Chapter XL: The Soldier's Dirge and Prophecy

Hêht þâ þät heaðo-weorc tô hagan biódan
up ofer êg-clif, þær þät eorl-weorod
2895 morgen-longne däg môd-giômor sät,
bord-häbbende, bega on wênum
ende-dôgores and eft-cymes
leófes monnes. Lyt swîgode
niwra spella, se þe näs gerâd,
2900 ac he sôðlîce sägde ofer ealle;
"Nu is wil-geofa Wedra leóda,
"dryhten Geáta deáð-bedde fäst,
"wunað wäl-reste wyrmes dædum;
"him on efn ligeð ealdor-gewinna,
2905 "siex-bennum seóc: sweorde ne meahte
"on þam aglæcean ænige þinga
"wunde gewyrcean. Wîglâf siteð
"ofer Biówulfe, byre Wihstânes,
"eorl ofer ôðrum unlifigendum,
2910 "healdeð hige-mêðum heáfod-wearde
"leófes and lâðes. Nu ys leódum wên
"orleg-hwîle, syððan underne
"Froncum and Frysum fyll cyninges
"wîde weorðeð. Wäs sió wrôht scepen
2915 "heard wið Hûgas, syððan Higelâc cwom
"faran flot-herge on Fresna land,
"þær hyne Hetware hilde gehnægdon,
"elne geeodon mid ofer-mägene,
"þät se byrn-wîga bûgan sceolde,
2920 "feóll on fêðan: nalles frätwe geaf
"ealdor dugoðe; ûs wäs â syððan
"Merewioinga milts ungyfeðe.
"Ne ic tô Sweó-þeóde sibbe oððe treówe
"wihte ne wêne; ac wäs wîde cûð,
2925 "þätte Ongenþió ealdre besnyðede
"Hæðcyn Hrêðling wið Hrefna-wudu,
"þâ for on-mêdlan ærest gesôhton
"Geáta leóde Gûð-scilfingas.
"Sôna him se frôda fäder Ôhtheres,
2930 "eald and eges-full ond-slyht âgeaf,
"âbreót brim-wîsan, brýd âheórde,
"gomela ió-meowlan golde berofene,
"Onelan môdor and Ôhtheres,
"and þâ folgode feorh-genîðlan
2935 "ôð þät hî ôðeodon earfoðlîce
"in Hrefnes-holt hlâford-leáse.
"Besät þâ sin-herge sweorda lâfe
"wundum wêrge, weán oft gehêt
"earmre teohhe andlonge niht:
2940 "cwäð he on mergenne mêces ecgum
"getan wolde, sume on galg-treówum
"fuglum tô gamene. Frôfor eft gelamp
"sârig-môdum somod ær-däge,
"syððan hie Hygelâces horn and býman
2945 "gealdor ongeâton. Þâ se gôda com
"leóda dugoðe on lâst faran.