BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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XVIIII |
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| Sigon þá tó slaépe· sum sáre angeald� |
| They sank then into sleep; one paid sorely |
| æfenræste swá him ful oft gelamp |
| for his evening rest, as had quite often happened, |
| siþðan goldsele Grendel warode· |
1253 | when the gold-hall Grendel warded, |
| unriht æfnde oþ þæt ende becwóm, |
| inflict wrong until the end came, |
| swylt æfter synnum. Þæt gesýne wearþ |
| death for crimes. That became manifest, |
| wídcúþ werum þætte wrecend þá gýt |
| widely known by men, that an avenger still |
| lifde æfter láþum lange þráge |
| lived after the misfortunes, for a long time |
| æfter gúðceare Grendles módor |
1258 | after the war-trouble, Grendel's mother, |
| ides áglaécwíf yrmþe gemunde |
| lady troll-wife, remembered misery, |
| sé þe wæteregesan wunian scolde |
| she who the dreadful water had to inhabit, |
| cealde stréamas siþðan camp him wearð |
| the cold currents, after strife arose through him, |
| tó ecgbanan ángan bréþer |
| a sword-slayer to an only brother, |
| fæderenmaége· hé þá fág gewát |
1263 | father's kin; he went then stained, |
| morþre gemearcod mandréam fléön· |
| marked by the murder, fled human pleasures, |
| wésten warode. Þanon wóc fela |
| lived in the wilds. Then awoke many |
| geósceaftgásta· wæs þaéra Grendel sum, |
| fated spirits; Grendel was one of these, |
| heorowearh hetelíc· sé æt Heorote fand |
| the hateful sword-outlaw, who found at Heorot |
| wæccendne wer wíges bidan· |
1268 | a watching man biding for battle; |
| þaér him áglaéca ætgráepe wearð· |
| there with him the troll came at close grips; |
| hwæþre hé gemunde mægenes strenge |
| yet he remembered the great strength, |
| gimfæste gife ðe him god sealde |
| generous gift, which God gave him, |
| ond him tó anwaldan áre gelýfde |
| and he on the One-Ruler's favour relied, |
| frófre ond fultum· ðý hé þone féond ofercwóm· |
1273 | comfort and support; by this he overcame the fiend, |
| gehnaégde helle gást· þá hé héan gewát |
| subdued the spirit of hell; then wretched he went, |
| dréame bedaéled déaþwíc séön, |
| deprived of joy, to see his place of death, |
| mancynnes féond. Ond his módor þá gýt |
| that foe of mankind. And his mother even now, |
| gífre ond galgmód gegán wolde |
| greedy and gloomy-hearted wished to go forth, |
| sorhfulne síð, sunu déoð wrecan· |
1278 | a sorrowful journey, to avenge her son's death; |
| cóm þá to Heorote ðaér Hring-Dene |
| she came then to Heorot, where the Ring-Danes |
| geond þæt sæld swaéfun· þá ðaér sóna wearð |
| slept throught the hall; then there at once came about |
| edhwyrft eorlum siþðan inne fealh |
| the earl's reversal of fortune, when inside passed |
| Grendles módor· wæs se gryre laéssa |
| Grendel's mother; the horror was less |
| efne swá micle swá bið mægþa cræft |
1283 | by even so much, as is maid's strength, |
| wíggryre wífes bewaépned men |
| --the war-violence of woman-- from an armed man, |
| þonne heoru bunden hamere geþuren |
| when adorned blade, by hammer forged, |
| sweord swáte fáh swín ofer helme |
| --sword stained with blood-- the boar-crest |
| ecgum dyhttig andweard scireð. |
| by edges firm, the opposing (helmet) is sheared. |
| Þá wæs on healle heardecg togen |
1288 | Then in the hall was drawn a hard-edged |
| sweord ofer setlum, sídrand manig |
| sword above the seats, many a broad bossed-shield |
| hafen handa fæst· helm ne gemunde |
| held fast in hand; helmet was not heeded, |
| byrnan síde þá hine se bróga angeat· |
| (nor) broad byrnie, when the horror perceived him; |
| héo wæs on ofste· wolde út þanon, |
| she was in haste, wanted out of there, |
| féore beorgan þá héo onfunden wæs· |
1293 | to protect her life, when she was discovered; |
| hraðe héo æþelinga ánne hæfde |
| quickly she a noble one had |
| fæste befangen· þá héo tó fenne gang· |
| seized tightly, then she went to the fen; |
| sé wæs Hróþgáre hæleþa léofost |
| he was to Hrothgar the best-loved hero |
| on gesíðes hád be saém twéonum |
| in the retinue's rank between the two seas |
| ríce randwiga þone ðe héo on ræste ábréat |
1298 | mighty shield-warrior, whom she ripped from his rest, |
| blaédfæstne beorn --næs Béowulf ðaér |
| the glorious man --Beowulf was not there, |
| ac wæs óþer in aér geteohhod |
| but was in the other lodging assigned earlier |
| æfter máþðumgife maérum Géate-- |
| after the treasure-giving to the mighty Geat-- |
| hréam wearð in Heorote· héo under heolfre genam |
| a cry was in Heorot; she took from its gore |
| cúþe folme· cearu wæs geníwod, |
1303 | a well-known arm; sorrow was renewed, |
| geworden in wícun· ne wæs þæt gewrixle til |
| it returned to their dwellings; that exchange was not good, |
| þæt híe on bá healfa bicgan scoldon |
| which they on both sides were obliged to pay for |
| fréonda féorum· þá wæs fród cyning |
| with the lives of friends; then was the wise king, |
| hár hilderinc on hréonmóde |
| the grey battle-man, in a troubled spirit, |
| syðþan hé aldorþegn unlyfigendne |
1308 | when he the lordly thane unliving, |
| þone déorestan déadne wisse. |
| the dearest one, knew was dead. |
| Hraþe wæs tó búre Béowulf fetod |
| Quickly to the bower was Beowulf fetched |
| sigoréadig secg· samod aérdæge |
| the victorious warrior; at day-break |
| éode eorla sum æþele cempa |
| the notable earl went --noble champion-- |
| self mid gesíðum þaér se snotera bád |
1313 | himself with his companions where the wise one awaited |
| hwæþre him Alfwalda aéfre wille |
| whether for him the Ruler of Elves ever would wish, |
| æfter wéaspelle wyrpe gefremman· |
| after the news of woe, to bring about a change for the better; |
| gang ðá æfter flóre fyrdwyrðe man |
| then over the floor went the war-worthy man |
| mid his handscale --healwudu dynede-- |
| with his crowd of companions --the wood of the hall resounded-- |
| þæt hé þone wísan wordum hnægde |
1318 | he the wise (king) humbled with words: |
| fréan Ingwina· frægn gif him waére |
| --the lord of the Ingwins-- asked if it had been for him, |
| æfter néodlaðu niht getaése. |
| according to his hopes, a pleasing night. |