This text is a revised and corrected version of the fourth edition of Harrison and Sharp in its entirety. It comes in two basic versions. The base version (available in plain-text and HTML) presents the original text as printed. It preserves the source-text's idiosyncratic use of accented vowels with the exception of y-circumflex (), which is replaced by y-acute (ý) to fit within the Latin-1 character set. Manifestly unintentional errors in the text have been corrected. In general, this has only been done when the text is internally inconsistent (e.g., a quotation in the glossary does not match the main text). Forms that represent deliberate editorial choice have not been altered, even where they appear wrong. (For example, some of the markings of vowel length do not reflect current scholarly consensus.) In a few instances, quotations in the glossary use the correct vowel length where the main text does not. These have not been altered. Where an uncorrected problem may confuse the reader, I have inserted a note explaining the difficulty, signed KTH. A complete list of the changes made is appended at the end of the file. In order to make the text more useful to modern readers, I have also produced a revised edition (HTML only). The file you are reading is this revised version. Notes from the source text that indicate changes adopted in later editions have been incorporated directly into the text and apparatus. Further, long vowels are indicated with macrons, as is the common practice of most modern editions. Finally, the quantity of some words has been altered to the values currently accepted as correct. Quantities have not been changed when the difference is a matter of editorial interpretation (e.g., gæst vs. gst in l. 102, etc.) A list of these altered quantities appears at the end of the list of corrections. Your browser must support the Unicode character set to use this file. To tell if your browser supports the necessary characters, check the table of vowel equivalents below. If you see any empty boxes or question marks in the "revised" columns, you should use the basic version.

Explanation of the Vowel Accenting

In general, Harrison and Sharp use circumflex accents over vowels to mark long vowels. For ash, however, the actual character 'æ' represents the long vowel. Short ash is rendered with a-umlaut (ä). The long diphthongs (o, a, etc.) are indicated with an acute accent over the second vowel (eó, eá, etc.).

Vowel Equivalents in Different Versions:

Orig. Revised Orig. Revised ä æ Ô Ä Æ û æ Û Æ ý y â Ý Y Â eá a ê Eá a Ê eó o î Eó o Î ié e ô ió o

** End of PG Preface **

I. BOWULF:

AN ANGLO-SAXON POEM.

II. THE FIGHT AT FINNSBURH:

A FRAGMENT.

WITH TEXT AND GLOSSARY ON THE

BASIS OF M. HEYNE.

EDITED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED, BY

JAMES A. HARRISON, LL.D., LITT. D.,

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND MODERN LANGUAGES, WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY,

AND

ROBERT SHARP (PH.D. LIPS.), PROFESSOR OF GREEK AND ENGLISH, TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA.

FOURTH EDITION. REVISED, WITH NOTES.

GINN & COMPANY BOSTON-NEW YORK-CHICAGO-LONDON

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1883, by JAMES ALBERT HARRISON AND ROBERT SHARP in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

DEDICATED

TO

PROFESSOR F. A. MARCH, OF LAFAYETTE COLLEGE, PA.,

AND

FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, ESQ. FOUNDER OF THE "NEW SHAKSPERE SOCIETY," THE "CHAUCER SOCIETY," ETC., ETC.

PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

The favor with which the successive editions of "Bowulf" have been received during the past thirteen years emboldens the editors to continue the work of revision in a fourth issue, the most noticeable feature of which is a considerable body of explanatory Notes, now for the first time added. These Notes mainly concern themselves with new textual readings, with here and there grammatical, geographical, and archæological points that seemed worthy of explanation. Parallelisms and parallel passages are constantly compared, with the view of making the poem illustrate and explain itself. A few emendations and textual changes are suggested by the editors with all possible diffidence; numerous corrections have been made in the Glossary and List of Names; and the valuable parts of former Appendices have been embodied in the Notes.

For the Notes, the editors are much indebted to the various German periodicals mentioned on page 116, to the recent publications of Professors Earle and J. L. Hall, to Mr. S. A. Brooke, and to the Heyne-Socin edition of "Bowulf." No change has been made in the system of accentuation, though a few errors in quantity have been corrected. The editors are looking forward to an eventual fifth edition, in which an entirely new text will be presented.

October, 1893.

NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

This third edition of the American issue of Bowulf will, the editors hope, be found more accurate and useful than either of the preceding editions. Further corrections in text and glossary have been made, and some additional new readings and suggestions will be found in two brief appendices at the back of the book. Students of the metrical system of Bowulf will find ample material for their studies in Sievers' exhaustive essay on that subject (Beiträge, X. 209-314).

Socin's edition of Heyne's Bowulf (called the fifth edition) has been utilized to some extent in this edition, though it unfortunately came too late to be freely used. While it repeats many of the omissions and inaccuracies of Heyne's fourth edition, it contains much that is valuable to the student, particularly in the notes and commentary. Students of the poem, which has been subjected to much searching criticism during the last decade, will also derive especial help from the contributions of Sievers and Kluge on difficult questions appertaining to it. Wülker's new edition (in the Grein Bibliothek) is of the highest value, however one may dissent from particular textual views laid down in the 'Berichtigter Text.' Paul and Braune's Beiträge contain a varied miscellany of hints, corrections, and suggestions principally embodying the views of Kluge, Cosijn, Sievers, and Bugge, some of the more important of which are found in the appendices to the present and the preceding edition. Holder and Zupitza, Sarrazin and Hermann Möller (Kiel, 1883), Heinzel (Anzeiger f.d. Alterthum, X.), Gering (Zacher's Zeitschrift, XII.), Brenner (Eng. Studien, IX.), and the contributors to Anglia, have assisted materially in the textual and metrical interpretation of the poem.

The subject of Anglo-Saxon quantity has been discussed in several able essays by Sievers, Sweet, Ten Brink (Anzeiger, f.d. Alterthum, V.), Kluge (Beiträge, XI.), and others; but so much is uncertain in this field that the editors have left undisturbed the marking of vowels found in the text of their original edition, while indicating in the appendices the now accepted views of scholars on the quantity of the personal pronouns (m, w, þ, þ, g, h); the adverb n, etc. Perhaps it would be best to banish absolutely all attempts at marking quantities except in cases where the Ms. has them marked.

An approximately complete Bibliography of Bowulf literature will be found in Wülker's Grundriss and in Garnett's translation of the poem.

JAMES A. HARRISON,

ROBERT SHARP.

WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY, LEXINGTON, VA., May, 1888.

NOTE TO THE SECOND REVISED EDITION.

The editors feel so encouraged at the kind reception accorded their edition of Bowulf (1883), that, in spite of its many shortcomings, they have determined to prepare a second revised edition of the book, and thus endeavor to extend its sphere of usefulness. About twenty errors had, notwithstanding a vigilant proof-reading, crept into the text,-errors in single letters, accents, and punctuation. These have been corrected, and it is hoped that the text has been rendered generally accurate and trustworthy. In the List of Names one or two corrections have been made, and in the Glossary numerous mistakes in gender, classification, and translation, apparently unavoidable in a first edition, have been rectified. Wherever these mistakes concern single letters, or occupy very small space, they have been corrected in the plates; where they are longer, and the expense of correcting them in the plates would have been very great, the editors have thought it best to include them in an Appendix of Corrections and Additions, which will be found at the back of the book. Students are accordingly referred to this Appendix for important longer corrections and additions. It is believed that the value of the book has been much enhanced by an Appendix of Recent Readings, based on late criticisms and essays from the pens of Sievers, Kluge, Cosijn, Holder, Wülker, and Sweet. A perplexed student, in turning to these suggested readings, will often find great help in unravelling obscure or corrupt passages.

The objectionable ä and æ, for the short and the long diphthong, have been retained in the revised edition, owing to the impossibility of removing them without entirely recasting the plates.

In conclusion, the editors would acknowledge their great indebtedness to the friends and critics whose remarks and criticisms have materially aided in the correction of the text,-particularly to Profs. C.P.G. Scott, Baskervill, Price, and J.M. Hart; to Prof. J.W. Bright; and to the authorities of Cornell University, for the loan of periodicals necessary to the completeness of the revision. While the second revised edition still contains much that might be improved, the editors cannot but hope that it is an advance on its predecessor, and that it will continue its work of extending the study of Old English throughout the land.

JUNE, 1885.

NOTE I.

The present work, carefully edited from Heyne's fourth edition, (Paderborn, 1879), is designed primarily for college classes in Anglo-Saxon, rather than for independent investigators or for seekers after a restored or ideal text. The need of an American edition of "Bowulf" has long been felt, as, hitherto, students have had either to send to Germany for a text, or secure, with great trouble, one of the scarce and expensive English editions. Heyne's first edition came out in 1863, and was followed in 1867 and 1873 by a second and a third edition, all three having essentially the same text.

So many important contributions to the "Bowulf" literature were, however, made between 1873 and 1879 that Heyne found it necessary to put forth a new edition (1879). In this new, last edition, the text was subjected to a careful revision, and was fortified by the views, contributions, and criticisms of other zealous scholars. In it the collation of the unique "Bowulf" Ms. (Vitellius A. 15: Cottonian Mss. of the British Museum), as made by E. Kölbing in Herrig's Archiv (Bd. 56; 1876), was followed wherever the present condition of the Ms. had to be discussed; and the researches of Bugge, Bieger, and others, on single passages, were made use of. The discussion of the metrical structure of the poem, as occurring in the second and third editions, was omitted in the fourth, owing to the many controversies in which the subject is still involved. The present editor has thought it best to do the same, though, happily, the subject of Old English Metrik is undergoing a steady illumination through the labors of Schipper and others.

Some errors and misplaced accents in Heyne's text have been corrected in the present edition, in which, as in the general revision of the text, the editor has been most kindly aided by Prof. J.M. Garnett, late Principal of St. John's College, Maryland.

In the preparation of the present school edition it has been thought best to omit Heyne's notes, as they concern themselves principally with conjectural emendations, substitutions of one reading for another, and discussions of the condition of the Ms. Until Wülker's text and the photographic fac-simile of the original Ms. are in the hands of all scholars, it will be better not to introduce such matters in the school room, where they would puzzle without instructing.

For convenience of reference, the editor has added a head-line to each "fit" of the poem, with a view to facilitate a knowledge of its episodes.

WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY, LEXINGTON, VA., June, 1882.

NOTE II.

The editors now have the pleasure of presenting to the public a complete text and a tolerably complete glossary of "Bowulf." The edition is the first published in America, and the first of its special kind presented to the English public, and it is the initial volume of a "Library of Anglo-Saxon Poetry," to be edited under the same auspices and with the coöperation of distinguished scholars in this country. Among these scholars may be mentioned Professors F.A. March of Lafayette College, T.K. Price of Columbia College, and W.M. Baskervill of Vanderbilt University.

In the preparation of the Glossary the editors found it necessary to abandon a literal and exact translation of Heyne for several reasons, and among others from the fact that Heyne seems to be wrong in the translation of some of his illustrative quotations, and even translates the same passage in two or three different ways under different headings. The orthography of his glossary differs considerably from the orthography of his text. He fails to discriminate with due nicety the meanings of many of the words in his vocabulary, while criticism more recent than his latest edition (1879) has illustrated or overthrown several of his renderings. The references were found to be incorrect in innumerable instances, and had to be verified in every individual case so far as this was possible, a few only, which resisted all efforts at verification, having to be indicated by an interrogation point (?). The references are exceedingly numerous, and the labor of verifying them was naturally great. To many passages in the Glossary, where Heyne's translation could not be trusted with entire certainty, the editors have added other translations of phrases and sentences or of special words; and in this they have been aided by a careful study of the text and a comparison and utilization of the views of Kemble and Professor J.M. Garnett (who takes Grein for his foundation). Many new references have been added; and the various passages in which Heyne fails to indicate whether a given verb is weak or strong, or fails to point out the number, etc., of the illustrative form, have been corrected and made to harmonize with the general plan of the work. Numerous misprints in the glossary have also been corrected, and a brief glossary to the Finnsburh-fragment, prepared by Dr. Wm. Hand Browne, and supplemented and adapted by the editor-in-chief, has been added.

The editors think that they may without immodesty put forth for themselves something more than the claim of being re-translators of a translation: the present edition is, so far as they were able to make it so, an adaptation, correction, and extension of the work of the great German scholar to whose loving appreciation of the Anglo-Saxon epic all students of Old English owe a debt of gratitude. While following his usually sure and cautious guidance, and in the main appropriating his results, they have thought it best to deviate from him in the manner above indicated, whenever it seemed that he was wrong. The careful reader will notice at once the marks of interrogation which point out these deviations, or which introduce a point of view illustrative of, or supplementary to, the one given by the German editor. No doubt the editors are wrong themselves in many places,-"Bowulf" is a most difficult poem,-but their view may at least be defended by a reference to the original text, which they have faithfully and constantly consulted.

A good many cognate Modern English words have been introduced here and there in the Glossary with a view to illustration, and other addenda will be found between brackets and parenthetical marks.

It is hoped that the present edition of the most famous of Old English poems will do something to promote a valuable and interesting study.

JAMES A. HARRISON, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.

ROBERT SHARP, University of Louisiana, New Orleans.

April, 1883.

The responsibility of the editors is as follows: H. is responsible for the Text, and for the Glossary from hrnan on; S. for the List of Names, and for the Glossary as far as hrnan.

ARGUMENT.

The only national [Anglo-Saxon] epic which has been preserved entire is Bowulf. Its argument is briefly as follows:-The poem opens with a few verses in praise of the Danish Kings, especially Scild, the son of Sceaf. His death is related, and his descendants briefly traced down to Hroðgar. Hroðgar, elated with his prosperity and success in war, builds a magnificent hall, which he calls Heorot. In this hall Hroðgar and his retainers live in joy and festivity, until a malignant fiend, called Grendel, jealous of their happiness, carries off by night thirty of Hroðgar's men, and devours them in his moorland retreat. These ravages go on for twelve years. Bowulf, a thane of Hygelac, King of the Goths, hearing of Hroðgar's calamities, sails from Sweden with fourteen warriors-to help him. They reach the Danish coast in safety; and, after an animated parley with Hroðgar's coastguard, who at first takes them for pirates, they are allowed to proceed to the royal hall, where they are well received by Hroðgar. A banquet ensues, during which Bowulf is taunted by the envious Hunferhð about his swimming-match with Breca, King of the Brondings. Bowulf gives the true account of the contest, and silences Hunferhð. At night-fall the King departs, leaving Bowulf in charge of the hall. Grendel soon breaks in, seizes and devours one of Bowulf's companions; is attacked by Bowulf, and, after losing an arm, which is torn off by Bowulf, escapes to the fens. The joy of Hroðgar and the Danes, and their festivities, are described, various episodes are introduced, and Bowulf and his companions receive splendid gifts. The next night Grendel's mother revenges her son by carrying off AEschere, the friend and councillor of Hroðgar, during the absence of Bowulf. Hroðgar appeals to Bowulf for vengeance, and describes the haunts of Grendel and his mother. They all proceed thither; the scenery of the lake, and the monsters that dwell in it, are described. Bowulf plunges into the water, and attacks Grendel's mother in her dwelling at the bottom of the lake. He at length overcomes her, and cuts off her head, together with that of Grendel, and brings the heads to Hroðgar. He then takes leave of Hroðgar, sails back to Sweden, and relates his adventures to Hygelac. Here the first half of the poem ends. The second begins with the accession of Bowulf to the throne, after the fall of Hygelac and his son Heardred. He rules prosperously for fifty years, till a dragon, brooding over a hidden treasure, begins to ravage the country, and destroys Bowulf's palace with fire. Bowulf sets out in quest of its hiding-place, with twelve men. Having a presentiment of his approaching end, he pauses and recalls to mind his past life and exploits. He then takes leave of his followers, one by one, and advances alone to attack the dragon. Unable, from the heat, to enter the cavern, he shouts aloud, and the dragon comes forth. The dragon's scaly hide is proof against Bowulf's sword, and he is reduced to great straits. Then Wiglaf, one of his followers, advances to help him. Wiglaf's shield is consumed by the dragon's fiery breath, and he is compelled to seek shelter under Bowulf's shield of iron. Bowulf's sword snaps asunder, and he is seized by the dragon. Wiglaf stabs the dragon from underneath, and Bowulf cuts it in two with his dagger. Feeling that his end is near, he bids Wiglaf bring out the treasures from the cavern, that he may see them before he dies. Wiglaf enters the dragon's den, which is described, returns to Bowulf, and receives his last commands. Bowulf dies, and Wiglaf bitterly reproaches his companions for their cowardice. The disastrous consequences of Bowulf's death are then foretold, and the poem ends with his funeral.-H. Sweet, in Warton's History of English Poetry, Vol. II. (ed. 1871). Cf. also Ten Brink's History of English Literature.



