The Rímur of Konráðr
An eight-ríma knight-romance, also known as Konráðs Þáttr (The Tale of Konráðr). The story follows Prince Konráðr, son of Emperor Rígarðr of Saxony, who is sent as a youth to be fostered by Earl Roðgeirr. There he and Roðgeirr's son Roðbert swear brotherhood, master all courtly arts, and become inseparable companions. When Roðbert seduces Konráðr's sister Silvia, it is Konráðr who pleads for mercy and brokers exile over execution. The sworn brothers sail to Constantinople, where the Emperor of Greece receives them with honour, and their fortunes entwine with those of the Byzantine court across the remaining seven rímur.
The text survives in manuscripts A (AM 604 a), B, E, and G, and was first edited by Theodor Wisén in Riddara-Rímur (Copenhagen, 1881). This is the third and final cycle in the Riddara-Rímur collection, following Filipó-Rímur and Herburts Rímur.
First known English translation of this rímur cycle.
Ríma I
The mansöngr. Emperor Rígarðr of Saxony. Konráðr and Silvia. Earl Roðgeirr and his son Roðbert. The sworn brotherhood. Roðbert seduces Silvia. Konráðr pleads for mercy. Exile to Constantinople.
1.
Though I would pour the rose-stream
of poetry for men,
I have about the dark child of Dellingr
far too much to think upon.
2.
My rudder of speech has stiffened,
the streets of wisdom wander;
always the fire of the dark woman
hinders me from fair Dvalinn's game.
3.
There where a maiden's fortress-wall
burns with heated breath,
my storm of longing stands
ever full of desire.
4.
Now I have lost what was lent me —
all power over this matter;
my heart is burned by the wound
of the ring-goddess's fire.
5.
The grief of the guide-woman
has played me hard in secret storm;
I think therefore that joy is scarce
before the gold of the bright lady.
6.
No harder longing can be found,
if it shall never cease,
than to praise that worthy jewel-woman
whom a man may never enjoy.
7.
Had I some tale of adventure
that might gladden men,
the words standing clear and bright,
upheld in ancient fashion —
8.
Rígarðr was the emperor called
who ruled Saxony;
to men he gave the snow of arms
and the dear light of the wave.
9.
The lord made his people honour
the name of the Almighty;
therefore the king's glory was
adorned with every splendour.
10.
Many held that generous lord
the mightiest of kings;
north of the Greek sea
his equal could not be found.
11.
He was both gentle and bold,
as men may well hear;
the prince reddened the gleaming spear
in the red blood of warriors.
12.
The ruler had chosen a wise wife
for her lineage and her beauty;
dear and fair was that queen
who gladdened the lord's people.
13.
The king begat with that gold-woman
a son and a daughter so fair;
to them was granted with honour
the world's power and delight.
14.
The prince's son was gentle and great,
quick with the spear in battle,
kind and bold and strong in trials
even in his youth.
15.
The king's son was the equal of few,
his fame he bore above all folk;
Konráðr he received as his courtly name,
chosen for every excellence.
16.
His sister was fair and beautiful,
the blossom of the world's delight;
no hill of Svölnir's maiden
could outshine that sweet woman.
17.
Silvia is the name of that silken lady,
learned in many arts;
to the people those graceful siblings
gave the serpent of generosity.
18.
The ruler with his strong host
upheld his power and kingdom;
warriors fed the wolf of Fenrir
from the fair wound-stream.
19.
A mighty earl those warriors had
whom they called Roðgeirr;
he did not flinch before the bitter spear
when summoning the assembly of blades.
20.
This warrior bore his fame
far above other men;
swift to sport and arts,
his like could not be found.
21.
The earl wedded with Fáfnir's bridge
a shrewd kinswoman of the headband:
he begat a son with his wife
whom men call Roðbert.
22.
Skilled he was in bearing,
eager to fight with steel;
of good sense he had no lack
and was thought wise in speech.
23.
Roðgeirr adorned with Rhine-gold
his fair warriors;
the champion wished with his splendid host
to ride to the emperor's court.
24.
Warriors turned their fair horses
from the prince's estate;
there shone the sun on Sörli's cloth
and Svölnir's burnished rings.
25.
The lord, richly adorned,
received the worthy earl with joy;
he sat next to the emperor himself,
and warriors magnified the feast.
26.
The earl speaks his errand,
the prince's men fall silent:
"The king's son I would invite
home to me as my foster-son."
27.
"Konráðr we shall teach
to cleave the thin shields,
and all those feats of arms
that I have learned to master."
28.
The emperor with affection now
accepted the courtly invitation;
then the glowing serpent-bridge
was given by the lord to his people.
29.
Konráðr chose from the king's retinue
bold and handsome men;
swiftly the warriors took their leave
and longed to ride for home.
30.
The men found Roðgeirr's estate
and sought to rest;
the earl bestowed love and every kindness
upon the prince's son.
31.
Roðbert placed the king's kinsman
next to himself in rank;
swiftly he won from the gold-tree
fair love and lasting.
32.
Konráðr learned with courtesy and fame
all the arts of manhood;
therefore he bore a fair abundance of honour
above the bravest champions.
33.
To ride in the dust and redden swords,
to defeat warriors in the field,
swift swimming and skiing
and shooting the stiff bow.
34.
The ruler's son was great and worthy,
nobly suited to measure;
in tournament he was firm and strong —
there is no need for anyone to prove it.
35.
Roðbert next gave the prince's son
the bold name of knight;
yet he played with greatest pleasure
beside the dear king's heir.
36.
All the tongues in the wide world
that men could distinguish,
Roðbert could read them all
as clearly as pure German.
37.
Many a fair accomplishment
they proved in works of skill;
soon they swore themselves into brotherhood
and bound it with strong oaths.
38.
Konráðr wishes to visit his father's court
at the appointed time;
Roðbert follows that thorn-god,
clad in the sea's surf.
39.
The lord welcomes his heir
and all their company;
he pours worthy wine for the warriors
and they dwell at home a long while.
40.
The king's daughter, bright and fair,
dwells in her bower alone;
Roðbert saw that silken hill
whom men call the fairest.
41.
He spoke much with the linen-tree
and wished to court the maiden;
he won from that Fáfnir's golden land
a gentle willingness.
42.
Konráðr trusted his faithful companion
to speak with the fair lady;
therefore none intruded on their talk,
and so the hours slipped by.
43.
One day as the treasure-tree
was enjoying her young life,
the thorn-ground spoke these words —
there was sorrow on the woman:
44.
"Fate wishes to press us far too hard
with bitter necessity;
now I carry the young child —
earl's son, I shall tell you."
45.
"My father will be driven to fury
over this great event;
therefore you shall be hanged in shame
and know harsh torments."
46.
Roðbert says: "Now the hour proves
unjust to us both;
yet even if it goes as you say,
I shall never flee."
47.
"Give your counsel, red-lipped woman,
from your own wisdom!" —
The wife answered in that moment:
"Tell it to my brother!"
48.
"I will not be present for that —
such things are hard to seek;
then tell me truly afterward
what answer he will give!"
49.
Roðbert came before Konráðr's knee
and declared he feared for mercy:
"My life, my land, my wealth —
the prince's son shall decide."
50.
"I have made the bright woman with child
and broken the bond of faith;
mine is truly the blood of wolves
once the emperor learns of it."
51.
The prince spoke, furious and grim,
who had burned the wolf on the spit:
"Your fame and honour are driven away
if justice takes its course."
52.
"Your father loved me and gave me fame,
that honour I was bound to receive;
therefore I must help you most,
for his sake you shall profit."
53.
Konráðr went to the emperor's presence
and greeted the mighty ruler;
he asked the wise king for a moment
to turn aside to private speech.
54.
The ruler went to his study at once
with his strong retinue;
the prince's son, from loyalty's power,
spoke thus with honour:
55.
"Roðbert has in dire need
drawn near your wrath;
he has broken the trust of youth
and made my sister with child."
56.
The king's mind was grimly shaken
with furious rage and dread;
the lord says: "This foul shame
will spread far too wide."
57.
"He shall seduce no more fair women
by such deceit;
he shall lose his life in disgrace
and hang upon the ugly gallows."
58.
Konráðr begs the lord above all
to soften his wrath:
"Sire, grant a stay of execution
and weigh the love between us!"
59.
"Send him far from this land
with many followers;
give him honour and worldly ornament —
our glory is the greater for it."
60.
"Let your ugly wrath, bright lord,
fall to nothing;
the dear Lord endured far more
who received death for all."
61.
The prince began to thunder
harsh reproof at his noble child:
"You are far too foolish in spirit
and understand nothing."
62.
"Though I grant," said the lord, "that
Roðbert should keep his life,
I foresee from my own knowledge:
he will betray you both."
63.
Konráðr pledged to leave the emperor's land;
champions bind their oaths;
warriors shall drive the bears
across the herring-ground.
64.
Konráðr steps aboard the wave-stag,
glad of Roðbert's will;
from father and mother and the bright woman
the prince's son took his leave.
65.
The ruler's son with his strong host
steered out of Saxony;
the warriors' kind stood in armour
with Bölverkr's sharp fire.
66.
Champions let the greedy wolves
leap swiftly from the harbours;
the dove struck against the steep board
and bent many a longship.
67.
It was as though the great winds
bore the storm-power through the sky;
the daughters of Hlér drove the dark steed
as lightning drives.
68.
Rán's bright children ran
against the reddened prow;
Konráðr lets the hood-stag
race toward Constantinople.
69.
The Greeks have seen the fleet approach
that men call the finest;
the ships were adorned with clear gold
and precious stones.
70.
The sails were set with Svöfnir's wealth
and wide yardarms;
far out across the ring of lands
the flash leapt from their ships.
71.
The ruler's son into the Bosporus
steers the flood-reindeer;
warriors in the harboured ground
drive the stout masts.
72.
Famed and bold was the Greek king,
eager for art and honour;
the throne-king, proud and noble,
let his people walk to the shore.
73.
The king's host came to harbour
to meet the sword-god;
now he bids the worthy thorn-field
accept a mighty feast.
74.
Roðbert asked the prince
to refuse no honour;
then the Greek host went forth
to meet the lord in splendour.
75.
Konráðr came from the wave-home
with his worthy champions;
then the ruler of the Rhine-gold
shared it out among his men.
76.
Roðbert speaks to the prince:
"You yourself shall choose:
will you sit and answer
the king's questions?"
77.
Konráðr says the champion shall
meet the king's questions:
"Roðbert, you can in eloquent speech
contend with warriors best."
78.
"If you will lay this burden on me"
— said the giver of the wave-thread —
"prince's son, I shall rightly before you
both walk and sit."
79.
The warrior says that Roðbert shall
decide everything alone;
when their talk was ended,
they sought the king's hall.
80.
I have made a fair lady the subject
of my poem's shining ornament;
now may men most bravely
seize the theft of Ómi.
Ríma II
The Greek princess Matthildr. Konráðr's courtship. Roðbert as envoy. The princess tests Konráðr. Roðbert woos on his own behalf. Konráðr alone in the hall.
1.
There where Finnr's wisdom-skerry
first wrecked my longship,
the horn of Fundinn need not
run dry of sword-intent.
2.
My gentle harbour burns fiercely
with anguish's bitter grief
for that bright maiden's name
that I bound before in song.
3.
She bears the river-fire's trail
alone of all women,
as a blossoming oak outshines,
bright beside ugly thorns.
4.
Though I owned sea and land
and three bright homes besides,
I would give wealth and serpent-shore —
all of it for her kindness.
5.
I will adorn the tale further
for the gold-woman in words;
the king let his champions
contend upon the clear wave.
6.
The Niflungs' son and his worthy band
now wish to visit the hall;
he gives ample eagle's-fare,
that spender of the serpent-thread.
7.
The king with courtesy and art
let his champions feast;
no honour was lacking there,
and every kind of sport was proved.
8.
Pipes sounded, then strings,
the ruler's bold people;
the lord himself came to meet
the worthy heir of Rígarðr.
9.
Courteously they greet
the scatterer of the serpent-plain;
champions led the king's son
to the church and then to the halls.
10.
The king steps to his gleaming seat
set about with wave-fire;
Roðbert sat next to the ruler,
and warriors took to speech.
11.
The king asked Roðbert first
truly of his lineage and name,
whither their intent was aimed
in steering the prow of the ship.
12.
Roðbert says that splendour and trust
Rígarðr bestows on Saxons:
"His heir am I without doubt,
I bear the name Konráðr."
13.
The king asks who sits there next
to that wise jewel-god:
"To him least fault has been lent —
his like I never saw."
14.
"Roðbert is the warrior's name,
trials have proved it true;
to him, as one may see,
beauty is given and nothing else."
15.
"Roðgeirr begat that heir,
strong-armed warrior of the bow;
he first set him at my feet
and so entrusted him to me."
16.
Thus their conversation ended;
the warriors fell silent;
the host poured into the king's hall,
men drank their toasts.
17.
Warriors received from the king
honour and pure splendour;
the king thought Konráðr in most things
able to explain himself.
18.
The lord had a daughter then,
a treasure called Matthildr;
to warriors she gave the snow of Grettir
and gladdened gentle companies.
19.
Beauty of body with art and adornment,
character and eloquent speech —
that woman of the land-serpent's hollow
bore them far above all others.
20.
Scarcely could the world's hall
hold her equal;
all the world's graces adorned
that linden of Fáfnir's hill.
21.
She lacked none of those arts
that masters hold in learning;
every man who saw the maiden
cast off sorrow and weariness.
22.
The king's child dwelt in her bower,
attended by wise women;
it was adorned with Grettir's fire
and wrought with fair craftsmanship.
23.
The prince wished at a certain hour
to find the treasure-tree;
the lord went with trusty spirit
to speak with the wise woman.
24.
The headband-woman greets her father
and the famous king's men:
"Such tidings as there are to tell,
lord, you will make known to us!"
25.
"This is the chief news," said the wise lord,
"to tell the thorn-ground:
here now is Konráðr, an emperor's kinsman,
come with worthy warriors."
26.
"Does he bear far," said the leek-woman,
"arts above other men?
Such reports have come to me
that his equal cannot be found."
27.
"Truly to him," said the king, "is given
wisdom with eloquent speech;
a fairer man I have seldom seen,
nor more worthy in all things."
28.
"Whom do you compare," said the ring-ground,
"to Lord Konráðr?
I find it nearest in the lord's manner
that you have seen few such as he."
29.
"Next to Konráðr," says the king, "sits
a bold champion;
you would never find a fairer man,
though you searched the whole world."
30.
"Every man may shape himself
clearly as he pleases;
yet I could never choose myself
a lesser in any way."
31.
"Much you find," said the jewel-beam,
"to say about the white metal-tree;
I see that no prince is his equal —
therefore I shall look upon him."
32.
That bright talk they ended there;
the lord went to the hall;
Roðbert asks where the king had been
and the bold companies of warriors.
33.
This the breaker of giant-thunder
quickly explained to the heroes;
then the lord's train was finely
honoured with ocean-light.
34.
Roðbert spoke to the king,
all warriors falling silent:
"Is your daughter, lord,
the fairest of all women?"
35.
"This has been said on Saxon ground
by the host about your daughter:
that she, the ring-bearer,
would suit my excellence."
36.
"Mankind could scarcely find
a full equal for me
save that one linen-tree
whom men call the fairest."
37.
"For that reason our journey here
to your lands was the noblest;
now I wish to ask the bright bow-woman
for my hand in marriage."
38.
The king said that wise words
were spoken there by the people:
that he alone, the ring-guardian,
would suit her in art and glory.
39.
"I will betroth the gold-ring-lord
to whomever is the noblest;
therefore with the scarlet-earth
we shall seek clearer counsel."
40.
The next day the mighty lord
will find the precious lady;
Roðbert now follows the prince
with the sturdy warrior-band.
41.
The headband-tree greets her father;
warriors went to their seats;
then she chose words of honour
for the prince's worthy heir.
42.
The lord sees upon the fair woman
the red lands of Fáfnir;
the gold-ring-ground set a fine stool
before the lord's seat.
43.
The stool's carvings displayed
ornaments of the serpent-thread;
there the wave-fire woman bade
the prince's heir sit.
44.
The warrior answered the white lady
and held the wound-serpent:
"The high seats have been taken
many times before."
45.
"If you wish, king's kinsman,
to see our arts,
the spear-god will never find
the gold-braided linden white."
46.
They talk much as the time passes
and rehearse all their graces;
the gold-ground woman found
the lord's tongue most eloquent.
47.
The king asked the gold-ring-woman:
"Tell me, mighty sweet one,
how does the princess regard
the worthy prince's heir?"
48.
"Scarcely have I seen a fairer man
of such a bearing;
he wears the helm of awe over all —
it seems to me as if I stand still."
49.
"It is as though a bright light
played about a flickering torch,
blazing and burning swiftly
yet still casting a dark shadow."
50.
"The spender of the serpent-mountain
would seem the best of men,
were he the heir of some earl,
bold with the light of waves."
51.
"Now I think no less a hope
attends the bright king's heir,
since he is called an emperor's son,
come from a noble line."
52.
The wisest gold-woman asked the king
to reveal before her:
"To which of them belongs the retinue?
What power has Roðbert?"
53.
The king said their host
all serve Roðbert;
yet one could scarcely find
a warrior to match him.
54.
"Konráðr has asked, ring-goddess,
for your hand in marriage;
I have so considered the prince
that your wish shall stand."
55.
"I cannot," said the maiden, "leap
so quickly to bright resolve;
I wish first," says the gold-gate,
"to know who shall win me."
56.
"Courteously bid the emperor's son
call his men to him;
another time we shall speak of this —
I think there is no haste."
57.
Thus their talk ended;
the day began to fade;
the lord departed from the bright hall
with his fair band of warriors.
58.
The king speaks to Roðbert now
as the men sat at table:
"How does the artful lady seem to you?
Unlock it for me in words!"
59.
"The maiden is both bright and rosy
and bears a clever tongue;
I will not deny it, shield-tree —
deep-sighted she seems to me hardly."
60.
"Tell me now," said the lord,
"O wielder of the sea-surf,
why have warriors not served you
for a long time?"
61.
Roðbert said he would try
his wisdom before the prince,
if it would become a matter for warriors —
which there was no need to tell.
62.
"This man whom you see here,
my lord — you may now understand —
even in his youth he served me,
a warrior at his father's will."
