BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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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. |