XIV. THE JOY AT HEOROT.

Þâ wäs on morgen mîne gefræge

ymb þâ gif-healle gûð-rinc monig:

fêrdon folc-togan feorran and neán

geond wîd-wegas wundor sceáwian,

lâðes lâstas. Nô his lîf-gedâl

sârlîc þûhte secga ænegum,

þâra þe tîr-leáses trode sceáwode,

hû he wêrig-môd on weg þanon,

nîða ofercumen, on nicera mere

fæge and geflýmed feorh-lâstas bär.

Þær wäs on blôde brim weallende,

atol ýða geswing eal gemenged

hâtan heolfre, heoro-dreóre weól;

deáð-fæge deóg, siððan dreáma leás

in fen-freoðo feorh âlegde

hæðene sâwle, þær him hel onfêng.

Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesîðas,

swylce geong manig of gomen-wâðe,

fram mere môdge, mearum rîdan,

beornas on blancum. Þær wäs Beówulfes

mærðo mæned; monig oft gecwäð,

þätte sûð ne norð be sæm tweonum

ofer eormen-grund ôðer nænig

under swegles begong sêlra nære

rond-häbbendra, rîces wyrðra.

Ne hie hûru wine-drihten wiht ne lôgon,

glädne Hrôðgâr, ac þät wäs gôd cyning.

Hwîlum heaðo-rôfe hleápan lêton,

on geflît faran fealwe mearas,

þær him fold-wegas fägere þûhton,

cystum cûðe; hwîlum cyninges þegn,

guma gilp-hläden gidda gemyndig,

se þe eal-fela eald-gesegena

worn gemunde, word ôðer fand

sôðe gebunden: secg eft ongan

sîð Beówulfes snyttrum styrian

and on spêd wrecan spel gerâde,

wordum wrixlan, wel-hwylc gecwäð,

þät he fram Sigemunde secgan hýrde,

ellen-dædum, uncûðes fela,

Wälsinges gewin, wîde sîðas,

þâra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,

fæhðe and fyrene, bûton Fitela mid hine,

þonne he swylces hwät secgan wolde

eám his nefan, swâ hie â wæron

ät nîða gehwâm nýd-gesteallan:

häfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes

sweordum gesæged. Sigemunde gesprong

äfter deáð-däge dôm unlýtel,

syððan wîges heard wyrm âcwealde,

hordes hyrde; he under hârne stân,

äðelinges bearn, âna genêðde

frêcne dæde; ne wäs him Fitela mid.

Hwäðre him gesælde, þät þät swurd þurhwôd

wrätlîcne wyrm, þät hit on wealle ätstôd,

dryhtlîc îren; draca morðre swealt.

Häfde aglæca elne gegongen,

þät he beáh-hordes brûcan môste

selfes dôme: sæ-bât gehlôd,

bär on bearm scipes beorhte frätwa,

Wälses eafera; wyrm hât gemealt.

Se wäs wreccena wîde mærost

ofer wer-þeóde, wîgendra hleó

ellen-dædum: he þäs âron þâh.

Siððan Heremôdes hild sweðrode

eafoð and ellen. He mid eotenum wearð

on feónda geweald forð forlâcen,

snûde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas

lemede tô lange, he his leódum wearð,

eallum äðelingum tô aldor-ceare;

swylce oft bemearn ærran mælum

swîð-ferhðes sîð snotor ceorl monig,

se þe him bealwa tô bôte gelýfde,

þät þät þeódnes bearn geþeón scolde,

fäder-äðelum onfôn, folc gehealdan,

hord and hleó-burh, häleða rîce,

êðel Scyldinga. He þær eallum wearð,

mæg Higelâces manna cynne,

freóndum gefägra; hine fyren onwôd.

Hwîlum flîtende fealwe stræte

mearum mæton. Þâ wäs morgen-leóht

scofen and scynded. Eode scealc monig

swîð-hicgende tô sele þam heán,

searo-wundor seón, swylce self cyning,

of brýd-bûre beáh-horda weard,

tryddode tîr-fäst getrume micle,

cystum gecýðed, and his cwên mid him

medo-stîg gemät mägða hôse.