The Fourth Ríma of a narrative verse cycle composed by Þorlákr Guðbrandsson, formerly Sheriff of Ísafjörður, and Árni Böðvarsson. The Potiphar's wife motif that kindled in Ríma III reaches its climax: Grímur the Strong sits silent at the feast, unable to drink or speak. Úlfar draws him aside and learns the truth. The brothers debate — restraint or the sword? — and Grímur is persuaded to accuse the queen before the open court. The accusation leads to the queen's death on Úlfar's blade. War follows as the queen's kin assemble a fleet of eighteen thousand to sail on Africa for vengeance. First printed at Hrappsey by E.G. Hoff in 1775. No English translation has previously existed.
Fjórða Ríma — The Fourth Ríma
Mansöngr
1.
Again poetry's streams awaken
from the Eastern well: the bowls of glory
shall flow with Odin's toast for the fourth time.
2.
Kerian's feast now begins
in the house of poetry; I set the table
for Göndung's warriors to adorn the cups of plenty.
3.
Gather, ye folk, to poetry's hope,
as the festival is won; Steya's
inheritance shall be offered to you from my hand.
4.
Set down upon the benches of song
the saga's reading. Useless chatter
and its revels must step from comfortable rest.
5.
East-wind, let the wonder of Kvásir's shaft
blow, while I from the highland heath
guide Úlfar's ship to harbor.
6.
May all of Óðr's vessels
from the precious speech stand upon the great table,
fuller than they were before.
7.
Kerian shall fill those horns
to welcome him and the homecoming of brave
thanes from the hard meeting of iron rain.
8.
My mansöngur is at an end.
Men, rejoice, while the saga's thread
carries the journey of glory in this poem.
The Narrative Opens
9.
There was hidden in a silent hall
the folk of the Gauts; the King's Bride—
[Stanza 9 is truncated at the bottom of the source page. Stanzas 10–25 are inaccessible due to file system locks on pages 44–45 of the scan (book pages 38–39). These stanzas contain the opening narrative of the ríma — likely the aftermath of the queen's rejected passion for Grímur from Ríma III, the feast preparations, and the events leading to Grímur's troubled silence. Future translators with access to these pages or the 1834 second edition should fill this gap.]
The Silent Feast
26.
Glad sat noble men
with merry counsel; jesting drove them onward,
all, save Grímur the Proud.
27.
No one saw Grímur raise a horn
gladly to drink; nor could
any word fall from his mouth.
28.
Úlfar understood this and
wondered at it; with gentle words
he summoned his companion from the drinking-tables.
29.
Two companions walked to speak
from the lord's hall. "Dear brother,"
Úlfar asks, "what causes your unhappiness?"
30.
Grímur confided all —
the wicked woman's curses, all their encounters —
to his wise companion.
31.
Úlfar spoke: "Such evil curses
must not hold us — the lily-fingered woman
shall be driven out; let the sword flash."
32.
"I will not do that," Grímur declares,
"though counsel urges it. How gentle men
should answer — that is what honor holds."
33.
"Terribly would my father rage
at such treachery. Though matters worsen,
it is dear to me still to serve the old lord."
The Brothers' Counsel
34.
"Likewise would Ammon, lord
of Asian men, when he heard of this outrage,
doubtless avenge his daughter."
35.
"We shall not shrink from that,"
Úlfar declares. "My sword — Odin's flame —
shall be drawn to lead the King's bride from her life."
36.
"You shall go into the high hall
before the King's beloved. The strife between you,
declare skillfully, so all may hear."
37.
"Then Resla will redden
and tear with rage, and fling
evil words at us. The truth shall thus be sought."
38.
Grímur answers: "Your counsel
shall be heeded." The noble brothers
lightened their speech; to the hall they went after this.
Before the King's Table
39.
Grímur stood before the King's table,
as proudly as he could, and spoke
the truth, though courage was demanded:
the events the Queen had set in motion,
40.
her words, her deeds, and evil curses —
so all might hear. All were struck still;
they stood in silence and greatly marveled.
41.
In many colors the King's face
shifted; the composure fear had held
was broken, and in its place
fierce anger took command.
42.
Fear and fury battled
within his great breast; anger at last
prevailed. Of what followed,
men shall hear later.
43.
Úlfar gazed, the fire-stream's hero,
upon the proud assembly; Sifling's heir
looked up before the table,
then spoke these words:
44.
"For you, Queen, it is unseemly
to think the King's embrace a paltry thing,
yet lie contentedly
with common men."
45.
The Queen answers: "Úlfar, do you presume
to shame us? No one bade you
speak such words — evil thrall,
you should hold your tongue."
46.
"From your answers I see the falsehood
clearly. Though the blood-sword licked
you all here, none of you
would fall far."
47.
The bold warrior rose in wrath;
the woman was dealt with —
with sharp blade drawn
he ran the Queen through.
48.
Death took the woman as the blade
seized the life from her heart.
At this every man recoiled.
