VI. BEÓWULF'S SPEECH.

Stræt wäs stân-fâh, stîg wîsode

gumum ätgädere. Gûð-byrne scân

heard hond-locen, hring-îren scîr

song in searwum, þâ hie tô sele furðum

in hyra gryre-geatwum gangan cwômon.

Setton sæ-mêðe sîde scyldas,

rondas regn-hearde wið þäs recedes weal,

bugon þâ tô bence; byrnan hringdon,

gûð-searo gumena; gâras stôdon,

sæ-manna searo, samod ätgädere,

äsc-holt ufan græg: wäs se îren-þreát

wæpnum gewurðad. Þâ þær wlonc häleð

oret-mecgas äfter äðelum frägn:

"Hwanon ferigeað ge fätte scyldas,

"græge syrcan and grîm-helmas,

"here-sceafta heáp?— Ic eom Hrôðgâres

"âr and ombiht. Ne seah ic el-þeódige

"þus manige men môdiglîcran.

"Wên' ic þät ge for wlenco, nalles for wräc-sîðum,

"ac for hige-þrymmum Hrôðgâr sôhton."

Him þâ ellen-rôf andswarode,

wlanc Wedera leód word äfter spräc,

heard under helme: "We synt Higelâces

"beód-geneátas; Beówulf is mîn nama.

"Wille ic âsecgan suna Healfdenes,

"mærum þeódne mîn ærende,

"aldre þînum, gif he ûs geunnan wile,

"þät we hine swâ gôdne grêtan môton."

Wulfgâr maðelode (þät wäs Wendla leód,

wäs his môd-sefa manegum gecýðed,

wîg and wîs-dôm): "ic þäs wine Deniga,

"freán Scildinga frinan wille,

"beága bryttan, swâ þu bêna eart,

"þeóden mærne ymb þînne sîð ;

"and þe þâ andsware ädre gecýðan,

"þe me se gôda âgifan þenceð."

Hwearf þâ hrädlîce, þær Hrôðgâr sät,

eald and unhâr mid his eorla gedriht;

eode ellen-rôf, þät he for eaxlum gestôd

Deniga freán, cûðe he duguðe þeáw.

Wulfgâr maðelode tô his wine-drihtne:

"Her syndon geferede feorran cumene

"ofer geofenes begang Geáta leóde:

"þone yldestan oret-mecgas

"Beówulf nemnað. Hy bênan synt,

"þät hie, þeóden mîn, wið þe môton

"wordum wrixlan; nô þu him wearne geteóh,

"þînra gegn-cwida glädnian, Hrôðgâr!

"Hy on wîg-geatwum wyrðe þinceað

"eorla geæhtlan; hûru se aldor deáh,

"se þæm heaðo-rincum hider wîsade."