The Rímur of Ólaf Tryggvason
Three rímur from medieval Iceland, recounting the conversion of Indriði ilbreið — the Broad-shouldered — the last pagan champion of Þrándheimr. King Ólaf Tryggvason learns of this proud farmer who honours Þórr and fears no man. He sends Úlfr the Red to summon him. Indriði refuses to come but agrees to receive the king. Over three rímur, they test each other in swimming, archery, and a boat-race. Indriði is outcompeted at every turn. His mother's tears move him at last. He yields, accepts baptism, and rides home with Ólaf to Kaupangr.
This is Redaction A, the primary text, preserved in AM 605, 4°. The rímur are based on the episode of Indriði ilbreið from the larger Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar (Flateyjarbók I, 456–64; Fms. II, 259–74). Their date of composition is uncertain but likely the fourteenth or fifteenth century.
First known English translation.
Ríma I
Mansöngur
So am I, in joy's glad wind,
made glad by a ring-adorned woman;
all adorned is learning's shore
from the fair gift of Óðinn's verse.
I write neither ridicule nor folly
for the entertainment of good men;
what I shall set forth, while learning lasts,
are tales both old and true.
The King's Renown
For him, the lord, should Hárr's straits
be guided with all courtly care;
I have not heard of a man so famed,
of such noble birth come to these shores.
Tryggvi's son bore honour and might,
steadfastness and a keen heart,
grace and measure like art and wisdom,
far beyond all other kings.
Grace and courtesy like abundance of skill,
life in the bloom of youth —
thus the shining king's bright fame
was shaped in the midst of honour.
The king had the most beautiful wife,
adorned with glory and power;
rarely is a fairer life
shaped in the form of a woman.
Þyri gave the king's champions sweet gold
with the most precious name of power;
nowhere in the north was found
any who could equal her.
For them the ship-guide steered the rudder-elk
across the eagle's field;
no longship launched upon the sea
was ever more skillfully wrought.
Rings rang along the shield-boards
on the raven of Vandill's field;
the serpent-prow on Glammi's cheek
gleamed with all its golden leaves.
All adorned with gold, carved throughout
with sculpted flowers in fine array —
no dragon-ship was launched on the salt sea
more precious, as men have told.
From the play of fire on the sea-beast's frame,
both sternposts blazed with light;
flame-like the adorned gunwales dripped,
golden from prow to stern.
The bear's shining bonds caught the light
in the dark of the wave's gleam;
nowhere in the north was found
any ship so equally worthy.
Now the dragon is launched from the rollers,
the ship's side meets the wave;
iron-clad the strong planking gripped,
the stays ran down to the keel.
Merry was the shield-king's hall,
filled with champion heroes;
they do not flinch from sword-shriek,
nor from flame nor sharp edges.
The king's bright tale shall be raised aloft
before the assembled people,
there where the gilded window-gate
gladdens with kingly splendour.
The Summons
The king speaks with beautiful faith,
turns to bold dealings:
"We have now Christianised Norway,
near as sea, as mountains."
Úlfr the Red answered quickly,
a righteous word and wise:
"I believe the heathen folk still dwell
here within Þrándheimr."
The king bade the spear-lord
to speak plainly with bold words:
"Who is that heathen farmer in the village
who has rule over the households?"
Úlfr says that in toward Steinn
Indriði rules his kindred;
"that man can bathe the bright blade
in the blood of men's strife."
The Broad-shouldered — the people know that man
for his fierce and sturdy nature;
in skill and daring he surpasses all,
and in the greatness of his deeds.
Swift as hail he brings the sword
to its mark;
that man may be called a man of honour —
none is his equal in skill.
The guardian of champions, the king,
called his sword-reddener to him:
"Úlfr, come here at once,
you clever reddener of swords."
The Arrival
From the shore Úlfr bade the proud men
to bring the ship to the current,
to guide Glammi's gleaming cheek
with shining sail and rigging.
He never lingered in the sea's embrace;
two twelves of champion men
stepped aboard the tethered vessel,
burdened by no wave-load.
She played at the rudder; the crests of foam
rose on the sea's wide plain;
the ship-steed leapt, its rope-rigging
fully set and straining.
The householders bore Hogni's sun —
gold, hidden in Draupnir's brightness;
swift to behold the fine dwelling,
highest of the skilled man.
The ship's reindeer ran to the shallows;
the ground was now before the prow;
the sail was lowered, the prow drove forward —
the dark raven made for shore.
