B e o w u l f

G r e n d e l ' s  
M o t h e r

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Sigon tha to slæpe. | Sum sare angeald
æfenræste, | swa him ful oft gelamp,
sithdhan goldsele | Grendel warode,
unriht æfnde, | oththæt ende becwom,

1255

swylt æfter synnum. | thæt gesyne wearth,
widcuth werum, | thætte wrecend tha gyt
lifde æfter lathum, | lange thrage,
æfter gudhceare. | Grendles modor,
ides, aglæcwif, | yrmthe gemunde,

1260

se the wæteregesan | wunian scolde,
cealde streamas, | sithdhan Cain weardh
to ecgbanan | angan brether,
fæderenmæge; | he tha fag gewat,
morthre gemearcod, | mandream fleon,

1265

westen warode. | Thanon woc fela
geosceaftgasta; | wæs thæra Grendel sum,
heorowearh hetelic, | se æt Heorote fand
wæccendne wer | wiges bidan.
Thær him aglæca | ætgræpe weardh;

1270

hwæthre he gemunde | mægenes strenge,
gimfæste gife | dhe him god sealde,
ond him to anwaldan | are gelyfde,
frofre ond fultum; | dhy he thone feond ofercwom,
gehnægde helle gast. | tha he hean gewat,

1275

dreame bedæled, | deathwic seon,
mancynnes feond, | ond his modor tha gyt,
gifre ond galgmod, | gegan wolde
sorhfulne sidh, | sunu deadh wrecan.

Com tha to Heorote, | dhær Hringdene

1280

geond thæt sæld swæfun. | Tha dhær sona weardh
edhwyrft eorlum, | sithdhan inne fealh
Grendles modor. | Wæs se gryre læssa
efne swa micle | swa bidh mægtha cræft,
wiggryre wifes, | be wæpnedmen,

1285

thonne heoru bunden, | hamere gethuren,
sweord swate fah | swin ofer helme
ecgum dyhttig | andweard sciredh.
Tha wæs on healle | heardecg togen
sweord ofer setlum, | sidrand manig

1290

hafen handa fæst; | helm ne gemunde,
byrnan side, | tha hine se broga angeat.
Heo wæs on ofste, | wolde ut thanon,
feore beorgan, | tha heo onfunden wæs.
Hradhe heo æthelinga | anne hæfde

1295

fæste befangen, | tha heo to fenne gang.
Se wæs Hrothgare | hæletha leofost
on gesidhes had | be sæm tweonum,
rice randwiga, | thone dhe heo on ræste abreat,
blædfæstne beorn. | Næs Beowulf dhær,

1300

ac wæs other in | ær geteohhod
æfter mathdhumgife | mærum Geate.

Hream weardh in Heorote; | heo under heolfre genam
cuthe folme; | cearu wæs geniwod,
geworden in wicun. | Ne wæs thæt gewrixle til,

1305

thæt hie on ba healfa | bicgan scoldon
freonda feorum. | Tha wæs frod cyning,
har hilderinc, | on hreon mode,
sydhthan he aldorthegn | unlyfigendne,
thone deorestan | deadne wisse.

1310

Hrathe wæs to bure | Beowulf fetod,
sigoreadig secg. | Samod ærdæge
eode eorla sum, | æthele cempa
self mid gesidhum | thær se snotera bad,
hwæther him alwalda | æfre wille

1315

æfter weaspelle | wyrpe gefremman.
Gang dha æfter flore | fyrdwyrdhe man
mid his handscale | (healwudu dynede),
thæt he thone wisan | wordum nægde
frean Ingwina, | frægn gif him wære

1320

æfter neodladhum | niht getæse.

Hrodhgar mathelode, | helm Scyldinga:
"Ne frin thu æfter sælum! | Sorh is geniwod
Denigea leodum. | Dead is æschere,
Yrmenlafes | yldra brothor,

1325

min runwita | ond min rædbora,
eaxlgestealla, | dhonne we on orlege
hafelan weredon, | thonne hniton fethan,
eoferas cnysedan. | Swylc scolde eorl wesan,
ætheling ærgod, | swylc æschere wæs!

