The saga of Refr the Cunning set to verse — a lazy boy who lies by the fire until need shapes him into the sharpest man in Iceland. Anonymous, preserved in AM 146a 8vo (c. 1600). The oldest rímur of Króka-Refs saga.
Ríma I
Mansöngr
I know the smallest measure of love-song;
I am loathe to sing
when others make themselves fine
before the fair giver of wealth.
It is vain sport to prattle of such things
from the depths of fur in frenzy:
need goes richly enough
near the fair lady.
Many a lady gives men scorn
and mocks them always;
if champions wear curled hair,
women laugh at that.
Let some stiff and stooping man stand,
a beggar alone in the hall —
the women's scorn grows heavy
surely toward that man.
The sisters have this bitter word
— the poem must not be silent —:
"Be off, you ancient wretch,"
they hiss and toss their heads.
"You are torment enough for me,"
— should he court a jewel-woman —
"I will not have you any longer,
for your mouth smells foul."
But if a courtier comes into the house,
adorned with rings and armlets,
their limbs and skin come alive
and their eyes grow gentle.
The clever maiden speaks
with soft skill of words:
"Come here, my companion,
and creep close to my side."
The forge-fire often blazes from the south
— the man knows such things well —
I do not reckon all women
deserve this verse.
The Saga Begins
The dwarf-ship lengthens out
as it is drawn forth toward evening.
King Hákon the Bold
held dominion in Norway.
Aðalsteinn's famous foster-son,
ruler of noble realms;
men found the king shrewd —
no one could deceive him.
The wound-fire bites this lord
when the prince arms himself in steel,
great in spirit, distinguished and fair,
generous with the sea's flame.
In the king's days there lived a clear-minded man
here in Iceland:
Steinn was the name of that steel-god
who governed folk with his blade.
Kvennabrekka is the noble land
the champion was to hold;
in Breiðafjörður he dwells with deeds,
the breaker of green shields.
He married, as the tale relates,
a noble bride:
Þorgerður was her name,
that splendid woman.
Fortune adorns the lady best
when freed from evil circumstance;
she was closely kin to Gestr,
the wise man on Barðaströnd.
The farmer begot upon the ring-ground
a child in the appointed time.
Refr shall be the shield-weight's name,
the tester of the sea's surf.
Grand was the farmer's household,
though the child cared nothing for gold;
he grows up beside the fair wife,
esteemed little at home.
When the giver of the warm red fire
was twelve winters old,
he lay himself down before folk on the floor
and seemed to bring them nothing but trouble.
The champion takes so merry a stride
— it has long been sung —
he lets men fall about him
heavily as they walk past.
A Norwegian's game he got one day
— indoors I think he dozed —
I heard that afterward the bold man
tinkered in the fire-house.
The man begins to sharpen quickly
at home in the fire-hall;
about this the thanes spoke often —
they thought him no man at all.
Þorbjörn was the name of one nearby,
that powerful thorn-tree;
few men held him dear,
he was eager for ill deeds.
That shaker of sharp spears
may hold terror aloft:
he beat the farmers often
and pastured their meadows bare.
The wretch was thought ill-spoken
and became a blight on all,
the scoundrel was for poor conduct
driven from the district by men.
The warrior had a rough wife;
Bannveig was her name,
foolish in temper and hard was she,
that oaken woman.
The wealth-pillar with great force
eggs him always to slaughter;
he made many men grey with grief
and brought warriors low.
These two farmers built their homesteads
both on the margins of the land;
neither champion caused offense
nor raised fury against the other.
Steinn is both proud and wise,
steers the storm-light well,
most thought him watchful and alert,
clever and eager for honour.
Then once more it began to churn here,
thick with spear-mass;
again Þorbjörn wants to rise up —
Bannveig was behind it.
The hatred in her was hard —
you may call it torment —
swiftly into the farmer's land went
both cattle and sheep.
So now the tale comes to the champion
— the tunic-tree learned this,
took up what must be told
chiefly of the spear-reddener —:
"We have lived, farmer," he said,
"side by side in a rich land;
men call you a poor man,
I do not agree with that."
"I am very slow with the metal-stream,
I am loathe to quarrel;
but now your herd is coming
home onto our land again."
"You will do well, champion,
to keep your herd in check;
do not let the tree-of-gold
displease you in any way."
The other answered the man quickly,
to the brave man's liking:
"Fewer would I have felled
if more had answered so."
They parted, and he arranged things
— the poem makes this clear —
never did he go against the worthy man;
his herd was out a while.
Nearly all the race of men
doom will seize at last;
a great sickness harms Steinn,
he must part from the helm.
He shall taste the realm of death,
it presses hard upon his life;
now the wise farmer
wishes to say a word of warning.
The farmer speaks to his bride,
as one who has always dealt in wealth:
"Doom is hunting hard for me,
and death comes with it."
"I shall bear no more sickness,
the hours shall be counted forth;
the fated one," said the worthy man,
"cannot linger any longer with you."
"Divide the land, lady of the cloak,"
said the shaker of red gold,
"Þorbjörn will bring you strife
when he hears of my death."
"Of that I have every fear,"
the destroyer of sword-wealth said,
"I think the man will become
a heavy weight in your lap."
"Grief should not harm
the lady of wealth;
better to endure and await good
than to begin any trouble."
Death is never slow for brave men;
heavily he comes to call;
Steinn departs from the land
and leaves the serpent-bench.
When the body is laid in earth,
the man's arts all ended,
I heard the gold-woman
weep, the silk-lady noble.
No need to add to that
nor praise it with a poet's words.
Þorbjörn means at once
to stir the theft again.
The wretch lets his brow fall
— so says the bold account —
he drives home into the precious field
the herd, all of it.
The brave woman bids the weapon-tree
surely not to shrink at all;
the proud lady governs her temper —
it availed her nothing.
The honoured wife keeps her composure
and has coin enough;
the robber makes so heavy a fine
that she must bend to it.
Especially there the slow-riding woman turns;
the sweet one rode from the farmstead;
the woman meets a champion of this sort —
he said his name was Bardi.
The woman speaks as the poem says,
the noble woman splendid:
"Will you take work with me
and watch over my herd with care?"
"I do not refuse," the man said,
"to tend your sheep."
To this at once agrees
the noble thorn-lady.
The bride does not drive away
the ring-tree from the earth;
there was agreement, and afterward
the herdsman took charge of the flock.
The worthy goods will grow here,
I expect this to thrive;
the shield-god built a hut
swiftly by the river.
Near this useful place
— well may the words be chosen —
the torrent was enormous,
running between the lands.
Quick I think him on his feet,
nimble on the sea-cliff;
he drives away the champion's livestock
so that none come near.
The champion praised the lady of arts;
so some time passed;
through him her household prospers —
this ríma tells the tale.
The other must now beg the rival
who resolved to curb him;
the bride eggs her farmer-husband
to swift anger.
"Heavy it is for us to suffer this wrong;
it causes men grief.
Now you have grown too meek
in your own nature."
The woman speaks, driven by sorrow
— so I heard in the book —:
"Our flock has been gelded,
all of it, this time."
"The rumour has reached me —
the champion shall hear of it —
anyone who wants to toy with you,
you let no blow fall."
"Who is this man," said Þorbjörn then,
"who does this work?"
The bride says the farmer may
find little Bardi.
He spoke much to the sharp one
and trusts in his own strength:
"I shall pay the champion in kind —
the grim pains of death."
The man I heard made ready from home;
he took to riding swiftly,
bound the sword upon his breast
and set the fair helm on.
Now the tester of the sea-ring
would bathe the spear in Bardi;
he would cleave the steel of the javelin-ring —
he comes face to face with Bardi.
The point-smith speaks these words
— now the wolf gets fodder —
both warriors sat themselves down,
and the farmer began to speak.
"Tell me what, wretch, is the meaning
— the champion, so I hear —
that your wretched villain
beats upon my herd?"
The man was quick in his answer
and said to the bold fellow:
"I have cared for," said the arrow-enjoyer,
"your stock a long time."
"If you do not cease, wretch,
to beat upon our sheep,
I shall in the appointed place
walk away from you dead."
