BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 29-August-2012
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XXVI |
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| Oð þæt him on innan oferhygda daél |
| Until within him pride's portion |
| weaxeð ond wrídað þonne se weard swefeð |
| grows and flourishes then the warder sleeps, |
| sáwele hyrde· bið se slaép tó fæst, |
1742 | the soul's keeper; the sleep is too sound, |
| bisgum gebunden, bona swíðe néah |
| bound with troubles, the killer is very near, |
| sá þe of flánbogan fyrenum scéoteð· |
| he who from his shaft-bow foully fires; |
| þonne bið on hreþre under helm drepen |
| then it is in the heart struck beneath the helm |
| biteran straéle --him bebeorgan ne con-- |
| by the bitter dart --he cannot protect himself-- |
| wóm wundorbebodum wergan gástes· |
1747 | from the perversity of strange biddings of the wicked spirit; |
| þinceð him tó lýtel þæt hé tó lange héold· |
| it seems to him too little what he rules too long; |
| gýtsað gromhýdig· nallas on gylp seleð |
| cruel-mindedly covets, he in arrogance never gives |
| faédde béagas ond hé þá forðgesceaft |
| golden rings, and he then the future |
| forgyteð ond forgýmeð þæs þe him aér god sealde, |
| forgets and disregards, that which God gave him before, |
| wuldres waldend, weorðmynda daél· |
1752 | glory's Ruler, a share of honour· |
| hit on endestæf eft gelimpeð |
| it in the end finally comes to pass |
| þæt se líchoma laéne gedréoseð· |
| that the body, lent, fails; |
| faége gefealleð· féhð óþer tó |
| fated to death, it falls; another body takes up, |
| sé þe unmurnlíce mádmas daéleþ |
| who without regret shares out treasure, |
| eorles aérgestréon· egesan ne gýmeð. |
1757 | the earl's ancient wealth, and he heeds not fear. |
| Bebeorh þé ðone bealoníð, Beowulf léofa |
| Guard yourself against this wicked strife, beloved Beowulf, |
| secg betosta, ond þé þæt sélre gecéos |
| finest man, and for yourself choose the better, |
| éce raédas· oferhýda ne gým, |
| the eternal gains; do not pay heed to pride, |
| maére cempa· nú is þínes mægnes blaéd |
| renowned champion; now is the glory of your strength |
| áne hwíle· eft sóna bið |
1762 | for a while; presently in turn will be |
| þæt þec ádl oððe ecg eafoþes getwaéfeð |
| that you sickness or edge will part from strength, |
| oððe fýres feng oððe flódes wylm |
| or grasp of fire, or surge of flood, |
| oððe gripe méces oððe gáres fliht |
| or bite of blade, or flight of spear, |
| oððe atol yldo· oððe éagena bearhtm |
| or repulsive old-age; or the brightness of the eyes |
| forsiteð ond forsworceð· semninga bið |
1767 | weakens and dims; very soon will be |
| þæt ðec, dryhtguma, déað oferswýðeð. |
| that you, warrior, Death overpowers. |
| Swá ic Hring-Dena hund misséra |
| So I the Ring-Danes a hundred seasons |
| wéold under wolcnum ond hig wigge beléac |
| have ruled under the skies and in war sheltered them, |
| manigum maégþa geond þysne middangeard |
| from many tribes throughout this middle-earth, |
| æscum ond ecgum þæt ic mé aénigne |
1772 | from ash-shafts and sword-edges, so that I for myself any, |
| under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde. |
| under the expanse of the heavens, adversary I did not account. |
| Hwæt, mé þæs on éþle edwendan cwóm, |
| Listen, to me in the homeland for that a reversal came, |
| gyrn æfter gomene seoþðan Grendel wearð |
| sorrow after joy, since Grendel became |
| ealdgewinna ingenga min |
| an old contender, invader of mine, |
| ic þaére sócne singáles wæg |
1777 | I from that persecution endured continually |
| módceare micle· þæs sig metode þanc |
| great sorrow of spirit; thanks be for that to the Measurer of Fate, |
| écean dryhtne þæs ðe ic on aldre gebád |
| eternal Lord, from that I survived alive, |
| þæt ic on þone hafelan heorodréorigne |
| so that I on the head sword-bloodied |
| ofer eald gewin éagum starige! |
| after ancient strife could gaze with my eyes! |
| Gá nú tó setle· symbelwynne dréoh |
1782 | Go now to the bench, join in the pleasure-banquet, |
| wíggeweorþad· unc sceal worn fela |
| honoured by your battle; we must very many |
| máþma gemaénra siþðan morgen bið.' |
| treasures share between us when it is morning.' |
| Géat wæs glædmód· géong sóna tó |
| The Geat was glad-hearted, went straightaway to |
| setles néosan swá se snottra heht· |
| seek the bench, as the wise one had commanded; |
| þá wæs eft swá aér ellenrófum |
1787 | then it was again as before for bold warriors, |
| fletsittendum fægere gereorded |
| for those sitting in the hall they prepared a fine feast |
| níowan stefne· nihthelm geswearc |
| once again; the helm of night darkened, |
| deorc ofer dryhtgumum· duguð eal árás· |
| dark over the company of warriors; the veterans all arose; |
| wolde blondenfeax beddes néosan, |
| the blended-haired one wishes to seek his bed, |
| gamela Scylding· Géat unigmetes wél |
1792 | the aged Scylding; the Geat exceedingly much, |
| rófne randwigan restan lyste· |
| valiant shield-warrior, desired rest; |
| sóna him seleþegn síðes wérgum |
| at once him the hall-thane the weary journeyer |
| feorrancundum orð wísade |
| from afar guided forth, |
| sé for andrysnum ealle beweotede |
| who for courtesy looked after everything |
| þegnes þearfe swylce þý dógore |
1797 | of the hero's needs, such as in those days |
| heaþolíðende habban scoldon· |
| warrior-sailors were obliged to have; |
| reste hine þá rúmheort· reced hlíuade |
| rested him then, the large-hearted man; the hall towered |
| géap ond goldfáh· gæst inne swæf |
| vaulted and gold-adorned; the guest slept inside |
| oþ þæt hrefn blaca heofones wynne |
| until the black raven, the joy of the sky |
| blíðheort bodode. Ðá cóm beorht scacan |
1802 | declared glad-heartedly. Then came bright hurrying, |
| scaþan ónetton· |
| fighters hastening; |
| waéron æþelingas eft tó léodum |
| the nobles were back to their people |
| fúse tó farenne· wolde feor þanon |
| eager to fare; he wished far thence, |
| cuma collenferhð céoles néosan. |
| the high-spirited visitor, to seek his ship. |
| Heht þá se hearda Hrunting beran |
1807 | He then directed the tough man to wear Hrunting |
| sunu Ecgláfes· heht his sweord niman |
| the son of Edgelaf, bid him take his sword, |
| léoflíc íren· sægde him þæs léanes þanc· |
| beloved iron; said thanks to him for the loan, |
| cwæð: hé þone gúðwine gódne tealde |
| quoth: he the war-friend marked well, |
| wígcræftigne· nales wordum lóg |
| skilled in war; he did not in words blame |
| méces ecge· þæt wæs módig secg. |
1812 | the maiche's edge; he was a proud man. |
| Ond þá síðfrome, searwum gearwe |
| And then, eager to be going, ready in arms, |
| wígend waéron éode weorð Denum |
| were the warriors, the one honoured by the Danes went, |
| æþeling tó yppan þaér se óþer wæs |
| noble to the high seat, where the other was, |
| hæle hildedéor Hróðgár grétte. |
| the battle-bold hero greeted Hrothgar. |