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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Plácitusdrápa — Anon PlVII

Anonymous Poems

Jonna Louis-Jensen and Tarrin Wills 2007, ‘ Anonymous, Plácitusdrápa’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 179-220. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1039> (accessed 28 March 2024)

 


... gengit,
fjǫrnis valdr kvað foldar
frægr: ‘nú mun þér lægjask.
Mjúks, skalt mannraun slíka,
morðlinns boði, finna
— vestu í frægri freistni
framr — sem Jób inn gamli’.
 
‘...gone, the renowned ruler of the helmet of the earth [SKY/HEAVEN > = God] spoke: ‘now you will be humbled. Messenger of the smooth battle-serpent [SWORD > WARRIOR], you will undergo such an ordeal as Job the old [did]; be bold in a trial [which will be] famous.
Lundr reis gjalfrs frá grundu
goðs orðum … skorðaðr
elds; vas áðr til foldar
ormstalls boði fallinn.
Logstýfir bað leyfa
ljóss engla sér þengil
Vánar vífi sínu
vegs þessi rǫk segja.
 
‘The tree of the fire of the sea [GOLD > MAN] rose from the ground … supported by the words of God; the messenger of the serpent-lair [GOLD > MAN] had previously fallen to earth. The snipper of the fire of Vôn <river> [(lit. ‘the fire-snipper of Vôn’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN] asked the ruler of the bright path of angels [HEAVEN > = God] to permit him to tell his wife about these omens.
‘Beiðir, segðu ok brúði’,
byrskríns, ‘sonum þínum,
ǫll vilk yðr’, kvað stillir,
‘ormstalls, í trú kalla.
Hyrsløngvir, kom hingat
hvalranns, um dag annan;
þá munk yðr, þats *…
yfir þegjum nú — segja’.
 
‘‘Demander of the serpent-lair [GOLD > MAN], tell your sons and wife’, said the ruler of the wind-shrine [SKY/HEAVEN > = God], ‘I will call you all to the faith. Flinger of the fire of the whale-house [(lit. ‘fire-flinger of the whale-house’) SEA > GOLD > GENEROUS MAN], come here tomorrow; I will then tell you about that which ...; we are [I am] silent now about [it]’.
Heim kom hodda geymir;
hagat … vel þvís sagði
viggþollr … dyggva
Vinnils konu sinni.
(Seims) kvað sér í draumi,
(svǫr veitti þau bǫrvi)
menreið mána slóðar
mjúklynd konung sýndan.
 
‘The keeper of hoards [MAN] came home; the tree of the horse of Vinnill <sea-king> [(lit. ‘the horse-tree of Vinnill’) SHIP > SEAFARER] … behaved well in telling his wife the excellent … The gentle necklace-bearer [WOMAN] said that the king of the path of the moon [SKY/HEAVEN > = God] had appeared to her in a dream; she gave these answers to the tree of gold [MAN].
Ok bæði hjú blíðan
byskups fund — at mundum
þeim hykk þrifn kómu —
þá nótt með veg sóttu,
ok tveir með þeim þeira
— þýðr gaf lærdóms prýðir
hǫldum hilmis foldar
hirðnǫfn — synir skírðusk.
 
‘And both husband and wife had that night a gracious reception from the bishop with honour — I think good fortune came within their grasp — and their two sons were baptised with them; the kindly adorner of learning [BISHOP] gave the men names of the court of the ruler of the earth [(lit. ‘court-names of the ruler of the earth’) = God > HEAVEN].
Snjallr gat ǫrr frá illu
Evstákíus vaknat;
kvôn réð þegns at þjóna
Þéopista vel Kristi.
Ungr nam atferð drengja
Ágapítus fága,
þýðr né þengils lýða
Þéopistus trú missti.
 
‘Brave Eustace was able to wake, prompt, from evil; the man’s wife, Theopista, undertook to serve Christ well. Young Agapitus began to cultivate the behaviour of good men, nor did the mild Theopistus lack faith in the ruler of mankind [= God].
Ok annan dag unnar
elg-Þróttr í stað sótti,
fyrr þanns flærðar þverri
framlyndum goð sýndisk.
Sannhugguðr leit seggja
snildar framr á hamri
hauks í hjartar líki
hirðvandan gram standa.
 
