2755brogdne beadu-sercean, under[1] beorges hrōf.
Geseah ðā sige-hrēðig, þā hē bī sesse gēong,
mago-þegn *mōdig māððum-sigla fealo,[2]Fol. 190a.
gold glitinian grunde getenge,
wundur on wealle, ond þaes wyrmes denn,
2760ealdes ūht-flogan; orcas stondan,
fyrn-manna fatu, feormend-lēase,
hyrstum behrorene. Þǣr wæs helm monig
eald ond ōmig, earm-bēaga fela
searwum gesǣled. Sinc ēaðe mæg,
2765gold on grund[e],[3] gum-cynnes gehwone
oferhīgian,[4] hȳde sē ðe wylle.
Swylce hē siomian geseah segn eall-gylden
hēah ofer horde, hond-wundra mǣst,
gelocen leoðo-cræftum; of ðām lēoma[5] stōd,
2770þæt hē þone grund-wong ongitan meahte,
wræte[6] giondwlītan. Næs ðæs wyrmes þǣr
onsȳn ǣnig, ac hyne ecg fornam.
Ðā ic on hlǣwe gefrægn hord rēafian,
eald enta geweorc, ānne mannan,
2775him on bearm hladon[7] būnan ond discas
sylfes dōme; segn ēac genōm,
bēacna beorhtost. Bill ǣr gescōd[8]
- ↑ 2755. MS. ‘urder.’
- ↑ 2757. Most editors normalise to ‘fela’ or ‘feola.’ But see Sievers §§ 275 and 150, 3).
- ↑ 2765. MS. defective at edge.
- ↑ 2766. Grein ‘[hord] oferhigian’ (surpass). No gap in MS.
- ↑ 2769. MS. ‘leoman.’
- ↑ 2771. MS. ‘wræce,’ here and in l. 3060. Thorpe ‘wræte’ in both places.
- ↑ 2775. MS. ‘hlodon.’ For infin. in -on cf. ll. 308, etc., and see Sievers § 363, 1).
- ↑ 2777. MS. ‘ærge scod.’ Kemble ‘ǣr-gescōd,’ brass-shod, sheathed in
