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Peter G. Epps
Beowulf Translation Project
Page 1
ref line inChickeringEpps (base translation)
12152
[He] commanded then that the boar's-head-sigil be carried in,
22153
the helm towering in battle, the gray byrnie,
32154
the splendid war-sword, following the speech [he] uttered:
42155
"Hrothgar gave me this battle-suit,
52156
the wise king; by a particular word [he] commanded
62157
that I tell you first about his gift:
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[he] says that king Heorogar had it,
82159
chief of the Scyldings, a long time;
92160
yet to his son [he] would not give--
102161
to bold Heoroward, though he was loyal to him--
112162
the chest-piece. Use it all well!"
122163
I have heard that with those adornments four horses,
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swift [and] similar, followed closely,
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apple-dark ones. He bestowed his gifts,
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horses and treasures--thus should a kinsman give,
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not at all braid a deceit-net for another,
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 with hidden strength to prepare death
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for a close companion. To Hygelac was
192170
[his] nephew very loyal, [loyal] to the one hard in battle;
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and either [was] mindful of the other's good.
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I have heard that he gave Hygd that neck-ring,
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splendid wonder-jewel, that Wealhtheow gave him,
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the prince's daughter, along with three horses
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graceful and bright-saddled. Ever after [ ],
252176 (75)
following the ring-giving, [her] breast
was 
adorned.
262177
 Thus Ecgtheow's son showed himself brave,
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a man familiar with battle [and] with good deeds,
282179
[a man who] worked for glory, not at all [a] drunken [one who] slew 
292180
hearth-companions; his heart was not savage,
302181
but the greatest strength among mankind,
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the liberal gift that God gave him,
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the battle-brave one contained. Long was [he] lowly,
332184
as the sons of the Geats deemed him no good;
342186 (85)
the lord of the Weders [had]
not 
wished to make
352185
him a greatly esteemed one at the mead bench 
;
362187
Mostly, [they] thought that [Beowulf] was sluggish,
372188
a feeble prince. Change had come
382189
to the glorious man from each of [his] afflictions.
 
Peter G. Epps
Beowulf Translation Project
Page 2
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lineChickering (OE base text)Epps (accentual verse)
2152
Het ða in beraneafor-heafod-segn,He called then to bear in the boar-headed sigil
2153
heaðo-steapne helm,hare byrnan,with the helm tall in battle, the mail-shirt of gray,
2154
guð-sweord geatolic,gyd æfter wræc:and the war-sword most splendid, as he said the word:
2155
“Me ðis hilde-sceorpHroðgar sealde,“It was Hrothgar who gave me this warfaring outfit;
2156
snotra fengel;sume worde het,the wise king gave orders that I say these words,
2157
þæt ic his ærest ðeest gesægde;to tell you about what he gives you today:
2158
cwæð þæt hyt hæfdeHiorogar cyning,He says that the king had it, Heorogar,
2159
leod Scyldunga,lange hwile.that man of the Scyldings, a very long while;
2160
No ðy ær suna sinumsyllan wolde,and despite all he would not give to his own son— 
2161
hwatum Heorowearde,þeah he him hold wære,to bold Heoroward, be he never so true
2162
breost-gewædu.Bruc ealles well!”—even the chest piece. Enjoy it all well!”
2163
Hyrde ic þæt þam frætwumfeower mearas,And then I have heard, with those beauties, four horses
2164
lungre, gelicelast weardode,All swift and well-matched, filled the floor of the hall,
2165
æppel-fealuwe;he him est geteahfour apple-dark roans. He gave all his gifts,
2166
meara ond maðma.Swa sceal mæg don,the horses and treasures—so all kinsmen should give,
2167
nealles inwit-netoðrum bregdonnot at all to weave snares of deceit for another
2168
dyrnum cræfte,deað ren[ian]by practice in secret, devising the death
2169
hond-gesteallan.Hygelace wæs,of a close-knit companion. To Hygelac was
2170
niða heardum,nefa swyðe holdhis nephew most loyal, to the one hard in battle,
2171
ond gewhæðer oðrumhroþra gemyndig.and either was mindful of each other’s good.
