Beowulf: Translations by John Porter (1993)
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Click for a larger version (900 pixels high) Beowulf: Text and Translation (literal word-by-word translation). Anglo-Saxon Books, Middlesex, England, 1993. ISBN: 0-9516209-2-4.
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[lines 194-224a in section III and 8th line from the bottom of folio 134r to 4th line from the bottom of folio 134v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {Beowulf hears about Grendel and decides to travel from his home in Geatland (southern Sweden) to Heorot (in northeast Denmark) to see if he can help out. }
That from home heard Hygelac's thane
good among Geats, Grendel's deeds:
he was of human might strongest
in that day of this life,
noble and prodigious. He ordered him wave-crosser
good prepared; said he battle-king
over swan-road seek would,
mighty chieftain, when he was man-needy.
That venture him clear-sighted men
in no way blamed, though he to them dear was;
they urged the valiant man, omens they scanned.
Had the good warrior from Geats' tribes
champions chosen those that he bravest
find was able; fifteen together
sea-timber sought; warrior showed,
ocean-crafty man, shore-boundaries.
Time forth passed; ship was on waves,
boat under cliff. Warriors willing
in prow stepped; streams eddied,
sea against sand; men bore
into bosom of ship bright trappings,
war-gear precious; warriors out shoved,
men on willed-way, wood well-braced.
Went then over wave-sea by wind urged
floater foamy-necked, a bird most like,
until in due time of second day
curved stem-post journeyed had,
so that the sailors land sighted,
sea-cliffs shining, shores steep,
broad sea-nesses; then was sea crossed,
voyage at ending;  


[lines 791-819a in section XII and 8th line from the top of folio 147r to 13th line from the top of folio 147v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {At this moment Beowulf and Grendel are fighting and Grendel is howling and screaming and wishing to escape but Beowulf has grabbed Grendel's arm and is using his incredible hand-strength to hold on to him. }
Would not the earls' protector for any cause
the lethal guest alive release
nor his life-days to people any
useful he reckoned. There many brandished,
warriors of Beowulf, ancient swords,
wished prince-lord's life protect,
famed chieftain's, if they could so.
They it not knew when they fray joined,
hard-minded battle-fighters,
and on hand each to hew resolved,
Grendel's soul to seek, that the sin-scather
any on earth of irons best,
of war-blades none wound would not;
but he victory-weapons bewitched had,
edges all. Must his life-departure
on that day of this life
wretched be, and the alien spirit
into fiends' power far-off travel.
Then it found, he who many before
mind's miseries on mankind,
crimes committed - he clashed with God -
that him the body obey would not,
but him the keen kinsman of Hygelac
had by hand; was each by other
living loathed. Limb-pain felt
dreadful monster; him on shoulder was
huge-wound seen, sinews sprang apart,
burst bone-locks. To Beowulf was
war-glory given;


[lines 1537-1569 in sections XXII and XXIII and 5th line from the bottom of folio 163v, through folio 164r to 4th line from the top of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here. Note: there is a discussion of the word eaxle in line 1537a on my page on Shoulder Grabbing vs. Hair Pulling

    {At this moment Beowulf has just failed to hurt Grendel's mother with the sword Hrunting and he tries to wrestle her as he had done with Grendel. }
Seized then by shoulder, no way for feud mourned,
War-Geats' leader Grendel's mother;
thrust then battle-hard man, now he enraged was,
deadly-foe, so that she on floor fell.
She him back quickly requital paid
with grim grip and him against her clasped;
stumbled then, weary-minded warrior strongest,
foot-fighter, so that he in fall was.
She bestrode then the hall-guest and her dagger drew
broad and bright-edged; would her bairn avenge,
only offspring. Him on shoulder lay
breast-net braided; it protected life,
to point and to edge entry withstood.
Had then perished son of Ecgtheow
under yawning depth, Geats' champion,
unless him battle-byrnie help provided,
war-net hardened, and holy God
controlled war-victory; wise Lord,
heavens' Ruler, it aright decided
easily when he again stood up.

Saw then among armour victory-blessed blade,
old-sword giantish with edges sturdy,
warriors' honour; it was weapon choicest,
but it was bigger than any man other
to battle-play bear was able,
good and handsome, giants' handiwork.
He seized then ring-hilt, champion of Scyldings
bristling and battle-grim, ring-sword swung
of life despairing, angrily struck,
so that her on neck sharply it bit,
bone-rings broke; blade all through-ran
doomed flesh-cloke; she on floor sank,
sword was bloody, man in work rejoiced.


[lines 1584b-1590 in section XXIII and 7th line from the bottom of folio 164v to first half of the last line of folio 164v on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {At this moment Beowulf has just discovered Grendel's lifeless body lying in the cave. }

He him its reward paid,
angry fighter, in that he on bed saw
battle-weary Grendel lying,
lifeless, as him earlier injured
conflict at Heorot. Corpse open burst,
when it after death blow suffered,
sword-stroke brutal, and its then head he cut off.


[lines 2672b-2708a in sections XXXVI and XXXVII and 8th line from the bottom of folio 189A197r, through folio 189A197v to 3rd line from the top of folio 189r on Kevin S. Kiernan's Electronic Beowulf CD] Images of the original manuscript text of this section, and an mp3 file of Ben Slade reading it in Old English, are here.

    {At this moment, Wiglaf has just run into the flames to be by Beowulf's side and the dragon has charged at them both, incinerating Wiglaf's shield. }

Flame in waves flowed,
burned shield to boss, byrnie not could
to young spear-fighter protection provide,
but the man young under his kinsman's shield
boldly went when his own was
by fire destroyed. Then again war-king
glories remembered, from main-strength struck
with battle blade so that it in head stuck,
by violence driven. Næling broke,
failed in fight sword of Beowulf,
old and grey-lined. To him it granted not was
that him irons' edges might
help in battle; was the hand so strong
that blades all - by my knowledge -
in stroke he over-strained, when he to battle bore
weapon by wounds hardened; was not him any the better.
Then was tribe-smasher for third time,
fierce fire-dragon, of feuds mindful,
rushed at the brave king when him chance allowed,
hot and battle-grim, neck whole clamped
in fiendish fangs; he drenched was
in soul-blood, gore in waves gushed.

Then I at need heard of folk-king
alongside here courage showed,
strength and keenness as in him native was.
Not heeded he the head, though the hand was burned
of daring man, as he his kinsman helped,
and he the hated foe lower a little struck,
man in armour, so that the sword sank in
gleaming and golden, so that the fire began
to slacken then. Still himself king
ruled his wits, war-dagger drew,
bitter and battle-sharp, that he on byrnie wore;
sliced Wederas' leader worm in middle.
Foe they felled - courage drove out life -
and they him then both battered had,
kin-nobles;
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