XXIV. BEÓWULF SLAYS THE SPRITE.
Geseah þâ on searwum sige-eádig bil,
eald sweord eotenisc ecgum þyhtig,
wîgena weorð-mynd: þät wäs wæpna cyst,
bûton hit wäs mâre þonne ænig mon ôðer
gôd and geatolîc giganta geweorc.
He gefêng þâ fetel-hilt, freca Scildinga,
hreóh and heoro-grim hring-mæl gebrägd,
þät hire wið halse heard grâpode,
bân-hringas bräc, bil eal þurh-wôd
fægne flæsc-homan, heó on flet gecrong;
sweord wäs swâtig, secg weorce gefeh.
Lixte se leóma, leóht inne stôd,
efne swâ of hefene hâdre scîneð
rodores candel. He äfter recede wlât,
hwearf þâ be wealle, wæpen hafenade
heard be hiltum Higelâces þegn,
yrre and ân-ræd. Näs seó ecg fracod
hilde-rince, ac he hraðe wolde
Grendle forgyldan gûð-ræsa fela
þâra þe he geworhte tô West-Denum
oftor micle þonne on ænne sîð,
þonne he Hrôðgâres heorð-geneátas
slôh on sweofote, slæpende frät
lâðlîcu lâc. He him þäs leán forgeald,
rêðe cempa, tô þäs þe he on räste geseah
aldor-leásne, swâ him ær gescôd
hild ät Heorote; hrâ wîde sprong,
syððan he äfter deáðe drepe þrowade,
heoro-sweng heardne, and hine þâ heáfde becearf,
Sôna þät gesâwon snottre ceorlas,
þâ þe mid Hrôðgâre on holm wliton,
þät wäs ýð-geblond eal gemenged,
brim blôde fâh: blonden-feaxe
gomele ymb gôdne ongeador spræcon,
þät hig þäs äðelinges eft ne wêndon,
þät he sige-hrêðig sêcean côme
mærne þeóden; þâ þäs monige gewearð,
þät hine seó brim-wylf âbroten häfde.
Þâ com nôn däges. Näs ofgeâfon
hwate Scyldingas; gewât him hâm þonon
gold-wine gumena. Gistas sêtan,
môdes seóce, and on mere staredon,
wiston and ne wêndon, þät hie heora wine-drihten
selfne gesâwon. Þâ þät sweord ongan
äfter heaðo-swâte hilde-gicelum
wîg-bil wanian; þät wäs wundra sum,
þät hit eal gemealt îse gelîcost,
þonne forstes bend fäder onlæteð,
onwindeð wäl-râpas, se þe geweald hafað
sæla and mæla; þät is sôð metod.
Ne nom he in þæm wîcum, Weder-Geáta leód,
mâðm-æhta mâ, þêh he þær monige geseah,
bûton þone hafelan and þâ hilt somod,
since fâge; sweord ær gemealt,
forbarn broden mæl: wäs þät blôd tô þäs hât,
ættren ellor-gæst, se þær inne swealt.
Sôna wäs on sunde, se þe ær ät säcce gebâd
wîg-hryre wrâðra, wäter up þurh-deáf;
wæron ýð-gebland eal gefælsod,
eácne eardas, þâ se ellor-gâst
oflêt lîf-dagas and þâs lænan gesceaft.
Com þâ tô lande lid-manna helm
swîð-môd swymman, sæ-lâce gefeah,
mägen-byrðenne þâra þe he him mid häfde.
Eodon him þâ tôgeánes, gode þancodon,
þryðlîc þegna heáp, þeódnes gefêgon,
þäs þe hi hyne gesundne geseón môston.
Þâ wäs of þäm hrôran helm and byrne
wäter under wolcnum, wäl-dreóre fâg.
ferhðum fägne, fold-weg mæton,
cûðe stræte; cyning-balde men
from þäm holm-clife hafelan bæron
on ðäm wäl-stenge weorcum geferian
tô þäm gold-sele Grendles heáfod,
môdig on gemonge meodo-wongas träd.
Þâ com in gân ealdor þegna,
häle hilde-deór. Hrôðgâr grêtan:
Grendles heáfod, þær guman druncon,
egeslîc for eorlum and þære idese mid: