Rígsþula

1. 1.

Ár kváðu ganga In times of yore they say went

grænar brautir green ways

öflgan ok aldinn a mighty and ancient

ás kunnigan, wise god,

ramman ok röskvan the strong and doughty

Ríg stíganda. Rígr, striding.

2. 2.

Gekk hann meir at þat He went further then(1)

miðrar brautar; in mid-path;

kom hann at húsi, he came to a house,

hurð var á gætti; the door was ajar;(2)

inn nam at ganga, in he up and went,

eldr var á golfi; a fire was on the floor;

hjón sátu þar a couple sat there

hár at arni,(3) hoary, at the hearth,

Ái ok Edda, Ái and Edda,(4)

aldinfalda. with her oldfashioned headdress.

3. 3.

Rígr kunni þeim Rígr knew how

ráð at segja; to give them advice:

meir settisk hann further he sat down

miðra fletja, in mid-bench,

en á hlið hvára and on each side

hjón salkynna. the two householders.

4. 4.

Þá tók Edda Then Edda took

ökkvinn hleif, a lumpy loaf,

þungan ok þykkvan, heavy and thick,

þrunginn sáðum; stuffed with bran;

bar hon meir at þat further she brought it

miðra skutla, amidst dishes,

soð var í bolla, broth was in a bowl,

setti á bjóð; she set it on the table;

var kalfr soðinn a calf was boiled,

krása beztr. best of delicacies.(5)

5. 5.

Rígr kunni þeim Rígr knew how

ráð at segja; to give them advice;

reis hann upp þaðan, he rose up from there,

réðsk at sofna;(6) readied himself to sleep;

meir lagðisk hann further he lay down

miðrar rekkju, in mid-bed,

en á hlið hvára and on each side

hjón salkynna. the two householders.

6. 6.

Þar var hann at þat There he was then

þríar nætr saman, three nights together,

gekk hann meir at þat he went further then

miðrar brautar; in mid-path;

liðu meir at þat further passed then

mánuðr níu. nine months.

7. 7.

Jóð ól Edda A baby Edda bore,

jósu vatni, they sprinkled him with water,

hörvi svartan, with linen(7) swarthy,

hétu Þræl. they called him Þræll.(8)

8. 8.

Hann nam at vaxa He up and grew

ok vel dafna; and thrived well;

var þar á höndum there on his hands was

hrokkit skinn, the skin wrinkled,

kropnir knúar, his knuckles swollen,

fingr digrir, his fingers thick,

fúlligt andlit, his face ugly,

lotr(9) hryggr, his back crooked,

langir hælar. his heels long.

9. 9.

Nam han meir at þat Then further he up and

magns of kosta, tried his strength,

bast at binda, binding bast,

byrðar gerva; making loads;

bar hann heim at þat then he bore home

hrís gerstan dag. firewood [every] dreary day.

10. 10.

Þar kom at garði There came to the garth

gengilbeina, a wandering-legged girl,(10)

aurr var á iljum, earth was on her soles,

armr sólbrunninn, her arm sunbrowned,

niðrbjúgt er nef, bent down her nose,(11)

nefndisk Þír. she called herself Þír.(12)

11. 11.

Miðra fletja In mid-bench

meir settisk hon; she further sat down;

sat hjá henni sat down beside her

sonr húss; the son of the house;

ræddu ok rýndu, they chatted and whispered,

rekkju gerðu readied a bed,

Þræll ok Þír Þræll and Þír,

þrungin dægr. through crammed days.

12. 12.

Börn ólu þau, Children they had,

- bjuggu ok unðu, - - they lived together and were happy -

hygg ek at héti I think they were called

Hreimr ok Fjósnir, Hreimr and Fjósnir,

Klúrr ok Kleggi, Klúrr and Kleggi,

Kefsir, Fúlnir, Kefsir, Fúlnir,

Drumbr, Digraldi, Drumbr, Digraldi,

Dröttr ok Hösvir. Drǫttr and Hǫsvir,

Lútr ok Leggjaldi; Lútr and Leggjaldi;(13)

lögðu garða, they set up fences,

akra töddu, manured fields,,

unnu at svínum, herded pigs,

geita gættu, tended goats,

grófu torf. [and] dug peat.

13. 13.

Dætr váru þær Their daughters were

Drumba ok Kumba, Drumba and Kumba,

Ökkvinkalfa Ǫkkvinkalfa

ok Arinnefja, and Arinnefja,

Ysja ok Ambátt, Ysja and Ambátt,

Eikintjasna, Eikintjasna,

Tötrughypja Tǫtrughypja

ok Trönubeina. and Trǫnubeina.(14)

Þaðan eru komnar From them have come

þræla ættir. the families of thralls.

