣgon,

sweordum āswefede, þæt syðþan nā

ymb brontne ford brim-līðende

lāde ne letton. Lēoht ēastan cōm,

570

beorht bēacen Godes; brimu swaþredon

þæt ic sǣ-nǣssas gesēon mihte,

windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereð

unfǣgne eorl, þonne his ellen dēah.

Hwæþere mē gesǣlde, þæt ic mid sweorde ofslōh

niceras nigene. Nō ic on niht gefrægn

under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan,

nē on ēg-strēamum earmran mannon.

Hwæþere ic fāra feng fēore gedīgde,

sīþes wērig. Đā mec sǣ oþbær,

580

flōd æfter faroðe on Finna land,

wadu weallendu. Nō ic wiht fram þē

swylcra searo-nīða secgan hȳrde,

billa brōgan. Breca nǣfre gīt

æt heaðo-lāce, nē gehwæþer incer,

swā dēorlīce dǣd gefremede

fāgum sweordum —nō ic þæs fela gylpe—

þēah ðū þīnum brōðrum tō banan wurde,

hēafod-mǣgum; þæs þū in helle scealt

werhðo drēogan, þēah þīn wit duge.

590

Secge ic þē tō sōðe, sunu Ecglāfes,

þæt nǣfre Grendel swā fela gryra gefremede,

atol ǣglǣca ealdre 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-þræce ēower lēode

swīðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga.

Nymeð nȳd-bāde, nǣnegum ārað

lēode Deniga, ac hē lust wigeð,

600

swefeð ond sendeþ, secce ne wēneþ

tō Gār-Denum. Ac ic him Gēata sceal

eafoð ond ellen ungeāra nū,

gūþe gebēodan. Gǣþ eft sē þe mōt

tō medo mōdig, siþþan morgen-lēoht

ofer ylda bearn ōþres dōgores,

sunne swegl-wered sūþan scīneð!”

Þā wæs on sālum sinces brytta,

gamol-feax ond gūð-rōf; gēoce gelȳfde

brego Beorht-Dena, gehȳrde on Bēowulfe

610

folces hyrde fæst-rǣdne geþōht.

Đǣr wæs hæleþa hleahtor, hlyn swynsode,

word wǣron wynsume. Ēode Wealhþēow forð,

cwēn Hrōðgāres, cynna gemyndig;

grētte gold-hroden guman on healle,

ond þā frēolic wīf ful gesealde

ǣrest Ēast-Dena ēþel-wearde;

bæd hine blīðne æt þǣre bēor-þege,

lēodum lēofne; hē on lust geþeah

symbel ond sele-ful, sige-rōf kyning.

620

Ymb-ēode þā ides Helminga

duguþe ond geogoþe dǣl ǣghwylcne,

sinc-fato sealde, oþþæt sǣl ālamp,

þæt hīo Bēowulfe, bēag-hroden cwēn

mōde geþungen, medo-ful ætbær.

Grētte Gēata lēod, gode þancode

wīs-fæst wordum, þæs ðe hire se willa gelamp,

þæt hēo on ǣnigne eorl gelȳfde

fyrena frōfre. Hē þæt ful geþeah,

wæl-rēow wiga, æt Wealhþēon,

630

ond þā gyddode gūþe gefȳsed;

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

“Ic þæt hogode, þā ic on holm gestāh,

sǣ-bāt gesæt mid mīnra secga gedriht,

þæt ic ānunga ēowra lēoda

willan geworhte, oþðe on wæl crunge,

fēond-grāpum fæst. Ic gefremman sceal

eorlīc ellen, oþðe ende-dæg

on þisse meodu-healle mīnne gebīdan.”

Đām wīfe þā word wēl līcodon,

640

gilp-cwide Gēates; ēode gold-hroden

frēolicu folc-cwēn tō hire frēan sittan.

Þā wæs eft swā ǣr inne on healle

þrȳð-word sprecen, ðēod on sǣlum,

sige-folca swēg, oþþæt semninga

sunu Healfdenes sēcean wolde

ǣfen-ræste. Wiste þǣm āhlǣ can

tō þǣm hēah-sele hilde geþinged,

siððan hīe sunnan lēoht gesēon meahton,

oþ ðe nīpende niht ofer ealle,

650

scadu-helma gesceapu scrīðan cwōman

wan under wolcnum. Werod eall ārās.

