1420 tô geþolianne þegne monegum,
oncýð eorla gehwæm, syððan Äsc-heres
on þam holm-clife hafelan mêtton.
Flôd blôde weól (folc tô sægon)
hâtan heolfre. Horn stundum song
1425 fûslîc fyrd-leóð. Fêða eal gesät;
gesâwon þâ äfter wätere wyrm-cynnes fela,
sellîce sæ-dracan sund cunnian,
swylce on näs-hleoðum nicras licgean,
þâ on undern-mæl oft bewitigað
1430 sorh-fulne sîð on segl-râde,
wyrmas and wil-deór; hie on weg hruron
bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongeâton,
gûð-horn galan. Sumne Geáta leód
of flân-bogan feores getwæfde,
1435 ýð-gewinnes, þät him on aldre stôd
here-stræl hearda; he on holme wäs
sundes þe sænra, þe hyne swylt fornam.
Hräðe wearð on ýðum mid eofer-spreótum
heoro-hôcyhtum hearde genearwod,
1440 nîða genæged and on näs togen
wundorlîc wæg-bora; weras sceáwedon
gryrelîcne gist. Gyrede hine Beówulf
eorl-gewædum, nalles for ealdre mearn:
scolde here-byrne hondum gebroden,
1445 sîd and searo-fâh, sund cunnian,
seó þe bân-côfan beorgan cûðe,
þät him hilde-grâp hreðre ne mihte,
eorres inwit-feng, aldre gesceððan;
ac se hwîta helm hafelan werede,