‘And the next day the Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the elk of the wave [(lit. ‘the elk-Þróttr of the wave’) SHIP > SEAFARER] sought the place where God had shown himself previously to the brave diminisher of falsehood [HOLY MAN]. The true comforter of the hawk [WARRIOR], outstanding in courage, beheld the ruler of men, careful chooser of his retainers [= God], standing on a cliff in the shape of a hart.
Unnit engla kennir
aldyggr við bǫl styggum
lýteigs lengi at fága
logbeiði sið heiðinn,
þás sinnar trú svinnan
sjaldspurðum atburði
fleinrjóð fylkir lýða
flærðvarr gǫtu lærði.
 
‘The all-good knower of angels [= God] did not allow the demander of the fire of the fish-field [(lit. ‘fish-field’s fire-demander’) SEA > GOLD > MAN], shy of evil, to cultivate heathen practice[s] for long, when the deceit-wary ruler of mankind [= God] taught the wise spear-reddener [WARRIOR] the way of his faith by an unusual event.
‘Hræzkat vǫrðr, þótt verðir,
— vest traustr ok ger hraustla —
fremðar lystr, í freistni,
fránskíðs, af mér, Vánar.
Þinn mun huggun hreinni,
hers skins, trega minka,
enn skalt, ôrr, til þinnar
ástskýrðr koma dýrðar.’
 
‘‘Do not fear, glory-desiring keeper of the shining ski of Vôn <river> [SHIP > SEAFARER], even though you come into trial through me; be confident and act bravely. With pure consolation I will lessen your sorrow; messenger of the shine of war [SWORD > WARRIOR], yet you shall come, purified by love, to your glory.’
Braut varð hjǫrtr frá hreyti
— heim fór at þat — seima;
Krist bað frægr við freistni
fultings boði hringa.
Sagði drengr, þaus dugðu,
(dolglinns*) konu sinni
(rǫskr gat hug við háska)
heit goðssonar (beitir).
 
‘The hart went away from the flinger of gold [GENEROUS MAN]; he went home after that; the famous offerer of rings [GENEROUS MAN] asked Christ for help in the face of his trial. The man told his wife the promises of God’s son [= Christ], which were powerful; the brave handler of the battle-serpent [SWORD > WARRIOR] received courage against danger.
Fúss emk fremðar lýsi
fritt, ef þat mák hitta,
— Kristr fremr hodda hristi —
hugblíðum stef smíða.
Hlaut, sás œztr es ýta,
íðn Plácitus fríða;
Evstákíus ævi
albazta sér valði.
 
‘I am eager to compose an attractive refrain for the gentle illuminator of honour [HONOURABLE MAN = Plácitus], if I may come upon it; Christ promotes the shaker of hoards [GENEROUS MAN]. Plácitus, who is the highest of men, was allotted a glorious task; Eustace chose for himself the very best life.
Brátt kom fram, þats flýti
friðbragða goð sagði;
næst varð meiðr í mestri
mannraun drasils hranna.
Hjǫrð tók hodda skerðis
hyggjusnjalls at falla
— fúrlestir stóðsk freistni
fleygarðs — en hjú deyja.
 
‘What God had told the advancer of acts of kindness [HOLY MAN] soon came to pass; the tree of the steed of the waves [SHIP > SEAFARER] came immediately into the greatest ordeal. The herd of the brave-souled diminisher of hoards [GENEROUS MAN] began to perish and [his] household to die; the wrecker of the fire of the ship-fence [(lit. ‘fire-wrecker of the ship-fence’) SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR] endured the trial.
Hús brutu heip*tar fúsir
— hófsk freistni svá — þjófar;
út bôru þeir aura
ǫldurmanns ór ranni.
Ǫll réð flærðar fellir
fétjón, þaus beið ljóna
— snauðr varð* ôrr at auði
unnblakks — goði þakka.
 
‘Thieves eager for harm broke into the house; thus the trial began; they carried valuables out of the nobleman’s house. The destroyer of men’s falsehood [HOLY MAN] gave thanks to God for all the losses which he suffered; the messenger of the wave-horse [SHIP > SEAFARER] became bereft of wealth.
‘Hvat hafim, Sjǫfn, at sitja,
seims’ (mælti þat) ‘heima?’
(elda njótr við ítra
ulfvíns konu sína).
‘Eigum oss at lægja,
einn réttr þvíat goð beinir,
— reyndrs, sás stríð má standask
stórfarnaði órum.’
 
