Beowulf in the Original, so to speak

Beowulf is an early poem out of a lost world. In a very important way, that was already true in turn-of-the-millennium Wessex. By the time the Nowell Codex was produced around 1000 AD, written Old English itself was probably a somewhat more "artificial" language than it had been in the pre-Alfredian period. The language of Old English verse in particular was rather removed from anybody's everyday speech, doubly so in this poem, one of the oldest to have survived.

An atmosphere of undatability and dialectal unplaceability surrounds this poem for many. Arguments that the poem might be a very late composition have been father to a bit of a  bastard agnosis about it.

How that came to be is a long story. But, regardless of what went on in literature departments, there has never been a Beowulf dating controversy in linguistic scholarship. Unlike literary scholars, most  linguists have in fact never found a late date even credible. As Fulk put it, linguists were not only "largely untouched by the controversy" surrounding the date but for far too long didn't bother dignifying it with a particularly serious response. Linguistic literature on archaism in Beowulf from about 1980 to around 2015 has a few footnotes on the controversy in which the eye-rolling is pretty palpable.

The position is well-founded. Not only do many lines only scan properly if one substitutes Mercian forms, but the copyists either didn't care or didn't notice. Several able studies have shown that the scribes of our text were insensitive to the metrical principles that the actual poet/s operated with. Beowulf's versification is unique in being so consistently sensitive to distinctions of vowel length in unstressed syllables. There is also exhaustive evidence that the scribes often had a hard time understanding what they were reading. They misread proper names that had not been common for two centuries, and sometimes found Anglian dialect forms baffling.  This evidence and much more besides (from the chronology of Old English poetic syntax to the changing onomasticon of Anglo-Saxon England in the 9th century) all conspires to support one conclusion: the language of Beowulf is genuinely archaic. It is the product not of a late poet’s attempt to recreate an early style, but of an extremely old tradition that had largely vanished by the time the extant Old English manuscripts were created.

Based on dialect forms, scribal errors and metrical sensitivity to vowel-length in inflections, the ablest philological conclusion is that this text was composed in some form of Mercian some time between roughly 690 and 725. That is pretty good resolution, relatively speaking. But it still leaves open a considerable range of possibilities. 

Nonetheless, here (in case anyone finds it useful) is one plausible version of what the first couple hundred lines may have looked like in Early Mercian, if it were edited into an edition.

(Frumscæft)

Hwæt wé gár-dæná      in ġár-dagum                   

þéod-cyningá      þrymm gifrugnun,

hú þá æðilingas      ellin fræmidun.

Oft sceld scéƀing      sceaðæná þréatum,

monegum mégðum      medu-setlá oftáh,

egisadǽ Iorlí.      Siþþan ǽrist wearþ

féascæft fundæn,      hé þæs fróƀrǽ gibád.

wéx undær wolcnum,      weorþ-myndum þáh,

oþþaet him œ́ghwelc þér      ymb-sittændrá

oƀær hron-rádǽ      héran scoldǽ,

gomban geldan.      Þæt wæs gód cyning

Ðǽm aƀurá wæs      æftær cænnid

ġung in geardum      þonǽ god sændǽ

folcǽ tó fróƀrǽ;      firin-þearƀǽ ongæt,

þæt híæ ǽr drugun      aldur-léasǽ

longǽ hwílǽ.      Him þæs líƀ-frëá

wuldræs waldænd      weruld-árǽ forgæƀ:

Bíowí wæs brœ́mí      – bléd wídǽ sprong –

Sceldæs aƀurá      scedi-londum in.

Swé scæl ġung gumá     gódǽ giwirċan

fromum feh-giftum     on fæder bearmǽ

þæt hinǽ on ældǽ     eft giwunigæn

wil-gisíðas,     þonnǽ wíg cumǽ

líodí gilǽstæn:     loƀ-dédum scæl

in mégðá gihwǽm    monn giþíän.

