BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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XIIII |
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| Hróðgár maþelode --hé to héalle géong· |
| Hrothgar spoke --he went to the hall, |
| stód on stapole· geseah stéapne hróf |
926 | stood on the steps, observed the steep roof |
| golde fáhne ond Grendles hond--: |
| adorned with gold and Grendel's hand--: |
| 'Ðisse ansýne alwealdan þanc |
| 'For this sight Thanks to the All-Ruler |
| lungre gelimpe! Fela ic láþes gebád, |
| be swiftly forthcoming! I have suffered many injuries, |
| grynna æt Grendle· á mæg god wyrcan |
| griefs from Grendel; God can always work |
| wunder æfter wundre, wuldres hyrde. |
931 | wonder after wonder, glory's Keeper. |
| Ðaét wæs ungeára þæt ic aénigra mé |
| It was not long past that I for me any |
| wéana ne wénde tó wídan feore |
| for woes not hoped for the bredth of my life, |
| bóte gebídan þonne blóde fáh |
| to experience remedy when adorned with blood |
| húsa sélest heorodréorig stód: |
| the most splendid house stood battle-gory: |
| wéa wídscofen witena gehwylcne |
936 | woe widespread for each of the sages |
| ðára þe ne wéndon þæt híe wídeferhð |
| those who did not hope that in the span of their lives |
| léoda landgeweorc láþum beweredon |
| the nation's fortress from foes they could protect, |
| scuccum ond scinnum· ná scealc hafað |
| from shucks and shines; now a warrior has, |
| þurh drihtnes miht daéd gefremede |
| through the Lord's power, performed a deed |
| ðe wé ealle aér ne meahton |
941 | which we all before could not |
| snyttrum besyrwan· hwæt, þæt secgan mæg |
| with schemes contrive; listen, that may say |
| efne swá hwylc mægþa swá ðone magan cende |
| even so whichever woman as that begot this man, |
| æfter gumcynnum gyf héo gýt lyfað |
| among mankind, if she yet lives, |
| þæt hyre ealdmetod éste waére |
| that to her the Old Measurer of Fate was gracious |
| bearngebyrdo. Nú ic, Béowulf, þec, |
946 | in child-bearing. Now, I, Beowulf, you, |
| secg betosta, mé for sunu wylle |
| the best of men, for me like a son would |
| fréogan on ferhþe· heald forð tela |
| love in life; keep well henceforth |
| níwe sibbe· ne bið þé aénigre gád |
| this new kinship; there will not be any want |
| worolde wilna þé ic geweald hæbbe· |
| of worldly wishes while I have power; |
| ful oft ic for laéssan léan teohhode |
951 | full oft I for less rewards have bestowed, |
| hordweorþunge hnáhran rince |
| honouring with treasure a humbler man, |
| saémran æt sæcce· þú þé self hafast |
| lesser at fighting; you for yourself have |
| daédum gefremed þæt þín dóm lyfað |
| by deeds ensured, that your fame lives |
| áwa tó aldre· alwalda þec |
| for ever and ever; may the All-Ruler you |
| góde forgylde swá hé nú gýt dyde!' |
956 | reward with good, as He has now yet done!' |
| Béowulf maþelode bearn Ecgþéowes: |
| Beowulf spoke, the son of Edgetheow: |
| 'Wé þæt ellenweorc éstum miclum |
| 'We the courage-works with great pleasure, |
| feohtan fremedon· frécne genéðdon |
| endeavoured to fight, boldly risked |
| eafoð uncúþes. Úþe ic swíþor |
| the strength of an unknown foe. I would rather |
| þæt ðú hine selfne geséon móste |
961 | that you him himself might have seen, |
| féond on frætewum fylwérigne· |
| the fiend in his full gear wearied by death; |
| ic him hrædlíce heardan clammum |
| I him quickly in hard clasp |
| on wælbedde wríþan þóhte |
| on the bed of slaughter thought to fetter, |
| þæt hé for handgripe mínum scolde |
| that he because of the hand-grip of mine must |
| licgean lífbysig bútan his líc swice· |
966 | lie struggling for life, lest his body slip away; |
| ic hine ne mihte þá metod nolde |
| I him could not, when the Measurer of Fate did not wish it, |
| ganges getwaéman· nó ic him þæs georne ætfealh |
| hinder departing; nor I so readily kept him close, |
| feorhgeníðlan· wæs tó foremihtig |
| that mortal foe; he was too overpowering, |
| féond on féþe· hwæþere, hé his folme forlét |
| the fiend in departing; however, he left his hand |
| tó lífwraþe lást weardian, |
971 | to save his life, remaining behind, |
| earm ond eaxle· nó þaér aénige swá þéah |
| arm and shoulder; not with it though any |
| féasceaft guma frófre gebohte· |
| the worthless creature, relief purchased; |
| nó þý leng leofað láðgetéona |
| not the longer does he live, the hateful spoiler, |
| synnum geswenced ac hyne sár hafað |
| struck down by sins but him the wound has |
| in níðgripe nearwe befongen |
976 | with violent grip narrowly enclosed |
| balwon bendum ðaér ábídan sceal |
| in baleful bonds, there he must await, |
| maga máne fáh miclan dómes· |
| the creature stained with crimes, the great judgement, |
| hú him scír metod scrífan wille.' |
| how him the glorious Measure of Fate wishes to decree.' |
| Ðá wæs swígra secg sunu Ecgláfes |
| Then the man was more silent, the son of Edgelaf, |
| on gylpspraéce gúðgeweorca |
981 | in boast-speech of war-works |
| siþðan æþelingas eorles cræfte |
| when the noble men, by the strength of the prince |
| ofer héanne hróf hand scéawedon |
| over the high roof saw the hand, |
| feondes fingras· foran aéghwylc wæs |
| the fiend's fingers; on the front of each was, |
| steda nægla gehwylc stýle gelícost |
| in the place of each nail very much like steel |
| haéþenes handsporu hilderinces |
986 | heathenish hand-spurs, the war-creature's |
| egl unhéoru· aéghwylc gecwæð |
| ungentle talon; everyone said |
| þæt him heardra nán hrínan wolde |
| that him no hard weapon would strike, |
| íren aérgód, þæt ðæs áhlaécan |
| pre-eminent iron, that of them (none) the demon's |
| blódge beadufolme onberan wolde. |
| bloody battle-hand would injure. |