CC 20220801
The modern English version by Francis Gummere is also on line.\nI Ða wæs on burgum Beowulf Scyldinga,\nfolcum gefræge --- fæder ellor hwearf,\naldor of earde--- , oþ þæt him eft onwoc\nheah Healfdene; heold þenden lifde\ngamol ond guðreouw glæde Scyldingas.\nHeorogar ond Hroðgar ond Halga til,\nhyrde ic þæt . . . . . . wæs Onelan cwen,\nmagodriht micel. Him on mod bearn,\nrynna gehwylcum þara ðe cwice hwyrfaþ.---\nSwa þa drihtguman dreamum lifdon,\nne gefeah he þære fæhðe, ac hehine feor forwræc,\nÞanon untydras ealle on wocon,\nþolode ðryðswyð þegnsorge dreah,\nlað ond longsum! Næs hit lengra fyrst,\nana wið eallum, oð þæt idel stod\ntwelf wintra tid torn geþolode\nsidra sorga; forðam secgum wearð\nylda bearnum, undyrne cuð\nfyrene ond fæhðefela missera,\nsingale sæce; sibbe ne wolde\nbeorhtre bote to banan folmum;\nseomade ond syrede; sinnihte heold\nmistige moras; men ne cunnon,\nherdra hynða; Heorot eardode,\nsincfage sel sweartum nihtum;---\nmaþðum for Metode, ne his myne wisse.---\nrice to rune; ræd eahtedon,\nwið færgyrum to gefremmanne.\nwigweorþunga, wordum bædon,\nIII Swa ða mælceare maga Healfdenes\nsingala seað; ne mihte snotor hæleð\ngodne gegyrwan; cwæð, he guðcyning\nlagucræftig mon landgemyrcu.\nFyrst forð gewat; flota wæs on yðum,\non stefn stigon,--- streamas wundon,\non bearm nacanbeorhte frætwe,\nþæt ða liðende land ge sawon,\nside sænæssas; þa wæssund liden,\nsæwudu sældon,--- syrcan hyrsedon,\nÐa of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,\n'Hwæt syndon ge searohæbbendra,\nhider ofer holmas? Hwæt, ic hwile wæs\nlindhæbbende, ne ge leafnesword\neorla ofer, eorþan ðonne is eower sum,\nto gecyðanne, hwanan eowre cyme syndon.'\nIIII Him se yldesta andswarode,\næþele ordfruma, Ecgþeow haten;\nwitenawelhwylc wide geond eorþan.\nsunu Healfdenes secean cwomon,\nleodgebyrgean; wes þu us larena god!\nHabbað we to þæm mæran micel ærende\nDeniga frean; ne sceal þær dyrne sum\nwesan, þæs ic wene. Þu wast, gif hit is\nswa we soþlice secgan hyrdon,\ndeogol dædhata deorcum nihtum\nhynðu ond hrafyl . Ic þæs Hroðgar mæg\nhu he frod ond god feond oferswyðeþ---\ngyf him edwenden æfre scolde\nbealuwa bisigu bot eft cuman---,\non heahstede husa selest.'\nombeht unforht: `Æghwæþres sceal\nwæpen ond gewædu, iceow wisige;\narum healdan, oþ ðæt eft byreð\nþæt þone hilderæs hal gedigeð.'\nGewiton him þa feran,--- flota stille bad,\nfah ond fyrheard,--- ferhwearde heold\n`Mæl is me to feran; Fæder alwalda\nsiða gesunde! Ic to sæ wille,\nwið wrað werod wearde healdan.'\nV Stræt wæs stanfah, stig wisode\ngumum ætgædere. Guðbyrnescan\nSetton sæme þe side scyldas,\nrondas regnhearde wið þæs recedes weal;\nbugon þa to bence,--- byrnan hringdon,\n`Hwanon ferigeað ge fætte scyldas,\nWen' ic þæt ge for wlenco, nalles for wræcsiðum,\nac for higeþrymmum Hroðgar sohton.'