14. 14.

Gekk Rígr at þat Rígr went then

réttar brautir, on right ways,

kom hann at höllu, he came to a hall,

hurð var á skíði, the door was on the lintel beam,

inn nam at ganga, in he up and went,

eldr var á golfi, a fire was on the floor,

hjón sátu þar, a couple sat there,

heldu á sýslu. they were busily at work.

15. 15

Maðr teglði þar There the man was cutting

meið til rifjar; wood for a loom beam;

var skegg skapat, his beard was trimmed,

skör var fyrir enni, there was a fringe on his forehead,

skyrtu þröngva, his shirt [was] cinched,(15)

skokkr var á golfi. a chest was on the floor.

16. 16.

Sat þar kona, There sat the woman,

sveigði rokk, twirling a distaff,

breiddi faðm, parting her arms,

bjó til váðar; preparing to make clothes;

sveigr var á höfði, a snood was on her head,

smokkr var á bringu, a smock was on her bosom,(16)

dúkr var á halsi, a cloth was on her throat,

dvergar á öxlum. dwarves on her shoulders.(17)

Afi ok Amma Afi and Amma(18)

áttu hús. owned the house.

17. 17.

Rígr kunni þeim Rígr knew how

ráð at segja; to give them advice;

[meir settisk hann [further he sat down(19)

miðra fletja, in mid-bench,

en á hlið hvára and on each side

hjón salkynna].:: the two householders].

18. 18.

[Þá tók Amma] [Then Amma took]

-- -- -- -- -- --

var kalfr soðinn a calf was boiled,

krása beztr. best of delicacies.

19. 19.

[Rígr kunni þeim [Rígr knew how

ráð at segja] to give them advice;]

reis frá borði, he rose from the table,

réð at sofna; readied himself to sleep;

meir lagðisk hann further he lay down

miðrar rekkju, in mid-bed,

en á hlið hvára and on each side

hjón salkynna. the two householders.

20. 20.

Þar var hann at þat There he was then

þríar nætr saman; three nights together;

liðu meir at þat further passed then

mánuðr níu. nine months.

21. 21.

Jóð ól Amma A baby Amma bore,

jósu vatni, they sprinkled him with water,

kölluðu Karl, called him Karl,(20)

kona sveip rifti, the woman wrapped him in linen,

rauðan ok rjóðan, red and ruddy,

riðuðu augu. his eyes rolled.

22. 22.

Hann nam at vaxa He up and grew

ok vel dafna, and thrived well;

öxn nam at temja, he up and broke in oxen,

arðr at gerva, fashioned ploughs,(21)

hús at timbra put up buildings

ok hlöður smíða, and barns he constructed,

karta at gerva made carts

ok keyra plóg. and steered the plough.

23. 23.

Heim óku þá Then they drove home [with]

hanginluklu, a key-behung,

geitakyrtlu, goatskin-kirtled [girl],

giftu Karli; married her to Karl;

Snör heitir sú, Snǫr(22) she is called,

settisk und rifti; she sat down under her [bridal] veil;

bjuggu hjón, they lived as a couple,

bauga deildu, dealt out rings,(23)

breiddu blæjur spread sheets

ok bú gerðu. and made a household.

24. 24.

Börn ólu þau, Children they had,

- bjuggu ok unðu, - - they lived together and were happy -

hét Halr ok Drengr, called(24) Halr and Drengr,

Hölðr, Þegn ok Smiðr, Hǫlðr, Þegn and Smiðr,

Breiðr, Bóndi, Breiðr, Bóndi,

Bundinskeggi, Bundinskeggi,

Búi ok Boddi, Búi and Boddi,

Brattskeggr ok Seggr. Brattskeggr and Seggr.(25)

25. 25.

Enn hétu svá So also were called

öðrum nöfnum, by other names

Snót, Brúðr, Svanni, Snót, Brúðr, Svanni,

Svarri, Sprakki, Svarri, Sprakki,

Fljóð, Sprund ok Víf, Fljóð, Sprund and Víf,

Feima, Ristill. Feima [and] Ristill.(26)

Þaðan eru komnar From them have come

karla ættir. the families of carls.(27)

26. 26.

Gekk Rígr þaðan Rígr went from there

réttar brautir; on right ways;

kom hann at sal, he came to a hall,

suðr horfðu dyrr, the doors faced south,

var hurð hnigin, the door was lowered,(28)

hringr var í gætti. a ring was in the doorpost.

27. 27.

