Beowulf: A New Verse Translation

by Seamus Heaney

Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, 1760 eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride.

Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage; never cut down 2180 a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers. He had been poorly regarded for a long time, was taken by the Geats for less than he was worth: and their lord too had never much esteemed him in the mead-hall. They firmly believed that he lacked force, that the prince was a weakling; but presently every affront to his deserving was reversed.