Ásmegin Hin Vordende Sod & Sø 1. Af Helvegum Et sidste Lidelses Qvin flærres hist af vældige Skoguls Uvær, til Slagmark rinner Hugghav naar Glavinds Higen hvile maa Mod Frænders Skiød for Baner at melde de intet længer ere, thi disse skal Færden til Hvergelmes Bredder afskyelige gaa "Dagr myrkvar ok dóttir míkil NQrvis er fQlr, kyrr krefjar hon til víss um lif yðar at ráða; flóð fleina - sára orns nautr eigi lengra átti, ok kvennskikkja kallaði á Þér af Helvegum" Af Helvegum Skiønt for Svig ved Drot forkiært eders Lagnad age skal, der Gjóll rungende hamrer grumt efter disse Mænd bange Bi Angerbodas Datter at giæste i Eljudne, forblommet Sal; Ganglot ledte til Fordømtes Gilde ved Hungerstider lange "Dagr myrkvar ok dóttir míkil NQrvis er fQlr, kyrr krefjar hon til víss um lif yðar at ráða; flóð fleina - sára orns nautr eigi lengra átti, ok kvennskikkja kallaði á Þér af Helvegum" Hnigin er Helgrind! Af Helvegum Þangat æðra er [English translation:] On The Road To Helheim1 One last squeal of suffering is torn from the storms of mighty Skogul2, In the battlefield runs the sea of slaughter3, when spear's craving may rest, Against the bosom of the kinsmen to tell the slain that they are no more For these shall be abominable the journey to the expanses of Hvergelmir4 "The day is dark and the daughter of great Norvi5 is pale Quiet she craves for ruling your life; Flood of shafts6 - your companion the eagle’s wounds no longer had And a female silhouette is calling out to you on the road to Helheim" On the road to Helheim Though for betrayal against the king your fate shall go wrong, There where roaring Gjóll7 grimly hammers these frightened men By Angrboda's daughter8 as a guest in Eljudne9, the flowered hall Ganglot10 led, in long times of famine, to the feast of the damned The gates of Hel are opened! On the road to Helheim There is dread 2. Bruderov Paa Hægstadtun Thi en Tørst; giv mig noget af hin brændende Børst! Idelig higende efter at druknes i udhungrende Qvider Lav Felen spille til Dans; Piger yndige jeg giver min Ans Ingerid, ingenlunde skal De nemme just hvor jeg lider Til Helved med Aslak Smed og jer Lunde-Bærmer med, der stummes i Hvisken og Nid Paa hin Tun hvo Dansen stod voldes nu mit vaage Taalmod Leiten er nær; velende I ere, Faafængt at begiære min Grid! Ingen Pige velig bestrider en gyntsks for en graanets Haand O, Ve og Lede; finnes her nogen yndige der kan volde Mon? Aat Gildes Tun blandt Hedalsfolket en Mø forkunn lod mig Hægstadbondens Datter blindt forsømme; for dit Leie kan jeg nys komme i sortladen Lys, thi over Mulmets Varulvham dit Blod at tømme! Brudgommen tryglende om hans saa kiærkomne Blom jeg fra Stabbur skulle hente; "Ingerid vil ei paa Laasen lette Klarer De bedaare hin Kiætte, vil De faa een Stud til dit Traa om De mi Ingerid vil hente!" Saa svandt Peer; blottet for Tilsyn noget mer hvorimod Tunet i Argskab skaaldet livlig op Men nu op i Skrænten steil de skielnet ham; og over hans Skulder; unge Ingerids Krop! Knoger hvidnes i Avind, der sværtes balstyrig hin Smeden attraaende efter eders Skiærsilds Hier; hvor Hinmanden selv giør op jer Bod i idel Bel, dog een ung Mø i hint Hurlumhei siauende tier: "Vil min Peer da attende til mig saa trofast vende? Hengiven skal jeg nu li, og aldrig til nogen anden søge Trøst; Vaar og Høst venter jeg dig for al Tid" [English translation:] Bride Abduction At Hægstad Square11 Because of the thirst; give me some of your burning drink! Always yearning to be drowned in starving sorrow Let the fiddle play a dance; (to) lovely girls I give my attention Ingerid, in no way shall you feel just how I suffer To hell with Aslak the smith And you Lunde12 rabble as well, They fell silent in whispers