Eysteinn
I have attempted to translate Orfeus og Evridís, and would be grateful for any comments. There were quite a few words that were either not in my dictionary or didn´t have a meaning which fitted the context of the lyric. There are enough bits that I haven´t worked out for me not to fully grasp the overall sense of the lyric but I liked the bits I could understand.
And looking up I noticed I was late
Regards
Alan
However, we should keep in mind that "Utan hringsins" has been
referenced and alluded to by many modern authors. Here's one of
the best beloved ballads by the modern rock-poet Megas. The
allusion occurs in the 4th stanza. The language is as much
ancient as it is modern.
MEGAS: ORFEUS & EVRIDÍS
Orpheus and Euridice
einsog hamar ótt á steðja
Like a hammer rapidly on an anvil
uppá þaki regnið bylur
up on (the) roof the rain pounds
en í þínu þæga tári
but in your obedient tear
þar er gleði birta ylur
there when happiness reveals wamth
á þínum góðu yndistöfrum
in your good enchantment
önd mín sál & kraptur nærist
my soul, soul and strength (will) nourish
þér ég æ mun fé & föggum
you I always will sacrifice wealth and ?
fórna meðan hjartað hrærist
while the heart stirs
svefn þinn guð í glasi áskenktu
your sleep, God in in a glass filled,
greiðir fró í stríði hörðu
gives (?) comfort in a hard war
þanninn fæ ég þreyð af árin
? I get tired from the years
þartil loks ég sef í jörðu
until finally I sleep in (the) ground
fjallahringurinn hann er dreginn
the circle-of-mountains , it is (has) drawn
hringinn í kringum mig
the circle around me
& utan hans þar er ekki neitt
and outside it there is not a thing
því innan hans þar hef ég þig
because inside it there I have you
en við verðum að láta' okkur litla hríð
but we must resign ourselves for a little time
lynda það sem til bar
to that which (whatever) happens.
þú hvílir í brekkunni bakvið húsið
you rest on the slope behind the house
bráðum finnumst við þar
soon we (will) be found there
hún var falleg hún var góð
she was beautiful, she was good
hún var betri en þær
she was better than those
& þegar hún sefur við síðuna' á mér
and when she sleeps with the (her) side to me
þá sef ég góður & vær
then I sleep good and tranquil
sólin kemur upp í austri
The sun comes up in (the) east
en í vestri sezt hún niður
but she (it) sets herself (itself) down in (the) west
í dalnum þarsem ég opnaði augun
in the dales where I opened the (my) eyes
í árdaga ríkir kyrrð & friður
in the beginning silence and peace rules
hesturinn minn heitir blesi
(the) horse of mine (my horse) is named Blesi
höfum við sömu lifað árin
we have the same lived years (we are the same age)
ég held áfram en hún styttist
I (will) keep going but she (will) be cut-short
óðum leiðin fyrir klárinn
quickly the way for the workhorse
blesi minn í brekkunni friðsælu
My Blesi on the peaceful slope
búinn er þér hvílustaður
a resting-place is prepared for you
einhverntíma ái ég með þér
sometime I (will) lie (?) with you
örþreyttur gamall vonsvikinn maður
an exhausted old disappointed person
###