þurh slîðne nîð sâwle bescûfan 185 in fýres fäðm, frôfre ne wênan, wihte gewendan; wel bið þäm þe môt äfter deáð-däge drihten sêcean and tô fäder fäðmum freoðo wilnian. IV. HYGELAC'S THANE. Swâ þâ mæl-ceare maga Healfdenes 190 singala seáð; ne mihte snotor häleð weán onwendan: wäs þät gewin tô swýð, lâð and longsum, þe on þâ leóde becom, nýd-wracu nîð-grim, niht-bealwa mæst. Þät fram hâm gefrägn Higelâces þegn, 195 gôd mid Geátum, Grendles dæda: se wäs mon-cynnes mägenes strengest on þäm däge þysses lîfes, äðele and eácen. Hêt him ýð-lidan gôdne gegyrwan; cwäð he gûð-cyning 200 ofer swan-râde sêcean wolde, mærne þeóden, þâ him wäs manna þearf. Þone sîð-fät him snotere ceorlas lyt-hwôn lôgon, þeáh he him leóf wære; hwetton higerôfne, hæl sceáwedon. 205 Häfde se gôda Geáta leóda cempan gecorone, þâra þe he cênoste findan mihte; fîftena sum sund-wudu sôhte; secg wîsade, lagu-cräftig mon, land-gemyrcu. 210 Fyrst forð gewât: flota wäs on ýðum, bât under beorge. Beornas gearwe on stefn stigon; streámas wundon sund wið sande; secgas bæron on bearm nacan beorhte frätwe, 215 gûð-searo geatolîc; guman ût scufon, weras on wil-sîð wudu bundenne. Gewât þâ ofer wæg-holm winde gefýsed flota fâmig-heals fugle gelîcost, ôð þät ymb ân-tîd ôðres dôgores 220 wunden-stefna gewaden häfde, þät þâ lîðende land gesâwon, brim-clifu blîcan, beorgas steápe, sîde sæ-nässas: þâ wäs sund liden, eoletes ät ende. Þanon up hraðe 225 Wedera leóde on wang stigon, sæ-wudu sældon (syrcan hrysedon, gûð-gewædo); gode þancedon, þäs þe him ýð-lâde eáðe wurdon. Þâ of wealle geseah weard Scildinga, 230 se þe holm-clifu healdan scolde, beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas, fyrd-searu fûslîcu; hine fyrwyt bräc môd-gehygdum, hwät þâ men wæron. Gewât him þâ tô waroðe wicge rîdan 235 þegn Hrôðgâres, þrymmum cwehte mägen-wudu mundum, meðel-wordum frägn: "Hwät syndon ge searo-häbbendra "byrnum werede, þe þus brontne ceól "ofer lagu-stræte lædan cwômon, 240 "hider ofer holmas helmas bæron? "Ic wäs ende-sæta, æg-wearde heóld, "þät on land Dena lâðra nænig "mid scip-herge sceððan ne meahte. "Nô her cûðlîcor cuman ongunnon 245 "lind-häbbende; ne ge leáfnes-word "gûð-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson, "mâga gemêdu. Næfre ic mâran geseah "eorla ofer eorðan, þonne is eówer sum, "secg on searwum; nis þät seld-guma 250 "wæpnum geweorðad, näfne him his wlite leóge, "ænlîc an-sýn. Nu ic eówer sceal