Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem

The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable...

This work is addressed to two classes of readers. From both of these alike the translator begs...

The measure used in the present translation is believed to be as near a reproduction of the...

No two accented syllables have been brought together, except occasionally after a csural pause. See...

The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of archaism to the translation. All words not in...

Over sea, a days voyage off, Beowulf, of the Geats, nephew of Higelac, king of the Geats, hears of...

Grendels mother, however, comes the next night to avenge his death. She is furious and raging....

It is the devout desire of this translator to hasten the day when the story of Beowulf shall be as...

Danes. Subjects of Scyld and his descendants, and hence often called Scyldings. Other names for...

Finn. King of the North Frisians and the Jutes. Marries Hildeburg. At his court takes place the...

Heort, Heorot. The great mead hall which King Hrothgar builds. It is invaded by Grendel for twelve...

Hygelac, Higelac. King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord of Beowulf, the hero of the poem. His...

Unferth. Son of Ecglaf, and seemingly a confidential courtier of Hrothgar. Taunts Beowulf for...

A son and heir, young in his dwelling, Whom God Father sent to solace the people. He had marked the...

Scyld then departed to the All Fathers keeping Warlike to wend him; away then they bare him To the...

Who when first he was born outward did send him Lone on the main, the merest of infants. And a gold...

4 The reading of the H. So. text has been quite closely followed; but some eminent scholars read...

The well beloved bedmate of the War Scylfing leader. Then glory in battle to Hrothgar was given,...

Who wide reaching word sway wielded mong earlmen. His promise he brake not, rings he lavished,...

So blessed with abundance, brimming with joyance, The warriors abided, till a certain one gan to...

When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit The lofty hall building, how the Ring Danes had used...

Then, his meal taking finished, a moan was uplifted, 15 Morning cry mighty. The man ruler famous,...

The choicest of houses. Long was the season. Twelve winters time torture suffered The friend of the...

60 At the shrines of their idols often they promised Gifts and offerings, earnestly prayed they The...

1 The translation is based on weras, adopted by H. So. K. and Th. read wera and, arranging...

4 The H. So. glossary is very inconsistent in referring to this passage. Sibbe 154, which H. So....

Greatest of night woes. So Higelacs liegeman, Good amid Geatmen, of Grendels achievements Heard in...

30 Till twenty and four hours thereafter The twist stemmed vessel had traveled such distance That...

Who are ye men here, mail covered warriors Clad in your corslets, come thus a driving 50 A high...

1 From hm 194 is much disputed. One rendering is. Beowulf, being away from home, heard of Hrothgars...

5 My father was known, a noble head warrior Ecgtheow titled; many a winter He lived with the...

15 Naught of our message. Thou knowst if it happen, As we soothly heard say, that some savage...

To warrior so great twill be granted sure In the storm of strife to stand secure. Onward they fared...

In warlike equipments. Gainst the wall of the building Their wide fashioned war shields they weary...

25 Hardy neath helmet. Higelacs mates are we; Beowulf hight I. To the bairn of Healfdene, The...

Oer the way of the waters are wafted hither, Faring from far lands. the foremost in rank 45 The...

Hrothgar answered, helm of the Scyldings. I remember this man as the merest of striplings. His...

Wulfgar went then, this word message shouted. 20 My victorious liegelord bade me to tell you, The...

The strength of my body. Themselves they beheld me When I came from the contest, when covered with...

From veriest rashness recks not for weapons; I this do scorn then, so be Higelac gracious, My...

3 For 420 b and 421 a, B. suggests. r ic on ffelgeban de eotena cyn where I in the ocean destroyed...

5 For head watch, cf. H. So. notes and cf. v. 2910. Th. translates. Thou wilt not need my head to...

The fiercest of feuds thy father engaged in, 5 Heatholaf killed he in hand to hand conflict Mid...

25 Oer the ale vessel promised warriors in armor They would willingly wait on the wassailing...

2 Sit now at the feast, and disclose thy purposes to the victorious heroes, as thy spirit urges....

From vainest vaunting adventured your bodies In care of the waters. And no one was able Nor lief...

Younkers in years that we yet would adventure 40 Out on the ocean; it all we accomplished. While...

55 Lay on my bosom. To the bottom then dragged me, A hateful fiend scather, seized me and held me,...

Put to sleep with the sword, that sea going travelers 10 No longer thereafter were hindered from...

The weltering waves. Not a word hath been told me Of deeds so daring done by thee, Unferth, 25 And...

Thy mood as ferocious as thou dost describe them. He hath found out fully that the fierce burning...

