The Banquet And The Gifts
Þâ wäs hâten hreðe Heort innan-weardfolmum gefrätwod: fela þæra wäswera and wîfa, þe þät wîn-reced,gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fâg scinonweb äfter wagum, wundor-sióna felasecga gehwylcum þâra þe on swylc staraðWäs þät beorhte bold tôbrocen swîðeeal inne-weard îren-bendum fäst,heorras tôhlidene; hrôf âna genäsealles ansund, þâ se aglæcafyren-dædum fâg on fleám gewand,aldres or-wêna. Nô þät ýðe byðtô befleónne (fremme se þe wille!)ac gesacan sceal sâwl-berendranýde genýdde niðða bearna
Then it was quickly ordered that insideHeorot be adorned by hand; there were many,men and women both, who decked outthat wine-hall, that guest-hall. Gold-woven hangingsshone along the walls, wonder after wonderfor everyone who looks on such things.That bright building was badly broken,though all the inside was bound fast with iron,its hinges wrenched apart; only the roof stayedwholly sound, when that monster,stained with wicked deeds, turned to flight,despairing of life. That is not easy to escape —let whoever wants to try it! — but every soul-bearer,every child of men, every dweller on earthmust, of necessity, seek out
grund-bûendra gearwe stôwe,þær his lîc-homa leger-bedde fästswefeð äfter symle. Þâ wäs sæl and mæl,þät tô healle gang Healfdenes sunu;wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.Ne gefrägen ic þâ mægðe mâran weorodeymb hyra sinc-gyfan sêl gebæran.Bugon þâ tô bence blæd-âgende,fylle gefægon. Fägere geþægonmedo-ful manig mâgas † þâraswîð-hicgende on sele þam heán,Hrôðgâr and Hrôðulf. Heorot innan wäsfreóndum âfylled; nalles fâcen-stafasÞeód-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.Forgeaf þâ Beówulfe bearn Healfdenes
the place made ready, where his body,fast in its resting-bed, will sleepafter the feast is over. Then it was the time,the season, for Healfdene’s son to go to the hall;the king himself wanted to share the feast.I never heard of a greater companybehaving better around their treasure-giver.They sat down on the benches then,those laden with glory, took their filland were glad of it. Courteously they drankmany a mead-cup, those kinsmen,strong-minded in the high hall,Hrothgar and Hrothulf. Heorot withinwas filled with friends; not at all, then,did the Scyldings practice treachery.
segen gyldenne sigores tô leáne,hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;mære mâððum-sweord manige gesâwonbeforan beorn beran. Beówulf geþahful on flette; nô he þære feoh-gyftefor sceótendum scamigan þorfte,ne gefrägn ic freóndlîcor feówer mâdmasgolde gegyrede gum-manna felain ealo-bence ôðrum gesellan.Ymb þäs helmes hrôf heáfod-beorgewîrum bewunden walan ûtan heóld,þät him fêla lâfe frêcne ne meahtonscûr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-frecaongeán gramum gangan scolde.Hêht þâ eorla hleó eahta mearas,
Then Healfdene’s son gave to Beowulfa golden banner as reward for victory,an embroidered war-standard, a helmet and mail-shirt;many saw that famous treasure-swordcarried before the warrior. Beowulf took the cupin the hall; he had no cause for shamebefore the soldiers over that gift of treasure —I never heard of men giving four such jewelsmore graciously, gold-adorned,on the ale-bench, one to another.Around the crown of the helmet a head-guard,wound with wire, held firm on the outside,so that well-forged blades could not harm itdangerously, when the shield-bearer had to goagainst his enemies. Then the protector of earls
fäted-hleóre, on flet teónin under eoderas; þâra ânum stôdsadol searwum fâh since gewurðad,þät wäs hilde-setl heáh-cyninges,þonne sweorda gelâc sunu Healfdenesefnan wolde; næfre on ôre lägwîd-cûðes wîg, þonne walu feóllon.And þâ Beówulfe bega gehwäðreseodor Ingwina onweald geteáh,wicga and wæpna; hêt hine wel brûcan.Swâ manlîce mære þeóden,hord-weard häleða heaðo-ræsas gealdmearum and mâdmum, swâ hý næfre man lyhð,se þe secgan wile sôð äfter rihte.
commanded eight horses, with gold-plated cheek-guards,led onto the hall floor, in under the roof;on one of them stood a saddle,skillfully worked, set with jewels —that was the high king’s own battle-seat,whenever Healfdene’s son wanted to take his partin the play of swords; the far-famed one’s couragenever failed at the front, when the slain were falling.And then the lord of the Ingwins granted Beowulfmastery of both, horses and weapons;bade him make good use of them. So noblydid that famous prince, hoard-guardian of warriors,repay the battle-onslaughts with horses and treasure,that no one who wishes to speak the plain truthwill ever find fault with it.