XLIII. BEÓWULF'S FUNERAL PYRE.

Him þâ gegiredan Geáta leóde

âd on eorðan un-wâclîcne,

helmum behongen, hilde-bordum,

beorhtum byrnum, swâ he bêna wäs;

âlegdon þâ tô-middes mærne þeóden

häleð hiófende, hlâford leófne.

Ongunnon þâ on beorge bæl-fýra mæst

wîgend weccan: wudu-rêc âstâh

sweart ofer swioðole, swôgende lêg,

wôpe bewunden (wind-blond geläg)

ôð þät he þâ bân-hûs gebrocen häfde,

hât on hreðre. Higum unrôte

môd-ceare mændon mon-dryhtnes cwealm;

swylce giômor-gyd † lat . con meowle

. . . . . wunden heorde . . .

serg (?) cearig sælde geneahhe

þät hio hyre . . . . gas hearde

. . . . . ede wälfylla wonn . .

hildes egesan hyðo

haf mid heofon rêce swealh (?)

Geworhton þâ Wedra leóde

hlæw on hliðe, se wäs heáh and brâd,

wæg-lîðendum wîde gesýne,

and betimbredon on tyn dagum

beadu-rôfes bêcn: bronda betost

wealle beworhton, swâ hyt weorðlîcost

fore-snotre men findan mihton.

Hî on beorg dydon bêg and siglu,

eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde ær

nîð-hydige men genumen häfdon;

forlêton eorla gestreón eorðan healdan,

gold on greóte, þær hit nu gen lifað

eldum swâ unnyt, swâ hit æror wäs.

Þâ ymbe hlæw riodan hilde-deóre,

äðelinga bearn ealra twelfa,

woldon ceare cwîðan, kyning mænan,

word-gyd wrecan and ymb wer sprecan,

eahtodan eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc

duguðum dêmdon, swâ hit ge-dêfe bið,

þät mon his wine-dryhten wordum hêrge,

ferhðum freóge, þonne he forð scile

of lîc-haman læne weorðan.

Swâ begnornodon Geáta leóde

hlâfordes hryre, heorð-geneátas,

cwædon þät he wære woruld-cyning

mannum mildust and mon-þwærust,

leódum lîðost and lof-geornost.