1330

Weardh him on Heorote | to handbanan
wælgæst wæfre; | ic ne wat hwæder
atol æse wlanc | eftsidhas teah,
fylle gefægnod. | Heo tha fæhdhe wræc
the thu gystran niht | Grendel cwealdest

1335

thurh hæstne had | heardum clammum,
forthan he to lange | leode mine
wanode ond wyrde. | He æt wige gecrang
ealdres scyldig, | ond nu other cwom
mihtig manscadha, | wolde hyre mæg wrecan,

1340

ge feor hafadh | fæhdhe gestæled
(thæs the thincean mæg | thegne monegum,
se the æfter sincgyfan | on sefan greoteth),
hretherbealo hearde; | nu seo hand ligedh,
se the eow welhwylcra | wilna dohte.

1345

Ic thæt londbuend, | leode mine,
selerædende, | secgan hyrde
thæt hie gesawon | swylce twegen
micle mearcstapan | moras healdan,
ellorgæstas. | Dhæra odher wæs,

1350

thæs the hie gewislicost | gewitan meahton,
idese onlicnæs; | odher earmsceapen
on weres wæstmum | wræclastas træd,
næfne he wæs mara | thonne ænig man odher;
thone on geardagum | Grendel nemdon

1355

foldbuende. | No hie fæder cunnon,
hwæther him ænig wæs | ær acenned
dyrnra gasta. | Hie dygel lond
warigeadh, wulfhleothu, | windige næssas,
frecne fengelad, | dhær fyrgenstream

1360

under næssa genipu | nither gewitedh,
flod under foldan. | Nis thæt feor heonon
milgemearces | thæt se mere standedh;
ofer thæm hongiadh | hrinde bearwas,
wudu wyrtum fæst | wæter oferhelmadh.

1365

Thær mæg nihta gehwæm | nidhwundor seon,
fyr on flode. | No thæs frod leofadh
gumena bearna, | thæt thone grund wite;
dheah the hædhstapa | hundum geswenced,
heorot hornum trum, | holtwudu sece,

1370

feorran geflymed, | ær he feorh seledh,
aldor on ofre, | ær he in wille
hafelan hydan. | Nis thæt heoru stow!
Thonon ydhgeblond | up astigedh
won to wolcnum, | thonne wind styreth,

1375

ladh gewidru, | odhthæt lyft drysmath,
roderas reotadh. | Nu is se ræd gelang
eft æt the anum. | Eard git ne const,
frecne stowe, | dhær thu findan miht
felasinnigne secg; | sec gif thu dyrre.

1380

Ic the tha fæhdhe | feo leanige,
ealdgestreonum, | swa ic ær dyde,
wundnum golde, | gyf thu on weg cymest."

Beowulf mathelode, | bearn Ecgtheowes:
"Ne sorga, snotor guma; | selre bidh æghwæm

1385

thæt he his freond wrece, | thonne he fela murne.
Ure æghwylc sceal | ende gebidan
worolde lifes; | wyrce se the mote
domes ær deathe; | thæt bidh drihtguman
unlifgendum | æfter selest.

1390

Aris, rices weard, | uton rathe feran
Grendles magan | gang sceawigan.
Ic hit the gehate, | no he on helm losath,
ne on foldan fæthm, | ne on fyrgenholt,
ne on gyfenes grund, | ga thær he wille.

1395

Dhys dogor thu | gethyld hafa
weana gehwylces, | swa ic the wene to."

Ahleop dha se gomela, | gode thancode,
mihtigan drihtne, | thæs se man gespræc.
Tha wæs Hrodhgare | hors gebæted,

1400

wicg wundenfeax. | Wisa fengel
geatolic gende; | gumfetha stop
lindhæbbendra. | Lastas wæron
æfter waldswathum | wide gesyne,
gang ofer grundas, | thær heo gegnum for

1405

ofer myrcan mor, | magothegna bær
thone selestan | sawolleasne
thara the mid Hrodhgare | ham eahtode.
Ofereode tha | æthelinga bearn
steap stanhlidho, | stige nearwe,

1410

enge anpadhas, | uncudh gelad,
neowle næssas, | nicorhusa fela.
He feara sum | beforan gengde
wisra monna | wong sceawian,
oththæt he færinga | fyrgenbeamas

1415

ofer harne stan | hleonian funde,
wynleasne wudu; | wæter under stod
dreorig ond gedrefed. | Denum eallum wæs,
winum Scyldinga, | weorce on mode
to getholianne, | dhegne monegum,

1420

oncydh eorla gehwæm, | sydhthan æscheres
on tham holmclife | hafelan metton.
Flod blode weol | (folc to sægon),
hatan heolfre. | Horn stundum song
fuslic fyrdleodh. | Fetha eal gesæt.

