BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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XXV |
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| Béowulf maþelode bearn Ecgþéowes: |
| Beowulf spoke, the son of Edgetheow: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Hwæt, wé þé þás saélác, sunu Healfdenes |
| 'Listen, we you these sea-spoils, son of Half-Dane, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| léod Scyldinga, lustum bróhton |
1653 | lord of the Scyldings, gladly brought | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tíres tó tácne þé þú hér tó lócast. |
| as token of glory, which you look at here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ic þæt unsófte ealdre gedígde |
| I it not easily survived with my life, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| wigge under wætere· weorc genéþde |
| war under water, work risked | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| earfoðlíce· ætrihte wæs |
| with trouble; at once was | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gúð getwaéfed nymðe mec god scylde· |
1658 | the warfare at an end, unless God shielded me; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ne meahte ic æt hilde mid Hruntinge |
| I could not in the battle with Hrunting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| wiht gewyrcan þéah þæt waépen duge |
| bring about anything, though that weapon is excellent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ac mé geúðe ylda waldend |
| but to me granted men's Ruler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| þæt ic on wáge geseah wlitig hangian |
| that I saw on the wall hanging fair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ealdsweord éacen --oftost wísode |
1663 | a mighty ancient sword --most often He has guided | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| winigea léasum-- þæt ic ðý waépne gebraéd· |
| the one deprived of friend-- that I the weapon drew, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ofslóh ðá æt þaére sæcce þá mé saél ageald |
| slew then in the strife, when an opportunity was yielded to me, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| húses hyrdas· þá þæt hildebil |
| the house's guardians; then that battle-bill | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| forbarn brogdenmaél swá þæt blód gesprang |
| burned up, wavy-patterned, as the blood leapt out, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| hátost heaþoswáta· ic þæt hilt þanan |
1668 | the hottest sweat of war; I that hilt thence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| féondum ætferede· fyrendaéda wræc |
| carried back from the fiends, foul-deeds avenged, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| déaðcwealm Denigea swá hit gedéfe wæs. |
| deadly slaughter of Danes, as it was fitting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ic hit þé þonne geháte þæt þú on Heorote móst |
| I promise it to you then, that you in Heorot may | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sorhléas swefan mid þínra secga gedryht |
| sleep without sorrow with your company of soldiers, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ond þegna gehwylc þínra léoda |
1673 | and each thane of your nation, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| duguðe ond iogoþe· þæt þú him ondraédan ne þearft, |
| veterans and youths, that you for them need not dread, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| þéoden Scyldinga, on þá healfe |
| chieftain of the Scyldings, on that side, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| aldorbealu eorlum swá þú aér dydest.' |
| life-bale for earls, as you did before.' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ðá wæs gyldenhilt gamelum rince |
| Then was the golden hilt to the old king | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| hárum hildfruman on hand gyfen |
1678 | to the grey battle-leader, given into his hand, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| enta aérgeweorc· hit on aéht gehwearf |
| the ancient work of giants; it had passed into the possession | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| æfter déofla hryre Denigea fréän |
| after the devils' fall of the lord of the Danes, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| wundorsmiþa geweorc ond þá þás worold ofgeaf |
| the work of wondersmiths, and then this world gave up | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gromheort guma godes andsaca |
| the angry-hearted creature, God's adversary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| morðres scyldig ond his módor éac |
1683 | guilty of murder, and his mother also; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| on geweald gehwearf woroldcyninga |
| it passed into the power of the earthly kings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ðaém sélestan � be saém twéonum |
| the finest ones between the two seas, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ðára þe on Scedenigge sceattas daélde. |
| of those who in Scandinavia dealt out riches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hróðgár maðelode· hylt scéawode |
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| ealde lafe· on ðaém wæs ór writen |
1688 | the old heirloom, on which was engraved the origin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| fyrngewinnes syðþan flód ofslóh |
| of ancient strife, when the flood slew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gifen géotende gíganta cyn-- |
| the pouring ocean, the race of giants-- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| frécne geférdon· þæt wæs fremde þéod |
| they fared terribly; that was a tribe foreign | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| écean dryhtne· him þæs endeléan |
| to the eternal Lord; them the end-reward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| þurh wæteres wylm waldend sealde-- |
1693 | through the surging of waters the Ruler granted-- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| swá wæs on ðaém scennum scíran goldes |
| also was on the sword-hilt of shining gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| þurh rúnstafas rihte gemearcod |
| in rune-staves rightly marked, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| geseted ond gesaéd hwám þæt sweord geworht |
| it was set down and said, for whom the sword wrought, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| írena cyst aérest waére |