The other answered the man then:
"I do not fear your threats;
I shall never leave the gold-pillar
nor the keeping of her sheep."
The rogue spoke, old and stingy:
"Do as I say.
Soon shall the blow, you craven wretch,
fall upon your body."
"I do not fear your threats,
though you have much in your bluster;
well shall I serve the linen-lady
and never flee my post."
"Will you do us clear wrong,"
the worm tries this,
"it is little luck
to set yourself up as a thief."
The trusty man answered,
the wielder of the serpent-reins:
"You shall not prove right in evil
if I am to be called a thief."
The villain's deed he then performed,
with little honour now:
the champion ran him through
and dealt no further judgement.
He parts there from the worthy man,
the bender of bright steel;
he dragged him under the dark wall
and hid him there by the hut.
The strong hero drives the cattle
home to the rich bride;
a poor deed of manhood it is
to oppress the ring-lady.
The ring-ground misses Bardi
and bids men go searching;
the thorn-woman suspects
that heavy things will be found.
He was found dead upon the earth,
run through with a spear;
the news came to the gold-lady
afterward from the men at home.
The woman began to wet her cheek,
waked from a change of sleep;
the ring-pillar found Refr —
now things shall come to a head.
Into the fire-hall the wealth-tree goes
to find the champion of deeds.
The horn-sea's youth ceased —
here the ríma shall rest.
Ríma II
Mansöngr
1.
The treasure-chest of cunning breaks for me
to begin any love-song here,
for I am ever weary and silent —
the poem stands in wisdom's clearing.
2.
Good men and gracious ladies!
Let each guard their temper well;
I must stumble for a time,
a beggar-poet at the heroes' gathering.
3.
Let us bend the letter to you:
that man shall be reckoned here
who is poor and penniless
and bears an ancient cloak through life.
4.
But the other always decks himself in finery;
the lady loves the elegant dandy —
he comes forth to the merchant's booth
and can rot no less than a house.
5.
Men lose beauty and colour,
and with it goes their wit —
so says the master's text —
many receive just such a fate.
6.
The arrow of delight flies all about;
to men it is a heavy jest
when the body and the giant wrestle with cunning's spirit
to keep wisdom in their breast.
7.
Let the men give me silence in the hall,
wise men and the choice of warriors;
I offer again to entertain,
I ask the men to hold their noise.
8.
Let it be told: Barði died —
the blade went right through him.
The gold-grove offered neither peace nor counsel
when the man was slain.
9.
I left off the northern journey;
the young man was in the hall,
the woman found the warrior there —
that one shall play a sorry game.
10.
The precious hide of the giant's speech,
the lady entered the house in peace;
the bride could hardly seem glad —
this the poet's craft reveals.
11.
"Slain are my men here,
your servants taste death's cup.
You lie there with your laziness —
small fame shines in this!"
12.
"We are come into wretched need,"
the wine-prop spoke, flushed red.
"Are you as soft as the bitch,
kicked aside from every gain?"
13.
"Neatly you are sprung from your line,"
the fine lady shamed the man,
"your breast is soft and craven."
The bride held no guard on her words.
14.
The bride speaks with bitter grief:
"Better that you were a coward outright
and married some warrior of spears
who would uphold our house."
15.
The mighty man answers in honour:
"Mother, I shall let your tongue cease."
Swiftly he strides from the hall —
he will wait no longer now.
16.
The man seizes the halberd quickly —
the old man has owned it long —
his steps are no small stride;
he stalks now with ample might.
17.
The board-grove rides with the spear;
skill never leaves him.
I scarcely think the warrior flinches —
the peace of wounds shall swell from this.
18.
The ring-god runs to the farmstead.
The farmer's men were at their work;
all the men laugh at once,
strangely, so their teeth shine.
19.
"How lordly, warriors!" he said —
their trial of hardship mounts.
"Wonderfully foolish is that half-wit
who drifts home to our place."
20.
The shield-god broke the shaft,
clear and practised in hard straits;
too long it seemed to the gold-river
to avenge his father's creature.
21.
The defender of shields comes to the houses;
the men began to grow uneasy —
that will give the warriors no peace.
Þorbjörn has now lain down.
22.
Through the door went the spear-rafter;
fortune's power shall seize that man.
The warrior shuts the door behind him —
honour and glory are shaped for such men.
23.
Þorbjörn asks who comes there.
There was no pause for words;
Refr said his name, the glad warrior,
and drew tight the wound-serpent.
24.
"I am come here to claim amends;
what will you answer me?
Redress I demand from you
for Barði, who walked through death's gorge."
25.
The champion answered, sly in his breast:
"I must now be the first to dress.
The hand that wishes to make good —
quickly comes the thirst for wealth."
26.
The man dressed in great haste;
he means to test his strength.
The wretch began to fume;
I hear he thinks the business ugly.
27.
He takes a whetstone and sharpens the blade,
the farmer who stirs up strife —
many a man is guilty of less —
he strikes full in the palm upon the warrior.
28.
"Take now recompense for Barði here —
I give you a dull kitchen-knife."
A bitter drink and death's cup —
that is what he holds for Refr in his breast.
29.
The ugly warrior tugs at his sword;
slow shall the metal-breaker be —
the wealth-enjoyer falls because of this;
the younger man is quicker.
30.
He gave the farmer a little thrust;
he drives the spear into the man's middle —
the point went clean through
and took a strip of fury on its way.
31.
Þorbjörn falls straight to the ground;
that was their settlement made.
After the death of the spear-lord,
the blood ran from the treacherous murder.
32.
The famous champion left the hall.
The rogue reached his life's end.
I trust the warrior shall prove calm —
Refr is indeed cunning in his tricks.
33.
This is spoken in a merry poem;
a stallion stood in the yard —
wisdom is told of the weapon-ride —
the brave hero turns thither.
34.
The man of courage hides in the forest —
the warrior has ever known his tricks.
Men could not find him;
they went through the whole house.
35.
Blood ran from the wound like liver-liquor;
there inside the champion lay dead.
The rogue is dragged bare from the hall;
the men buried him down in the mound.
37.
The mother greets her noble son.
"Will you tell me," said the woman,
"how you fared at the warrior's meeting,
or did you win some sword-blow?"
38.
"A whetstone came to me in the shower of blades,"
the champion showed the bride the knife.
"I know not but the tree of life shall fall
in the strife of steel against darts."
39.
"Dead I think Þorbjörn is —
you were right to slay him,"
the mighty wine-goddess spoke.
"You must now go from us."
40.
"I shall," said the wisest jewel-goddess,
"send you to my brother.
He shall offer the giver of wine
wisdom, the pride of his heart."
41.
"Gestr will," said the gold-goddess,
"strip the champion of all pain.
He spares neither food nor wine;
he knows well how to keep his men."
42.
The woman gave him, so I have heard,
a saddled horse with colour and craft.
Refr the wise set out.
The bride's face was not dry:
43.
"The lord of heaven release the youth,
dear one, from the champion's hand.
May the warrior shun evil counsel."
He rides now to Barðaströnd.
44.
He comes to Hagi and finds the champion,
that warrior exceedingly firm.
The hero ever wins good fortune.
Gestr is outwardly wise and shrewd.
45.
Gestr greets the keeper of treasure,
keen and swift in the storm of points:
"Welcome — you shall be with us."
Each gave the other a kiss.
46.
Refr then tells his sorrowful tale
and told Gestr of the farmer's slaying:
"It was the loosening of hardship's chain
that Þorbjörn walked through death's way."
47.
Gestr speaks to that champion
who won the worthy man with his spear:
"I offer no payment for him;
I make no amends for a treacherous man."
48.
The bold warrior dwells with Gestr,
daring in temper and strong of arm.
He shall deal the men their wounds
and afterward repay hatred's debt.
49.
The craftsman is pure in spirit;
the road lies straight to fortune.
The twig of learning shall tell this:
the kinsmen met one morning.
50.
He bids Gestr a good day —
I set this in my poem.
They sat down with the custom of honour;
the men took up another matter.
51.
Thus I hear the wise Gestr say:
"What craft do you know best?
There shall be no delay in the verse —
I trust wisdom rules most."
52.
"A craftsman is like one set free,
lifted clear from all smallness.
