Beowulf 1-228: Dawn of Things Ferocious (From Old English)

Dawn of Things Ferocious
Opening of Beowulf (1-228)
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

If you want to hear me recite the original in Mercian Old English, head on over here

Yes we have heard the deeds　of the Dane heroes,

their tribes' high kings　in times gone by

how those noble men　made their glory.

There was Shield Sheaving　who shattered foes 

and put down hordes:　the hall-smashing

scourge of the Earlings.　In Ancient Denmark,

a lone foundling, 　he lived to rise

from rags under heaven　to high honor

till every clan　round those outland coasts

over the blue whale-ride　obeyed his will,

and gave him gold.　 Good king indeed. 

To him a boy　 was born later,

a cub in the court,　 a comfort sent

to that nation by God　who knew how much

living misery　for lack of a prince

they had long suffered. 　So that Life-Ruling

Sovereign of Glory　soon granted that prince

success in this world.　He won a name.

So far and wide　went the fame of Beow,

the scion of Shield　in Scandinavia.

So should young prince　take proper care

to give freely　while his father lives

so that in age later　loyal companions

will stand by his side,　subjects back him

when his enemies march.　A man will thrive

through acts of honor　in every land.

Then Shield passed on　when his hour had come,

Still vigorous, he crossed　to the care of the Lord,

and his dear comrades　did as he bade them

when he spoke the law　as Lord of the Danes.

To the curling sea　they carried the body

of their beloved chief　who had long ruled them. 

A ring-necked hull　 rode there at harbor,

an outbound, king-fit 　and ice-clad craft.

In it they laid　their beloved king,

their ring-sharer　in the ship's hollow

majestic by the mast.　Then a mass of wealth

and treasure from afar　 was fetched aboard.

I've heard of no ship decked 　so magnificently

with battle-trappings,　 with blades of war,

with maskhelms and mail. 　Amazing riches

were laid on his breast, 　bound to travel 

far out with him 　into the ocean's sway.

His men decked him 　with more treasure

from a nation's wealth 　than those warriors did

who first launched him　 as a little child

out wandering 　the waves alone. 

They raised a great　 golden standard

above his head, 　and let the blue have him.

He was ceded to the sea. 　Sadness took them

mourning their sovereign. 　Not a man breathing,

heaven-tried veteran　or hall's advisor,

can say for sure 　who salvaged that haul.

Then Beo was king　 crowned over Denmark,

long a beloved 　leader of his people,

famed everywhere　 after his father

had quit this earth. 　Then his heir was born:

the great Halfdane　 who held the realm

as their fierce elder 　and fighter prince

all the days of his life. 　This liege of the Danes

became father　to four children　

who entered this world　one after another:

Heorogar, Hrothgar　and Halga the Good,

then they say Yrse was queen　 by Onela's side,

a warmth in the bed 　of the war-chilled Swede.

Wartime fortune　 favored Hrothgar.

His sword's success　 saw his kinsmen

and friends all flock 　to fight under him

until that young cadre　of recruits had swelled

into a huge legion.　So Hrothgar's mind

turned to hallwork.　He had his men

work on a meadhall　more massive than all

of humankind　had heard of before.

Beneath its stately roof　he would distribute all

the gifts that God  　had given to him

save public land 　and people's lives

So far and wide 　through the world, they say,

peoples everywhere　got his orders to work 

adorning that Danehall.　Soon done quickly

it rose to men's eyes, 　ready and finished,

the great hall of all halls.　Heorot was the name

he gave it, whose word　 was warrant and law.

He held fast to his word　with feasts and rings

as he handed out gold. 　The hall towered

with wide and grand　gables awaiting

a horrid burning.　Blood's atrocity

would not be long coming:　killer in-laws

unleashing their blades　in a barbarous hate.

