BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 12-June-2005
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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 |
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| 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. |