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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Ynglingatal — Þjóð YtI

Þjóðólfr ór Hvini

Edith Marold with the assistance of Vivian Busch, Jana Krüger, Ann-Dörte Kyas and Katharina Seidel, translated from German by John Foulks 2012, ‘ Þjóðólfr ór Hvini, Ynglingatal’ 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. 3. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1440> (accessed 19 March 2024)

 

Varð framgengt,
þars Fróði bjó,
feigðarorð,
es at Fjǫlni kom.
Ok sikling
svigðis geira
vágr vindlauss
of viða skyldi.
 
‘The word of doom that fell upon Fjǫlnir was fulfilled where Fróði lived. And the windless wave of the spears of the bull [HORNS > BEER] was to destroy the prince.
En dagskjarr
Dúrnis niðja
salvǫrðuðr
Sveigði vélti,
þás í stein
hinn stórgeði
Dusla konr
ept dvergi hljóp.
Ok salr bjartr
þeira Sǫkmímis
jǫtunbyggðr
við jǫfri gein.
 
‘And the daylight-shy guard of the hall of the descendants of Dúrnir <dwarf> [(lit. ‘hall-guard of the descendants of Dúrnir’) DWARFS > ROCK > DWARF] tricked Sveigðir when the great-minded offspring of Dusli [= Sveigðir] ran into the rock after the dwarf. And the bright giant-inhabited hall of Sǫkmímir <giant> and his followers [ROCK] gaped at the prince.
Enn á vit
Vilja bróður
vitta véttr
Vanlanda kom,
þás trollkund
of troða skyldi
líðs Grímhildr
ljóna bága.
Ok sá brann
á beði Skútu
menglǫtuðr,
es mara kvalði.
 
‘And the creature of charms [SORCERESS] got Vanlandi to visit the brother of Vili <god> [= Óðinn] when the troll-descended Grímhildr of strong drink [WOMAN] had to trample the fighter of men [KING]. And that ring-destroyer [GENEROUS MAN] whom the mara tormented burned on the bank of the Skúta.
Ok Vísburs
vilja byrði
sævar niðr
svelgja knátti,
þás meinþjóf
markar ǫttu
setrs verjendr
á sinn fǫður.
Ok allvald
í arinkjóli
glóða garmr
glymjandi beit.
 
‘And the kinsman of the sea [FIRE] swallowed the ship of the will [BREAST] of Vísburr when the defenders of the seat [RULERS] incited the harmful thief of the forest [FIRE] against their father. And the roaring dog of embers [fire] bit the sovereign within the hearth-ship [HOUSE].
Hitt vas fyrr,
at fold ruðu
sverðberendr
sínum dróttni.
Ok landherr
af lífsvǫnum
dreyrug vôpn
Dómalda bar,
þás árgjǫrn
Jóta dolgi
Svía kind
of sóa skyldi.
 
‘It happened earlier that the sword-bearers [WARRIORS] reddened the ground with [the blood of] their leader. And the army of the land bore bloody weapons away from the lifeless Dómaldi when the race of the Swedes, eager for good harvests, had to sacrifice the enemy of the Jótar [= Dómaldi].
Ok þess opt
of yngva hreyr
fróða menn
of fregit hafðak,
hvar Dómarr
á dynjanda
bana Hôalfs
of borinn væri.
Núk þat veit,
at verkbitinn
Fjǫlnis niðr
við Fýri brann.
 
‘And I had often asked learned men about the burial place of the prince, where Dómarr was carried onto the resounding slayer of Hálfr <legendary king> [FIRE]. Now I know that the pain-bitten descendant of Fjǫlnir <ancestor of the Ynglingar> [= Dómarr] burned near Fyrisån.
Kveðkat dul,
nema Dyggva hrør
Glitnis Gnô
at gamni hefr,
þvít jódís
Ulfs ok Narfa
konungmann
kjósa skyldi.
Ok allvald
Yngva þjóðar
Loka mær
of leikinn hefr.
 