and mockery Upon the square where the dancing held Provoked now is my weak patience The time is nigh; tricking are ye, In vain to desire my mercy! No girl would willingly deny the hand of a Gynt for that of a grey old man Oh, woe and sorrow! is there any lovely (girl) who may cause happiness? At the feast square among the Hedal people, an excited maiden Made me to blindly neglect the daughter of Hægstad's landowner; For your pallet I can quickly come as blackish light13, To empty your blood upon the werewolf shape of darkness! The groom besought His flower so dear I had from the larder to fetch; “Ingerid will not the lock undo If you can, charm this kitten, You shall receive a young bull to your desire If only my Ingerid you fetch!” Then Peer disappeared; no more to be seen In the square, conversely, anger flared But now upon the hillside so steep they descried him; And over his shoulder, young Ingerid's body! I have come to take with me she who my heart holds near I have come to take with me she who is for me so hearty Knuckles in envy went white, cursed wildly to him The smith longing for your purgatory's lairs; Where the devil himself settles your penitence for all time, Yet one maiden in this tumult silently says: “Shall my Peer then return To me so faithfully? Devoted I shall now abide And never in another Seek comfort; spring and autumn For all time I shall await thee” 3. Huldradans - Hin Grønnkledde Kom til mín Heyrðu sál mína kalla Stend i skuggunum ok bíð Eftir þér Komþú, taktu mik með Rikið mitt bíðir Ek þrái þinn líkama Augu þín brosa - hendumar skelfa - komþu! Komþu maður, komþu til mín Allt mitt getur orðið þitt Komþu madur, komþu til mín Ek em allt sem þu villt fá Kastaþu frá þér lífi þínu, þinn sársauki ok veikleiki Leyfþu mér að sýna þér hvat gleði er Yfir Gjoll við vöndrum Ekki berjast i mófi mér - Ek véit þu vilt mik það er ákveðíð, þínn örlög em ék Komþu, komþu med til Helheims Komþu maður, komþu til mín Allt mitt getur orðið þitt Komþu maður, komþu til mín Ek em allt sem þu villt fá [English translation:] Huldra Dance - The Green-Clad One14 Come to me Hear my soul calling Standing in the shadows and waiting For you Come, take me with you My kingdom awaits I long for you as well Your eyes smile - hands trembling - come! Come, man, come to me All that is mine shall be yours Come, man, come to me I am all that you shall have Throw your life away from you Your pain and weakness Allow me to show you what happiness is Wandering over Gjóll15 Don't fight against me - I know you want me So it's decided, your destiny I am Come, come with me to Helheim Come, man, come to me All that is mine shall be yours Come, man, come to me I am all that you shall have 4. Til Rondefolkets Herskab I begsorte Fieldkamre bløde, hvor Myriader af Øine vil gløde over kristenblodig Hold forkunn til hin vordende Sod og Sø Bragt til Rondefolkets Herskab, saa mellem Afaat og Troldskab, stiller Aases Enbaarne hen om at ægte Trolddrottins fagreste Mø I utaalelige flærrende Hyl, qvinende Jammer, hungrende Troldbørn legende ham rammer: "Flærr ham, bid ham, skiær ham, riv ham, lav os bryde disse skrøbelige Ribben an!" Fra Bjergthronen vældig fornemmer De fortrolige Broses kløgtige Tale: "Forhenværende Drot nu attraar efter en thi vaares beslaatte Æt at se til Der er intet Skilnad mellem Trold og Mand, skal Søn prud bære Hale, med de Tilsagn skiænkes min Datter og halve Troldriget i medgift dertil; Hvad udenfor Rondernes Grænser, sværg De aldrig mere enser, thi at kræve min Datters Gunst Dagslys væmmelig skal De sky Blivende Herre over min Flok; Peer, vær Dem selv - nok! Skiære Dem i Øiet skiævt saa alt Dem gildt tykkes i dunkel Vy" "Drukken Galmands Snak; at flærre