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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Vellekla — Eskál VellI

Einarr skálaglamm Helgason

Edith Marold with the assistance of Vivian Busch, Jana Krüger, Ann-Dörte Kyas and Katharina Seidel, translated from German by John Foulks 2012, ‘ Einarr skálaglamm Helgason, Vellekla’ 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. 280. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1181> (accessed 27 April 2024)

 

1.
Hugstóran biðk heyra
— heyr, jarl, Kvasis dreyra —
foldar vǫrð á fyrða
fjarðleggjar brim dreggjar.
 
‘I bid the high-minded guardian of the land [RULER = Hákon jarl] listen to the surf of the dregs of the men of the fjord-bone [ROCK > DWARFS > POEM]; hear, jarl, the blood of Kvasir <mythical being> [POEM]. ’
2.
Nús, þats Boðnar bára
(berg-Saxa) tér vaxa
(gervi í hǫll ok hlýði
hljóð fley jǫfurs þjóðir).
 
‘Now it happens that the wave of Boðn <mythical vat> [POEM] grows; may the retinue of the ruler give a hearing in the hall and listen to the ship (líð ‘ale’) of the rock-Saxons [GIANTS > POEM]. ’
3.
Eisar vágr fyr vísa
(verk) Rǫgnis (mér hagna);
þýtr Óðrœris alda
ǫldrhafs við fles galdra.
 
‘The wave of Rǫgnir <= Óðinn> [POEM] roars before the ruler; the works are successful for me; the wave of the ale-sea of Óðrœrir <mythical vat> [POEM] booms against the skerry of incantations [TEETH]. ’
4.
Ullar gengr of alla
asksǫgn, þess’s hvǫt magnar,
byrgis bǫðvar sorgar,
bergs grynnilô dverga.
 
‘The shoal-wave of the rock of dwarfs [POEM] passes over the entire ship’s crew of the Ullr <god> of the sorrow of the fence of battle [SHIELD > SWORD > WARRIOR = Hákon], who increases boldness. ’
5.
Hljóta munk, né hlítik,
hertýs, of þat frýju,
fyr ǫrþeysi at ausa
austr vín-Gnóðar flausta.
 
‘It will fall to me to bale out the bilge-water of the Gnóð <ship> of the wine of the army-god [(lit. ‘bilge-water of the wine-Gnóð of the army-god’) = Óðinn > POEM > VAT > POEM] for the valiant racer of ships [SEAFARER = Hákon]; I will not endure a reproach on account of it. ’
6.
Ok oddneytir úti
eiðvandr flota breiðan
glaðr í Gǫndlar veðrum
— gramr svafði bil — hafði.
Ok rauðmána reynir
rógsegl Heðins bóga
upp hóf jǫfra kappi
etjulund at setja.
 
‘And the oath-true arrow-user [WARRIOR], glad in the winds of Gǫndul <valkyrie> [BATTLES], had a great fleet out at sea; the ruler ended delay. And the tester of the red moon of the arm of Heðinn <legendary hero> [SHIELD > WARRIOR] raised the strife-sail [SHIELD] with the vigour of rulers to calm the spirit of aggression. ’
7.
Vasat ofbyrjar ǫrva
odda vífs né drífu
sverða sverrifjarðar
svanglýjaði at frýja.
Brak-Rǫgnir skók bogna
(barg óþyrmir varga)
hagl ór Hlakkar segli
hjǫrs (rakkliga fjǫrvi).
 
‘One did not have to taunt the delighter of the swan of the seething fjord of swords [BLOOD > RAVEN/EAGLE > WARRIOR] [into joining] the strong wind of arrows [BATTLE] nor the snow-storm of the woman of weapon-points [VALKYRIE > BATTLE]. The Rǫgnir <= Óðinn> of the noise of the sword [(lit. ‘noise-Rǫgnir of the sword’) BATTLE > WARRIOR] shook the hail of bows [ARROWS] out of the sail of Hlǫkk <valkyrie> [SHIELD]; the crusher of outlaws [RULER] bravely saved his life. ’
8.
Mart varð él, áðr, Ála,
austr lǫnd at mun banda
randar lauks af ríki,
rœkilundr of tœki.
 