BOWULF.

I. THE PASSING OF SCYLD.

Hwæt! w Gr-Dena in ger-dagum þod-cyninga þrym gefrnon, h þ æðelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scfing sceaðena þratum, 5 monegum mgðum meodo-setla oftah. Egsode eorl, syððan rest wearð fa-sceaft funden: h þæs frfre gebd, wox under wolcnum, weorð-myndum ðh, oð þæt him ghwylc þra ymb-sittendra 10 ofer hron-rde hyran scolde, gomban gyldan: þæt wæs gd cyning! þm eafera wæs æfter cenned geong in geardum, þone god sende folce t frfre; fyren-þearfe ongeat, 15 þæt he r drugon aldor-lase lange hwle. Him þæs lf-fra, wuldres wealdend, worold-re forgeaf; Bowulf wæs brme (bld wde sprang), Scyldes eafera Scede-landum in. 20 Sw sceal geong guma, gde gewyrcean, fromum feoh-giftum on fæder wine, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen wil-gesðas, þonne wg cume, lode gelsten: lof-ddum sceal 25 in mgða gehwre man geþon. Him þ Scyld gewt t gescæp-hwle fela-hrr fran on fran wre; h hyne þ ætbron t brimes faroðe. swse gesðas, sw h selfa bæd, 30 þenden wordum wold wine Scyldinga, lof land-fruma lange hte. Þr æt hyðe std hringed-stefna, sig and tfs, æðelinges fær; -ldon þ lofne þoden, 35 baga bryttan on bearm scipes, mrne be mæste. Þr wæs mdma fela, of feor-wegum frætwa gelded: ne hyrde ic cymlcor col gegyrwan hilde-wpnum and heaðo-wdum, 40 billum and byrnum; him on bearme læg mdma mænigo, þ him mid scoldon on fldes ht feor gewtan. Nalas h hine lssan lcum todan, þod-gestronum, þonne þ dydon, 45 þ hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon nne ofer yðe umbor wesende: þ gyt he him setton segen gyldenne hah ofer hafod, lton holm beran, gafon on gr-secg: him wæs gemor sefa, 50 murnende md. Men ne cunnon secgan t soðe sele-rdende, hæleð under heofenum, hw þm hlæste onfng.

II. THE HALL HEOROT.

Þ wæs on burgum Bowulf Scyldinga, lof lod-cyning, longe þrge 55 folcum gefrge (fæder ellor hwearf, aldor of earde), oð þæt him eft onwc hah Healfdene; hold þenden lifde, gamol and gð-row, glæde Scyldingas. Þm fower bearn forð-germed 60 in worold wcun, weoroda rswan, Heorogr and Hrðgr and Hlga til; hyrde ic, þat Elan cwn Ongenþowes wæs Heaðoscilfinges heals-gebedde. Þ wæs Hrðgre here-spd gyfen, 65 wges weorð-mynd, þæt him his wine-mgas georne hyrdon, oð þæt so geogoð gewox, mago-driht micel. Him on md bearn, þæt heal-reced htan wolde, medo-ærn micel men gewyrcean, 70 þone yldo bearn fre gefrnon, and þr on innan eall gedlan geongum and ealdum, swylc him god sealde, bton folc-scare and feorum gumena. Þ ic wde gefrægn weorc gebannan 75 manigre mgðe geond þisne middan-geard, folc-stede frætwan. Him on fyrste gelomp dre mid yldum, þæt hit wearð eal gearo, heal-ærna mst; scp him Heort naman, s þe his wordes geweald wde hæfde. 80 H bot ne lh, bagas dlde, sinc æt symle. Sele hlfade hah and horn-gap: heaðo-wylma bd, lðan lges; ne wæs hit lenge þ gn þæt se ecg-hete ðum-swerian 85 æfter wæl-nðe wæcnan scolde. Þ se ellen-gst earfoðlce þrge geþolode, s þe in þystrum bd, þæt h dgora gehwm dram gehyrde hldne in healle; þr wæs hearpan swg, 90 swutol sang scopes. Sægde s þe cðe frum-sceaft fra feorran reccan, cwæð þæt se ælmihtiga eorðan worhte, wlite-beorhtne wang, sw wæter bebgeð, gesette sige-hrðig sunnan and mnan 95 loman t lohte land-bendum, and gefrætwade foldan scatas leomum and lafum; lf ac gescep cynna gehwylcum, þra þe cwice hwyrfað. Sw þ driht-guman dramum lifdon 100 adiglce, oð þæt n ongan fyrene fremman, fond on helle: wæs se grimma gæst Grendel hten, mre mearc-stapa, s þe mras hold, fen and fæsten; ffel-cynnes eard 105 won-slig wer weardode hwle, siððan him scyppend forscrifen hæfde. In Caines cynne þone cwealm gewræc, ce drihten, þæs þe h bel slg; ne gefeah h þre fhðe, ac h hine feor forwræc, 110 metod for þy mne man-cynne fram. Þanon untydras ealle onwcon, eotenas and ylfe and orcnas, swylce ggantas, þ wið gode wunnon lange þrge; h him þæs lan forgeald.

III. GRENDEL'S VISITS.

115 Gewt þ nosian, syððan niht becm, han hses, h hit Hring-Dene æfter bor-þege gebn hæfdon. Fand þ þr inne æðelinga gedriht swefan æfter symble; sorge ne cðon, 120 won-sceaft wera. Wiht unhlo grim and grdig gearo sna wæs, roc and rðe, and on ræste genam þrtig þegna: þanon eft gewt hðe hrmig t hm faran, 125 mid þre wæl-fylle wca nosan. Þ wæs on htan mid r-dæge Grendles gð-cræft gumum undyrne: þ wæs æfter wiste wp up hafen, micel morgen-swg. Mre þoden, 130 æðeling r-gd, unblðe sæt, þolode þryð-swyð, þegn-sorge drah, syððan he þæs lðan lst scawedon, wergan gstes; wæs þæt gewin t strang, lð and longsum. Næs hit lengra fyrst, 135 ac ymb ne niht eft gefremede morð-beala mre and n mearn fore fhðe and fyrene; wæs t fæst on þm. Þ wæs að-fynde, þ him elles hwr germlcor ræste shte, 140 bed æfter brum, þ him gebacnod wæs, gesægd sðlce sweotolan tcne heal-þegnes hete; hold hine syððan fyr and fæstor, s þm fonde ætwand. Sw rxode and wið rihte wan 145 na wið eallum, oð þæt del std hsa slest. Wæs so hwl micel: twelf wintra td torn geþolode wine Scyldinga, wana gehwelcne, sdra sorga; forþm syððan wearð 150 ylda bearnum undyrne cð, gyddum gemore, þætte Grendel wan, hwle wið Hrðgr;— hete-nðas wæg, fyrene and fhðe fela missra, single sæce, sibbe ne wolde 155 wið manna hwone mægenes Deniga feorh-bealo feorran, fo þingian, n þr nnig witena wnan þorfte beorhtre bte t banan folmum; atol glca htende wæs, 160 deorc dað-sca duguðe and geogoðe seomade and syrede. Sin-nihte hold mistige mras; men ne cunnon, hwyder hel-rnan hwyrftum scrðað. Sw fela fyrena fond man-cynnes, 165 atol n-gengea, oft gefremede heardra hynða; Heorot eardode, sinc-fge sel sweartum nihtum (n h þone gif-stl grtan mste, mððum for metode, n his myne wisse); 170 þæt wæs wrc micel wine Scyldinga, mdes brecða. Monig-oft gesæt rce t rne; rd eahtedon, hwæt swð-ferhðum slest wre wið fr-gryrum t gefremmanne. 175 Hwlum he gehton æt hærg-trafum wg-weorðunga, wordum bdon, þæt him gst-bona goce gefremede wið þod-þraum. Swylc wæs þaw hyra, hðenra hyht; helle gemundon 180 in md-sefan, metod he ne cðon, dda dmend, ne wiston he drihten god, n he hru heofena helm herian ne cðon, wuldres waldend. W bið þm þe sceal þurh slðne nð swle bescfan 185 in fyres fæðm, frfre ne wnan, wihte gewendan; wl bið þm þe mt æfter dað-dæge drihten scean and t fæder fæðmum freoðo wilnian.

IV. HYGELAC'S THANE.

Sw þ ml-ceare maga Healfdenes 190 singla sað; ne mihte snotor hæleð wan onwendan: wæs þæt gewin t swyð, lð and longsum, þ on þ lode becm, nyd-wracu nð-grim, niht-bealwa mst. Þæt fram hm gefrægn Higelces þegn, 195 gd mid Gatum, Grendles dda: s wæs mon-cynnes mægenes strengest on þm dæge þysses lfes, æðele and acen. Ht him yð-lidan gdne gegyrwan; cwæð h gð-cyning 200 ofer swan-rde scean wolde, mrne þoden, þ him wæs manna þearf. Þone sð-fæt him snotere ceorlas lyt-hwn lgon, þah h him lof wre; hwetton higerfne, hl scawedon. 205 Hæfde se gda Gata loda cempan gecorone, þra þe h cnoste findan mihte; fftyna sum sund-wudu shte; secg wsade, lagu-cræftig mon, land-gemyrcu. 210 Fyrst forð gewt: flota wæs on yðum, bt under beorge. Beornas gearwe on stefn stigon; stramas wundon sund wið sande; secgas bron on bearm nacan beorhte frætwe, 215 gð-searo geatolc; guman t scufon, weras on wil-sð wudu bundenne. Gewt þ ofer wg-holm winde gefysed flota fmig-heals fugle gelcost, oð þæt ymb n-td ðres dgores 220 wunden-stefna gewaden hæfde, þæt þ lðende land geswon, brim-clifu blcan, beorgas stape, sde s-næssas: þ wæs sund liden, eoletes æt ende. Þanon up hraðe 225 Wedera lode on wang stigon, s-wudu sldon (syrcan hrysedon, gð-gewdo); gode þancedon, þæs þe him yð-lde aðe wurdon. Þ of wealle geseah weard Scildinga, 230 s þe holm-clifu healdan scolde, beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas, fyrd-searu fslcu; hine fyrwyt bræc md-gehygdum, hwæt þ men wron. Gewt him þ t waroðe wicge rdan 235 þegn Hrðgres, þrymmum cwehte mægen-wudu mundum, meðel-wordum frægn: "Hwæt syndon g searo-hæbbendra "byrnum werede, þ þus brontne col "ofer lagu-strte ldan cwmon, 240 "hider ofer holmas helmas bron? "Ic wæs ende-sta, g-wearde hold, "þæt on land Dena lðra nnig "mid scip-herge sceððan ne meahte. "N hr cðlcor cuman ongunnon 245 "lind-hæbbende; n g lafnes-word "gð-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson, "mga gemdu. Nfre ic mran geseah "eorla ofer eorðan, þonne is ower sum, "secg on searwum; nis þæt seld-guma 250 "wpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite loge, "nlc an-syn. N ic ower sceal "frum-cyn witan, r g fyr heonan "lase scaweras on land Dena "furður fran. N g feor-bend, 255 "mere-lðende, mnne gehyrað "n-fealdne geþht: ofost is slest "t gecyðanne, hwanan owre cyme syndon."

V. THE ERRAND.

Him se yldesta andswarode, werodes wsa, word-hord onlac: 260 "W synt gum-cynnes Gata lode "and Higelces heorð-genatas. "Wæs mn fæder folcum gecyðed, "æðele ord-fruma Ecgþow hten; "gebd wintra worn, r h on weg hwurfe, 265 "gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman "witena wl-hwylc wde geond eorðan.- "W þurh holdne hige hlford þinne, "sunu Healfdenes, scean cwmon, "lod-gebyrgean: wes þ s lrena gd! 270 "Habbað w t þm mran micel rende "Deniga fran; ne sceal þr dyrne sum "wesan, þæs ic wne. Þ wst, gif hit is, "sw w sðlice secgan hyrdon, "þæt mid Scyldingum sceaða ic nt hwylc, 275 "dogol dd-hata, deorcum nihtum "aweð þurh egsan uncðne nð, "hynðu and hr-fyl. Ic þæs Hrðgr mæg "þurh rmne sefan rd gelran, "h h frd and gd fond oferswyðeð, 280 "gyf him ed-wendan fre scolde "bealuwa bisigu, bt eft cuman "and þ cear-wylmas clran wurðað; "oððe syððan earfoð-þrge, "þra-nyd þolað, þenden þr wunað 285 "on hah-stede hsa slest." Weard maðelode, þr on wicge sæt ombeht unforht: "ghwæðres sceal "scearp scyld-wiga gescd witan, "worda and worca, s þe wl þenceð. 290 "Ic þæt gehyre, þæt þis is hold weorod "fran Scyldinga. Gewtað forð beran "wpen and gewdu, ic ow wsige: "swylce ic magu-þegnas mne hte "wið fonda gehwone flotan owerne, 295 "nw-tyrwedne nacan on sande "rum healdan, oð þæt eft byreð "ofer lagu-stramas lofne mannan "wudu wunden-hals t Weder-mearce. "Gð-fremmendra swylcum gifeðe bið, 300 "þæt þone hilde-rs hl gedgeð." Gewiton him þ fran (flota stille bd, seomode on sle sd-fæðmed scyp, on ancre fæst); eofor-lc scionon ofer hlor-beran gehroden golde 305 fh and fyr-heard, ferh wearde hold. Gðmde grummon, guman netton, sigon ætsomne, oð þæt hy sæl timbred geatolc and gold-fh ongytan mihton; þæt wæs fore-mrost fold-bendum 310 receda under roderum, on þm se rca bd; lxte se loma ofer landa fela. Him þ hilde-dor hof mdigra torht gethte, þæt he him t mihton gegnum gangan; gð-beorna sum 315 wicg gewende, word æfter cwæð: "Ml is m t fran; fæder alwalda "mid r-stafum owic gehealde "sða gesunde! ic t s wille, "wið wrð werod wearde healdan."

