| 1 |
Óx í œsku
við Aðalbrikti. | He grew up in his youth with Aðalbriktr. |
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| 2 |
Vas með jarli
afkárlyndum
vargs verðgjafi
vestr í eyjum,
unz siklingar
sóknar hvattir
Fóstra…
…rufu. | The wolf’s meal-giver [WARRIOR] stayed with the obstinate-minded jarl west in the isles, until the chieftains, urged to fighting, …Fóstri (‘the Fosterer’). |
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| 3 |
Sótti síðan
Sigurðr ór eyjum
dýrr at rôðum
Dávíð konung.
Vas með vísa
Vilhjalms bani
fleinþingasamr
fimm misseri. | Then splendid Sigurðr went from the isles to seek counsel from King David. The slayer of Vilhjálmr [= Sigurðr], eager for spear-assemblies [BATTLES], stayed with the ruler for five winters. |
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| 4 |
Þótti dýrum
Dáfinns liðum
engr maðr kominn
œðri þangat.
Bœtti vísi
verðungar lið;
hafði ungr konungr
almanna lof. | It seemed to the splendid companions of David that no more distinguished man had [ever] come there. The ruler improved the host of retainers; the young king gained the praise of all men. |
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| 5 |
Ól hertogi
hrafna í fjǫrðum;
skulfu skeyti
í Skota blóði,
þars fyr jǫfri
austan komnum
morðáls metendr
merki bôru. | The army-leader nourished ravens in the fjords; arrows shook in the blood of the Scots, where the testers of the battle-eel [SWORD > WARRIORS] bore the standards before the prince who had come from the east. |
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| 6 |
Bar Sigurði
sigr at hendi
ór orrostu
inn frá Stauri. | Victory came to Sigurðr from the battle on the inner side of Point of Stoer. |
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| 7 |
Háði hilmir
hervíg fjogur
skýrstr at ǫllu
í Skotaveldi. | The lord, most accomplished in all respects, fought four battles in the realm of the Scots. |
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| 8 |
Vann Róms gǫtu
ræsir Þrœnda
fœti farna,
sás frama drýgði.
Sótti síðan
ok synðum hrauð
hers oddviti
helga dóma. | The ruler of the Þrœndir [NORWEGIAN KING = Sigurðr], who increased his honour, travelled the road to Rome on foot. Then the leader of the army visited holy shrines and expiated his sins. |
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| 9 |
Sótti breiða
borg Jórsala
ǫrr oddviti
út í lǫndum,
áðr í vatni,
þvís vígði guð,
Sigurðr af sér
synðir þvægi. | The brave leader visited the large city of Jerusalem in distant lands, before Sigurðr washed away his sins in the water which God had consecrated. |
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| 10 |
Gerðu skírslu
of skjǫldungs kyn
fimm byskupar,
þeirs framarst þóttu.
Svá bar raunir,
at ríks konungs
þess vas inn mildi
Magnús faðir. | Five bishops, who were deemed most distinguished, conducted the ordeal concerning the lord’s kinship. Proofs were given that the generous Magnús was the father of that mighty king. |
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| 11 |
Létu síðan
súðvigg búin
— œstisk ægir —
útan ór Grikkjum.
Sótti Frakka
fremðar ræsir,
áðr Saxa sjǫt
Sigurðr kannaði. | They then made the steeds of ship-planking [SHIPS] ready [to return] from the Greeks; the sea raged. The advancer of honour [KING] visited the Franks, before Sigurðr explored the dwellings of the Saxons. |
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| 12 |
Helt snarr konungr
snekkju einni
vígligr of ver
vestr í eyjar. | The valiant king steered one warship, warlike, across the sea west to the isles. |
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| 13 |
Tóku við mildum
Magnúss syni
Hǫrðar ok Sygnir
at Harald fallinn.
Sórusk margir
menn á þingi
buðlungs syni
í bróður stað. | The Hǫrðar and Sygnir accepted the generous son of Magnús [= Sigurðr] after the fall of Haraldr. Many men at the assembly swore to be like a brother to the sovereign’s son [= Sigurðr]. |
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| 14 |
Risu við vísa
vestan komnum
Þrœndr ok Mœrir,
þeirs þrifum níttu.
Brugðusk hǫlðar
í huga sínum
mennsku mildum
Magnúss syni. | The Þrœndir and the Mœrir, who rejected their well-being, rose against the ruler who had arrived from the west. Men deserted in their mind the son of Magnús [= Sigurðr], abounding in human virtues. |
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| 15 |
Drifu til reipa
í rotuveðri
reyndir at risnu
ræsis þegnar.
Urðu seggir
segls at gæta,
— þá vas svalt á sæ —
en sumir jósu. | The ruler’s retainers, tested in magnanimity, rushed to the ropes in the roaring rainstorm. Men had to tend the sail and some bailed; then it was cold at sea. |
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| 16 |
Skók veðrvita
í vôtum byr
gulli glæstan
of grams skipi.