Øiet et Hak, intet længer begiærende at raa over et Troldpak" "Min Peer, forsøm mig dog ei, thi før Aaret lier med Eders daarende Attraa mit Nors Far De bliver" "Løgn! Aabne Rondeporten, slipp mig hen ud! Løgnagtig er Førkiens utaalelige Sut" I Broses brændende infame Foragt over Hvad der Peer dog haver sagt, for tusind hungrende Troldbørn ham ubønhørlig saa bliver bragt: "Flærr ham, bid ham, skiær ham, riv ham, kast hans skrøbelige Skrot inn i Bjergvæg!" [English translation:] To The Household Of Ronde People16 In pitch-black mountain chambers wet, where myriads of eyes will glow Over Christian-bloody meat, excited for the prospective soup and broth Brought to the household of Ronde people, so among vermin and sorcery, Silent is the only son of Aase about to marry the most beautiful maiden of troll queen In intolerable tearing shriek, squealing wails, Hungry the troll child jumping hits him; "Tear him, tie him, cut him, rip him, Let us sever this frail rib!" From the mighty mountain throne they perceive intimately the wind blast17's keen speech: The former king now craves for someone to look after our adorned family There's no difference between troll and man, shall the son proud carry the tail With this vow my daughter and half troll-kingdom is granted as dowry What lies outside Ronde’s boundaries, swear you'll never heed anymore, To demand my daughter's favour, abhorrent daylight you shall shun To become lord over my flock; Peer, be yourself - enough! Carve you eye oblique so everything will appear of gold in your obscure view" "Speech of a drunken madman; to tear the eye with a hook, No longer I desire to rule over a troll pack" "My Peer, don't neglect me yet, because before the year dies With your alluring desire the father of my baby you'll become" "Lie! Open the gate of Ronde, let me go out! Dishonest is the intolerable pain of the woman" In the burning infamous contempt of the wind blast About what Peer have said there, Thousands of hungry troll children Inexorably are brought to him: "Tear him, tie him, cut him, rip him, Cast his frail body against the mountain walls!" 5. Over Ægirs Vidstragte Sletter Bag Skindskov et Grin af Malice blottes over hin arrede Facade Naar Hingsten over Hav uden Lise færdes thi Krists Guld at lade Over Hav det færdes, der Enker atter forfærdes Farleis Ende nu i Havn med Dødens Hærtog i sitt Favn Hvor dierve Mænd fraader i Galskab og dækker hint Land med Blod, skal Ilden galei i Bævens Drab over hint Land hvor Solen stod Domine, te appellabam Domine, audi curam nostram Domine, vide operem mortis Cantant inferi lucto patris Domine, te appellabam Domine, te appellabamus [English translation:] Over Ægir's Wide-Stretched Plains18 Behind the forest of cheek19 a grin of malice Is bared over the scarred face When the stallion20 over the sea, fearless Travels to load Christ's gold Over the sea it travels, Where widows are again in terror The end of the route now in the harbour With the army of Death in its arms Where brave men foam in madness And cover the land with blood Shall the fire roar in the terrifying battle21 Over the land where sun stood Lord, thee I called Lord, hear our trouble Lord, see the deed of Death The netherworlds sing the bereavement of the father Lord, thee I called Lord, thee we called 6. Slit Livets Baand 7. Efterbyrden I Silhouetter fra Dørgløten skimtes grave Mænd i Hin stolte Jarls Klæder, og Værger vil drikke dybt af Norges høibaarne Æt og De fortrolige nære Jarlens Henseender ere klare; Hin vordende Thronarving er begiæret død; atter skiærer bistert Staal giennem Qvin ... og Noret dræbes i Morens Skiød I Oblivion vil Nederdrægtighed spire I Oblivion Efterbyrden skal vansire De haver ingen