“Beside the king was the conquered worm, his cruelty ceased,
Lying next to their lord, still loathsome in death,
His scales scorched, this serpent of fire,
Laid out like lumber, his light and fire gone”
His Halting Day
“His halting day had come,
It had dawned on this daring one; death had come to the king,
A good and great king, and a glorious death”
The Bier We Have Built
“Let us hasten now,
As we gaze on our Geat lord, as we go to mourn him,
And carry our king, who collected rings for giving,
To the bier we have built for Beowulf our lord”
Sea-Wandering Fighters
“He knew Hygelac was hale and a hard man in battle,
He knew his pride and his prowess, a powerful fighter,
So he sought out safety from those sea-wandering fighters”
Hard Words
“Hard words with hard edges were hot and came easily”
No Warding Off
“However deeply devoted he was, this death took his king away,
And he could not keep life in this courageous king’s body,
Or ward off the will of the only wise God.
The Word that works all things is the word of the Lord
For all men, and every man, as He always does”
Evil Night Flier
“But the dragon was dead, and done with predation,
That earth-dragon, evil night-flier, eager in cruelty,
Brave blows struck him dead, bold were his killers,
That coiled cruelty was done, and could not keep his treasure”
Heed the Warning
“Such wealth can rob wisdom, steal wit from mankind,
Might overcome anyone, all men are vulnerable,
However you hide it—heed this fair warning!”
Dawn Flier
“In the den of that drake, that ancient dawn-flier”
Proud Provocations
“As prince of this people I provided just rule,
Fifty winters of favor. No fierce invader,
None, not one, from nations nearby
Would wage war on me, working their mischief,
Or proud provocations”