Kløkkar urðu,
en konungr stýrði,
snekkju sneisar
of Sigurði. | The weather-vane shook in the wet wind, adorned with gold, above the lord’s ship. The thin planks of the warship became pliable around Sigurðr, and the king was steering. |
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| 17 |
Hratt hvasst skipi
í hvǫtu veðri
rǫst ríðandi
ok ramir straumar.
Festu seggir
snekkju langa
kynstórs jǫfurs
við Kalmarnes. | The whirling maelstrom and the strong currents pushed the ship fiercely in the piercing wind. Men moored the long warship of the highborn prince by the headland of Kalmar. |
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| 18 |
Sér framliga
friðar leitaði
ilrjóðr ara
við Jóta gram. | The reddener of eagles’ foot-soles [WARRIOR] boldly sought peace for himself from the lord of the Jótar [DANISH KING = Eiríkr]. |
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| 19 |
Mœtti Vinðum,
sás vega þorði,
sókndjarfr Sigurðr
suðr við Erri. | Battle-brave Sigurðr, who dared to fight, met the Wends south near Ærø. |
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| 20 |
Hrauð ungr konungr
átta snekkjur
— vargr gein of val —
Vinða ferðar.
Hné fyr eggju
óþjóðar lið. | The young king cleared eight warships of the force of the Wends; the wolf gaped over carrion. The host of evildoers fell before the sword-edge. |
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| 21 |
Enn lét aðra
austr fyr Mœri
gramr geirþorinn
gunni háða.
Neytti vápna,
þás Vinðr hnigu,
ǫrr oddviti
ǫðru sinni. | The spear-fierce lord let yet another battle be fought in the east off Möre. The valiant leader wielded his weapons for a second time when Wends fell. |
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| 22 |
Vann í Elfi,
þars jǫfurr barðisk,
fall folkstara,
til fǫðurleifðar.
Skulfu skeyti;
skot mǫgnuðusk;
hnigu hringviðir
hvárratveggju. | He furnished slaughter for the battle-starling [RAVEN] in the Götaälv, where the prince fought for his patrimony. Arrows shook; shots intensified; sword-trees [WARRIORS] fell on both sides. |
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| 23 |
Vann leyfðr konungr
af liði Þóris
þríu skip hroðin
í þeiri fǫr.
Settu undan
Óláfs liðar,
þeirs ór Elfi
eltir vôru. | The celebrated king cleared three ships from Þórir’s troop on that expedition. Óláfr’s companions, who had been chased out of the Götaälv, rushed away. |
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| 24 |
Helt á Lista
lofðungr skipum
ǫrr fyr Agðir
austan af Nesjum.
Hné hersa kyn;
herr vas í landi;
brunnu byggðir
fyr buðlungi. | The valiant lord steered the ships to Lista past Agder east from Nesjar. The kin of hersar fell; an army was in the land; settlements burned before the ruler. |
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| 25 |
Dreif til skógar
fyr skjǫldungi
landmanna lið,
þars logar brunnu.
Vǫkðu drengir
með dǫrr roðin
blóð Benteini,
áðr bana fengi. | The host of countrymen rushed to the forest ahead of the ruler, where fires burned. Warriors drew Benteinn’s blood with reddened spears, before he received his death blow. |
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| 26 |
Þann vas inn næsta
naðra deyði
hugfullr konungr
með Háleygjum.
Olli falli
feðga þriggja
ulfs angrtǫpuðr
út í Vôgum. | That next slayer of snakes [WINTER] the high-mettled king was among the Háleygjar. The anguish-suppressor [GLADDENER] of the wolf [WARRIOR] caused the death of a father and two sons out in Vågan. |
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| 27 |
Þat vas it næsta
norðr í Vôgum
vápnaskipti,
es Vilhjalmr fell. | That was the next weapon-exchange north in Vågan, when Vilhjálmr fell. |
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| 28 |
Mœtti síðan
suðr við Byrðu
gramr gunnþorinn
Glæsirófu.
Olli stillir
Styrkárs bana;
bar benþiðurr
blóðga vængi. | The battle-brave lord then encountered Glæsirófa (‘Show-tail’) south near Børøya. The ruler caused Styrkárr’s death; the wound-grouse [RAVEN/EAGLE] bore bloody wings. |
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| 29 |
Veitti vísi
fyr Valsnesi
sókn snarpliga
Svína-Grími.
Hann lét missa
mildings *nefa
hœgri handar,
áðr hjaldr lykisk. | The leader made a vigorous attack on Svína-Grímr (‘Pig-Grímr’) off Valsneset. He caused the nephew of the generous one [= Svína-Grímr] to lose his right hand before the fighting came to a close. |
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| 30 |
Mœtti Finni
fremðargjǫrnum
ǫrr oddviti
austr á Kvildrum.
Létu nýtan
naddveðrs boða
Ulfs arfþega
ǫndu týna. | The valiant leader met ambition-eager Finnr east at Kville. They caused the able offerer of the spear-storm [BATTLE > WARRIOR], Úlfr’s inheritor [= Finnr], to lose his life. |
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| 31 |
Vann fyr Mœri
mildingr tekinn
Heðin með hǫndum
ok hans liða.
