Composed by Þorlákr Guðbrandsson, formerly Sheriff of Ísafjörður, and Árni Böðvarsson. A narrative verse cycle recounting the deeds of Úlfar the Strong and his brothers — their royal lineage traced from biblical kings, their sea voyage into the unknown, and their storm-tossed arrival at a green and leafy shore. First printed at Hrappsey by E.G. Hoff in 1775. No English translation has previously existed.
Fyrsta Ríma — The First Ríma
Mansöngr and Opening
[Stanzas 1–13 are inaccessible. The source pages (pp. 4–5 of the 1775 Hrappsey edition) could not be read due to file system locks on the page scan images. These stanzas contain the mansöngr (lyric prelude invoking Odin and the art of poetry) and the opening of the biblical genealogy, culminating in Zorobabel's building of the Temple. Future translators with access to the 1775 or 1834 editions should fill this gap.]
14.
The Jews had long been without glory,
who had suffered oppression long.
But Daniel taught the Christian Faith
to the King and all his company.
15.
From the beginning of all ages
the years one may reckon:
four hundred, three thousand,
thirty-five and eight.
16.
Clarelius was called, famed in battle,
the King's highest Commander.
He was the foremost warrior of old —
since none could be his equal.
17.
The troop would no longer stand
in the press of battle;
the King instead led his army home,
back to the lands of Persia.
18.
Wise in counsel the King walked,
God inclined him toward peace.
Twenty and nine years were counted
that Nebuchadnezzar gloriously reigned.
19.
The prince, after worldly cares,
bowed from the red ring of power.
Cambyses came to the kingdom
at King Cyrus's bidding.
20.
The great King's name was known at home,
enjoying the hand's splendor.
He seemed not equal to the other
in neither virtue nor honor.
21.
When he seated himself in the kingdom,
though widely he held dominion,
dissolute he acted in most things —
as God might well reckon.
22.
None could bear the indolence
and the prince's great offenses;
therefore many fled away
and departed from the land.
23.
Clarelius considered this —
that hence would come constraint;
he gathered his forces together
and departed from the land.
24.
Swiftly the lord departed
from the fields of his domain;
horses bore them to the harbor —
they had long toil ahead.
25.
The waves rolled about the hull,
the rollers drove the wagons forth,
until the warriors at a welcome harbor,
at Dalmaria, arrived.
26.
The host went from the ship's hold
onto land with gladness.
A prince called Daneval
was he who ruled Dalmaria.
27.
To him was every skill bestowed,
life's greatest flowering.
Likewise I am told
he had a noble Queen.
28.
The prince's daughter Elena was called —
she surpassed every maiden;
not among the halls of Greeks
could a nobler one be found.
29.
Clarelius came to meet the King
with his able company;
there for three winters' time he stayed,
well-esteemed in all things.
[Stanzas 30–38 are inaccessible. Page 7 of the 1775 edition (printed page 13 of the scan series) could not be read due to file system locks. These stanzas continue the Clarelius-Daneval narrative and presumably introduce Úlfar's immediate family. The narrative resumes at stanza 39 with four brothers already named.]
The Four Brothers
39.
Oft Villifer raised the spear —
the second, Randver, bore the standard,
Bemundur third, a lord of warriors,
and fourth was Úlfar the Strong.
40.
No feat of strength seemed hard to them,
in might they always trusted;
yet Úlfar surpassed them all by far
in every fame and valor.
41.
None knew his full strength or might —
the breakers of swords believed
that he would never lack for power,
nor could it be diminished.
42.
His equal nowhere could be found,
neither on sea nor land;
no creature in the world's wide hall —
the unyielding, unconquered one.
43.
The King's son yearned for fame the most,
always striving to achieve.
The sovereign loved him above all,
of all his sons the dearest.
44.
The ruler of the land sat in peace,
as the seasons passed on;
none dared — fierce wielder of the brand —
to make war upon his kingdom.
The Voyage
45.
The brothers went to their father's
presence and spoke thus:
"We desire across the salmon-ground
to seek the wolf of the sea."
46.
"Many a man throughout the world
is bold in the clash of shields;
give us ships and a band of warriors —
we shall hold to the war-road."
47.
