Two rímur preserved in Stockholm 22 (A) and Stockholm 23 (B), both parchment, 4°. Previously edited by E. Kölbing in his Beiträge (1876). No direct original has been identified. The cycle draws on the widespread medieval Virgil legend: the tale of the master wizard humiliated by a princess who leaves him hanging in a basket, and his revenge through the extinction of all fire. The poet names himself Glettudiktar at the close of MS A. These are the only known English translations of the cycle.
Ríma I
Prologue
1.
Fine making grows difficult for men—
the skald must hold his tongue;
though I work at the thorny ground
it will come to nothing.
2.
First let Berlingr's vessel sail
from the shore of learning's sea—
he is the one master in southern lands
before whom clever clerics bow.
3.
I have practiced on the Western course
and chosen all my matter:
of that shrewd ring-rider
and the convener of sword-gatherings.
4.
Virgil was the smith of verse;
he stood before all clever clerics;
the treasure-tree sought learning—
so it is widely written in books.
5.
He had explored all clerics in the world
and driven them from their evil arts;
he won honor from every one of them
he encountered in the lands.
6.
Clear learning flees from many men
when a dear swan shuns them—
I wish to tell a tale
of this man.
7.
Many a necklace-Lín he gladdened,
mostly at his own will;
each let her sweetness become his
if he wished to court her.
8.
A ruler governed a great hall;
his glory stood in bloom;
he had a costly cloth-tree [daughter]
born with honor.
9.
Virgil invited the ruler home
to a long feast,
with both honor and gold as well—
so will fortune have it.
10.
The prince sat as his honored guest in the hall;
the white wine was plentiful;
the keeper of the treasure-pool
blazed beautiful before him.
11.
Virgil spoke to the ruler:
“Fair must be the king's daughter—
I wish to look upon that bright one now,
the linden-tree of red rings.”
12.
“I will not withhold the necklace-stave—
you may both meet;
there you will hear wise words;
she knows great learning.”
13.
He hurried off to the bower
to find the bright lady;
“Master, come sit with the wise one!”—
said that mighty woman.
14.
The book-learning and all the arts—
I heard both put to use;
no other wealth-tree did he find
anywhere like her.
15.
“Wise is the maid,” said Virgil—
“I wish to clasp you in my arm;
my journey here was for that purpose—
little need to teach you further.”
16.
The most costly cloth-stave replied:
“Fool one might call you—
if you speak such words again,
you shall prosper not at all.”
17.
Virgil walked out at that
and would hear no more—
so I heard anger and grief grow
from the ring-goddess's words.
18.
The sword-Freyr came the next day
to find the wealth-tree;
the first visit had profited little—
and he let her know this:
19.
“Now the ring-ground shall hear
how this must go—
you shall learn my temper
or suffer the greatest sorrows.
20.
If you wish to refuse me, maiden,
I must make use of arts;
then shame will strike upon you
if we must strive at this.
21.
If you do my will
and accomplish it with ease,
your power shall not lessen—
no one will hear of it.”
[22–23.]
[Two stanzas not preserved in the OCR digitization of the source. The apparatus indicates: stanza 22 = the woman's response (first word svaráði, “answered”); stanza 23 = Virgil takes joy (main text) or begins to rejoice (MS B variant: nam gleðjaz). The probable reading: she feigned agreement; he was pleased. The Virgil basket legend requires this — she must appear to consent before setting the trap.]
24.
The sun moved off from the mountains—
it went long into the sea—
the ruler graciously gave Virgil
leave to depart.
25.
He crept secretly away into the night,
seeking what darkness brings;
it seems to me most fitting
that one comes near to something of the sort.
26.
The master went out into the darkness
just like any other man;
he finds what adds to grief:
a rope hanging there.
27.
The rope he wound quietly about him
and then jerked at the end;
those women hauled him up
who knew how to turn virtue.
28.
They pulled the master halfway—
great is women's wrath—
“Let him wait there,” said the ring-rider,
“till bright sun shines on the sky.”
29.
He jerks the rope and shakes aloft—
what has the woman in mind?—
laughter and sneering can be heard;
all mercy was forgotten.
30.
He quickly took his belt from himself
and tied it to the rope's end;
little closer to the ground was he then—
arts were needed.
31.
