BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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|
III |
| |
| Swá ðá maélceare maga Healfdenes |
| So then over the sorrow of the time the son of Half-Dane |
| singála séað· ne mihte snotor hæleð |
190 | continually brooded; the wise hero could not |
| wéan onwendan· wæs þæt gewin tó swýð |
| turn away woe; that strife was too strong, |
| láþ ond longsum þe on ðá léode becóm, |
| hateful and enduring, that on the people came |
| nýdwracu níþgrim nihtbealwa maést. |
| fearfully cruel, violent trouble, the greatest night-evil. |
|
| That from home heard Hygelac's thane, | |
| gód mid Géatum, Grendles daéda· |
195 | a good man of the Geats, of Grendel's deeds; |
| sé wæs moncynnes mægenes strengest |
| he was of mankind of the greatest strength, |
| on þaém dæge þysses lífes |
| on that day in this life, |
| æþele ond éacen· hét him ýðlidan |
| noble and mighty; he ordered them a wave-crosser |
| gódne gegyrwan· cwæð: hé gúðcyning |
| --a good one-- prepare; he said: the war-king |
| ofer swanráde sécean wolde |
200 | over swan-road he wished to seek, |
| maérne þéoden þá him wæs manna þearf· |
| that mighty clan-chief, since he was in need of men; |
| ðone síðfæt him snotere ceorlas |
| that adventure him, the clear-headed chaps, |
| lýt hwón lógon þéah hé him léof waére |
| very little begrudged though he was dear to them, |
| hwetton higerófne· haél scéawedon. |
| they urged on the valiant-hearted one, and observed the omens. |
| Hæfde se góda Géata léoda |
205 | The worthy one had, from the Geatish peoples, |
| cempan gecorone þára þe hé cénoste |
| chosen champions, those who were the boldest he |
| findan mihte· fíftýna sum |
| could find; fifteen together, |
| sundwudu sóhte· secg wísade |
| they sought the sea-wood, he led the warriors, |
| lagucræftig mon landgemyrcu. |
| that sea-skilled man, to the boundary of the shore. |
| Fyrst forð gewát· flota wæs on ýðum |
210 | Time passed by; the ship was on the waves, |
| bát under beorge· beornas gearwe |
| the boat under the cliffs; the ready warriors |
| on stefn stigon --stréamas wundon, |
| stepped up into the prow --the currents curled round, |
| sund wið sande-- secgas baéron |
| sea against sand-- the men bore |
| on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe |
| into the bosom of boat bright arms and armour, |
| gúðsearo geatolíc· guman út scufon |
215 | noble war-gear; the fellows shoved off, |
| weras on wilsíð wudu bundenne. |
| men on a welcome voyage, in a well-braced ship. |
| Gewát þá ofer waégholm winde gefýsed |
| Then they went over the water-waves urged by the wind, |
| flota fámíheals fugle gelícost |
| the foamy-necked floater, remarkably bird-like |
| oð þæt ymb ántid óþres dógores |
| until in due time, on the second day, |
| wundenstefna gewaden hæfde |
220 | the curved-prow had made the journey, |
| þæt ða líðende land gesáwon, |
| so that the sailors sighted land, |
|
brimclifu blícan, beorgas stéape |
| bright sea-cliffs, towering shores, |
| side saénæssas· þá wæs sund liden |
| wide headlands; then was the sea traversed, |
| éoletes æt ende. Þanon up hraðe |
| their sea-voyage at an end. Thence up quickly |
| Wedera léode on wang stigon· |
225 | the Wederas-warriors stepped onto land; |
| saéwudu saéldon· syrcan hrysedon |
| moored their vessel; their mail-shirts clanked |
| gúðgewaédo· gode þancedon |
| those war-garments; they thanked God |
| þæs þe him ýþláde éaðe wurdon. |
| that for them the wave-paths had been smooth. |
| Þá of wealle geseah weard Scildinga |
| Then from the wall saw the ward of the Scyldings, |
| sé þe holmclifu healdan scolde· |
230 | he who the sea-cliffs had the duty to guard, |
| beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas |
| borne over the gang-plank, bright bossed-shields, |
| fyrdsearu fúslicu· hine fyrwyt bræc |
| eager war-devices; in him curiosity broke |
| módgehygdum hwæt þá men waéron· |
| the thoughts of his heart: what these men were; |
| gewát him þá tó waroðe wicge rídan |
| then he went to the shore riding his horse, |
| þegn Hróðgáres· þrymmum cwehte |
235 | the thane of Hrothgar; he forcefully shook |
| mægenwudu mundum· meþelwordum frægn: |
| his mighty wooden shaft, and with formal words asked: |
| 'Hwæt syndon gé searohæbbendra |
| 'What are you armour-wearers |
| byrnum werede þe þus brontne céol |
| bound in byrnies, who thus your tall keel |
| ofer lagustraéte laédan cwómon |
| over the sea-street leading came, |
| hider ofer holmas?' � |
240 | hither over the waters?' |
| Hé wæs endesaéta· aégwearde héold |
| He was the coast-guardian, he held the sea-watch, |
| þé on land Dena láðra naénig |
| so that on Danish land no enemies at all |
| mid scipherge sceðþan ne meahte· |
| with a navy would not be able to ravage. |
| 'Nó hér cúðlícor cuman ongunnon |
| 'Not here more openly began to come |
| lindhæbbende né gé léafnesword |
245 | lindenwood shield-bearers, nor you the leave-word |
| gúðfremmendra gearwe ne wisson |
| of our war-makers certainly don't know |
| mága gemédu· naéfne ic máran geseah |
| our kinsmen's consent; never have I seen greater |
| eorla ofer eorþan ðonne is éower sum, |
| noble on earth than the one that you are, |
| secg on searwum· nis þæt seldguma |
| warrior in armour; this is no mere retainer |
| waépnum geweorðad· næfre him his wlite léoge, |
250 | made worthy by weapons; unless he is belied by his looks, |
| aénlic ansýn! Nú ic éower sceal |
| a unique appearance! Now I must your |
| frumcyn witan aér gé fyr heonan |
| lineage learn, ere you far hence, |
| léasscéaweras on land Dena |
| deceiving spies in the land of the Danes |
| furþur féran· Nú gé feorbúend |
| further fare; now you far-dwellers |
| merelíðende mínne gehýrað |
255 | you sea-sailors, hear my |
| ánfealdne geþóht: ofost is sélest |
| one-fold thought: speed is best |
| tó gecýðanne hwanan éowre cyme syndon.' � |
| for reporting, whence your comings are.' |