63.
"Roðbert I valued most of men,
greatly for his lineage;
that champion repaid me worst
and corrupted my sister."
64.
"My father's mood was terribly wrathful;
I could scarcely hold him back;
yet I never gave up the spear-tree
for all the lord's anger."
65.
"The lord drove that bright
sword-gleam out of the land;
Roðbert found this a hardship
and dared not remain there."
66.
"Then I brought the gold-tree
myself here to your lands;
but when a short time had passed,
he says he has come into difficulty."
67.
"He said that fierce strife
was stirred against him by the emperor's host;
he asked me to lend him for a short while
a bold retinue of warriors."
68.
"This I granted the thorn-tree
just as was now told;
since then I have not called
my own men back to me."
69.
The prince says that his people
have long wondered at this:
"Warrior, call your men to you —
let none of them delay!"
70.
Roðbert came before Konráðr now;
the emperor's son asked:
"Where had the warrior gone? —
Tell me lightly of such things!"
71.
"The king's daughter, bright and wise,
dwells in her bower alone;
to that place went the lord
with his spear-tree and a host of men."
72.
"She seemed to me both bright and clear,
the linden of Fáfnir's shores;
therefore I have asked the bright bow-goddess
now for your hand."
73.
"The king received it well;
your wish you shall attain;
I foresee, ring-woman,
this shall go forward."
74.
The lord thanks the spear-tree
for his courage and eloquent counsel:
"Yet I shall look upon the leek-ground
whom men call the fairest."
75.
"Of that you shall have no need"
— so Roðbert explained —
"it is little custom in this land
to visit bright maidens."
76.
"I cannot show you the lady,
wise jewel-god;
prince's son, you may trust me —
I shall never betray you."
77.
"More have I already learned
from the king himself:
the ruler says that off the Bosporus
the bears of the mast-rigging lie."
78.
"Your father has sent men
to seek tidings of us both;
I shall be turned into a bitter corpse,
bright one, unless mercy comes."
79.
"Your fame-land will wish
to see my necessity;
lend me first your fair warriors
to follow me!"
80.
"It is your right," said the shield-tree,
"you shall have your will."
Konráðr bids his warriors
go swiftly with Roðbert.
81.
Roðbert follows the king's host;
the warriors found their way;
the champion wishes to meet
the king's fair child at once.
82.
The warrior went into the lady's hall
with the splendid king's train;
all the company went with Roðbert,
but none follows Konráðr.
83.
The king's men took up their speech
clearly in the former manner;
warriors filled the broad hall,
guarding the maiden throughout.
84.
Konráðr has now lost his champions
and his bold warriors;
all is quiet and still in the hall —
he gladdens no one.
85.
Konráðr sits with few champions
in the king's hall a long time;
the emperor's son went away soon,
none of the warriors follows.
86.
Out of the hall for a while
the spender of brands has gone;
he looked out upon the green ground
and saw a gleaming bower standing.
87.
The ruler's son saw a great hall
standing with clean stone walls;
it was set with Fáfnir's mountains
and an abundance of precious stones.
88.
Finer work has scarcely been seen
by the famous prince;
to that place the warrior walked —
I think he would not turn aside.
89.
I ask you, warriors, to hold
this thought well in mind!
Here shall the strong drink of Durnir
grow quiet for this time.
Ríma III
The mansöngr. Konráðr enters Matthildr's bower. The language-leaves. Matthildr discovers the deception. Roðbert accuses Konráðr before the king. The display of arms. Two Blackamoors slain. The lion at the gate. Roðbert's next scheme.
1.
The island of the engraver's ground
bade me build this vessel of Gillíngr;
for your sake, ground of drinks,
I shall fashion yet a third encounter.
2.
I will shape this song for warriors —
how the prince's heir found the bower;
Konráðr walked into the gleaming hall
and saw a splendid company of champions there.
3.
No seat may be seen empty;
all was arrayed as tightly as could be;
the warrior stands in the middle of the floor,
the prince's son considers his situation.
4.
The emperor's son wore a kirtle
come from distant foreign lands;
fine weave covered the champion's body —
scarcely has such a treasure been found.
5.
A belt was clasped about the man's waist,
adorning that worthy belt-tree;
in every lash-pool of Odin's wife
he was made altogether with skill.
6.
The hawk-land was exceedingly strong,
adorned with Fenja's work;
yet the prince's mind-tent could be seen
covered with a red Gjúki-fold.
7.
The sword played in the prince's hand,
fashioned along the serpent's shore;
none was found like that leaf of leaves —
it brightens, pushing aside Odin's boards.
8.
The emperor's son bore courtesy enough;
the champion lacked no warrior's strife;
brightness stands upon the ruler's flesh —
none fairer has ever stepped upon the earth.
9.
The ruler's daughter saw the warrior;
she gazes upon the prince's heir;
the lily beholds that reddener of leaves —
this one surpasses all people by far.
10.
The goddess of gold bade two men
find both of them another seat;
she pats the cushion beside her —
the prince's heir sits down there.
11.
Konráðr sat beside the gold-goddess;
each then looked upon the other's form;
Roðbert began to redden at the sight —
he saw the famous scion of Rígarðr.
12.
Roðbert speaks to the king then:
"A warrior has come into the bower —
there was no need for the prince's maiden
to sit near this champion."
13.
"When the bride is disturbed by this,
the prince may see it clearly;
Roðbert knows such cunning art —
he has lost none of his tricks."
14.
"It does no harm," said the king,
"if it does not happen again this way;
our company is so great and fine —
they cannot even speak together."
15.
Roðbert woos once more the bright lady;
she asked him to cut the matter short;
now the young gold-goddess will
attend to it there with grace.
16.
The day wore on until all the keen folk
left the king's bower;
Dellingr's child lulled the dark brood —
all the prince's people to sleep.
17.
The next day, when the drinking ends,
the prince goes gladly to a meeting;
Roðbert follows the king again
and nearly all of Konráðr's men.
18.
Konráðr sits in the king's hall;
the band of warriors was gone away;
I will there relate to warriors
how he thought to walk into the bower.
19.
The warrior enters the lady's hall;
the virtuous jewel-tree saw it.
Matthildr welcomes him warmly —
she saw none of the ruler's company there.
20.
He sits down beside the gold-goddess;
the woman takes at this time
many leaves and a little casket —
never had he seen a fairer gift.
21.
These leaves are bright and clean;
they set forth every branch of language;
seventy-two were counted —
she bade the prince's son look upon them.
22.
The tree of spears and the goddess of gold
quickly find what delights them;
the two mastered the Greek language
and now they speak equally well.
23.
The ground of gold asked first:
"Tell me what I am curious about —
what is your name, lord?
What is your lineage, or your fair kingdom?"
24.
The champion answered the wise lady:
"We bear the name Konráðr;
Rígarðr is my famous father;
the king holds Saxony besides."
25.
The bride answered and smiled:
"I understand this custom of yours well
(though it is a fine name) —
that you all wish to be called so."
26.
"I did not know," said Konráðr,
"any champion to fault that;
I find no reddener of swords
called so among our people."
27.
"Yet here," says the gold-goddess,
"is another man who names himself so;
he calls himself the emperor's son —
the champion informed me of this."
28.
The lord answers the woman again:
"Then other men are wiser,
if that fellow does not know his own name;
lady, you are like few others."
29.
"His men call him Roðbert;
one may call him Roðgeirr's son;
we swore the bond of brothers young
and fought many a battle of blades."
30.
The land answered the serpent-goddess:
"These words seem more likely to me;
my father trusts that Odin-of-gold so —
I can hardly sway his mind."
31.
Konráðr asks that the cheerful bride
not break her oath —
that the wise one would bind
all her love to the emperor's heir.
32.
They delight each other with splendid words,
the shield-maple and the ring-goddess;
Konráðr walks into the king's hall —
the court had returned to their seats.
33.
Roðbert asked the bold one there,
Rígarðr's son, where he had gone;
Konráðr tells the thane then
the truth about this matter.
34.
"So much the better," said the thane now,
"the more often you go there;
though it may please the king least,
we shall keep quiet about most of it."
35.
Then the champion told the king:
"Roðbert claims this before me —
your daughter has this day
kept the warrior in her bower."
36.
Then the king grew very angry;
swiftly the ring-tree answered:
"Let us make this leaf-god
lose his life this very hour!"
37.
"I cannot bear," said the shield-tree,
"to be rightly known for that;
rather I see, with higher grace,
lord, another plan for this."
38.
"Let the reddener of leaves tomorrow
perform many feats before the fair folk;
in many ways that withering tree
will then show his mettle before you."
39.
The king liked that well;
then Roðbert leaned toward Konráðr
and bade the sword-reddener hail:
"The king's whole people praise you."
40.
"I have declared all your skills,
my lord, those which you have mastered;
the king asks that your arts
might be seen by his own court."
41.
The emperor's son with courtesy and skill
grants the king his wish;
the dark brow-night passed away —
the day showed its brightness soon.
42.
The prince then went in a byrnie —
the finest that could be seen in the world;
it was bathed in the serpent's field —
no blade cut through it in battle.
43.
The tent of Fjölnir and the wrap of Fróði
the king's son seized with his sword's grip;
a golden banner was fastened to a lance —
the warrior mounted a fine horse.
