IMAGES OF GOOD -AND EVIL— NARRATIVE POETRY JOETRY CAN do many things: it can teach and delight, explain and entertain, move men to tears or to action, The “Marseillaise” is a poem that inspired Frenchmen in a revolution, while “Thirty Days Hath September” only reminds us of the days in each month. No single theory of poetry will cover all cases—poetry can do anything that language can dob One of the things poetry does best is tell a story. From earliest times men have satisfied their need to preserve the past, and to record how things happened, by making stories—you might call it the human impulse to havé a history. And because rhythmical speech isteasier to remember thah ordinary speech, men made their histories into poems, which could’ be passed on from man to man, and from generation to generation. Much of the Bible is such a history-poem, and so are Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. So are Beowulf, and such anonymous ballads as “Sir Patrick Spence.” Later writers, responding to the same human need, have gone back to those early models for their materials: Milton took the “history” of Paradise Lost from the Book of Genesis, and the method from classical epics; Coleridge put his “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” into the form of a ballad. The storytelling powers of the traditional forms remain alive, and the ballad in particular is still vigorous in the twentieth century. So poems tell stories. But what is a story? Most simply, it is a record of choice and change. Because men live in time, and are conscious of it, they are preoccupied with the causes and effects of events in their lives, Why did he do it? What happened then? What would happen if? These are the constant human questions that make storytelling an inevitable part of our lives. The story we tell may be subtle and complex, may go into the depths of human feelings, or into history, or into fantasy, but it must involve human beings making choices, and being changed by them. Since stories are about choice and change, they are necessarily dramatic. Browning's dramatic monologues can be read as speeches spoken by characters in plays or as stories. Other storytelling poems have similar dramatic qualities: Mortis's “The Haystack in the Floods,” for example, could easily be turned into a little play, and Paradise Lost has many vast, dramatically conceived scenes. 1 }2 ‘Images of Good and Evil The first storytellers used verse to make their stories easier to remember. But they must aiso have been aware that stories in verse have special qualities that prose does not have. What poetry ha a particular kind of compression that strips away non-essentials and so heightens essential effects. In narrative poems, characters tend to be types rather than individuals, and biographical and physical details are left untold. (Consider how abruptly we meet Coleridge's Mariner, and how little we are told of Jehane in “The Haystack in the Floods” or the knight in “La Belle Dame Sans Merci.) No character in these poems is as vivid as a good short-story character, and it is not necessry that any should be. They are types, and their feelings are often those that we think of as primitive—love and hate, jealousy and guilt, desire and fear. These feelings are acted out in terms that leave the story free of the limitations of time and place (note how unimportant society is to any of the stories told here). This sectton of narrative poems is entitled “Images of Good and Evil.” Traditionally, central human conflicts have been seen as moral, and the world understood as a battlefield on which God and the Devil fought for the souls of men. Ideas of morality change, but the essential action remains’ moral one, a choice of Good or Evil. No other conflict is as dramatic as this one. The poems gathered ‘here range over twelve centuries of English + writing, Their subjects are various, but they are essentially similar in the way they tell their stories: that is, they compose a literary tradi- tion. Thus nineteenih-century poets could build on the methods of fifteenth-century ballad writers, and even a comic ballad