VI. BOWULF'S SPEECH.

320 Strt wæs stn-fh, stg wsode gumum ætgædere. Gð-byrne scn heard hond-locen, hring-ren scr song in searwum, þ he t sele furðum in hyra gryre-geatwum gangan cwmon. 325 Setton s-mðe sde scyldas, rondas regn-hearde wið þæs recedes weal, bugon þ t bence; byrnan hringdon, gð-searo gumena; gras stdon, s-manna searo, samod ætgædere, 330 æsc-holt ufan grg: wæs se ren-þrat wpnum gewurðad. Þ þr wlonc hæleð ret-mecgas æfter æðelum frægn: "Hwanon ferigeað g ftte scyldas, "grge syrcan and grm-helmas, 335 "here-sceafta hap?— Ic eom Hrðgres "r and ombiht. Ne seah ic el-þodige "þus manige men mdiglcran. "Wn' ic þæt g for wlenco, nalles for wræc-sðum, "ac for hige-þrymmum Hrðgr shton." 340 Him þ ellen-rf andswarode, wlanc Wedera lod word æfter spræc, heard under helme: "W synt Higelces "bod-genatas; Bowulf is mn nama. "Wille ic secgan suna Healfdenes, 345 "mrum þodne mn rende, "aldre þnum, gif h s geunnan wile, "þæt w hine sw gdne grtan mton." Wulfgr maðelode (þæt wæs Wendla lod, wæs his md-sefa manegum gecyðed, 350 wg and ws-dm): "ic þæs wine Deniga, "fran Scildinga frnan wille, "baga bryttan, sw þ bna eart, "þoden mrne ymb þnne sð ; "and þ þ andsware dre gecyðan, 355 "þ m se gda gifan þenceð." Hwearf þ hrædlce, þr Hrðgr sæt, eald and unhr mid his eorla gedriht; ode ellen-rf, þæt h for eaxlum gestd Deniga fran, cðe h duguðe þaw. 360 Wulfgr maðelode t his wine-drihtne: "Hr syndon geferede feorran cumene "ofer geofenes begang Gata lode: "þone yldestan ret-mecgas "Bowulf nemnað. Hy bnan synt, 365 "þæt he, þoden mn, wið þ mton "wordum wrixlan; n þ him wearne getoh, "þnra gegn-cwida glædnian, Hrðgr! "Hy on wg-geatwum wyrðe þinceað "eorla geæhtlan; hru se aldor dah, 370 "s þm heaðo-rincum hider wsade."

VII. HROTHGAR'S WELCOME.

Hrðgr maðelode, helm Scyldinga: "Ic hine cðe cniht-wesende. "Wæs his eald-fæder Ecgþo hten, "þm t hm forgeaf Hrðel Gata 375 "ngan dhtor; is his eafora n "heard hr cumen, shte holdne wine. "þonne sægdon þæt s-lðende, "þ þe gif-sceattas Gata fyredon "þyder t þance, þæt h þrttiges 380 "manna mægen-cræft on his mund-grpe "heaðo-rf hæbbe. Hine hlig god "for r-stafum us onsende, "t West-Denum, þæs ic wn hæbbe, "wið Grendles gryre: ic þm gdan sceal 385 "for his md-þræce mdmas bodan. "Bo þ on ofeste, ht hig in gn, "son sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere; "gesaga him ac wordum, þæt he sint wil-cuman "Deniga lodum." Þ wið duru healle 390 Wulfgr ode, word inne bad: "ow ht secgan sige-drihten mn, "aldor ast-Dena, þæt h ower æðelu can "and g him syndon ofer s-wylmas, "heard-hicgende, hider wil-cuman. 395 "N g mton gangan in owrum guð-geatawum, "under here-grman, Hrðgr geson; "ltað hilde-bord hr onbidian, "wudu wæl-sceaftas, worda geþinges." rs þ se rca, ymb hine rinc manig, 400 þryðlc þegna hap; sume þr bidon, heaðo-raf holdon, sw him se hearda bebad. Snyredon ætsomne, þ secg wsode under Heorotes hrf; hyge-rf ode, heard under helme, þæt h on heoðe gestd. 405 Bowulf maðelode (on him byrne scn, searo-net sowed smiðes or-þancum): "Wes þ Hrðgr hl! ic eom Higelces "mg and mago-þegn; hæbbe ic mrða fela "ongunnen on geogoðe. M wearð Grendles þing 410 "on mnre ðel-tyrf undyrne cð: "secgað s-lðend, þæt þes sele stande, "reced slesta, rinca gehwylcum "del and unnyt, siððan fen-loht "under heofenes hdor beholen weorðeð. 415 "Þ m þæt gelrdon lode mne, "þ slestan, snotere ceorlas, "þoden Hrðgr, þæt ic þ shte; "forþan he mægenes cræft mnne cðon: "selfe oferswon, þ ic of searwum cwm, 420 "fh from fondum, þr ic ffe geband, "yðde eotena cyn, and on yðum slg "niceras nihtes, nearo-þearfe drah, "wræc Wedera nð (wan hsodon) "forgrand gramum; and n wið Grendel sceal, 425 "wið þm glcan, na gehegan "þing wið þyrse. Ic þ n þ, "brego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille, "eodor Scyldinga, nre bne; "þæt þ m ne forwyrne, wgendra hlo, 430 "fro-wine folca, n ic þus feorran cm, "þæt ic mte na and mnra eorla gedryht, "þes hearda hap, Heorot flsian. "Hæbbe ic ac gehsod, þæt se glca "for his won-hydum wpna ne rceð; 435 "ic þæt þonne forhicge, sw m Higelc se, "mn mon-drihten, mdes blðe, "þæt ic sweord bere oððe sdne scyld "geolo-rand t gðe; ac ic mid grpe sceal "fn wið fonde and ymb feorh sacan, 440 "lð wið lðum; þr gelyfan sceal "dryhtnes dme s þe hine dað nimeð. "Wn' ic þæt h wille, gif h wealdan mt, "in þm gð-sele Gatena lode "etan unforhte, sw h oft dyde 445 "mægen Hrðmanna. N þ mnne þearft "hafalan hydan, ac h m habban wile "drore fhne, gif mec dað nimeð; "byreð bldig wæl, byrgean þenceð, "eteð n-genga unmurnlce, 450 "mearcað mr-hopu: n þ ymb mnes ne þearft "lces feorme leng sorgian. "Onsend Higelce, gif mec hild nime, "beadu-scrda betst, þæt mne brost wereð, "hrægla slest; þæt is Hrðlan lf, 455 "Wlandes geweorc. Gð Wyrd sw ho scel!"

VIII. HROTHGAR TELLS OF GRENDEL.

Hrðgr maðelode, helm Scyldinga: "for were-fyhtum þ, wine mn Bowulf, "and for r-stafum sic shtest. "Geslh þin fæder fhðe mste, 460 "wearð h Heaðolfe t hand-bonan "mid Wilfingum; þ hine Wedera cyn "for here-brgan habban ne mihte. "Þanon h geshte Sð-Dena folc "ofer yða gewealc, r-Scyldinga; 465 "þ ic furðum wold folce Deninga, "and on geogoðe hold gimme-rce "hord-burh hæleða: þ wæs Heregr dad, "mn yldra mg unlifigende, "bearn Healfdenes. S wæs betera þonne ic! 470 "Siððan þ fhðe fo þingode; "sende ic Wylfingum ofer wæteres hrycg "ealde mdmas: h m ðas swr. "Sorh is m t secganne on sefan mnum "gumena ngum, hwæt m Grendel hafað 475 "hynðo on Heorote mid his hete-þancum, "fr-nða gefremed. Is mn flet-werod, "wg-hap gewanod; he Wyrd forswop "on Grendles gryre. God aðe mæg "þone dol-scaðan dda getwfan! 480 "Ful oft gebotedon bore druncne "ofer ealo-wge ret-mecgas, "þæt he in bor-sele bdan woldon "Grendles gðe mid gryrum ecga. "Þonne wæs þos medo-heal on morgen-td, 485 "driht-sele dror-fh, þonne dæg lxte, "eal benc-þelu blde bestymed, "heall heoru-drore: hte ic holdra þy ls, "dorre duguðe, þ þ dað fornam. "Site n t symle and onsl meoto, 490 "sige-hrð secgum, sw þn sefa hwette!" Þ wæs Gat-mæcgum geador ætsomne on bor-sele benc gerymed; þr swð-ferhðe sittan odon þryðum dealle. Þegn nytte behold, 495 s þe on handa bær hroden ealo-wge, scencte scr wered. Scop hwlum sang hdor on Heorote; þr wæs hæleða dram, duguð unlytel Dena and Wedera.

IX. HUNFERTH OBJECTS TO BOWULF.

Unferð maðelode, Ecglfes bearn, 500 þ æt ftum sæt fran Scyldinga; onband beadu-rne (wæs him Bowulfes sð, mdges mere-faran, micel æf-þunca, forþon þe h ne ðe, þæt nig ðer man fre mrða þon m middan-geardes 505 gehdde under heofenum þonne h sylfa): "Eart þ s Bowulf, s þe wið Brecan wunne, "on sdne s ymb sund flite, "þr git for wlence wada cunnedon "and for dol-gilpe on dop wæter 510 "aldrum nðdon? N inc nig mon, "n lof n lð, belan mihte "sorh-fullne sð; þ git on sund ron, "þr git agor-stram earmum þehton, "mton mere-strta, mundum brugdon, 515 "glidon ofer gr-secg; geofon yðum wol, "wintres wylme. Git on wæteres ht "seofon niht swuncon; h þ æt sunde oferflt, "hæfde mre mægen. Þ hine on morgen-td "on Heaðo-rmas holm up ætbær, 520 "þonon h geshte swsne ðel "lof his lodum lond Brondinga, "freoðo-burh fægere, þr h folc hte, "burg and bagas. Bot eal wið þ "sunu Banstnes sðe gelste. 525 "Þonne wne ic t þ wyrsan geþinges, "þah þ heaðo-rsa gehwr dohte, "grimre gðe, gif þ Grendles dearst "niht-longne fyrst nan bdan!" Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: 530 "Hwæt! þ worn fela, wine mn Unferð, "bore druncen ymb Brecan sprce, "sægdest from his sðe! Sð ic talige, "þæt ic mere-strengo mran hte, "earfeðo on yðum, þonne nig ðer man. 535 "Wit þæt gecwdon cniht-wesende "and gebotedon (wron bgen þ gt "on geogoð-feore) þæt wit on gr-secg t "aldrum nðdon; and þæt geæfndon sw. "Hæfdon swurd nacod, þ wit on sund ron, 540 "heard on handa, wit unc wið hron-fixas "werian þhton. N h wiht fram m "fld-yðum feor flotan meahte, "hraðor on holme, n ic fram him wolde. "Þ wit ætsomne on s wron 545 "ff nihta fyrst, oð þæt unc fld tdrf, "wado weallende, wedera cealdost, "npende niht and norðan wind "heaðo-grim andhwearf; hro wron yða, "Wæs mere-fixa md onhrred: 550 "þr m wið lðum lc-syrce mn, "heard hond-locen, helpe gefremede; "beado-hrægl brden on brostum læg, "golde gegyrwed. M t grunde tah "fh fond-scaða, fæste hæfde 555 "grim on grpe: hwæðre m gyfeðe wearð, "þæt ic glcan orde gerhte, "hilde-bille; heaðo-rs fornam "mihtig mere-dor þurh mne hand.

X. BOWULF'S CONTEST WITH BRECA.-THE FEAST.

"Sw mec gelme lð-getonan 560 "þratedon þearle. Ic him þnode "doran sweorde, sw hit gedfe wæs; "næs he þre fylle gefan hæfdon, "mn-forddlan, þæt he m þgon, "symbel ymb-ston s-grunde nah, 565 "ac on mergenne mcum wunde "be yð-lfe uppe lgon, "sweordum swefede, þæt syððan n "ymb brontne ford brim-lðende "lde ne letton. Loht astan cm, 570 "beorht bacen godes; brimu swaðredon, "þæt ic s-næssas geson mihte, "windige weallas. Wyrd oft nereð "unfgne eorl, ðonne his ellen dah! "Hwæðere m geslde, þæt ic mid sweorde ofslh 575 "niceras nigene. N ic on niht gefrægn "under heofones hwealf heardran feohtan, "n on g-stramum earmran mannan; "hwæðere ic fra feng fore gedgde, "siðes wrig. Þ mec s oðbær, 580 "fld æfter faroðe, on Finna land, "wadu weallendu. N ic wiht fram þ "swylcra searo-nða secgan hyrde, "billa brgan: Breca nfre gt "æt heaðo-lce, n gehwæðer incer 585 "sw dorlce dd gefremede "fgum sweordum . . . . . . . ". . . . . . . n ic þæs gylpe; "þah þ þnum brðrum t banan wurde, "hafod-mgum; þæs þ in helle scealt 590 "werhðo drogan, þah þn wit duge, "Secge ic þ t sðe, sunu Ecglfes, "þæt nfre Grendel sw fela gryra gefremede, "atol glca ealdre þnum, "hynðo on Heorote, gif þn hige wre, 595 "sefa sw searo-grim, sw þ self talast. "Ac h hafað onfunden, þæt h þ fhðe ne þearf, "atole ecg-þræce ower lode "swðe onsittan, Sige-Scyldinga; "nymeð nyd-bde, nnegum rað 600 "lode Deniga, ac h on lust wgeð, "swefeð ond sendeð, secce ne wneð "t Gr-Denum. Ac him Gata sceal "eafoð and ellen ungera n "gðe gebodan. Gð eft s þe mt 605 "t medo mdig, siððan morgen-loht "ofer ylda bearn ðres dgores, "sunne swegl-wered sðan scneð!" Þ wæs on slum sinces brytta gamol-feax and gð-rf, goce gelyfde 610 brego Beorht-Dena; gehyrde on Bowulfe folces hyrde fæst-rdne geþht. Þr wæs hæleða hleahtor; hlyn swynsode, word wron wynsume. ode Wealhþow forð, cwn Hrðgres, cynna gemyndig, 615 grtte gold-hroden guman on healle, and þ frolc wf ful gesealde rest ast-Dena ðel-wearde, bæd hine blðne æt þre bor-þege, lodum lofne; h on lust geþeah 620 symbel and sele-ful, sige-rf kyning. Ymb-ode þ ides Helminga duguðe and geogoðe dl ghwylcne; sinc-fato sealde, oð þæt sl lamp, þæt ho Bowulfe, bag-hroden cwn, 625 mde geþungen, medo-ful ætbær; grtte Gata lod, gode þancode ws-fæst wordum, þæs þe hire se willa gelamp, þæt ho on nigne eorl gelyfde fyrena frfre. H þæt ful geþeah, 630 wæl-row wiga æt Wealhþon, and þ gyddode gðe gefysed, Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: "Ic þæt hogode, þ ic on holm gesth, "s-bt gesæt mid mnra secga gedriht, 635 "þæt ic nunga owra loda "willan geworhte, oððe on wæl crunge, "fond-grpum fæst. Ic gefremman sceal "eorlc ellen, oððe ende-dæg "on þisse meodu-healle mnne gebdan." 640 Þm wfe þ word wl lcodon, gilp-cwide Gates; ode gold-hroden frolcu folc-cwn t hire fran sittan. Þ wæs eft sw r inne on healle þryð-word sprecen, þod on slum, 645 sige-folca swg, oð þæt semninga sunu Healfdenes scean wolde fen-ræste; wiste æt þm hlcan t þm hah-sele hilde geþinged, siððan he sunnan loht geson ne meahton, 650 oððe npende niht ofer ealle, scadu-helma gesceapu scrðan cwman, wan under wolcnum. Werod eall rs. Grtte þ giddum guma ðerne, Hrðgr Bowulf, and him hl bad, 655 wn-ærnes geweald and þæt word cwæð: "Nfre ic negum men r lyfde, "siððan ic hond and rond hebban mihte, "þryð-ærn Dena bton þ n þ. "Hafa n and geheald hsa slest; 660 "gemyne mrðo, mægen-ellen cyð, "waca wið wrðum! Ne bið þ wilna gd, "gif þ þæt ellen-weorc aldre gedgest."

