mære mâððum-sweord manige gesâwon
1025 beforan beorn beran. Beówulf geþah
ful on flette; nô he þære feoh-gyfte
for sceótendum scamigan þorfte,
ne gefrägn ic freóndlîcor feówer mâdmas
golde gegyrede gum-manna fela
1030 in ealo-bence ôðrum gesellan.
Ymb þäs helmes hrôf heáfod-beorge
wîrum bewunden walan ûtan heóld,
þät him fêla lâfe frêcne ne meahton
scûr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca
1035 ongeán gramum gangan scolde.
Hêht þâ eorla hleó eahta mearas,
fäted-hleóre, on flet teón
in under eoderas; þâra ânum stôd
sadol searwum fâh since gewurðad,
1040 þät wäs hilde-setl heáh-cyninges,
þonne sweorda gelâc sunu Healfdenes
efnan wolde; næfre on ôre läg
wîd-cûðes wîg, þonne walu feóllon.
And þâ Beówulfe bega gehwäðres
1045 eodor Ingwina onweald geteáh,
wicga and wæpna; hêt hine wel brûcan.
Swâ manlîce mære þeóden,
hord-weard häleða heaðo-ræsas geald
mearum and mâdmum, swâ hý næfre man lyhð,
1050 se þe secgan wile sôð äfter rihte.


XVII. SONG OF HROTHGAR'S POET--THE LAY OF HNAEF AND HENGEST.