‘‘What do we gain, Sjǫfn <goddess> of gold [WOMAN], by staying at home?’; the user of the fires of wolf-wine [BLOOD > SWORDS > WARRIOR] said that to his splendid wife. ‘We must humble ourselves because the one true God furthers our fortune; that one is well-proven who can endure great distresses.’
Réð ór Rúmsborg víðri
rausnar valdr at halda,
hǫppum reifðr þás hafði
hringþollr skaða fingit.
Fóru *braut með beiti
byrstóðs synir fróðum
tilstýranda tírar
tveir ok móðir þeira.
 
‘The possessor of splendour [NOBLEMAN] left the great city of Rome, when the ring-fir, blessed with victories [MAN], had received injury. The two sons of the pursuer of renown [NOBLEMAN] and their mother went abroad with the wise steerer of the wind-horse [SHIP > SEAFARER].
Sik bað stríða stǫðvir
stirðs, es at kom firði,
hyrlund heiðni kenndan
herleiks of sæ ferja.
Veittit fremðar flýti
flugstyggum aldyggva
fetrjóðr Fenris jóða
farning inn bǫlgjarni,
 
‘The calmer of distress [HOLY MAN], when [he] came to the bay, asked the tree of the fire of harsh army-play [(lit. ‘fire-tree of harsh army-play’) BATTLE > SWORD > WARRIOR], known for paganism, to ferry them over the sea. The evil-eager paw-reddener of the offspring of Fenrir <wolf> [WOLVES > WARRIOR] did not provide reliable transportation for the flight-shy begetter of honour [HOLY MAN],
þás auðskiptis eptir
almilds konu dvalði
— væn leizk hodd-Gefn hônum —
hjǫrlundr á skæ sunda.
Hreins varð heggr við sína
hraustr, þás gekk af flausti,
auðar eiginbrúði
óviljandi at skiljask.
 
‘when the sword-tree [WARRIOR] kept the wife of the most generous wealth-distributor [GENEROUS MAN] back on the horse of channels [SHIP]; the hoard-Gefn <= Freyja> [WOMAN] looked beautiful to him. The brave tree of shining wealth [MAN] had to part with his wife against his will, when he left the ship.
Dýrðhittir bað dróttin
dagbœjar sér tœja;
hæst gat hrjóðr við freistni
hugborð móins storðar.
Hlaut, sás œztr es ýta,
íðn Plácitus fríða;
Evstákíus ævi
albazta sér valði.
 
‘The acquirer of glory [HOLY MAN] bade the lord of the daylight-home [SKY/HEAVEN > = God] help him; the destroyer of the ground of the serpent [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN] received the highest mind-board [COURAGE] in the face of trial. Plácitus, who is the best of men, was allotted a glorious task; Eustace chose for himself the very best life.
Fljóð varð heim með heiðnum
hlunndýrs fara runni;
kona bað sér við synðum
saurlífis goð hlífa.
Blíðr dugði svá brúði
brátt, at saurgask máttit,
himna valdr, af Hildar
hauknistis samvistu.
 
‘The woman had to go home with the heathen tree of the animal of the launching-roller [SHIP > SEAFARER]; the woman asked God to protect her against the sins of impure living. The gentle ruler of the heavens [= God] quickly helped the woman so that she could not be polluted by cohabitation with the feeder of the hawk of Hildr <valkyrie> [(lit. ‘hawk-feeder of Hildr’) RAVEN > WARRIOR].
Sýnir gekk með sína
seggja trausts af flausti
— þá vas þrekmanns ævi
þung — tvá sonu unga.
Seimtýnir kom sveinum,
søkkmeiðr, at ô breiðri,
borðs* né báða þorði
bera senn yfir nenninn.
 
‘The demonstrator of support to men [RULER] went with his two young sons from the ship; the powerful man’s life was heavy then. The gold-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] brought the boys to a broad river; the brave tree of the jewel of the gunwale [(lit. ‘jewel-tree of the gunwale’) SHIELD > SEAFARER] did not dare to carry both over at once.
Sinn bar of ô, þás annan,
ástvitjuðr, lét sitja,
hraustr erfingja, hristir
Hlakkar skins á bakka.
Ok þás annan sœkja
auðgildir son vildi,
stóð umb ok sásk síðan
sviðr þegn at ô miðri.
 
‘The seeker of love [HOLY MAN] carried his heir over the river, while the strong shaker of the gleam of Hlǫkk <valkyrie> [SWORD > WARRIOR] left the other sitting on the bank. And when the wealth-payer [GENEROUS MAN] wanted to fetch his other son, the wise man stopped in the middle of the river and then looked about him.
Dýr leit fróns it frána
fleinrjóðr koma at sveini,
— hryggr varð við þat harða
hann — en vargr tók annan;
ok baugfergir bjarga
brátt hvôrungi mátti,
dýr þás dyggva hlýra
drógu braut til skógar.
 
