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As you probably know, there is a splendid recording of Heaney himself reading the whole of his translation., with full relish in the sound of it.

You really captured the essence of what Eliot meant by "Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood."

Your enthusiasm is infectious.

I'm so glad I found this channel.   Most people don't understand my desire to geek out on word roots and Old English!

People would fall in love with poetry more if they could hear Anglo Saxon read like that more often!

I like the shakespearian rhythm of Tom Meyer's version:
HEY now hear
what spears of Danes in days of years gone
by did, what deeds made their power their glory —
their kings & princes

Strafford Riggs is one of my favourite tellings. Just love this story so much.

So far I like Seamus, Tolkien and William's translations.

That first nine minutes was magnificent! Actually, the whole video stirs the blood! The Headley version is fascinating, I'd like to read it alongside a more faithful translation. I have the Heaney version, illustrated, from my library, though to my sorrow I can't join you on Versed as I can't afford it. The Old Englishness of both Morris and Tolkien is gorgeous too... so much to discover.

Very interesting! They all feel so so different! I absolutely loved Morris's and loved the twists and changes Headley applied - I think they really added something. I think I'll get those translations as well. 😯

reading Seamus Henney's translation of Beowulf made me sign up for an Old English class

Thank you for this. Very interesting to study the translations side by side.

I’m exceptionally fond of the Sullivan/Murphy translation published in 2004. They do a wonderful job with the alliteration and compound words, giving their version a rough-hewn quality that I really enjoyed.

Then from the moor under misty hillsides ,
Grendel came gliding girt with God‘s anger.
The man-scather sought someone to snatch
From the high hall. He crept under clouds
Until he caught sight of the Kings Court
whose gilded gables he knew at a glance.
He often had haunted Hrothgar‘s house;
But he never found, before or after,
Hardier hall-thanes or harder luck.

Found this passage in one of the earliest English translations by Benjamin Thorpe. It's interesting how he deals with the whole split-line alliteration scheme by, well, splitting the lines. Was the original like that? It seems like many early translations retort to this:

Then came from the moor,
under the misty hills,
Grendel stalking ;
he God's anger bare :
expected the wicked spoiler
of the race of men
one to ensnare in the lofty hall.
He strode under the clouds,
until he the wine-house,
the golden hall of men,
most readily perceiv'd,
richly variegated.
Nor was that time the first
that he Hrothgar's
home had sought.
Never in his life-days he,
ere nor since,
a bolder man,
or hall-thanes found.
Came then to the mansion
the man journeying,
of joys depriv'd ;
forthwith on the door he rush'd,
fast with fire-hard bands,
then he with his hands it
[touched] ;
undrew then the baleful minded
(as he was angry)
the mansion's mouth :
soon after that
on the variegated floor
the fiend trod ;
went wroth of mood ;
from his eyes stood,
to flame most like,
a horrid light.

I loved how William Morris's version sounded! It'll probably be a challenge for me to read, especially as not a native speaker, but maybe I'll try one day


And the way you read it in old English was magical! Even though I barely understood a word I enjoyed listening to it

Dr., "sele" also calls to mind salon, with French roots.

This was so much fun. Thank you!

You are fabulous as usual ❤

Great video, very interesting Mr. Adam Walker.
P.S. Will you be discussing Tom Shippey's translation of Beowulf in detail in the future?

I think Headley crosses a line from translation to reimagining. Nothing wrong in that so long as it is honest in describing itself as a reimagining . It would be wrong, I think, to describe it as a translation when there are multiple material narrative (as opposed to purely linguistic) redactions from and additions to the original text. Just my opinion for what it’s worth. I liked Heaney and William Morris the most (based solely on this passage).