‘Many a storm of Áli <sea-king> [BATTLE] came about before the tending-tree of the leek of the shield [SWORD > WARRIOR] took the lands in the east by force at the will of the gods. ’
9.
Berk fyr hefnð, þás Hrafna
(hljóm*) lof (togins skjóma
þann) nam vǫrðr at vinna
(vann) síns fǫður hranna.
 
‘I bear praise for the revenge that the guardian of the Hrafnar <horses> of the waves [SHIPS > SEAFARER] took for his father; [he] made the din of the drawn sword [BATTLE]. ’
10.
Rignði hjǫrs á hersa
hríðremmis fjǫr víða
— þrimlundr of jók Þundi
þegns gnótt — méilregni.
Ok hald-Viðurr haulda
haffaxa lét vaxa
Laufa veðr at lífi
lífkǫld Hôars drífu.
 
‘The arrow-rain [BATTLE] of the strengthener of the storm of the sword [(lit. ‘storm-strengthener of the sword’) BATTLE > WARRIOR] rained widely on the life of the hersar; the battle-minded one increased the abundance of retainers for Þundr <= Óðinn>. And the steering Viðurr <= Óðinn> of sea-horses [SHIPS > SEAFARER] let the life-cold storms of Laufi <sword> [BATTLES] grow against the life of men in the snow-storm of Hárr <= Óðinn> [BATTLE]. ’
11.
Hjalmgrápi vann hilmir
harðr (Lopts vinar) barða
(því kom vǫxtr í Vínu
vínheims) fíandr sína.
Ok forsnjallir fellu
fúrs í Þróttar skúrum
(þat fær þjóðar snytri)
þrír jarls synir (tírar).
 
‘The hardy ruler had his enemies pelted with helmet-hail [BATTLE]; therefore, growth came to the Vína <river> of the wine-world of the friend of Loptr <= Loki> [= Óðinn > VAT > POEM]. And three exceedingly brave sons of a jarl fell in the showers of the fire of Þróttr <= Óðinn> [SWORD > BATTLE]; that brings glory to the instructor of the people [RULER = Hákon jarl]. ’
12.
Hvarfat aptr, áðr erfðan,
óðstafr, fǫður hafði,
(herforðuðr réð Hǫrða)
hjǫrveðrs (konungs fjǫrvi).
Varðat Freyr, sás fœri,
folkskíðs, né mun síðan,
— því bregðr ǫld við aðra —
jarls ríki framm slíku.
 
‘The furious stave of the sword-storm [BATTLE > WARRIOR] did not return before he had done honour to his father’s memory; the army-protector [RULER] had power over the life of the king of the Hǫrðar [NORWEGIAN KING = Haraldr gráfeldr]. There has not been a Freyr <god> of the battle-ski [SWORD > WARRIOR], nor will there be afterwards, who proceeded with such power of a jarl; so say the people to one another. ’
13.
Sjau fylkjum kom silkis
(snúnaðr vas þat) brúna
geymir grundar síma
grandvarr und sik (landi).
 
‘The damage-wary keeper of the silken band of the land of the brows [HEAD > HEADBAND > RULER] brought seven fylki under himself; that was a change for the better for the land. ’
14.
Ǫll lét senn inn svinni
sǫnn Einriða mǫnnum
herjum kunn of herjuð
hofs lǫnd ok vé banda,
áðr veg jǫtna vitni
valfalls of sæ allan
— þeim stýra goð — geira
garðs Hlórriði farði.
 
‘The wise one soon made all the harried lands of the temple of Einriði <= Þórr> and the sanctuaries of the gods, famous among the peoples, lawful for men, before the Hlórriði <= Þórr> of the fence of spears [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] ferried evidence of slaughter to the path of the giants [MOUNTAINS = Norway?] across all the sea; the gods guide him. ’
15.
Ok herþarfir hverfa
(Hlakkar móts) til blóta
(rauðbríkar fremsk rœkir
ríkr) ásmegir (slíku).
Nú grœr jǫrð sem áðan;
aptr geirbrúar hapta
auðrýrir lætr ôru
óhryggva vé byggva.
 
‘And the sons of the Æsir, beneficial to the people, turn to the sacrifices; the powerful keeper of the red board of the meeting of Hlǫkk <valkyrie> [BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] prospers from this. Now the earth flourishes as before; the wealth-diminisher [GENEROUS MAN] lets the messengers of the spear-bridge [SHIELD > WARRIORS] once again inhabit the sanctuaries of the gods without sorrow. ’
16.
Nú liggr allt und jarli
(ímunborðs) fyr norðan
(veðrgœðis stendr víða)
Vík (Hôkunar ríki).
 