(Sceldæs Ferhgidál)

Him þá Sceld giwát    tó giscæp-hwílǽ,      

felu-hrór fœ́ran    on fréan wérǽ.

Híæ hinǽ þá ætbérun    tó brimæs faruðǽ,

swésǽ gisíðas,    swé hé selƀá bæd,

þændæn wordá giwald    Wini Sceldingá

léoƀ lond-frumá    longǽ ǽhtí.

Þér æt hýðǽ stód    hringid-stefná,

ísig ænd útfús,    æðilingæs fær.

álægdun þá    léoƀnǽ þéodæn,

bégá bryttan     on bearm scipæs

mérnǽ bi mæstǽ.     Þér wæs máðmá felá

of feor-wegum     frætwá gilǽdid, 

ni hérdǽ ic cýmlicor     céol gigerwan

hildí-wépnum     ænd haðu-wédum,

billum ænd byrnum;     him on bearmǽ læg

máðmá mænigu     þá him mid scoldun

on flódæs ǽht     feor giwítan.

nallæs híæ hinǽ lǽssan      lácum tíodan

þéod-gistréonum      þonnǽ þá dédun

þe hinǽ æt frumscæftǽ      forþ onsændun

ǽnnǽ oƀær ýðǽ,      umbr-wesændí

Þá gét híæ him ásettun     segn gyldænnǽ

héh oƀær héaƀud,     létun holm beran,

géƀun on gársecg.     Him wæs ġómor seƀá,

murnændí mód.     Mæn ni cunnun

secgan tó sóðǽ     seli-rédændí

hæliþ undær heƀunum     hwá þǽm hlæstí onféng.

(Of þǽm strængǽ cwómun æftærcyningas)

Þá wæs on burgum  Bío Sceldingá,               

léoƀ líod-cyning,    longǽ þrágǽ

folcum gifrégí    (fæder ellur hwearƀ,

aldur of eardǽ),    oþþæt him eft onwóc

héh Halƀdæní;    héold þændæn liƀdǽ,

gomol ænd gúðréow,    glædǽ Sceldingas.

Þǽm féowur bearn    forþ-girímid

in weruld wócun,    werudá réswan,

Herugár ænd Hróðgár    ænd Hálgá til;

hérdǽ ic þæt Ýrsǽ    wæs bi Onalan cwœ́n,

Haðu-scelƀingæs    hals-gibeddá.

(Heorotæs gibytlung)

Þá wæs Hróðgárǽ    heri-spœ́d geƀæn,

wígæs weorð-mynd,    þæt him his wini-mágas

geornǽ hérdun,    oþþæt sío ġuguþ giwéx,

magu-dryht micil.    Him on mód bi-arn           

þæt hal-reccid   hátan woldǽ,

medu-ærn márǽ,    mæn giwircan

þonnǽ ældá bearn    ǽfrǽ gifrugnun,

ænd þér on innan    all gidǽlan

ġungum ænd aldum,    swelc him god saldǽ,

búton folc-scærǽ    ænd ferhum gumaná.

þá ic wídǽ gifrægn    werc gibonnan

monegrǽ mégþǽ    ġond þisnǽ middan-geard,

folc-stedi frætwan.    Him on firstǽ gilomp,

édrǽ mid ældum,    þæt hit wearþ ælgearu,

hallærná mǽst;    scóp him Heort noman

sé þe his wordæs giwald    wídǽ hæƀdǽ.

Hé biát ni álég,    bégas dǽldǽ,

sinc æt simlǽ.    Seli hlíƀadǽ,

héh ænd horn-géap,    haðu-wælmá bád,

láðan lígæs;    ni wæs hit læṅgǽ þá gén

þæt se ecg-heti    áþum-swéoran

æftær wæl-níðǽ    wæcnan scoldǽ.