Might bear to Beowulf the bumper oerrunning; She greeted the Geat prince, God she did thank, Most...

Then again as of yore was heard in the building 85 Courtly discussion, conquerors shouting, Heroes...

1 The repetition of hwere 574 and 578 is regarded by some scholars as a defect. B. suggests sw r...

10 His armor of iron off him he did then, His helmet from his head, to his henchman committed His...

That ever thereafter any should hope to Be happy at home, hero friends visit Or the lordly troop...

2 B. in his masterly articles on Beowulf P. and B. XII. rejects the division usually made at this...

25 The prospect of plenty. Providence willed not To permit him any more of men under heaven To eat...

Snatched as he slumbered, seizing with hand grip, Forward the foeman foined with his hand; Caught...

The palace re echoed; to all of the Danemen, 60 Dwellers in castles, to each of the bold ones,...

1 B. and t.B. emend so as to make lines 9 and 10 read. Never in his life, earlier or later, had he,...

10 To slit into slivers, and seeking his spirit. That the relentless foeman nor finest of weapons...

The end of his earthly existence was nearing, His life days limits. At last for the Danemen, When...

In the mist of the morning many a warrior Stood round the gift hall, as the story is told me. Folk...

There in bloody billows bubbled the currents, The angry eddy was everywhere mingled And seething...

Mighty achievements, many things hidden, 40 The strife of the Wlsing, the wide going ventures The...

80 Oft running and racing on roadsters they measured The dun colored highways. Then the light of...

2 Another and quite different rendering of this passage is as follows. Oft a liegeman of the king,...

Failed to perform. May affirm very truly What woman soever in all of the nations Gave birth to the...

To a weaker in war strife. By works of distinction Thou hast gained for thyself now that thy glory...

Since God did not will it, to keep him from going, Not held him that firmly, hated opposer; Too...

From boasting and bragging of battle achievements, Since the princes beheld there the hand that...

The beautiful building was broken to pieces Which all within with irons was fastened, Its hinges...

Then the offspring of Healfdene offered to Beowulf 30 A golden standard, as reward for the victory,...

Forth against foemen. The defender of earls then Commanded that eight steeds with bridles 45 Gold...

2 The passage 1005 1009 seems to be hopeless. One difficult point is to find a subject for gesacan....

When shields were shivered she was shorn of her darlings, Of bairns and brothers. they bent to...

On the bench of the beer hall. On both sides they swore then A fast binding compact; Finn unto...

The bairn of her bosom to bear to the fire, That his body be burned and borne to the pyre. The woe...

Biding with Finn the blood tainted winter, 5 Wholly unsundered;1 of fatherland thought he Though...

30 The troops of the Scyldings bore to their vessels All that the land king had in his palace, Such...

And greet thou the Geatmen with gracious responses. So ought one to do. Be kind to the Geatmen, 50...

1 For 1130 1 R. and Gr. suggest elne unflitme as 1098 1 reads. The latter verse is undisputed; and,...

Since Hama off bore the Brosingmens necklace, The bracteates and jewels, from the bright shining...

35 Jewels and treasure. Be kind to my son, thou Living in joyance. Here each of the nobles Is true...

Doomed unto death, down to his slumber 50 Bowed then a beer thane. Their battle shields placed...

4 I believe this translation brings out the meaning of the poet, without departing seriously from...

Known unto earth folk, that still an avenger Outlived the loathed one, long since the sorrow Caused...

Fate sent awoke; one of them Grendel, Sword cursd, hateful, who at Heorot met with A man that was...

45 Soon she had grappled one of the athelings Fast and firmly, when fenward she hied her; That one...

Went then that earlman, champion noble, Came with comrades, where the clever one bided 65 Whether...

Hrothgar rejoined, helm of the Scyldings. Ask not of joyance. Grief is renewed to The folk of the...

By cramming discovered.1 The quarrel she wreaked then, That last night igone Grendel thou killedst...

Ever before. They guard the wolf coverts, Lands inaccessible, wind beaten nesses, Fearfullest fen...

55 And the heavens lower. Now is help to be gotten From thee and thee only. The abode thou knowst...

Stately proceeded. stepped then an earl troop 20 Of linden wood bearers. Her footprints were seen...

Many a serpent, mere dragons wondrous Trying the waters, nickers a lying On the cliffs of the...

Beowulf donned then his battle equipments, Cared little for life; inlaid and most ample, The hand...

Ecglafs kinsman minded not soothly, 80 Exulting in strength, what erst he had spoken Drunken with...

When he looks on the jewels, that a gem giver found I Good over measure, enjoyed him while able. 15...

