"ic hine ne mihte, þâ metod nolde,
"ganges getwæman, nô ic him þäs georne ätfealh,
970 "feorh-genîðlan; wäs tô fore-mihtig
"feónd on fêðe. Hwäðere he his folme forlêt
"tô lîf-wraðe lâst weardian,
"earm and eaxle; nô þær ænige swâ þeáh
"feá-sceaft guma frôfre gebohte:
975 "nô þý leng leofað lâð-geteóna
"synnum geswenced, ac hyne sâr hafað
"in nýd-gripe nearwe befongen,
"balwon bendum: þær âbîdan sceal
"maga mâne fâh miclan dômes,
980 "hû him scîr metod scrîfan wille."
Þâ wäs swîgra secg, sunu Ecglâfes,
on gylp-spræce gûð-geweorca,
siððan äðelingas eorles cräfte
ofer heáhne hrôf hand sceáwedon,
985 feóndes fingras, foran æghwylc;
wäs stêde nägla gehwylc, stýle gelîcost,
hæðenes hand-sporu hilde-rinces
egle unheóru; æg-hwylc gecwäð,
þät him heardra nân hrînan wolde
990 îren ær-gôd, þät þäs ahlæcan
blôdge beadu-folme onberan wolde.


XVI. THE BANQUET AND THE GIFTS.

Þâ wäs hâten hreðe Heort innan-weard
folmum gefrätwod: fela þæra wäs