‘I call it no secret, but the Gná <goddess> of Glitnir <horse> [= Hel] has the corpse of Dyggvi for [her] pleasure, for the sister of the Wolf and of Narfi [= Hel] had to choose the king . And the maiden of Loki [= Hel] has outplayed the sovereign of the people of Yngvi [= Svíar].
Frák at Dagr
dauða orði
frægðar fúss
of fara skyldi,
þás valteins
til Vǫrva kom
spakfrǫmuðr
Spǫrs at hefna.
Ok þat orð
á austrvega
vísa ferð
frá vígi bar,
at þann gram
of geta skyldi
slǫnguþref
Sleipnis verðar.
 
‘I learned that Dagr, eager for fame, had to depart by the word of death when the wise wielder of the twig of the slain [SWORD > WARRIOR] came to Vǫrvi to avenge Spǫrr. And the retinue of the leader bore the news from the fight to the east , that the flung grasper of the meal of Sleipnir <horse> [HAY > PITCHFORK] had to get that prince.
Þat telk undr,
ef Agna her
Skjalfar rôð
at skǫpum þóttu,
þás gœðing
með gollmeni
Loga dís
at lopti hóf,
hinns við †tꜹr†
temja skyldi
svalan hest
Signýjar vers.
 
‘I call it a wonder if Skjǫlf’s plans seemed to the liking of Agni’s troop when the sister of Logi [= Skjǫlf] heaved the prince aloft with the gold neck-ring, the one who had to tame the cool horse of the lover of Signý [= Hagbarðr > GALLOWS] near …
Fell Alrekr,
þars Eireki
bróður vôpn
at bana urðu.
Ok hnakkmars
með hǫfuðfetlum
Dags fríendr
of drepask kvôðu.
Fráat maðr áðr
eykja greiði
Freys afspring
í folk hafa.
 
‘Alrekr fell where the weapons of his brother became the slayer of Eiríkr. And [people] said that the kinsmen of Dagr [= Swedish kings] killed one another with the bridle of the saddle-horse. No one has heard before of an offspring of Freyr [= Swedish king] using riding gear in battle.
Ok varð hinn,
es Ôlfr of vá,
vǫrðr véstalls
of veginn liggja,
es dǫglingr
dreyrgan mæki
ǫfundgjarn
á Yngva rauð.
Vasa þat bært,
at Bera skyldi
valsœfendr
vígs of hvetja,
þás brœðr tveir
at bǫnum urðusk
óþurfendr
of afbrýði.
 
‘And that guardian of the altar of the sanctuary [KING], whom Álfr slew, had to lie slain when the envy-ridden ruler reddened the bloody sword upon Yngvi. It was not right that Bera had to incite the slaughterers of the slain [WARRIORS] to fight when the two brothers needlessly became each other’s slayers out of jealousy.
Varð Jǫrundr,
hinns endr of dó,
lífs of lattr
í Limafirði,
þás hábrjóstr
hǫrva Sleipnir
bana Goðlaugs
of bera skyldi.
Ok Hagbarðs
hersa valdi
hǫðnu leif
at halsi gekk.
 
‘Jǫrundr, the one who died long ago, was deprived of his life in Limfjorden when the high-breasted Sleipnir <horse> of flax cords [GALLOWS] had to carry the slayer of Guðlaugr [= Jǫrundr]. And the remnant of the kid [LEATHER STRAP] of Hagbarðr <Danish legendary hero> [NOOSE] went around the neck of the lord of hersar [KING].
Knátti endr
at Uppsǫlum
ánasótt
Aun of standa.
Ok þrálífr
þiggja skyldi
jóðs alað
ǫðru sinni.
Ok sveiðurs
at sér hverfði
mækis hlut
inn mjávara,
es okhreins
ôttunga rjóðr
lǫgðis odd
liggjandi drakk.
Máttit hárr
hjarðar mæki
austrkonungr
upp of halda.
 
‘Decrepitude long ago overtook Aunn at Uppsala. And the one tenacious of life had to receive the food of an infant a second time. And he turned the narrower part of the sword of the bull [HORN] toward himself when the reddener of kinsmen [= Aunn] drank lying down [from] the tip of the sword of the yoke-reindeer [BULL > HORN]. The grey-haired eastern king could not hold up the sword of the bull [HORN].
Ok lofsæll
ór landi fló
Týs ôttungr
Tunna ríki.
En flæmingr
farra trjónu
jǫtuns eykr
á Agli rauð,
sás of austmǫrk
áðan hafði
brúna hǫrg
of borinn lengi.
En skíðlauss
Skilfinga nið
hœfis hjǫrr
til hjarta stóð.
 