The farmstead people greeted the men,
peaceful toward Ólaf's warriors;
the farmer bade them
drink mead and wine with him.
Indriði spoke to the worthy men
and turned to Ólaf's warriors:
"It does not suit us to sit together —
each shall drink apart."
Úlfr tells him that the king holds
the pure Christian faith —
the hall of grace, the banning of sin,
the healing of all ills.
"Let us sit together in the hall,
our two companies as one;
then the talk of men will be the clearer,
and both sides entertained."
"Our errand is no secret,"
Úlfr resolved to tell him,
"Ólaf's way grows great in honour;
the king, your friend, would find you."
"I seek no meeting with the sea-king,"
answered the fair champion,
"rather, we shall stay at home a while
and wait for the king to come to us.
If the king seeks me out,
eager for honour and flourishing,
mead and wine shall be given him here
with all due honour."
The drink of praise was given generously
to the bold warriors;
day faded into dusk, the night passed,
and bright the sun shone on the mountains.
Úlfr steered his ship homeward
to the shores of Þrándheimr.
Here I let Fjölnir's gathering
settle for now.
Ríma II
Mansöngur
I was bidden to set the seal-song's dance
to the sound of its making;
I shall scatter from Son's flood
the wave-woman's necklace of words.
The Challenge
Úlfr comes to the king's hall
with his courtly companions;
all the men spoke with fine and fitting speech
to the refined king.
"Strong men, arm yourselves in steel,"
the king speaks to his people,
"we shall go to seek the shield-reddener
and test his skill and splendour."
Úlfr spoke to one of his companions:
"You shall go and find Indriði;
the king has put out to sea
on the hard hawk-flood."
Five hundred men the King of Þrœndir
called to arms;
bright shall they make the battle-nails
before Fjölnir's hall.
The men set out across Gotland's waters,
driving Glammi's horses forward;
soon into Þrándheimr's fjord they bore
their fine sails and rigging.
Gems gleamed on the sternposts,
gold burning ever bright;
the flame leaped high against the sky
where the ship's figureheads ran.
The swollen dark-blue wave from the east
blew against the cold ship's side;
in toward Steinn the king's proud vessel
ran its firm and noble course.
Indriði looked upon the king's fleet,
gave a fine greeting to the men;
then the champion's company rushed out
to welcome the lord with honour.
"I have prepared a fine feast
for the king with all due honour;
I will arrange a broad hall for you,
fitted out with the sea's bright gleam."
The king says: "In your hall
shall kingly glory be honoured;
you, good farmer, shall yourself
sit with your people in the hall."
Fresh glory with grace was gained
by the far-famed King of Norway;
the white wave drove with mighty force
to the prepared anchorage.
Men of gleaming, glad-spoken grace —
Ólaf gladdened all;
then the wave-flame's destroyer
called Indriði to himself.
Nearer to honour and right custom
was he who bore no bonds of wounds;
a young boy carried the sword
upon his right hand.
Indriði stood before the king's table,
tall and handsome to behold;
he gave the king words of honour,
that man of red-marked shoulders.
"What faith do you hold, pitch-dark man?"
the stern king asks him;
"do you give honour to the shrines
at your homestead?"
"In my own strength I trust,"
the shield-warrior answered;
"Þórr's faith I know will never
fail me even in peril."
"Have you peace with that heathen man
who would deny God?
Boldly I shall let the sword
bite his thick neck."
"I fear not the storm of battle,"
said the ring-warrior, calm and sure,
"straightway I shall give you five lengths'
start ahead of me."
"We have here," the king now said,
"rarely seen your like;
it is fitting for us with true faith
to overcome such warriors."
I do not think the sword's point
will find you soft and yielding;
agile you'll be at the Finnish game,
and able to swim and sport there.
One warrior I will send against you,
a screaming serpent in the water,
to test your special strength in swimming
and your wound-craft in the deep.
The Swimming Match
The king makes his men to the place
going down to the water's edge;
he sat himself down, and the farmer
bade his garments be brought.
"Where is the king's swimmer now?"
Indriði asked with gladness,
"ready on the cold wave-bridge
to glide through the sea-foam?"
The far-famed King of Norway answered
with the sun's bright gleam:
"I myself shall swim against
the wound-salmon in the deep."
"I bear no burden from your arts;
the destroyer of the fjord-flame
goes free of all restraint."
