A Likely Dissertation

I'm sorry to have been away from posting for so long. I have been tremendously busy with my day job at iRobot, my teaching at MCC, and my preparation for the German exam.

In addition, I've had to move ahead in defining the area of interest for (1) my book list exam and (2) the eventual dissertation.

Let me sketch out the idea I have right now, and I hope readers will be kind enough to offer thoughts, encouragement, suggestions, cautions, and so forth. Here it is:

I am interested in approaching textual issues through the application of probabilistic analysis.

Specifically, I want to investigate the use of probability models to illuminate syntactic and semantic patterns in difficult passages of Anglo-Saxon poetry. For example, I think these models could help predict recurring dependencies in syntax and semantics. These dependencies, in turn, would enhance our analysis of textual cruxes and gaps in the Anglo-Saxon poetic corpus. We would then have an additional basis of evidence for supporting or challenging editorial readings. These models allow us to ask questions such as “given wherever we are at place p in the text - that is, wherever we are syntactically and semantically – what are the most likely options for what will follow next?”

Interestingly these models heaviy depend on the input, that is, on the text(s) imported into the database to establish the basis for probabilities. With regard to Anglo-Saxon poetry, these input texts would require us to deal with word breaks, caps, points, runic symbols, abbreviations, erasures and other intricacies of textuality in that period.

So a project like this places a premium on textual issues. At the same time, it encourages a kind of forensics of Anglo-Saxon scholarship where every crux and emendation has a textual and historical background that can be partially reconstructed.

Fighting Bias with Bias: Conservapedia and the Bible

I have been bad about posting recently, as I'm buried in mortgage-paying work.

As consolation, here's a doozy of a story, Got Medieval: Textual Analysts, I've Got the Conservapedia on Line 2.

I am 87% certain this story will get a footnote in my dissertation.

Have You Hoard?

I am probably the last one in the blogosphere to report on the Staffordshire Hoard, a truly exciting and important find. This is a real event, friends. (UPDATE: To find out why it's such an event, click to this Times article, "A New Angle on the Saxons.")

I'll save commentary for another time. For now, I simply want to collect some of the interesting images and videos that explain the story. First, some images (and more here):

Several sword fittings discovered in the hoard exhibit artwork known as Salin's Style II. This style of animal-related artwork showed beasts intertwined in complex, symmetrical patterns. Examples of this style were also found at Sutton Hoo.

This gold strip carries the Latin inscription: "Rise up O Lord, and may thy enemies be dispersed and those who hate thee be driven from thy face." It has two sources, the Book of Numbers or Psalm 67, taken from the Vulgate, the Bible used by the Saxons.

Several good videos are out there now.





On the academic discussion lists, one scholar commented (I'll not disclose the name, out of respect for the possibility that the person may not want to be quoted on some random blog):

These treasures will have to be seen to be fully appreciated, but I'm struck by the close similarity between many of these objects and objects in the Sutton Hoo find. It's almost as if the same workshop or the same artists did some of those pieces. But the variety of Sutton Hoo and the restricted nature of this find is quite striking. The one site gives a picture of a whole though very elite world, the other one of a culture's high and costly end. Sutton Hoo gives us a helmet, Staffordshire the most valuable parts of one or more helmets.

I'll close out with three related insights on the item with the inscription. These also came up on the email discussion lists. The first mentions a news report, and the latter two are responses to it:

Michelle Brown has commented on the script, Bruce, attributing it to the "early 7th to early 8th century", although Elizabeth Okasha dates the inscription to the 8th or 9th century. An initial summary report (along with Prof. Okasha's complete report on the inscription) and handlist of finds is available for download: http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/artefacts/

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Although, as Elizabeth [Okasha] is careful to say, it's sometimes difficult to extrapolate from chirography to epigraphy, I'd say the inscription is half-uncial (as Michelle says), and not insular minuscule. The high-e, the oc a, the straight-backed d, majuscule R, N, and M are all reminiscent (perhaps conveniently?!) of the eighth-century Lichfield Gospels, available at

http://www.lichfield-cathedral.org/inspires/cathedral-treasures/the-
chad-gospels

There's a 'turn-the-page' facility here too.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

This half-uncial with some variable elements (the two forms of n,
variations in the i and u) is remarkable...in its very open triangular
serifs. These open triangular serifs would seem to be imitations of book
hands. Seventh- and eighth-century insular scripts, from uncial through
half-uncial and set minuscule, are well known for their triangular
serifs on minims and ascenders. These have to be reproduced with open
triangles in epigraphic writing--something seen in other 8c
inscriptions. In this inscription, there is some clear effort made to
reproduce these serifs (though not consistently). Maybe this is useful
in imagining the maker and making of this text, if not for the dating
and localisation....

My Beowulf, Introductory Section (lineated)

Here is my first attempt to present a final text, although this is nowhere near the final iteration. As I go through each section, I'm making textual and explanatory notes, but I won't start working them seriously until after I finish this second pass through the poem.

I've decided to lineate the poem, but I have not yet put in the caesura. My reasoning is that ultimately the text has to be "coded" for people to translate and not lineating would undermine that goal.

My resolve is not to edit out any of the points. They will remain in their spots as en-dashes. I'm also really trying not to add in punctuation. When I do, it's usually a semi-colon. I'm also capitalizing proper names. I am also resolving to keep the small caps and to "pre-translate" them as beginnings of new paragraphs. So, they get a full enter/space before them. I already like the look of it.

