XIX. BEÓWULF'S JEWELLED COLLAR. THE HEROES REST.

Him wäs ful boren and freónd-laðu

wordum bewägned and wunden gold

êstum geeáwed, earm-hreáde twâ,

hrägl and hringas, heals-beága mæst

þâra þe ic on foldan gefrägen häbbe.

Nænigne ic under swegle sêlran hýrde

hord-mâððum häleða, syððan Hâma ätwäg

tô þære byrhtan byrig Brosinga mene,

sigle and sinc-fät, searo-nîðas fealh

Eormenrîces, geceás êcne ræd.

Þone hring häfde Higelâc Geáta,

nefa Swertinges, nýhstan sîðe,

siððan he under segne sinc ealgode,

wäl-reáf werede; hyne Wyrd fornam,

syððan he for wlenco weán âhsode,

fæhðe tô Frysum; he þâ frätwe wäg,

eorclan-stânas ofer ýða ful,

rîce þeóden, he under rande gecranc;

gehwearf þâ in Francna fäðm feorh cyninges,

breóst-gewædu and se beáh somod:

wyrsan wîg-frecan wäl reáfedon

äfter gûð-sceare, Geáta leóde

hreâ-wîc heóldon. Heal swêge onfêng.

Wealhþeó maðelode, heó fore þäm werede spräc:

"Brûc þisses beáges, Beówulf, leófa

"hyse, mid hæle, and þisses hrägles neót

"þeód-gestreóna, and geþeóh tela,

"cen þec mid cräfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes

"lâra lîðe! ic þe þäs leán geman.

"Hafast þu gefêred, þät þe feor and neáh

"ealne wîde-ferhð weras ehtigað,

"efne swâ sîde swâ sæ bebûgeð

"windige weallas. Wes, þenden þu lifige,

"äðeling eádig! ic þe an tela

"sinc-gestreóna. Beó þu suna mînum

"dædum gedêfe dreám healdende!

"Her is æghwylc eorl ôðrum getrýwe,

"môdes milde, man-drihtne hold,

"þegnas syndon geþwære, þeód eal gearo:

"druncne dryht-guman, dôð swâ ic bidde!"

Eode þâ tô setle. Þær wäs symbla cyst,

druncon wîn weras: wyrd ne cûðon,

geó-sceaft grimme, swâ hit âgangen wearð

eorla manegum, syððan æfen cwom

and him Hrôðgâr gewât tô hofe sînum,

rîce tô räste. Reced weardode

unrîm eorla, swâ hie oft ær dydon:

benc-þelu beredon, hit geond-bræded wearð

beddum and bolstrum. Beór-scealca sum

fûs and fæge flet-räste gebeág.

Setton him tô heáfdum hilde-randas,

bord-wudu beorhtan; þær on bence wäs

ofer äðelinge ýð-gesêne

heaðo-steápa helm, hringed byrne,

þrec-wudu þrymlîc. Wäs þeáw hyra,

þät hie oft wæron an wîg gearwe,

ge ät hâm ge on herge, ge gehwäðer þâra

efne swylce mæla, swylce hira man-dryhtne

þearf gesælde; wäs seó þeód tilu.