Strong men cast themselves together
by the ship's assembly-place;
they shall make Britain's waters tremble
straight before Þrándheimr's shore.
The Raven was laid at the breast of the current
where men strained against the stream;
the diving was deep, the strokes were strong,
sometimes fought down to the floor.
The estuary-plain was like to foam
from the striving of the two;
no such contest in swimming
had been seen between two champions.
The warrior's friend came to shore
to gladden the king;
though I have rarely heard of such a contest's end
among men of skill.
The shield-king's fair people looked out
upon the sea-king's course;
Indriði, gold-adorned, rode the grey horse
along the green paths of Beitar.
The champion, the helmet-breaker,
gripped the white side-rail with his palms;
keenest of all on the race-course was he,
the wolf of the reefs.
The king moved with eager spirit,
bold upon the lobster's field;
the King of Þrœndir willed to try
a fine and proper swimming-match.
Indriði parted from the estuary's troll,
quick in the current for a time;
skilled men, many of them, sported
in the salmon's field at swimming.
The game grew greater with each skill;
long and hard was the contest;
yet the champion was at last brought down
by the king with all his might.
The king won the swimming with his victory,
drawn from the shield-red contest;
afterwards he conveyed the famed warrior
from the ring-adorned lands.
No smith of poetry can tell
all of Ólaf's glory;
here the flame of Óðinn's mouth
falls from the prow in thought.
Ríma III
Mansöngur
The earth has lulled the sea-fire's gold
upon the hawk-seat of the arm;
now I am ready for the speech of glory —
may the maiden govern it.
Ever I shall gladden the crystal's white guardian
with Hárr's mead of memory.
The king's troop on the shadowed field
entertains themselves for a while.
The Archery Contest
Indriði went forward to the fair wood
with the king's banners;
most accustomed to the clash of spears,
and eager for clever deeds.
The king proposed a game of marksmanship
for the keen men of rank;
straightway the king let his strong companion
set the bowstring screaming.
The bowstring twanged, the arrow flew
from the labour of the shield;
the king's shot caught the swift steel
and stood in the middle of the mark.
Indriði proved his skillful art,
elegant with the bow in hand;
he planted five before the Finnish target
before the king had loosed his own.
"Men, receive this fair youth,"
the king speaks with authority,
"whom Indriði has held with honour's branch
high in our own hall."
"Here shall he hold a hall-land forever,
one homestead raised for him;
we aim at it with a strong hand —
let the bow-serpent rush there."
Indriði answered red with rage,
angered at the blade's threat:
"You rouse the boy with blood's torrent —
I swear that shall be repaid.
No pleasure shall the king's men gain
from the raven's eye of ice;
the dark sword shall tear the shields
and scatter the king's men."
The king made the sign of the cross before the arrow;
from the power of God's grace,
victory ran from the tested string
exactly as the king desired.
The game was played with the finest art
by the king's keen hand;
though neither had seen from childhood
such a wound-fall as this.
"Try your art now," said the King of Þrœndir,
"take up your pale bow;
Indriði, you shall be famed and foremost,
agile at all games."
With both hands the farmer grasped
the broad elm-bow to draw;
his sister and his true mother
felt the pain of grief.
"My son, act for your own name's sake,"
she sweetly begged with tears,
"do you not think it equally well
to yield to our heathen king?"
A mother's love is gentle and pure,
the master of all deeds.
Indriði says his silken mother's
prayer shall have its way.
"My former skill has now deserted me —
it is plain for all to see —
how I could never outrun the swift
young runner of the white wave."
The Sword-Play and Boat Race
The King of Þrœndir pressed the third game
upon his striving friend:
"Men, take up the pale blades now
and sweep from the palm-branches."
Three fighters grappled at once,
striving well and long;
the skills of practiced men were shown —
none could overcome them.
The king of men upon the sea-hall
let one ship run its course;
the warrior willed to try this game
upon the red-stained field.
The champion men went to the oars
with the wave-fire's splendour;
the wave was cut, the ship ran on —
so I have heard the people say.
To the generous men the race was won,
tested with glory and skill;
the end of all their trials was found
among the skills they held.
The famed King of Agðir rose up
from the wave's sweep;
the king of pointed prows grasped
and pressed forward on the sea.
The king went before the wave-headland,
the breakers sang on the sternposts;
never was the like of this game
known in the Danish tongue.
