Nolde eorla hleó ænige þinga
þone cwealm-cuman cwicne forlætan,
ne his lîf-dagas leóda ænigum
795 nytte tealde. Þær genehost brägd
eorl Beówulfes ealde lâfe,
wolde freá-drihtnes feorh ealgian
mæres þeódnes, þær hie meahton swâ;
hie þät ne wiston, þâ hie gewin drugon,
800 heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas,
and on healfa gehwone heáwan þôhton,
sâwle sêcan, þät þone syn-scaðan
ænig ofer eorðan îrenna cyst,
gûð-billa nân grêtan nolde;
805 ac he sige-wæpnum forsworen häfde,
ecga gehwylcre. Scolde his aldor-gedâl
on þäm däge þysses lîfes
earmlîc wurðan and se ellor-gâst
on feónda geweald feor sîðian.
810 Þâ þät onfunde se þe fela æror
môdes myrðe manna cynne
fyrene gefremede (he wäs fâg wið god)
þät him se lîc-homa læstan nolde,
ac hine se môdega mæg Hygelâces
815 häfde be honda; wäs gehwäðer ôðrum
lifigende lâð. Lîc-sâr gebâd
atol äglæca, him on eaxle wearð
syn-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon
burston bân-locan. Beówulfe wearð
820 gûð-hrêð gyfeðe; scolde Grendel þonan
feorh-seóc fleón under fen-hleoðu,
sêcean wyn-leás wîc; wiste þê geornor,
þät his aldres wäs ende gegongen,
dôgera däg-rîm. Denum eallum wearð
825 äfter þam wäl-ræse willa gelumpen.
Häfde þâ gefælsod, se þe ær feorran com,
snotor and swýð-ferhð sele Hrôðgâres,
genered wið nîðe. Niht-weorce gefeh,
ellen-mærðum; häfde Eást-Denum
830 Geát-mecga leód gilp gelæsted,
swylce oncýððe ealle gebêtte,
inwid-sorge, þe hie ær drugon
and for þreá-nýdum þolian scoldon,
torn unlytel. Þät wäs tâcen sweotol,
835 syððan hilde-deór hond âlegde,
earm and eaxle (þær wäs eal geador
Grendles grâpe) under geápne hrôf.