Meanwhile the weird demon　 who walked the dark

nursed a long grievance. 　It gnashed his guts

to hear the jangle and boom 　of banqueting joy

every day in that hall,　 the harp ringing

and the poet's song 　resounding there:

He who mastered the tale 　of man's beginnings

sang how　

　　　　  the Almighty　 first made the earth

　　　　  a wonder plain　 washed with ocean,

　　　　  set in triumph 　the sun and moon

　　　　  as lantern lights 　for the landwalkers,

　　　　  ornamented 　the earth's broad lap

　　　　  with leaf and bough, 　and made life quicken

　　　　  in every thing 　that acts and moves.

So the thanes in that hall　lived happy times

blessed without worry　till that one creature,

a freak of hell,　did heinous things.

Grim, godawful　Grendel they called him:

marchland-stalker,　marshland-ruler

of the fen stronghold.　This foul-starred man

had had a miserable home　in the monsterlands

cursed by his creator　with the kin of Ham,

into the outworld.　 For Abel's blood

the Lord of All 　exacted full price.

he got no good from that feud.　God banished him

far from humans　for foul murder.

That cursed seed spawned 　all unspeakable things:

kobolds, orc-elves　and ogre-zombies

and the giants too　who took on God

again and again　till they got their reward.

So Grendel lit out　after nightfall

for the lofty hall,　on the hunt for Danes

now bedded down　after banquet and drink,

and there they were:　a warrior band

asleep after feasting.　They felt no pain,

none of man's misery.　In a murderous flash

That grim, greedy　ungodly thing

made savagery,　seized thirty men

right where they lay　and rushed away

proud of his plunder.　The puffed demon

shambled homeward　with his haul of gore.

Then in the early grey　hours of morning

Grendel's carnage　 lay clear to men.

In their wassail's wake　they wept to the skies,

dirging in dawnlight. 　Danelord Hrothgar,

storied sovereign,　now sat stricken,

a chief dread-hurt　at the death of his men

when they looked at the tracks　left there in blood

by the goddamned ghoul.　 The grief was too much,

long and loathsome.　There was little time. 

For one night later　lethal Grendel

massacred more.　Remorse he had none

for this terror feud:　it was too much fun.

Then it was easy to meet　 a man who preferred

to sleep elsewhere 　at a safe distance

in the outbuildings.　 If they had eyes in their heads

they had hard evidence　 of the unholy

hall-stalker's hate.　 They hurried far

away from the freak 　if they wanted to live.

It was a war against right: 　the reign of one ghoul

against everyone, 　till that greatest of halls

was left empty. 　On went the horror. 

For twelve winters 　tortured Hrothgar,

sapped with sorrow,　 sank in agony.

Woes rammified.　 So word soon spread

through the children of man. 　All mortal ears

heard terrible 　tales of Grendel

harrowing Hrothgar,　 his hateful raids,

the interminable feud 　of his terror campaign,

of total war. 　He wanted no terms

with any man 　who marched for the Dane,

would not pause the gore,　paid no bloodfee,

(Not that counsellors　had cause to expect

fair reparation 　from this marauding fiend.)

This dark deathshade　was a danger to men

and he hunted them all,　the old and the young,

as he roved and swooped, 　ruled mist-wraithed moors

in ceaseless night. 　Sane men don't know

where wild hellwits'　wanderings take them.

So he waged his long 　and lonely war

on all mankind:　 endless atrocities,

unnatural wrongs. 　As nights darkened

he took over 　treasured-decked Heorot

(Though he refused to approach 　the fine gift-throne.

He wanted no truck 　with treasure at all.)

It was loathsome days 　for the lord of Danes,

and it broke his mind.　 His best officers,

earnest counsellors, 　would often sit

debating how 　brave defenders

might even stand against　the ghoulish strikes. 

At times they prayed 　at pagan shrines,

brought offerings, 　begged and pleaded

with the soul-killer　 to come and save

a wracked nation. 　They knew no more

than this heathen hope. 　Hell had their minds

and hearts knotted. 　They had no idea

of the real maker, 　the Almighty Lord

who judges all, 　didn't even know

words to praise Him 　who wields glory

and helms heaven. 　Unhappy they

who bid the blaze 　embrace their souls

in troubled days. 　It will do nothing.