He went before the prow, and the king's skill
bore such a fair victory then;
never in poems has it been known —
such a king's game since.
Ullr shook himself upon the wave's stag
of the white fire's wave;
the shield-king's beauty, clear and bright,
shone like light to look upon.
The king bore the game with skill,
far beyond the field of battle;
Indriði turned to the contest,
but the king went from the flood.
The Yielding
Indriði then offered roads and lands
to the praised king with splendour:
"I would gladly go under your hand,
with all my people gladly.
You have borne games and art
far beyond all teaching;
now is the time for me to believe in Christ
and trust to your foresight."
Indriði received the highest honour
from the King of Horðaland with splendour;
then the shield-warrior was baptised,
quickly, with all his people.
After the feast and the chosen gold,
the king in gladness then
rode with his friend to Kaupangr home
on Kolga's horses.
Now the flame of the Warrior's horns
shall turn first for this time;
may the gold-adorned pine, most beautiful,
keep to the Æsir's memory.
Translated from Old Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Source: Finnur Jónsson, ed., Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske rimer, Vol. I (Copenhagen: Samfund til Udgivelse af gammel nordisk Litteratur, 1905–22), pp. 165–182. Primary manuscript: AM 605, 4° (Redaction A). Secondary: AM 603, 4° (Redaction B). The rímur are based on the episode of Indriði ilbreið in the larger Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar (Flateyjarbók I, 456–64; Fms. II, 259–74).
Footnotes, variant readings, and the editorial apparatus of Finnur Jónsson have been set aside for the body of the translation. Where manuscript variants significantly affect the sense, the reading that best supports the narrative has been followed. Kenning-language has been translated by meaning rather than mechanics: the vessel is a ship, not a "wave-elk"; the sword is a sword, not a "wound-snake" — except where the kenning carries specific narrative weight. Difficult or damaged passages have been translated as faithfully as the Old Icelandic allows.
🌲
Source Text
Óláfsrímur Tryggvasonar A — Old Icelandic, Redaction A
From Rímnasafn Vol. I, pp. 165–182, ed. Finnur Jónsson (1905–22)
Ríma I
Suo eRec glaums j gleÐu vind
gladdr af hringa Hilldi,
oll er friofgud fræda strind
af frijdu Golnis gillde.
Skrifaec huorki skial nie ginz
i skiemtan godra manna;
fram skal setia medan frædit vinst
forna saugu ok sanna.
Þeim skal herra horna sund
Hars med kurti vanda,
friett hefi ec aunguann fleina lund
frægra boren til landa.
Tryggua son bar tign ok megt,
traust og hiartad snialla,
lat oc hof sem list oc spekt
langt yfir konunga alla.
Lat oc kurt sem lista nægd,
lif med æsku bloma;
þui var bios skiæra skiolldungs frægd
skaupud j midiann soma.
Fylkier alli hid fegursta vif,
framid med sæmd oc Riki;
skyrist valla skærra lif
skapad j kuenmannz lijkie.
Þyri gaf doglings dreingium seim
med dyrstu rikis nafni;
nær fanst einginn nordr j heim
noekur hennar iafni.
Þeim hefr stillir stiornar elg
styrt aranar vollu,
langskeid ecki a landa suelg
var listiligre ad aullu.
Bordum hrynia hringar ad
a hrafne Vandils vallar;
ennes speingr a Glamma glad
gloa med laufumm allaR.
Fyris vallar faxit allt
er flure skrytt med skurdum;
dreki var eingi dreigin a sallt
dyrre suo vær spurdum.
Af liknar elldi lægis dyrs
logudu badir stafnar,
bale lik hins buna hlyrs
bord avelle drafnaR.
Skordu biarnar skina bond
skygdum kolgu lioma;
nær fanst eingenn nordr j lond
nockur iafn til soma.
Nu er þeim dreka af hlunni hleypt,
hlyr kom ad vnni,
sterklig bordinn stale greypt,
streingir hlupu ad grunni.
Skiemtilig var skiolldungs hall,
skipudu afreks garpar;
bila þeir eigi vid branda gall,
bal nie eggiar snarpar.
Æfentyr skal budlungs biort
bera a lopt firi lydi,
þar sem glæstapn glugga hiort
gladdi konglig pryde.
Viser talar med væna tru,
vikr ad kauppum sniollum:
"kristnad hofum vær Noreg nu
nær med sio sem fiollum."
