XXIII. THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.

Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:

"geþenc nu, se mæra maga Healfdenes,

"snottra fengel, nu ic eom sîðes fûs,

"gold-wine gumena, hwät wit geó spræcon,

"gif ic ät þearfe þînre scolde

"aldre linnan, þät þu me â wære

"forð-gewitenum on fäder stäle;

"wes þu mund-bora mînum mago-þegnum,

"hond-gesellum, gif mec hild nime:

"swylce þu þâ mâdmas, þe þu me sealdest,

"Hrôðgâr leófa, Higelâce onsend.

"Mäg þonne on þäm golde ongitan Geáta dryhten,

"geseón sunu Hrêðles, þonne he on þät sinc starað,

"þät ic gum-cystum gôdne funde

"beága bryttan, breác þonne môste.

"And þu Ûnferð læt ealde lâfe,

"wrätlîc wæg-sweord wîd-cûðne man

"heard-ecg habban; ic me mid Hruntinge

"dôm gewyrce, oððe mec deáð nimeð."

Äfter þæm wordum Weder-Geáta leód

êfste mid elne, nalas andsware

bîdan wolde; brim-wylm onfêng

hilde-rince. Þâ wäs hwîl däges,

ær he þone grund-wong ongytan mehte.

Sôna þät onfunde, se þe flôda begong

heoro-gîfre beheóld hund missera,

grim and grædig, þät þær gumena sum

äl-wihta eard ufan cunnode.

Grâp þâ tôgeánes, gûð-rinc gefêng

atolan clommum; nô þý ær in gescôd

hâlan lîce: hring ûtan ymb-bearh,

þät heó þone fyrd-hom þurh-fôn ne mihte,

locene leoðo-syrcan lâðan fingrum.

Bär þâ seó brim-wylf, þâ heó tô botme com,

hringa þengel tô hofe sînum,

swâ he ne mihte nô (he þäs môdig wäs)

wæpna gewealdan, ac hine wundra þäs fela

swencte on sunde, sæ-deór monig

hilde-tuxum here-syrcan bräc,

êhton aglæcan. Þâ se eorl ongeat,

þät he in nið-sele nât-hwylcum wäs,

þær him nænig wäter wihte ne sceðede,

ne him for hrôf-sele hrînan ne mehte

fær-gripe flôdes: fýr-leóht geseah,

blâcne leóman beorhte scînan.

Ongeat þâ se gôda grund-wyrgenne,

mere-wîf mihtig; mägen-ræs forgeaf

hilde-bille, hond swenge ne ofteáh,

þät hire on hafelan hring-mæl âgôl

grædig gûð-leóð. Þâ se gist onfand,

þät se beado-leóma bîtan nolde,

aldre sceððan, ac seó ecg geswâc

þeódne ät þearfe: þolode ær fela

hond-gemôta, helm oft gescär,

fæges fyrd-hrägl: þät wäs forma sîð

deórum mâðme, þät his dôm âläg.

Eft wäs ân-ræd, nalas elnes lät,

mærða gemyndig mæg Hygelâces;

wearp þâ wunden-mæl wrättum gebunden

yrre oretta, þät hit on eorðan läg,

stîð and stýl-ecg; strenge getrûwode,

mund-gripe mägenes. Swâ sceal man dôn,

þonne he ät gûðe gegân þenceð

longsumne lof, nâ ymb his lîf cearað.

Gefêng þâ be eaxle (nalas for fæhðe mearn)

Gûð-Geáta leód Grendles môdor;

brägd þâ beadwe heard, þâ he gebolgen wäs,

feorh-genîðlan, þät heó on flet gebeáh.

Heó him eft hraðe and-leán forgeald

grimman grâpum and him tôgeánes fêng;

oferwearp þâ wêrig-môd wîgena strengest,

fêðe-cempa, þät he on fylle wearð.

Ofsät þâ þone sele-gyst and hyre seaxe geteáh,

brâd and brûn-ecg wolde hire bearn wrecan,

ângan eaferan. Him on eaxle läg

breóst-net broden; þät gebearh feore,

wið ord and wið ecge ingang forstôd.

Häfde þâ forsîðod sunu Ecgþeówes

under gynne grund, Geáta cempa,

nemne him heaðo-byrne helpe gefremede,

here-net hearde, and hâlig god

geweóld wîg-sigor, witig drihten;

rodera rædend hit on ryht gescêd,

ýðelîce syððan he eft âstôd.