They have no help. 　Happy are any

whose soul in death 　can seek friendship

in the Father's embrace　 and find true peace.

So the time's troubles　 tortured the brooding

king constantly. 　He could not stop

his grief for the Danes. 　Too great the ordeal

of his people scourged, 　persecuted,

raided and harrowed 　by horrors of night.

Till at last a good man 　in the land of the Geats,

Hygelac's high thane, 　heard about Grendel.

He was the mightiest 　of men living

on mortal earth　in those elder days,

high-born and brave. 　He had them build

a sea-ranger,　and said he would go

sail the swan-way 　to seek that king,

noble Hrothgar 　who needed good men.

No Geat elder 　even begrudged him

this expedition, 　though he was dear to them,

but urged him to go. 　There were good omens.

from his own nation 　the noble man

picked out fighters:　 the fiercest Geats

that he could find. 　So, fifteen strong,

the war-band went 　to the wave-runner

under that sea-versed chief 　where surf met land. 

The time soon came.　With the clipper afloat

on cliffside waves,　 the war-blithe men

climbed the gangplank　as current-turned

sea churned the sand.　Sun-touched cargo

of weapons and mail　the warriors bore

into the hold of that ship.　Then they shoved out to sea

with her exquisite strakes　on a quest of men.

She went windblown.　A wave-scudder

with foam at the neck,　she flew like a bird,

till at the due hour　 just a day after

her curving prow　had coursed enough

for the sailors to get　glad sight of land:

Shining shorecliffs　and sheer headlands

with vast sea-capes.　So their voyage 

over the sea ended.　 Instantly then

the Stormgeats stood　and stepped on land.

They moored the ship,　shook their mailshirts

with a clinking thrash,　gave thanks to God

for how easy their way　on the waves had been.

The Original:

(Frumsceaft)

Hwæt wé gár-dæná      in ġár-dagum                   

þéod-cyningá      þrymm gifrugnun,

hú þá æðilingas      ellin fræmidun.

Oft sceld scéƀing      sceaðæná þréatum,

monegum mégðum      medu-setlá oftáh,

egisadǽ Iorlí.      Siþþan ǽrist wearþ

féascæft fundæn,      hé þæs fróƀrǽ gibád.

wéx undær wolcnum,      weorþ-myndum þáh,

oþþaet him œ́ghwelc þér      ymb-sittændrá

oƀær hron-rádǽ      héran scoldǽ,

gomban geldan.      Þæt wæs gód cyning

Ðǽm aƀurá wæs      æftær cænnid

ġung in geardum      þonǽ god sændǽ

folcǽ tó fróƀrǽ;      firin-þearƀǽ ongæt,

þæt híæ ǽr drugun      aldur-léasǽ

longǽ hwílǽ.      Him þæs líƀ-frëá

wuldræs waldænd      weruld-árǽ forgæƀ:

Bíowí wæs brœ́mí      – bléd wídǽ sprong –

Sceldæs aƀurá      scedi-londum in.

Swé scæl ġung gumá     gódǽ giwirċan

fromum feh-giftum     on fæder bearmǽ

þæt hinǽ on ældǽ     eft giwunigæn

wil-gisíðas,     þonnǽ wíg cumǽ

líodí gilǽstæn:     loƀ-dédum scæl

in mégðá gihwǽm    monn giþíän.

(Scyldes Feorhgedál)

Him þá Sceld giwát    tó giscæp-hwílǽ,      

felu-hrór fœ́ran    on fréan wérǽ.

Híæ hinǽ þá ætbérun    tó brimæs faruðǽ,

swésǽ gisíðas,    swé hé selƀá bæd,

þændæn wordum wéold    Wini Sceldingá

léoƀ lond-frumá    longǽ ǽhtí.

Þér æt hýðǽ stód    hringid-stefná,

ísig ænd útfús,    æðilingæs fær.