Vlfr hinn raudi innir skiott
ærlig suor med suinnan:
"hittast truec enn heidna droll
hier firi Þrandheim innan."
Dogling beiddi darra Ty
diorfu mali skyra:
"huer er sa heidinn bondi i by
braugnum hefer ad styra?"
Vlfr seigir ad inn vid Stein
Indridi alli ad rada,
"sa kann lauga liosann tlein
j lodre gumna voda.
Ilbreid kienna þioder þann
þorna lund hinn sterka;
af ment ok atle megtast hann
oc mikileik snilldar verka.
Skygdann ber hann skialda nadr
skiotur ad hagle nistar;
sa ma heita heidurs madr,
honum er iafn til listar."
Grettis vallar geimilund
gramr bad til sin kalla:
"Vlfr sækt j samre stund
suerda riod enn snialla."
Vlfr bidr af straundu j stad
stollta hringa meida
leida ad flode Glamma glad
med glæstu segli oc reida.
Lattist alldri j laufa þey
lestir elIda hranna;
tuennar stigu a tiorgad fley
tylftir afreksmanna.
Liek vid styri en lægir fioll
laudr a skeliungs tuni;
hliop stediandi styriu vaull
streingia hiortren buni.
Hauldar baru Hogna sol,
hulldir Drupnis laudre;
snudigt lita snyrtibol
snilldar mans æ haudre.
Rann ad grunne grædis hreinn,
grund var þa firi stafni,
lægdist segl en fleygdist fleinn
flodz af dockum hrafni.
Brognum fagnar bæar lydr,
heinn vid Olafs recka;
miod oc vin ad bondinn bydr
þeim med sier drecka.
Indridi taladi virda vid
oc veik til Olafs recka:
"oss ber ecki saman vmm sid,
sier munu huorer drecka."
Vlfur seiger ad kongrenn kann
kristinndom hinn hreina,
liknar hof sem lasta bann
og lækning allra meina.
Latumm sitia saman j sal
sueitir ockar beggia,
þa eR hid skyra skatna tal
skiemtan huorra tueggia.
Leynd eru ecki erindin vor,
Vlfr ried ad inna,
Olafs vegr med æru stor,
ydr vin konguren finna.
Sæki ec ecki a siklings fund,
suarade kiempan frida,
helldr munu vær heima vm stund
hilmis buneR bijda.
Ef mie sækier siklingheim,
sæmdar giarn oc bloma,
miodr oc vijn skal vise þeim
veitazt hier med soma.
Rosa logr med rausnar matt
reckum veittist sniollum;
leid j hurt en bruna nati,
biort skein sol a fiollumm.
Vlfr hiellt med hufa hund
heim ad Þrandheims minni.
Hier mun ec lata Fiolnis fund
falla nidr ad sinne.
Ríma II
Mig had selian saudungs mais
semia dans af hliode;
skal ec þvi Hrundi hrannar hals
hreyta af Sonar flodi.
Vlfr kiemr j hilmis hall
med hæuerska sina sueina,
allt nam þegna þrifligt spiall
þrenskum stilli ad greina.
Stale klædist sterklig þiod,
stillir talar vid lyde,
heim skal sækia randa riod,
reyna hans ment oc þryde.
Vlfr talar vid einn sinn suein:
Indrida skaltu finna;
kongr er huinn med foluan flein
flods a hauka stinna.
Friu hundrut mannz j þrauta iel
Þrænda stillir kuadde,
biarta munu þeiR brodda þiel,
hera ad Fiolnis hadde.
Þegnar lietu a Gotlands giord
Glamma hesta leida;
þegar bar inn a Þrandheims fiord
þriflig segl med reida.
Steinar blikudu stofnum a,
stud þer gull e brenndu;
loge var hatt vid himne ad sia,
þar er hufa birner Renndu.
Bolginn alldan bla vid austr
blies at kolldu hlyre;
inn vid Stein ried staudua flaustr
stillis þerren dyre.
Indride leit a lofdungs ferd,
listuga kuadde bragna,
þa nam kiempan kappe herd
kuintum herra ad fagna.
Væna hefr ec ueislu giort
uiser ydr med soma,
skipi þier breidan busta hiort
buinn med ægis lioma.
Tigge seiger: j tiolldum skal
tignast konglig þrydi,
þu munt bondi sialfr j sal
sitia med þina lyde.
Nystann tir med nadum fieck
Noregs gram uren fræge,
huitings bylgian gorþum gieck
gieds ad bunu lægi.
