II. THE HALL HEOROT.

Þâ wäs on burgum Beówulf Scyldinga,

leóf leód-cyning, longe þrage

folcum gefræge (fäder ellor hwearf,

aldor of earde), ôð þät him eft onwôc

heáh Healfdene; heóld þenden lifde,

gamol and gûð-reów, gläde Scyldingas.

Þäm feówer bearn forð-gerîmed

in worold wôcun, weoroda ræswan,

Heorogâr and Hrôðgâr and Hâlga til;

hýrde ic, þat Elan cwên Ongenþeówes wäs

Heaðoscilfinges heals-gebedde.

Þâ wäs Hrôðgâre here-spêd gyfen,

wîges weorð-mynd, þät him his wine-mâgas

georne hýrdon, ôð þät seó geogoð geweôx,

mago-driht micel. Him on môd bearn,

þät heal-reced hâtan wolde,

medo-ärn micel men gewyrcean,

þone yldo bearn æfre gefrunon,

and þær on innan eall gedælan

geongum and ealdum, swylc him god sealde,

bûton folc-scare and feorum gumena.

Þâ ic wîde gefrägn weorc gebannan

manigre mægðe geond þisne middan-geard,

folc-stede frätwan. Him on fyrste gelomp

ädre mid yldum, þät hit wearð eal gearo,

heal-ärna mæst; scôp him Heort naman,

se þe his wordes geweald wîde häfde.

He beót ne âlêh, beágas dælde,

sinc ät symle. Sele hlifade

heáh and horn-geáp: heaðo-wylma bâd,

lâðan lîges; ne wäs hit lenge þâ gen

þät se ecg-hete âðum-swerian

äfter wäl-nîðe wäcnan scolde.

Þâ se ellen-gæst earfoðlîce

þrage geþolode, se þe in þýstrum bâd,

þät he dôgora gehwâm dreám gehýrde

hlûdne in healle; þær wäs hearpan swêg,

swutol sang scôpes. Sägde se þe cûðe

frum-sceaft fira feorran reccan,

cwäð þät se älmihtiga eorðan worhte,

wlite-beorhtne wang, swâ wäter bebûgeð,

gesette sige-hrêðig sunnan and mônan

leóman tô leóhte land-bûendum,

and gefrätwade foldan sceátas

leomum and leáfum; lîf eác gesceôp

cynna gehwylcum, þâra þe cwice hwyrfað.

Swâ þâ driht-guman dreámum lifdon

eádiglîce, ôð þät ân ongan

fyrene fremman, feónd on helle:

wäs se grimma gäst Grendel hâten,

mære mearc-stapa, se þe môras heóld,

fen and fästen; fîfel-cynnes eard

won-sælig wer weardode hwîle,

siððan him scyppend forscrifen häfde.

In Caines cynne þone cwealm gewräc,

êce drihten, þäs þe he Abel slôg;

ne gefeah he þære fæhðe, ac he hine feor forwräc,

metod for þý mâne man-cynne fram.

Þanon untydras ealle onwôcon,

eotenas and ylfe and orcnêas,

swylce gigantas, þâ wið gode wunnon

lange þrage; he him þäs leán forgeald.