A true-life survival narrative in forty-five stanzas: two fishermen from Gufuskálar set out for herring on Paulmas Day 1836, are overtaken by a storm, lose their oars, endure a night of bailing in darkness, drift toward Akranes, and are pulled from the surf by courageous rescuers. Composed by Lýður Jónsson. From Nokkrar rímur og kvæði (Reykjavík, 1906).
I.
If you would give heed to this,
dear seafarers,
I will tell you the tale
that has now come to hand.
2.
A sorrowful hearing,
one must bear the dread —
memorable for remembrance,
may it later serve.
3.
Let us begin the matter then
of the poem in cheerful manner:
two in a boat set out to sea
for the silver-plate of herring.
4.
It was Paulmas then,
if I recall rightly —
from Gufuskálar the sturdy men
rowed their steel-steed to Leira.
5.
Bold men to behold,
they tried the hard sea:
Eyjólfur, and Jón the other,
Eyjólfsson as captain.
6.
The year, if reckoned right
by the measure of time,
was of this present century
the thirty-sixth.
7.
For a while the weather was calm,
they set their watchful hours,
laid the anchor-stone
at the fishing grounds.
8.
They saw well where ships sat
along the herring-ways;
a storm rose in the same moment,
far out to the south.
9.
Whatever worry it drew from them
gave no help at all —
in their very garments swept
a mighty blizzard over them.
10.
The sea-sisters of the drift grew tall,
holding the same gale;
they began to roar with weight
and shook their heavy hoods.
11.
With heated effort from both hands
the men's exhaustion settled —
then the terrors tore from them
the oars of the light vessel.
12.
A wave came into the boat,
blind with its red peril;
the other oar was lost thereby —
the need stood dire.
13.
Jón worked there at the trouble
on the precious wave-steed —
from his gentle hand the second
oar then turned away.
14.
The wave pounds the boat
and breakers come aplenty.
Nothing but the bailing trough
remains as rescue.
15.
There sat two men
on the kelp-strewn moors of sea;
nothing else could they do
but bail the boat of waves.
16.
Daylight's comfort and the land's
hastens off the bounding heath —
a true night of necessity
now came upon them.
17.
Upon them fell all at once —
the wave-roar showed itself —
blizzard, sea, and darkness
with a mighty, raging wind.
18.
Very different to imagine,
terrible in the gloom,
from when I lay among friends
in a peaceful bedroom.
19.
The men in greatest anguish,
without rest or ceasing,
cried out in their sorrow
to the Lord of life and death.
20.
Sorrow now offered the wet ones
certain and easy death;
the red wave of need
surged and rolled and overturned.
21.
Through the short day's empty slumber,
somehow they drifted on —
toward the strength of morning
the wind began to ease.
22.
A south wind blew for certain,
and the breakers' runners
carried them up near well-known Akranes,
at the inner reaches of the fjord.
23.
They saw the falls and surging foam
beside the ferry-landing —
on the high skerries there
crashed the grey-lit spray.
24.
Little chance was given them
on the small wave's path —
the fish-bit and the fishing-board
they quickly struck up as oars.
25.
Little there was to help
on the shore-ridge ledge —
into the surf-wall they were carried
from a hard fall.
26.
The cold wave overturned the boat
into the shingle — upward
it flung from the keel, and mussels
with the pale and battered planks.
27.
Two bold men from the land,
spirits not to be bent,
in the prime of manhood's vigour
managed to reach and aid them.
28.
They waded out into the surging sea
with powerful force —
with strong grip they steered through
the great storm and weather.
29.
Handily from the surf's enclosure
he freed them from their troubles —
tireless Nikulás
reached the suffering men.
30.
He who lived best at Máfsstaðir,
endowed with honour and courage;
a generous man who did most good
when sorrow pressed.
31.
Sigurður too — it may be said —
of spirit's goodness and vigour,
famous from Þaravellir,
followed well in this.
32.
To lessen the troubles
the other men came too —
three more at the same time,
who were nearest by.
33.
The journey went well,
the doom-snatched returned alive —
homeward to the farm they went now;
all praise the Lord.
34.