Skilful work and fortune's loan —
you have not bought them by theft."
53.
"A boat I have planned, straight in the hall;
the bold champion shall build it for me,
so that it cuts across the wind's field
and conquers there with the oar-handle."
54.
The flinger of Fenja's grip spoke:
"Get me iron for a larger ship —
then shall the breaker of the billow's guise
shatter the reef of the wave."
55.
Gestr is keen at the snowdrift of hands;
the champion knew swimming and board-games.
This proves to be no nonsense;
thither he had strength conveyed.
56.
Men test the bridge of wisdom;
this becomes no small matter.
"I like not the noise of poets —
let no one go about here."
57.
I trust his honour shall grow greater;
indeed he is keen with the spear.
He carried iron and shaped bronze;
thus two full months pass.
58.
The craftsman locks the boathouse —
luck is ever his anchor.
This the voice of the rímur may declare:
the champion tests the cliff's dwelling.
59.
The neat-worker lets things move swiftly;
he rises early, often on his feet.
Last of all the worthy man rests;
he shall test the roots of wisdom.
60.
It shall be told of that proof of goodness:
Gestr sent a man to the shed.
The man of steel, that slayer of thieves,
knew the art of pride well.
61.
The man came back humbly,
the fellow who breaks the grudge-food:
"No seal-boat like it can be seen,"
that glad warrior answered thus.
62.
"The champion has carved a keel-bear —
I call his temper not at all hasty —
and driven new nails down
through the plank-furrow."
63.
Gestr said he would go and see —
the verse reports it thus.
The farmer shall look straight at the boat,
just as one might expect.
64.
Fjölnir's drink falls upon the man
who knows how to carve the earth's beard.
Therefore another dreg of the door
shall fall from the wall of words.
Ríma III
Mansöngr
1.
I find little to say of love-song verse —
let the men understand;
let him who reads the poem attend:
I have some will for it still.
2.
I cannot do with ladies or home —
little can the warrior sing —
so loathsome it is for me to fashion them
the good instrument of the south.
3.
A man came to the house, a tree of tunics,
and the poem gladdened the warriors there.
I grew so angry at the men
that wine was offered me to drink.
4.
I was dealt other colours
of falsehood by a certain woman;
many a man is tricked by mead —
he lost his bride for that.
5.
She held the cup with courtly wine;
the woman made as if to offer it.
The lady would draw me to her —
that good drink of hers.
6.
Another holds the wishing-beer;
she was no less in anything.
Strong beauty follows her
and honour in every way.
7.
Then came yet a third,
and that was a honey-sweet rose.
She gave forth all her golden gifts —
it is good to praise such things.
8.
From them I took no reward
such as word-craft found greater.
Of old I received instead
a full cup of clay.
9.
My breast drank the bitter grief
and the struggle clean from the cup;
therefore I am ever driven about the house —
the ladies hate me since.
10.
The ferry of the god and the twig of learning
shall be pushed forth upon the sea.
I must bind together the ríma of Refr
with a rope of words.
11.
I left off where the man sits
who was asked to build a craft —
the champion seemed keen and wise —
that fame spread far and wide.
12.
Gestr, I tell, rose from his bed
and the champion turned thither.
He laid a gentle wing over him:
"Long you sleep, kinsman."
13.
Thus spoke the tree of gold
to the fair hammerer of metals:
"Is the boat built to completion?
You surely do not mean to keep building?"
14.
The champion spoke boldly then,
keen in the play of spears:
"You shall go, warrior, and see —
I make nothing more there."
15.
The ring-hind and the goodly farmer —
I count them both stout —
went walking no less eagerly
down to the sea to the boathouse.
16.
The craftsman on the sea's horse-land
gazed about for a time.
The farmer thought the boat large —
something must be under it.
17.
Noble Gestr spoke then,
eager for the proof of wisdom:
"I thank you for this craft;
you have full good learning."
18.
"Rather the ship seems fair to me;
I trust full well it shall run.
The salt sea shall serve it well,
and the herring's earth upon it."
19.
A second time the maker of points
speaks in noble words:
"The horse of the deep I give to you;
let it run over the salmon's fields."
20.
Winter advances then;
the folk practised their sports.
The warrior dwelt with Gestr,
dealing out the pale gold.
21.
I name the champion Gellir,
who wished to prove his wrestling.
The men thought him a bold man
who was ever tested in battle.
22.
Sigríðr was the name of the silk-lady —
she was Gellir's mother.
The bride had married a farmer
and lived by the serpent's path.
23.
The warrior thought himself no weakling;
that was at a certain time.
He whispers much to the shield-god:
"You shall come and wrestle."
24.
He means to test his strength
against the heir of Steinn.
That shall go much against him —
I may not conceal such things.
25.
The man made a running leap
and wished to master the hold;
he could not throw Refr
and tried it every way.
26.
Their wrestling is exceeding long;
the champions were stubborn.
The fellow lightened the song of leaves;
the other yielded at last.
27.
A little later the tree of leaves
lets the champion fall.
He drives him down onto the ice;
the shrewd one ruled the spear.
28.
Both elbows burst, and the brow soon after,
on the waste of the shield-fields.
The warrior was in pain from his wounds —
he must blame himself for that.
29.
The man springs up at once, enraged,
and seizes his weapons.
The tree of leaves casts his spear.
Little harm came to Refr's shoulders.
30.
Mischief and bluster Gellir made —
horror at such behaviour!
Refr shall bloody the wound-hart
upon that merry ring-grove.
31.
The men met after Yule
out on the broad road.
Now I trust the sun shall not be seen —
it bends the tree of terror.
32.
Gellir spoke to the champion:
"The mischief I shall repay you."
Up he seized a forged axe;
warriors are driven to trial.
33.
He cuts the hand clean off the man
on the slope with great peril.
The warrior fell into death; fierce
blood fell from the wound.
34.
Refr rode quickly home,
that greatest champion of glory.
The brave warrior in the sword's gleam
told the slaying to Gestr.
35.
"You have avenged yourself with honour,
giver of the serpent's platforms.
Many a smaller case is judged —
freedom shall be yours now."
36.
He let there be no long delay
to question the craftsman:
"Shall the champion steer the cold-sea's horse
out to sea now?"
37.
The warrior answers straightaway,
the rider of the wave-tree's span:
"To Greenland I would go," the champion said,
"to find its good harbours."
38.
"All your vessel you shall have;
the journey shall not lag.
Later I shall visit the silk-bride,
your wise mother."
39.
"The lord who rules all,
may he strengthen you for amends.
The sea's fire and the serpent's glow —
may you receive good fortune."
40.
"Your great deeds shall be far and wide
laid down in memory.
Let the warrior write to us
the true account of your story."
41.
The proud man let his vessel strike
the exceedingly wide current.
The famous kinsmen parted there
and never met again.
42.
The hero of fame found a fjord —
wondrously long is this one.
The ship goes into the fjord's bottom;
the launching-log's journey began.
43.
The champion walks from the keel-bear,
glad in every way.
Now the land seems full good
to the dear steersman of boats.
44.
The shield-grove was in a hall,
parted from the grief of bitterness.
He fashioned a fair ship there
and brought it to the settlement.
45.
Men name a farm at Hlíð
over which Björn holds authority.
They found in the late autumn
the breaker of the serpent's hoard.
46.
His daughter is named Helga,
the most honourable of women.
The woman was born for love's purpose
and knew most kinds of beauty.
47.
The hero's fortune was not cut short —
he shall enjoy Gestr's prayers.
The hooded maiden was pledged to Refr;
he won the fair lady.
48.
There was no lack of bright treasure,
the wealth of the shield-land.
Björn now lived with them
through the winter, free from harm.
49.
The worthy man, bold and good,
exceedingly handsome in strife,
took up his dwelling with them, the ring-lord,
when Björn was taken from life.
50.
The fair goddess bore
the bright hooded lady.
Steinn and Björn shall the verse-alliterations tell —
strong men in their hearts.
51.
I trust the warrior proves to be one —
as the ríma's text declares.
The boy was named Þormóðr,
a manly youth to look upon.
52.
The children grow up, the farmer's saplings,
straight, and learn honour.