‘Now everything north of Viken lies under the jarl’s rule; the realm of Hákon, the increaser of the storm of the battle-board [(lit. ‘storm-increaser of the battle-board’) SHIELD > BATTLE > WARRIOR], stretches far and wide. ’
17.
Engi varð á jǫrðu
ættum góðr nema Fróði
gæti-Njǫrðr, sás gerði,
geirbríkar, frið slíkan.
 
‘No well-descended guarding-Njǫrðr <god> of the spear-board [SHIELD > WARRIOR] lived on earth who made such peace, except Fróði. ’
18.
Enn reið ǫðru sinni
jarl borðmǫrum norðan;
sǫngherðir lét sverða
sótt Ragnfrøði at móti.
 
‘Yet a second time the jarl rode the gunwale-horses [SHIPS] from the north; the strengthener of the song of swords [(lit. ‘song-strengthener of swords’) BATTLE > RULER] advanced to an encounter with Ragnfrøðr. ’
19.
Hóf und hyrjar kneyfi
— hraut unda fjǫl — Þundar
— þat sleit víg á vági —
vandar dýr at landi.
Né fjǫlsnerrinn fyrri
fégildandi vildi
— vægðit jarl fyr jǫfri —
Yggs niðr friðar biðja.
 
‘The beast of the mast [SHIP] was carried towards land under the destroyer of the fire of Þundr <= Óðinn> [SWORD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl]; a multitude of wounds spurted; that broke off the battle on the sea. The war-seasoned generous descendant of Yggr <= Óðinn> [= Hákon jarl] did not want to be the first to ask for peace; the jarl did not yield to the prince. ’
20.
Búinn lézk valdr, ef vildi
valmey konungr heyja,
haulda morðs at halda
— herr fell of gram — velli.
 
‘The controller of the killing of men [BATTLE > RULER = Hákon jarl] declared himself ready to hold the field, if the king [Ragnfrøðr] wanted to wage the maiden of the battle-slain [VALKYRIE = Hildr (hildr ‘battle’)]; the host fell around the ruler. ’
21.
Hitt vas meir, at Mœra
morðfíkinn lét norðan
folkverjandi fyrva
fǫr til Sogns of gǫrva.
Ýtti Freyr af fjórum
folklǫndum — sá branda
Ullr stóð af því allri
yrþjóð — Heðins byrjar.
 
‘It also happened that the battle-eager people-defender of the Mœrir [NORWEGIAN RULER = Hákon jarl] had his men undertake a journey from the north to Sogn. The Freyr <god> of the wind of Heðinn <legendary hero> [BATTLE > WARRIOR] set out from four folklǫnd; that Ullr <god> of swords [WARRIOR] thereby helped the whole people. ’
22.
Ok til móts á Meita
mjúkhurðum framm þurðu
með svǫrgœli Sǫrva
sjau landrekar randa.
Glumði allr, þás Ullar
eggþings Heðins veggjar
— gnótt flaut nás fyr nesjum —
Nóregr, saman fóru.
 
‘And seven commanders rushed onwards aboard the pliant doors of Meiti <sea-king> [SHIPS] to the meeting of shields [BATTLE] with the gladdener of the bird of Sǫrvi <sea-king> [RAVEN/EAGLE > WARRIOR]. All of Norway resounded, when the Ullar <gods> of the wall of Heðinn <legendary hero> [SHIELD > WARRIORS] crashed together in the blade-assembly [BATTLE]; an abundance of corpses was floating off the headlands. ’
23.
Varð fyr Vinða myrði
víðfrægt, en gramr síðan
gerðisk mest at morði,
mannfall við styr annan.
Hlym-Narfi bað hverfa
hlífar flagðs ok lagði
Jalks við ǫndurt fylki
ǫndur †fꜹrf† at landi.
 
