XXXI He Gives Presents to Hygelac. Hygelac Rewards Him. Hygelac’s Death. Bēowulf Reigns
“Swā se þēod-kyning þēawum lyfde;
“nealles ic þām lēanum forloren hæfde,
“mægnes mēde, ac hē mē māðmas geaf,
“sunu Healfdenes, on sīnne sylfes dōm;
“þā ic þē, beorn-cyning, bringan wylle,
“ēstum geȳwan. Gēn is eall æt þē
“lissa gelong: ic lȳt hafo
“hēafod-māga, nefne Hygelāc þec!”
Hēt þā in beran eafor, hēafod-segn,
heaðo-stēapne helm, hāre byrnan,
gūð-sweord geatolīc, gyd æfter wræc:
“Mē þis hilde-sceorp Hrōðgār sealde,
“snotra fengel, sume worde hēt,
“þæt ic his ǣrest þē eft gesægde,
“cwæð þæt hyt hæfde Hiorogār cyning,
“lēod Scyldunga lange hwīle:
“nō þȳ ǣr suna sīnum syllan wolde,
“hwatum Heorowearde, þēah hē him hold wǣre,
“brēost-gewǣdu. Brūc ealles well!”
Hȳrde ic þæt þām frætwum fēower mēaras
lungre gelīce lāst weardode,
æppel-fealuwe; hē him ēst getēah
mēara and māðma. Swā sceal mǣg dōn,
nealles inwit-net ōðrum bregdan,
dyrnum cræfte dēað rēnian
hond-gesteallan. Hygelāce wæs,
nīða heardum, nefa swȳðe hold
and gehwæðer ōðrum hrōðra gemyndig.
Hȳrde ic þæt hē þone heals-bēah Hygde gesealde,
wrǣtlīcne wundur-māððum, þone þe him Wealhþēo geaf,
þēodnes dōhtor, þrīo wicg somod
swancor and sadol-beorht; hyre syððan wæs
æfter bēah-þege brēost geweorðod.
Swā bealdode bearn Ecgþēowes,
guma gūðum cūð, gōdum dǣdum,
drēah æfter dōme, nealles druncne slōg
heorð-genēatas; næs him hrēoh sefa,
ac hē man-cynnes mǣste cræfte
gin-fæstan gife, þē him god sealde,
hēold hilde-dēor. Hēan wæs lange,
swā hyne Gēata bearn gōdne ne tealdon,
nē hyne on medo-bence micles wyrðne
drihten wereda gedōn wolde;
swȳðe oft sægdon, þæt hē slēac wǣre,
æðeling unfrom: edwenden cwōm
tīr-ēadigum menn torna gehwylces.
Hēt þā eorla hlēo in gefetian,
heaðo-rōf cyning, Hrēðles lāfe,
golde gegyrede; næs mid Gēatum þā
sinc-māððum sēlra on sweordes hād;
þæt hē on Bīowulfes bearm ālegde,
and him gesealde seofan þūsendo,
bold and brego-stōl. Him wæs bām samod
on þām lēod-scipe lond gecynde,
eard ēðel-riht, ōðrum swīðor
sīde rīce, þām þǣr sēlra wæs.
Eft þæt geīode ufaran dōgrum
hilde-hlæmmum, syððan Hygelāc læg
and Heardrēde hilde-mēceas
under bord-hrēoðan tō bonan wurdon,
þā hyne gesōhtan on sige-þēode
hearde hilde-frecan, Heaðo-Scilfingas,
nīða genǣgdan nefan Hererīces.
Syððan Bēowulfe brāde rīce
on hand gehwearf: hē gehēold tela
fīftig wintru (wæs þā frōd cyning,
eald ēðel-weard), oð þæt ān ongan
deorcum nihtum draca rīcsian,
sē þe on hēare hǣðe hord beweotode,
stān-beorh stēapne: stīg under læg,
eldum uncūð. Þǣr on innan gīong
niða nāt-hwylces nēode gefēng
hǣðnum horde hond. d.. geþ.. hwylc
since fāhne, hē þæt syððan.....
... þ... lð. þ.. l. g
slǣpende be fȳre, fyrena hyrde
þēofes cræfte, þæt sie.... ðioð.....
. idh. folc-beorn, þæt hē gebolgen wæs.
XXXII. THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.
Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda... cræft
sōhte sylfes willum, sē þe him sāre gesceōd,
†2225
ac for þrēa-nēdlan þēow nāt-hwylces hæleða bearna hete-swengeas flēah,
for ofer-þearfe and þǣr inne fealh secg syn-bysig. Sōna in þā tīde
þæt..... þām gyste.... br. g. stōd,
2230
hwæðre earm-sceapen.......
.. ð... sceapen o.... i r.. e se fǣs begeat,
sinc-fæt geseah: þǣr wæs swylcra fela
in þām eorð-scræfe ǣr-gestrēona, swā hȳ on geār-dagum gumena nāt-hwylc
eormen-lāfe æðelan cynnes
þanc-hycgende þǣr gehȳdde, dēore māðmas. Ealle hīe dēað fornam
ǣrran mǣlum, and se ān þā gēn lēoda duguðe, sē þǣr lengest hwearf,
weard wine-geōmor wīscte þæs yldan,
þæt hē lȳtel fæc long-gestrēona brūcan mōste. Beorh eal gearo wunode on wonge wæter-ȳðum nēah, nīwe be næsse nearo-cræftum fæst:
þǣr on innan bær eorl-gestrēona
fǣttan goldes, fēa worda cwæð:
“Heald þū nū, hrūse, nū hæleð ne mōston,
“eorla ǣhte. Hwæt! hit ǣr on þē
“gōde begeāton; gūð-dēað fornam,
“feorh-bealo frēcne fȳra gehwylcne,
“lēoda mīnra, þāra þe þis līf ofgeaf,
“gesāwon sele-drēam. Nāh hwā sweord wege
“drync-fæt dēore: duguð ellor scōc.
“Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde
“fǣtum befeallen: feormiend swefað,
“þā þe beado-grīman bȳwan sceoldon,
“gē swylce sēo here-pād, sīo æt hilde gebād
“ofer borda gebræc bite īrena,
“brosnað æfter beorne. Ne mæg byrnan hring
“hæleðum be healfe; næs hearpan wyn,
“gomen glēo-bēames, nē gōd hafoc
“geond sæl swingeð, nē se swifta mearh
“burh-stede bēateð. Bealo-cwealm hafað
“fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!”