"You shall be swiftly provisioned,"
the King resolved to answer,
"twelve longships with lives and goods,
that lie at Arnartundi."
48.
"Enough gold upon the ships be brought,
and provisions of the finest."
The brothers thanked the King warmly
and swore themselves to the journey.
49.
He had the finest war-gear chosen,
the lord's command fulfilled;
the brothers' fleet stood ready,
in the best fashion of the world.
50.
Úlfar spoke: "Come morning,
let us raise the sails."
All who heard his words felt
it most fitting to obey.
51.
The day came, and the lady departed,
the warriors took their leave;
then in bright fair weather,
the men drove their wagons to shore.
52.
Hearts were eager for the spear's gold,
eagerly the many journeyed;
warriors came to the bright-ship's hall,
where the jetties awaited.
53.
All the horses of the sea —
they shook their other trappings.
The rollers on the waves' smooth surface,
fair ships beneath the rails.
54.
The splendid fire of Grettir's bane
carved through the prow-roads;
on the sea's pale shield, that fair steed
flung beams across the waves.
The Storm
55.
The brothers stepped aboard the hull's fair wind,
they prepared the prow-edges;
the wolf of the weather rushed
south, and cast a heavy breath.
56.
The sails thunder and the yard-arm creaks,
the ropes and rudder shrill;
the rigging groans in the current's course
when storms assail the ships.
57.
Rán's she-wolves sped forward,
the cruel eagle of the pyre whirled,
just as a shadow flickers and fades
before the harsh wind.
58.
The ship's burden shifted mood,
the wind seemed almost fair;
but for the Vikings on their wet bed
it lasted seven days.
59.
Then a giant howled aloud
and whipped the storms to fury;
long the grey spray of the ocean
raged about the serpent's mast.
60.
Harshly from the deep the wave-ride went,
so the crew nearly despaired;
eight days across the swelling surge —
the storm would never abate.
61.
The stallion of the surf's fierce maid
pressed upon both sides;
the rudder failed, a single wave
tore the fleet asunder.
62.
The King's sons all sailed
upon a single ship.
The storm drove this one adrift,
and three others dared stay near him.
The Hamingja and the Gods
63.
The waves' armor bore them then,
the surges tumbled wide.
Just so through the ice-blue age,
tossed to every side.
64.
"Why does the luck-spirit wander here,
settling not at all?
Or shall she count it her task
to chill you, Úlfar, at her call?"
65.
"O gods of the current and storm,
still your swift-rising wrath;
let the lords of all the serpent's road —
let spirit and mind prevail."
66.
"Never from this let your fame
or boldness diminish,
though Úlfar meet doubt's brow
and all his glories be traded away."
67.
"One may have the luck-spirit's strength in struggle,
though she settles not at once.
She does not ride to the other side
unless the ice-journey be won."
68.
With no counsel could fortune be found
before the wild tempest's blow;
crying out, he went to the gods
and freely spoke these words:
69.
"The eagle of storms gently goes
above my companions;
the Lord of the Moon grants him
his help and assistance."
70.
"Here where the firstborn, noble and strong,
heirs of great warriors —
let the warfare of the evil world
your Godhood banish now."
71.
"If warriors upon their steeds reach land,
the slain will ride the ship;
the host of einherjar at your side —
I think their numbers will thin."
The Norn and Álfheimar
72.
The god of fate attended with patience
what the Fortune-pressed one feared.
Such a report into his ears —
passionately it pierced.
73.
He found Skrýmnir's foster-child there
and was able to speak these words:
"Turn, O sweet and ancient Norn,
to Álfheimar I shall send you."
74.
"You have shown yourself a maiden of might,
though slow in your errands' tasks;
our greetings carry swiftly now
to both of Fornjotr's heirs."
75.
"Bid them, with the east wind's host,
to bind themselves from evil works,
and so to find the wolf-wading way —
a friend seeks Úlfar the Strong."
76.
The ancient wisdom found a way —
greatly did all fear him.
The giants' storm-wraith's angry roar
and Rán's currents grew weary.
77.
Ægir's great gathering of currents
steadily he parted.
The brother of fire to a sheltered harbor
guided the resting steeds.
78.
The ravens' horses found rest then,
peace on the familiar waters;
there was a fair land at the shore,
leafy with green blossoms.