44.
The light-foot ran with the prince
bright upon the level ground;
none of the men there had ever seen
a more famous man than this one was.
45.
Konráðr performs those feats
which men could nowhere come near;
no thane was found there
who could ride against the prince's heir.
46.
The play of the south-hall sank into the sea;
the warrior rides from the field,
delights himself in the forest once more —
he sees none of the king's men there.
47.
When dusk had come upon the ground,
the prince's son at that same moment
let the bridled beast turn about —
he found a certain gate of the fortress.
48.
The warrior sees two enemies
sitting dark upon their horses.
They are Blackamoors of bitter temper;
both turn toward Konráðr.
49.
The warrior draws the wound-serpent,
ready to raise a storm of swords;
then the lord's purpose was fulfilled —
to strike mightily for the maiden's sake.
50.
The brand cuts through the Blackamoor's neck;
that one was quickly silenced;
his head leapt from his trunk —
the body tumbled to the ground.
51.
Many a wolf drank the warm blood
wisely, and Fenrir's brood;
the vulture came there for the gold-goddess's sake —
the white bear gnawed upon the shield.
52.
Fortune granted with the god of swords
this trial to the wise one accomplished:
both Blackamoors lost their lives
quickly before Konráðr's sharp blade.
53.
The warrior rides to the great place,
to the ruler's daughter's bower.
Matthildr welcomes the tree of spears,
asks where he went these hours.
54.
He showed the heads to the ring-goddess —
neither was fair to look upon;
then the gold-bridge tells her
truly all that had happened now.
55.
Matthildr praised the gentle lord
who grants the greatest virtues.
Konráðr walks into the king's hall —
the whole court marvels at the champion.
56.
Grim was then the god of spears;
warriors thought it a great wonder —
he bore a bloodied sword in his hand;
the prince's presence silenced the company.
57.
The king speaks with Roðbert gladly:
"Truly this is a man of great deeds;
he has now slain those enemies
who made many men meet death."
58.
The man spoke to the king:
"I have now explained to you this way;
not much will frighten him —
he has far too bold a heart."
59.
"He must have in his sleep
dispatched both to cold death,
or else played some cunning trick
and concealed it from both of us."
60.
The king says that this
cannot be so;
"Let us slay this god of spears
and delay his death-hour no more."
61.
"I cannot bear," said Roðbert plainly,
"that warriors should learn that news of me."
The king's counsels were much confounded —
all was just as the evening before.
62.
Bright day came when the night was spent;
Konráðr soon performed his feats;
all went on the former path —
the king's son rode to the forest.
63.
The champion wishes at evening once more
to enter the fortress like other men;
he is eager to see that lady
who walks most beautifully upon the earth.
64.
The path was barred for the prince —
every gate of the fortress was locked,
save only this: a wild beast
exceedingly fierce dwells in the midst.
65.
Two pillars stand in the gateway;
they were made of stone,
flattened above so that men
could easily defend themselves there.
66.
A third pillar stands in the middle;
there the strong gates are locked;
the beast's chains were about it —
few wished to come near that one.
67.
Konráðr makes the sign of the cross upon himself;
he drives his spurs into his horse;
he bade the ring-goddess learn
that he would fear no hour.
68.
Into the gate the lord rode swiftly;
here the lion wakes at once;
it lashes its tail against the horse —
the horse fell dead to the ground.
69.
Konráðr leaps upon the pillar;
he stands in the middle of the gate;
the beast begins to roar loudly —
the prince's son struck with fury at once.
70.
The spear showed tremendous speed;
fiercely he hewed clean across
the upper skull at the ears
and split everything down into the mouth.
71.
The lion fell, and the prince
lightly parted from the pillar;
he hewed from the beast its mane
and found the king's fair steed.
72.
The wisest of women bids the gold-goddess then:
"Tell the king who you truly are;
I fear this with all my heart —
that Roðbert will overwhelm you."
73.
The man answered the ring-goddess:
"Fortune shall rule my life!"
Konráðr parted from the scarlet-goddess;
he found the king's fair hall.
74.
The warrior set upon the floor
the mane of the beast he had borne with him;
he carries the mane before the king on high —
Konráðr steps quickly into his seat.
75.
With loud voice the king's people
praised this reddener of swords;
they thought it strange that so famous a man
the king should wish dead.
76.
Roðbert considers, whatever may pass,
his deceit grows no less;
he spoke then to the prince:
"You have now enjoyed good fortune."
77.
"Both night and bright day
I lift up your honour;
nowhere in the world now
is any king the equal of you."
78.
"Now the king throughout all Greece
has made his letters known, that no warrior bold
might see your arts —
then the king will give you his daughter."
79.
"Tomorrow your power shall be fulfilled;
then for the maiden's sake you shall
perform whatever feats you wish —
conceal none of your skills now!"
80.
The prince's son answers, glad in heart:
"Champion, I may for a time
accomplish what you wish!
Well shall the earl's son keep faith."
81.
The king's thin court received
dear sleep upon that night.
Now it is time that Fundinn's vessel
should be set upon the narrows of tales.
Ríma IV
The mansöngr laments lost love. Konráðr rides out before the court and performs feats of arms. At nightfall the gates are locked; he rides into the wild. A dragon seizes a lion; Konráðr slays the dragon and wins the lion's loyalty. He returns to Matthildr's bower with dragon-gold. Matthildr counsels him: reveal your lineage to the king. She gives him a green gemstone and instructs him on the quest for its twin. Konráðr calls a þing, declares his true name, and denounces Roðbert's treachery. The king betroths Matthildr to him — if he can fetch the second stone from the Blacklands.
1.
Báleygr's wine for the ring-goddess
I offer a fourth time.
Late and early, grievous harm
gives my sweet mind sorrow.
2.
Joy once granted us, in a certain hour,
the gold-ground's gentle will;
she wakened then the branch of Venus,
fairest plank of rings.
3.
My fate with the treasure-goddess
severed all our meetings;
I lost the lady — and now I find
only falseness from another woman.
4.
Fortune seized that cloak of sorrow
and set it round our frozen heart;
bound so bitterly about our breast,
and bade me never come free.
5.
Great is the pain of losing the one
who is the heart's chief joy,
yet to live with the other, says my mind,
whom I find most loathsome.
6.
I would give thanks if the ring-Hlökk,
she who forces me to anguish,
gave our grief — that fortress of care —
leave to burst asunder.
7.
I am therefore pale, for the play of men
brings us little gladness;
yet a while longer shall the craft of praise
cascade from the street of words.
8.
The king's people, when the sky's ember
lit the heavens bright,
went to where the fame
of the prince's son was on the land.
9.
Before the princess now
the champions watched Konráðr ride out;
he performed, as all men saw,
many fine and fair feats.
10.
Nearly all those skills
that warriors could name —
he performed them while the king looked on;
his glory lacked for nothing.
11.
So the day passed that the fair warrior
let his steed run free;
the prince's heir sees the forest wide
and makes sport that evening.
12.
Night came then, and the champion swiftly
sought the king's stronghold;
but before the prince, every gate
was locked with stiff bolts.
13.
The noble saw that by no means
could he ride into the fortress;
the stout one looked eastward across
the fields, clean and fair.
14.
A single mountain stood, marvellously broad,
so near the prince's hall;
soon with wondrous power
greater trials would appear to him.
15.
Very late on the mountain's slope
he saw a tall fire burning;
thither the worthy prince
let his swift steed run.
16.
Then the bold and valiant warrior
heard a mighty roaring;
the sound rang through valley and mountain;
the prince's son rode on undaunted.
17.
He saw where from the fish-pool flew
a monstrous dragon, long in flight;
one might search, but the bold one saw
none more terrible.
18.
The serpent spewed its foul venom
over land and sea;
on the black night it would constantly
set torment upon bold men.
19.
In its claws, with loud cries,
the man saw a beast —
the lion it had seized,
the sharp talons biting deep.
20.
He saw soon, where the serpent's lair
glowed red and high;
there the dragon's young could be seen —
to all of them he dealt death.
21.
The dragon wished to drag the lion
into the dwarves' hall, to its young;
the cliff was steep, but Fáfnir's kin
was forced to cease its flight.
22.
The beast, when its wings failed,
began to claw with its feet;
it used such force that the cliff broke
and the ancient earth shuddered.
23.
The serpent's path was not easy
up the mountain to climb;
Konráðr's keen mind now considered
whom to aid in this.
24.
He drew his sword — the warrior
may enjoy true fortune;
the coils the serpent holds,
the prince's son will break.
25.
The beast had, with tremendous struggle,
to abandon its purpose;
the fair warrior's blade cuts
the dragon asunder through the middle.
26.
The beast gripped fast, clawing fiercely,
wounding flesh to bone;
Konráðr hewed with skill and strength
and wrenched the claws from its shoulders.
27.
The lion saw it could now long
enjoy life and mercy;
the beast crawled the long way
to the prince's son's feet.
28.
The prince's heir then boldly
addressed the beast:
"I bid you serve me —
I shall heal you well."
29.
A sign of peace the swiftest saw then
upon the noble, wise beast;
it sprang up sharply, shook itself hard,
willing to follow the king's heir.
30.
The prince took the dragon's claws
and gladly let it run free;
thither rides the fair knight
where he saw the red fire burning.
