Poem about Óláfr Tryggvason — Anon ÓlI
Anonymous Poems
Kate Heslop 2012, ‘ Anonymous, Poem about Óláfr Tryggvason’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 1061. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1096> (accessed 23 April 2024)
Giekk hjörviður Hlakkar
hríðar djarfr með karfa
...
...
hendi alt að hjöltum
handsax og benlaxa
— öld lofar öðling mildan
oft — en þrjú * á lofti.
‘The sword-tree [WARRIOR], valiant in the storm of Hlǫkk <valkyrie> [BATTLE], went along the ship ... caught everything by the hilt, short-sword and wound-salmon [SWORDS], though three [were] aloft; people often praise the generous prince.’
Ungur hefir orðið
...
...
...
Kendi þeingill Þrænda
þreksnjallr, og drap alla,
mildr, þá er heiðni hieldu,
hvárttveggja trú seggjum.
‘Young ... has become ... The mightily wise, generous prince of the Þrœndir [NORWEGIAN KING = Óláfr] both taught the faith to men and killed all those who held to heathendom.’
Fór í braut á báru
bauglestir af hesti
†… á … da …†
… bekkjar herrekkir.
Satt var, að seggjum þótti
— sáz þeingils spor eingi —
— oft siez Ólafs gifta —
jöfurs ferð kynjum verða.
‘The ring-harmer [GENEROUS MAN] went away on the wave from the horse … of the bench … the troop-emboldener [RULER] … It was true that the prince’s journey seemed to men to turn out miraculously; no footprints of the ruler were to be seen; Óláfr’s blessedness is often seen. ’
Valdr nam vígs á kveldi
vitr um kóng að sitja;
þá lá hoskr í hvílu
hildingr í lyftingu.
Skjöldungr ekki skyldi
skreyttum glaðr af Naðri,
þess að Þorkell vissi
þrekstrangr, mega ganga.
‘The astute ruler of battle [WARRIOR = Þorkell] lay in wait for the king in the evening; at that time the wise ruler was lying in bed in the after-deck. The joyous prince ought not to be able to get off the adorned Naðr (‘Adder’), so far as mightily strong Þorkell knew.’
Varð ei varr fyrr sverða
valdr, en steyft var Baldri
baugs af byrjar faxa
braut á sildar lautir.
Þar var í lund af landi
lastvarr kominn harri;
‘seggr, gjalt,’ sonr kvað Tryggva,
‘svinnr, forvitni þinnar.’
‘The ruler of swords [WARRIOR = Þorkell] did not become aware until the Baldr <god> of the ring [MAN = Þorkell] was toppled down off the steed of the breeze [SHIP] into the hollows of the herring [SEA]. There was the lord, faultless in temperament, come from the land; ‘pay, clever fellow,’ said Tryggvi’s son [= Óláfr], ‘for your curiosity.’’
Upp dró hilmir heppinn
hugstrangr á Orm langan
mann, sá er mentir kunni
mest, af sjó í festi.
‘Víst hefir vöknað næsta
vendr dyrðill þinn, frændi,’
yngvi öðrum kóngum
†aflagðr† fyrir sagði.
‘The lucky, strong-minded lord, who was most able in skills, dragged the man on a rope up out of the sea onto Ormr langr (‘Long Serpent’). ‘Your fine cloak has surely got almost soaked, kinsman,’ declared the prince, … other kings.’
Giekk að guðvefs skikkju
góður skjöldungr þjóðar;
skinn og skrúði hennar
skemt var alt af salti.
Glaðr tók gramr á klæði
...
‘The good ruler of the people [KING] approached the cloak of sumptuous fabric; its fur and decoration were all spoilt by salt. The cheerful prince picked up the garment ...’
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