IV. HYGELAC'S THANE.

Swâ þâ mæl-ceare maga Healfdenes

singala seáð; ne mihte snotor häleð

weán onwendan: wäs þät gewin tô swýð,

lâð and longsum, þe on þâ leóde becom,

nýd-wracu nîð-grim, niht-bealwa mæst.

Þät fram hâm gefrägn Higelâces þegn,

gôd mid Geátum, Grendles dæda:

se wäs mon-cynnes mägenes strengest

on þäm däge þysses lîfes,

äðele and eácen. Hêt him ýð-lidan

gôdne gegyrwan; cwäð he gûð-cyning

ofer swan-râde sêcean wolde,

mærne þeóden, þâ him wäs manna þearf.

Þone sîð-fät him snotere ceorlas

lyt-hwôn lôgon, þeáh he him leóf wære;

hwetton higerôfne, hæl sceáwedon.

Häfde se gôda Geáta leóda

cempan gecorone, þâra þe he cênoste

findan mihte; fîftena sum

sund-wudu sôhte; secg wîsade,

lagu-cräftig mon, land-gemyrcu.

Fyrst forð gewât: flota wäs on ýðum,

bât under beorge. Beornas gearwe

on stefn stigon; streámas wundon

sund wið sande; secgas bæron

on bearm nacan beorhte frätwe,

gûð-searo geatolîc; guman ût scufon,

weras on wil-sîð wudu bundenne.

Gewât þâ ofer wæg-holm winde gefýsed

flota fâmig-heals fugle gelîcost,

ôð þät ymb ân-tîd ôðres dôgores

wunden-stefna gewaden häfde,

þät þâ lîðende land gesâwon,

brim-clifu blîcan, beorgas steápe,

sîde sæ-nässas: þâ wäs sund liden,

eoletes ät ende. Þanon up hraðe

Wedera leóde on wang stigon,

sæ-wudu sældon (syrcan hrysedon,

gûð-gewædo); gode þancedon,

þäs þe him ýð-lâde eáðe wurdon.

Þâ of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,

se þe holm-clifu healdan scolde,

beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas,

fyrd-searu fûslîcu; hine fyrwyt bräc

môd-gehygdum, hwät þâ men wæron.

Gewât him þâ tô waroðe wicge rîdan

þegn Hrôðgâres, þrymmum cwehte

mägen-wudu mundum, meðel-wordum frägn:

"Hwät syndon ge searo-häbbendra

"byrnum werede, þe þus brontne ceól

"ofer lagu-stræte lædan cwômon,

"hider ofer holmas helmas bæron?

"Ic wäs ende-sæta, æg-wearde heóld,

"þät on land Dena lâðra nænig

"mid scip-herge sceððan ne meahte.

"Nô her cûðlîcor cuman ongunnon

"lind-häbbende; ne ge leáfnes-word

"gûð-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson,

"mâga gemêdu. Næfre ic mâran geseah

"eorla ofer eorðan, þonne is eówer sum,

"secg on searwum; nis þät seld-guma

"wæpnum geweorðad, näfne him his wlite leóge,

"ænlîc an-sýn. Nu ic eówer sceal

"frum-cyn witan, ær ge fyr heonan

"leáse sceáweras on land Dena

"furður fêran. Nu ge feor-bûend,

"mere-lîðende, mînne gehýrað

"ân-fealdne geþôht: ôfost is sêlest

"tô gecýðanne, hwanan eówre cyme syndon."