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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Lausavísur — FriðÞ LvVIII (Frið)

Friðþjófr Þorsteinsson

Friðþjófr Þorsteinsson, Lausavísur — Vol. 8 — Margaret Clunies Ross

Margaret Clunies Ross (forthcoming), ‘ Friðþjófr Þorsteinsson, Lausavísur’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry in fornaldarsögur. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 8. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3108> (accessed 27 April 2024)

 

1.
Þat mun ek segja         seggjum várum,
at görla mun farit         gamanferðum.
Skulu ei skatnar         til skips fara,
þvíat nú eru blæjur         á blik komnar.
 
‘I will tell that to our [my] warriors, that pleasure trips will be completely out of bounds. Men must not go to the ship, because bed-sheets have now been placed on the bleaching ground. ’
2.
Snyðja lét ek ór Sogni
(en snótir mjaðar neyttu)
bræddan byrjar sóta
(í Baldrshaga miðjum).
Nú tekr hregg at herða;
hafi dag brúðir góðan,
þær er oss vilja unna,
þótt Elliða fylli.
 
‘I made the tarred steed of the breeze [SHIP] speed out from Sogn, but the ladies were enjoying mead amidst Baldrshagi. Now a squall begins to strengthen; may those women who desire to love us have a happy life, although Elliði may founder. ’
3.
Mjök tekr sjór at svella;
svá er nú drepit skýjum;
því ráða galdrar gamlir,
er gjálfr ór stað færiz.
Ei skal ek við ægi
í ofviðri berjaz;
látum Sólundir seggjum
svellvífaðar hlífa.
 
‘The sea begins to swell greatly; thus clouds are now louring; old spells cause the surge to be moved from its place. I will not fight against the ocean in the violent storm; let us make the ice-covered Sula islands protect the men. ’
4.
Þat var forðum         á Framnesi;
rera ek opt á tal         við Ingibjörgu.
Nú skal ek sigla         í svölu veðri,
láta létt und mér         lögdýr bruna.
 
‘It was long ago at Framnes; I often rowed to have conversation with Ingibjǫrg. Now I must sail in the cold storm, make the sea-animal [SHIP] speed easily beneath me. ’
5.
Eigi sér til Alda
— erum út á brim komnir
frægir fylkis drengir —
fyr gerningaveðri.
Ok standa nú allir
— eru Sólundir horfnar —
átján menn í austri,
er Elliða verja.
 
‘Alden cannot be seen because of a sorcery-induced storm; we have come out on a rough sea, renowned warriors of a king. And all eighteen men, who defend Elliði, are now engaged in baling out; the Sula islands are out of sight. ’
6.
Helgi veldr, at hrannir
hrímfaxaðar vaxa;
er ei, sem bjarta brúði
í Baldrshaga kyssim.
Ólíkt mun mér unna
Ingibjörg eða þengill;
heldr vilda ek hennar
hæfi at minni gæfu.
 
‘Helgi is causing the rime-maned waves to grow; it is not as though we [I] were kissing the radiant woman in Baldrshagi. Ingibjǫrg and the king will love me differently; I would rather her situation [was] to my advantage. ’
7.
Eigi um sér til Alda;
erum vestr í haf komnir;
allr þykki mér ægir,
sem ei*myrju hræri.
Hrynja hávar bárur,
haug verpa svanflaugar;
nú er Elliði orpinn
ákafligri báru.
 
‘Alden cannot be seen; we have come westwards into the ocean; the whole sea seems to me as if it were alive with glowing coals. Towering waves topple down, swan-flights [WAVES] build up a mound; now Elliði is tossed in a furious roller. ’
8.
Mjök drekkr á mik;         mær mun kløkkva,
ef ek skal søkkva         í svana brekku,
— austr er orðinn         í Elliða —
þó lá blæja         á bliki nökkut.
 
‘My ship is taking on a great deal of water; the young woman will sob, if I must sink in the hillside of swans [WAVE], although bed-linen lay ableaching somewhat; baling has taken place on board Elliði. ’
9.
Sat ek á bólstri         í Baldrshaga;
kvað, hvat ek kunna,         fyr konungs dóttur.
Nú skal Ránar         raunbeð troða,
en annarr mun         Ingibjargar.
 
‘I sat on a cushion in Baldrshagi; I recited what I knew before the daughter of the king. Now I must tread the testing bed of Rán <sea-goddess> [SEA], but another will [tread the bed] of Ingibjǫrg. ’
10.
Þess hefk gangs of goldit;
gekk mér en þér eigi
með ambáttir átta
Ingibjörg* at þinga.
Saman höfum brenda bauga
í Baldrshaga lagða;
var þá vilgi fjarri
vörðr Hálfdanar jarða.
 
