iú-monna gold galdre bewunden,
þät þam hring-sele hrînan ne môste
3055 gumena ænig, nefne god sylfa,
sigora sôð-cyning, sealde þam þe he wolde
(he is manna gehyld) hord openian,
efne swâ hwylcum manna, swâ him gemet þûhte.


XLII. WÎGLAF SPEAKS. THE BUILDING OF THE BALE-FIRE.

Þâ wäs gesýne, þät se sîð ne þâh
3060 þam þe unrihte inne gehýdde
wräte under wealle. Weard ær ofslôh
feára sumne; þâ sió fæhð gewearð
gewrecen wrâðlîce. Wundur hwâr, þonne
eorl ellen-rôf ende gefêre
3065 lîf-gesceafta, þonne leng ne mäg
mon mid his mâgum medu-seld bûan.
Swâ wäs Biówulfe, þâ he biorges weard
sôhte, searo-nîðas: seolfa ne cûðe,
þurh hwät his worulde gedâl weorðan sceolde;
3070 swâ hit ôð dômes däg diópe benemdon
þeódnas mære, þâ þät þær dydon,
þät se secg wære synnum scildig,
hergum geheaðerod, hell-bendum fäst,
wommum gewitnad, se þone wong strâde.
3075 Näs he gold-hwät: gearwor häfde
âgendes êst ær gesceáwod.
Wîglâf maðelode, Wihstânes sunu:
"Oft sceall eorl monig ânes willan