Hildina
The ballad of Hildina
1. It was the Earl of Orkney
who asked his kin to say
if he should take the maiden
from her misery,
from the gleaming hall away.
from the gleaming hall away.
2. "If the maiden from the gleaming hall
thou takest, oh cousin mine,
as long as the world shall stand
it will be laid to thine."
3. Home comes the noble king
from his journey.
Gone is the lady Hildina;
At home the stepmother stands.
4. "Whichever land he goes,
thus shall it be:
he shall be hanged on the highest tree
from which roots flow.
5. "But should the Earl reach Orkney,
Saint Magnus will hold sway.
In Orkney he will ever bide:
to ship, to ship again!"
6. He gave his queen
a blow on the cheek;
Truly the tears ran
down her white cheeks.
7. In comes the Earl
and pats Hildina on the cheek:
"Who would you rather see dead,
me or your father?"
8. "I would rather see dead
my father and all his train,
if thus my true lord and I
in Orkney long may reign.
9. "Now take your horse in hand
and ride down to the shore
and hail my father blithely;
he'll be willing to treat."
10. Now the King answers,
though much against his will:
"What are you willing to give me
in payment for my daughter?"
11. "Thirty marks of red gold,
this to you I'll give,
and never will you be sonless
as long as I shall live."
12. Now long stood the King
and long looked him through.
"You are worth many sons;
I wish us to agree.
12b. " . . . Then would I fear no stranger
who came upon my shore."
13. Now answers Hiluge
-- Lord, give him shame! --:
"Take payment for Hildina
in the way I shall propose.
14. "Every horse and four-footed beast
that can walk in a furrow;
Every horse and four-footed beast
that can pull a plough."
15. Now stood the Earl
and long looked him through:
"This give not the Orkneymen
as long as I shall live."
16. "Now takes he not the true way,
the King your father;
and all that I have Hiluge
instead will gain."
17. Now answers the Lady Hildina
from the chamber within:
"Fight then a battle,
let it turn out as it may!"
18. Now the Earl steps into
the field of battle
and calls his men,
good beards of Orkney . . .
19. "He has come
into your field.
His kinsman runs before
the well-born men."
20. Now the lady Hildina
steps forth in the field:
"Father if you act manfully
you won't let more men die."
21. Now answers Hiluge
-- The Lord God bring him shame! --:
"Not until the Earl your friend
is lying dead."
22. Now had the Earl his deathblow
-- none might heal him.
Hiluge threw his head into her lap,
And swelled her grief.
23. "You promised me reward
if boldly I fared from land.
Give me now the lady Hildina
with gold and a firm bond."
24. "You must abide till the child is born
and wears its own clothes.
Then shall the lady Hildina
make her own choice."
25. Hildina lies in the tent,
eyes dark from weeping.
While they prepare the wedding
she puts sleep in the drink.
26. Now Hildina she asks
of her father:
"Give me leave to serve the wine
and to pour the wine."
27. "You shall serve the wine
and pour the wine;
think not of the Earl,
of your good lord."
28. "Though I should think of the Earl,
that good lord of mine,
yet should I no treason bear
against my father dear."
29. Thus did the lady Hildina:
the mead she carries forth;
she puts to sleep her father,
her father and all who were there.
30. Thus did the lady Hildina,
she bore them away from the hall;
then she laid embers
in the outermost entrance.
31. Now Hiluge didn't know
anything until
the fire reached the attic door
and his small silk shirt.
32. Now Hiluge runs to the gate . . .
"Ah, dearest lady Hildina,
give me life and mercy!"
33. "Such mercy and as good,
this shall you have,
as you yourself my lord
in battle gave.
34. "Little you thought it that I
should see his belly bleed;
you threw his head into my lap,
and swelled my grief."
35. Now she has buried his treachery
under both earth and stone.
"Never more shall you bring
harm to the king's child."
*
This is my attempt at a translation of the Hildina ballad, a remarkable relic of the Norn language once spoken in Shetland and Orkney. You can read about it on Wikipedia, or (better) in this PDF by Michael Barnes:
https://www.shetlanddialect.org.uk/assets/files/papers%20and%20articles/NORNORK2.pdf
I had just read Sir Walter Scott's novel The Pirate (1822), which is set in the Shetlands at the end of the 17th century. Scott often mentions the inhabitants speaking a Norse language, and invents poems supposedly based on Norse originals, such as the terrific "Song of the Reimkennar".
Scott must have seen the Rev. George Low's transcript of the Hildina ballad, which was published in 1805, in Appendix X of George Barry's History of the Orkney Islands, pp. 484-490.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=szUoAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
But Scott wouldn't have been able to understand it, though capitalized names like "Hildina" would have stood out. It was only after his death that Norwegian scholars began to make sense of Low's phonetic transcription.
All Scott would have known is what was stated in the head-note:
A BALLAD, in the same Language ["Norse"], taken from the Mouth of an Old Man in the same Island ["Fula"], during the same Tour ["Mr LOW's Tour, MS. 1774"], the subject of which is a contest between a King of NORWAY and an Earl of ORKNEY, who had married the King's Daughter, in her Father's absence, and without his consent.
It was only this shadow that underlay Scott's splendid gallimaufry of a novel, but it was a potent one.
SCRATCHPAD.
These are my workings, which I was going to delete, but then I thought my laborious copying out of e.g. Marius Hægstad's Landsmaal translation might be helpful to someone else one day.
Each stanza appears in the following forms:
GL : George Low's transcript, taken down from recitation by William Henry on Foula in 1774. Low didn't know any Scandinavian language. Michael Barnes thinks Norn became effectively extinct in the early 1700s. Thus he thinks William Henry should be classed as a "rememberer" rather than a speaker with full command of Norn. In any case Norn had never been a written language, so there was no correct way to render it. Low's text was first published in 1805, in George Barry's History of the Orkney Islands, and that's how it eventually came to the attention of the Norwegian scholars P. A. Munch and Sophus Bugge.
