guðgewædo; Gode þancedon
þæs þe him yþlade eaðe wurdon.
Þa of wealle geseah weard Scildinga,
se þe holmclifu healdan scolde, 230
beran ofter bolcan beorhte randas,
fyrdsearu fuslicu; hine fyrwyt bræc
modgehygdum, hwæt þa men wæron.
Gewat him þa to waroðe wicge ridan
þegn Hroðgares, þrymmum cwehte 235
mægenwudu mundum, meþelwordum frægn:
“Hwæt syndon ge searohæbbendra,
byrnum werede, þe þus brontne ceol
Showed them how to reach the shore.
In due time the boat was on the waves, 210
Floating under a promontory. The ready warriors
Went up to the prow; the currents swirled,
Water against the sand; the men bore
Into the bosom of the boat bright weapons,
Splendid armors. The men pushed the ship forward, 215
The tight-braced vessel ready for desired journey.
Then over the sea, impelled by the wind,
The foamy-necked ship launched most like a bird,
Till after due time on the second day
The ship with a curved prow had made advance, 220
So that the seafarers could see the land,
The gleaming sea-cliff, the steep hills,
Large headlands. The sea had been traversed;
The voyage was over. Thence up quickly
The people of Geatland stepped onto the land, 225
And moored the ship. The mail-coats rattled,
The warlike dresses. They thanked God
For their voyage made smooth and easy by His grace.
Then from the wall saw the Danish sentinel—
He whose charge was to guard the sea-cliff— 230
The bright bosses of shields borne on the gangway,
Ready war-gear; he was gripped by a desire to learn
What on earth these men were, in his thoughts.
Then the thane of Hrothgar rode his horse
Down to the shore, brandishing a mighty spear 235
Forcefully in both hands, and asked in formal words:
“What sort of fighting men are you,
Protected by coats of mail, who thus have come,
ofer lagustræte lædan cwomon,
hider ofer holmas? [Hwæt, ic hwi]le wæs 240
endesæta, ægwearde heold,
þe on land Dena laðra nænig
mid scipherge sceðþan ne meahte.
No her cuðlicor cuman ongunnon
lindhæbbende; ne ge leafnesword 245
guðfremmendra gearwe ne wisson,
maga gemedu. Næfre ic maran geseah
eorla ofer eorþan, ðonne is eower sum,
secg on searwum; nis þæt seldguma,
wæpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite leoge, 250
ænlic ansyn. Nu ic eower sceal
frumcyn witan, ær ge fyr heonan,
leassceaweras, on land Dena
furþur feran. Nu ge feorbuend,
mereliðende, minne gehyrað 255
anfealdne geþoht; ofost is selest
to gecyðanne, hwanan eowre cyme syndon.”
(IV) Him se yldesta ondswarode,
werodes wisa, wordhord onleac:
“We synt gumcynnes Geata leode 260
ond Higelaces heorðgeneatas.
Wæs min fæder folcum gecyþed,
æþele ordfruma, Ecgþeow haten;
gebad wintra worn, ær he on weg hwurfe,
gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman 265
witena welhwylc wide geond eorþan.
We þurh holdne hige hlaford þinne,
sunu Healfdenes, secean cwomon,
Bringing a tall ship over the watery road,
Hither crossing the waves? What, while I have been 240
A coast-guard, holding watch by the sea,
None hostile to the Danish people could
Inflict any injury on this soil with a ship-army.
No shield-bearers undertook to come here
More openly, nor have you acquired 245
Word of leave from my commanders,
Consent of my kinsmen. Never have I seen one,
Among men on earth, mightier than one of you—
Yon man wearing war-gear. That is not a mere retainer,
Bedecked with weapons, unless his appearance belies him— 250
A peerless sight! Now I must have full knowledge
Of your origin before you go any farther hence,
Deceitful observers on the land of the Danes,
Not one step further. Now you far-dwellers,
Seafaring men, hear and learn my 255
One-fold thought. It is best to be in a hurry
To make clear whence you are coming.”
(IV) The chief answered him, the leader
Of the band, unlocking a hoard of words:
“We are men of the Geatish stock, 260
And Hygelac’s hearth-companions;
My father was well known to the peoples,
A noble chieftain, whose name was Ecgtheow.
He lived through many winters before he went away,
An ancient man, from his dwelling: every wise man 265
Well remembers him, far and wide throughout the world.
We have come to seek Healfdene’s son, your lord,
The protector of people, with well-disposed intention;
leodgebyrgean; wes þu us larena god.
Habbað we to þæm mæran micel ærende 270
Deniga frêan; ne sceal þær dyrne sum
wesan, þæs ic wene. Þu wast, gif hit is
swa we soþlice secgan hyrdon,
þæt mid Scyldingum sceaðona ic nat hwylc,
deogol dædhata, deorcum nihtum 275
eaweð þurh egsan uncuðne nið,
hynðu ond hrafyl. Ic þæs Hroðgar mæg
þurh