xv + 153 pp. A rhyming verse translation (MO2: "'Nibelungen' couplets"), with Leonard's interjected prose explanations and anticipations of coming episodes. The translation is preceded by a preface explaining intended audience and an introduction ("Something about the Poem Beowulf"), and is followed by Leonard's translation of The Fight at Finnsburg, genealogical table, floor plan of Heorot, a pronunciation guide to Old English names and words, and a glossary of unfamiliar words used in the translation.

The book is "designed both in matter and manner quite as much for zestful and inquiring grown-ups as for their more or less immature and uninformed offspring. In so far as the book is intended for the class room or supplementary reading, I have had in mind mainly the first two years of college, but without embarrassing, I hope, the needs of the high school or even the junior high school" (v). Passages in the translation that high school students "presumably … should skip" (v) are enclosed in square brackets by Leonard. Reprints 1925, 1951. The text of this small, modestly formatted book was reused in new, deluxe formats (illus. Rockwell Kent 1932, illus. Lynd Ward 1939 and 1952) and was anthologized with omission of Leonard's prose segues (Shafer 1939).

The translation begins:

Before chanting the deeds of the Geatman Beowulf, so brave and so strong, the 'Scop' (that is, the bard) chants the story of the ancestry of Hrothgar, the King of Danishmen (whose grandfather happened to be called Beowulf also), especially the strange story of the coming and the burial of Scyld, founder of the royal line. But why should the story of Beowulf, the Geat, begin with Hrothgar, the Dane? The Scop will strike his harp again and again and make all clear.

What ho! We've heard the glory     of Spear-Danes, clansmen-kings,
Their deeds of olden story,—     how fought the aethelings!
Often Scyld Scefing     reft his foemen all,
Reft the tribes at wassail     of bench and mead in hall.
Smote the jarls with terror;     gat good recompense
For that he came a foundling,     a child with no defense:
He waxed beneath the welkin,     grew in honors great,
Till each and every people,     of those around who sate
Off beyond the whale-road,     to him was underling,
To him must tender toll-fee.     That was a goodly King! (3)

And ends:

Then around the mound rode,     with cry and call,
Bairns of the aethelings,     twelve of all,
To mourn for their Master,     their sorrow to sing,
Framing a word-chant,     speaking of the King:
They vaunted his earlship,     they honored doughtily
His wonder-works of glory.     Let it ever be,
That heart of man shall cherish     and word of man shall praise
The Master-Friend, when in the end     his spirit goes its ways.
So the Geatish clansmen     bemoanéd their dearth,
The passing-forth of Beowulf,     these comrades of his hearth,
Calling him a World-King,     the mildest under crown,
And to his kin the kindest,     and keenest for renown. (136)

BAM.