1425

Gesawon dha æfter wætere | wyrmcynnes fela,
sellice sædracan, | sund cunnian,
swylce on næshleodhum | nicras licgean,
dha on undernmæl | oft bewitigadh
sorhfulne sidh | on seglrade,

1430

wyrmas ond wildeor; | hie on weg hruron,
bitere ond gebolgne, | bearhtm ongeaton,
gudhhorn galan. | Sumne Geata leod
of flanbogan | feores getwæfde,
ydhgewinnes, | thæt him on aldre stod

1435

herestræl hearda; | he on holme wæs
sundes the sænra, | dhe hyne swylt fornam.
Hræthe weardh on ydhum | mid eoferspreotum
heorohocyhtum | hearde genearwod,
nidha genæged, | ond on næs togen,

1440

wundorlic wægbora; | weras sceawedon
gryrelicne gist. | Gyrede hine Beowulf
eorlgewædum, | nalles for ealdre mearn.
Scolde herebyrne | hondum gebroden,
sid ond searofah, | sund cunnian,

1445

seo dhe bancofan | beorgan cuthe,
thæt him hildegrap | hrethre ne mihte,
eorres inwitfeng, | aldre gescethdhan;
ac se hwita helm | hafelan werede,
se the meregrundas | mengan scolde,

1450

secan sundgebland | since geweordhad,
befongen freawrasnum, | swa hine fyrndagum
worhte wæpna smidh, | wundrum teode,
besette swinlicum, | thæt hine sydhthan no
brond ne beadomecas | bitan ne meahton.

1455

Næs thæt thonne mætost | mægenfultuma
thæt him on dhearfe lah | dhyle Hrodhgares;
wæs thæm hæftmece | Hrunting nama.
Thæt wæs an foran | ealdgestreona;
ecg wæs iren, | atertanum fah,

1460

ahyrded heathoswate; | næfre hit æt hilde ne swac
manna ængum | thara the hit mid mundum bewand,
se dhe gryresidhas | gegan dorste,
folcstede fara; | næs thæt forma sidh
thæt hit ellenweorc | æfnan scolde.

1465

Huru ne gemunde | mago Ecglafes,
eafothes cræftig, | thæt he ær gespræc
wine druncen, | tha he thæs wæpnes onlah
selran sweordfrecan. | Selfa ne dorste
under ydha gewin | aldre genethan,

1470

drihtscype dreogan; | thær he dome forleas,
ellenmærdhum. | Ne wæs thæm odhrum swa,
sydhthan he hine to gudhe | gegyred hæfde.

Beowulf madhelode, | bearn Ecgtheowes:
"Gethenc nu, se mæra | maga Healfdenes,

1475

snottra fengel, | nu ic eom sidhes fus,
goldwine gumena, | hwæt wit geo spræcon,
gif ic æt thearfe | thinre scolde
aldre linnan, | thæt dhu me a wære
fordhgewitenum | on fæder stæle.

1480

Wes thu mundbora | minum magothegnum,
hondgesellum, | gif mec hild nime;
swylce thu dha madmas | the thu me sealdest,
Hrodhgar leofa, | Higelace onsend.
Mæg thonne on thæm golde ongitan | Geata dryhten,

1485

geseon sunu Hrædles, | thonne he on thæt sinc staradh,
thæt ic gumcystum | godne funde
beaga bryttan, | breac thonne moste.
Ond thu Unferdh læt | ealde lafe,
wrætlic wægsweord, | widcudhne man

1490

heardecg habban; | ic me mid Hruntinge
dom gewyrce, | othdhe mec deadh nimedh."

