Hárbarðsljóð
Lay of Harbard
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
1865 translation from Old Norse to English by Benjamin Thorpe from the original Lay of Harbard (Old Norse: Hárbarðsljóð) poem found in the Codex Regius.
Thor journeying from the eastern parts came to a strait or sound, on the other side of which was a ferryman with his boat. Thor cried out:
1
Who is the knave of knaves,
that by the sound stands yonder?
Þórr fór ór Austrvegi ok kom at sundi einu. Öðrum megin sundsins var ferjukarlinn með skipit. Þórr kallaði:
1
Hverr er sá sveinn sveina,
er stendr fyr sundit handan?
2
Ferryman
Who is the churl of churls,
that cries across the water?
2
Ferjukarlinn
Hverr er sá karl karla,
er kallar of váginn?
3
Thor
Ferry me across the sound,
to-morrow I´ll regale thee.
I have a basket on my back:
there is no better food:
at my ease I ate,
before I quitted home,
herrings and oats,
with which I yet feel sated.
3
Þórr
Fer þú mik um sundit,
fæði ek þik á morgun;
meis hef ek á baki,
verðr-a matr in betri;
át ek í hvíld,
áðr ek heiman fór,
síldr ok hafra;
saðr em ek enn þess.
4
Ferryman
Thou art in haste
to praise thy meal:
thou surely hast no foreknowledge;
for sad will be thy home:
thy mother, I believe, is dead.
4
Ferjukarlinn
Árligum verkum
hrósar þú, verðinum;
veizt-at-tu fyrir görla,
döpr eru þín heimkynni,
dauð, hygg ek, at þín móðir sé.
5
Thor
Thou sayest now
what seems to every one
most unwelcome to know –
that my mother is dead.
5
Þórr
Þat segir þú nú,
er hverjum þykkir
mest at vita,
at mín móðir dauð sé.
6
Ferryman
Thou dost not look like one
who owns three country dwellings,
bare-legged thou standest,
and like a beggar clothed;
thou hast not even breeches.
6
Ferjukarlinn
Þeygi er sem þú
þrjú bú góð eigir;
berbeinn þú stendr
ok hefr brautinga gervi,
þatki, at þú hafir brækr þínar.
7
Thor
Steer hitherward thy boat;
I will direct thee where to land.
But who owns this skiff,
which by the strand thou holdest?
7
Þórr
Stýrðu hingat eikjunni,
ek mun þér stöðna kenna, –
eða hverr á skipit,
er þú heldr við landit?
8
Ferryman
Hildolf he is named
who bade me hold it,
a man in council wise,
who dwells in Radsö sound.
Robbers he bade me not to ferry,
or horse-stealers,
but good men only,
and those whom I well knew.
Tell me then they name,
if thou wilt cross the sound.
8
Ferjukarlinn
Hildolfr sá heitir,
er mik halda bað,
rekkr inn ráðsvinni,
er býr í Ráðseyjarsundi;
bað-at hann hlennimenn flytja
eða hrossaþjófa,
góða eina
ok þá, er ek görva kunna;
segðu til nafns þíns,
ef þú vill um sundit fara!
9
Thor
I my name will tell,
(although I am an outlaw)
and all my kin:
I am Odin’s son,
Meili’s brother,
and Magni’s sire,
the gods’ mighty leader:
With Thor thou here mayst speak.
I will now ask
how thou art called.
9
Þórr
Segja mun ek til nafns míns,
þótt ek sekr séak,
ok til alls eðlis:
Ek em Óðins sonr,
Meila bróðir,
en Magna faðir,
þrúðvaldr goða,
við Þór knáttu hér dæma!
Hins vil ek nú spyrja,
hvat þú heitir.
10
Ferryman
I am Harbard called;
seldom I my name conceal.
10
Ferjukarlinn
Hárbarðr ek heiti,
hylk um nafn sjaldan.
11
Thor
Why shouldst thou thy name conceal,
unless thou crime has perpetrated?
11
Þórr
Hvat skaltu of nafn hylja,
nema þú sakar eigir?
12
Harbard
Yet, thou I may crime have perpetrated,
I will nathless gaurd my life
against such as thou art;
unless I death-doomed am.
12
Hárbarðr
En þótt ek sakar eiga,
þá mun ek forða fjörvi mínu
fyr slíkum sem þú ert,
nema ek feigr sé.
13
Thor
It seems to me a foul annoyance
to wade across the strait to thee,
and wet my garments:
but I will pay thee, mannikin!
for thy sharp speeches,
if o’er the sound I come.