The Poet's Farewell
79.
From the host the lord stood foremost,
swift as a serpent's strike;
warriors arrived — willing now,
most of the company of men.
80.
Me from the keel-lord's crown calls;
sleep and masquerade beckon.
Odin's cup has been drunk once —
thus ends the First Ríma.
Colophon
Úlfarrímur — The Rímur of Úlfar the Strong, Fyrsta Ríma (First Ríma)
Good Works Translation from Old Icelandic. Translated by Tulku Hrafn of the New Tianmu Anglican Church, April 2026, from the 1775 Hrappsey first edition page scan images.
This is the first English translation of any part of the Úlfarrímur. No previous English translation exists. The cycle was composed by Þorlákr Guðbrandsson (formerly Sheriff of Ísafjörður) and Árni Böðvarsson and first printed at Hrappsey by E.G. Hoff in 1775. A second edition was printed at Viðey in 1834.
Blood Rule statement: This translation was independently derived from the Old Icelandic source text as read from 1775 first edition page scan images. No reference English translation was consulted — none exists. The Icelandic was read directly from Fraktur typeface page images, transcribed, and translated. Kennings were rendered by contextual meaning following the Rímur Gameplan methodology.
Gaps: Stanzas 1–13 and 30–38 (22 of 80 stanzas) could not be translated because the corresponding page scan images returned file system errors (EDEADLK). These pages exist in the source volume but were inaccessible during this session. The garbled OCR text from the 1834 Google Books edition was consulted to confirm stanza numbers and narrative continuity but was too corrupted to serve as a translation source. Future translators should attempt to fill these gaps from the 1775 or 1834 editions.
Uncertain readings: Several stanzas contain dense kenning clusters characteristic of rímur poetry. Where readings were ambiguous in the Fraktur typeface, the most contextually consistent interpretation was chosen. Specific uncertain readings are noted in the source text section with [?] markers.
This is a partial translation — Ríma I of a multi-ríma cycle. The complete Úlfarrímur extends to approximately 225 printed pages.
Scribed for the Good Work Library by Tulku Hrafn, Rímur Translator, April 2026.
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Source Text: Rímur af Úlfari Sterka — Fyrsta Ríma
Old Icelandic source text transcribed from the 1775 Hrappsey first edition page scan images (Google Books). Fraktur typeface. Uncertain readings marked with [?]. Stanzas 1–13 and 30–38 omitted due to inaccessible source pages.
Stanzas 14–29 (pp. 5–6 of the 1775 edition)
-
Unnt var Gyðíngum orðloss nú,
er ofsað höfðu leingi.
Enn Daniel kenndi Chrístna Trú,
Kóngi og öllu hanns meingi. -
Frá uppbyrjan allda nú
Árinn telsa mátta;
Hundruð fjögur, þúsund þrjú,
þriátíu fimm og átta. -
Clarelius het fjarn við bör,
Kóngsinns Hershöfðingi.
Sá var Nýgsta foslur [?] bör,
síst ei hanns jafningi. -
Sveitinn vildi orrustí f [?] ecki
leingur standa;
Kóngurinn hellður hernum fói,
heim til Persía landa. -
Spakur í hyrðum Gramur gár,
Guð til fríðar mýkti.
Tuttuugu og níu tolduð ár,
er Nýggi frægur ríkti. -
Hilmir eptir heims umvieð,
hnie frá baugi rauðum.
Kom til ríkis Cambýseð,
að Kóngi Cýró bauðum. -
Heim var gesíð Rískungs Nafn,
niótí Handar ljóma.
Hann þóktí eí hinum jafn,
hverke að Dýgð ne Sóma. -
Þegar að ríki Sjólf sest,
fótótt víða átti.
Glepafullur gjördi flest,
Guð sem þhýggja [?] mátti. -
Ecki þolað olsðinn [?] feck,
Odlings glæpi stóru;
af þvi margur undann geck,
og í burtu fóru. -
Clareliuð hugsar hitt, hier af
stofnist bandi;
heimti saman Herlíð sitt,
og hellt í burt úr landi. -
Hlaupaletur Herrann frá
Hrañar [?] byr um grödi;
Hestar báru höfnu á,
höfðu lángamæði. -
Beðurinn hvöfs um höfta [?] brosn,
Hlunna vögnum ófu,
uns að dreingir þýra höfn,
við Dalmariam tófu. -
Ölldinn geck frá Upsa fal,
uppá land meó gledi.