(Cymþ se Gǽst)

Þá se ellurgǽst    earƀuðlícǽ              

þrágǽ giþoladǽ,    sé þe in þíostrum bád,

þæt hé dógrá gihwǽm    dréam gihérdǽ

hlúdnǽ in hallǽ;    þér wæs hearpan swœ́g,

switul song scopæs.    Sægdǽ sé þe cúðǽ

frumscæft firhá    feorran reccan,

cwæþ þæt se ælmæhtġá   eorðan worhtǽ,

wliti-berhtnǽ wong,    swé wæter bibúgiþ,

gisettǽ sigi-hrœ́ðig    sunnan ænd mónan

léoman tó léhtǽ    lond-búændum

ænd gifrætwadǽ    foldan scéatas

léomum ænd léaƀum,    líƀ éc giscóp

cynná gihwelcum    þárá þe cwicǽ hwerƀaþ.

Swé þá dryht-guman    dréamum liƀdun

éadiglícǽ,    oþþæt án ongon

firinǽ fræmman    fíond on hellǽ.

Wæs se grimmá gǽst    Grændil hátæn,

mérí mærc-stapá,    se þe móras héold,

fæn ænd fæstæn;    fífl-cynnæs eard

won-sélig wer    weardadǽ hwílǽ,

siþþan him sceppænd    forscriƀæn hæƀdǽ

in Camæs cynnǽ.    Þonǽ cwalm giwræc

écí dryhtin,    þæs þe hé Ábel slóg;

ni gifeh hé þǽrǽ fǽhðǽ,    ac hé hinǽ feor forwræc,

metud forǽ þý mánǽ,    mon-cynnǽ from.

Þanon untýdras    allǽ onwócun,

etunas ænd ælƀí    ænd orcnëas,

swelcǽ gígantas,    þá wiþ godǽ wunnun

longǽ þrágǽ;    hé him þæs léan forgald.

(First Hráfyll)

Giwát ða níosan,    siþþan næht bicwóm,

héän húsæs,     hú hit Hringdæní

æftær béorþegǽ     gibún hæƀdun.

Fond þá þér-innǽ    æðilingá gidryht

swefan æftær simlǽ;    sorgǽ ni cúðun,

wonscæft werá    Wiht unhǽlu,

grim ænd grédig,    gearu sóná wæs,

réc ænd rœ́ðí,    ænd on ræstǽ ginom

þrítig þegná,    þanon eft giwát

húðǽ hrémig    tó hám faran,

mid þǽrǽ wælfyllí    wícá níosan.

þá wæs on úhtan      mid ǽrdægǽ

Grændlæs gúðcræft    gumum underní;

þá wæs æftær wistǽ    wóp up áhæƀæn,

micil morgin-swœ́g.     Mérí þéodæn,

æðiling ǽr-gód     unblíðí sæt.

Þoladǽ þrýð-swíþ.     Þegn-sorgǽ drég

siþþan híæ þæs láðan     lást scéawadun

wærgan gǽstæs.     Wæs þæt giwin tó strong

láþ ænd longsum.     Næs hit læṅgrá first

ac ymb ánǽ næht     eft gifræmidǽ

morþ-bealu márǽ,     ænd ná mearn forǽ,

fǽhðǽ ænd firinǽ:     wæs tó fæst on þǽm.

(Egifitt)

þá wæs éðfyndí,      þe him ellæs hwér

girúmlícor      ræstǽ sóhtǽ,

bed æftær búrum,      þá him gibécnud wæs,

gisægd sóðlícǽ      swetulan tácnǽ

hall-þegnæs heti:      héold hinǽ siþþan

firr ænd fæstor      se þǽm fíond ætwond.