like “The Walrus and the Carpenter” could depend for its humorous effects upon the tradition that it mocks. Samuel HynesSe 7 Beowulf, the earliest significant work in English literature, was composed by an unknown author sometime during the eighth century, about three hundred years after the Angles and Sazons had first settled what was to become England. The heroic poem describes, in some 3200 lines, the adventures of a Scandinavian hero and king, Beowulf. It begins in Denmark, in the glorious reign of King Hrothgar, a rich and famous warricr toho lives comfortably among his soldiers in his great hall, Heorot, FROM BEOWULF So the lordly warriors lived in gladness, At ease and happy, till a fiend from hell Began a series of savage crimes. They called him Grendel, a demon grim Selections fom Becuif; The Oldest Englih Epi, translated by Charles W. Kennedy Copyright 1940 by Oxford University Pres, Inc. Renewed 1968 by Charles W. Kennedy. y Reprinted by permission i4 Images of Good and Evil s Haunting the fen-lands,” holding the fnoors) °°" 5 do, —(Ranging)the wastes, where the(wretchedwight” Serer OE ‘Made his(laiy)with the monster kin. . _f golor Then at the nightfall the fiend drew near > CBsectner~ econ Where the timbered mead-hall” towered on high, To spy how the Danes fared after the feast. 10 Within the wine-hall he found, the warriors Fast in (lumber) forgetting grief, Sac Forgetting the woe of the world of men. Grim and Greedy)the gruesome monster, . Fierce aird furious, launched attack, 15 CSlew)thirty spearmen asleep in the hall, Sped away(gloating, gripping) the(spoil, Dragging the dead men home to his deneso=-'¢ Then in the dawn with the coming of daybreak The war-might Of Grendel, was widely known. 20 — (Mirtl) was stilled by the sound of weeping; The wail of the(mourner awoke with day. And the peerless hero,* the honored prince, Weighed down with woe and heavy pf heart, Sat sorelygrieving for slaughtered thanes. ...tpuacones 25 So Grencel raided and ravaged the realm, ‘One against all, in an(evillwars Till the best of buildings was empty and still~ ‘Twas a weary while! Twelve winters’ time The lord of Scyldings* had suffered woe, 30 Sore affliction and deep distress, And the malice of Grendel, in mournful lays, Was widely sung by the sons of men, The hoteful Geudsthat he fought with Hrothgar— Sea temper io Year after year of struggle and strife, . 35 @ 1012 ,An endless’scourging) a scorning of peace gS) With any man of the Danish might. No strength could move him to stay his hand, Or pay for his murders; the wise knew well x) They could hope for no(halting of savage assault" 49 Like a dark death-shadow the:ravaging Memon, -destueb- Night-long prowling the misty moors, “Ensnared the warriors, wary)or weak. No man can say how these shades of hell Come and go on their grislyjrounds, eseluc antes, 45 With many an outrage, many a crime, Srev-ianps: marshy lands. € yor: creature. ® weAp-uatt: the great ban- 4queting hall, Heorot. Mead was a rich ale made from honey. weno: King Hrothgar. ®°taants: noble followers of the king. ®° Scv-pincs: Danes.Beowull 5 ‘The fierce lone-goer, the foe of man, - Gitained)the seats of the high built house, «<2 Acech» do4- Haunting the hall in the hateful dar} Then tales of the terrible deeds of Grendel 50 Reached Hygelac’s thane” in his home with the Geats, Of living strong men he was the strongest, oodat «Fearless and gallant and great of heart. He gave commarid for a goodly vessel — 0-v Fitted and furnished; he fain would sai Over the swan-toad* to seek the king, ‘Who suffered so sorely for need of men. ‘And his(bold)retainers found little to blame ors yy Agan? onto. g It his daring venture, dear though he was;quer'do © 9 zs They viewed the omens, and urged him on. «-sicrow 60 Brave was the bad he had gathered about him, Fourteen stalwarts) seasoned and bold, 15-4 isu. Seeking the shore where the ship lay waiting ~r A sea-skilled mariner sighting the landmarks, > «+00 Came the hour of boarding; the boat was riding 0s The waves of the harbor under the hill... The rae mariners mounted the prow; -> |» 5 oles ¢ Billows)were breaking, sea against