BEOWULF
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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 gestréonĀ 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:
|
|   their lord's fall, his
hearth-companions:
|
cwaédon þæt hé waére
wyruldcyning
|
|   they said that he was, of
all kings of the world,
|
manna
mildust monðwaérust
|
|   the most generous of men, the most gracious,
|
léodum
líðost ond lofgeornost.
|
|   the most protective of his people, and the most eager for honour.
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