‘There was a widely renowned slaughter before the killer of the Wends [= Hákon jarl] in the second battle, and then the ruler eagerly set out for battle. The Narfi <supernatural being> of the din of the troll-woman of the shield [(lit. ‘din-Narfi of the troll-woman of the shield’) AXE > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Ragnfrøðr?] ordered the ski of Jálkr <sea-king> [SHIP] to be turned … towards land and pulled up alongside the front of the host. ’
24.
Strǫng varð gunnr, áðr gunnar
gammi nás und hramma
þrøngvimeiðr of þryngvi
þrimr hundruðum lunda.
Knátti hafs at hǫfðum
— hagnaðr vas þat — bragna
folkeflandi fylkir
fangsæll þaðan ganga.
 
‘The battle became intense before the oppressing-pole of trees of battle [WARRIORS > WARRIOR] pressed three hundred [men] under the claws of the vulture of the corpse [RAVEN/EAGLE]. The plunder-rich battle-supporting ruler was able to walk from there to the sea over the heads of men; that was an advantage. ’
25.
Hitt vas auk, at eykir
aurborðs á vit norðan
und sigrunni svinnum
sunnr Danmarkar runnu.
Ok holmfjǫturs hjalmi
Hǫrða valdr of faldinn
Dofra danskra jǫfra
dróttinn fund of sótti.
 
‘It also happened that the draught-animals of the plank [SHIPS] ran from the north under the wise victory-tree [WARRIOR] south towards Denmark. And the ruler of the Hǫrðar [NORWEGIAN RULER = Hákon jarl], the lord of the Dofrar [NORWEGIAN RULER = Hákon jarl], wearing the helmet of the island-fetter [= Miðgarðsormr], sought a meeting with the Danish rulers. ’
26.
Ok við frost at freista
fémildr konungr vildi
myrk- Hlóðynjar -markar
morðalfs, þess’s kom norðan,
þás valserkjar virki
veðrhirði bað stirðan
fyr hlym-Njǫrðum hurða
Hagbarða gramr varða.
 
‘And the generous king of the Hlóðyn = Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’) of the dark forest <= Myrkviðr> [JUTLAND > DANISH KING = Haraldr blátǫnn] wanted at the time of the frost to test the battle-elf [WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] who came from the north, as the ruler bade the unbending keeper of the weather of the shirt of the slain [(lit. ‘weather-keeper of the slain-shirt’) MAIL-SHIRT > BATTLE > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] to defend the rampart against the Nirðir <gods> of the din of the doors of Hagbarði <legendary hero> [(lit. ‘din-Nirðir of the doors of Hagbarði’) SHIELDS > BATTLE > WARRIORS]. ’
27.
Vasat í gǫgn, þótt gerði
garð-Rǫgnir styr harðan,
gengiligt at ganga,
geirrásar, her þeira,
þás með fylki Frísa
fór gunn-Viðurr sunnan
(kvaddi vígs) ok Vinða
(vágs blakkriði) Frakka.
 
‘It was not easy to go against their army, although the Rǫgnir <= Óðinn> of the fence of the spear-onslaught [(lit. ‘fence-Rǫgnir of the spear-onslaught’) BATTLE > SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] made a hard attack, when the battle-Viðurr <= Óðinn> [WARRIOR = Otto II] came from the south with a host of Frisians, Franks and Wends; the rider of the horse of the wave [(lit. ‘horse-rider of the wave’) SHIP > SEAFARER = Hákon jarl] called for battle. ’
28.
Þrymr varð logs, þars lǫgðu
leikmiðjungar, Þriðja,
(arngreddir varð) odda
(andvígr) saman randir.
Sundfaxa kom Sǫxum
sœki-Þróttr á flótta,
þars svát gramr með gumnum
garð yrþjóðum varði.
 
‘The din of the fire of Þriði <= Óðinn> [SWORD > BATTLE] came about, where the miðjungar of the game of arrow-points [(lit. ‘game-miðjungar of arrow-points’) BATTLE > WARRIORS] set their shields together; the eagle-feeder [WARRIOR] became aggressive. The attacking-Þróttr <= Óðinn> of the channel-horses [SHIPS > SEA-WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] drove the Saxons to flight, where the ruler with his men defended the palisade against the troops. ’
29.
Flótta gekk til fréttar
felli-Njǫrðr á velli;
draugr gat dolga Sôgu
dagráð Heðins váða.
Ok haldboði hildar
hrægamma sá ramma;
Týr vildi þá týna
teinlautar fjǫr Gauta.
 