2172
Hyrde ic þæt he ðone heals-beahHygde gesealde,And then I have heard that he gave Hygd the neck-ring,
2173
 wrætlicne wunder-maððum,ðone þe him Wealðeo geaf,that grand gem of wonders Wealhtheow gave him,
2174
ðeod[nes] dohtor,þrio wicg somodthe prince’s own daughter, along with three horses,
2175
swancor ond sadol-beorht;hyre syððan wæsbright-saddled and graceful. And from that day forward,
2176
æfter beah-ðegebr[e]ost geweorðod.Because of that ring-gift, her breast was adorned.
2177
Swa bealdodebearn Ecgðeowes,Thus Ecgtheow’s son showed that he was a brave one,
2178
guma guðum cuð,godum dædum,Familiar with battle and also good deeds,
2179
dreah æfter dome,nealles druncne slogone who worked for his glory, no drunkard who slew 
2180
heorð-geneatas;næs him hreo sefa,the friends of his hearth; no, his heart was not savage [. . .]
2181
ac he man-cynnesmæste cræfte,
2182
gin-fæstan gife,þe him God sealde,
2183
heold hilde-deor.Hean wæs lange
2184
swa hyne Geata bearngodne ne tealdon,
2185
ne hyne on medo-bencemicles wyrðne
2186
drihten We[d]e[r]agedon wolde;
2187
swyðe [wen]donþæt he sleac wære,
2188
æðeling unfrom.Edwendon cwom
2189
tir-eadigum menntorna gehwylces.
 
Peter G. Epps
Beowulf Translation Project
Page 3
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 Waterhouse (blank verse)Chickering (prose in half-lines)
He bade them bring the boar-wrought banner in,He ordered brought inthe boar’s-head standard, The helm that towers in fight, the corselet grayhigh-crowned helmet,great iron shirt, And splendid battle blade, then made this speech:ornamented war-sword,then said this speech: This battle-garment Hrothgar, the wise prince,“All this battle-gearHrothgar gave me,Gave me; and in particular he badewise and generous;he asked especially  That first I tell thee of its history.that I first tell youthe history of his gift.He said Heorogar, the king and chiefHe said King Heorogar,the Scylding’s leader,Of the Scyldings, long possessed it; none the lesshad owned it long.No sooner for thatHe did not wish to give the coat of maildid he make it a giftto brave Heoroward,Unto his son, the valiant Heoroward,the iron chest-guardfor his own son,Dear though he was to him. Enjoy it all well!”loyal though he was.Enjoy it all well!”I heard that four swift horses followed closeThen, as I’ve heard,four swift horses,Upon the war equipment, dapple grayexactly matching,followed that treasure, And all alike; he did his liege lord honourapple-dark steeds.With good heart he gave With steeds and gifts. So should a kinsman do,both treasure and horses.So ought a kinsmanNot spread a net of malice for his kindredalways act,never weave nets With secret guile, nor set the snare of deathof evil in secret,prepare the deathFor his companions. To Hygelac, the braveof close companions.With war-bold HygelacIn battle, was his nephew very dearhis nephew kept faith,his man ever loyal, And each was mindful of the other’s good.and each always workedfor the other’s welfare.I heard that he bestowed on Hygd the necklace,I also have heardthat he gave Queen Hygd The rare, wrought ornament which Wealhtheow,the golden necklace,that Wealhtheow gave him, The prince’s daughter, gave him, with three steeds,wondrous treasure-ring,and three sleek horsesGraceful and gaily saddled; ever afterunder golden saddles.After that gift-giving  That jewel-giving was her breast adorned.the shining necklaceadorned her breast. Thus did the son of Ecgtheow prove his worth,Thus Ecgtheow’s sonhad shown great courage, The man renowned for battles and high deedsfamous in battles,renowned for good deeds,Strove after fame; nor slew his hearth-companionswalked in glory;by no means killedIn their cups; his spirit was not fiercecomrades in drink;had no savage mind: Though he, valiant in fight, the greatest strengthbrave and battle-ready,he guarded the giftOf all mankind possessed, the generous giftthat God had given him,the greatest strengthGod granted him. He had been long despised,that man ever had.Yet his youth had been miserable,For Wedermen did not account him brave,when he long seemed sluggishto the Geatish court;Nor would the ruler of the Geats regard himthey thought him no good;he got little honor, As worthy of much honour on the mead-bench;no gifts on the mead-benchfrom the lord of the Weders. They rather deemed the prince was indolentThey all were convincedhe was slow, or lazy, And full of sloth. Compensation camea coward of a noble.A change came to him, To the illustrious man for every trial.shining in victory,worth all those cares.
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