BEOWULF
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XXXV |
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Gewíteð þonne on sealman· sorhléoð gæleð |
  | He goes then to his bed, sings a song of sorrow, | ||
án æfter ánum· þúhte him eall tó rúm |
  | one man on account of one man; it seemed to him all too roomy, | ||
wongas ond wícstede. Swá Wedra helm |
  | the fields and the dwelling-place. Thus the Helm of the Wederas | ||
æfter Herebealde heortan sorge |
  | on account of Herebeald heart's sorrow, | ||
weallinde, wæg: wihte ne meahte |
  2464 | welling, endured: not a whit could he | ||
on ðám feorhbonan faéghðe gebétan· |
  | on that life-slayer settle a feud; | ||
nó ðý aér hé þone heaðorinc hatian ne meahte |
  | nor the more for that warrior could he show hatred | ||
láðum daédum þéah him léof ne wæs· |
  | with hostile acts, though he by him was not loved; | ||
hé ðá mid þaére sorhge þé him sío sár belamp |
  | he then with that sorrow, which on him that sorely befell, | ||
gumdréam ofgeaf· godes léoht gecéas· |
  2469 | he gave over human joys, choose God's light; | ||
eaferum laéfde swá déð éadig mon |
  | to his heirs he left, as does a fortunate man, | ||
lond ond léodbyrig þá hé of lífe gewát. |
  | the land and the folk-citadel, when he departed from life. | ||
Þá wæs synn ond sacu Swéona ond Géata |
  | Then was injury and strife of the Swedes and the Geats | ||
ofer wíd wæter wróht gemaéne |
  | over the wide water a quarrel shared, | ||
hereníð hearda syððan Hréðel swealt |
  2474 | hard military-spite, after Hrethel died, | ||
oððe him Ongenðéowes eaferan waéran |
  | and to him Ongentheow's heirs were | ||
frome fyrdhwate· fréode ne woldon |
  | vigorous and martial; they did not wish friendship | ||
ofer heafo healdan ac ymb Hréosnabeorh |
  | to hold across the ocean, but around Hreosnabeorh | ||
eatolne inwitscear oft gefremedon |
  | horrible, malicious raiding often committed | ||
þæt maégwine míne gewraécan, |
  2479 | that kin-friends of mine avenged, | ||
faéhðe ond fyrene swá hyt gefraége wæs |
  | feud and crime, as it was famous, | ||
þéah ðe óðer his ealdre gebohte |
  | though one of the two with his life paid, | ||
heardan céape· hæðcynne wearð |
  | a hard bargain; for Hæthcyn was, | ||
Géata dryhtne gúð onsaége. |
  | the Geats' lord, war impending. | ||
Þá ic on morgne gefrægn maég óðerne |
  2484 | Then I heard in the morning that one kinsman the other | ||
billes ecgum on bonan staélan |
  | with bill's edges took vengeance on the slayer, | ||
þaér Ongenþéow Eofores níosað· |
  | there Ongentheow is attacked by Eofor; | ||
gúðhelm tóglád· gomela Scylfing |
  | the war-helm slipped asunder, the agèd Scylfing | ||
hréas heaþoblác· hond gemunde |
  | fell battle-pale. The hand remembered | ||
faéhðo genóge· feorhsweng ne oftéah. |
  2489 | feuds a-plenty, did not withhold life-blow. | ||
Ic him þá máðmas þé hé mé sealde |
  | I to him the treasures, which he had given me, | ||
geald æt gúðe swá mé gifeðe wæs |
  | repaid in war, as was granted to me, | ||
léohtan sweorde· hé mé lond forgeaf |
  | with flashing sword; he gave me land, | ||
eard éðelwyn· næs him aénig þearf |
  | earth, the joy of homeland; there was not for him any need, | ||
þæt hé tó Gifðum oððe tó Gár-Denum |
  2494 | that he among the Gifthas or the Spear-Danes | ||
oððe in Swíoríce sécean þurfe |
  | or in the Swedish Kingdom needed to seek | ||
wyrsan wígfrecan, weorðe gecýpan: |
  | a worse war-eager fighter, to buy with wealth: | ||
symle ic him on féðan beforan wolde |
  | always, in the foot-troop, I him wished to go before, | ||
ána on orde ond swá tó aldre sceall |
  | alone in the vanguard, and thus must I always | ||
sæcce fremman þenden þis sweord þolað |
  2499 | act in battle, while this sword endures | ||
þæt mec aér ond síð oft gelaéste |
  | that which me, early and later, has often served, | ||
syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð |
  |
| ||
tó handbonan, Húga cempan· |
  | his slayer by hand, the champion of the Hugas; | ||
nalles hé ðá frætwe Fréscyninge |
  | in no way the precious ornaments to the Frisian king, | ||
bréostweorðunge bringan móste |
  2504 | breast-adorning, was he able to bring, | ||
ac in cempan gecrong cumbles hyrde |
