The Rímur of Skáld-Helgi

A seven-part rímur cycle from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, telling the story of Skáld-Helgi — a poet of Borgarfjörður whose love for Katla, daughter of Halldor of Höll, is forbidden by her father. What begins as courtship becomes betrayal, exile, and feud, as families are broken by pride and the lovers are driven apart.

The poem survives principally in AM 604 f, 4° (the primary manuscript, designated A by Finnur Jónsson), with a copy in AM 606. Earlier copies exist in AM 603 (Bm) and Ny kgl. saml. 1133 (B). A fragment on a Stockholm membrane preserves portions of Rímur IV–VII. The rímur were previously printed in Grönlands historiske Mindesmærker II.

This is the first known English translation of any part of this text. Ríma I — the mansöngur and the courtship of Helgi and Katla — is presented here. Rímur II through VII, continuing through exile, sea-voyages, feuds, and resolution, remain untranslated and await the next hand.

Ríma I

Mansöngur

Once I held a spring of learning
and drew from it bright delight;
now it has sunk near to the ground,
its grace frozen with grief.

It freezes sorrow's very coals —
so it must endure;
neither heat nor sun can thaw
this glacier of grief.

I sang before with cheerful spirit,
free from every pain;
I bear now no moment so bright
that my heart could smile again.

The Courtship

Lovely maidens draw fine words
from the mouths of young poets;
I will tell of a golden woman
a tale heavy with trial.

Always have men loved deeply
the women of this world;
that age was not free from sorrow
which lived here long ago.

Halldor, I heard, was the thane's name,
who dwelt here in this land;
in many things wise and upright —
though it scarcely served him.

The gentle ring-bearer lived there,
that giver of gold;
he dwelt at the place called Höll
in the district of Borgarfjörður.

The man was blessed with fair delight,
granted two daughters;
but fate laid its harshest hand
upon one of the two.

Þorkatla was a fine woman by name,
and Þordís the other maiden;
one would trouble a man's whole life
and suffer long for it.

Katla was the finest woman
ever to walk among noble folk,
fair and ruddy in her colour,
set in beauty's midst.

Þórðr lived at the place called Hofdi,
Halldor's closest friend;
he made his home on that farmstead,
wedded to a worthy bride.

Helgi, I heard, was his son,
in the middle of the district;
more promising than any
young farmer's son in those parts.

Bold in spirit, dark of hair,
manly in all his deeds,
a man neither tall nor short,
but broad across the shoulders.

Foremost among men he strode,
a wielder of helm and shield,
the best of men in any fight,
and a master poet in words.

Halldor set a feast at home,
a fine company gathered;
I heard that Þórðr was bidden there,
both father and son together.

Cheerfully they drank beside the farmer,
that giver of gold;
now Helgi might hear and see
both of Halldor's daughters.

The women had come from the bath
when he chanced to look at Katla;
love's arrow flew at him
and bit deep into his heart.

I heard the champion fondly
spoke to the jewelled woman;
she was both gentle and warm,
and smiled at all she met.

Words of the heart the honoured maiden
laid before the brave man;
as eagerly as he, she wished
to turn toward this courtship.

Each knew the other's will
as the feast wore on;
in time there settled upon them
a love both shared and bright.

The road was not long
between their two homes;
Helgi took to walking to Höll
to visit the treasure's keeper.

Soon it was said before the farmer
that he wished to court his daughter;
Halldor made it plain enough —
he told Helgi as much.

The man answered well and quietly —
sorrow, I heard, did not dry up —
but for the sake of the dear woman
he came just as before.

Said he who gave sorrow
to the man and the jewelled maiden:
"It would please me if you ceased
to tempt my daughter with words."

"It is spoken now among many folk
throughout this wealthy district,
that you shame a noble woman;
I have proof of it often enough."

"Men may judge that matter rightly
and rule their own words;
I myself," said the man,
"will see to my own affairs."

"If you would shame the ring-maiden
and break my will thus,
I shall find some way
to put an end to your meetings."

"Then against your words of anger
I will set this answer:
I will visit the ring-bearer always
and fear no man alive."

The darling speaks to her father
from the truth of her heart's will:
"Far too much you trouble yourself
to keep me from Helgi."

