Part of the Anglo-Saxon poem about Beowulf in the sole surviving manuscript, c.1000

þa gyt hie him asetton     segen geldenne
heah ofer heafod,     leton holm beran,
geafon on garsecg;     him wæs geomor sefa,

murnende mod.     Men ne cunnon
secgan to soðe,     selerædende,
hæleð under heofenum,     hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.
ða wæs on burgum     Beowulf Scyldinga,
leof leodcyning,     longe þrage

folcum gefræge     (fæder ellor hwearf,
aldor of earde),     oþþæt him eft onwoc
heah Healfdene;     heold þenden lifde,
gamol ond guðreouw,     glæde Scyldingas.
ðæm feower bearn     forð gerimed

in worold wocun,     weoroda ræswan,
Heorogar ond Hroðgar     ond Halga til;
hyrde ic þæt     wæs Onelan cwen,
Heaðoscilfingas     healsgebedda.
þa wæs Hroðgare     heresped gyfen,

wiges weorðmynd,     þæt him his winemagas
georne hyrdon,     oðð þæt seo geogoð geweox,
magodriht micel.     Him on mod bearn
þæt healreced     hatan wolde,