Eiríksmál

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Eiríksmál is a skaldic poem composed c.954 on the behest of the Norwegian queen Gunnhild in honour of her slain consort Erik Bloodaxe. [1] Only the beginning of the poem is extant. [1]

According to Roger of Wendover, the Viking ruler Eric Bloodaxe was betrayed and killed on Stainmore in AD 954, while on the run and after being expelled from York. [2] Eric had previously been King of Northumbria ( c. 947–948 and 952–954 ) during his more successful days.

Fenrir - wolf and enemy of Odin , Gosforth Cross

Poem Structure[edit]

Although classified here as skaldic since it deals with a historical figure, the poem is actually anonymous and in the simple fornyrðislag meter, rather than ornate dróttkvætt. It thus has much in common with the Poetic Edda. [3] The later poem Hákonarmál appears to be modelled on Eiríksmál. [4]

The poem is cast as a dialogue between Eric, Odin, Bragi and Sigmund[5]

Notes about translation[edit]

The Danish translation by Jesper Lauridsen would appear to be more accurate and true to the original Old Norse text than most other translations. [6] For example verse 3 is cast as a dialogue between Odin and Bragi, [a] however the Norwegian translation and most English translations assume that this is a monologue by Bragi. [7] [8]

Verse 3 Original Old Norse[edit]

Eiríksmál : Old Norse [3]

3.

( Odin : )

Hvat þrymr þar Bragi,

sem þúsund bifisk

eða mengi til mikit?

( Bragi : )

"Braka öll bekkþili,

sem muni Baldr koma

eptir í Óðins sali".

Verse 3 Danish translation[edit]

Eiríksmál : Danish translation by Jesper Lauridsen [6] [b]

3.

( Odin : )

. . Bragi ! It's thundering of thousands of noises - or many peoples !

( Bragi : )

. . It rumbles in tables; is Balder back and again in Odin's halls?

Verse 3 Norwegian translation[edit]

Eiríksmál : Norwegian translation [7] [c]

3.

( Bragi : )

. . What major is there? who thundered those of a thousand, or quantity without measure!

. . Bench-feelers crash, which Balder was to coma again in Odin's halls.


Translation from Old Norse[edit]

Verse 1, Odin[edit]

Old Norse to English [d] [e]

1.

( Odin : )

Hvat's þat drauma? . . Was it a dream ?

hugðumk fyr dag rísa . . I awoke before daybreak :

Valhöll at ryðja . . Valhalla was awakening

fyr vegnu fólki; . . before the arrival of the fallen ;

vakðak Einherja, . . Einherjar bidden to

baðk upp at rísa, . . arise out of their beds

bekki at stráa, . . to spruce up benches

bjórker at leyðra, . . and rinse beer bowls.

valkyrjur vín bera,

sem vísi kœmi.

.. With wine for kings the valkyries stood ready.

Norse mythology :


Verse 2, Odin[edit]

Old Norse to English [f] [g]

2.

( Odin : )

Erum ór heimi . . I am feeling honoured,

hölða vánir . . important guests

göfugra nökkurra, . . are expected from the world of the living

svá's mér glatt hjarta. . . - my heart rejoices !

Verse 3, Odin, Bragi[edit]

Old Norse to English [h] [i]

3.

( Odin : )

Hvat þrymr þar Bragi,

sem þúsund bifisk

eða mengi til mikit?

. . Bragi ! It's thundering of thousands of noises - or many peoples !

( Bragi : )

"Braka öll bekkþili,

sem muni Baldr koma

eptir í Óðins sali".

. . The tables are rumbling; is Balder back and again in Odin's halls ?

According to Norse Mythology , Balder [j] died after the mischief-maker Loki [k] tricked the blind Höðr [l] into killing Balder with a spear made from mistletoe. [9] [10] [11]

Verse 4, Odin[edit]

Old Norse to English [m] [n]

4.

( Odin : )

Heimsku mæla

skalat hinn horski Bragi,

þvít þú vel hvat vitir.

. . Do not talk nonsense now - wise Bragi - you can probably see what is happening !

Fyr Eireki glymr,

es hér mun inn koma

jöfurr í Óðins sali.

. . This can be explained by the king, coming to stay : Erik in Odin's hall's !