álægdun þá    léoƀnǽ þéodæn,

bégá bryttan     on bearm scipæs

mérnǽ bi mæstǽ.     Þér wæs máðmá felá

of feor-wegum     frætwá gilǽdid, 

ni hérdǽ ic cýmlicor     céol gigerwan

hildí-wépnum     ænd haðu-wédum,

billum ænd byrnum;     him on bearmǽ læg

máðmá mænigu     þá him mid scoldun

on flódæs ǽht     feor giwítan.

nallæs híæ hinǽ lǽssan      lácum tíodan

þéod-gistréonum      þonnǽ þá dédun

þe hinǽ æt frumscæftǽ      forþ onsændun

ǽnnǽ oƀær ýðǽ,      umbr-wesændí

Þá gét híæ him ásettun     segn gyldænnǽ

héh oƀær héaƀud,     létun holm beran,

géƀun on gársecg.     Him wæs ġómor seƀá,

murnændí mód.     Mæn ni cunnun

secgan tó sóðǽ     seli-rédændí

hæliþ undær heƀunum     hwá þǽm hlæstí onféng.

(Of þǽm strenge cwómun æftercyningas)

Þá wæs on burgum  Bío Sceldingá,               

léoƀ líod-cyning,    longǽ þrágǽ

folcum gifrégí    (fæder ellur hwearƀ,

aldur of eardǽ),    oþþæt him eft onwóc

héh Halƀdæní;    héold þændæn liƀdǽ,

gomol ænd gúðréow,    glædǽ Sceldingas.

Þǽm féowur bearn    forþ-girímid

in weruld wócun,    werudá réswan,

Herugár ænd Hróðgár    ænd Hálgá til;

hérdǽ ic þæt Ýrsǽ    wæs bi Onalan cwœ́n,

Haðu-scelƀingæs    hals-gibeddá.

(Heorotes gebytlung)

Þá wæs Hróðgárǽ    heri-spœ́d geƀæn,

wígæs weorð-mynd,    þæt him his wini-mágas

geornǽ hérdun,    oþþæt sío ġuguþ giwéx,

magu-dryht micil. Him on mód bi-arn           

þæt hal-reccid   hátan woldǽ,

medu-ærn márǽ,    mæn giwircan

þonnǽ ældá bearn    ǽfrǽ gifrugnun,

ænd þér on innan    all gidǽlan

ġungum ænd aldum,    swelc him god saldǽ,

búton folc-scærǽ    ænd ferhum gumaná.

þá ic wídǽ gifrægn    werc gibonnan

monegrǽ mégþǽ    ġond þisnǽ middan-geard,

folc-stedi frætwan.    Him on firstǽ gilomp,

édrǽ mid ældum,    þæt hit wearþ ælgearu,

hallærná mǽst;    scóp him Heort noman

sé þe his wordæs giwald    wídǽ hæƀdǽ.

Hé biát ni álég,    bégas dǽldǽ,

sinc æt simlǽ.    Seli hlíƀadǽ,

héh ænd horn-géap,    haðu-wælmá bád,

láðan lígæs;    ni wæs hit læṅgǽ þá gén

þæt se ecg-heti    áþum-swéoran

æftær wæl-níðǽ    wæcnan scoldǽ.

(Cymþ se Gǽst)

Þá se ellorgǽst    earƀoðlícǽ              

þrágǽ giþoladǽ,    sé þe in þíostrum bád,

þæt hé dógrá gihwǽm    dréam gihérdǽ

hlúdnǽ in hallǽ;    þér wæs hearpan swœ́g,

switul song scopæs.    Sægdǽ sé þe cúðǽ

frumscæft firhá    feorran reccan,

cwæþ þæt se ælmæhtġá   eorðan worhtǽ,

wliti-berhtnǽ wong,    swé wæter bibúgiþ,

gisettǽ sigi-hrœ́ðig    sunnan ænd mónan

léoman tó léhtǽ    lond-búændum

and gifrætwadǽ    foldan scéatas

léomum ænd léaƀum,    líƀ éc giscóp

cynná gihwelcum    þárá þe cwicǽ hwerƀaþ.

