XXXIX. THE COWARD-THANES. |
Þ wÄs gegongenguman unfrÔdum earfoÐlÎce,ÞÄt he on eorÐan geseah Þone leÓfestanlÎfes Ät ende 2825 bleÁte gebÆran.Bona swylce lÄg, egeslÎc eorÐ-draca,ealdre bereÁfod, bealwe gebÆded:beÁh-hordum leng wyrm woh-bogenwealdan ne mÔste, ac him Îrennaecga fornÂmon, 2830 hearde heaÐo-scearpehomera lÂfe, ÞÄt se wÎd-flogawundum stille hreÁs on hrusanhord-Ärne neÁh, nalles Äfter lyftelÂcende hwearf middel-nihtum,mÂÐm-Æhta wlonc 2835 ansÝn Ýwde:ac he eorÐan gefeÓll for ÞÄs hild-frumanhond-geweorce. † HÛru ÞÄt on landelyt manna ÞÂh mÄgen-ÂgendramÎne gefrÆge, ÞeÁh Þe he dÆda gehwÄsdyrstig wÆre, †2840 ÞÄt he wiÐ Âttor-sceaÐanoreÐe gerÆsde, oÐÐe hring-selehondum styrede, gif he wÄccendeweard onfunde bÛan on beorge.BiÓwulfe wearÐ dryht-mÂÐma dÆldeÁÐe forgolden; 2845 hÄfde ÆghwÄÐerende gefÊred lÆnan lÎfes.NÄs Þ lang tÔ Þon, ÞÄt Þ hild-latanholt ofgÊfan, tydre treÓw-logantyne Ätsomne, Þ ne dorston ÆrdareÐum lÂcan 2850 on hyra man-dryhtnesmiclan Þearfe; ac hy scamiendescyldas bÆran, gÛÐ-gewÆdu,ÞÆr se gomela lÄg: wlitan on WÎglÂf.He gewÊrgad sÄt, fÊÐe-cempafreÁn eaxlum neÁh, 2855 wehte hyne wÄtre;him wiht ne speÓw; ne meahte he on eorÐan,ÞeÁh he ÛÐe wel, on Þam frum-gÂrefeorh gehealdan, ne ÞÄs wealdendes willanwiht oncirran; † wolde dÔm godesdÆdum rÆdan 2860 gumena gehwylcum,sw he nu gen dÊÐ. † Þ wÄs Ät Þam geongangrim andswaru ÊÐ-begÊte ÞÂm Þe Ærhis elne forleÁs. WÎglÂf maÐelode,WeohstÂnes sunu, secg sÂrig-ferÐseah on unleÓfe: 2865 "ÞÄt l mÄg secgan,se Þe wyle sÔÐ sprecan, "ÞÄt se mon-dryhten,se eÓw Þ mÂÐmas geaf, "eÓred-geatwe,Þe ge ÞÆr on standaÐ, "Þonne he on ealu-benceoft gesealde "heal-sittendumhelm and byrnan, 2870 "ÞeÓden his Þegnum,swylce he ÞryÐlÎcost † "ÔhwÆr feor oÐÐe neÁhfindan meahte, "ÞÄt he genungagÛÐ-gewÆdu † "wrÂÐe forwurpe.Þ hyne wÎg beget, † "nealles folc-cyningfyrd-gesteallum 2875 "gylpan Þorfte;hwÄÐre him god ÛÐe, "sigora waldend,ÞÄt he hyne sylfne gewrÄc "Âna mid ecge,Þ him wÄs elnes Þearf, "Ic him lÎf-wraÐelytle meahte † "Ätgifan Ät gÛÐeand ongan sw ÞeÁh 2880 "ofer mÎn gemetmÆges helpan: "symle wÄs ÞÝ sÆmra,Þonne ic sweorde drep "ferhÐ-genÎÐlan,fÝr unswÎÐor "weÓll of gewitte.Wergendra tÔ lyt "Þrong ymbe ÞeÓden,Þ hyne siÓ Þrag becwom. †2885 "Nu sceal sinc-Þegoand swyrd-gifu † "eall ÊÐel-wyneÓwrum cynne, "lufen Âlicgean:lond-rihtes mÔt "ÞÆre mÆg-burgemonna Æghwylc "Îdel hweorfan,syÐÐan ÄÐelingas 2890 "feorran gefricgeanfleÁm eÓwerne, "dÔm-leÁsan dÆd.DeÁÐ biÐ sÊlla † "eorla gehwylcumÞonne edwÎt-lÎf!" |
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