Gekk hann inn at þat, In he went then,

golf var stráat; the floor was strewn;

sátu hjón, a couple were sitting,

sáusk í augu, looking in each others' eyes,

Faðir ok Móðir, Faðir and Móðir,(29)

fingrum at leika. playing with their fingers.(30)

28. 28.

Sat húsgumi The master of the house sat

ok sneri streng, and twisted a [bow]string,

alm of bendi, bent elm,

örvar skefti; shafted arrows;

en húskona and the mistress of the house

hugði at örmum, examined her arms,

strauk of rifti, smoothed her linen,

sterti ermar. stretched her sleeves.

29. 29.

Keisti fald, With her head-dress she towered,

kinga var á bringu, there was a coin-brooch at her breast,

síðar slæður, her robes trailed,

serk bláfáan; her bodice dyed blue;

brún bjartari, her brow [was] brighter,

brjóst ljósara, her breast lighter,

hals hvítari her neck whiter

hreinni mjöllu. than driven snow.

30. 30.

Rígr kunni þeim Rígr knew how

ráð at segja; to give them advice;

meir settisk hann further he sat down

miðra fletja, in mid-bench,

en á hlið hvára and on each side

hjón salkynna. the two householders.

31. 31.

Þá tók Móðir Then Móðir took

merkðan dúk, a figured cloth,(31)

hvítan af hörvi, white, of linen,

hulði bjóð, covered the table,

hon tók at þat she then took

hleifa þunna, thin loaves,

hvíta af hveiti, white, of wheat,

ok hulði dúk. and covered the cloth.

32.

Framm setti hon She set out

fulla skutla,(32) full dishes,

silfri varða, á bjóð, mounted with silver, on the table,

fáin fleski(33) streaky flesh

ok fugla steikða, and roasted fowl,

vín var í könnu, there was wine in a flagon,

varðir kálkar; decorated goblets;

drukku ok dæmðu, they drank and talked,

dagr var á sinnum. the day was far gone.

33. 33.

Rígr kunni þeim Rígr knew how

ráð at segja; to give them advice;

reis hann at þat, he rose up then,

rekkju gerði. made his bed.(34)

Þar var hann at þat There he was then

þríar nætr saman; three nights together;

gekk hann meir at þat he went further then

miðrar brautar; in mid-path;

liðu meir at þat further passed then

mánuðr níu. nine months.

34. 34.

Svein ól Móðir, A boy Móðir bore,

silki vafði, [and] wrapped in silk,

jósu vatni, they sprinkled him with water,

Jarl létu heita; named him Jarl(35);

bleikt var hár, blond was his hair,

bjartir vangar, bright his cheeks,(36)

ötul váru augu piercing were his eyes,

sem yrmlingi. like a young snake's.

35. 35.

Upp óx þar He grew up there,

Jarl á fletjum; Jarl, among the benches;

lind nam at skelfa, he up and shook shield,

leggja strengi, fixed [bow]string,

alm at beygja, bent elm,

örvar skefta, shafted arrows,

flein at fleygja, threw spear,

frökkur dýja, shook lances(37),

hestum ríða, rode horses,

hundum verpa, loosed hounds,(38)

sverðum bregða, brandished swords,

sund at fremja. did swimming.

36. 36.

Kom þar ór runni Came from the thicket there

Rígr gangandi, Rígr, walking,

rúnar kendi; taught [him] runes;

sitt gaf heiti, gave him his [own] name,

son kveðsk eiga; declares he has a son(39);

þann bað hann eignask then he bade him make his own

óðalvöllu, odal fields,

óðalvöllu, odal fields

aldnar byggðir. settled since olden days.

37. 37.

Reið hann meir þaðan Further he(40) rode from there

myrkvan við, [through] a dark forest,

hélug fjöll, [and] a frosty fell,

unz at höllu kom; until he came to a hall;

skaft nam at dýja, he up and shook lance,

skelfði lind, shook shield,

hesti hleypði spurred his horse

ok hjörvi brá; and drew his blade;

víg nam at vekja, up and raised war,

völl nam at rjóða, up and reddened field,

val nam at fella, up and laid low slain,

vá til landa. won lands.

38. 38.

Réð hann einn at þat He then ruled alone

átján búum, eight settlements,

auð nam skipta, he up and dealt out wealth,

öllum veita granted to all

meiðmar ok mösma, treasures and valuables,(41)

mara svangrifja, slim-ribbed steeds,

hringum hreytti, [and] scattered rings,

hjó sundr baug. hewed bracelets asunder.

39. 39.

