248 pp. A verse translation preceded by full introductory materials (9-50) and followed by a glossary of proper names (151-55), genealogical tables (156), a summary of the events of the Swedish-Geatish wars (157-58), several appendices collecting relevant medieval analogues and contexts (159-211), an appendix sampling other Beowulf translations (212-31), a select bibliography (232-42), and several numbered blank pages for notes (243-48).

The printed copyright date of 2000 disagrees with Broadview's claim on the back cover of the 2nd edition (2012 or 2013) that the translation was first printed in 1999, but the latter claim agrees with Liuzza's recollection that publication slightly preceded the turn of the year despite the declared copyright date. (The 2nd edition itself is a similar case.)

The appendix on Beowulf translations, Appendix E, gives a single passage (ll. 229-57) as rendered in Old English by Mitchell and Robinson and in Modern English by 20 translators: Turner, Conybeare, Kemble, Longfellow, Earle, Morris and Wyatt, Gummere, Leonard, Gordon, Charles W. Kennedy, Morgan, Raffel, Donaldson, Crossley-Holland, Chickering, Bradley, Greenfield, Lehmann, Hudson, and Rebsamen.

Liuzza's translation begins:

Listen!

We have heard of the glory in bygone days
of the folk-kings of the spear-Danes,
how those noble lords did lofty deeds.

Often Scyld Scefing seized the mead-benches
from many tribes, troops of enemies,
struck fear into earls. Though he first was
found a waif, he awaited solace for that—
he grew under heaven and prospered in honor
until every one of the encircling nations
over the whale's-riding had to obey him,
grant him tribute. That was a good king! (53)

And ends:

Then round the mound rode the battle-brave men,
offspring of noblemen, twelve in all,
they wished to voice their cares and mourn their king,
utter sad songs and speak of that man;
they praised his lordship and his proud deeds
judged well his prowess. As it is proper
that one should praise his lord with words,
should love him in his heart when the fatal hour comes,
when he must from his body be led forth,
so the men of the Geats lamented
the fall of their prince, those hearth-companions;
they said that he was of all the kings of the world
the mildest of men and the most gentle,
the kindest to his folk and the most eager for fame. (150)

The extract from Mitchell and Robinson's edition begins and ends:

Þa of wealle geseah     weard Scildinga
se þe holmclifu     healdan scolde
beran ofer bolcan     beorhte randas
fyrdsearu fuslicu,     hine fyrwyt bræc
modgehygdum     hwæt þa men wæron.

[…]

                         ["]Nu ge feorbuend
mereliðende     minne gehyrað
anfealdne geþoht:     Ofost is selest
to gecyðanne     hwanan eowre cyme syndon." (212-13)

The extract from Turner's translation begins and ends:

Then from the wall
He that the sea-cliff should guard
Beheld the warder of Scyldingi
Bear over the hills
The bright shields,
The instruments of battle.
Instantly he broke the fire vessel
In the doubts of his mind
What these men were.

[…]

["]You shall further go now,
Band of sea-dwellers.
Hear my simple thought;
It will be best to tell with speed
Why you have come here." (213-14)

The extract from Conybeare's translation begins and ends:

Nor was it long, ere he who held in charge
To guard each inlet of the rocky coast,
The Scylding's warden, from his tower descried
The prompt and well train'd band in fair array
Bearing their bright shields onwards.

[…]

["]Hear, ye far-faring tenants of the wave,
My full and clear demand—soonest were best
To give me answer—whence and what ye are." (214-15)

The extract from Kemble's translation begins and ends:

Then from the wall, the warder of the Scyldings, whose duty it was to keep the sea-cliffs, beheld bear over the balks their bright shields, their ready implements of war. Curiosity overcame him in the thoughts of his mind, what the men might be.

[…]

["]Now ye dwellers afar off; ye sailers over the sea, ye hear my simple thought: Speed were best to reveal whence is your coming." (215-16; italics in original)

The extract from Longfellow's translation begins and ends:

Then from the wall beheld
The warden of the Scyldings,
he who the sea-cliffs
Had in his keeping,
Bear o'er the balks
The bright shields,
The war-weapons speedily.
Him the doubt disturbed
In his mind's thought,
What these men might be.

[…]

["]Now, ye dwellers afar-off!
Ye sailors of the sea!
Listen to my
One-fold thought.
Quickest is best
To make known
Whence your coming may be." (216-17; lowercase at start of 3rd line sic)

The extract from Earle's translation begins and ends:

Then from his rampart did the Scyldings' warden, he who had to guard the sea-cliffs, espy men bearing over bulwark bright shields, accoutrements ready for action;—curiosity urged him with impassioned thoughts (to learn) who those men were.

[…]

["]Now ye foreigners, mariners of the sea, ye hear my plain meaning; haste is best to let me know whence your comings are." (218)

The extract from Morris and Wyatt's translation begins and ends:

But now from the wall saw the Scylding-folks' warder,
E'en he who the holm-cliffs should ever be holding,
Men bear o'er the gangway the bright shields a-shining,
Folk-host gear all ready. Then mind-longing wore him,
And stirr'd up his mood to wot who were the men-folk.

[…]

                         ["]So now, ye far-dwellers,
Ye wenders o'er sea-flood, this word do ye hearken
Of my one-folded thought: and haste is the handiest
To do me to wit of whence is your coming. (218-19)

The extract from Gummere's translation begins and ends:

Now saw from the cliff a Scylding clansman,
a warden that watched the water-side,
how they bore o'er the gangway glittering shields,
war-gear in readiness; wonder seized him
to know what manner of men they were.