ān æfter eallum unblīðe hwēop,
dæges and nihtes, oð þæt dēaðes wylm hrān æt heortan. Hord-wynne fond eald ūht-sceaða opene standan, sē þe byrnende biorgas sēceð nacod nīð-draca, nihtes flēogeð
fȳre befangen; hyne fold-būend
wīde gesāwon. Hē gēwunian sceall
hlāw under hrūsan, þǣr hē hǣðen gold warað wintrum frōd; ne byð him wihte þē sēl.
Swā se þēod-sceaða þrēo hund wintra
hēold on hrūsan hord-ærna sum
ēacen-cræftig, oð þæt hyne ān ābealh mon on mōde: man-dryhtne bær fǣted wǣge, frioðo-wǣre bæd hlāford sīnne. Þā wæs hord rāsod,
†2285
onboren bēaga hord, bēne getīðad fēa-sceaftum men. Frēa scēawode fīra fyrn-geweorc forman sīðe.
Þā se wyrm onwōc, wrōht wæs genīwad; stonc þā æfter stāne, stearc-heort onfand
fēondes fōt-lāst; hē tō forð gestōp, dyrnan cræfte, dracan hēafde nēah.
Swā mæg unfǣge ēaðe gedīgan wēan and wræc-sīð, sē þe waldendes hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard sōhte
georne æfter grunde, wolde guman findan,
þone þe him on sweofote sāre getēode:
hāt and hrēoh-mōd hlǣw oft ymbe hwearf, ealne ūtan-weardne; nē þǣr ǣnig mon
wæs on þǣre wēstenne. Hwæðre hilde gefeh,
beado-weorces: hwīlum on beorh æthwearf, sinc-fæt sōhte; hē þæt sōna onfand,
þæt hæfde gumena sum goldes gefandod hēah-gestrēona. Hord-weard onbād earfoðlīce, oð þæt ǣfen cwōm;
2305
wæs þā gebolgen beorges hyrde, wolde se lāða līge forgyldan drinc-fæt dȳre. Þā wæs dæg sceacen wyrme on willan, nō on wealle leng bīdan wolde, ac mid bǣle fōr,
fȳre gefȳsed. Wæs se fruma egeslīc lēodum on lande, swā hyt lungre wearð on hyra sinc-gifan sāre geendod.
XXXIII. BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.
Þā se gæst ongan glēdum spīwan, beorht hofu bærnan; bryne-lēoma stōd
eldum on andan; nō þǣr āht cwices lāð lyft-floga lǣfan wolde.
Wæs þæs wyrmes wīg wīde gesȳne, nearo-fāges nīð nēan and feorran, hū se gūð-sceaða Gēata lēode
hatode and hȳnde: hord eft gescēat, dryht-sele dyrnne ǣr dæges hwīle.
Hæfde land-wara līge befangen, bǣle and bronde; beorges getruwode, wīges and wealles: him sēo wēn gelēah.
Þā wæs Bīowulfe brōga gecȳðed
snūde tō sōðe, þæt his sylfes him bolda sēlest bryne-wylmum mealt, gif-stōl Gēata. Þæt þām gōdan wæs hrēow on hreðre, hyge-sorga mǣst:
wēnde se wīsa, þæt hē wealdende, ofer ealde riht, ēcean dryhtne bitre gebulge: brēost innan wēoll
þēostrum geþoncum, swā him geþȳwe ne wæs.
†2335
ēa-lond ūtan, eorð-weard þone glēdum forgrunden. Him þæs gūð-cyning,
Wedera þīoden, wræce leornode.
Heht him þā gewyrcean wīgendra hlēo eall-īrenne, eorla dryhten
wīg-bord wrǣtlīc; wisse hē gearwe,
þæt him holt-wudu helpan ne meahte, lind wið līge. Sceolde lǣn-daga
æðeling ǣr-gōd ende gebīdan worulde līfes and se wyrm somod;
þēah þe hord-welan hēolde lange.
þæt hē þone wīd-flogan weorode gesōhte, sīdan herge; nō hē him þā sæcce ondrēd, nē him þæs wyrmes wīg for wiht dyde,
eafoð and ellen; forþon hē ǣr fela nearo nēðende nīða gedīgde, hilde-hlemma, syððan hē Hrōðgāres, sigor-ēadig secg, sele fǣlsode and æt gūðe forgrāp Grendeles mǣgum,
†2355
lāðan cynnes. Nō þæt lǣsest wæs hond-gemota, þǣr mon Hygelāc slōh, syððan Gēata cyning gūðe rǣsum, frēa-wine folces Frēslondum on,
Hrēðles eafora hioro-dryncum swealt,
†2360
bille gebēaten; þonan Bīowulf cōm sylfes cræfte, sund-nytte drēah;
hæfde him on earme... XXX
hilde-geatwa, þā hē tō holme stāg.
Nealles Hetware hrēmge þorfton
fēðe-wīges, þē him foran ongēan linde bǣron: lȳt eft becwōm fram þām hild-frecan hāmes nīosan.
Oferswam þā sioleða bigong sunu Ecgþēowes, earm ān-haga eft tō lēodum,
þǣr him Hygd gebēad hord and rīce, bēagas and brego-stōl: bearne ne truwode,
þæt hē wið æl-fylcum ēðel-stōlas healdan cūðe, þā wæs Hygelāc dēad.
Nō þȳ ǣr fēa-sceafte findan meahton
æt þām æðelinge ǣnige þinga,
þæt hē Heardrēde hlāford wǣre, oððe þone cyne-dōm cīosan wolde; hwæðre hē him on folce frēond-lārum hēold,
ēstum mid āre, oð þæt hē yldra wearð,
†2380
Weder-Gēatum wēold. Hyne wræc-mæcgas ofer sǣ sōhtan, suna Ōhteres:
hæfdon hȳ forhealden helm Scylfinga,
þāra þe in Swīo-rīce sinc brytnade,
mǣrne þēoden. Him þæt tō mearce wearð;
hē þǣr orfeorme feorh-wunde hlēat sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelāces; and him eft gewāt Ongenþīowes bearn hāmes nīosan, syððan Heardrēd læg;
lēt þone brego-stōl Bīowulf healdan,
Gēatum wealdan: þæt wæs gōd cyning.
XXXIV. RETROSPECT OF BĒOWULF.—STRIFE BETWEEN SWEONAS AND GEATAS.
Sē þæs lēod-hryres lēan gemunde uferan dōgrum, Ēadgilse wearð
fēa-sceaftum fēond. Folce gestepte
†2395
ofer sǣ sīde sunu Ōhteres wigum and wǣpnum: hē gewræc syððan cealdum cear-sīðum, cyning ealdre binēat.
