XVI. THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.

Þâ wäs hâten hreðe Heort innan-weard

folmum gefrätwod: fela þæra wäs

wera and wîfa, þe þät wîn-reced,

gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fâg scinon

web äfter wagum, wundor-sióna fela

secga gehwylcum þâra þe on swylc starað

Wäs þät beorhte bold tôbrocen swîðe

eal inne-weard îren-bendum fäst,

heorras tôhlidene; hrôf âna genäs

ealles ansund, þâ se aglæca

fyren-dædum fâg on fleám gewand,

aldres or-wêna. Nô þät ýðe byð

tô befleónne (fremme se þe wille!)

ac gesacan sceal sâwl-berendra

nýde genýdde niðða bearna

grund-bûendra gearwe stôwe,

þær his lîc-homa leger-bedde fäst

swefeð äfter symle. Þâ wäs sæl and mæl,

þät tô healle gang Healfdenes sunu;

wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.

Ne gefrägen ic þâ mægðe mâran weorode

ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sêl gebæran.

Bugon þâ tô bence blæd-âgende,

fylle gefægon. Fägere geþægon

medo-ful manig mâgas † þâra

swîð-hicgende on sele þam heán,

Hrôðgâr and Hrôðulf. Heorot innan wäs

freóndum âfylled; nalles fâcen-stafas

Þeód-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.

Forgeaf þâ Beówulfe bearn Healfdenes

segen gyldenne sigores tô leáne,

hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;

mære mâððum-sweord manige gesâwon

beforan beorn beran. Beówulf geþah

ful on flette; nô he þære feoh-gyfte

for sceótendum scamigan þorfte,

ne gefrägn ic freóndlîcor feówer mâdmas

golde gegyrede gum-manna fela

in ealo-bence ôðrum gesellan.

Ymb þäs helmes hrôf heáfod-beorge

wîrum bewunden walan ûtan heóld,

þät him fêla lâfe frêcne ne meahton

scûr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca

ongeán gramum gangan scolde.

Hêht þâ eorla hleó eahta mearas,

fäted-hleóre, on flet teón

in under eoderas; þâra ânum stôd

sadol searwum fâh since gewurðad,

þät wäs hilde-setl heáh-cyninges,

þonne sweorda gelâc sunu Healfdenes

efnan wolde; næfre on ôre läg

wîd-cûðes wîg, þonne walu feóllon.

And þâ Beówulfe bega gehwäðres

eodor Ingwina onweald geteáh,

wicga and wæpna; hêt hine wel brûcan.

Swâ manlîce mære þeóden,

hord-weard häleða heaðo-ræsas geald

mearum and mâdmum, swâ hý næfre man lyhð,

se þe secgan wile sôð äfter rihte.