Æfter thæm wordum | Wedergeata leod
efste mid elne, | nalas ondsware
bidan wolde; | brimwylm onfeng

1495

hilderince. | Dha wæs hwil dæges
ær he thone grundwong | ongytan mehte.

Sona thæt onfunde | se dhe floda begong
heorogifre beheold | hund missera,
grim ond grædig, | thæt thær gumena sum

1500

ælwihta eard | ufan cunnode.
Grap tha togeanes, | gudhrinc gefeng
atolan clommum. | No thy ær in gescod
halan lice; | hring utan ymbbearh,
thæt heo thone fyrdhom | dhurhfon ne mihte,

1505

locene leodhosyrcan | lathan fingrum.
Bær tha seo brimwylf, | tha heo to botme com,
hringa thengel | to hofe sinum,
swa he ne mihte, | no he thæs modig wæs,
wæpna gewealdan, | ac hine wundra thæs fela

1510

swencte on sunde, | sædeor monig
hildetuxum | heresyrcan bræc,
ehton aglæcan. | Dha se eorl ongeat
thæt he in nidhsele | nathwylcum wæs,
thær him nænig wæter | wihte ne scethede,

1515

ne him for hrofsele | hrinan ne mehte
færgripe flodes; | fyrleoht geseah,
blacne leoman, | beorhte scinan.

Ongeat tha se goda | grundwyrgenne,
merewif mihtig; | mægenræs forgeaf

1520

hildebille, | hond sweng ne ofteah,
thæt hire on hafelan | hringmæl agol
grædig gudhleodh. | dha se gist onfand
thæt se beadoleoma | bitan nolde,
aldre scethdhan, | ac seo ecg geswac

1525

dheodne æt thearfe; | dholode ær fela
hondgemota, | helm oft gescær,
fæges fyrdhrægl; | dha wæs forma sidh
deorum madme, | thæt his dom alæg.
Eft wæs anræd, | nalas elnes læt,

1530

mærdha gemyndig | mæg Hylaces.
Wearp dha wundenmæl | wrættum gebunden
yrre oretta, | thæt hit on eordhan læg,
stidh ond stylecg; | strenge getruwode,
mundgripe mægenes. | Swa sceal man don,

1535

thonne he æt gudhe | gegan thencedh
longsumne lof, | na ymb his lif cearadh.

Gefeng tha be eaxle | (nalas for fæhdhe mearn)
Gudhgeata leod | Grendles modor;
brægd tha beadwe heard, | tha he gebolgen wæs,

1540

feorhgenidhlan, | thæt heo on flet gebeah.
Heo him eft hrathe | andlean forgeald
grimman grapum | ond him togeanes feng;
oferwearp tha werigmod | wigena strengest,
fethecempa, | thæt he on fylle weardh.

1545

Ofsæt tha thone selegyst | ond hyre seax geteah,
brad ond brunecg, | wolde hire bearn wrecan,
angan eaferan. | Him on eaxle læg
breostnet broden; | thæt gebearh feore,
widh ord ond widh ecge | ingang forstod.

1550

Hæfde dha forsidhod | sunu Ecgtheowes
under gynne grund, | Geata cempa,
nemne him headhobyrne | helpe gefremede,
herenet hearde, | ond halig god
geweold wigsigor; | witig drihten,

1555

rodera rædend, | hit on ryht gesced
ydhelice, | sythdhan he eft astod.
Geseah dha on searwum | sigeeadig bil,
eald sweord eotenisc, | ecgum thyhtig,
wigena weordhmynd; | thæt wæs wæpna cyst,

1560

buton hit wæs mare | dhonne ænig mon odher
to beadulace | ætberan meahte,
god ond geatolic, | giganta geweorc.
He gefeng tha fetelhilt, | freca Scyldinga
hreoh ond heorogrim | hringmæl gebrægd,

1565

aldres orwena, | yrringa sloh,
thæt hire widh halse | heard grapode,
banhringas bræc. | Bil eal dhurhwod
fægne flæschoman; | heo on flet gecrong.
Sweord wæs swatig, | secg weorce gefeh.