sand. In the ship’s hold snugly jtheyStowed their trappings, at; Gleaming armor and battle-gear; _”« 7 Seege Launched the vessel, the well-braced bark,~ b>r= . . Seaward bound on a joyous journey. Over breaking billows, with bellying sail And foamy (beak) like a flying bird The ship sped on, till the next day’s sun 15 Showed sea-cliffs shining, towering hills And stretching headlands. The sea was crossed, The voyage ended, the vessel moored. ~'> And the Weder people* gvaded ashore -5 vs 1° With clatter of trappings and coats of mail; 80 Gave thanks to God that His grace had granted Sea-paths safe for their ocean-journey. The street had paving of colored stone; The path was plain to the marching men Bright were their bysnies,* hard and hand-linked; 8s In their shining armor the chain-mail sang ‘Aa the troop in their war-gear tramped to the hall. The sea-weary sailors set down their shields, ered® 55 pees? havio 6 St Hyortac’s rman: Beowulf, swan-nonp: sea. 7 Weer Yeorte: Geats. gS erm: coats of mail.6 Images of Good and Evil Their wide, bright(bucklers)along the wall, And sank to the bench, Their byrnies rang. %0 Their stout spears stood in a stack together Shod with iron and shaped of ash. "Twas a well-armed troop! Then a stately warrior Questioned the strangers about their kin: “Whence come ‘you bearing your burnished shields, 95 Your steel-gray harness and visored helms, Your heap of spears? I am(Hrothgar's herald) His servant-thane. I have never seen strangers, So great a number, of nobler mien. Not exiles, I ween, but high-minded heroes 300 In greatness of heart have you sought out Hrothgar.” Then bold under helmet the hero made answer, The lord of the Weders, manful of mood, Mighty of heart: ‘We are Hygelac’s men, His board-companions; Beowulf is my name. 10s I will state my mission to Healfdene’s son, The noble leader, your lordly prince, If he will grant approach to his gracious presence.” And Wulfgar answered, the Wendel* prince, Renowned for merit in many a land, no For war-might and wisdom: “I will learn the wish Of the Scylding leader, the lord of the Danes, Our honored ruler and giver of rings,* Concerning your mission, and soon report The answer our leader thinks good to give.” us He swiftly strode to where Hrothgar sat Old and gray with hisfearls about him; Crossed the floor and stood face to face With the Danish king; he knew courtly custom. ‘Wulfgar saluted his lord and friend: 320 “Men from afar have fared to our land Over ocean’s margin—men of the Geats, Their leader called Beowulf—seeking aiboon,, The holding of parley, my prince, with thee. O gracious Hrothgar, refuse not the favor! 125 In their splendid war-gear they merit well The esteem of earls; he’s a stalwart leader Who led this troop to the land of the Danes.” 100 Wutscan, Wevoet: Wulfgar was the herald at Hrothgar’s court; Wendel, the Scandinavian tribe to which he belongs. 18 civen oF ninco: king. According to custom, the ruler broke off bands of gold twisted around hs aim and gave them te his followers as symbols of their allegiance toHrothgar spoke, the lord of the Scyldings: “Their leader I knew when he still was a lad, His father was Ecgtheow, Hrethel the Geat Gave him in wedlock his only daughter. Now is their son come, keen for adventure, Finding his way to a faithful friend. Sea-faring men who have voyaged to Geat-land With gifts of treasure as token of peace Say that his hand-grip has thirty men’s strength. God, in His mercy, has sent him to save us— So springs my hope—from Grendel's assaults. For his gallant courage I'll load him with gifts! Make haste now, marshal the men to the hall, And give them welcome to Danish ground.” Then to the door went the well-known warrior, Spoke from the threshold welcoming words: “The Danish leader, my lord, declares That he knows your kinship; right welcome you come, You§tout)sea-rovers, to Danish soil. Enter now, in your shining armor And visored helmets, to Hrothgar’s hall. But leave your shields and shafts of slaughter To wait the issue and weighing of words.” Then the bold one rose with his band around him, A splendid massing of mighty thanes; A few