Hárbarðsljóð

1. 1.

"Hverr er sá sveinn sveina, "Who is that swain of swains

er stendr fyr sundit handan?" who is standing on the other side of the

sound?"

Ferjukarlinn kvað: The ferryman said:

2. 2.

"Hverr er sá karl karla, Who is that churl of churls,

er kallar of váginn?" who is shouting across the water?"

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

3. 3.

"Fer þú mik um sundit, "Bring me across the sound,

fæði ek þik á morgun; I will give you food tomorrow;

meis hef ek á baki, I have a basket on my back,

verðr-a matr in betri; there has never been better eating;

át ek í hvíld, I ate while I was resting,

áðr ek heiman fór, before I left home,

síldr ok hafra; herring and goats;

saðr em ek enn þess." I am still full up from it."

Ferjukarlinn kvað: The ferryman said:

4. 4.

"Árligum verkum "[As] early work

hrósar þú, verðinum; you boast your meal;

veizt-at-tu fyrir görla, you are not quite aware,

döpr eru þín heimkynni, mournful are your folks at home,

dauð, hygg ek, at þín móðir sé." dead, I think, is your mother."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

5. 5.

"Þat segir þú nú, Now you are saying

er hverjum þykkir what seems to everyone

mest at vita, worst(1) to know,

at mín móðir dauð sé." that my mother be dead."

Ferjukarlinn kvað: The ferryman said:

6. 6.

"Þeygi er sem þú "Yet it is not as if(2) you

þrjú bú góð eigir; own three good dwellings;

berbeinn þú stendr you stand bare-legged

ok hefr brautinga gervi, and are wearing beggar's clothing,

þatki, at þú hafir brækr þínar." you are not even wearing your

breeches".

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

7. 7.

"Stýrðu hingat eikjunni, "Bring the boat over here,

ek mun þér stöðna kenna, - I will show you the berth, -

eða hverr á skipit, or who owns the ship

er þú heldr við landit?" that you are keeping by the shore?"

Ferjukarlinn kvað: The ferryman said:

8. 8.

"Hildolfr sá heitir, Hildolfr is his name

er mik halda bað, who told me to keep it,

rekkr inn ráðsvinni, the wise warrior

er býr í Ráðseyjarsundi; who lives on Ráðsey(3) sound;

bað-at hann hlennimenn flytja he told me not to ferry across rustlers

eða hrossaþjófa, or horse-thieves,

góða eina but only the good

ok þá, er ek görva kunna; and those I know well;

segðu til nafns þíns, give me your name

ef þú vill um sundit fara!" if you want to cross the sound!"

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

9. 9.

"Segja mun ek til nafns míns, "I will give you my name,

þótt ek sekr séak, even if I were outlawed [I would],

ok til alls eðlis: and with it my entire birth-line:

Ek em Óðins sonr, I am the son of Óðin,

Meila bróðir, the brother of Meili,

en Magna faðir, and the father of Magni,

þrúðvaldr goða, the strength-wielder of the gods,

við Þór knáttu hér dæma! know you you are speaking with Thor!

Hins vil ek nú spyrja, Now I want to ask in return,

hvat þú heitir." what your name is."

Ferjukarlinn kvað: The ferryman said:

10. 10.

"Hárbarðr ek heiti, "My name is Hárbarðr,(4)

hylk um nafn sjaldan." I rarely hide my name."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

11. 11.

"Hvat skaltu of nafn hylja, "Why should you hide your name,

nema þú sakar eigir?" unless you are under a charge?"(5)

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

12. 12.

"En þótt ek sakar eiga, "Even if I were under a charge,

þá mun ek forða fjörvi mínu I would still save my life

fyr slíkum sem þú ert, from such as you are,

nema ek feigr sé." unless I were doomed to die."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

13. 13.

"Harm ljótan "A hideous shame

mér þykkir í því it seems to me

at vaða um váginn til þín to wade through the water to you

ok væta ögur minn; and wet my bundle;(6)

skylda ek launa I would pay you back,

kögursveini þínum bundle-boy, for your

kanginyrði, jibing words,

ef ek kæmumk yfir sundit." if I crossed the sound."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

14. 14.

"Hér mun ek standa "Here I will stand

ok þín heðan bíða; and wait for your arrival;

fannt-a þú mann in harðara you would never find anyone doughtier

at Hrungni dauðan." since Hrungnir's death."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

15. 15.