At the end of 43 fitts, I hope to have a credible text that is nevertheless unique.

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum –
þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.

Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum
monegum mægþum meodosetla ofteah
egsode eorlas syððan ærest wearð
feasceaft funden; he þæs frofre gebad
weox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þah –
oð þæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra
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
þæt hie ær drugon aldorlease –
lange hwile; him þæs Liffrea
wuldres wealdend woroldare forgeaf –
Beowulf wæs breme blæd wide sprang
Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in.

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
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
þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga
leof landfruma lange ahte
þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna
isig ond utfus æþelinges fær –
aledon þa leofne þeoden
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
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
þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon
ænne ofer yðe umborwe|sende;
þa gyt hie him asetton segen gyldenne
heah ofer heafod leton holm beran
geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa
murnende mod; men ne cunnon –
secgan to soðe selerædende
hæleð under heofenum hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.

The vertical line in some places indicates the beginning of a new sheet in the manuscript.

My Beowulf, Fitts 40 through 43 (End)

Yay! Here is the rest of Beowulf, from fitt 40 (line 2893, fol. 192v) through fitt 43 (line 3182, fol. 198v). I went through and revised fitt 42, which I had posted earlier.

Enjoy, while I gather my thoughts and figure out what to do next.

Heht ða þæt heaðoweorc to hagan biodan up ofer ecgclif þær þæt eorlweorod morgenlongne dæg modgiomor sæt bordhæbbende bega on wenum endedogores ond eftcymes leofes – monnes lyt swigode niwra spella se ðe næs gerad ac he soðlice sægde ofer ealle nu is wilgeofa wedra leoda dryhten geata deaðbedde fæst wunað wælreste wyrmes dædum him on efn ligeð ealdorgewinna sexbennum seoc sweorde ne meahte on ðam aglæcean ænige þinga wunde gewyrcean wiglaf siteð ofer biowulfe byre wihstanes eorl ofer oðrum unlifigendum healdeð higemæðum *heafodwearde leofes ond laðes nu ys leodum wen – orleghwile syððan underne froncum ond frysum fyll cyninges wide weorðeð wæs sio wroht scepen heard wið hugas syððan higelac cwom faran flotherge on fresna land þær hyne hetware hilde genægdon elne geeodon mid ofermægene þæt se byrnwiga bugan sceolde feoll on feðan nalles frætwe geaf ealdor dugoðe us wæs a syððan merewioingas milts ungyfeðe.

Ne ic to sweoðeode sibbe oððe treowe wihte ne wene ac wæs wide cuð þætte ongenðio ealdre besnyðede hæðcen hreþling wið hrefnawudu þa for onmedlan ærest gesohton geata leode guðscilfingas.

Sona him se froda fæder ohtheres eald ond egesfull ondslyht ageaf abreot brimwisan bryd ahredde gomela iomeowlan golde berofene onelan modor ond ohtheres ond ða folgode feorhgeniðlan oððæt hi oðeodon earfoðlice in hrefnesholt hlafordlease besæt ða sinherge sweorda lafe wundum werge *wean oft gehet earmre teohhe ondlonge niht cwæð he on mergenne meces ecgum getan wolde sum on galgtreowum fuglum to gamene frofor eft gelamp sarigmodum somod ærdæge syððan hie hygelaces horn ond byman gealdor ongeaton þa se goda côm leoda dugoðe on last faran.

XLI.
Wæs sio swatswaðu sweona ond geata wælræs weora wide gesyne hu ða folc mid him fæhðe towehton gewat him ða se goda mid his gædelingum frod felageomor fæsten secean eorl ongenþio ufor oncirde hæfde higelaces hilde gefrunen wlonces wigcræft wiðres ne truwode þæt he sæmannum onsacan mihte heaðoliðendum hord forstandan bearn ond bryde beah eft þonan – eald under eorðweall – þa wæs æht boden sweona leodum segn higelace – freoðowong þone forð ofereodon syððan hreðlingas to hagan þrungon þær wearð ongenðiow ecgum sweorda blondenfexa on bid wrecen þæt se þeodcyning ðafian sceolde eafores *anne dôm hyne yrringa wulf wonreding wæpne geræhte þæt him for swenge swat ædrum sprong forð under fexe næs he forht swa ðeh gomela scilfing ac forgeald hraðe wyrsan wrixle wælhlem þone syððan ðeodcyning þyder oncirde.

