Beowulf ch. XL
Beowulf 40x — ed. Tarrin Wills
Not published: do not cite (Beowulf ch. XL)
text and translation
The new edition is either unpublished or unavailable. The following is taken from an old edition (Skj where relevant):
Heht ða þæt heaðoweorc | to hagan biodan
up ofer ecgclif, | þær þæt eorlweorod
morgenlongne dæg | modgiomor sæt,
bordhæbbende, | bega on wenum,
endedogores | ond eftcymes
leofes monnes. | Lyt swigode
niwra spella | se ðe næs gerad,
ac he soðlice | sægde ofer ealle:
"Nu is wilgeofa | Wedra leoda,
dryhten Geata, | deaðbedde fæst,
wunað wælreste | wyrmes dædum.
Him on efn ligeð | ealdorgewinna
sexbennum seoc; | sweorde ne meahte
on ðam aglæcean | ænige þinga
wunde gewyrcean. | Wiglaf siteð
ofer Biowulfe, | byre Wihstanes,
eorl ofer oðrum | unlifigendum,
healdeð higemæðum | heafodwearde
leofes ond laðes. | Nu ys leodum wen
orleghwile, | syððan underne
Froncum ond Frysum | fyll cyninges
wide weorðeð. | Wæs sio wroht scepen
heard wið Hugas, | syððan Higelac cwom
faran flotherge | on Fresna land,
þær hyne Hetware | hilde genægdon,
elne geeodon | mid ofermægene,
þæt se byrnwiga | bugan sceolde,
feoll on feðan, | nalles frætwe geaf
ealdor dugoðe. | Us wæs a syððan
Merewioingas | milts ungyfeðe.
Ne ic to Sweoðeode | sibbe oððe treowe
wihte ne wene, | ac wæs wide cuð
þætte Ongenðio | ealdre besnyðede
Hæðcen Hreþling | wið Hrefnawudu,
þa for onmedlan | ærest gesohton
Geata leode | Guðscilfingas.
Sona him se froda | fæder Ohtheres,
eald ond egesfull, | ondslyht ageaf,
abreot brimwisan, | bryd ahredde,
gomela iomeowlan | golde berofene,
Onelan modor | ond Ohtheres,
ond ða folgode | feorhgeniðlan,
oððæt hi oðeodon | earfoðlice
in Hrefnesholt | hlafordlease.
Besæt ða sinherge | sweorda lafe,
wundum werge, | wean oft gehet
earmre teohhe | ondlonge niht,
cwæð, he on mergenne | meces ecgum
getan wolde, | sum on galgtreowum
fuglum to gamene. | Frofor eft gelamp
sarigmodum | somod ærdæge,
syððan hie Hygelaces | horn ond byman,
gealdor ongeaton, | þa se goda com
leoda dugoðe | on last faran.
sources
Text is based on reconstruction from the base text and variant apparatus and may contain alternative spellings and other normalisations not visible in the manuscript text. Transcriptions may not have been checked and should not be cited.
Stanza/chapter/text segment
Use the buttons at the top of the page to navigate between stanzas in a poem.
Information tab
- text: if the stanza has been published, the edited text of the stanza and translation are here; if it hasn't been published an old edition (usually Skj) is given for reference
- sources: a list of the manuscripts or inscriptions containing this stanza, with page and line references and links (eye button) to images where available, and transcription where available
- readings: a list of variant manuscript readings of words in the main text
- editions and texts: a list of editions of the stanza with links to the bibliography; and a list of prose works in which the stanza occurs, allowing you to navigate within the prose context
- notes and context: notes not linked to individual words are given here, along with the account of the prose context for the stanza, where relevant
Interactive tab
The text and translation are given here, with buttons to toggle whether the text is shown in the verse order or prose word order. Clicking on indiviudal words gives dictionary links, variant readings, kennings and notes, where relevant.
Full text tab
This is the text of the edition in a similar format to how the edition appears in the printed volumes.
Chapter/text segment
This view is also used for chapters and other text segments. Not all the headings shown are relevant to such sections.