XI. THE WATCH FOR GRENDEL.

Þ him Hrðgr gewt mid his hæleða gedryht, eodur Scyldinga t of healle; 665 wolde wg-fruma Wealhþo scan, cwn t gebeddan Hæfde kyninga wuldor Grendle t-ganes, sw guman gefrungon, sele-weard seted, sundor-nytte behold ymb aldor Dena, eoton weard bad; 670 hru Gata lod georne truwode mdgan mægnes, metodes hyldo. Þ h him of dyde sern-byrnan, helm of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord, rena cyst ombiht-þegne, 675 and gehealdan ht hilde-geatwe. Gespræc þ se gda gylp-worda sum Bowulf Gata, r h on bed stige: "N ic m an here-wsmum hngran talige "gð-geweorca, þonne Grendel hine; 680 "forþan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle, "aldre benotan, þah ic eal mge. "Nt h þra gda, þæt h m on-gan sla, "rand gehawe, þah þe h rf se "nð-geweorca; ac wit on niht sculon 685 "secge ofersittan, gif h gescean dear "wg ofer wpen, and siððan wtig god "on sw hwæðere hond hlig dryhten "mrðo dme, sw him gemet þince." Hylde hine þ heaðo-dor, hlor-bolster onfng 690 eorles andwlitan; and hine ymb monig snellc s-rinc sele-reste gebah. Nnig heora þhte þæt h þanon scolde eft eard-lufan fre gescean, folc oððe fro-burh, þr h fded wæs, 695 ac he hæfdon gefrnen, þæt he r t fela micles in þm wn-sele wæl-dað fornam, Denigea lode. Ac him dryhten forgeaf wg-spda gewiofu, Wedera lodum frfor and fultum, þæt he fond heora 700 þurh nes cræft ealle ofercmon, selfes mihtum: sð is gecyðed, þæt mihtig god manna cynnes wold wde-ferhð. Cm on wanre niht scrðan sceadu-genga. Scotend swfon, 705 þ þæt horn-reced healdan scoldon, ealle bton num. Þæt wæs yldum cð, þæt he ne mste, þ metod nolde, se syn-scaða under sceadu bregdan; ac h wæccende wrðum on andan 710 bd bolgen-md beadwa geþinges.

XII. GRENDEL'S RAID.

Þ cm of mre under mist-hleoðum Grendel gongan, godes yrre bær. Mynte se mn-scaða manna cynnes sumne besyrwan in sele þm han; 715 wd under wolcnum, t þæs þe h wn-reced, gold-sele gumena, gearwost wisse fttum fhne. Ne wæs þæt forma sð, þæt h Hrðgres hm geshte: nfre h on aldor-dagum r n siððan 720 heardran hæle, heal-þegnas fand! Cm þ t recede rinc sðian dramum bedled. Duru sna onarn fyr-bendum fæst, syððan h hire folmum hrn; onbræd þ bealo-hydig, þ h bolgen wæs, 725 recedes mðan. Raðe æfter þon on fgne flr fond treddode, ode yrre-md; him of agum std lge gelcost loht unfger. Geseah h in recede rinca manige, 730 swefan sibbe-gedriht samod ætgædere, mago-rinca hap: þ his md hlg, mynte þæt h gedlde, r þon dæg cwme, atol glca, nra gehwylces lf wið lce, þ him lumpen wæs 735 wist-fylle wn. Ne wæs þæt wyrd þ gn, þæt h m mste manna cynnes þicgean ofer þ niht. Þryð-swyð behold mg Higelces, h se mn-scaða under fr-gripum gefaran wolde. 740 N þæt se glca yldan þhte, ac h gefng hraðe forman siðe slpendne rinc, slt unwearnum, bt bn-locan, bld drum dranc, syn-sndum swealh: sna hæfde 745 unlyfigendes eal gefeormod ft and folma. Forð nar ætstp, nam þ mid handa hige-þhtigne rinc on ræste; rhte ongan fond mid folme, h onfng hraðe 750 inwit-þancum and wið earm gesæt. Sna þæt onfunde fyrena hyrde, þæt h ne mtte middan-geardes eorðan scata on elran men mund-gripe mran: h on mde wearð 755 forht on ferhðe, n þy r fram meahte; hyge wæs him hin-fs, wolde on heolster flon, scan dofla gedræg: ne wæs his drohtoð þr, swylce h on ealder-dagum r gemtte. Gemunde þ se gda mg Higelces 760 fen-sprce, up-lang std and him fæste wiðfng. Fingras burston; eoten wæs t-weard, eorl furður stp. Mynte se mra, þr h meahte sw, wdre gewindan and on weg þanon 765 flon on fen-hopu; wiste his fingra geweald on grames grpum. Þæt wæs gocor sð, þæt se hearm-scaða t Heorute tah: dryht-sele dynede, Denum eallum wearð, ceaster-bendum, cnra gehwylcum, 770 eorlum ealu-scerwen. Yrre wron bgen, rðe rn-weardas. Reced hlynsode; þ wæs wundor micel, þæt se wn-sele wiðhæfde heaðo-dorum, þæt h on hrsan ne fol, fger fold-bold; ac h þæs fæste wæs 775 innan and tan ren-bendum searo-þoncum besmiðod. Þr fram sylle bag medu-benc monig mne gefrge, golde geregnad, þr þ graman wunnon; þæs ne wndon r witan Scyldinga, 780 þæt hit mid gemete manna nig betlc and bn-fg tbrecan meahte, listum tlcan, nymðe lges fæðm swulge on swaðule. Swg up stg nwe geneahhe; Norð-Denum std 785 atelc egesa nra gehwylcum þra þe of wealle wp gehyrdon, gryre-loð galan godes andsacan, sige-lasne sang, sr wnigean helle hæftan. Hold hine t fæste 790 s þe manna wæs mægene strengest on þm dæge þysses lfes.

XIII. BOWULF TEARS OFF GRENDEL'S ARM.

Nolde eorla hlo nige þinga þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forltan, n his lf-dagas loda nigum 795 nytte tealde. Þr genehost brægd eorl Bowulfes ealde lfe, wolde fra-drihtnes feorh ealgian mres þodnes, þr he meahton sw; he þæt ne wiston, þ he gewin drugon, 800 heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas, and on healfa gehwone hawan þhton, swle scan, þæt þone syn-scaðan nig ofer eorðan renna cyst, gð-billa nn grtan nolde; 805 ac h sige-wpnum forsworen hæfde, ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedl on þm dæge þysses lfes earmlc wurðan and se ellor-gst on fonda geweald feor sðian. 810 Þ þæt onfunde s þe fela ror mdes myrðe manna cynne fyrene gefremede (h wæs fg wið god) þæt him se lc-homa lstan nolde, ac hine se mdega mg Hygelces 815 hæfde be honda; wæs gehwæðer ðrum lifigende lð. Lc-sr gebd atol glca, him on eaxle wearð syn-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon burston bn-locan. Bowulfe wearð 820 gð-hrð gyfeðe; scolde Grendel þonan feorh-soc flon under fen-hleoðu, scean wyn-las wc; wiste þ geornor, þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen, dgera dæg-rm. Denum eallum wearð 825 æfter þm wæl-rse willa gelumpen. Hæfde þ geflsod, s þe r feorran cm, snotor and swyð-ferhð sele Hrðgres, genered wið nðe. Niht-weorce gefeh, ellen-mrðum; hæfde ast-Denum 830 Gat-mecga lod gilp gelsted, swylce oncyððe ealle gebtte, inwid-sorge, þ he r drugon and for þra-nydum þolian scoldon, torn unlytel. Þæt wæs tcen sweotol, 835 syððan hilde-dor hond legde, earm and eaxle (þr wæs eal geador Grendles grpe) under gapne hrf.

XIV. THE JOY AT HEOROT.

Þ wæs on morgen mne gefrge ymb þ gif-healle gð-rinc monig: 840 frdon folc-togan feorran and nan geond wd-wegas wundor scawian, lðes lstas. N his lf-gedl srlc þhte secga negum, þra þe tr-lases trode scawode, 845 h h wrig-md on weg þanon, nða ofercumen, on nicera mere fge and geflymed feorh-lstas bær. Þr wæs on blde brim weallende, atol yða geswing eal gemenged 850 htan heolfre, heoro-drore wol; dað-fge dog, siððan drama las in fen-freoðo feorh legde hðene swle, þr him hel onfng. Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesðas, 855 swylce geong manig of gomen-wðe, fram mere mdge, marum rdan, beornas on blancum. Þr wæs Bowulfes mrðo mned; monig oft gecwæð, þætte sð n norð be sm tweonum 860 ofer eormen-grund ðer nnig under swegles begong slra nre rond-hæbbendra, rces wyrðra. N he hru wine-drihten wiht ne lgon, glædne Hrðgr, ac þæt wæs gd cyning. 865 Hwlum heaðo-rfe hlapan lton, on geflt faran fealwe maras, þr him fold-wegas fægere þhton, cystum cðe; hwlum cyninges þegn, guma gilp-hlæden gidda gemyndig, 870 s þe eal-fela eald-gesegena worn gemunde, word ðer fand sðe gebunden: secg eft ongan sð Bowulfes snyttrum styrian and on spd wrecan spel gerde, 875 wordum wrixlan, wl-hwylc gecwæð, þæt h fram Sigemunde secgan hyrde, ellen-ddum, uncðes fela, Wælsinges gewin, wde sðas, þra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston, 880 fhðe and fyrene, bton Fitela mid hine, þonne h swylces hwæt secgan wolde am his nefan, sw he wron æt nða gehwm nyd-gesteallan: hæfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes 885 sweordum gesged. Sigemunde gesprong æfter dað-dæge dm unlytel, syððan wges heard wyrm cwealde, hordes hyrde; h under hrne stn, æðelinges bearn, na genðde 890 frcne dde; ne wæs him Fitela mid. Hwæðre him geslde, þæt þæt swurd þurhwd wrtlcne wyrm, þæt hit on wealle ætstd, dryhtlc ren; draca morðre swealt. Hæfde glca elne gegongen, 895 þæt h bah-hordes brcan mste selfes dme: s-bt gehld, bær on bearm scipes beorhte frætwa, Wælses eafera; wyrm ht gemealt. S wæs wreccena wde mrost 900 ofer wer-þode, wgendra hlo ellen-ddum: h þæs ron þh. Siððan Heremdes hild sweðrode eafoð and ellen. H mid eotenum wearð on fonda geweald forð forlcen, 905 snde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas lemede t lange, h his lodum wearð, eallum æðelingum t aldor-ceare; swylce oft bemearn rran mlum swð-ferhðes sð snotor ceorl monig, 910 s þe him bealwa t bte gelyfde, þæt þæt þodnes bearn geþon scolde, fæder-æðelum onfn, folc gehealdan, hord and hlo-burh, hæleða rce, ðel Scyldinga. H þr eallum wearð, 915 mg Higelces manna cynne, frondum gefægra; hine fyren onwd.

Hwlum fltende fealwe strte marum mton. Þ wæs morgen-loht scofen and scynded. ode scealc monig 920 swð-hicgende t sele þm han, searo-wundor son, swylce self cyning, of bryd-bre bah-horda weard, tryddode tr-fæst getrume micle, cystum gecyðed, and his cwn mid him 925 medo-stg gemæt mægða hse.

XV. HROTHGAR'S GRATULATION.

Hrðgr maðelode (h t healle gong, std on stapole, geseah stapne hrf golde fhne and Grendles hond): "þisse ansyne al-wealdan þanc 930 "lungre gelimpe! Fela ic lðes gebd, "grynna æt Grendle: mæg god wyrcan "wunder æfter wundre, wuldres hyrde! "Þæt wæs ungera, þæt ic nigra m "wana ne wnde t wdan feore 935 "bte gebdan þonne blde fh "hsa slest heoro-drorig std; "wa wd-scofen witena gehwylcne "þra þe ne wndon, þæt he wde-ferhð "loda land-geweorc lðum beweredon 940 "scuccum and scinnum. N scealc hafað "þurh drihtnes miht dd gefremede, "þ w ealle r ne meahton "snyttrum besyrwan. Hwæt! þæt secgan mæg "efne sw hwylc mægða, sw þone magan cende 945 "æfter gum-cynnum, gyf ho gyt lyfað, "þæt hyre eald-metod ste wre "bearn-gebyrdo. N ic Bowulf "þec, secg betsta, m for sunu wylle "frogan on ferhðe; heald forð tela 950 "nwe sibbe. Ne bið þ nnigra gd "worolde wilna, þ ic geweald hæbbe. "Ful-oft ic for lssan lan teohhode "hord-weorðunge hnhran rince, "smran æt sæcce. Þ þ self hafast 955 "ddum gefremed, þæt þn dm lyfað "wa t aldre. Alwalda þec "gde forgylde, sw h n gyt dyde!" Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: "W þæt ellen-weorc stum miclum, 960 "feohtan fremedon, frcne genðdon "eafoð uncðes; ðe ic swðor, "þæt þ hinc selfne geson mste, "fond on frætewum fyl-wrigne! "Ic hine hrædlce heardan clammum 965 "on wæl-bedde wrðan þhte, "þæt h for mund-gripe mnum scolde "licgean lf-bysig, btan his lc swice; "ic hine ne mihte, þ metod nolde, "ganges getwman, n ic him þæs georne ætfealh, 970 "feorh-genðlan; wæs t fore-mihtig "fond on fðe. Hwæðere h his folme forlt "t lf-wraðe lst weardian, "earm and eaxle; n þr nige sw þah "fa-sceaft guma frfre gebohte: 975 "n þy leng leofað lð-getona "synnum geswenced, ac hyne sr hafað "in nyd-gripe nearwe befongen, "balwon bendum: þr bdan sceal "maga mne fh miclan dmes, 980 "h him scr metod scrfan wille." Þ wæs swgra secg, sunu Ecglfes, on gylp-sprce gð-geweorca, siððan æðelingas eorles cræfte ofer hahne hrf hand scawedon, 985 fondes fingras, foran ghwylc; wæs stde nægla gehwylc, style gelcost, hðenes hand-sporu hilde-rinces egle unhoru; g-hwylc gecwæð, þæt him heardra nn hrnan wolde 990 ren r-gd, þæt þæs hlcan bldge beadu-folme onberan wolde.