GLC: George Low's transcript tentatively corrected into meaningful language by Marius Hægstad (1900). Source:
[In 1984 Eigil Lehmann produced a fully normalized version. I didn't make any use of it because I didn't know about it, but you can compare it with GLC in this valuable study by Mariano González Campo: https://scispace.com/pdf/the-norn-hildina-ballad-from-the-shetland-islands-227wky1h2a.pdf (PDF).]
MHON: GL back-converted into Old Norse, I think mainly by P. A. Munch and Sophus Bugge, corrected by Marius Hægstad. Source:
https://nornlanguage.x10.mx/shet_txt_hild.htmMHONT: translation of the Old Norse into English, mainly using the automatic translator on Polytranslator. It's what it is. Sometimes corrected by me when palpably wrong, but mostly not.
ER: the English rendering on
https://nornlanguage.x10.mx/shet_txt_hild.htm . The editors (unnamed) drew on various former versions.
2.
3.
The nobleman comes home
from the journey
away from the place where Lady Hildina
is at home, the stepmother stands.
4.
"Where he is in the lands
this may be true
he shall be hanged on the highest tree
from which the roots run away."
5.
"If the earl comes to Orkney,
6.
He gives the queen
7.
"Then comes the earl
And slaps Hild under the chin;
'Who do you want to be dead,
me or your father?"
https://nornlanguage.x10.mx/shet_txt_hild.htm . The editors (unnamed) drew on various former versions.
MHL: Marius Hægstad, "Hildinakvadet", a translation into Landsmaal (aka Landsmål, the version of Norwegian that became Nynorsk) in Syn og Segn (1901): https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cU9DAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA13&dq=hildinakvadet&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk1LDVhKKQAxWJXEEAHenHCJcQuwV6BAgLEAc#v=onepage&q=hildinakvadet&f=false .
This was a great help to me as my moderate command of Swedish enabled me to read most of it easily. However it's quite a free rendering, as MH admits, and there are also a fair number of typos.
MHLT: translation of the Landsmaal into English, mainly using automatic translators (Google Translate Norwegian, Polytranslator Nynorsk). It's what it is. Often palpably wrong, even nonsensical, but usually not corrected by me.
MP: my rough draft in English. Of course I built largely on other people's ideas, e.g. "gleaming hall" comes from Norah Kershaw's 1921 translation.
*
The ballad of Hildina
1.
GL
Da vara Jarlin d'Orkneyar
For frinda sǐn spur de ro
Whirdi an skildè meun
Our glas buryon burtaga.
GLC
Da vara Iarlin o Orkneyar
for frinda sĭn spirde ro,
whirdì an skildè meun
or vannaro eidnar fuo –
Or glasburyon burtaga.
MHON
Þat var jarlinn af [ór] Orkneyjum
fyrir frænda sínum spurði ráð(a)
hvort hann skyldi meyna
ór vandaráði hennar fá -
ór glasborginni burt taka?
MHONT
That was the earl from the Orkneys
who asked his kinsman for advice
whether he should the maiden
from her trouble take -
take her away from the glass fortress?
ER
It was the Earl from Orkney,
And counsel of his kin sought he,
Whether he should the maiden
Free from her misery.
MHL
Det var jarlen or Orknøyom,
han spurde sin frende um raad,
um han skulde den møyi
or vanden hennar faa, --
or glasborgi burt-taga.
MHLT
It was the earl of Orkney,
he asked his relative for advice,
if he should take the maiden
from her trouble, --
or take her from the glass castle.
MP
It was the Earl of Orkney,
he asked his kin for advice
if he should free the maiden
from her misery,
from the gleaming hall away.
2.
GL
Or vanna ro eidnar fuo
Tega du meun our glas buryon
Kere friendè min yamna men
Eso vrildan stiendi gede min vara to din.
GLC
“Tega du meun our glasburyon,
kere friendè min,
yamna meun eso vrildan stiendi,
gede min vara to din.”
MHON
“Tekr þú meyna ór glasborginni
kæri frændi minn
jafnan meðan þessi verǫldin stendr
getit mun vera til þín.”
MHONT
Do you take the maiden from the glass castle,
dear cousin of mine,
always while this world stands,
it will be for you.
ER
"If thou free the maid from her gleaming hall,
O kinsman dear of mine,
Ever while the world shall stand
Thy glory still shall shine."
MHL
"Teker du møyi or glasborgi,
kjære venen min,
so lenge som denne verdi stend
skal spyrjast mannskapen din."
MHLT
"Do you take care of Glasborg,
my dear friend,
as long as this value stands
your crew will be questioned."
MP
"If the maiden from the gleaming hall
you take, oh cousin mine,
As long as the world shall stand
this shall be laid to thine."
3.
GL
Yom keimir cullingin
Fro liene burt
Asta Vaar hon fruen Hildina
Hemi stu mer stien.
GLC
Yom keimir eullingin
fro liene;
burt asta vaar hon fruen Hildina,
hemi stu-mer stien.
MHON
Heim kemr ǫðlingrinn
frá leiðinni
burt af stað var hon frúin Hildina
heima stjúpmóðir stendr.
MHONT
The nobleman comes home
from the journey
away from the place where Lady Hildina
is at home, the stepmother stands.
ER
Home came the king,
Home from the ship's levy
The lady Hildina she was gone,
And only her stepmother there found he.
MHL
Heim kjemer edlingen
fraa leiding med sine menn.
Burte og vekk var fru Hildina;
heime stykmôr stend.
MHLT
The nobleman returns home
from the war with his men.
