The Ríma of Óláfr Haraldsson
The oldest known ríma — the first voice in seven centuries of Icelandic narrative verse. Einar Gilsson sings of Saint Olaf: his Christian kingship, the treachery of his thanes, the battle at Stiklestad, and the miracles that followed his death. Preserved in Flateyarbók alone.
King Olaf, wealthy and fair,
held Norway to rule;
the lord was ever gracious to men,
born for victory and mercy.
The prince upheld such precious honour
to the Lord of heaven's hall;
no tree of wealth could tell
all the prince's glories.
The generous one had virtues
that were greatest in the world;
nowhere finds one a more famous lord
in either joy or gold.
Five lands has the king made Christian —
all of them I can name;
the lord would always redden his shield
and avenge wrongful custom.
Robbery and theft he punished
and tended governance in the land;
the lord laid a ban on heathenry
and avenged it greatly with his sword.
The lord set laws thus
that sayers could hardly endure;
the wicked he let die —
all the lord's traitors.
Warriors rose against the king
and against his rightful justice;
foolish threats were made to the king
by his own men.
Hárek was foremost among the schemers,
ready to fight the ruler;
Thorir Hound was of the same mind,
the third was Kalf the Evil.
Kalf was once with this king,
dear in all counsels;
now he has turned from the lord,
stripped of honour and deeds.
The Tronders went to Thorir's side —
they were eager to wage war;
the Hálogaland folk would redden shields
and defend the kingdom for the king.
The ruler, mighty, famed and generous,
hears of this gathering;
the bold and worthy lord
would nowhere flee.
The king begins a march
against the host of freemen;
he would always wield the sword
and deal blows with the spear.
The prince had then gathered
his brave champions;
the ruler's men I can tell —
the lord surpassed them all.
The king's brother was very young —
him I will name first:
surely Harald was thought fearsome
in avenging the Tronders' strife.
"I cannot grip the hilt of the shield,"
Harald says to the warriors,
"bind to my hand
that keen blade."
Rognvald was generous and renowned
among the good king's men;
Brusi's son, strong and true,
took to reddening the blade in blood.
Finn Arnason, valiant and brave,
follows the mighty lord;
Bjorn the marshal, loyal and true,
serves the famed king well.
There was another of Arni's kin —
men call him Thorberg;
he made the stiff and fair steel
ring on sturdy shields.
Thormod was known by Kolbrun,
the king's fair poet;
he bore sharp streams of thought
wherever warriors fought.
Men gathered into the hero's band,
near as giants to look on;
those warriors, in coats of mail,
had scored their bright blades.
They came before the king's knee
and greeted the joyful ruler;
they offered both loyalty and wealth
to serve the famed lord.
The lord spoke then to the warriors:
"Make me an oath to fulfil —
men must so prove their faith
that truth may be found in it."
"Often have thanes avenged defiance —
none will fault that;
men have named Gauka-Thori
the cheerful, and Hafrafasti."
"Let us trust in might and strength
that adorns many a knight;
our strong people
have no tidings from the gods."
"Take instead the holy faith
of heaven's king with its flower;
men, cast off error now
and be with us in honour."
The people made an end of that
to resolve this trouble;
the men go to the baptismal font
and hasten to God's hands.
A man of great strength came to the king —
I heard he was called Arnljot;
he took baptism and went gladly
into the lord's joyful band.
More warriors rally to the king
than men can count;
the prince chose men of honour
to join his force.
Kalf had a host of men
across wide marked fields;
it was villainy, his coming
to fight against that hero.
Hound clad himself in hard hides
and his followers many with him;
a most terrible wonder
the cowardly Bjarmians had wrought.
The king speaks then to Thorgils,
and that was most in splendour:
"For you I will give silver in a purse —
you sit with the poor folk."
Thorgils considers the king's words —
"In there a little further;"
"Give it for those warriors' sake
who march against us."
The host surges toward the lord
to wage fierce battle;
so swollen was their throng
that it was hard to advance.
This mob charges fiercely
against the lord with bitter will;
they laid all their might and strength
to part the prince from his land.
At Stiklestad the tumult was raised
against the mighty king;
there shafts were seized by hands
and hard stones were hurled.
Hárek eggs on his war-band,
promising many honours:
"Let warriors close in fierce strife
on the lord with hard doom."
The good sword was called Hneitir —
the lord had it in battle;
before it many a time the king
made a thane sink to earth.
Warriors leap fiercely forward
before the lord's fair banner,
raising such a clash of shields
and splitting shields of green.
