Beowulf1! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
I wish to proclaim to the son of Half-Dane,
--that famed sovereign-- my errand
to your lord, if he wishes to grant us
that we him, the virtuous one, might greet.
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!2
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
I myself in martial-stature do not tally poorer
in works of war then Grendel himself;
therefore him with my sword I shall not slay,
deprive of life, though I fully am able
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf! Beowulf! Beowulf is my name!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
Beowulf is my name! Be you, Hrothgar, whole!
1. The most likely etymology of Beowulf is 'bee-wulf', that is to say "bear", a 'wolf' (=hunter) of bees for their honey. Other possibilities [ Alexander A. Klimenko] include a contraction of beorh-wulf ('mountain-wolf') or bel-wulf ('shining wolf').2. roughly 'Hail to you', more literally 'Be you whole' to mean 'Be you in good health'. Wassail comes from this phrase (Wæs hal).