swylce on näs-hleoðum nicras licgean, þâ on undern-mæl oft bewitigað 1430 sorh-fulne sîð on segl-râde, wyrmas and wil-deór; hie on weg hruron bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongeâton, gûð-horn galan. Sumne Geáta leód of flân-bogan feores getwæfde, 1435 ýð-gewinnes, þät him on aldre stôd here-stræl hearda; he on holme wäs sundes þe sænra, þe hyne swylt fornam. Hräðe wearð on ýðum mid eofer-spreótum heoro-hôcyhtum hearde genearwod, 1440 nîða genæged and on näs togen wundorlîc wæg-bora; weras sceáwedon gryrelîcne gist. Gyrede hine Beówulf eorl-gewædum, nalles for ealdre mearn: scolde here-byrne hondum gebroden, 1445 sîd and searo-fâh, sund cunnian, seó þe bân-côfan beorgan cûðe, þät him hilde-grâp hreðre ne mihte, eorres inwit-feng, aldre gesceððan; ac se hwîta helm hafelan werede, 1450 se þe mere-grundas mengan scolde, sêcan sund-gebland since geweorðad, befongen freá-wrâsnum, swâ hine fyrn-dagum worhte wæpna smið, wundrum teóde, besette swîn-lîcum, þät hine syððan nô 1455 brond ne beado-mêcas bîtan ne meahton. Näs þät þonne mætost mägen-fultuma, þät him on þearfe lâh þyle Hrôðgâres; wäs þäm häft-mêce Hrunting nama, þät wäs ân foran eald-gestreóna; 1460 ecg wäs îren âter-teárum fâh, âhyrded heaðo-swâte; næfre hit ät hilde ne swâc manna ængum þâra þe hit mid mundum bewand, se þe gryre-sîðas gegân dorste, folc-stede fâra; näs þät forma sîð, 1465 þät hit ellen-weorc äfnan scolde. Hûru ne gemunde mago Ecglâfes eafoðes cräftig, þät he ær gespräc wîne druncen, þâ he þäs wæpnes onlâh sêlran sweord-frecan: selfa ne dorste 1470 under ýða gewin aldre genêðan, driht-scype dreógan; þær he dôme forleás, ellen-mærðum. Ne wäs þäm ôðrum swâ, syððan he hine tô gûðe gegyred häfde. XXIII. THE BATTLE WITH THE WATER-DRAKE.