ac hy scamiende scyldas bæran,
gûð-gewædu, þær se gomela läg:
wlitan on Wîglâf. He gewêrgad sät,
fêðe-cempa freán eaxlum neáh,
2855 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
2860 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:
2865 "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,
2870 "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
2875 "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
2880 "ofer mîn gemet mæges helpan: