Beowulf Translations
We will be reading the translation by A. S. Kline done in 2012, though the Seamus Heaney translation is the one widely used by critics (it's still in copyright). Take a moment and read through these to get a sense of how the language has changed over time. Which do you find the most interesting to read and why? We will discuss these in class on the first day that we discucss Beowulf.
Original Old English version by AnonymousHwæt. We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, (5) monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra (10) ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning. ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned, geong in geardum, þone god sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat (15) þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile. Him þæs liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf; Beowulf wæs breme blæd wide sprang, Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. (20) Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume, leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal (25) in mægþa gehwære man geþeon. Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile felahror feran on frean wære. Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe, swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd, (30) þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga; leof landfruma lange ahte. þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna, isig ond utfus, æþelinges fær. Aledon þa leofne þeoden, (35) beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes, mærne be mæste. þær wæs madma fela of feorwegum, frætwa, gelæded; ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum, (40) billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon (45) þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende. þa gyt hie him asetton segen geldenne heah ofer heafod, leton holm beran, geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa, (50) murnende mod. Men ne cunnon secgan to soðe, selerædende, hæleð under heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng. Copied from Poetry Foundation [http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/(172777]. 30 July (2015). |
Translated by Professor Francis Gummere (1910)Prelude of the Founder of the Danish House
LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, (5) from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore, awing the earls. Since erst he lay friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him: for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve, till before him the folk, both far and near, (10) who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate, gave him gifts: a good king he! To him an heir was afterward born, a son in his halls, whom heaven sent to favor the folk, feeling their woe (15) that erst they had lacked an earl for leader so long a while; the Lord endowed him, the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown. Famed was this Beowulf: far flew the boast of him, son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands. (20) So becomes it a youth to quit him well with his father’s friends, by fee and gift, that to aid him, aged, in after days, come warriors willing, should war draw nigh, liegemen loyal: by lauded deeds (25) shall an earl have honor in every clan. Forth he fared at the fated moment, sturdy Scyld to the shelter of God. Then they bore him over to ocean’s billow, loving clansmen, as late he charged them, (30) while wielded words the winsome Scyld, the leader beloved who long had ruled.... In the roadstead rocked a ring-dight vessel, ice-flecked, outbound, atheling’s barge: there laid they down their darling lord (35) on the breast of the boat, the breaker-of-rings, by the mast the mighty one. Many a treasure fetched from far was freighted with him. No ship have I known so nobly dight with weapons of war and weeds of battle, (40) with breastplate and blade: on his bosom lay a heaped hoard that hence should go far o’er the flood with him floating away. No less these loaded the lordly gifts, thanes’ huge treasure, than those had done (45) who in former time forth had sent him sole on the seas, a suckling child. High o’er his head they hoist the standard, a gold-wove banner; let billows take him, gave him to ocean. Grave were their spirits, (50) mournful their mood. No man is able to say in sooth, no son of the halls, no hero ’neath heaven, -- who harbored that freight! Copied from The Project Gutenberg [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/981/981-h/981-h.htm]. 30 July (2015).
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Translated by Seamus Heaney (1999)[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation]
So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns. There was Shield Sheafson, scourge [MJ 2] of many tribes, (5) A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall-troops had come far. A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on As his powers waxed and his worth was proved. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts (10) Beyond the whale-road [MJ 3] had to yield to him And begin to pay tribute. That was one good king. Afterwards a boy-child was born to Shield, A cub in the yard, a comfort sent By God to that nation. He knew what they had tholed, [MJ 4] (15) The long times and troubles they’d come through Without a leader; so the Lord of Life, The glorious Almighty, made this man renowned. Shield had fathered a famous son: Beow’s name was known through the north. (20) And a young prince must be prudent like that, Giving freely while his father lives So that afterwards in age when fighting starts Steadfast companions will stand beside him And hold the line. Behavior that’s admired (25) Is the path to power among people everywhere. Shield was still thriving when his time came And he crossed over into the Lord’s keeping. His warrior band did what he bade them When he laid down the law among the Danes: (30) They shouldered him out to the sea’s flood, The chief they revered who had long ruled them. A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbour, Ice-clad, outbound, a craft for a prince. They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, (35) Laid out by the mast, amidships, The great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures Were piled upon him, and precious gear. I never heard before of a ship so well furbished With battle tackle, bladed weapons (40) And coats of mail. [MJ 5] The massed treasure Was loaded on top of him: it would travel far On out into the ocean’s sway. They decked his body no less bountifully With offerings than those first ones did (45) Who cast him away when he was a child And launched him alone out over the waves. And they set a gold standard up High above his head and let him drift To wind and tide, bewailing him (50) And mourning their loss. No man can tell, No wise man in hall or weathered veteran Knows for certain who salvaged that load. Copied from Norton Anthology of English Literature..
[MJ 2] scourge: a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering [MJ 3] whale-road: The sea(s), the ocean(s) [MJ 4] tholed: endure (something) without complaint or resistance; tolerate [MJ 5] “coats of mail”: a jacket covered with or composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armor |
Translated by A. S. Kline (2012)[Prologue: The Spear-Danes (Lines 1-52)]
Now! We Spear-Danes, in ages gone, Days of the clan-kings, knew glory. How those princes did mighty deeds. Shield Sheafson seized mead-benches (5) From many a man, among his enemies; That terror of warriors flourished later, After his first rescue as foundling, Waxed under heaven, grew in honour, Till near tribes, over the whale-road, (10) Had to yield to him, forced to submit, Offer him tribute. That was a fine king! After, a boy-child was born to him, A lad in the yard, sent there by God To comfort the people; He had seen (15) What they had suffered; leaderless A long while; so the Lord of Life, Wielder of Glory, granted him honour; Beaw was known – his fame flew wide – Heir to Shield, in the Northern lands. (20) So should a lad do, working good deeds, Giving gifts freely in his father’s house; So, in old age, when battle comes Willing companions stand by him, His people rally; by noble effort, (25) Among men everywhere, man prospers. Then Shield passed, at the appointed time, Still in his prime, into the Lord’s hands. As he had asked, when he wielded words, A friend to the Shieldings, beloved ruler, (30) Long king over them, his dear comrades Shouldered down to the sea’s brine. There in the harbour rode a whorled prow, Ice-shrouded, ready, fit for a hero; They laid down their beloved prince, (35) The ring-giver, there amidships, Might by the mast; many the riches From far-off lands, precious armour None I heard comelier, keel weighted With battle-weapons, war-gear, (40) Blade and breastplate; on him lay Many a treasure, forced with him On the tide’s sway, to drift afar. No less on him had they bestowed A nation’s riches than those did (45) Who had once launched him, Then a child, alone on the waves. Now they raised a golden standard High at his head; let him to ride Gave him to ocean; troubled hearts, (50) Mourning minds. No man knows Can tell for certain, wise counsellor Or earthly hero, what had that cargo. Translated by A. S. Kline © (2012 All Rights Reserved. Copied from Poetry in Translation [http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/English/Beowulfhome.htm]. 30 July (2015).
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