The following is a translation of the opening lines of the Iliad into Old English — perhaps the first ever translation done of this kind.

THE OLD ENGLISH ILIAD

By A.A. Brunn

Graman mé giedda,     lá gyden, Achilles,
frécne se þe fremede     firendǽda Grécum,
and hildgástas hæleða     on Helle bewearp,
ge hunda tó húðum,     ge hræfna gewurdon
swá willa fullworht     wæs wealdendes Zeus,
siððan ǽrest on stríðe     híe him framstódon
Atregs ealdorcyning,     ge Achilles beorhtost.
Hwá þá goda gædrode     tó gúðe þá twégen?
Léof godbearn Létone,     wið léodcyning bealg,
bealucwealm bryrde     geond beaduþréatas,
weorod forwurdon,     þý unweorðode þéoden,
Crises þone sacerd.     Cóm hé Gréca flotum
his dóhtor álíesan,     léan ungerím berende,
and héold on handa     healsbéag Apóllones,
on gyldenre gierde,     Grécas ealle hálsode,
húru twégen Atregsas,     herewísan folces,
“Éalá bearn Atregses,     bánbeorgedan Grécas,
geunnen éow lá godu     on Olimphe búende,
þæt gé Tróian wésten     and wel wenden hám,
ac léof bearn álíesað,     and léan geþicgað,
árum Zeus eaforan,     Apóllones feorwierpes.”