‘I have paid for this access; Ingibjǫrg went to meet me, but not you, with eight maidservants. We have placed together burnished [gold] rings in Baldrshagi; the guardian of the lands of Hálfdan <Norwegian king> [= Norway > RULER = Helgi?] was then very far away. ’
11.
Brustu báðir hálsar
í báru hafs stórri;
sukku sveinar fjórir
í sæ ógrunnan.
 
‘Both sides of the bow broke apart in the enormous wave of the ocean; four men sank into the deep sea. ’
12.
Nú hefr fjórum         um farit várum
lögr lagsmönnum,         þeim er lifa skyldu.
En Rán gætir         röskum drengjum,
siðlaus kona,         sess ok rekkju.
 
‘Now the sea has destroyed four of our comrades, who should have lived. But Rán <sea-goddess>, immoral woman, provides bench and bed for the brave fellows. ’
13.
Þann skal hring um höggva,
er Hálfdanar átti,
áðr oss tapi ægir,
auðigr faðir, rauðan.
Sjá skal gull á gestum,
ef vér gistingar þurfum
— þat dugir rausnarrekkum —
í Ránar sal miðjum.
 
‘That red-gold ring, which the wealthy father of Hálfdan owned, must be cut up, before the sea can destroy us. Gold must be visible on guests, if we need accommodation in the middle of Rán’s <sea-goddess’s> hall; that is fitting for men of splendour. ’
14.
Sé ek trollkonur         tvær á báru;
þær hefir Helgi         hingat sendar.
Þeim skal sníða         sundr í miðju
hrygg Elliði,         áðr af hafi skríði.
 
‘I see two troll-women on the wave; Helgi has sent them hither. Elliði must slice their spines asunder in the middle, before he glides from the ocean. ’
15.
Heill Elliði!         Hlauptu á báru,
brjóttu í trollkonum         tennr ok enni,
kinnr ok kjálka         í konu vándri,
fót eða báða         í flagði þessu.
 
‘Hail Elliði! Run on the wave, break teeth and foreheads of the troll-women, cheeks and jaw-bone of the wretched woman, one leg or both of this ogress. ’
16.
Ek bar átta         til eldstóar
dæsta drengi         í drifaveðri.
Nú hefi ek segli         á sand komit;
erat hafs megin         hægt at reyna.
 
‘I carried eight fellows, exhausted in the storm of sea-spray, to a fireplace. Now I have brought the sail onto the beach; the power of the ocean is not easy to experience. ’
17.
Þurfum ei, drengir,         dauða at kvíða!
Veri þjóðglaðir,         þegnar mínir!
Þat mun verða,         ef vitu draumar,
at ek eiga mun         Ingibjörgu.
 
‘Comrades, we do not need to be afraid of death! Be really happy, my retainers! It will come about, if dreams are indicative, that I will marry Ingibjǫrg. ’
18.
Þér munuð ekki         oss um kúga,
æðrufullir         eyjarskeggjar!
Heldr mun ek ganga         en griða biðja
einn til ógnar         við yðr tíu.
 
‘You will not tyrannise over us, fearful island-beards! I will rather go alone to battle against you ten than sue for peace. ’
19.
Drukkum forðum         á Framnesi
fræknir drengir         með föður mínum.
Nú sé ek brendan         bæ þann vera;
á ek öðlingum         ilt at gjalda.
 
‘Once we, bold warriors, drank at Framnes with my father. Now I see that farm is burnt; I have to pay back the princes for that evil deed. ’
20.
Einn mun ek ganga         upp frá ströndu;
þarf ek lítit lið         lofða at finna.
Verpið eldi         í jöfra bæ,
ef ek eigi kem         aptr at kveldi.
 
‘I will go alone up from the shore; I need little company to find the rulers. Set fire to the compound of the princes if I do not come back this evening. ’
21.
Taktu við skatti,         skatna dróttinn,
fremstum tönnum,         nema þú framar beiðir!
Silfr er á botni         belgjar niðri,
sem vit Björn höfum         báðir ráðit.
 
‘Receive the tribute, lord of men [RULER = Helgi], together with your front teeth, unless you are asking for more! There is silver down at the bottom of the bag, which Bjǫrn and I have both collected. ’
22.
Helgi varð fyr höggi;
hraut sjóðr á nef kauða;
hneig Hálfdanar hlýri
ór hásæti miðju.
Þar varð Baldr at brenna,
en baugi náða ek áðr;
síðan frá eldi usla
ódrjúgr dró ek bjúga.
 
‘Helgi met with a blow; the purse struck on the wretch’s nose; the brother of Hálfdan [= Helgi] fell from the middle of the high-seat. There Baldr <god> had to burn, but I grabbed the ring beforehand; afterwards I, not sluggish, pulled curved embers out of the fire. ’
23.
Stundum nú til strandar,
— stórt ráðum vér síðan —
þvíat blár logi baukar
í Baldrshaga miðjum.
 
