Lokrur: PART I
Translated by Ann Sheffield, Denise Vast, and Lyonel Perabo,
with additional contributions from Danielle Cudmore and Ben Waggoner
1.
The loveliest linden-tree of leeks (1)
has finished sorrow for me in Hulda’s wind (2);
may the norn of costly necklaces (3) yet hear,
while I watch over the ancient names (4).
Mér hefr vænust lauka lind
lukta sorg í Huldar vind;
á meðan eg "uakta" heitin forn,
heyri en mæta menja Norn.
(1) “linden-tree of leeks” = woman.
(2) Hulda is the name of a female jötunn; her “wind” is desire (see Quinn 2012 for a discussion of the “wind of the jötunn” kenning).
(3) “norn of costly necklaces” = woman.
(4) heitin could mean either “names” or “vows” here.
2.
Óðinn ruled the Æsir people,
granted to all Stúmir’s sound (1);
that ruler gave victory to men,
those who bore a spear to battle.
Óðinn réð fyr Ása þjóð,
öllum veitti Stúma hljóð,
þeingill gaf sá þegnum sigr,
þeim er báru að hildi vigr.
(1) Stúmir is the name of a jötunn; “jötunn’s sound” is a kenning for “gold” (Snorri Sturluson, Edda, p. 61.).
3.
The people of Fjölnir (Óðinn) (1) were thought strong,
very eager for deeds of prowess
Þór exceeded all of them in skill;
whichever lord they visited
Fjölnis þótti ferðin sterk,
furðu-gjörn við hreystiverk,
alla list bar Þór af þeim,
þeingil hvern er sóttu heim.
(1) “people of Fjölnir”: Óðinn’s people are the Aesir.
4.
All feared the relative of Yggur (1);
he always used strength;
silently the thurses (2) fled from the land,
as soon as he took Mjöllnir in his hand.
Allir hræddust Yggjar nið,
orku neytti hann jafnan við,
þöglir flýðu þussar land,
þegar hann tók sér Mjöllni í hand.
(1) “relative of Yggur”; Yggur is a name for Óðinn; his “relative” is Þór.
(2) “thurses” are a type of ogre.
5.
Þundur’s (1) thrall was named Loki (2),
lacking in strength, and not easy to deal with;
wherever Björn [=Þór] went to settlements,
he himself always played great tricks.
Loki var nefndur Þundar þræll,
þróttarlaus en ekki dæll;
hvar sem Björn til byggða fór,
brá hann sér æ við brögðin stór.
(1) Þundur is a name for Óðinn.
(2) confusingly, the god Loki is often called Loður in this poem, whereas “Loki” is often used to refer to the jötunn Útgarða-Loki. In these notes, we refer to the former as Ása-Loki for clarity.
6.
Þór took news to Needle’s kinsman (1):
“Now you have to set off;
I want to meet your slanderous
namesake next, my companion!”
Þór nam frétta Nálar nið:
»nú mun þurfa bragða við;
níðskan vilda eg nafna þinn
næsta hitta, kompán minn!
(1) “Needle” (Nál) is the name of Ása-Loki’s mother, so her “kinsman” is Ása-Loki himself.
7.
“I heard a powerful one rules Útgarðar-
no one knows his father nor mother-
Fjölnir’s servant (1) shall fare with me;
for the most part you can amuse yourself.”
Útgörðum frá eg að auðlíng ræðr
- eingi vissi hans föðr né mæðr -,
Fjölnis þjón skal fara með mér,
flesta kantu leika þér«.
(1) “Fjölnir’s servant”: Fjölnir is a name for Óðinn; his “servant” is Ása-Loki.
8.
Loki (1) was not easy about the answer:
“Little does this journey suit me-
you have heard that he is a tröll;
almost all ogresses are afraid.”
Loka var ekki létt um svör:
»lítt hentar mér þessi för;
hefr þú frétt, að hann er tröll,
hræðast næri flögðin öll«.
(1) Here, Ása-Loki.
9.
Yggur’s heir (1) answered smartly:
“If you get into some skirmish
then, bitch, I shall rescue you.
Prepare yourself quickly and come with me.”
Yggjar svaraði arfi snar:
»ef þú kemr í nokkurt skar,
þá skal eg, bikkjan, bjarga þér -
bú þig skjótt og far með mér«.
(1) Yggur is a name for Óðinn; his “heir” is Þór.
10.
Þór prepared for their journey from home,
needed neither shield nor sword,
took the hammer and two he-goats -
nowhere could be got the like.
