BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 15-June-2005
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|
VIIII |
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| Swá mec gelóme láðgetéonan |
| Thus me often hateful attackers |
| þréatedon þearle· ic him þénode |
| pressed sorely; I served them |
| déoran sweorde swá hit gedéfe wæs· |
561 | with my dear sword, as it was fitting; |
| næs híe ðaére fylle geféan hæfdon |
| they the feast did not have rejoicing, |
| mánfordaédlan þæt híe mé þégon· |
| those perpetrators of crime, that they partook of me, |
| symbel ymbsaéton saégrunde néah |
| sitting round a banquet near the sea-bed |
| ac on mergenne mécum wunde |
| but in the morning by maiche-swords wounded, |
| be ýðláfe uppe laégon |
566 | along what is left by the waves up they lay |
| sweordum áswefede þæt syðþan ná |
| put to sleep by swords, so that never since |
| ymb brontne ford brimlíðende |
| on the high waterway sea-travellers |
| láde ne letton. Léoht éastan cóm |
| way did not hinder. Light came from the east, |
| beorht béacen godes· brimu swaþredon |
| bright beacon of God, the sea became still, |
| þæt ic saénæssas geséon mihte |
571 | so that I the headlands was able to see, |
| windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereð |
| windswept walls. Fate often spares |
| unfaégne eorl þonne his ellen déah. |
| the hero not fated to die when his courage endures. |
| Hwæþere mé gesaélde þæt ic mid sweorde ofslóh |
| However it was my good fortune that I with my sword slew |
| niceras nigene· nó ic on niht gefrægn |
| nine of the nicors; I have not heard by night |
| under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan |
576 | under heaven's vault of a more grievous fight, |
| né on égstréamum earmran mannon· |
| nor on the water-streams of a more wretched man; |
| hwaþere ic fára feng féore gedígde |
| yet I the foes' grasp survived with my life, |
| siþes wérig· ðá mec saé oþbær |
| weary from my venture; then the sea bore me off |
| flód æfter faroðe on Finna land |
| flood following current onto the land of the Lapps, |
| wudu weallendu. Nó ic wiht fram þé |
581 | the tossing boat. Not a whit of thee |
| swylcra searoníða secgan hýrde |
| in such strife of conflict have I heard told, |
| billa brógan· Breca naéfre gít |
| of bill-blade terror; Breca never yet |
| æt heaðoláce né gehwæþer incer |
| at battle-play, nor either of you, |
| swá déorlíce daéd gefremede |
| so boldly performed a deed |
| fágum sweordum --nó ic þæs gylpe-- |
586 | with bright swords --I do not boast of this-- |
| þéah ðú þínum bróðrum tó banan wurde |
| nevertheless, you your brothers' killer were, |
| héafodmaégum· þæs þú in helle scealt |
| near relatives; for that you must with Hel |
| werhðo dreogan þéah þín wit duge· |
| suffer torment, though your mind is strong; |
| secge ic þé to sóðe, sunu Ecgláfes, |
| I say to you in truth, son of Edgelaf, |
| þæt naéfre Grendel swá fela gryra gefremede |
591 | that Grendel would have never so many atrocities committed, |
| atol aéglaéca ealdre þínum, |
| --that terrible demon-- to your leader, |
| hýnðo on Heorote gif þín hige waére |
| humiliation on Heorot, if your heart were, |
| sefa swá searogrim swá þú self talast |
| and your spirit so battle-fierce as you yourself tell |
| ac hé hafað onfunden þæt hé þá faéhðe ne þearf |
| but he has found that the fight he needs not, |
| atole ecgþræce éower léode |
596 | that terrible storm of sword-edges of your nation, |
| swíðe onsittan Sige-Scyldinga· |
| greatly to dread, of the Victory-Scyldings; |
| nymeð nýdbáde· naénegum árað |
| he takes a forced toll, spares none |
| léode Deniga ac hé lust wigeð· |
| of the Danish people, but he carries on his delight, |
| swefeð ond sendeþ· secce ne wéneþ |
| slaying and despatching, he does not expect contest |
| tó Gár-Denum. Ac ic him Géata sceal |
601 | from the Spear-Danes. But I shall him the Geats' |
| eafoð ond ellen ungeára nú |
| might and courage, before long now, |
| gúþe gebéodan· gaéþ eft, sé þe mót |
| offer in war; a man will be able to go back, |
| tó medo módig siþþan morgenléoht |
| to mead bravely, when the morning-light |
| ofer ylda bearn óþres dógores |
| over the sons of men of another day, |
| sunne sweglwered súþan scíneð.' |
606 | the sun clad in radiance, shines from the south.' |
| Þá wæs on sálum sinces brytta |
| Then was joyful the dispenser of treasures, |
| gamolfeax ond gúðróf géoce gelýfde |
| with wizened hair and brave in battle for support he trusted |
