xl + 107 pp. An unrhymed verse translation, following the Old English line for line, with four main stresses per line. The translation is preceded by Garnett's Preface (xi-xiv) and Introduction (xv-xxx), as well as a Glossary of Proper Names (xxxi-xxxix) and a list of the Old English words that Garnett uses in his translation (xxxix-xl). It is followed by a translation of The Fight at Finnsburg (97-98) and Garnett's notes on both texts (99-107).

The text is divided into 12 sections, an arrangement derived from Grein: the translation is based on Grein's 1867 edition, but with variants from Heyne's 4th edition (1879) accounted for in Garnett's notes, where he provides translations for Heyne's differing Old English readings (xi-xii). As Garnett explains in his preface, his method causes "much inversion and occasional obscurity, and lacks smoothness," but these drawbacks were judged an acceptable inconvenience in that they enabled him to translate very literally and maintain a line-by-line match to the original (xi).

The translation begins:

BEOWULF AND GRENDEL.
I.

Scyld and his descendants. Hrothgar and the building of Heorot. The coming of Grendel, and his evil deeds. Hrothgar's great sorrow.

Lo! we of the Spear Danes', in days of yore,
Warrior-kings' glory have heard,
How the princes heroic deeds wrought.
Oft Scyld, son of Scef, from hosts of foes,
From many tribes, their mead-seats took;
The earl caused terror since first he was
Found thus forlorn: gained he comfort for that,
Grew under the clouds, in honors throve,
Until each one of those dwelling around
Over the whale-road, him should obey,
Should tribute pay: that was a good king! (1)

And ends:

Then 'round the mound the battle-brave rode,
Children of nobles (they were twelve in all),
Their sorrow would tell, grieve for their king,
Their mourning utter, and about the man speak;
His earlship they praised, and his noble deeds
They extolled to the courtiers, as it is right
That one his dear lord in word should praise,
With soul him love, when he shall forth
From his own body be severed by death.
So then lamented the folk of the Geats
The fall of their lord, the hearth-companions,
Said that he was a mighty king,
Mildest to men and most tender-hearted,
To his folk most kind and fondest of praise. (96)

• Hugh Magennis, Translating Beowulf: Modern Versions in English Verse (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 2011), 55-56.

BAM (from digital facsimile of a copy at Cornell University, via Hathitrust.org).