1570

Lixte se leoma, | leoht inne stod,
efne swa of hefene | hadre scinedh
rodores candel. | He æfter recede wlat;
hwearf tha be wealle, | wæpen hafenade
heard be hiltum | Higelaces dhegn,

1575

yrre ond anræd. | Næs seo ecg fracod
hilderince, | ac he hrathe wolde
Grendle forgyldan | gudhræsa fela
dhara the he geworhte | to Westdenum
oftor micle | dhonne on ænne sidh,

1580

thonne he Hrodhgares | heordhgeneatas
sloh on sweofote, | slæpende fræt
folces Denigea | fyftyne men
ond odher swylc | ut offerede,
ladhlicu lac. | He him thæs lean forgeald,

1585

rethe cempa, | to dhæs the he on ræste geseah
gudhwerigne | Grendel licgan
aldorleasne, | swa him ær gescod
hild æt Heorote. | Hra wide sprong,
sythdhan he æfter deadhe | drepe throwade,

1590

heorosweng heardne, | ond hine tha heafde becearf.

Sona thæt gesawon | snottre ceorlas,
tha dhe mid Hrodhgare | on holm wliton,
thæt wæs ydhgeblond | eal gemenged,
brim blode fah. | Blondenfeaxe,

1595

gomele ymb godne, | ongeador spræcon
thæt hig thæs ædhelinges | eft ne wendon
thæt he sigehredhig | secean come
mærne theoden; | tha dhæs monige geweardh
thæt hine seo brimwylf | abroten hæfde.

1600

Dha com non dæges. | Næs ofgeafon
hwate Scyldingas; | gewat him ham thonon
goldwine gumena. | Gistas setan
modes seoce | ond on mere staredon,
wiston ond ne wendon | thæt hie heora winedrihten

1605

selfne gesawon. | Tha thæt sweord ongan
æfter heathoswate | hildegicelum,
wigbil wanian. | thæt wæs wundra sum,
thæt hit eal gemealt | ise gelicost,
dhonne forstes bend | fæder onlætedh,

1610

onwindedh wælrapas, | se geweald hafadh
sæla ond mæla; | thæt is sodh metod.
Ne nom he in thæm wicum, | Wedergeata leod,
madhmæhta ma, | theh he thær monige geseah,
buton thone hafelan | ond tha hilt somod

1615

since fage. | Sweord ær gemealt,
forbarn brodenmæl; | wæs thæt blod to thæs hat,
ættren ellorgæst | se thær inne swealt.

Sona wæs on sunde | se the ær æt sæcce gebad
wighryre wradhra, | wæter up thurhdeaf.

1620

Wæron ydhgebland | eal gefælsod,
eacne eardas, | tha se ellorgast
oflet lifdagas | ond thas lænan gesceaft.
Com tha to lande | lidmanna helm
swidhmod swymman; | sælace gefeah,

1625

mægenbyrthenne | thara the he him mid hæfde.
Eodon him tha togeanes, | gode thancodon,
dhrydhlic thegna heap, | theodnes gefegon,
thæs the hi hyne gesundne | geseon moston.
Dha wæs of thæm hroran | helm ond byrne

1630

lungre alysed. | Lagu drusade,
wæter under wolcnum, | wældreore fag.

Ferdon fordh thonon | fethelastum
ferhthum fægne, | foldweg mæton,
cuthe stræte. | Cyningbalde men

1635

from thæm holmclife | hafelan bæron
earfodhlice | heora æghwæthrum,
felamodigra; | feower scoldon
on thæm wælstenge | weorcum geferian
to thæm goldsele | Grendles heafod,

1640

othdhæt semninga | to sele comon
frome fyrdhwate | feowertyne
Geata gongan; | gumdryhten mid
modig on gemonge | meodowongas træd.
Dha com in gan | ealdor dhegna,

1645

dædcene mon | dome gewurthad,
hæle hildedeor, | Hrodhgar gretan.
Tha wæs be feaxe | on flet boren
Grendles heafod, | thær guman druncon,
egeslic for eorlum | ond thære idese mid,

1650

wliteseon wrætlic; | weras on sawon.

Beowulf mathelode, | bearn Ecgtheowes:
"Hwæt! we the thas sælac, | sunu Healfdenes,
leod Scyldinga, | lustum brohton
tires to tacne, | the thu her to locast.

1655

Ic thæt unsofte | ealdre gedigde
wigge under wætere, | weorc genethde
earfodhlice; | ætrihte wæs
gudh getwæfed, | nymdhe mec god scylde.
Ne meahte ic æt hilde | mid Hruntinge

1660

wiht gewyrcan, | theah thæt wæpen duge;
ac me geudhe | ylda waldend
thæt ic on wage geseah | wlitig hangian
eald sweord eacen | (oftost wisode
winigea leasum), | thæt ic dhy wæpne gebræd.

1665

Ofsloh dha æt thære sæcce, | tha me sæl ageald,
huses hyrdas. | Tha thæt hildebil
forbarn brogdenmæl, | swa thæt blod gesprang,
hatost heathoswata. | Ic thæt hilt thanan
feondum ætferede, | fyrendæda wræc,

1670

deadhcwealm Denigea, | swa hit gedefe wæs.
Ic hit the thonne gehate, | thæt thu on Heorote most
sorhleas swefan | mid thinra secga gedryht
ond thegna gehwylc | thinra leoda,
dugudhe ond iogothe, | thæt thu him ondrædan ne thearft,

1675

theoden Scyldinga, | on tha healfe,
aldorbealu eorlum, | swa thu ær dydest."

Dha wæs gylden hilt | gamelum rince,
harum hildfruman, | on hand gyfen,
enta ærgeweorc; | hit on æht gehwearf

1680

æfter deofla hryre | Denigea frean,
wundorsmitha geweorc, | ond tha thas worold ofgeaf
gromheort guma, | godes ondsaca,
mordhres scyldig, | ond his modor eac,
on geweald gehwearf | woroldcyninga

1685

dhæm selestan | be sæm tweonum
dhara the on Scedenigge | sceattas dælde.

Hrodhgar madhelode, | hylt sceawode,
ealde lafe, | on dhæm wæs or writen
fyrngewinnes, | sydhthan flod ofsloh,

1690

gifen geotende, | giganta cyn
(frecne geferdon); | thæt wæs fremde theod
ecean dryhtne; | him thæs endelean
thurh wæteres wylm | waldend sealde.
Swa wæs on dhæm scennum | sciran goldes

1695

thurh runstafas | rihte gemearcod,
geseted ond gesæd | hwam thæt sweord geworht,
irena cyst, | ærest wære,
wreothenhilt ond wyrmfah. | Dha se wisa spræc
sunu Healfdenes | (swigedon ealle):

1700

"Thæt, la, mæg secgan | se the sodh ond riht
fremedh on folce, | feor eal gemon,
eald [edhel]weard, | thæt dhes eorl wære
geboren betera! | Blæd is aræred
geond widwegas, | wine min Beowulf,

1705

dhin ofer theoda gehwylce. | Eal thu hit gethyldum healdest,
mægen mid modes snyttrum. | Ic the sceal mine gelæstan
freode, swa wit furdhum spræcon. | Dhu scealt to frofre weorthan
eal langtwidig | leodum thinum,
hæledhum to helpe. | Ne weardh Heremod swa

1710

eaforum Ecgwelan, | Arscyldingum;
ne geweox he him to willan, | ac to wælfealle
ond to deadhcwalum | Deniga leodum;
breat bolgenmod | beodgeneatas,
eaxlgesteallan, | oththæt he ana hwearf,

1715

mære theoden, | mondreamum from.
Dheah the hine mihtig god | mægenes wynnum,
eafethum stepte, | ofer ealle men
fordh gefremede, | hwæthere him on ferhthe greow
breosthord blodreow. | Nallas beagas geaf

1720

Denum æfter dome; | dreamleas gebad
thæt he thæs gewinnes | weorc throwade,
leodbealo longsum. | Dhu the lær be thon,
gumcyste ongit; | ic this gid be the
awræc wintrum frod. | Wundor is to secganne

1725

hu mihtig god | manna cynne
thurh sidne sefan | snyttru bryttadh,
eard ond eorlscipe; | he ah ealra geweald.
Hwilum he on lufan | lætedh hworfan
monnes modgethonc | mæran cynnes,

1730

seledh him on ethle | eorthan wynne
to healdanne, | hleoburh wera,
gededh him swa gewealdene | worolde dælas,
side rice, | thæt he his selfa ne mæg
for his unsnyttrum | ende gethencean.

