Þâ wäs on burgum Beówulf Scyldinga, leóf leód-cyning, longe þrage 55 folcum gefræge (fäder ellor hwearf, aldor of earde), ôð þät him eft onwôc heáh Healfdene; heóld þenden lifde, gamol and gûð-reów, gläde Scyldingas. Þäm feówer bearn forð-gerîmed 60 in worold wôcun, weoroda ræswan, Heorogâr and Hrôðgâr and Hâlga til; hýrde ic, þat Elan cwên Ongenþeówes wäs Heaðoscilfinges heals-gebedde. Þâ wäs Hrôðgâre here-spêd gyfen, 65 wîges weorð-mynd, þät him his wine-mâgas georne hýrdon, ôð þät seó geogoð geweôx, mago-driht micel. Him on môd bearn, þät heal-reced hâtan wolde, medo-ärn micel men gewyrcean, 70 þone yldo bearn æfre gefrunon, and þær on innan eall gedælan geongum and ealdum, swylc him god sealde, bûton folc-scare and feorum gumena. Þâ ic wîde gefrägn weorc gebannan 75 manigre mægðe geond þisne middan-geard, folc-stede frätwan. Him on fyrste gelomp ädre mid yldum, þät hit wearð eal gearo, heal-ärna mæst; scôp him Heort naman, se þe his wordes geweald wîde häfde. 80 He beót ne âlêh, beágas dælde, sinc ät symle. Sele hlifade heáh and horn-geáp: heaðo-wylma bâd, lâðan lîges; ne wäs hit lenge þâ gen þät se ecg-hete âðum-swerian 85 äfter wäl-nîðe wäcnan scolde. Þâ se ellen-gæst earfoðlîce þrage geþolode, se þe in þýstrum bâd, þät he dôgora gehwâm dreám gehýrde hlûdne in healle; þær wäs hearpan swêg, 90 swutol sang scôpes. Sägde se þe cûðe frum-sceaft fira feorran reccan, cwäð þät se älmihtiga eorðan worhte, wlite-beorhtne wang, swâ wäter bebûgeð, gesette sige-hrêðig sunnan and mônan 95 leóman tô leóhte land-bûendum, and gefrätwade foldan sceátas leomum and leáfum; lîf eác gesceôp cynna gehwylcum, þâra þe cwice hwyrfað. Swâ þâ driht-guman dreámum lifdon 100 eádiglîce, ôð þät ân ongan fyrene fremman, feónd on helle: wäs se grimma gäst Grendel hâten, mære mearc-stapa, se þe môras heóld, fen and fästen; fîfel-cynnes eard 105 won-sælig wer weardode hwîle, siððan him scyppend forscrifen häfde. In Caines cynne þone cwealm gewräc, êce drihten, þäs þe he Abel slôg; ne gefeah he þære fæhðe, ac he hine feor forwräc, 110 metod for þý mâne man-cynne fram. Þanon untydras ealle onwôcon, eotenas and ylfe and orcnêas, swylce gigantas, þâ wið gode wunnon lange þrage; he him þäs leán forgeald. III. GRENDEL'S VISITS.