‘The spear-reddener [WARRIOR] saw the fierce animal of the land approach the boy, and a wolf took the other one; he became very distraught at that; and the ring-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] could save neither of them quickly [enough], as the beasts dragged the excellent brothers away to the wood.
Hlaut sveinn hjarðar gætis
— hugstœðr léo flœði —
(akrmenn gripu annan)
œzta bjǫrg (frá vǫrgum).
Fjǫrnæms fœddu bǫrvar
fleins í þorpi einu
brœðr (glyggs hvatendr) báða
(blóðíss né til vissusk).
 
‘[One] boy received the most excellent help from a herdsman [lit. guardian of the herd]; the hateful lion fled; farmhands seized the other from the wolves. Trees of the life-taking spear [WARRIORS] raised both brothers in the same village; the hasteners of the storm of the blood-ice [SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIORS] did not know of one another.
Lifði halr, sás hafði
hranne*lds tekit svanna,
blótum gnœgðr, frá brigði
blíðum, fá vetr síðan.
Hús átti sér hættin
hǫrstrengs * at þat lengi
Jǫrð í aldingarði
ógntvist ok helt kristni.
 
‘The man, steeped in heathen practices, who had taken the woman from the gentle breaker of the wave-fire [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN], lived few winters longer. The virtuous Jǫrð <goddess> of the linen-ribbon [WOMAN] owned for a long time after that a house in an orchard and kept [her] Christian faith, although muted by [impending] danger.
Ôrr hefr engla stýris
ástlaun af gram raunar
hraustr, sás hér stóðsk freistni
heimsiklings vel mikla.
Hlaut, sás œztr es ýta,
íðn Plácitus fríða;
Evstákíus ævi
albazta sér valði.
 
‘The strong messenger of the rudder [SEAFARER], who stood up well to the world-ruler’s [= God] great trial here, receives a loving reward for his ordeal from the prince of angels [= God]. Plácitus, who is the best of men, was allotted a glorious task; Eustace chose for himself the very best life.
Ok þás heiptar hnekkir
harmtvistr sona missti,
dýrðar vôttr — við dróttin
dælt gerði sér — mæ*lti:
‘Éls, halt við mik máli
(míns freistat nú) þínu,
frægr valderir foldar
(framar en Jóbs ins gamla).
 
‘And when the sorrow-muted subduer of wrath [HOLY MAN] lost his sons, the witness of glory [MARTYR] spoke — addressed the Lord familiarly —: ‘Keep your promise to me, renowned ruler of the ground of the storm [SKY/HEAVEN > = God]; now I have been tried harder than Job the old [was].
‘Hyrgeymi frák heima
(hans vitjuðu) sitja
— kvôn vas hǫlds með hônum —
haukborðs (vinir forðum).
Ek em í útlegð stokkinn
afkárr vinum fjarri;
kvôns braut frá mér; mína
meindýr gripu sveina.
 
‘‘I have heard that the keeper of the fire of the hawk-table [(lit. ‘fire-keeper of the hawk-table’) ARM > GOLD > MAN] sat at home; friends visited him in days gone by; the man’s wife was with him. [But] I am driven into outlawry, distraught, far from my friends; my wife has been taken from me; fierce beasts have seized my sons.
‘Gjaltat, goð, þótt mæltak,
(gagls leiðar) mér reiði,
(ítrs stillis þarfk allrar
eirar) þurftum fleira.
Sett fyr munn, alls minnumk,
minn, vingjafa þinna,
(veit oss várkunn) dróttinn,
varðhald (konungr aldar).’
 
‘‘Do not repay me with anger, God, although I spoke more than is necessary; I need all the mercy of the glorious ruler of the path of the goose [SKY/HEAVEN > = God]. Set a watch before my mouth, Lord, since I remember your gifts of friendship; give us [me] pardon, king of mankind [= God].’
Morðsólar veik máli
meiðir; sinnar leiðar
gekk ramms hǫtuðr rekka
rógs í þorp ór skógi.
Menfergir vas margan
móthress í bœ þessum
vetr, ok vann til mætrar
vargnistir sér bjargar.
 