"You will think too much was said
for a man's sake," said the fair bride;
"the regret for this, gold-destroyer,
will yet come back to bite you."

"Mighty jewelled one," he answers
the maiden dear,
"you shall be kept further from that man
the more you wish to be near him."

The man made his decision then —
the tale was told —
the woman must go to dwell
west at Sauðafell.

Sorrow and grief seized them both,
robbed of all joy's journey;
far too long for them
would this grief endure.

Men asked the generous one
whether the kind-hearted man
would wish to wed the elder maiden
to the gold-destroyer.

The thane said this prospect
would bring him no pleasure,
but only disgust and ill will
from all their scheming.

From the south rode to Sauðafell
the warrior in battle-dress;
he spoke with the lady in finery,
and there passed gentle talk between them.

To the fair woman he told all
of his kinsmen's will;
the bride grew cold in her breast —
the noble woman turned pale.

"If you see love in our bond,
as all seem to perceive,
this is no wished-for counsel
that your kinsmen bring."

"Know this: if my sister
is matched with Baldri,
then it is certain," said the fair lady,
"we two will never be together."

"Go instead and ask for me at once,
and break their plans asunder;
we shall find another way
if this does not work."

Then the man waited no more —
sorrow was driving him on;
Helgi rode at once to Höll
and raised his suit for the maiden.

"I wish now to win the kirtle-maiden
with a rich bride-price,
to honour all my former words
and win the lady's hand."

"It may seem fitting," the thane replied,
"that this suit is sought;
yet I do not know for certain
whether it shall be refused."

"Wise men of old have said —
those who thought they knew all things —
that desire's counsel goes ill
when warriors love women."

"Though we must bear fortune's curse,
harsh with cruelty and oath,
we will both," he said,
"have the most at stake."

The young man gave so ill a thread
to the man of mighty virtue;
better had he lain in a coffin
than raised such words as these.

"Thus with my strength shall I
break your desire asunder;
while I am whole, you shall
neither have nor enjoy her."

For all the joy that broke apart,
that was shattered by fury,
Halldor's words fell worst on Helgi
and grew heavy in his breast.

His father bade him try instead
to win the elder bride;
then the sorrow-swollen man
might forget the jewelled maiden.

"It would hardly be well said
to court two brides;
I have already laid my love in words
before her sister."

He gained no marriage-joy
who trusted in this game;
this was the kinsmen's full design —
they stole the bride from him.

They tricked him with their cunning,
those who should have been called friends;
outwitted, the man now had to seek
another woman's hand.

Then the betrothal went forward;
fair Katla hears of it.
The story turns south to Hvammr,
to the green silk tent.

The champion, before the bargain was sealed,
turned with bitter words:
"I will fell them all if ill reward
falls upon your hands."

Whatever the warrior and the golden one
had planned about this matter,
all these fates would fall
upon them both with sorrow.

He goes to wed the elder bride —
such things we may call fate.
I will not stretch the trials further;
the curtain here must fall.

Rímur II through VII — covering Helgi's marriage, Katla's fate, sea-voyages, feuds, and the unravelling of all that was bound in Ríma I — remain untranslated. The source text for the full poem occupies pages 105–162 of the Rímnasafn. The next hand begins at Ríma II, stanza 1.

Colophon

Skáldhelgarímur, anonymous (14th–15th century). A seven-part rímur cycle based on the story of Skáld-Helgi, a poet of Borgarfjörður. The poem survives principally in AM 604 f, 4° (A), with copies in AM 606, AM 603 (Bm), and Ny kgl. saml. 1133 (B). A Stockholm membrane fragment preserves portions of Rímur IV–VII.

The cycle tells the story of the poet Helgi, son of Þórðr at Hofdi, whose love for Katla, daughter of Halldor of Höll in Borgarfjörður, is forbidden by her father. Ríma I establishes the courtship: Helgi falls in love with Katla at a feast, the lovers meet in secret, Halldor discovers and opposes the match, Katla is sent to Sauðafell, and the kinsmen's schemes drive Helgi toward marriage with the elder sister instead.

Source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 105–113. Public domain.

Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Old Icelandic by Tala with Claude (NTAC), 2026. This is the first known English translation of any part of this text. Gospel register. Ríma I of VII; Rímur II–VII await future translation.