The battle began to rage hard
and the fight grew fierce;
truly he let many a man
meet a wounded death.
Arni's sons ceaselessly drew
their wound-serpent with strength;
no man so wise could tell
that a shield might avail.
Thormod dealt swift
pale gifts to the steed of the field;
he guarded the king with valour and deeds,
sharpening the storm of spears.
Thorir Hound, bold in endurance,
seized his keen spear;
he was generous with thrusts and blows
against the king's hard warriors.
Thorstein was one who opposed Thorir —
he came forward there;
he was known as a ship's carpenter,
come into fierce delusion.
The king struck at Thorir then —
that I heard was a wonder strange —
the blade did not bite through the hide;
it shattered as if it had struck stone.
Bjorn the marshal, fierce and angry,
struck Hound in battle;
then with true honour
the warrior fell on Thorir's spear.
Thorgeir waded into the rain of shields
and reached the king;
swiftly the king spoke to the defiant thane
these words:
"You do not rightly, Thorgeir,
to press against my men;
I raised you from a lower station —
your victory shall be ended."
The king hewed with Hneitir then,
so the double edges crashed;
Thorgeir lay dead on the heather,
stripped of life and deeds.
Thorstein struck at the king's knee
with a thin axe,
then he lost his life with wealth
and fell in fierce distress.
The bright sword fell from
the prince's worthy hand;
the lord then prayed in truth
that God himself would keep him.
Thorir thrust into the king's belly
with cold cunning counsel;
the lord's soul took the highest peace
of heaven's king with mercy.
Kalf hewed at the king fiercely,
bound himself to heavy trouble;
violently was he driven by wrath
to harm that lord.
Darkness fell over men and flocks
at the generous one's precious death;
they could see neither sea nor land —
the people felt that distress.
Then came Day with his warriors
to hold the assembly of spears;
many a man wept at the great pain,
dying of grief.
Terrible was the storm of points —
I heard that was a wonder —
no greater battle could be told
from the play of iron.
Dreadful was the grinding of blades,
hard mail-coats burst;
warriors met grim necessity —
spears sang on shields.
Great was that meeting of men;
most help came to the warriors —
the deaf received healing and the blind,
the bent rejoiced in health.
Thorgils kept the king's body —
that was done in secret;
a man received sight from such a sign
from the king's precious blood.
In secret is the worthy lord hidden,
freed from harm and grief;
the king's body was gentle and whole
twelve months in the sand.
A dreadful trial came upon those men
who earned the prince's wrath;
beams of light shone across the land
from the lord's precious tomb.
The people took up his body
and bowed to the noble king;
the holy man's hair and nails
had grown tall in full.
Warriors receive the holy relic —
men lay it in a shrine;
now Christ's bright flower
speaks the gentlest mercy.
The prince gave his soul to the Lord,
and yielded his body to men;
now he is at God's right hand
in heaven's highest realm.
The prince's glory is bright and mighty
over both lands and seas;
no such lord was ever born
before in the northern world.
Be not angry, king, that I
dared to offer you a verse;
I pray that Olaf save me
before the lord of all peoples.
Colophon
Óláfs ríma Haraldssonar by Einar Gilsson (14th century). The oldest known Icelandic ríma, preserved only in Flateyarbók (GKS 1005 fol., c. 1387–1394). A narrative poem in 65 four-line stanzas on the life, reign, and martyrdom of King Óláfr Haraldsson (Saint Olaf, r. 1015–1028) of Norway, culminating in the Battle of Stiklestad (1030) and the posthumous miracles that sealed his sainthood.
The ríma follows the historical arc of the Heimskringla account: Olaf's Christian kingship and conversion of his realm (st. 1–6), the rebellion of Hárek, Thorir Hound, and Kalf (st. 7–9), the mustering of forces on both sides (st. 10–30), the battle itself (st. 33–56), and the miracles — darkness at his death, the incorrupt body, the healings at his shrine (st. 53, 57–62). The poet Einar Gilsson is identified in Flateyarbók as a 14th-century Icelandic cleric.
Source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 1–8. Public domain.
Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Old Icelandic by Rúnar with Claude (NTAC). This is the first known English translation of this text. Gospel register.
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Source Text
Óláfs ríma Haraldssonar
er Einar Gilsson qvad.
Findes kun i Flateyarbók.
Olafr kongr aunr ok friðr
atti Noregi at raða;
gramr var æ við bragna bliðr,
borinn til sigrs ok naða.
