Þâ se gäst ongan glêdum spîwan,
beorht hofu bärnan; bryne-leóma stôd
2315 eldum on andan; nô þær âht cwices
lâð lyft-floga læfan wolde.
Wäs þäs wyrmes wîg wîde gesýne,
nearo-fâges nîð neán and feorran,
hû se gûð-sceaða Geáta leóde
2320 hatode and hýnde: hord eft gesceát,
dryht-sele dyrnne ær däges hwîle.
Häfde land-wara lîge befangen,
bæle and bronde; beorges getrûwode,
wîges and wealles: him seó wên geleáh.
2325 Þâ wäs Biówulfe brôga gecýðed
snûde tô sôðe, þät his sylfes him
bolda sêlest bryne-wylmum mealt,
gif-stôl Geáta. Þät þam gôdan wäs
hreów on hreðre, hyge-sorga mæst:
2330 wênde se wîsa, þät he wealdende,
ofer ealde riht, êcean dryhtne
bitre gebulge: breóst innan weóll
þeóstrum geþoncum, swâ him geþýwe ne wäs.
Häfde lîg-draca leóda fästen,
2335 eá-lond ûtan, eorð-weard þone
glêdum forgrunden. Him þäs gûð-cyning,
Wedera þióden, wräce leornode.
Hêht him þâ gewyrcean wîgendra hleó
eall-îrenne, eorla dryhten
2340 wîg-bord wrätlîc; wisse he gearwe,
þät him holt-wudu helpan ne meahte,
lind wið lîge. Sceolde læn-daga
äðeling ær-gôd ende gebîdan
worulde lîfes and se wyrm somod;
2345 þeáh þe hord-welan heólde lange.
Oferhogode þâ hringa fengel,
þät he þone wîd-flogan weorode gesôhte,
sîdan herge; nô he him þâ säcce ondrêd,
ne him þäs wyrmes wîg for wiht dyde,
2350 eafoð and ellen; forþon he ær fela
nearo nêðende nîða gedîgde,
hilde-hlemma, syððan he Hrôðgâres,
sigor-eádig secg, sele fælsode
and ät gûðe forgrâp Grendeles mægum,
2355 lâðan cynnes. Nô þät läsest wäs
hond-gemota, þær mon Hygelâc slôh,
syððan Geáta cyning gûðe ræsum,
freá-wine folces Freslondum on,
Hrêðles eafora hioro-dryncum swealt,
2360 bille gebeáten; þonan Biówulf com
sylfes cräfte, sund-nytte dreáh;
+ häfde him on earme ... XXX
hilde-geatwa, þâ he tô holme stâg.
Nealles Hetware hrêmge þorfton
2365 fêðe-wîges, þe him foran ongeán
linde bæron: lyt eft becwom
fram þam hild-frecan hâmes niósan.
Oferswam þâ sióleða bigong sunu Ecgþeówes,
earm ân-haga eft tô leódum,
2370 þær him Hygd gebeád hord and rîce,
beágas and brego-stôl: bearne ne trûwode,
þät he wið äl-fylcum êðel-stôlas
healdan cûðe, þâ wäs Hygelâc deád.
Nô þý ær feá-sceafte findan meahton
2375 ät þam äðelinge ænige þinga,
þät he Heardrêde hlâford wære,
oððe þone cyne-dôm ciósan wolde;
hwäðre he him on folce freónd-lârum heóld,
êstum mid âre, ôð þät he yldra wearð,
2380 Weder-Geátum weóld. Hyne wräc-mäcgas
ofer sæ sôhtan, suna Ôhteres:
häfdon hy forhealden helm Scylfinga,
þone sêlestan sæ-cyninga,
þâra þe in Swió-rîce sinc brytnade,
2385 mærne þeóden. Him þät tô mearce wearð;
he þær orfeorme feorh-wunde hleát
sweordes swengum, sunu Hygelâces;
and him eft gewât Ongenþiówes bearn
hâmes niósan, syððan Heardrêd läg;
2390 lêt þone brego-stôl Biówulf healdan,
Geátum wealdan: þät wäs gôd cyning.