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 |
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| ||
| 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. |