Beowulf

dryhten Geata dracan sceawian.

Hæfde þa gefrunen hwanan sio fæhð aras,

bealonið biorna; him to bearme cwom

maðþumfæt mære þurh ðæs meldan hond.

Se wæs on ðam ðreate þreotteoða secg,

se ðæs orleges or onstealde,

hæft hygegiomor, sceolde hean ðonon

wong wisian. He ofer willan giong

to ðæs ðe he eorðsele anne wisse,

hlæw under hrusan holmwylme neh,

yðgewinne; se wæs innan full

wrætta ond wira. Weard unhiore,

gearo guðfreca, goldmaðmas heold,

eald under eorðan. Næs þæt yðe ceap

to gegangenne gumena ænigum!

Gesæt ða on næsse niðheard cyning,

þenden hælo abead heorðgeneatum,

goldwine Geata. Him wæs geomor sefa,

wæfre ond wælfus, wyrd ungemete neah,

se ðone gomelan gretan sceolde,

secean sawle hord, sundur gedælan

lif wið lice, no þon lange wæs

feorh æþelinges flæsce bewunden.

Biowulf maþelade, bearn Ecgðeowes:

"Fela ic on giogoðe guðræsa genæs,

orleghwila; ic þæt eall gemon.

Ic wæs syfanwintre, þa mec sinca baldor,

freawine folca, æt minum fæder genam;

heold mec ond hæfde Hreðel cyning,

geaf me sinc ond symbel, sibbe gemunde.

Næs ic him to life laðra owihte,

beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,

Herebeald ond Hæðcyn oððe Hygelac min.

Wæs þam yldestan ungedefelice

mæges dædum morþorbed stred,

syððan hyne Hæðcyn of hornbogan,

his freawine, flane geswencte,

miste mercelses ond his mæg ofscet,

broðor oðerne blodigan gare.

þæt wæs feohleas gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad,

hreðre hygemeðe; sceolde hwæðre swa þeah

æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.

Swa bið geomorlic gomelum ceorle

to gebidanne, þæt his byre ride

giong on galgan, þonne he gyd wrece,

sarigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað

hrefne to hroðre, ond he him helpe ne mæg,

eald ond infrod, ænige gefremman.

Symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce

eaforan ellorsið; oðres ne gymeð

to gebidanne burgum in innan

yrfeweardas, þonne se an hafað

þurh deaðes nyd dæda gefondad.

Gesyhð sorhcearig on his suna bure

winsele westne, windge reste

reote berofene. Ridend swefað,

hæleð in hoðman; nis þær hearpan sweg,

gomen in geardum, swylce ðær iu wæron.

Gewiteð þonne on sealman, sorhleoð gæleð

an æfter anum; þuhte him eall to rum,

wongas ond wicstede. Swa Wedra helm

æfter Herebealde heortan sorge

weallende wæg. Wihte ne meahte

on ðam feorhbonan fæghðe gebetan;

no ðy ær he þone heaðorinc hatian ne meahte

laðum dædum, þeah him leof ne wæs.

He ða mid þære sorhge, þe him swa sar belamp,

gumdream ofgeaf, godes leoht geceas,

eaferum læfde, swa deð eadig mon,

lond ond leodbyrig, þa he of life gewat.

þa wæs synn ond sacu Sweona ond Geata

ofer wid wæter, wroht gemæne,

herenið hearda, syððan Hreðel swealt,

oððe him Ongenðeowes eaferan wæran

frome, fyrdhwate, freode ne woldon

ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hreosnabeorh

eatolne inwitscear oft gefremedon.

þæt mægwine mine gewræcan,

fæhðe ond fyrene, swa hyt gefræge wæs,

þeah ðe oðer his ealdre gebohte,

heardan ceape; Hæðcynne wearð,

Geata dryhtne, guð onsæge.

þa ic on morgne gefrægn mæg oðerne

billes ecgum on bonan stælan,

þær Ongenþeow Eofores niosað.

Guðhelm toglad, gomela Scylfing

hreas hildeblac; hond gemunde

fæhðo genoge, feorhsweng ne ofteah.

Ic him þa maðmas, þe he me sealde,

geald æt guðe, swa me gifeðe wæs,

leohtan sweorde; he me lond forgeaf,

eard, eðelwyn. Næs him ænig þearf

þæt he to Gifðum oððe to Gardenum

oððe in Swiorice secean þurfe

wyrsan wigfrecan, weorðe gecypan.

Symle ic him on feðan beforan wolde,

ana on orde, ond swa to aldre sceall

sæcce fremman, þenden þis sweord þolað,

þæt mec ær ond sið oft gelæste.

Syððan ic for dugeðum Dæghrefne wearð