Hwät! we Gâr-Dena in geâr-dagum þeód-cyninga þrym gefrunon, hû þâ äðelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scêfing sceaðena þreátum, 5 monegum mægðum meodo-setla ofteáh. Egsode eorl, syððan ærest wearð feá-sceaft funden: he þäs frôfre gebâd, weôx under wolcnum, weorð-myndum ðâh, ôð þät him æghwylc þâra ymb-sittendra 10 ofer hron-râde hýran scolde, gomban gyldan: þät wäs gôd cyning! þäm eafera wäs äfter cenned geong in geardum, þone god sende folce tô frôfre; fyren-þearfe ongeat, 15 þät hie ær drugon aldor-leáse lange hwîle. Him þäs lîf-freá, wuldres wealdend, worold-âre forgeaf; Beówulf wäs breme (blæd wîde sprang), Scyldes eafera Scede-landum in. 20 Swâ sceal geong guma, gôde gewyrcean, fromum feoh-giftum on fäder wine, þät hine on ylde eft gewunigen wil-gesîðas, þonne wîg cume, leóde gelæsten: lof-dædum sceal 25 in mægða gehwære man geþeón. Him þâ Scyld gewât tô gescäp-hwîle fela-hrôr fêran on freán wære; hi hyne þâ ätbæron tô brimes faroðe. swæse gesîðas, swâ he selfa bäd, 30 þenden wordum weóld wine Scyldinga, leóf land-fruma lange âhte. Þær ät hýðe stôd hringed-stefna, îsig and ûtfûs, äðelinges fär; â-lêdon þâ leófne þeóden, 35 beága bryttan on bearm scipes, mærne be mäste. Þær wäs mâdma fela, of feor-wegum frätwa gelæded: ne hýrde ic cymlîcor ceól gegyrwan hilde-wæpnum and heaðo-wædum, 40 billum and byrnum; him on bearme läg mâdma mänigo, þâ him mid scoldon on flôdes æht feor gewîtan. Nalas hi hine lässan lâcum teódan, þeód-gestreónum, þonne þâ dydon, 45 þe hine ät frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer ýðe umbor wesende: þâ gyt hie him âsetton segen gyldenne heáh ofer heáfod, lêton holm beran, geâfon on gâr-secg: him wäs geômor sefa, 50 murnende môd. Men ne cunnon secgan tô soðe sele-rædende, häleð under heofenum, hwâ þäm hläste onfêng. II. THE HALL HEOROT.