pobeow10

from "BEOWULF" - lines 1-46	PRELUDE - OF SCYLD SCEFING
	trans. Michael Alexander(from Anglo-Saxon)
Hwæt, we gar-Dena in geardagum, þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon! Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas, syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden; he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þah, oð þæt him æghwylc ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan; þæt wæs god cyning! Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned geong in geardum, þone God sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat, þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile; him þæs Liffrea, wuldres Wealdend woroldare forgeaf, Beowulf wæs breme - blæd wide sprang- Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume, leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal in mægþa gehwære man geþeon. Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile felahror feran on Frean wære; hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe, swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd, þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga, leof landfruma lange ahte. Þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna isig ond utfus, æþelinges fær; aledon þa leofne þeoden, beaga bryttan on bearm scipes, mærne be mæste. þær wæs madma fela of feorwegum frætwa gelæded; ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum, billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon, þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende.	Attend! We have heard of the thriving of the throne of Denmark, how the folk-kings flourished in former days, how those royal athelings earned that glory. Was it not Scyld Shefing that shook the halls, took mead-benches, taught encroaching foes to fear him - who, found in childhood, lacked clothing? Yet he lived and prospered, grew in strength and stature under the heavens until the clans settled in the sea-coasts neighbouring over the whale-road all must obey him and give tribute. He was a good king! A boy child was afterwards born to Scyld, a young child in hall-yard, a hope for the people, sent them by God; the griefs long endured were not unknown to Him, the harshness of years without a lord. Therefore the life-bestowing Wielder of Glory granted them this blessing. Through the northern lands the name of Beow, the son of Scyld, sprang widely. For in youth an atheling should so use his virtue, give with a free hand while in his father's house, that in old age, when enemies gather, established friends shall stand by him and serve him gladly. It is by glorious action that a man comes by honour in any people. At the hour shaped for him Scyld departed, the hero crossed into the keeping of his Lord. They carried him out to the edge of the sea, his sworn arms-fellows, as he had himself desired them while he wielded his words, Warden of the Scyldings, beloved folk-founder; long had he ruled. A boat with a ringed neck rode in the haven, icy, out-eager, the atheling's vessel, and there they laid out their lord and master, dealer of wound gold, in the waist of the ship, in majesty by the mast. A mound of treasures from far countries was fetched aboard her, and it is said that no boat was ever more bravely fitted out with the weapons of a warrior, war accoutrement, swords and body-armour; on his breast were set treasures and trappings to travel with him on his far faring into the flood's sway. This hoard was not less great than the gifts he had had from those who at the outset had adventured him over seas, alone, a small child.
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