XXXI. HE GIVES PRESENTS TO HYGELAC. HYGELAC REWARDS HIM. HYGELAC'S DEATH. BEÓWULF REIGNS.

"Swâ se þeód-kyning þeáwum lyfde;

"nealles ic þâm leánum forloren häfde,

"mägnes mêde, ac he me mâðmas geaf,

"sunu Healfdenes, on sînne sylfes dôm;

"þâ ic þe, beorn-cyning, bringan wylle,

"êstum geýwan. Gen is eall ät þe

"lissa gelong: ic lyt hafo

"heáfod-mâga, nefne Hygelâc þec!"

Hêt þâ in beran eafor, heáfod-segn,

heaðo-steápne helm, hâre byrnan,

gûð-sweord geatolîc, gyd äfter wräc:

"Me þis hilde-sceorp Hrôðgâr sealde,

"snotra fengel, sume worde hêt,

"þät ic his ærest þe eft gesägde,

"cwäð þät hyt häfde Hiorogâr cyning,

"leód Scyldunga lange hwîle:

"nô þý ær suna sînum syllan wolde,

"hwatum Heorowearde, þeáh he him hold wære,

"breóst-gewædu. Brûc ealles well!"

Hýrde ic þät þâm frätwum feówer mearas

lungre gelîce lâst weardode,

äppel-fealuwe; he him êst geteáh

meara and mâðma. Swâ sceal mæg dôn,

nealles inwit-net ôðrum bregdan,

dyrnum cräfte deáð rênian

hond-gesteallan. Hygelâce wäs,

nîða heardum, nefa swýðe hold

and gehwäðer ôðrum hrôðra gemyndig.

Hýrde ic þät he þone heals-beáh Hygde gesealde,

wrätlîcne wundur-mâððum, þone þe him Wealhþeó geaf,

þeódnes dôhtor, þrió wicg somod

swancor and sadol-beorht; hyre syððan wäs

äfter beáh-þege breóst geweorðod.

Swâ bealdode bearn Ecgþeówes,

guma gûðum cûð, gôdum dædum,

dreáh äfter dôme, nealles druncne slôg

heorð-geneátas; näs him hreóh sefa,

ac he man-cynnes mæste cräfte

gin-fästan gife, þe him god sealde,

heóld hilde-deór. Heán wäs lange,

swâ hyne Geáta bearn gôdne ne tealdon,

ne hyne on medo-bence micles wyrðne

drihten wereda gedôn wolde;

swýðe oft sägdon, þät he sleac wære,

äðeling unfrom: edwenden cwom

tîr-eádigum menn torna gehwylces.

Hêt þâ eorla hleó in gefetian,

heaðo-rôf cyning, Hrêðles lâfe,

golde gegyrede; näs mid Geátum þâ

sinc-mâððum sêlra on sweordes hâd;

þät he on Biówulfes bearm âlegde,

and him gesealde seofan þûsendo,

bold and brego-stôl. Him wäs bâm samod

on þam leód-scipe lond gecynde,

eard êðel-riht, ôðrum swîðor

sîde rîce, þam þær sêlra wäs.

Eft þät geiode ufaran dôgrum

hilde-hlämmum, syððan Hygelâc läg

and Heardrêde hilde-mêceas

under bord-hreóðan tô bonan wurdon,

þâ hyne gesôhtan on sige-þeóde

hearde hilde-frecan, Heaðo-Scilfingas,

nîða genægdan nefan Hererîces.

Syððan Beówulfe brâde rîce

on hand gehwearf: he geheóld tela

fîftig wintru (wäs þâ frôd cyning,

eald êðel-weard), ôð þät ân ongan

deorcum nihtum draca rîcsian,

se þe on heáre hæðe hord beweotode,

stân-beorh steápne: stîg under läg,

eldum uncûð. Þær on innan gióng

niða nât-hwylces neóde gefêng

hæðnum horde hond . d . . geþ . . hwylc

since fâhne, he þät syððan . . . . .

. . . þ . . . lð . þ . . l . g

slæpende be fýre, fyrena hyrde

þeófes cräfte, þät sie . . . . ðioð . . . . .

. idh . folc-beorn, þät he gebolgen wäs.