1735

Wunadh he on wiste; | no hine wiht dweledh
adl ne yldo, | ne him inwitsorh
on sefan sweorcedh, | ne gesacu ohwær
ecghete eowedh, | ac him eal worold
wendedh on willan | (he thæt wyrse ne con),

1740

odhthæt him on innan | oferhygda dæl
weaxedh ond wridadh. | Thonne se weard swefedh,
sawele hyrde; | bidh se slæp to fæst,
bisgum gebunden, | bona swidhe neah,
se the of flanbogan | fyrenum sceotedh.

1745

Thonne bidh on hrethre | under helm drepen
biteran stræle | (him bebeorgan ne con),
wom wundorbebodum | wergan gastes;
thincedh him to lytel | thæt he lange heold,
gytsadh gromhydig, | nallas on gylp seledh

1750

fædde beagas, | ond he tha fordhgesceaft
forgytedh ond forgymedh, | thæs the him ær god sealde,
wuldres waldend, | weordhmynda dæl.
Hit on endestæf | eft gelimpedh
thæt se lichoma | læne gedreosedh,

1755

fæge gefealledh; | fehdh other to,
se the unmurnlice | madmas dæleth,
eorles ærgestreon, | egesan ne gymedh.
Bebeorh the dhone bealonidh, | Beowulf leofa,
secg betsta, | ond the thæt selre geceos,

1760

ece rædas; | oferhyda ne gym,
mære cempa. | Nu is thines mægnes blæd
ane hwile. | Eft sona bidh
thæt thec adl odhdhe ecg | eafothes getwæfedh,
odhdhe fyres feng, | odhdhe flodes wylm,

1765

odhdhe gripe meces, | odhdhe gares fliht,
odhdhe atol yldo; | odhdhe eagena bearhtm
forsitedh ond forsworcedh; | semninga bidh
thæt dhec, dryhtguma, | deadh oferswydhedh.
Swa ic Hringdena | hund missera

1770

weold under wolcnum | ond hig wigge beleac
manigum mægtha | geond thysne middangeard,
æscum ond ecgum, | thæt ic me ænigne
under swegles begong | gesacan ne tealde.
Hwæt, me thæs on ethle | edwenden cwom,

1775

gyrn æfter gomene, | seothdhan Grendel weardh,
ealdgewinna, | ingenga min;
ic thære socne | singales wæg
modceare micle. | Thæs sig metode thanc,
ecean dryhtne, | thæs dhe ic on aldre gebad

1780

thæt ic on thone hafelan | heorodreorigne
ofer ealdgewin | eagum starige!
Ga nu to setle, | symbelwynne dreoh
wigge weorthad; | unc sceal worn fela
mathma gemænra, | sithdhan morgen bidh."

1785

Geat wæs glædmod, | geong sona to
setles neosan, | swa se snottra heht.
Tha wæs eft swa ær | ellenrofum
fletsittendum | fægere gereorded
niowan stefne. | Nihthelm geswearc

1790

deorc ofer dryhtgumum. | Dugudh eal aras.
Wolde blondenfeax | beddes neosan,
gamela Scylding. | Geat unigmetes wel,
rofne randwigan, | restan lyste;
sona him selethegn | sidhes wergum,

1795

feorrancundum, | fordh wisade,
se for andrysnum | ealle beweotede
thegnes thearfe, | swylce thy dogore
heatholidhende | habban scoldon.
Reste hine tha rumheort; | reced hliuade

1800

geap ond goldfah; | gæst inne swæf
oththæt hrefn blaca | heofones wynne
blidhheort bodode. | Dha com beorht scacan
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . scathan onetton,
wæron æthelingas | eft to leodum

1805

fuse to farenne; | wolde feor thanon
cuma collenferhdh | ceoles neosan.

