Dick Ringler's deceptively simple translation captures the rhythm,
movement, and power of the original Old English poem while
employing a fluid modern English style and a relatively spare
vocabulary. His generous Introduction, a lively yet masterly guide
to the work, along with his translations of three shorter Old
English poems elucidate a major English text almost as well-known
for its subtlety and intricacy as it is for its monsters and
heroes.
