Erfikvæði about Magnús berfœttr — Gísl MagnkvII
Gísl IllugasonKari Ellen Gade 2009, ‘ Gísl Illugason, Erfikvæði about Magnús berfœttr’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 416-30. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1201> (accessed 25 April 2024)
Ungr framði sik, þars alendr vildu
lofsælan gram landi ræna
Imðar faxa, en jǫfurr sótti
Báleygs viðu með blôum hjǫrvi.
lofsælan gram landi ræna
Imðar faxa, en jǫfurr sótti
Báleygs viðu með blôum hjǫrvi.
‘The young one excelled where the nourishers of Imð’s <troll-woman’s> steed [WOLF > WARRIORS] wished to rob the praise-blessed lord of his land, and the prince attacked Báleygr’s <= Óðinn’s> trees [WARRIORS] with the dark sword.’
Ýtti ór Ósló til Egils fundar
lofðungr liði lands at krefja.
Fylgðu ræsi ok Rygir sunnan
linns láðgefendr ór lǫgum tvennum.
lofðungr liði lands at krefja.
Fylgðu ræsi ok Rygir sunnan
linns láðgefendr ór lǫgum tvennum.
‘The lord led his troop from Oslo to the meeting with Egill to reclaim his land. Dispensers of the snake’s land [(lit. ‘land-dispensers of the snake’) GOLD > GENEROUS MEN] from two law-districts and the Rygir accompanied the ruler from the south.’
Séa knátti þá siklings flota
vel vígligan ok vanan sigri,
es fyr Yrjar í aga miklum
óþrotligt lið árar kníði.
vel vígligan ok vanan sigri,
es fyr Yrjar í aga miklum
óþrotligt lið árar kníði.
‘Then one could see the sovereign’s fleet, well war-equipped and accustomed to victory, when the indefatigable crew smote the oars off Ørland in heavy seas.’
Átti hilmir húsþing við sæ;
þat vas fyr innan Ǫrvahamra.
Bjósk at brenna, en búendr flýðu,
stórráðr konungr, af Staði útan.
þat vas fyr innan Ǫrvahamra.
Bjósk at brenna, en búendr flýðu,
stórráðr konungr, af Staði útan.
‘The ruler convened an assembly by the sea; that was on the inner side of Ǫrvahamrar. The imperious king prepared to burn, and farmers fled out from Stadsbygd.’
Hyrr sveimaði; hallir þurru;
gekk hár logi of herǫð þeira.
Séa knátti þar, es salir fellu,
landrôð konungs, of liði Þóris.
gekk hár logi of herǫð þeira.
Séa knátti þar, es salir fellu,
landrôð konungs, of liði Þóris.
‘Fire surged; halls collapsed; the high flame swept across their herǫð. There one could see the king’s government as dwellings fell around Þórir’s troop.’
Raufsk við róstu — rymr varð í her —
helmingr Egils við Hlaðir útan.
Môttut hersar við Haða dróttni
láðgǫfguðum landi ráða.
helmingr Egils við Hlaðir útan.
Môttut hersar við Haða dróttni
láðgǫfguðum landi ráða.
‘Egill’s unit scattered in the tumult out by Lade; a roar resounded throughout the army. The hersar could not hold the country against the land-endowed lord of the Haðar [NORWEGIAN KING = Magnús].’
Sættisk síðan — siðr batnaði —
hugfullr konungr við hatendr sína.
Þann gaf brǫgnum, es búendr ôttu,
rétt, ráðspakir rœkðum launa.
hugfullr konungr við hatendr sína.
Þann gaf brǫgnum, es búendr ôttu,
rétt, ráðspakir rœkðum launa.
‘The very courageous king then reconciled himself with his enemies; conduct improved. He gave people those privileges, which the sensible farmers were to repay with solicitude.’
Gramr vann gǫrvan, en glatat þjófum,
kaupmǫnnum frið, þanns konungr bœtti,
svát í elfi øxum hlýddi
flaust fagrbúin í fjǫru skorða.
kaupmǫnnum frið, þanns konungr bœtti,
svát í elfi øxum hlýddi
flaust fagrbúin í fjǫru skorða.
‘The ruler achieved complete peace for merchants, which the king had improved, and he destroyed thieves, so that in the river one could buttress the splendidly equipped ships with axes on the shore.’
Tók á Skíði, en Skotar flýðu,
jǫfra œgir Ívistar gram.
Hafði fylkir, sás frami téði,
Lǫgmann konung í liði sínu.
jǫfra œgir Ívistar gram.
Hafði fylkir, sás frami téði,
Lǫgmann konung í liði sínu.
‘The terrifier of princes [RULER = Magnús] captured the lord of North Uist [= Lǫgmaðr] in Skye, and the Scots fled. The leader, whom courage aided, kept King Lǫgmaðr in his company.’
Ættlǫndum vann eyja dróttar
folkvǫrðr und sik fjórum þrungit,
áðr an hitti, sás hamalt fylkði,
veðrsmiðr Viðurs valska jarla.
folkvǫrðr und sik fjórum þrungit,
áðr an hitti, sás hamalt fylkði,
veðrsmiðr Viðurs valska jarla.
‘The people’s guardian [RULER] subjugated four ancestral territories of the men of the isles, before the smith of Viðurr’s <= Óðinn’s> wind [(lit. ‘Viðurr’s wind-smith’) BATTLE > WARRIOR], who marshalled his troops in a wedge-shaped array, met the Norman earls.’