\nHimþa ellenrof andswarode,\nwlanc Wedera leod, word æfter spræc\nheard under helme: `We synt Higelaces\nwig ond wisdom--- : `Ic þæs wineDeniga,\nfrean Scildinga frinan wille,\nond þe þa andsware ædre gecyðan,\nðe me se goda agifan þenceð.'\n`Her syndon geferede, feorran cumene\nBeowulf nemnað. Hy benan synt,\nþæt hie, þeoden min,wið þe moton\nwordum wrixlan; no ðu him wearne geteoh\nðinra gegncwida, glædman Hroðar!\nse þæm heaðorincum hider wisade.'\n'Ic hine cuðe cnihtwesende;\nangan dohtor; is his eaforan nu\nþyder to þance, þæt he þritiges\nseon sibbegedriht samod ætgædere,\ngesaga him eac wordum. þæt hie sint wil cuman\nDeniga leodum.' Þa to dura eode\nwidcuð hæleð, word inne abead;\n`Eow het secgan sigedrihten min,\naldor East-Dena, þæt he eoweræþelu can,\nNu ge moton gangan in eowrum guðgetawum\nþryðlic þegna heap ; sume þær bidon,\nunder Heorotes hrof; heaþorinc eode,\nheard under helme, þæt he on heorðe gestod,\nBeowulf ma ---ode ðelon him byrne scan,\nsearonet seowed smiþes orþancum--- :\n`Wæs þu, Hroðgar, hal! Ic eom Higelaces\nsecgað sæliðend, þæt þæs sele stande,\nreced selesta rinca gehwylcum\nÞa me þæt gelærdon leode mine,\nforþan hie mægenes cræft minne cuþon;\nyðde eotena cyn, ond on yðum slog\nwræc Wedera nið --- wean ahsodon---,\nforgrandgramum; ond nu wið Grendel sceal,\nwið þam aglæcan ana gehegan\nbrego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille,\nþes hearda heap, Heorot fæl sian.\nHæbbe ic eac geahsod, þæt se æglæca\nfor his wonhydum wæpna ne recceð;\nic þæt þonne forhicge, swa me Higelac sie,\nWen' ic þæt he wille, gif he wealdan mot,\nmægen Hreðmanna. Na ðu minne þearft\ndreore fahne, gif mec deað nimeð;\nÞanon he gesohte Suð-Dena folc\nofer yða gewealc, Ar-Scyldinga;\nbearn Healfdenes; se wæs betera ðonne ic!\ngumena ængum, hwæt me Grendel hafað\nfærniða gefremed; is min fletwerod,\nþone dolsceaðan dæda getwæfan!\nofer ealowæge oretmecgas,\nsigehreð secgum, Swa þin sefa hwette.'\nVIII Unferð maþelode, Ecglafes bearn,\nonband beadurune--- wæs him Beowulfes sið,\nforþon þe he ne uþe, þæt ænig oðer man\ngehede under heofenum þonne he sylfa--- :\n`Eart þu se Beowulf, se þe wið Brecan wunne,\nsorhfullne sið, þa git on sund reon;\nwintrys wylmum. Git on wæteres æht,\non Heaðo-Ræmes holm up ætbær;\nnihtlongne fyrst nean bidan.'\nond gebeotedon --- wæron begen þa git\non geogoðfeore--- þæt wit on garsecg ut\nbeadohrægl broden, on breostum læg\nVIIII Swa mec gelome laðgeteonan\nHwæþere me gesælde, þæt ic mid sweorde ofsloh\nswa deorlice, dæd gefremede\nfagum sweordum --- no ic þæs fela gylpe--- ,\nsefa swa searogrim, swa þu self talast;\nac he hafað onfunden, þæt he þa fæhðe ne þearf,\nswiðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga;\nguþe gebeodan. Gæþ eft se þe\nmot to medo modig, siþþan morgenleoht\nsunne sweglwered suþan scineð!'