This I hear gladdens the warrior
and the goddess of the sea's gleam.
53.
He had been — and the text says so —
among the honoured, none between.
Refr prospers there eight winters
with all honour and skill.
54.
The farmer sits on his broad land
and dwells at first in peace.
The third poem's work is done;
the seed of fame is sown.
Ríma IV
1.
I have no eloquence enough
to share a thing from poetry's court,
for I am driven from the ring of care
to sorrow's point and grief's sting.
2.
Amor's verses on the wealth-vessel
have hunger in their scroll;
so little praise is mine to see —
the letters I cannot express.
3.
A cheerful rush comes upon a man —
the drinker is now without drink;
heavily against me the verses snarled;
the misery of trials swelled and froze.
4.
It was the ancient custom of men —
the craftsman of fame bought learning.
Suttung's ale and its fair timber:
I sat myself down beside Odin.
5.
He poured them from his cups
clear mead and shining wine;
from the east it all was borne in splendour —
none of it came to me.
6.
For those who reject the thorn-maiden,
many a manuscript may come;
sorrow in its drift
has torn asunder all gladness.
7.
He who does not love the lady —
old age, I trust, defeats him;
the maiden is ever quick against that man;
need is then seen in the hall of wisdom.
8.
This ríma must now rise —
warriors, I ask you, listen now —
to where the farmer set his homestead,
gentle, and won a young wife.
9.
The farmer Refr traded his wealth;
the ring-grove digs into wisdom;
he gives men riches freely
and does not sleep long into mornings.
10.
He holds ever the hammer by the shaft —
stout I reckon that spear-lord,
full to brimming with honour and might;
he tears from himself the bonds of trial.
11.
The farmer shuns falsehood and lies,
led away from all hatred;
he cares neither for theft nor shame —
none is prouder in that district.
12.
This shall make clear to men the refrain:
the children grow up beside Refr;
they know both arrow-shot and stride —
his beard white, his face bright-glowing.
13.
Helga is a courteous bride;
the noble lady loved her man.
She guards well her golden treasure —
no juggler can deceive her.
14.
Of Refr shall warriors not yet
speak more craft at once.
I must turn again to Hlíð,
where wisdom keeps a greater peace.
[Stanzas 15–22 are illegible in the printed edition's digitization. The OCR of page 78 (Pálmi Pálsson, 1883) is completely garbled. These eight stanzas bridge the domestic peace at Hlíð and the arrival of the hostile neighbours. A future scribe with access to the physical book or a cleaner scan should restore them.]
23.
The bold man sits at home —
fair indeed is the warrior's appearance;
the champion seemed shrewd and wise;
he knew how to rule his seat with force.
24.
The prince's kinsman, no dullard of fortune,
once went out from the settlements:
from below the grassy ridge there comes
a great bear, and somewhat large.
25.
Swift is the bear and quick in its going —
it means to find the steel-god.
The shield-warrior understood
that one could not fence with the beast.
26.
In his roof-beam he had fastened
a sharp axe, the champion resplendent;
he turned back with the greatest feat
and thought it had nearly gone ill.
27.
Snow had fallen quickly on the ground —
the well-groomed man was not faint-hearted;
the warrior looks at the wound-pool —
he sees clearly that the bear is dead.
28.
The farmer went home to the farmstead;
his wife welcomes the warrior warmly.
The honoured man sits on the bench
and tells now first of the lurking evil.
29.
Brothers came before the farmer's door —
soon some strife shall grow;
their tongues are never still.
Þorgils asks after the catch.
30.
The thanes spoke then so plainly:
they had caught no fish at all,
save a white bear taken with their hands —
the men could scarcely hold the beast.
31.
The ale-man speaks as I have told:
"The provisions, as may be explained —
make for yourselves now," said the warrior,
"benefit to our district."
32.
"It nearly happened," said the slanderous wretch,
"that the thing would lie upon the hide.
Refr means to show his cowardice."
This the cunning champion says.
33.
Farmer Þorgils is silent a while;
the prince speaks with ill intent:
"We shall reckon the shield-bearer
just like any other cowardly dog."
34.
"I think he is not bold with a blade —
if the man comes into any danger,
he will hardly know how to wield a shield.
We found piss in his footprints."
35.
"From Iceland he once took passage —
I heard he could not dwell there.
He always carried his head without courage;
one may speak shame's companion with him."
36.
"Often I have lain with the spear-woman" —
I hear the arrow-breaker speak —
"every ninth night the lady was ready,
and nearly needed a man's remedy."
37.
"This shame was quick and stiff
when the wretch dragged himself in here.
Let us not regard him," said the warrior, "a whit —
Greenland bears therefore a reddened cheek."
38.
Father and sons let fall their talk
and went into the hero's hall.
They shall know death's valley
dearly for their slanderous prate.
39.
The brothers made ready quickly;
the bear-meat was then fetched.
This the warriors' band discusses:
that Refr is scarcely skilled in strength.
40.
The fjord's string flies widely —
the valiant warrior hears this news.
In his breast the linen-cord plays
little better than another bursts.
41.
One day a bold thane comes to him —
this man is eager for the spear-rain.
He speaks then with the tongue's might,
the steadfast man, wise and true:
42.
"Þorgils' sons with heavy groaning
have laid you in their speeches often.
Men hold such things aloft —
here they make of you jest and mockery."
43.
"Both land and domain are stirred —
I lay thereto some counsel:
now it is best for you, with virtue and deed,
to sow the seed of death among those warriors."
44.
The mighty jewel-god spoke thus,
he who is valiant:
"Every man should look ahead for himself,
especially before great things are brought to pass."
45.
The farmer puts aside his wealth —
he who once gave coins freely.
He bears his vessel to the sea,
the craft-longship and the mast.
46.
The man arranges a swift feast;
men came there in finery.
Bright wine he gives the worthies,
and of the mead a goodly share.
47.
The warrior takes counsel
with a certain wealthy spear-lord:
he means to sell his land —
his honour will not be spared him.
48.
The warrior knew good measure
— the verse-play declares it —
"Should I come back here again,
the purchase free shall be when I will."
49.
He has sold his lands —
that one will not be reckoned soft.
The wealth-grove is stubborn in his work;
I think now Þorgils is doomed.
50.
Away turns the fair company
— my learning wills to tell it so —
he took from this a firm receipt;
twelve men offered him their fellowship.
51.
"Do not increase your labour
after my small disappearance.
Later I shall need to speak further —
then one may ready the ship for its keel."
52.
Now shall I tell some account —
need plays upon the mind's stone.
The man forges a corpse-twig;
he means to work harm.
53.
On a low shaft is the serpent's edge —
one could thrust and strike among the people.
So sharp it stood upon a hair;
keen was this ember of wounds.
54.
A courtly weapon is now ready —
the champion means to test its stroke.
He went to Vík with a wise custom;
it was late in the day.
55.
Þorgils stands at his work;
the old man counted his portions.
The warrior resolved to go into the house —
on the middle of the floor he means to stand.
56.
"Who came into my house?"
the crooked one spoke, not fine.
Refr declares himself and gives his name,
stripped of all distress and pain.
57.
"Mightily I grow weary of the smoke,"
said the warrior, not kindly.
"I do not know you, spear-rider —
come, you fortunate nursling, welcome."
58.
"All men must answer for themselves,"
said Refr, and quickened his step.
"Amends I mean to ask of you —
you have begun evil against me."
59.
Þorgils spoke then so quickly:
"I reckon every word of this true.
We are always exceedingly merry,
and I pay no tax for it here."
60.
The stout craftsman tests his spear
— the house's peace was then at an end —
he clove the farmer down to the shoulders;
the metal-tree crashes to the floor.
61.
He turns down to the water's edge —
weapons after this same business.
The thane waits there a moment;
then he heard the splash of oars.
62.
The prince leaps at once from the ship;
the thane's journey did not go easily.
The other came at him with the corpse-sorcery
and cut the head right off him.
63.
The same he does to Þorsteinn —
Refr washes the spear in blood.
The craftsman wove a verse;
he played thus with the two brothers.
64.
"Shield yourselves from shame a while —
I have received," said Þorsteinn, "a wound.
