This fifth fitt, roughly covering lines 320-370, is one of my favorites. Like the previous section, it is a single section. I've always imagined the pace quickening as this part of the story unfolds.
Stræt wæs stanfah stig wisode gumum ætgædere guðbyrne scan heard hondlocen hringiren scir song in searwum þa hie to sele furðum in hyra gryregeatwum gangan cwomon setton sæmeþe side scyldas rondas regnhearde wið þæs recedes weal – bugon þa to bence byrnan hringdon guðsearo gumena garas stodon sæmanna searo samod ætgædere æscholt ufan græg wæs se irenþreat wæpnum gewurþad þa ðær wlonc hæleð oretmecgas æfter æþelum frægn – hwanon ferigeað ge fætte scyldas græge syrcan ond grimhelmas heresceafta heap ic eom hroðgares ar ond ombiht – ne seah ic elþeodige þus manige men modiglicran wen ic þæt ge for wlenco nalles for wræcsiðum – ac for higeþrymmum hroðgar sohton – him þa ellenrof andswarode wlanc wedera leod – word æfter spræc heard under helme we synt higelaces beodgeneatas beowulf is min nama wille ic asecgan sunu healfdenes mærum þeodne min ærende – aldre þinum gif he us geunnan wile þæt we hine swa godne gretan moton – wulfgar maþelode þæt wæs wendla leod wæs his modsefa manegum gecyðed – wig ond wisdom ic þæs wine deniga frean scildinga frinan wille beaga bryttan swa þu bena eart þeoden mærne ymb þinne sið – ond þe þa ondsware ædre gecyðan ðe me se goda agifan þenceð – wearf þa hrædlice þær hroðgar sæt eald ond anhar mid his eorla gedriht – eode ellenrof þæt he for eaxlum gestod deniga frean cuþe he duguðe þeaw – wulfgar maðelode to his winedrihtne her syndon geferede feorran cumene ofer geofenes begang geata leode þone yldestan oretmecgas – beowulf nemnað hy benan synt þæt hie þeoden min wið þe moton wordum wrixlan no ðu him wearne geteoh ðinra gegncwida glædman hroðgar hy on wiggetawum wyrðe þinceað – eorla geæhtlan huru se aldor deah se þæm heaðorincum hider wisade.