\nbrego Beorht-Dena, gehyrde on Beowulfe\nsincfato sealde, oþ þæt sæl alamp\nwisfæst wordum þæs ðe hire se willa gelamp,\n`Ic þæt hogode, þa ic on holm gestah,\nwillan geworhte, oþðe on wæl crunge\non þisse meoduhealle minne gebidan!'\ngilpcwide Geates; eode goldhroden,\nsigefolca sweg, oþ þæt semninga\nsiððan hie sunnan leoht geseon meahton,\noð þe nipende niht ofer ealle,\nscaduhelma gesceapu scriðan cwoman\n`Næfre ic ænegum men ær alyfde,\nwaca wiþ wraþum! Ne bið þe wilna gad,\ngif þu þæt ellenweorc aldre gedigest.'\nX Ða him Hroþgar gewat mid his hæleþa gedryht,\neodur Scyldinga ut of healle;\nseleweard aseted; sundornytte behold\nymb aldor Dena, eotonweard' abead.\nmodgan mægnes, Metodes hyldo.---\nÐa he him of dyde iserbyrnan,\nirena cyst ombihtþegne,\n`No ic me an herewæsmun hnagran talige\naldre beneotan, þeah ic eal mæge;\nnat he þara goda, þæt he me ongean slea,\nwig ofer wæpen, ond siðan witig God\non swa hwæere hond halig Dryhten\nmærðo deme, swa him gemet þince.'\nNænig heora þohte, þæt he þanon scolde\neft eardlufan æfre gesecan,\nac hie hæfdon gefrunen, þæt hie ær to fela micles\nwigspeda gewiofu, Wedera leodum.\nselfes mihtum. Soð is gecyþed,\nealle buton anum. Þæt wæs yldum cuþ,\nse scynscaþa under sceadu bregdan;---\nXI Ða com of more under misthleoþum\nfættum fahne. Ne wæs þæt forma sið,\nheardran hæle, healðegnas fand!\nCom þa to recede rinc siðian\ndreamum bedæled. Duru sona onarn\nmynte þæt he gedælde, ær þon dæg cwome,\nwistfylle wen. Ne wæs þæt wyrd þa gen,\nSona þæt onfunde fyrena hyrde,\neorþan sceata on elran men\nmundgripe maran; he on mode wearð\nond him fæste wiðfeng; fingras burston;\non grames grapum. Þæt wæs geocor sið,\nþæt se hearmscaþa to Heorute ateah!\nÞa wæs wundor micel, þæt se winsele\nmedubenc monig mine gefræge\nÞæs ne wendon ær witan Scyldinga,\nþæt hit a mid gemete manna ænig\nbetlic ond banfag tobrecan meahte,\ngryreleoð galan Godes andsacan,\nXII Nolde eorla hleo ænige þinga\nsawle secan: þone synscaðan\nguðbilla nan, gretan nolde;\non feonda geweald feor siðian.---\nfyrene gefremede --- he wæs fag wið God--- ,\ngenered wið niðe. Nihtweorce gefeh,\nellenmærþum. Hæfde East-Denum\nearm ond eaxle --- þær wæs eal geador\nGrendles grape--- under geapne hrof.837-849\nXIII Ða wæs on morgen mine gefræge\nhaton heolfre, heorodreore weol;\nÞanon eft gewiton ealdgesiðas\nswylce geong manig of gomenwaþe,\nmærðo mæned; monig oft gecwæð,\nrondhæbbendra, rices wyrðra. ---\nglædne Hroðgar, ac þæt wæs god cyning. ---\non geflit faran fealwe mearas,\nwordum wrixlan; welhwylc gecwæð,\nHæfde aglæca elne gegongen,\nWælses eafera; wyrm hat gemealt.