Swā hē nīða gehwane genesen hæfde, slīðra geslyhta, sunu Ecgþīowes,
ellen-weorca, oð þone ānne dæg,
þē hē wið þām wyrme gewegan sceolde.
Gewāt þā twelfa sum torne gebolgen dryhten Gēata dracan scēawian; hæfde þā gefrūnen, hwanan sīo fǣhð ārās,
bealo-nīð biorna; him tō bearme cwōm māððum-fæt mǣre þurh þæs meldan hond,
Sē wæs on þām þrēate þreotteoða secg, sē þæs orleges ōr onstealde, hæft hyge-giōmor, sceolde hēan þonon
wong wīsian: hē ofer willan gīong tō þæs þe hē eorð-sele ānne wisse, hlǣw under hrūsan holm-wylme nēh,
ȳð-gewinne, sē wæs innan full wrǣtta and wīra: weard unhīore,
gearo gūð-freca, gold-māðmas hēold, eald under eorðan; næs þæt ȳðe cēap, tō gegangenne gumena ǣnigum.
Gesæt þā on næsse nīð-heard cyning,
þenden hǣlo ābēad heorð-genēatum
gold-wine Gēata: him wæs geōmor sefa, wǣfre and wæl-fūs, Wyrd ungemete nēah, sē þone gomelan grētan sceolde, sēcean sāwle hord, sundur gedǣlan līf wið līce: nō þon lange wæs
feorh æðelinges flǣsce bewunden.
Bīowulf maðelade, bearn Ecgþēowes:
“Fela ic on giogoðe guð-rǣsa genæs,
“orleg-hwīla: ic þæt eall gemon.
“Ic wæs syfan-wintre, þā mec sinca baldor,
“frēa-wine folca æt mīnum fæder genam,
“hēold mec and hæfde Hrēðel cyning,
“geaf mē sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde;
“næs ic him tō līfe lāðra ōwihte
“beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,
“Herebeald and Hæðcyn, oððe Hygelāc mīn.
“Wæs þām yldestan ungedēfelīce
“mǣges dǣdum morðor-bed strēd,
“syððan hyne Hæðcyn of horn-bogan,
“his frēa-wine flāne geswencte,
“miste mercelses and his mǣg ofscēt,
“brōðor ōðerne, blōdigan gāre:
“þæt wæs feoh-lēas gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad
“hreðre hyge-mēðe; sceolde hwæðre swā þēah
“æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.
†2445
“Swā bið geōmorlīc gomelum ceorle
“tō gebīdanne, þæt his byre rīde
“giong on galgan, þonne hē gyd wrece,
“sārigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað
“hrefne tō hrōðre and hē him helpe ne mæg,
“eald and in-frōd, ǣnige gefremman.
“Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce
“eaforan ellor-sīð; ōðres ne gȳmeð
“yrfe-weardes, þonne se ān hafað
“þurh dēaðes nȳd dǣda gefondad.
“Gesyhð sorh-cearig on his suna būre
“wīn-sele wēstne, wind-gereste,
“rēote berofene; rīdend swefað
“hæleð in hoðman; nis þǣr hearpan swēg,
“gomen in geardum, swylce þǣr iū wǣron.
XXXV. MEMORIES OF PAST TIME.—THE FEUD WITH THE FIRE-DRAKE.
“Gewīteð þonne on sealman, sorh-lēoð gæleð
“ān æfter ānum: þūhte him eall tō rūm,
“wongas and wīc-stede. Swā Wedra helm
“æfter Herebealde heortan sorge
“weallende wæg, wihte ne meahte
“on þām feorh-bonan fǣhðe gebētan:
“nō þȳ ǣr hē þone heaðo-rinc hatian ne meahte
“lāðum dǣdum, þēah him lēof ne wæs.
“Hē þā mid þǣre sorge, þē him sīo sār belamp,
“gum-drēam ofgeaf, godes lēoht gecēas;
“eaferum lǣfde, swā dēð ēadig mon,
“lond and lēod-byrig, þā hē of līfe gewāt.
“Þā wæs synn and sacu Swēona and Gēata,
“here-nīð hearda, syððan Hrēðel swealt,
“oððe him Ongenþēowes eaferan wǣran
“frome fyrd-hwate, frēode ne woldon
“ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hrēosna-beorh
“eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon.
“Þæt mǣg-wine mīne gewrǣcan,
“fǣhðe and fyrene, swā hyt gefrǣge wæs,
“þēah þe ōðer hit ealdre gebohte,
“heardan cēape: Hæðcynne wearð,
“Þā ic on morgne gefrægn mǣg ōðerne
“billes ecgum on bonan stǣlan,
“þǣr Ongenþēow Eofores nīosade:
“gūð-helm tōglād, gomela Scylfing
“hrēas heoro-blāc; hond gemunde
“fǣhðo genōge, feorh-sweng ne oftēah.
“Ic him þā māðmas, þē hē mē sealde,
“geald æt gūðe, swā mē gifeðe wæs,
“lēohtan sweorde: hē mē lond forgeaf,
“eard ēðel-wyn. Næs him ǣnig þearf,
“þæt hē tō Gifðum oððe tō Gār-Denum
“oððe in Swīo-rīce sēcean þurfe
“wyrsan wīg-frecan, weorðe gecȳpan;
“symle ic him on fēðan beforan wolde,
“āna on orde, and swā tō aldre sceall
“sæcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,
“þæt mec ǣr and sīð oft gelǣste,
“syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð
“nalles hē þā frætwe Frēs-cyninge,
“brēost-weorðunge bringan mōste,
“ac in campe gecrong cumbles hyrde,
“æðeling on elne. Ne wæs ecg bona,
“ac him hilde-grāp heortan wylmas,
“bān-hūs gebræc. Nū sceall billes ecg,
“hond and heard sweord ymb hord wīgan.”
