Line

Original

Translation

[1]

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,

Lo! We of Spear-Danes in days of yore,

[2]

þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon

of the fame of the kings, have heard

[3]

hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.

How those nobles did great deeds

[4]

Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,

Often Scyld Scefing, from the army of his enemies,

[5]

monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,

from many warriors, took the mead-benches

[6]

egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð

terrified the nobles. After he was first

[7]

feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad

discovered, a foundling, he gained a consolation

[8]

weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,

waxed under the heavens, prospered in glory,

[9]

oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra

until eventually everyone in surrounding tribes,

[10]

ofer hronrade hyran scolde,

over the whale-road, had to obey

[11]

gomban gyldan. Þæt wæs god cyning!

and yield to him. He was a good king!