"äðeling on elne. Ne wäs ecg bona,
"ac him hilde-grâp heortan wylmas,
"bân-hûs gebräc. Nu sceall billes ecg,
2510 "hond and heard sweord ymb hord wîgan."
Beówulf maðelode, beót-wordum spräc
niéhstan sîðe: "Ic genêðde fela
"gûða on geogoðe; gyt ic wylle,
"frôd folces weard, fæhðe sêcan,
2515 "mærðum fremman, gif mec se mân-sceaða
"of eorð-sele ût gesêceð!"
Gegrêtte þâ gumena gehwylcne,
hwate helm-berend hindeman sîðe,
swæse gesîðas: "Nolde ic sweord beran,
2520 "wæpen tô wyrme, gif ic wiste hû
"wið þam aglæcean elles meahte
"gylpe wiðgrîpan, swâ ic gió wið Grendle dyde;
"ac ic þær heaðu-fýres hâtes wêne,
"rêðes and-hâttres: forþon ic me on hafu
2525 "bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard
"oferfleón fôtes trem, feónd unhýre,
"ac unc sceal weorðan ät wealle, swâ unc Wyrd geteóð,
"metod manna gehwäs. Ic eom on môde from,
"þät ic wið þone gûð-flogan gylp ofersitte.
2530 "Gebîde ge on beorge byrnum werede,
"secgas on searwum, hwäðer sêl mæge
"äfter wäl-ræse wunde gedýgan
"uncer twega. Nis þät eówer sîð,
"ne gemet mannes, nefne mîn ânes,
2535 "þät he wið aglæcean eofoðo dæle,
"eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall