xii + 114 pp. A verse translation preceded by a brief introduction (vii-xii). From the introduction: "I should advise the reader who is making his first acquaintance with Beowulf through the medium of this translation, to omit the prologue and other digressions, which are distinguished from the rest of the poem by being printed in closer type. They are full of allusions which require a good deal of explanation, and are not of great interest except in relation to the history and antiquities of the time" (vii). Beowulf "has sufficient literary merit to be well worth reading for its own sake. It is very uneven, to be sure—it sinks every now and then to the level of the dullest prose, and has the prolixity which is characteristic of a primitive and leisurely age—but for the most part it is thoroughly good stuff" (ix). The translation begins (set in close type for optional omission from reading):

[title] The Prologue

Lo! We have heard tell     how mighty the kings
of the Spear-bearing Danes     were in days that are past,—
how these men of high birth     did valorous deeds.

Scyld, child of the Sheaf,     took mead-settles oft
from parties of foemen,—     from many a tribe.
The earl inspired fear:     from the time that they found him
unfriended, he got     compensation for all,—
waxed under the welkin     and prospered in fame,
till each of the peoples     that dwelt round about
o'er the path of the whale,     had to bow to his word,—
to render him tribute.     A good king was he! (1)

And ends:

Then all round the barrow     the battle-braves rode,—
the scions of nobles,     twelve of them all told.
They would tell out their sorrow     and mourn for their king,
would utter a dirge     and speak of him as man.
His valour they praised     and his brave deed extolled
to the best of their powers.     Yea, thus it is meet
that a man should exalt     his lord by his words—
hold him dear in his heart—when he needs must go forth
and take his release     from his wrapping of flesh.

Thus folk of the Geats,     his familiar friends,
did show forth their grief     at the fall of their lord,
and said that a world-     famous monarch was he,
the mildest of men     and most gracious withal,
most kind to his people,     most keen after praise. (114)

• Hugh Magennis, Translating Beowulf: Modern Versions in English Verse (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2011), esp. 15-17, 65-66.

BAM.