Þâ wäs gegongen guman unfrôdum
earfoðlîce, þät he on eorðan geseah
þone leófestan lîfes ät ende
2825 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,
2830 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
2835 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,
2840 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;
2845 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
2850 on hyra man-dryhtnes miclan þearfe;