XLII. WÎGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.

Þâ wäs gesýne, þät se sîð ne þâh

þam þe unrihte inne gehýdde

wräte under wealle. Weard ær ofslôh

feára sumne; þâ sió fæhð gewearð

gewrecen wrâðlîce. Wundur hwâr, þonne

eorl ellen-rôf ende gefêre

lîf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mäg

mon mid his mâgum medu-seld bûan.

Swâ wäs Biówulfe, þâ he biorges weard

sôhte, searo-nîðas: seolfa ne cûðe,

þurh hwät his worulde gedâl weorðan sceolde;

swâ hit ôð dômes däg diópe benemdon

þeódnas mære, þâ þät þær dydon,

þät se secg wære synnum scildig,

hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fäst,

wommum gewitnad, se þone wong strâde.

Näs he gold-hwät: gearwor häfde

âgendes êst ær gesceáwod.

Wîglâf maðelode, Wihstânes sunu:

"Oft sceall eorl monig ânes willan

"wræc âdreógan, swâ ûs geworden is.

"Ne meahton we gelæran leófne þeóden,

"rîces hyrde ræd ænigne,

"þät he ne grêtte gold-weard þone,

"lête hyne licgean, þær he longe wäs,

"wîcum wunian ôð woruld-ende.

"Heóldon heáh gesceap: hord ys gesceáwod,

"grimme gegongen; wäs þät gifeðe tô swîð,

"þe þone þeóden þyder ontyhte.

"Ic wäs þær inne and þät eall geond-seh,

"recedes geatwa, þâ me gerýmed wäs,

"nealles swæslîce sîð âlýfed

"inn under eorð-weall. Ic on ôfoste gefêng

"micle mid mundum mägen-byrðenne

"hord-gestreóna, hider ût ätbär

"cyninge mînum: cwico wäs þâ gena,

"wîs and gewittig; worn eall gespräc

"gomol on gehðo and eówic grêtan hêt,

"bäd þät ge geworhton äfter wines dædum

"in bæl-stede beorh þone heán

"micelne and mærne, swâ he manna wäs

"wîgend weorð-fullost wîde geond eorðan,

"þenden he burh-welan brûcan môste.

"Uton nu êfstan ôðre sîðe

"seón and sêcean searo-geþräc,

"wundur under wealle! ic eów wîsige,

"þät ge genôge neán sceáwiað

"beágas and brâd gold. Sîe sió bær gearo

"ädre geäfned, þonne we ût cymen,

"and þonne geferian freán ûserne,

"leófne mannan, þær he longe sceal

"on þäs waldendes wære geþolian."

Hêt þâ gebeódan byre Wihstânes,

häle hilde-diór, häleða monegum

bold-âgendra, þät hie bæl-wudu

feorran feredon, folc-âgende

gôdum tôgênes: "Nu sceal glêd fretan

"(weaxan wonna lêg) wîgena strengel,

"þone þe oft gebâd îsern-scûre,

"þonne stræla storm, strengum gebæded,

"scôc ofer scild-weall, sceft nytte heóld,

"feðer-gearwum fûs flâne full-eode."

Hûru se snotra sunu Wihstânes

âcîgde of corðre cyninges þegnas

syfone tôsomne þâ sêlestan,

eode eahta sum under inwit-hrôf;

hilde-rinc sum on handa bär

äled-leóman, se þe on orde geóng.

Näs þâ on hlytme, hwâ þät hord strude,

syððan or-wearde ænigne dæl

secgas gesêgon on sele wunian,

læne licgan: lyt ænig mearn,

þät hi ôfostlice ût geferedon

dýre mâðmas; dracan êc scufun,

wyrm ofer weall-clif, lêton wæg niman,

flôd fäðmian frätwa hyrde.

Þær wäs wunden gold on wæn hladen,

æghwäs unrîm, äðeling boren,

hâr hilde-rinc tô Hrones nässe.