Kunden om Gammel Barselssed Saa lagnadstung denne Dag; akk, hin Barselssed Noget Utyske vanhelsige spiætter mellem Dauskrotter og hviner efter Afaat hæslige, der saa frigid i Kiøldens Bryst blir eders Livskraft deprivert thi at dulme sveltende Lyst Utysket hinsides Taagen vældige svandt vendt mod Nord, mod Aftensolens Rand hen ifra en tilforn Kongsgaard vakant Saa kom Pesten over Hint ganske Land Langs Alfadervei og Grænder ligger Folk i Sygdom svøbt Bag Tomhets Aasyn raader Pinsler i Nederdrægtighed døbt I Oblivion vil Nederdrægtighed spire I Oblivion Efterbyrden skal vansire De haver ingen Kunden om Gammel Barselssed Saa lagnadstung denne Dag; akk, hin Barselssed Henfalden jeg tæres hen i ligesæl Stilfærdighed; mit Kiød til dig er given Favn mig i dit Malum Drikk af svulne Vunder Slit Livets Baand grum [English translation:] The Afterbirth22 In silhouettes from the door chink grave men glimpse in their proud earl's clothes And weapons will drink deeply of Norway's highborn ancestry and they intimately feed The earl's opinions are clear; the prospective throne-heir is desired dead; Again cuts grimly the steel through the squeal - and the baby is killed in the mother's womb In oblivion shall perfidiousness sprout In oblivion the afterbirth shall mar They have no knowledge about the old childbirth's custom So destiny-burdened this day; ah, the childbirth's custom Some sick evil being Kicks amid dead bodies And screeches after hideous vermin There so frigid in the breast of coldness Is your life-power deprived To alleviate starving lust The evil being beyond the fog tremendous vanished Turned towards north, towards the evening sun's edge Afar, from an ancient king's court, vacant So came the plague over the whole land Along the public roads and farmsteads lie people wrapped in sickness Behind the face of emptiness the torments rule in perfidiousness baptized Exhausted I am consumed In indifferent tranquillity My body is given to you Embrace me in your evil Drink of swollen wounds Tear life's bond cruel 8. Op Af Bisterlitiern Et forlorent Stille hviler over disse Lænder hvor noget forbistret venter i Mulmet hen; Agtende jeg færder med Værge i Hænder, skiønt, ved et blot Von om at undgaa dem Taagen rundt min Lagnad saa svinner; favnet i Trolddoms infame Intermesso Forenet i Vondske - alt mig i Hu rinner Dimensioner hinsides vaares egen Realia Op af Bisterlitiernets Bund stiger nu tusindvis af Utøi; se, Nivlheim-Portens Sund! De vise har mig saa fortalt; Naar Malices Yngler danser, sort de haver Lagnaden malt Min Kløgt forringes; i Oversanselighed svøbt Fortumlet af Bævens Fabler saa lammende Larmen af klaskende Fødder og Klør i Muld; O, Spektakel, ophør! Rædsel saa lammende Bisterliskovens Creaturer mig antræffer og Grene forræderske mig bemægtiger, Mine Øine! De bedrager mig! Skiær de ud! Jeg saaledes min sidste Akt nu betræffer Flygtende, med et vaagt Haab - faafængt Jagtet ned fra alle Kanter - indestængt I Bisterlihøens Juv min Historie endes: "O, Smukke Død! Eders befriende Favn Besørg nu min Familia, mit Altets Savn! Vaag - thi jeg bodet med mit Corpus - over de, der venter Hiemme til Huus Lav mig se min Hustru og mit Nor Lav hende høre mig i Vindens Sus Lov mig at bringe mine sidste Ord til de, der venter Hiemme til Huus" [English translation:] Up From The Grim Tarn A forlorn silence rests over these lands Where something cursed awaits in the dark Cautiously I walk with weapon in hands Although, with a sole hope to avoid them The fog around my destiny disappears23 Embraced in the infamous intermezzo of sorcery United in evilness - all emerges in my memory Dimensions beyond our own reality Up from the grim tarn's bottom Now arise thousands of