"wið wrâð werod wearde healdan."


VI. BEÓWULF'S SPEECH.

320 Stræt wäs stân-fâh, stîg wîsode
gumum ätgädere. Gûð-byrne scân
heard hond-locen, hring-îren scîr
song in searwum, þâ hie tô sele furðum
in hyra gryre-geatwum gangan cwômon.
325 Setton sæ-mêðe sîde scyldas,
rondas regn-hearde wið þäs recedes weal,
bugon þâ tô bence; byrnan hringdon,
gûð-searo gumena; gâras stôdon,
sæ-manna searo, samod ätgädere,
330 äsc-holt ufan græg: wäs se îren-þreát
wæpnum gewurðad. Þâ þær wlonc häleð
oret-mecgas äfter äðelum frägn:
"Hwanon ferigeað ge fätte scyldas,
"græge syrcan and grîm-helmas,
335 "here-sceafta heáp?-- Ic eom Hrôðgâres
"âr and ombiht. Ne seah ic el-þeódige
"þus manige men môdiglîcran.
"Wên' ic þät ge for wlenco, nalles for wräc-sîðum,
"ac for hige-þrymmum Hrôðgâr sôhton."
340 Him þâ ellen-rôf andswarode,
wlanc Wedera leód word äfter spräc,
heard under helme: "We synt Higelâces
"beód-geneátas; Beówulf is mîn nama.
"Wille ic âsecgan suna Healfdenes,