Hôðum hildi með Haralds frænda
Ǫnguls við ey innanverða,
þars af reiði ríkisvendir
konungr ok jarlar kapp sitt brutu.
Ǫnguls við ey innanverða,
þars af reiði ríkisvendir
konungr ok jarlar kapp sitt brutu.
‘We waged war with Haraldr’s kinsman [= Magnús] on the inner side of Anglesey, where the royal sceptres, the king and the earls, tested their courage with rage.’
Margan hǫfðu Magnúss liðar
bjǫrtum oddi baugvang skorit.
Varð hertoga hlíf at springa
kapps vel skipuð fyr konungs darri.
bjǫrtum oddi baugvang skorit.
Varð hertoga hlíf at springa
kapps vel skipuð fyr konungs darri.
‘Magnús’s companions had cut many a ring-meadow [SHIELD] with the bright spear-point. The shield of the army-leader, magnificently equipped, was forced to shatter by the king’s spear.’
Bǫðkennir skaut bôðum hǫndum;
allr vá hilmis herr prúðliga.
Stukku af almi, þeims jǫfurr sveigði,
hvítmýlingar, áðr Hugi felli.
allr vá hilmis herr prúðliga.
Stukku af almi, þeims jǫfurr sveigði,
hvítmýlingar, áðr Hugi felli.
‘The battle-teacher [WARRIOR] shot with both hands; all the lord’s army fought splendidly. White-muzzled arrows flew from the elm-bow which the king bent, before Hugh fell.’
Hǫfðu seggir — þá vas sókn lokit —
heimfǫr þegit at hǫfuðsmanni.
Landsmenn litu of liði gǫfgu
segl sædrifin sett við húna.
heimfǫr þegit at hǫfuðsmanni.
Landsmenn litu of liði gǫfgu
segl sædrifin sett við húna.
‘The men had obtained leave from the leader to return home; then the battle had ended. The countrymen saw foam-sprayed sails, secured to the mast-tops, above the splendid troop.’
Vágr þrútnaði, en vefi keyrði
steinóðr á stag storðar galli.
Braut dýrr dreki und Dana skelfi
hrygg í hverri hafs glymbrúði.
steinóðr á stag storðar galli.
Braut dýrr dreki und Dana skelfi
hrygg í hverri hafs glymbrúði.
‘The sea swelled, and the raging destruction of the sapling [STORM] drove the sails against the stays. The precious dragon beneath the terrifier of the Danes [= Magnús] broke the back in every roaring-bride of the ocean [WAVE].’
Blár ægir skaut búnum svíra;
gjalfr hljóp í gin gollnu hǫfði.
Skein af hausum sem himins eisa
dǫglings dreka djúps valfasti.
gjalfr hljóp í gin gollnu hǫfði.
Skein af hausum sem himins eisa
dǫglings dreka djúps valfasti.
‘The dark ocean struck against the adorned neck; the surge leaped into the jaws of the golden head. The corpse-flame [SWORD (brandr ‘fire’)] of the deep [GOLD] shone like the cinder of heaven [SUN] from the skulls of the ruler’s dragon.’
Framðisk síðan á Svía dróttni
austr við Elfi Upplanda gramr.
Liðskelfir tók ór lǫgum Gauta
fimtán herǫð fránni eggju.
austr við Elfi Upplanda gramr.
Liðskelfir tók ór lǫgum Gauta
fimtán herǫð fránni eggju.
‘The ruler of Opplandene [NORWEGIAN KING = Magnús] then distinguished himself against the lord of the Svíar [SWEDISH RULER = Ingi] east by the Götaälv. The troop-terrifier [WARRIOR] took fifteen herǫð from the law-districts of the Gautar with the sharp sword-edge.’
Reið folkhvǫtuðr fyrst í gǫgnum
sǫmnuð Svía sigri hnugginn.
Malmr dreyrugr varð á meðal hlaupa
hauss ok herða hans andskota.
sǫmnuð Svía sigri hnugginn.
Malmr dreyrugr varð á meðal hlaupa
hauss ok herða hans andskota.
‘The fight-inciter [WARRIOR] rode first through the ranks of the Svíar, deprived of victory. The bloody iron must leap between the skull and shoulders of his enemies.’
Hol merki blés, en Huginn gladdisk
fránn, of hǫfði feðr Sigurðar.
Þann sák fylki með frama mestum
snǫrpu sverði til sigrs vega.
fránn, of hǫfði feðr Sigurðar.
Þann sák fylki með frama mestum
snǫrpu sverði til sigrs vega.
‘The billowing banners blew above the head of Sigurðr’s father [= Magnús] and gleaming Huginn <raven> rejoiced. I saw that leader fighting for victory with the sharp sword with the greatest glory.’
Fylgðak frœknum, sem framast kunnak,
Eysteins fǫður í Atals drífu.
Opt brák hjǫrvi með Haralds frænda
vanr vásfǫrum, þars vega þurfti.
Eysteins fǫður í Atals drífu.
Opt brák hjǫrvi með Haralds frænda
vanr vásfǫrum, þars vega þurfti.
‘I followed the bold father of Eysteinn [= Magnús] in Atall’s <sea-king’s> snow-storm [BATTLE] as best I could. Often I, accustomed to hard journeys, brandished the sword with Haraldr’s kinsman [= Magnús], where one needed to fight.’
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