BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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XLIII |
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| Him ðá gegiredan Géata léode |
| Then for him prepared the people of the Geats | |||||||||||||
| ád on eorðan unwáclícne |
3138 | a pyre on the earth, not trifling, | |||||||||||||
| helmum behongen hildebordum |
| hung with helmets, with battle-shields, | |||||||||||||
| beorhtum byrnum swá hé béna wæs· |
| with bright byrnies, as he had requested; | |||||||||||||
| álegdon ðá tómiddes maérne þéoden |
| they laid then in the midst the famed chieftain, | |||||||||||||
| hæleð híofende hláford léofne· |
| the lamenting heroes, their belovèd lord; | |||||||||||||
| ongunnon þá on beorge baélfýra maést |
3143 | then began on the barrow the greatest bale-fire, | |||||||||||||
| wígend weccan· wuduréc ástáh |
| the warriors to kindle; wood-smoke arose, | |||||||||||||
| sweart ofer swioðole swógende lég |
| swarthy over the heat, the roaring flame | |||||||||||||
| wópe bewunden --windblond gelæg-- |
| woven with weeping --the tumult of winds lay still-- | |||||||||||||
| oð þæt hé ðá bánhús gebrocen hæfde |
| until it the bone-house had broken | |||||||||||||
| hát on hreðre· higum unróte |
3148 | hot at heart; despairing in their hearts | |||||||||||||
| módceare maéndon mondryhtnes cwealm· |
| they bemoaned their grief, their liege-lord's death; | |||||||||||||
| swylce giómorgyd Géatisc ánméowle |
| so too a death-dirge a solitary Geatish woman | |||||||||||||
| Bíowulfe brægd bundenheorde |
| wove for Beowulf, cruelly bound, | |||||||||||||
| sang sorgcearig· saélðe geneahhe |
| she sang sorrowful, earnestly of fortune | |||||||||||||
| þæt hío hyre hearmdagas hearde ondréde |
3153 | that she for herself days of harm fiercely dreaded, | |||||||||||||
| wælfylla worn werudes egesan |
| of multitude of slaughter-feasts, terror of troops, | |||||||||||||
| hýðo ond hæftnýd. Heofon réce swealg· |
| rapine and bondage. Heaven swallowed the smoke; | |||||||||||||
| geworhton ðá Wedra léode |
| then wrought the Wederas' people | |||||||||||||
| hlaéo on hóe sé wæs héah ond brád |
| a barrow on the hill, it was high and broad, | |||||||||||||
| waéglíðendum wíde gesýne |
3158 | for wave-farers widely visible, | |||||||||||||
| ond betimbredon on týn dagum |
| and they constructed in ten days | |||||||||||||
| beadurófes bécn· bronda láfe |
| the war-chief's beacon, the leavings of the fire, | |||||||||||||
| wealle beworhton swá hyt weorðlícost |
| with a wall they encircled, as it most worthily | |||||||||||||
| foresnotre men findan mihton· |
| the very wisest men could devise; | |||||||||||||
| hí on beorg dydon bég ond siglu |
3163 | they placed in the barrow rings and brooches, | |||||||||||||
| eall swylce hyrsta swylce on horde aér |
| all such trappings, as before from the hoard | |||||||||||||
| níðhédige men genumen hæfdon· |
| hostile men had taken away; | |||||||||||||
| forléton eorla gestréon eorðan healdan |
| the treasure of heroes they let the earth hold, | |||||||||||||
| gold on gréote þaér hit nú gén lifað |
| gold in the gritty soil, where it now still lives, | |||||||||||||
| eldum swá unnyt swá hyt aérer wæs. |
3168 | as useless to men as it was before. | |||||||||||||
| Þá ymbe hlaéw riodan, hildedéore |
| Then around the mound rode the battle-brave | |||||||||||||
| æþelinga bearn ealra twelfa· |
| sons of nobles, twelve in all, | |||||||||||||
| woldon cearge cwíðan kyning maénan, |
| they wished to bewail their sorrow, to mourn their king, | |||||||||||||
| wordgyd wrecan ond ymb wer sprecan· |
| to pronounce elegy, and speak about the man; | |||||||||||||
| eahtodan eorlscipe ond his ellenweorc |
3173 | they praised his heroic deeds and his works of courage, | |||||||||||||
| duguðum démdon. Swá hit gedéfe bið |
| exalted his majesty. As it is fitting, | |||||||||||||
| þæt mon his winedryhten wordum herge· |
| that one his friend and lord honours in words, | |||||||||||||
| ferhðum fréoge þonne hé forð scile |
| cherish in one's spirit, when he must forth | |||||||||||||
| of líchaman laéded weorðan· |
| from his body be led; | |||||||||||||
| swá begnornodon Géata léode |
3178 | thus bemourned the people of the Geats |
**3178ff.**
hláfordes hryre,
heorðgenéatas:
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their lord's fall, his
hearth-companions:
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cwaédon þæt hé waére
wyruldcyning
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they said that he was, of
all kings of the world,
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manna
mildust monðwaérust
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the most generous of men, the most gracious,
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léodum
líðost ond lofgeornost.
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the most protective of his people, and the most eager for honour.
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