I. THE PASSING OF SCYLD.

Hwät! we Gâr-Dena in geâr-dagum

þeód-cyninga þrym gefrunon,

hû þâ äðelingas ellen fremedon.

Oft Scyld Scêfing sceaðena þreátum,

monegum mægðum meodo-setla ofteáh.

Egsode eorl, syððan ærest wearð

feá-sceaft funden: he þäs frôfre gebâd,

weôx under wolcnum, weorð-myndum ðâh,

ôð þät him æghwylc þâra ymb-sittendra

ofer hron-râde hýran scolde,

gomban gyldan: þät wäs gôd cyning!

þäm eafera wäs äfter cenned

geong in geardum, þone god sende

folce tô frôfre; fyren-þearfe ongeat,

þät hie ær drugon aldor-leáse

lange hwîle. Him þäs lîf-freá,

wuldres wealdend, worold-âre forgeaf;

Beówulf wäs breme (blæd wîde sprang),

Scyldes eafera Scede-landum in.

Swâ sceal geong guma, gôde gewyrcean,

fromum feoh-giftum on fäder wine,

þät hine on ylde eft gewunigen

wil-gesîðas, þonne wîg cume,

leóde gelæsten: lof-dædum sceal

in mægða gehwære man geþeón.

Him þâ Scyld gewât tô gescäp-hwîle

fela-hrôr fêran on freán wære;

hi hyne þâ ätbæron tô brimes faroðe.

swæse gesîðas, swâ he selfa bäd,

þenden wordum weóld wine Scyldinga,

leóf land-fruma lange âhte.

Þær ät hýðe stôd hringed-stefna,

îsig and ûtfûs, äðelinges fär;

â-lêdon þâ leófne þeóden,

beága bryttan on bearm scipes,

mærne be mäste. Þær wäs mâdma fela,

of feor-wegum frätwa gelæded:

ne hýrde ic cymlîcor ceól gegyrwan

hilde-wæpnum and heaðo-wædum,

billum and byrnum; him on bearme läg

mâdma mänigo, þâ him mid scoldon

on flôdes æht feor gewîtan.

Nalas hi hine lässan lâcum teódan,

þeód-gestreónum, þonne þâ dydon,

þe hine ät frumsceafte forð onsendon

ænne ofer ýðe umbor wesende:

þâ gyt hie him âsetton segen gyldenne

heáh ofer heáfod, lêton holm beran,

geâfon on gâr-secg: him wäs geômor sefa,

murnende môd. Men ne cunnon

secgan tô soðe sele-rædende,

häleð under heofenum, hwâ þäm hläste onfêng.