BEOWULF Prologue (1-16a)
LO, praise of the prowess
of people-kings
of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
Oft
Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
awing the earls. Since erst he lay
friendless, a foundling,
fate
repaid him:
for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
till before him the folk, both far and near,
who house
by the whale-path, heard his mandate,
gave him gifts: a good king he!
To
him an heir was afterward born,
a son in his halls, whom heaven sent
to favor the folk, feeling their woe
that erst they had lacked an earl for leader
so long a while;