Dögling fá het Daneval,
er Dalmaria reði. -
Hönum var alt til lista lagt,
lífsinns mesta blóma.
Eirnig líka er mier sagt,
hann átti Dróttning fróma. -
Döllings dóttir Elena het,
af bar hverju Sprundi;
Getíð er ei um Grickja flet,
gofugri finnast mundi. -
Clareliuð Kóngs á fund,
kom meó liðinu sniollu;
Var þar þríggia vetra stund,
velmetinn aö öllu.
Stanzas 39–80 (pp. 8–13 of the 1775 edition)
-
Opt Villifer ypti geir,
annar Randver merki,
Bemundur þridie sleina freyr,
fjörde Ulfar sterki. -
Þrek so alldrei þóktí strángt,
þeir ei afle treystí;
þó bar Ulfar af þeim lángt,
alla frægð og hreysti. -
Eingi veit hanns megn ne mátt,
meintu brjótar sverda,
aö hönum mundi aflafátt,
alldrei kunna verda. -
Hanns jafníngja hvergi fann,
hverki á fjó [?] ne landi,
hverri skepnu heims um rann,
hallóttinn [?] ósigrandi. -
Ursa [?] Kóngs til frægda flest,
fýsti þrátt aö vinna.
Unni hönum Oddlíng mest,
allra sona sinna. -
Sat í friði Fýlkir lands,
framm so stunder líða,
Eingi þordi ullur brands,
á hanns Ríki stríða. -
Bræður geingu á föður síns
fund, fá so hégðaö ræður:
Ofs lystir um Laxagrund,
aö leita vargi sædu [?]. -
Halur er margur heims um fal,
hraustur í fjúki skiallda;
fáid ofs skip og skatna tal,
Bier skulum í herz-nad hallda. -
Yður skal latíö ótt í te,
ansa Köngur mundi,
lángskip tólf med líf og fe,
er liggja á Arnartundi. -
Nóg skal Gull á skipinn fart,
og söuung [?] sem best til verda.
Bródur þacka Kóngi kiart,
og suördu sig til ferda. -
Hann let velia Hervöpn göd,
Hundings Bod og filldi;
Brádra [?] fo búinn söð,
í besta heimsins Gilldi. -
Ulfar mælti: Morgni aö,
minum vier segl upp draga.
Öllum þótti er hann kvad,
ágjarttígarst [?] þaga. -
Dagurinn kom, enn dísann leíð,
dreingir orðlof tófu;
Sídan aö bjartri bárn-heíð,
brantar vögnum ólu. -
Hugur var þyrstur Geirs í goll,
geyst hví margir fóru;
Barmar koma aö bírtings höll,
þar bryggjur fyir vöru. -
Hestar allir höfía [?] blóðs,
hröfuðu öðrum trefsum.
Röllin á lagi fílar stóðs,
fögrum undir refsum. -
Glöuðu deglig Grettis böl,
greyft um stasna [?] ferda;
Á fáta hlies hín fagra fol,
fleygdi geislum ulda [?]. -
Brædur stigu á bælu byr,
búfa hyriar þondu;
Vargur tries í vodirnaff [?] suhr,
og varpadi þúngri Öndú. -
Glýmja segl enn rýmur raung,
rafkar og styrinn gellsta;
streingir emja straums um gaung,
þá stormar skipinn ellsta. -
Ylgiur Ránar skýttu for,
slíðarn bals um srindi [?],
eins sem skygur elling [?] er,
undann hvosfum vindi. -
Bermi skipti bals um geð,
byrinn nærsta fagur,
Víkinga á votum beð,
varði siogur dagur. -
Þá nam Jötun hvaesa hátt, og
hveptana belgia storma;
Laungum drísur gjálfseið grátt,
geyst um siglu Orma. -
Beðríð hvast úr höfi geck,
so haldum nærsta egdi;
Átta daga um upsa beck,
alldrei storminu legdi. -
Blakka graðis brimla mey,
aö báðum síðum kreystí;
bilaðí stjórn, eín syllti [?] sley,
flotann sundur leysti. -
Grams launsynir allir á,
einu skipi fóru.
