Ofer Widne Garsecg

Ofer Widne Garsecg

Þa ofer widne garsecg weow unwidre ceald.
Sum hagusteald on lagu feoll on nicera geweald.
He legde last swa fyres gnast, and snude on sunde fleah,
Oþþæt he mette meremenn deopan grunde neah.

La! hwæt, ic Gardena on geardagum geseah,
Þeodcyninga-ninga-ninga þrym and —
brydealoþ under btimfaroþ deopan grunde neah!

Þæt merewif hine greteþ, and uplang heo gestent;
Mid fagum fintan fægniende fægre finnas þenþ.
And smearciende smære’ hie wendeþ, tæceþ hire hand;
“Nu, wilcuma, la, hlaford min, on meremanna land!”

“Her leng ne mot ic bidan, gedæle nu wiþ þe!”
Heo cwæþ: “Na, na! ne biþ hit swa! þu gewitest nu on me.
Nu eft þu ga, and cweþ: “No ma fare ic on sunde heah;
Gemæcca min is meremenn deopan grunde neah.””

On nacan his geneatas hine sohton wide ymb sund;
Hi weopon and hi hreopon and hi smeadon pone grund.
Þa up he sprang and hlude sang and heaede helman hrand,
“Gap eft ongen! me beodeþ cwen on meremanna land!”

“Todæleþ nu min agen, pannan, pade, preon!
Gifaþ hrægelciste minre nifte, meder mine meon!”
Se steorman stod on stefne wod, and he to brime beah;
Cwæþ: “Far nu wel! þe hæbbe Hel, deopan grunde neah!”