\nellendædum --- he þæs ær onðah--- ,\neafoð ond ellen. He mid Eotenum wearð,\neþel Scyldinga. He þær eallum wearð,\nmæg Higelaces manna cynne,\ngolde fahne ond Grendles hond --- :\n`Ðisse ansyne Alwealdan þanc\nÐæt wæs ungeara, þæt ic ænigra me\nhusa selest heorodreorig stod, ---\nðara þe ne wendon, þæt hie wideferhð\nþurh Drihtnes miht dæd gefremede,\ndædum gefremed, þæt þin dom lyfað\ngode forgylde, swa he nu gyt dyde!'\n`We þæt ellenweorc estum miclum,\neafoð uncuþes. Uþe ic swiþor,\nfeond on frætewum fylwerigne!\nlicgean lifbysig, butan his lic swice;\nearm ond eaxle; no þær ænige swa þeah\nin nidgripe nearwe befongen,\nhu him scir Metod scrifan wille.'\nÐa wæs swigra secg, sunu Ecglafes,\nfeondes fingras; foran æghwylc wæs,\nstiðra nægla gehwylc style gelicost,\nhæþenes handsporu hilderinces\nXV Ða wæs haten hreþe Heort innanweard\nfolmum gefrætwod; fela þæra wæs,\nWæs þæt beorhte bold tobrocen swiðe\nheorras tohlidene; hrof ana genæs\nealles ansund, þe se aglæca\nfyrendædum fag on fleam gewand,\nto befleonne --- fremme se þe wille --- ,\nac gesacan sceal sawlberendra,\nÞa wæs sæl ond mæl,\nwolde self cyning symbel þicgan,\nNe gefrægen ic þa mægþa maran weorode\nÞeod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon. ---\nsegen gyldenne sigores to leane,\nhroden hildecumbor, helm ond byrnan;\nfor sceotendum scamigan ðorfte, ---\nefnan wolde, --- næfre on ore læg\nwicga ond wæpna; het hine wel brucan.\nhordweard hæleþa heaþoræsas geald\nse þe secgan wile soð æfter rihte.1050-1052\nXVI ÐA gyt æghwylcum eorla drihten\nþara þe mid Beowulfe brimlade teah,\nmane acwealde,--- swa he hyra ma wolde,\næfter medobence mænan scolde,\nhæleð Healf-Dena, Hnæf Scyldinga\nbeloren leofum æt þam lindplegan\nbearnum ond broðrum; hie on gebyrd hruron\ngare wunde; þæt wæs geomuru ides!\nelne unflitme aðum benemde,\neal unhlitme; eard gemunde,\nhringedstefnan,--- holm storme weol,\ngear in geardas,--- swa nu gyt deð,\nSwylce ferðfrecan Fin eft begeat\næfter sæsiðe, sorge mændon,\nsigla searogimma. Hie on sælade\nlæddon to leodum.\n`Onfoh þissum fulle, freodrihten min,\nMe man sægde, þæt þu ðe for sunu wolde\numborwesendum ær arna gefremedon.'\nHwearf þa bi bence, þær hyre byre wæron,\nXVIII Him wæs ful boren, ond freondlaþu\nEormenrices, geceas ecne ræd. ---\nbreostgewædu, ond se beah somod;\nhreawic heoldon.--- Heal swege onfeng.\n`Bruc ðisses beages, Beowulf leofa,\ncen þec mid cræfte, ond þyssum cnyhtum wes\nlara liðe! Ic þe þæs lean geman.\nHafast þu gefered, þæt ðe feor ond neah\næþeling, eadig! Ic þe an tela\ndædum gedefe, dreamhealdende!