bîdan wolde, ac mid bæle fôr,
2310 fýre gefýsed. Wäs se fruma egeslîc
leódum on lande, swâ hyt lungre wearð
on hyra sinc-gifan sâre geendod.


XXXIII. BEOWULF RESOLVES TO KILL THE FIRE-DRAKE.

Þâ se gäst ongan glêdum spîwan,
beorht hofu bärnan; bryne-leóma stôd
2315 eldum on andan; nô þær âht cwices
lâð lyft-floga læfan wolde.
Wäs þäs wyrmes wîg wîde gesýne,
nearo-fâges nîð neán and feorran,
hû se gûð-sceaða Geáta leóde
2320 hatode and hýnde: hord eft gesceát,
dryht-sele dyrnne ær däges hwîle.
Häfde land-wara lîge befangen,
bæle and bronde; beorges getrûwode,
wîges and wealles: him seó wên geleáh.
2325 Þâ wäs Biówulfe brôga gecýðed
snûde tô sôðe, þät his sylfes him
bolda sêlest bryne-wylmum mealt,
gif-stôl Geáta. Þät þam gôdan wäs
hreów on hreðre, hyge-sorga mæst:
2330 wênde se wîsa, þät he wealdende,
ofer ealde riht, êcean dryhtne
bitre gebulge: breóst innan weóll
þeóstrum geþoncum, swâ him geþýwe ne wäs.
Häfde lîg-draca leóda fästen,