My brother on the broad ground
received death from the corpse-grove."
65.
He tells this to the men's assembly.
On the other side of the fenced headland
are cliffs, rock-hammers, ledge and reef;
green grass adorns the fair woods.
66.
The men wished to lengthen their flight
and escape the arrow's barrage.
The hero proved too quick for them —
he gave both death's portion.
67.
He has slain five doomed men —
wondrous grim was that vengeance.
The next night was dark;
he walked up from the boat-houses' din.
68.
The roller-horse is now launched,
blessed with ample coin;
it sits by the sea, clad in sail.
The warrior waits for the storm, unwearied.
69.
Þormóðr readied himself, the wise man, swiftly —
nimbly now the folk are roused.
The plank-ace that the wave bore
sped away, driven by the wind.
70.
The warrior parts from his band quickly —
he was shrewd in the shield-tale.
I lay down the fourth poem;
the door of learning rattles in its hinge.
Ríma V
Mansöngr
1.
I can manage only a small poem
to tell in verse;
rather, I have little for praise —
I must often be silent.
2.
Those may hold honour aloft
who know the arts of men;
good women and noble ones
often love old men.
3.
This I will tell warriors now
from the true well of wisdom:
let none blame the bright lady
though the lily may grow old.
4.
For many it is harm and penance
— great is the need, and strict —
they think of the ring-maiden
and how things will turn out.
5.
Noble women and fine ladies
give men kindness;
courtiers know how each hour
to seek through the world.
6.
Those may compose verse for a young lady
who know all propriety;
the Creator grants warriors faith
and the most delightful bloom.
7.
I turn from where the kindly farmer
prepared to leave Greenland;
the weapon-tree, wise and fair,
met with little harm.
8.
I tell how the gold-goddess sailed
with true wisdom and goodness
into that ancient fjord
that was spoken of before in the poem.
9.
Men went to search for Refr
far along the inner fjord;
warriors made particular haste
to the salt vessel's mouth.
10.
Four winters passed in this wise
and the warrior was found nowhere;
men thought he had far and near
sailed away from the mountain.
11.
Bárður was the name of that ring-enjoyer
who begins some trouble;
he was wonderfully swift in journeys
and travelled between lands.
12.
The bold man often went to Greenland
and traded silver there;
the valiant weapon-thunder
could boast of much before men.
13.
The sword-tree was a sworn man
of King Haraldr the mighty;
later the tale's mouth will tell
more of such a bold man.
14.
To Bárður the poem turns again
— the longship is ready on the sea —
one time the arrow-beam
met the famous lord.
15.
The king asked the spear-tree,
wise in all matters:
"Where shall the warrior steer the course
of the roller-bear alone?"
16.
"To Iceland I had intended,"
said the destroyer of northern ships.
The lord speaks as the letter shows:
"You shall let that wait."
17.
The king advised the bold man quickly:
"To Greenland you shall turn,
get there money from the fair folk
and bring it to our realm."
18.
The chieftain spoke more than one word
to the snake-flinger.
The thane speaks then so readily:
"You shall decide all."
19.
He parted from the warriors' host
quickly and bade the lord farewell;
the man began to sail over the sea;
the fair wind gladdened the crew.
20.
Men let the wave-dove out to sea
to stroke the swells;
the breeze served the men well —
the wind blew into the canvas.
21.
He received from this full displeasure,
the dart-flinger of the serpent;
he turns now to the western settlement
and wished to find Gunnar.
22.
The warrior has come thither
with his stalwart men.
Gunnar met the bold man now
and made him welcome.
23.
All his goods he brought home,
the serpent-caster.
Bárður stays with that farmer;
now much news comes to light.
24.
Now Bárður wishes to stir up strife
in winter as Yule drew near.
Men's tongues are seldom still;
they sat on their stools.
25.
One time Bárður spoke gently
to farmer Gunnar indoors:
"Your kinsman suffered such great harm —
it is time to put such things to rest."
26.
"Is it true, as I was told,
man, that in your district
a father and his sons were felled
in a single evening?"
27.
Gunnar says: "That was done by one
keeper of Odin's tents;
he was not slow to frighten
and held the cold edge."
28.
"The man took with a sixth companion
to sail on the wave-serpent;
men reckon him dead
and drowned in the storm."
29.
"Have you at all," the man said,
"gone to seek revenge?"
Gunnar answers sharply at once:
"It is hard for us to manage."
30.
The warrior answers, bold with the sword,
he who knew little gentleness:
"Pitiful is the retreat
upon you, gentle farmer."
31.
"Let us go on the fishing ground
and hasten this quarrel;
if I do not find the sword-tree,
he shall not live."
32.
The men's counsel falls into silence.
Gunnar agrees to this;
they prepared themselves on the wave-dale;
Bárður urges this on.
33.
Warriors mounted the cold-sea bear;
the keel ran from the sand,
the stream-horse swept over the lake —
they steered away from land.
34.
Spoke he who earns weary toil,
the wielder of stiff spears:
"Let us go where the mountains shoot up
and the fjords begin to narrow."
35.
Their trouble grows still more —
warriors can attest to that;
through many fjords they went
and found no men.
36.
Men came into a certain bay
where the wave breaks against the spit;
there the mighty folk wished to rest,
and warriors found shelter.
37.
Bárður steps onto the boat
straight away, and wished to search;
back and forth over all the sea
the bold man scours.
38.
The warrior got such deep shame —
death, I tell, he sought.
Every which way, back and forth,
into the land he clambered.
39.
This comes upon Bárður's back
— warriors, I trust, heed this —
the thane sees where seaweed drifted
across from a certain fjord.
40.
I tell the bold man now prowled
just like the hungry wolf;
he saw a great valley standing,
vast and long.
41.
The warrior has now explored the land
— I can relate such things —
the spy found, damaged with harm,
a single pile of wood-shavings.
42.
He comes to the ship before the warriors' band
and shows the men the shavings:
"Was the brave sword-tree
so skilled in the craft of mind?"
43.
Gunnar says: "The tall bold man
fashioned nearly everything;
he dealt wounds to many men —
so it must be waited for."
44.
"We shall not stray from the path
nor let our feet be idle;
in all my life I have never seen
finer carving."
45.
Now the warriors knew the trail;
they steered the cold-sea hound.
Men looked where the fortress stood
firm on the seashore.
46.
They examined it closely with quick eye;
warriors ran thither.
Men saw one plank there
but could recognize no door.
47.
A brave man comes to the fortress
and greeted the mighty farmer,
and asked for news, wondrous glad,
of such renowned warriors.
48.
"Bring fire to the brush-fence!"
Bárður ordered so.
By the traitor's counsel so it was done;
the wise man calls them thralls.
49.
The stream quenches the blazing fire
that flows from the clean fortress;
the trick was of no use to the warriors
at all, by any scheme.
50.
A brave man comes to the fortress
and addressed the warriors:
"It comes slowly to you," he said,
"to take a warrior's house."
51.
"You may boast of that, man,
from your cunning here;
we must indeed for now
turn away from here this time."
52.
"If you dare," said the arrow-maker,
"to endure until next spring,
then you shall," the shield-man declares,
"die before Gunnar's missiles."
53.
"It is not certain, though I be here
other winters longer,
that warriors will win victory over me
with the great band of men."
54.
"From here I run nowhere away,"
the valiant hero answers.
"You may need wiser men
to guard your honour."
55.
The vessel took then a wave's leap;
away they will turn.
Let Odin's fifth cup fall —
the tale has come to an end.
Ríma VI
Mansöngr
1.
I know the tongue's herbs between two waters,
my healer, who guards warriors —
grant that the year might mend.
2.
The high crown begins to totter on its seat;
I reckon gladness swiftly gone —
children's play they call it now.
3.
All has come to ash and mighty fire;
the string of sorrow is sundered for the thane —
the blind may see such things clearly.
4.
Wild beasts roll themselves with the wagon's roar,
ready to rip, to bite and claw,
to seize all things, loosed from the helm.
5.
The mighty lord we lost through the struggle of his strength;
many a man reaped harm and dread —
his head departed from his side.
6.
King Olaf — warriors wept, and all the courteous host,
for him whose passing grieved us long;
one lives in sorrow, if none brings solace.