He held the pole with both hands
and pulled for long hours;
the branch had to give way beneath him—
earth and gravel below.
32.
That was a fall — his foot flew free;
he got a wound on his hand—
I would curse the ring-valkyrie
if I endured such from a woman.
33.
The art-filled woman drew the rope up
quietly in the dark;
there the belt was set with gold
and much silver coin in a purse.
34.
So bold was he that he pushed himself
home through the air to his servants—
“I have fallen out onto the street—
greatly will this harm us.”
35.
He laid himself down in bed
and put splints on his foot;
the ring grips painfully around his heart—
the man is stripped of joy.
36.
The king came to the healers then—
that was not long delayed;
they said his foot was set in place;
the hand-graze heals fair.
37.
Though his legs were healed
and his shoulder's burdens light,
the man lies days like nights—
dark grief is upon him.
38.
The queen sent her handmaid out:
“You shall tell the master:
go seek wise Virgil—
I wish to see him myself.”
39.
The girl spoke to the necklace-being:
“Greatest is this grief's peril—
go find the ring-ground;
she will receive you quickly.”
40.
Virgil sprang quickly to his feet
and went in scarlet clothing;
his heart grew glad at its root—
he cast off grief and weariness.
41.
He hurried out to the bower
to find the bright maiden—
“Have you been gripped by great sorrow?”—
the woman began to ask.
42.
“All my love I give to you—
you are the best of clerks—
if you would do me this one favor:
become a horse just now.”
43.
“I know not why you ask this,
sweetest ring-Nanna”—
the verse-smith became a horse;
I heard the swan make her move.
44.
She bridled then the quick horse
and fastened the fine saddle;
she fixed spurs upon her feet—
the woman was eager to ride.
45.
That was done thoroughly to the prince
as he had come to walk her flanks;
the maiden spurred the hollow-deer—
ice lay on the hillsides then.
46.
Forward over lava and hard gullies
the silk-woman galloped;
snow often lay near the path—
ditches had to be crossed.
47.
The maiden galloped over the crags so hard
that fire flew up against her;
hooves split on the lava—
the sole grew sore on rock.
48.
The prince was driven hard about the head;
hot ran blood from his wounds;
the spurs cut sharply at his flanks—
no dry cloth for his withers.
49.
All day in a wild ride
the wealth-woman galloped;
the whip was often hard on his flanks—
least fit to linger.
50.
The day was spent when the swan rode
back to visit her hall;
the maiden had to slacken the pace—
much easier to sit.
51.
The swan yanked the saddle from the horse
and set the bit around his forehead:
“Devil's son, run off there—
rather than you embrace me.”
52.
Virgil was bruised and weary
and could barely walk;
so has the wise swan always
conquered the bold warrior.
53.
He stumbled home through the air
and laid himself down in bed.
Fjölnir's wine must first flow from them
into the measure of hours.
Ríma II
1.
Just now the good ship of the East
crashed on fury's shore—
then the work will seem wanting
if such craft is made.
2.
It was told me that the whip-ground
stripped the warrior of all mercy;
this will quickest slow the temper—
all cunning is at an end.
3.
The clerk recovered, though slowly;
he was eager to ride—
I cannot tell men clearly
just how far he traveled.
4.
The man rode away—as was expected—
and thanked the king for his honor;
he did not bid farewell to the wealth-goddess—
she retained all her bloom.
5.
This mocking deed may be heard of—
the one the ring-stave committed;
their contest the ornament-ground
wrote up on her cloth.
6.
Old women spread it abroad,
all women and children who speak it:
“Virgil means to seduce
all the women here.”
7.
The ruler grew angry at those
who spread the clerk's disgrace;
I must tell the people
what next came to hand.
8.
Early in the day in the ruler's hall
the men stood in their clothes;
the cauldron-fires had grown cold—
such is come into the story.
9.
Cooks ran through streets and squares,
hurrying to their work;
no fire was found in the city—
all marveled when they heard.
10.
The men sought fire then—
it brought them only grief;
it extinguished, and the people suffered—
as was seen throughout the city.
11.
So it went on for more than a month;
they could not have fire;
the king saw that soon
he must abandon the city.
12.
The king walked out from his hall;
the people followed close behind;
a man came before him then—
none will wonder at it.
13.