Swé ríxadǽ      ænd wiþ rehtǽ won

áná wiþ allum      oþþæt ídel stód 

húsá sélist.      Wæs sío hwíl micil:

twelf wintrá tíd      torn giþoladǽ

wini Sceldingá,      wéaná gihwelcnǽ,

sídrá sorgá.     For þǽm giséní wearþ

ældá bearnum,      un-derní cúþ

geddum ġómrǽ,      þætte Grændil won

hwílǽ wiþ Hróþgár,      heti-níðas wæg,

firinǽ ænd fǽhþǽ,      felá missirá(?)

singálǽ sæccǽ.      Sibbǽ ni woldǽ

wiþ monná hwonǽ      mægnæs Dænigá

ferh-bealu firran,      feo(h)ǽ þingian,

ni þér nǽnig witaná      wénan þorftǽ

berhtrǽ bótǽ      tó bonan folmum

ac se æglǽcá      œ́htændí wæs

derc déaþ-scúá,      duguðǽ ænd ġuguðǽ,

semadǽ ænd seridǽ.      Sinnæhtí héold

mistgǽ móras.      Mæn ni cunnun 

hwider hel-rúnan      hwyrftum scríðaþ. 

(Heorot Gihergod) 

Swé felá firiná       fíond moncynnæs

atul ángæṅgá       oft gifræmidǽ,

heardrá hénðá.       Heorot eardadǽ,

sinc-fágǽ sæl       sweartum næhtum.

Ná hé þonǽ gifstól       grétan móstí:

máðm formetadǽ      ni his myni wissǽ.

Þæt wæs wræc micil,       wini sceldingá,

módæs brecþá.       Monig oft gisæt

rící tó rúnǽ,       réd æhtadun ,

hwæt swíþ-ferhþum       sélist wérǽ

wiþ fér-gryrí       tó gifræmmænnǽ.

Hwílum híæ gihétun       æt hærgtraƀum

wíh-weorðungǽ,       wordum bédun

þæt him gǽst-baná       ġucǽ gifræmidǽ

wiþ þéod-þréawum.       Swelc wæs þéaw hirá,

hǽðinrá hyht:       hellǽ gimundun

in módseƀan;       metud híæ ni cúðun,

dédá dœ́mænd.       Ni wistun híæ dryhtin god,

né híæ húru heƀoná helm       herian ni cúðun,

wuldræs waldænd.       Wá biþ þǽm-þe scæl

þurg slíðnǽ níþ       sáwlǽ biscúƀan 

in fýræs fæðm,       fróƀrǽ ni wénan

wihtí giwændan.       Wél biþ þǽm-þe mót

æftær déaþdægǽ       dryhtin sœ́can

ænd tó fædr fæþmum       friðu wilnian.

Swé þá mél-cearǽ       magá Halƀdænæs

singálá séaþ.       Ni mæhtǽ snotr hæliþ

wéan onwændan:       wæs þæt giwin tó swíþ,

láþ ænd longsum,       þe on þá líodí bicwóm,

néd-wracu níþ-grim,       næht-bealwá mǽst.

(Hæliþ wé þearƀiaþ)

Þæt from hám gifrægn        Hygilácæs þegn,

gód mid Géatum,        Grændlæs dédá.

Sé wæs mon-cynnæs        mæginæs strængist

on þǽm dægǽ        þissæs líƀæs,

æþilí ænd écen.        Héht him ýþ-lidan

gódnǽ gigerwan:        cwæþ, hé gúþ-cyning

oƀær swon-rádǽ        sœ́can woldǽ,

mérnǽ þéodæn,        þá him wæs monná þearƀ.

þonǽ síþ-fæt him        snotrǽ ceorlas

lýt-hwón lógun,        þéh hé him léoƀ wérǽ:

hwettun hygi-rófnǽ        hǽl scéawadun.

hæƀdǽ se gódá        Géatá líodá

cæmpan gicoronǽ,        þárá-þe hé cœ́nustǽ

findan mæhtǽ.        Fífténá sum

sund-wudu sóhtǽ:        secg wísadǽ,

lægu-cræftig mon,        lond-gimercu.

(Ýðlád)

First forþ giwát.        Flotá wæs on ýðum,

bát undær bærgǽ.        Beornas gearwǽ

on stefn stigun.        Stréamas wundun,

sund wiþ sondǽ.        Secgas bérun

on bearm nacan        berhtǽ frætwǽ,

gúð-searu geatulíc.        Guman út scuƀon,

weras on wil-síþ,        wudu bundænnǽ.