Bēowulf maðelode, bēot-wordum spræc nīehstan sīðe: “Ic genēðde fela
“gūða on geogoðe; gȳt ic wylle,
“frōd folces weard, fǣhðe sēcan,
“mǣrðum fremman, gif mec se mān-sceaða
Gegrētte þā gumena gehwylcne, hwate helm-berend hindeman sīðe, swǣse gesīðas: “Nolde ic sweord beran,
“wǣpen tō wyrme, gif ic wiste hū
“wið þām āglǣcean elles meahte
“gylpe wiðgrīpan, swā ic giō wið Grendle dyde;
“ac ic þǣr heaðu-fȳres hātes wēne,
“rēðes and-hāttres: forþon ic mē on hafu
“bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard
“oferflēon fōtes trem, fēond unhȳre,
“ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle, swā unc Wyrd getēoð,
“metod manna gehwæs. Ic eom on mōde from,
“þæt ic wið þone gūð-flogan gylp ofersitte.
“Gebīde gē on beorge byrnum werede,
“secgas on searwum, hwæðer sēl mǣge
“uncer twēga. Nis þæt ēower sīð,
“nē gemet mannes, nefne mīn ānes,
“þæt hē wið āglǣcean eofoðo dǣle,
“eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall
“gold gegangan oððe gūð nimeð,
“feorh-bealu frēcne, frēan ēowerne!”
heard under helm, hioro-sercean bær under stān-cleofu, strengo getruwode
ānes mannes: ne bið swylc earges sīð.
Geseah þā be wealle, sē þe worna fela, gum-cystum gōd, gūða gedīgde,
hilde-hlemma, þonne hnitan fēðan,
(stōd on stān-bogan) strēam ūt þonan brecan of beorge; wæs þǣre burnan wælm heaðo-fȳrum hāt: ne meahte horde nēah unbyrnende ǣnige hwīle
†2550
dēop gedȳgan for dracan lēge.
Lēt þā of brēostum, þā hē gebolgen wæs,
Weder-Gēata lēod word ūt faran, stearc-heort styrmde; stefn in becōm heaðo-torht hlynnan under hārne stān.
Hete wæs onhrēred, hord-weard oncnīow mannes reorde; næs þǣr māra fyrst, frēode tō friclan. From ǣrest cwōm oruð āglǣcean ūt of stāne, hāt hilde-swāt; hrūse dynede.
Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswāf wið þām gryre-gieste, Gēata dryhten:
þā wæs hring-bogan heorte gefȳsed sæcce tō sēceanne. Sweord ǣr gebrǣ gōd gūð-cyning gomele lāfe,
†2565
ecgum unglēaw, ǣghwæðrum wæs bealo-hycgendra brōga fram ōðrum.
Stīð-mōd gestōd wið stēapne rond winia bealdor, þā se wyrm gebēah snūde tōsomne: hē on searwum bād.
†2570
Gewāt þā byrnende gebogen scrīðan tō, gescīfe scyndan. Scyld wēl gebearg līfe and līce lǣssan hwīle mǣrum þēodne, þonne his myne sōhte,
þǣr hē þȳ fyrste forman dōgore
wealdan mōste, swā him Wyrd ne gescrāf hrēð æt hilde. Hond up ābræd
Gēata dryhten, gryre-fāhne slōh incge lāfe, þæt sīo ecg gewāc brūn on bāne, bāt unswīðor,
þonne his þīod-cyning þearfe hæfde, bysigum gebǣded. Þā wæs beorges weard
æfter heaðu-swenge on hrēoum mōde, wearp wæl-fȳre, wīde sprungon hilde-lēoman: hrēð-sigora ne gealp
gold-wine Gēata, gūð-bill geswāc nacod æt nīðe, swā hyt nō sceolde,
īren ǣr-gōd. Ne wæs þæt ēðe sīð,
grund-wong þone ofgyfan wolde;
sceolde wyrmes willan wīc eardian elles hwergen, swā sceal ǣghwylc mon
ālǣtan lǣn-dagas. Næs þā long tō þon,
þæt þā āglǣcean hȳ eft gemētton.
Hyrte hyne hord-weard, hreðer ǣðme wēoll,
†2595
nīwan stefne: nearo þrowode fȳre befongen sē þe ǣr folce wēold.
Nealles him on hēape hand-gesteallan,
æðelinga bearn ymbe gestōdon hilde-cystum, ac hȳ on holt bugon,
ealdre burgan. Hiora in ānum wēoll sefa wið sorgum: sibb ǣfre ne mæg wiht onwendan, þām þe wēl þenceð.
XXXVI. WIGLAF HELPS BĒOWULF IN THE FEUD
Wīglāf wæs hāten Wēoxstānes sunu,
lēoflīc lind-wiga, lēod Scylfinga,
mǣg Ælfheres: geseah his mon-dryhten under here-grīman hāt þrowian.
Gemunde þā þā āre, þē hē him ǣr forgeaf wīc-stede weligne Wǣgmundinga,
folc-rihta gehwylc, swā his fæder āhte;
ne mihte þā forhabban, hond rond gefēng, geolwe linde, gomel swyrd getēah,
þæt wæs mid eldum Ēanmundes lāf, suna Ōhteres, þām æt sæcce wearð
wracu wine-lēasum Wēohstānes bana
mēces ecgum, and his māgum ætbær brūn-fāgne helm, hringde byrnan, eald sweord eotonisc, þæt him Onela forgeaf, his gædelinges gūð-gewǣdu, fyrd-searo fūslīc: nō ymbe þā fǣhðe spræc,
þēah þe hē his brōðor bearn ābredwade.
Hē frætwe gehēold fela missēra, bill and byrnan, oð þæt his byre mihte eorl-scipe efnan, swā his ǣr-fæder; geaf him þā mid Gēatum gūð-gewǣda
ǣghwæs unrīm; þā hē of ealdre gewāt, frōd on forð-weg. Þā wæs forma sīð geongan cempan, þæt hē gūðe rǣs mid his frēo-dryhtne fremman sceolde; ne gemealt him se mōd-sefa, nē his mǣges lāf
gewāc æt wīge: þæt se wyrm onfand, syððan hīe tōgædre gegān hæfdon.
Wīglāf maðelode word-rihta fela, sægde gesīðum, him wæs sefa geōmor:
“Ic þæt mǣl geman, þǣr wē medu þēgun,
†2635
“þonne wē gehēton ūssum hlāforde
“in bīor-sele, þē ūs þās bēagas geaf,
“þæt wē him þā gūð-geatwa gyldan woldon,
“gif him þyslīcu þearf gelumpe,
“helmas and heard sweord: þē hē ūsic on herge gecēas
“tō þyssum sīð-fate sylfes willum,
“onmunde ūsic mǣrða and mē þās māðmas geaf,
“þē hē ūsic gār-wīgend gōde tealde,
“hwate helm-berend, þēah þe hlāford ūs
“tō gefremmanne, folces hyrde,
“forþām hē manna mǣst mǣrða gefremede,
“dǣda dollīcra. Nū is sē dæg cumen,
“þæt ūre man-dryhten mægenes behōfað
“gōdra gūð-rinca: wutun gangan tō,
†2650
“helpan hild-fruman, þenden hyt sȳ,
“glēd-egesa grim! God wāt on mec,
“þæt mē is micle lēofre, þæt mīnne līc-haman
“mid mīnne gold-gyfan glēd fæðmie.
