BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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[XXX] |
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| Oð ðæt híe forlaéddan tó ðám lindplegan |
| Until they had led to disaster in the shield-play |
| swaése gesíðas ond hyra sylfra feorh. |
| their dear companions and their own lives. |
| Þonne cwið æt béore sé ðe béahgesyhð |
| Then speaks at the beer-drinking, he who sees a ring-precious object, |
| eald æscwiga sé ðe eall geman |
2042 | the old ash-warrior, he who remembers all |
| gárcwealm gumena --him bið grim sefa-- |
| the spear-death of men --in him is a fierce heart-- |
| onginneð géomormód geongum cempan |
| he begins sad-spirited in a young champion, |
| þurh hreðra gehygd higes cunnian, |
| by the musing of his heart, to tempt his mind, |
| wígbealu weccean ond þæt word ácwyð: |
| to awaken war-horror, and speaks these words: |
| "Meaht ðú, mín wine, méce gecnáwan |
2047 | "Can you, my friend, recognise that maiche, |
| þone þín fæder tó gefeohte bær |
| which your father bore into the fight, |
| under heregríman hindeman síðe, |
| under his army-mask on the last campaign, |
| dýre íren, þaér hyne Dene slógon· |
| precious iron, there the Danes slew him, |
| wéoldon wælstówe syððan wiðergyld læg |
| controlled the slaying-field, when retribution failed, |
| æfter hæleþa hryre hwate Scyldungas? |
2052 | after the heroes' fall, the fierce Scyldings? |
| Nú hér þára banena byre náthwylces |
| Now here of those slayers the son of one or other of them, |
| frætwum hrémig on flet gaëð· |
| exultant in trappings, goes across the floor, |
| morðres gylpeð ond þone máðþum byreð |
| boasts of murder, and wears the treasure |
| þone þe ðú mid rihte raédan sceoldest." |
| which you by right ought to possess." |
| Manað swá ond myndgað maéla gehwylce |
2057 | Thus he incites and reminds every time |
| sárum wordum oð ðæt saél cymeð |
| with grievous words, until that time comes |
| þæt se faémnan þegn fore fæder daédum |
| that the woman's thane for his father's deeds |
| æfter billes bite blódfág swefeð |
| from the bite of a bill-blade sleeps, stained in blood, |
| ealdres scyldig· him se óðer þonan |
| having forfeited life; him the other thence |
| losað lifigende· con him land geare. |
2062 | escapes alive, the land is readily known to him. |
| Þonne bíoð brocene on bá healfe |
| Then are broken on both sides |
| áðsweorð eorla· syððan Ingelde |
| the sworn oaths of earls; then in Ingeld |
| weallað wælníðas ond him wíflufan |
| murderous hate will well up and in him the love of woman |
| æfter cearwælmum cólran weorðað· |
| surges of grief will become cooler; |
| þý ic Heaðo-Beardna hyldo ne telge |
2067 | Therefore I the Heathobards' loyalty do not consider, |
| dryhtsibbe daél Denum unfaécne, |
| the alliance's portion, for the Danes untreacherous, |
| fréondscipe fæstne. Ic sceal forð sprecan |
| enduring friendship. I ought speak further |
| gén ymbe Grendel þæt ðú geare cunne, |
| again about Grendel, that you may readily know, |
| sinces brytta, tó hwan syððan wearð |
| giver of treasure, what then happened, |
| hondraés hæleða syððan heofones gim |
2072 | the hand-fight of heroes when heaven's gem |
| glád ofer grundas gaést yrre cwóm |
| had glided over the earth, the ireful guest came, |
| eatol aéfengrom úser néosan |
| terrible, fierce in the evening to visit us, |
| ðaér wé gesunde sæl weardodon |
| where we, unharmed, warded the hall, |
| þaér wæs Hondsciö hilde onsaége |
| where was for Hondscio a sinking battle |
| feorhbealu faégum· hé fyrmest læg |
2077 | deadly evil for the doomed man; he fell first, |
| gyrded cempa· him Grendel wearð |
| the girded champion; for him Grendel was, |
| maérum maguþegne tó múðbonan· |
| the famed thane of distinction, a slayer by mouth, |
| léofes mannes líc eall forswealg· |
| the belovèd man's body swallowed up completely; |
| nó ðý aér út ðá gén ídelhende |
| not the sooner out yet empty-handed, |
| bona blódigtóð bealewa gemyndig |
2082 | the slayer bloody-toothed, wickedness in mind, |
| of ðám goldsele gongan wolde |
| from the gold-hall did he wish to go |
| ac hé mægnes róf mín costode· |
| but he, famed for his strength, tested me, |
| grápode gearofolm· glóf hangode |
| gripped with an eager hand; a pouch hung down |
| síd ond syllíc searobendum fæst |
| spacious and strange, with cleverly-wrought clasps held fast, |
| sío wæs orðoncum eall gegyrwed |
2087 | it was cunningly all devised |
| déofles cræftum ond dracan fellum· |
| with devil's crafts and dragon's skins; |
| hé mec þaér on innan unsynnigne |