  | but rather with his contingent fell the banner's keeper, | ||
æþeling on elne· ne wæs ecg bona |
  | the noble in courage; blade's edge was not the killer | ||
ac him hildegráp heortan wylmas |
  | but my battle-grip on him his heart's beats, | ||
bánhús gebræc. Nú sceall billes ecg |
  | his bone-house, broke. Now I must with bill's edge, | ||
hond ond heard sweord ymb hord wígan.' |
  2509 | hand and hard sword fight for the hoard.' | ||
Béowulf maðelode béotwordum spræc |
  | Beowulf declared, spoke vow-words | ||
níehstan síðe: 'Ic genéðde fela |
  | for the last time: 'I have risked many | ||
gúða on geogoðe· gýt ic wylle |
  | wars in my youth; yet I wish, | ||
fród folces weard faéhðe sécan, |
  | old, wise warden of the folk, to seek vendetta, | ||
maérðum fremman gif mec se mánsceaða |
  2514 | to earn renown, if me that wreaker of evil | ||
of eorðsele út geséceð.' |
  | from his earth-hall ventures out to greet.' | ||
Gegrétte ðá gumena gehwylcne |
  | He then saluted each of the men, | ||
hwate helmberend hindeman síðe |
  | bold helm-bearers for the final time, | ||
swaése gesíðas: 'Nolde ic sweord beran |
  | dear companions: 'I would not bear a sword, | ||
waépen tó wyrme gif ic wiste hú |
  2519 | a weapon against the wyrm, if I knew how | ||
wið ðám áglaécean elles meahte |
  | against the monster else I might | ||
gylpe wiðgrípan swá ic gió wið Grendle dyde |
  | grapple for glory, as I did before with Grendel | ||
ac ic ðaér heaðufýres hátes wéne |
  | but I there furious fire's heat expect, | ||
réðes ond hattres· forðon ic mé on hafu |
  | fierce and poisonous; therefore I have on me | ||
bord ond byrnan· nelle ic beorges weard |
  2524 | shield-board and byrnie; nor will I from the barrow's guard | ||
oferfléön fótes trem ac unc sceal |
  | flee a foot but for us it must | ||
weorðan æt wealle swá unc wyrd getéoð |
  | happen at the wall as Fate allots us, | ||
metod manna gehwæs· ic eom on móde from |
  | the Creator of all men; I am bold in spirit | ||
þæt ic wið þone gúðflogan gylp ofersitte. |
  | that I against the war-flier forbear from boast. | ||
Gebíde gé on beorge byrnum werede |
  2529 | You, await here on the barrow, clad in byrnies, | ||
secgas on searwum hwæðer sél mæge |
  | warriors in war-gear, which better can | ||
æfter wælraése wunde gedýgan |
  | during the slaughter-clash survive wound | ||
uncer twéga· nis þæt éower síð |
  | of the two of us; it is not your adventure, | ||
né gemet mannes nefne mín ánes· |
  | nor in the power of men, save mine alone.' | ||
Wát he wíð áglaécean eofoðo daéle· |
  2534 | He knew that against the beast he would deal out his strength, | ||
eorlscype efne· 'Ic mid elne sceall |
  | achieve noble rank; 'I must with courage | ||
gold gegangan oððe gúð nimeð |
  | gain the gold, or war takes, | ||
feorhbealu frécne fréan éowerne.' |
  | terrible deadly wound, your lord.' | ||
Árás ðá bí ronde róf óretta |
  | Then he arose by means of his shield, the bold warrior, | ||
heard under helme· hiorosercean bær |
  2539 | severe under his helm, he wore sword-shirt | ||
under stáncleofu strengo getrúwode |
  | under stone cliffs, trusted in the strength | ||
ánes mannes· ne bið swylc earges síð. |
  | of a single man; such is not the coward's way. | ||
Geseah ðá be wealle sé ðe worna fela |
  | He saw then by the wall, he who a great number, | ||
gumcystum gód gúða gedígde |
  | nobly good, wars survived, | ||
hildehlemma þonne hnitan féðan· |
  2544 | battle-clashes, when armies collided; | ||
stódan stánbogan, stréam út þonan |
  | it stood by the stone-arch, a stream out from there | ||
brecan of beorge· wæs þaére burnan wælm |
  | breaking out of the barrow; there was the brook's surge | ||
heaðofýrum hát· ne meahte horde néah |
  | hot with deadly fire, he could not near the hoard | ||
unbyrnende aénige hwíle |
  | without burning for any space of time | ||
déop gedýgan for dracan lége. |
  2549 | endure the depths on account of the dragon's fire. | ||
Lét ðá of bréostum ðá hé gebolgen wæs |
  | Then he let from his breast, when he was angered, | ||
Weder-Géata léod word út faran· |
  | the Weder-Geat's leader, a word burst out, | ||
stearcheort styrmde· stefn in becóm |
  | the staunch-hearted one roared; his voice came in, | ||
heaðotorht hlynnan under hárne stán· |
