BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 12-June-2005
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XXVIIII |
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| Gewát him ðá se hearda mid his hondscole |
| Then the hardy man went with his hand-picked retinue | ||
| sylf æfter sande saéwong tredan |
| himself along the sand treading the sea-plain, | ||
| wíde waroðas· woruldcandel scán |
| the wide strand; the world-candle shone, | ||
| sigel súðan fús· hí síð drugon· |
| the sun eagerly from the south; they had survived the journey, | ||
| elne geéodon, tó ðæs ðe eorla hléo |
1967 | strode quickly, to where the Shield of Heroes, | ||
| bonan Ongenþéoes burgum in innan, |
| --the bane of Ongentheow-- inside his citadel, | ||
| geongne gúðcyning gódne gefrúnon |
| the young war-king, they heard (that there) the good man | ||
| hringas daélan. Higeláce wæs |
| alloted rings. To Hygelac was | ||
| síð Béowulfes snúde gecýðed· |
| Beowulf's journey promptly reported, | ||
| þæt ðaér on worðig wígendra hléo |
1972 | that there in enclosed homestead, the defender of warriors, | ||
| lindgestealla lifigende cwóm |
| shield-companion (still) living came, | ||
| heaðoláces hál tó hofe gongan· |
| from the war-play unharmed going to to the court; | ||
| hraðe wæs gerýmed swá se ríca bebéad |
| quickly was cleared, as the king bade, | ||
| féðegestum flet innanweard· |
| for the visitors on foot the floor within; | ||
| gesæt þá wið sylfne sé ðá sæcce genæs, |
1977 | then he sat down with the same man, he who had survived the fight, | ||
| maég wið maége syððan mandryhten |
| kinsman with kinsman, after the liege-lord | ||
| þurh hléoðorcwyde holdne gegrétte |
| through ceremonious speech his loyal subject had greeted, | ||
| méaglum wordum meoduscencum |
| in emphatic words, mead-draughts | ||
| hwearf geond þæt síde reced Hæreðes dohtor |
| passed round through that spacious room Haereth's daughter, | ||
| lufode ðá léode· liðwaége bær |
1982 | --she loved the people-- bore goblets | ||
| haéum tó handa. Higelác ongan |
| to the hands of the illustrious ones. Hygelac began | ||
| sínne geseldan in sele þám héan |
| his hall-companion in that high hall | ||
| fægre fricgcean· hyne fyrwet bræc |
| to question courteously, his curiosity burst forth, | ||
| hwylce Saé-Géata síðas waéron: |
| whatever the Sea-Geats' adventures were: | ||
| 'Hú lomp éow on láde, léofa Bíowulf, |
1987 | 'How fared you on the way, dear Beowulf, | ||
| þá ðú faéringa feorr gehogodest |
| when you suddenly resolved far away | ||
| sæcce sécean ofer sealt wæter |
| to seek conflict over the salt water, | ||
| hilde tó Hiorote? Ac ðú Hróðgáre |
| combat in Heorot? Moreover, did you Hrothgar's | ||
| wídcúðne wéan wihte gebéttest |
| widely known woes at all ameliorate, | ||
| maérum ðéodne? Ic ðæs módceare |
1992 | for the famed chieftain? I of this with anxious care of the heart | ||
| sorhwylmum séað· síðe ne trúwode |
| seethed with wellings of sorrow, I did not trust the venture | ||
| léofes mannes· ic ðé lange bæd |
| of my dear man; I begged you at length, | ||
| þæt ðú þone wælgaést wihte ne grétte· |
| that you the slaughter-ghast would not challenge at all, | ||
| léte Súð-Dene sylfe geweorðan |
| let the South-Danes settle themselves | ||
| gúðe wið Grendel· gode ic þanc secge |
1997 | the war with Grendel; to God I speak thanks, | ||
| þæs ðe ic ðé gesundne geséon móste.' |
| for that I you sound am permitted to see.' | ||
| Bíowulf maðelode bearn Ecgðíoes: |
| Beowulf spoke, the son of Edgetheow: | ||
| 'Þæt is undyrne, dryhten Higelác, |
| 'It is not secret, lord Hygelac, | ||