\nmodes milde, mandrihtne hold,\ndruncne dryhtguman doð swa ic bidde'\nEode þa to setle. Þær wæs symbla cyst,\neorla manegum, syþðan æfen cwom,\nþrecwudu þrymlic. Wæs þeaw hyra,\nefne swylce mæla, swylce hira mandryhtne\nþearf gesælde; wæs seo þeod tilu.1251-1264\nXVIIII Sigon þa to slæpe. Sum sare angeald\nunriht æfnde, oþ þæt ende becwom,\nwidcuð werum, þætte wrecend þa gyt\næfter guðceare; Grendles modor,\nides aglæcwif yrmþe gemunde,\nse þe wæteregesan wunian scoldeld ,cea\nmorþre gemearcod mandream fleon,\nwæccendne wer wiges bidan;\ngimfæste gife, ðe him God sealde,\ndreame bedæled deaþwic seon,\nmancynnes feond. Ond his modor þa gyt\ngifre ond galgmod gegan wolde\nsorhfulne sið, sunu deoð wrecan.\nfeore beorgan, þa heo onfunden wæs;\nÞa wæs frod cyning,\nhar hilderinc on hreon mode,\nmid his handscale --- healwudu dynede ---\n`Ne frin þu æfter sælum! Sorh is geniwod\nfylle gefægnod. Heo þa fæhðe wræc,\nge feor hafað fæhðe gestæled,\nþæs þe þincean mæg þegne monegum,\nse þe æfter sincgyfan on sefan greoteþ, ---\nidese onlicnes; oðer earmsceapen\nmilgemearces, þæt se mere standeð;\nhafelan beorgan; nis þæt heoru stow!\nlað gewidru, oð þæt lyft drysmaþ,\nfrecne stowe, þær þu findan miht\nsinnigne secg; sec gif þu dyrre!\nwindnum golde, gyf þu on weg cymest.'\nXXI Beowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþeowes:\n`Ne sorga, snotor guma! Selre bið æghwæm,\nAris, rices weard, uton hraþe feran.\nIc hit þe gehate: no he on helm losaþ,\nne on gyfenes grund, ga þær he wille!\nweana gehwylces, swa ic þe wene to.'\ngang ofer grundas, swa gegnum for\nneowle næssas, nicorhusa fela;\noþ þæt he færinga fyrgenbeamas\nwinum Scyldinga weorce on mode\nFlod blode weol --- folc to sægon --- ,\nsellice sædracan sund cunnian,\nwyrmas ond wildeor. Hie on weg hruron\nbitere ond gebolgne; bearhtm ongeaton,\neorres inwitfeng aldre gesceþðan;\nNæs þæt þonne mætost mægenfultuma,\nfolcstede fara; næs þæt forma sið,\nHuru ne gemunde mago Ecglafes\nselran sweordfrecan; selfa ne dorste\nWes þu mundbora minum magoþegnum\ngeseon sunu Hrædles, þonne he on þæt sinc starað.\nwrætlic wægsweord widcuðne man\ndom gewyrce, oþðe mec deað nimeð!'\nÆfter þæm wordum Weder-Geata leod\nefste mid elne,--- nalas andsware\nhilderince. Ða wæs hwil dæges,\natolan clommum; no þy ær in gescod\nswa he ne mihte --- no he þæs modig wæs ---\nehton aglæcan. Ða se eorl ongeat,\nblacne leoman beorhte scinan.\ngrædig guðleoð. Ða se gist onfand,\nmærða gemyndig mæg Hylaces:\nlongsumne lof; na ymb his lif cearað.\nGefeng þa be eaxle --- nalas for fæhðe mearn ---\nGuð-Geata leod Grendles modor;\nOfsæt þa þone selegyst, ond hyre seax geteah\nbrad ond brunecg; wolde hire bearn wrecan,\nherenet hearde, --- ond halig God\nrodera Rædend hit on ryht gesced\nXXIII Geseah ða on searwum sigeeadig bil,\neald sweord eotenisc ecgum þyhtig,\nwigena weorðmynd; þæt wæs wæpna cyst, ---\nhreoh ond heorogrim, hringmæl gebrægd\nfægne flæschoman; heo on flet gecrong,\nheard be hiltum Higelaces ðegn\nyrre ond anræd, --- næs seo ecg fracod\nðara þe he geworhte to West-Denum\ngomele ymb godne ongeador spræcon,\nmærne þeoden; þa ðæs monige gewearð,\nmodes seoce ond on mere staredon;\nwiston ond ne wendon, þæt hie heora winedrihten\nselfne gesawon. --- Þa þæt sweord ongan\nwigbil wanian; þæt wæs wundra sum,\nsince fage; sweord ær gemealt,\nættren ellorgæst, se þær inne swealt.