‘The destroyer of the war-sun [SHIELD > WARRIOR] broke off his speech; the hater of the fierce strife of men [SIN > HOLY MAN] went his way from the forest into a village. The battle-fierce neckring-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] was many a winter in that town and the wolf-feeder [WARRIOR] earned a good living.
Ok til aumra rekka
atvinnu gaf Þvinnils
vigg-Baldr víðrar foldar
verkkaup, þats sér merkði.
Fast helt lundr ok leynði
linnvengis trú sinni
hlunndýrs heiðna runna
ttnæfr við goð sôttum,
 
‘And the Baldr <god> of the horse of the wide land of Þvinnill <sea-king> [(lit. ‘horse-Baldr of the wide land of Þvinnill’) SEA > SHIP > SEAFARER] gave the wages, which he had set aside for himself, for the support of poor men. The virtuous tree of the serpent-ground [GOLD > MAN] held fast to his agreements with God and concealed his faith from the heathen trees of the animal of the launching-roller [SHIP > SEAFARER],
unz hvardyggvan hugga
happmildr konungr vildi
láðhofs lyp*ti-Móða
leggjar farms í harmi,
þás við huggun hôva
herstefni* réð efna
siðbjóðr snotra lýða
sín heit friðar veitir.
 
‘until the mercy-granting king of the earth-temple [SKY/HEAVEN > = God] wished to comfort the bearing-Móði <god> of the cargo of the arm [GOLD > MAN], honourable in everything, in his sorrow, when the faith-bringer to wise men [= Christ], the giver of peace [= Christ], fulfilled his promise to the army-ruler [WARRIOR] with supreme consolation.
Lýtr engla lið ítrum
angrhrjóðanda ok þjóðir;
einn es ǫllu hreinni,
allt gótt sás skóp, dróttinn.
 
‘The band of angels and humankind bows to the glorious sin-destroyer [= God]; the one Lord, who created everything good, is purer than all.
Gǫr vas guðr, en verjask,
gramr þurfti her samna
trautt, áðr tíginn mætti
Trájánus vel ráni.
Bauð landreki lýða
liði ríðara fríðu
snildar framr at samna
sverðhríðar til víða.
 
‘Battle was begun, but before the noble Trajan could protect himself properly against plundering, the king had to gather an army with difficulty. The king of men, outstanding in prowess, bade [his men] gather from far and wide a fine band of knights for the sword-storm [BATTLE].
Minntisk gramr, þás gumna
gunndjarfra vas þarfi,
Yggjar leik hvé auka
endr Plácitus kenndi.
Vellmeiðis bað víða
vígteitr konungr leita;
gnótt hét góðs, þeims mætti,
gramr, svinnan hal finna.
 
‘The king recalled how Plácitus once knew how to intensify the game of Yggr <= Óðinn> [BATTLE], when he was in need of battle-bold men. The strife-glad king bade [his men] search for the gold-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] far and wide; the king promised an abundance of riches to the one who might find the wise man.
Brœðr riðu Byrfils skíða
beitis tveir at leita
ár, þeirs ítrum vôru
endr Plácito á hendi.
Fundu Gylfa grundar
glaðríðanda umb síðir;
unnar fúrs né ærir
afrendan bǫr kenndu.
 
‘Two brothers, who were formerly in the service of the glorious Plácitus, rode out early to look for the steerer of the skis of Byrfill <sea-king> [SHIPS > SEAFARER]. At length they found the rider of the horse of the ground of Gylfi <sea-king> [(lit. ‘the horse-rider of the ground of Gylfi’) SEA > SHIP > SEAFARER]; the messengers did not recognise the powerful tree of the fire of the wave [GOLD > MAN].
Værr tók vegs ins fyrra
viggfinnandi at minnask
sunds, þás sína kenndi
snarlundaðr húskarla.
Sér leitaði særir
seims huggunar beima
brátt í bœn af dróttni
bilstyggr, þás tók hryggvask.
 
‘The peace-loving provider of the horse of the sound [(lit. ‘the sound’s horse-provider’) SHIP > SEAFARER] began to remember his former glory, when the eager-minded one recognised his retainers. The delay-shunning harmer of gold [GENEROUS MAN] quickly sought for himself consolation from the lord of mankind [= God] in prayer, as he began to grow sad.
Kvaddi krapti prýddan
Krists rǫdd ara nisti:
‘Dýrð hittir þik dróttins
dygg; skal*a þú nú hryggvask.
Tíð kømr, sóknar seiða
sendir, þér at hendi
enn, sús yðr mun finna
auð ok veg fyr nauðir’.
 
