Sonatorrek

(Album: Skald - 2018)

[1.] Mjǫk erum tregt
tungu at hrœra
eða loptvætt
ljóðpundara;
esa nú vænligt
of Viðurs þýfi
né hógdrœgt
ór hugar fylgsni.

[2.] Esa auðþeystr,
þvít ekki veldr
hǫfugligr,
ór hyggju stað
fagnafundr
Friggjar niðja,
ár borinn
ór Jǫtunheimum,

[3.] lastalauss
es lifnaði
á Nǫkkvers
nǫkkva bragi.
Jǫtuns hals
undir þjóta
Náins niðr
fyr naustdyrum.

[4.] Þvít ætt mín
á enda stendr,
hræbarnir
sem hlynir marka;
esa karskr maðr
sás kǫggla berr
frænda hrørs
af fletjum niðr.

[5.] Þó munk mitt
ok móður hrør
fǫður fall
fyrst of telja,
þat berk út
ór orðhofi
mærðar timbr
máli laufgat.

[6.] Grimmt vǫrum hlið,
þats hrǫnn of braut
fǫður míns
á frændgarði;
veitk ófullt
ok opit standa
sonar skarð,
es mér sær of vann.

[7.] Mjǫk hefr Rǫ́n
ryskt um mik,
emk ofsnauðr
at ástvinum;
sleit marr bǫnd
minnar ættar,
snaran þǫ́tt
af sjǫlfum mér.

[8.] Veizt, ef þá sǫk
sverði of rækak,
vas ǫlsmiðr
allra tíma;
hroða vágs brœðr,
ef vega mættak,
fórk andvígr
ok Ægis mani.

[9.] En ek ekki
eiga þóttumk
sakar afl
við sonar bana,
þvít alþjóð
fyr augum verðr
gamals þegns
gengileysi.

[10.] Mik hefr marr
miklu ræntan,
grimmt es fall
frænda at telja,
síðan's minn
á munvega
ættar skjǫldr
aflífi hvarf.

[11.] Veitk þat sjalfr,
at í syni mínum
vasa ills þegns
efni vaxit,
ef randviðr
røskvask næði,
unz her-Gauts
hendr of tœki.

[12.] Æ lét flest
þats faðir mælti,
þótt ǫll þjóð
annat segði,
mér upp helt
of verbergi
ok mitt afl
mest of studdi.

[13.] Opt kømr mér
mána bjarnar
í byrvind
brœðraleysi,
hyggjumk um,
es hildr þróask,
nýsumk hins
ok hygg at því,

[14.] hverr mér hugaðr
á hlið standi
annarr þegn
við óðræði;
þarfk þess opt
of þvergǫrum;
verðk varfleygr,
es vinir þverra.

[15.] Mjǫk es torfyndr,
sás trúa knegum
of alþjóð
Elgjar galga,
þvít niflgóðr
niðja steypir
bróður hrør
við baugum selr.

[16. Excluded. Missing, incomplete verse.]

[17.] Þat's ok mælt,
at engi geti
sonar iðgjǫld
nema sjalfr ali
enn þann nið,
es ǫðrum sé
borinn maðr
í bróður stað.

[18.] Erumka þekkt
þjóða sinni,
þótt sér hverr
sǫ́tt of haldi;
burr's Bileygs
í bœ kominn,
kvánar sonr,
kynnis leita.

[19.] En mér fens
í fǫstum þokk
hrosta hilmir
á hendi stendr;
máka'k upp
jǫrðu grímu,
rýnnis-reið,
réttri halda,

[20.] síz son minn
sóttar brími
heiptugligr
ór heimi nam,
þanns ek veit
at varnaði
vamma varr
við vámæli.

[21.] Þat mank enn,
es upp of hóf
í Goðheim
Gauta spjalli
ættar ask,
þanns óx af mér,
ok kynvið
kvánar minnar.

[22.] Áttak gótt
við geirs dróttin,
gerðumk tryggr
at trúa hǫ́num,
áðr vinan
vagna rúni,
sigrhǫfundr,
of sleit við mik.

[23.] Blœtka því
bróður Vílis,
goðjaðar,
at gjarn séak,
þó hefr Míms vinr
mér of fengnar
bǫlva bœtr,
ef et betra telk.