Away and away was Mrs. Hildina;
at home the stepmother stood.
MP
Home comes the noble king
from his journey
the lady Hildina has gone
At home the stepmother stands
4.
GL
Whar an yaar elonden
Ita kan sadnast wo
An scal vara kundè
Wo osta tre sin reithin ridna dar fro
GLC
“Whar an yaar e londen
ita kan sadnast wo,
an scal vara heindè wo osta tre,
sin reithin rìdna darfro”.
MHON
“Hvar hann er í lǫndum
þetta kann sannast á
hann skal vera hengdr á hœsta tré(t)
sem rótum rennr þar frá.”
MHONT
"Where he is in the lands
this may be true
he shall be hanged on the highest tree
from which the roots run away."
ER
"Be he in whatever land,
This will I prove true,
He shall be hanged from the highest tree
That ever upward grew."
MHL
"Kvar han er i landi
dette kann sannast paa,
han skal verta hengd i det høgste tre
som rotom renner ifraa."
MHLT
"Where in the world is he
this can be true,
he shall be hanged on the highest tree
from which roots flow."
MP
"Whichever land he goes
Thus shall it be
He shall be hanged on the highest tree
from which roots flow.
5.
GL
Kemi to Orkneyar Jarlin
Vilda mien sante Maunis
I Orknian u bian sian
I lian far diar.
GLC
“Kemi to Orkneyar Iarlin,
sante Maunis vilda mien,
i Orknian u bian sian,
i lian far di an”.
MHON
“Komi til Orkneyja jarlinn
sankti Magnús valda mun,
í Orkneyjum æ biðr hann síðan,
í leiðina far þú enn”.
MHONT
"If the earl comes to Orkney,
Saint Magnus will rule,
In Orkney he will always pray,
On the way, you shall go again."
ER
"If the Earl but come to Orkney,
Saint Magnus will be his aid,
And in Orkney ever he will remain—
Haste after him with speed."
MHL
"Kjemer jarlen til Orknøyar,
St. Magnus kann styra det so:
han vert der verande all si tid;
far difor etter han no."
MHLT
"If the earl comes to the Orkney Islands,
St. Magnus can rule it as:
he will remain there all his time;
therefore go after him now."
MP
"Should the Earl reach Orkney
Saint Magnus will hold sway;
In Orkney he will ever bide:
To ship, to ship again!"
6.
GL
An gevè Drotnign kedn puster
On de kin firsane furu
Tworare wo eder
Whitranè kidn.
GLC
An gevè Drotnign
kednpuster onde kin;
fir sane furu tworone
wo edner whitranè kidn.
MHON
Hann gefr drottningrinn
kinnpúst undir kinn;
fyrir sǫnnu fóru tárin(i)
á hennar hvítrandi [hvít(a)ri] kinn.
MHONT
He gives the queen
a slap under the cheek;
truly the tears flowed
on her white cheek.
ER
The King he stood before his lady,
And a box on her ear gave he,—
And all adown her lily white cheeks
The tears did flow truly.
MHL
Daa gav han dronningi
ein kinnhest under kinn;
med sanno rann det taaror
paa hennar kvitare kinn.
MHLT
Then he gave the queen
a cheekbone under the cheek;
of course tears flowed
on her fairer cheeks.
MP
He gave his queen
a blow on the cheek;
Truly the tears ran
down her white cheeks.
7.
GL
In kimerin Jarlin
U klapasse Hildina
On de kidn quirto
Vult doch, fiegan vara moch or fly din.
GLC
In kimer in Iarlin
u klapa se Hildina onde kidn;
“Quirto vult doch fiegan vara
moch or fy din?”
MHON
Inn kemr enn jarlinn
Ok klappar svá Hildinu undir kinn;
“Hvort vilt þú feigan vera
mig eðr fǫðr þinn?”
MHONT
"Then comes the earl
And slaps Hild under the chin;
'Who do you want to be dead,
me or your father?"
ER
The Earl he stood before Hildina,
And a pat on her cheek gave he,—
"O which of us two wouldst thou have lie dead,
Thy father dear of me?
MHL
Inn kjemer den jarlen,
klappar Hildina under kinn:
"Kven vil du no feig skal vera,
eg eller fa'er din?"
MHLT
The earl comes in,
claps Hildina under the cheek:
"Who do you want to be the coward now,
me or your father?"
MP
In comes the Earl
and pats Hildina on the cheek
"Who would you rather see dead,
me or your father?"
8.
GL
Elde vilda fiegan vara
Fy min u alt sin
Ans namnu wo
So minyach u ere min heve Orkneyar kingè ro.
GLC
“Elde vild-a fiegan vara
fy min u alt sin ans namn u wo;
so min yach u ere min heve
Orkneyar lingè ro.
MHON
“Heldr vilda ek feigan vera
fǫðr minn ok allt sem hans nafn er á;
Svá mun ek ok herra minn hæfi
Orkneyjum lengi ráða.
MHONT
"I would rather be dead than be my father and all that his name is on; Thus I will also my lord rule over Orkney for a long time."
ER
"I would rather see my father doomed,
And all his company,
If so my own true lord and I
May long rule in Orkney.
MHL
"Heller vilde eg fâr var feig
og alt som hans namn er paa;
daa skulde eg og min hæve herre
Orknøyar lenge raa'.
MHLT
"I would rather be a coward
and all that his name is on;
then I and my high lord
Orkney would long reign.
MP
"I would rather see dead
my father and all his train,
if thus my true lord and I
in Orkney long may reign.
9.
GL
Nu di skall taga dor yochwo
And u ria dor to strandane nir
U yilsa fy minu avon
Blit an ear ne cumi i dora band.