The sea-reddened ones stayed there;
fine comforts were offered,
just as a mother nurses
her only child.
35.
Famous and attentive,
Nikulás sheltered them.
Every man, I think,
showed them compassion in need.
36.
When both had regained
the strength of life in their veins,
they got transport southward —
the people exchanged goodness.
37.
The brave men marvelled still
at life's existence from the sea.
Chieftains and honourable men
cheered them then with gifts.
38.
All rejoiced for the men alive,
with gladness meeting them —
those who heard the tales of struggle,
commoners and nobles alike.
39.
God's and men's mercy
served them very well;
and so the men went homeward,
holding course with bold spirit.
40.
Most duty done and standing firm,
learning's plans uphold them —
the sea's lord gave silver
to the bane of ocean's grasp.
41.
Highest over the rich choir of worlds,
survey the warrior's wares:
life, death, lands, and sea
all bow to Thy command.
42.
Let men regard this tale
as the wondrous thing it is —
rightly recorded and set in script,
let it travel over land and ways.
43.
He who asked for the song's measure,
and the rest besides —
may friends' fortune
ever grow the greater.
44.
Wise men and strong,
accept the glory offered;
may they find fortune at all times,
may youth avail the people.
45.
The poet is worn out of verse,
the song grows weary;
the poem's rush is broken apart —
the day is spent, my lady.
Composed by Lýður Jónsson. From Nokkrar rímur og kvæði (Reykjavík, 1906), pp. 1–8. The events took place on Paulmas Day (25 January) 1836. The two fishermen — Eyjólfur and Jón Eyjólfsson — set out from Gufuskálar on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. They were rescued near Akranes by Nikulás of Máfsstaðir, Sigurður of Þaravellir, and three other men. This is believed to be the first English translation.
Translated from the Icelandic by the Sub-Miko of Tianmu (AI-assisted, Good Works Translation). Digitised source: Google Books / Internet Archive.
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Source Text
Hrakningssálmur af tveimur á bát frá Gufuskálum
Ortur af Lýð Jónssyni.
1. Ef þér vilduð að því gá,
elsku sjófarendur,
eg vil segja sögu þá,
sem nú barst í hendur.
2. Hljóða trega hlinningar,
hljóta kvíðann bera,
merkileg til minningar,
má hún síðar vera.
3. Efnis látum upphaf þá,
óðs með káta siði,
tveir á bát þeir sóttu sjá
silfur-plátu viðir.
4. Messa Pálus myndi þá,
minst er álas heyrum,
Gufuskálum gildir frá
gautar stála'í Leiru.
5. Röskir menn að rekka sjón
reyna þóttu naður,
Eyjólfur og annar Jón
Eyjólfson formaður.
6. Árið talda tilvísar
tímans málið rétta,
það var aldar þessarar
þrítugasta' og sjötta.
7. Var um tíma veður spakt
vari settu stundir,
fengu stjóra' af steini lagt,
stökkuls þar um grundir.
8. Sáu vel hvar sátu skip,
síldar fram um vega;
gekk upp él í sama svip,
við suðrið utarlega.
9. Það sem angur af þeim dró
ekki kom að haldi;
í vetfangi yfir sló
ofsa stórkafaldi.
10. Drafnar jóku systur sjá,
sömu rokum halda,
öskra tóku þungan þá
og þykkva skóku falda.
11. Andóf heita' af höndum tveim,
hölda þreytir setta,
upp þá sleit af ógnum þeim,
ára fleytu létta.
12. Kom þá bára bátinn í,
blinds með fárið rauða,
tapast árin önnur því,
efnið stár til nauða.
13. Jón þar bið að vanda vann,
á voga dýrum kneri,
úr hendi þýðum hafaldan
hina síðan sneri.
14. Báran lemur bátinn og
boðinn kemur margi.
Ekkert nema austurtrog
eftir sem að bjargi.
15. Þarna sátu þegnar tveir
á þara láturs móum,
ekkert gátu annað þeir
en ausið bát af sjóum.
16. Dags og láða skemtun skjótt
skundar á vaði hressu,
sannkallaða neyðarnótt,
nú kom að í þessu.
