Lyrics

(Strophe 1 - Fers I)
Hlȳsteð! Heard hearpe hlūde swēgeð!
(Listen! The bold harp sounds loudly!)
Glēomann gidded, gamen wēceð.
(The minstrel sings, awakens mirth.)
Fȳr fāgne flett fægere scīneð,
(Fire shines fairly on the decorated hall-floor,)
Sorge scēacað, sēloð tīdeð!
(Sorrows depart, good times approach!)
Swēg swinsiað swēte on eyrum,
(Melody sings sweetly in the ears,)
Dryhtne drēam dǣleð on beornum!
(The lord deals out joy among the warriors!)
(Refrain - Cwidas)
Hlēapað ond plegiað, þegnas glæde!
(Leap and play, glad thanes!)
Lǣtað lāð gewitan lēofum windum!
(Let woes depart on dear winds!)
Hebbað hēah hornas, hlȳdað mid gealdre!
(Raise high the horns, shout with song/chant!)
Ðes weorðscipe wunað wynsum on nihte!
(This feast/honour remains joyous in the night!)
Singað ond springað, sēleste drēamas!
(Sing and spring [dance], best of joys!)
(Strophe 2 - Fers II)
Idesa on bencum æðele sittiað,
(Ladies sit nobly on benches,)
Beornas beor þicgað, blīðe on mōde.
(Warriors receive beer/ale, happy in spirit.)
Nān grāmgenga geseon mōton,
(No sorrowful-walker [gloomy person] may be seen,)
Glædnes gēomrum gēoce findeð!
(Gladness finds help for the sad!)
Medu mildelīce mearcum flēoweð,
(Mead flows mildly within the halls,)
Werig wīgend wyngeorn weorðeð!
(The weary warrior becomes desirous of joy!)
(Refrain - Cwidas)
Hlēapað ond plegiað, þegnas glæde!
(Leap and play, glad thanes!)
Lǣtað lāð gewitan