GLC
Nu di skall taga dor yoch wo and
u ria dor nir to strandane
u yilsa fy minu avon blit;
an earni cumi i dora band.
MHON
Nú þú skalt taka þér eyk [hest] á hǫnd
ok ríða þér niðr til strandarinnar
og heilsa fǫðr mínum afandi blítt;
hann gjarna kœmi [komi?] í ykkar band.
MHONT
Now you shall take a horse in hand
and ride down to the shore
and greet my father kindly;
he would gladly come to your aid.
ER
"Now do thou take in hand thy steed,
And ride thou down to the strand;
And do thou greet my sire full blithely,
And gladly will he clasp thy hand."
And ride thou down to the strand;
And do thou greet my sire full blithely,
And gladly will he clasp thy hand."
MHL
"No skal du taka ein gangar fram
og rida deg ned til strand,
og helsa fâr min ovende blidt:
maa henda de semjast kann."
MHLT
"Now you must take a step forward
and ride down to the beach,
and greet my father gently:
maybe they can agree."
MP
"Now take your horse in hand
and ride down to the shore
and hail my father blithely;
he will gladly make a bond."
10.
GL
Nu Swaran Konign
So mege gak honon i muthi
Whath ear di ho gane mier
I daute buthe.
GLC
No swara an Konign
- so mege gak honon i muthi -:
“Whar ear di ho gave mier
i daute-buthe?”
MHON
Nú svarar hann konungr
- svá mikit gekk honum í móti -:
“Hvar gjarna eigar [átt] þú at gefa mér
í dóttr-bœtr?”
MHONT
Now the king answers him - so much went against him -: "Where would you like to give me in daughter compensation?"
ER
The King he now made answer—
So sore displeased was he—
"In payment for my daughter
What will thou give to me."
MHL
No svara konongen
-- so mykje gjekk honom imot --
"Kva hev du aa gjeva meg
i dotterbot?"
MHLT
Now the king answered
-- so much went against him --
"What have you to give me
in dowry?"
MP
Now the King answers,
though much against his will:
"What are you willing to give me
in payment for my daughter?"
11.
GL
Trettì merkè vath ru godle
Da skall yach ger yo
U all de vara sonna less
So linge sin yach liva mo.
GLC
“Tretti merkè vath ru godle,
da skall yach ger yo
u allde vara sonnaless,
so linge sin yach liva mo”.
MHON
“Þrjátíu merkr við [með] rauðu gulli,
Þá skal ek þér ljá
ok aldrig vera sonalauss
svá lengi sem ek lifa má.
MHONT
"Thirty marks with red gold,
Then I shall lend you
and never be without a son
for as long as I may live."
ER
"Thirty marks of the red gold,
This to thee will I give,
And never shalt thou lack a son
As long as I may live."
MHL
MHLT
MP
"Thirty marks of red gold
This to thee will I give;
And never shalt thou be sonless
So long as I shall live."
12.
GL
Nu linge stug an konign
U linge wo a swo
Wordig vaar dogh mugè sonè
Yacha skier fare moga so minde yach angan u frien
Rost wath comman mier to landa.
GLC
Nu linge stug an Konign,
u linge wo an swo:
“Wordig vaar dogh mugè sonè;
yach askier fare moga so.
MHON
Nú lengi stóð konungrinn
ok lengi á hann sá:
“Verðigr verð þú múga sona
ek œski fara megi svá.
MHONT
Now the king stood for a long time
and looked at him for a long time:
"You shall be worthy of the sons of the people
I wish to go so."
ER
Now long stood the King,
And long on the Earl gazed he:—
"O thou art worth a host of sons;
Thy boon is granted thee."
MHL
No lenge stod den konongen,
og lenge paa honom saag:
"Du er jamgod med mange søner,
eg ynskjer me semjast maa.
MHLT
Now for a long time the king stood, and for a long time he looked at him: "You are good with many sons, I wish we could be reconciled."
MP
Now long stood the King
and long him looked upon:
"You are worth many sons,
I wish we may make a bond."
12b.
GL see 12
GLC
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
“so minde yach angan ufrien rost,
wath com an mier to landa”.
MHON
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
“so myndi ek engan ófrænda hræðast
at kom hann mér til landa.
MHONT
"So would I fear no stranger
if he came to my lands."
ER
(---Now ‘Hiluge’ (the Earls rival) joines the conversation.---)
so need I not fear any enemy
who might come to this land.
MHL
[Og fer det som eg ynskjer det,
at du gjeng meg til hande,]
daa skulde eg ingen uven ræddast,
um han kom meg til lande."
MHLT
[And if it be as I wish,
that you deliver me,]
then I should fear no enemy,
if he came to me ashore."
MP
"So would I fear no stranger
who came to my shores."
13.
GL
Nu swara Hiluge
Hera geve honon scam
Taga di gild firre Hildina
Sin yach skall liga dor fram.
GLC
Nu swara Hiluge
- hera geve honon scam -:
“Taga di gild firre Hildina
sin yach skall lega dor fram:
MHON
Ni svarar Hiluge
- herra gef honum skǫmm -:
“Tekr þú gjald fyrir Hildina
sem ek skal leggja þér fram:
MHONT
"You answer Hiluge -
Lord, give him shame -:
"Do you take payment for Hilda
that I shall present to you:"
ER
Now Hiluge answers ‘Sir, thou
shouldst inflict injury on him’
Now thee canst accept a fitting dowry
for Hildina, that I shall bring forth:
MHL
No svarar Hilluge
-- Herre, gjev honom skam --:
"Tak vederlag for Hildina
som eg vil leggja fram:
MHLT
Now Hilluge answers
-- Lord, put him to shame --:
"Please pay for Hildina
which I would like to present:
MP
Now answers Hiluge
-- Lord, give him shame! --:
"Take payment for Hildina
in the way I shall set out.