Gegrētte þā guma ōþerne,

Hrō ðgār Bēowulf, ond him hǣl ābēad,

wīn-ærnes geweald, ond þæt word ācwæð:

“Nǣfre ic ǣnegum men ǣr ālȳfde,

siþðan ic hond ond rond hebban mihte,

ðrȳþ-ærn Dena būton þē nū ðā.

Hafa nū ond geheald husa sēlest:

gemyne mǣrþo, mægen-ellen cȳð,

660

waca wið wrāþum! Ne bið þē wilna gād

gif þū þæt ellen-weorc aldre gedīgest.”

Đā him Hrōþgār gewāt mid his hæleþa gedryht,

eodur Scyldinga ūt of healle;

wolde wīg-fruma Wealhþēo sēcan,

cwēn tō gebeddan. Hæfde kyning-wuldor

Grendle tōgēanes, swā guman gefrungon,

sele-weard āseted; sundor-nytte behēold

ymb aldor Dena, eoton-weard’ ābēad.

Hūru Gēata lēod georne truwode

670

mōdgan mægnes, Metodes hyldo.

Đā hē him of dyde īsern-byrnan,

helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord,

īrena cyst ombiht-þegne,

ond gehealdan hēt hilde-geatwe.

Gespræc þā se gōda gylp-worda sum,

Bēowulf Gēata, ǣr hē on bed stige:

“Nō ic mē an here-wæsmun hnāgran talige

gūþ-geweorca þonne Grendel hine;

forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle,

680

aldre benēotan, þēah ic eal mæge.

Nāt hē þāra gōda, þæt hē mē ongēan slēa,

rand gehēawe, þēah ðe hē rōf sīe

nīþ-geweorca: ac wit on niht sculon

secge ofersittan, gif hē gesēcean dear

wīg ofer wǣpen: ond siþðan wītig God

on swā hwæþere hond, hālig Dryhten,

mǣrðo dēme, swā him gemet þince.”

Hylde hine þā heaþo-dēor, hlēor-bolster onfēng

eorles andwlitan, ond hine ymb monig

690

snellīc sǣ-rinc sele-reste gebēah.

Nǣnig heora þōhte, þæt hē þanon scolde

eft eard-lufan ǣfre gesēcean,

folc oþðe frēo-burh, þǣr hē āfēded wæs;

ac hīe hæfdon gefrūnen, þæt hīe ǣr tō fela micles

in þǣm wīn-sele wæl-dēað fornam,

Denigea lēode. Ac him Dryhten forgeaf

wīg-spēda gewiofu, Wedera lēodum,

frōfor ond fultum, þæt hīe fēond heora

ðurh ānes cræft ealle ofercōmon,

700

selfes mihtum. Sōð is gecȳþed,

þæt mihtig God manna cynnes

weold wīde-ferhð. Cōm on wanre niht

scrīðan sceadu-genga; scēotend swǣfon,

þā þæt horn-reced healdan scoldon,

ealle būton ānum. Þæt wæs yldum cūþ,

þæt hīe ne mōste, þā Metod nolde,

se syn-scaþa under sceadu bregdan,

ac hē wæccende wrāþum on andan

bād bolgen-mōd beadwa geþinges.

710

Đā cōm of mōre under mist-hleoþum

Grendel gongan, Godes yrre bær,

mynte se mān-scaða manna cynnes

sumne besyrwan in sele þām hēan.

Wōd under wolcnum, tō þæs þe hē wīn-reced,

gold-sele gumena gearwost wisse,

fǣttum fāhne. Ne wæs þæt forma sīð

þæt hē Hrōþgāres hām gesōhte.

Nǣfre hē on aldor-dagum ǣr nē siþðan

heardran hǣle heal-ðegnas fand.

720

Cōm þā tō recede rinc sīðian

drēamum bedǣled. Duru sōna onarn

fȳr-bendum fæst, syþðan hē hire folmum gehrān:

onbrǣd þā bealo-hȳdig, ðā hē gebolgen wæs,

recedes mūþan. Raþe æfter þon

on fāgne flōr fēond treddode,

ēode yrre-mōd; him of ēagum stōd

ligge gelīcost lēoht unfǣger.

