BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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XV |
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| Ðá wæs háten hreþe Heort innanweard |
991 | Then the order was promptly given the interior of Heorot |
| folmum gefrætwod· fela þaéra wæs |
| to furnish by hands; many there were, |
| wera ond wífa þe þæt wínreced |
| of men and women, who the wine-hall, |
| gestsele gyredon· goldfág scinon |
| the guest-hall prepared; gold-glittering shone |
| web æfter wágum wundorsíona fela |
| woven tapestries along the walls, many wondrous sights |
| secga gehwylcum þára þe on swylc starað· |
996 | for each of the men, who on such stared; |
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wæs þæt beorhte bold tóbrocen swíðe |
| that bright building was badly broken up |
| eal inneweard írenbendum fæst, |
| all inside secure with iron-bands, |
| heorras tóhlidene· hróf ána genæs |
| hinges sprung open; the roof alone remained |
| ealles ansund þé se áglaéca |
| entirely sound, when the ogre, |
| fyrendaédum fág on fléam gewand |
1001 | guilty of wicked deeds turned in flight, |
| aldres orwéna. Nó þæt ýðe byð |
| despairing of life. That is not easy |
| to befléönne --fremme sé þe wille-- |
| to flee from --try he who will-- |
| ac gesacan sceal sáwlberendra |
| but he must gain by strife, those who have souls, |
| nýde genýdde, niþða bearna |
| compelled by necessity, the mens' sons', |
| grundbúendra gearwe stówe |
1006 | the ground-dwellers' ready place, |
| þaér his líchoma legerbedde fæst |
| there his body, fast in his death-bed, |
| swefeþ æfter symle. Þá wæs saél ond maél |
| sleeps after feasting. Then it was the time and occasion |
| þæt tó healle gang Healfdenes sunu· |
| that to the hall went Half-Dane's son; |
| wolde self cyning symbel þicgan· |
| the king himself wished to partake of the feast; |
| ne gefrægen ic þá maégþe máran weorode |
1011 | I have not heard when a tribe in a greater force |
| ymb hyra sincgyfan sél gebaéran· |
| around their treasure-giver comported themselves better; |
| bugon þá tó bence blaédágande |
| they then sank down on the bench, the fame-bearers, |
| fylle gefaégon· fægere geþaégon |
| rejoicing at the feast; they graciously received |
| medoful manig mágas þára |
| many full goblets of mead, their kinsmen, |
| swíðhicgende on sele þám héan |
1016 | stout-hearted, in the high hall |
| Hróðgár ond Hróþulf· Heorot innan wæs |
| Hrothgar and Hrothulf· the interior of Heorot was |
| fréondum áfylled· nalles fácenstafas |
| filled with friends; no treacherous-strokes |
| Þéod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon. |
| the Folk-Scyldings made as yet. |
| Forgeaf þá Béowulfe brand Healfdenes |
| Then Beowulf was given the brand of Half-Dane, |
| segen gyldenne sigores tó léane |
1021 | the golden banner in reward of victory, |
| hroden hiltecumbor, helm ond byrnan· |
| the adorned standard, helm and byrnie; |
| maére máðþumsweord manige gesáwon |
| the renowned treasure-sword many saw |
| beforan beorn beran· Béowulf geþah |
| brought before the hero; Beowulf took |
| ful on flette· nó hé þaére feohgyfte |
| the full flagon from the floor; of the reward-gift he did not, |
| for scótenum scamigan ðorfte· |
1026 | as payment, need to be ashamed; |
| ne gefrægn ic fréondlícor féower mádmas |
| I have not heard that more graciously four treasures, |
| golde gegyrede gummanna fela |
| adorned with gold, many men |
| in ealobence óðrum gesellan· |
| on ale-bench have given to others; |
| ymb þæs helmes hróf héafodbeorge |
| around the helmet's roof --the head-guard-- |
| wírum bewunden walan útan héold |
1031 | was wound with wires the re-inforced crest guarded from without, |
| þæt him féla láf frécne ne meahton |
| that him what the files have left could not savagely, |
| scúrheard sceþðan þonne scyldfreca |
| (could not) harm the wondrously-tempered (helm), when the shield-fighter |
| ongéan gramum gangan scolde. |
| against enemies had to go. |
| Heht ðá eorla hléo� eahta méaras |
| The defender of earls then ordered eight horses, |
| faétedhléore on flet téön |
1036 | with decorated head-gear, led onto the hall-floor |
| in under eoderas· þára ánum stód |
| in under the ramparts; one of them stood, |
| sadol searwum fáh since gewurþad· |
| saddle skilfully adorned, ennobled with jewels; |
| þæt wæs hildesetl héahcyninges |
| that was the battle-seat of the high king, |
| ðonne sweorda gelác sunu Healfdenes |
| when in sword-play the son of Half-Dane |
| efnan wolde· naéfre on óre læg |
1041 | wished to engage; in the vanguard it never failed |
| wídcúþes wíg ðonne walu féollon· |
| his warskill well-known, when the slain were falling; |
| ond ðá Béowulfe béga gehwæþres |
| and then to Beowulf both of the treasures |
| eodor Ingwina onweald getéah |
| the protector of the Friends of Ing bestowed possession, |
| wicga ond waépna· hét hine wél brúcan· |
| horses and weapons; he ordered him to make good use of (them); |
| swá manlíce maére þéoden |
1046 | so in a manly manner the famed chieftain, |
| hordweard hæleþa heaþoraésas geald |
| the hoard-ward of heroes, paid for war-clashes |
| méarum ond mádmum swá hý naéfre man lyhð |
| in horses and treasures; thus, one can never find fault in them |
| sé þe secgan wile sóð æfter rihte. |
| he who wishes to tell the truth according to what is right. |