‘The voice of Christ spoke to the feeder of the eagle [WARRIOR], adorned with power: ‘You shall not now be sorrowful; the noble glory of the Lord will come upon you. The time is yet to come for you, mover of the fish of attack [SWORD > WARRIOR], which will bring you riches and honour instead of affliction’.
Bliktýnir vann beina
(bauglestanda) gestum
sunds (tóksk harmr af hǫndum
hôr), þeims komnir vôru.
Útbeiti frák Áta
undrask brœðr, þás fundu,
skíðs, á skrautvals beiði
skokks áhyggju þokka.
 
‘The destroyer of the shine of the channel [(lit. ‘shine-destroyer of the channel’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN] gave hospitality to the guests who had arrived; deep sorrow lifted from the ring-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN]. I have heard that the brothers wondered at the steerer of the ski of Áti <sea-king> [SHIP > SEAFARER], when they sensed a disposition of anxiety in the demander of the adornment-horse of the deck-plank [SHIP > SEAFARER].
Friðbeiðir gefr fríðan
fǫgnuð með sér brǫgnum
hǫppum glæstr, þeims hraustla
hǫrð mein bera á jǫrðu.
Lýtr engla lið ítrum
angrhrjóðanda ok þjóðir;
einn es ǫllu hreinni,
allt gótt sás skóp, dróttinn.
 
‘The peace-promoter, shining with victories [= God], gives men who bear hard suffering bravely on earth glorious joy with him. The band of angels and humankind bows to the glorious sin-destroyer [= God]; the one Lord, who created everything good, is purer than all.
Hugðu brœðr at beiði
brandéls meginvandla,
þóttusk mildi mætan
menn Plácitus kenna,
unz hyr-Þróttar hittu
hjaldrserks …
... hǫfðu
hoddsendi rétt kenndan.
 
‘The brothers considered carefully the demander of the sword-storm [BATTLE > WARRIOR] — the men thought they recognised Plácitus, renowned for generosity [or piety] —, until the Þróttar <= Óðinn> of the fire of the war-shirt [(lit. ‘the fire-Þróttar of the war shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > SWORD > WARRIORS] met … they had correctly recognised the gold-distributor [GENEROUS MAN].
Bôru orð*, ok urðu,
oddregns hvat*endr, fegnir,
heiðins grams af hljóði,
hjǫrva lund es fundu.
Hodda Baldr til hildar
hugfylldr koma skyldi
alla tígn ok eignask,
endr þás lét af hendi.
 
‘The inciters of the spear-rain [BATTLE > WARRIORS] carried the word of the heathen king in secret and became glad when they found the tree of swords [WARRIOR]. The courage-filled Baldr <god> of hoards [MAN] was to come to the battle and regain all the honour which he had previously abandoned.
Brátt rézk í fǫr flýtir
flœðar elds með brœðrum;
maðr kunni þá manni
megintíðendi at segja.
Sóttu fund, es frétti,
fákríðanda víðis,
lofða sveit, at lifði
lengr Plácitus, drengir.
 
‘The hastener of the fire of the flood [GOLD > GENEROUS MAN] set out at once on the journey with the brothers; [each] man could then tell [the other] man the important news. Men sought a meeting with the rider of the horse of the ocean [(lit. ‘horse-rider of the ocean’) SHIP > SEAFARER] when the band of men heard that Plácitus still lived.
Fúss gerði veg vísi
— varð gramr feginn harða,
heim es happs kom geymir —
hringlestanda mestan.
Setti þengill Þróttar
þingbeiði fðingja
ǫflugs lýðs, ok auði
ulfs fœði tók gœða.
 
‘The ruler eagerly bestowed the greatest honour on the ring-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN]; the king became very glad when the minder of good luck [MAN] came home. The prince appointed the demander of the assembly of Þróttr <= Óðinn> [(lit. ‘the assembly-demander of Þróttr’) BATTLE > WARRIOR] leader of the powerful troop and began to endow the feeder of the wolf [WARRIOR] with riches.
Enn bað ungra manna
ítr gramr fira samna
fljótt, ef fámeðr þœttisk
ferð, Plácitus verða.
Svinns kómu þá seima
sendis heim (né kenndi
hyrjar lunda) at hǫndum
(haukláðs) synir báðir.
 