vermin; Look, the strait of Niflheim24 gate! The wise has told me thus When the spawns of malice dance, Black they have painted the destiny My sagacity is abated, wrapped in transcendency Bewildered by terrifying fables so paralysing The noise of cracking foot and claws in the mould; Oh, prodigy, stop! Terror so paralysing The creatures of the grim wood find me And deceitful branches get hold of me My eyes! They deceit me! Cut them out! Thus now I meet my last act Fleeing, with a weak hope - in vain Hunted down from all around - closed up In the ravine of the grim mountain - my story is ended: "Oh, beautiful Death! Your freeing embrace, Look after my family now, my world's loss! Watch - for I paid with my body - Over them, there await at home in the house Let me see my wife and my baby Let her hear me in the whiz of the wind Promise me to bring my last word To them, there await at home in the house" 9. Vargr I Véum - Eilivs Bane Hin Æreskiændselens profane Scene belyst i Tusmørkets Skodde hvoraf skaanselløst Evenement fugtige Øine atter hin maa beskue Herre Odin, skiænk mig Vigør til et urokkelig Sind jeg her ei raadde og forbarm hin Horg, bereist med mine egne Næver - nu i Lue Alt nu fordærves af Hvide-Krist Jærtegn paa hvad der skal gry iagttag, vaares Tid svinner hen Kiære Broder, Voluspaa sandes Vargr i véum Knælende henimod bebyrdet og ildsvien i Melankoliens idelige Baand, ei kunne jeg fornemme Faren der min margstiaalne Skrot rammer; Hint Banesaar der blev mig voldt ved Hvide-Krists pestsorte Haand Nuets Græmmelse mig gav Forstand til at færdes i anselige Flammer Alt nu fordærvet af Hvide-Krist Jærtegn paa hvad der nu gryr iagttag, vaares Tid er svunnet hen Kiære Broder, Voluspaa er sandet Vargr i véum [English translation:] Wolf In The Sanctuary25 - Eilivs' Death The profane scene of honour-desecration gleamed in the mist of twilight Of which merciless events, moist eyes must behold again Lord Odin, grant me vigour for an immovable mind I didn't control here And have mercy on the temple, raised with my own fists - now on fire Everything now is tainted by White-Christ26 Omen on which it shall dawn Look, our time disappears Dear brothers, Voluspa27 has been sent Wolf in the sanctuary Kneeling down burdened and fire-scorched in the eternal bond of melancholy I cannot perceive the danger there where it hits my weak body The mortal wound was caused to me by White-Christ's plague-black hand The moment's grief gave me the sense of going in big flames Everything now is tainted by White-Christ Omen on which it shall dawn Look, our time disappears Dear brothers, Voluspa is sent Wolf in the sanctuary 10. Blodhevn Et dystert Aasyn over emansipert Siæl jeg hæver alterert af hint varme Blod i Sneen hen i Sorgens Omfavnelse jeg knytter blodige Næver under en graadende Himmel, kun een red Hiem Thi Ginnunga-Gab staar over mig i Kvæld og vred Tor harmer en rystende Moder Jord Sværget ved Graven, min Viv Blodhevn Maatte jeg beskikke mit Liv Blodhevn For al Tid at erindre hvor De maatte lide under Hvide-Krists Staal dit Liv om at bøde ei lod konverteres, forgiæves skulle stride følge dig jeg skal om Hel jeg maa møde Hvor Nattens Fyrste trolig blaaser ud min Ild jeg tørrer Hænderne for Dug, min faldne Bror Sværget ved Graven, min Viv Blodhevn Maatte jeg beskikke mit Liv Blodhevn Vinden gialder forgylt mælt af vaare stoute Fædre Hin Elegi svøber Maaneskin i Lød af Blod Disse Faldne med Nidkiærhed jeg vil atter hædre under reiste Stene til Ære de hviler i Ro [English translation:] Blood Vengeance A gloomy face I lift over an emancipated soul Altered by your warm blood in the snow In the sorrow's embrace I clench my bloody fists Beneath a weeping sky, one only