Eiríksmál

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

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

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, [lower-alpha 1] however the Norwegian translation and most English translations assume that this is a monologue by Bragi. [7] [8]

Verse 3 Original Old Norse

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

Eiríksmál : Danish translation by Jesper Lauridsen [6] [lower-alpha 2]

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

Eiríksmál : Norwegian translation [7] [lower-alpha 3]

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

Verse 1, Odin

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 4] [lower-alpha 5]

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

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 6] [lower-alpha 7]

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

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 8] [lower-alpha 9]

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 [lower-alpha 10] died after the mischief-maker Loki [lower-alpha 11] tricked the blind Höðr [lower-alpha 12] into killing Balder with a spear made from mistletoe. [9] [10] [11]

Verse 4, Odin

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 13] [lower-alpha 14]

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 ! [lower-alpha 15]

Verse 5, Odin

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 16] [lower-alpha 17]

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

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 18] [lower-alpha 19]

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

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 20] [lower-alpha 21]

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

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 23] [lower-alpha 24]

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

Old Norse to English [lower-alpha 25] [lower-alpha 26]

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
  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
  2. Williams 2017, p. 298.
  5. Williams 2017, p. 300.
  12. Page 2002, pp. 109–111.

Sources

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

Books
  • Page, R. I. (2002). Chronicles of the Vikings - Records, Memorials and Myths. British Museum Press. ISBN 0-7141-2800-7.
  • Williams, Thomas (2017). Viking Britain - A History. William Collins Books. ISBN 978-0-00-817195-7.
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