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Hwæt! We Gardena in
geardagum,
Listen! We of the Spear-Danes in
days of yore
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
Of those folk-kings
the glory have heard,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
How those noblemen brave-things
did.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
Often Scyld, son of Scef, from enemy
hosts
monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
[5]
from many people
mead-benches took,
egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest
wearð
terrorized warriors. After first he
was
feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre
gebad,
helpless found,
he knew the
recompense for that,
weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,
grew under the sky,
in honors thrived,
oðþæt him æghwylc þara
ymbsittendra [10]
until to him each
of the neighboring
tribes
ofer hronrade hyran scolde,
over the whale-road had to
submit,
gomban gyldan. Þæt wæs god
cyning!
tribute yield.
That was a good king!
Ðæm eafera wæs æfter
cenned,
To him an heir was
then born
geong in geardum, þone god sende
young in the yards,
him God sent
folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat [15]
the folk to comfort; distress he had
seen
þe hie ær drugon aldorlease
that they before suffered
leaderless
lange hwile. Him þæs liffrea,
a long while.
Them for that the Life-Lord,
wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf;
of-glory ruler,
honor-on-earth
granted;
Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide
sprang),
Beowulf was famed
(renown wide spread),
Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. [20]
Scyld’s heir
in northern lands.
Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean,
So should a young man
by good-deeds deserve,
fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme,
by fine treasure-gifts
while in his father’s keeping,
þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen
that him in old-age
again shall stand by
wilgesiþas, þonne wig
cume,
willing companions when war
comes,
leode gelæsten;
lofdædum sceal [25]
Among his people everywhere one
prosper.
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