1. Ofer Swanrade (Ancient English)

[Intro — solo lyre, oar pulse] Hwæt! Ic mid Beowulfe brimweg nam, Geata þegn, on garsecges hrycge. Scealcas gearwe, scyldas æt bordum; brenting we scufon fram beorges fotum. [Verse 1 — rapid alliterative flow] Segl swegde; sæstream under hwearf, sealt yþa sang on ceoles sidan. Ic heold ræp fæste, rand æt cneowe; wind weox behindan, wæg foran hwearf. Dæg ofer deop, niht æfter dæge; steorran ofer stefne stigon and feollon. Beowulf æt foran, beorhtmod, swigende; we æfter him, æghwylc gearu. Þa brimclifu blican, beorgas steape; þa we land gesawon, brimsið æt ende. [Refrain — shouted rowing response] Ofer swanrade! (To Heorote!) Ofer sealtne flod! (To Heorote!) Rowaþ, randwigan; ræste ne bidaþ! Beowulf us lædeþ; brenting forð rynþ! [Verse 2 — percussion drives harder] Þa us strand onfeng; sæwudu we sældon, syrcan hrysedon, scyldas glitnodon. On waroðe com weard on wicge, gar in handa, gram and gearu. “Hwanon cumaþ ge, byrnum bewrigene, ofer lagustræte, lindhæbbende?” We stodon stille; se weard us beheold. Beowulf maþelode, bald for eallum: “We sindon Geata leode; Hroðgar we secaþ. Frið we bringaþ; fultum we beodaþ.” Se weard us wisode; we forð onetton. Goldfah Heorot geond grund lixte, heah under heofenum, hrofas scinon. [Chorus — full hall] Heorot! Heahsele, horngeap and goldfah; innan wæs gomen, gleodream and leoht. Hroðgar us grette, hringgyfa bliðe; he het us sittan; we to bence bugon. Ealowæge bær se þegn geond flet; scop hwilum sang, hearpe hlynede. Hlæhter hlynsode; hrofas andswarodon; Dene and Geatas druncon togædere. [Verse 3 — double-time] Gyrstan ic ræp heold, yþcald on fingrum; nu ic medoful heold, mod min wæs bliðe. Brim gyt on breostum, beor on muðe, wind gyt on earum, fyr me beforan. Gold on earmum, gomen on bence, hearpan sweg, hæleþa dream. Beowulf sat neah, beorht among secgum; word his wæron fæste, wlite unforht. Ne wæron Dene fremde, þeah we feorran comon; medu us gemæne, mægþa sibb on bence. [Final Chorus — full hall] Heorot! Heahsele, horngeap and goldfah; innan wæs gomen, gleodream and leoht. Sæweg behindan; symbel us foran; scyldas æt wealle, scip on sande. Medu us gemæne; mod us wæs bliðe, Dene and Geatas on anum dreame. Ofer swanrade! (Nu æt Heorote!) Ofer sealtne flod! (Nu æt Heorote!) Beowulf us lædde; benc us onfeng. Hlydaþ, heallguman! Heorot lixte! [Outro — lyre beneath a dying hall pulse] Þa fyr feoll lægre; ful on bence stod. Hearpe swigode; hlæhter wearð stille. Utan niht eode, sweart ofer eorþan; we under hrofe restan þohton. Ic wæs gyt bliðe, brimsið forleten— ne wiste ic þa gyt hwæt seo wan niht bær! ———————— English Translation ———————— Across the Swan-Road [Intro] Listen! I took the sea-road with Beowulf, a Geatish thane upon the ocean's back. Warriors ready, shields along the gunwales; together we pushed the ship from the foot of the cliffs. [Verse 1] The sail rang out; the sea-current rolled beneath, salt waves sang along the ship's side. I gripped the rope, my shield against my knee; the wind grew behind us, waves wheeled before us. Day over deep water, night after day; stars rose above the prow and fell. Beowulf stood forward, bright-hearted, silent; we followed him, every man ready. Then the sea-cliffs gleamed, the hills stood steep; then we saw land—the sea-journey was ended. [Refrain] Across the swan-road! (To Heorot!) Across the salt flood! (To Heorot!) Row, shield-warriors; do not wait for rest! Beowulf leads us; the ship runs on! [Verse 2] Then the shore received us; we moored the sea-wood, mail-shirts rattled, shields glittered. Along the strand a watchman came on horseback, spear in hand, fierce and ready. “From where do you come, wrapped in mail, over the sea-road, bearers of linden shields?” We stood still; the watchman looked us over. Beowulf spoke, bold before us all: “We are men of the Geats; we seek Hrothgar. We bring peace; we offer help.” The guard guided us; we hurried onward. Gold-bright Heorot shone across the land, high beneath heaven, its roofs gleaming. [Chorus] Heorot! High hall, wide-gabled and gold-bright; inside were merriment, music-joy and light. Hrothgar greeted us, the glad ring-giver; he bade us sit, and we went to the benches. A thane carried the ale-cup across the floor; a poet sang at times, the harp resounded. Laughter rang out; the rafters answered; Danes and Geats drank together. [Verse 3] Yesterday I held rope, wave-cold on my fingers; now I held a mead-cup, and my heart was glad. The sea still in my chest, beer on my lips, the wind still in my ears, fire before me. Gold upon arms, merriment on the benches, the sound of the harp, the joy of warriors. Beowulf sat nearby, bright among the men; his words were firm, his face unafraid. The Danes were strangers no longer, though we came from far away; the mead was shared, peace between peoples upon the bench. [Final Chorus] Heorot! High hall, wide-gabled and gold-bright; inside were merriment, music-joy and light. The sea-road behind us; the feast before us; shields at the wall, our ship on the sand. The mead was shared; our hearts were glad, Danes and Geats joined in one joy. Across the swan-road! (Now at Heorot!) Across the salt flood! (Now at Heorot!) Beowulf led us; the bench received us. Resound, men of the hall! Heorot shone! [Outro] Then the fire sank lower; a cup stood on the bench. The harp fell silent; laughter grew still. Outside night came, black across the earth; beneath the roof we meant to rest. I was still glad, with the sea-voyage behind me— I did not yet know what that dark night carried.