Ne meahte se snella sunu wonredes ealdum ceorle ondslyht giofan ac he him on heafde helm ær gescer þæt he blode fah bugan sceolde feoll on foldan næs he fæge þa git ac he hyne gewyrpte þeah ðe him wund hrine let se hearda higelaces þegn bradne mece þa his broðor læg eald sweord eotonisc entiscne helm brecan ofer bordweal ða gebeah cyning folces hyrde wæs in feorh dropen – ða wæron monige þe his mæg wriðon ricone arærdon ða him gerymed wearð þæt hie wælstowe wealdan moston þenden reafode rinc oðerne nam on ongenðio irenbyrnan heard swyrd hilted ond his helm somod hares hyrste higelace bær he ð[am] frætwum feng ond him fægre gehet leana === *leodum ond gelæste swa geald þone guðræs geata dryhten hreðles eafora þa he to ham becôm iofore ond wulfe mid ofermaðmum sealde hiora gehwæðrum hund þusenda landes ond locenra beaga ne ðorfte him ða lean oðwitan mon on middangearde syððan hie ða mærða geslogon – ond ða iofore forgeaf angan dohtor hamweorðunge hyldo to wedde þæt ys sio fæhðo ond se feondscipe wælnið wera ðæs ðe ic wen hafo þe us seceað to sweona leoda syððan hie gefricgeað frean userne ealdorleasne þone ðe ær geheold wið hettendum hord ond rice æfter hæleða hryre hwate scildingas folcred fremede – oððe furður gen eorlscipe efnde nu is ofost betost þæt we þeodcyning þær sceawian ond þone gebringan þe us beagas geaf on âdfære ne scel anes hwæt meltan mid þam modigan ac þær is maðma hord gold unrime grimme gecea[po]d ond nu æt siðestan sylfes feore beagas [gebo]hte þa sceall brond fretan æled þeccean *nalles eorl wegan maððum to gemyndum ne mægð scyne habban on healse hringweorðunge ac sceal geomormod golde bereafod oft nalles æne elland tredan nu se herewisa hleahtor alegde gamen ond gleodream forðon sceall gar wesan monig morgenceald mundum bewunden hæfen on handa nalles hearpan sweg wigend weccean ac se wonna hrefn fûs ofer fægum fela reordian earne secgan hu him æt æte speow þenden he wið wulf wæl reafode – swa se secg hwata secggende wæs laðra spella he ne leag fela wyrda ne worda – weorod eall aras eodon unbliðe under earnanæs wollenteare wundur sceawian fundon ða on sande sawulleasne hlimbed healdan þone þe him hringas geaf ærran mælum þa wæs endedæg godum gegongen þæt se guðcyning wedra þeoden wundordeaðe swealt ær hi þær gesegan syllicran wiht wyrm on wonge wiðerræhtes þær laðne licgean wæs se legdraca grimlic gryr[e] *gledum beswæled se wæs fiftiges fotgemearces lang on legere lyftwynne heold nihtes hwilum nyðer eft gewat dennes niosian wæs ða deaðe fæst hæfde eorðscrafa ende genyttod him big stodan bunan ond orcas discas lagon ond dyre swyrd omige þurhetone swa hie wið eorðan fæðm þusend wintra þær eardodon – þonne wæs þæt yrfe eacencræftig iumonna gold galdre bewunden þæt ðam hringsele hrinan ne moste gumena ænig nefne god sylfa sigora soðcyning sealde þam ðe he wolde he is manna gehyld hord openian efne swa hwylcum manna swa him gemet ðuhte:~

XLII.
Þa wæs gesyne þæt se sið ne ðah þam ðe unrihte inne gehydde wræte under wealle weard ær ofsloh feara sumne þa sio fæhð gewearð gewrecen wraðlice wundur hwar þonne eorl ellenrôf ende gefere – lifgesceafta þonne leng ne mæg mon mid his [ma]gum meduseld buan swa wæs biowulfe – *þa he biorges weard sohte searoniðas seolfa ne cuðe þurh hwæt his worulde gedal weorðan sceolde – swa hit oð domes dæg diope benemdon þeodnas mære þa ðæt þær dydon þæt se secg wære synnum scildig hergum geheaðerod hellbendum fæst wommum gewitnad se ðone wong strade næs he goldhwæte gearwor hæfde agendes est ær gesceawod – wiglâf maðelode wihstanes sunu oft sceall eorl monig anes willan wræc adreogan swa us geworden is ne meahton we gelæran leofne þeoden rices hyrde ræd ænigne þæt he ne grette goldweard þone lete hyne licgean þær he longe wæs wicum wunian oð woruldende heold on heahgesceap hord ys gesceawod grimme gegongen wæs þæt gifeðe to swið þe ðone þeodcyning þyder ontyhte.

Ic wæs þær inne ond þæt eall geondseh recedes geatwa þa me gerymed wæs nealles swæslice sið alyfed inn under eorðweall ic on ofoste gefeng micle mid mundum mægenbyrðenne hordgestreona hider *ut ætbær cyninge minum cwico wæs þa gena wis ond gewittig worn eall gespræc gomol on gehðo ond eowic gretan het bæd þæt ge geworhton æfter wines dædum in bælstede beorh þone hean micelne ond mærne swa he manna wæs wigend weorðfullost wide geond eorðan þenden he burhwelan brucan moste.

Uton nu efstan oðre siðe seon ond secean searogimma geþræc wundur under wealle ic eow wisige þæt ge genoge neon sceawiað beagas ond brad gold sie sio bær gearo ædre geæfned þonne we ut cymen ond þonne geferian frean userne leofne mannan þær he longe sceal on ðæs waldendes wære geþolian – het ða gebeodan byre wihstanes hæle hildedior hæleða monegum boldagendra þæt hie bælwudu feorran feredon folcagende godum togenes nu sceal gled fretan weaxan wonna leg wigena strengel þone ðe oft gebâd isernscure þonne stræla storm strengum gebæded scoc ofer scildweall sceft nytte heold feðergearwum fûs flane fulleode – huru se snotra sunu wihstanes acigde of corðre *cyninges þegnas syfone [to]somne þa selestan eode eahta sum under inwithrôf hilderinc sum on handa bær æledleoman se ðe on orde geong næs ða on hlytme hwa þæt hord strude syððan orwearde ænigne dæl secgas gesegon on sele wunian læne licgan lyt ænig mearn þæt hi ofostlic[e] ut geferedon dyre maðmas dracan ec scufun wyrm ofer weallclif leton weg niman flod fæðmian frætwa hyrde þæt wæs wunden gold on wæn hladen æghwæs unrim æþeling boren har hilderinc to hronesnæsse:~