Glæse runna glotta mais
gladdi Olafr alla;
þa bad eydir olldu bals
Inndrida til sijn kalla.
Þeim er nærre somi ok sidr,
er sara la uka bendi,
vngan suein bar suerda vidr
sier a hægre hende.
Indride star firi stillis bord,
stolltr ok vænn ad lita;
sa gaf hilme heidurs ord
herder raudra rita.
Huoria tru hefur þiorgu meidr?
tigge spyr hinn hardi,
giorir þu nockut horgum heidr
hall a þinum garde?
Minu treysti ec magni suo,
meider taladi randa,
Þors tru eg alldri þrifsemd a,
þott eg komi j vanda.
Hefr þu frielt umm heidinn segg
huern ad gudi vill nita,
diartliga læt ec dæsings egg
digra suijra bijta.
Tyrs er ec ecki j hregge hræddur,
kuad hringa vidr en suine,
þegar skal faxe fa lo giæddr
fifu stigs a minne.
Vær haufum hier, kuad niser nu,
valla sied þinn lika,
somir oss med sannri tru
ad sigra garpa slika.
Nagtan trui ec ad tyrfings odd
takier þu miukt hinn bleika;
fimr munt þu vid finskan brod
ok fær a sundi ad leika.
Einnhuorn fæec þier garp j giegn
gialla nodru ad senda,
reyna a sundi sierligt megn
ok sara lauka ad heunda.
Reckum giorer ad stefna j stad
stilleR ofan ad flæde,
sez hann nidr enn bondinn bad
bera þa til sijn klæde.
Huer er yta audlings nu?
Indridi talar med blida,
buenn a kallda kiembings bru
kolgu laudr ad skrijda.
Niote suaradi nodru dags
Noregs gramren frægi:
skal eg wid sendi sara lax
sialfuR leika a rægi.
Ber ec eigi, lestir linna als,
list af mentan þinne,
fara skal eydir fiardar bals
frials af alfu minne.
Sterkier menn j styriu þing
steypa sier ad sinne;
Brettlands munu þeir briota hring
beint firi Þrandheims minne.
BReka var Ravnn ad briosti logd,
er bragnar spynna vnne;
kof voru stor ok sterklig brogd
stundum þreytt vid grunni.
Osa iord var laudri lik
af leiki þeira beggia;
sokn var einge a sundi slik
sien medal garpa tueggia.
Lofda vinr ad lande veik
enn lydr fagna stille;
þo fra eg valla lyktann leik
listar manna j milli.
Litu þa vt a skieliungs skeid
skiolldungs vænar þiodir,
Indridi gilldum gransel reid
vmm grænar Beita slodir.
Hiellt vmm kampa bialma briotur
huitum lofa karme;
hellste var hann a skeidi skiotr
skeria vlfr hinn armi.
Hæser gieck med reidre lund
roskr a humra waullu,
viII þa þreyta þrifligt sund
Þrænda gramr med ollu.
Indridi skilst vid osa traull,
ort vid straume stundi,
lista menn vmm laxa vaull
lieku margt m sunde.
Leikr vaR med listum stærdur,
long var sokn ad þegni,
þo vard garpr ad grunni færdr
grams af aullu megni.
Konguren feck med sigre sund
sogt af riodi rannda,
sijdan flutte fleina lund
frægr af hringie landa.
Odar smidr ma einge tia
Olafs þrydi alla;
hier mun golnis goma læ
geds af frone falla.
Ríma III
Folld hefur svæfda feniu bals
fundins hauka bada;
nu er ec buinn til mærdar mais,
ma hon þvi iungfru rada.
Glers mun ec huita geymi þoll
gedia Hars med minni.
Kongsins skari a skygdum vaull
skiemteR sier ad sinne.
Indride framm ad fogrum skog
for med stilli merka,
geysi vanr vid geira rog
ok giarn til snilldar verka.
Hilmir bydr j hæft spon
haullda setia snialla;
þegar liet stiller sterkum son
streingia naudru gialla.
Streinguren þaut en hremsan hraut
hratt af rannda idiu,
stillir skaut sno stalit hlaut
ad standa j hæft midiu.
Indride reyndi hænskan hauR,
hæuerskr boga sinn hendi;
stadar gaf fimm j finskre or,
fyrr ed kongren sendi.