Heht tha se hearda | Hrunting beran
sunu Ecglafes, | heht his sweord niman,
leoflic iren; | sægde him thæs leanes thanc,

1810

cwædh, he thone gudhwine | godne tealde,
wigcræftigne, | nales wordum log
meces ecge; | thæt wæs modig secg.
Ond tha sidhfrome, | searwum gearwe
wigend wæron; | eode weordh Denum

1815

ætheling to yppan, | thær se other wæs,
hæle hildedeor | Hrodhgar grette.

Beowulf mathelode, | bearn Ecgtheowes:
"Nu we sælidhend | secgan wylladh,
feorran cumene, | thæt we fundiath

1820

Higelac secan. | Wæron her tela
willum bewenede; | thu us wel dohtest.
Gif ic thonne on eorthan | owihte mæg
thinre modlufan | maran tilian,
gumena dryhten, | dhonne ic gyt dyde,

1825

gudhgeweorca, | ic beo gearo sona.
Gif ic thæt gefricge | ofer floda begang,
thæt thec ymbsittend | egesan thywadh,
swa thec hetende | hwilum dydon,
ic dhe thusenda | thegna bringe,

1830

hæletha to helpe. | Ic on Higelac wat,
Geata dryhten, | theah dhe he geong sy,
folces hyrde, | thæt he mec fremman wile
wordum ond worcum, | thæt ic the wel herige
ond the to geoce | garholt bere,

1835

mægenes fultum, | thær dhe bidh manna thearf.
Gif him thonne Hrethric | to hofum Geata
gethingedh, theodnes bearn, | he mæg thær fela
freonda findan; | feorcythdhe beodh
selran gesohte | thæm the him selfa deah."

1840

Hrodhgar mathelode | him on ondsware:
"The tha wordcwydas | wigtig drihten
on sefan sende; | ne hyrde ic snotorlicor
on swa geongum feore | guman thingian.
Thu eart mægenes strang | ond on mode frod,

1845

wis wordcwida. | Wen ic talige,
gif thæt gegangedh, | thæt dhe gar nymedh,
hild heorugrimme, | Hrethles eaferan,
adl othdhe iren | ealdor dhinne,
folces hyrde, | ond thu thin feorh hafast,

1850

thæt the Sægeatas | selran næbben
to geceosenne | cyning ænigne,
hordweard hæletha, | gyf thu healdan wylt
maga rice. | Me thin modsefa
licadh leng swa wel, | leofa Beowulf.

1855

Hafast thu gefered | thæt tham folcum sceal,
Geata leodum | ond Gardenum,
sib gemæne, | ond sacu restan,
inwitnithas, | the hie ær drugon,
wesan, thenden ic wealde | widan rices,

1860

mathmas gemæne, | manig otherne
godum gegretan | ofer ganotes bædh;
sceal hringnaca | ofer heafu bringan
lac ond luftacen. | Ic tha leode wat
ge widh feond ge widh freond | fæste geworhte,

1865

æghwæs untæle | ealde wisan."

Dha git him eorla hleo | inne gesealde,
mago Healfdenes, | mathmas XII;
het hine mid thæm lacum | leode swæse
secean on gesyntum, | snude eft cuman.

1870

Gecyste tha | cyning æthelum god,
theoden Scyldinga, | dhegn betstan
ond be healse genam; | hruron him tearas,
blondenfeaxum. | Him wæs bega wen,
ealdum infrodum, | othres swidhor,

1875

thæt hie seodhdhan no | geseon moston,
modige on methle. | Wæs him se man to thon leof
thæt he thone breostwylm | forberan ne mehte,
ac him on hrethre | hygebendum fæst
æfter deorum men | dyrne langadh

1880

beorn widh blode. | Him Beowulf thanan,
gudhrinc goldwlanc, | græsmoldan træd
since hremig; | sægenga bad
agendfrean, | se the on ancre rad.
Tha wæs on gange | gifu Hrodhgares

1885

oft geæhted; | thæt wæs an cyning,
æghwæs orleahtre, | oththæt hine yldo benam
mægenes wynnum, | se the oft manegum scod.