Monday, September 10, 2012

Beowulf ond Godsylla Translation

Beowulf ond Godsylla

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen;

Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse.
Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs;
Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?"
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp
Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete."
Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen
Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar,
Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu."
Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng.

Translation:
Meanwhile, back at the mead-hall, the monster lurks;
Full of a few too many drinks, he's lookin' for a fight.
Then Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,

Asked the awful jerk to step outside.  Thud!  Bash! Crash! Boom! The big guy
All of his bones broke, bit his nose off;
Wicked Godzilla wailed on his ass.
The monster mopped the floor with all the men in the hall.
Beowulf in the back room phone call _____ was;
Hearing sounds of ruckus he said, "What the hell?"
Grabbing a strong shield and sharp switch blade,
Strolled forth to fight his grim foe.  "Me," Godsylla said, "make the mincemeat."
The hero quickly got hold with his famed half-nelson
And flung him like a frisbee back to front
Beowulf belly up to the mead hall bar,
Said, "No foe beats my fearsome kung-fu."
Ordering Coca-Cola ice cold, the real thing.

I initially recognized "Godsylla" as being similar to Godzilla, but I decided to ignore it and try to find a direct translation first.  Once I realized it was a parody, it made a lot more sense.  As a disclaimer, I didn't write the entire translation -- I looked at this page for words I got stuck on (yes, I know Yahoo Answers isn't exactly the epitome of academic credibility, but for something of this nature I figured it was acceptable).

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