XXXIX. THE COWARD-THANES.

Þâ wäs gegongen guman unfrôdum

earfoðlîce, þät he on eorðan geseah

þone leófestan lîfes ät ende

bleáte gebæran. Bona swylce läg,

egeslîc eorð-draca, ealdre bereáfod,

bealwe gebæded: beáh-hordum leng

wyrm woh-bogen wealdan ne môste,

ac him îrenna ecga fornâmon,

hearde heaðo-scearpe homera lâfe,

þät se wîd-floga wundum stille

hreás on hrusan hord-ärne neáh,

nalles äfter lyfte lâcende hwearf

middel-nihtum, mâðm-æhta wlonc

ansýn ýwde: ac he eorðan gefeóll

for þäs hild-fruman hond-geweorce.

Hûru þät on lande lyt manna þâh

mägen-âgendra mîne gefræge,

þeáh þe he dæda gehwäs dyrstig wære,

þät he wið âttor-sceaðan oreðe geræsde,

oððe hring-sele hondum styrede,

gif he wäccende weard onfunde

bûan on beorge. Biówulfe wearð

dryht-mâðma dæl deáðe forgolden;

häfde æghwäðer ende gefêred

lænan lîfes. Näs þâ lang tô þon,

þät þâ hild-latan holt ofgêfan,

tydre treów-logan tyne ätsomne,

þâ ne dorston ær dareðum lâcan

on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe;

ac hy scamiende scyldas bæran,

gûð-gewædu, þær se gomela läg:

wlitan on Wîglâf. He gewêrgad sät,

fêðe-cempa freán eaxlum neáh,

wehte hyne wätre; him wiht ne speów;

ne meahte he on eorðan, þeáh he ûðe wel,

on þam frum-gâre feorh gehealdan,

ne þäs wealdendes willan wiht oncirran;

wolde dôm godes dædum rædan

gumena gehwylcum, swâ he nu gen dêð.

Þâ wäs ät þam geongan grim andswaru

êð-begête þâm þe ær his elne forleás.

Wîglâf maðelode, Weohstânes sunu,

secg sârig-ferð seah on unleófe:

"Þät lâ mäg secgan, se þe wyle sôð sprecan,

"þät se mon-dryhten, se eów þâ mâðmas geaf,

"eóred-geatwe, þe ge þær on standað,

"þonne he on ealu-bence oft gesealde

"heal-sittendum helm and byrnan,

"þeóden his þegnum, swylce he þryðlîcost

"ôhwær feor oððe neáh findan meahte,

"þät he genunga gûð-gewædu

"wrâðe forwurpe. Þâ hyne wîg beget,

"nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum

"gylpan þorfte; hwäðre him god ûðe,

"sigora waldend, þät he hyne sylfne gewräc

"âna mid ecge, þâ him wäs elnes þearf,

"Ic him lîf-wraðe lytle meahte

"ätgifan ät gûðe and ongan swâ þeáh

"ofer mîn gemet mæges helpan:

"symle wäs þý sæmra, þonne ic sweorde drep

"ferhð-genîðlan, fýr unswîðor

"weóll of gewitte. Wergendra tô lyt

"þrong ymbe þeóden, þâ hyne sió þrag becwom.

"Nu sceal sinc-þego and swyrd-gifu

"eall êðel-wyn eówrum cynne,

"lufen âlicgean: lond-rihtes môt

"þære mæg-burge monna æghwylc

"îdel hweorfan, syððan äðelingas

"feorran gefricgean fleám eówerne,

"dôm-leásan dæd. Deáð bið sêlla

"eorla gehwylcum þonne edwît-lîf!"