7.
Those courtiers who wish to keep their honour
know little in the arts of verse
save to amuse themselves with my poems.
8.
Sorrow rises; nobles lose their rings and treasure;
he shall come to resemble an earthen mound —
a man quickly becomes a ghost.
9.
Fortune wears her worst face upon the courtiers;
almighty God, destroy no one,
and show all some measure of mercy.
10.
I wish to compose the sixth verse about the worthy man,
where Refr dwelt in his hall,
his warriors and his noble company.
11.
King Haraldr meets Bárður and will have tidings;
the king asks with true authority.
Bárður told him all that was right.
12.
All the treasure Bárður brought home to the prince's hall;
bold warriors were gladdened;
all the king's household drank together.
13.
Many wise weapon-trees sat with the prince;
they speak plainly of the farmer Gunnar —
to Bárður his arts were well known.
14.
Once Bárður led a bear before the prince's seat,
a noble beast of every worth,
uncommonly fair and great of foot.
15.
With gentle words Bárður then turned to the prince:
"I wish to give freely from my hand —
Gunnar sends you this gift."
16.
The next day the warrior calls the king,
the gracious lord, into his meeting-hall —
there shall be more to tell.
17.
The man then went with a fine game-board,
that was a chessboard of two kinds,
nobly wrought with close-set stones.
18.
The thane lays upon the prince's table a third time
— well may this ríma reckon it —
a walrus skull with the ocean's gleam.
19.
The king studies and holds long upon his skull;
it was carved with fine lines
and gilded with all its teeth.
20.
Next Bárður asked the prince with gentle authority:
"What will Gunnar have for this?
He shall not be cheated in anything."
21.
The treasure-tree gave his answer, still with anger:
"Warriors wish to hunt Refr there —
lord, lend some aid to the matter."
22.
"In a dwelling far north the cunning man dwells;
he had a splendid fortress built —
warriors cannot prevail against it."
23.
"Men carried fire there, kindled against it;
water leapt from every side,
which the brave man set to flowing."
24.
I have heard that the mighty prince took this in
— slow he is not, but cunning in his craft — :
"Such are men," the king said.
25.
The prince asked how this dwelling lay.
Bárður said, straight against the sea
Refr the famous had built his fortress.
26.
"Then warriors may creep with their shield-host;
the house stands high on its edges —
each timber leans upon the next."
27.
"From the glaciers he has led water by a wise device;
the man may therefore sit at ease,
for the stream runs thither."
28.
"Warriors may find a carving on the fair ground,
ships may find a stream in time
that leaks from that wound in the earth."
29.
"Swiftly prepare two ships for so long a voyage;
twenty-four men shall board each one" —
the noble prince tests the gangway.
30.
"Another twelve shall prepare besides
— the shorter will be the burning —
then there shall be smoke and stench;
warriors may thus dam the stream."
31.
"It is not certain the spear-waster will be overcome —
you may have to flee;
he will enjoy his fortune."
32.
"If you, warrior, sail to Greenland, the dead prize takes you;
sorely shall you lose your wealth
and fall in the red blood of wounds."
33.
"We shall never see each other again," said the famous king.
"You must endure the day of death —
the man will prove too cunning."
34.
"I wish I had a better prophecy," said the ring-destroyer,
"rather than to speak hard words of doom
and catch death in Refr's scales."
35.
In spring Bárður sailed away from the prince's realm;
the warrior has trouble enough —
I trust that need will not leave him.
36.
I have heard that twice twelve men came there.
The brothers prepared for battle;
the crash of weapons shall break upon them.
37.
Men bore fire against the fortress, high and low.
Water leapt from every side;
it is quite wet in the chamber below.
38.
They found three great posts standing in the earth;
these had commanded the hard water.
At the prince's counsel the warriors acted.
39.
A bold and cunning man comes upon the fortress;
the treasure-tree did not keep silent
and asks who devised the plan.
40.
Bárður answered the farmer plainly:
"Here, with your household,
you shall hang above your homestead."
41.
The farmer answered the ring-tree, the wise one:
"I shall not hang here this time —
I trust your malice will abate."
42.
All this is told and accounted with true deeds.
There was commotion among the farmer's men;
suddenly the fortress crashes into the waves.
43.
All those men had to give way;
a great flood came, and the surf's thrust —
the ship shoots forward upon the sea.
44.
The farmer speaks to his sons with calm wisdom:
"Bárður wishes to kill us all —
we must fight him on the field."
45.
"Warriors will attack us on the herring-waves"
— heroes meet deep wounds —
"you shall row, Björn, to the oars."
46.
"Cut the anchor-rope, Steinn, in the sword-storm;
then it shall be shown in truth —
let the sail fall down to the board."
47.
"Bárður shall not yet boast of our meeting;
warriors shall be able to say this:
the champion shall not frighten me."
48.
Bárður struck out upon the great sea, and did not linger
— sorely I trust he won sorrow —
he calls his stout warriors.
49.
The anger will not long boil within;
Bárður raced across the broad flood,
both sailing and rowing at once.
50.
The ships meet — and I say it plain — upon the open flood;
they crash together; with hard fury
Refr the wise wielded his spear.
51.
The shield-tree shoots then so swiftly at the thane:
the point passes through Bárður —
with bitter force he took death's power.
52.
Gunnar sees these grim spear-wounds;
the ring-tree sees clearly now
that their meeting has turned to sorrow.
53.
The warrior spoke then, bold and fierce:
"We shall lower the sail —
then the ship will seem to glide."
54.
The hardy man speaks to his warriors, the shield-tester:
"We shall not hold our course;
the ocean's chill is great and cold."
55.
Gunnar spoke plainly, and bold men heard:
"The crews begin to tire, all of them —
look at the sea's fury."
56.
"The gale drives the wave against their prow;
the wind is far greater now —
may it test the strength of men."
57.
Men let the keel-bear race for home;
a mightier voyage it might have been —
great is this shame and dishonour.
58.
Fondly men remembered this a long time.
Let warriors take the southern wave;
the sixth ríma must fall.
Ríma VII
Mansöngr
1.
The eastern keel with two oars
shall now be launched upon the deep;
I shall carry it forth upon the wave —
a vessel I have bound.
2.
The craft of verse shall be brightened
now for the fair women;
let it gladden the wise silk-slope —
so it must not stand idle.
3.
Sorli bore such bitter grief
for the bright silk-goddess,
cruel was that sting of death —
the warrior burst in his heart.
4.
David won from Bathsheba
a bitter sorrow, sharp and strong;
many a man has known the same
for the ring-goddess of jewels.
5.
Hringr and Tryggvi hewed their steel —
all of it came from a woman.
Solomon reaped sorrow's toll
from the prince's precious maiden.
6.
Luciana's light and redness
fair Bæringr beheld;
the courteous lady let champions
be cast into the savage flood.
7.
I shall fasten the web of words
once again in this measure;
let us rather speak of Refr,
the southern little memory.
8.
I left off where Refr
put himself away from the warriors;
the cunning man has fortune —
he drove Bárður through.
9.
He parted from the shield-tree
— their wrestling was a shame —
southward to Norway he sailed his course,
the warrior, at that time.
10.
He who always stands in true deeds of valour
comes at last to every shore.
He is now called Narfi
by certain worthy men.
11.
At Bergen he brings his wave-steed,
the man who tangled many in his tricks.
Bright sides and fine teeth
upon his ship he had.
12.
A small chamber the cunning man
rented for himself there.
All fortune the hero bore,
keeping such a dignity.
13.
In a single hooded cloak
the warrior covered himself;
long he walked about the marketplace
with a short spear in his hand.
14.
It must be told that one named Grani,
a weapon-tree with bearing,
was never slow to mischief —
evil was near at hand.
15.
This fine thorn-tree
thought himself great with fury;
he always bore the point-burden
in blood-red scarlet clothes.
16.
Many a jewel-goddess he deceived,
made many a trial of spirit.
No man ever avenged himself
upon the bold spear-lord.
17.
The power of the bully's reign
went strong enough:
men had endured such things so long —
what would the warrior undertake?
18.
He thinks upon it every hour,
the serpent-shelf's hero,
to entice the scarlet-ground to grief.