Some one of men from above was exploring. Forth did she grab them, grappled the warrior With...

The sword would not bite, her life would not injure, 50 But the falchion failed the folk prince...

His breast armor woven bode on his shoulder; It guarded his life, the entrance defended 75 Gainst...

Broke through her bone joints, the bill fully pierced her Fate cursd body, she fell to the ground...

The hoary of head, that they hoped not to see again The atheling ever, that exulting in victory 40...

That in it did perish. He early swam off then 60 Who had bided in combat the carnage of haters,...

1 s monige gewear 1599 and hafa s geworden 2027. In a paper published some years ago in one of the...

3 Cyning balde 1635 is the much disputed reading of K. and Th. To render this, nobly bold,...

Gave me willingly to see on the wall a Heavy old hand sword hanging in splendor He guided most...

The gray haired chieftain, the gold fashioned sword hilt, Old work of giants, was thereupon given;...

The Lord everlasting, through lash of the billows The Father gave them final requital. So in...

A help unto heroes. Heremod became not 60 Such to the Scyldings, successors of Ecgwela; He grew not...

75 How all ruling God from greatness of spirit Giveth wisdom to children of men, Manor and...

Beware of arrogance, world famous champion. But a little while lasts thy life vigors fulness; Twill...

30 Came to my manor, grief after joyance, When Grendel became my constant visitor, Inveterate...

Offspring of Ecglaf, off to bear Hrunting, To take his weapon, his well beloved iron; He him...

Beowulf spake, Ecgtheows offspring. We men of the water wish to declare now Fared from far lands,...

Neer heard I an earlman thus early in life More clever in speaking. thourt cautious of spirit,...

40 To Geat folk and Danemen, the strife be suspended, The secret assailings they suffered in yore...

The long famous hero longeth in secret Deep in his spirit for the dear beloved man Though not a...

In link woven burnies. The land warder noticed The return of the earlmen, as he erstwhile had seen...

25 Prompt at the ocean, the port ward was ready, Who long in the past outlooked in the distance,3...

2 R. suggests, Gewt him on naca, and renders. The vessel set out, to drive on the sea, the Dane...

Seeking the sea shore, the sea marches treading, The wide stretching shores. The world candle...

I mused upon torture, distrusted the journey Of the belovd liegeman; I long time did pray thee By...

Soon did the famous scion of Healfdene, 50 When he understood fully the spirit that led me, Assign...

5 This is perhaps the least understood sentence in the poem, almost every word being open to...

15 Art thou able, my friend, to know when thou seest it The brand which thy father bare to the...

To Hondscio happened a hopeless contention, Death to the doomed one, dead he fell foremost, 45...

The friend of the Scyldings, with gold that was plated, With ornaments many, much requited me, 70...

There the spirit of schere, agd adviser, 90 Was ready to vanish; nor when morn had lightened Were...

5 Atheling of earlmen, offer them gladly. And still unto thee is all my affection.1 But few of my...

I am told that to Hygd he proffered the necklace, Wonder gem rare that Wealhtheow gave him, The...

So the brave one enjoined it; there was jewel no richer In the form of a weapon mong Geats of that...

65 Dragon, to govern, who guarded a treasure, A high rising stone cliff, on heath that was grayish....

3 The H. So. rendering rest history, origin; eft for est, though liable to objection, is perhaps...

10 He a gem vessel saw there. many of suchlike Ancient ornaments in the earth cave were lying, As...

Dashed on his spirit. Then the ancient dusk scather 50 Found the great treasure standing all open,...

The lorn mooded liegeman. His lord regarded 65 The old work of earth folk twas the earliest...

6 The reading of H. So. is well defended in the notes to that volume. B. emends and renders. Nor...

Then straight was the horror to Beowulf published, Early forsooth, that his own native homestead,1...

Wholly of iron. fully he knew then That wood from the forest was helpless to aid him, 30 Shield...

Twas of hand fights not least where Higelac was slaughtered, When the king of the Geatmen with...

Wielded the Weders. Wide fleeing outlaws, Ohtheres sons, sought him oer the waters. They had...

With eleven companions the prince of the Geatmen Went lowering with fury to look at the fire drake....

35 I survived in my youth days many a conflict, Hours of onset. that all I remember. I was seven...

The passage beginning sw bi gomorlic seems to be an effort to reach a full simile, as ... so. As it...

Then was crime and hostility twixt Swedes and Geatmen, Oer wide stretching water warring was...

30 The gems that he gave me, with jewel bright sword I Quited in contest, as occasion was offered....

50 I braved in my youth days battles unnumbered; Still am I willing the struggle to look for, Fame...