XVI. THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.

Þ wæs hten hreðe Heort innan-weard folmum gefrætwod: fela þra wæs wera and wfa, þ þæt wn-reced, 995 gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fg scinon web æfter wgum, wundor-sona fela secga gehwylcum þra þe on swylc starað Wæs þæt beorhte bold tbrocen swðe eal inne-weard ren-bendum fæst, 1000 heorras thlidene; hrf na genæs ealles ansund, þ se glca fyren-ddum fg on flam gewand, aldres or-wna. N þæt yðe byð t beflonne (fremme s þe wille!) 1005 ac gesacan sceal swl-berendra nyde genydde niðða bearna grund-bendra gearwe stwe, þr his lc-homa leger-bedde fæst swefeð æfter symle. Þ wæs sl and ml, 1010 þæt t healle gang Healfdenes sunu; wolde self cyning symbel þicgan. Ne gefrægen ic þ mgðe mran weorode ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sl gebran. Bugon þ t bence bld-gende, 1015 fylle gefgon. Fægere geþgon medo-ful manig mgas þra swð-hicgende on sele þm han, Hrðgr and Hrðulf. Heorot innan wæs frondum fylled; nalles fcen-stafas 1020 Þod-Scyldingas þenden fremedon. Forgeaf þ Bowulfe bearn Healfdenes segen gyldenne sigores t lane, hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan; mre mððum-sweord manige geswon 1025 beforan beorn beran. Bowulf geþah ful on flette; n h þre feoh-gyfte for scotendum scamigan þorfte, ne gefrægn ic frondlcor fower mdmas golde gegyrede gum-manna fela 1030 in ealo-bence ðrum gesellan. Ymb þæs helmes hrf hafod-beorge wrum bewunden walan tan hold, þæt him fla lfe frcne ne meahton scr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca 1035 ongan gramum gangan scolde. Heht þ eorla hlo eahta maras, fted-hlore, on flet ton in under eoderas; þra num std sadol searwum fh since gewurðad, 1040 þæt wæs hilde-setl hah-cyninges, þonne sweorda gelc sunu Healfdenes efnan wolde; nfre on re læg wd-cðes wg, þonne walu follon. And þ Bowulfe bga gehwæðres 1045 eodor Ingwina onweald getah, wicga and wpna; ht hine wl brcan. Sw manlce mre þoden, hord-weard hæleða heaðo-rsas geald marum and mdmum, sw hy nfre man lyhð, 1050 s þe secgan wile sð æfter rihte.

XVII. SONG OF HROTHGAR'S POET-THE LAY OF HNAEF AND HENGEST.

Þ gyt ghwylcum eorla drihten þra þe mid Bowulfe brim-lde tah, on þre medu-bence mððum gesealde, yrfe-lfe, and þone nne heht 1055 golde forgyldan, þone þe Grendel r mne cwealde, sw h hyra m wolde, nefne him wtig god wyrd forstde and þæs mannes md: metod eallum wold gumena cynnes, sw h n gt dð; 1060 forþan bið andgit ghwr slest, ferhðes fore-þanc! fela sceal gebdan lofes and lðes, s þe longe hr on þyssum win-dagum worolde brceð. Þr wæs sang and swg samod ætgædere 1065 fore Healfdenes hilde-wsan, gomen-wudu grted, gid oft wrecen, þonne heal-gamen Hrðgres scop æfter medo-bence mnan scolde Finnes eaferum, þ he se fr begeat: 1070 "Hæleð Healfdenes, Hnæf Scyldinga, "in Fr..es wæle feallan scolde. "N hru Hildeburh herian þorfte "Eotena trowe: unsynnum wearð "beloren lofum æt þm lind-plegan 1075 "bearnum and brðrum; he on gebyrd hruron "gre wunde; þæt wæs gemuru ides. "Nalles hlinga Hces dhtor "meotod-sceaft bemearn, syððan morgen cm, "þ ho under swegle geson meahte 1080 "morðor-bealo mga, þr ho r mste hold "worolde wynne: wg ealle fornam "Finnes þegnas, nemne faum num, "þæt h ne mehte on þm meðel-stede "wg Hengeste wiht gefeohtan, 1085 "n þ wa-lfe wge forþringan "þodnes þegne; ac hig him geþingo budon, "þæt he him ðer flet eal gerymdon, "healle and hah-setl, þæt he healfre geweald "wið Eotena bearn gan mston, 1090 "and æt feoh-gyftum Folcwaldan sunu "dgra gehwylce Dene weorðode, "Hengestes hap hringum wenede, "efne sw swðe sinc-gestronum "fttan goldes, sw h Frsena cyn 1095 "on bor-sele byldan wolde. "Þ he getruwedon on tw healfa "fæste frioðu-wre; Fin Hengeste "elne unflitme ðum benemde, "þæt h þ wa-lfe weotena dme 1100 "rum heolde, þæt þr nig mon "wordum n worcum wre ne brce, "n þurh inwit-searo fre gemnden, "þah he hira bag-gyfan banan folgedon "þoden-lase, þ him sw geþearfod wæs: 1105 "gyf þonne Frysna hwylc frcnan sprce "þæs morðor-hetes myndgiend wre, "þonne hit sweordes ecg syððan scolde. "ð wæs geæfned and icge gold "hæfen of horde. Here-Scyldinga 1110 "betst beado-rinca wæs on bl gearu; "æt þm de wæs ð-gesyne "swt-fh syrce, swyn eal-gylden, "eofer ren-heard, æðeling manig "wundum wyrded; sume on wæle crungon. 1115 "Ht þ Hildeburh æt Hnæfes de "hire selfre sunu sweoloðe befæstan, "bn-fatu bærnan and on bl dn. "Earme on eaxle ides gnornode, "gemrode giddum; gð-rinc sth. 1120 "Wand t wolcnum wæl-fyra mst, "hlynode for hlwe; hafelan multon, "ben-geato burston, þonne bld ætspranc "lð-bite lces. Lg ealle forswealg, "gsta gfrost, þra þe þr gð fornam 1125 "bga folces; wæs hira bld scacen.

XVIII. THE GLEEMAN'S TALE IS ENDED.

"Gewiton him þ wgend wca nosian, "frondum befeallen Frysland geson, "hmas and ha-burh. Hengest þ gyt "wæl-fgne winter wunode mid Finne 1130 "ealles unhlitme; eard gemunde, "þah þe h ne meahte on mere drfan "hringed-stefnan; holm storme wol, "won wið winde; winter yðe belac "s-gebinde oð þæt ðer cm 1135 "ger in geardas, sw n gyt dð, "þ þe syngales sle bewitiað, "wuldor-torhtan weder. Þ wæs winter scacen, "fæger foldan bearm; fundode wrecca, "gist of geardum; h t gyrn-wræce 1140 "swðor þhte, þonne t s-lde, "gif h torn-gemt þurhton mihte, "þæt h Eotena bearn inne gemunde. "Sw h ne forwyrnde worold-rdenne, "þonne him Hnlfing hilde-loman, 1145 "billa slest, on bearm dyde: "þæs wron mid Eotenum ecge cðe. "Swylce ferhð-frecan Fin eft begeat "sweord-bealo slðen æt his selfes hm, "siððan grimne gripe Gðlaf ond slf 1150 "æfter s-siðe sorge mndon, "ætwiton wana dl; ne meahte wfre md "forhabban in hreðre. Þ wæs heal hroden "fonda forum, swilce Fin slægen, "cyning on corðre, and so cwn numen. 1155 "Scotend Scyldinga t scypum feredon "eal in-gesteald eorð-cyninges, "swylce he æt Finnes hm findan meahton "sigla searo-gimma. He on s-lde "drihtlce wf t Denum feredon, 1160 "lddon t lodum." Loð wæs sungen, glo-mannes gyd. Gamen eft sth, beorhtode benc-swg, byrelas sealdon wn of wunder-fatum. Þ cwm Wealhþo forð gn under gyldnum bage, þr þ gdan twgen 1165 ston suhter-gefæderan; þ gyt wæs hiera sib ætgædere ghwylc ðrum trywe. Swylce þr Unferð þyle æt ftum sæt fran Scyldinga: gehwylc hiora his ferhðe trowde, þæt h hæfde md micel, þah þe h his mgum nre rfæst æt ecga gelcum. Spræc þ ides Scyldinga: 1170 "Onfh þissum fulle, fro-drihten mn, "sinces brytta; þ on slum wes, "gold-wine gumena, and t Gatum sprec "mildum wordum! Sw sceal man dn. "Bo wið Gatas glæd, geofena gemyndig; 1175 "nan and feorran þ n friðu hafast. "M man sægde, þæt þ þ for sunu wolde "here-rinc habban. Heorot is geflsod, "bah-sele beorhta; brc þenden þ mte "manigra mda and þnum mgum lf 1180 "folc and rce, þonne þ forð scyle "metod-sceaft son. Ic mnne can "glædne Hrðulf, þæt h þ geogoðe wile "rum healdan, gyf þ r þonne h, "wine Scildinga, worold ofltest; 1185 "wne ic, þæt h mid gde gyldan wille "uncran eaferan, gif h þæt eal gemon, "hwæt wit t willan and t worð-myndum "umbor wesendum r rna gefremedon." Hwearf þ b bence, þr hyre byre wron, 1190 Hrðrc and Hrðmund, and hæleða bearn, giogoð ætgædere; þr se gda sæt Bowulf Gata be þm gebrðrum twm.

XIX. BOWULF'S JEWELLED COLLAR. THE HEROES REST.

Him wæs ful boren and frond-laðu wordum bewægned and wunden gold 1195 stum geawed, earm-hrade tw, hrægl and hringas, heals-baga mst þra þe ic on foldan gefrægen hæbbe. Nnigne ic under swegle slran hyrde hord-mððum hæleða, syððan Hma ætwæg 1200 t þre byrhtan byrig Brsinga mene, sigle and sinc-fæt, searo-nðas fealh Eormenrces, gecas cne rd. Þone hring hæfde Higelc Gata, nefa Swertinges, nyhstan sðe, 1205 siððan h under segne sinc ealgode, wæl-raf werede; hyne Wyrd fornam, syððan h for wlenco wan hsode, fhðe t Frysum; h þ frætwe wæg, eorclan-stnas ofer yða ful, 1210 rce þoden, h under rande gecranc; gehwearf þ in Francna fæðm feorh cyninges, brost-gewdu and se bah somod: wyrsan wg-frecan wæl rafedon æfter gð-sceare, Gata lode 1215 hre-wc holdon. Heal swge onfng. Wealhþo maðelode, ho fore þm werede spræc: "Brc þisses bages, Bowulf, lofa "hyse, mid hle, and þisses hrægles not "þod-gestrona, and geþoh tela, 1220 "cen þec mid cræfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes "lra lðe! ic þ þæs lan geman. "Hafast þ gefred, þæt þ feor and nah "ealne wde-ferhð weras ehtigað, "efne sw sde sw s bebgeð 1225 "windige weallas. Wes, þenden þ lifige, "æðeling adig! ic þ an tela "sinc-gestrona. Bo þ suna mnum "ddum gedfe dram healdende! "Hr is ghwylc eorl ðrum getrywe, 1230 "mdes milde, man-drihtne hold, "þegnas syndon geþwre, þod eal gearo: "druncne dryht-guman, dð sw ic bidde!" ode þ t setle. Þr wæs symbla cyst, druncon wn weras: wyrd ne cðon, 1235 ge-sceaft grimme, sw hit gangen wearð eorla manegum, syððan fen cwm and him Hrðgr gewt t hofe snum, rce t ræste. Reced weardode unrm eorla, sw he oft r dydon: 1240 benc-þelu beredon, hit geond-brded wearð beddum and bolstrum. Bor-scealca sum fs and fge flet-ræste gebag. Setton him t hafdum hilde-randas, bord-wudu beorhtan; þr on bence wæs 1245 ofer æðelinge yð-gesne heaðo-stapa helm, hringed byrne, þrec-wudu þrymlc. Wæs þaw hyra, þæt he oft wron an wg gearwe, g æt hm g on herge, g gehwæðer þra 1250 efne swylce mla, swylce hira man-dryhtne þearf geslde; wæs so þod tilu.

XX. GRENDEL'S MOTHER ATTACKS THE RING-DANES.

Sigon þ t slpe. Sum sre angeald fen-ræste, sw him ful-oft gelamp, siððan gold-sele Grendel warode, 1255 unriht æfnde, oð þæt ende becwm, swylt æfter synnum. Þæt gesyne wearð, wd-cð werum, þætte wrecend þ gyt lifde æfter lðum, lange þrge æfter gð-ceare; Grendles mdor, 1260 ides glc-wf yrmðe gemunde, s þe wæter-egesan wunian scolde, cealde stramas, siððan Cain wearð t ecg-banan ngan brðer, fæderen-mge; h þ fg gewt, 1265 morðre gemearcod man-dram flon, wsten warode. Þanon wc fela gesceaft-gsta; wæs þra Grendel sum, heoro-wearh hetelc, s æt Heorote fand wæccendne wer wges bdan, 1270 þr him glca æt-grpe wearð; hwæðre h gemunde mægenes strenge, gim-fæste gife, þ him god sealde, and him t anwaldan re gelyfde, frfre and fultum: þy h þone fond ofercwm, 1275 gehngde helle gst: þ h han gewt, drame bedled dað-wc son, man-cynnes fond. And his mdor þ gyt gfre and galg-md gegn wolde sorh-fulne sð, suna dað wrecan. 1280 Cm þ t Heorote, þr Hring-Dene geond þæt sæld swfun. Þ þr sna wearð ed-hwyrft eorlum, siððan inne fealh Grendles mdor; wæs se gryre lssa efne sw micle, sw bið mægða cræft, 1285 wg-gryre wfes be wpned-men, þonne heoru bunden, hamere geþuren, sweord swte fh swn ofer helme, ecgum dyhtig andweard scireð. Þ wæs on healle heard-ecg togen, 1290 sweord ofer setlum, sd-rand manig hafen handa fæst; helm ne gemunde, byrnan sde, þe hine se brga angeat. Ho wæs on ofste, wolde t þanon fore beorgan, þ ho onfunden wæs; 1295 hraðe ho æðelinga nne hæfde fæste befangen, þ ho t fenne gang; s wæs Hrðgre hæleða lofost on gesðes hd be sm tweonum, rce rand-wiga, þone þe ho on ræste brat, 1300 bld-fæstne beorn. Næs Bowulf þr, ac wæs ðer in r geteohhod æfter mððum-gife mrum Gate. Hram wearð on Heorote. Ho under heolfre genam cðe folme; cearu wæs genwod 1305 geworden in wcum: ne wæs þæt gewrixle til, þæt he on b healfa bicgan scoldon fronda forum. Þ wæs frd cyning, hr hilde-rinc, on hron mde, syððan h aldor-þegn unlyfigendne, 1310 þone dorestan dadne wisse. Hraðe wæs t bre Bowulf fetod, sigor-adig secg. Samod r-dæge ode eorla sum, æðele cempa self mid gesðum, þr se snottra bd, 1315 hwæðre him al-walda fre wille æfter wa-spelle wyrpe gefremman. Gang þ æfter flre fyrd-wyrðe man mid his hand-scale (heal-wudu dynede) þæt h þone wsan wordum hngde 1320 fran Ingwina; frægn gif him wre æfter nod-laðu niht getse.

