BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 16-July-2005
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XXXVIIII |
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Ðá wæs gegongen guman unfródum |
| Then it went with the young man |
| earfoðlíce þæt hé on eorðan geseah |
| painfully, that he saw on the ground |
| þone léofestan lífes æt ende |
| the dearest man at the end of his life |
| bléate gebaéran· bona swylce læg |
2824 | miserably enduring; the slayer also lay, |
| egeslíc eorðdraca ealdre beréafod |
| the terrible earth-dragon bereft of life, |
| bealwe gebaéded· béahhordum leng |
| balefully beaten down; the ring-hoard longer |
| wyrm wóhbogen wealdan ne móste |
| the wickedly coiled wyrm could not control, |
| ac him írenna ecga fornámon, |
| rather him irons' edges took off, |
| hearde heaðoscearde homera láfe |
2829 | the hard, battle-notched leavings of hammers, |
| þæt se wídfloga wundum stille |
| so that the wide-flier, stilled by wounds, |
| hréas on hrúsan hordærne néah· |
| fell to the ground near the hoard-store; |
| nalles æfter lyfte lácende hwearf |
| not at all through the air flying turned |
| middelnihtum· máðmaéhta wlonc |
| in the middle of nights, proud of his prized possessions, |
| ansýn ýwde ac hé eorðan geféoll |
2834 | manifested an appearance, but he fell to earth |
| for ðæs hildfruman hondgeweorce. |
| by the battle-leader's work of his own hands. |
| Húru þæt on lande lýt manna ðáh |
| Indeed it on land few men succeeded, |
| mægenágendra míne gefraége |
| possessors of strength, I have heard, |
| þéah ðe hé daéda gehwæs dyrstig waére· |
| though he in all deeds were daring; |
| þæt hé wið attorsceaðan oreðe geraésde |
2839 | that he against the poison-scourge's breath rushed, |
| oððe hringsele hondum styrede |
| or its ring-hall stirred up with hands, |
| gif hé wæccende weard onfunde |
| if he a watching warden found |
| búon on beorge· Bíowulfe wearð |
| living in the barrow; for Beowulf was |
| dryhtmáðma daél déaðe forgolden· |
| the noble treasures' share, repaid with death; |
| hæfde aéghwæðre ende geféred |
2844 | each of them had arrived at the end |
| laénan lífes. Næs ðá lang tó ðon |
| of his loaned life. It was not long to when |
| þæt ðá hildlatan holt ofgéfan |
| that the battle-shirkers gave up the forest, |
| týdre tréowlogan týne ætsomne |
| cowardly troth-breakers, ten together, |
| ðá ne dorston aér dareðum lácan |
| who had not dared before with javelins to fight |
| on hyra mandryhtnes miclan þearfe |
2849 | in their liege-lord's great need |
| ac hý scamiende scyldas baéran |
| but they, shamed, bore shields, |
| gúðgewaédu þaér se gomela læg· |
| war-clothing, to where the old man lay; |
| wlitan on Wíláf· hé gewérgad sæt |
| they looked at Wiglaf; he sat wearied, |
| féðecempa fréan eaxlum néah· |
| the foot-soldier near the shoulders of his lord; |
| wehte hyne wætre· him wiht ne spéow· |
2854 | he tried to rouse him with water, but it availed him not a bit; |
| ne meahte hé on eorðan, ðéah hé úðe wél |
| he could not on earth, though he wished well, |
| on ðám frumgáre feorh gehealdan |
| in that first-spear preserve life, |
| né ðæs wealdendes wiht oncirran: |
| nor the Ruler's man turn back: |
| wolde dóm godes daédum raédan |
| the judgement of God would rule the deeds |
| gumena gehwylcum swá hé nú gén dëð. |
2859 | of all men, as it still does now. |
| Þá wæs æt ðám geongan grim andswaru |
| Then there was from that young man a grim answer |
| éðbegéte þám ðe aér his elne forléas· |
| easily got, for him who earlier had lost his courage; |
| Wígláf maðelode Wéohstánes sunu |
| Wiglaf spoke, Weohstan's son, |
| secg sárigferð seah on unléofe: |
| a man sore at heart looked on the unloved men: |
| 'Þæt, lá, mæg secgan sé ðe wyle sóð specan· |
2864 | 'That, indeed, may say he who wishes to speak the truth, |
| þæt se mondryhten sé éow ðá máðmas geaf |
| that the liege-lord, he who gave you treasures, |
| éoredgeatwe þé gé þaér on standað-- |
| cavalry-gear, that you stand in there-- |
| þonne hé on ealubence oft gesealde |
| when he on the ale-bench often gave |
| healsittendum helm ond byrnan, |
| to hall-sitters helm and byrnie, |
| þéoden his þegnum swylce hé þrýdlícost |
2869 | the chieftain to his thanes such as he the grandest |
| ówer feor oððe néah findan meahte-- |
| anywhere far or near was able to find-- |
| þæt hé génunga gúðgewaédu |
| that he completely war-clothing |
| wráðe forwurpe ðá hyne wíg beget· |
| grievously threw away, when fighting befell him; |
| nealles folccyning fyrdgesteallum |
| not at all the folk-king his companions in arms |
| gylpan þorfte· hwæðre him god úðe |
2874 | need to boast about; yet God granted him, |
| sigora waldend þæt hé hyne sylfne gewræc |
| victories' Ruler, that he avenged himself, |
| ána mid ecge þá him wæs elnes þearf. |
| one with a blade, when for him was need of valour. |
| Ic him lífwraðe lýtle meahte |
| I him life-protection little could |
| ætgifan æt gúðe ond ongan swá þéah |
| provide in war, and yet began |
| ofer mín gemet maéges helpan· |
2879 | beyond my measure to aid my kinsman; |
| symle wæs þý saémra þonne ic sweorde drep |
| ever was it the weaker when I struck with sword, |
| ferhðgeníðlan fýr unswíðor |
| the deadly enemy, fire less fiercely |
| wéoll of gewitte· fergendra tó lýt |
| surged from the seat of intellect; leaders too few |
| þrong ymbe þéoden þá hyne sío þrág becwóm. |
| thronged around the chieftain, when distress came to him. |
| Hú sceal sincþego ond swyrdgifu |
2884 | How must treasure-receipt and sword-giving |
| eall éðelwyn éowrum cynne |
| all native joy for your kin, |
| lufen álicgean! Londrihtes mót |
| delight cease! Of land-rights must |
| þaére maégburge monna aéghwylc |
| of your clan every man |
| ídel hweorfan syððan æðelingas |
| become deprived, when nobles |
| feorran gefricgean fléam éowerne |
2889 | from afar learn of your flight, |
| dómléasan daéd: déað bið sélla |
| gloryless dead: death is better |
| eorla gehwylcum þonne edwítlíf.' |
| for all men than a life of dishonour.' |