The man was aged, an arrow's friend,
all gray about the hair;
the great steel-breaker wore
a shaggy old coat.
14.
He greeted the king with full honor
and offered a fair salute:
“Your fire is gone, my lord—
it is mocked at far and wide.
15.
I count it the king's duty
to examine such a danger—
have you, lord, sought no remedy at all?”
16.
“Indeed we are at fortune's edge;
wisdom begins to fail me—
but speak your remedy if you see one;
you shall be rewarded truly.”
17.
“The men will find it shameful,
though necessity presses—
I am slow to speak the remedy;
truly that is the hardship.
18.
Raise an assembly in this city—
it shall last three nights;
neither in the districts nor the squares
shall men stay home.
19.
Set up fire-bellows on a high hill
and bring eight bellows to the work;
fire will come on the fourth sun—
I will vouch for that, king.
20.
Have your daughter, lord,
stripped of her clothes by men;
the wealth-Lín will not be harmed—
I shall answer for it.
21.
Four bold warriors
shall hold the woman's legs apart;
her head shall rest upon the hill,
and all shall work the bellows.”
22.
“With bellows wind on both sides
the bride's thighs shall be fanned;
none but the spring of wealth
can remedy this for the king.”
23.
The mild lord spoke back to him—
I must pick up his words—
“That devil's son shall be hanged
who puts such shame on my daughter.”
24.
“The gallows will not harm me—
guard yourself from danger.
Take that counsel the ruler
feels will find you better grace.”
25.
The old man scurried off to the forest;
there their meeting parted;
the king pondered deeply on the hardship
and how it might be resolved.
26.
This counted as struggle and difficulty—
that he should put it to the test;
the assembly summons went through the squares—
the queen was to know nothing of it.
27.
So thick were the men at the assembly—
rare are such examples—
the lord also called his daughter there
and the men to that place.
28.
The queen came with her women's troop—
she knew all the arts—
every man who looked on the ring-tree
had little care for sorrow.
29.
The bride yielded up her strength—
she meant to stand quietly—
“Now is the time,” said the powerful king,
“for the people to lend a hand.”
30.
Many seized the necklace-tree;
men stripped her of her clothes;
all the swan-troop looked on;
the king himself saw this.
31.
They turned her head downward
and held up both her feet;
the woman was given little peace—
the queen was stripped of grace.
32.
Men held her thighs apart
and looked between her legs;
there was heat but no tinder there—
hard blowing must be done.
33.
So hard were the bellows blown
that it bellowed in the hocks;
Virgil was not stinting
in paying the woman back for her game.
34.
The cold blast came slowly on;
the men worked at full strength;
cups were held directly at the cowl;
most found it wearing, I say.
35.
Two great hours went by;
the wood dripped with men's sweat;
no closer to a bright flame
than blowing at cold stone.
36.
The men traded off at the blowing—
little arranged for their ease;
yet there came at last, though long the wait,
a loosing of smoke and vapor.
37.
Sparks flew out of brightness swiftly—
things improve indeed at the forge—
the people were now wonderfully glad
and rejoiced in their work.
38.
There came that old man who had given the advice—
a torch in his hand:
“Here has the ember found its kindling—
noble is this woman.”
39.
Men brought firewood to it
and hurried home with fire;
neither flame nor bath was lacking
to the men that evening.
40.
The fire never went out again—
the swan bowed her head always—
until a hearth-fire followed every man
home to his dwelling.
41.
Then the fire began to fall low;
I heard the swan speak:
“I have received shame and great grief
at this man's hands.
42.
It was deserved,” said the necklace-oak,
“though I get little power from it—
I was so firm in this play
that I would soften toward no man.
43.
Whoever causes the great lady
to mock the gold-tree of men,
may fire burn between both her legs
and may I pray it cannot be quenched.
44.
I have received shame and grief firmly,”
the swan said thoughtfully;
“women should beware of this above all—
to refuse any man.
45.
Whoever offers a sweet kiss
and will not grant grace after,
grimly will that jewel of gold
pay for such a danger.
46.
Whoever promises her favor
and will not bring herself to it—
that woman shall receive my example;
I may boldly swear to it.”
