Hals is min hwit ond heafod fealo,
I am a warrior with a white throat.
sidan swa some. Swift ic eom on feþe,
My head and sides are tawny. Two ears
beadowæpen bere. Me on bæce standað
Tower above my eyes. My back and cheeks
her swylce swe on hleorum. Hlifiað tu
Are furred. I bear battle-weapons.
earan ofer eagum. Ordum ic steppe
5 My gait is swift. I lope through green
5
in grene græs. Me bið gyrn witod,
Grass on battle-toes. My song is sorrow
gif mec onhæle an onfindeð
If the slaughter-hound scents the narrow
wælgrim wiga, þær ic wic buge,
Hall where I lie hidden with a brood
bold mid bearnum, ond ic bide þær
Of children and we wait nestled in the curve
mid geoguðcnosle. Hwonne gæst cume
10 Of love while death snuffs at the door.
10
to durum minum, him biþ deað witod;
The dog drags doom-so quick with terror
forþon ic sceal of eðle eaforan mine
I seize my children for a secret flight.
forhtmod fergan, fleame nergan.
If he bellies down, stalking in my chamber,
Gif he me æfterweard ealles weorþeð--
I cannot choose to fight-that is fools'
hine breost berað-- ic his bidan ne dear,
15 Counsel-I must tunnel a quick road
15
reþes on geruman-- (nele þæt ræd teale)--
Through a steep hill, paw for the light,
ac ic sceal fromlice feþemundum
Rush mothered babes through the burrow
þurh steapne beorg stræte wyrcan.
Safely on secret streets out the hill-hole.
Eaþe ic mæg freora feorh genergan,
Brood-free I do not fear the hound's rush.
gif ic mægburge mot mine gelædan
20 If the death-foe tracks the fierce mother
20
on degolne weg þurh duneþyrel
Through side streets, he will find
swæse ond gesibbe; ic me siþþan ne þearf
A narrow road through Grimsgate and a hard
wælhwelpes wig wiht onsittan.
Meeting on hilltop as I turn battle-tooth
gif se niðsceaþa nearwe stige
And war-claw on the foe I once fled.
me on swaþe seceþ, ne tosæleþ him
25
on þam gegnpaþe guþgemotes,
siþþan ic þurh hylles hrof geræce,
ond þurh hest hrino hildepilum
laðgewinnum, þam þe ic longe fleah.
