Beowulf: Translations by Benjamin Thorpe (1865)
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Click for a larger version (900 pixels high) The Anglo-Saxon Poems of Beowulf, The Scop or Gleeman's Tale, and The Fight at Finnesburg. James Wright, Oxford University, 1865. ISBN: none.
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[lines 194-224a in section III and 8th line from the bottom of folio 134r to 4th line from the bottom of folio 134v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {Beowulf hears about Grendel and decides to travel from his home in Geatland (southern Sweden) to Heorot (in northeast Denmark) to see if he can help out. }
When from home had heard Hygelac's thane,
(a good man among the Goths,) of Grendel's deeds;
who of mankind was in power strongest
in that day of this life,
noble and vigorous, he bade for him a wave-transverser
good be prepar'd; said that he the war-king
over the swan-road would seek,
the renowned prince, as he had need of men.
That voyage to him prudent men
somewhat blam'd, though he was dear to them;
* * * * * *
* * * they whetted the renowned chief,
observed the omen; the good chief had
of the Goth's people chosen champions,
of those whom he the bravest could find;
with some fifteen the floating wood he sought.
A warrior pointed out, a water-crafty man,
the land-boundaries. A time passed on,
the floater was on the waves, the boat under the mountain;
the ready warriors on the prow stept;
the streams roll'd the sea against the sand;
the warriors bare, into the bark's bosom,
bright arms, a sumptuous war-equipment;
the men shov'd out, the people, on the welcome voyage,
the bound wood. Departed then o'er the wavy sea,
by the wind impell'd, the floater foamy-neck'd,
to a bird most like, till that about an hour
of the second day the twisted prow
had sail'd, so that the voyagers
saw land, the ocean-shores shine,
mountains steep, spacious sea-nesses.
Then was the sea-sailer at the end of its watery way.
thence up quickly the Weders' people
stept on the plain; the sea-wood tied,
their mail-shirts shook, their martial weeds;
they thanked God, for that to them the wave-paths
had been easy.  


[lines 791-819a in section XII and 8th line from the top of folio 147r to 13th line from the top of folio 147v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {At this moment Beowulf and Grendel are fighting and Grendel is howling and screaming and wishing to escape but Beowulf has grabbed Grendel's arm and is using his incredible hand-strength to hold on to him. }
Would not the refuge of earles for any thing
the deadly guest leave living,
nor his life-days to any people
accounted useful. Then forthwith drew
a warrior of Beowulf's an ancient relic;
he would his lord's life defend,
the great prince's, if they might so do.
they knew it not, when they endur'd the strife,
the bold eager sons of battle,
and on every side thought to hew,
his soul to seek, that the wicked scather
on earth not any choicest of irons
no battle falchion, would touch;
but he martial weapons had forsworn,
every hedge whatever. His life-divorce was,
on that day of this life
to be miserable, and the departing ghost
into the power of fiends far to travel,
Then that found, he who before many,
in mirth of mood, against the race of men,
crimes had perpetrated, (He was the foe of God,)
that him his body would not avail;
for him the proud kinsman of Hygelac
had in hand; was each to other
hateful living; body pain endur'd
the fell wretch; on his shoulder was
a deadly wound manifest, the sinews sprang asunder,
the bone-casings burst; to Beowulf was
warlike fierceness given;


[lines 1537-1569 in sections XXII and XXIII and 5th line from the bottom of folio 163v, through folio 164r to 4th line from the top of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here. Note: there is a discussion of the word eaxle in line 1537a on my page on Shoulder Grabbing vs. Hair Pulling

    {At this moment Beowulf has just failed to hurt Grendel's mother with the sword Hrunting and he tries to wrestle her as he had done with Grendel. }
Seiz'd then by the shoulder, (he rock'd not of her malice)
the war-Goths' lord, Grendel's mother;
then the fierce warrior drag'd (as he was incens'd,)
the mortal foe, so that on the place she bow'd.
She him again quickly paid a hand-reward
with her fierce grasps, and at him caught;
overthrew then the weary of mood, of warriors strongest,
the active champion, so that he was about to perish.
She then press'd down the hall-guest, and her poniard drew,
broad, brown-edged; she would avenge her son,
her only offspring. On his shoulder lay
the braided breast-net, which his life protected,
against point and against edge entrance withstood.
Had then perish'd Ecgtheow's son
under the spacious ground, the Goths' champion,
had not him his martial byrnie help afforded,
his war-net hard, and hold God
in war triumphant, rul'd; the wise Lord,
Ruler of the skies, decided it with justice
easily, when he again stood up.

Then saw he among the arms a victorious falchion,
an old eotenish sword of edges doughty,
the pride of warriors; that was of weapons choicest,
save it was greater than any other man
to the game of war might bear forth,
good and elegant, the work of giants.
Then seiz'd he the knotted hilt, the Scylding's warrior;
fierce and deadly grim, the ringed brand he drew,
of life hopeless angrily struck,
so that against her neck it grip'd her hard,
her bone-rings broke, the falchion pass'd through all
her fated carcase; on the ground she sank.
The sword was gory, the warrior in his work rejoiced;


[lines 1584b-1590 in section XXIII and 7th line from the bottom of folio 164v to first half of the last line of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {At this moment Beowulf has just discovered Grendel's lifeless body lying in the cave. }
He had for that paid him his reward,
the fierce champion, so well that on his couch he saw,
of contest weary, Grendel lying,
lifeless, as had for him before decided
the conflict at Heorot. (The corpse sprang far away,
when after death he the stroke suffer'd,
the hard sword-blow,) and him then sever'd from his head.


[lines 2672b-2708a in sections XXXVI and XXXVII and 8th line from the bottom of folio 189A197r, through folio 189A197v to 3rd line from the top of folio 189r on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {At this moment, Wiglaf has just run into the flames to be by Beowulf's side and the dragon has charged at them both, incinerating Wiglaf's shield. }

with flame-waves was burnt
the broad war-disk; the byrnie might not
to the young warrior aid afford;
but the young man under his kinsman's shield
valorously went, when his own was
by the gleeds consum'd. then again the warlike king
his glories call'd to mind, with main strength struck
with his battle falchion, so that on the head it stood
by hate impel'd; Nægling snapt asunder,
fail'd in the conflict, Beowulf's sword,
an ancient and grey brand; it was not granted him
that him iron edges might
in battle help; the hand was too strong,
which every falchion, as I have heard,
by its stroke overpower'd, although he to the contest bore
a weapon wondrously hard, yet 'twas naught for him the better.
Then was the great destroyer, a third time,
the fell fire-drake, mindful of enmities;
he rush'd on the renown'd chief, then him amply requited,
hot and fiercely grim his whole neck he clasp'd
with his horrid bones; he ensanguin'd was
with life-gore; the blood in waves bubbled,

Then I have learned that at need of the great king
the warrior earl valour manifested,
craft and courage, as to him was natural:
he heeded not the head, but the hand burn'd
of the bold man, that he might his kinsman help;
then he the hostile guest somewhat lower struck,
the warrior in arms, so that the sword div'd
blood-stain'd and ornate, so that the fire began
afterwards to abate; then again the king himself
got command of his senses, drew his deadly knife,
bitter and battle-sharp, that he on his byrnie bore;
the Weders' protector scor'd the worm in the middle,
fell'd the foe, avenged his deadly ardour,
and they him then both had destroy'd,
the kindred princes;
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