Rígsþula

http://www.geocities.com/ordlag_godvegr/ON_Rigsthula.htm










Sva segia menn i fornum sogum,

So men said in ancient stories,



at einnhverr af ásum,

that one of the Aesir,



sa er Heimdallr het,

who was called Heimdall,



fór ferðar sinnar ok framm með siofarstrondu nockurri,

was going on his way and as he went along a seashore,



kom at einum húsaboe ok nefndiz Rigr.

he came to a homestead, and he gave his name as Rig.



Eptir þeirri sogu er kvæði þetta:

This poem is about that story.



1




Ár kváðu ganga

Long ago, they said, walked


grænar brautir

on green ways


öflgan ok aldinn

a powerful and aged


ás kunnigan,

knowledgable god,


ramman ok röskvan

mighty and ripe-grown


Rig stíganda.

Ríg, striding





rammr, a. strong, of bodily strenngth, mighty and powerful

röskr, acc. röskvan, a. vigorous, brave

röskvast, v. refl. to ripen, of fruit, to grow up.



2








Gekk hann meirr at þat

On he walked more then



miðrar brautar,

in the middle of the way.


kom hann at húsi,

He came to a house,


hurð var á gætti;

the door was ajar,


inn nam at ganga,

in he stepped.


elldr var á gólfi,

There was a fire on the floor,


hión sátu þar

man and wife sat there,


hár at arni,

grey-haired by the hearth,


Ái ok Edda

Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother


alldinfallda.

in her old fashioned head-dress.










Rigr kunni þeim

Rig was able


ráð at segia,

to offer advice to them


Meirr settiz hann

Moreover, he seated himself


miðra fletia,

in the middle of the bench,


enn á hlið hvára

and at either side of him


hión salkynna.

the couple of the household.







4









Þá tók Edda

Then Great-grandmother took


Økvinn hleif,

a coarse loaf,


þungan ok þykkan,

heavy and thick,


þrunginn sáðum;

stuffed with grains.


Bar hón meirr at þat

More, she brought it then


miðra skutla,

in the middle of the plate.


Soð var i bolla,

Boiled meat was in the bowl,


setti á bióð,

she set that on the table.


Reis hann upp þaðan,

He got up from there,


réðz at sofna.

got ready to sleep.







5








Rigr kunni þeim

Rig was able


ráð at segia,

to give them advice.


Meirr lagðiz hann

More, he laid


miðrar rekkiu,

in the middle of the bed,


en á hlið hvára

and at either side of him


hión salkynna.

the man and wife of the household.







6



Þar var hann at þat

There he was then


þriar nætr saman,

three nights together.


gekk hann meirr at þat

On he walked more then


miðrar brautar,

in the middle of the way.


liðu meirr at þat

Time moved on more then


manuðr niu.

nine months.







7



Ióð ól Edda,

Greatgrandmother bore a child,


iósu vatni,

sprinkled water over it..


hörfi (vafði

In rough linen she wrapped



hörund) svartan,

the black skinned boy.


(Höfung vóru augu)

Heavy were his eyes



hetu Þræl.

they called him Thrall.







8







Hann nam at vaxa

He began to grow


ok vel dafna,

and thrive well.


var þar a hondum

There was on his hands


hrokkit skinn,

wrinkled skin,


kropnir knuar,

gnarled knuckles,



kartnegl

scabbed nails,

fingr digrir,

thick fingers,


fúúlligt andlit,

ugly face,


lotr hryggr,

crooked back,


langir hælar.

long heels.



9



Nam hann meirr at þat

He began more then


magns um kosta,

to test his might


bast at binda,

plaiting bast,


byrðar giorva,

packing burdens.


bar hann heim at þat

He carried home then


hris gerstan dag.

kindling through the cruel day.





10



Þar kom at garði

There came to the homestead


gengilbeina,

a bandy-legged girl.


orr var a ilium,

Mud was on the soles of her feet,


armr solbrunninn,

her arm sunburnt,


niðrbiugt er nef,

her nose was bent,


nefndiz Þir.

her name was Slavegirl..





11



Miðra fletia

In the middle of the bench


meirr settiz hon,

more she seated herself


sat hia henni

he sat beside her,


sonr huúss;

the son of the house.


reddu ok ryndu,

They talked and told secrets,


rekkiu giorðu

set up their bed,


Þræll ok Þir

Thrall and Slavegirl,


þrungin dægr.

through hardworking days.







12











Born ólu þau,

Children they bred,


biuggu ok unðu,

lived and were happy.


hygg ek at heti

I think they were called


Hreimr ok Fiosnir,

Weatherbeaten and Stableboy,


Klurr ok Kleggi,

Stout and Sticky,


Kefsir, Fulnir,

Rough, Stinker,


Drumbr, Digralldi,

Stumpy, Fatty,


Drottr ok Hosvir,

Sluggish and Grizzled,


Lútr ok Leggialldi;

Lout and Longleg,


logðu garða,

They established farms,


akra toddu,

put dung on the fields,


unnu at svinum,

worked with swine,


geita giættu,

watched over the goats,


grofu torf.

dug the turf.





13







Dættr voru þær

The daughters were


Drumba ok Kumba,

Stumpy and Dumpy,


Ockvinkalfa

Bulgingcalves


ok Arinnefia,

and Eaglenose,


Ysia ok Ambatt,

Noisy and Bondwoman,


Eikintiasna,

Greatgossip,


Totrughypia

Raggedyhips


ok Tronubeina;

and Cranelegs.


þaðan eru komnar

From them are descended


þræla ættir.

the race of Thralls.






14



Gekk Rigr at þat

Rig walked then


rettar braúter,

by right ways.


kom hann at hollu,

He came to a hall,


hurð var a skiði;

the door was on the latch,


inn nam at ganga,

in he stepped,


elldr var a golfi,

a fire was on the floor,


hion satu þar,

a couple sat there,


helldu a syslu.

kept on working.





15



Maðr teglði þar

The man was carving there


meið til rifiar,

wood for a weaving beam.


var skegg skapat,

His beard was trimmed,


skor var firir enni,

over his brow the hair was clipped.


skyrtu þrongva,

his tunic, close fitting.


skokkr var a golfi.

A chest was on the floor.