14.
GL
Estin whaar u feur fetign
Agonga kadn i sluge
Feur fetign sin gonga
Kadn i pluge.
GLC
Estin whaar u feur-fetign
a gonga kadn i sluge, -
estin whaar u feur-fetign
sin gonga kadn i pluge.
MHON
Hestinn hvern ok fjórfœtinginn
eð ganga kann í slóða, -
hestinn hvern ok fjórfœtinginn
sem ganga kann í plógi.
MHONT
The horse and the four-footed creature
that can walk in the furrow, -
the horse and the four-footed creature
that can walk in the plow.
ER
Every horse and ‘four-footed’
that can follow a path,
every horse and ‘four-footed’
that can pull a plough’.
MHL
"Kvar ein hest og firføting,
so før at ei horv han drog, --
kvar ein hest og firføting
som ganga kann for plog."
MHLT
"Be a horse and a quadruped,
so that before a harrow he pulled, --
each a horse and quadruped
who can walk before the plough."
MP
"Every horse and four-footed beast
that can walk in a furrow;
Every horse and four-footed beast
that can pull a plough."
15.
GL
Nu stienderin Jarlin.
U linge wo an wo
Dese mo eke Orknear
So linge san yach lava mo.
GLC
Nu stiender in Iarlin
u linge wo an swo:
“Dese mo eki Orknear,
so linge san yach lava mo”.
MHON
Nú stendr hann jarlinn
ok lengi á hann sá:
“Þess má ekki Orkneyjar,
so lengi sem ek lifa má”.
MHONT
"Now the earl stands
and long he looks at him:
'This cannot be Orkney,
for as long as I live it may be.'"
ER
Now the Earl he stood for a
long time, and gazed at him,
‘This can Orkney not be equal to
as long as I may live’.
MHL
No stender han, jarlen,
og lenge paa honom saag:
"Dette vinn ikkje Orknøyar,
so lenge eg liva maa."
MHLT
Now he stands, the earl,
and long upon him said:
"This will not win the Orkneys,
as long as I live."
MP
Now stood the Earl
And long looked on him:
"This may not the Orkneymen
As long as I shall live."
16.
GL
Nu eke tegaran san
Sot Koningn fyrin din
U alt yach an Hilhugin
Widn ugare din arar.
GLC
“Nu eke tegar an san sot,
Koningn fyrin din;
u alt yach an Hilhugin
u garedin arar widn.”
MHON
“Nú ekki tekr hann sanna [sådan?] sátt
konungrinn fyrir þín [þig];
og allt ek hann Hilhugin
á gerðinni annarri vinn.
MHONT
"Now he does not take the true agreement,
the king, for you;
and all I have, Hilhugin,
in the other work."
ER
‘Now he’s not willing to make a deal
with me, the King your father;
and instead I think that Hilhugin
by another decision will win.
MHL
"No tek han ikkje mot semja god,
konongen fa'er din.
Eg tenkte meg og at Hilluge
ber anna uti sitt sinn."
MHLT
"Now he won't accept the good news, your father's king. I also thought that Hilluge has something else in mind."
MP
"Now takes he not the true way,
The King your father;
and all I have Hiluge
instead will win."
17.
GL
Nu swarar an frauna Hildina
U dem san idne i fro
Di slo dor a bardagana
Dar comme ov sin mo.
GLC
Nu swarar an frauna Hildina
u dern san idne i fro:
“Di slo dor a bardagana,
Dar comme ov sin mo!”
MHON
Nú svarar hon frúin Hildina
ór dur(un)um sínum inni í frá:
“Þú slær þér á bardaganum [-ana?],
Þar komi af sem má!”
MHONT
Now the lady Hildina answers
from her chambers within:
"You strike yourself in the battle,
Let it come as it may!"
ER
Now the Lady Hildina answers
from inside the house;
‘Someone will die if you fight,
that will happen for sure’.
MHL
No svarar fru Hildina
or døri si inne ifraa:
"So fær de stridast med odd og eg
det gange av som det maa."
MHLT
Mrs. Hildina now answers
or the door say from inside:
"So they can compete with odds and ends
it goes off as it should."
MP
Now answers the Lady Hildina
from chamber within
"Fight then a battle
Let it turn out as it may!"
18.
GL
Nu Jarlin an genger
I vadlin fram
U kadnar sina mien
Geven skeger i Orkneyan.
GLC
Nu Iarlin an genger i vadlin fram
u kadnar sìna mien,
gever skeger i Orkneyan
-----------------------------------------------
MHON
Nú jarlinn hann gengr í vǫllinn fram
ok kallar sína menn,
gæfir skeggjar í Orkneyjum
-----------------------------------------------
MHONT
Now the earl walks forward into the field
and calls his men,
the brave warriors in Orkney.
ER
Now the Earl steps forward onto the
duelling ground and adresses his men:
‘brave islanders of Orkney
-----------------------------------------------
MHL
No jarlen han gjeng paa vollen fram
og kannar sine menn,
dei gjæve skjeggjar i Orknøyom,
[velborne menn].
MHLT
Now the earl he goes forth on the rampart
and knows his men,
the good beards of Orkney,
[well-born men].
MP
Now the Earl steps into
the field of battle
And calls his men
good beards of Orkney
19.
GL
Han u cummin
In u vod lerdin
Fronde fans lever
Vel burne mun.
GLC
“Han u cummin
in u vodler din;
frinde hans lever
velburne mien.”
MHON
“Hann er kominn
inn á vǫll þinn
frændi hans hleypir
velborna menn [velbornum mǫnnum]
MHONT
"He has come
into your field
His kinsman runs
noble men [to noble men]"
ER
He has come onto the duelling
ground; his friend follows
the men of royal lineage’.