‘The glorious king then asked the men to gather quickly a troop of young men, if Plácitus found himself short of men. Both sons of the wise distributor of gold [GENEROUS MAN > = Agapitus and Theopistus] then came home to him [lit. to his hands]; he did not recognise the trees of the fire of the hawk-ground [ARM > GOLD > MEN].
Þá réð brims á brœðrum
blakkrennandi kenna,
skíðs at skreytendr réðu
skokks stórmennis þokka.
Þings lét þessa drengi
þráhvetjandi setja
sóknar fráns í sína
sveit, þás œzt vas teiti.
 
‘The driver of the horse of the surf [(lit. ‘horse-driver of the surf’) SHIP > SEAFARER] then recognised in the brothers that the adorners of the ski of the deck-plank [SHIP > SEAFARERS] had the disposition of great men. The eager inciter of the assembly of the serpent of attack [SWORD > BATTLE > WARRIOR] had these men placed in his own company, which was foremost in high spirits.
Dýrr es himna harri;
hann eignask veg sannan;
aldrgǫfgu ræðr aldar
aflsteldr … veldi.
Lýtr engla lið ítrum
angrhrjóðanda ok þjóðir;
einn es ǫllu hreinni,
allt gótt sás skóp, dróttinn.
 
‘The king of the heavens [= God] is glorious; he gains true honour; he rules, mighty, over the age-noble …-power of the age. The band of angels and humankind bows to the glorious sin-destroyer [= God]; the one Lord, who created everything good, is purer than all.
Hermanna fór hranna
hyrbrjótr liði at móti,
samr vas íkn at fremja
sik Plácitus, miklu.
Ógn stóð angrs af hegni;
ulfgœðendr þá flœðu;
þegn hlaut goðs fyr gagni —
gr háðisk vel — ráða.
 
‘The destroyer of the fire of the waves [(lit. ‘fire-destroyer of the waves’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN] went to meet a great host of warriors; Plácitus was disposed to distinguish himself in battle. Menace issued from the suppressor of sin [HOLY MAN]; the wolf-feeders [WARRIORS] fled then; God’s retainer [HOLY MAN] was able to gain the victory; the battle was fought well.
Herferðar rak harðan
hyr-Þróttr í styr flótta
odda þings ok eyddi
eirlaust heruð þeira,
áðr fyr rán, þats réðu
randlinns stafar vinna,
gjald, sem goðs þegn vildi,
gjalfrhests metendr festu.
 
‘The Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the fire of the assembly of spears [(lit. ‘fire-Þróttr of the assembly of spears’) BATTLE > SWORD > WARRIOR] vigorously pursued the retreat of the troops in battle and mercilessly harried their districts, until the appraisers of the sea-stallion [SHIP > SEAFARERS] fixed such compensation as God’s retainer [HOLY MAN] wished for the pillaging, which the staves of the shield-serpent [SWORD > WARRIORS] had committed.
Hyrgildir … hvíldar
hrafnvíns liði sínu;
garpr bauð þ… í þorpi
þingveljǫndum dveljask.
Létu of eins hvers ýtis
apaldrgarð brimis kapla
lundar búðum lýðar
lungs umbhverfis slungit.
 
‘The appraiser of the fire of raven-wine [BLOOD > SWORD > WARRIOR] … his men rest; the champion bade the choosers of the assembly of þ… [(lit. ‘assembly-choosers of þ…’) BATTLE > WARRIORS] stay in a village. The troops of the tree of the ship [SEAFARER] pitched camp around the orchard of a certain launcher of the horses of the sea [SHIPS > SEAFARER].
Hús átti sér hættin
hress í garði þessum
(fekk strengjar þar Þungra)
Þéopista (sér vistar),
síz jarðar fjǫr firrðisk,
fránbaugs, sás tók hána,
undins látrs, frá ítrum
endr Plácito, sendir.
 
‘The virtuous, energetic Theopista had a house in this orchard; the Þungra <= Freyja> of the ribbon [WOMAN] settled there after the distributor of the ground of the twisted shining ring of the earth [= Miðgarðsormr > GOLD > GENEROUS MAN], the one who had once taken her from the glorious Placitus, left this life.
Ok inn í sal sinnar
siðfróðastir móður
— brœðr hlutu œzta blíðu
brynþings viðir gingu;
en ítrfoldar elda
Endils sonu kenndit
hirðigôtt, þótt hitti
h…ðir móður,
 