13
Þórr
Harm ljótan
mér þykkir í því
at vaða um váginn til þín
ok væta ögur minn;
skylda ek launa
kögursveini þínum
kanginyrði,
ef ek kæmumk yfir sundit.
14
Harbard
Here will I stand,
and here await thee.
Thou wilt have found no stouter one
since Hrungnir’s death.
14
Hárbarðr
Hér mun ek standa
ok þín heðan bíða;
fannt-a þú mann in harðara
at Hrungni dauðan.
15
Thor
Thou now remindest me
how I with Hrungnir fought,
that stout-hearted Jötun,
whose head was all of stone;
yet I made him fall,
and sink before me.
What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard?
15
Þórr
Hins viltu nú geta,
er vit Hrungnir deildum,
sá inn stórúðgi jötunn,
er ór steini var höfuðit á;
þó lét ek hann falla
ok fyrir hníga.
Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?
16
Harbard
I was with Fjölvari
five winters through,
in the isle
which Algrön hight.
There we could fight,
and slaughter make,
many perils prove,
indulge in love.
16
Hárbarðr
Var ek með Fjölvari
fimm vetr alla
í ey þeiri,
er Algræn heitir;
vega vér þar knáttum
ok val fella,
margs at freista,
mans at kosta.
17
Thor
How did your women
prove towards you?
17
Þórr
Hversu snúnuðu yðr konur yðrar?
18
Harbard
Sprightly women we had,
had they but been meek;
shrewd ones we had,
had they but been kind.
Of sand a rope
they twisted,
and from the deep valley
dug the earth:
to them all I alone was
superior in cunning.
I rested with the sisters seven,
and their love and pleasures shared.
What meanwhile didst thou, Thor?
18
Hárbarðr
Sparkar áttu vér konur,
ef oss at spökum yrði;
horskar áttu vér konur,
ef oss hollar væri;
þær ór sandi
síma undu,
ok ór dali djúpum
grund of grófu;
varð ek þeim einn öllum
efri at ráðum;
hvílda ek hjá þeim systrum sjau,
ok hafða ek geð þeira allt ok gaman.
Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?
19
Thor
I slew Thiassi,
that stout-hearted Jötun:
up I cast the eyes
of Allvaldi’s son
into the heaven serene:
they are signs the greatest
of my deeds.
What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard?
19
Þórr
Ek drap Þjaza,
inn þrúðmóðga jötun,
upp ek varp augum
Alvalda sonar
á þann inn heiða himin;
þau eru merki mest
minna verka,
þau er allir menn síðan of séa.
Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?
20
Harbard
Great seductive arts I used
against the riders of the night,
when from their husbands I enticed them.
A mighty Jötun I believed
Hlebard to be:
a magic wand he gave me,
but from his wits I charmed him.
20
Hárbarðr
Miklar manvéla
rek hafða við myrkriður,
þá er ek vélta þær frá verum;
harðan jötun
ek hugða Hlébarð vera,
gaf hann mér gambantein,
en ek vélta hann ór viti.
21
Thor
With evil mind then
thou didst good gifts requite.
21
Þórr
Illum huga
launaðir þú þá góðar gjafar.
22
Harbard
One tree gets that
which is from another scraped:
each one in such case is for self.
What meanwhile didst thou, Thor?
22
Hárbarðr
Þat hefr eik,
er af annarri skefr,
of sik er hverr í slíku.
Hvat vanntu þá meðan Þórr?
23
Thor
In the east I was,
and slew the Jötun brides,
crafty in evil,
as they to the mountain went.
Great would have been the Jötun race,
had they all lived;
and not a man
left in Midgard.
What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard?
23
Þórr
Ek var austr
ok jötna barðak
brúðir bölvísar,
er til bjargs gengu;
mikil myndi ætt jötna,
ef allir lifði
vætr myndi manna
undir Miðgarði.
Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?
24
Harbard
I was in Valland,
and followed warfare;
princes I excited,
but never reconciled.
Odin has all the jarls
that in conflict fall;
but Thor the race of thralls.
24
Hárbarðr
Var ek á Vallandi
ok vígum fylgdak,
atta ek jöfrum,
en aldri sættak;
Óðinn á jarla,
þá er í val falla,
en Þórr á þrælakyn.
25
Thor
Unequally thou wouldst divide
the folk among the Æsir,
if thou but hadst the power.