Swé þá dryht-guman    dréamum liƀdun

éadiglícǽ,    oþþæt án ongon

firinǽ fræmman    fíond on hellǽ.

Wæs se grimmá gǽst    Grændil hátæn,

mérí mærc-stapá,    se þe móras héold,

fæn ænd fæstæn;    fífl-cynnæs eard

won-sélig wer    weardadǽ hwílǽ,

siþþan him sceppænd    forscriƀæn hæƀdǽ

in Camæs cynnǽ.    Þonǽ cwalm giwræc

écí dryhtin,    þæs þe hé Ábel slóg;

ni gifeh hé þǽrǽ fǽhðǽ,    ac hé hinǽ feor forwræc,

metud forǽ þý mánǽ,    mon-cynnǽ from.

Þanon untýdras    allǽ onwócun,

etunas ænd ælƀí    ænd orcnëas,

swelcǽ gígantas,    þá wiþ godǽ wunnun

longǽ þrágǽ;    hé him þæs léan forgald.

(Fyrist Hráfiell)

Giwát ða níosan,    siþþan næht bicwóm,

héän húsæs,     hú hit Hringdæní

æftær béorþegǽ     gibún hæƀdun.

Fond þá þér-innǽ    æðilingá gidryht

swefan æftær simlǽ;    sorgǽ ni cúðun,

wonscæft werá    Wiht unhǽlu,

grim ænd grédig,    gearu sóná wæs,

réc ænd rœ́ðí,    ænd on ræstǽ ginom

þrítig þegná,    þanon eft giwát

húðǽ hrémig    tó hám faran,

mid þǽrǽ wælfyllí    wícá níosan.

þá wæs on úhtan      mid ǽrdægǽ

Grændlæs gúðcræft    gumum underní;

þá wæs æftær wistǽ    wóp up áhæƀæn,

micil morgin-swœ́g.     Mérí þéodæn,

æðiling ǽr-gód     unblíðí sæt.

Þoladǽ þrýð-swíþ.     Þegn-sorgǽ drég

siþþan híæ þæs láðan     lást scéawadun

wærgan gǽstæs.     Wæs þæt giwin tó strong

láþ ænd longsum.     Næs hit læṅgrá first

ac ymb ánǽ næht     eft gifræmidǽ

morþ-bealu márǽ,     ænd ná mearn forǽ,

fǽhðǽ ænd firinǽ:     wæs tó fæst on þǽm.

(Egifitt)

þá wæs éðfyndí,      þe him ellæs hwér

girúmlícor      ræstǽ sóhtǽ,

bed æftær búrum,      þá him gibécnud wæs,

gisægd sóðlícǽ      swetulan tácnǽ

hall-þegnæs heti:      héold hinǽ siþþan

firr ænd fæstor      se þǽm fíond ætwand.

Swé ríxadǽ      ænd wiþ rehtǽ won

áná wiþ allum      oþþæt ídel stód 

húsá sélist.      Wæs sío hwíl micil:

twelf wintrá tíd      torn giþoladǽ

wini Sceldingá,      wéaná gihwelcnǽ,

sídrá sorgá.     For þǽm giséní wearþ

ældá bearnum,      un-derní cúþ

geddum ġómrǽ,      þætte Grændil won

hwílǽ wiþ Hróþgár,      heti-níðas wæg,

firinǽ ænd fǽhþǽ,      felá missirá(?)

singálǽ sæccǽ.      Sibbǽ ni woldǽ

wiþ monná hwonǽ      mægnæs Dænigá

ferh-bealu firran,      feo(h)ǽ þingian,

ni þér nǽnig witaná      wénan þorftǽ

berhtrǽ bótǽ      tó bonan folmum

ac se æglǽcá      œ́htændí wæs

derc déaþ-scúá,      duguðǽ ænd ġuguðǽ,

semadǽ ænd seridǽ.      Sinnæhtí héold

mistgǽ móras.      Mæn ni cunnun 

hwider hel-rúnan      hwyrftum scríðaþ. 

