Beowulf

seon ond secean searogimma geþræc,

wundur under wealle; ic eow wisige,

þæt ge genoge neon sceawiað

beagas ond brad gold. Sie sio bær gearo,

ædre geæfned, þonne we ut cymen,

ond þonne geferian frean userne,

leofne mannan, þær he longe sceal

on ðæs waldendes wære geþolian."

Het ða gebeodan byre Wihstanes,

hæle hildedior, hæleða monegum,

boldagendra, þæt hie bælwudu

feorran feredon, folcagende,

godum togenes: "Nu sceal gled fretan,

weaxan wonna leg wigena strengel,

þone ðe oft gebad isernscure,

þonne stræla storm strengum gebæded

scoc ofer scildweall, sceft nytte heold,

feðergearwum fus flane fulleode."

Huru se snotra sunu Wihstanes

acigde of corðre cyninges þegnas

syfone tosomne, þa selestan,

eode eahta sum under inwithrof

hilderinca; sum on handa bær

æledleoman, se ðe on orde geong.

Næs ða on hlytme hwa þæt hord strude,

syððan orwearde ænigne dæl

secgas gesegon on sele wunian,

læne licgan; lyt ænig mearn

þæt hi ofostlice ut geferedon

dyre maðmas. Dracan ec scufun,

wyrm ofer weallclif, leton weg niman,

flod fæðmian frætwa hyrde.

þa wæs wunden gold on wæn hladen,

æghwæs unrim, æþeling boren,

har hilderinc to Hronesnæsse.

Him ða gegiredan Geata leode

ad on eorðan unwaclicne,

helmum behongen, hildebordum,

beorhtum byrnum, swa he bena wæs;

alegdon ða tomiddes mærne þeoden

hæleð hiofende, hlaford leofne.

Ongunnon þa on beorge bælfyra mæst

wigend weccan; wudurec astah,

sweart ofer swioðole, swogende leg

wope bewunden (windblond gelæg),

oðþæt he ða banhus gebrocen hæfde,

hat on hreðre. Higum unrote

modceare mændon, mondryhtnes cwealm;

swylce giomorgyd Geatisc meowle

bundenheorde

song sorgcearig swiðe geneahhe

þæt hio hyre heofungdagas hearde ondrede,

wælfylla worn, werudes egesan,

hynðo ond hæftnyd. Heofon rece swealg.

Geworhton ða Wedra leode

hleo on hoe, se wæs heah ond brad,

wægliðendum wide gesyne,

ond betimbredon on tyn dagum

beadurofes becn, bronda lafe

wealle beworhton, swa hyt weorðlicost

foresnotre men findan mihton.

Hi on beorg dydon beg ond siglu,

eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ær

niðhedige men genumen hæfdon,

forleton eorla gestreon eorðan healdan,

gold on greote, þær hit nu gen lifað

eldum swa unnyt swa hit æror wæs.

þa ymbe hlæw riodan hildediore,

æþelinga bearn, ealra twelfe,

woldon ceare cwiðan ond kyning mænan,

wordgyd wrecan ond ymb wer sprecan;

eahtodan eorlscipe ond his ellenweorc

duguðum demdon, swa hit gedefe bið

þæt mon his winedryhten wordum herge,

ferhðum freoge, þonne he forð scile

of lichaman læded weorðan.

Swa begnornodon Geata leode

hlafordes hryre, heorðgeneatas,

cwædon þæt he wære wyruldcyninga

manna mildust ond monðwærust,

leodum liðost ond lofgeornost.