MHL
"Kongen, han er komen:
paa vollen din han stend.
Venen hans driv paa flugt
dei velborne menn."
MHLT
"The king, he is come:
on your rampart he stood.
His friend is on the run
the well-born men."
MP
"He has come
Into your field.
His kinsman runs before
the well-born men."
20.
GL
Nu fruna Hildina
On genger i vadlin fram
Fy di yera da ov man dum
Dora di spidlaikì mire man.
GLC
Nu fruna Hildina
on genger i vadlin fram:
“Fy di yera da ov mandum dora,
di spidla ikì mire man”.
MHON
Nú frúin Hildina
Hon gengr í vǫllinn fram:
“Faðir þú gerir þá af manndóm ykkar,
þú spillir ekki meira mann[i].
MHONT
Now the lady Hildina
She walks forth into the field:
"If you act with manliness,
you will not harm any more man."
ER
Now the lady Hildina, she steps
forward onto the duelling ground,
‘father thou overdost thy manhood
don’t let a brave man die’.
MHL
No fruva Hildina
ho gjenger i vollen fram:
"Fâr, aa gjer no eit manndomsverk,
og spill ikkje fleire mann!"
MHLT
Now Hildina's wife
she goes on the rampart:
"Father, now do a manly deed,
and don't kill man anymore!"
MP
Now the lady Hildina
steps forth in the field
"Father if you act manfully
You won't let more men die"
21.
GL
Nu sware an Hiluge
Crego gevan a scam
Gayer an Jarlin frinde
Din an u fadlin in.
GLC
Nu sware an Hiluge
- erego gev ana scam -:
“Yayer an Iarlin frinde din
an u fadlin in”.
MHON
Nú svarar hann Hiluge
- herra guð gefr honum skǫmm -:
“Þegar hann jarlinn frændi þinn
hann er fallinn enn.
MHONT
Now he answers Hiluge -
the lord god gives him shame -:
"When he, your cousin the earl,
has fallen again."
ER
But Hiluge he answers:
‘May God inflict injury on him’
‘then the Earl your friend
will surely be dead.
MHL
No svarar han Hilluge
-- Herre gud gjev honom skam --:
"Ja, naar jarlen, venen din,
ogso er fallen, han."
MHLT
Now he answers Hilluge
-- Lord God give him shame --:
"Yes, when the earl, your friend,
is also fallen, he."
MP
Now answers Hiluge
The Lord God bring him shame!
Only when the Earl your cousin
has fallen dead
22.
GL
Nu fac an Jarlin dahuge
Dar min de an engine gro
An east ans huge ei
Fong ednar u vaxhedne more neo.
GLC
Nu fac an Iarlin dahuge
- dar minde an engin gro -.
An cast ans huge ei fong ednar,
u vaks hedne mere meo.
MHON
Nú fekk hann jarlinn dauðahøggit
- þar myndi hann engan grœða -.
Hann kastaði hans hǫfði í fang hennar,
ok óx henni meiri móðr.
MHONT
Now the earl received the death blow - there he would heal no one -. He threw his head into her lap, and she grew more angry.
ER
Now the Earl received a deadly cut,
no one there could heal him
Hilunge threw his head into
Hildina's lap; thus added to her grief.
MHL
No fekk jarlen daudehogg
-- det saaret kunde ei gro --.
Han kasta hans hovud i fanget hennar,
daa voks det stort hennar mod.
MHLT
Now the earl was mortally wounded
-- that wound could not heal --.
He threw his head into her lap,
then her courage grew greatly.
MP
Now had the Earl his deathblow,
None might heal him.
He threw his head in her lap,
And she grew great with grief.
23.
GL
Di lava mir gugna
Yift bal yagh fur o lande
Gipt mir nu fruan Hildina
Vath godle u fasta bande.
GLC
“Di lava mir yugna,
yift bal yagh fur o landi;
gipt mir nu fruan Hildina
vath godle u fasta bande.”
MHON
“Þú lofar mér gagna [eigna, unga?],
ef baldr ek fór af [ór] landi;
gipt mér nú frúna Hildina
við [með] gulli ok fǫstu bandi”.
MHONT
"You promise me wealth [of possessions, young?],
if I go away from [this] land;
give me now, lady Hildina,
with [me] gold and a firm bond."
ER
You promised me marriage
if I boldly voyaged from our land
Now let me marry Hildina,
with golden dowry and solid pact.
MHL
"De lova meg gifta,
um djerv eg fór or lande.
Gjev meg no fru Hildina
med gull og festebande."
MHLT
"They promised me marriage,
if I dared to go or land.
Now give me Mrs. Hildina
with gold and a wedding band."
MP
"You promised me reward
if boldly I fared from land.
Give me now the lady Hildina
with gold and a fast bond."
24.
GL
Nu bill on heve da yals
Guadnè borè u da kadn
Sina kloyn a bera do skall
Fon fruna Hildina verka wo sino chelsina villya.
GLC
“Nu billon heve day alty uadn è borè,
u da kadn sina kloyna bera;
do skall hon fruna Hildina
verka wo sino chelsina villya”.
MHON
“Nú biðlund hefir þú alt til barns er borit,
ok þá kann sín klæðin(i) bera;
þá skal hon frúin Hildina
verka á sínu sjalfs síns vilja.
MHONT
"Now you have all the child that is born, and then she can carry her clothes; then the lady Hildina shall work according to her own will."
ER
‘Now you will suffer long, until a
child is born, and wearing its own
clothes; then the Lady Hildina
will act upon her own will’.
MHL
"No bidlund have du til barn er boret
og det kann sine klæde bera,
daa skal fruva Hildina
faa sjølvs sin vilje gjera."