Colophon
Translated from Old and Middle Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Source: Rímnasafn II, ed. Finnur Jónsson, Copenhagen 1905–1922, pp. 856–870. Manuscripts: Stockholm 22 (A, primary) and Stockholm 23 (B, secondary), both parchment, 4°. The editorial Bemærkninger in the Rímnasafn edition were consulted for difficult readings and variant manuscript readings.
The Virgilesrímur belongs to the medieval Virgil legend cycle, a body of European folklore entirely distinct from Virgil the classical poet. The legend-Virgil is a sorcerer: the most learned man in the world, possessing complete mastery over the natural and magical arts. Two famous tales circulated widely from at least the 12th century: the basket story (Virgil humiliated by a princess who leaves him hanging overnight in a basket raised to her window) and the fire story (Virgil extinguishes all fire in the city; it can only be retrieved from a woman's body). Both appear in Latin, French, German, and Dutch versions. This Icelandic rímur cycle combines both tales into a single narrative in which the princess and Virgil are the same principals throughout.
The poet names himself Glettudiktar at the close of MS A: “nv eru vti Glettvdickta totrar” — “now Glettudiktar's verses are out.” Nothing more is known of this poet.
Stanzas 22–23 of Ríma I are not preserved in the OCR digitization of the source. The editorial apparatus in Rímnasafn confirms they existed; variant readings survive but the full stanza text is obscured in the scan. The gap is noted in the translation. Two rímur: Ríma I 51 recovered stanzas (53 total, 2 damaged), Ríma II 46 stanzas.
The closing monologue of the princess (Ríma II, stanzas 41–46) is a remarkable piece of forced public confession staged for maximum humiliation. The princess applies Virgil's revenge to herself as a general lesson and issues a curse against any woman who refuses a man. The translator has rendered it without softening.
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Source Text
Virgilessrímur.
I.
-
Vandaz monnum vísna gjord,
verður skáld að þagna ;
þótt eg yrki um þorna Jorð
það vill ekki hagna . -
þar skal fyst af fræða strond
fljóta Berlings skúta,
sá er einn meistari suðr í lond
er svinnir klerkar lúta . -
Vandað hefr eg Vestra skeið
og valið í gjorvoll efni
um þá hosku hringa reið
og hjorva þinga stefni. -
Virgiles hét vessa smiðr,
hann var fyri klerkum klókum;
sótti fræðin seima viðr,
segir svó víða í bókum. -
Kannað hefr hann klerka um heim
og kvatt af listum vondum,
hann bar heiðr af hverjum þeim
sem hittuz út í londum . -
Morgum firnaz fræðin skýr
ef firriz elskan svanni ,
eg vil inna ævintýr
eitt af þessum manni. -
Marga gladdi menja Lin
mest að sínum vilja,
hver lét búna blíðu sín,
ef beiddiz hann að gilja. -
Stillir réð fyri stórri họll ,
stóð hans vegr með blóma,
dýra átti dúka þoll,
dóttur ól með sóma. -
Virgiles bauð vísir heim
veizlu að þiggja langa,
þar með bæði sæmd og seim
svó vill auðnan ganga .
61 Monnum firnist
41 Virgiles
: her og i reglen over-
hvor rimet kræver -es.
VIRGILESS RÍMUR I
10. Niflung sitr hann næsta í holl,
nóg er vínið hvíta,
gullaz var honum geymipoll
geysiant að líta.
11. Virgiles að vísi kvað :
„væn mun dóttir inga,
ljósa vil eg nú líta í stað
lindi rauðra hringa" .
12. „Meina eg eigi menja skorð
og megi þið hittaz bæði,
þar má heyra hosklig orð,
hún kann mikla fræði“ .
13. Skunda réð hann skemmu á vit
skýra frú að finna:
„meistarinn, gakk til svinnrar og sit",
segir sú voldug kvinna .
14. Bóka nám og brogðin oll
bæði frá eg þau greina,
ongva fann hann auðar þoll
aðra slíka neina .
15. „Vitr er mær, kvað Virgiless
vil eg þig armi spenna,
fús var hingað ferð til þess,
fátt þarf yðr að kenna“.
16. Dýrust svaraði dúka skorð :
„dára má þig kalla,
ef þú talar optar þessi orð,
þrífaz skultú valla".
