xxxv + 330 pp. An edition and translation presented, half-line by half-line, in parallel columns, preceded by Thorpe's Preface on the textual and editorial history of Beowulf (vii-xix), as contextualizes his project; his Introduction, summarizing the poem fitt by fitt (xxi-xxx); genealogical tables (xxxi-xxxiii); and abbreviations and corrigenda (xxxiv). The edition and translation are on pp. xxxv (title)-214, followed by a similar presentation of Widsith (215-26, under the title "The Scôp or Gleeman's Tale") and The Fight at Finnsburg (227-30). The texts and translations are followed by a Glossary (233-312) and indexes of personal names in Beowulf (313-16), other proper names in Beowulf (317-20), personal names in Widsith and The Fight at Finnsburg (321-24), and other proper names in Widsith (325-30).

The summary of Beowulf in the Introduction begins:

In the prefatory portion, preceding the first canto of Beowulf, we are presented with the genealogy of the Danish king Hrothgar, beginning with Scef (Sceaf), and terminating with a prince named, like the hero of the poem, Beowulf. Now as this Beowulf the Scylding is, no doubt, to be considered identical with the Beaw who figures in the genealogies as an ancestor of Woden, there is a vast chasm to be filled up between him and Healfdene, the father of Hrothgar, the reigning prince at the time of the poem; although, judging from the text, it would seem that hte line from Scef to Hrothgar was unbroken throughout. But it may be right to observe, that the words (l. 112) "oðþæt him eft onwóc heáh Healfdene" do not necessarily imply any such uninterrupted line, but simply that, in course of time, not immediately, there sprang from him (Scef) "the lofty Healfdene." To have given all the intermediate links of the pedigree would have been tedious and, therefore, unpoetical, and the poem of Beowulf is neither. This preface closes with the death of Scyld, and an account of his being laid in a ship, with his arms and treasures, and committed to the winds and waves, in manner like to that in which he had, in his infancy, been sent to the Danish shore.

Canto I. Healfdene had four sons, viz. Heorogar, Hrothgar, Halga, and Ela. Hrothgar succeeds his brother Heorogar. This prince causes a splendid royal residence to be consructed, to which he gives the name of Heorot or Heort. This is soon made a scene of slaughter, in consequence of the nightly attacks of a fiendish being called Grendel, II. who carries off at one time no less than thirty thanes, for the purpose of devouring them in his retreat. These dreadful visitations are continued during a period of twelve years. III. Intelligence of this calamity having reached Beowulf, a nephew of Hygelac, king of the opposite territory of West Gothland, he resolves to rid the Danish land of the monster, and, in pursuance of this design, sails from home with a company of fifteen warriors. On reaching Hrothgar's realm, he is challenged by the officer stationed at hte extreme point of the land, to give notice of the approach of enemies. (xxi-xxiii [latter page no. misprinted as a repetition of "xxii"]; non-italicization of the title "Beowulf" sic)

And ends:

XXXVIII. Wiglaf visits the mound, the treasure he there sees is described. On his return he finds his master at the point of death, who, whild giving directions for his funeral and mound on Hrones-næs, expires. XXXIX. The men, who had retired to the wood (l. 5185), now come forth, and are bitterly reproached by Wiglaf. XL. Wiglaf sends a messenger to the warriors who were awaiting the event on the promontory (l. 5051), who announces to them the death of the king, and its probable consequences, namely a war with the Franks and Frisians. He repeats the account of the war with the Swedes and the fall of Hæthcyn (ll. 4935 sqq.), part of which is very obscure. XLI. Ongentheow's last battle with Hygelac and fall are described. The messenger concludes by exhorting them to prepare a funeral pile. XLII. XLIII. The remainder is devoted to the funeral of Beowulf. (xxx)

The edited Old English text begins:

Hwæt we Gár-Dena,
in gear-dagum,
þeód-cyninga,
þrym gefrunon:
hú ða æþelingas
ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scéfing
sceaþena þreátum,
monegum mægþum,
meodo-setla ofteáh:
egsode eorl[as]
syððan ǽrest wearð
feásceaft funden:
he þæs frófre gebád,
weox under wolcnum,
weorþmyntum þáh,
oðþæt him æghwylc
þára ymb-sittendra
ofer hrón-ráde
hýran scolde,
gomban gyldan:
þæt wæs gód cyning. (1)

The corresponding parallel-column translation begins:

Ay, we the Gar-Danes',
in days of yore,
the great kings',
renown have heard of:
how those princes
valour display'd.
Oft Scyld Scef's son
from bands of robbers,
from many tribes,
their mead-benches drag'd away:
inspired earls with fear,
after he first was
found destitute:
he thence look'd for comfort,
flourished under the clouds,
in dignities throve,
until him every one
of those sitting around
over the whale-road
must obey,
tribute pay:
that was a good king! (1; italics as in original)

The edited Old English text ends:

Þá ymbe hlǽw ridon
hilde deór    *    *
æðeling    *    *
ealra twelfa
woldon    *    *    cwiðan
cyning mǽnan,
word-gyd wrecan,
and worn sprecan;
eahtodon eorlscipe,
and his ellen-weorc
    *      *      *
duguðum démdon,
swá hit ge[defe] bið,
þæt mon his wine-dryhten
wordum herge,
ferhðum freoge,
þonne he forð scyle
of líc-haman,
    *    *    weorþan.
Swá begnornodon
Geáta leóde
hláfordes [hrýre],
heorð-geneátas;
cwǽdon þæt he wǽre
woruld-cyninga,
manna mildust,
[and mon-]þwǽrost,
leódum liðost,
and lóf-geornost. (214)

And the corresponding parallel-column translation ends:

Then round the mound rode
war-beasts    *    *
nobles    *    *
of all the twelve
would    *    *    speak
their king bewail,
a verbal lay recite,
and many things say;
esteem'd his bravery,
and his valiant works
    *      *      *
nobly judged,
as it is fitting,
that a man his liege lord
with his words praise,
in his soul love,
when he shall go forth
from the body,
    *    *    become.
Thus deplor'd
the Goths' people
their lord's fall,
his hearth-enjoyers;
said that he was
of world-kings,
of men, mildest,
and kindest,
to his people gentlest,
and of praise most desirous. (214; italics as in original)

BAM.