MHLT
"Now you have until the child is born,
and it can wear its own clothes,
then the lady Hildina will
be allowed to do her own will."
MP
"You must abide till the child is born
and wears her own clothes.
Then shall the lady Hildina
make her own choice."
25.
GL
Hildina liger wo chaldona
U o dukrar u grothè
Min du buga till bridlevsin
Bonlother u duka dogha.
GLC
Hildina liger wo chaldona
uo dukrar u grothè;
min du buga til bridlevsin,
hon lothir u duka dogha.
MHON
Hildina liggr á tjaldinu
auga døkkvar ór gráti;
meðan þú býr til brúðhlaupsins,
hón lætr í drykkju dáa.
MHONT
Hildina lies in the tent,
eyes dark from weeping;
while you prepare for the wedding,
she lets herself die in drink.
ER
Hildina is lying on the blanket
her eyes all wet with tears;
while they’re preparing the wedding
she pours poison into the drinks.
MHL
Hildina ligger paa tjeldet
og augo dimme ho græt,
men daa dei bur til brudlaupet,
ho daae i drykken læt.
MHLT
Hildina lies on the tent and her eyes dim, she cried, but when they went to the wedding, she fell asleep in the drink.
MP
Hildina lies in the tent
eyes dark from weeping
while they prepare the wedding
she puts sleep in the drink
26.
GL
Nu Hildina on askar feyrin
Sien di gava mier livè
Ou skinka vin
Ou guida vin.
GLC
Nu Hildina on askar
feyrin sien:
“Di gava mier live ou skinka vin,
ou guida vin”.
MHON
Nú Hildina hon aksar [œskir, Eng. asks]
fǫðrinn sinn:
“Þú gefr mér leyfi at skenkja vín,
at gjóta vín”.
MHONT
Now Hildina asks her father:
"You give me permission to pour wine,
to pour wine."
ER
Now Hildina she asks her father:
“Wilt thou permit me to pour the wine,
and serve it for the guests?
MHL
Ho Hildina ho beder
fa'er sin;
"Du gjeve meg løyve aa skjenkja vin,
aa fylla i vin."
MHLT
Hildina asks her father;
"You give me permission to pour wine,
to fill with wine."
MP
Now Hildina she asks
of her father:
"Give me leave to serve the wine
and to pour the wine."
27.
GL
Duska skinka vin, u guida vin
Tinka dogh eke wo
Jarlin an gougha here din.
GLC
“Du ska skinka vin
u guida vin;
tinka dogh eke wo Iarlin,
an gougha here din.”
MHON
“Þú skalt skenkja vín
at gjóta vín;
þenkja þó ekki á jarlinn,
þann góða herra þinn”
MHONT
"You shall pour wine to spill wine;
think not of the earl,
your good lord."
ER
‘You may pour the wine
and serve the wine;
don’t think any more of the Earl,
the dear late husband of yours.
MHL
"Du skal skjenkja vin
og fylla i vin;
men tenk no ikkje paa jarlen,
den gode herren din."
MHLT
"You shall pour wine
and fill with wine;
but do not think now of the earl,
your good lord."
MP
"You shall serve the wine
and pour the wine;
think not of the Earl,
of your good lord."
28.
GL
Watha skilde tinka
Wo Jarlin gouga herè min
Hien minde yagh inga forlskona
Bera fare kera fyrin min.
GLC
“Wath a skilde tinka wo Iarlin
an gouga herè min,
hien mindi yagh inga forlskona bera
fare kera fyrin min”.
MHON
“Þó at ek skyldi þenkja á jarlinn
þann góða herra minn,
héðan myndi ek enga fárskǫnnu bera
fyrir kæra fǫðrinn minn”.
MHONT
"Though I should think of the earl, that good lord of mine, from here I would bear no falsehood for my dear father."
ER
Why should I think of the Earl
the dear late husband of mine?
and sure I will not present any
poisoned drink, to serve for my father’.
MHL
"Um eg tenkte paa jarlen,
den gode herren min,
eg vilde daa ingi svik-kanna bera
fram fyre fa'er min."
MHLT
"If I thought of the earl,
my good lord,
I would not then be able to bring any treason against my father."
MP
"Though I should think of the Earl,
that good lord of mine,
yet should I no treason bear
against dear father mine."
29.
GL
Da gerde on fruna Hildina
On bar se mien ot
On soverin fest,
Fysin u quarsin sat.
GLC
Da gerde on fruna Hildina,
on bar se mien ot;
on sover in fest fysin,
fysin u quar sin sat.
MHON
Það gerði hún frúin Hildina,
hón bar svá mjǫðinn út;
hón syfjar inn fast fǫðr sinn
fǫðr sinn eð hvar sem sat.
MHONT
She did, lady Hildina,
she carried out the mead;
she soothes her father fast,
his father wherever he sat.
ER
Then the lady Hildina, she
served the drinks for the men; she
sent to sleep her father, and all
the guests that were present.
MHL
Det gjorde fru Hildina,
ho fram den mjøden bar;
ho svæver so fast inn fâren,
fâren og alle som var.
MHLT
Mrs. Hildina did,
ho forth the mead bore;
she floats so firmly into the father,
the father and all who were.
MP
Thus did the lady Hildina,
the mead she carried forth;
she puts to sleep her father,
her father and all who were there.
30.
GL
Da gerde un fruna Hildina
On bard im ur
Hadlin burt sien on laghdè
Gloug I osta jatha port.
GLC
Da gerde un fruna Hildina,
on bar dim ur hadlin burt;
sien on laghdè gloug
i otsta jath a port.
MHON
Það gerði hún frúin Hildina,
hún bar þeim [þá] ór hǫllinni burt;
síðan hún lagði glóð
í ýzta gataport.
