BEOWULF
diacritically-marked text and facing translation
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last updated on 01-Oct-2006
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| Hwæt! Wé Gárdena in géardagum |
| Listen! We --of the Spear-Danes in the days of yore, | ||
| þéodcyninga þrym gefrúnon· |
| of those clan-kings-- heard of their glory. | ||
| hú ðá æþelingas ellen fremedon. |
| how those nobles performed courageous deeds. | ||
| Oft Scyld Scéfing sceaþena þréatum |
| Often Scyld, Scef's son, from enemy hosts | ||
| monegum maégþum meodosetla oftéah· |
5 | from many peoples seized mead-benches; | ||
| egsode Eorle syððan aérest wearð |
| and terrorised the fearsome Heruli after first he was | ||
| féasceaft funden hé þæs frófre gebád· |
| found helpless and destitute, he then knew recompense for that:- | ||
| wéox under wolcnum· weorðmyndum þáh |
| he waxed under the clouds, throve in honours, | ||
| oð þæt him aéghwylc þára ymbsittendra |
| until to him each of the bordering tribes | ||
| ofer hronráde hýran scolde, |
10 | beyond the whale-road had to submit, | ||
| gomban gyldan· þæt wæs gód cyning. |
| and yield tribute:- that was a good king! | ||
| Ðaém eafera wæs æfter cenned |
| To him an heir was born then | ||
| geong in geardum þone god sende |
| young in the yards, God sent him | ||
| folce tó frófre· fyrenðearfe ongeat· |
| to comfort the people; He had seen the dire distress | ||
| þæt híe aér drugon aldorléase |
15 | that they suffered before, leader-less | ||
| lange hwíle· him þæs líffréä |
| a long while; them for that the Life-Lord, | ||
| wuldres wealdend woroldáre forgeaf: |
| Ruler of Glory, granted honour on earth: | ||
| Béowulf wæs bréme --blaéd wíde sprang-- |
| Beowulf (Beaw) was famed --his renown spread wide-- | ||
| Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. |
| Scyld's heir, in Northern lands. | ||
| Swá sceal geong guma góde gewyrcean |
20 | So ought a young man by good deeds deserve, | ||
| fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme |
| (and) by fine treasure-gifts, while in his father's keeping, | ||
| þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen |
| that him in old age shall again stand by, | ||
| wilgesíþas þonne wíg cume· |
| willing companions, when war comes, | ||
| léode gelaésten: lofdaédum sceal |
| people serve him: by glorious deeds must, | ||
| in maégþa gehwaére man geþéön. |
25 | amongst his people, everywhere, one prosper. | ||
| Him ðá Scyld gewát tó gescæphwíle |
|
| ||
| felahrór féran on fréan waére· |
| still in his full-strength, to fare in the protection of the Lord Frea; | ||
| hí hyne þá ætbaéron tó brimes faroðe |
| he they carried to the sea's surf, | ||
| swaése gesíþas swá hé selfa bæd |
| his dear comrades, as he himself had bid, | ||
| þenden wordum wéold wine Scyldinga |
30 | when he yet wielded words, that friend of the Scyldings, | ||
| léof landfruma lange áhte· |
| beloved ruler of the land, had ruled for a long time; | ||
| þaér æt hýðe stód hringedstefna |
| there at the harbour stood with a ringed-prow, | ||
| ísig ond útfús æþelinges fær· |
| icy and keen to sail, a hero's vessel; | ||
| álédon þá léofne þéoden |
| they then laid down the beloved prince, | ||
| béaga bryttan on bearm scipes |
35 | the giver of rings and treasure, in the bosom of the boat, | ||
| maérne be mæste· þaér wæs mádma fela |
| the mighty by the mast; many riches were there, | ||
| of feorwegum frætwa gelaéded· |
| from far-off lands ornate armour and baubles were brought; | ||
| ne hýrde ic cýmlícor céol gegyrwan |
| I have not heard of a comelier keel adorned | ||
| hildewaépnum ond heaðowaédum |
| with weapons of battle and war-dress, | ||
| billum ond byrnum· him on bearme læg |
40 | bill-blades and byrnies; there lay on his breast | ||
| mádma mænigo þá him mid scoldon |
| many treasures, which with him must, | ||
| on flódes aéht feor gewítan· |
| in the power of the waves, drift far off; | ||
| nalæs hí hine laéssan lácum téodan |
| in no way had they upon him fewer gifts bestowed | ||
| þéodgestréonum þonne þá dydon |
| with the wealth of a nation, than those did | ||
| þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon |
45 | who him in the beginning had sent forth | ||
| aénne ofer ýðe umborwesende· |
| alone upon the waves being but a child; | ||
| þá gýt híe him ásetton segen gyldenne |
| yet then they set up the standard of gold, | ||
| héah ofer héafod· léton holm beran· |
| high over head; they let the sea bear, | ||
| géafon on gársecg· him wæs geómor sefa |
| gave to the ocean, in them were troubled hearts, | ||
| murnende mód· men ne cunnon |
50 | mourning minds; men cannot | ||
| secgan tó sóðe seleraédenne |
| say for certain, (neither) court-counsellors | ||
| hæleð under heofenum hwá þaém hlæste onféng. |
| (nor) heroes under heaven, who received that cargo. |