\nwighryre wraðra, wæter up þurhdeaf;\ncuþe stræte; cyningbalde men\nto þæm goldsele Grendles heafod, ---\noþ ðæt semninga to sele comon\nwliteseon wrætlic; weras on sawon.1651-1662\nIc þæt unsofte ealdre gedigde,\nac me geuðe ylda Waldend,\nfeondum ætferede; fyrendæda wræc,\naldorbealu eorlum, swa þu ær dydest.'\nwundorsmiþa geweorc; ond þa þas worold ofgeaf\ngromheort guma, Godes andsaca,\nmorðres scyldig, ond his modor eac;\nHroðgar maðelode --- hylt sceawode,\nirena cyst ærest wære,\nsunu Healfdenes --- swigedon ealle --- :\n`Þæt. la, mæg secgan se þe soð ond riht\neald eðelweard, þæt ðes eorl wære\neaxlgesteallan, oþ þæt he ana hwearf,\nmære þeoden, mondreamum from,\nforð gefremede. Hwæþere him on ferhþe greow\nbreosthord blodreow; nallas beagas geaf\nDenum æfter dome; dreamleas gebad,\ngumcyste ongit! Ic þis gid be þe\nWundor is to secganne,\nto healdanne hleoburh wera,\nhis unsnyttrum ende geþencean.\nwendeð on willan; he þæt wyrse ne con --- ,\nXXV oð þæt him on innan oferhygda dæl\nbiteran stræle --- him bebeorgan ne con --- ,\nþinceð him to lytel, þæt he lange heold,\nfætte beagas, ond he þa forðgesceaft\nHit on ende stæf eft gelimpeð,\nmære cempa! Nu is þines mægnes blæd\nane hwile; eft sona bið,\nforsiteð ond forsworceð; semninga bið,\nSwa ic Hring-Dena hund missera\necean Dryhtne, þæs ðe ic on aldre gebad,\nofer eald gewin eagum starige!\nwiggeweorþad; unc sceal worn fela\nmaþma gemænra, siþðan morgen bið.'\nGeat wæs glædmod, geong sona to,\nÞa wæs eft swa ær ellenrofum,\nniowan stefne.--- Nihthelm geswearc\ndeorc ofer dryhtgumum. Duguð eal aras;\nrofne randwigan restan lyste;\ngeap ond goldfah; gæst inne swæf,\noþ þæt hrefn blaca heofones wynne\nmeces ecge; þæt wæs modig secg. ---\nhæle hildedeor Hroðgar grette.1817-1825\nXXVI Beowulf maþelode, bearn Ecgþeowes:\n`Nu we sæliðend secgan willað\nHigelac secan. Wæron her tela,\nhæleþa to helpe. Ic on Higelace wat,\nwordum ond weorcum, þæt ic þe wel herige\nHroðgar maþelode him on andsware:\n`Þe þa wordcwydas wigtig Drihten\nÞu eart mægenes strang, ond on mode frod,\nwis wordcwida! Wen ic talige,\nþæt þe Sæ-Geatas selran næbben\nHafast þu gefered, þæt þam folcum sceal,\nGeata leodum ond Gar-Denum\ngodum gegrettan ofer ganotes bæð;\næghwæs untæle ealde wisan.'