Chapter XVI: The Banquet and the Gifts

Þâ wäs hâten hreðe Heort innan-weard
folmum gefrätwod: fela þæra wäs
wera and wîfa, þe þät wîn-reced,
995 gest-sele gyredon. Gold-fâg scinon
web äfter wagum, wundor-sióna fela
secga gehwylcum þâra þe on swylc starað
Wäs þät beorhte bold tôbrocen swîðe
eal inne-weard îren-bendum fäst,
1000 heorras tôhlidene; hrôf âna genäs
ealles ansund, þâ se aglæca
fyren-dædum fâg on fleám gewand,
aldres or-wêna. Nô þät ýðe byð
tô befleónne (fremme se þe wille!)
1005 ac gesacan sceal sâwl-berendra
nýde genýdde niðða bearna
grund-bûendra gearwe stôwe,
þær his lîc-homa leger-bedde fäst
swefeð äfter symle. Þâ wäs sæl and mæl,
1010 þät tô healle gang Healfdenes sunu;
wolde self cyning symbel þicgan.
Ne gefrägen ic þâ mægðe mâran weorode
ymb hyra sinc-gyfan sêl gebæran.
Bugon þâ tô bence blæd-âgende,
1015 fylle gefægon. Fägere geþægon
medo-ful manig mâgas + þâra
swîð-hicgende on sele þam heán,
Hrôðgâr and Hrôðulf. Heorot innan wäs
freóndum âfylled; nalles fâcen-stafas
1020 Þeód-Scyldingas þenden fremedon.
Forgeaf þâ Beówulfe bearn Healfdenes
segen gyldenne sigores tô leáne,
hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and byrnan;
mære mâððum-sweord manige gesâwon
1025 beforan beorn beran. Beówulf geþah
ful on flette; nô he þære feoh-gyfte
for sceótendum scamigan þorfte,
ne gefrägn ic freóndlîcor feówer mâdmas
golde gegyrede gum-manna fela
1030 in ealo-bence ôðrum gesellan.
Ymb þäs helmes hrôf heáfod-beorge
wîrum bewunden walan ûtan heóld,
þät him fêla lâfe frêcne ne meahton
scûr-heard sceððan, þonne scyld-freca
1035 ongeán gramum gangan scolde.
Hêht þâ eorla hleó eahta mearas,
fäted-hleóre, on flet teón
in under eoderas; þâra ânum stôd
sadol searwum fâh since gewurðad,
1040 þät wäs hilde-setl heáh-cyninges,
þonne sweorda gelâc sunu Healfdenes
efnan wolde; næfre on ôre läg
wîd-cûðes wîg, þonne walu feóllon.
And þâ Beówulfe bega gehwäðres
1045 eodor Ingwina onweald geteáh,
wicga and wæpna; hêt hine wel brûcan.
Swâ manlîce mære þeóden,
hord-weard häleða heaðo-ræsas geald
mearum and mâdmum, swâ hý næfre man lyhð,
1050 se þe secgan wile sôð äfter rihte.