stood guard as the Geat gave'bidding Over the weapons stacked by the wall They followed in haste on the heels of their leader Under Heorot’s roof. Full ready and bold The helmeted warrior strode to the hearth; Beowulf spoke; his byrny glittered, His war-net woven by cunning of smith: “Hil! King Hrothgar! I am Hygelac’s thane, Hygelac’s kinsman. Many a deed Of honor and daring I've done in my youth, This business of Grendel was brought to my ears On my native soil. The sea-farers say This best of buildings, this boasted hall, Stands dark and deserted when sun is set, When darkening shadows gather with dusk. The best of my people, prudent and brave, Urged me, King Hrothgar, to seek you out; They had in remembrance my courage and might. Many had seen me come safe from the conflict, Bloody from battle; five foes I boujid Of the giant kindred, and crushed their clan. 130 135 ado us 150 155 160 165 170 Beowulf 78 Images of Good and Evil Hard-driven in danger and darkness of night a5 I slew the nicors* that [Link] sea, Avenged the woe they had caused the Weders, And ended their evil—they needed the lesson! And now with Grendel, the fearful fiend, Single-handed I'll settle the strife! 180 Prince of the Danes, protector of Scyldings, Lord of nations, and leader of men, beg one favor—refuse me not, Since I come thus faring from far-off lands— . That I may alone with my loyal earls, 185 With this hardy company, cleanse Hart-Hall.* Thave heard that the demon in proud disdain Spurnsall weapons; and I too gcorn)— May Hygelac’s higrt have,joy of the deed— Tojbeai my sword, or sheltering shield, a0 Or yellow buckler, to battle the fiend. With hand-grip only I'll grapple)with Grendel; Foe against foe I'll fight to the death, ‘And the one who is taken must trust to God's grace! The demon, I doubt not, is minded to feast as In the hall unaffrighted, as often before, On the force of the Hrethmen, the folks of the Geats. No need then to bury the body he mangles! If death shall call me, he'll carry away My gory\flesh to his fen-retreat 200 To gorge pt leisure and gulp me down, Soiling the marshes with stains of blood. There'll be little need longer to care for my body! If the battle slays me, to Hygelac send This best of corselets that covers my breast, 205 Heisloom of Hrethel, and Wayland’s* work, Finest of byrnies. Fate goes as Fate must!” Hrothgar spoke, the lord of the Scyldings: “Deed of daring and dream of honor Bring you, friend Beowulf, knowing our need! 20 Your father once fought the greatest of feuds, Laid Heatholaf low, of the Wylfing line; And the folk of the Weders refused him shelter For fear of revenge. Then he fled to the South-Danes, The Honor-Scyldings beyond the sea 215 Twas then first governing Danish ground, 198 icons (nik’ers): sea monsters. 18° Hant-Hatt: Heorot theans “Hall of the Hart” 2° Wavuans: Wayland was a famous blackemith in Germfae legends, -‘Asa young lad ruling the spacious realm, The home-land of warriors. Heorogar was dead, The son of Healfdene no longer living, My older brother, and better than I! 220 Thereafter by payment composing the feud, Ofer the water's ridge I sent to the Wylfing Ancient treasure;* he swore me(aaths! It is sorrow sore to recite to another The wrongs that Grendel has wrought in the hall, 225 His savage hatred and sudden assaults. My war-troop is weakened, my hall-band is wasted; Fate swept them away into Grendel's grip. But God may easily bring to an’end The ruinous deeds of the ravaging foe. 230 Full often my warriors'gver their ale-cups Boldly boasted, when drunk with beer, ‘They would{bidd in the beer-hall the coming of battle, The fury of Grendel, with flashing swords. Then in the dawn, when the dayligh} strengthened, 235 The hall stood reddened and(reeking with gore, Bench-boards wet with the blood of battle; ‘And had the fewer of faithful fighters, Beloved retainers, whom Death had taken. Sit now at the banquet, unbend your mood, 240 Speak of great deeds as your heart may spur you!” “Then in the beer-hall were benches made ready For the Geatish heroes. Noble of heart, Proud and stalwart, they sat them down ‘And a beer-thane served