149 þau
- Virgiless gekk við það út
og vildi ei heyra fleiri
svó frá eg efldiz angr og sút
orð af bauga Eiri. - Odda Freyr kom annan dag
auðar þoll að finna,
litt var ferðin fyrr í hag,
frá og hann þetta inna: - „Nú skal heyra hringa grund
hvessu hlýtr að ganga,
þú munt mekta mína lund
eðr mestar sorgir fanga. - Vilir þú jungfrú verjaz mér,
verð eg listar neyta,
þá skal skommin skella þér,
ef skulu við þetta þreyta. - Vilir þú gjora viljann mín,
og vinna það með létta,
ei skal minkaz maktin þín,
munu þat ongvir frétta". - Brúðrin svarar og bleikir kinn,
brogðin kunni hún meiri :
„vinn eg gjarnan viljann þinn
ef vissi það ongvir fleiri“ . - Vist tók gleðina Virgiless,
varð honum margra dæmi ,
branda Týr var brátt til þess
að brúna nóttin kæmi.
eðr: og.
VIRGILESS RÍMUR I
24. Sólin færiz fjollum af,
fór í æginn langa,
vegligt leyfi vísir gaf
Virgiless að ganga .
25. Loptið skamt með leynd á braut,
hann leitar þess er náttar,
þá er mér næst ef nægiz þraut
að náumz við einhvers háttar.
26. Meistarinn gekk í myrkrið út
mjog sem annar drengr,
hittir það sem herðir sút,
hvar hangir linustrengr.
27. Kaðli vefr hann kyrt að sér
og kippir síðan enda,
draga hann upp þá drósir þær
er dygðir kunnu að venda.
28. Meistarann drógu á miðja leið,
mikil er kvenna reiði,
„bíði hann þar, kvað bauga reið,
að bjort skin sól í heiði“ .
29. Hnykkir streng en hristir lopt,
hvað hefur snót í ráðum,
þar má heyra gabb og glott,
gleymt var ollum náðum .
30. Beltið tók hann brátt af sér
og batt i snæris enda,
litlu var hann þá láði nær,
listir þurfti að venda .
anar dreingur. 3 það þann. 4 hvar h.: og hekk einn .
brátt: breitt.
- Sprotanum helt hann hondum tveim ,
hnykkir þar langar stundir.
lindinn varð að losna af þeim,
leir og grjót er undir. - það var fall að fótrinn stokk,
fekk hann sár á hendi,
bolva munda eg bauga Hlokk,
ef biða eg slíkt af kvendi. - Línu dregr upp listarfull
linna brík í hljóði,
þar var beltið búið við gull
og brigðumart í sjóði. - Svó er hann hraustr að hnekkir þá
heim í lopt til sveina,
,.stokkið hefr eg stræti á,
stórt vill oss til meina“. - Lagðiz hann í hvílu niðr
og hafði spelkur að fæti,
hringrinn legz um hjartað stríðr,
halrinn firriz kæti . - Lofðung kemr þá læknum að,
lítil var það seina,
fótinn segja þeir festa í stað,
fagrt grær handar skeina. - þótt hann hefði heila fætr
og hæga axlar karma,
drengrinn liggur daga sem nætr,
dapra fær hann harma.
harmrinn
4 brigða
373 dr .
VIRGILESSRÍMUR I
38. Drottning sendi þernu þess :
„þetta skaltu inna,
sæktu vitran Virgiless,
vil eg hann sjálfan finna“.
39. Mærin talar við menja lund :
„mest er sút til váða,
far þú að hitta hringa grund,
hún vill skjótt þig náða“ .
40. Virgiless spratt fljótt á fætr
og fór í skarlaksklæði ;
honum varð glatt um hjarta rætr,
hratt hann sút og mæði.
41. Skunda réð til skemmu út
skýra drós að finna;
„hafi þér fengið feiknasút?",
fljóð nam slíkt að inna.
42. „Alla gefr eg elsku þér
ertú klerkr inn besti,
ef þú vildir veita mér
að verða þegar að hesti" .
43. „Þeygi veit hví þessa biðr
þýðust hringa Nanna" ;
varð að hesti vessa smiðr,
við frá eg bregða svanna .
44. Beislar hún þá bráðan hest
og batt upp soðulinn fríða,
hún hefur sér spora á fætur fest,
fljóði er ant að ríða .
