Grendel's Mother

1251 - 1887

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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.