“Ne þynceð mē gerysne, þæt wē rondas beren
“eft tō earde, nemne wē ǣror mǣgen
“þæt nǣron eald-gewyrht, þæt hē āna scyle
†2660
“gesīgan æt sæcce: sceal ūrum þæt sweord and helm,
“byrne and byrdu-scrūd bām gemǣne.”
Wōd þā þurh þone wæl-rēc, wīg-heafolan bær frēan on fultum, fēa worda cwæð:
“Lēofa Bīowulf, lǣst eall tela,
“swā þū on geoguð-fēore geāra gecwǣde,
“þæt þū ne ālǣte be þē lifigendum
“dōm gedrēosan: scealt nū dǣdum rōf,
“æðeling ān-hȳdig, ealle mægene
“feorh ealgian; ic þē fullǣstu!”
Æfter þām wordum wyrm yrre cwōm, atol inwit-gæst ōðre sīðe, fȳr-wylmum fāh fīonda nīosan, lāðra manna; līg-ȳðum forborn bord wið ronde: byrne ne meahte
geongum gār-wigan gēoce gefremman:
ac se maga geonga under his mǣges scyld elne geēode, þā his āgen wæs glēdum forgrunden. Þā gēn gūð-cyning mǣrða gemunde, mægen-strengo,
slōh hilde-bille, þæt hyt on heafolan stōd
nīðe genȳded: Nægling forbærst, geswāc æt sæcce sweord Bīowulfes gomol and grǣg-mǣl. Him þæt gifeðe ne wæs,
helpan æt hilde; wæs sīo hond tō strong, sē þe mēca gehwane mīne gefrǣge
swenge ofersōhte, þonne hē tō sæcce bær
wǣpen wundrum heard, næs him wihte þē sēl.
Þā wæs þēod-sceaða þriddan sīðe,
frēcne fȳr-draca fǣhða gemyndig, rǣsde on þone rōfan, þā him rūm āgeald, hāt and heaðo-grim, heals ealne ymbefēng biteran bānum; hē geblōdegod wearð sāwul-drīore; swāt ȳðum wēoll.
XXXVII. BĒOWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.
Þā ic æt þearfe gefrægn þēod-cyninges and-longne eorl ellen cȳðan, cræft and cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs;
ne hēdde hē þæs heafolan, ac sīo hand gebarn mōdiges mannes, þǣr hē his mǣges healp,
†2700
þæt hē þone nīð-gæst nioðor hwēne slōh, secg on searwum, þæt þæt sweord gedēaf
fāh and fǣted, þæt þæt fȳr ongon sweðrian syððan. Þā gēn sylf cyning
gewēold his gewitte, wæll-seaxe gebrǣ,
biter and beadu-scearp, þæt hē on byrnan wæg:
forwrāt Wedra helm wyrm on middan.
Fēond gefyldan (ferh ellen wræc), and hī hyne þā bēgen ābroten hæfdon, sib-æðelingas: swylc sceolde secg wesan,
þegn æt þearfe. Þæt þām þēodne wæs sīðast sīge-hwīle sylfes dǣdum, worlde geweorces. Þā sīo wund ongon,
þē him se eorð-draca ǣr geworhte, swelan and swellan. Hē þæt sōna onfand,
þæt him on brēostum bealo-nīð wēoll, attor on innan. Þā se æðeling gīong,
þæt hē bī wealle, wīs-hycgende, gesæt on sesse; seah on enta geweorc, hū þā stān-bogan stapulum fæste
ēce eorð-reced innan hēoldon.
Hyne þā mid handa heoro-drēorigne
þēoden mǣrne þegn ungemete till, wine-dryhten his wætere gelafede, hilde-sædne and his helm onspēon.
Bīowulf maðelode, hē ofer benne spræc, wunde wæl-blēate (wisse hē gearwe,
þæt hē dæg-hwīla gedrogen hæfde eorðan wynne; þā wæs eall sceacen dōgor-gerīmes, dēað ungemete nēah):
“Nū ic suna mīnum syllan wolde
“gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr mē gifeðe swā
“līce gelenge. Ic þās lēode hēold
“fīftig wintra: næs se folc-cyning
“ymbe-sittendra ǣnig þāra,
“þē mec gūð-winum grētan dorste,
“mǣl-gesceafta, hēold mīn tela,
“ne sōhte searo-nīðas, nē mē swōr fela
“āða on unriht. Ic þæs ealles mæg,
“feorh-bennum sēoc, gefēan habban:
“forþām mē wītan ne þearf waldend fīra
“morðor-bealo māga, þonne mīn sceaceð
†2745
“geong, hord scēawian under hārne stān,
“Wīglāf lēofa, nū se wyrm ligeð,
“swefeð sāre wund, since berēafod.
“Bīo nū on ofoste, þæt ic ǣr-welan,
“gold-ǣht ongite, gearo scēawige
†2750
“swegle searo-gimmas, þæt ic þȳ sēft mǣge
“æfter māððum-welan mīn ālǣtan
“līf and lēod-scipe, þone ic longe hēold.”
XXXVIII. THE JEWEL-HOARD. THE PASSING OF BEOWULF.
Þā ic snūde gefrægn sunu Wīhstānes
æfter word-cwydum wundum dryhtne
hȳran heaðo-sīocum, hring-net beran, brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hrōf.
Geseah þā sige-hrēðig, þā hē bī sesse gēong, mago-þegn mōdig māððum-sigla fela, gold glitinian grunde getenge,
wundur on wealle and þæs wyrmes denn, ealdes ūht-flogan, orcas stondan, fyrn-manna fatu feormend-lēase, hyrstum behrorene: þǣr wæs helm monig, eald and ōmig, earm-bēaga fela,
searwum gesǣled. Sinc ēaðe mæg, gold on grunde, gumena cynnes
gehwone ofer-hīgian, hȳde sē þe wylle!