Giwát þá oƀær wég-holm,        windǽ gifýsid,

flotá fámig-hals,        fuglǽ gilícust,

oþþæt ymb án-tíd,        óðræs dógræs

wundæn-stefná        giwædæn hæƀdǽ,

þæt þá líðændí        lond giségun,

brim-cliƀu blícan,        bergas stéapǽ,

sídǽ sǽ-nǽssas.        Þá wæs sund lidæn,

eoletæs(?) æt ændí.        Þanon ŭ́p hraðǽ

Wedrá líodí        on wong stigun:

sǽ-wudu sǽldun,        serċan hrisidun,

gúð-giwédu.        Godǽ þoncadun,

þæs-þe him ýð-ládǽ        éðí wurdun...

The Battle of Pelennor Fields: A Couple Pages from "Return of the King" in Old English

Stiernmód nú wæs Éomer, and eft ferhðclǽne. Bebéad hornas tó bláwenne, tó gegadrienne ealle menn tó his fanan þá þe cúðon þider cuman, for þæt hé áþóhte tó wyrcenne gréatne bordweall in ende, and standenne, and þǽr on fóte feohtenne oþ þæt ealle féollon, and wóþlíc gúþweorc tó wyrcenne on Pelennores Feldum, éac gif nán Westan cwicra nǽron to gemunenne þone endenéhstan Mearccyning. Swá rád hé oþ gréne hlinc, and þǽr sette his gúþfanan, and se Hwít Mearh rann mid windýðodre mana.	Stern now was Éomer's mood, and his mind clear again. He let blow the horns to rally all men to his banner that could come thither; for he thought to make a great shield-wall at the last, and stand, and fight there on foot till all fell, and do deeds of song on the fields of Pelennor, though no man should be left in the West to remember the last King of the Mark. So he rode to a green hillock and there set his banner and the White Horse ran rippling in the wind.
Ic of þíostrá and dwolan   tó dægwóman singænd in sunnan   sweordǽ nacudǽ rád oþ heorthryrǽ,   hyhtæs endi: nú oþ wrǽþþǽ and wræc   and wælglómung	Out of doubt, out of dark   to the day's rising I came singing in the sun,   sword unsheathing. To hope's end I rode   and to heart's breaking: Now for wrath, now for ruin   and a red nightfall!
Þás léoðustafas cwæþ, ac hlóh þá híe cwæþ. For þæt eft ofer hine ġéng beadulust, and hé gíet ungesceþþed wæs, and wæs geong, and wæs cyning: felahrórra léoda þengel. And lá! Eallswá hé ormódnesse ahlóh, hé út beseah eft on þá blacan scipu, and úp árǽrde his sweorde ongean híe tó gánne. And wundor in hine gehréas, and micel wynn, and hé his sweorde úp áwearp and sang swá hé hit geféng. And eall éagan folgodon his gorettung, and lá, on þám forþmestan scipe ásprang gréat seġnfana, and wind hine ætéowde þá hit hwearf on þone Harlond. Þǽr bléow Hwít Tréow, and þæt bícnode Gondor. Ac Seofon Steorran wǽron abútan him, and héah béah bufan. Þás wǽron Elendiles tácnu, þæt nán hláford wæs acenned nú for unrimum géarum. And þá steorran blicon in sunnanléohte, for þæt híe wǽron gimmum geworhte of Arwen, Elrondes dehter, and se béah wæs beorht in mergne, for þæt hé wæs of græglíxe and golde geworht.	These staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more lust of battle was on him; and he was still unscathed, and he was young, and he was king: the lord of a fell people. And lo! even as he laughed at despair he looked out again on the black ships, and he lifted up his sword to defy them. And then wonder took him, and a great joy; and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as he caught it. And all eyes followed his gaze, and behold! upon the foremost ship a great standard broke, and the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in the sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold.
