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.

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. 

Source: 
https://nornlanguage.x10.mx/shet_txt_hild.htm

GLC: George Low's transcript tentatively corrected into meaningful language by Marius Hægstad (1900). Source: 

https://nornlanguage.x10.mx/shet_txt_hild.htm

[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.htm

MHONT: 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. 

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."

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."