Humlung þenna hrakti frá,
og hín þríú nærst hönum þóru. -
Báru siöra byrni þá,
hylgíne víða elstu.
Eins heim ísfa alldann blá,
á ymsar siður velltú. -
Hvf [?] mun villa hamíngíann hjer,
hveckí sifka aö sinu.
Ellegar skal hún atla sier,
Ulfarð íslu þína? -
Ól þier Guðir straums og storms,
stilllíð reidi bráda;
Látiö drottna Öllu Orms,
Önd og sinni ráda. -
Alldreí vara af þvi nun, yðar,
frægö ne Belldi;
þó Ulfar hitti efi brún,
og allar frægdir selldi. -
Slóst má hafa hamlíngju [?] vió,
hveckí sifka aö sinni.
Ei ríd hún á aðra hlíð,
enn þo ísliö [?] vinni. -
Eíngu ráðið auðnann feck,
forír [?] ölmu Binda slagdi,
apandi til Guðanna geck,
gjafsann og þetta sagdi. -
Arne veðra höglífe fer,
uppá viní mína;
Herrann Mánar hönum ler,
hjálp og aðstoð sína. -
Hier sem elstiö erleg sterl,
arbsu Hereysiismanna [?],
latiö Végiö ilsfu verl,
yðar Guddóm banna. -
Ef virdar aö folum verda ná,
val nun ríodann snæcka,
líð einhería ydur hjá,
atla eg muni fæcka. -
Guð orlaga gjætti aö þol,
hvad Giæfann þrúnginn ræddí.
Soddann fregn hanns eyrum í,
ákafíga blédsdí [?]. -
Fann hann Skrýmnís fóstru korn,
og feck fo ordum venda;
Árkadu á sótur ollöruð Norn,
í Álfheima skal þig senda. -
Slóst þú vera svanninn mátt,
sein í eyrinda storfum;
Kvedín vora ber þú brátt
báðum Forniots Orfum. -
Inn þeim bjoði Austra líð,
illsku bindast verka,
og so líta vargia vóð,
vin finn Ulfar Sterka. -
Ellinu gamla Végi fann,
alla mjök þú hrædi.
Þursa storma reidinn rañ,
og Ránar stlum [?] mædi. -
Ægir stóru strauma sofn,
stódugt sundur greiddi.
Bróðir elldS á bæga hofn,
blunna fáka leiddi. -
Hramnar tófu hestar þá,
hvíld á lægi vanu;
þar var fagurt land vió lá,
laufgaö blómstri grænu. -
Stóð af volki Dróttinn bæst,
örasníor, snáka festi;
verdir tófu, vill þvi nærst,
viröa múgurinn flesti. -
Mig frá Kialarð Krúsar ál;
kallar svefn og gríma:
Ein er druckinn Odins Skál,
endast fyrsta Ríma.
Source Colophon
Source: Rímur af Úlfari Sterka, composed by Þorlákr Guðbrandsson and Árni Böðvarsson. First edition printed at Hrappsey by E.G. Hoff, 1775. Page scan images from Google Books digitization, staged in Tulku/Tools/rimur/ulfar_p*.jpg.
Edition notes: The 1775 Hrappsey edition is the editio princeps. A second edition was printed at Viðey (Blaustrí) in 1834 by D.M. Stephensen. The Google Books OCR text extraction of the 1834 edition (ulfarrimur_raw.txt) is severely corrupted and unusable as a translation source. The 1775 page scan images are clear Fraktur typeface, legible where accessible.
Manuscript basis: Published "eptir Síra Ejólfs á Bollum eigin handar rite" — from Síra Ejólf of Bollar's own hand-copy.
Pages read: ulfar_p7.jpg (title page), ulfar_p8.jpg (encomium), ulfar_p11.jpg–p12.jpg (stanzas 14–29), ulfar_p14.jpg–p19.jpg (stanzas 39–80). Pages ulfar_p9.jpg, p10.jpg, p13.jpg returned EDEADLK file system errors.
License: Public domain (published 1775, copyright expired).
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