XXI. SORROW AT HEOROT: AESCHERE'S DEATH

Hrðgr maðelode, helm Scildinga: "Ne frn þ æfter slum! Sorh is genwod "Denigea lodum. Dad is Æsc-here, 1325 "Yrmenlfes yldra brðor, "mn rn-wita and mn rd-bora, "eaxl-gestealla, þonne w on orlege "hafelan weredon, þonne hniton fðan, "eoferas cnysedan; swylc scolde eorl wesan 1330 "æðeling r-gd, swylc Æsc-here wæs. "Wearð him on Heorote t hand-banan "wæl-gst wfre; ic ne wt hwæder "atol se wlanc eft-sðas tah, "fylle gefrgnod. Ho þ fhðe wræc, 1335 "þ þ gystran niht Grendel cwealdest "þurh hstne hd heardum clammum, "forþan h t lange lode mne "wanode and wyrde. H æt wge gecrang "ealdres scyldig, and n ðer cwm 1340 "mihtig mn-scaða, wolde hyre mg wrecan, "g feor hafað fhðe gestled, "þæs þe þincean mæg þegne monegum, "s þe æfter sinc-gyfan on sefan groteð, "hreðer-bealo hearde; n so hand ligeð, 1345 "s þe ow wl-hwylcra wilna dohte. "Ic þæt lond-bend lode mne "sele-rdende secgan hyrde, "þæt he geswon swylce twgen "micle mearc-stapan mras healdan, 1350 "ellor-gstas: þra ðer wæs, "þæs þe he gewislcost gewitan meahton, "idese onlcnes, ðer earm-sceapen "on weres wæstmum wræc-lstas træd, "næfne h wæs mra þonne nig man ðer, 1355 "þone on ger-dagum Grendel nemdon "fold-bende: n he fæder cunnon, "hwæðer him nig wæs r cenned "dyrnra gsta. He dygel lond "warigeað, wulf-hleoðu, windige næssas, 1360 "frcne fen-geld, þr fyrgen-stram "under næssa genipu niðer gewteð, "fld under foldan; nis þæt feor heonon "ml-gemearces, þæt se mere standeð, "ofer þm hongiað hrmge bearwas, 1365 "wudu wyrtum fæst, wæter oferhelmað. "Þr mæg nihta gehwm nð-wundor son, "fyr on flde; n þæs frd leofað "gumena bearna, þæt þone grund wite; "þah þe hð-stapa hundum geswenced, 1370 "heorot hornum trum holt-wudu sce, "feorran geflymed, r h feorh seleð, "aldor on fre, r h in wille, "hafelan hydan. Nis þæt horu stw: "þonon yð-geblond up stgeð 1375 "won t wolcnum, þonne wind styreð "lð gewidru, oð þæt lyft drysmað, "roderas rotað. N is rd gelang "eft æt þ num! Eard gt ne const, "frcne stwe, þr þ findan miht 1380 "sinnigne secg: sc gif þ dyrre! "Ic þ þ fhðe fo lanige, "eald-gestronum, sw ic r dyde, "wundnum golde, gyf þ on weg cymest."

XXII. BOWULF SEEKS THE MONSTER IN THE HAUNTS OF THE NIXIES.

Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: 1385 "Ne sorga, snotor guma! slre bið ghwm, "þæt h his frond wrece, þonne h fela murne; "re ghwylc sceal ende gebdan "worolde lfes; wyrce s þe mte "dmes r daðe! þæt bið driht-guman 1390 "unlifgendum æfter slest. "rs, rces weard; uton hraðe fran, "Grendles mgan gang scawigan! "Ic hit þ gehte: n h on helm losað, "n on foldan fæðm, n on fyrgen-holt, 1395 "n on gyfenes grund, g þr h wille. "Þys dgor þ geþyld hafa "wana gehwylces, sw ic þ wne t!" hlop þ se gomela, gode þancode, mihtigan drihtne, þæs se man gespræc. 1400 Þ wæs Hrðgre hors gebted, wicg wunden-feax. Wsa fengel geatolc gengde; gum-fða stp lind-hæbbendra. Lstas wron æfter wald-swaðum wde gesyne, 1405 gang ofer grundas; gegnum fr þ ofer myrcan mr, mago-þegna bær þone slestan swol-lasne, þra þe mid Hrðgre hm eahtode. Ofer-ode þ æðelinga bearn 1410 stap stn-hliðo, stge nearwe, enge n-paðas, un-cð geld, neowle næssas, nicor-hsa fela; h fara sum beforan gengde wsra monna, wong scawian, 1415 oð þæt h fringa fyrgen-bamas ofer hrne stn hleonian funde, wyn-lasne wudu; wæter under std drorig and gedrfed. Denum eallum wæs, winum Scyldinga, weorce on mde, 1420 t geþolianne þegne monegum, oncyð eorla gehwm, syððan Æsc-heres on þm holm-clife hafelan mtton. Fld blde wol (folc t sgon) htan heolfre. Horn stundum song 1425 fslc fyrd-loð. Fða eal gesæt; geswon þ æfter wætere wyrm-cynnes fela, sellce s-dracan sund cunnian, swylce on næs-hleoðum nicras licgean, þ on undern-ml oft bewitigað 1430 sorh-fulne sð on segl-rde, wyrmas and wil-dor; he on weg hruron bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongeton, gð-horn galan. Sumne Gata lod of fln-bogan fores getwfde, 1435 yð-gewinnes, þæt him on aldre std here-strl hearda; h on holme wæs sundes þ snra, þ hyne swylt fornam. Hræðe wearð on yðum mid eofer-sprotum heoro-hcyhtum hearde genearwod, 1440 nða genged and on næs togen wundorlc wg-bora; weras scawedon gryrelcne gist. Gyrede hine Bowulf eorl-gewdum, nalles for ealdre mearn: scolde here-byrne hondum gebrden, 1445 sd and searo-fh, sund cunnian, so þe bn-cofan beorgan cðe, þæt him hilde-grp hreðre ne mihte, eorres inwit-feng, aldre gesceððan; ac se hwta helm hafelan werede, 1450 s þe mere-grundas mengan scolde, scan sund-gebland since geweorðad, befongen fra-wrsnum, sw hine fyrn-dagum worhte wpna smið, wundrum tode, besette swn-lcum, þæt hine syððan n 1455 brond n beado-mcas btan ne meahton. Næs þæt þonne mtost mægen-fultuma, þæt him on þearfe lh þyle Hrðgres; wæs þm hæft-mce Hrunting nama, þæt wæs n foran eald-gestrona; 1460 ecg wæs ren ter-tarum fh, hyrded heaðo-swte; nfre hit æt hilde ne swc manna ngum þra þe hit mid mundum bewand, s þe gryre-sðas gegn dorste, folc-stede fra; næs þæt forma sð, 1465 þæt hit ellen-weorc æfnan scolde. Hru ne gemunde mago Ecglfes eafoðes cræftig, þæt h r gespræc wne druncen, þ h þæs wpnes onlh slran sweord-frecan: selfa ne dorste 1470 under yða gewin aldre genðan, driht-scype drogan; þr h dme forlas, ellen-mrðum. Ne wæs þm ðrum sw, syððan h hine t gðe gegyred hæfde.

XXIII. THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.

Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: 1475 "geþenc n, se mra maga Healfdenes, "snottra fengel, n ic eom sðes fs, "gold-wine gumena, hwæt wit ge sprcon, "gif ic æt þearfe þnre scolde "aldre linnan, þæt þ m wre 1480 "forð-gewitenum on fæder stle; "wes þ mund-bora mnum mago-þegnum, "hond-gesellum, gif mec hild nime: "swylce þ þ mdmas, þ þ m sealdest, "Hrðgr lofa, Higelce onsend. 1485 "Mæg þonne on þm golde ongitan Gata dryhten, "geson sunu Hrðles, þonne h on þæt sinc starað, "þæt ic gum-cystum gdne funde "baga bryttan, brac þonne mste. "And þ Unferð lt ealde lfe, 1490 "wrtlc wg-sweord wd-cðne man "heard-ecg habban; ic m mid Hruntinge "dm gewyrce, oððe mec dað nimeð." Æfter þm wordum Weder-Gata lod efste mid elne, nalas andsware 1495 bdan wolde; brim-wylm onfng hilde-rince. Þ wæs hwl dæges, r h þone grund-wong ongytan mehte. Sna þæt onfunde, s þe flda begong heoro-gfre behold hund missra, 1500 grim and grdig, þæt þr gumena sum æl-wihta eard ufan cunnode. Grp þ tganes, gð-rinc gefng atolan clommum; n þy r in gescd hlan lce: hring tan ymb-bearh, 1505 þæt ho þone fyrd-hom þurh-fn ne mihte, locene leoðo-syrcan lðan fingrum. Bær þ so brim-wylf, þ ho t botme cm, hringa þengel t hofe snum, sw h ne mihte n (h þæs mdig wæs) 1510 wpna gewealdan, ac hine wundra þæs fela swencte on sunde, s-dor monig hilde-txum here-syrcan bræc, hton glcan. Þ se eorl ongeat, þæt h in nið-sele nt-hwylcum wæs, 1515 þr him nnig wæter wihte ne sceðede, n him for hrf-sele hrnan ne mehte fr-gripe fldes: fyr-loht geseah, blcne loman beorhte scnan. Ongeat þ se gda grund-wyrgenne, 1520 mere-wf mihtig; mægen-rs forgeaf hilde-bille, hond swenge ne oftah, þæt hire on hafelan hring-ml gl grdig gð-loð. Þ se gist onfand, þæt se beado-loma btan nolde, 1525 aldre sceððan, ac so ecg geswc þodne æt þearfe: þolode r fela hond-gemta, helm oft gescær, fges fyrd-hrægl: þæt wæs forma sð dorum mðme, þæt his dm læg. 1530 Eft wæs n-rd, nalas elnes læt, mrða gemyndig mg Hygelces; wearp þ wunden-ml wrttum gebunden yrre retta, þæt hit on eorðan læg, stð and styl-ecg; strenge getruwode, 1535 mund-gripe mægenes. Sw sceal man dn, þonne h æt gðe gegn þenceð longsumne lof, n ymb his lf cearað. Gefng þ be eaxle (nalas for fhðe mearn) Gð-Gata lod Grendles mdor; 1540 brægd þ beadwe heard, þ h gebolgen wæs, feorh-genðlan, þæt ho on flet gebah. Ho him eft hraðe and-lan forgeald grimman grpum and him tganes fng; oferwearp þ wrig-md wigena strengest, 1545 fðe-cempa, þæt h on fylle wearð. Ofsæt þ þone sele-gyst and hyre seaxe getah, brd and brn-ecg wolde hire bearn wrecan, ngan eaferan. Him on eaxle læg brost-net brden; þæt gebearh fore, 1550 wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstd. Hæfde þ forsðod sunu Ecgþowes under gynne grund, Gata cempa, nemne him heaðo-byrne helpe gefremede, here-net hearde, and hlig god 1555 gewold wg-sigor, wtig drihten; rodera rdend hit on ryht gescd, yðelce syððan h eft std.

XXIV. BOWULF SLAYS THE SPRITE.

Geseah þ on searwum sige-adig bil, eald sweord eotenisc ecgum þyhtig, 1560 wigena weorð-mynd: þæt wæs wpna cyst, bton hit wæs mre þonne nig mon ðer t beadu-lce ætberan meahte gd and geatolc gganta geweorc. H gefng þ fetel-hilt, freca Scildinga, 1565 hroh and heoro-grim hring-ml gebrægd, aldres orwna, yrringa slh, þæt hire wið halse heard grpode, bn-hringas bræc, bil eal þurh-wd fgne flsc-homan, ho on flet gecrong; 1570 sweord wæs swtig, secg weorce gefeh. Lxte se loma, loht inne std, efne sw of hefene hdre scneð rodores candel. H æfter recede wlt, hwearf þ be wealle, wpen hafenade 1575 heard be hiltum Higelces þegn, yrre and n-rd. Næs so ecg fracod hilde-rince, ac h hraðe wolde Grendle forgyldan gð-rsa fela þra þe h geworhte t West-Denum 1580 oftor micle þonne on nne sð, þonne h Hrðgres heorð-genatas slh on sweofote, slpende fræt folces Denigea fyf-tyne men and ðer swylc t of-ferede, 1585 lðlcu lc. H him þæs lan forgeald, rðe cempa, t þæs þe h on ræste geseah gð-wrigne Grendel licgan, aldor-lasne, sw him r gescd hild æt Heorote; hr wde sprong, 1590 syððan h æfter daðe drepe þrowade, heoro-sweng heardne, and hine þ hafde becearf, Sna þæt geswon snottre ceorlas, þ þe mid Hrðgre on holm wliton, þæt wæs yð-geblond eal gemenged, 1595 brim blde fh: blonden-feaxe gomele ymb gdne ongeador sprcon, þæt hig þæs æðelinges eft ne wndon, þæt h sige-hrðig scean cme mrne þoden; þ þæs monige gewearð, 1600 þæt hine so brim-wylf broten hæfde. Þ cm nn dæges. Næs ofgafon hwate Scyldingas; gewt him hm þonon gold-wine gumena. Gistas stan, mdes soce, and on mere staredon, 1605 wiston and ne wndon, þæt he heora wine-drihten selfne geswon. Þ þæt sweord ongan æfter heaðo-swte hilde-gicelum wg-bil wanian; þæt wæs wundra sum, þæt hit eal gemealt se gelcost, 1610 þonne forstes bend fæder onlteð, onwindeð wæl-rpas, s þe geweald hafað sla and mla; þæt is sð metod. Ne nom h in þm wcum, Weder-Gata lod, mðm-hta m, þh h þr monige geseah, 1615 bton þone hafelan and þ hilt somod, since fge; sweord r gemealt, forbarn brden ml: wæs þæt bld t þæs ht, ttren ellor-gst, s þr inne swealt. Sna wæs on sunde, s þe r æt sæcce gebd 1620 wg-hryre wrðra, wæter up þurh-daf; wron yð-gebland eal geflsod, acne eardas, þ se ellor-gst oflt lf-dagas and þs lnan gesceaft. Cm þ t lande lid-manna helm 1625 swð-md swymman, s-lce gefeah, mægen-byrðenne þra þe h him mid hæfde. odon him þ tganes, gode þancodon, þryðlc þegna hap, þodnes gefgon, þæs þe h hyne gesundne geson mston. 1630 Þ wæs of þm hrran helm and byrne lungre lysed: lagu drsade, wæter under wolcnum, wæl-drore fg. Frdon forð þonon fðe-lstum ferhðum fægne, fold-weg mton, 1635 cðe strte; cyning-balde men from þm holm-clife hafelan bron earfoðlce heora ghwæðrum fela-mdigra: fower scoldon on ðæm wæl-stenge weorcum geferian 1640 t þm gold-sele Grendles hafod, oð þæt semninga t sele cmon frome fyrd-hwate fower-tyne Gata gongan; gum-dryhten mid mdig on gemonge meodo-wongas træd. 1645 Þ cm in gn ealdor þegna, dd-cne mon dme gewurðad, hæle hilde-dor. Hrðgr grtan: Þ wæs be feaxe on flet boren Grendles hafod, þr guman druncon, 1650 egeslc for eorlum and þre idese mid: wlite-son wrtlc weras onswon.