424 ад-
- Það var prins meðr goddum gjort,
er ganga skyldi að síðum ;
mærin þeysir þófa hjort,
þá var svell í hlíðum . - Framm um hraun og harðar gjár
hleypir silkinanna,
þá lá opt við þófa snjár,
þrátt varð díki að kanna. - Mærin hleypti hamra svá
hraut upp eldr á móti,
hófar sprungu hrauni á,
hrum varð il á grjóti . - Prinsið gekk um hofuðið hart,
heitt rann blóð úr sárum,
sporarnir saxa síður snart,
sér ei þurt á nárum . - Allan dag með æðiferð
auðar hleypir selja,
svipan er opt með síðum herð,
sízt er fengur að dvelja. - Sett var degi er svanninn reið
sinnar hallar vitja,
mærin verðr að minka skeið,
miklu er hægra að sitja . - Svanninn kipti soðli af mar
og setti bitil um enni :
„herjans sonrinn hlauptu þar
heldr en þú mig spenni".
æsi- .
með
VIRGILESSRÍMUR
52. Virgiless var meiddr og móðr
og mátti ganga valla,
svó hefr jafnan svanninn fróðr
sigrað garpa snjalla.
53. Lúðrar hann í loptið heim,
lagðiz niðr í hvílu .
Fjolnis vín mun fyst af þeim
falla í stundar mílu .
II.
-
Áðan fell við óðar lond
Austra knorr inn friði
þá munu þikkja verkin vond,
ef verður þvílíkt smíði. -
Sagt var mér að sveigar grund
svipti garpinn náðum,
það mun skjótast lýja lund
lokið er gllum ráðum. -
Heill varð klerkr og heldur seint,
honum er ant að ríða,
það fæ eg ei fyri gumnum greint
glogt hvárt hann fór víða. -
Reið í burt þegn og þess var ván
og þakkar kóngi sóma,
ekki kvaddi hann auðar Rán,
ollum helt hún blóma.
þikja at verki vandr. -
Heyraz má sú hæðnin gjorð
er hafði bauga skorða,
skiptin þeirra skrauta Jorð
hún skrifar upp á sinn borða. -
Kallzar um það kerling hver
konur og born sem mæla:
„Virgiless mun vilja hér
vifin gjorvoll tæla" . -
Ræsir leggur reiði á þá
sem reifa klerksins vanda ;
inna verð eg ýtum frá
enn hvað berr til handa. -
Árla dags í oðlings holl
ýtar stóðu í klæði,
kólnuð vóru kastar troll,
komið er slíkt í fræði . -
Steikarar hlaupa um stræti og torg,
starfa sínum skunda,
eigi fanz þá eldr í borg,
alla frá og það undra. -
Eldinn sækja þegnar þá,
þeim tók draga til sorgar,
sloknar hann, en þjóð fekk þrá,
þegar að sá til borgar. -
Svó fór meir en mánað framm,
mátti ei eldsins njóta ;
buðlung sér að brátt mun hann
borgina eyða hljóta .
skrifar hún á b .
VIRGILESSRÍMUR
12. Hilmir gengur hollu frá,
hans náir þjóðin gengi ;
maðr kom einn í mót honum þá,
mun það undraz engi.
13. Elliligr var orva njótr,
allur grár fyri hærum,
stóran hafði stála brjótr
stakk af loðnum gærum .
14. Vegliga kvaddi hann kónginn heldr,
kunni heilsan fríða :
„yðr er herra horfinn eldr,
hlegið er að því víða.
15. Skyldast tel eg það skjoldungs nið
að skynja slíkan váða,
hafi þér lofðung látið við
leita ongra ráða ?“ .
16. „Vist er heldr á hamingju bil,
hyggju vit mun þrjóta,
seg þó ráð ef sér þú til,
sannliga skaltú njóta“ .
17. „Það mun þykkja þegnum háð,
þótt þeim nauðir grandi,
er eg því seinn að segja ráð,
sannliga er það vandi .
18. Reistu þing í þessari borg,
það skal nátta þriggja,
hvórki skulu um heruð né torg
heima ýtar liggja .
var þjóð inn gengin.