Scalp-Grani they may call him.
19.
The farmer told his sons plainly,
in all truth:
Helga must never be left alone
behind in the hall.
20.
The king calls an assembly
on his own account.
Many a man came there in a ring,
mostly on both sides.
21.
The prince has a court raised up
straight in the middle of the street;
the household gathers thither —
the tale will grow in delight.
22.
Björn wishes to go there;
the third he parts from his wife.
One fine lady was left behind,
and no man was with her.
23.
Narfi meets young Björn,
who now will go there;
the crafty champion asked,
who guarded the lady at home.
24.
The thane, I heard, tells this
to the arrow-stretcher with his words:
Björn said that no one
was left behind with her.
25.
Grani came into the fine hall
to find the gold-adorned one;
the thorn-ground met this man —
that must now be told.
26.
He said he wished to have the woman
— and a poor cloak he wore —
he speaks to the wise ring-goddess
and demands her favours.
27.
The warrior, I heard, answered hard
— such things are shaped in speech —
the young woman could hardly
abide beside an old man.
28.
"I shall be my own woman," said the ring-lady,
"so before every man;
you may shun the spear-tree
and get out of the hall."
29.
Grani says he will seize the lady
— I think he will not wait long —
he grips fast the thorn-bride;
then no one was near.
30.
Narfi hurries to the chamber
swiftly at that moment;
went to find the fair lady,
the man of fame, the wise.
31.
The shield-tree sees the shadow
swiftly from the bold man.
Together will the warriors meet.
The hero seized Grani.
32.
"Let him go," said the cunning wife,
"and seek escape from his torment.
All is whole; the strife is ended —
he spoiled nothing of yours."
33.
The treasure-goddess he tore from himself;
no warrior need be shamed.
Nowhere, I heard, did he turn aside
but set off after Grani.
34.
The warrior urges the ship-tree,
bold in every way:
"Is the warrior a coward? On the track
he runs from one man alone?"
35.
"If you strike me with a weapon,"
said the giver of red gold,
"King Haraldr will avenge me —
you shall have to die."
36.
"Prepare yourself," said the steel-breaker,
"straightway at this time.
We shall shoot to the mark," clearly he spoke,
said the shaker of the sea-wave.
37.
The warriors began to fight fiercely
and came together in combat.
Thus the leaf-storm ends:
Refr strikes with his spear.
38.
He does not wish to murder a man,
the mighty warrior, in silence;
he went to the king and greeted him,
the champion, the wise one.
39.
The valiant man comes in boldness
— honour must not wane — :
"We have had a scuffle,
with Sverkhuð-Grani, my lord."
40.
"He made a cliff-cutting
toward the fair ring-goddess;
the great man, I saw the proud fellow
squinting through the jewel-eye."
41.
"Little will avail for wisdom's practice;
bold deeds grow:
we wrestled a long day together,
the cunning man and I."
42.
"I gave the brave one a nest-ball," said the sword-lord,
"but he set a horse-meeting against me
— you may judge this matter."
43.
"I shaved the fair man smooth," he told it plainly,
"but then he seized the ship's beard
so swiftly, in the blink of an eye."
44.
"I hemmed the leaf-tree in
beside a long garden and wide
— no trouble to the prince's way —
and built a work over him afterward."
45.
The farmer was not pleased to stand;
away he let the keel-bear
race upon the lobster-road,
so the warriors thought it smoking.
46.
Of King Haraldr first is told.
He stands at the assembly;
the king pronounced his judgement;
he sits in the warriors' ring.
47.
He speaks to his trusted men
— I count the king quick-tempered — :
"Who was this fellow
who came to us just now?"
48.
One of the king's men answered
— so it is told in the poem — :
"I have reckoned this man a fool,
though first he seemed near noble."
49.
The king answers, keen with wonder,
and casts his gilded rings:
"The ring-tree did not seem to me
especially mean to the eye."
50.
"This I reckon," the prince said,
bold, and speaks in answer:
"the ring-tree has straightway
wielded a sharp spear."
51.
"Warriors, bring the drinking-cup,"
the prince began to expound.
"What he spoke of may be called a bear —
he spoke of his own anger."
52.
"The gale drives the wave against
a small shadow.
The wind always bends a straw
that stands in the sky's window."
53.
"A cliff-cutting is a fearful gorge,"
I heard the prince say,
"so he wished, beside the thorn-goddess,
to have lain with her."
54.
"Long-house is the name for a fine hall
in this land, with everything;
he has seen," said the prince, "a man
rob the ring-goddess."
55.
"A nest-ball is a hen's egg,
and the horses are many in the stable;
the warrior has struck a man from behind —
rightly he turned from the lady."
56.
"A bright cloak is laid upon"
— I read such things before the thane —
"the champion has, as I can tell,
shot a warrior clean through."
57.
"Warriors call the ship's side a board;
its beard this may be called —
the warrior has dealt a wound beside the chin
in the deep sweat of wounds."
58.
"Farmers have heather on their backs
straight at every hour;
the thane took a heavy sting after
a thorn-tree from the ground."
59.
"Now I know the champion's deed;
he has taught the wrath-rooster:
the mighty one has buried in earth
the serpent-shelf's tree."
60.
"One is missing," said the noble prince,
"a fine man from the assembly;
where is he, Grani, the strong warrior —
does he not come hither?"
61.
They said the spear-tree was dead,
the prince's bold kinsman.
Fury swelled in the mind
of the serpent-shelf's hero.
62.
"You shall seek the body
of the cunning man, the wise.
Now I shall not," the prince said,
"find that Narfi of mine."
63.
The king's host is keen with the spear,
who knows how to give out treasure.
They went to search, those warriors —
now the dead man was swiftly found.
64.
The man of honour, hardy and good,
exceedingly strong in his craft,
sailed away, the wise warrior;
Narfi was seen no more.
65.
Let no one turn a wrinkled nose
in scorn at this poem.
The song-craft about wise Refr —
the seventh I let fall.
Ríma VIII
Mansöngr
1.
I forget now the grimmest desire;
I amuse myself at my ease.
I cannot reach the fair lady —
love has departed from my spirit.
2.
Wisely may women therefore choose;
I know it well, with everything.
I have fallen into that purse of sorrow
which dwells in memory's hollow.
3.
I may not bring to the jewel-goddess
the mansöngr's verse:
so little am I allowed to see
the bright giver of garlic-fields.
4.
I struggle against the force of the wave
straight upon every voyage;
therefore I shall not sing of the courteous lady —
it will be loveless work.
5.
I care not for grief or weeping
over the ring-goddess to compose.
I mean to strike Fjölnir's boat
with fair-coloured oars.
6.
This was first: that I left off where
King Haraldr grew wrathful.
I will now declare before the warriors
how the battle-verdict was settled.
7.
King Haraldr, he is wise
— such is told in the light.
I have heard that the prince sits,
the shrewd one, in Niðaróss.
8.
"All is easier to see in hindsight,"
the worthy prince speaks.
"Long have I studied this shame:
this is Steinn's heir."
9.
"We shall name the worthy man
now with this title:
Króka-Refr we shall call him,
who knows how to fight with steel."
10.
The prince then took to speaking thus
— he was like few others — :
"The steel-waster shall be outlawed
from all my realm."
11.
The prince speaks to Eirekr then:
"I mean to send you forth;
drag a longship across the deep sea —
in Denmark you shall land."
12.
"There is reason," said the bright prince,
"to steer that way for certain;
you have, ring-tree, a gracious duty —
to avenge your brother."
13.
Eirekr prepares with his company
and means to sail away.
Little shall he win of full reward,
the hurler of green shields.
14.
From that I turned away for a moment,
which first I ought to tell:
Refr comes to Sveinn's court —
that man will not be silent.
15.
They came before the king,
all those warriors.
The prince gave them welcome;
bold men were gladdened.
16.
The warrior offers his service,
the noble one, to the fair prince
— at this the free folk rejoiced —
full of strength and wisdom.
17.
Whole-hearted was that prince,
hardy with bold warriors.
This must first be told of the prince:
he took in father and sons together.
18.
