eorl-scipe efnan, swâ his ær-fäder;
geaf him þâ mid Geátum gûð-gewæda
2625 æghwäs unrîm; þâ he of ealdre gewât,
frôd on forð-weg. Þâ wäs forma sîð
geongan cempan, þät he gûðe ræs
mid his freó-dryhtne fremman sceolde;
ne gemealt him se môd-sefa, ne his mæges lâf
2630 gewâc ät wîge: þät se wyrm onfand,
syððan hie tôgädre gegân häfdon.
Wîglâf maðelode word-rihta fela,
sägde gesîðum, him wäs sefa geômor:
"Ic þät mæl geman, þær we medu þêgun,
2635 "þonne we gehêton ûssum hlâforde
"in biór-sele, þe ûs þâs beágas geaf,
"þät we him þâ gûð-geatwa gyldan woldon,
"gif him þyslîcu þearf gelumpe,
"helmas and heard sweord: þê he ûsic on herge geceás
2640 "tô þyssum sîð-fate sylfes willum,
"onmunde ûsic mærða and me þâs mâðmas geaf,
"þê he ûsic gâr-wîgend gôde tealde,
"hwate helm-berend, þeáh þe hlâford ûs
"þis ellen-weorc âna âþôhte
2645 "tô gefremmanne, folces hyrde,
"forþam he manna mæst mærða gefremede,
"dæda dollîcra. Nu is se däg cumen,
"þät ûre man-dryhten mägenes behôfað
"gôdra gûð-rinca: wutun gangan tô,
2650 "helpan hild-fruman, þenden hyt sý,
"glêd-egesa grim! God wât on mec,
"þät me is micle leófre, þät mînne lîc-haman