XXXIII. BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.

Þâ se gäst ongan glêdum spîwan,

beorht hofu bärnan; bryne-leóma stôd

eldum on andan; nô þær âht cwices

lâð lyft-floga læfan wolde.

Wäs þäs wyrmes wîg wîde gesýne,

nearo-fâges nîð neán and feorran,

hû se gûð-sceaða Geáta leóde

hatode and hýnde: hord eft gesceát,

dryht-sele dyrnne ær däges hwîle.

Häfde land-wara lîge befangen,

bæle and bronde; beorges getrûwode,

wîges and wealles: him seó wên geleáh.

Þâ wäs Biówulfe brôga gecýðed

snûde tô sôðe, þät his sylfes him

bolda sêlest bryne-wylmum mealt,

gif-stôl Geáta. Þät þam gôdan wäs

hreów on hreðre, hyge-sorga mæst:

wênde se wîsa, þät he wealdende,

ofer ealde riht, êcean dryhtne

bitre gebulge: breóst innan weóll

þeóstrum geþoncum, swâ him geþýwe ne wäs.

Häfde lîg-draca leóda fästen,

eá-lond ûtan, eorð-weard þone

glêdum forgrunden. Him þäs gûð-cyning,

Wedera þióden, wräce leornode.

Hêht him þâ gewyrcean wîgendra hleó

eall-îrenne, eorla dryhten

wîg-bord wrätlîc; wisse he gearwe,

þät him holt-wudu helpan ne meahte,

lind wið lîge. Sceolde læn-daga

äðeling ær-gôd ende gebîdan

worulde lîfes and se wyrm somod;

þeáh þe hord-welan heólde lange.

Oferhogode þâ hringa fengel,

þät he þone wîd-flogan weorode gesôhte,

sîdan herge; nô he him þâ säcce ondrêd,

ne him þäs wyrmes wîg for wiht dyde,

eafoð and ellen; forþon he ær fela

nearo nêðende nîða gedîgde,

hilde-hlemma, syððan he Hrôðgâres,

sigor-eádig secg, sele fælsode

and ät gûðe forgrâp Grendeles mægum,

lâðan cynnes. Nô þät läsest wäs

hond-gemota, þær mon Hygelâc slôh,

syððan Geáta cyning gûðe ræsum,

freá-wine folces Freslondum on,

Hrêðles eafora hioro-dryncum swealt,

bille gebeáten; þonan Biówulf com

sylfes cräfte, sund-nytte dreáh;

† häfde him on earme ... XXX

hilde-geatwa, þâ he tô holme stâg.

Nealles Hetware hrêmge þorfton

fêðe-wîges, þe him foran ongeán

linde bæron: lyt eft becwom

fram þam hild-frecan hâmes niósan.

Oferswam þâ sióleða bigong sunu Ecgþeówes,

earm ân-haga eft tô leódum,

þær him Hygd gebeád hord and rîce,

beágas and brego-stôl: bearne ne trûwode,

þät he wið äl-fylcum êðel-stôlas

healdan cûðe, þâ wäs Hygelâc deád.

Nô þý ær feá-sceafte findan meahton

ät þam äðelinge ænige þinga,

þät he Heardrêde hlâford wære,

oððe þone cyne-dôm ciósan wolde;

hwäðre he him on folce freónd-lârum heóld,

êstum mid âre, ôð þät he yldra wearð,

Weder-Geátum weóld. Hyne wräc-mäcgas

ofer sæ sôhtan, suna Ôhteres:

häfdon hy forhealden helm Scylfinga,

þone sêlestan sæ-cyninga,

þâra þe in Swió-rîce sinc brytnade,

mærne þeóden. Him þät tô mearce wearð;

he þær orfeorme feorh-wunde hleát

sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelâces;

and him eft gewât Ongenþiówes bearn

hâmes niósan, syððan Heardrêd läg;

lêt þone brego-stôl Biówulf healdan,

Geátum wealdan: þät wäs gôd cyning.