The warrior walked from the King's hall.
49.
All at the feast-tables spoke much
of what they witnessed — her evil conduct,
her hateful words, and the honor
that demanded answer.
[Stanzas 50–57 are inaccessible due to file system locks on page 49 of the scan (book page 43). These stanzas contain the immediate aftermath of the queen's death — likely the court's judgment, the king's response, and the first tidings of the queen's kin seeking vengeance. Future translators should fill this gap.]
The Fleet Assembles
58.
These brothers came, tall, to
Bugni's shores. Six thousand warriors
each companion commanded, to lead into battle.
59.
The King's forces were clad
in steel, prepared for war;
the prince had assembled anew eighteen thousand men.
60.
Bisur announces to the King
and the bold brothers: to Africa they intend
to march, to repay Úlfar the Strong with vengeance.
61.
Next, many warships were
hauled from their shelters
and with haste set upon the sea.
62.
The King's warriors lined their boats
alongside the great ships. The day held
scarcely room for more;
the crash of weapons could be heard.
63.
All the fair sails stood
stiff with full rigging; far over
the ocean's expanse they turned before the wind.
64.
The bold warriors' shields
stood gleaming. From them long rays
streamed; the serpents of the sea glided swiftly onward.
65.
Now the King had come to his ship
and his eager brothers: weapons and banners
gleamed in good weather; the wolves of the rollers
stood upon the calm.
[Stanzas 66–end of the Fjórða Ríma are inaccessible due to file system locks on pages 51–53 of the scan (book pages 45–47). The Fimmta Ríma begins on page 54 (book page 48), so the Fjórða Ríma likely runs to approximately stanza 85. These final stanzas contain the fleet's departure and the opening of the war for vengeance. Future translators should fill this gap.]
Colophon
Translated from Old Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, April 2026. Source text: Rímur af Úlfari sterka, composed by Þorlákr Guðbrandsson (formerly Sheriff of Ísafjörður) and Árni Böðvarsson. First printed at Hrappsey by E.G. Hoff, 1775. Translation produced from page scan images of the 1775 first edition.
This is the first known English translation of any portion of the Úlfarrímur. The ríma is the fourth of at least seven in the cycle. The narrative follows the Potiphar's wife motif (AT 318): the new queen's rejected passion for Grímur the Strong (told in Ríma III) here reaches its consequences — public accusation, the queen's death by Úlfar's sword, and the gathering of a war fleet by the queen's kin.
Approximately 40 of an estimated 85 stanzas are translated; the remainder occupy pages inaccessible due to file system errors in the scan images. The translation follows stanza-for-stanza fidelity to the source, with kennings decoded into contextual English following the Tianmu method. The original verse structure is preserved but no attempt is made to reproduce the Icelandic rhyme scheme or meter.
Translation lineage: Ríma I translated by Hrafn III (58/80 stanzas). Ríma II by Hrafn IV (46/109 stanzas). Ríma III by Skáld (40/71 stanzas). Ríma IV by Ljóð (40/~85 stanzas).
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: Rímur af Úlfari sterka — Fjórða Ríma
Old Icelandic source text transcribed from page scans of the 1775 Hrappsey first edition (E.G. Hoff, printer). Presented for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above. Transcription by Ljóð from Fraktur typeface; some readings are uncertain due to the blackletter printing and 18th-century orthography.
Mansöngr (p. 37)
1. Aptur vakur óðar straumar úr Austra brunni: Róms á skálir Rögnis minni renna skal í fjórða sinni.
2. Kerians veitsla hefst nú ein í húsi kvæða; Uppsett borðinn lét eg liðða Göndungs pryða krusur gróða.
3. Rómið þér fólk til kvæða váns, sem festi unnið; þar skal Steyu erfðit inni yður veitt af hendi minni.
4. Sett skal niður á sónar bekksins sögunnar lestur. Onytt bjal og sinnar festi eiga stíga úr hagnar fæti.
5. Austri, láttu undur Kvásis skaft blaða, meðann eg af upsa heiði Úlfars skip til hafnar leiði.
6. Öll so megi Óðar ker af slínu dýra málo á borði standa stóru, staðs fyllri enn áður vóru.
7. Kerians skal sú horna fyllinn honum fagna, og heimkomu hraustra þegna, af hörðum fundi járna regna.
8. Mannsöngur er minn á enda. Menn tilblíði, meðann sögunnar flytur sræði feriann róms í þessu kvæði.
Narrative (p. 37, truncated)
9. Þar var falið í þagnar ranni þfið Gauta; Kóngs um Bríð— [page ends]
[Stanzas 10–25: pages 38–39, inaccessible]
pp. 40–42
26. Glaðir sátu göfugir menn með Gamanraðum; ólteitleð sem áfram knúði, allir, nema Grímur Prúði.
27. Grím sá eingi grön við hörna glaðann minnast; Ecki hellður af hanns munni orðið nockurt falla kunni.
28. Undirstendur Úlfar það, og undrast gierði; Hljra sinn með hógum orðum heimtir undan Dryckiuborðum.
29. Gelngu hljrar tveir á tal úr Tyggia ranni. Bróðir kiært, Úlfar innir, ógleddi hvað vellður þinni.
30. Junti Grímur álog stúpu illrar sinnar öll við skipti sín og svanna svinnum runni greipar fanna.
31. Úlfar mælti: ill so meiga álog hepta: Liliu fingra fannar drifta flórinu láttu hiorinn sviptu.