\nmago Healfdenes, maþmas twelfe;\nþeoden Scyldinga ðegn betstan\nblondenfeaxum. Him wæs bega wen\nmodige on meþle. Wæs him se man to þon leof,\nguðrinc goldwlanc græsmoldan træd\nÞa wæs on gang gifu Hroðgares\noft geæhted; þæt wæs an cyning\næghwæs orleahtre, oþ þæt hine yldo benam\nhægstealdra heap; hringnet bæron,\nhladen herewædum hringedstefna,\ncuþe næssas; ceol up geþrang\nsælde to sande sidfæþme scip\nheah on healle, Hygd swiðe geong,\nmaþmgestreona. Modþryðo wæg,\neormencynnes; forðam Offa wæs\neðel sinne;--- þonon Eomer woc\nXXVIII Gewat him ða se hearda mid his hondscole\nlindgestealla lifigende cwom,\nHraðe wæs gerymed, swa se rica bebead.\nfægre fricgcean, hyne fyrwet bræc,\nhwylce Sæ-Geata siðas wæron:\n`Hu lomp eow on lade, leofa Biowulf,\nleofes mannes; ic ðe lange bæd,\nlete Suð-Dene sylfe geweorðan\nwearð on ðæm wange, þær he worna fela\nSige-Scyldingum sorge gefremede,\nyrmðe to aldre; ic ðæt eall gewræc,\nfacne bifongen.--- Ic ðær furðum cwom\nfriðusibb folca flet eall geondhwearf,\neorlum on ende ealuwæge bær,\nnemnan hyrde, þær hio nægledsinc\nMæg þæs þonne ofþyncan ðeodne Heaðo-Beardna\nheard ond hringmæl Heaða-Beardna gestreon,\nXXVIIII-XXX oð ðæt hie forlæddan to ðam lindplegan\ngarcwealm gumena --- him bið grim sefa --- ,\n"Meaht ðu, min wine, mece gecnawan,\nþone þe ðu mid rihte rædan sceoldest."\nsarum wordum, oð ðæt sæl cymeð,\nÞy ic Heaðo-Beardna hyldo ne telge,\neatol æfengrom user neosan,\nof ðam goldsele gongan wolde;\ndior dædfruma gedon wolde\nTo lang ys to reccenne, hu ic ðam leodsceaðan\nhand on Hiorte, ond he hean ðonan,\nmanegum maðmum, syððan mergen com,\nhwilum eft ongan eldo gebunden,\nfrodan fyrnwitan feorh uðgenge.\nbronde forbærnan, ne on b,el hladan,\ngrimne gryrelicne grundhyrde fond.\nÞær unc hwile wæs hand gemæne;\neacnum ecgum; unsofte þonan\nfeorh oðferede; næs ic fæge þa gyt;\nXXXI Swa se ðeodkyning þeawum lyfde;\nsunu Healfdenes on minne sylfes dom;\nheafodmaga nefne, Hygelac, ðec.'\nHet ða in beran eafor heafodsegn,\n`Me ðis hildesceorp Hroðgar sealde,\nsnotra fengel; sume worde het,\nlungre, gelice last weardode,\nmeara ond maðma.--- Swa sceal mæg don,\nniða heardum nefa swyðe hold,\nond gehwæðer oðrum hroþra gemyndig. ---\nswyðe wendon, þæt he sleac wære,\ntireadigum menn torna gehwylces.---\nniða genægdan nefan Hererices ---:\nfiftig wintra --- wæs ða frod cyning,\neald eþelweard --- , oð ðæt an ongan\nniðða nathwylc, se ðe neh gefealg\nhæðnum horde, hond wæge nam,\nsid, since fah; ne he þæt syððan bemað,\nbigfolc beorna, þæt he gebolgen wæs.\nXXXII Nealles mid gewealdum wyrmhord abræc,\nsecg synbysig. Sona mwatide\nþæt :::::ðam gyste gryrebroga stod;\nhwæðre earmsceapen . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . þa hyne se fær begeat.\nSincfæt . . . . . Þær wæs swylcra fela\n`Heald þu nuhruse ,, nu hæleð ne mostan,\nleoda minra þara ðe þis lif ofgeaf,\ngesawon seledream. Nah, hwa sweord wege\nSceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde,\nfela feorhcynna forð onsended!'