[UPtimist]

Hwæt! We Gardena

in geardagum,

þeodcyninga,

þrym gefrunon

,
hu ða æþelingas

ellen fremedon.

Oft Scyld Scefing

sceaþena þreatum,

5
monegum mægþum,

meodosetla ofteah,

egsode eorlas.

Syððan ærest wearð

feasceaft funden,

he þæs frofre gebad,

weox under wolcnum,

weorðmyndum þah,

oðþæt him æghwylc

þara ymbsittendra

10
ofer hronrade

hyran scolde,

gomban gyldan.

þæt wæs god cyning!

Ðæm eafera wæs

æfter cenned,

geong in geardum,

þone god sende

folce to frofre;

fyrenðearfe ongeat

15
þe hie ær drugon

aldorlease

lange hwile.

Him þæs liffrea,

wuldres wealdend,

woroldare forgeaf;

Beowulf wæs breme

(blæd wide sprang),

Scyldes eafera

Scedelandum in.

20
Swa sceal geong guma

gode gewyrcean,

fromum feohgiftum

on fæder bearme,

þæt hine on ylde

eft gewunigen

wilgesiþas,

þonne wig cume,

leode gelæsten;

lofdædum sceal

25
in mægþa gehwære

man geþeon.

Him ða Scyld gewat

to gescæphwile

felahror feran

on frean wære.

Hi hyne þa ætbæron

to brimes faroðe,

swæse gesiþas,

swa he selfa bæd,

30
þenden wordum weold

wine Scyldinga;

leof landfruma

lange ahte.

þær æt hyðe stod

hringedstefna,

isig ond utfus,

æþelinges fær.

Aledon þa

leofne þeoden,

35
beaga bryttan,

on bearm scipes,

mærne be mæste.

þær wæs madma fela

of feorwegum,

frætwa, gelæded;

ne hyrde ic cymlicor

ceol gegyrwan

hildewæpnum

ond heaðowædum,

40
billum ond byrnum;

him on bearme læg

madma mænigo,

þa him mid scoldon

on flodes æht

feor gewitan.

Nalæs hi hine læssan

lacum teodan,

þeodgestreonum,

þon þa dydon

45
þe hine æt frumsceafte

forð onsendon

ænne ofer yðe

umborwesende.

þa gyt hie him asetton

segen geldenne

heah ofer heafod,

leton holm beran,

geafon on garsecg;

him wæs geomor sefa,

50
murnende mod.

Men ne cunnon

secgan to soðe,

selerædende,

hæleð under heofenum,

hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.