Hárbarðsljóð
Translations
in English

Old Norse Poetry

I
Overview of Hárbarðsljóð

Hárbarðsljóð (“The Lay of Harbard”) is a poem that recounts a verbal encounter between the god Thor and a ferryman named Hárbarðr. When Thor seeks passage across a body of water, Hárbarðr refuses to ferry him and instead engages him in a heated exchange of insults and boasts.

The poem is structured as a contest of wit and verbal one-upmanship, in which the two trade accusations, recount past exploits, and mock each other’s character. While Thor emphasizes his strength and heroic deeds, Hárbarðr counters with cunning, sarcasm, and veiled references to his own identity.

Hárbarðsljóð is part of the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems preserved primarily in the medieval Icelandic manuscript known as the Codex Regius.

Themes of Hárbarðsljóð

Verbal contest and masculine rivalry
Honor, reputation, and boasting
Social class tensions
Sexual bragging and moral ambiguity
Conflict between brute force and cunning (Thor vs. Odin-in-disguise)

II
Read Hárbarðsljóð in English

Hárbarðsljóð has been translated into English many times, with each version reflecting different priorities. Some aim for close, literal accuracy, while others focus more on poetic style and readability.

No single translation captures every aspect of the original, and each brings its own perspective and emphasis. Reading more than one version can therefore provide a broader understanding of the poem.