Beowulf
What follows is my favourite (and public domain) version of the full text of Beowulf. A couple of friends of mine have been bitterly bemoaning having gone to see Beowulf over the weekend. This is for them. There’s no Angelina Jolie in this one, mind you, but in most other ways it’s a whole lot better in the original translation. Sorry, Mr Gaiman :(
BEOWULF
Translated by Gummere
BEOWULF
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,
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,
