Beowulf

lindhæbbendra. Lastas wæron

æfter waldswaþum wide gesyne,

gang ofer grundas, þær heo gegnum for

ofer myrcan mor, magoþegna bær

þone selestan sawolleasne

þara þe mid Hroðgare ham eahtode.

Ofereode þa æþelinga bearn

steap stanhliðo, stige nearwe,

enge anpaðas, uncuð gelad,

neowle næssas, nicorhusa fela.

He feara sum beforan gengde

wisra monna wong sceawian,

oþþæt he færinga fyrgenbeamas

ofer harne stan hleonian funde,

wynleasne wudu; wæter under stod

dreorig ond gedrefed. Denum eallum wæs,

winum Scyldinga, weorce on mode

to geþolianne, ðegne monegum,

oncyð eorla gehwæm, syðþan æscheres

on þam holmclife hafelan metton.

Flod blode weol (folc to sægon),

hatan heolfre. Horn stundum song

fuslic fyrdleoð. Feþa eal gesæt.

Gesawon ða æfter wætere wyrmcynnes fela,

sellice sædracan, sund cunnian,

swylce on næshleoðum nicras licgean,

ða on undernmæl oft bewitigað

sorhfulne sið on seglrade,

wyrmas ond wildeor; hie on weg hruron,

bitere ond gebolgne, bearhtm ongeaton,

guðhorn galan. Sumne Geata leod

of flanbogan feores getwæfde,

yðgewinnes, þæt him on aldre stod

herestræl hearda; he on holme wæs

sundes þe sænra, ðe hyne swylt fornam.

Hræþe wearð on yðum mid eoferspreotum

heorohocyhtum hearde genearwod,

niða genæged, ond on næs togen,

wundorlic wægbora; weras sceawedon

gryrelicne gist. Gyrede hine Beowulf

eorlgewædum, nalles for ealdre mearn.

Scolde herebyrne hondum gebroden,

sid ond searofah, sund cunnian,

seo ðe bancofan beorgan cuþe,

þæt him hildegrap hreþre ne mihte,

eorres inwitfeng, aldre gesceþðan;

ac se hwita helm hafelan werede,

se þe meregrundas mengan scolde,

secan sundgebland since geweorðad,

befongen freawrasnum, swa hine fyrndagum

worhte wæpna smið, wundrum teode,

besette swinlicum, þæt hine syðþan no

brond ne beadomecas bitan ne meahton.

Næs þæt þonne mætost mægenfultuma

þæt him on ðearfe lah ðyle Hroðgares;

wæs þæm hæftmece Hrunting nama.

þæt wæs an foran ealdgestreona;

ecg wæs iren, atertanum fah,

ahyrded heaþoswate; næfre hit æt hilde ne swac

manna ængum þara þe hit mid mundum bewand,

se ðe gryresiðas gegan dorste,

folcstede fara; næs þæt forma sið

þæt hit ellenweorc æfnan scolde.

Huru ne gemunde mago Ecglafes,

eafoþes cræftig, þæt he ær gespræc

wine druncen, þa he þæs wæpnes onlah

selran sweordfrecan. Selfa ne dorste

under yða gewin aldre geneþan,

drihtscype dreogan; þær he dome forleas,

ellenmærðum. Ne wæs þæm oðrum swa,

syðþan he hine to guðe gegyred hæfde.

Beowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeowes:

"Geþenc nu, se mæra maga Healfdenes,

snottra fengel, nu ic eom siðes fus,

goldwine gumena, hwæt wit geo spræcon,

gif ic æt þearfe þinre scolde

aldre linnan, þæt ðu me a wære

forðgewitenum on fæder stæle.

Wes þu mundbora minum magoþegnum,

hondgesellum, gif mec hild nime;

swylce þu ða madmas þe þu me sealdest,

Hroðgar leofa, Higelace onsend.

Mæg þonne on þæm golde ongitan Geata dryhten,

geseon sunu Hrædles, þonne he on þæt sinc starað,

þæt ic gumcystum godne funde

beaga bryttan, breac þonne moste.

Ond þu Unferð læt ealde lafe,

wrætlic wægsweord, widcuðne man

heardecg habban; ic me mid Hruntinge

dom gewyrce, oþðe mec deað nimeð."

æfter þæm wordum Wedergeata leod

efste mid elne, nalas ondsware

bidan wolde; brimwylm onfeng

hilderince. ða wæs hwil dæges

ær he þone grundwong ongytan mehte.

Sona þæt onfunde se ðe floda begong

heorogifre beheold hund missera,

grim ond grædig, þæt þær gumena sum

ælwihta eard ufan cunnode.

Grap þa togeanes, guðrinc gefeng