[XLIII.]
Him ða gegiredan geata leode âd on eorðan unwaclicne helmum behongen hildebordum beorhtum byrnum swa he bena wæs alegdon ða tomiddes mærne þeoden hæleð hiofende hlaford leofne ongunnon þa on beorge bælfyra mæst – wigend weccan wud[u]rêc astah sweart ofer swioðole swogende leg wope bewunden windblond gelæg oðþæt he ða bânhûs gebrocen hæfde hat on hreðre higum unrote modceare mændon mondryhtnes cw[e]alm swylce giomorgyd *====== meowle ============= unden heorde === sorgcearig swiðe geneahhe þæt hio hyre ======= gas hearde =====de wælfylla wonn ====des egesan hyðo = h =====d heofonrece sw[e]alg geworhton ða wedra leode hl == on liðe se wæs heah ond brad [wæ]gliðendum wide g[e]syne ond betimbredon on tyn dagum beadurofes becn bronda lafe wealle beworhton swa hyt weorðlicost foresnotre men findan mihton hi on beorg dydon beg ond siglu eall swylce hyrsta swylce on horde ær niðhedige men genumen hæfdon forleton eorla gestreon eorðan healdan gold on greote þær hit nu gen lifað eldum swa unnyt swa hi ====r wæs – þa ymbe hlæw riodan hildediore æþelinga bearn ealra twelfe woldon ==== cwiðan ond kyning mænan wordgyd wrecan ond ymb w== sprecan eahtodan eorlscipe ond his ellenweorc duguðum demdon swa hit gede[fe] bið þæt mon his winedryhten wordum herge ferhðum freoge þonne he forð scile of lichaman ==== weorðan swa begnornodon geata leode hlafordes ===re heorðgeneatas cwædon þæt he wære wyruldcyninga manna mildust ond mon[ðw]ærust leodum liðost ond lofgeornost.

My Beowulf, Fitts 37 through 39

I'm pushing to finish before the Labor Day holiday ends. Here is lines 2695 to 2892, fol. 197v to fol. 192v.

You'll notice that something seems odd in the numbering of the folia. This, however, is how it goes in the EETS version I'm using:

• p.119, fol.188r
• p.120, fol.188v
• p.121, fol.197r
• p.122, fol.197v
• p.123, fol.189r
• p.124, fol.189v

Apparently, I've been using the old (really old) foliation of the manuscript. This is the kind of thing that a second pass will start to clean up.

ÐA ic æt þearfe gefrægn þeodcyninges andlongne eorl ellen cyðan cræft ond cenðu swa him gecynde wæs ne hedde he þæs heafolan ac sio hand gebarn modiges mannes þær he his mæges healp þæt he þone niðgæst nioðor hwene sloh – secg on searwum þæt ðæt sweord gedeaf fah ond fæted þæt ðæt fŷr ongon sweðrian syððan þa gen sylf cyning – geweold his gewitte wællseaxe gebræd biter ond beaduscearp þæt he on byrnan wæg forwrat wedra *helm wyrm on middan feond gefyldan ferh ellen wræc ond hi hyne þa begen abroten hæfdon sibæðelingas swylc sceolde secg wesan – þegn æt ðearfe þæt ðam þeodne wæs siðast sigehwila sylfes dædum worlde geweorces – ða sio wund ongon þe him se eorðdraca ær geworhte swelan ond swellan he þæt sona onfand þæt him on breostum bealoniðe weoll attor on innan ða se æðeling giong þæt he bi wealle wîshycgende gesæt on sesse seah on enta geweorc hu ða stanbogan stapulum fæste ece eorðreced innan healde hyne þa mid handa heorodreorigne þeoden mærne þegn ungemete till winedryhten his wætere gelafede hilde sædne ond his hel[m] onspeon – biowulf maþelode he ofer benne spræc wunde wælbleate wisse he gearwe þæt he dæghwila gedrogen hæfde eorðan wynn[e] ða wæs eall sceacen dogorgerimes deað ungemete neah nu ic suna minum syllan wolde guðgewædu þær me gifeðe swa ænig yrfe-*weard æfter wurde lice gelenge ic ðas leode heold – fiftig wintra næs se folccyning ymbesittendra ænig ðara 2735 þe mec guðwinum gretan dorste egesan ðeon ic on earde bâd mælgesceafta heold min tela ne sohte searoniðas ne me swor fela aða on unriht ic ðæs ealles mæg feorhbennum seoc gefean habban for ðam me witan ne ðearf waldend fira morðorbealo maga þonne min sceaceð lîf of lice nu ðu lungre geong hord sceawian under harne stan – wiglaf leofa nu se wyrm ligeð swefeð sare wund since bereafod bio nu on ofoste þæt ic ærwelan goldæht ongite gearo sceawige swegle searogimmas þæt ic ðy seft mæge æfter maððumwelan min alætan lîf ond leodscipe þone ic longe heold:—