| micel geméting monegum fíra· |
| that great meeting, to many men, | ||
| hwylc orleghwíl uncer Grendles |
2002 | what a time of struggle between the two of us, me and Grendel, | ||
| wearð on ðám wange þaér hé worna fela |
| occurred in that place where he great multitudes | ||
| Sige-Scyldingum sorge gefremede |
| for the Victory-Scyldings brought about sorrows, | ||
| yrmðe tó aldre· ic ðæt eall gewræc |
| lifelong misery; I avenged it all, | ||
| swá begylpan þearf Grendeles mága |
| thus there is need to boast --of Grendel's kinsmen, | ||
| yfel ofer eorðan úhthlem þone |
2007 | evil upon the earth-- of that clash at dawn, | ||
| sé ðe lengest leofað láðan cynnes |
| he who lives the longest of that hateful race, | ||
| fáecne bifongen. Ic ðaér furðum cwóm |
| enveloped in malice. I first came there | ||
| tó ðám hringsele Hróðgár grétan· |
| to that ring-hall to greet Hrothgar; | ||
| sóna mé se maéra mago Healfdenes |
| straightaway to me the famed kinsman of Half-Dane, | ||
| syððan hé módsefan mínne cúðe |
2012 | after he the purpose of the heart of mine knew, | ||
| wið his sylfes sunu setl getaéhte· |
| with his own sons he appointed a seat; | ||
| weorod wæs on wynne· ne seah ic wídan feorh |
| The troop was joyful; I have not seen in my whole life | ||
| under heofones hwealf healsittendra |
| under heaven's vault a hall-sitters' | ||
| medudréam máran. Hwílum maéru cwén |
| mead-revelry greater. At times the renowned queen, | ||
| friðusibb folca flet eall geondhwearf· |
2017 | the peace-pledge of peoples, passed over all of the floor, | ||
| bædde byre geonge· oft hío béahwriðan |
| urged on the young boys; often twisted-rings she | ||
| secge sealde aér híe tó setle géong· |
| gave to the warriors, before she went to her seat; | ||
| hwílum for duguðe dohtor Hróðgáres |
| from time to time before the band of experienced warriors Hrothgar's daughter | ||
| eorlum on ende ealuwaége bær |
| to nobles continuously to the end bore the ale-flagon, | ||
| þá ic Fréaware fletsittende |
2022 | those I Freawaru the ones on the floor | ||
| nemnan hýrde þaér hío nægled sinc |
| I heard name her, when she the studded cup | ||
| hæleðum sealde Sío geháten is |
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| geong goldhroden, gladum suna Fródan· |
| young, gold-adorned, to gracious son of Froda; | ||
| hafað þæs geworden wine Scyldinga |
| this has arranged the Friend of the Scyldings, | ||
| ríces hyrde ond þæt raéd talað |
2027 | the kingdom's shepherd, and counsel reckons it | ||
| þæt hé mid ðý wífe wælfaéhða daél |
| that he with this woman a great part of the slaughter-feuds, | ||
| sæcca gesette. Oft seldan hwaér |
| conflicts will settle. Very seldom anywhere | ||
| æfter léodhryre lýtle hwíle |
| after the fall of a leader (even) a little while | ||
| bongár búgeð þéah séo brýd duge. |
| the murderous spear bends down, though the bride be good. | ||
| Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncan ðéoden Heaðo-Beardna |
2032 | This then may displease the chief of the Heatho-Bards' | ||
| ond þegna gehwám þára léoda |
| and every thane of that people, | ||
| þonne hé mid faémnan on flett gaëð: |
| when he with the maiden walks on the floor: | ||
| dryhtbearn Dena duguða biwenede, |
| that the noble sons of the Danes, her veteran troop, are entertained, | ||
| on him gladiað gomelra láfe |
| on them glisten ancient heirlooms, | ||
| heard ond hringmaél Heaða-Bearna gestréon |
2037 | hard and ring-adorned, the Heatho-Bards' treasure, | ||
| þenden híe ðám waépnum wealdan móston. |
| so long as they those weapons were able to wield. |