rode home For Ginnunga-gap28 stands over me tonight And furious Thor hammers a trembling Mother Earth Sworn by the grave, my wife Blood vengeance I had to rearrange my life Blood vengeance Forever should be remembered how they had to suffer Under white-Christ's steel you paid with your life29 Didn't allow to be converted, fought in vain I will follow you even if I have to face Hel Where the lord of the night will maybe blow out my fire I dry my hands for you, my fallen brothers The wind resounds gilded speeches of our stalwart fathers The elegy wraps the moonlight in hue of blood These fallen with zeal I will honour again Under risen stones with honour they rest in peace 11. Valgalder Oðinn sá ert á Valhall Ek helga Nafn Þínn Gef honum i sinum Harmi hans Lif, sá vill hann Hemni getá. Villir ek fara a Valhall - eigi takit Þér Lif honum, vér min Gef vit míkil Styrka a Jarðar ok a Valhall Bloðhemnr - dú helðr oss frá Illu!" Ek em eigi dauðr, min Bror Ef ek finnr Banumanni min, Þár mun ek láta Hring blóðrauðan um Hals honum [English translation:] Magic Chant Of The Slain Odin the one that is in Valhalla I sanctify your name Give him, in his grief, his life (again) So he will get vengeance. I want to go to Valhalla - Don't take his life, my man Give us great strength on earth and in Valhalla Blood vengeance - you hold us from evil! I am not dead, my brother If I find my killer, Then I shall put a blood-red ring Around his neck 1. The kingdom of the queen Hel, a sort of netherworld 2. Kenning for battle. Skogul is a valkyrie 3. Kenning for blood 4. Source that spouts in Niflheim and from which every river flows 5. A giant, father of the Night 6. Can be a kenning for blood but here refers to the host of the dead with their weapons 7. The river most close to the gates of Hel 8. It is the queen Hel herself born by the giantess Angrboda, wife of Loki 9. Underground hall of Helheim 10. Hel's maidservant 11. Lyric inspired to Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Act I Scene III 12. Norwegian town 13. “Sort lys” is a fluorescent light, here it means he can visit here in the shape of an evil spirit 14. Lyric inspired to Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Act II Scene V 15. The river most close to the gates of Hel, it said that the dead should wade a river to enter the netherworld 16. Lyric inspired to Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Act II Scene VI 17. It’s the oldman of Dovre mountain, the king of the trolls 18. Kenning for sea. Ægir was a sea-giant, his plains are the ocean 19. Kenning for beard 20. Ship 21. Lit. the battle of trembling 22. It was believed that if after giving birth you did not bury the placenta it would grow up to be a sort of "evil twin." 23. My destiny now becomes clear 24. Dark and misty reign that lies under Yggdrasil’s roots 25. "Varg i veum" is an old norse expression which directly translated means "wolf in the sanctuary" or "wolf in the temple", it was used referring to men who had become outlawed after comitting a crime in a holy place or in a place of justice 26. See note 27 27. The prophecy about the Ragnarok made by the völva (seeress) 28. It's the chaos-cleft from which the Norse world was born 29. White-Christ is the name with which heathens called Christ and after the Christians, possibly because they dressed in white during baptism, there is no evidence of a conversion by weapons of the heathens, in fact the conversion was introduced by a royal decree of king Olaf Tryggvasson, and gradually adopted by the society of the period, in many sagas we read of people who believed both Christ and Thor and many were converted but still maintained their ancient belief (see Njal's saga).