Translation takes too many liberties with the original

I would strongly recommend to stay away from Heany's Beowulf translation. I understand some Old English, unfortunately not well enough to fluently read the original. But I understand enough to realize just how many liberties Seamus Heany Took with the original. He Actually managed to lose me with the first word, Which is something of an achievement. He starts his translation with 'So.' The original has the word 'Listen!', Which Evokes how this story which originally learned by heart and told to An Audience That was called upon to be quiet and pay attention to the speaker. (These very old text were originally spoken and only later written down.) Heany goes on like that, with a style That is far too removed from the tone and meaning of the original. Some readers enjoy his style, so if you just like his writing and do not mind That it's far removed from the original, that's okay. But if you want to get to know the original 'Beowulf' then this translation is not for you.