Geseah hē in recede rinca manige,

swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere,

730

mago-rinca hēap. Þā his mōd āhlōg;

mynte þæt hē gedǣlde, ǣr þon dæg cwōme,

atol āglǣca, ānra gehwylces

līf wið līce, þā him ālumpen wæs

wist-fylle wēn. Ne wæs þæt wyrd þā gēn,

þæt hē mā mōste manna cynnes

ðicgean ofer þā niht. Þrȳð-swȳð behēold,

mǣg Higelāces, hū se mān-scaða

under fǣr-gripum gefaran wolde.

Nē þæt se āglǣ ca yldan þōhte,

740

ac hē gefēng hraðe forman sīðe

slǣpendne rinc, slāt unwearnum,

bāt bān-locan, blōd ēdrum dranc,

syn-snǣdum swealh; sōna hæfde

unlyfigendes eal gefeormod,

fēt ond folma. Forð nēar ætstōp,

nam þā mid handa hige-þīhtigne

rinc on ræste —rǣhte ongēan

fēond mid folme; hē onfēng hraþe

inwit-þancum ond wið earm gesæt.

750

Sōna þæt onfunde fyrena hyrde,

þæt hē ne mētte middan-geardes,

eorþan scēatta on elran men

mund-gripe māran; hē on mōde wearð

forht on ferhðe; nō þȳ ǣr fram meahte.

Hyge wæs him hin-fūs, wolde on heolster flēon,

sēcan dēofla gedræg; ne wæs his drohtoð þǣr,

swylce hē on ealder-dagum ǣr gemētte.

Gemunde þā se gōda mǣg Higelāces

ǣfen-sprǣce, up-lang āstōd

760

ond him fæste wiðfēng; fingras burston:

eoten wæs ūtweard, eorl furþur stōp.

Mynte se mǣra, þǣr hē meahte swā,

wīdre gewindan ond on weg þanon

flēon on fen-hopu; wiste his fingra geweald

on grames grāpum; þæt wæs gēocor sīð

þæt se hearm-scaþa tō Heorute ātēah.

Dryht-sele dynede, Denum eallum wearð,

ceaster-būendum, cēnra gehwylcum,

eorlum ealu-scerwen. Yrre wǣron bēgen,

770

rēþe ren-weardas. Reced hlynsode;

þā wæs wundor micel, þæt se wīn-sele

wiðhæfde heaþo-dēorum, þæt hē on hrūsan ne fēol,

fǣger fold-bold; ac hē þæs fæste wæs

innan ond ūtan īren-bendum

searo-þoncum besmiþod. Þǣr fram sylle ābēag

medu-benc monig, mīne gefrǣge,

golde geregnad, þǣr þā graman wunnon.

Þæs ne wēndon ǣr witan Scyldinga,

þæt hit ā mid gemete manna ǣnig,

780

betlīc ond bān-fāg tōbrecan meahte,

listum tōlūcan, nymþe līges fæþm

swulge on swaþule. Swēg up āstāg

nīwe geneahhe, Norð-Denum stōd

atelīc egesa, ānra gehwylcum

þāra þe of wealle wōp gehȳrdon,

gryre-lēoð galan Godes andsacan,

sige-lēasne sang, sār wānigean

helle hæfton. Hēold hine fæste,

sē þe manna wæs mægene strengest

790

on þǣm dæge þysses līfes.

Nolde eorla hlēo ǣnige þinga

þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forlǣtan,

nē his līf-dagas lēoda ǣnigum

nytte tealde. Þǣr genehost brægd

eorl Bēowulfes ealde lāfe,

wolde frēa-drihtnes feorh ealgian,

mǣres þēodnes, ðǣr hīe meahton swā.

Hīe þæt ne wiston, þā hīe gewin drugon,

heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas,

800

ond on healfa gehwone hēawan þōhton,

sāwle sēcan: þone syn-scaðan

ǣnig ofer eorþan īrenna cyst,

gūð-billa nān grētan nolde,

ac hē sige-wǣpnum forsworen hæfde,

ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedāl

on ðǣm dæge þysses līfes

earmlīc wurðan, ond se ellor-gāst

on fēonda geweald feor sīðian.