(Heorot Gehergod) 

Swé felá firiná       fíond moncynnæs

atul ángæṅgá       oft gifræmidǽ,

heardrá hénðá.       Heorot eardadǽ,

sinc-fágǽ sæl       sweartum næhtum.

Ná hé þonǽ gifstól       grétan móstí:

máðm formetadǽ      ni his myni wissǽ.

Þæt wæs wræc micil,       wini sceldingá,

módæs brecþá.       Monig oft gisæt

rící tó rúnǽ,       réd æhtadun ,

hwæt swíþ-ferhþum       sélist wérǽ

wiþ fér-gryrí       tó gifræmmænnǽ.

Hwílum híæ gihétun       æt hærgtraƀum

wíh-weorðungǽ,       wordum bédun

þæt him gǽst-baná       ġucǽ gifræmidǽ

wiþ þéod-þréawum.       Swelc wæs þéaw hirá,

hǽðinrá hyht:       hellǽ gimundun

in módseƀan;       metud híæ ni cúðun,

dédá dœ́mænd.       Ni wistun híæ dryhtin god,

né híæ húru heƀoná helm       herian ni cúðun,

wuldræs waldænd.       Wá biþ þǽm-þe scæl

þurg slíðnǽ níþ       sáwlǽ biscúƀan 

in fýræs fæðm,       fróƀrǽ ni wénan

wihtí giwændan.       Wél biþ þǽm-þe mót

æftær déaþdægǽ       dryhtin sœ́can

ænd tó fædr fæþmum       friðu wilnian.

Swé þá mél-cearǽ       magá Halƀdænæs

singálá séaþ.       Ni mæhtǽ snotr hæliþ

wéan onwændan:       wæs þæt giwin tó swíþ,

láþ ænd longsum,       þe on þá líodí bicwóm,

néd-wracu níþ-grim,       næht-bealwá mǽst.

(Hæleþ we þearƀiaþ)

þæt from hám gifrægn        Hygilácæs þegn,

gód mid Géatum,        Grændlæs dédá.

Sé wæs mon-cynnæs        mæginæs strængist

on þǽm dægǽ        þissæs líƀæs,

æþilí ænd écen.        Héht him ýþ-lidan

gódnǽ gigerwan:        cwæþ, hé gúþ-cyning

oƀær swon-rádǽ        sœ́can woldǽ,

mérnǽ þéodæn,        þá him wæs monná þearƀ.

þonǽ síþ-fæt him        snotrǽ ceorlas

lýt-hwón lógun,        þéh hé him léoƀ wérǽ:

hwettun hygi-rófnǽ        hǽl scéawadun.

hæƀdǽ se gódá        Géatá líodá

cæmpan gicoronǽ,        þárá-þe hé cœ́nustǽ

findan mæhtǽ.        Fífténá sum

sund-wudu sóhtǽ:        secg wísadǽ,

lagu-cræftig mon,        lond-gimercu.

(Ýðlád)

First forþ giwát.        Flotá wæs on ýðum,

bát undær bærgǽ.        Beornas gearwǽ

on stefn stigun.        Stréamas wundun,

sund wiþ sondǽ.        Secgas bérun

on bearm nacan        berhtǽ frætwǽ,

gúð-searu geatulíc.        Guman út scuƀon,

weras on wil-síþ,        wudu bundænnǽ.

Giwát þá oƀær wég-holm,        windǽ gifýsid,

flotá fámig-hals,        fuglǽ gilícust,

oþþæt ymb án-tíd,        óðræs dógræs

wundæn-stefná        giwædæn hæƀdǽ,

þæt þá líðændí        lond giségun,

brim-cliƀu blícan,        bergas stéapǽ,

sídǽ sǽ-nǽssas.        Þá wæs sund lidæn,

eoletæs(?) æt ændí.        Þanon ŭ́p hraðǽ

Wedrá líodí        on wong stigun:

sǽ-wudu sǽldun,        serċan hrisidun,

gúð-giwédu.        Godǽ þoncadun,

þæs-þe him ýð-ládǽ        éðí wurdun