32. Giori eg það ei, hann Grímur tier, þof giafann ráður, hvernig mönnum hógum lýður. Hvað eitt sinna tíma höður.
33. Ferliga mundi faðir minn reiðast fólsku þeiri. Kiært er miog, þó vísj sie verra, bísíð singa gomulum herra.
34. Einnig mundi Ammton Herrann Asía manna, þá aðhurð frietti hafi ullfu minnar, eflaust hefna dóttur sínnar.
35. Ecki munum við í þad fjá, hann Úlfar ziedi. Mitt skal Sviðris bálið breida Brúði Kóngs frá afi leida.
36. Gánga skalttu í hás höll að Hilmis kiæru. Deildvir ykar minni og meiri mel þú sníallt, so allir heyri.
37. Roðna mun þá Resla sörð með reiði slíóta, og orðum vondum að oss hreypta. Orðsaka skal þannig leita.
38. Ansar Grímur: yðar ráðinn á skal hatta. Tignir Bræður talinu lietta; til hallar geingu eftir þetta.
39. Grímur sie fyri Stillis borð, sem stólstum hafði, innti rett, þof einsorð krafði, atvikinn þau Drottning hafði,
40. Orðinn, verk og álog vond, so allir heyrðu. Öllum kom í stans, þeir stórðu, og stórkostliga undrast giörðu.
41. Ymsum litum Dölings heðin andlit flaðdist; farðann þann sem óttin eyddi, inn þar jasnóðr reiðinn leiddi.
42. Barðist ötta Bræðinn við í Brjósti stóru; Reiðinn um síðir mátti meira. Menn þad skulu seinna heyra.
43. Stardi Úlfar strauma báls á stólta gerði, Siflings arfinn sá fyri borðinn, síðann mælti þessum orðum.
44. Yður er, Drottning, ómátligur sá ynðis hofgi, klena feng med Kongi hyggia, en kyrsisliga hjá þrælum liggia.
45. Ansar Drottning, Úlfar, giorir þú ad oss þægia? Eingi bad þig ord til hnepgia, illur þræll þú máttir þeigia.
46. Af svorunum þínum finnst fólsku sie eg giorla. Þó sleikti Blóðfinn yður hier alla, eingi mundi fjarlægt falla.
47. Djarfur reiðist Döðlings bor, enn drosinn hagnar, og með sníorpum vor útdregnum Drottninguna lagði gegnum.
48. Hel tók víf, þof hier greip ond úr hiartans inni. Við þad hnickti hverium manni. Halurinn geck af Kóngs síns ranni.
49. Mæltu allir miog þad, seri ad matlegleifum, fyrir hennar hegðan sleta, heiptar ord og metnad líka.
[Stanzas 50–57: page 43, inaccessible]
p. 44
58. Þessir komu Bræður hánir í Bugnis Öra. Sex þúsundir hvereinn hljra hafdi lið til Orrustu stjóra.
59. Stillis lið var sjáli klaðt í stelð tilbúið; þeingill hafdi þá ad nýu þúsundir átta og tíu.
60. Bisur lýsir Buðlung þot og Bræður gildir, í Africam þeir ætli ad halda, Úlfari Sterka heiptir giallda.
61. Hiernæst, voru herskip mörg úr hrófum dreginn, og með skunda sett á sjóinn.
62. Buðlungs herinn Bátar sluttu á búsur stórar. Dagurinn vannst til varla meira. Vopna þjark þar mátti heyra.
63. Öll voru voð hín fogru stey með fullu bondum; Fjar geims um lgamuna strindi gininu sneru undan vindi.
64. Gradis þóra gestnar tár um glammir stóðu. Af þeim geislar lángir líðu, linnar lies þar áfrann skríðu.
65. Nú var Kóngur kominn til skips og faskir Bræður: vopn og fáns í veðri goðu; Vargar hlunns á læginn stóðu.
[Stanzas 66–end: pages 45–47, inaccessible]
Source Colophon
Source: Rímur af Úlfari sterka, first edition, printed at Hrappsey by E.G. Hoff, 1775. Page scans from the digital facsimile of the Landsbókasafn Íslands copy. The Old Icelandic text is transcribed from 18th-century Fraktur (blackletter) typeface; readings are editorial where the Fraktur is ambiguous. Stanza numbering follows the printed edition but is corrected where Fraktur numerals are misleading (e.g., Fraktur '4' resembling '2', '0' resembling '6' — noted by previous translators in this lineage). Public domain.
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