B e o w u l f

T h e   S c y l d i n g s

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Hwæt! We Gardena | in geardagum,
theodcyninga, | thrym gefrunon,
hu dha æthelingas | ellen fremedon.

Oft Scyld Scefing | sceathena threatum,

5

monegum mægthum, | meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. | Sydhdhan ærest weardh
feasceaft funden, | he thæs frofre gebad,
weox under wolcnum, | weordhmyndum thah,
odhthæt him æghwylc | thara ymbsittendra

10

ofer hronrade | hyran scolde,
gomban gyldan. | Thæt wæs god cyning!
Dhæm eafera wæs | æfter cenned,
geong in geardum, | thone god sende
folce to frofre; | fyrendhearfe ongeat

15

the hie ær drugon | aldorlease
lange hwile. | Him thæs liffrea,
wuldres wealdend, | woroldare forgeaf;
Beowulf wæs breme | (blæd wide sprang),
Scyldes eafera | Scedelandum in.

20

Swa sceal geong guma | gode gewyrcean,
fromum feohgiftum | on fæder bearme,
thæt hine on ylde | eft gewunigen
wilgesithas, | thonne wig cume,
leode gelæsten; | lofdædum sceal

25

in mægtha gehwære | man getheon.

Him dha Scyld gewat | to gescæphwile
felahror feran | on frean wære.
Hi hyne tha ætbæron | to brimes farodhe,
swæse gesithas, | swa he selfa bæd,

30

thenden wordum weold | wine Scyldinga;
leof landfruma | lange ahte.
Thær æt hydhe stod | hringedstefna,
isig ond utfus, | æthelinges fær.
Aledon tha | leofne theoden,

35

beaga bryttan, | on bearm scipes,
mærne be mæste. | Thær wæs madma fela
of feorwegum, | frætwa, gelæded;
ne hyrde ic cymlicor | ceol gegyrwan
hildewæpnum | ond headhowædum,

40

billum ond byrnum; | him on bearme læg
madma mænigo, | tha him mid scoldon
on flodes æht | feor gewitan.
Nalæs hi hine læssan | lacum teodan,
theodgestreonum, | thon tha dydon

45

the hine æt frumsceafte | fordh onsendon
ænne ofer ydhe | umborwesende.
Tha gyt hie him asetton | segen geldenne
heah ofer heafod, | leton holm beran,
geafon on garsecg; | him wæs geomor sefa,

50

murnende mod. | Men ne cunnon
secgan to sodhe, | selerædende,
hæledh under heofenum, | hwa thæm hlæste onfeng.

Dha wæs on burgum | Beowulf Scyldinga,
leof leodcyning, | longe thrage

55

folcum gefræge | (fæder ellor hwearf,
aldor of earde), | oththæt him eft onwoc
heah Healfdene; | heold thenden lifde,
gamol ond gudhreouw, | glæde Scyldingas.
Dhæm feower bearn | fordh gerimed

60

in worold wocun, | weoroda ræswan,
Heorogar ond Hrodhgar | ond Halga til;
hyrde ic thæt | wæs Onelan cwen,
Headhoscilfingas | healsgebedda.

Tha wæs Hrodhgare | heresped gyfen,

65

wiges weordhmynd, | thæt him his winemagas
georne hyrdon, | odhdh thæt seo geogodh geweox,
magodriht micel. | Him on mod bearn
thæt healreced | hatan wolde,
medoærn micel, | men gewyrcean

70

thonne yldo bearn | æfre gefrunon,
ond thær on innan | eall gedælan
geongum ond ealdum, | swylc him god sealde,
buton folcscare | ond feorum gumena.
Dha ic wide gefrægn | weorc gebannan

75

manigre mægthe | geond thisne middangeard,
folcstede frætwan. | Him on fyrste gelomp,
ædre mid yldum, | thæt hit weardh ealgearo,
healærna mæst; | scop him Heort naman
se the his wordes geweald | wide hæfde.

80

He beot ne aleh, | beagas dælde,
sinc æt symle. | Sele hlifade,
heah ond horngeap, | headhowylma bad,
ladhan liges; | ne wæs hit lenge tha gen
thæt se ecghete | athumsweorum

85

æfter wælnidhe | wæcnan scolde.