  | ringing battle-clear beneath the hoary grey stone; | ||
hete wæs onhréred· hordweard oncníow |
  2554 | hate was aroused, the hoard-guard knew | ||
mannes reorde· næs ðaér mára fyrst |
  | man's voice; there was not more time | ||
fréode tó friclan· from aérest cwóm |
  | to ask for peace; first came forth | ||
oruð áglaécean út of stáne |
  | the monster's breath out of the stone, | ||
hát hildeswát· hrúse dynede· |
  | hot battle-vapour; the earth thundered; | ||
biorn under beorge bordrand onswáf |
  2559 | the warrior below the barrow swung his shield-boss | ||
wið ðám gryregieste Géata dryhten· |
  | against the terror-guest, the Geats' lord; | ||
ðá wæs hringbogan heorte gefýsed |
  | then was the ring-coiled one's heart incited | ||
sæcce tó séceanne· sweord aér gebraéd |
  | to seek strife; his sword before drew | ||
gód gúðcyning gomele láfe |
  | the good war-king, ancient heirloom, | ||
ecgum ungléaw· aéghwæðrum wæs |
  2564 | imprudent with sword-edges; was in each | ||
bealohycgendra bróga fram óðrum· |
  | of the harm-intending ones terror of the other; | ||
stíðmód gestód wið stéapne rond |
  | firm-spirited stood with his steep bossed-shield | ||
winia bealdor ðá se wyrm gebéah |
  | the brave leader of the friends, while the serpent coiled | ||
snúde tósomne hé on searwum bád· |
  | together swiftly; He in war-gear waited; | ||
gewát ðá byrnende gebogen scríðan, |
  2569 | went then burning gliding coiled, | ||
tó gescipe scyndan· scyld wél gebearg |
  | hastening to his destiny; the shield defended well | ||
lífe ond líce laéssan hwíle |
  | life and body for a lesser time | ||
maérum þéodne þonne his myne sóhte· |
  | the famed chieftain, then his mind desired, | ||
ðaér hé þý fyrste forman dógore |
  | where he that time for the first day | ||
wealdan móste swá him wyrd ne gescráf |
  2574 | had to wield it, as Fate had not decreed for him | ||
hréð æt hilde: hond úp ábraéd |
  | glory in battle: he raised up his hand, | ||
Géata dryhten· gryrefáhne slóh |
  | the Geatish lord; the ghastly-hued one he struck | ||
incgeláfe þæt sío ecg gewác |
  | with his ancestral sword, so that the edge weakened | ||
brún on báne· bát unswíðor |
  | bright on bone, bit less fiercely | ||
þonne his ðíodcyning þearfe hæfde |
  2579 | than its tribe-king had need | ||
bysigum gebaéded. Þá wæs beorges weard |
  | driven in distress. Then the barrow's ward was | ||
æfter heaðuswenge on hréoum móde· |
  | after the war-blow in a fierce spirit; | ||
wearp wælfýre· wíde sprungon |
  | he spewed slaughter-fire; widely spread | ||
hildeléoman. Hréðsigora ne gealp |
  | battle-light. Of war-victory did not boast | ||
goldwine Géata· gúðbill geswác |
  2584 | the gold-friend of the Geats; his war-bill failed, | ||
nacod æt níðe swá hyt nó sceolde |
  | naked in the violence, as it should not have, | ||
íren aérgód· ne wæs þæt éðe síð |
  | the excellent old iron; that was not an easy accomplishment, | ||
þæt se maéra maga Ecgðéowes |
  | that the famed son of Edgetheow | ||
grundwong þone ofgyfan wolde· |
  | this earth should be willing to give up; | ||
sceolde willan wíc eardian |
  2589 | he was obliged to be about to inhabit a dwelling | ||
elles hwergen· swá sceal aéghwylc mon |
  | elsewhere, as must every man | ||
álaétan laéndagas. Næs ðá long tó ðon |
  | abandon loaned-days. It was not long to when | ||
þæt ðá áglaécean hý eft gemétton: |
  | that the fierce enemies again met each other: | ||
hyrte hyne hordweard· hreðer aéðme wéoll |
  | the hoard-guardian heartened himself, his breast swelled with breath, | ||
níwan stefne· nearo ðrówode |
  2594 | another time; cruelly suffered, | ||
fýre befongen sé ðe aér folce wéold. |
  | encircled in fire, he who had once ruled a nation. | ||
Nealles him on héape handgesteallan |
  | Not at all him in a troop the hand-companions, | ||
æðelinga bearn ymbe gestódon |
  | nobles' sons, around him stood | ||
hildecystum ac hý on holt bugon· |
  | with valour in battle, but they sunk to the forest, | ||
ealdre burgan· hiora in ánum wéoll |
  2599 | to protect life; in one of them surged | ||
sefa wið sorgum· sibb' aéfre ne mæg |
  | his heart with sorrows; kinship can never | ||
wiht onwendan þám ðe wél þenceð. |
  | aught be altered, in him who thinks properly. |