The translator consulted no existing English translation (none exists). The Rímnasafn critical apparatus (variant readings from manuscripts A, B, Bm, and C) was consulted for textual decisions. Kennings are translated for meaning rather than reconstructed mechanically.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: Skáldhelgarímur I

Old Icelandic source text from Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København, 1905–1912), pp. 105–113. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

I.

Fyrumm atta ec fræda brvnn,
feck ec af skemtan liosa;
þann hefur næsta nidr j grvnn
nad med angri at friosa.

Svellit þat med sorgum kol,
svo mun hliota at bida;
hvorki nade hite ne sol
þann hrygdar iokul at þida.

Kuad ec þa fyr med katre lund
kuittr af allre pinu;
ber ec nu ei svo blida stund,
at brose ec j hiarta minv.

Liufar meyiar listug ord
locke af skalldum ungum;
ec mvn seiga af seima skord
saugu med raunum þungum.

Jafnann hafa menn eigi litt
unnat menia skordum;
su uar eigi af angri kuitt
olld, at hier bio fordum.

Halldor fra ec at hiete þegnn,
hier a lande bygde;
uar hann at morgu uitr ok gegnn,
en uarlla þo svo at dygde.

Blida atte bauga þaull
bytir snaka jardar;
byggir þar sem heitir Holl
j herade Borgar fiardar.

Yte uar med ynde blitt
audit dætra tueggia;
oskaop giorde yfret stritt
a adra þeira at leggia.

Þorkatla het þriflegt uif,
en Þordis onnur meya;
su mun angra eins huers lif
ok ærit leinge þreya.

Katlla uar þat ed kænsta fliod,
er kom fire gaufga lyde,
enn til litarens lios ok riod
latenn mitt j pryde.

Þordr bio þar er a Hofda het,
Halldors uinrenn meste,
bolstad þenna byggia let,
brvde nika feste.

Helgi fra ec at hans son uar,
hierads j bygdum midium,
efnniligri ollum þar
vngum bonda nidium.

Diarfr j lund enn dockr a har,
dreingelegr j gerdum,
madr er huorke micill ne smar,
mundans breidr j herdum.

Fyrre manna j fotspor stigr
fleygir hialms ok borda,
manna best a mote vigr
ok meistara skalld til orda.

Halldor stofnnar heim bod eitt
holda sueit med nadum;
þat hefe ec frett at þar uar ueitt
þeim Þorde ok fedgum badum.

Blidir drvcku bonda hia
bytir ofnnis ladar;
nu ma hann Helge heyra ok sia
þær Halldors dætr badar.

Þa uar kuendit komit vr laug,
er Kautlu nade at lita,
astar pilan at honum flaug,
svo innarliga nam bita.

Kærliga fra eg at kempan skyr
kallzar menia þollu;
hon er oc bedi blid oc hyr
ok broser a mote ollu.

Hugdar tal uid hreyste mann
heidrs jungfrv lagdi;
eirnnenn uillde hun sem hann
huerfa at þessu bragdi.

Huortt þa anars uilian ueit,
er ueizlan tok at lida,
settizt þeim um sinnu reit
samþyck ast ok blida.

Beint uar ecki brauten laung
bygda þeira a milli;
Helgi uenr til Hallar gaung
at hitta bauga stilli.

Bratt var þat firi bonda mælt,
at brvdi uill hann ginna;
Halldor giorir sier harlla dælt
vid Helga slikt at inna.

Segguren allvel svarade hægt,
sorg frá eg ecke þyrri,
enn fyrer kærrar kvinnu rægt
kom hann jafnt sem fyrri.

Sagde hinn, er sorger gaf
segg og menia Þrude:
"þat er mer liuft þu legger af
at locka i ordum brude."

"Þat er nu mællt af margre þiod
mest j hierade riku,
at þu blygdir burdugt fliod;
ber ec opt raun af sliku."

"Reckar uerda rett um þat
rada ordum sinum;
ec mun sialfr," at segren kuad,
"sia firi kuomum minum."

"Viliir þu blygda bauga gatt
ok briota so minn uilia,
ec skal fa til einn huernn hatt
yckra funde at skilia."

"Þa skal ec firi þyckiu ord
þetta a mote legga,
hitta jafnan hringa skord
oc hrædaz onguan segga."