Þór bjó heiman þeira ferð,
þurfti hvórki skjöld né sverð,
hamarinn tók og hafra tvá,
hvergi mátti slíkan fá.
11.
The men searched long for a path,
Loki (1) on foot, while Þór rode;
finally, Lóður (2) said he could see
a little house and small enclosures.
Fyrðar sóttu lánga leið,
Loki á göngu, en Þórir reið;
Lóður kveðst að lyktum sjá
lítið hús og garða smá.
(1) Ása-Loki. (2) Ása-Loki again!
12.
Þór turns towards this farm;
there a Týr of pikes (1) stood outside;
the old man is kind, and the old woman cheerful:
“The choice is yours to accept the invitation.”
Þór að garði þessum snýr,
þar stóð úti fleina Týr,
kall er blíðr, en kellíng glöð -
»kostr er yðr að þiggja löð.«
(1) “Týr of pikes”: Týr is the name of a god; a “god of weapons” is a warrior.
13.
The farmer himself had had two children-
they are right promising siblings-
I name Þjálfi, offerer of disputation; (1)
The woman, Röskva, is of the kin of thurses.
Börn hefr átt sér bóndinn tvau,
brigða-væn eru syskin þau,
Þjálfa nefni eg þrætu bjóð,
þussa kyns er Röskva fljóð.
(1) “Offerer of disputation” = warrior.
14.
Þjálfi and Þór walked into the room;
the warriors skilfully took to talking,
Hænir’s friend (1) dishonorably killed the nanny-goat’s brothers (2)
and kindled hot embers.
Þjálfi gekk og Þór í sal,
þrifligt tóku rekkar tal,
heiðarlaus drap höðnu bræðr
Hænis vinr, og kyndu glæðr.
(1) “Hænir’s friend” = Ása-Loki
(2) I.e., male goats.
15.
Once the coward brought forth the food,
the folk invited Þór to the feast;
it was not loathsome for the mighty
kinsman of Ullur (1) to eat richly.
Þegar að framm bar fæðslu skauð,
fólki Þór til veislu bauð;
öflgum var þá eigi leitt
Ullar mág að snæða feitt.
(1) “kinsman of Ullur” = Þór.
16.
The guests ate the offspring of goats (1);
they gulped both flesh and blood.
Þjálfi started striking a leg;
the fellow gets to craving the marrow.
Gestir átu geitar jóð,
gleyptu bæði hold og blóð.
Þjálfi gjörði að ljósta legg,
lysta gjörir til mergjar segg.
(1) the “offspring of goats” are also goats.
17.
Þór does not notice that;
he covered the bones in another place.
Baldur’s kin (1) conducted himself thus;
he then spread skins [on them].
Geymir ekki Þór um það,
þakti bein í öðrum stað,
- Baldurs frændi breytti svá -,
breiddi síðan stökurnar á.
(1) “Baldur’s kin” = Þór.
18.
Then when Dellingur’s worthy woman (1)
drew away from the ground of stars (2),
the heroes stood in their clothes;
this report is come to me.
Þegar hið dýra Döllíngs sprund
dróst í burtu af stjörnu grund,
kappar stóðu í klæði sín,
- komin er þessi fregn til mín.
(1) “Dellingur’s worthy woman” = Dellingur’s daughter, Nótt (“Night”).
(2) “ground of stars” = sky.
19.
The mighty enemy of Menja (1) grasped
Mjöllnir to himself in the cliff of the raptor (2),
hallows the bones of the brothers of the kid (3),
the lord often brandished it for assistance.
Menju dólgr enn mátki þreif
Mjöllnir sér í öglis kleif,
vígir beinin barma kiðs;
brá því harri opt til liðs.
(1) Menja is the name of a female jötunn; her “enemy” is Þór.
(2) “cliff of the raptor” is the hand and/or arm.
(3) “brothers of the kid” = goats.
20.
The bucks acted in accordance with those prayers:
they both live again in the world;
one goat carried its hind leg
badly, with an ugly wound.
Bukkar gjörðu að bænum þeim,
báðir lifa þeir aptr í heim;
illa bar sinn eptra fót
annar hafr við meiðslin ljót.
21.
Þór became not pleasant-looking at this;
he let his eyebrows sink heavily;
the champion resolved with great power
to seize Mjöllnir’s shaft in his grip.
Þór varð ei við þetta frýnn,
þúngar lét hann síga brýnn;
garprinn réð með gildan krapt
greipum þrífa Mjöllnirs skapt.
22.
The eyes of Sif´s husband (1) sharpened -
such happens often if something is going badly -
hardening went out onto each joint;
the knuckles began to turn white.
