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.