Đā þæt onfunde sē þe fela ǣror

810

mōdes myrðe manna cynne,

fyrene gefremede —hē fāg wið God—

þæt him se līc-homa lǣstan nolde,

ac hine se mōdega mǣg Hygelāces

hæfde be honda; wæs gehwæþer ōðrum

lifigende lāð. Līc-sār gebād

atol ǣglǣca; him on eaxle wearð

syn-dolh sweotol; seonowe onsprungon,

burston bān-locan. Bēowulfe wearð

gūð-hrēð gyfeþe; scolde Grendel þonan

820

feorh-sēoc flēon under fen-hleoðu,

sēcean wyn-lēas wīc; wiste þē geornor,

þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen,

dōgera dæg-rīm. Denum eallum wearð

æfter þām wæl-rǣse willa gelumpen.

Hæfde þā gefǣlsod, sē þe ǣr feorran cōm,

snotor ond swȳð-ferhð, sele Hrōðgāres,

genered wið nīðe. Niht-weorce gefeh,

ellen-mǣrþum. Hæfde Ēast-Denum

Gēat-mecga lēod gilp gelǣsted,

830

swylce oncȳþðe ealle gebētte,

inwid-sorge, þē hīe ǣr drugon

ond for þrēa-nȳdum þolian scoldon,

torn unlȳtel. Þæt wæs tācen sweotol,

syþðan hilde-dēor hond ālegde,

earm ond eaxle —þǣr wæs eal geador

Grendles grāpe— under gēapne hrōf.

Đā wæs on morgen, mīne gefrǣge,

ymb þā gif-healle gūð-rinc monig;

fērdon folc-togan feorran ond nēan

840

geond wīd-wegas wundor scēawian,

lāþes lāstas. Nō his līf-gedāl

sārlīc þūhte secga ǣnegum,

þāra þe tīr-lēases trode scēawode,

hū hē wērig-mōd on weg þanon,

nīða ofercumen, on nicera mere,

fǣge ond geflȳmed feorh-lāstas bær.

Đǣr wæs on blōde brim weallende,

atol ȳða geswing, eal gemenged,

hāton heolfre, heoro-drēore wēol;

850

dēað-fǣge dēog, siððan drēama lēas

in fen-freoðo feorh ālegde,

hǣþene sāwle; þǣr him hel onfēng.

Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesīðas,

swylce geong manig of gomen-wāþe,

fram mere mōdge mēarum rīdan,

beornas on blancum. Đǣr wǣs Bēowulfes

mǣrðo mǣned; monig oft gecwæð,

þætto sūð nē norð be sǣm twēonum

ofer eormen-grund ōþer nǣnig

860

under swegles begong sēlra nǣre

rond-hæbbendra, rīces wyrðra.

Nē hīe hūru wine-drihten wiht ne lōgon,

glædne Hrōðgār, ac þæt wæs gōd cyning.

Hwīlum heaþo-rōfe hlēapan lēton,

on geflit faran fealwe mēaras,

ðǣr him fold-wegas fægere þūhton,

cystum cūðe; hwīlum cyninges þegn,

guma gilp-hlæden, gidda gemyndig,

sē ðe eal-fela eald-gesegena

870

worn gemunde, word ōþer fand

sōðe gebunden. Secg eft ongan

sīð Bēowulfes snyttrum styrian

ond on spēd wrecan spel gerāde,

wordum wrixlan. Wēl-hwylc gecwæð,

þæt hē fram Sigemunde secgan hȳrde,

ellen-dǣdum, uncūþes fela,

Wælsinges gewin, wīde sīðas,

þāra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,

fǣhðe ond fyrena, būton Fitela mid hine,

880

þonne hē swulces hwæt secgan wolde,

ēam his nefan, swā hīe ā wǣron

æt nīða gehwām nȳd-gesteallan;

hæfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes

sweordum gesǣged. Sigemunde gesprong

æfter dēað-dæge dōm unlȳtel,

syþðan wīges heard wyrm ācwealde,

hordes hyrde. Hē under hārne stān,

æþelinges bearn, āna genēðde

frēcne dǣde; ne wæs him Fitela mid;

890

hwæþre him gesǣlde, ðæt þæt swurd þurhwōd

wrǣtlīcne wyrm, þæt hit on wealle æstōd,

dryhtlīc īren; draca morðre swealt.