25
Þórr
Ójafnt skipta
er þú myndir með ásum liði,
ef þú ættir vilgi mikils vald.
26
Harbard
Thor has strength overmuch,
but courage none;
from cowardice and fear,
thou wast crammed into a glove,
and hardly thoughtest thou was Thor.
Thou durst not then,
through thy terror,
either sneeze or cough,
lest Fjalar it might hear.
26
Hárbarðr
Þórr á afl ærit,
en ekki hjarta;
af hræðslu ok hugbleyði
þér var í hanzka troðit,
ok þóttisk-a þú þá Þórr vera;
hvárki þú þá þorðir
fyr hræðslu þinni
hnjósa né físa,
svá at Fjalarr heyrði.
27
Thor
Harbard, thou wretch!
I would strike thee dead,
could I but stretch my arm across the sound.
27
Þórr
Hárbarðr inn ragi,
ek mynda þik í hel drepa,
ef ek mætta seilask um sund.
28
Harbard
Why wouldst thou
stretch they arm across the sound,
when there is altogether no offence?
But what didst thou, Thor?
28
Hárbarðr
Hvat skyldir um sund seilask,
er sakir ro alls engar?
Hvat vanntu þá, Þórr?
29
Thor
In the east I was,
and a river I defended,
when the sons of Svarang
me assailed,
and with stones pelted me,
though in their success they little joyed:
they were the first
to sue for peace.
What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard?
29
Þórr
Ek var austr
ok ána varðak,
þá er mik sóttu
þeir Svárangs synir;
grjóti þeir mik börðu,
gagni urðu þeir þó lítt fegnir,
þó urðu þeir mik fyrri
friðar at biðja.
Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?
30
Harbard
I was in the east,
and with a certain lass held converse;
with that fair I dallied,
and long meetings had.
I that gold-bright one delighted;
the game amused her.
30
Hárbarðr
Ek var austr
ok við einhverja dæmðak,
lék ek við ina línhvítu
ok launþing háðak;
gladdak ina gullbjörtu,
gamni mær unði.
31
Thor
Then you had kind damsels there?
31
Þórr
Góð átt þú þér mankynni þar þá.
32
Harbard
Of thy aid I had need, Thor!
in retaining
that maiden lily-fair.
32
Hárbarðr
Liðs þíns
væra ek þá þurfi, Þórr,
at ek helda þeiri inni línhvítu mey.
33
Thor
I would have given it thee,
if I had had the opportunity.
33
Þórr
Ek munda þér þá þat veita,
ef ek viðr of kæmumk.
34
Harbard
I would have trusted thee,
my confidence
if thou hadst not betrayed it.
34
Hárbarðr
Ek mynda þér þá trúa,
nema þú mik í tryggð véltir.
35
Thor
I am not such a heel-chafer
as an old leather shoe in spring.
35
Þórr
Emk-at ek sá hælbítr
sem húðskór forn á vár.
36
Harbard
What meanwhile didst thou, Thor?
36
Hárbarðr
Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?
37
Thor
The Berserkers’ brides
I on Læssö cudgeled;
they the worst had perpetrated,
the whole people had seduced.
37
Þórr
Brúðir berserkja
barðak í Hléseyju;
þær höfðu verst unnit,
vélta þjóð alla.
38
Harbard
Dastardly didst thou act, Thor!
when thou didst cudgel women.
38
Hárbarðr
Klæki vanntu þá, Þórr,
er þú á konum barðir.
39
Thor
She-wolves they were,
and scarcely women.
They crushed my ship,
which with props I had secured,
with iron clubs threatened me,
and drove away Thialfi.
What meanwhile didst thou, Harbard?
39
Þórr
Vargynjur þat váru,
en varla konur,
skelldu skip mitt,
er ek skorðat hafðak,
ægðu mér járnlurki
en eltu Þjalfa.
Hvat vanntu meðan, Hárbarðr?
40
Harbard
I in the army was,
which was hither sent,
war-banners to raise,
lances to redden.
40
Hárbarðr
Ek vark í hernum,
er hingat gerðisk
gnæfa gunnfana,
geir at rjóða.
41
Thor
Of that thou now wilt speak,
as thou wentest forth
us hard terms to offer.
41
Þórr
Þess viltu nú geta,
er þú fórt oss óljúfan at bjóða.
42
Harbard
That shall be indemnified
by a hand-ring,
such as arbitrators give,
who wish to reconcile us.
