Book is xvi + 367 pp. A collection of Old English poetry that includes the entire prose translation first published as Gordon, The Song of Beowulf (1923), here no longer presented as a text for school-age readers. The Beowulf translation is preceded by a brief, new introduction (1-2) and genealogical tables (3). The collection was reprinted several times; "revised and reset" 1954 (but the only apparent changes to content are a few updates to general bibliography in the volume's introduction), and further reprinted thereafter.

The text of Beowulf begins:

Lo! we have heard the glory of the kings of the Spear-Danes in days gone by, how the chieftains wrought mighty deeds. Often Scyld-Scefing wrested the mead-benches from troops of foes, from many tribes; he made fear fall upon the earls. After he was first found in misery (he received solace for that), he grew up under the heavens, lived in high honour, until each of his neighbours over the whale-road must needs obey him and render tribute. That was a good king! (4)

And ends:

Then men bold in battle, sons of chieftains, twelve in all, rode about the mound; they were minded to utter their grief, to lament the king, to make a chant and to speak of the man; they exalted his heroic life and praised his valorous deed with all their strength.

Thus it is fitting that a man should extol his friendly lord in words, should heartily love him, when he must needs depart from his body and pass away. Thus did the men of the Geats, his hearth-companions, bewail the fall of their lord; they said that among the kings of the world he was the mildest of men and most kindly, most gentle to his people and most eager for praise. (70)

Fry and MO1 (p. 162) incorrectly give the date of this collection as 1927. It is not mentioned in MO2.

BAM (from 1949 reprint).