Þus cwóm Aragorn, Araðornes sunu, Elessar Ylfa Stán, Isildures lástweard, forþ of þára Déadra Wega, on winde geboren fram þám sǽ tó Gondorríce; and þára Éorlinga dréam wæs hleahtra burna and sweordléoma, and þǽre Byrig wundor and wynn wæs hornglíw and bellhring. Ac Mordores beaduþréat wearþ mid gedréfednesse gefangen. Géa him þúhte micel drýcræft þæt hira ágenu scipu weorðen mid hira féondum gefylled. And híe forcwóm blæc egsa, for híe gecnéowon þæt wyrd hæfde hire þrǽd wiþ híe gehwierfed, and hira metodsceaft wæs gehende.	Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur's heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, borne upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor; and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords, and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and a ringing of bells. But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment, and a great wizardry it seemed to them that their own ships should be filled with their foes; and a black dread fell on them, knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was at hand.
Éastrihte ridon Amroþbeorges éoredmæcgas þone féond drífende him onforan: Trollmenn and Wǽriangas and Orcas þá þe sunnanléoht hatiaþ. Súþrihte onette Éomer and men flugon for his andwlitan, sticodon fæste betwéoh hamore and anfilte. For men nú hléopon of scipum on Harlondes hwearfas, norþrihte swá storm forswápene. Cwóm Legolas, and Gimli his æx gewealdende, and Halbarad mid gúþfanan, and Elladan and Elrohir mid steorrum on brúwe, and þá handstyrnan Dúnedæġn, Norðlanda Wídrincas lǽdende micelne þrymm þára þéoda of Lebennin and Lamedon, and súðernan landára. Ac eallum beforan éode Aragorn mid Westlanda Líge, Andúril, swá níwfýr inǽled, Narsil eft gesmiðod swá déaþbǽre swá on géardagum: and on his brúwe, se Steorra Elendiles.	East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs that hated the sunlight. South strode Éomer and men fled before his face, and they were caught between the hammer and the anvil. For now men leaped from the ships to the quays of the Harlond and swept north like a storm. There came Legolas, and Gimli wielding his axe, and Halbarad with the standard, and Elladan and Elrohir with stars on their brow, and the dour-handed Dúnedain, Rangers of the North, leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of the South. But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Andúril like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old: and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil.
And swá on lengþe Éomer and Aragorn gerunnon on middan gefeohte, and sweordum hleonodon wiðer, and lócodon ægðer on óðre, and glæde wǽron.	And so at length Éomer and Aragorn met in the midst of the battle, and they leaned on their swords and looked on one another and were glad.
"Swá wé gerinnen eft, þeah þe ealle gúþhergas Mordores lágen be ús twéonan" cwæþ Aragorn. "Hú, ne cwæþ ic swá æt þám Hornbyrig?"	'Thus we meet again, though all the hosts of Mordor lay between us,' said Aragorn. 'Did I not say so at the Hornburg?'
"Húru swé cwédi þú" cwæþ Éomer "ac hopá oft alíhþ, and ic ni wistǽ þæt þú sum forwitig mann wéri. Ac twíéadig biþ sío help þe is ungisóht, and nǽfrǽ wæs fríondá géancymi blíðrá" and híe híe hæfdon be handum. "ni tó sóðǽ áléƀidrum tídum" cwæþ Éomer. "Cymst náwiht tó hraðǽ, fríond. Feolá sorgá and byrstas bicómun oƀær ús."	'So you spoke,' said Éomer, 'but hope oft deceives, and I knew not then that you were a man foresighted. Yet twice blessed is help unlooked for, and never was a meeting of friends more joyful.' And they clasped hand in hand. 'Nor indeed more timely,' said Éomer. 'You come none too soon, my friend. Much loss and sorrow has befallen us.'