‘Let us make now for the beach, because dark flame is rooting around in the middle of Baldrshagi; we will hatch great plans afterwards.’
24.
Hafa skal ek baug         ór beggja höndum
ór svefnhúsi         seggja meiðma.
Sá er hugr á mér         af þeim hringi digrum;
verðr þeim, er varðar         við lítilmagna.
 
‘I am determined to have a ring out of the sleeping house from both arms of the men of treasures. That thought is upon me on account of that substantial ring; let it belong to the man who protects [it] from a weakling. ’
25.
Gekk ek því frá garði
grundskjöldunga tveggja,
at ek illsögur ætta
†i enni mina grandvær†.
Nær var ek nála Gunni
við gistingar fundinn;
þat rak mik frá húsi
heldur meir, en skyldi.
 
‘I went from the courtyard of the two princes of the land, because I might have malicious stories … . I was found near the Gunnr <valkyrie> of needles [WOMAN = Ingibjǫrg] at the night-lodgings; that drove me from the house rather more than it should have. ’
26.
Kysta ek unga         Ingibjörgu,
Belja dóttur,         í Baldrshaga.
Svá skulu árar         á Elliða
báðar brotna         sem bogi Helga.
 
‘I kissed the young Ingibjǫrg, daughter of Beli, in Baldrshagi. Both oars on Elliði shall break, just like Helgi’s bow. ’
27.
Sigldum vér ór Sogni;
svá fórum vér næstum;
þá lék eldr it efra
í óðali váru.
En nú tekr bál at brenna
í Baldrshaga miðjan;
því mun ek vargr at vísu;
veit ek, því mun heitit.
 
‘We sailed out of Sogn; we travelled that way last time; then fire played high above our family homestead. But now the conflagration begins to burn in the middle of Baldrshagi; for that reason I will certainly [be] an outlaw; I know it will be promised. ’
28.
Mákat ek eiga         * Ingibjörgu,
Belja dóttur,         í Baldrshaga.
Því skal ek hitta         Hring at máli,
hversu er fylkir         fagnar greppi.
 
‘I am not able to marry Ingibjǫrg, daughter of Beli, in Baldrshagi. For that reason I must meet Hringr for a talk, regardless of how the ruler will welcome the man. ’
29.
Vilda ek kjósa         konung í helju
en unga mér         Ingibjörgu,
drykkju mikla,         drengi káta,
en Elliða         upp á hlunnum.
 
‘I would wish to choose for the king [to be] in Hel, and young Ingibjǫrg for myself, great drinking, happy warriors, and Elliði up on rollers. ’
30.
Þá hét ek Friðþjófr,         er ek fór með víkingum,
en Herþjófr,         er ek ekkjur grætta,
Geirþjófr,         er ek gaflökum fleygða,
Gunnþjófr,         er ek gekk at fylki,
Eyþjófr,         er ek útsker rænta,
Helþjófr,         er ek henta smáb*örn*,
Valþjófr,         þá ek var æðri mönnum.
Nú hef ek sveimat síðan         með saltkörlum,
hjálpar þurfandi,         áðr en hingat kom.
 
‘I was called Friðþjófr (‘Peace-thief’), when I travelled with vikings, and Herþjófr (‘Army-thief’), when I made widows weep, Geirþjófr (‘Spear-thief’), when I let fly throwing spears, Gunnþjófr (‘Battle-thief’), when I went towards the host, Eyþjófr (‘Island-thief’), when I plundered outlying skerries, Helþjófr (‘Hel-thief’), when I seized little children, Valþjófr (‘Slain men-thief’), when I was higher than [other] men. Now I have since roamed around with salt burners, needing help, before I came here. ’
31.
Nú skal þér um þakka;
þú hefir prúðliga veitta
— búinn er greppr at ganga —
gisting ara nisti.
Ek man Ingibjörgu
æ, meðan vit lifum bæði;
— hon siti heil — en hljótum
hnoss fyr koss at senda.
 
‘ Now I must thank you; you have splendidly granted hospitality to the feeder of the eagle [WARRIOR = me]; the man is ready to depart. I will remember Ingibjǫrg for ever as long as we both shall live; may she remain well; and we are [I am] obliged to send a precious ornament instead of a kiss. ’
32.
Bú þú, Hringr konungr,         heill ok lengi,
æztr öðlinga         undir Ymis hausi.
Gættu, vísir, vel         vífs ok landa;
skulu vit Ingibjörg         aldri finnaz.
 
‘May you live, King Hringr, fortunate and long, the foremost of princes beneath the skull of Ymir <giant> [SKY/HEAVEN]. Ruler, look after your wife and lands well; Ingibjǫrg and I must never meet [again]. ’
33.
Mun ek þær gjafir         þiggja eigi,
nema frægr hafi         fjörsótt tekit.
 
‘I will not accept those gifts, unless you, famous one, have contracted a life-threatening illness. ’
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