Óku ærir There drove envoys

úrgar brautir, on wet ways,(42)

kómu at höllu, they came to a hall,

þar er Hersir bjó; where Hersir lived;(43)

mey átti hann he had a maid,

mjófingraða, slender-fingered,

hvíta ok horska, white and wise,(44)

hétu Erna. she was called Erna.(45)

40. 40.

Báðu hennar They asked for her

ok heim óku, and home they drove [her],

giftu Jarli, married [her] to Jarl,

gekk hon und líni; she went under linen;(46)

saman bjuggu þau together they lived

ok sér unðu, and were happy,

ættir jóku increased their kindred

ok aldrs nutu. and enjoyed life.

41. 41.

Burr var inn ellsti, Burr was the eldest [son],

en Barn annat, and Barn second, (47)

Jóð ok Aðal, Jóð and Aðal,

Arfi, Mögr, Arfi, Mǫgr,

Niðr ok Niðjungr, Niðr and Niðjungr(48)

- námu leika, - - they took up games -

Sonr ok Sveinn, Sonr and Sveinn,(49)

- sund ok tafl, - - swimming and tafl(50) -

Kundr hét enn, one was called Kundr,

Konr var inn yngsti. Konr was the youngest.(51)

42. 42.

Upp óxu þar Up they grew there,

Jarli bornir, the sons of Jarl,

hesta tömðu, horses they tamed,

hlífar bendu, bucklers they bent,

skeyti skófu, shafts they smoothed,

skelfðu aska. ash [spears] they shook.

43. 43.

En Konr ungr(52) But Konr the Young

kunni rúnar, knew runes,

ævinrúnar everlasting runes

ok aldrrúnar; and life runes(53);

meir kunni hann further he could

mönnum bjarga, save people(54),

eggjar deyfa, blunt edges,

ægi lægja. [and] still the ocean.

44. 44.

Klök nam fugla, He learnt the twittering of birds,

kyrra elda, how to quench fire,

sefa of svefja, calm down minds,(55)

sorgir lægja, still sorrow,

afl ok eljun the strength and doughtiness

átta manna. of eight men.

45. 45.

Hann við Ríg jarl With Jarl Rígr he

rúnar deildi, traded runes,(56)

brögðum beitti baited him with tricks

ok betr kunni; and was more able;

þá öðlaðisk then he came into his heritage

ok þá eiga gat and then got the right

Rígr at heita, to be called Rígr,

rúnar kunna. runes [to] know.

46. 46.

Reið Konr ungr Konr the Young rode

kjörr ok skóga, [through] thickets and forests,

kolfi fleygði, let fly the bolt,

kyrrði fugla. stunned birds.(57)

47. 47.

Þá kvað þat kráka, Then the crow said this,

sat kvisti ein: [it] sat alone on a branch:

"Hvat skaltu, Konr ungr, "Why must you, Konr the Young,

kyrra fugla? stun birds?

Heldr mætti ér Rather you(58) ought

hestum ríða, to ride horses,

[hjörvi bregða] [draw blade](59)

ok her fella. and fell armies.

48. 48.

Á Danr ok Danpr "Danr and Danpr have

dýrar hallir, costly halls,

æðra óðal higher heritage

en ér hafið; than you have;

þeir kunnu vel they are well skilled

kjóli at ríða, in riding the ship,

egg at kenna, in teaching the edge,(60)

undir rjúfa." ripping wounds."

49.(61) 49.

Brún bjartari, Her brow [was] brighter,

brjóst ljósara, her breast lighter,

hals hvítari her neck whiter

hreinni mjöllu. than driven snow.

50. 50.

Bjuggu hjón, They lived as a couple,

bauga deildu. dealt out rings.

Notes

1. To show the use of repetition and somewhat odd word choices in this poem, I have consistently rendered meir as "further", at þat as "then", and nam at as "up and" with past tense (rather than "began to", the usual translation that does not always fit).

2. against the doorposts (gætti) but not closed. I follow Guðbrandur Vigfússon in this. Ursula Dronke has "in the side-niche", i.e., wide open.

3. Emended from "af árni", which would mean something like "from toil".

4. Great-grandfather, Great-grandmother

5. These two lines about the calf are ill-suited to Edda's cooking style and are usually moved to Verse 18, about Amma's cooking; this editor, Guðni Jónsson, has them in both places.

6. These two pairs of lines are in the reverse order in the manuscript.

7. Something has gone missing here.

8. Thrall.

9. Lotr is a hapax legomenon - a uniquely occurring word. It is presumably related to lútr, "stooping", which occurs in Verse 12 as a proper name.