31.
He gathers gold now, and full honour
grows, while sorrow fades;
then the fair knight rides
home to the prince's fortress.
32.
The prince's heir bids the lion
break the lock from the gate;
the stout beast struck with its tail —
no more force was needed.
33.
Up sprang the gate, and the treasure-goddess —
the noble's son — came to find her;
brightest then, when she saw the lion,
the lady marvelled twice over.
34.
The gold now the fair lady showed
to the prince's heir:
"Truly you have — the woman declares —
gained a serpent's bed of treasure."
35.
"Test no longer, worthy warrior,
your precious fortune!"
She then bade the prince's son
call his men at once.
36.
"Set a meeting now — said the wisest woman —
and declare your lineage, so noble;
speak boldly of all your intent
to make clear to the mighty king!"
37.
All her counsel the tree of jewels gave
to the tester of Fáfnir's field;
she healed the beast, and the prince turned
toward the Greek king's hall.
38.
The people marvelled at the arrow-reddener;
fast ran the white-wave's rumour;
the lion now the folk could see
following the prince's heir.
39.
Upon the table before the king
the beast laid both its paws;
then the warrior went to his seat,
and the whole company fell silent.
40.
The mighty lord turns to Roðbert:
"This trouble is ended;
the trial is done — a dragon slain
by a warrior in our land."
41.
"Your companion, who accomplishes nearly all things,
has freed my realm;
I know now upon our faith
that his equal is scarcely found."
42.
"No people will dare to harm
that thorn-land of shields;
he has gained such a companion
that few will stand against him."
43.
The treasure's kin for a time
no one dared to greet;
Roðbert saw the anger upon him —
few warriors will be cheered.
44.
The mighty prince turns to the champion
and so Konráðr makes it plain:
"Ask the king to set a þing
with his worthy warriors!"
45.
Konráðr's words across the king's table
the champion calmly told:
"Roðbert asks you, keen ruler,
to raise a þing at once."
46.
The noble king agrees
to raise a grand assembly;
the night soon passed,
and the sky's ember brightened.
47.
The horn sounds then, and the kingly one's
host drives to the þing;
the people in great number bore finery and splendour —
Fáfnir's hoard-light gleamed.
48.
Konráðr then, as might be known,
calls his men to him;
the fair company went to the warrior —
the splendid host rejoiced.
49.
Konráðr boldly before all the champions
began to declare his lineage;
Roðbert's lies and broken honour
he would no longer conceal.
50.
"Roðbert, you have broken your faith,
your righteousness and virtue's flower,
and repaid here with cunning guile
my life and many an honour."
51.
"Treason against your lord you have wrought against me,
warrior, in the king's own hall;
truly you are, for your twisted faith,
a scoundrel through and through."
52.
The prince's kin then boldly praised
the host of wise warriors;
a more patient man than he
the race of thanes will never find.
53.
The king then with cunning arts
began to boast of a bright gemstone;
it was green and wondrously fair —
it bore radiant light.
54.
"Show me, if I trust you,"
— the king then spoke with wisdom —
"another stone of equal kind,
so there be no difference!"
55.
He asks then where one must travel
to find that precious stone:
"You yourself must — said the king —
explain all this to me, warrior!"
56.
"If I gain the power to return,"
— Konráðr began to reckon —
"give me the lady — and I shall now
betroth your fair daughter."
57.
This deed came before all men alike,
and the greatest joy was found there;
the silk-ground in that same hour
Konráðr himself betrothed.
58.
The þing was ended, the thriving company
— the prince went to the hall;
Konráðr now would find the lady
who knows all his joys.
59.
Matthildr then, when she saw the worthy
tree of the serpent's land:
"Hail to you now!" — says the gracious lady —
"What are your tidings?"
60.
The warrior then began
to tell the silk-goddess true news:
"This is above all else — that you are betrothed to me,
precious pillar of thorns!"
61.
"It seems to me now," — says the mighty lady —
"great tidings to hear;
this quest is hardened by trials,
yet not steered toward ease."
62.
"That gemstone, many a man
has asked the king to bring him;
they have gained, through foolish counsel,
only the road to Hel."
63.
The bright ground of the beast's land
took out a green stone, the cheerful one:
"See — this is like the one the mighty king,
warrior, bade you seek."
64.
"Wear upon you," — says the ring-goddess —
"the bright stone as a talisman;
glad prince, neither fire nor venom
will avail to harm you."
65.
"A bold company shall travel with you
first to the Blackland Isles;
then go alone, away from your men —
all will long for you."
66.
"A rooster and a pig," — said the ring-goddess —
"you shall have for the journey;
the fine beast too — but your following
shall be no more than that."
67.
All her wise counsel the jewel-tree gave
the warrior from her wisdom;
they will afterward deliver the fair prince
from sorrow and from torment.
68.
The fair words from the headdress-pillar
the warrior fixed in memory.
Berlingr's ship at the craft-cairn
shall be broken a fourth time.
Ríma V
Mansöngr
1.
I offer the Fenja-goddess of the thread
the fifth draught of Yggr's remembrance.
Swiftly and eagerly the journey prepares —
the wise prince's kinsman.
The Voyage to the Blackland Isles
2.
From the shield-goddess at the ship's rail he parts then,
and from the famous folk of the king;
the prow-ravens rise aloft
and steer to sea in splendour.
3.
The stiff winds rule the sails,
and the men hold fast the ropes;
Fornjótr's children against their kinsman
lust to wage their strife.
4.
Gríðr's harsh tempest made the sea rage,
and the gale tore at every line;
the mighty storm delivers the glad
king's son to land at last.
5.
The prow-ravens plunged upon the shore,
and Ægir's maidens toppled;
the bold men of the prince then knew
the shores of the Blackland Isles.
Arrival and Departure
6.
To the fine land the famous company
of Konráðr came to shore;
they led the tethered horses onto sand —
those courteous lords of spears.
7.
The shield-king's son makes known his will:
swiftly he parts from his company;
the fair troop mourns his going
and grieves long afterward.
8.
The prince's path unfolds;
the land is crossed to its end;
the warrior saw the fair ground then
that Matthildr first had shown him.
The Lion's Island
9.
The dwelling is noble — Báleygr's wife
built it of lions alone;
the precious goddess of the thread
told the prince all this in detail.
10.
No harm touches the land —
there one may see abundance:
fine blossoms in that fair place,
fair lilies, white and bright.
11.
The grove is thick with oaks;
apples and plums hang heavy;
fruit and fragrance — the land gave forth
a fine scent and sweetness.
12.
The warrior of the flood's fire speeds onward
with his swift beast and his journey;
the warrior's steed walks on till evening —
the precious land will end.
Camp in the Wilderness
13.
He quickly builds a fine shelter
from the green leaves of the forest;
there the ring-tree waited out
the gentle night in peace.
14.
The lord of rings makes ready when day breaks,
hastening to seek his way;
profit and advantage are his
who gladdens the hearts of the faithful.
The Elephant
15.
The prince heard crashing and cracking
ring out suddenly in the forest;
pale oaks bent earthward
where these wonders drove.
16.
He saw a monstrous beast come charging
swiftly through the trees with fearsome might;
it roared and raged toward the warrior,
full of fury for its work.
17.
It lunged with bellowing at the man again and again
and lashed its tail upon the ground;
its snout and eyes it raised aloft
and trusted its terrible strength.
18.
The bright prince finds the beast approaching —
the warrior has come into danger;
near the shelter he sees his spinning-staff
standing ready and keen.
19.
"Good and worthy beast of virtue!" —
the king's son spoke to it then —
"Ready yourself now, my bright companion!
For soon the rooster shall crow."
20.
The courteous lord then heard
what nature demanded:
bold and steadfast, the prince then
wound the tail about its ears.
21.
The lord of elephants rushes forward
from the dark forest;
the noble, virtuous prince
trusts his mighty strength.
22.
The man then made the rooster sing its song —
there was little distance between them;
that fearsome elephant-slayer
did not know these sounds.
23.
The beast turns swiftly to flee
and hastens on its way;
the prince longs eagerly
to claim that fair quarry.
The Kill
24.
The keen prince of the shield-king's blood
hurls his spear swiftly at the beast;
the fair feather-shaft struck its heart —
the elephant fell to meet him.
25.
This was a famous deed the prince won:
he flayed the hide from the beast
and bore it quickly to his shelter —
the bright lord of javelins.
The River Crossing
26.
The prince then swiftly speeds his journey onward,
casting the serpent's coils aside;
the mighty flood surged
between two lands.
27.
The prince found a single stone bridge
to cross the furious torrent;
he saw a fair land standing beyond —
the way would yield its prize.
28.
The warrior goes on until the sun
begins to dim upon the land;
the harsh reddener of swords
settles where the elephants dwell.
29.
Pale oaks bent down to earth
before the prince;
there one could mark an elephant's bed —
the wise king's son took counsel.
30.
A mighty house stood marked with power;
there Konráðr stood his ground;
the glory-seeking prince would there
await his dangerous deed.
The Great Elephant
31.
Time passed, and the prince
felt the forest tremble;
the fair ground cracked and burst
as the elephant sought its path.
32.
The beast turned swiftly from the forest
and shook the green meadow;
it was tall and not at all slender —
a creature of tremendous might.
33.