| --choicest of irons-- had been first, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| wreoþenhilt ond wyrmfáh· ðá se wísa spræc |
1698 | with a twisted-hilt and serpent-patterned; then the wise man spoke, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| sunu Healfdenes swígedon ealle: |
| the son of Half-Dane all fell silent: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Þæt, lá, mæg secgan sé þe sóð ond riht |
| 'That, indeed, may say he who truth and right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| fremeð on folce· feor eal gemon, |
| performs among the folk, remembers all from far-back, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eald éðel weard· þæt ðes eorl waére |
| old warden of the homeland; that this hero was | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| geboren betera· blaéd is áraéred |
1703 | born a greater man; the fame is established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| geond wídwegas, wine mín Béowulf, |
| throughout the distant regions, Beowulf my friend, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ��n ofer ��oda gehwylce� eal �� hit ge�yldum healdest, |
| over each of the nations, of you; all you it with patience hold, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| m�gen mid m�des snyttrum� ic �� sceal m�ne gela�stan |
| strength with the wisdom of the heart; to you I shall continue to give my | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| fr�o�e sw� wit fur�um spra�con� �� scealt t� fr�fre weor�an |
1707 | protection, as we spoke of before; you must be as a comfort | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eal langtwídig léodum þínum |
| all long-lasting to your people, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| hæleðum tó helpe. Ne wearð Heremód swá |
| to heroes a support. Heremod was not so | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eaforum Ecgwelan Ár-Scyldingum· |
| to the sons of Edgewela, to the Honour-Scyldings; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ne gewéox hé him tó willan ac tó wælfealle |
| he grew not to their pleasure, but for slaughter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ond tó déaðcwalum Deniga léodum· |
1712 | and for annihilation of the people of the Danes; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| bréat bolgenmód béodgenéatas |
| he felled in a furious spirit his companions at table, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eaxlgesteallan oþ þæt hé ána hwearf |
| shoulder-comrades, until he alone passed, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| maére þéoden mondréamum from |
| famous king, from the joys of man | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ðéah þe hine mihtig god mægenes wynnum |
| though him mighty God with joys of strength | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eafeþum stépte ofer ealle men |
1717 | powerfully exalted over all men, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| forð gefremede hwæþere him on ferhþe gréow |
| further advanced yet in his heart grew to him | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| bréosthord blódréow· nallas béagas geaf |
| the treasure of the breast eager for blood; not at all did he give rings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denum æfter dóme· dréamléas gebád |
| to Danes for glory; he lived joylessly, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| þæt hé þæs gewinnes wærc þrówade |
| so that he the strife's pain suffered, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| léodbealo longsum. Ðú þé laér be þon· |
1722 | a great evil to the people for a long time. You learn by this, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| gumcyste ongit· ic þis gid be þé |
| understand human virtue; I this tale for you | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| áwræc wintrum fród. Wundor is tó secganne |
| recited, old and wise in winters. Wonder is to say | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| hú mihtig god manna cynne |
| how mighty God to mankind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| þurh sídne sefan snyttru bryttað |
| according to deep understanding dispenses wisdom, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| eard ond eorlscipe· hé áh ealra geweald· | 1727 |
land and noble
qualities; he has control of all;
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hwílum
hé on lufan laéteð hworfan
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at times He in
delight lets go
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monnes
módgeþonc maéran cynnes
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the heart's
thought of some man of glorious
kin
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seleð him
on éþle eorþan wynne
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gives to him
in his own homeland earthly bliss
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tó
healdanne hléoburh wera·
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to
command a stronghold of
men,
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gedéð him swá gewealdene worolde daélas
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| 1732
makes subject
to him from the world's
portions,
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síde
ríce þæt hé his selfa ne
mæg
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a wide
kingdom, that he himself can
not
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for his
unsnyttrum ende geþencean·
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in his
ignorance conceive the end (of his
rule);
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wunað
hé on wiste· nó hine wiht dweleð
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he lives on in
abundance; they hinder him not a
bit,
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ádl
né yldo né him inwitsorh
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sickness nor
age, nor him evil sorrow
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on sefan
sweorceð né gesacu óhwaér
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| 1737
darkens in his
soul, nor strife
anywhere
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ecghete
éoweð ac him eal worold
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sharp-hate
appears, but to him all the
world
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wendeð on
willan· hé þæt wyrse ne con.
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turns on his
pleasure; he does not know it
worse.
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