Beowulf 2231-2270: Lament of the Last Survivor (From Old English)

Lament of the Last Survivor 
(Beowulf 2231-2270)
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

　　That earthhall teemed　with treasures of old. 　

In days long gone　a forgotten man,

brooding and prudent,　buried dear riches,

the heaped legacy　of a highborn race,

in this earthen vault. 　Vulturing death

had taken them all　in times gone by,

and left this one　who walked there still,

last survivor　of a vanished tribe,

a despondent guard,　expecting their fate:

to enjoy all　this agelong wealth

for a brief moment.　The barrow was ready

built and waiting 　by breaking waves

crafted for safety,　set on the headland.

That ring-keeper　 carried inward

all the gold-plated 　goods that he had

worth protecting. 　His words were these few:

　　"Hold now, O earth,　what heroes cannot:

Warriors' treasure.　True men of honor

first delved it from you.　Death in battle

has mowed them down.　Mortal horror

has made away　with the mortal souls

of all my clan　who have quit this life.

No more for them 　the meaded joy

of earls in the hall.　I've nobody

to bear a blade　or bring the cup's

burnished meadgold.　My men are away.

The hard helmet　hasped in goldwork

must lose its hoop.　Helm-shiners sleep

who once burnished　my battle-mask. 

The war-mantle　that weathered brawls

through the burst of shields 　and the bite of steel

rots with the warrior.　The whorled hauberk

will wander no more　on the warchief's back

beside his braves. 　No more brilliant harps'

tune of timber.　No trained falcon

swooping the songhall.　No swiftfoot horse 

pawing the courtgrounds.　Plunder and slaughter

oust whole peoples　out of existence."

　　So the survivor mourned 　remembering things gone,

Alone after them all,　aching and maundering

For days and nights. 　Then death's tide seethed

And hit his heart.　

The Original:

　　　　　　þér wæs swelcrá felá

in þǽm eorðselí　 ǽrġistréoná,

swé híæ on ġárdagum 　gumaná náthwelċ,

iorminláƀǽ 　æðilan cynnæs,

þonchycgændí　 þér gihýddǽ,

díorǽ máðmas. 　Allǽ híæ déaþ fornom

ǽrran mélum,　 ænd se án þá ġén

líodá duguðǽ 　se þér længist hwearƀ,

weard winiġómor, 　wéndǽ þæs ylcan,

þæt hé lýtil fæc 　longġistréoná

brúcan móstí.　 Berg allġearu 

wunudǽ on wongǽ, 　wæterýðum néh

níowi bi næssǽ 　nearucræftum fæst. 

þér on innan bær 　eorlġistréoná

hringá hirdí,　 horddwiorðnǽ dǽl,

fǽttan goldæs,　 féa wordá cwæþ:

Hald þú nú, hrúsǽ,　nú hæliþ ni móstun,
eorlá ǽhti.　Hwæt hit ǽr on þé
gódǽ biġétun;　gúþdéaþ fornam,
ferhbalu frœ́cni　firhá ġihwelċnǽ,
líodá mínrá,　 þonǽ þe þis líƀ ofġæƀ,
secgá selidréamas.　Náh hwá sweord weġǽ
oþþǽ forþ berǽ　fǽtid wéġí,
drynċfæt díorí:　duguþ ellor sċóc.
Sċæl se heardá helm　hyrstidgoldǽ
fǽtum bifallæn:　feormiænd swefaþ,
þá þe beadugríman　bíowan sċoldun,
gé swelċǽ sío heripád,　sío æt hildí ġibád
oƀær bordá ġibræc　bití íserná,
brosnaþ æftær beornǽ.　Ni mæġ byrnan hring
æftær wíġfruman　wídǽ fœ́ran,

hæliðum bi halƀǽ;　nis hearpan wyn,
gomæn glíwbéamæs,　ni gód haƀuc
ġeond sæl swingiþ,　ni se swiftá mærh
burhstedi béatiþ.　Bealucwalm haƀaþ
felá ferhcynná　forþ onsændid!

swé ġómormód　ġehþu mǽndǽ

án æfter allum,　unblíþí hwearƀ

dæġæs ænd næhtæs,　oþþæt déaðæs wælm

hrán æt heortan