It bore its head above its body
higher than the pale oaks;
the serpent-tree's destroyer saw
no living creature ever larger.
34.
Its leg was thick below the joint,
ugly upon the beast's foot;
another he found at the hip-joint —
mighty were its movements.
35.
Hugely curved, both thick and strong,
was the beast's stiff snout;
with its dark jaws it could accomplish
fearsome work with ease.
36.
The tail, it is said, was thick,
with a hard knob at its end;
with it the beast won certain victory
whenever it wished to seize its prey.
37.
Tangled locks of stiff hair
hung down over all the elephant;
swords bent and bowed against it —
so hard was it to overcome.
The Pig and the Chase
38.
The elephant now wishes first
to go back to its dwelling;
it leans against the oaks
and seeks to find its rest.
39.
The fair oaks twist and bend,
giving way beneath the beast's weight;
the prince sees the struggle grow
and sets the young pigs loose.
40.
The swine squeal bitterly and loud
and raise up plentiful howling;
the beast turns swiftly to the road
and hastens toward the forest.
41.
The prince leaps upon his strong steed
of steel and races after;
the warrior's cunning did not fail him there —
he hurled his spear from his hand.
42.
One arrow alone did not go deep enough
beneath the elephant's armour;
the famous prince of lords
was not slow to find the wound.
43.
The beast found death's necessity swiftly
when it stood against the prince;
the warrior swiftly sundered the elephant
with all wonder and no fear.
The Ivory and the Gemstone
44.
The courteous lord then took those fine bones —
the rider of the heavy forest —
scarcely could fairer ones be named;
he wished to leave them there awhile.
45.
Then the dark night passed,
and he slept in peace;
the hardened swordsman thought swiftly
upon the white maiden's counsel.
46.
The fair day shone upon the prince
and the glorious white sun;
venom and sweat — no harm at all
shall any of them know.
47.
He commands the worthy beast to wait for him there:
his horse and his provisions;
for the bright lord
makes it too dangerous to ride.
48.
The lion serves the prince faithfully then,
obedient to his command;
the beast turns from him sadly
and drags its tail upon the ground.
The Stone Bridge and the Return
49.
The bold warrior then went forward,
sturdy, to the fierce torrent;
crashing and thundering, the harsh roar
of the stream rang long.
50.
The prince saw a clean stone arch
built with cunning craft;
that bridge was wondrously high —
a dwelling between two lands.
51.
Now, as the lady has taught the prince,
glory turns toward him;
Bölverkr's ale is spanned across the bridge —
the poem reaches its end.
Ríma VI
Mansöngr — The Sixth Offering
1.
I push the mast-horse of Sindri
from the memory-house of Svínna;
may the light of life gaze upon Leikna's vessel —
the gracious folk, with wisdom!
Alone on the Stone Bridge
2.
The strong and noble prince now stood
before the torrent alone;
counsel was given before the splendid lady
spoke of such dire paths.
3.
Now the bowstring draws tight on the stone arch —
the bold guide of beasts steps with trust;
over the torrent, upon the middle of the bridge,
the stout warrior of arms stood firm.
4.
The fierce spirit of the giantess-slayer
held the bright destroyer standing;
he saw then a multitude of serpent-folk
and the venom's fair destruction.
5.
The fair land was smooth and straight,
and wide fields were found;
yet mountains rose beyond the prince's sight,
and the boulder-slopes were cruelly steep.
The Burning Wasteland
6.
The ledge, the hill, and all the soil —
the slopes burned in fire;
thick as a forest in another land
the evil one's flame raged.
7.
The prince saw smoke, foul and heavy,
rising far and wide from the ground;
many a serpent lay upon gold,
blowing their glowing breath.
The Serpent-City
8.
The prince now sees a city and a square
gleaming with nearest treasure;
one could scarcely call a fairer one
anywhere in the wide world.
9.
High towers gave trusty shelter
against the fiercest assault;
far and wide, fair craftsmanship ruled
with the skill of art.
10.
Rivers of fire flowed enormously wide
from the fields toward them;
stiff serpents lay in great numbers
upon the fire of the land's edge.
11.
The work is mighty upon the fair wall,
widely wrought with splendour,
girded and guarded against the shield-storm;
it harms no people within.
12.
More and greater marvels did the prince
of ice-cold Thundr perceive
than I could reckon for the wise
and tell with words enough.
The Sleeping Dragon
13.
The dragon is set at the strong stone-arch gate,
set upon the threshold to guard;
it slept and had ceased its work
of streaming hot venom.
14.
The prince of precious warriors
sprang over the mighty serpent upon the threshold;
the stiff steel preserves his life
and strengthens his mighty deeds.
15.
Yet the prince found a clear path
straight to the high gate;
he sees two white serpents lying there —
the stiff snakes slept.
16.
The seeker of gold leapt over them
with skill and craft;
the city shone bright to behold —
so bright that darkness could not fall.
17.
The warrior entered the splendid city
as the bright lady's light was shining;
the finest streets met at the square —
many he saw gleaming in splendour.
18.
He sees one glorious hall,
but not a host of warriors;
it was covered first in serpent-gold —
none was ever more finely wrought.
The Serpent-Hall
19.
Two thick serpents slept
at the door, set there to guard;
yet the hall was open, and they
were meant to watch the gate.
20.
The bold warrior entered the dragon's hall,
he who feared nothing;
more and greater beauty he saw
than poets could tell in verse.
21.
It seemed to the prince in truth
that all pleased him, fair and splendid;
in Fafnir's hall he found the greatest
treasure beside the mighty walls.
22.
The burning gold of arching bows
lay soft and red before the pillars;
the hall was all brimming with glory —
it crashes and flows in heaps.
23.
The entire hall, from end to gate,
was covered within by serpents;
they slept, carved serpents lay close together,
for none of them woke.
24.
Red as flame, upon the table there stood
vessels from the serpents' lair,
thick with drink, as the prince
was destined that day to win.
25.
The bold king saw the two horns —
the hall stood all in bloom;
splendid they were and worthy,
wrought of the sea's gleam.
26.
The warrior saw a bowl standing near,
a vessel of the serpents' brands;
he found nothing fairer —
few things had he seen so great.
The Sleeping Serpent-King
27.
The prince walked further on,
as though skill would never leave his hand;
he looked and saw a high throne
at the hall's far end.
28.
A lord of serpents lay there,
hideous upon the serpent-stone;
he bore the terrible helm of dread,
and was splendid still in other ways.
29.
A great crown was visible upon
the king of heavy serpents;
the carved one slept and lay upon gold —
the warrior went to find him.
30.
The serpent-storm seemed to the noble
warrior a mighty terror;
the coiled body, thick with knots,
spanned from wall to wall.
31.
He saw one splendid tapestry hanging there —
it burned with the fire of the sea;
one could scarcely call a fairer thing
anywhere in the wide world.
Seizing the Gemstone
32.
The bold prince saw hanging high
(the bright stones were the cause)
a board, and few things fairer
are found than the serpents' treasure.
33.
The board was adorned with carvings
and bright fair stones shone upon it;
all was wrought of Menja's gold
and lacked no craft or art.
34.
Before the high seat, the prince looks
and sees lying in the middle below:
a green and white carved serpent-pair
clearing the way before the lord.
35.
Both serpents stretched out their two jaws
and blew as hard as they could;
between them, the serpents
tossed a single stone.
36.
Góinn and Móinn, swift as a wonder,
sent the stone ceaselessly;
they opened their soft mouths apart
and never failed to catch it.
37.
The prince recognised the stone
that he had come to seize;
otherwise his fortune would be spoiled —
the warrior means to press forward.
38.
The young prince caught
the bright stone in mid-air;
he won the errand he came for,
still following the lady's counsel.
The Serpents Stir
39.
The dragon set at the stone-arch gate
turned its fierce gaze upon the prince;
it plunged down from the threshold to the ground —
the prince chooses to wait no longer.
40.
The bold warrior then plucked a stone
from the fair board;
he shall prove the word of honour true
that he won from the maiden's lips.
41.
From the deep the dragon came back up;
the carved one held a stone in its mouth
and tamed itself to one course,
as both serpents had done before.
42.
The warrior seized the bright brand-stone
with true skill in his hand;
the serpent's fury at the stone only grew,
raging against the spoiler.
43.
The serpent that had been playing guard
now lost its cunning;
the carved one dashed itself down to the floor —
this is the dragon's torment.
44.
The warrior breaks a second stone
from the middle of the board;
he shall prove the word of honour true
that he won from the maiden's lips.
45.
From the deep the dragon rose again;
the carved one held a stone in its mouth
and tamed itself to one course,
as both serpents had done before.
Escape from the Hall
46.
The serpents struggle to finish their task,
the mighty work to end;
the prince now goes to seize
the third stone as well.
47.
Both serpents turned on the warrior,
bristled first and threatened;
the dark ones then sank themselves down,
both at the same time, in that way.
48.
The entire hall shook then —
loud was the crash in the hall;
Fjölnir's lady trembled and quaked,
as though the sea-waves were falling.
49.
The destroyer seized the tapestry,
for he had to flee at once;
the carved horns adorned with treasure —
he snatched them swift and fast.
50.
The bold prince took the bowl away,
a finer one cannot be found;
there was no pause in this ordeal,
as must be told to the gentle folk.