Swylce hē siomian geseah segn eall-gylden hēah ofer horde, hond-wundra mǣst,
†2770
gelocen leoðo-cræftum: of þām lēoma stōd,
þæt hē þone grund-wong ongitan meahte, wrǣte giond-wlītan. Næs þæs wyrmes þǣr onsȳn ǣnig, ac hyne ecg fornam.
Þā ic on hlǣwe gefrægn hord rēafian,
eald enta geweorc ānne mannan, him on bearm hladan bunan and discas sylfes dōme, segn ēac genom,
bēacna beorhtost; bill ǣr-gescōd
þām þāra māðma mund-bora wæs longe hwīle, līg-egesan wæg hātne for horde, hioro-weallende, middel-nihtum, oð þæt hē morðre swealt.
Ār wæs on ofoste eft-sīðes georn,
frætwum gefyrðred: hyne fyrwet bræc, hwæðer collen-ferð cwicne gemētte in þām wong-stede Wedra þēoden, ellen-sīocne, þǣr hē hine ǣr forlēt.
Hē þā mid þām māðmum mǣrne þīoden,
dryhten sīnne drīorigne fand
ealdres æt ende: hē hine eft ongon
wæteres weorpan, oð þæt wordes ord brēost-hord þurhbræc. Bēowulf maðelode, gomel on giohðe (gold scēawode):
“Ic þāra frætwa frēan ealles þanc
“ēcum dryhtne, þē ic hēr on starie,
“ǣr swylt-dæge swylc gestrȳnan.
“Nū ic on māðma hord mīne bebohte
“frōde feorh-lege, fremmað gē nū
“lēoda þearfe; ne mæg ic hēr leng wesan.
“Hātað heaðo-mǣre hlǣw gewyrcean,
“beorhtne æfter bǣle æt brimes nosan;
“se scel tō gemyndum mīnum lēodum
“hēah hlīfian on Hrones næsse,
“þæt hit sǣ-līðend syððan hātan
“Bīowulfes biorh, þā þe brentingas
“ofer flōda genipu feorran drīfað.”
Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne
þīoden þrīst-hȳdig, þegne gesealde, geongum gār-wigan, gold-fāhne helm, bēah and byrnan, hēt hyne brūcan well:
“Þū eart ende-lāf ūsses cynnes,
†2815
“Wǣgmundinga; ealle Wyrd forswēof,
“eorlas on elne: ic him æfter sceal.”
Þæt wæs þām gomelan gingeste word brēost-gehygdum, ǣr hē bǣl cure,
hāte heaðo-wylmas: him of hreðre gewāt sāwol sēcean sōð-fæstra dōm.
Þā wæs gegongen guman unfrōdum earfoðlīce, þæt hē on eorðan geseah
blēate gebǣran. Bona swylce læg, egeslīc eorð-draca, ealdre berēafod, bealwe gebǣded: bēah-hordum leng wyrm wōh-bogen wealdan ne mōste, ac him īrenna ecga fornāmon,
hearde heaðo-scearpe homera lāfe,
þæt se wīd-floga wundum stille hrēas on hrūsan hord-ærne nēah, nalles æfter lyfte lācende hwearf middel-nihtum, māðm-ǣhta wlonc
ansȳn ȳwde: ac hē eorðan gefēoll for þæs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.
Hūru þæt on lande lȳt manna þāh mægen-āgendra mīne gefrǣge,
þēah þe hē dǣda gehwæs dyrstig wǣre,
†2840
þæt hē wið attor-sceaðan oreðe gerǣsde, oððe hring-sele hondum styrede, gif hē wæccende weard onfunde būan on beorge. Bīowulfe wearð dryht-māðma dǣl dēaðe forgolden;
hæfde ǣghwæðer ende gefēred lǣnan līfes. Næs þā lang tō þon,
þæt þā hild-latan holt ofgēfan, tȳdre trēow-logan tȳne ætsomne,
þā ne dorston ǣr dareðum lācan
on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe; ac hȳ scamiende scyldas bǣran, gūð-gewǣdu, þǣr se gomela læg:
wlitan on Wīglāf. Hē gewērgad sæt, fēðe-cempa frēan eaxlum nēah,
wehte hyne wætre; him wiht ne spēow; ne meahte hē on eorðan, þēah hē ūðe wēl, on þām frum-gāre feorh gehealdan, nē þæs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;
gumena gehwylcum, swā hē nū gēn dēð.
Þā wæs æt þām geongan grim andswaru
ēð-begēte þām þe ǣr his elne forlēas.
Wīglāf maðelode, Wēohstānes sunu, secg sārig-ferð seah on unlēofe:
“Þæt lā mæg secgan, sē þe wyle sōð sprecan,
“þæt se mon-dryhten, se ēow þā māðmas geaf,
“ēored-geatwe, þē gē þǣr on standað,
“þonne hē on ealu-bence oft gesealde
“heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,
“þēoden his þegnum, swylce hē þrȳðlīcost
“ōhwǣr feor oððe nēah findan meahte,
“wrāðe forwurpe. Þā hyne wīg beget,
“nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum
“gylpan þorfte; hwæðre him god ūðe,
“sigora waldend, þæt hē hyne sylfne gewræc
“āna mid ecge, þā him wæs elnes þearf,
“Ic him līf-wraðe lȳtle meahte
“ætgifan æt gūðe and ongan swā þēah
“ofer mīn gemet mǣges helpan:
“symle wæs þȳ sǣmra, þonne ic sweorde drep
“wēoll of gewitte. Wergendra tō lȳt
“þrong ymbe þēoden, þā hyne sīo þrāg becwōm.
†2885
“Nū sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu
“lufen ālicgean: lond-rihtes mōt
“īdel hweorfan, syððan æðelingas
“feorran gefricgean flēam ēowerne,
“dōm-lēasan dǣd. Dēað bið sēlla
“eorla gehwylcum þonne edwīt-līf!”
