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Beowulf
        by Anonymous

LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings
        of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped,
        we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!
        Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes,
        from many a tribe, the mead-bench tore,
        awing the earls. Since erst he lay
        friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him:
        for he waxed under welkin, in wealth he throve,
        till before him the folk, both far and near,
        who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate,
        gave him gifts: a good king he!


To him an heir was afterward born,
        a son in his halls, whom heaven sent
        to favor the folk, feeling their woe
        that erst they had lacked an earl for leader
        so long a while; the Lord endowed him,
        the Wielder of Wonder, with world's renown.
        Famed was this Beowulf: far flew the boast of him,
        son of Scyld, in the Scandian lands.
So becomes it a youth to quit him well
        with his father's friends, by fee and gift,
        that to aid him, aged, in after days,
        come warriors willing, should war draw nigh,
        liegemen loyal: by lauded deeds
        shall an earl have honor in every clan.       

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