XXXVIII.
ÐA ic snude gefrægn sunu wihstanes æfter wordcwydum wundum dryhtne – hyran heaðosiocum hringnet beran brogdne beadusercean under beorges hrof – geseah ða sigehreðig þa he bi sesse geong – magoþegn *modig maððumsigla fealo gold glitinian grunde getenge wundur on wealle ond þæs wyrmes denn ealdes uhtflogan orcas stondan fyrnmanna fatu feormendlease hyrstum behrorene þær wæs helm monig eald ond omig earmbeaga fela searwum gesæled sinc eaðe mæg gold on grund[e] gumcynnes gehwone oferhigian hyde se ðe wylle swylce he siomian geseah segn eallgylden heah ofer horde hondwundra mæst gelocen leoðocræftum of ðam leoma stôd þæt he þone grundwong ongitan meahte wræte giondwlitan næs ðæs wyrmes þær onsyn ænig ac hyne ecg fornam ða ic on hlæwe gefrægn hord reafian eald enta geweorc anne mannan him on bearm hladon bunan ond discas sylfes dome segn eac genom beacna beorhtost bill ær gescod ecg wæs iren ealdhlafordes þam ðara maðma mundbora wæs longe hwile ligegesan wæg hatne for horde hioroweallende middelnihtum *oðþæt he morðre swealt ar wæs on ofoste eftsiðes georn frætwum gefyrðred hyne fyrwet bræc hwæðer collenferð cwicne gemette in ðam wongstede wedra þeoden ellensiocne þær he hine ær forlet – he ða mid þam maðmum mærne þioden dryhten sinne driorigne fand ealdres æt ende he hine eft ongon wæteres weorpan oðþæt wordes ord breosthord þurhbræc – gomel on giohðe gold sceawode.

Ic ðara frætwa frean ealles ðanc wuldurcyninge wordum secge – ecum dryhtne þe ic her on starie þæs ðe ic moste minum leodum ær swyltdæge swylc gestrynan nu ic on maðma hord mine bebohte frode feorhlege fremmað gena leoda þearfe ne mæg ic her leng wesan – hatað heaðomære hlæw gewyrcean – beorhtne æfter bæle æt brimes nosan – se scel to gemyndum minum leodum heah hlifian on hronesnæsse þæt hit sæliðend syððan hatan biowulfes biorh ða ðe brentingas ofer *floda genipu feorran drifað dyde him of healse hring gyldenne þioden þristhydig þegne gesealde geongum garwigan goldfahne helm beah ond byrnan het hyne brucan well – þu eart endelaf usses cynnes wægmundinga ealle wyrd forsweop mine magas to metodsceafte eorlas on elne ic him æfter sceal þæt wæs þam gomelan gingæste word – breostgehygdum ær he bæl cure hate heaðowylmas him of hreðre gewat sawol secean soðfæstra dôm.

[XXXVIIII.]
Đa wæs gegongen guman unfrodum earfoðlice þæt he on eorðan geseah þone leofestan lifes æt ende bleate gebæran bona swylce læg egeslic eorðdraca ealdre bereafod bealwe gebæded beahhordum leng wyrm wohbogen wealdan ne moste ac hine irenna ecga fornamon hearde heaðoscearde homera lafe þæt se widfloga wundum stille hreas on hrusan hordærne neah nalles *æfter lyfte lacende – hwearf middelnihtum maðmæhta wlonc ansyn ywde ac he eorðan gefeoll for ðæs hildfruman hondgeweorce huru þæt on lande lyt manna ðah mægenagendra mine gefræge þeah ðe he dæda gehwæs dyrstig wære þæt he wið attorsceaðan oreðe geræsde oððe hringsele hondum styrede gif he wæccende weard onfunde buon on beorge biowulfe wearð dryhtmaðma dæl deaðe forgolden hæfde æghwæðer ende gefered lænan lifes næs ða lang to ðon þæt ða hildlatan holt ofgefan tydre treowlogan tyne ætsomne ða ne dorston ær dareðum lacan on hyra mandryhtnes miclan þearfe ac hy scamiende scyldas bæran guðgewædu þær se gomela læg wlitan on wilaf he gewergad sæt feðecempa frean eaxlum neah wehte hyne wætre him wiht ne speow ne meahte he on eorðan ðeah he uðe wel on ðam frumgare feorh gehealdan ne ðæs wealdendes wiht oncirran wolde dôm *godes dædum rædan gumena gehwylcum swa he nu gen deð þa wæs æt ðam geongan grim ondswaru eðbegete þam ðe ær his elne forleas – wiglaf maðelode weohstanes sunu sec sarigferð seah on unleofe þæt la mæg secgan se ðe wyle soð specan þæt se mondryhten se eow ða maðmas geaf eoredgeatwe þe ge þær on standað – þonne he on ealubence oft gesealde healsittendum helm ond byrnan þeoden his þegnum swylce he þrydlicost ower feor oððe neah findan meahte þæt he genunga guðgewædu wraðe forwurpe – ða hyne wig beget nealles folccyning fyrdgesteallum gylpan þorfte hwæðre him god uðe sigora waldend þæt he hyne sylfne gewræc ana mid ecge þa him wæs elnes þearf.

Ic him lifwraðe lytle meahte ætgifan æt guðe ond ongan swa þeah ofer min gemet mæges helpan.

Symle wæs þy sæmra þonne ic sweorde drep ferhðgeniðlan fyr unswiðor weoll of gewitte wergendra to lyt þrong ymbe þeoden þa hyne sio *þrag becwom – hu sceal sincþego ond swyrdgifu eall eðelwyn eowrum cynne – lufen alicgean londrihtes mot þære mægburge monna æghwylc idel hweorfan syððan æðelingas feorran gefricgean fleam eowerne domleasan dæd deað bið sella eorla gehwylcum þonne edwitlif.

