BEOWULF

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last updated on 15-June-2005


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VII

 

Hróðgár maþelode      helm Scyldinga:

  456

Hrothgar spoke,      the helm of the Scyldings:
'Fére fyhtum, þú,      wine mín Béowulf,

 

'Fit to fight, you,      my friend Beowulf,
ond for árstafum      úsic sóhtest.

 

and for honour      us have sought.
Geslóh þín fæder      faéhðe maéste:

 

Your father by striking began      the greatest feud:
wearþ hé Heaþoláfe      tó handbonan

 

he was Heatholaf's      slayer by his own hand
mid Wilfingum·      ðá hine gára cyn

  461

of the Wylfings;      then him his spear-kin
for herebrógan      habban ne mihte·

 

for dread of troops      could not shelter;
þanon hé gesóhte      Súð-Dena folc

 

thence he sought      the South-Danes' folk
ofer ýða gewealc,      Ár-Scyldinga·

 

over the welling of the waves,      the Honour-Scyldings;
ðá ic furþum wéold      folce Deninga

 

at that time I had just begun to rule      the Danish folk
ond on geogoðe héold      gimmeríce

  466

and in my youth held      the precious kingdom,
hordburh hæleþa·      ðá wæs Heregár déad

 

the treasure-keep of heroes;      then was Heregar dead,
mín yldra maég      unlifigende

 

my elder brother      unliving,
bearn Healfdenes·      sé wæs betera ðonne ic.

 

the son of Half-Dane;      he was better than I.
Siððan þá faéhðe      féo þingode·

 

Then the feud      I settled with fees;
sende ic Wylfingum      ofer wæteres hrycg

  471

I sent the Wylfings      across the water's ridge
ealde mádmas·      hé mé áþas swór.

 

ancient treasures;      he swore oaths to me.
Sorh is mé tó secganne      on sefan mínum

 

It sorrows me to say      in my heart
gumena aéngum      hwæt mé Grendel hafað

 

to any man      Grendel has caused me what
hýnðo on Heorote      mid his heteþancum

 

humiliations in Heorot      with his thoughts of hatred,
faérníða gefremed·      is mín fletwerod

  476

carried out lightning-quick attacks;      my hall-troop is
wíghéap gewanod·      híe wyrd forswéop

 

waned, that war-band;      they have been swept aside by Fate
on Grendles gryre·      god éaþe mæg

 

in Grendel's horrid violence;      God can easily
þone dolsceaðan      daéda getwaéfan.

 

the rash ravager's      deeds put an end to.
Ful oft gebéotedon      béore druncne

 

Full oft have vowed,      having drunk beer,
ofer ealowaége      óretmecgas

  481

over ale-flagons,      battle-men,
þæt híe in béorsele      bídan woldon

 

that they in the beer-hall      would await
Grendles gúþe      mid gryrum ecga.

 

Grendel's onslaught      with vicious edges.
Ðonne wæs þéos medoheal      on morgentíd

 

Then, this mead-hall was      in the morning
drihtsele dréorfáh      þonne dæg lixte,

 

this noble hall stained with gore      when the day lightened,
eal bencþelu      blóde bestýmed

  486

all of the benches      smeared with blood
heall heoru-dréore·      áhte ic holdra þý laés,

 

the hall battle-gory;      I had friends the fewer,
déorre duguðe      þé þá déað fornam.

 

cherished old battle-retinue,      for these Death took them away.
Site nú tó symle      ond onsaél meoto

 

Sit now to feast      and untie your thoughts
sigehréð secgum      swá þín sefa hwette.'

 

of your glorious victories to the soldiers,      as your heart urges.'
Þá wæs Géatmæcgum      geador ætsomne

  491

Then the Geatish men were      gathered together
on béorsele      benc gerýmed

 

in the beer-hall,      room was made on a bench,
þaér swíðferhþe      sittan éodon

 

there the strong-souled      went to sit down,
þrýðum dealle      þegn nytte behéold

 

proud in prowess      a thane performed his office,
sé þe on handa bær      hroden ealowaége

 

he who in his hands bore      an ornate ale-cup,
scencte scír wered·      scop hwílum sang

  496

decanted pure sweet mead;      a bard sang from time to time
hádor on Heorote·      þaér wæs hæleða dréam,

 

clear in Heorot;      there was joy of heroes,
duguð unlýtel      Dena ond Wedera.

 

no small host      of Danes and Wederas.