Fyrdar taki þann fagra suein,
fylkier talar af vallde,
er Indridi hiellt med heidurs grein
hatt j voru tialld.
Þeim skal hier æ hallar land
hnott toftu eina reisa;
stefnum a hana med sterkre hand
streingia nodru geisa.
Indridi suarar af reidi raudur,
reidur vid snæru skiallda:
ueke þier sueini sara laudr,
suer ec ad þat skal giallda.
Munr skal eingi garpa gior
gugnes iel ad magna,
skiaulldu rifi hinn skygdi hior
ok skyfi kongsins bragna.
Kongurenn giordi kross firi or;
af krapti guddoms milldi
rann þa sigr af reyndum hor
riett sem fylkier villdi.
Taufluna liek VR laufi hiarns
lofdungs ment en snialla;
þo sa huorgi af byrdi barns
benia fossa falla.
Freyt nu list, kuad Þrænda gramr,
þrif nu boga þinn bleika;
Indridi munt þu frægr ok framr
fimr vid alla leika.
Badum hondum bonden rædr
breidan alm ad spenna;
syster hans ok sannlig mædr
sara harma kienna.
Son minn gior firi sialfs þins nafn,
sætan bidur med tarum,
hygst þu ecki ad heillum iafn
heidin kongi vorum.
Modur ast er miuk oc hrein
meistare allra dada.
Indridi seigir ad silkirein
sinne bæn skal Rada.
Mier eR nu horfin, miog er þat liost,
ment su ed ec fyrre kunne,
huersi ec alldre huidrungs giost
huitings vngum runne.
Þrænda gramr hinn þridia leik
þreyta vin med listum:
segger take nu soxen bleik
ok sueipi af lofa kuistum.
Soxinn þrenn þrifu j senn,
þreyta fagrt ok leingi,
listir enn um menta menn
matti skacka eingie.
Skatna gramr a skeliungs holl
skeid let eina renna,
ræser viII vmm reydar voll
reyna leikenn þenna.
A arum gengu afreks menn
vnnar bals med þrydi;
skorin var bara en skeidin renn;
skynia fra ec þat lyde.
Rausnar monnum rasen vinst
reynd med fremd oc snilli,
þrautar lyktin þeyu finst
þeira menta j mille.
Hefr sig ut af aulldu sueip
Egda gramurinn frægi,
stælta brodda stillir greip
ok stediar fram a ægi.
Bragning geck firi baru ess,
enn bodar a stofnum sungu,
lesenn var alldre liki þess
leikr a danskri tungu.
Gieek firi bard en budlungs ment
bar þa sigr suo fridan;
þat eR oss huorgi j kuædum kent
kongar lieki sidan.
Befur sig Vllr a aulldu hiort
vnnar bals ens huita;
skiolldungs asian skiær og biort
skein sem lios at lita.
Kongurinn bar med listum leik
langt af hiorna riodi;
Indridi vpp a vigit veik,
en viser gieek af flodi.
Indridi baud þa lad oc lond
lofda gram med pryde:
ydr vilee giarnan ganga a hond
gladur med mina lyde.
Þu hefr borit leika oc list
langt af mentan þinni;
nu er mier time ad trua a Crist
oc treysta forsia þinni.
Indridi feck hinn hæsta heidr
Haurda grams med þrydi;
þa var skirdr skiallda meidr
skiott med sina lyde.
Eptir veislu og valdan seim,
er viser þa med blida,
kongr vin j Kaupang heim
kolgu hestum rida.
Nu skal Herians horna logr
huerfa fyrst ad sinni;
gullas þollin geyse fogr
geyme ad asa minne.
Colophon
Óláfsrímur Tryggvasonar is a three-ríma cycle preserved in Redaction A (AM 605, 4°) recounting the conversion of Indriði ilbreið — the Broad-shouldered — the last pagan champion of Þrándheimr. King Ólaf Tryggvason, whose legendary missionary kingship drove the Christianisation of Norway and Iceland, was one of the most beloved subjects in the rímur tradition. This cycle belongs to the conversion narrative strand: a contest of strength and pride resolved not by force but by a mother's tears.
Good Works Translation from Old Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), 2026. The Old Icelandic source text follows below.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
🌲
Source Colophon
Source: Finnur Jónsson, ed., Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske rimer, Vol. I (Copenhagen: Samfund til Udgivelse af gammel nordisk Litteratur, 1905–22), pp. 165–182. Primary manuscript: AM 605, 4°.
🌲