My Beowulf, Fitts 33 through 36

Some long sections here, from line 2312 (fol. 181r) to line 2694 (fol. 197v). The end of this first pass through the manuscript is approaching. I'm beginning to get anxious baout what the second pass will or should accomplish.

ÐA se gæst ongan gledum spiwan beorht hofu bærnan bryneleoma stod eldum on andan no ðær aht cwices – lað lyftfloga læfan *wolde – wæs þæs wyrmes wig wide gesyne nearofages nið nean ond feorran hu se guðsceaða geata leode hatode ond hynde hord eft gesceat – dryhtsele dyrnne ær dæges hwile – hæfde landwara lige befangen bæle ond bronde beorges getruwode wiges ond wealles him seo wen geleah þa wæs biowulfe broga gecyðed snude to soðe þæt his sylfes ham bolda selest brynewylmum mealt – gifstol geata þæt ðam godan wæs – hreow on hreðre hygesorga mæst wende se wisa þæt he wealdende ofer ealde riht ecean dryhtne bitre gebulge breost innan weoll þeostrum geþoncum swa him geþywe ne wæs – hæfde ligdraca leoda fæsten – ealond utan eorðweard ðone gledum forgrunden him ðæs guðkyning wedera þioden wræce leornode heht him þa gewyrcean wigendra hleo eallirenne eorla dryhten wigbord wrætlic *wisse he gearwe þæt him holtwudu he[lpan] ne meahte lind wið lige sceolde lændaga æþeling ærgôd ende gebidan worulde lifes ond se wyrm somod þeah ðe hordwelan heolde lange oferhogode ða hringa fengel þæt he þone wîdflogan weorode gesohte sidan herge no he him þa sæcce ondred – ne him þæs wyrmes wig for wiht dyde – eafoð ond ellen forðon he ær fela nearo neðende niða gedigde hildehlemma syððan he hroðgares sigoreadig secg sele fælsode – ond æt guðe forgrap grendeles mægum laðan cynnes no þæt læsest wæs hondgemota þær mon hygelac sloh – syððan geata cyning guðe ræsum freawine folca freslondum on hreðles eafora hiorodryncum swealt bille gebeaten þonan biowulf com sylfes cræfte sundnytte dreah hæfde him on earme *=== xxx hildegeatwa þa he to holme [st]ag nealles hetware hremge þorf[t]on feðewiges þe him foran ongean – linde bæron lyt eft becwom fram þam hildfrecan hames niosan oferswam ða sioleða bigong sunu ecgðeowes earm anhaga eft to leodum þær him hygd gebead hord ond rice beagas ond bregostol bearne ne truwode þæt he wið ælfylcum eþelstolas healdan cuðe – ða wæs hygelac dead – no ðy ær feasceafte findan meahton æt ðam æðelinge ænige ðinga þæt he heardrede hlaford wære oððe þone cynedôm ciosan wolde – hwæðre he him on folce freondlarum heold – estum mid are oððæt he yldra wearð – wedergeatum weold hyne wræcmæcgas ofer sæ sohtan suna ohteres hæfdon hy forhealden helm scylfinga þone selestan sæcyninga þara ðe in swiorice sinc brytnade – mærne *þeoden him þæt to mearce wearð he þær for feorme feorhwunde hleat sweordes swengum sunu hygelaces – ond him eft gewat ongenðioes bearn hames niosan syððan heardred læg – let ðone bregostol biowulf healdan geatum wealdan þæt wæs god cyning.

XXXIIII.
SE ðæs leodhryres lean gemunde uferan dogrum eadgilse wearð feasceaftum freond folce gestepte – ofer sæ side sunu ohteres wigum ond wæpnum he gewræc syððan cealdum cearsiðum cyning ealdre bineat – swa he niða gehwane genesen hæfde sliðra geslyhta sunu ecgðiowes – ellenweorca oð ðone anne dæg þe he wið þam wyrme gewegan sceolde – gewat þa .xii. sum torne gebolgen dryhten geata dracan sceawian hæfde þa gefrunen hwanan sio fæhð aras – bealonið biorna him to bearme *cwom maðþumfæt mære þurh ðæs meldan hond se wæs on ðam ðreate þreotteoða secg se ðæs orleges or onstealde hæft hygegiomor sceolde hean ðonon – wong wisian he ofer willan giong – to ðæs ðe he eorðsele anne wisse – hlæw under hrusan holmwylme neh – yðgewinne se wæs innan full wrætta ond wira weard unhiore gearo guðfreca goldmaðmas heold – eald under eorðan næs þæt yðe ceap to gegangenne gumena ænigum gesæt ða on næsse niðheard cyning – þenden hælo abead heorðgeneatum goldwine geata him wæs geomor sefa wæfre ond wælfus wyrd ungemete neah – se ðone gomelan gretan sceolde secean sawle hord sundur gedælan lif wið lice no þon lange wæs – feorh æþelinges flæsce bewunden – biowulf maþelade bearn ecgðeowes fela ic on giogoðe guðræsa genæs orleghwila ic þæt eall gemon – *ic wæs syfanwintre þa mec sinca baldor freawine folca æt minum fæder genam heold mec ond hæfde hreðel cyning geaf me sinc ond symbel sibbe gemunde næs ic him to life laðra owihte beorn in burgum þonne his bearna hwylc – herebeald ond hæðcyn – oððe hygelac min wæs þam yldestan ungedefelice mæges dædum morþorbed stred syððan hyne hæðcyn of hornbogan – his freawine flane geswencte miste mercelses ond his mæg ofscet broðor oðerne blodigan gare þæt wæs feohleas gefeoht fyrenum gesyngad – hreðre hygemeðe sceolde hwæðre swa þeah æðeling unwrecen ealdres linnan swa bið geomorlic gomelum ceorle to gebidanne þæt his byre ride giong on galgan þonne he gyd wrece sarigne sang þonne his sunu hangað hrefne to hroðre ond he him helpe ne mæg eald ond infrod ænige gefremman symble bið gemyndgad morna gehwylce *eaforan ellorsið oðres ne gymeð to gebidanne burgum in innan yrfeweardas þonne se an hafað þurh deaðes nyd dæda gefondad – gesyhð sorhcearig on his suna bure winsele westne windge reste – reote berofene ridend swefað hæleð in hoðman nis þær hearpan sweg gomen in geardum swylce ðær iu wæron.