‘And the trees of the mailcoat-assembly [BATTLE > WARRIORS], very well instructed in religion, went into their mother’s hall; the brothers received the best hospitality; but the nursing-tree of the fires of the glorious ground of Endill <sea-king> [SEA > GOLD > WOMAN] did not recognise her sons, although … met their mother,
unz tírrœkir tœki
tveir brœðr of þat rœða
orð, hvat œski-Nirðir
… framast mynði.
Þollr gat … inn ellri
… fyr bróður
lýst ok langa freistni
… hlífar,
 
‘until the two renown-cultivating brothers began to speak of that which the wishing-Nirðir <gods> … [MEN] first remembered; the older tree … of the shield [BATTLE > WARRIOR] was able to describe … and long ordeal … to his brother,
frá þvís friðgin, nýja,
fjǫgur endr, síz trú kenndu,
ráð ór Rúmsborg víðri
… mœðila flœðu.
Ok bjartglóða beiðir
bragðvíss gripinn sagðisk
frár af frœknu dýri
flóðs, en vargr tók bróður.
 
‘about how the four, parents [and children], once fled with difficulty from their … circumstances from the great city of Rome, after they embraced the new faith. And the plucky, agile demander of the bright embers of the flood [GOLD > MAN] described himself being taken by a fierce beast, and [how] a wolf took his brother.
Kenndusk, ôrr þás endi
unnfress sǫgu þessa,
mildir brœðr en móðir
meinstygg sonu dyggva.
Spanði ítr til ynðis
†eir goð…† þeira,
þvíat hrygg saga huggun
hoddskerðǫndum gerði.
 
‘The pious brothers recognised each other, when the messenger of the wave-bear [SHIP > SEAFARER] finished this story, and the sin-shy mother her excellent sons. The glorious … won their … over to happiness, because the sad story brought comfort to the hoard-diminishers [GENEROUS MEN].
Ok fjǫlkostig fýstisk
fóstrlanda til stranda
hauka klifs, þás hafði,
hyrgrund, sonu fundna.
Fljótt bað fylgju veita
fenglóðar sér tróða
liðs hǫfðingja leyfðan
Langbarða til jarðar.
 
‘And the many-virtued ground of the fire of the cliff of the hawks [(lit. ‘fire-ground of the hawks’ cliff’) ARM > GOLD > WOMAN] longed for the shores of her homeland after she had found her sons. The stick of the fen-fire [GOLD > WOMAN] quickly asked the esteemed commander of the army to give her escort to the land of the Langobards [= Italy].
Kenndusk hjú, þás handa-
h… - þǫp…-
atburð - elda - Nirði-
ormvangs, - hvé - kom - þangat.-
Beiði-Þrór við báða
buri kannaðisk sanna,
armlinns, œsku sinnar
…ld… þ…ðu.
 
‘The husband and wife recognised each other when the … of the serpent-ground [GOLD > WOMAN] [told] the Njǫrðr <god> of the fires of arms [ARM-RINGS > MAN] the events, how she had got there. The demanding-Þrór <= Óðinn> of the arm-snake [ARM-RING > MAN] acknowledged both as his true sons … of their youth.
Gerðu, grœnnar jarðar,
fug es …izk hǫfðu,
eklaust ítrum þakkir
ǫll … gram snjǫllum,
áðr til Rúms frá rómu
rekka sveit með teitri
sigrgladdr snilli prýddri
sóknstœrandi fœri.
 
‘They all gave thanks profusely to the glorious, brave ruler … of the green earth [SKY/HEAVEN? > = God], when the noble ones had …, before the victory-glad attack-increaser [WARRIOR] returned from the battle to Rome with the cheerful, courage-adorned band of men.
Né víghressa vissi
†vel… …is†
tírmildr tiggja þeira
— Trájánus
Óþǫrfu bað erfi
ítrstyrkr …
andrán Adriánus
ǫrva móts …
 
‘Trajan …; the gloriously merciful … did not know … of their battle-zealous prince. The magnificently powerful Hadrian gave orders that the death … of the meeting of arrows [BATTLE > WARRIOR?] … with a harmful funeral feast …
Inn bað með sér svinnan
snarfengr í hof þengill
— ítr hnekkir stóð úti
angrsPlácitum ganga.
‘Blót’, kvað gramr inn grimmi,
gagni í sókn ok fagna
kvôn hittir þú
 
‘The vigorous prince told the wise Plácitus to go with him into the temple; the glorious subduer of sin [HOLY MAN] stood outside. ‘Sacrifice’, said the fierce king, ‘and rejoice for your victory in battle; you found your wife ...’
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