Þâ ic snûde gefrägn sunu Wihstânes äfter word-cwydum wundum dryhtne 2755 hýran heaðo-siócum, hring-net beran, brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hrôf. Geseah þâ sige-hrêðig, þâ he bî sesse geóng, mago-þegn môdig mâððum-sigla fela, gold glitinian grunde getenge, 2760 wundur on wealle and þäs wyrmes denn, ealdes uht-flogan, orcas stondan, fyrn-manna fatu feormend-leáse, hyrstum behrorene: þær wäs helm monig, eald and ômig, earm-beága fela, 2765 searwum gesæled. Sinc eáðe mäg, gold on grunde, gumena cynnes gehwone ofer-higian, hýde se þe wylle! Swylce he siomian geseah segn eall-gylden heáh ofer horde, hond-wundra mæst, 2770 gelocen leoðo-cräftum: of þam leóma stôd, þät he þone grund-wong ongitan meahte, wräte giond-wlîtan. Näs þäs wyrmes þær onsýn ænig, ac hyne ecg fornam. Þâ ic on hlæwe gefrägn hord reáfian, 2775 eald enta geweorc ânne mannan, him on bearm hladan bunan and discas sylfes dôme, segn eác genom, beácna beorhtost; bill ær-gescôd (ecg wäs îren) eald-hlâfordes 2780 þam þâra mâðma mund-bora wäs longe hwîle, lîg-egesan wäg hâtne for horde, hioro-weallende, middel-nihtum, ôð þät he morðre swealt. Âr wäs on ôfoste eft-sîðes georn, 2785 frätwum gefyrðred: hyne fyrwet bräc, hwäðer collen-ferð cwicne gemêtte in þam wong-stede Wedra þeóden, ellen-siócne, þær he hine ær forlêt. He þâ mid þâm mâðmum mærne þióden, 2790 dryhten sînne driórigne fand ealdres ät ende: he hine eft ongon wäteres weorpan, ôð þät wordes ord breóst-hord þurhbräc. Beówulf maðelode, gomel on giohðe (gold sceáwode): 2795 "Ic þâra frätwa freán ealles þanc "wuldur-cyninge wordum secge, "êcum dryhtne, þe ic her on starie, "þäs þe ic môste mînum leódum "ær swylt-däge swylc gestrýnan. 2800 "Nu ic on mâðma hord mîne bebohte "frôde feorh-lege, fremmað ge nu "leóda þearfe; ne mäg ic her leng wesan. "Hâtað heaðo-mære hlæw gewyrcean, "beorhtne äfter bæle ät brimes nosan; 2805 "se scel tô gemyndum mînum leódum "heáh hlifian on Hrones nässe, "þät hit sæ-lîðend syððan hâtan "Biówulfes biorh, þâ þe brentingas "ofer flôda genipu feorran drîfað." 2810 Dyde him of healse hring gyldenne þióden þrîst-hydig, þegne gesealde, geongum gâr-wigan, gold-fâhne helm, beáh and byrnan, hêt hyne brûcan well: "Þu eart ende-lâf ûsses cynnes, 2815 "Wægmundinga; ealle Wyrd forsweóf, "mîne mâgas tô metod-sceafte, "eorlas on elne: ic him äfter sceal." Þät wäs þam gomelan gingeste word