BEOWULF
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XVI |
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Ðá gýt aéghwylcum eorla drihten |
  | Then, furthermore, to each one of the earl's company | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
þára þe mid Béowulfe brimléade teah |
  1051 | those with Beowulf travelled the sea-path, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on þære medubence máþðum gesealde |
  | on the mead-bench he gave treasures, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
yrfeláfe ond þone aénne heht |
  | inherited relics, and the one man decreed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
golde forgyldan þone ðe Grendel aér |
  | to requite in gold whom Grendel first | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
máne ácwealde swá hé hyra má wolde |
  | in wickedness quelled, as he would have more of them | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
nefne him wítig god wyrd forstóde |
  1056 | except for them wise God that fate had prevented, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ond ðæs mannes mód. Metod eallum wéold |
  | and this man's courage. The Measure of Fate controlled all | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
gumena cynnes, swá hé nú gít déëð· |
  | for mankind, as he now still does; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
forþan bið andgit aéghwaér sélest |
  | therefore understanding is best everywhere, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ferhðes foreþanc· fela sceal gebídan |
  | the forethought of mind; he must abide much | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
léofes ond láþes sé þe longe hér |
  1061 | love and much hate he who long here | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on ðyssum windagum worolde brúceð. |
  | in these days of strife would enjoy the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Þaér wæs sang ond swég samod ætgædere |
  | There was song and sound at the same time all together | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
fore Healfdenes hildewísan, |
  | before Half-Dane's battle-plotter, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
gomenwudu gréted, gid oft wrecen |
  | the glee-wood plucked, a lay often recited | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ðonne
healgamen Hróþgáres scop
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  1066 |
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æfter medobence maénan scolde: |
  | before the mead-bench was obliged to utter: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnes eaferum ðá híe se faér begeat |
  | concerning Finn's heirs, with whom, when disaster struck them, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
hæleð Healfdena· Hnæf Scyldinga |
  | the hero of Half-Danes, Hnaef the Scylding, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
in Fréswæle feallan scolde. |
  | on the Frisian battle-field was fated to fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Né húru Hildeburh herian þorfte |
  1071 | Truly, Hildeburh did not have need to praise | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
eotena tréowe· unsynnum wearð |
  | the good faith of the Eotens; she was guiltless, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
beloren léofum æt þám hildplegan |
  | bereft of her dear ones: --in the war-play-- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
bearnum ond bróðrum· híe on gebyrd hruron |
  | her son and brother; they fell, in accorance with Fate, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
gáre wunde· þæt wæs geómuru ides. |
  | wounded by spear; that was a mournful woman. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nalles hólinga Hóces dohtor |
  1076 | Not without reason did Hoc's daughter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
meotodsceaft bemearn syþðan morgen cóm |
  | grieve over Fate's decree, when the morning came, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ðá héo under swegle geséon meahte |
  | then she under the sky could see | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
morþorbealo mága þaér hé aér maéste héold |
  | the baleful slaughter of kinsmen, where before he had held the most | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
worolde wynne· wíg ealle fornam |
  | joy in the world, war took all | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnes þegnas nemne féaum ánum |
  1081 | of Finn's thanes, except a few alone, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
þæt hé ne mehte on þaém meðelstede |
  | so that he could not in that meeting-place | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
wíg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan |
  | the clash with Hengest conclude at all, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
né þá wéaláfe wíge forþringan |
  | nor the woeful remnant by battle dislodge from their position, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
þéodnes ðegne ac hig him geþingo budon: |
  | the prince's thane, so they offered them settlement: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
þæt híe him óðer flet eal gerýmdon |
  1086 | that they for them the other dwelling would completely clear, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
healle ond héahsetl þæt híe healfre geweald |
  | hall and high seat, that they would half of it control | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
wið eotena bearn ágan móston |
  | with the Eotens' sons might have, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ond æt feohgyftum Folcwaldan sunu |
  | and at the giving of treasure Folcwalden's son | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
dógra gehwylce Dene weorþode· |
  | each day the Danes would honour, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hengestes héap hringum wenede |
  1091 | Hengest's company would revere with rings, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
efne swá swíðe sincgestréonum |
  | with even as much precious possesions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
faéttan goldes swá hé Frésena cyn |
  | of ornate gold exactly as he the Frisian kind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on béorsele byldan wolde. |
  | in the beer-hall would wish to embolden. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ðá híe getruwedon on twá healfa |
  | Then they pledged on both sides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
fæste frioðuwaére· Fin Hengeste |
  1096 | firm compact of peace; Finn to Hengest | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
elne unflitme áðum benemde |
  | with incontestable earnestness proclaimed an oath | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
þæt hé þá wéaláfe weotena dóme |
  | that he the woeful remnant, by sages' judgement, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
árum héolde þæt ðaér aénig mon |
  | would hold in honour, that there any man | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
wordum né worcum waére ne braéce |
  | by word nor by deed would not break the treaty, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
né þurh inwitsearo aéfre gemaénden |
  1101 | nor in malicious artifice ever complain, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ðéah híe hira béaggyfan banan folgedon |
  | though they their ring-giver's killer followed, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ðéodenléase, þá him swá geþearfod wæs· |
  | leaderless, and were thus forced by necessity; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
gyf þonne Frýsna hwylc frécnen spraéce |
  | if then any Frisian by audacious speech | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ðæs morþorhétes myndgiend waére |
  | the murderous feud were to remind (them), | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
þonne hit sweordes ecg syððan scolde. |
  1106 | then it by sword's edge must be thereafter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ád wæs geæfned ond incge gold |
  | The funeral fire was prepared, and Ingui's gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
áhæfen of horde· Here-Scyldinga |
  | raised from the hoard; the War-Scyldings' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
betst beadorinca wæs on baél gearu· |
  | best battle-man was ready on the bier; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
æt þaém áde wæs éþgesýne |
  | at the funeral-pyre was easily seen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
swátfáh syrce swýn ealgylden |
  1111 | the blood-stained mail-shirt, the swine all-golden, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
eofer írenheard æþeling manig |
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the boar hard as
iron, the prince had many
wundum
áwyrded· sume on wæle crungon·
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destroyed by
wounds; great men had fallen in
slaughter;
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hét
ðá Hildeburh æt Hnæfes áde
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then Hildeburh
ordered at Hnaef's pier
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hire selfre
sunu sweoloðe befæstan,
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her own son committed to the fire,
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bánfatu bærnan ond on baél
dóön
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|   1116
the body-vessel
burned, and put on the bier,
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earme on
eaxle· ides gnornode·
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the wretched woman
at his shoulder,
the lady lamented,
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geómrode giddum· gúðrinc
ástáh·
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sorrowed with
songs; the warrior was laid
out,
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wand
tó wolcnum wælfýra maést
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spiralled into
the clouds the greatest fire of the
slain
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hlynode for
hláwe· hafelan multon·
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roared before
the mound; heads melted,
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bengeato
burston ðonne blód ætspranc,
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|   1121
the
wound-gates burst open, then blood
sprang out,
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láðbite líces· líg ealle
forswealg,
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from the hate-bites of the body;
the blaze swallowed all up,
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gaésta
gífrost, þára ðe þaér
gúð fornam
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--the
greediest guest-- those who
there were taken by battle
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béga
folces· wæs hira blaéd scacen.
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from both
peoples; their vigour was
dispersed.
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