BEOWULF
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XXVII |
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Béowulf maþelode bearn Ecgþéowes: |
  1817 | Beowulf spoke, the son of Edgetheow: | ||
'Nú wé saélíðend � secgan wyllað |
  | 'Now we sea-farers wish to say | ||
feorran cumene þæt wé fundiaþ |
  | having come from afar, that we are anxious | ||
Higelác sécan· waéron hér tela |
  | to seek Hygelac; we here were well | ||
willum bewenede· þú ús wél dohtest. |
  | entertained in our desires; you have treated us well. | ||
Gif ic þonne on eorþan ówihte mæg |
  1822 | If then on earth I can (do) anything | ||
þínre módlufan máran tilian, |
  | of your affections earn more, | ||
gumena dryhten, ðonne ic gýt dyde, |
  | lord of men, than I have done yet, | ||
gúðgeweorca ic béo gearo sóna |
  | with feats of arms, I am ready at once, | ||
gif ic þæt gefricge ofer flóda begang |
  | if I find it out over the flood's expanse, | ||
þæt þec ymbsittend egesan þýwað |
  1827 | that you neighbouring-tribes oppress with terror, | ||
swá þec hetende hwílum dydon |
  | as enemies to you sometimes did, | ||
ic ðé þúsenda þegna bringe |
  | I to you a thousand thanes will bring, | ||
hæleþa tó helpe. Ic on Higeláce wát, |
  | heroes as help. I know of Hygelac, | ||
Géata dryhten þéah ðe hé geong syÿ |
  | the lord of the Geats, though he is young, | ||
folces hyrde· þæt hé mec fremman wile |
  1832 | the keeper of the folk, that he would support me | ||
weordum ond worcum þæt ic þé wél herige |
  | with words and with deeds, so that I might honour you rightly | ||
ond þé tó géoce gárholt bere |
  | and to you in aid bring a forest of spears, | ||
mægenes fultum þaér ðé bið manna þearf. |
  | the support of strength, where you be needful of men. | ||
Gif him þonne Hréþrínc tó hofum Géata |
  | If him, on the other hand, Hrethric to the Geatish court | ||
geþingeð þéodnes bearn hé mæg þaér fela |
  1837 | decides (to go), chieftain's son, he shall there be able many | ||
fréonda findan· feorcýþðe béoð |
  | friends to find; distant lands are | ||
sélran gesóhte þaém þe him selfa déah.' |
  | better sought by one who is powerful himself.' | ||
Hróðgár maþelode him on andsware: |
  | Hrothgar spoke to him in reply: | ||
'Þé þá wordcwydas wigtig drihten |
  | 'To you these sayings of words the wise Lord | ||
on sefan sende· ne hýrde ic snotorlícor |
  1842 | has sent into mind; I have not heard more intelligently | ||
on swá geongum feore guman þingian· |
  | at such young age man make a speech; | ||
þú eart mægenes strang ond on móde fród |
  | you are strong in power and wise in your heart, | ||
wís wordcwida· wén ic talige |
  | judicious word-speaker; I consider it likely | ||
gif þæt gegangeð þæt ðe gár nymeð |
  | if it happens, that from you the spear takes, | ||
hild heorugrimme Hréþles eaferan, |
  1847 | a horrendous battle Hrethel's heir, | ||
ádl oþðe íren ealdor ðínne |
  | sickness or iron your ruler, | ||
folces hyrde ond þú þín feorh hafast |
  | the guardian of the folk, and you have your life, | ||
þæt þe Saé-Géatas sélran næbben |
  | that the Sea-Geats could not have better | ||
tó gecéosenne cyning aénigne |
  | by choosing any other king, | ||
hordweard hæleþa gyf þú healdan wylt |
  1852 | hoard-ward of heroes, if you wish to rule | ||
mága ríce· mé þín módsefa |
  | your kinsman's kingdom. Your spirit and heart me | ||
lícað leng swá wél, léofa Béowulf· |
  | pleases so well the longer (I know them), dear Beowulf; | ||
hafast þú geféred þæt þám folcum sceal |
  | you have achieved that for the folk shall | ||
Géata léodum ond Gár-Denum |
  | the people of the Geats and the Spear-Danes | ||
sib gemaénum ond sacu restan, |
  1857 | in mutual peace, and strife subside, | ||
inwitníþas, þé híe aér drugon, |
  | hostilities, which they endured before; | ||
wesan þenden ic wealde wídan ríces |
  | shall be, while I rule the wide kingdom, | ||
máþmas gemaéne, manig óþerne |
  | wealth in common, many an other | ||
gódum gegréttan ofer ganotes bæð· |
  | with good things will greet over the gannet's bath; | ||
sceal hringnaca ofer heáþu bringan |
  1862 | the ring-prowed ship shall bring over the high seas | ||
lác ond luftácen· ic þá léode wát |
  | offerings and tokens of friendship; I know these nations | ||
gé wið féond gé wið fréond fæste geworhte |
  | both towards foe and towards friend firmly disposed, | ||
aéghwæs untaéle ealde wísan.' |
  | blameless in everything, in the ancient manner.' | ||
Ðá gít him eorla hléo hine gesealde |
  | Then again to him the protector of earls gave to him, | ||
mago Healfdenes máþmas twelf· |
  1867 | the son of Half-Dane, twelve treasures; | ||
hét inne mid þaém lácum léode swaése |
  | he commanded him with these gifts his own dear nation | ||
sécean on gesyntum, snúde eft cuman· |
  | to seek in safety, to return quickly; | ||
gecyste þá cyning æþelum gód, |
  | kissed then, the king the upright noble, | ||
þéoden Scyldinga ðegn betostan |
  | the chieftain of the Scyldings, the best thane | ||
ond be healse genam· hruron him téaras |
  1872 | and took him by the neck; tears fell from him, | ||
blondenfeaxum· him wæs béga wén |
  |
| ||
ealdum infródum, óþres swíðor· |
  | old and deeply wise, the second stronger, | ||
þæt híe seoððan� geséon móston |
  | that they afterwards might meet, | ||
módige on meþle· wæs him se man tó þon léof |
  | brave in a formal summit; the man was so dear to him | ||
þæt hé þone bréostwylm forberan ne mehte |
  1877 | that he the welling of his breast could not hold back | ||
ac him on hreþre hygebendum fæst |
  | but him in his heart in firm bounds of thought | ||
æfter déorum men dyrne langað |
  | for the dear man a remote longing | ||
beorn wið blóde. Him Béowulf þanan |
  | burned in his blood. Him Beowulf thence, | ||
gúðrinc goldwlanc græsmoldan træd |
  | warrior proud with gold, trod the grass-mound, | ||
since hrémig· saégenga bád |
  1882 | triumphing in treasure. The sea-goer awaited | ||
ágedfréän sé þe on ancre rád· |
  | its lord and owner, which rode at its anchor; | ||
þá wæs on gange� gifu Hróðgáres |
  | later on the journey was the gift of Hrothgar | ||
oft geæhted· þæt wæs án cyning, |
  | often praised; that was one king, | ||
aéghwæs orleahtre oþ þæt hine yldo benam |
  | in everything blameless, until age deprived him | ||
mægenes wynnum sé þe oft manegum scód. |
  1887 | of strength's delights, a thing which continually harms many. |