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.
He was a good king, and it is a good tale, and an old one–but whether it will be a good movie is another thing. I think I’d rather hear Seamus Heaney read it.
Available for download on iTunes, it is his own translation. Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s mother?! Now thats some licence.