古英语, 公元 8 世纪的史诗《贝奥武夫》
(2015-12-31 23:38:08)Hwæt! wē Gār-Dena in geār-dagum
闻!吾等已闻Spear-Danes之荣,
þēod-cyninga þrym gefrūnon,
人民之主,在昔之日,
hū þā æðelingas ellen fremedon.
夫子所以能之辉煌事。
Ā-lēdon þā lēofne þēoden,
其以爱之酋长,指环之赐者,
bēaga bryttan on bearm scipes,
置船之怀,
mærne be mæste. Þær wæs mādma fela,
荣之桅上。或得多珍宝,
of feor-wegum frætwa gelæded:
于甚远之滨。
ne hyrde ic cymlīcor cēol gegyrwan
吾未闻之舟,为法,
hilde-wæpnum and heaðo-wædum,
为之器,为之甲,
billum and byrnum; him on bearme læg
为之剑,为之裳。于怀中,
mādma mænigo, þā him mid scoldon
卧数宝,为之长途跋涉,
on flōdes æht feor gewītan.
为之赴刀枪火海。
Nalas hī hine læssan lācum tēodan,
方其初发之独出者也,
þēod-gestrēonum, þonne þā dydon,
此等人不与之寿,
þē hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon
不与室珍,
ænne ofer yðe umbor wesende:
因其仍童稚。
þā gyt hīe him āsetton segen gyldenne
其徒将金色之旗
hēah ofer hēafod, lēton holm beran,
高擎过于顶,
gēafon on gār-secg: him wæs geōmor sefa,
使海怜之——以之海洋。
murnende mōd. Men ne cunnon
其魂与神凄怆,
secgan tō soðe sele-rædende,
礼堂参赞,天下之大勇者,
hæleð under heofenum, hwā þæm hlæste onfēng.
无以言此状,静默压抑。