\nheold on hrusan hordærna sum\neacencræftig, oð ð æt hyne an abealch\nfeasceaftum men; Frea sceawode\nfira fyrngeweorc forman siðe. ---\nwean ond wræcsið se ðe Waldendes\nþone þe him on sweofote sare geteode;\nealne utanweardne; ne ðær ænig mon\non þære westenne, --- hwæðre wiges gefeh,\nbeaduwe weorces; hwilum on beorh æthwearf,\nwyrme on willan; no on wealle læng,\nbeorht hogu bærnan, --- byrneleoma stod\neldum on andan; no ðær aht cwices\ndryhtsele dyrnne ær dæges hwile.\nbæle ond bronde; beorges getruwode,\nWedera þioden wræce leornode.\nwigbord wrætlic; wisse he gearwe,\nOferhogode ða hringa fengel,\nsigoreadig secg, sele fælsode,\nhæfde him on earme ana þritig\nhildegeatwa, þa he to holme stag.\nbeagas ond bregostol; bearne ne truwode,\nþæt he Heardrede hlaford wære,\nhwæðre he hine on folce freondlarum heold,\nestum mid are, oð ðæt he yldra wearð,\nWeder-Geatum weold. Hyne wræcmæcgas\nhe þær for feorme feorhwunde hleat,\nfeasceaftum freond; folce gestepte\nellenweorca, oð ðone anne dæg,\nGewat þa twelfa sum torne gebolgen\ndryhten Geata dracan sceawian;\ngearo guðfreca, goldmaðmas heold\neald under eorðan; næs þæt yðe ceap\nto gegangenne gumena ænigum.\nlif rið lice; no þon lange wæs\n`Fela ic on giogoðe guðræsa genæs,\ngiong on galgan; þonne he gyd wrece,\nhrefne to hroðre, ond he him helpe ne mæg\neald ond infrod ænige gefremman.\nreote berofene, --- Ridend swefað,\nXXXV Gewiteð þonne on sealman, sorhleoð gæleð\nweallinde wæg; wihte ne meahte\nfrome fyrdhwate, freode ne woldon\nþær Ongenþeow Eofores niosað;\nhreas heoroblac; hond gemunde\neard eðelwyn. Næs him ænig þearf,\nwyrsan wigfrecan, weorðe gecyþan;\nto handbonan, Huga cempan; ---\nhond ond heard sweord ymb hord wigan.'\nniehstan siðe: `Ic geneðde fela\nfrod folces weard fæhðe secan,\nof eorðsele ut geseceð.'\nhwate helmberend hindeman siðe,\nswæse gesiðas: `Nolde ic sweord beran,\noferfleon fotes trem, ac unc furður sceal\nMetod manna gehwæs. Ic eom on mode from,\nuncer twega. Nis þæt eower sið,\nfeorhbealu frecne, frean eowerne!'\nGeseah ða be wealle se ðe worna fela\ngumcystum god guða gedigde,\nbrecan of beorge; wæs þære burnan wælm\nheaðofyrum hat, ne meahte horde neah\nhat hildeswat; hruse dynede.\nmærum þeodne, þonne his myne sohte,\nwealdan moste, swa him wyrd ne gescraf\nincge-lafe, þæt sio ecg gewac\nbrun on bane, bat unswiðor,\nþonne his ðiodcyning þearfe hæfde\niren ærgod. --- Ne wæs þæt eðe sið,\nalætan lændagas. Næs ða long to ðon,\nHyrte hyne hordweard, hreðer æðme weoll,\nniwan stefne; nearo ðrowode\nfyre befongen se ðe ær folce weold.\næðelinga bearn ymbe gestodon\nThis is the Klaeber edition of the text, first published as Beowulf and The fight at Finnsburg; edited, with introduction, bibliography, notes, glossary, and appendices, by Fr. Klaeber. Boston, New York [etc.] D.C. Heath & Co. [c1922].