Hæfde āglǣca elne gegongen,

þæt hē bēah-hordes brūcan mōste

selfes dōme; sǣ-bāt gehleōd,

bær on bearm scipes beorhte frætwa,

Wælses eafera; wyrm hāt gemealt.

Sē wæs wreccena wīde mǣrost

ofer wer-þēode, wīgendra hlēo,

900

ellen-dǣdum —hē þæs ǣr onðāh—

siððan Heremōdes hild sweðrode,

eafoð ond ellen; hē mid eotenum wearð

on fēonda geweald forð forlācen

snūde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas

lemede tō lange; hē his lēodum wearð,

eallum æþellingum tō aldor-ceare.

Swylce oft bemearn ǣrran mǣlum

swīð-ferhþes sīð snotor ceorl monig,

sē þe him bealwa tō bōte gelȳfde,

910

þæt þæt ðēodnes bearn geþēon scolde,

fæder-æþelum onfōn, folc gehealdan,

hord ond hlēo-burh, hæleþa rīce,

ēðel Scyldinga. Hē þǣr eallum wearð,

mǣg Higelāces, manna cynne,

frēondum gefægra; hine fyren onwōd.

Hwīlum flītende fealwe strǣte

mēarum mǣton. Đā wæs morgen-lēoht

scofen ond scynded. Ēode scealc monig

swīð-hicgende tō sele þām hēan,

920

searo-wundor sēon; swylce self cyning

of brȳd-būre, bēah-horda weard,

tryddode tīr-fæst getrume micle,

cystum gecȳþed, ond his cwēn mid him

medo-stigge mæt mægþa hōse.

Hrōðgār maþelode —hē tō healle gēong,

stōd on stapole, geseah stēapne hrōf

golde fāhne ond Grendles hond:

“Đisse ansȳne Al-wealdan þanc

lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lāþes gebād,

930

grynna æt Grendle; ā mæg God wyrcan

wunder æfter wundre, wuldres Hyrde.

Đæt wæs ungeāra, þæt ic ǣnigra mē

wēana ne wēnde tō wīdan feore

bōte gebīdan, þonne blōde fāh

hūsa sēlest heoro-drērig stōd,

wēa wīd-scofen witena gehwylcum

ðāra þe ne wēndon, þæt hīe wīde-ferhð

lēoda land-geweorc lāþum beweredon

scuccum ond scinnum. Nū scealc hafað

940

þurh Drihtnes miht dǣd gefremede,

ðe wē ealle ǣr ne meahton

snyttrum besyrwan. Hwæt, þæt secgan mæg

efne swā hwylc mægþa, swā ðone magan cende

æfter gum-cynnum, gyf hēo gȳt lyfað,

þæt hyre Eald-metod ēste wǣre

bearn-gebyrdo. Nū ic, Bēowulf, þec,

secg betsta, mē for sunu wylle

frēogan on ferhþe; heald forð tela

nīwe sibbe. Ne bið þē nǣnigre gād

950

worolde wilna, þē ic geweald hæbbe.

Ful oft ic for lǣssan lēan teohhode,

hord-weorþunge hnāhran rince,

sǣmran æt sæcce. Þū þē self hafast

dǣdum gefremed, þæt þīn dōm lyfað

āwa tō aldre. Al-walda þec

gōde forgylde, swā hē nū gȳt dyde!”

Bēowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþēowes:

Wē þæt ellen-weorc ēstum miclum,

feohtan fremedon, frēcne genēðdon

960

eafoð uncūþes. Ūþe ic swīþor,

þæt ðū hine selfne gesēon mōste,

fēond on frætewum fyl-wērigne!

Ic hine hrædlīce heardan clammum

on wæl-bedde wrīþan þōhte,

þæt hē for mund-gripe mīnum scolde

licgean līf-bysig, būtan his līc swice.

Ic hine ne mihte, þē Metod nolde,

ganges getwǣman, nō ic him þæs georne ætfealh,

feorh-genīðlan; wæs tō fore-mihtig

970

fēond on fēþe. Hwæþere hē his folme forlēt

tō līf-wraþe lāst weardian,

earm ond eaxle; nō þǣr ǣnige swā þēah

fēasceaft guma frōfre gebohte;

nō þȳ leng leofað lāð-getēona

synnum geswenced, ac hyne sār hafað

in nīd-gripe nearwe befongen,

balwon bendum; ðǣr ābīdan sceal

maga māne fāh miclan dōmes,

hū him scīr Metod scrīfan wille.”