‘And the famous descendant of Týr <god> [= Swedish king] fled the country before the power of Tunni. And the roamer, the draught-animal of the giant [BULL], which before had long borne the cairn of the brows [HEAD] about the eastern forest, reddened its weapon of the bull [HORN] upon Egill. And the sheathless sword of the bull [HORN] stuck in the heart of the descendant of the Skilfingar [= Swedish king].
Fell Óttarr
und ara greipar
dugandligr
fyr Dana vôpnum.
Þann hergammr
hrægum fœti
ðs borinn
á Vendli sparn.
Þau frák verk
Vǫtts ok Fasta
sœnskri þjóð
at sǫgum verða,
at eylands
jarlar Fróða
vígfrǫmuð
of veginn hǫfðu.
 
‘The valiant Óttarr fell beneath the talons of the eagle before the weapons of the Danes. The battle-vulture [RAVEN/EAGLE], come from afar, trod him with flesh-hung foot at Vendill. I have learned that these deeds of Vǫttr and Fasti became legends for the Swedish people, that the jarls of Fróði from the island had killed the inciter of war [WARRIOR].
Þat frák enn,
at Aðils fjǫrvi
vitta véttr
of viða skyldi.
Ok dáðgjarn
af drasils bógum
Freys ôttungr
falla skyldi.
Ok við aur
ægir hjarna
bragnings burs
of blandinn varð.
Ok dáðsæll
deyja skyldi
Ála dolgr
at Uppsǫlum.
 
‘ I have learned, further, that the creature of charms [SORCERESS] had to destroy the life of Aðils. And the deed-eager descendant of Freyr [= Swedish king] had to fall off the back of the steed. And the sea [fluid] of the brains of the son of the ruler [RULER] was blended with mud. And the deed-fortunate enemy of Áli had to die at Uppsala.
Veitk Eysteins
enda folginn
lokins lífs
á Lófundi.
Ok sikling
með Svíum kvôðu
józka menn
inni brenna.
Ok bitsótt
í brandnói
hlíðar þangs
á hilmi rann,
þás timbrfastr
toptar nǫkkvi
flotna fullr
of fylki brann.
 
‘I know the end of the concluded life of Eysteinn to be hidden in Lófund. And among the Swedes [people] said that men from Jutland burned the ruler inside [a house]. And the biting sickness of the sea-weed of the hill-slope [FOREST > FIRE] attacked the ruler in the fire-ship [HOUSE] when the timber-fast boat of the building plot [HOUSE], full of seafarers, burned over the ruler.
Þat stǫkk upp,
at Yngvari
Sýslu kind
of sóit hafði.
Ok Ljósham*
við lagar hjarta
herr eistneskr
at hilmi vá.
Ok austmarr
jǫfri sœnskum
Gymis ljóð
at gamni kveðr.
 
‘Word spread quickly, that the people of Sýsla had slain Yngvarr. And an Estonian force attacked the ruler, Ljóshamr (‘the Light-skinned’), at the heart of the water [ISLAND]. And the Baltic sea sings the songs of Gymir <sea-giant> to the delight of the Swedish ruler.
Varð Ǫnundr
Jónakrs bura
harmi heptr
und Himinfjǫllum.
Ok ofvæg
Eistra dolgi
heipt hrísungs
at hendi kom.
Ok sá frǫmuðr
foldar beinum
Hǫgna *reyrs
of horfinn vas.
 
‘Ǫnundr was killed by the pain of the sons of Jónakr [STONES] beneath Himinfjǫll. And the crushing hatred of the bastard [STONES] came upon the enemy of the Estonians [= Ǫnundr]. And that wielder of the reed of Hǫgni <legendary hero> [SWORD > WARRIOR] was surrounded by the bones of the earth [STONES].
Ok Ingjald
ífjǫrvan trað
reyks rausuðr
á Ræningi,
þás húsþjófr
hyrjar leistum
goðkynning
í gǫgnum sté.
Ok sá yrðr
allri þjóðu
sanngǫrvastr
með Svíum þótti,
es hann sjalfr
sínu fjǫrvi
frœknu fyrstr
of fara skyldi.
 