them; bore in his hands 245 The patterned ale-cup, pouring the mead, While the scop’s sweet singing was heard in the hall. ‘There was joy of heroes, a host at ease, A welcome meeting of Weder and Dane. . After the royal entertainment, Hrothgar and his men leave the hall, where they fear to remain at night. But Beowulf and his followers, with weapons at hand, lie down to sleep in this menaced place. Once more Beowulf vows that he will meet the monster unarmed: In the shades of darkness we'll spurn the sword If he dares without weapon to do or to die. The men fall asleep. At midnight Grendel comes creeping through the mists sa-is) gue. measur: The Whyifing agreed to accept payment rather than take pessonal revenge fo Heathola death Beowult 910 Images of Good and Evil From the stretching moors, from the misty hollows, 250 Grendel came creeping, accursed of God, A murderous ravager minded to’snare* Spoil of heroes in high-built hall. } Under clouded heavens he held his way Till there rose before him the high-roofed house, 255 Wine-hall of warriors gleaming with gold. Nor was it the first of his fierce assaults ‘On the home of Hrothgar; but never before Had he found worse fate or hardier hall-thanes! Storming the building he burst the portal, 260 Though fastened of iron, with fiendish strength; Forced open the entrance in savage fury And rushed in rage o’er the shining floor. A baleful flare from his eyes was gleaming Most like to a flame. He found in the hall 265 Many, a wartior sealed in(shimber)) A host of kinsmen. His heart rejoiced; The savage monster was minded to sever [Link] bodies ere break of day, To feast his fill of the flesh of men. 270 But he was not fated to glut his greed With more of mankind when the night was ended! The hardy kinsman of Hygelac waited To see how the monster would make his attack The demon delayed not, but quickly (lutched as A sleeping thane in his swift assault, Tore him in pieces, bit through the bones, Gulped the blood, and gobbled)the flesh, Greedily gorged)on the lifeless corpse, The hands and the feet. Then the fiend stepped nearer, 280 Sprang on the Sea-Geat lying outstretched, Clasping him close with his monstrous claw. But Beowulf grappled and gripped him hard, Struggled up on his elbow; the shepherd of sins Soon found that never before had he felt 285 In any man other in all the earth A mightier hand-grip; his mood was humbled, His courage fled; but he found no escape! He was fain to be gone; he would flee to the darkness, The fellowship of devils. Far different his fate 290 From that which befell him in former days! The hardy hero, Hygelac’s kinsman, Remembered the boast he had made at the banquet; He sprang to his feet, clutched Grendel fst, f Though fingers were cracking, the fiend pulling free. 295The earl pressed after; the monster was minded To win his freedom and flee to the fens. He knew that his fingers were fast in the grip Of a savage foe. Sorry the venture, The raid that the@avager) made on the hall. There wad di , Heorot. For all the Danes, The city-dwellers, the stalwart Scyldings, That was a bitter épilling of beer! The walls resounded, the fight was fierce, Savage the strife as the warriors struggled. The wonder was that the(lofty}wine-hall Withstood the struggle, nor crashed to earth, The house so fair; it was firmly fastened Within and without with iron bands Cunningly smithied; though men have said ‘That many a mead-bench gleaming with gold Sprang from its(sill)as the warriors strove. The Scylding wise men had neverweened) That any ravage could wreck the building, Firmly fashioned and finished with bone, Or any cunning compass its fall, Till the time when the(swelter and surge of fire Should swallow it up in a(switl) of flame. Continuous tumult filled the hall; A terror fell on the Danish folk As they heard through the wall the horrible wailing, The groans of Grendel, the foe of God Howling his hideous hymn of pain, The hell-thane shrieking in sore defeat. He was fast in the grip of the man who was greatest Of mortal men in the strength of his might, Who would never rest while the wretch was living, Counting his life-days a menace to man. Many an earl of Beowulf brandished His ancient iron to guard his lord, To shelter safely the peerless prince. They had no knowledge, those daring thanes, When they drew their weapons td hack)and{hew, To thrust to the heart, that the sharpest sword, The choicest iron in all the world, Could work no harm to the hideous foe. On every sword he had laid a spell, On every blade; but a bitter death Yes to be his fate; far was the journey 516 compass: bring about. 