Sætan innir sinum fedr
af sonnum hiartans uilia,
"all miog uilltu yfazt medur
ockr Helga at skilia."

"Þier mun þicka miog til manz
mælt," kuad brvdren huita,
"þic mun, eydir orma landz,
idran þessa bita."

"Mektug skaltu menia laut,"
meyiu suarar hann kære,
"uera þvi firr þeim uella Gaut,
sem uilldır þu honum næra."

Rada giord hefr reckrenn þa,
rækten uard at spelle,
uifit skal til vistar ga
uestr at Savda felle.

Temprazt badum tregi ok angr
af talman yndes ferda;
þeim mun hellzt til hendi langr
harmrenn þesse uerda.

Holdar badu af hringa ey
hygde garþren millde,
uita ef alma elldri mey
eydir gipta uillde.

Þegnen kuad sier þessa grein
þeygi mundu at nadum,
helldr stygd ok ulbud ein
af ollum þeira radum.

Sunnan reid til Savda fellz
sueigir hilldar klæda;
talar hann þa uid trodu pellz,
tokzt þar miukleg ræda.

Wænu segir hann uife allt
af uilian frænda sinna;
brude uard j brioste kallt,
bliknar mæren suina.

"Se þier ast a ockare nad,
sem allir þikiaz spyria,
ecki er þetta oska rad
at ætt menn þiner byria."

"Weiztu seims ef systir min
samþyck uerdr Balldri,
þa er þat uist," kuad uella Lin,
"vit munum niotazt alldri."

"Far þu helldr ok bid min bratt
ok briot so ætllan setta;
tokum upp allan annan hatt
ef ecki vinr þetta."

Sidan ecki segren beid,
sorgir yndit bana;
Helgi þegar til Harllar reid
ok hefr upp bonord suana.

"Klena uil ec nu kyrtla skord
kaupa dyrum munde,
frelsa allt ed fyrra ord
ok fa svo ualld a sprvnde."

"Vel mun þicka," þegnen kuad,
"þessara mala leitad;
veit ec ecki uist um þat,
huort verdr ei sliku neitad."

"Þess hafa forn menn fyrri spad,
er flest allt þottuz kunna,
gefaz þau jlla girndar rad
er garpar fliodvm unna."

"Þo at ut hliotum heilla bann
hartt med grimd ok edi,
mvnv vit eiga," at mælte hann,
"mest j hættu bædi."

Dreingrenn gaf so dalig snor
dygdar manne rikum,
liufara væri hann legi j kor
en lette up ordvm slikum.

"So skal ec med afle hier
yckan vilian briota,
hennar skaltu at heilum mier
huorki fa ne niota."

Firi þann allan blidu brest,
er brvggazt hefr med þioste,
Halldor fae þat Helge verst
hvgxar honum j brioste.

Fadir hans bidr hann freista helldr
at fa enu elldri brvde,
þa mun hyggia af harmme suelldr
halr af menia Þrvde.

"Wel mun þetta varlla sagt
at uæla brvdir tuennar;
ec hefi ast med ordum lagt
adr vit systr hennar."

Sa feck eigi at giptu gad,
er gabbe þessu trvde;
fullt var þetta frenda nad,
þeir falsa af honum brvde.

Wiltu þeir med uielvm hann,
er uinirner skilldu heita;
ofirisyniv ytir uann
anars bonords leita.

Sidan gengu festar fram;
frettir Katla enn uæna.
savgunne uikr sudr j Huam
til silke tialz ens græna.

Kappenn adr enn kaupit hefzt
med kraunkum ordum vendi:
"alla fel ec ef illa gefz
abyrd ydr a hendi."

Huad sem garpur ok gullazt þaull
giordu rad um þetta,
þesse urdu oskopp oll
yfir med sorg at detta.

Elldri brvde eiga gengr,
oskaop ma slikt kalla.
neyste ec ecki um raunir leingr,
niman hlytr at falla.

Source Colophon

Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1, ed. Finnur Jónsson (København: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1912), pp. 105–113. Public domain. Primary manuscript: AM 604 f, 4° (A). Source text presented without the critical apparatus (variant readings from B, Bm, and C manuscripts are in the Rímnasafn footnotes).

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