‘And the gusher of smoke [FIRE] overcame Ingjaldr alive in Ræningr when the house-thief [FIRE] strode with soles of fire through the descendant of gods. And among the Swedes that fate seemed the most just to all people that he himself should be the first, valiantly, to end his life.
Ok við vág
†hinn es viðjar†
hræ Ôleifs
hofgylðir svalg.
Ok glóðfjalgr
gǫrvar leysti
sonr Fornjóts
af Svía jǫfri.
Sá áttkonr
frá Uppsǫlum
lofða kyns
fyr lǫngu hvarf.
 
‘And the temple-wolf [FIRE] swallowed the corpse of Óláfr near the bay, †...†. And the ember-hot son of Fornjótr <giant> [FIRE] loosed the clothes from the ruler of the Swedes. That descendant of the kindred of rulers [KINGS > KING] disappeared from Uppsala long ago.
Þat frá hverr,
at Halfdanar
sǫkmiðlendr
sakna skyldu.
Ok hallvarps
hlífi-Nauma
þjóðkonung
á Þótni tók.
Ok Skæreið
í Skíringssal
of brynjalfs
beinum drúpir.
 
‘Everyone learned that the mediators had to feel the loss of Hálfdan. And the protecting Nauma <goddess> of the cairn [= Hel] took the mighty king in Toten. And Skæreið mourns over the bones of the mailcoat-elf [WARRIOR] in Skíringssalr.
En Eysteinn
fyr ási fór
til Býleists
bróður meyjar.
Ok nú liggr
und lagar beinum
rekks lǫðuðr
á raðar braddi,
þars élkaldr
hjá jǫfur gauzkum
Vǫðlu straumr
at vági kømr.
 
‘And Eysteinn went because of the sail-yard to the maiden of the brother of Býleistr <mythological being> [= Loki > = Hel]. And now the inviter of the warrior [RULER] lies under the bones of the sea [STONES] at the edge of the ridge where the blizzard-cold stream of the Vaðla empties into the bay near the Gautish prince.
Ok til þings
þriðja jǫfri
Hveðrungs mær
ór heimi bauð,
þás Halfdanr,
sás Holtum bjó,
norna dóms
of notit hafði.
Ok buðlung
á Borrói
sigrhafendr
síðan fôlu.
 
‘And the maiden of Hveðrungr <= Loki> [= Hel] invited a third ruler out of the world to a meeting when Hálfdan, who lived in Holtan, had used up the allotment of the norns. And afterwards the victorious ones buried the ruler in Borre.
Varð Goðrøðr
inn gǫfugláti
lómi beittr,
sás fyr lǫngu vas.
Ok umráð
at ǫlum stilli
hǫfuð heiptrœkt
at hilmi dró.
Ok launsigr
inn lómgeði
Ôsu ôrr
af jǫfri bar.
Ok buðlungr
á beði fornum
Stíflusunds
of stunginn vas.
 
‘Guðrøðr inn gǫfugláti (‘the Splendid’), who lived long ago, was dealt with using treachery. And a hate-filled head brought a plot against the drunk ruler, against the leader. And the treacherous-minded servant of Ása won a hidden victory against the prince. And the king was stabbed on the ancient shore of Stíflusund.
Ok niðkvísl
í Nóregi
þróttar Þrós
of þróazk hafði.
Réð Ôleifr
ofsa forðum
víðri grund
of Vestmari,
unz fótverkr
við Foldar þrǫm
vígmiðlung
of viða skyldi.
Nú liggr gunndjarfr
á Geirstǫðum
herkonungr
haugi ausinn.
 
‘And the descendants of the Þrór <god> of strength had flourished in Norway. Óláfr once ruled powerfully over a wide area across Vestmarir, until a foot disease was to destroy the battle-dealer [WARRIOR] at the edge of Fold. The war-daring king of the host now lies surrounded by a mound in Geirstaðir.
Þat veitk bazt
und blôum himni
kenninafn,
svát konungr eigi,
es Rǫgnvaldr,
reiðar stjóri,
heiðumhôr
of heitinn es.
Ok mildgeðr
markar dróttinn
 
‘I know that nickname to be the best under the blue sky that a king might have, that Rǫgnvaldr, the steerer of the carriage [RULER], is called ‘High with Honours’. And the generous-minded lord of the forest...
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