303 0 aus 320 325 330 335 Beowulf 1112. Images of Good and Evil The monster made to the home of fiends. 340 Then he who had wrought such wrong to men, With grim delight as he warred with God, Soon found that his strength was feeble and failing In the crushing hold of Hygelac’s thane. Each foathed)the other while life should last! ais There Grendel suffered a grievous hurt, A wound in the shoulder, gaping and wide; Sinews)snapped and bone-joints broke, ‘And Beowulf gained the glory of battle. Grendel, fated, fled to the fens, 350 To his joyless dwelling, sick unto death. He knew in his heart that his hours were numbered, His days at an end. For all the Danes Theit wish was fulfilled in the fall of Grendel. The stranger from far, the stalwart and strong, 358 Had purged of evil the hall of Hrothgar, And cleansed of crime; the heart of the hero Joyed in the deed his daring had done The lord of the Geats made good to the East-Danes The boast he had uttered; he ended their ill, 360 And all the sorrow they suffered long And needs must suffer—a foul bffense. The token was clear when the bold in battle Laid down the shoulder and dripping claw— Grendel’s arm—in the gabled hall! 365 THE REMAINDER OF BEOWULF: A SUMMARY The remaining lines of the first part of the poem describe a further adventure of Beowulf. The Danes are praising and feast- ing him for his victory over Grendel, but another evil is abroad in the marshes— Grendel's mother, a monstrous hag’ After the feasting she comes to avenge her son’s death. In a raid on the darkened hall she slays Aéschere, Hrothgar’s chief coun- selor, and carries his body off to the fen. ‘Once again Beowulf prepares for battle, though warned that the home of the monsters is a mere, apool into whose © Cwelrd Waters even” The afitéved hit dtiven bylhcund). peed Will turn at bay and die on the(brink) Vo Ere ever he'll plunge into that haunted pool. Despite this warning Beowulf and his men make their way to the mere, the Danes following. There they find As- chere’s head, The pool is covered with a bloody frotlf,’th indication that Grendel's mother has carried A’schere’s body to her den at the bottom of the mere. Wearing full armor, Beowulf plunges into the water. ‘As he descends to the bottom, the monster attacks, but his armor shields him from her claws. She bears him to her cave. Although Beowulf strikes at her, his sword _aefails him, and he is forced to rely on naked strength. He seizes the monster, and they grapple and roll on the floor of the cave. In this furious fight she draws a daggerand tries to plunge it into him, but his armor shelters his life. Breaking away, he seizes a magic sword from a pile of war gear in the cave and strikes with all his strength, ‘The stout blade stabbed through her fated flesh. She sank in death. Looking around the cave, Beowulf dis- covers the corpse of Grendel. With an- other stroke of the magic sword he cuts off the monster's head. Meanwhile, those waiting on the edge of the mere have seen bloody\bubbles rising on the water. The Danes turn home- ward, sorrowing that Beowulf has been killed. But the Geats, sick at heart for the Joss of their leader, sit staring at the water. At last Beowulf reappears, bearing in his hands Grendel’s ghastly head. His joyful followers accompany him back to Heorot, carrying the monster's head on a pikestaff. That night another great feast marks the triumph of Beowulf, who has won a double victory over the forces of evil. The following day Beowulf and his men launch their ship and return to their own country. FOR DISCUSSION 1. Beowulf reveals much about tribal life and character in the Old English period. What are the most striking differences between the ideals of the Danes and Geats and those of modern Americans? 