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Beowulf (exc. from Beowulf By All)

By Unknown
Translated by Tarren Andrews, Flathead Indian Reservation, Elaine Treharne, Jill M. Fitzgerald, and Angela B. Fulk
Heyla! We have a story about the Spear-Danes, from the old days 
when they were big and their kings showed their strength. There 
was one king, Shield Schefing, who stole many mead-benches from 
other tribes and terrified their leaders. At first, he was found weak 
and wandering, but was taken in and then grew under the comfort of 
the skies. He consumed honors until each of the other surrounding 
tribes over the whale’s road were forced to obey him and pay tribute. 
They say, that was a good king.  
        After all this (when he was old), Shield had a son—a young one in 
the courtyard—who had been sent by God as a comfort to the people  
because He had seen how they were distressed, left without a strong  
leader for a long while.16a
                                            The Lord of life,16b
ruler of glory, gifted worldly honour: 
Beowulf was famed with widespread renown, 
son of Scyld, in the northern lands. 
So should a young man do good things 
with costly gifts in his father’s care, 
so that in old age loyal companions 
remain with him afterwards; when war comes 
they will support their prince. Through glorious deeds 
a man shall prosper among peoples everywhere. 
        Scyld then set off at his due time, 
the mighty lord went into the Lord’s keeping. 
His beloved companions carried him then to the 
water’s edge, as he himself had instructed 
when he still governed, that much-loved Scylding friend, 
their beloved land-prince held power a long time.31
There in the port a ring-prowed ship stood anchored, 
icy and eager, a nobleman’s vessel. 
They laid down their dear king, 
giver of rings, in the bosom of the ship, 
mighty by the mainmast. There were many treasures 
from faraway lands, such precious things loaded there. 
I have never heard of a finer ship 
fitted with the weapons and armor of war, 
swords and harnesses. In its embrace lay 
a multitude of treasures, which were to go with him 
far off, into the dominion of the sea. 
No fewer gifts were provided for him there, 
the very wealth of a nation, than what was once done by those who, 
at his birth, set him adrift, 
alone over the waves           as a child.
Then they set for him           a golden banner46
high over his head,           let the water carry him,  
gave him to the powers of the sea.           In them there was a sad spirit, 
a mournful mind.           Men did not know,  
to tell the truth,           hall counselors,  
heroes under the heavens,           who accepted that load.
Notes:

1. Lines 1-16a translated by Tarren Andrews and the Flathead Indian Reservation.
2. Lines 16b-30 translated by Elaine Treharne.
3. Lines 31-45 translated by Jill M. Fitzgerald.
4. Lines 46-52 translated by Angela B. Fulk.
"Lines 1-52", from Beowulf by All : Community Translation and Workbook edited by Jean Abbott, Elaine Treharne, and Mateusz Fafinski. "Lines 1-52" translated by Tarren Andrews, the Flathead Indian Reservation, Elaine Treharne, Jill M. Fitzgerald, and Angela B. Fulk. Leeds: Arc Humanities Press, 2021. https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/50261.

This work is licensed under Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/