Now we must tell of Eirekr,
who came sailing from the east;
the gale drove the wave well —
swiftly the warrior means to land.
19.
A little tale must be told:
men lie upon the sand.
An old man spoke to them
in a halt voice from up the land.
20.
White he seemed, grey of hair,
this ring-tree.
Old and bent, he walked with a staff
— I tell such things in verse.
21.
Eirekr asked the wise man
quietly, the cheerful one.
Sigtryggr he said
his name was.
22.
"Great wealth I will give you,
and you may profit well:
you shall find Refr for me
and have treasure enough."
23.
The warrior answers, keen with the sword
— I could tell such things clearly — :
"Then I will command this host
and steer this folk."
24.
"I have meant to take an ounce of gold
from every man."
The warriors have now bought in full —
cunning is this neighbour.
25.
Warriors strengthen the spear-storm;
the matter is now briefly told.
A hundred men well-armed
rode out to meet them.
26.
Men waged the edge-storm
and tested the sharp battle.
Strong men raised the steel-tempest
against bold Eirekr's warriors.
27.
The contest there was vigorous.
Refr is ready for battle.
Men seize Eirekr there,
but most of the others fall.
28.
They dragged up onto a headland
those stiff warriors of valour;
they had it easy enough here
to overcome those men.
29.
"I remember," said the weapon-lord,
"I wounded Grani badly.
Now I will not," says the noble warrior,
"kill you to your death."
30.
"I shall give life to the leaf-tree,"
said the tester of blue spears.
"Warrior, you shall swear an oath
and never betray us again."
31.
Truly these are great deeds
that Refr the famous wins.
Eirekr, I heard, swore his oath;
I trust the anguish would abate.
32.
The warrior answers, bold and wise,
and knows how to ask:
"Do you not know your companion,
who began this trade?"
33.
The warrior speaks gladly, at a step,
he who forgot the old strife:
"I can show you Refr himself
and all his sons alive."
34.
"You shall tell Haraldr this,"
the hero speaks with wisdom:
"Now I have settled a little in return
and repaid some measure of honour."
35.
A merchant vessel he gave the ring-tree;
warriors may understand this.
He sailed away at that same hour
of his own free will.
36.
He speaks to this trusty man
— I count it no hardship — :
"Sigtryggr shall be your name,
warrior, henceforth in this land."
37.
The prince speaks to the spear-maker
— I do not count him poor — :
"One gold ring I will give you,
reddened, alloyed with silver."
38.
Fortune followed that warrior
entirely now with honour.
He sailed home to blessed Saint Peter,
a light visit to Rome.
39.
He means with strength and vigour
to turn back from there.
The warrior caught so great a sickness
that it made the end of life.
40.
In France there is such fair land
— the tale speaks as one —
Paris, adorned with glory,
governed with pure authority.
41.
The man of honour rests there.
His soul shall dwell
with the Lord who was slain
and whom warriors crucified.
42.
This the southern tale may tell
— so I trust the book relates —
Archbishop Absalon
descends from Steinn.
43.
Björn has neither sorrow nor grief;
Sveinn prospered long.
Þormóðr went to Iceland
and strengthened his warriors.
44.
Great is the lineage from these men
— this may be told clearly —
they win both silver and treasure,
honour and the dear gold.
45.
Let Odin's splendid verse-cup
keep this glory.
Let the farmer and the fair bride take it
— the craft may well be known.
46.
Warriors, have good peace now;
may Jesus give us reconciliation.
Here I shall part from the glory —
the eighth ríma falls.
Colophon
Source: Króka-Refs rímur, composed by Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674). Preserved in AM 146a, 8vo (c. 1600). Edited by Pálmi Pálsson in Króka-Refs saga og Króka-Refs rímur (Copenhagen: S. L. Møller, 1883), pp. 51–113.
Translation: Good Works Translation from Old Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church (Sub-Miko, Rímur Tulku lineage), March 2026. The OCR text from Internet Archive was decoded and translated directly from the Icelandic. Pálmi Pálsson's Danish apparatus notes were consulted for editorial variants but not for the translation itself.
Notes: This is the first known complete English translation of the Króka-Refs rímur. The cycle comprises eight rímur and retells the Króka-Refs saga — the story of Refr, a boy thought useless and lazy, who lies by the fire until need shapes him into the sharpest man in Iceland. The rímur follow the saga closely. Ríma I: the mansöngr (love-complaint), the introduction of Steinn at Kvennabrekka, the birth and idle youth of Refr, the malice of Þorbjörn and Bannveig, Steinn's death, and the murder of Barði the herdsman. Ríma II: Refr's mother shames him; Refr rides to Þorbjörn's farm and slays him; flees to his uncle Gestr at Barðaströnd; Gestr shelters him; Refr builds a ship. Ríma III: Refr's boat completed; Gestr impressed; the wrestling match with Gellir; Refr kills Gellir after Yule; Refr sails for Greenland; settles at Hlíð; marries Helga, daughter of Björn; children born; eight years of peace. Ríma IV: the mansöngr laments poetic poverty; Refr prospers in Greenland, slays a polar bear; Þorgils and his sons spread slander — crude insults, sexual boasts about Refr's wife; a bold thane counsels Refr to act; Refr sells his land, forges a weapon, goes to Þorgils' house and cloves him to the shoulders; kills Þorgils' sons at the shore; slays five men total; launches his ship with twelve companions and Þormóðr; flees into the storm. Stanzas 15–22 of Ríma IV are illegible in the Internet Archive OCR (page 78 of the 1883 edition is completely garbled). Stanza 36 of Ríma II is absent from the printed edition (likely a compositor's error). Kennings are translated by meaning throughout. Each ríma uses a distinct metre: Ríma I ferskeytt (ABAB), Ríma II runhent (AAAA monorhyme), Ríma III ferskeytt (ABAB), Ríma IV braghenda (ABAB with internal rhyme), Ríma V ferskeytt (ABAB). Ríma V: the mansöngr meditates on old age and the Creator's bloom; Bárður, a swift trader sworn to King Haraldr, is sent to Greenland; he manipulates Gunnar into a sea-hunt for Refr; they search many fjords, find wood-shavings betraying Refr's craft, and discover his fortress on the seashore — a structure with no visible door; they set fire to it but a stream from the fortress quenches the blaze; Refr taunts them from inside; Bárður threatens to return next spring; Refr defies them; they sail away defeated. Ríma VI: the mansöngr mourns death and the tottering of the high crown; Bárður brings the king three gifts — a bear, a game-board, a walrus skull; the king outfits two ships and a fire-team to take Refr's fortress; warns they may fail; Bárður returns to Greenland; they cut the water-pipes feeding Refr's defence; Refr emerges; Bárður threatens to hang him; Refr refuses; the fortress crashes into the sea in a great flood; the ships are swept out; Refr orders his sons — Björn to the oars, Steinn to cut the cable; the ships meet on the open sea; Refr spears Bárður clean through; Gunnar's men sail home in shame and dishonour. Ríma VII: the mansöngr cites exempla of love's ruin — Sorli, David and Bathsheba, Solomon, Luciana; Refr sails to Norway under the name Narfi; rents a chamber in Bergen; goes about hooded with a short spear; encounters the bully Grani who terrorises women; when Grani enters Refr's hall and seizes Helga, Narfi grapples him; Helga urges mercy; Refr pursues Grani, strikes him with a spear; reports the deed to King Haraldr in kennings; the king decodes each riddle and realises Grani is dead; orders Narfi found; Refr has already sailed away. Ríma VIII: the mansöngr confesses lovelessness; King Haraldr recognises Refr as Steinn's heir, names him Króka-Refr, outlaws him; sends Eirekr to Denmark to avenge Grani; Refr enters King Sveinn's service; Eirekr hires the cunning old Sigtryggr to find Refr; a hundred men ride out; battle; Refr's men prevail; Eirekr is captured; Refr spares his life, makes him swear peace, and sends him back to Haraldr; Refr renames Sigtryggr, gives him a gold ring; sails to Rome to visit Saint Peter; on the return falls gravely ill and dies in France near Paris; his soul rests with God; Archbishop Absalon descends from Steinn; Björn prospers, Sveinn flourishes, Þormóðr returns to Iceland.
🌲