Sjónir hvesti Sifjar verr
- svó geingr opt ef illa ferr -,
herðir gekk úr hverjum lið,
hvítna tóku hnúarnir við.
(1) “Sif’s husband” = Þór.
23.
The old man spoke wisely with Þór
- awkwardly proceeded with words-
“I so want [good] fortune that I offer a settlement:
the people of the household to you for yourself.”
Klókur talaði kall við Þór
- kneyfiliga með orðum fór -:
»svó vil eg heill að eg sættir býð
sjálfum þér fyr heimalýð«.
24.
The blood-relative of Sauðúngur (1) answers-
after the passing of all his rage-
“I want Þjálfi to serve us,
that tough one, and the Hnoss of honeycombs (2)”
Sauðúngs ansar sifjar-blóð,
- síðan týndi öllum móð -
»Þjálfi vil eg að þjóni oss
þrýstiligr og seima Hnoss«.
(1) “blood-relative of Sauðúngur” = Þór.
(2) Hnoss is the name of a goddess; “goddess of honeycombs” (or “of riches” - the Icelandic word is ambiguous) is a kenning for “woman”, i.e., Röskva in this instance.
25.
The old man was not slow in his replies,
says that Þór alone should decide;
the doughty Baldur of rings (1)
followed Bölverkur’s son (2) for all his days.
Kall var eigi í svörunum seinn,
segir að Þór skuli ráða einn;
röskur fylgdi bauga Baldr
Bölverks syni um allan aldr.
(1) “Baldur (god) of rings” = warrior, i.e. Þjálfi.
(2) “Bölverkur” is a name for Óðinn, and his “son” is Þór.
26.
This way the men’s talk came to an end.
The gods’ guard (1) and the old man are reconciled;
Þjálfi and the sturdy dame prepared themselves
[to go] after this with the kin of Yggur. (2)
Eyddist þann veg ýta spjall,
Ása vörðr er sáttr og kall.
Þjálfi bjóst og þrifligt sprund
þessu næst með Yggjar kund.
(1) “god’s guard” = Þór.
(2) “Yggur” is a name for Óðinn; his “son” is Þór.
27.
Rymr (1) went away with his men -
I effuse Yggur’s wine (2) in this way -
the son of Kjalar (3) left the he-goat’s kin (4)
behind with the maple-tree of spikes (5).
Rymr fór burt með rekka sín
- rausa eg þann veg Yggjar vín -
eptir lagði kjappa kyn
Kjalars niðr hjá brodda hlyn
(1) Rymr = Þór.
(2) “Yggur’s wine” = poetry.
(3) “son of Kjalar” = Þór.
(4) “he-goat’s kin” = goats.
(5) “maple-tree of spikes” = man, warrior; here, Þjálfi and Roskva’s father.
28.
The men walked until nightfall;
the warriors didn’t encounter habitations;
the day elapsed, and Dellingur’s maid (1)
delivers the gloom to Ónar’s daughter (2).
Ýtar geingu alt til nætr,
ekki feingu höldar sætr;
dagrinn leið en Döllíngs mær
dóttur Ónars myrkrið fær.
(1) “Dellingur’s maid” = Nótt (“Night”).
(2) “Ónar’s daughter” = Jörð (“Earth”).
29.
The men found a hall in the forest,
lavishly adorned with the valley of the she-adder (1);
the animal of doors (2) appears convenient to them;
the fosterling of Hlóra (3) turns into the hall.
Skatnar fundu í skógi sal,
skreyttur víða nöðru dal;
hagligt líst þeim hurða dýr;
Hlóru fóstri í skálann snýr.
(1) “valley of the she-adder” = gold.
(2) “animal of doors” = building.
(3) “fosterling of Hlóra” = Þór.
30.
The roof is great on this house--
the men went into the hall--
wonderfully high and broad the doorway;
the warriors had not seen the like before.
Ræfr er sterkt á ranni því,
rekkar geingu skálann í,
býsna-hár og breiðar dyrr -
bragnar litu ei slíkan fyrr.
31.
The men and the Gefn of rings
of the land of the she-adder (1) took there rest and sleep.
Here will the ransom of dwarves (2)
and tumult of words fall down.
Nýtar tóku þar náð og svefn
nöðru lands og hrínga Gefn.
Hér skal dverga dauða-lausn
detta niðr og orða þausn.
(1) “land of the she-adder” = gold; Gefn is the name of a goddess; “goddess of rings of gold” = woman.
(2) “ransom of dwarves” = poetry.