The beginning of the poem Beowulf from the sole surviving manuscript copy, written in Old English c. 1000. The manuscript was damaged in the 18th century during a fire at Ashburnham house. Cotton MS Vitellius A.XV, f.132

This opening page begins the epic tale with a resounding, 'HWAET', translated from Old English over the years alternatively as, 'What Ho!', 'Attend', 'So!', and even 'Bro'.