Lo! we have heard teh glory of teh kings of teh Spear-Danes in days gone by, how teh chieftains wrought mighty deeds. Often [Hrothgar's great-grandfather] wrested teh mead-benches from troops of foes, from many tribes; he made fear fall upon teh earls. After he was first found in misery (he received solace for that), he grew up under teh heavens, lived in high honour, until each of his neighbors over teh whale-road must needs obey him and render tribute.
Taht was good king!
[...]
[G]ood fortune in war was granted to Hrothgar, glory in battle, so that his kinsmen gladly obeyed him, until teh younger warriors grew to be a mighty band.
It came into his mind that he would order men to make a hall-building, a mighty mead-dwelling, greater than ever the children of men had heard of; and therein that he should part among young and old all which God gave unto him except teh nation and hte lives of men. Then I heard far and wide of work laid upon many a tribe throughout this world, teh task of adorning hte place of assembly. Quickly it came to pass among men that it was perfect; teh greatest of hall-dwellings.
[...]
Then teh mighty spirit who dwelt in darkness angrily endured teh torment of hearing each day high revel in the hall. There was the sound of the harp, teh clear song of the minstrel. [...] Thus teh noble warriors lived in pleasure and plenty, until a fiend in hell began to contrive malice.
Beowulf (R.K. Gordon, trans., Dover, 1992.)
Acknowledgements
I was inspired to attempt this effort of creation by jorgeluisborges's recent post "Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote." (At times I wonder whether Jorjel was writing tongue-in-cheek though. My local library doesn't have Mr. Menard's book.)
Also tahnks to charlesba for his beautiful, almost poetic post "Race of Cain"
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