XXXV.
GEwiteð þonne on sealman sorhleoð gæleð an æfter anum þuhte him eall to rum wongas ond wicstede swa wedra helm æfter herebealde heortan sorge weallende wæg wihte ne meahte – on ðam feorhbonan fæghðe gebetan no ðy ær he þone heaðorinc hatian ne meahte laðum dædum þeah him leof ne wæs – he ða mid þære sorhge þe him swa sâr belamp gumdream ofgeaf godes leoht geceas eaferum læfde swa deð eadig mon lond ond leodbyrig þa he of life gewat þa *wæs synn ond sacu sweona ond geata ofer [w]id wæter wroht gemæne – herenið hearda syððan hreðel swealt oððe him ongenðeowes eaferan wæran frome fyrdhwate freode ne woldon ofer heafo healdan ac ymb hreosnabeorh eatolne inwitscear oft gefremedon – þæt mægwine mine gewræcan fæhðe ond fyrene swa hyt gefræge wæs þeah ðe oðer his ealdre gebohte heardan ceape hæðcynne wearð geata dryhtne guð onsæge þa ic on morgne gefrægn mæg oðerne billes ecgum on bonan stælan – þær ongenþeow eofores niosað – guðhelm toglad gomela scylfing hreas hildeblac hond gemunde : fæhðo genoge feorhsweng ne ofteah – ic him þa maðmas þe he me sealde geald æt guðe swa me gifeðe wæs – leohtan sweorde he me lond forgeaf eard eðelwyn næs him ænig þearf þæt he to gifðum oððe to gardenum oððe in swiorice secean þurfe *wyrsan wigfrecan weorðe gecypan symle ic him on feðan beforan wolde ana on orde ond swa to aldre sceall sæcce fremman þenden þis sweord þolað þæt mec ær ond sið oft gelæste syððan ic for dugeðum dæghrefne wearð to handbonan huga cempan nalles he ða frætwe frescyninge breostweorðunge bringan moste ac in compe gecrong cumbles hyrde æþeling on elne ne wæs ecg bona ac him hildegrap heortan wylmas banhus gebræc nu sceall billes ecg hond ond heard sweord ymb hord wigan – beowulf maðelode beotwordum spræc niehstan siðe ic geneðde fela guða on geogoðe gyt ic wylle frod folces weard fæhðe secan mærðu fremman gif mec se mânsceaða of eorðsele ut geseceð gegrette ða gumena gehwylcne hwate helmberend hindeman siðe swæse gesiðas nolde ic sweord beran wæpen to wyrme *gif ic wiste hu wið ðam aglæcean elles meahte – gylpe wiðgripan swa ic gio wið grendle dyde ac ic ðær heaðufyres hates wene oreðes ond attres forðon ic me on hafu bord ond byrnan nelle ic beorges weard forfleon fotes trem ac unc furður sceal weorðan æt wealle swa unc wyrd geteoð metod manna gehwæs ic eom on mode from – þæt ic wið þone guðflogan gylp ofersitte gebide ge on beorge byrnum werede secgas on searwum hwæðer sel mæge æfter wælræse wunde gedygan – uncer twega nis þæt eower sið ne gemet mannes nefn[e] min anes þæt he wið aglæcean eofoðo dæle eorlscype efne ic mid elne sceall gold gegangan oððe guð nimeð feorhbealu frecne frean eowerne – aras ða bi ronde rof oretta heard under helme hiorosercean bær under stancleofu strengo getruwode anes mannes ne bið swylc earges sið geseah – ða be wealle *se ðe worna fela gumcystum god guða gedigde hildehlemma þonne hnitan feðan – stondan stanbogan stream ut þonan – brecan of beorge wæs þære burnan wælm heaðofyrum hat – ne meahte horde neah unbyrnende ænige hwile deop gedygan for dracan lege – let ða of breostum ða he gebolgen wæs wedergeata leod word ut faran stearcheort styrmde stefn in becom heaðotorht hlynnan under hârne stân hete wæs onhrered hordweard oncniow mannes reorde næs ðær mara fyrst freode to friclan from ærest cwom oruð aglæcean ut of stane hat hildeswât hruse dynede biorn under beorge bordrand onswâf wið ðam gryregieste geata dryhten ða wæs hringbogan heorte gefysed sæcce to seceanne sweord ær gebræd god guðcyning gomele lafe – ecgum unslaw æghwæðrum wæs bealohycgendra *broga fram oðrum stiðmod gestod wið steapne rond winia bealdor ða se wyrm gebeah snude tosomne he on searwum bâd gewat ða byrnende gebogen scriðan to gescipe scyndan scyld wel gebearg life ond lice læssan hwile mærum þeodne þonne his myne sohte ðær he þy fyrste forman dogore wealdan moste swa him wyrd ne gescraf hreð æt hilde hond up abræd – geata dryhten gryrefahne sloh incgelafe þæt sio ecg gewâc brun on bane bat unswiðor – þonne his ðiodcyning þearfe hæfde bysigum gebæded þa wæs beorges weard æfter heaðuswenge on hreoum mode wearp wælfyre wide sprungon hildeleoman hreðsigora ne gealp goldwine geata guðbill geswâc nacod æt niðe swa hyt no sceolde iren ærgôd ne wæs þæt eðe sið – þæt se mæra maga ecgðeowes grundwong þone ofgyfan wolde sceolde ofer willan wic eardian – elles hwergen swa *sceal æghwylc mon – alætan lændagas næs ða long to ðon þæt ða aglæcean hy eft gemetton hyrte hyne hordweard hreðer æðme weoll niwan stefne nearo ðrowode fyre befongen se ðe ær folce weold – nealles him on heape handgesteallan æðelinga bearn ymbe gestodon hildecystum ac hy on holt bugon ealdre burgan hiora in anum weoll sefa wið sorgum sibb æfre ne mæg wiht onwendan þam ðe wel þenceð:~

