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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Lausavísur from Vǫlsa þáttr — Anon (Vǫlsa)I

Anonymous Lausavísur

Wilhelm Heizmann 2012, ‘ Anonymous, Lausavísur from Vǫlsa þáttr’ 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. 1089. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=2935> (accessed 18 April 2024)

 

1.
Karl hefir búit         ok kona ǫldruð
á andnesi         einhverju.
Átti son         við seima Bil
drengr ok dóttur         drjúgskýrliga.
 
‘An old man and an aged woman used to live on a certain headland. The capable man had a son and a very sensible daughter with the Bil <goddess> of gold [WOMAN].’
2.
Hér megit sjá         heldr rǫskligan
vingul skorinn         af viggs fǫður.
Þér er, ambátt,         þessi vǫlsi
allódaufligr         innan læra.
 
‘Here you can see quite a powerful dong, cut off from the stallion’s father [HORSE]. For you, maid, this rod is not at all dull between the thighs.’
3.
Ek sé gull á gestum         ok guðvefjar skikkjur;
mér fellr hugr til hringa;         heldr vil ek bjúg en ljúga.
Kenni ek þik, konungr minn;         kominn ertu, Óláfr.
 
‘I see gold and cloaks of precious material on the guests; I am pleased by the rings; I would rather be crippled than tell a lie. I recognize you, my king; you have come, Óláfr.’
4.
Aukinn ertu, Vǫlsi,         ok upp um tekinn
líni gæddr         en laukum studdr.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, bóndi sjálfr,         ber þú at þér Vǫlsa!
 
‘You are enlarged, Vǫlsi, and lifted up, provided with linen and supported by leeks. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, the farmer himself, you take Vǫlsi to yourself!’
5.
Mundi eigi,         ef ek um réða,
blæti þetta         borit í aftan.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, sonr bónda,         sé þú við Vǫlsa!
 
‘This offering would not be presented this evening, if I had my way. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, farmer’s son, you take care of Vǫlsi!’
6.
Beri þér beytil         fyrir brúðkonur!
Þær skulu vingul         væta í aftan.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, dóttir bónda,         drag þú at þér Vǫlsa!
 
‘Carry the pintle before the bridesmaids! They shall moisten the dong this evening. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, farmer’s daughter, you pull Vǫlsi towards you!’
7.
Þess sver ek við Gefjun         ok við guðin ǫnnur,
at ek nauðig tek         við nosa rauðum.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En, þræll hjóna,         þríf þú við Vǫlsa!
 
‘I swear by Gefjun and by other deities that I am forced to take the red snout. May Maurnir receive this offering! But, servant of the household, you grab Vǫlsi!’
8.
Hleifr væri mér         hálfu sæmri
þykkr ok økkvinn         ok þó víðr
en vǫlsi þessi         á verkdǫgum.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, þý hjóna,         þrýstu at þér Vǫlsa!
 
‘A loaf of bread would be twice as suitable for me, thick and bulging and yet broad, as this rod on workdays. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, maid of the household, you thrust Vǫlsi onto yourself!’
9.
Víst eigi mætta ek         við um bindast
í mik at keyra,         ef vit ein lægum
í andkætu.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, Grímr, gestr várr,         gríp þú við Vǫlsa!
 
‘Certainly I would not be able to resist driving [it] into myself, if we two were lying alone in mutual pleasure. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, Grímr, our guest, you grab Vǫlsi!’
10.
Legit hefik víða         fyrir andnesjum,
snæfgum hǫndum         segl upp dregit.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, Grímr, griði minn,         gríp þú við Vǫlsa!
 
‘I have lain off headlands far and wide, hoisted the sail with vigorous hands. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, Grímr, my companion, you grab Vǫlsi!’
11.
Sá ek ei forðum         — þó hefik farit víða —
flent reðr fyrri         fara með bekkjum.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, Aðalgrímr,         tak enn við Vǫlsa!
 
‘ I have never before seen a penis with the foreskin pulled back pass first along the benches; yet I have travelled far and wide. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, Aðalgrímr (‘Chief Grímr’), take Vǫlsi too!’
12.
Verit hefik stýrir         ok stafnbúi
ok oddviti         allra þjóða.
Þiggi Maurnir         þetta blæti!
En þú, hundr hjóna,         hirtu bákn þetta!
 
‘I have been the helmsman and prow-man and leader of all peoples. May Maurnir receive this offering! But you, dog of the house, you take care of this monster!’
13.
Hvat er þat manna,         mér ókunnra,
er hundum gefr         heilagt blæti?
Hefi mik um hjarra         ok á hurðása,
vita ef ek borgit fæ         blætinu helga!
Legg þú niðr, Lærir,         ok lát mik eigi sjá
ok svelg eigi niðr,         sártíkin rǫg!
 
‘What man is that, unknown to me, who gives the holy offering to dogs? Lift me over door-hinges and onto door-beams to see if I can save the holy offering. Put [it] down, Lærir, and do not let me see [it] and do not swallow [it], perverted wound-bitch!’
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