gfish | Beowulf 44

Last year I started translating Beowulf. During downtime in Houston (some of it in the Reduced Gravity Office, even) I finally finished the next section. As before, this was done without reference to any existing translation. Of course, it being my favorite mythos, I do know the story quite well.

Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan,
þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon
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,
murnende mod. Men ne cunnon
secgan to soðe, selerædende,
hæleð under heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.

ða wæs on burgum Beowulf Scyldinga,
leof leodcyning, longe þrage
folcum gefræge (fæder ellor hwearf,
aldor of earde), oþþæt him eft onwoc
heah Healfdene; heold þenden lifde,
gamol ond guðreouw, glæde Scyldingas.

ðæm feower bearn forð gerimed
in worold wocun, weoroda ræswan,
Heorogar ond Hroðgar ond Halga til;
hyrde ic þæt wæs Onelan cwen,
Heaðoscilfingas healsgebedda.

þa wæs Hroðgare heresped gyfen,
wiges weorðmynd, þæt him his winemagas
georne hyrdon, oðð þæt seo geogoð geweox,
magodriht micel. Him on mod bearn
þæt healreced hatan wolde,
medoærn micel, men gewyrcean
þonne yldo bearn æfre gefrunon,
ond þær on innan eall gedælan
geongum ond ealdum, swylc him god sealde,
buton folcscare ond feorum gumena.
ða ic wide gefrægn weorc gebannan
manigre mægþe geond þisne middangeard,
folcstede frætwan. Him on fyrste gelomp,
ædre mid yldum, þæt hit wearð ealgearo,
healærna mæst; scop him Heort naman
se þe his wordes geweald wide hæfde.

He beot ne aleh, beagas dælde,
sinc æt symle. Sele hlifade,
heah ond horngeap, heaðowylma bad,
laðan liges; ne wæs hit lenge þa gen
þæt se ecghete aþumsweorum
æfter wælniðe wæcnan scolde.

ða se ellengæst earfoðlice
þrage geþolode, se þe in þystrum bad,
þæt he dogora gehwam dream gehyrde
hludne in healle; þær wæs hearpan sweg,
swutol sang scopes. Sægde se þe cuþe
frumsceaft fira feorran reccan,
cwæð þæt se ælmihtiga eorðan worhte,
wlitebeorhtne wang, swa wæter bebugeð,
gesette sigehreþig sunnan ond monan
leoman to leohte landbuendum
ond gefrætwade foldan sceatas
leomum ond leafum, lif eac gesceop
cynna gehwylcum þara ðe cwice hwyrfaþ.

Still more, smaller sacrifices were prepared,
Treasures of the nation were taken.
At first light they were sent forth
One after another, over the waves.
Great golden banners they placed
Above, and left for the ocean to carry.
Sad in spirit, with sickened heart,
Trusting him to the sea. Truth be told,
Man doesn’t know the great ruler,
His warriors under heaven,
Who received their cargo.

Folk long heard of Beowulf, son of Shuld,
A beloved king. Sent out by his father
the lord of the land, the great Halfdane
returned, cherised while he lived,
The battle-tested, brilliant Shuld’s son.

From him four children came forth
They woke the world as leaders of men
Heorogar and Hrothgar and good Halga,
And the queen of Onela the War-Swede.

To Hrothgar was war-success given,
In battle so cunning and crafty his kinsmen
Eagerly gathered, and young he gained
A warrior-band renowned. Later he wished
For a meadhall mighty, and his men
Created what he commanded.
As the ages will always hear and admire,
There within all was shared
To young and old, all given generously
Except to fallen warriors and foreigners.
I have widely heard of work called for,
Many peoples from throughout this world
The dwelling to decorate.
Immediately after it was finished,
This greatest hall ever, it was named Heorot
By this word Hrothgar’s mastery was widely held.

His boasts were honored, rings were shared,
Treasures given at feasts. His hall rose,
Hale and wide of horn, tried in hostile
Battle fires. It was not long before
An oathbreaker awoke, a murderer most evil.

Though strong in spirit, this monster suffered
Daily, damned in the darkness
To listen to the laughter ring loudy and
Heartily in the hall. Harps sounded,
Crafting song. They told the creation
Of the first people as it was known.
Quoth they that the almighty made the Earth,
Shimmering plains as seas retreated,
Triumphantly placing the sun and moon,
Bright lights for the earth’s inhabitants,
Adorning the earthly areas with
Light and leaves.

Beowulf 44 - 98

BTW