XXXVI.
WIglaf wæs haten weoxstanes sunu leoflic lindwiga leod scylfinga – mæg ælfheres geseah his mondryhten under heregriman hat þrowian – gemunde ða ða are þe he him ær forgeaf – wîcstede weligne wægmundinga folcrihta gehwylc swa his fæder ahte ne mihte ða forhabban hond rond gefeng geolwe linde gomel swyrd geteah þæt wæs mid eldum eanmundes laf – *suna ohteres þam æt sæcce wearð wræcca[n] wineleasum weohstan bana meces ecgum ond his magum ætbær brunfagne helm hringde byrnan eald sweord etonisc þæt him onela forgeaf his gædelinges guðgewædu fyrdsearo fuslic no ymbe ða fæhðe spræc þeah ðe he his broðor bearn abredwade – he frætwe geheold fela missera bill ond byrnan oððæt his byre mihte eorlscipe efnan swa his ærfæder geaf him ða mid geatum guðgewæda æghwæs unrim þa he of ealdre gewat frod on forðweg þa wæs forma sið geongan cempan þæt he guðe ræs mid his freodryhtne fremman sceolde ne gemealt him se modsefa ne his mæges laf gewac æt wige þæt se wyrm onfand syððan hie togædre gegan hæfdon wiglâf maðelode wordrihta fela sægde gesiðum him wæs sefa geomor – ic ðæt *mæl geman þær we medu þegun þonne we geheton ussum hlaforde in biorsele ðe us ðas beagas geaf þæt we him ða guðgetawa gyldan woldon gif him þyslicu þearf gelumpe helmas ond heard sweord ðe he usic on herge geceas – to ðyssum siðfate sylfes willum onmunde usic mærða ond me þas maðmas geaf þe he usic gârwigend gode tealde hwate helmberend þeah ðe hlaford us þis ellenweorc ana aðohte to gefremmanne folces hyrde for ðam he manna mæst mærða gefremede dæda dollicra nu is se dæg cumen þæt ure mandryhten mægenes behofað godra guðrinca wutun gongan to helpan hildfruman þenden hyt sy gledegesa grim god wat on mec þæt me is micle leofre þæt minne lichaman mid minne goldgyfan gled fæðmie ne þynceð me gerysne þæt we rondas beren eft to earde nemne we æror mægen fâne gefyllan – *feorh ealgian wedra ðeodnes ic wat geare þæt næron ealdgewyrht þæt he ana scyle geata duguðe gnorn þrowian gesigan æt sæcce urum sceal sweord ond helm byrne ond beaduscrud bam gemæne – wod þa þurh þone wælrêc wigheafolan bær frean on fultum fea worda cwæð leofa biowulf læst eall tela swa ðu on geoguðfeore geara gecwæde þæt ðu ne alæte be ðe lifigendum – dôm gedreosan scealt nu dædum rof æðeling anhydig eall mægene feorh ealgian ic ðe fullæstu – æfter ðam wordum wyrm yrre cwom atol inwitgæst oðre siðe fyrwylmum fah fionda nios[i]an laðra manna ligyðum for born bord wið rond byrne – ne meahte geongum gârwigan geoce gefremman ac se maga geonga under his mæges scyld elne geeode þa his agen w[æs] gledum forgrunden þa gen guðcyning m[ærða] gemunde mægenstrengo sloh hildebille þæt hyt on heafolan stôd niþe genyded nægling forbærst geswâc æt sæcce sweord biowulfes *gomol ond grægmæl him þæt gifeðe ne wæs þæt him irenna ecge mihton helpan æt hilde wæs sio hond to strong se ðe meca gehwane mine gefræge swenge ofersohte þonne he to sæcce bær wæpen wundrum heard næs him wihte ðe sel – þa wæs þeodsceaða þriddan siðe frecne fŷrdraca fæhða gemyndig ræsde on ðone rofan þa him rum ageald hat ond heaðogrim heals ealne ymbefeng biteran banum he geblodegod wearð sawuldriore swat yðum weoll.