Editing Old English (section)

=== ''Beowulf'' ===
{{original research section|date=December 2024}}
The first example is taken from the opening lines of ''Beowulf'', a work with around 3,000 lines.<ref name="Baugh1951" /> This passage describes how [[Hrothgar]]'s legendary ancestor [[Scyld]] was found as a baby, washed ashore, and adopted by a noble family. The translation is literal and represents the original poetic word order. As such, it is not typical of Old English prose. The modern cognates of original words have been used whenever practical to give a close approximation of the feel of the original poem.

The words in brackets are implied in the Old English by noun case and the bold words in brackets are explanations of words that have slightly different meanings in a modern context. ''What'' is used by the poet where a word like ''lo'' or ''behold'' would be expected. This usage is similar to ''what-ho!'', both an expression of surprise and a call to attention.

English poetry is based on stress and alliteration. In alliteration, the first consonant in a word alliterates with the same consonant at the beginning of another word, as with {{lang|ang|'''G'''ār-Dena}} and {{lang|ang|'''ġ'''eār-dagum}}. Vowels alliterate with any other vowel, as with {{lang|ang|'''æ'''þelingas}} and {{lang|ang|'''e'''llen}}. In the text below, the letters that alliterate are bolded.

{| cellspacing="10"
! scope="col" | {{numero}}
! scope="col" style="width:35%" | Original
! scope="col" style="width:65%" | Representation with [[Constructed language#A posteriori language|constructed]] [[cognate]]s
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| 1 || {{lang|ang|Hƿæt! ƿē '''G'''ār-Dena in '''ġ'''eār-dagum,}}
| What! We of Gare-Danes''' (lit. Spear-Danes)''' in yore-days,
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|'''þ'''ēod-cyninga, '''þ'''rym ġefrūnon,}}
| of thede''' (nation/people)'''-kings, did thrum''' (glory)''' frain''' (learn about by asking)''',
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|hū ðā '''æ'''þelingas '''e'''llen fremedon.}}
| how those athelings''' (noblemen)''' did ellen '''(fortitude/courage/zeal)''' freme''' (promote)'''.
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|Oft '''Sc'''yld '''Sc'''ēfing '''sc'''eaþena þrēatum,}}
| Oft did Scyld Scefing of scather threats''' (troops)''',
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| 5 || {{lang|ang|'''m'''onegum '''m'''ǣġþum, '''m'''eodosetla oftēah,}}
| of many maegths''' (clans; cf. Irish cognate Mac-)''', of meadsettees atee '''(deprive)''',
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|'''e'''gsode '''eo'''rlas. Syððan '''ǣ'''rest ƿearð}}
| [and] ugg''' (induce loathing in, terrify; related to "ugly")''' earls. Sith '''(since, as of when)''' erst''' (first)''' [he] worthed''' (became)'''
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|'''f'''ēasceaft '''f'''unden, hē þæs '''f'''rōfre ġebād,}}
| [in] fewship''' (destitute)''' found, he of this frover''' (comfort)''' abode,
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|'''ƿ'''ēox under '''ƿ'''olcnum, '''ƿ'''eorðmyndum þāh,}}
| [and] waxed under welkin''' (firmament/clouds)''', [and amid] worthmint''' (honour/worship)''' theed''' (throve/prospered)'''
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|'''o'''ðþæt him '''ǣ'''ġhƿylc þāra '''y'''mbsittendra}}
| oth that''' (until that)''' him each of those umsitters''' (those "sitting" or dwelling roundabout)'''
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| 10 || {{lang|ang|ofer '''h'''ronrāde '''h'''ȳran scolde,}}
| over whaleroad''' (''[[kenning]]'' for "sea")''' hear should,
|- style="vertical-align: top"
| || {{lang|ang|'''g'''omban '''g'''yldan. Þæt ƿæs '''g'''ōd cyning!}}
| [and] yeme '''(heed/obedience; related to "gormless")''' yield. That was [a] good king!
|}

Here is a natural enough Modern English translation, although the phrasing of the Old English passage has often been stylistically preserved, even though it is not usual in Modern English:

{{blockquote|What! We Spear-Danes in ancient days inquired about the glory of the kings of the nation, how the princes performed bravery.

Often, Shield, the son of Sheaf, ripped away the meadbenches
from many tribes' enemy bands — he terrified men!

After destitution was first experienced (by him), he met with consolation for that; he grew under the clouds of the sky and flourished in adulation, until all of the neighbouring people had to obey him over the whaleroad, and pay tribute to the man. That was a good king!}}