[…]

                         ["]Now, dwellers afar,
ocean-travellers, take from me
simple advice: the sooner the better
I hear of the country whence ye came." (219-20)

The extract from Leonard's translation begins and ends:

Then from the wall the Watchman,     the Scylding set to guard
The water-cliffs, espied them     over the gangway bear
Their glittering shields of linden,     their ready fighting-gear.
His wits were seized with wonder,     what men were these indeed!

[…]

                         ["]Ye boatmen of the brine,
Ye far-off dwellers, hear now     this simple thought of mine:
'T'were best forthwith ye tell me     whence your coming be!" (220-21; interior apostrophe in "T'were" sic)

The extract from Gordon's translation begins and ends:

Then the watchman of the Scyldings whose duty it was to guard the sea-cliffs saw from the height bright shields and battle-equipment ready for use borne over the gangway. A desire to know who the men were pressed on his thoughts.

[…]

["]Now, ye far-dwellers, travellers of the sea, hearken to my frank thought. It is best to tell forth quickly whence ye are come." (221)

The extract from Charles W. Kennedy's translation begins and ends:

Then the Scylding coast-guard watched from the sea-cliff
Warriors bearing their shining shields,
Their gleaming war-gear, ashore from the ship.
His mind was puzzled, he wondered much
What men they were.

[…]

["]You distant-dwellers, you far sea-farers,
Hearken, and ponder words that are plain:
'Tis best you hasten to have me know
Who your kindred and whence you come." (222)

The extract from Morgan's translation begins and ends:

But the Scyldings' coastguard gazing from his rock,
He whose duty was to watch the sea-cliffs,
Saw shining shields borne across the gangplank,
Saw bared battle-gear; and his thoughts were pricked
With desire to discover the strangers' business.

[…]

                         ["]So now far-sailers
From homes sea-hidden, bend your attentiveness
To my plain request: promptly to tell me
Where you have come from, in courtesy is best." (223)

The extract from Raffel's translation begins and ends:

          High on a wall a Danish watcher
Patrolling along the cliffs saw
The travelers crossing to the shore, their shields
Raised and shining; he came riding down,
Hrothgar's lieutenant, spurring his horse,
Needing to know why they'd landed, these men
In armor.

[…]

                                   ["]Strangers,
From wherever it was you sailed, tell it,
And tell it quickly, the quicker the better,
I say, for us all. Speak, say
Exactly who you are, and from where, and why." (224)

The extract from Donaldson's translation begins and ends:

Then from the wall the Scyldings' guard who should watch over the seacliffs, saw bright shields borne over the gangway, armor ready for battle; strong desire stirred him in mind to learn what the men were.

[…]

["]Now you far-dwellers, sea-voyagers, hear what I think: you must straightway say where you have come from." (225)

The extract from Crossley-Holland's translation begins and ends:

Then, on the cliff-top, the Danish watchman
(whose duty it was to stand guard by the shore)
saw that the Geats carried flashing shields
and gleaming war-gear down the gangway,
and his mind was riddled with curiosity.

[…]

                         ["]Bold seafarers,
strangers from afar, mark my words
carefully: you would be best advised
quickly to tell me the cause of your coming." (225-26)

The extract from Chickering's translation begins and ends:

From high on a wall     the Scylding watchman
whose duty it was     to guard the sea-cliffs
saw glinting shield-bosses     passed hand to hand
down the gangplank,     an army's war-gear.
His mind was afire     to know who they were.

[…]

["]Now, you far strangers     from across the sea,
ocean-travelers,     hear my simple thought:
haste is needed,     and the sooner the better
it is best to be quick     and say whence you come." (226-27)

The extract from Bradley's translation begins and ends:

Then the sentinel of the Scyldings, who was required to keep guard over the sea-cliffs, observed them carrying gleaming shields and serviceable fighting-gear down the gangplank. An urgency to know what men these might be obsessed his thoughts.

[…]

["]Now, you inhabitants of far-off places, you voyagers of ocean, listen to my straightforward mind: haste is best in declaring what lies behind your coming here." (227-28)

The extract from Greenfield's translation begins and ends:

Then from the wall the Scyldings' warden,
whose task was to keep the sea-cliffs safe,
saw bright shields, battle-ready armor,
carried down the gangway. Curious,
he wondered who and what those men were.

[…]

                    ["]Now mark well my thought,
you who dwell afar and dare the sea:
it were best for you to be in haste
to make quite clear whence you've come, and why." (228)

The extract from Lehmann's translation begins and ends:

Then the Scyldings' watch,     who on shore kept guard
along the coastal wall,     saw from the cliffsummit
bucklers on the bulwarks,     bright shields hanging,
casques and mail ready.     Questions assailed him,
tormented his mind,     who these men might be.

[…]

                         ["]For you strangers all,
seavoyagers,     a simple question:
whence come you now?     I call for answer.
Recount to us clearly,     for quickest is best." (229)

The extract from Hudson's translation begins and ends:

Then the Scylding guard gazed out from the wall,
he who must patrol the sea-beaten cliffs
saw bright shields, cunning war-gear
borne over the gang-plank; he was feverish
with desire to know who the men were.

[…]

["]You seafarers, strangers from afar,
hear now my naked thought:
you'd best make known straightway
whence you are come." (230)

The extract from Rebsamen's translation Beowulf: A Verse Translation (incorrectly giving its title as Beowulf: A New Verse Translation) begins and ends:

Watching above them     the warden of the shores
glimpsed from the cliff-top     a glinting of armor
as they bore from their boat     bright shields and spears
rich with war-weapons.     He wrenched his thoughts
groped within his mind     who these men might be.

[…]

                         ["]Now let me advise you
horseless sailors     hear my counsel
my heartfelt words:     Haste will be best
in letting me know     the land you came from." (231)

• Hugh Magennis, Translating Beowulf: Modern Versions in English Verse (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2011), 209-11.

BAM; for date of first appearance, personal correspondence with Roy Liuzza.