1450 se þe mere-grundas mengan scolde,
sêcan sund-gebland since geweorðad,
befongen freá-wrâsnum, swâ hine fyrn-dagum
worhte wæpna smið, wundrum teóde,
besette swîn-lîcum, þät hine syððan nô
1455 brond ne beado-mêcas bîtan ne meahton.
Näs þät þonne mætost mägen-fultuma,
þät him on þearfe lâh þyle Hrôðgâres;
wäs þäm häft-mêce Hrunting nama,
þät wäs ân foran eald-gestreóna;
1460 ecg wäs îren âter-teárum fâh,
âhyrded heaðo-swâte; næfre hit ät hilde ne swâc
manna ængum þâra þe hit mid mundum bewand,
se þe gryre-sîðas gegân dorste,
folc-stede fâra; näs þät forma sîð,
1465 þät hit ellen-weorc äfnan scolde.
Hûru ne gemunde mago Ecglâfes
eafoðes cräftig, þät he ær gespräc
wîne druncen, þâ he þäs wæpnes onlâh
sêlran sweord-frecan: selfa ne dorste
1470 under ýða gewin aldre genêðan,
driht-scype dreógan; þær he dôme forleás,
ellen-mærðum. Ne wäs þäm ôðrum swâ,
syððan he hine tô gûðe gegyred häfde.


XXIII. THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.

Beówulf maðelode, bearn Ecgþeówes:
1475 "geþenc nu, se mæra maga Healfdenes,