wäfre and wäl-fûs, Wyrd ungemete neáh,
se þone gomelan grêtan sceolde,
sêcean sâwle hord, sundur gedælan
lîf wið lîce: nô þon lange wäs
2425 feorh äðelinges flæsce bewunden.
Biówulf maðelade, bearn Ecgþeówes:
"Fela ic on giogoðe guð-ræsa genäs,
"orleg-hwîla: ic þät eall gemon.
"Ic wäs syfan-wintre, þâ mec sinca baldor,
2430 "freá-wine folca ät mînum fäder genam,
"heóld mec and häfde Hrêðel cyning,
"geaf me sinc and symbel, sibbe gemunde;
"näs ic him tô lîfe lâðra ôwihte
"beorn in burgum, þonne his bearna hwylc,
2435 "Herebeald and Hæðcyn, oððe Hygelâc mîn.
"Wäs þam yldestan ungedêfelîce
"mæges dædum morðor-bed strêd,
"syððan hyne Hæðcyn of horn-bogan,
"his freá-wine flâne geswencte,
2440 "miste mercelses and his mæg ofscêt,
"brôðor ôðerne, blôdigan gâre:
"þät wäs feoh-leás gefeoht, fyrenum gesyngad
"hreðre hyge-mêðe; sceolde hwäðre swâ þeáh
"äðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan.
2445 "Swâ bið geômorlîc gomelum ceorle
"tô gebîdanne, þät his byre rîde
"giong on galgan, þonne he gyd wrece,
"sârigne sang, þonne his sunu hangað
"hrefne tô hrôðre and he him helpe ne mäg,
2450 "eald and in-frôd, ænige gefremman.