World building (l. 1-188) Flashcards
The opening fitt; the Danish royal family and the building of Heorot; Grendel's attacks on Heorot. A darkness threatens the shining heroic culture.
Hwæt! Wé Gárdena in géardagum
So! The Spear Danes in days of yore
þéodcyninga þrym gefrúnon·
and those clan-kings we heard of their glory
“þrym”
“glory”, “majesty”, “courage”
“gefrúnon”
“find out”, “learn by asking”, “heard of”
hú ðá æþelingas ellen fremedon.
how those nobles performed courageous deeds.
Oft Scyld Scéfing sceaþena þréatum
Often Shield Sheafson from enemy hosts
monegum maégþum meodosetla oftéah·
from many people seized mead-hall seats;
egsode eorlas syððan aérest wearð
inspired terror in warriors after first he was
féasceaft funden. Hé þæs frofre gebád·
found destitute. He then experienced relief;
“féasceaft”
“destitute”, “wretched”
“frofre”
“comfort”, “consolation”, “relief”
wéox under wolcnum· weorðmyndum þáh
he waxed under the clouds, prospered in worldly honours
oð þæt him aéghwylc þára ymbsittendra
until to him each of the neighbouring tribes
ofer hronráde hýran scolde,
beyond the whale-road had to obey,
“hronráde”
“whale-road”, “ocean”
“hýran”
“to obey”
gomban gyldan· þæt wæs gód cyning.
and yield tribute; that was a good king.
Ðaém eafera wæs æfter cenned
Afterwards a son was born to him
“eafera”
“son”, “offspring”
“cenned”
“be born”
geong in geardum þone god sende
the young in the yard, whom God sent him
folce tó frófre;
to comfort the people;
fyrenðearfe ongeat·
perceiving the painful need
“fyrenðearfe”
“painful / grievous need”, “extreme distress”