51.
The smoke thickened and the darkness swelled;
the crashing grew ever louder;
swift and fast the serpents' strength increased,
and the wonders shook the ground.
52.
The warrior went to the door, as the maiden,
the noblest and wisest, had told him;
he braced himself upon his stout spear —
the prince will not fall.
53.
By narrow paths the prince passed
once more through the double guard;
it was as though a mighty war
of swords stood all around the warrior.
54.
The hot venom of the serpents' jaws
ravaged all the fields;
the warrior walked on, never once
wishing to look back.
55.
The prince will step upon the stone arch
and leapt over the dark serpent;
the warrior wished to see
what the fell brothers were doing.
56.
The city has lost its craft and art;
its splendour is stripped from the hall;
the serpent-storm draws cruelly near —
now all is overturned.
57.
The fire that had burned with glory before,
when the hall blazed with honour —
the ledge is all black to look upon,
stripped of fortune and bloom.
Return to the Company
58.
The bold and trusty destroyer turns
to his own companions;
at once the fair beast greeted him
when it found the clever warrior.
59.
Glad and fair, the prince rode away
when the ordeals were ended;
the wise one carried off with him
the bones I named before.
60.
The prince came to the lion's land
and found the hide of the beast;
no more heavy trials did the prince
see, the bright one, after that.
61.
The prince did not rest or cease his path
with honour and with splendour
(the bright prince won fame enough)
until he found his wise company.
62.
His men were overjoyed
to see the prince returned.
I wind the sea of Son to its end —
let the warriors lay it in memory!
Ríma VII
Mansöngr — The Seventh Offering
1.
Here shall Durnir's tale be spread,
for it brings the ladies delight;
though I have no skill in love-songs,
I would gladden the mighty lady still.
2.
Warriors wish to bring Suttungr's wine
to the wise linen-goddess;
sorrow's horn with grief and pain —
the Norns have sent that cup to me.
3.
Warriors wish to fill the boat of glory
from the dregs of Durnir's mead;
they fight with rings and fortune,
yet cannot gladden the merry maiden.
4.
Those who wish to bring the praise-poem's play
to the wise ring-goddess —
love's cunning and desire's skill —
men lure the lady thus.
5.
Never have I from Edda's well
drawn a love-trick or a poet's art;
I beat like surf against a stone
when I name the fair leek-field.
6.
I came where the field was old,
and all the harvest of glory had fallen;
therefore I cannot pour the mead-horn
to the ring-norn of the finest kind.
7.
Here shall Víðrir's wave of lips
be raised aloft with bows;
long life to the fair leek-goddess —
fortune shall find that woman!
8.
Though warriors urge me ceaselessly
to tell the ode of Konráðr's might,
I know no lofty verse-form well —
words fail me for the task.
The Voyage Home
9.
Now the fair prince delays no longer
to push his fleet gladly from shore;
quickly the small time passes —
the fierce wind played in the sail.
10.
Hefring began to strike the keels;
the broad sea bent before the prow;
the land was sighted, and the prince's honour
is clear — it will be won there.
11.
The prince's order was given thus:
not to sail into the Stólpasund;
they put into some hidden inlet —
the prince's son will find his lady.
12.
So eager was the prince in heart
that as soon as night had come,
he would find the worthy woman quickly;
the prince slipped away alone from his men.
Konráðr and Matthildr
13.
Swiftly he came to the lady's chamber
and found the fair princess within;
the beauty of the lady and the lord together —
no man alive can tell it.
14.
The fair and fine lady asked
(wonderfully gentle was the maiden then):
"How has your errand fared?
I think it was no easy one."
15.
The prince answered the lady then:
"There is much to tell of now;
you shall close the word upon it!"
The ring-goddess longed to hear.
16.
He gave the linen-goddess the stone
that she had lent him before with honour;
the pure ring-goddess kept it safe —
she gave no answer to this yet.
17.
The prince then took the other stone,
the one he had plucked from the middle of the board;
its colour was like the lightning-flash
that the sun can kindle in a salmon's stream.
18.
"This stone" — said the mighty maiden —
"we call most excellent;
you are scarcely yet done with your errand."
The bright bride began to marvel.
19.
The prince then showed the maiden
the other fine stone that was there;
the thorn-ground spoke her verdict on them,
though she thought him still not done.
20.
The lady answered then, steadfast:
"Each stone is precious in itself;
yet the one I have not yet seen
is the one the king sent you to find."
21.
The steel-god took out the very stone
that the prince's father had sought so long;
the king's daughter recognised it at once —
the lady's chamber brightened with joy.
22.
"Fortune has granted you" — said the wave-goddess —
"worthy honour and this joy:
to win that gemstone with renown —
none fairer may be found."
23.
"My father has longed for this,
and for it brought many men to grief;
your fame across the earth and land,
O prince, will long be told."
24.
"I can explain clearly: these are smaragds —
I reckon his fame may be told in full;
this one conquers all with its pure light,
the fair bloom and the bright field."
25.
Next the prince showed the jewel-goddess
the Fafnir-stone he had retrieved from the deep
below the ground —
the lady spoke in that same moment.
26.
"We call this" — said the noblest lady —
"a chrysolite, the one you show now;
the gemstone's name, and the fortune
is immense, that you have won it."
27.
"Its bloom and its bright purity
shall banish all manner of darkness;
venom does them no harm
who keep this stone upon themselves."
28.
He shows now the stone the sleeping
serpent had guarded, and the wise bride
then spoke of its powers:
"Great is your gained honour."
29.
"We call this a carbuncle" —
said the learned maiden — "a fine stone;
its virtues are these:
to possess it" — said the bright bride.
30.
"All the powers of the stones
I named before — this one commands;
fire cannot burn the hall
in which this gemstone is kept."
31.
The prince now showed the horns
that were adorned with Fafnir's bridge;
a marvellous treasure that work was —
the noble lady beheld these precious things.
32.
"Much has the sun-god granted you,
O prince" — said the jewel-goddess —
"to win such treasures with renown;
none fairer may be seen."
33.
The prince then brought forth the tapestry —
it was all like gold to behold;
every weave upon it was
the fairest the world can show.
34.
"This treasure that you have displayed" —
the prince's daughter spoke in answer —
"I scarcely believe it will ever be equalled;
a fairer tapestry no one has seen."
35.
The prince took out the fine bowl
that was wrought with many a craft;
the prince's daughter gazed upon it here —
it burned like Fafnir's island.
36.
The gold-braided goddess inspected the treasures
and answered the warrior then:
"Few such things are found on earth;
the deed will long be remembered."
37.
The noble lady said: "The stones
that stand in the bowl, two by two —
they command more powers
than you can see," said the ring-goddess.
38.
"In five different ways," the bride asked,
"may drink be mixed in that bowl;
yet no one blend touches another —
all this the prince shall see."
39.
"If warriors drink wrongly" — said the jewel-goddess —
"as well may happen,
the drink vanishes, and the men shall see
a fair castle appear before them."
40.
"Two trusty knights stand guard
over it" — said the ring-goddess —
"armed with shields they are,
with shadowed helms and bright spears."
41.
"But when warriors drink correctly" —
the lady claimed she knew the truth —
"then all returns to its place,
and the vision is lifted away."
42.
"Now you have seen" — said the prince —
"the fine treasures I have displayed;
I have laboured greatly as the wise lady counselled;
great is the wisdom granted to you."
Before the King
43.
"When the sun lights the ring of lands
and the cunning sun turns in its course,
my father shall summon a crowded assembly,
and the company shall ready itself with serpent-treasure."
44.
"Show the stone then to the king
and tell him at length of your ordeals;
O prince, you shall win from all
the highest fame that may be heard."
45.
Matthildr then gave the prince her counsel,
and rightly it was told thereafter;
the prince parted from the ring-goddess
and now has sleep and fair rest.
46.
Messengers from the prince's side
sought the king at morning;
the lord at once, in that same hour,
set a þing upon the wide ground.
47.
The emperor's son with his fine company
quickly found the king;
the prince brought forth the stone —
most thought he had won it well.
48.
The warriors now, as the tale was told,
praised his fame and skill;
the king declared he knew in truth
that no man could equal this one.
49.
"I understand now" — said the wise prince —
"you are truly the emperor's son;
I harbour no suspicion against that —
if you will do one thing I ask!"
50.
"Your fame is splendid" —
the prince trusts himself the best —
"take your weapons and arm yourself,
mount a strong horse, and ride against me!"
The Final Joust
51.
Konráðr spoke then to the king:
"Trust in your fortune, lord;
O king, you shall have the victory;
you yourself shall have your will."
52.
The sport grew, for both princes
armed themselves together;
scarcely had men beheld
fairer weapons than those two bore.
53.
Then they leapt upon their horses
handsomely, as I can tell;
fairer knights than those
the world can nowhere show.
54.
They rode at one another with practised skill;
the warriors had not lost their splendour;
the linen-goddess shall hear the tale —
neither had lost his honour.
55.
Konráðr's adorned lance struck the shield
squarely, and the keen prince
flew from the saddle, struck by steel;
yet the king came down standing.
56.
Konráðr rode at once to the king,
courteously and gently;
the fair prince gave the tapestry then
to the grove of spears, to calm his anger.
57.