| he me there inside, guiltless, |
| díor daédfruma gedón wolde |
| the daring instigator wished to stuff, |
| manigra sumne· hyt ne mihte swá |
| as one of many; he could not do so, |
| syððan ic on yrre upprihte ástód. |
2092 | since I in anger stood erect. |
| Tó lang ys tó reccenne hú ic ðám léodsceaðan |
| It is too long to recount how I the scourge of the people |
| yfla gehwylces hondléan forgeald |
| for each of his evils paid in hand-requital |
| þaér ic, þéoden mín, þíne léode |
| where I, my lord, your people |
| weorðode weorcum· he on weg losade |
| honoured by acts; he escaped away |
| lýtle hwíle lífwynna bréac· |
2097 | for a little while, enjoyed the joy of life; |
| hwæþre him sío swíðre swaðe weardade |
| yet from him the right, a vestige, remained behind |
| hand on Hiorte ond hé héan ðonan |
| hand in Heorot, and he wretched thence, |
| módes geómor meregrund geféoll. |
| gloomy in his heart, sank into the depths of the mere. |
| Mé þone wælraés wine Scildunga |
| To me for the bloody battle the Friend of the Scyldings |
| faéttan golde fela léanode |
2102 | with objects of plated gold in plenty rewarded, |
| manegum máðmum syððan mergen cóm |
| many treasures, when morning came, |
| ond wé tó symble geseten hæfdon |
| and we to the feast had sat down |
| þaér wæs gidd ond gléo: gomela Scilding |
| where was song and glee: old Scylding |
| felafricgende feorran rehte· |
| who has heard tell of many things, from long ago narrated; |
| hwílum hildedéor hearpan wynne |
2107 | at times this battle-daring one the harp for pleasure |
| gomelwudu grétte· hwílum gyd áwræc |
| the old-wood played; sometimes recited a song, |
| sóð ond sárlíc· hwílum syllíc spell |
| true and tragic; sometimes strange tales |
| rehte æfter rihte rúmheort cyning· |
| he related rightly, the open-hearted king; |
| hwílum eft ongan eldo gebunden |
| at times he began again, bound in his age, |
| gomel gúðwiga gioguðe cwíðan |
2112 | the ancient war-soldier, to mourn for his youth, |
| hildestrengo· hreðer inne wéoll |
| his battle-strength; his heart welled inside, |
| þonne hé wintrum fród, worn gemunde. |
| when he, wise in winter, recalled many things. |
| Swá wé þaér inne andlangne dæg |
| So we there inside a whole long day |
| níode náman oð ðæt niht becwóm |
| took pleasure, until came night |
| óðer tó yldum· Þá wæs eft hraðe |
2117 | another to men; then was again swiftly |
| gearo gyrnwræce Grendeles módor |
| ready for grief-revenge Grendel's mother, |
| síðode sorhfull· sunu déað fornam, |
| she journeyed full of sorrow; Death had taken her son, |
| wíghete Wedra· wíf unhýre |
| the war-hate of the Wederas; the horrible woman |
| hyre bearn gewræc· beorn ácwealde |
| avenged her child, killed a warrior |
| ellenlíce· þaér wæs Æschere |
2122 | savagely; there was from Æschere, |
| fródan fyrnwitan feorh úðgenge. |
| the old, wise lore-counsellor, life departed. |
| Nóðer hý hine ne móston syððan mergen cwóm |
| Nor could they him, when morning came, |
| déaðwérigne Denia léode |
| weary of death the Danish people |
| bronde forbærnan né on baél hladan |
| cremate in fire, nor lay on the funeral bale, |
| léofne mannan· hío þæt líc ætbær |
2127 | the beloved man; she had carried off the corpse |
| féondes fæðme under firgenstréam· |
| in fiend's embrace beneath the mountain stream; |
| þæt wæs Hróðgáre hréowa tornost |
| that was for Hrothgar the most bitter grief |
| þára þe léodfruman lange begéate. |
| which the ruler of the people long had received. |
| Þá se ðéoden mec ðíne lífe |
| Then me the chieftain, by your life, |
| healsode hréohmód þæt ic on holma geþring |
2132 | implored with troubled mind, that I in the waters' tumult |
| eorlscipe efnde· ealdre genéðde· |
| perform a noble act, risk life, |
| maérðo fremede· hé mé méde gehét. |
| accomplish glory; he promised me rewards. |
| Ic ðá ðæs wælmes þé is wíde cúð |
| Then I the welling waters', as is widely known, |
| grimme gryrelícne grundhyrde fond· |
| wrathful ghastly guard of the deep found; |
| þaér unc hwíle wæs hand gemaéne· |
2137 | there a while we were sharing a hand; |
| holm heolfre wéoll ond ic héafde becearf |
| the water welled with gore, and I cut off the head |
| in ðám grundsele Grendeles módor |
| in that deep-hall of Grendel's mother |
| éacnum ecgum· unsófte þonan |
| with mighty edges, not easily thence |
| feorh oðferede· næs ic faége þá gýt |
| I carried off my life; I was not doomed yet |
| ac mé eorla hléo eft gesealde |
2142 | but to me the protector of heroes again gave |
| máðma menigeo maga Healfdenes.' |
| many treasures, the kinsman of Half-Dane.' |