BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 12-June-2005
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XL� |
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| Heht ðá þæt heaðoweorc tó hagan bíodan |
| Then he commanded battle-result to be announced at the stronghold, | ||||||||||||
| úp ofer ecgclif þaér þæt eorlweorod |
| up over the cliff-edge, where that warrior-band | ||||||||||||
| morgenlongne dæg módgiómor sæt |
2894 | the morning-long day sat sad in spirit, | ||||||||||||
| bordhæbbende béga on wénum: |
| shield-bearers, in expectation of two things: | ||||||||||||
| endedógores ond eftcymes |
| the end of his days or the return | ||||||||||||
| léofes monnes. Lýt swígode |
| of the dear man. On little was he silent | ||||||||||||
| níwra spella sé ðe næs gerád |
| of the new tidings, he who rode the headland, | ||||||||||||
| ac hé sóðlíce sægde ofer ealle: |
2899 | but he truly said over all: | ||||||||||||
| 'Nú is wilgeofa Wedra léoda |
| 'Now is the wish-giver of the Wederas' nation, | ||||||||||||
| dryhten Géata déaðbedde fæst |
| the lord of the Geats unmoving on his death-bed, | ||||||||||||
| wunað wælreste wyrmes daédum· |
| remaining in the repose of slaughter by the wyrm's deeds; | ||||||||||||
| him on efn ligeð ealdorgewinna |
| beside him lies his life-contender | ||||||||||||
| siexbennum séoc: sweorde ne meahte |
2904 | sick with seax-wounds: he could not with his sword | ||||||||||||
| on ðám áglaécean aénige þinga |
| on that fearsome being in any way | ||||||||||||
| wunde gewyrcean· Wígláf siteð |
| inflict wounds; Wiglaf sits | ||||||||||||
| ofer Bíowulfe byre Wíhstánes |
| over Beowulf, the son of Weohstan, | ||||||||||||
| eorl ofer óðrum unlifigendum· |
| one earl over another unliving, | ||||||||||||
| healdeð higemaéðum héafodwearde |
2909 | he holds, weary in his mind, head-watch | ||||||||||||
| léofes ond láðes. Nú ys léodum wén |
| over beloved and loathed. Now for the nation one expects | ||||||||||||
| orleghwíle syððan undyrne |
| time of warfare when unsecret | ||||||||||||
| Froncum ond Frýsum fyll cyninges |
| to the Franks and Frisians, the fall of the king, | ||||||||||||
| wíde weorðeð· wæs sío wróht scepen |
| widely becomes; the quarrel was shaped | ||||||||||||
| heard wið Húgas syððan Higelác cwóm |
2914 |
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| faran flotherge on Frésna land |
| faring with a fleet onto the Frisians' land | ||||||||||||
| þaér hyne Hetware hilde gehnaégdon· |
| where him the Hetware attacked in battle, | ||||||||||||
| elne geéodon mid ofermægene |
| it happened in courage with over-strength, | ||||||||||||
| þæt se byrnwiga búgan sceolde· |
| that the mailed-warrior had to bow down; | ||||||||||||
| féoll on féðan· nalles frætwe geaf |
2919 | he fell among the foot-troop; not at all ornaments gave | ||||||||||||
| ealdor dugoðe· ús wæs á syððan |
| the lord to his retinue; for us was ever after | ||||||||||||
| Merewíoingas milts ungyfeðe. |
| the Merovingian (king's) kindness withheld. | ||||||||||||
| Né ic te Swéoðéode sibbe oððe tréowe |
| I do not from the Swedes peace or truce | ||||||||||||
| wihte ne wéne ac wæs wíde cúð |
| expect a bit, but it was widely known | ||||||||||||
| þætte Ongenðío ealdre besnyðede |
2924 | that Ongentheow of life deprived | ||||||||||||
| Hæðcen Hréþling wið Hrefnawudu |
| Haethcyn Hrethel's son at Raven's Wood, | ||||||||||||
| þá for onmédlan aérest gesóhton |
| when for arrogance first sought out | ||||||||||||
| Géata léode Gúð-Scilfingas |
| the Geatish people the War-Scilfings | ||||||||||||
| sóna him se fróda fæder Óhtheres |
| at once him the wise, old father of Ohthere, | ||||||||||||
| eald ond egesfull hondslyht ágeaf· |
2929 | ancient and terrible, returned onslaught by hand; | ||||||||||||
| ábréot brimwísan· brýda herode· |
| he destroyed the sea-wise man, he honoured his wife, | ||||||||||||
| gomela ióméowlan golde berofene |
| the old, wisened woman bereft of her gold, | ||||||||||||
| Onelan módor ond Óhtheres |
| Onela's mother and Ohthere's | ||||||||||||
| ond ðá folgode feorhgeníðlan |
| and then he followed those life-enemies, | ||||||||||||
| oð ðæt hí oðéodon earfoðlíce |
2934 | until they escaped with difficulty, | ||||||||||||
| in Hrefnesholt hláfordléase· |
| into Raven's Wood, without a lord; | ||||||||||||
| besæt ðá sinherge sweorda láfe |
| then he besieged the huge (sacred) grove, the survivors of swords | ||||||||||||
| wundum wérge· wéan oft gehét |
| weary with wounds; he often threatened woes | ||||||||||||
| earmre teohhe ondlonge niht· |
| to the wretched company in the length of the night; | ||||||||||||
| cwæð: hé on mergenne méces ecgum |
2939 | said: he in the morning by the edges of a maiche � | ||||||||||||
| gétan wolde, sum on galgtréowum |
| he would sacrifice one of them on the gallow-tree | ||||||||||||
| fuglum tó gamene· frófor eft gelamp |
|
as game for the
birds; relief came back
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sárigmódum somod
aérdæge
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to the
sorrow-spirited ones together with
early day,
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syððan híe Hygeláces horn ond býman
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|
when they
Hygelac's horn and trumpet,
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gealdor
ongéaton þá se góda
cóm,
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| 2944
and his
battle-yell recognised, then the good man came,
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léoda
dugoðe on lást faran.
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with the
tribe's veteran warriors
travelling on the path.
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