Beowulf: Translations by A.D. Wackerbarth (1849)
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Click for a larger version (900 pixels high) Beowulf: An Epic Poem Translated From The Anglo-Saxon Into English Verse.William Pickering, London, 1849. ISBN: none.
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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. }
Till from his Home, did Higelác's
Thane, 'momgst the Geáts renown'd, th' Attacks
        Of Grendel's Fury hear.
Mightiest of all Mankind was he,
Noble, and full of Dignity,
        In this Life's Daylight fair,
Forth-with a Traveller of the sea
He bade his Men prepare:
Athwart the Path of Swans profound
        He said he would proceed,
And seek the War-king, Prince renown'd
        Sith he of Men had need.
The prudent, though they loved him, deem'd
Somewhat unwise the Journey seem'd,
Sharpen'd their Minds with previous Thought
And anxiously an Omen sought.
The good Chief from the Geátic Land
Had chosen out a valiant Band,
        Whom he could find most keen,
And to his Ocean-wood he went
Escorted by an Armament
        Of gallant Youths fifteen.
Time pass'd, the Ship was on the Wave,
        The Boat beneath the Mountain's Brow,
And ready were the Warriors brave
        And stepp'd upon the Prow.
Anon they sent the Waters there
        Sea whirling o'er the Sand,
The Men their ready War-sears fair
Into the Vessel's Bosom bear
Shove off the Bound-wood, and repair
On perilous Campain to fare
        A willing warriour Band.
Then foamy-neck'd across the Tides,
Driv'n by the Wind, the Vessel glides,
        As Water-fowl doth ride,
And for an Hour, the second Day,
The wreathéd Prow had sail'd away,
        When Land the Wanderers spied:
They saw the Sea-cliffs glisten bright,
And the steep Mountain's dizzy height,
        And ocean Nesses wide,
And now the Sea is safely past
Their Toil is at an End at last.


[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. }
THE Earl's Protector thought not meet
        The Murtherer should alive retreat,
His caitiff Life to no one he
Suppos'd could ever useful be.
Then quick Beówulf's Liegeman true
Great Weland's antient Relic drew
For his Lord, that princely Wight,
The Life he sought, (as there they might,)
        From Danger to protect.
Bold Sons of battle little thought,
While thus laboriously they wrought,
His Life on all sides as they sought,
And hew'd no Steel of costly Sort,
Nor Sword that e'er on Earth was wrought,
Against the loathsome Sin-scathe brought
        On him would take Effect.
But the proud Warriour would forego
        Victorious Brand and Sword,
The hateful Spirit of the Foe,
In this Life's Days, by Death of Woe,
Was doom'd into the Power to go
        Of the dread Demon Horde.
The Foe of God, whose fell Despite
        'Gainst Man had oft wrought sinful Deed,
Then found that 'gainst the Hero's Might
        His harden'd Hide was little speed.
But Higelác's bold kindred Thane
Doth him within his Grasp detain,--
In Life was each to other Foe, --
The foul Wretch waits the mortal Blow,
His Shoulder wrench'd a Fissure shows,
The Sinews crack, the Joints unclose,
Success attends the Geát:


[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. }
        Fast by her Shoulder hent
The Geátic Chief the Monster rude,
And, sorely chaf'd in wrathful Mood,
With Wrench so stern the Strife renewed,
         That on the Floor she bent.
But soon full roughly she repaid
The stout Attack that he had made,
So grimly grappling and so well,
That the strong Warriour reel'd and fell.
Then sorely she beset his Life,
And drew her broad and brown-edg'd Knife
        To avenge her hatefull Son
But o'er Beówulf's Shoulders lay
The braided Net, the Hawberk grey,
'Gainst Point and Edge to close the Way,
And Life to guard in Battle's Day,
        That Entrance found she none.
And now the Geátic Champion brave
Had perish'd 'neath the stormy Wave,
But that his iron Corselet good
His temper'd battle Net, withstood;
And holy God, who rules on high,
Awards at will the Victory,
        God infinitely wise.
The King of Heav'n beheld the Fight,
And gave Decision for the right;--
With easy Spring and Movement light
        The Chief doth therefore rise.
THEN saw he 'midst the treasure Hoard
        An old victorious Eóten Sword,
Doughty of Edge, the Warriour's Pride,
All other Weapons it outvied;
But weightier far than human Hand
Of other Mortal might command;
By giant Forge of old 'twas wrought
Good, and well fit for War's dread Sport.
The Scylding Hero in Despair
Seized by the Hilt that Weapon fair,
        And brandish'd it around,
And therewithall so angry strake,
The Bones around her Neck it brake,
And thro' the Flesh its Way did make;--
        She sank upon the Ground,
The Soldier joy'd his Work to see,


[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. }
        A Vengeance full repaid;--
For this he smote the lifeless Foe,
Swung round his Sword, and, with the Blow,
        Sever'd the Monster's Head.


[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. }
        Upon his Foes, the hated Men.
Soon the young Warriour's Shield of Wood
In Flames around the Bordure stood,
Nor did his pondrous Shirt of Mail
To aid him in his Fight avail,
And 'neath his Kinsman's Shield he came,
When his was pulverized by Flame.
The War-king call'd to Mind at length
His Glory and his mighty Strength,
And with his War-bill smote so rude,
That driv'n into the Head it stood,
Nægling old Sword and gray of Hue,
False in the Fray, in Splinters flew,
It was not given him in that Raid
That Edge of Steel should be his aid;
Too mighty, I have heard, that Hand,
Too great it's Swing for any Brand,
That when he bare to Battle Sword
Wound-harden'd 't would no Aid afford.
Full fierce the fiery Pest again
Rush'd on the war-renownéd Thane,
And soon repaid his Wrath amain,
        For round his Neck he coil'd,
All hot and grim, with Bane full sore,
That he was cover'd with his Gore,
        In Waves his Heart's Blood boil'd.
THEN, in his Monarch's dire Distress,
        The youthful Thane, I wiss,
Display'd a Courage wearyless
And stalworth Might and Skilfulness:
        (A Nature bold was his,)
Heedless of Helm, his Hand did glow
        To give his Kinsman Aid,
Downward he smote the Demon Foe
Full stark in Stowre so sturdy Blow
That blood-discolour'd deep and low
        Div'd in the solid Blade,
And the dread Flame, less fierce and slow,
        With failing Fury play'd.
Again the Monarch in that Hour
Resum'd his Consciousness and Power,
And quick his Slaughter-dagger true,
His Byrnie's Belt that hung unto,
Bitter and sharp, the Geát Prince hent,
And therewith up the Middle rent
        The Monster-dragon's Hide;
Thus fell'd the kindred Thanes the Foe,
And both together laid him low
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