Daugling hellt sua dyrann heiðr
drottni himna hallar;
eingi skyrir aurfa meiðr
auðlings frægðir allar.
Millding hafdi mentir þær,
er mestar voru i heime;
huergi frægra hilmi fær
huorki af gleði ne seime.
Fimm hefir kongr cristnat laund
kann ek oll at nefna;
gramr vill iafnan rioda raund
ok rangan vsid hefna.
Ran ok stuldi refsti hann
ok ræktar stiorn i landi;
hilmir lagdi a heiðni bann
ok hefndi stort med brandi.
Gramr nam laugmal setia sua
at segir þolldu valla;
daligan let hann dauda fa
drottins suikara alla.
Reckar yfduz ræsi a mot
ok retti hardla saunnum;
voru kongi heimsklig hot
hafuin af sialfs sins monnum.
Hærekr var fyrir brognum bystr,
buinn at strida stilli;
Þorir hundr er þann veg lystr,
þriði var Kalfr enn illi.
Kalfr var fynr med kongi sa,
kærr i ollum raðum;
nu er hann horfinn hilmi fra,
heiðri suipptr ok daðum.
Þrændir gengu Þori a haund,
þeim var liuft at heria;
hæleysk þiod vill rioda raund
ok rikit kongi veria.
Fylkir rikr frægr ok milldr
frettir safnat þenna;
þa vill hilmir hraustr ok gilldr
huergi vndan renna.
Bragning lætr byria ferð
bonda mug i moti;
hann vill iafnan hræra suerd
ok herda skot med spioti.
Sikling hafdi safnat þa
sinum gaurpum sniollum;
lofdungs kann ek lydi at tia,
langt bar gramr af aullum.
Hlyri kongs var hardla iungr,
hann vil ek fystann nefna,
vist nam Haralldr þyckiu þungr
Þrændum strid at hefna.
"Get ek ei hrotta hauggit raund",
Haralldr talar vid garpa,
"bindi menn vid mina haund
mæki þann enn snarpa."
Raugnualldr var milldr ok merkr
med þeim kongi goda;
Brusa sun nam brigda sterkr
brand i dreyra at rioda.
Finnr Aarna sun frækn ok hraustr
fylgir iofri sterkum;
Biorn stallari trygr ok traustr
trur vel ræsi merkum.
Sa var annar Aarna maugr,
ytar Þorberg kalla,
hann leet stalin stinn ok faugr
i sterkum hlifum gialla.
Þormodr var vid Kolbrun kendr,
kongsins skældit frida,
sa berr huassar hyggiu strendr
huar sem garpar strida.
Naduz menn i niflungs flock
nær sem risar at lita;
þeir hafa bragnar bryniu rock
brandi skorit enn huita.
Gengu fram fyr kongsins kne
ok kuoddu stilli enn teita;
budu þeir bædi fylgd ok fee
frægum siola at veita.
Gramr reed spyria garpa þa:
"gerit mer heiti at inna
tru skulu greina segir sua
at satt megi til þess finna."
"Opt hafa þegnar þriozsku hefnt,
þat mun eingi lasta;
Gaukaþori hafa gumnar nefnt
gladann ok Hafrafasta."
Treystum ver a matt ok megn,
er margann riddara prydir;
aungua hafa af asum fregn
ockrir sterkir lydir.
"Taki þer helldr helga tru
himna kongs med bloma,
virdar kastid villu nu
ok verit med oss i soma."
Lydir gerdu lykt a þij
at leysa þenna vanda;
skirnar brunn fara skatnar i
ok skynda gudi til handa.
Þrek storr kom til þeingils madr,
þann fra ek Arnliot heita,
tok hann skirn ok geck þo gladr
grams i flockinn teita.
Garpar fleiri at fylki renna
enn fyrdar mega þat telia;
siklingr nam sæmdar menn
ser til lids at velia.
Kalfr hafdi muga mannz
merkta vaullu vida;
niðingligt var nærsla hans
niflung þeim at strida.
Bialfua klæddiz haurdum Hundr
ok hans sueitungar margir;
þat hafua geysi grimligt vndr
gert Bufinnar argir.
Ræsir talar vid Þorgils þa,
þat var mest af prydi:
"þer vil ek silfr i siodi fa
þu sed med auma lydi."
Þorgils hugsar þeingils mal —
"þer innit framar hoti;"
"gef fyr þeira garpa sal
er ganga oss i moti."
Herrinn drifr a hilmis fund
at heyia imon stranga;
sua var þrutin þeira lund
at þraut vard fram at ganga.