Note :

According to Norse Mythology , it was not possible for a dead Norse god to be able to ever return to Valhalla. Balder was already dead therefore it was nonsense ( ” balderdash ” ) for Bragi to suggest such a thing ! [o]

Verse 5, Odin[edit]

Old Norse to English [p] [q]

5.

( Odin : )

Sigmundr ok Sinfjötli, . . Sigmund and Sinfjøtle,

rísið snarliga . . are you ready

ok gangið í gögn grami, . . and now meet the guest,

inn þú bjóð, . . show him in,

ef Eirekr sé, . . if it's Erik,

hans es mér nú ván vituð. . . I hope very much it's him !


Verse 6, Bragi, Odin[edit]

Old Norse to English [r] [s]

6.

( Bragi : )

" Hví 's þér Eireks ván

heldr an annarra? "

. . Why is Erik more expected ( in Valhalla ) than others ?

( Odin : )

Þvít mörgu landi . . In many kingdoms

hefr hann mæki roðit . . has he reddened

ok blóðugt sverð borit. . . and carried bloody swords.

Note :

Odin was eager and anxious for Erik to arrive in Valhalla because he needed his battle skills to help to defend Valhalla from the enemy. [12]

Verse 7, Bragi, Odin[edit]

Old Norse to English [t] [u]

7.

Fenrir - wolf and enemy of Odin , Gosforth Cross

( Bragi : )

" Hví namt hann sigri þá,

es þér þótti snjallr vesa? "

. . Why did you steal his life on earth, when you thought him bravest ?

( Odin : )

Óvíst 's at vita, . . You are never sure

sér ulfr hinn hösvi . . when the wolf scolds

[greypr] á sjöt goða. . . greedily towards the home of the gods.

Norse mythology :

Verse 8, Sigmund[edit]

Old Norse to English [w] [x]

8.

( Sigmund : )

Heill þú nú Eirekr,

vel skalt hér kominn

ok gakk í höll horskr.

. . Welcome here ! I greet you Erik. Come in - wise king !

Hins vilk þik fregna,

hvat fylgir þér

jöfra frá eggþrimu.

. . Let me know, which fallen hero's are you expecting from the sword thunder of the field ?

Verse 9, Erik[edit]

Old Norse to English [y] [z]

9.

( Erik : )

"Konungr 'ru fimm,

kennik þér nafn allra,

ek em hinn sétti sjalfr".

. . There are five kings; you will know them soon - and I myself am the sixth.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The speech marks indicate that this is a dialogue and not a monologue
  2. ^ Translated into English using Google Translate
  3. ^ Translated into English using Google Translate
  4. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  5. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  6. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  7. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  8. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  9. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  10. ^ Norse God ” Balder ” is a son of ” Odin ” and ” Frig ”
  11. ^ Norse God ” Loki ” is not related to ” Odin ”
  12. ^ Norse God ” Höðr ” is a son of ” Odin ” and ” Frig ”
  13. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  14. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  15. ^ Is this the origin of the word ” balderdash ”  ?
  16. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  17. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  18. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  19. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  20. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  21. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  22. ^ The Gosforth Cross depicts an image that has been interpreted as Víðarr's battle with Fenrir at Ragnarök
  23. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  24. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate
  25. ^ Old Norse version is from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway
  26. ^ English version is translated from Danish using Google Translate

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b *"Eiríksmál : Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages". The Skaldic Project. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  2. ^ Williams 2017, p. 298.
  3. ^ a b *"Eiríksmál : Old Norse". www.heimskringla.no. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  4. ^ *"Hákonarmál : Old Norse". www.heimskringla.no. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  5. ^ Williams 2017, p. 300.
  6. ^ a b *"Eiríksmál : Danish". www.heimskringla.no. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b *"Eiríksmál : Norwegian". www.heimskringla.no. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  8. ^ *"Eiríksmál : English translation". The Skaldic Project. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ *"Norse God : Baldr ( "Balder" )". norse-mythology.org. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  10. ^ *"Norse God : Loki". norse-mythology.org. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  11. ^ *"Norse God : Höðr". norse-mythology.org. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b Page 2002, pp. 109–111.

Sources[edit]

Online[edit]

  • Eiríksmál in Old Norse from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway.

Books[edit]

  • Page, R. I. (2002). Chronicles of the Vikings - Records, Memorials and Myths. British Museum Press. ISBN 0-7141-2800-7.