42
Hárbarðr
Bæta skal þér þat þá
munda baugi,
sem jafnendr unnu,
þeir er okkr vilja sætta.
43
Thor
Where didst thou learn words
than which I never heard
more irritating?
43
Þórr
Hvar namtu þessi
in hnæfiligu orð,
er ek heyrða aldregi
in hnæfiligri?
44
Harbard
From men I learned them,
from ancient men,
whose home is in the woods.
44
Hárbarðr
Nam ek at mönnum
þeim inum aldrænum,
er búa í heimis skógum.
45
Thor
Thou givest certainly
a good name to grave-mounds,
when thou callest them
homes in the woods.
45
Þórr
Þó gefr þú gott nafn dysjum,
er þú kallar þær heimis skóga.
46
Harbard
So speak I
of such a subject.
46
Hárbarðr
Svá dæmi ek of slíkt far.
47
Thor
Thy shrewd words
will bring thee evil,
if I resolve the sound to ford.
Louder than a wold
thou wilt howl, I trow,
if of my hammer thou gettest a touch.
47
Þórr
Orðkringi þín
mun þér illa koma,
ef ek ræð á vág at vaða;
ulfi hæra
hygg ek þik æpa munu,
ef þú hlýtr af hamri högg.
48
Harbard
Sif has a gallant at home;
thou wilt anxious be to find him:
thou shalt that arduous work perform;
it will beseem thee better.
48
Hárbarðr
Sif á hó heima,
hans muntu fund vilja,
þann muntu þrek drýgja,
þat er þér skyldara.
49
Thor
Thou utterest what comes upmost,
so that to me it be most annoying,
thou dastardly varlet!
I believe thou art lying.
49
Þórr
Mælir þú at munns ráði,
svá at mér skyldi verst þykkja,
halr inn hugblauði,
hygg ek, at þú ljúgir.
50
Harbard
I believe I am telling truth.
Thou art travelling slowly;
thou wouldst have long since arrived,
hadst thou assumed another form.
50
Hárbarðr
Satt hygg ek mik segja;
seinn ertu at för þinni,
langt myndir þú nú kominn,
Þórr,ef þú litum færir.
51
Thor
Harbard! thou wretch!
rather is it thou who has detained me.
51
Þórr
Hárbarðr inn ragi,
heldr hefr þú nú mik dvalðan.
52
Harbard
I never thought
that a ferryman could
the course of Asa-Thor retard.
52
Hárbarðr
Ása-þórs hugða ek
aldregi mundu
glepja féhirði farar.
53
Thor
One advice I now will give thee:
row hither with thy boat;
let us cease from threats;
approach the sire of Magni.
53
Þórr
Ráð mun ek þér nú ráða;
ró þú hingat bátinum,
hættum hætingi,
hittu föður Magna.
54
Harbard
Go farther from the sound,
the passage is refused thee.
54
Hárbarðr
Farðu firr sundi,
þér skal fars synja.
55
Thor
Show me then the way,
if thou wilt not ferry me
across the water.
55
Þórr
Vísa þú mér nú leiðina,
alls þú vill mik eigi um váginn ferja.
56
Harbard
That’s too little to refuse.
‘Tis far to go;
‘tis to the stock an hour,
and to the stone another;
then keep the left hand way,
until thou reachest Verland;
there will Fjörgyn
find her son Thor,
and point out to him
his kinsmen’s ways
to Odin’s land.
56
Hárbarðr
Lítit er at synja,
langt er at fara;
stund er til stokksins,
önnur til steinsins,
haltu svá til vinstra vegsins,
unz þú hittir Verland;
þar mun Fjörgyn
hitta Þór, son sinn,
ok mun hon kenna hánum áttunga brautir
til Óðins landa.
57
Thor
Can I get there to-day?
57
Þórr
Mun ek taka þangat í dag?
58
Harbard
With pain and toil
thou mayest get there,
while the sun is up,
which, I believe, is now nigh.
58
Hárbarðr
Taka við víl ok erfiði,
at upprennandi sólu,
er ek get þána.
59
Thor
Our talk shall now be short,
as thou answerest with scoffing only.
For refusing to ferry me I will reward thee,
if another time we meet.
59
Þórr
Skammt mun nú mál okkat,
alls þú mér skætingu einni svarar;
launa mun ek þér farsynjun,
ef vit finnumk í sinn annat.
60
Harbard
Just go to where
all the powers of evil may have thee.
60
Hárbarðr
Far þú nú,þars þik hafi allan gramir.