"All is good" — said the king — "from you;
I welcome such gifts myself;
a finer tapestry, the lord swore,
O prince — let it gladden us here."
58.
"Now is the time" — said the prince —
"for the one who has claimed before all
to be the emperor's heir and scorned Konráðr
to come forward now with fame and deeds."
59.
"Show some honour now, if you can!
You said you surpassed him in everything;
Roðbert, perform that feat of valour now —
ride out against this man!"
60.
Roðbert could see for himself now
that the king would have his way.
Let the tap strike the empty barrel
of Gautr — and let it ring!
Ríma VIII
Mansöngr — The Eighth and Final Offering
1.
Though poetry is hateful to me now,
far beyond all measure,
still shall the palate's ship be launched
and made merry by a verse.
2.
Once in youth I swiftly fed
the flame-spark of Fjölnir;
those who bring the love-songs
make many maidens glad.
3.
So has the world retreated from men,
withdrawing all manner of joy;
though warriors would offer entertainment,
none will listen anymore.
4.
Such is the fashion of the age,
and it has been so for long;
sagas and rímur sink from favour —
no one cares for them at all.
5.
Now it may be that if anyone
composes worthy entertainment,
dearer in the warriors' eyes
are gossip and mockery than such art.
6.
The fair drink that Fjölnir owns
I never learned to taste;
often Skrimnir has snatched the ale
away from the poets.
7.
Long have I bought for little price
the splendid wine of Lóðurr;
the Norns' mead-craft was marked down low,
and I could not watch over it.
8.
I have poured Finnr's wave for warriors
fairly, this seventh time;
now shall the company, while the dregs hold out,
hear Durnir's tale.
The Joust of Roðbert
9.
I will turn now to this part
(I must tell with skill):
Roðbert had little wish
to enter the contest against Konráðr.
10.
Yet he armed himself at the king's command
in the cold garments of Gjúki;
he was strong enough to speak with cunning
and skilled in every counsel.
11.
So great was the host at the assembly
that none could count them;
in every tower the crowd stood watching,
and the throng covered the ground.
12.
Then the warriors rode to meet each other,
their hands adorned with treasure;
Konráðr bore his opponent's spear
mightily, with force.
13.
The king seized Roðbert by the neck
and taught him the power of his arm;
he wrenched the fire-breaker from the saddle
with his strong right hand.
14.
The prince rode to the foulest fen
that could be found;
there the prince let fall
this traitor of the lord.
15.
The whole company at once
began to shout and call;
ill it went for the emperor's kinsman —
into the mire he fell.
16.
At Roðbert every man laughed
and shouted who had a mouth,
while Lord Konráðr was honoured then
by the court with all their might.
17.
Roðbert was dragged from the ditch now
by warriors, at Konráðr's bidding;
it is no wonder that Lady Matthildr
will not henceforth love that man.
18.
The king demanded that Roðbert then
be stripped of life by the warriors —
hanged upon the gallows,
or torn apart by horses.
Konráðr's Mercy
19.
Konráðr answered the king then
and said it could scarcely stand:
"I will let Roðbert keep his life,
though he led me into peril."
20.
"Let the warrior keep a single ship
with wealth and men still;
but he is rightly outlawed from both empires —
his own counsel brought this on him."
21.
The ship bore Roðbert away
upon the cold whale-field;
the traitor still enjoyed his father's favour,
and so managed to keep his life.
The Wedding
22.
The assembly then was closed by the prince's court;
there was no shortage of celebration;
the prince wished a swift wedding
prepared with all honour.
23.
Konráðr said in that same hour,
turning to the serpent-goddess of the sea:
he will now journey to his father's court
and bid the emperor come.
24.
He parts now from the prince's daughter
and the fair scarlet-maiden;
the warriors let the ornamented ships
glide upon the fishing-ground.
25.
The shelves of Hlér and the prince's fleet
shared the fire between them;
the pale wave of Blóðughadda
thundered against both stems.
26.
They sailed from the sea to the adorned land;
the warriors know it is Saxony;
not one empty fjord did they see
as far as the eye could run.
27.
So many ships were on the water
that none could count them;
the emperor is now arrived —
if any man can delay him.
28.
Scarcely had they seen the king's company
maintain greater splendour;
Konráðr found his father swiftly,
and they met with all honour.
29.
Konráðr invited the emperor then,
with his fine company,
to the feast where he would receive
the ring-goddess with splendour.
30.
The king's voyage was readied quickly,
the ships and host selected;
the emperor had so fine a company
that none had seen a fairer.
31.
Then they let the sea-horses
gallop from the land;
the other host took its leave
and stayed behind at home.
32.
The dark sails caught the wind;
the waves played upon the hulls;
far and wide the fire of the linden-tree
flashed from the ship-doves.
33.
The sister of Day sank in the herring-ground,
she and her tormentors;
Rán's shears parted in two
the shadowed prows of the ships.
34.
The emperor conquered the lock of the land
at last, with Rán's hounds;
the flood-horses carried the race
forward to Stólpasund.
35.
The Greeks had then seen the fleet
that the warriors call the fairest;
the ships were adorned with splendour,
with pure gold and with gems.
36.
Never before among men
had there been such a precedent:
that a fairer fleet could be seen
sailing to any shore.
37.
The warriors drove their ships into the broad harbour
and ran the keel to ground;
no ship was the equal of their splendour —
the host adorned itself upon the wave.
38.
They stepped ashore with a famous company,
the men adorned in finery;
the retainers bore hardened swords,
adorned with Hamdir's gold.
39.
Never had they seen in all the east
a fairer company;
the lord of Constantinople came to meet them
with splendour.
The Feast
40.
Truly I cannot describe the feast,
for there is more to tell:
all the grandeur and the honour
that grew upon their coming.
41.
The king's invitations were all gracious
to the emperor's company;
then he led into his own hall
the lord and both the fathers.
42.
The kings seated themselves at one high table
with the wise lord of lances;
a nobler feast was found nowhere
in the circuit of the world.
43.
All the warriors there were gladdened
with wine and mead;
the entertainment was the finest the world had borne,
with fair voices of art.
44.
The prince and the bright goddess of wealth
were then with all honour
wedded together with splendour and skill —
the prize and the bloom of the world.
45.
And next, for honour and for wisdom,
even as the master taught,
they were crowned with courtesy and might
by the hand of Emperor Rígarðr.
46.
The feast grew with honour then;
wine came often to the lips;
each one played what pleased him
and what life could ask.
The Later Days
47.
For half a month the feast endured,
honoured with all splendour;
then the emperor's company took
the cold fire of the sea with bloom.
48.
The kings parted graciously;
the emperor went to his fleet;
then the horses leapt upon
the broad wave of Hlér.
49.
Gylfir's ugly jaw gaped wide
at the gilded prow of the ship;
the prince returned to Saxony
and settled peacefully in his land.
50.
A short time then passed quickly
before the king of the Greeks
had to await the perilous meeting with death;
the prince fell from the land.
51.
The time came when the emperor
had to endure the sickly death;
Konráðr fathered with the garment-goddess
three sons, all fair.
52.
To his first son the prince gave
his own father's name,
the lord of the serpent-slope;
that one was equal to the finest emperors,
and strong, as the tale tells later.
53.
To him was given in honour
all the world's mighty bloom;
then he was sent to Saxony
and crowned with the imperial title.
54.
Kitelax was the name of Konráðr's son
who knew the finest splendour;
Vilhjálmr always gladdened
the tree of wealth and his people.
55.
Konráðr upheld the high king's name
and ruled his realm;
no prince upon the earth was found
his equal or his like.
56.
The prince held, while life endured,
with the fair leek-goddess,
a love complete; and his renown
spread far across the world.
57.
And when the prince drew his last breath
and the sorrowful death shook him,
Kitelax ruled after him
all the land and the realm.
58.
Here shall the tale come to its end;
no need to stretch the story further;
better is other fine entertainment —
this one shall not be strung out.
59.
Eight journeys of valour have I wrought
with the tool of glory;
I find much in the bird's basket
and turn it upon the wheel of tales.
Colophon
Konráðs Rímur (The Rímur of Konráðr), also known as Riddara-Rímur III. Eight rímur in ferskeytt (ABAB) metre, except Ríma VII which uses a four-line monorhyme (AAAA). Composed by an unknown Icelandic poet, probably fifteenth century. The cycle is the third of three knight-romances preserved in the Riddara-Rímur collection. The story follows Prince Konráðr of Saxony, betrayed by his sworn brother Roðbert, who wins back his identity and the hand of Princess Matthildr of Constantinople through dragon-slaying, lion-taming, elephant-hunting, and the theft of gemstones from a sleeping serpent-king.
Source: Riddara-Rímur, ed. Theodor Wisén (Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz, 1881), pp. 111–171. Base manuscript: AM 604 a, 4° (fifteenth century). Apparatus criticus from MSS AM 604 b (B), AM 604 e (E), and the fragmentary G.
Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church and Claude, 2025–2026. Translated from Old/Middle Icelandic. Rímur I–II by Skaði; Ríma III by Rímur Tulku (2026-03-21); Ríma IV by Rímur Tulku (2026-03-21); Ríma V by Dagný (2026-03-21); Rímur VI–VIII by Ásvaldr (2026-03-21). Wisén's editorial notes and apparatus criticus were consulted for readings. First known complete English translation.
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