- Bú þú afl á háfum hól
og haf til belgi átta,
fáz mun eldr á fjórðu sól,
fylki vil eg það vátta. - Dóttur láttu dogling þín
drengi klæðum fletta,
ekki meiðiz auðar Lín,
eg skal borga þetta . - Fjórir haldi fótum frá
fljóðsins garpar snjallir,
hofuðið liggi hóli á,
og herði blástrinn allir. - Báðum skal við belgja vind
brúðar lærum fletta,
enginn má nema auðar lind
oðling bæta þetta" . - Milding hefr svo mælt við hann,
mun eg hans orð að tína,
„herjans son skal hengja þann,
sem hæðir dóttur mína“ . - „Eigi mun gálgi granda mér,
geym þú þín við váða.
haf það ráð er ræsir þér
ræz
til betri náða“ . - Skræmiz kall á skóg í braut,
skilr þar þeirra fundi,
þengill huxar heldr um þraut
hvessu að ganga mundi .
251 skrýmest
VIRGILESSRÍMUR II
26. þat telz honum í þrætu borg
að þetta skyldi hann reyna,
þingboð gengur þegar um torg,
því skal drottning leyna .
27. Svó vóru þykt á þingi menn,
þess eru dæmi valla,
dóttur sína dogling enn
drengi lét þangað kalla .
28. Drottning kom með kvenna sveit,
kunni hún fræði alla,
hverr sá maðr er hringpoll leit
harma gáði valla.
29. Brúðrin alt at afli víkr,
ætlar kyrr að standa,
„þegar er ráð, kvað þengill ríkr,
þjóð að neyta handa" .
30. Margir grípa menja þoll
menn og klæðum fletta,
horfði á svanna sveitin oll,
sér og hilmir þetta .
31. Hofði snúa þeir hennar niðr
heldu upp fótum báðum,
lítt var fljóði fenginn friðr,
flett var drottning náðum .
32. Lýðir halda lærum sundr
og líta á millum fóta,
þar var heitt en hvergi tundr,
hart mun blása hljóta.
létþangað: læturB; lét hann
fram að В.
- Svo var blásið belgjum hart
að belja tók í nárum,
Virgiless lét valla spart
vífi að launa dárun . - Kalda-blástrinn sóktiz seint,
seggir orku neyta,
koppum helt við kófið beint,
kveð eg það flesta þreyta . - Stórar gengu stundir tvær,
stokkur sveiti holdum,
eigi var bjortu báli nær
en blési að steini koldum. - Blástrinn skiptaz skatnar við,
skipað var lítt til sælu,
þar kom loks þó long sé bið,
að laust upp reyk og svælu. - Gneistar flugu af birti brátt,
batnar víst í smiðju,
fólkið varð nú furðu kátt
og fagnar sinni iðju . - Þar kom kall sá kendi ráð,
kerti hefr
í hendi :
„hér hefr glossi gumpi náð,
gofugt er þetta kvendi" . - Skatnar báru skíðin að
og skunda heim með eldi ;
hvórki skorti bál né bað
bragna á þessu kveldi .
hvórki
VIRGILESSRÍMUR II
40. Aldri sloknar eldrinn fyrr ,
einatt grúfði svanni,
en þegni fylgdi hverjum hyrr
heim að sínum ranni.
41. þá tók funi að falla niðr,
frá eg að talaði svanni :
„eg hef háð og hormung viðr
hlotið af þessum manni.
42. Makligt var, kvað menja eik,
þótt maktar njóti eg valla,
var eg svó þrá í þessum leik
að þýðaz ongva kalla.
43. Hver sem gjorir það gofgra snóta
að gabba seima runna,
brenni logi meðal beggja fóta
og bið eg ei slokna kunna.
44. Eg hef háð og harminn fest,
af hugðu talaði svanni,
vifin skyldu varaz það mest
að verjaz neinum manni.
45. Hver sem veitir vænan koss
og vill ei síðan náða,
grimmliga mun sá gullaz hnoss
gjalda slíkan váða.
46. Hver sem heitir hylli sín
og hefr sig ei til reiða,
drósin fær sú dæmin mín,
djarfliga má eg það eiða.
Source Colophon
From Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islændske Rimer, Bind 2, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, 1905–1922), pp. 856–870. Primary manuscript: Stockholm 22, 4°; secondary: Stockholm 23, 4°. Published by Samfund til Udgivelse af gammel nordisk Litteratur, XXXV.
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