10. Gengilbeina appears to mean she is always walking from place to place. "Gangly-legged" would not have quite the same meaning.

11. Omitting the awkward er, "is". Either a hook nose or a broken nose.

12. Bondswoman, Maidservant.

13. Noisy and Cowherd, Clumpy and Clod, Lewd, Foul, Stumpy, Fatty, Sluggard and Greyish, Stooper and Leggy. For these and the daughters' names, much guesswork is involved.

14. Stumpy and Cloggy, Lumpy-calves and Eaglenosed, Screecher and Bondmaid, Everchatter (or Oaken-pegged), Tattercoat and Craneshanks.

15. i.e, either a belted tunic or a garment sewn with a waist.

16. In ON smokkr is a hapax legomenon but seems clearly derived from the Anglo-Saxon ancestor of "smock", used of a shirt or a woman's shift, or undergarment.

17. The "dwarves" are presumably a metaphor for the straps holding up her apron-dress, or possibly the brooches that secure them at the front.

18. Grandfather, Grandmother, or as Guðmundur Vigfússon calls them, Gaffer and Gammer.

19. Lacuna in the text filled with material from Verses 3 to 5. For the calf, see note 5.

20. Churl, carl: a free-born peasant or a yeoman; a member of the common people.

21. Arðr is an older word for a plough than plógr; they were apparently used of different kinds.

22. Daughter-in-law.

23. i.e., spent money

24. This is actually a singular: "he was called".

25. Goodfellow and Doughty, Franklin, Thegn and Smith, Broadfellow, Peasant, Boundbeard, Farmer and Smallholder, Steepbeard and Man. Many of these are either old words for "man, warrior" or classes of free men.

26. Lass, Bride, Lady, Damsel, Finelooking, Mistress, Madam and Wife, Shy and Sharp. These are all heiti used in skaldic verse for "woman".

27. See note 20.

28. i.e., taken down, removed. The doors opened up rather than at one side, and were hung at the top.

29. Father and Mother

30. Dronke points to the expression at leika við fingr sér, literally "to play with one's fingers" as meaning "to be blissfully unoccupied".

31. presumably embroidered

32. The manuscript has these 2 words reversed.

33. The manuscript has fáán ok fleski.

34. Editors commonly insert here the second half of Verse 5:

meir lagðisk hann further he lay down

miðrar rekkju, in mid-bed,

en á hlið hvára and on each side

hjón salkynna. the two householders.

35. Jarl, the Scandinavian earl or chieftain

36. Presumably red

37. The frakki is specifically or originally a Frankish spear, a relatively rare word usually found in compounds. It seems to have been heavier and may have been barbed.

38. literally, threw dogs

39. i.e, acknowledges him as his son

40. What follows indicates this "he" is Jarl, not Rígr.

41. Mǫsmar is a hapax legomenon.

42. presumably with dew?

43. Literally "Ruler": a rank of landowner below a jarl, perhaps equal to squire.

44. Sophus Bugge's emendation; in the manuscript the three lines read "mætti hann | miofingardi |hvíti ok horski", which means "he met a slender-fingered [woman], white and wise."

45. Following the traditional emendation to "Hét su". Erna is unexplained; Guðbrandur Vigfússon substituted Erla, a feminine equivalent to Jarl's name.

46. The linen bridal headdress or veil.

47. Burr and Barn both mean "child"; Burr also occurs in Vǫluspá Verse 4 (perhaps the same as Buri).

48. Offspring and Nobility, Heir, Relative, Kin and Kinsman

49. Son and Swain

50. Tafl is an ancient board-game.

51. Kundr: Boychild. Konr: Scion.

52. A peculiarly structured formulation in order to appear to be the etymology of konungr, "king".

53. Both ævinrúnar and aldrrúnar are hapax legomena. Of course all the mentions of "runes" here presumably refer to the spells as well as the symbols; the base meaning of the word is "mystery".

54. Dronke interprets this as birthing babies, based on Sigrdrífumál 9.

55. The manuscript has ok, "and". Many editors suspect this verse's genuineness.

56. i.e, in a contest or battle

57. The same verb as kyrra elda, quench fire, above; the bolt has a short shaft and blunt end used to bring birds down without killing them. "Silenced" is another possible translation.

58. Emended from the manuscript þér for alliteration and to match Verse 48; the meaning is the same, strictly speaking plural "you".

59. Inserted based on Verse 37 and Helgakviða Hundingsbana I.

60. i.e., wielding the sword to instruct enemies using its edge.

61. These last two verses have been inserted by the editor based on Verses 29 and 23; the manuscript breaks off.