"Ac úton gewreccan þæt, ǽr þonne wé be him sprǽcen!" cwæþ Aragorn, and híe eft ridon tó þám gefeohte tógædere.	'Then let us avenge it, ere we speak of it!' said Aragorn, and they rode back to battle together.
Heard baduweorc and langu bysgu wǽron him gýt gehende, forþon þá Súþmenn wǽron bolde and grimme, felafrécne in onwénnesse. Þá Éasterlingas wǽron strange and hildehearde and gebǽdon nán earmung. And swá on þisse and þǽre stówe, bí gebærnedne húse oþþe bernhúse, on hyllum and beorgum, under wealle oþþe on felde, gýt híe cwómon tósomne and áhófon heafod úp and mægnu gadrodon and fuhton in wǽpna wedre oþþæt se dæg forwisnode. Þá séo sunne on lást éode Mindolluin behindan and áfylde þone heofon eallan mid bráde bærninge, for þæt þá hylla and beorgas wǽron gedéagod swylce mid blóde. Fýr in stréame gléow, and Pelennores græs læg réad in ǽfenléohte. And in þǽre beorhthwíle endode se micel gefeoht Gondores Felda. Næs tó láfe nán cwic féond in Rammas hringe. Ealle feollon geslagen bútan þám þe forflugon tó dréosenne, oþþe tó adrecenne in brimfáme þæs stréames. Féa cwómon eft wiþéastan tó Morgul oþþe Mordor. And tó þǽm lande þára Haradrim cwóm spell feorran fór án: hlísa Gondores brynes and brógan.	Hard fighting and long labour they had still; for the Southrons were bold men and grim, and fierce in despair; and the Easterlings were strong and war-hardened and asked for no quarter. And so in this place and that, by burned homestead or barn, upon hillock or mound, under wall or on field, still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away. Then the Sun went at last behind Mindolluin and filled all the sky with a great burning, so that the hills and the mountains were dyed as with blood; fire glowed in the River, and the grass of the Pelennor lay red in the nightfall. And in that hour the great Battle of the field of Gondor was over; and not one living foe was left within the circuit of the Rammas. All were slain save those who fled to die, or to drown in the red foam of the River. Few ever came eastward to Morgul or Mordor; and to the land of the Haradrim came only a tale from far off: a rumour of the wrath and terror of Gondor.
On bæc wiþ þæs Géates Mundbyrg ridon Aragorn and Éomer and Imrahil, and híe wǽron nú gúþwérige ofer ǽlcne dréam and sorge. Þás þréo ungesceþþed wǽron, forþon swylce wæs heora wyrd, and mægen and miht hira sigewǽpna. Féa tó sóðe dorston híe þyldian oþþe him nebb onlócian in íerrehwíle heora. Ac manige wǽron gesceþþed oþþe limlǽwed oþþe déade on wælfelde. Æxe forcurfon Forlong þá hwíle þe hé feaht tó láfe behorsod. Duilin Morðonding and his bróðor éac fortreden wǽron tó ǽrdéaðe mid þý þe híe éhton þára Grendolfenda, néahlǽdende heora scyttan þám déoreotenum éagan to útscéotenne. Ne Hirluin Híwlic þanon eft cwóm tó Pinnaþ Gelin, ne Grimbold tó Grimaslǽde, ne Halbarad se handstyrna Wídrinc tó Norþlandum. Nealles féa féollon, nówðer ne namcúðra ne namléasre, ne fyrdmanna ne fyrdwísena. Forðon hit wæs micel gefeoht, þæs getæl nán talu ne atealde. Swá lang siþþan maðelode sum léoþwyrhta in Riddenamearce in léoðe be Moldærnum Mundbyrg.	Aragorn and Éomer and Imrahil rode back towards the Gate of the City, and they were now weary beyond joy or sorrow. These three were unscathed, for such was their fortune and the skill and might of their arms, and few indeed had dared to abide them or look on their faces in the hour of their wrath. But many others were hurt or maimed or dead upon the field. The axes hewed Forlong as he fought alone and unhorsed; and both Duilin of Morthond and his brother were trampled to death when they assailed the mûmakil, leading their bowmen close to shoot at the eyes of the monsters. Neither Hirluin the fair would return to Pinnath Gelin, nor Grimbold to Grimslade, nor Halbarad to the Northlands, dour-handed Ranger. No few had fallen, renowned or nameless, captain or soldier; for it was a great battle and the full count of it no tale has told. So long afterward a maker in Rohan said in his song of the Mounds of Mundburg:
