Óx í œsku við Aðalbrikti.
‘He grew up in his youth with Aðalbriktr.’
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’).’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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].’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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].’
Mœtti Vinðum, sás vega þorði,
sókndjarfr Sigurðr suðr við Erri.
‘Battle-brave Sigurðr, who dared to fight, met the Wends south near Ærø.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
Þat vas it næsta norðr í Vôgum
vápnaskipti, es Vilhjalmr fell.
‘That was the next weapon-exchange north in Vågan, when Vilhjálmr fell.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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].’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’
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.’