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Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Lausavísur — Vargeisa LvVIII (HjǪ)

Vargeisa/Álfsól

Vargeisa/Álfsól, Lausavísur — Vol. 8 — Richard L. Harris

Richard L. Harris (forthcoming), ‘ Vargeisa/Álfsól, 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=3144> (accessed 25 April 2024)

 

Vargeisa ek heiti;         heyr þú, vísis son,
        viltu, at ek þér í sinni sé?
Allra þinna         tel ek þik þurfa munu
        vel trúra vina.
 
‘I am called Vargeisa; listen, son of a king, do you want me to be of help to you? I reckon you will indeed have need of all your true friends.
Sæk þú Snarvendil;         sigr mun honum fylgja,
hoskr, ef þú, hilmir, vilt         þér í hendi bera.
Koss vil ek af þér         klénan þiggja;
þá muntu mímung         mér ór hendi fá.
 
‘Take Snarvendill; victory will follow it, if you, wise prince, want to carry it in your hand. I want to get a nice kiss from you; then you will get the sword from my hand.
Sel ek þér Snarvendil;         sigr mun honum fylgja,
jöfurr inn stórráði,         um þína aldrdaga.
Snúiz þín æfi æ         til sigrs ok gæfu,
hvar sem þú heim kannar;         hugr er í konungs barni.
 
‘I give you Snarvendill; victory will follow it throughout the days of your life, ambitious prince. May your life always turn to victory and good luck wherever you go in the world; there is courage in the king’s son.
Vertu ei svá ærr, maðr,         at þú Ölvi grandir;
vertu honum heill, hilmir;         hann er þér hollr, fylkir.
Láttu eigi illmæli         æða lund þína;
vel þér vini tryggva;         vertu þeim hollr, dróttinn.
 
‘Do not be so furious, man, that you injure Ǫlvir; be true to him, ruler; he is loyal to you, king. Do not let slander enrage your temperament; choose for yourself trustworthy friends; be loyal to them, lord.
Kjóstu þann þræl         af þengils liði,
        er gefr svínum soð.
Mun þér ei maðr         duga * af mildings hirð,
        ef þér glapvígr geriz.
 
‘Choose that slave from the followers of the prince who gives swill to the swine. A man of the prince’s court will not be of use to you if he reveals himself to you as prone to accidental killing.
Keyptir þú Snarvendil         með kossi einum;
var þat verð lítit,         vel frá ek mér kæmi.
Örr mundir þú af auði,         ef optar svá fengir,
jöfurr inn ógndjarfi         ok einkarhepni.
 
‘You bought Snarvendill with a single kiss; that was a low price, [but] I learnt it was fortunate for me. You would be liberal with riches, if you got such more often, dreadfully bold and very fortunate prince.
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