BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 12-June-2005
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XVIII |
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| Him wæs ful boren ond fréondlaþu |
| The full cup was brought to him, and a friendly invitation | ||
| wordum bewægned ond wundengold |
1193 | proffered in words, and twisted gold | ||
| éstum geéawed: earmréade twá |
| kindly offered: two arm-ornaments, | ||
| hrægl ond hringas, healsbéaga maést |
| robe and rings, the largest necklace | ||
| þára þe ic on foldan gefrægen hæbbe· |
| of those which I on earth have heard of; | ||
| naénigne ic under swegle sélran hýrde |
| none under the sky I have heard of better | ||
| hordmádmum hæleþa syþðan Háma ætwæg |
1198 | from hoard-treasures of heroes, since Hama carried off | ||
| tó herebyrhtan byrig Brósinga mene |
| to the battle-bright stronghold the Brosings' necklet, | ||
| sigle ond sincfæt· searoníðas fealh |
| jewel and precious setting; he fled the cunning enmity | ||
| Eormenríces· gecéas écne raéd· |
| of Eormenric, chose eternal benefit; | ||
| þone hring hæfde Higelác Géata |
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| nefa Swertinges nýhstan síðe |
1203 | grandson of Swerting, on his last adventure, | ||
| siðþan hé under segne sinc ealgode· |
| when under the banner he defended riches, | ||
| wælréaf werede· hyne wyrd fornam |
| warded slaughter-spoils; him Fate took away, | ||
| syþðan hé for wlenco wéan áhsode |
| after he from pride sought misery, | ||
| faéhðe tó Frýsum· hé þá frætwe wæg |
| feud with the Frisians; he then wore the ornament, | ||
| eorclanstánas ofer ýða ful |
1208 | the mysterious stone over the waves' cup, | ||
| ríce þéoden· hé under rande gecranc. |
| the mighty prince; he fell under the rimmed-shield. | ||
| Gehwearf þá in Francna fæþm feorh cyninges |
| Passed then into the Franks' grasp the body of the king, | ||
| bréostgewaédu ond se béah somod· |
| mail-coat and the ring together; | ||
| wyrsan wígfrecan wæl réafeden |
| lesser warrior rifled the corpses | ||
| æfter gúðsceare· Géata léode |
1213 | after the slaughter of battle; the people of the Geats | ||
| hréawíc héoldon. Heal swége onféng· |
| filled the field of corpses. The hall resounded with noise; | ||
| Wealhðéo maþelode· héo fore þaém werede spræc: |
| Wealhtheow spoke; she spoke before the retinue: | ||
| 'Brúc ðisses béages, Béowulf léofa |
| 'Make use of this ring, belovèd Beowulf, | ||
| hyse, mid haéle ond þisses hrægles néot |
| young man, with good fortune, and take benefit from this corslet, | ||
| þéod gestreona ond geþéoh tela· |
1218 | the wealth of a nation, and prosper well, | ||
| cen þec mid cræfte ond þyssum cnyhtum wes |
| prove yourself with strength, and to these lads be | ||
| lára líðe· ic þé þæs léan geman· |
| gentle in teaching; I shall remember you for this requital; | ||
| hafast þú geféred þæt ðé feor ond néah |
| you have brought it about that you far and near | ||
| ealne wídeferhþ weras ehtigað |
| always and forever men will praise, | ||
| efne swá síde swá saé bebúgeð, |
1223 | even as widely as the sea surrounds | ||
| windgeard, weallas· wes þenden þú lifige, |
| the home of the wind, walls; be while you live, | ||
| æþeling, éadig· ic þé an tela |
| prince, happy; I wish thee well, | ||
| sincgestréona· béo þú suna mínum |
| and rich in treasure; be you to my sons | ||
| daédum gedéfe, dréamhealdende· |
| indulgent in deeds, possessing joy; | ||
| hér is aéghwylc eorl óþrum getrýwe |
1228 | here is each of the men true to the others | ||
| módes milde mandrihtne hléo· |
| generous in mind, in the protetion of their liege-lord; | ||
| þegnas syndon geþwaére þéod ealgearo |
| the thanes are united, the people alert, | ||
| druncne dryhtguman dóð swá ic bidde.' |
| the warrior-retinue cheered by drink do as I bid.' | ||
| Éode þá tó setle· þaér wæs symbla cyst· |
| She went then to her seat; there was the finest feast, | ||
| druncon wín weras· wyrd ne cúþon |
1233 | the men drank wine; they did not know their fate, | ||
| geósceaft grimme swá hit ágangen wearð |
| horrific destiny, as it had happened | ||
| eorla manegum syþðan aéfen cwóm |
| to many heroes, after evening came, | ||
| ond him Hróþgár gewát tó hofe sínum |
| and Hrothgar went to his quarters, | ||
| ríce tó ræste reced weardode |
| the ruler to rest, the hall guarded | ||
| unrím eorla swá híe oft aér dydon |
1238 | countless earls, as they often had done before, | ||
| bencþelu beredon· hit geondbraéded wearð |
| they cleared away the benches from the floor; over it was spread | ||
| beddum ond bolstrum· béorscealca sum |
| bedding and bolsters; one of the beer-drinkers, | ||
| fús ond faége fletræste gebéag· |
| eager and doomed, lay down in his hall-couch; | ||
| setton him tó héafdon hilderandas |
| they set at their heads battle-bossed shields, | ||
| bordwudu beorhtan· þaér on bence wæs |
1243 | bright linden-wood; there on the bench was | ||
| ofer æþelinge ýþgeséne |
| over each nobleman easily seen | ||
| heaþostéapa helm hringed byrne |
| a battle-steep helm, ringed byrnie, | ||
| þrecwudu þrymlíc· wæs þéaw hyra |
| (and) glorious mighty shaft; their custom was | ||
| þæt híe oft waéron an wíg gearwe |
| that they were often ready for a battle | ||
| gé æt hám gé on herge gé gehwæþer þára |
1248 | both at home and out harrying, and either of these, | ||
| efne swylce maéla swylce hira mandryhtne |
| for just such times as for their liege-lord | ||
| þearf gesaélde· wæs séo þéod tilu. |
| the need arose; they were a good platoon. |