Þâ wäs on morgen mîne gefræge
ymb þâ gif-healle gûð-rinc monig:
840 fêrdon folc-togan feorran and neán
geond wîd-wegas wundor sceáwian,
lâðes lâstas. Nô his lîf-gedâl
sârlîc þûhte secga ænegum,
þâra þe tîr-leáses trode sceáwode,
845 hû he wêrig-môd on weg þanon,
nîða ofercumen, on nicera mere
fæge and geflýmed feorh-lâstas bär.
Þær wäs on blôde brim weallende,
atol ýða geswing eal gemenged
850 hâtan heolfre, heoro-dreóre weól;
deáð-fæge deóg, siððan dreáma leás
in fen-freoðo feorh âlegde
hæðene sâwle, þær him hel onfêng.
Þanon eft gewiton eald-gesîðas,
855 swylce geong manig of gomen-wâðe,
fram mere môdge, mearum rîdan,
beornas on blancum. Þær wäs Beówulfes
mærðo mæned; monig oft gecwäð,
þätte sûð ne norð be sæm tweonum
860 ofer eormen-grund ôðer nænig
under swegles begong sêlra nære
rond-häbbendra, rîces wyrðra.
Ne hie hûru wine-drihten wiht ne lôgon,
glädne Hrôðgâr, ac þät wäs gôd cyning.
865 Hwîlum heaðo-rôfe hleápan lêton,
on geflît faran fealwe mearas,
þær him fold-wegas fägere þûhton,
cystum cûðe; hwîlum cyninges þegn,
guma gilp-hläden gidda gemyndig,
870 se þe eal-fela eald-gesegena
worn gemunde, word ôðer fand
sôðe gebunden: secg eft ongan
sîð Beówulfes snyttrum styrian
and on spêd wrecan spel gerâde,
875 wordum wrixlan, wel-hwylc gecwäð,
þät he fram Sigemunde secgan hýrde,
ellen-dædum, uncûðes fela,
Wälsinges gewin, wîde sîðas,
þâra þe gumena bearn gearwe ne wiston,
880 fæhðe and fyrene, bûton Fitela mid hine,
þonne he swylces hwät secgan wolde
eám his nefan, swâ hie â wæron
ät nîða gehwâm nýd-gesteallan:
häfdon eal-fela eotena cynnes
885 sweordum gesæged. Sigemunde gesprong
äfter deáð-däge dôm unlýtel,
syððan wîges heard wyrm âcwealde,
hordes hyrde; he under hârne stân,
äðelinges bearn, âna genêðde
890 frêcne dæde; ne wäs him Fitela mid.
Hwäðre him gesælde, þät þät swurd þurhwôd
wrätlîcne wyrm, þät hit on wealle ätstôd,
dryhtlîc îren; draca morðre swealt.
Häfde aglæca elne gegongen,
895 þät he beáh-hordes brûcan môste
selfes dôme: sæ-bât gehlôd,
bär on bearm scipes beorhte frätwa,
Wälses eafera; wyrm hât gemealt.
Se wäs wreccena wîde mærost
900 ofer wer-þeóde, wîgendra hleó
ellen-dædum: he þäs âron þâh.
Siððan Heremôdes hild sweðrode
eafoð and ellen. He mid eotenum wearð
on feónda geweald forð forlâcen,
905 snûde forsended. Hine sorh-wylmas
lemede tô lange, he his leódum wearð,
eallum äðelingum tô aldor-ceare;
swylce oft bemearn ærran mælum
swîð-ferhðes sîð snotor ceorl monig,
910 se þe him bealwa tô bôte gelýfde,
þät þät þeódnes bearn geþeón scolde,
fäder-äðelum onfôn, folc gehealdan,
hord and hleó-burh, häleða rîce,
êðel Scyldinga. He þær eallum wearð,
915 mæg Higelâces manna cynne,
freóndum gefägra; hine fyren onwôd.
Hwîlum flîtende fealwe stræte
mearum mæton. Þâ wäs morgen-leóht
scofen and scynded. Eode scealc monig
920 swîð-hicgende tô sele þam heán,
searo-wundor seón, swylce self cyning,
of brýd-bûre beáh-horda weard,
tryddode tîr-fäst getrume micle,
cystum gecýðed, and his cwên mid him
925 medo-stîg gemät mägða hôse.