XXV. HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE: HE DISCOURSES.

Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: "Hwæt! w þ þs s-lc, sunu Healfdenes, "lod Scyldinga, lustum brhton, 1655 "tres t tcne, þ þ hr t lcast. "Ic þæt unsfte ealdre gedgde: "wigge under wætere weorc genðde "earfoðlce, æt-rihte wæs "gð getwfed, nymðe mec god scylde. 1660 "Ne meahte ic æt hilde mid Hruntinge "wiht gewyrcan, þah þæt wpen duge, "ac m geðe ylda waldend, "þæt ic on wge geseah wlitig hangian "eald sweord acen (oftost wsode 1665 "winigea lasum) þæt ic þy wpne gebr. "Ofslh þ æt þre sæcce (þ m sl geald) "hses hyrdas. Þ þæt hilde-bil "forbarn, brogden ml, sw þæt bld gesprang, "htost heaðo-swta: ic þæt hilt þanan 1670 "fondum ætferede; fyren-dda wræc, "dað-cwealm Denigea, sw hit gedfe wæs. "Ic hit þ þonne gehte, þæt þ on Heorote mst "sorh-las swefan mid þnra secga gedryht, "and þegna gehwylc þnra loda, 1675 "duguðe and iogoðe, þæt þ him ondrdan ne þearft, "þoden Scyldinga, on þ healfe, "aldor-bealu eorlum, sw þ r dydest." Þ wæs gylden hilt gamelum rince. hrum hild-fruman, on hand gyfen, 1680 enta r-geweorc, hit on ht gehwearf æfter dofla hryre Denigea fran, wundor-smiða geweorc, and þ þs worold ofgeaf grom-heort guma, godes andsaca, morðres scyldig, and his mdor ac; 1685 on geweald gehwearf worold-cyninga þm slestan be sm twonum þra þe on Sceden-igge sceattas dlde. Hrðgr maðelode, hylt scawode, ealde lfe, on þm wæs r writen 1690 fyrn-gewinnes: syððan fld ofslh, gifen gotende, gganta cyn, frcne gefrdon: þæt wæs fremde þod cean dryhtne, him þæs ende-lan þurh wæteres wylm waldend sealde. 1695 Sw wæs on þm scennum scran goldes þurh rn-stafas rihte gemearcod, geseted and gesd, hwm þæt sweord geworht, rena cyst rest wre, wreoðen-hilt and wyrm-fh. þ se wsa spræc 1700 sunu Healfdenes (swgedon ealle): "Þæt l mæg secgan, s þe sð and riht "fremeð on folce, (feor eal gemon "eald ðel-weard), þæt þes eorl wre "geboren betera! Bld is rred 1705 "geond wd-wegas, wine mn Bowulf, "þn ofer þoda gehwylce. Eal þ hit geþyldum healdest, "mægen mid mdes snyttrum. Ic þ sceal mne gelstan "frode, sw wit furðum sprcon; þ scealt t frfre weorðan "eal lang-twidig lodum þnum, 1710 "hæleðum t helpe. Ne wearð Heremd sw "eaforum Ecgwelan, r-Scyldingum; "ne gewox h him t willan, ac t wæl-fealle "and t dað-cwalum Deniga lodum; "brat bolgen-md bod-genatas, 1715 "eaxl-gesteallan, oð þæt h na hwearf, "mre þoden. mon-dramum from: "þah þe hine mihtig god mægenes wynnum, "eafeðum stpte, ofer ealle men "forð gefremede, hwæðere him on ferhðe grow 1720 "brost-hord bld-row: nallas bagas geaf "Denum æfter dme; dram-las gebd, "þæt h þæs gewinnes weorc þrowade, "lod-bealo longsum. Þ þ lr be þon, "gum-cyste ongit! ic þis gid be þ 1725 "wræc wintrum frd. Wundor is t secganne, "h mihtig god manna cynne "þurh sdne sefan snyttru bryttað, "eard and eorl-scipe, h h ealra geweald. "Hwlum h on lufan lteð hworfan 1730 "monnes md-geþonc mran cynnes, "seleð him on ðle eorðan wynne, "t healdanne hlo-burh wera, "gedð him sw gewealdene worolde dlas, "sde rce, þæt h his selfa ne mæg 1735 "for his un-snyttrum ende geþencean; "wunað h on wiste, n hine wiht dweleð, "dl n yldo, n him inwit-sorh "on sefan sweorceð, n gesacu hwr, "ecg-hete oweð, ac him eal worold 1740 "wendeð on willan; h þæt wyrse ne con, "oð þæt him on innan ofer-hygda dl "weaxeð and wridað, þonne se weard swefeð, "swele hyrde: bið se slp t fæst, "bisgum gebunden, bona swðe nah, 1745 "s þe of fln-bogan fyrenum scoteð.

XXVI. THE DISCOURSE IS ENDED.-BOWULF PREPARES TO LEAVE.

"Þonne bið on hreðre under helm drepen "biteran strle: him bebeorgan ne con "wom wundor-bebodum wergan gstes; "þinceð him t lytel, þæt h t lange hold, 1750 "gytsað grom-hydig, nallas on gylp seleð "ftte bagas and h þ forð-gesceaft "forgyteð and forgymeð, þæs þe him r god sealde "wuldres waldend, weorð-mynda dl. "Hit on ende-stæf eft gelimpeð, 1755 "þæt se lc-homa lne gedroseð, "fge gefealleð; fhð ðer t, "s þe unmurnlce mdmas dleð, "eorles r-gestron, egesan ne gymeð. "Bebeorh þ þone bealo-nð, Bowulf lofa, 1760 "secg se betsta, and þ þæt slre gecos, "ce rdas; oferhyda ne gym, "mre cempa! N is þnes mægnes bld "ne hwle; eft sna bið, "þæt þec dl oððe ecg eafoðes getwfeð, 1765 "oððe fyres feng oððe fldes wylm, "oððe gripe mces oððe gres fliht, "oððe atol yldo, oððe agena bearhtm "forsiteð and forsworceð; semninga bið, "þæt þec, dryht-guma, dað oferswyðeð. 1770 "Sw ic Hring-Dena hund missra "wold under wolcnum, and hig wigge belac "manigum mgða geond þysne middan-geard, "æscum and ecgum, þæt ic m nigne "under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde. 1775 "Hwæt! m þæs on ðle edwenden cwm, "gyrn æfter gomene, seoððan Grendel wearð, "eald-gewinna, in-genga mn: "ic þre scne singles wæg "md-ceare micle. Þæs sig metode þanc, 1780 "cean drihtne, þæs þe ic on aldre gebd, "þæt ic on þone hafelan heoro-drorigne "ofer eald gewin agum starige! "G n t setle, symbel-wynne droh "wgge weorðad: unc sceal worn fela 1785 "mðma gemnra, siððan morgen bið." Gat wæs glæd-md, gong sna t, setles nosan, sw se snottra heht. Þ wæs eft sw r ellen-rfum, flet-sittendum fægere gereorded 1790 nowan stefne. Niht-helm geswearc deorc ofer dryht-gumum. Duguð eal rs; wolde blonden-feax beddes nosan, gamela Scylding. Gat ungemetes wl, rfne rand-wigan restan lyste: 1795 sna him sele-þegn sðes wrgum, feorran-cundum forð wsade, se for andrysnum ealle beweotede þegnes þearfe, swylce þy dgore haðo-lðende habban scoldon. 1800 Reste hine þ rm-heort; reced hlfade gap and gold-fh, gæst inne swæf, oð þæt hrefn blaca heofones wynne blð-heort bodode. Þ cm beorht sunne scacan ofer grundas; scaðan netton, 1805 wron æðelingas eft t lodum fse t farenne, wolde feor þanon cuma collen-ferhð coles nosan. Heht þ se hearda Hrunting beran, sunu Ecglfes, heht his sweord niman, 1810 loflc ren; sægde him þæs lanes þanc, cwæð h þone gð-wine gdne tealde, wg-cræftigne, nales wordum lg mces ecge: þæt wæs mdig secg. And þ sð-frome searwum gearwe 1815 wgend wron, ode weorð Denum æðeling t yppan, þr se ðer wæs hæle hilde-dor, Hrðgr grtte.

XXVII. THE PARTING WORDS.

Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: "N w s-lðend secgan wyllað 1820 "feorran cumene, þæt w fundiað "Higelc scan. Wron hr tela "willum bewenede; þ s wl dohtest. "Gif ic þonne on eorðan wihte mæg "þnre md-lufan mran tilian, 1825 "gumena dryhten, þonne ic gyt dyde, "gð-geweorca ic bo gearo sna. "Gif ic þæt gefricge ofer flda begang, "þæt þec ymbe-sittend egesan þywað, "sw þec hetende hwlum dydon, 1830 "ic þ þsenda þegna bringe, "hæleða t helpe. Ic on Higelce wt, "Gata dryhten, þah þe h geong sy, "folces hyrde, þæt h mec fremman wile "wordum and worcum, þæt ic þ wl herige, 1835 "and þ t goce gr-holt bere "mægenes fultum, þr þ bið manna þearf; "gif him þonne Hrðrc t hofum Gata "geþingeð, þodnes bearn, h mæg þr fela "fronda findan: feor-cyððe boð 1840 "slran geshte þm þe him selfa dah." Hrðgr maðelode him on andsware: "Þ þ word-cwydas wittig drihten "on sefan sende! ne hyrde ic snotorlcor "on sw geongum feore guman þingian: 1845 "þ eart mægenes strang and on mde frd, "ws word-cwida. Wn ic talige, "gif þæt gegangeð, þæt þe gr nymeð, "hild heoru-grimme Hrðles eaferan, "dl oððe ren ealdor þnne, 1850 "folces hyrde, and þ þn feorh hafast, "þæt þe S-Gatas slran næbben "t gecosenne cyning nigne, "hord-weard hæleða, gif þ healdan wylt "mga rce. M þn md-sefa 1855 "lcað leng sw wl, lofa Bowulf: "hafast þ gefred, þæt þm folcum sceal, "Gata lodum and Gr-Denum "sib gemnum and sacu restan, "inwit-nðas, þ he r drugon; 1860 "wesan, þenden ic wealde wdan rces, "mðmas gemne, manig ðerne "gdum gegrtan ofer ganotes bæð; "sceal hring-naca ofer haðu bringan "lc and luf-tcen. Ic þ lode wt 1865 "g wið fond g wið frond fæste geworhte "ghwæs untle ealde wsan." Þ gt him eorla hlo inne gesealde, mago Healfdenes mðmas twelfe, ht hine mid þm lcum lode swse 1870 scean on gesyntum, snde eft cuman. Gecyste þ cyning æðelum gd, þoden Scildinga, þegen betstan and be healse genam; hruron him taras, blonden-feaxum: him wæs bga wn, 1875 ealdum infrdum, ðres swðor, þæt h seoððan geson mston mdige on meðle. Wæs him se man t þon lof, þæt h þone brost-wylm forberan ne mehte, ac him on hreðre hyge-bendum fæst 1880 æfter dorum men dyrne langað beorn wið blde. Him Bowulf þanan, gð-rinc gold-wlanc græs-moldan træd, since hrmig: s-genga bd gend-fran, s þe on ancre rd. 1885 Þ wæs on gange gifu Hrðgres oft geæhted: þæt wæs n cyning ghwæs orleahtre, oð þæt hine yldo benam mægenes wynnum, s þe oft manegum scd.

XXVIII. BOWULF RETURNS TO GEATLAND.-THE QUEENS HYGD AND THRYTHO.

Cwm þ t flde fela-mdigra 1890 hæg-stealdra hap; hring-net bron, locene leoðo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand eft-sð eorla, sw h r dyde; n h mid hearme of hlðes nosan gæstas grtte, ac him tganes rd; 1895 cwæð þæt wilcuman Wedera lodum scawan scr-hame t scipe fron. Þ wæs on sande s-gap naca hladen here-wdum, hringed-stefna marum and mðmum: mæst hlfade 1900 ofer Hrðgres hord-gestronum. H þm bt-wearde bunden golde swurd gesealde, þæt h syððan wæs on meodu-bence mðme þy weorðra, yrfe-lfe. Gewt him on yð-nacan, 1905 drfan dop wæter, Dena land ofgeaf. Þ wæs be mæste mere-hrægla sum, segl sle fæst. Sund-wudu þunede, n þr wg-flotan wind ofer yðum sðes getwfde; s-genga fr, 1910 flat fmig-heals forð ofer yðe, bunden-stefna ofer brim-stramas, þæt he Gata clifu ongitan meahton, cðe næssas. Col up geþrang, lyft-geswenced on lande std. 1915 Hraðe wæs æt holme hyð-weard gearo, s þe r lange td, lofra manna fs, æt faroðe feor wltode; slde t sande sd-fæðme scip oncer-bendum fæst, þy ls hym yða þrym 1920 wudu wynsuman forwrecan meahte. Ht þ up beran æðelinga gestron, frætwe and ft-gold; næs him feor þanon t gescanne sinces bryttan: Higelc Hrðling þr æt hm wunað, 1925 selfa mid gesðum s-wealle nah; bold wæs betlc, brego-rf cyning, ha on healle, Hygd swðe geong, ws, wl-þungen, þah þe wintra lyt under burh-locan gebiden hæbbe 1930 Hæreðes dhtor: næs ho hnh sw þah, n t gnað gifa Gata lodum, mðm-gestrona. Mod Þryðo wæg, fremu folces cwn, firen ondrysne: nnig þæt dorste dor genðan 1935 swsra gesða, nefne sin-fra, þæt hire an dæges agum starede; ac him wæl-bende weotode tealde, hand-gewriðene: hraðe seoððan wæs æfter mund-gripe mce geþinged, 1940 þæt hit sceaðen-ml scyran mste, cwealm-bealu cyðan. Ne bið swylc cwnlc þaw idese t efnanne, þah þe ho nlcu sy, þætte freoðu-webbe fores onsæce æfter lge-torne lofne mannan. 1945 Hru þæt onhhsnode Heminges mg; ealo drincende ðer sdan, þæt ho lod-bealewa ls gefremede, inwit-nða, syððan rest wearð gyfen gold-hroden geongum cempan, 1950 æðelum dore, syððan ho Offan flet ofer fealone fld be fæder lre sðe geshte, þr ho syððan wl in gum-stle, gde mre, lf-gesceafta lifigende brac, 1955 hold hah-lufan wið hæleða brego, ealles mon-cynnes mne gefrge þone slestan b sm twonum eormen-cynnes; forþm Offa wæs geofum and gðum gr-cne man, 1960 wde geweorðod; wsdme hold ðel snne, þonon omr wc hæleðum t helpe, Heminges mg, nefa Grmundes, nða cræftig.