Muginn þessi geysiz gegn
gram med særum vilia;
laugdu a orku ok allt sitt megn
iofur vid land at skilia.
A Stikla staudum var roman remd
rikum kongi i moti;
þar voru skaupt med haundum hremd
ok haurdu kastad grioti.
Hærekr eciar herlid sitt,
heitr morgum soma,
"luki garpar geysi strit
gram fyr harda doma."
Goda suerdit Hneitir het,
hafdi gramr til viga;
þar fyr margan þeingill let
þegn at iordu hniga.
Gunnar hlaupa geystir fram
grams fyr merkit væna,
reisa þanneg randa glam
ok rista skiolldu græna.
Gellini tok at geysaz hart
ok gerdi romu stranga;
sannliga let hann seggia mart
særann dauda fanga.
Arna synir sinn vnda nadr
einart drogu af magni;
kendiz ei sua klokr madr
kæmi hlif at gagni.
Þormodr nam bryttia braad
bleikum falu hesti,
vardi kong med dygd ok dad,
darra eel hann huesti.
Þorir hundr þrautar gilldr
þreif sitt spiotid snarpa;
laga var hann ok haugua milldr
vid harda kongsins garpa.
Þorsteinn het sa er Þori vidr
þar nam fram at ganga;
sa var kendr knarrar smidr,
kominn i villu stranga.
Kongrin bio til Þoris þa,
þat fra ek vndrum sætti,
ecki beit his bialfann a,
brast sem grioti mætti.
Biorn stallari bystr ok reidr
bardi Hund i moti;
sipan bne vid sannan heidr
seggr a Þoris spioti.
Þorgeirr vod i randa regn,
ræsi nadi at finna;
snarr reed kongr þriozskum þegn
þessi ord at inna.
"Þeygi gerir þu Þorgeir reet
at þreyngir monnum minum;
lypta ek þer af lægri stett,
lokit mun sigri þinum."
Kongrin hio med Hneiti þa,
sua hraud af eggium badum;
Þorgeir daudr a lyngi la,
lifui suiptr ok dadum.
Þorsteinn reed a þeingils kne
þunnri auxi at snida,
sipan leet hann fior med fee
ok fell i anaud strida.
Biortum varp ser brandi fra
budlungs haundin mæta,
sioli bad med saunnu þa
sialfann gud sin giæta.
Þorir lagdi i kongsins kuid
kaulldum snotar radum;
hilmis sal tok hæstann frid
himna grams med nadum.
Kalfr hio til bragnings bystr
batt ser þungan vanda,
ramliga var hann a reidi lystr
ræsi þeim at granda.
Myrkri slo yfir menn ok hiord
vid milldings dyran dauda,
litu þa huarki laug ne iord,
lyd aflar þat nauda.
Þa kom Dagr med dreingi sin
darra þing at heyia;
margr blaut vid mikla pin
madr af sut at deyia.
Æsilig var odda hrid,
vndrum fra ek þat gegna,
mætti ecki meira strid
af malma leiki fregna.
Hrædilig var hiorfa gnaud,
hardar bryniur sprungu,
dreingir fengu dapra naud,
daurr a hlifum sungu.
Stort var þetta manna mot,
mest kom hialp til bragna,
daufir fengu ok blindir bot,
biugir heilsu fagna.
Þorgils geymdi þeingils lik,
þat for helldr af hliodi;
madr tok syn fyr merkin slik
af mætu kongsins blodi.
Froni er huldr fylkir mætr
firdr naud ok grandi;
likami kongs var milldr ok mætr
manudr .xij. i sandi.
Þeim kom virdum vondzlig þraut
at visis fengu reidi;
geislar skinu vm grund a braut
grams af dyru leidi.
Lydir toku vpp likama hans,
lutu þa kongi sniollum,
hær ok negl var heilags mannz
hatt at vexti ollum.
Hilldings taka þa helgann dom
halir i skrin at legia;
nu er Kristz et biarta blom
bliduz miskunn segia.
Drottni færdi audlingr ond,
ytum likam selldi;
nu er hann guds a hægri hond
himens i æzsta velldi.
Budlungs heidr er biartr ok rikr
bædi vm laund ok geima,
fæddiz engi fylkir slikr
fynri nordr i heima.
Reidz þu ei þo, þeingill, þer
þyrda ek visu at bioda;
bidr ek Olaf biarga mer
vid bragning allra þioda.
Source Colophon
Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 1–8.
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