XL. THE SOLDIER’S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.
Heht þā þæt heaðo-weorc tō hagan bīodan up ofer ēg-clif, þǣr þæt eorl-weorod
morgen-longne dæg mōd-giōmor sæt, bord-hæbbende, bēga on wēnum ende-dōgores and eft-cymes lēofes monnes. Lȳt swīgode nīwra spella, sē þe næs gerād,
ac hē sōðlīce sægde ofer ealle;
“dryhten Gēata dēað-bedde fæst,
“wunað wæl-reste wyrmes dǣdum;
“him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,
“siex-bennum sēoc: sweorde ne meahte
“wunde gewyrcean. Wīglāf siteð
“ofer Bīowulfe, byre Wīhstānes,
“eorl ofer ōðrum unlifigendum,
†2910
“healdeð hige-mēðum hēafod-wearde
“lēofes and lāðes. Nū ys lēodum wēn
“Froncum and Frȳsum fyll cyninges
“wīde weorðeð. Wæs sīo wrōht scepen
“heard wið Hūgas, syððan Higelāc cwōm
“faran flot-herge on Frēsna land,
“þǣr hyne Hetware hilde gehnǣgdon,
“elne geēodon mid ofer-mægene,
“þæt se byrn-wiga būgan sceolde,
†2920
“fēoll on fēðan: nalles frætwe geaf
“ealdor dugoðe; ūs wæs ā syððan
“Nē ic tō Swēo-þēode sibbe oððe trēowe
“wihte ne wēne; ac wæs wīde cūð,
“þætte Ongenþīo ealdre besnyðede
“Hæðcyn Hrēðling wið Hrefna-wudu,
“þā for on-mēdlan ǣrest gesōhton
“Sōna him se frōda fæder Ōhtheres,
“eald and eges-full ond-slyht āgeaf,
“ābrēot brim-wīsan, brȳd āhēorde,
“gomela īo-meowlan golde berofene,
“and þā folgode feorh-genīðlan
“oð þæt hī oðēodon earfoðlīce
“in Hrefnes-holt hlāford-lēase.
“Besæt þā sin-herge sweorda lāfe
†2940
“cwæð hē on mergenne mēces ecgum
“gētan wolde, sume on galg-trēowum
“fuglum tō gamene. Frōfor eft gelamp
“syððan hīe Hygelāces horn and bȳman
“gealdor ongeāton. Þā se gōda cōm
XLI. HE TELLS OF THE SWEDES AND THE GEATAS
“Wæs sīo swāt-swaðu Swēona and Gēata,
“hū þā folc mid him fǣhðe tōwehton.
†2950
“Gewāt him þā se gōda mid his gædelingum,
“frōd fela geōmor fæsten sēcean,
“hæfde Higelāces hilde gefrūnen,
“wlonces wīg-cræft, wiðres ne truwode,
“þæt hē sǣ-mannum onsacan mihte,
“hēaðo-līðendum hord forstandan,
“bearn and brȳde; bēah eft þonan
“eald under eorð-weall. Þā wæs ǣht boden
“Swēona lēodum, segn Higelāce.
“Freoðo-wong þone forð oferēodon,
“syððan Hrēðlingas tō hagan þrungon.
“Þǣr wearð Ongenþīo ecgum sweorda,
“þæt se þēod-cyning þafian sceolde
“Eofores ānne dōm: hyne yrringa
“Wulf Wonrēding wǣpne gerǣhte,
“þæt him for swenge swāt ǣdrum sprong
“forð under fexe. Næs hē forht swā þēh,
“gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraðe
“wyrsan wrixle wæl-hlem þone,
“syððan þēod-cyning þyder oncirde:
“ne meahte se snella sunu Wonrēdes
“ealdum ceorle ond-slyht giofan,
“ac hē him on hēafde helm ǣr gescer,
“þæt hē blōde fāh būgan sceolde,
“fēoll on foldan; næs hē fǣge þā gīt,
“ac hē hyne gewyrpte, þēah þe him wund hrīne,
“brādne mēce, þā his brōðor læg,
“eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm,
“brecan ofer bord-weal: þā gebēah cyning,
“folces hyrde, wæs in feorh dropen.
“Þā wǣron monige, þē his mǣg wriðon,
“ricone ārǣrdon, þā him gerȳmed wearð,
“þæt hīe wæl-stōwe wealdan mōston.
“heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod;
“Hē þām frætwum fēng and him fægre gehēt
“lēana fore lēodum and gelǣste swā:
“geald þone gūð-rǣs Gēata dryhten,
“Hrēðles eafora, þā hē tō hām becōm,
“Jofore and Wulfe mid ofer-māðmum,
†2995
“sealde hiora gehwæðrum hund þūsenda
“landes and locenra bēaga; ne þorfte him þā lēan oðwītan
“mon on middan-gearde, syððan hīe þā mǣrða geslōgon;
“and þā Jofore forgeaf āngan dōhtor,
“hām-weorðunge, hyldo tō wedde.
“Þæt ys sīo fǣhðo and se fēond-scipe,
“wæl-nīð wera, þæs þe ic wēn hafo,
“þē ūs sēceað tō Swēona lēode,
“syððan hīe gefricgeað frēan ūserne
“ealdor-lēasne, þone þe ǣr gehēold
“wið hettendum hord and rīce,
“æfter hæleða hryre hwate Scylfingas,
“folc-rǣd fremede oððe furður gēn
“eorl-scipe efnde. Nū is ofost betost,
“þæt wē þēod-cyning þǣr scēawian
“and þone gebringan, þē ūs bēagas geaf,
“on ād-fære. Ne scel ānes hwæt
“meltan mid þām mōdigan, ac þǣr is māðma hord.
“and nū æt sīðestan sylfes fēore
“bēagas gebohte; þā sceal brond fretan,
“ǣled þeccean, nalles eorl wegan
“māððum tō gemyndum, nē mægð scȳne
“habban on healse hring-weorðunge,
“ac sceall geōmor-mōd golde berēafod
“oft nalles ǣne el-land tredan,
“nū se here-wīsa hleahtor ālegde,
“gamen and glēo-drēam. Forþon sceall gār wesan
“monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden,
“hæfen on handa, nalles hearpan swēg
†3025
“wīgend weccean, ac se wonna hrefn
“fūs ofer fǣgum, fela reordian,
“earne secgan, hū him æt ǣte spēow,
“þenden hē wið wulf wæl rēafode.”
Swā se secg hwata secgende wæs
lāðra spella; hē ne lēag fela wyrda nē worda. Weorod eall ārās,
Fundon þā on sande sāwul-lēasne
hlim-bed healdan, þone þe him hringas geaf
ǣrran mǣlum: þā wæs ende-dæg gōdum gegongen, þæt se gūð-cyning,
Wedra þēoden, wundor-dēaðe swealt.
wyrm on wonge wiðer-ræhtes þǣr lāðne licgean: wæs se lēg-draca,
grimlīc gryre-gæst, glēdum beswǣled, sē wæs fīftiges fōt-gemearces.
lang on legere, lyft-wynne hēold
nihtes hwīlum, nyðer eft gewāt dennes nīosian; wæs þā dēaðe fæst, hæfde eorð-scrafa ende genyttod.
