336 pp. The 2nd edition of Liuzza's full verse translation, newly presented en face with the Old English text of the poem. The translation is preceded by full introductory materials (9-50; now including a note to the 2nd ed. on p. 47) and is followed by a glossary of proper names (247-50), genealogical tables (251), a summary of the events of the Swedish-Geatish wars (253), several appendices collecting relevant medieval analogues and contexts (255-99), an appendix on other Beowulf translations (301-20, expanded from 1st ed.), a select bibliography (321-29), and a statement from the publisher (335). Liuzza's explanation of his Old English text (47) indicates that it relies on and largely follows that of Klaeber, but that Liuzza has compared with other editions and made independent critical decisions in establishing his text.

The printed copyright date of 2013 disagrees with some apparently reliable WorldCat records (for example, at OCLC accesssion no. 841648998), dating it to 2012, and these agree with Liuzza's recollection that publication preceded the turn of the year despite the declared copyright date. (The 1st edition of 1999 or 2000 is a similar case.)

The appendix on Beowulf translations, Appendix E, gives a single passage (ll. 229-57), first repeated in Old English from the foregoing complete text and then in Modern English by 24 translators: Turner, Conybeare, Kemble, Longfellow, Wackerbarth (not included in Liuzza's 1st ed.), Earle, Morris and Wyatt, Gummere, Leonard, Gordon, Charles W. Kennedy, Morgan, Raffel, Donaldson, Crossley-Holland, Alexander (not included in Liuzza's 1st ed.), Chickering, Bradley, Greenfield, Lehmann, Hudson, Rebsamen, Luizza himself (not included in this appendix in Liuzza's 1st ed.), and Heaney (not included in Liuzza's 1st ed.). The "Relationships" field above lists only those that are newly included in this 2nd ed.; the others are subsumed into the relationship of this edition's revision of the 1st ed. (2000), as they are carried over from that edition.

The Old English text begins:

Hwæt, wē Gār-Dena     in gēardagum,
þēodcyninga     þrym gefrūnon,
hū ðā æþelingas     ellen fremedon!

Oft Scyld Scēfing     sceaþena þrēatum,
monegum mǣgþum     meodosetla oftēeah,
egsode eorl[as].     Syððan ǣrest wearð
fēasceaft funden,     hē þæs frōfre gebād—
wēox under wolcnum     weorðmyndum þāh,
oð þæt him ǣghwylc     þara ymbsittendra
ofer hronrāde     hȳran scolde,
gomban gyldan;     þæt wæs gōd cyning! (54)

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! (55)

The Old English text ends:

Þā ymbe hlǣw riodan     hildedēore,
æþelinga bearn,     ealra twelf[e],
woldon (care) cwīðan,     [ond] cyning mǣnan,
wordgyd wrecan,     ond ymb w(er) sprecan;
eahtodan eorlscipe     ond his ellenweorc
duguðum dēmdon—     swā hit gedē(fe) bið,
þæt mon his winedryhten     wordum herge,
ferhðum frēoge,     þonne hē forð scile
of l[ī]chaman     (lǣ)ded weorðan.
Swā begnornodon     Gēata lēode
hlāfordes (hry)re,     heorðgenēatas;
cwǣdon þæt hē wǣre     wyruldcyning[a]
manna mildust     ond mon[ðw]ǣrust,
lēodum līðost     ond lofgeornost. (244)

And Liuzza's translation 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. (245)

The extract of Old English reproduced from earlier in the book for comparison of various translations begins and ends:

Þā of wealle geseah     weard Scildinga,
sē þe holmclifu     healdan scolde,
beran ofer bolcan     beorhte randas,
fyrdsearu fūslicu;     hine fyrwyt bræc
mōdgehygdum,     hwæt þā men wǣron.

[…]

                         ["]Nū gē feorbūend
merelīðende,     mīn[n]e gehȳrað
ānfealdne geþōht:     ofost is sēlest
tō gecȳðanne,     hwanan ēowre cyme syndon." (301-2)

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." (302-3)

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.

[…]

["]Here, ye far-faring tenants of the wave,
My full and clear demand—soonest were best
To give me answer—whence and what ye are." (303-4; "Here" sic, changed from Liuzza's 1st ed.; Conybeare has "Hear" as in Liuzza's 1st ed.)

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." (304; 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." (304-5; lowercase at start of 3rd line sic)

The extract from Wackerbarth's translation (not included in Liuzza's 1st ed.) begins and ends:

Soon from the Wall the Scylding Ward,
Whose duty was the Cliffs to guard,
Beheld them from the Vessel draw
Bright Shields, and Instruments of War,
His Curiosity brake through
In ponderings of his Mind to view
     What Men they e'en might be,

[…]

["]Now Dwellers of a far Countrey, [sic]
Ye, Wanderers o'er the mighty Sea,
     My simple Thought ye know,
And Speed were wisest, whence may be
Your Coming here to shew." (306-7; comma at end of first quotation sic; "[sic]" within quotation is Liuzza's annotation)

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." (307)

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. (308)

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." (308-9)

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!" (309-10; 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." (310)

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." (310-11)

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." (311-12)

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." (312)

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." (313)

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." (313-14)

The extract from Alexander's translation (not included in Liuzza's 1st ed.) begins and ends:

The watchman saw them. From the wall where he stood,
posted by the Scyldings to patrol the cliffs,
he saw the polished lindens pass along the gangway
and the clean equipment. Curiosity
moved him to know who these men might be.

[…]

["]Stay where you are, strangers, hear
what I have to say! Seas crossed,
it is best and simplest straightaway to acknowledge
where you are from, why you have come." (314-15)

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." (315)

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." (315-16)

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." (316-17)

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." (317)

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." (318)

The extract from Rebsamen's 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." (318-19)

The extract from Liuzza's own translation (not included in this appendix in Liuzza's 1st ed.) begins and ends:

When from the wall the Scyldings' watchman,
whose duty it was to watch the sea-cliffs,
saw them bear down the gangplank bright shields,
ready battle-gear, he was bursting with curiosity
in his mind to know who these men were.

[…]

                    ["]Now, you sea-travelers
from a far-off land, listen to my
simple thought—the sooner the better,
you must make clear from whence you have come." (319-20)

The extract from Heaney's translation (not included in Liuzza's 1st ed.) begins and ends:

When the watchman on the wall, the Shieldings' lookout
whose job it was to guard the sea-cliffs,
saw shields glittering on the gangplank
and battle-equipment being unloaded
he had to find out who and what
the arrivals were.

[…]

["]Outsiders from across the water,
I say it again: the sooner you tell
where you come from and why, the better." (320)

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