| brego Beorht-Dena gehýrde on Béowulfe |
| the lord of the Bright-Danes heard in Beowulf |
| folces hyrde fæstraédne geþóht· |
| the guardian of the folk, firmly-resolved intent; |
| ðaér wæs hæleþa hleahtor· hlyn swynsode· |
611 | There was the laughter of heroes, the noise made melody, |
| word waéron wynsume. Éode Wealhþéow forð |
| words were joyful. Wealhtheow came forth, |
| cwén Hróðgáres cynna gemyndig |
| Hrothgar's queen, mindful of etiquette, |
| grétte goldhroden guman on healle |
| greeted, gold-adorned, the men in the hall |
| ond þá fréolíc wíf ful gesealde |
| and then the noble lady gave out full cups, |
| aérest Éast-Dena éþelwearde· |
616 | first to the East-Danes homeland-guardian, |
| bæd hine blíðne æt þaére béorþege |
| bade him be blithe at the partaking of beer, |
| léodum léofne· hé on lust geþeah |
| beloved by the people; he took in delight |
| symbel ond seleful sigeróf kyning· |
| feast-food and hall-cup, the victorious king; |
| ymb-éode þá ides Helminga |
| then she went among them, the lady of the Helmings, |
| duguþe ond geogoþe daél aéghwylcne· |
621 | to veteran and youth a portion to each, |
| sincfato sealde oþ þæt saél álamp |
| gave rich cups, until the time came |
| þæt hío Béowulfe, béaghroden cwén |
| that she to Beowulf, the ring-adorned queen, |
| móde geþungen medoful ætbær· |
| blossoming in spirit, carried a mead-cup; |
| grétte Géata léod· gode þancode |
| she greeted the Geatish prince, thanked God, |
| wísfæst wordum þæs ðe hire se willa gelamp |
626 | wise in her words, for that her wish was to be fulfilled, |
| þæt héo on aénigne eorl gelýfde |
| that she in any noble man could count on |
| fyrena frófre. Hé þæt ful geþeah |
| relief from wickedness. He took that full-cup, |
| wælréow wiga æt Wealhþéön |
| the slaughter-fierce warrior from Wealhtheow, |
| ond þá gyddode gúþe gefýsed· |
| and then spoke solemnly, made eager for war; |
| Béowulf maþelode bearn Ecgþéowes: |
631 | Beowulf spoke, the son of Edgetheow: |
| 'Ic þæt hogode· þá ic on holm gestáh· |
| 'I resolved that, when I mounted the water, |
| saébát gesæt mid mínra secga gedriht· |
| sat down in the sea-boat amid my company of warriors, |
| þaét ic ánunga éowra léoda |
| that I forthwith your people's |
| willan geworhte oþðe on wæl crunge |
| will would work, or fall in slaughter, |
| féondgrápum fæst· ic gefremman sceal |
636 | fast in the fiend's grasp; I must perform |
| eorlíc ellen oþðe endedæg |
| this daring act of courage or the last day |
| on þisse meoduhealle mínne gebídan.' |
| in this mead-hall of mine await.' |
| Ðám wífe þá word wél lícodon |
| The woman these words liked well, |
| gilpcwide Géates· éode goldhroden |
| the vow-speech of the Geat; went gold-adorned, |
| fréolicu folccwén tó hire fréan sittan. |
641 | the noble queen of the folk, to sit by her lord. |
| Þá wæs eft swá aér inne on healle |
| Then were again, as before, in the hall, |
| þrýðword sprecen, ðéod on saélum, |
| bold words spoken, the people full of joy, |
| sigefolca swég oþ þæt semninga |
| --victory-folk's clamour-- until presently |
| sunu Healfdenes sécean wolde |
| the son of Half-Dane wished to seek |
| aéfenræste· wiste þaém áhlaécan |
646 | evening-rest; he knew that the ogre |
| tó þaém héahsele hilde geþinged |
| for the high hall had plotted an attack, |
| siððan híe sunnan léoht geséon meahton |
| ever since when they the sun's light could see; |
| oþðe nípende niht ofer ealle |
| and darkening night all over, |
| scaduhelma gesceapu scríðan cwóman |
| shadow-helm's shapes came slithering, |
| wan under wolcnum. Werod eall árás· |
651 | black beneath the skies. The troop all arose; |
| gegrétte þá guma guman óþerne |
| greeted then the man the other man, |
| Hróðgár Béowulf ond him haél ábéad |
| Hrothgar Beowulf, and bid him health, |
| wínærnes geweald ond þæt word ácwæð: |
| the wine-hall's ruler, and spoke these words: |
| 'Naéfre ic aénegum men aér álýfde· |
| 'I never to any man before entrusted, |
| siþðan ic hond ond rond hebban mihte· |
656 | since I hand and shield was able to raise, |
| ðrýþærn Dena búton þé nú ðá· |
| this strong-hall of the Danes, save to thee now; |
| hafa nú ond geheald húsa sélest· |
| have now and hold this best of houses, |
| gemyne maérþo· mægenellen cýð· |
| focus on glory, show great valour, |
| waca wið wráþum· ne bið þé wilna gád |
| keep watch against the enemy; there shall be no dearth of your desires |
| gif þú þæt ellenweorc aldre gedígest.' |
661 | if this courage-work you survive with your life.' |