Him big stōdan bunan and orcas, discas lāgon and dȳre swyrd,
ōmige þurh-etone, swā hīe wið eorðan fæðm
þonne wæs þæt yrfe ēacen-cræftig,
iū-monna gold galdre bewunden,
þæt þām hring-sele hrīnan ne mōste
gumena ǣnig, nefne god sylfa, sigora sōð-cyning, sealde þām þe hē wolde
(hē is manna gehyld) hord openian, efne swā hwylcum manna, swā him gemet þūhte.
XLII. WĪGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.
Þā wæs gesȳne, þæt se sīð ne þāh
†3060
þām þe unrihte inne gehȳdde wrǣte under wealle. Weard ǣr ofslōh fēara sumne; þā sīo fǣhð gewearð
gewrecen wrāðlīce. Wundur hwār, þonne eorl ellen-rōf ende gefēre
līf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mæg mon mid his māgum medu-seld būan.
Swā wæs Bīowulfe, þā hē biorges weard sōhte, searo-nīðas: seolfa ne cūðe,
þurh hwæt his worulde gedāl weorðan sceolde;
†3070
swā hit oð dōmes dæg dīope benemdon
þēodnas mǣre, þā þæt þǣr dydon,
þæt se secg wǣre synnum scildig,
hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fæst,
wommum gewītnad, sē þone wong strāde.
†3075
Næs hē gold-hwæt: gearwor hæfde
Wīglāf maðelode, Wīhstānes sunu:
“Oft sceall eorl monig ānes willan
“wrǣc ādrēogan, swā ūs geworden is.
“Ne meahton wē gelǣran lēofne þēoden,
“þæt hē ne grētte gold-weard þone,
“lēte hyne licgean, þǣr hē longe wæs,
“Hēoldon hēah gesceap: hord ys gescēawod,
“grimme gegongen; wæs þæt gifeðe tō swīð,
“þē þone þēoden þyder ontyhte.
“Ic wæs þǣr inne and þæt eall geond-seh,
“recedes geatwa, þā mē gerȳmed wæs,
“nealles swǣslīce sīð ālȳfed
“inn under eorð-weall. Ic on ofoste gefēng
“micle mid mundum mægen-byrðenne
“hord-gestrēona, hider ūt ætbær
“cyninge mīnum: cwico wæs þā gēna,
“wīs and gewittig; worn eall gespræc
“gomol on gehðo and ēowic grētan hēt,
“bæd þæt gē geworhton æfter wines dǣdum
“micelne and mǣrne, swā hē manna wæs
“wīgend weorð-fullost wīde geond eorðan,
“þenden hē burh-welan brūcan mōste.
“sēon and sēcean searo-geþræc,
“wundur under wealle! ic ēow wīsige,
“þæt gē genōge nēan scēawiað
“bēagas and brād gold. Sīe sīo bǣr gearo
“ǣdre geæfned, þonne wē ūt cymen,
“and þonne geferian frēan ūserne,
“lēofne mannan, þǣr hē longe sceal
“on þæs waldendes wǣre geþolian.”
Hēt þā gebēodan byre Wīhstānes, hæle hilde-dīor, hæleða monegum bold-āgendra, þæt hīe bǣl-wudu
gōdum tōgēnes: “Nū sceal glēd fretan
“(weaxan wonna lēg) wigena strengel,
“þone þe oft gebād īsern-scūre,
“þonne strǣla storm, strengum gebǣded,
“scōc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte hēold,
†3120
“feðer-gearwum fūs flāne full-ēode.”
ācīgde of corðre cyninges þegnas syfone tōsomne þā sēlestan,
ēode eahta sum under inwit-hrōf;
hilde-rinc sum on handa bær
ǣled-lēoman, sē þe on orde gēong.
Næs þā on hlytme, hwā þæt hord strude, syððan or-wearde ǣnigne dǣl secgas gesēgon on sele wunian,
lǣne licgan: lȳt ǣnig mearn,
þæt hī ofostlice ūt geferedon dȳre māðmas; dracan ēc scufun, wyrm ofer weall-clif, lēton wǣg niman, flōd fæðmian frætwa hyrde.
Þǣr wæs wunden gold on wǣn hladen,
ǣghwæs unrīm, æðeling boren, hār hilde-rinc tō Hrones næsse.
XLIII. BĒOWULF’S FUNERAL PYRE.
helmum behongen, hilde-bordum, beorhtum byrnum, swā hē bēna wæs;
ālegdon þā tō-middes mǣrne þēoden hæleð hīofende, hlāford lēofne.
Ongunnon þā on beorge bǣl-fȳra mǣst
†3145
wīgend weccan: wudu-rēc āstāh
sweart ofer swioðole, swōgende lēg,
wōpe bewunden (wind-blond gelæg)
oð þæt hē þā bān-hūs gebrocen hæfde, hāt on hreðre. Higum unrōte
mōd-ceare mǣndon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;
swylce giōmor-gyd lat. con meowle
serg (?) cearig sǣlde geneahhe
þæt hīo hyre.... gas hearde
..... ede wælfylla wonn..
hildes egesan hyðo haf mid heofon rēce swealh (?)
Geworhton þā Wedra lēode hlǣw on hlīðe, sē wæs hēah and brād,
wǣg-līðendum wīde gesȳne, and betimbredon on tȳn dagum
beadu-rōfes bēcn: bronda betost wealle beworhton, swā hyt weorðlīcost fore-snotre men findan mihton.
Hī on beorg dydon bēg and siglu, eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ǣr nīð-hȳdige men genumen hæfdon; forlēton eorla gestrēon eorðan healdan, gold on grēote, þǣr hit nū gēn lifað
eldum swā unnyt, swā hit ǣror wæs.
Þā ymbe hlǣw riodan hilde-dēore,
woldon ceare cwīðan, kyning mǣnan, word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,
eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc duguðum dēmdon, swā hit ge-dēfe bið,
þæt mon his wine-dryhten wordum herge, ferhðum frēoge, þonne hē forð scile of līc-haman lǣne weorðan.
Swā begnornodon Gēata lēode hlāfordes hryre, heorð-genēatas, cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre woruld-cyning
mannum mildust and mon-þwǣrust,
lēodum līðost and lof-geornost.
Notes
†2150 † † 2155 † † 2160 2165 2170 2175 2180 2185 † 2190 2195 † 2200 2205 †2210 † † †2215 † 2220