‘The slaying-Njǫrðr <god> of the fleeing ones [WARRIOR] sought an augury on the field; the log of the clothes of Heðinn <legendary hero> [ARMOUR > WARRIOR] got advice about a favourable day for the Sága <goddess> of enmity [VALKYRIE = Hildr (hildr ‘battle’)]. And the provider of battle [WARRIOR] saw powerful corpse-birds [RAVENS/EAGLES]; the Týr <god> of the sword-dale [SHIELD > WARRIOR = Hákon jarl] wanted to destroy the life of the Gautar then. ’
30.
Háði jarl, þars áðan
engi mannr und ranni,
hyrjar þing, at herja,
hjǫrlautar, kom Sǫrla.
Bara maðr lyngs enn lengra
loptvarðaðar barða
— allt vann gramr of gengit
Gautland — frá sæ randir.
 
‘The jarl held an assembly of the fire of the sword-dale [SHIELD > SWORD > BATTLE], where no man carrying a house of Sǫrli <legendary hero> [SHIELD] had come to harry before. No one carried shields, adorned with the loft of the whale of the heath [SNAKE > GOLD] any further from the sea; the ruler managed to march through all of Götaland. ’
31.
Valfǫllum hlóð vǫllu
(varð ragna konr gagni)
hríðar ôss (at hrósa)
— hlaut Óðinn val — Fróða.
Hver sé if, nema jǫfra
ættrýri goð stýra?
Rammaukin kveðk ríki
rǫgn Hôkunar magna.
 
‘The god of the storm of Fróði <sea-king> [BATTLE > WARRIOR] piled up the fields with the slain; the descendant of the gods [= Hákon jarl] could boast of victory; Óðinn was allotted the slain. What doubt might there be that the gods guide the destroyer of the kin of princes [(lit. ‘kin-destroyer of princes’) PRINCES > RULER = Hákon jarl]? I declare that the exceedingly powerful gods increase the might of Hákon. ’
32.
Hvar viti ǫld und einum
jarðbyggvi svá liggja
— þat skyli herr of hugsa —
hjarl sextían jarla?
Þess ríðr fúrs með fjórum
folkleikr Heðins reikar
logskundaðar lindar
lofkenndr himins endum.
 
‘Where would people know of the territory of sixteen jarls lying in such a way under one land-owner [RULER]? The army ought to consider that. The renowned army-game [BATTLE] of the fire of the hair-parting of Heðinn <legendary hero> [SWORD] of that impeller of the fire of the spring [(lit. ‘fire-impeller of the spring’) GOLD > GENEROUS MAN] spreads along the four ends of the sky. ’
33.
Hjalmeldum bauð hildi
hjaldrǫrr, með Sigvalda
hinns fór í gný Gunnar,
gunndjarfr Búi, sunnan.
 
‘The fight-eager, battle-daring Búi, the one who travelled from the south with Sigvaldi to the din of Gunnr <valkyrie> [BATTLE], offered battle with helmet-fires [SWORDS]. ’
34.
Né sigbjarka serkir
sómmiðjungum rómu
Hôars við Hǫgna skúrir
hléðut fast of séðir.
 
‘Nor did the firmly sewn shirts of the battle-birches [WARRIORS > ARMOUR] protect the bow-miðjungar [WARRIORS] against the showers of Hǫgni <legendary hero> [ARROWS] in the noise of Hárr <= Óðinn> [BATTLE]. ’
35.
Fjallvǫnðum gaf fylli,
(fullr varð) en spjǫr gullu,
herstefnandi hrǫfnum
(hrafn á ylgjar tafni).
 
‘The army-summoner [RULER] gave the mountain-accustomed ravens their fill, and spears resounded; the raven was sated on the prey of the she-wolf [CORPSE]. ’
36.
Gollsendir lætr grundar
— glaðar þengill her drengja —
— hans mæti knák hljóta —
hljót Yggs mjaðar njóta.
 
‘The gold-distributor [GENEROUS MAN = Einarr, I] lets the recipient of land [RULER] enjoy the mead of Yggr <= Óðinn> [POEM]; the ruler gladdens the host of warriors; I can receive his precious gifts. ’
37.
Þvít fjǫlkostigr flestu
flestr ræðr við son Bestlu
— tekit hefk morðs til mærðar —
mæringr an þú færa.
 
‘For most many-virtued famous men control much less than you with the son of Bestla <giantess> [= Óðinn]; I have begun the praise of the battle. ’
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