BEOWULF
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III |
  | |
Swá ðá maélceare maga Healfdenes |
  | So then over the sorrow of the time the son of Half-Dane |
singála séað· ne mihte snotor hæleð |
 190 | continually brooded; the wise hero could not |
wéan onwendan· wæs þæt gewin tó swýð |
  | turn away woe; that strife was too strong, |
láþ ond longsum þe on ðá léode becóm, |
  | hateful and enduring, that on the people came |
nýdwracu níþgrim nihtbealwa maést. |
  | fearfully cruel, violent trouble, the greatest night-evil. |
  | That from home heard Hygelac's thane, | |
gód mid Géatum, Grendles daéda· |
 195 | a good man of the Geats, of Grendel's deeds; |
sé wæs moncynnes mægenes strengest |
  | he was of mankind of the greatest strength, |
on þaém dæge þysses lífes |
  | on that day in this life, |
æþele ond éacen· hét him ýðlidan |
  | noble and mighty; he ordered them a wave-crosser |
gódne gegyrwan· cwæð: hé gúðcyning |
  | --a good one-- prepare; he said: the war-king |
ofer swanráde sécean wolde |
 200 | over swan-road he wished to seek, |
maérne þéoden þá him wæs manna þearf· |
  | that mighty clan-chief, since he was in need of men; |
ðone síðfæt him snotere ceorlas |
  | that adventure him, the clear-headed chaps, |
lýt hwón lógon þéah hé him léof waére |
  | very little begrudged though he was dear to them, |
hwetton higerófne· haél scéawedon. |
  | they urged on the valiant-hearted one, and observed the omens. |
Hæfde se góda Géata léoda |
 205 | The worthy one had, from the Geatish peoples, |
cempan gecorone þára þe hé cénoste |
  | chosen champions, those who were the boldest he |
findan mihte· fíftýna sum |
  | could find; fifteen together, |
sundwudu sóhte· secg wísade |
  | they sought the sea-wood, he led the warriors, |
lagucræftig mon landgemyrcu. |
  | that sea-skilled man, to the boundary of the shore. |
Fyrst forð gewát· flota wæs on ýðum |
 210 | Time passed by; the ship was on the waves, |
bát under beorge· beornas gearwe |
  | the boat under the cliffs; the ready warriors |
on stefn stigon --stréamas wundon, |
  | stepped up into the prow --the currents curled round, |
sund wið sande-- secgas baéron |
  | sea against sand-- the men bore |
on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe |
  | into the bosom of boat bright arms and armour, |
gúðsearo geatolíc· guman út scufon |
 215 | noble war-gear; the fellows shoved off, |
weras on wilsíð wudu bundenne. |
  | men on a welcome voyage, in a well-braced ship. |
Gewát þá ofer waégholm winde gefýsed |
  | Then they went over the water-waves urged by the wind, |
flota fámíheals fugle gelícost |
  | the foamy-necked floater, remarkably bird-like |
oð þæt ymb ántid óþres dógores |
  | until in due time, on the second day, |
wundenstefna gewaden hæfde |
 220 | the curved-prow had made the journey, |
þæt ða líðende land gesáwon, |
  | so that the sailors sighted land, |
brimclifu blícan, beorgas stéape |
  | bright sea-cliffs, towering shores, |
side saénæssas· þá wæs sund liden |
  | wide headlands; then was the sea traversed, |
éoletes æt ende. Þanon up hraðe |
  | their sea-voyage at an end. Thence up quickly |
Wedera léode on wang stigon· |
 225 | the Wederas-warriors stepped onto land; |
saéwudu saéldon· syrcan hrysedon |
  | moored their vessel; their mail-shirts clanked |
gúðgewaédo· gode þancedon |
  | those war-garments; they thanked God |
þæs þe him ýþláde éaðe wurdon. |
  | that for them the wave-paths had been smooth. |
Þá of wealle geseah weard Scildinga |
  | Then from the wall saw the ward of the Scyldings, |
sé þe holmclifu healdan scolde· |
 230 | he who the sea-cliffs had the duty to guard, |
beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas |
  | borne over the gang-plank, bright bossed-shields, |
fyrdsearu fúslicu· hine fyrwyt bræc |
  | eager war-devices; in him curiosity broke |
módgehygdum hwæt þá men waéron· |
  | the thoughts of his heart: what these men were; |
gewát him þá tó waroðe wicge rídan |
  | then he went to the shore riding his horse, |
þegn Hróðgáres· þrymmum cwehte |
 235 | the thane of Hrothgar; he forcefully shook |
mægenwudu mundum· meþelwordum frægn: |
  | his mighty wooden shaft, and with formal words asked: |
'Hwæt syndon gé searohæbbendra |
  | 'What are you armour-wearers |
byrnum werede þe þus brontne céol |
  | bound in byrnies, who thus your tall keel |
ofer lagustraéte laédan cwómon |
  | over the sea-street leading came, |
hider ofer holmas?' � |
 240 | hither over the waters?' |
Hé wæs endesaéta· aégwearde héold |
  | He was the coast-guardian, he held the sea-watch, |
þé on land Dena láðra naénig |
  | so that on Danish land no enemies at all |
mid scipherge sceðþan ne meahte· |
  | with a navy would not be able to ravage. |
'Nó hér cúðlícor cuman ongunnon |
  | 'Not here more openly began to come |
lindhæbbende né gé léafnesword |
 245 | lindenwood shield-bearers, nor you the leave-word |
gúðfremmendra gearwe ne wisson |
  | of our war-makers certainly don't know |
mága gemédu· naéfne ic máran geseah |
  | our kinsmen's consent; never have I seen greater |
eorla ofer eorþan ðonne is éower sum, |
  | noble on earth than the one that you are, |
secg on searwum· nis þæt seldguma |
  | warrior in armour; this is no mere retainer |
waépnum geweorðad· næfre him his wlite léoge, |
 250 | made worthy by weapons; unless he is belied by his looks, |
aénlic ansýn! Nú ic éower sceal |
  | a unique appearance! Now I must your |
frumcyn witan aér gé fyr heonan |
  | lineage learn, ere you far hence, |
léasscéaweras on land Dena |
  | deceiving spies in the land of the Danes |
furþur féran· Nú gé feorbúend |
  | further fare; now you far-dwellers |
merelíðende mínne gehýrað |
 255 | you sea-sailors, hear my |
ánfealdne geþóht: ofost is sélest |
  | one-fold thought: speed is best |
tó gecýðanne hwanan éowre cyme syndon.' � |
  | for reporting, whence your comings are.' |