Hann lét Kalfi
klingruauga
heldr harðliga
heiptir goldnar. | The generous ruler captured Heðinn and his companions off Møre. He let Kálfr klingruauga (‘Round-eye’) be repaid quite brutally for his belligerence. |
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| 32 |
Herskildi fór
harri Sygna
allt it ýtra
eyjar ok strandir. | The lord of the Sygnir [NORWEGIAN KING = Sigurðr] went with the war-shield on the outer course all the way beyond islands and shores. |
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| 33 |
Séa knátti þar
fyr Sigurði
bitra branda,
brynjur hǫggnar,
skarða skjǫldu,
skǫpt blóðroðin,
veðrblásin vé
of vegǫndum. | There one could see before Sigurðr sharp swords, sundered byrnies, chipped shields, blood-reddened spear-shafts, storm-swept banners above the fighting troops. |
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| 34 |
Fýstisk sunnan
Sigurðr á lesti
með lítit lið
lǫnd at sœkja.
Bjósk með hônum
til herfarar
margs andvani
Magnús konungr. | In the end, Sigurðr was eager [to travel] from the south with a small force to conquer the lands. King Magnús, deprived of much, prepared to join him on the war-expedition. |
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| 35 |
Helt þrim tøgum
þjóðnýtr konungr
snekkjum sunnan
við sókn búinn.
Uggðu lýðir
lið Sigurðar;
lék skjǫldr við skjǫld
á skipum vísa. | The very able king, ready for battle, steered thirty warships from the south. People feared Sigurðr’s troop; shield played against shield on the leader’s ships. |
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| 36 |
Fóru leyfðir
með liði miklu
Haralds hróðrsynir
herstefnu til,
þás at mildum
Magnúss syni
atróðr á sæ
Ingi knúði. | The celebrated, famous sons of Haraldr [= Ingi and Sigurðr] went to the army-meeting [BATTLE] with a large force, when Ingi hastened the rowing at sea toward the generous son of Magnús [= Sigurðr]. |
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| 37 |
Hraut í stǫngum,
þars hildingar
við víg vanir
vápna neyttu.
Friðr slitnaði
frænda á millum;
guðr geisaði;
gekk hildr saman. | There was a crash among the standard-poles where the heroes, experienced in war, wielded weapons. Peace was broken between kinsmen; battle raged; the onslaught commenced. |
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| 38 |
Stunðu seggir;
stôl roðnuðu;
skaut bjartr konungr
bôðum hǫndum.
Hǫrð spjót bitu;
benjar svíddu;
herskip hruðusk
hvárratveggju. | Men moaned; weapons were reddened; the bright king shot with both hands. Hard spears bit; wounds smarted; warships were cleared on both sides. |
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| 39 |
Flugu hundruðum
herstefnu til
sárgǫgl of sæ
sveita at drekka.
Eyddu oddar
jǫfurs fulltrúum,
— morð miklaðisk —
þás Magnús fell. | Wound-goslings [RAVENS/EAGLES] flew in hundreds across the sea to the army-meeting [BATTLE] to drink blood. Spear-points destroyed the prince’s confidants when Magnús fell; fighting intensified. |
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| 40 |
Flýðu Jótar
átján skipum,
þeirs Sigurði
sunnan fylgðu.
Raufsk ræsis lið,
þás ríkr konungr
vanr vásfǫrum
vápna neytti. | The Jótar, who had accompanied Sigurðr from the south, fled with eighteen ships. The ruler’s troop scattered when the mighty king, accustomed to hard journeys, wielded his weapons. |
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| 41 |
Hrauzk und jǫfri
austan komnum
— bitu slǫg suðrœn —
snekkja með stǫfnum,
þás skjǫldungs sonr
af skipi sínu
sóknfœrr á sæ
sunds kostaði. | The warship was cleared from stem to stern beneath the prince who had arrived from the east—southern weapons bit—, when the battle-able son of the king [= Sigurðr] tried swimming in the sea [by leaping] from his ship. |
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| 42 |
Varð á vatni
víkingr tekinn,
sás manna vas
mestr fullhugi. | The viking, who was the most high-mettled of men, was captured in the water. |
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| 43 |
Þat telk illa,
es jǫfurr skyldi
kynstórr koma
í kvalar slíkar.
Tekr Sigurði
síðan engi
maðr rǫskvari
of meðalkafla. | I declare it a disaster that a highborn prince should undergo such torments. No man bolder than Sigurðr will ever grasp a sword-hilt. |
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| 44 |
Sǫng saltara,
meðan Sigurð pínðu
jǫfurs óvinir,
ýta dróttinn.
Bað fyr brǫgnum
bǫðfrœkn jǫfurr,
þeims vellskata
veittu píslir. | The lord of men [KING = Sigurðr] sang the psalter while the prince’s enemies tortured Sigurðr. The battle-brave prince prayed for the men who inflicted torments upon the generous chieftain. |
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| 45 |
Frák, at léti
líf sitt konungr,
þás saltara
sungit hafði.
Vildi ganga
gramr til skriptar,
en því þjóðkonungr
þeygi náði. | I heard that the king gave up his life when he had sung the psalter. The lord wished to be shriven, but the mighty king by no means achieved that. |
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