Then the thane of Hrothgar rode his horse
Down to the shore, brandishing a mighty spear 235
Forcefully in both hands, and asked in formal words:
“What sort of fighting men are you,
Protected by coats of mail, who thus have come,
ofer lagustræte lædan cwomon,
hider ofer holmas? [Hwæt, ic hwi]le wæs 240
endesæta, ægwearde heold,
þe on land Dena laðra nænig
mid scipherge sceðþan ne meahte.
No her cuðlicor cuman ongunnon
lindhæbbende; ne ge leafnesword 245
guðfremmendra gearwe ne wisson,
maga gemedu. Næfre ic maran geseah
eorla ofer eorþan, ðonne is eower sum,
secg on searwum; nis þæt seldguma,
wæpnum geweorðad, næfne him his wlite leoge, 250
ænlic ansyn. Nu ic eower sceal
frumcyn witan, ær ge fyr heonan,
leassceaweras, on land Dena
furþur feran. Nu ge feorbuend,
mereliðende, minne gehyrað 255
anfealdne geþoht; ofost is selest
to gecyðanne, hwanan eowre cyme syndon.”
(IV) Him se yldesta ondswarode,
werodes wisa, wordhord onleac:
“We synt gumcynnes Geata leode 260
ond Higelaces heorðgeneatas.
Wæs min fæder folcum gecyþed,
æþele ordfruma, Ecgþeow haten;
gebad wintra worn, ær he on weg hwurfe,
gamol of geardum; hine gearwe geman 265
witena welhwylc wide geond eorþan.
We þurh holdne hige hlaford þinne,
sunu Healfdenes, secean cwomon,
Bringing a tall ship over the watery road,
Hither crossing the waves? What, while I have been 240
A coast-guard, holding watch by the sea,
None hostile to the Danish people could
Inflict any injury on this soil with a ship-army.
No shield-bearers undertook to come here
More openly, nor have you acquired 245
Word of leave from my commanders,
Consent of my kinsmen. Never have I seen one,
Among men on earth, mightier than one of you—
Yon man wearing war-gear. That is not a mere retainer,
Bedecked with weapons, unless his appearance belies him— 250
A peerless sight! Now I must have full knowledge
Of your origin before you go any farther hence,
Deceitful observers on the land of the Danes,
Not one step further. Now you far-dwellers,
Seafaring men, hear and learn my 255
One-fold thought. It is best to be in a hurry
To make clear whence you are coming.”
(IV) The chief answered him, the leader
Of the band, unlocking a hoard of words:
“We are men of the Geatish stock, 260
And Hygelac’s hearth-companions;
My father was well known to the peoples,
A noble chieftain, whose name was Ecgtheow.
He lived through many winters before he went away,
An ancient man, from his dwelling: every wise man 265
Well remembers him, far and wide throughout the world.
We have come to seek Healfdene’s son, your lord,
The protector of people, with well-disposed intention;
leodgebyrgean; wes þu us larena god.
Habbað we to þæm mæran micel ærende 270
Deniga frêan; ne sceal þær dyrne sum
wesan, þæs ic wene. Þu wast, gif hit is
swa we soþlice secgan hyrdon,
þæt mid Scyldingum sceaðona ic nat hwylc,
deogol dædhata, deorcum nihtum 275
eaweð þurh egsan uncuðne nið,
hynðu ond hrafyl. Ic þæs Hroðgar mæg
þurh rumne sefan ræd gelæran,
hu he frod ond god feond oferswyðeþ,
gyf him edwendan æfre scolde 280
bealuwa bisigu, bot eft cuman,
ond þa cearwylmas colran wurðaþ;
oððe a syþðan earfoðþrage,
þreanyd þolað, þenden þær wunað
on heahstede husa selest.” 285
Weard maþelode, ðær on wicge sæt,
ombeht unforht: “Æghwæþres sceal
scearp scyldwiga gescad witan,
worda ond worca, se þe wel þenceð.
Ic þæt gehyre, þæt þis is hold weorod 290
frean Scyldinga. Gewitaþ forð beran
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