980

Đā wæs swīgra secg, sunu Ecglāfes,

on gylp-sprǣce gūð-geweorca,

siþðan æþelingas eorles cræfte

ofer hēanne hrōf hand scēawedon,

fēondes fingras. Foran ǣghwylc wæs,

steda nægla gehwylc stȳle gelīcost,

hǣþenes hand-sporu, hilde-rinces

egl unhēoru. Ǣghwylc gecwæð

þæt him heardra nān hrīnan wolde

īren ǣr-gōd, þæt ðæs āhlǣcan

990

blōdge beadu-folme onberan wolde.

Đā wæs hāten hreþe Heort innanweard

folmum gefrætwod; fela þǣra wæs,

wera ond wīfa, þe þæt wīn-reced,

gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fāg scinon

web æfter wāgum, wundor-sı īona fela

secga gehwylcum þāra þe on swylc starað.

Wæs þæt beorhte bold tōbrocen swīðe,

eal inneweard īren-bendum fæst,

heorras tōhlidene; hrōf āna genæs

1000

ealles ansund, þē se āglǣca

fyren-dǣdum fāg on flēam gewand,

aldres orwēna. Nō þæt ȳðe byð

tō beflēonne —fremme sē þe wille—

ac gesēcan sceal sāwl-berendra

nȳde genȳdde, niþða bearna,

grund-būendra gearwe stōwe,

þǣr his līc-homa, leger-bedde fæst,

swefeþ æfter symle.

Þā wæs sǣl ond mǣl

þæt tō healle gang Healfdenes sunu;

1010

wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.

Ne gefrægen ic þā mǣgþe māran weorode

ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sēl gebǣran.

Bugon þā tō bence blǣd-āgande,

fylle gefǣgon; fægere geþǣgon

medo-ful manig māgas þāra,

swīð-hicgende, on sele þām hēan,

Hrōðgār ond Hroþulf. Heorot innan wæs

frēondum āfylled; nalles fācen-stafas

Þēod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.

1020

Forgeaf þā Bēowulfe brand Healfdenes

segen gyldenne sigores tō lēane,

hroden hilde-cumbor, helm ond byrnan;

mǣre māðþum-sweord manige gesāwon

beforan beorn beran. Bēowulf geþah

ful on flette; nō hē þǣre feoh-gyfte

for sceotendum scamigan ðorfte.

Ne gefrægn ic frēondlīcor fēower mādmas

golde gegyrede gum-manna fela

in ealo-bence ōðrum gesellan.

1030

Ymb þæs helmes hrōf hēafod-beorge

wīrum bewunden walu ūtan hēold,

þæt him fēla lāfe frēcne ne meahton

scūr-heard sceþðan, þonne scyld-freca

ongēan gramum gangan scolde.

Heht ðā eorla hlēo eahta mēaras

fǣted-hlēore on flet tēon,

in under eoderas; þāra ānum stōd

sadol swearwum fāh, since gewurþad.

Þæt wæs hilde-setl hēah-cyninges,

1040

ðonne sweorda gelāc sunu Healfdenes

efnan wolde; nǣfre on ōre læg

wīd-cūþes wīg, ðonne walu fēollon.

Ond ðā Bēowulfe bēga gehwæþres

eodor Ingwina onweald getēah,

wicga ond wǣpna; hēt hine wēl brūcan.

Swā manlīce mǣre þēoden,

hord-weard hæleþa heaþo-rǣsas geald

mēarum ond mādmum, swā hȳ nǣfre man lyhð,

sē þe secgan wile sōð æfter rihte.

1050

Đā gȳt ǣghwylcum eorla drihten

þāra þe mid Bēowulfe brim-lāde tēah,

on þǣre medu-bence māþðum gesealde,

yrfe-lāfe, ond þone ǣnne heht

golde forgyldan, þone ðe Grendel ǣr

māne ācwealde, swā hē hyra mā wolde,

nefne him wītig God wyrd forstōde

ond ðæs mannes mōd. Metod eallum wēold

gumena cynnes, swā hē nū gīt dēð.

Forþan bið andgit ǣghwær sēlest,