XL. THE SOLDIER'S DIRGE AND PROPHECY.

Hêht þâ þät heaðo-weorc tô hagan biódan

up ofer êg-clif, þær þät eorl-weorod

morgen-longne däg môd-giômor sät,

bord-häbbende, bega on wênum

ende-dôgores and eft-cymes

leófes monnes. Lyt swîgode

niwra spella, se þe näs gerâd,

ac he sôðlîce sägde ofer ealle;

"Nu is wil-geofa Wedra leóda,

"dryhten Geáta deáð-bedde fäst,

"wunað wäl-reste wyrmes dædum;

"him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,

"siex-bennum seóc: sweorde ne meahte

"on þam aglæcean ænige þinga

"wunde gewyrcean. Wîglâf siteð

"ofer Biówulfe, byre Wihstânes,

"eorl ofer ôðrum unlifigendum,

"healdeð hige-mêðum heáfod-wearde

"leófes and lâðes. Nu ys leódum wên

"orleg-hwîle, syððan underne

"Froncum and Frysum fyll cyninges

"wîde weorðeð. Wäs sió wrôht scepen

"heard wið Hûgas, syððan Higelâc cwom

"faran flot-herge on Fresna land,

"þær hyne Hetware hilde gehnægdon,

"elne geeodon mid ofer-mägene,

"þät se byrn-wîga bûgan sceolde,

"feóll on fêðan: nalles frätwe geaf

"ealdor dugoðe; ûs wäs â syððan

"Merewioinga milts ungyfeðe.

"Ne ic tô Sweó-þeóde sibbe oððe treówe

"wihte ne wêne; ac wäs wîde cûð,

"þätte Ongenþió ealdre besnyðede

"Hæðcyn Hrêðling wið Hrefna-wudu,

"þâ for on-mêdlan ærest gesôhton

"Geáta leóde Gûð-scilfingas.

"Sôna him se frôda fäder Ôhtheres,

"eald and eges-full ond-slyht âgeaf,

"âbreót brim-wîsan, brýd âheórde,

"gomela ió-meowlan golde berofene,

"Onelan môdor and Ôhtheres,

"and þâ folgode feorh-genîðlan

"ôð þät hî ôðeodon earfoðlîce

"in Hrefnes-holt hlâford-leáse.

"Besät þâ sin-herge sweorda lâfe

"wundum wêrge, weán oft gehêt

"earmre teohhe andlonge niht:

"cwäð he on mergenne mêces ecgum

"getan wolde, sume on galg-treówum

"fuglum tô gamene. Frôfor eft gelamp

"sârig-môdum somod ær-däge,

"syððan hie Hygelâces horn and býman

"gealdor ongeâton. Þâ se gôda com

"leóda dugoðe on lâst faran.