XXXVII. BEÓWULF WOUNDED TO DEATH.
Þâ ic ät þearfe gefrägn þeód-cyninges
cräft and cênðu, swâ him gecynde wäs;
ne hêdde he þäs heafolan, ac sió hand gebarn
môdiges mannes, þær he his mæges healp,
þät he þone nîð-gäst nioðor hwêne slôh,
secg on searwum, þät þät sweord gedeáf
fâh and fäted, þät þät fýr ongon
sweðrian syððan. Þâ gen sylf cyning
geweóld his gewitte, wäll-seaxe gebräd,
biter and beadu-scearp, þät he on byrnan wäg:
forwrât Wedra helm wyrm on middan.
Feónd gefyldan (ferh ellen wräc),
and hi hyne þâ begen âbroten häfdon,
sib-äðelingas: swylc sceolde secg wesan,
þegn ät þearfe. Þät þam þeódne wäs
sîðast sîge-hwîle sylfes dædum,
worlde geweorces. Þâ sió wund ongon,
þe him se eorð-draca ær geworhte,
swêlan and swellan. He þät sôna onfand,
þät him on breóstum bealo-nîð weóll,
âttor on innan. Þâ se äðeling gióng,
þät he bî wealle, wîs-hycgende,
gesät on sesse; seah on enta geweorc,
hû þâ stân-bogan stapulum fäste
êce eorð-reced innan heóldon.
Hyne þâ mid handa heoro-dreórigne
þeóden mærne þegn ungemete till,
wine-dryhten his wätere gelafede,
hilde-sädne and his helm onspeón.
Biówulf maðelode, he ofer benne spräc,
wunde wäl-bleáte (wisse he gearwe,
þät he däg-hwîla gedrogen häfde
eorðan wynne; þâ wäs eall sceacen
dôgor-gerîmes, deáð ungemete neáh):
"Nu ic suna mînum syllan wolde
"gûð-gewædu, þær me gifeðe swâ
"lîce gelenge. Ic þâs leóde heóld
"fîftig wintra: näs se folc-cyning
"ymbe-sittendra ænig þâra,
"þe mec gûð-winum grêtan dorste,
"mæl-gesceafta, heóld mîn tela,
"ne sôhte searo-nîðas, ne me swôr fela
"âða on unriht. Ic þäs ealles mäg,
"feorh-bennum seóc, gefeán habban:
"forþam me wîtan ne þearf waldend fira
"morðor-bealo mâga, þonne mîn sceaceð
"geong, hord sceáwian under hârne stân,
"Wîglâf leófa, nu se wyrm ligeð,
"swefeð sâre wund, since bereáfod.
"Bió nu on ôfoste, þät ic ær-welan,
"gold-æht ongite, gearo sceáwige
"swegle searo-gimmas, þät ic þý sêft mæge
"äfter mâððum-welan mîn âlætan