XXIX. HIS ARRIVAL. HYGELAC'S RECEPTION.

Gewt him þ se hearda mid his hond-scole 1965 sylf æfter sande s-wong tredan, wde waroðas. Woruld-candel scn, sigel sðan fs: h sð drugon, elne geodon, t þæs þe eorla hlo, bonan Ongenþowes burgum on innan, 1970 geongne gð-cyning gdne gefrnon hringas dlan. Higelce wæs sð Bowulfes snde gecyðed, þæt þr on worðig wgendra hlo, lind-gestealla lifigende cwm, 1975 heaðo-lces hl t hofe gongan. Hraðe wæs gerymed, sw se rca bebad, fðe-gestum flet innan-weard. Gesæt þ wið sylfne, s þ sæcce genæs, mg wið mge, syððan man-dryhten 1980 þurh hloðor-cwyde holdne gegrtte maglum wordum. Meodu-scencum hwearf geond þæt reced Hæreðes dhtor: lufode þ lode, lð-wge bær hlum t handa. Higelc ongan 1985 snne geseldan in sele þm han fægre fricgean, hyne fyrwet bræc, hwylce S-Gata sðas wron: "H lomp ow on lde, lofa Bowulf, "þ þ fringa feorr gehogodest, 1990 "sæcce scean ofer sealt wæter, "hilde t Hiorote? Ac þ Hrðgre "wd-cðne wan wihte gebttest, "mrum þodne? Ic þæs md-ceare "sorh-wylmum sað, sðe ne truwode 1995 "lofes mannes; ic þ lange bæd, "þæt þ þone wæl-gst wihte ne grtte, "lte Sð-Dene sylfe geweorðan "gðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge, "þæs þe ic þ gesundne geson mste." 2000 Bowulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþowes: "Þæt is undyrne, dryhten Higelc, "mre gemting monegum fra, "hwylc orleg-hwl uncer Grendles "wearð on þm wange, þr h worna fela 2005 "Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremede, "yrmðe t aldre; ic þæt eal gewræc, "sw ne gylpan þearf Grendeles mga "nig ofer eorðan ht-hlem þone, "s þe lengest leofað lðan cynnes, 2010 "fenne bifongen. Ic þr furðum cwm, "t þm hring-sele Hrðgr grtan: "sna m se mra mago Healfdenes, "syððan h md-sefan mnne cðe, "wið his sylfes sunu setl gethte. 2015 "Weorod wæs on wynne; ne seah ic wdan feorh "under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra "medu-dram mran. Hwlum mru cwn, "friðu-sibb folca flet eall geond-hwearf, "bdde byre geonge; oft ho bah-wriðan 2020 "secge sealde, r ho t setle gong. "Hwlum for duguðe dhtor Hrðgres "eorlum on ende ealu-wge bær, "þ ic Fraware flet-sittende "nemnan hyrde, þr ho nægled sinc 2025 "hæleðum sealde: so gehten wæs, "geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Frdan; "hafað þæs geworden wine Scyldinga "rces hyrde and þæt rd talað, "þæt h mid þy wfe wæl-fhða dl, 2030 "sæcca gesette. Oft n seldan hwr "æfter lod-hryre lytle hwle "bon-gr bgeð, þah so bryd duge!

XXX. BOWULF'S STORY OF THE SLAYINGS.

"Mæg þæs þonne ofþyncan þoden Heaðobeardna "and þegna gehwm þra loda, 2035 "þonne h mid fmnan on flett gð, "dryht-bearn Dena duguða biwenede: "on him gladiað gomelra lfe "heard and hring-ml, Heaðobeardna gestron, "þenden he þm wpnum wealdan mston, 2040 "oð þæt he forlddan t þm lind-plegan "swse gesðas ond hyra sylfra feorh. "Þonne cwið æt bore, s þe bah gesyhð, "eald æsc-wiga, s þe eall geman "gr-cwealm gumena (him bið grim sefa), 2045 "onginneð gemor-md geongne cempan "þurh hreðra gehygd higes cunnian, "wg-bealu weccean and þæt word cwyð: "'Meaht þ, mn wine, mce gecnwan, "'þone þin fæder t gefeohte bær 2050 "'under here-grman hindeman sðe, "'dyre ren, þr hyne Dene slgon, "'woldon wæl-stwe, syððan wiðer-gyld læg, "'æfter hæleða hryre, hwate Scyldungas? "'Nu hr þra banena byre nt-hwylces, 2055 "'frætwum hrmig on flet gð, "'morðres gylpeð and þone mððum byreð, "'þone þe þ mid rihte rdan sceoldest!'" "Manað sw and myndgað mla gehwylce "srum wordum, oð þæt sl cymeð, 2060 "þæt se fmnan þegn fore fæder ddum "æfter billes bite bld-fg swefeð, "ealdres scyldig; him se ðer þonan "losað lifigende, con him land geare. "Þonne boð brocene on b healfe 2065 "ð-sweord eorla; syððan Ingelde "weallað wæl-nðas and him wf-lufan "æfter cear-wælmum clran weorðað. "Þy ic Heaðobeardna hyldo ne telge, "dryht-sibbe dl Denum unfcne, 2070 "frond-scipe fæstne. Ic sceal forð sprecan "gn ymbe Grendel, þæt þ geare cunne, "sinces brytta, t hwan syððan wearð "hond-rs hæleða. Syððan heofones gim "gld ofer grundas, gæst yrre cwm, 2075 "eatol fen-grom, ser nosan, "þr w gesunde sæl weardodon; "þr wæs Hondsco hild onsge, "feorh-bealu fgum, h fyrmest læg, "gyrded cempa; him Grendel wearð, 2080 "mrum magu-þegne t mð-bonan, "lofes mannes lc eall forswealg. "N þy r t þ gn del-hende "bona bldig-tð bealewa gemyndig, "of þm gold-sele gongan wolde, 2085 "ac h mægnes rf mn costode, "grpode gearo-folm. Glf hangode "sd and syllc searo-bendum fæst, "so wæs orþoncum eall gegyrwed "dofles cræftum and dracan fellum: 2090 "h mec þr on innan unsynnigne, "dor dd-fruma, gedn wolde, "manigra sumne: hyt ne mihte sw, "syððan ic on yrre upp-riht std. "T lang ys t reccenne, h ic þm lod-sceaðan 2095 "yfla gehwylces ond-lan forgeald; "þr ic, þoden mn, þne lode "weorðode weorcum. H on weg losade, "lytle hwle lf-wynna brac; "hwæðre him so swðre swaðe weardade 2100 "hand on Hiorte and h han þonan, "mdes gemor mere-grund gefoll. "M þone wæl-rs wine Scildunga "fttan golde fela lanode, "manegum mðmum, syððan mergen cm 2105 "and w t symble geseten hæfdon. "Þr wæs gidd and glo; gomela Scilding "fela fricgende feorran rehte; "hwlum hilde-dor hearpan wynne, "gomen-wudu grtte; hwlum gyd wræc 2110 "sð and srlc; hwlum syllc spell "rehte æfter rihte rm-heort cyning. "Hwlum eft ongan eldo gebunden, "gomel gð-wiga gioguðe cwðan "hilde-strengo; hreðer inne woll, 2115 "þonne h wintrum frd worn gemunde. "Sw w þr inne andlangne dæg "node nman, oð þæt niht becwm "ðer t yldum. Þ wæs eft hraðe "gearo gyrn-wræce Grendeles mdor, 2120 "sðode sorh-full; sunu dað fornam, "wg-hete Wedra. Wf unhyre "hyre bearn gewræc, beorn cwealde "ellenlce; þr wæs Æsc-here, "frdan fyrn-witan, feorh ðgenge; 2125 "nðer hy hine ne mston, syððan mergen cwm, "dað-wrigne Denia lode "bronde forbærnan, n on bl hladan "lofne mannan: ho þæt lc ætbær "fondes fæðmum under firgen-stram. 2130 "Þæt wæs Hrðgre hrowa tornost "þra þe lod-fruman lange begete; "þ se þoden mec þne lfe "healsode hroh-md, þæt ic on holma geþring "eorl-scipe efnde, ealdre genðde, 2135 "mrðo fremede: h m mde geht. "Ic þ þæs wælmes, þ is wde cð, "grimne gryrelcne grund-hyrde fond. "Þr unc hwle wæs hand gemne; "holm heolfre woll and ic hafde becearf 2140 "in þm grund-sele Grendeles mdor "acnum ecgum, unsfte þonan "feorh oðferede; næs ic fge þ gyt, "ac m eorla hlo eft gesealde "mðma menigeo, maga Healfdenes.

XXXI. HE GIVES PRESENTS TO HYGELAC. HYGELAC REWARDS HIM. HYGELAC'S DEATH. BOWULF REIGNS.

2145 "Sw se þod-kyning þawum lyfde; "nealles ic þm lanum forloren hæfde, "mægnes mde, ac h m mðmas geaf, "sunu Healfdenes, on snne sylfes dm; "þ ic þ, beorn-cyning, bringan wylle, 2150 "stum geywan. Gn is eall æt þ "lissa gelong: ic lyt hafo "hafod-mga, nefne Hygelc þec!" Ht þ in beran eafor, hafod-segn, heaðo-stapne helm, hre byrnan, 2155 gð-sweord geatolc, gyd æfter wræc: "M þis hilde-sceorp Hrðgr sealde, "snotra fengel, sume worde ht, "þæt ic his rest þ eft gesægde, "cwæð þæt hyt hæfde Hiorogr cyning, 2160 "lod Scyldunga lange hwle: "n þy r suna snum syllan wolde, "hwatum Heorowearde, þah h him hold wre, "brost-gewdu. Brc ealles well!" Hyrde ic þæt þm frætwum fower maras 2165 lungre gelce lst weardode, æppel-fealuwe; h him st getah mara and mðma. Sw sceal mg dn, nealles inwit-net ðrum bregdan, dyrnum cræfte dað rnian 2170 hond-gesteallan. Hygelce wæs, nða heardum, nefa swyðe hold and gehwæðer ðrum hrðra gemyndig. Hyrde ic þæt h þone heals-bah Hygde gesealde, wrtlcne wundur-mððum, þone þe him Wealhþo geaf, 2175 þodnes dhtor, þro wicg somod swancor and sadol-beorht; hyre syððan wæs æfter bah-þege brost geweorðod. Sw bealdode bearn Ecgþowes, guma gðum cð, gdum ddum, 2180 drah æfter dme, nealles druncne slg heorð-genatas; næs him hroh sefa, ac h man-cynnes mste cræfte gin-fæstan gife, þ him god sealde, hold hilde-dor. Han wæs lange, 2185 sw hyne Gata bearn gdne ne tealdon, n hyne on medo-bence micles wyrðne drihten wereda gedn wolde; swyðe oft sægdon, þæt h slac wre, æðeling unfrom: edwenden cwm 2190 tr-adigum menn torna gehwylces. Ht þ eorla hlo in gefetian, heaðo-rf cyning, Hrðles lfe, golde gegyrede; næs mid Gatum þ sinc-mððum slra on sweordes hd; 2195 þæt h on Bowulfes bearm legde, and him gesealde seofan þsendo, bold and brego-stl. Him wæs bm samod on þm lod-scipe lond gecynde, eard ðel-riht, ðrum swðor 2200 sde rce, þm þr slra wæs. Eft þæt geode ufaran dgrum hilde-hlæmmum, syððan Hygelc læg and Heardrde hilde-mceas under bord-hroðan t bonan wurdon, 2205 þ hyne geshtan on sige-þode hearde hilde-frecan, Heaðo-Scilfingas, nða gengdan nefan Hererces. Syððan Bowulfe brde rce on hand gehwearf: h gehold tela 2210 fftig wintru (wæs þ frd cyning, eald ðel-weard), oð þæt n ongan deorcum nihtum draca rcsian, s þe on hare hðe hord beweotode, stn-beorh stapne: stg under læg, 2215 eldum uncð. Þr on innan gong niða nt-hwylces node gefng hðnum horde hond . d . . geþ . . hwylc since fhne, h þæt syððan . . . . . . . . þ . . . lð . þ . . l . g 2220 slpende be fyre, fyrena hyrde þofes cræfte, þæt sie . . . . ðioð . . . . . . idh . folc-beorn, þæt h gebolgen wæs.

XXXII. THE FIRE-DRAKE. THE HOARD.

Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . cræft shte sylfes willum, s þe him sre gesced, 2225 ac for þra-ndlan þow nt-hwylces hæleða bearna hete-swengeas flah, for ofer-þearfe and þr inne fealh secg syn-bysig. Sna in þ tde þæt . . . . . þm gyste . . . . br . g . std, 2230 hwæðre earm-sceapen . . . . . . . . . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fs begeat, sinc-fæt geseah: þr wæs swylcra fela in þm eorð-scræfe r-gestrona, sw hy on ger-dagum gumena nt-hwylc 2235 eormen-lfe æðelan cynnes þanc-hycgende þr gehydde, dore mðmas. Ealle he dað fornam rran mlum, and se n þ gn loda duguðe, s þr lengest hwearf, 2240 weard wine-gemor wscte þæs yldan, þæt h lytel fæc long-gestrona brcan mste. Beorh eal gearo wunode on wonge wæter-yðum nah, nwe be næsse nearo-cræftum fæst: 2245 þr on innan bær eorl-gestrona hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dl fttan goldes, fa worda cwæð: "Heald þ n, hrse, n hæleð ne mston, "eorla hte. Hwæt! hit r on þ 2250 "gde begeton; gð-dað fornam, "feorh-bealo frcne fyra gehwylcne, "loda mnra, þra þe þis lf ofgeaf, "geswon sele-dram. Nh hw sweord wege "oððe fetige fted wge, 2255 "drync-fæt dore: duguð ellor scc. "Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde "ftum befeallen: feormiend swefað, "þ þe beado-grman bywan sceoldon, "g swylce so here-pd, so æt hilde gebd 2260 "ofer borda gebræc bite rena, "brosnað æfter beorne. Ne mæg byrnan hring "æfter wg-fruman wde fran "hæleðum be healfe; næs hearpan wyn, "gomen glo-bames, n gd hafoc 2265 "geond sæl swingeð, n se swifta mearh "burh-stede bateð. Bealo-cwealm hafað "fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!" Sw gimor-md giohðo mnde, n æfter eallum unblðe hwop, 2270 dæges and nihtes, oð þæt daðes wylm hrn æt heortan. Hord-wynne fond eald ht-sceaða opene standan, s þe byrnende biorgas sceð nacod nð-draca, nihtes flogeð 2275 fyre befangen; hyne fold-bend wde geswon. H gwunian sceall hlw under hrsan, þr h hðen gold warað wintrum frd; ne byð him wihte þ sl. Sw se þod-sceaða þro hund wintra 2280 hold on hrsan hord-ærna sum acen-cræftig, oð þæt hyne n bealh mon on mde: man-dryhtne bær fted wge, frioðo-wre bæd hlford snne. Þ wæs hord rsod, 2285 onboren baga hord, bne getðad fa-sceaftum men. Fra scawode fra fyrn-geweorc forman sðe. Þ se wyrm onwc, wrht wæs genwad; stonc þ æfter stne, stearc-heort onfand 2290 fondes ft-lst; h t forð gestp, dyrnan cræfte, dracan hafde nah. Sw mæg unfge aðe gedgan wan and wræc-sð, s þe waldendes hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard shte 2295 georne æfter grunde, wolde guman findan, þone þe him on sweofote sre getode: ht and hroh-md hlw oft ymbe hwearf, ealne tan-weardne; n þr nig mon wæs on þre wstenne. Hwæðre hilde gefeh, 2300 beado-weorces: hwlum on beorh æthwearf, sinc-fæt shte; h þæt sna onfand, þæt hæfde gumena sum goldes gefandod hah-gestrona. Hord-weard onbd earfoðlce, oð þæt fen cwm; 2305 wæs þ gebolgen beorges hyrde, wolde se lða lge forgyldan drinc-fæt dyre. Þ wæs dæg sceacen wyrme on willan, n on wealle leng bdan wolde, ac mid ble fr, 2310 fyre gefysed. Wæs se fruma egeslc lodum on lande, sw hyt lungre wearð on hyra sinc-gifan sre geendod.