BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
last updated on 16-July-2005
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| Straét wæs stánfáh· stíg wísode |
320 | The street was paved with stones, the path guided |
| gumum ætgædere· gúðbyrne scán |
| the men together; war-byrnie shone |
| heard hondlocen hringíren scír |
| harsh, linked by hand, ring-iron glittering, |
| song in searwum· þá híe tó sele furðum |
| they sang in their arms, as they to the hall straight |
| in hyra gryregeatwum gangan cwómon· |
| in their grim gear came marching; |
| setton saéméþe síde scyldas |
325 | they set down, sea-weary, their wide shields, |
| rondas regnhearde wið þæs recedes weal· |
| the rims wondrous-hard against the wall of the hall, |
| bugon þá tó bence· byrnan hringdon |
| and bent down then to a bench; corslets rang-- |
| gúðsearo gumena· gáras stódon |
| the war-clothes of warriors; spears stood, |
| saémanna searo samod ætgædere |
| seamen's weapons, all together, |
| æscholt ufan graég· wæs se írenþréat |
330 | silvery above a grove of ash; the iron-clad troop was |
| waépnum gewurþad· þá ðaér wlonc hæleð |
| honoured in weapons; then a proud noble |
| óretmecgas æfter hæleþum frægn: |
| the elite soldiers asked about the heroes: |
| 'Hwanon ferigeað gé faétte scyldas |
| 'Whence ferry you plated shields, |
| graége syrcan ond grímhelmas |
| steel-hued shirts of mail and masked-helms, |
| heresceafta héap? Ic eom Hróðgáres |
335 | this host of army-shafts? I am Hrothgar's |
| ár ond ombiht· ne seah ic elþéodige |
| herald and officer; I have not seen from a foreign land |
| þus manige men módiglícran· |
| this many men looking braver in spirit; |
| wén' ic þæt gé for wlenco nalles for wraécsíðum |
| I expect that you from valour, not from exile, |
| ac for higeþrymmum Hróðgár sóhton.' |
| but from greatness of heart have sought out Hrothgar.' |
| Him þá ellenróf andswarode |
340 | Then him the renowned one answered |
| wlanc Wedera léod word æfter spræc |
| --that proud prince of the Wedera nation-- spoke thereafter words, |
| heard under helme: 'Wé synt Higeláces |
| severe beneath his helmet: 'We are Hygelac's |
| béodgenéatas· Béowulf is mín nama· |
| companions at table; Beowulf is my name; |
| wille ic ásecgan sunu Healfdenes |
| I wish to proclaim to the son of Half-Dane, |
| maérum þéodne min aérende |
345 | --that famed sovereign-- my errand |
| aldre þínum gif hé ús geunnan wile |
| to your lord, if he wishes to grant us |
| þæt wé hine swá gódne grétan móton.' |
| that we him, the virtuous one, might greet.' |
| Wulfgár maþelode --þæt wæs Wendla léod· |
| Wulfgar began to speak --he was the Wendels' leader, |
| wæs his módsefa manegum gecýðed |
| his courage was well-known to many, |
| wíg ond wísdóm--: 'Ic þæs wine Deniga |
350 | war-skill and wisdom--: 'I this from friend of the Danes, |
| fréan Scildinga frínan wille |
| lord of the Scyldings, will inquire, |
| béaga bryttan· swá þú béna eart· |
| from the giver of rings, --as you are petitioners-- |
| þéoden maérne ymb þínne síð |
| from that famed sovereign about your quest, |
| ond þé þá andsware aédre gecýðan |
| and to you the answer promptly make known |
| ðe mé se góda ágifan þenceð.' |
355 | which to me the virtuous one sees fit to give.' |
| Hwearf þá hrædlíce þaér Hróðgár sæt |
| He turned then quickly to where Hrothgar sat, |
| eald ond anhár mid his eorla gedriht· |
| old and very grey, amid his company of earls; |
| éode ellenróf þæt hé for eaxlum gestód |
| he strode grandly so that he stood by the shoulders |
| Deniga fréän: cúþe hé duguðe þéaw· |
| of the Danes' lord: he knew the custom of veteran-warriors; |
| Wulfgár maðelode tó his winedrihtne: |
360 | Wulfgar made this speech to his friend and lord: |
| 'Hér syndon geferede feorran cumene |
| 'Here have ventured, come from far away, |
| ofer geofenes begang Géata léode· |
| over the expanse of the sea, men of the Geats; |
| þone yldestan óretmecgas |
| the eldest one of these elite warriors |
| Béowulf nemnað· hý bénan synt |
| is called Beowulf; they are asking |
| þæt híe, þéoden min, wið þé móton |
365 | that they, my lord, with you might |
| wordum wrixlan· nó ðú him wearne getéoh |
| exchange words; give them not refusal |
| ðínra gegncwida, glædman Hróðgár· |
| from your answers, gracious Hrothgar; |
| hý on wíggetáwum wyrðe þinceað |
| they by their war-gear seem worthy |
| eorla geæhtlan· húru se aldor déah |
| of the esteem of nobles; indeed, the prince is powerful, |
| sé þaém heaðorincum hider wísade.' |
370 | who the warriors led hither.' |