2. Pagan Germanic tribes were fatalistic; that is, no matter how harsh and cruel were the events of their lives, they accepted as neces: sary and inevitable the decrees of fate (or, as they called it, Wyrd). Find evidence in Beowulf of this acceptance of fate. What signs of Chris- ian influence did you notice in the poem? 3. Grendel “was not fated to glut his greed” (line 271). Before the fight you already know Beowult 13 A second, final part of the epic relates one more episode in Beowult’s life. As an old man, having reigned “full fifty win- ters” over the Geats in Sweden, Beowulf hears of a fire-dragon that is ravaging his land, He feels duty-bound ,to rid the country of this monster. Old as | am, | will fight this feud, Do manful deeds, if the dire destroyer Will come from his cavern to meet my ‘sword, Except for a faithful friend, Wiglaf, Beowult’s followers desert him as he sets out to meet the dragon. After a fearful struggle the old hero-king slays the fire~ dragon, but is himself mortally wounded. As he lies dying, he directs Wiglaf to have ‘his body burned on the shore and to build a great burial mound to guide mariners in ‘years to come: Bid wa:riors build, when they burn my body, stately barrow on the headland’s height. Itshall be for remembrance among my people As it towers high on the Cape of the Whale, And sailors shall know it as Beowulf’s Barrow, Sea-taring mariners driving their ships Through fogs of oceans from far countries. that the monster will lose. Does this affect your interest in the story? Is the plot of Beowull its most important attribute? What other qualities besides the plot might have appealed to early listeners of the poem? 4. An epic is @ long, serious narrative poem that focuses on a heroic figure on whose ac- tions the fate of a race or nation depends. To what extent is Beowulf an epic? FOR COMPOSITION + In an essay, distinguish the Christian ele- ments from the pagan elements in Beowulf and comment on their respective importance to the poem.150 155 160 165 170 175, wine Scyldinga, _weana gehwelcne, Sidra sorga. | Fordam secgum wear8, ve ® yldabearnum, —_undyrne cud, gyddum geomore, _paette Grendel wan hwile wid Hrobgar, —_hetenidas waeg, fyrene ond feehde —_fela missera, singale seece, _sibbe ne wolde wiS manna hwone —_maegenes Deniga, feothbealo feorran, fea pingian, ne paer naenig witena —_wenan borfte beorhtre bote to banan foimum, acse zeglacca —_chtende wars, deorcdeapscua, _dugube ond geogobe, seomade ond syrede, _sinnihte heold mistige moras; menne cunnon hwyder helrunan ——_hwyrftum seripad. Swafelafyrena__feond mancynnes, atol angengea, _oft gefremede, heardra hynda. —_Heorot eardode, sincfage sel swearturn nihtur; no he pone gifstol —_gretan moste, mapdum for metode, _ne his myne wisse. beet wees wreec micel wine Scyldinga, modes brecda. Monig oft gesaet rice torune; raed eahtedon hhwaet swidferhoum —selest waere wid feergryrum to gefremmanne. Hwilum hie geheton et haergtrafun wigweorbunga, —_ wordum baedon pact him gastbona _geoce gefremede840 245 850 855 860 865 8awason morgen mine gefrege ymb ba gifhealle —_gudrinc monig; ferdon folctogan _feorran ond nean geond widwegas —_ wundor sceawian, lapeslastas. No his lfgedal sarlic bute secga eenegum barapetirleases trode sceawode, hue werigmod on weg anon, ni6aofercumen, on nicera mere faege ond geflymed _feorhlastas beer. Ozer was onblode brim weallende, atol ya geswing _eal gemenged haton heolfre, _heorodreore weol Deadfaege deog, sidan dreama leas, infenfreodo _feorh alegde, hapene sawle; baer him hel onfeng. anon eft gewiton _ealdgesidas, swylce geong manig of gomenwabe fram mere modge —_ mearum ridan, beornason blancum. _dzer wees Beowulfes mardo maened; —_monig oft gecwaed baette sud ne nord be seem tweonum. ofereormengrund ober neenig, under swegles begong _selra nzere rondheebbendra, ices wyr6ra. Ne hie huru winedrihten wiht ne logon, gledne Hrodgar, ac baet wars god cyning. Hwilum heaporofe —_hleapan leton, ongeflitfaran _fealwe mearas Gzerhim foldwegas __faegere puhton,