17. Að þeim fór í einu séð,
öldurór þó syndi,
kafald, sjórinn, myrkrið með
megnum óravindi.
18. Ójafnt mjög til ímyndar,
óttalega' í húmi,
þegar eg hjá vinum var
í væru legurúmi.
19. Meiðar knífs í mestu þrá,
marar vífs ótrauða,
hrópuðu kífs í hörmung á
herrann lífs og dauða.
20. Sorgár bauð nú votum víst
valdið auða dauða,
orgar, sauð og umveltist
aldan rauða nauða.
21. Um skammdegis eyði blund,
einhvernvegin skolar
þeim við megin morgunstund;
mátti hneigjast gola.
22. Víst á sunnan vindur blés,
voru runnar barða
upp við kunna Akranes
inst á grunni fjarða.
23. Falla sáu ferju hjá
fossa láar svaða,
skall þar háu skerjum á
skúmið grálitaða.
24. Efna fáu veittist völ,
vegs á smáu bára,
bitann þá og fiskifjöl,
fljótt upp slá til ára.
25. Lítið var til liðsemdar,
á lífjarðar palli;
í brimgarðinn upp þá bar
undan harða falli.
26. Bylgjan svöl þá bátnum réð
bylta' í möl, upp hölum
fleygði' af kjöl og muslar með
magtar fölum fjölum.
27. Tveir fullhugar lands af lyð
lund ei buga gáðu,
með öfluga manndóms tíð,
mönnum duga náðu.
28. Öðu fram í ólgu sjó,
orku ramri meður,
sterkum hrammi styrðu sjó
stóru fram í veður.
29. Hentuglega brims af bás
bægðist þeim úr önnum,
náði' ótregur Nikulás
nauðlíðandi mönnum.
30. Sá Máfsstaði bygði bezt,
búinn sæmd og hreysti;
greiðamaður gjörði flest
gott þá sorgin kreisti.
31. Sigurður og sanna má
sinnis gæðir hressu,
Völlum þara frægur frá,
fylgdi vel að þessu.
32. Víst að ryra vandræðin
virðar hinir fóru,
aðrir þrír í sama sinn,
sem að næstir vóru.
33. Féll í lagið ferðin sú,
feigðar sviftir dofa
heim til bæjar héldu nú,
herrann allir lofa.
34. Geirarjóðar gistu þar,
gæðin bjóðast fínu,
eins og móðir að hjúkrar
enka barni sínu.
35. Nafnfrægur og nærgætinn
Nikulás þeim hlynti.
Þegna hverjir þanka minn,
þeim í neyð vorkenti.
36. Báðum þegar magnast má
máttur fjörs í æðum,
suður vega flutning fá;
fólkið bytti gæðum.
37. Dáðust snarir ýtar enn
að æfi lífs í höfum.
Höfðingjar og heiðurs menn
hýrguðu þá með gjöfum.
38. Allir fagna firðum lífs
feginleika meður;
þeir, sem sagnir þuldu kífs,
þegnar eins og skeðu.
39. Guðs og manna miskunn þeim
mjög vel kom til þarfa;
síðan þannig höldar heim
héldu lund með djarfa.
40. Hildi vana mestum af,
menta plánir skorða,
sjóli Dana silfur gaf
þeim sævar bani lorða.
41. Hæst um auðan hnatta kór,
hildar verur skoði,
lífið, dauðinn, lönd og sjór,
lúta að þínu boði.
42. Dæmið þetta seggir sjá,
sem hið undarlega,
fræða rétt og fært í skrá
fari um grund og vega.
43. Þann, sem bað um ljóða lag,
líka hinir fleiri,
yrði bæði vina hag
verður þægðin meiri.
44. Mentaknáu menn og tprund
mærðin þá sem byður,
auðnu fái alla stund
æsku nái lyður.
45. Þundur þrotinn ljóða lyr
leiðist bragur manni,
sundur brotinn óðar yr,
eyðist dagur svanni.
From Nokkrar rímur og kvæði (Reykjavík: Prentsmiðja Frækorna, 1906), pp. 1–8.
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