Hwæt wé on hyllum gihlynn    horná gifrugnun Sweord scínændí    in Súþrícǽ. Wicg tó Stánlandǽ    on weg gistigun swé wind úhtæs.    Wíg wæs onǽlid. Þér Þéodæn féoll,    Þængling mæhtig se þe tó his goldselum    and grœ́nlǽswum    Norðwǫngum in    nallæs eft wændǽ héapæs héahfréa.    Hearding and Gúþláf, Dúnhęri and Déorwini,    dyrstig Grimbold, Herifará and Heribrǫnd,    Horn and Fæstred Fuhtun þér and féollun    on feorlǫndǽ Nú in Moldærnum    Mundbyrig licgaþ Mid Gondræs Fréan,    gúþgisíðum. Ni Fægr Hirluin    tó hyllum bi sǽ Ni Ald Forlong    tó his ǽrdænum eft tó Arnah,    œ́ðlǽ seolƀæs,  on wuldrǽ giwát    wígsigurá, ni þá strélcœ́nan    strongan scyttan Derufin and Dwilin    tó dimwætrum, brimum Morðondæs    undær bergsceadwum. Déaþ dægrǽdæs,    and on dæg longǽ, nám hláƀwéard and swán.    Hlǽwǽ nú swefaþ undær græsǽ in Gondr    bí Ginstréamǽ. Grég nú swé téaras    and torht selƀurǽ, wælréad þá wéolc,    wæter ráriændí. Þá bearn burnfám    blódfág mid sunfællǽ blác on bergum    bǽcnfýr éfnæs.  Réad féoll þæt déaw    on Rammas Ehor	We heard of the horns     in the hills ringing,  the swords shining     in the South-kingdom.  Steeds went striding     to the Stoningland  as wind in the morning.     War was kindled.  There Théoden fell,     Thengling mighty,  to his golden halls     and green pastures  in the Northern fields     never returning,  high lord of the host.     Harding and Guthláf  Dúnhere and Déorwine,     doughty Grimbold,  Herefara and Herubrand,     Horn and Fastred,  fought and fell there     in a far country:  in the Mounds of Mundburg     under mold they lie  with their league-fellows,     lords of Gondor.  Neither Hirluin the Fair     to the hills by the sea,  nor Forlong the old     to the flowering vales  ever, to Arnach,     to his own country  returned in triumph;     nor the tall bowmen,  Derufin and Duilin,     to their dark waters,  meres of Morthond     under mountain-shadows.  Death in the morning     and at day's ending  lords took and lowly.     Long now they sleep  under grass in Gondor     by the Great River.  Grey now as tears,     gleaming silver,  red then it rolled,     roaring water:  foam dyed with blood     flamed at sunset;  as beacons mountains     burned at evening;  red fell the dew     in Rammas Echor.

The Matter of Principle

The Matter of Principle

The period of principles can last

No more than winking years, or a decade.

Soon we must count our way to first from last.

Narrow your comprehensions of the past

As if in our grand-throated gasconade

The period of principles can last.

Though ballots will continue to be cast,

Though cheers yell honestly at the parade

Soon we must count our way to first from last.

Only when flag and comfort have harassed

An earnesty into our loud charade

The period of principles can last.

It is like counting sheep. The light has passed. 

The mind has got to sleep or break unmade. 

Soon we must count our way to first from last. 

Remembering what we have had to blast

Will mark the fool. The wise should be afraid

The period of principles can last. 

But soon we count our way from first to last.