Hwæt. We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. Þæt wæs god cyning.
Beowulf wæs maðmæum gedafen, siððan him Scyld gewat to grundsele. He hæfde feorh eal fram hyra alle, hyra monna, þa þe mid him maguð and mægð oððe mære þegnas wæron; hyt wæs rice and rices weard; he of þam rice geweold.
Swa sceal man don. Gode þancian, and his dædum lof. Næs hit lang æfter þam þæt Beowulf, þam secean wæs, to Hroðgare ferde; wæs him se heaðowæpned hæleða cyning, goldsele gumena, æþelinga ordfruma, to handa getæht.
Ða com of more under misthleoþum Grendel gongan; Gongan he wæs mære, mannum unrofe. Sæde wæs on symle, siððan þa setl wæron gearo, wæron to healle hleðran, hygeþancum bliðe.
Heorot heold hond to þeodne, and þa þegnas gretton, and wæs god cyning gesewen; ac hit wæs gecrong. Grendel feond ofer foldan sceolde þanon feorh to brucan, and wurdon wælhræglas; wið þam ingweardum he swealg.
Þa wæs on morgen mæro, þæt monige men, goldwine gumena, on bæc-befangen, befeallen hæfdon; and þa sæton on sælum, symle ne gemyndgade þæs miclan wites, þe him on innan wearð.