[24.] Gǫ́fumk íþrótt
ulfs of bági
vígi vanr
vammi firða
ok þat geð,
es ek gerða mér
vísa fjandr
af vélǫndum.

[25.] Nú erum torvelt:
Tveggja bága
njǫrva nipt
á nesi stendr;
skalk þó glaðr
með góðan vilja
ok óhryggr
heljar bíða.

[English translation:]

[1.] My tongue is sluggish
For me to move
My poem's scales
Ponderous to raise
The god's prize
Is beyond my grasp
Tough to drag out
From my mind's haunts

[2.] Since heavy sobbing
Is the cause
How hard to pour forth
From the mind's root t
He prize that Frigg's
Progeny found
Borne of old
From the world of giants

[3.] unflawed, which Bragi
Inspired with life
On the craft
Of the watcher-dwarf
Blood surges
From the giant's wounded neck
Crashes on the death-dwarf's
Boathouse door

[4.] My stock
Stands on the brink
Pounded as planar-trees
On the forest's rim
No man is glad
Who carries the bones
Of his dead kinsman
Out of the bed

[5.] Yet I shall
First recount
My father's death
And mother's loss
Carry from my word-shrine
The timber that I build
My poem from
Leafed with language

[6.] Harsh was the rift
That the wave hewed
In the wall
Of my father's kin;
I know it stands
Unfilled and open
My son's breach
That the sea wrought

[7.] The sea-goddess
Has ruffled me
Stripped me bare
Of my loved ones:
The ocean severed
My family's bonds
The tight knot
That ties me down

[8.] If by sword I might
Avenge that deed
The brewer of waves
Would meet his end;
Smite the wind's brother
That dashes the bay
Do battle against
The sea-god's wife

[9.] Yet I felt
I lacked the might
To seek justice against
The killer of ships
For it is clear
To all eyes
How an old man
Lacks helpers

[10.] The sea has robbed
Me of much
My kinsmen's deaths
Are harsh to tell
After the shield
Of my family
Retreated down
The god's joyful road

[11.] Myself I know
That in my son
Grew the makings
Of a worthy man
Had that shield-tree
Reached manhood
Then earned the claim
Of war's arms

[12.] Always he prized
His father's words
Highest of all, though
The world said different
He shored me up
Defended me
Lent my strength
The most support

[13.] My lack of brothers
Often enters my thoughts
Where the winds
Of moon-bears rage
I think of the other
As the battle grows
Scout around
And wonder justification

[14.] which other valiant
Warrior stands
By my side
In the peril;
I often need him
When facing foes
When friends dwindle
I am wary to soar

[15.] It is rare to find
One to trust
Amongst men who dwell
Beneath Odin's gallows
For the dark-minded
Destroyer of kin
Swaps his brother's
Death for treasure

[16. Excluded. Missing, incomplete verse.]

[17.] It is also said
That no one regains
His son's worth
Without bearing
Another offspring
That other men
Hold in esteem
As his brother's match

[18.] I do not relish
The company of men
Though each of them might
Live in peace with me;
My wife's son
Has come in search
Of friendship
To One-Eye's hall

[19.] But the lord of the sea
Brewer of storms
Seems to oppose me
His mind set
I cannot hold
My head upright
The ground of my face
My thoughts' steed

[20.] ever since the raging
Surf of heat
Snatched from the world
That son of mine
Whom I knew
To shun disgrace
Avoid words
Of ill repute

[21.] I remember still
When the Gauts' friend
Raised high
To the gods' world
The ash that grew
From my stock
The tree bearing
My wife's kin

[22.] I was in league
With the lord of spears
Pledged myself loyal
To believe in him
Before he broke off
His friendship with me
The guardian of chariots
Architect of victory

[23.] I do not worship
Vilir's brother
Guardian of the gods
Through my own longing
Though in good ways too
The friend of wisdom
Has granted me
Redress for affliction

[24.] He who does battle
And tackles the hell-wolf
Gave me the craft
That is beyond reproach
And the nature
That I could reveal
Those who plotted against me
As my true enemies

[25.] Now my course is tough:
Death, close sister
Of Odin's enemy
Stands on the ness:
With resolution
And without remorse
I shall gladly
Await my own