Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . cräft
sôhte sylfes willum, se þe him sâre gesceôd,
2225 ac for þreá-nêdlan þeów nât-hwylces
häleða bearna hete-swengeas fleáh,
for ofer-þearfe and þær inne fealh
secg syn-bysig. Sôna in þâ tîde
þät . . . . . þam gyste . . . . br . g . stôd,
2230 hwäðre earm-sceapen . . . . . . .
. . ð . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se fæs begeat,
sinc-fät geseah: þær wäs swylcra fela
in þam eorð-scräfe ær-gestreóna,
swâ hy on geâr-dagum gumena nât-hwylc
2235 eormen-lâfe äðelan cynnes
þanc-hycgende þær gehýdde,
deóre mâðmas. Ealle hie deáð fornam
ærran mælum, and se ân þâ gen
leóda duguðe, se þær lengest hwearf,
2240 weard wine-geômor wîscte þäs yldan,
þät he lytel fäc long-gestreóna
brûcan môste. Beorh eal gearo
wunode on wonge wäter-ýðum neáh,
niwe be nässe nearo-cräftum fäst:
2245 þær on innan bär eorl-gestreóna
hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dæl
fättan goldes, feá worda cwäð:
"Heald þu nu, hruse, nu häleð ne môston,
"eorla æhte. Hwät! hit ær on þe
2250 "gôde begeâton; gûð-deáð fornam,
"feorh-bealo frêcne fyra gehwylcne,
"leóda mînra, þâra þe þis lîf ofgeaf,
"gesâwon sele-dreám. Nâh hwâ sweord wege
"oððe fetige fäted wæge,
2255 "drync-fät deóre: duguð ellor scôc.
"Sceal se hearda helm hyrsted golde
"fätum befeallen: feormiend swefað,
"þâ þe beado-grîman býwan sceoldon,
"ge swylce seó here-pâd, sió ät hilde gebâd
2260 "ofer borda gebräc bite îrena,
"brosnað äfter beorne. Ne mäg byrnan hring
"äfter wîg-fruman wîde fêran
"häleðum be healfe; näs hearpan wyn,
"gomen gleó-beámes, ne gôd hafoc
2265 "geond säl swingeð, ne se swifta mearh
"burh-stede beáteð. Bealo-cwealm hafað
"fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended!"
Swâ giômor-môd giohðo mænde,
ân äfter eallum unblîðe hweóp,
2270 däges and nihtes, ôð þät deáðes wylm
hrân ät heortan. Hord-wynne fond
eald uht-sceaða opene standan,
se þe byrnende biorgas sêceð
nacod nîð-draca, nihtes fleógeð
2275 fýre befangen; hyne fold-bûend
wîde gesâwon. He gewunian sceall
hlâw under hrusan, þær he hæðen gold
warað wintrum frôd; ne byð him wihte þê sêl.
Swâ se þeód-sceaða þreó hund wintra
2280 heóld on hrusan hord-ärna sum
eácen-cräftig, ôð þät hyne ân âbealh
mon on môde: man-dryhtne bär
fäted wæge, frioðo-wære bäd
hlâford sînne. Þâ wäs hord râsod,
2285 onboren beága hord, bêne getîðad
feá-sceaftum men. Freá sceáwode
fira fyrn-geweorc forman sîðe.
Þâ se wyrm onwôc, wrôht wäs geniwad;
stonc þâ äfter stâne, stearc-heort onfand
2290 feóndes fôt-lâst; he tô forð gestôp,
dyrnan cräfte, dracan heáfde neáh.
Swâ mäg unfæge eáðe gedîgan
weán and wräc-sîð, se þe waldendes
hyldo gehealdeð. Hord-weard sôhte
2295 georne äfter grunde, wolde guman findan,
þone þe him on sweofote sâre geteóde:
hât and hreóh-môd hlæw oft ymbe hwearf,
ealne ûtan-weardne; ne þær ænig mon
wäs on þære wêstenne. Hwäðre hilde gefeh,
2300 beado-weorces: hwîlum on beorh äthwearf,
sinc-fät sôhte; he þät sôna onfand,
þät häfde gumena sum goldes gefandod
heáh-gestreóna. Hord-weard onbâd
earfoðlîce, ôð þät æfen cwom;
2305 wäs þâ gebolgen beorges hyrde,
wolde se lâða lîge forgyldan
drinc-fät dýre. Þâ wäs däg sceacen
wyrme on willan, nô on wealle leng
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.