MHONT
Lady Hildina did that,
she carried them [then] out of the hall;
then she laid embers
in the outer gate.
ER
Then the Lady Hildina,
she dragged her father and his
friends, out of the hall; then she
lit a fire, in the main entrance.
MHL
Det gjorde fru Hildina,
ho bar deim or halli burt;
sidan lagde ho eld og glod
i ytste op i port.
MHLT
Mrs. Hildina did so,
she carried them out of the hall;
then she made fire and embers
at the outermost gate.
MP
Thus did the lady Hildina,
she bore them away from the hall;
then she laid embers
in the outermost entrance.
31.
GL
Nu iki visti an Hiluge
Ike ov till do
Eldin var commin i lut
U stor u silkè sark ans smo.
GLC
Nu iki visti an Hiluge
ike ov till do
eldin var commin i lutustor
u sìlkìsark ans smo.
MHON
Nú ekki vissi hann Hiluge
ekki af til þá
eldrinn var kominn í lopthúsdyr
eð silkiserkr hans smár.
MHONT
Now he did not know Hiluge
not of until then
the fire had come into the loft door
of his silk shirt small.
ER
Now Hiluge he didn’t wake up, not
until too late; when the fire
had covered the entrance, and his
silk shift had caught fire as well.
MHL
No ikkje visste han Hilluge
noko av til daa
elden var komen til lofthusdør
og silkeserken hans smaa.
MHLT
Now he knew nothing of Hilluge until the fire had reached the attic door and his small silk scarf.
MP
Now Hilluge didn't know
anything until
the fire reached the attic door
and his small silk shirt.
32.
GL
Nu leveren fram
Hiluge du kereda
Fraun Hildina du
Gevemir live u gre
GLC
Nu lever en fram Hiluge
-------------------------------------
“Du keresta fraun Hildina,
du geve mir live u gre”.
MHON
Nú hlaupr hann fram Hiluge
-----------------------------------------
“Þú kærasta frúin Hildina,
Þú gefr mér lífit ok grið”.
MHONT
"Now he runs forward to Hiluge,
'You dearest lady Hildina,
You give me life and peace.'"
ER
Then Hiluge he jumped up
and cried out to Hildina
“My dearest Lady Hildina,
please let me live and give me quarter”.
MHL
No springer han Hilluge fram,
[stod uti borge-led]:
Aa, kæraste du fru Hildina,
du gjeve meg liv og grid!"
MHLT
Now he leaps forward to Hilluge,
[standing in the castle ranks]:
Ah, dearest Mrs. Hildina,
you give me life and death!"
MP
Now Hilluge runs forward
--------------
"Ah, dearest lady Hildina,
give me life and mercy!"
33.
GL
So mege u gouga gre
Skall dogh swo
Skall lathì min heran
I bardagana fwo.
GLC
“So mege u gouga gre
skall dogh swo,
sin shall lathì min heran
i bardagana fwo.
MHON
“Sá mikit það góða grið
skalt þú sjá
sem sjalfr lézt þú minn herrann
í bardaganum fá.
MHONT
So much of that good peace
shall you see
as you yourself let my lord
in the battle have.
ER
‘Thus much good life and quarter
you shall receive,
as you yourself let my late husbond
have, on the duelling ground.
MHL
"Like mykje og like god grid
skal du no sjaa,
som du sjølv lét herren min
i striden dykkar faa."
MHLT
"You shall now see as much and as good a battle as you yourself gave my lord in your battle."
MP
Just as much and as good mercy
shall you see
as you yourself let my lord
in the battle receive.
34.
GL
Du tuchtada lide undocht yach
Swo et sa ans bugin bleo
Dogh casta ans huge
I mit fung u vexemir mise meo.
GLC
Du tuchta da lide undocht yach
swo etsa ans bugin bleo;
dogh casta ans huge i mit fung,
u vexe mir mìre meo”.
MHON
Þér þótti það lítit en þótt ek
sá einnug hans búkinn blœða;
þú kastaðir hans hǫfði í mitt fang,
ok vex [óx] mér meiri móðr.”
MHONT
"You thought it little, but though
I saw his belly bleed alone;
you threw his head into my lap,
and I grew more angry."
ER
You thought little of it, even though
I saw also his body bleeding;
you threw his head into my lap,
and added to my grief’.
MHL
"Det tyktest deg lite, endaa eg
saag kroppen hans all i blod,
du kasta hans hovud i mitt fang,
daa voks det stort mitt mod."
MHLT
"It seemed little to you, even though I
saw his body all covered in blood,
you threw his head into my lap,
then my courage grew greatly."
MP
You thought it little that I
should see his belly bleed;
you threw his head in my lap,
and I grew great with grief.
35.
GL
Nu tachtè on heve fwelsko
Ans bo vad mild u stien
Dogh skall aidè misè Koningnsens
Vadna vilda mien.
GLC
Nu tachtè on heve fwelsko ans
bo vad mild u stien.
“Dogh skall aldè mirè Koningnsens
vadne vilda mien”.
MHON
Nú þakt hún hefir fǫlska hans
bæði með mold og steini.
“Þú skalt aldrig meira konungsins
barni valda mein[i]”.
MHONT
Now covered she has falseness his
both with earth and stone.
"You shall never more the king's
child cause harm."
ER
Now she has covered his falseness
both with earth and stone.
‘You will do the King’s children,
no harm ever again’.
MHL
No tekt ho heve oska hans
baade med mold og stein.
"Du skal aldri meir konungsens
barn valda mein."
MHLT
Now she thought to raise his ashes with both earth and stone. You shall never again harm the king's children.
MP
Now she has buried his treachery
under both earth and stone.
"Never more shall you bring
harm on the king's child."
Labels: Sir Walter Scott
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