"Hins viltu nú geta, "Now you want to talk about

er vit Hrungnir deildum, our dealings, Hrungnir and I,

sá inn stórúðgi jötunn, that great-minded jǫtunn,

er ór steini var höfuðit á; whose head was made of stone;

þó lét ek hann falla nonetheless I laid him low

ok fyrir hníga. and made him bend.

Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?" What did you get done in the meantime,

Hárbarðr?

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

16. 16.

"Var ek með Fjölvari "I was with Fjǫlvari

fimm vetr alla for all of five winters

í ey þeiri, on that island

er Algræn heitir; that is called Algræn;(7)

vega vér þar knáttum we joined battle there

ok val fella, and slaughtered people,

margs at freista, daring much,

mans at kosta." pursuing love."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

17. 17.

"Hversu snúnuðu yðr konur yðrar?" "How did your women turn out for you

two?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

18. 18.

"Sparkar áttu vér konur, "Lively women we would have had,

ef oss at spökum yrði; if they had dealt wisely with us;

horskar áttu vér konur, savvy women we would have had,

ef oss hollar væri; if they had been true to us;

þær ór sandi out of sand they

síma undu, spun ropes,

ok ór dali djúpum and from deep valleys

grund of grófu; dug out earth;

varð ek þeim einn öllum I alone versus them all

efri at ráðum; came out on top;

hvílda ek hjá þeim systrum sjau, I slept with the seven sisters,

ok hafða ek geð þeira allt ok gaman. and had my way and pleasure with them

all.

Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?" What did you get done in the meantime,

Thor?"

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

19. 19.

"Ek drap Þjaza, "I killed Þjazi,

inn þrúðmóðga jötun, the mighty-spirited jǫtunn,

upp ek varp augum I threw the eyes

Alvalda sonar of Alvaldi's son

á þann inn heiða himin; up above into the clear sky;

þau eru merki mest these are the greatest signs

minna verka, of my deeds,

þau er allir menn síðan of séa. which everyone since can see.

Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?" What did you get done in the meantime,

Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

20. 20.

"Miklar manvélar "Many dalliances

ek hafða við myrkriður, I had with night-riders,(8)

þá er ek vélta þær frá verum; when I lured them from their husbands;

harðan jötun a doughty jǫtunn

ek hugða Hlébarð vera, I thought Hlébarðr was,

gaf hann mér gambantein, he gave me a wand of might,

en ek vélta hann ór viti." but I magicked him out of his mind."(9)

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

21. 21.

"Illum huga "In an ill spirit

launaðir þú þá góðar gjafar." you then rewarded a good gift."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

22. 22.

"Þat hefr eik, "Let an oak have

er af annarri skefr, what it scrapes off another,

of sik er hverr í slíku. everyone looks to his own, likewise.

Hvat vanntu þá meðan Þórr?" What did you get done in the meantime,

Thor?"

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

23. 23.

"Ek var austr "I was in the East

ok jötna barðak and smote jǫtuns'

brúðir bölvísar, baleful wives,

er til bjargs gengu; as they headed for the mountains;

mikil myndi ætt jötna, the race of jǫtuns would number many

ef allir lifði if all were [still] alive,

vætr myndi manna [and] humans number zero

undir Miðgarði. in Miðgarð.

Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?" What did you get done in the meantime,

Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

24. 24.

"Var ek á Vallandi "I was in Valland(10)

ok vígum fylgdak, and carrying on war,

atta ek jöfrum, I incited rulers to war,

en aldri sættak; and never made peace;

Óðinn á jarla, Óðinn owns the jarls

þá er í val falla, who fall in battle,

en Þórr á þrælakyn." while Thor owns the thrall-kind."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

25. 25.

"Ójafnt skipta "To share unequally

er þú myndir með ásum liði, the hosts among the race of Æsir you

intend,

ef þú ættir vilgi mikils vald." if you had very great power."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

26. 26.

"Þórr á afl ærit, "Thor has enough strength,

en ekki hjarta; but not heart;

af hræðslu ok hugbleyði from fear and lack of courage

þér var í hanzka troðit, you were stuffed in a glove,

ok þóttisk-a þú þá Þórr vera; and seemed then not to be Thor;

hvárki þú þá þorðir in your fear

fyr hræðslu þinni you then dared neither

hnjósa né físa, sneeze nor fart,

svá at Fjalarr heyrði." such that Fjalarr(11) would hear."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

27. 27.

"Hárbarðr inn ragi, "You coward,(12) Hárbarðr,

ek mynda þik í hel drepa, I would kill you into Hel

ef ek mætta seilask um sund." if I could get my hands across the

sound."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

28. 28.

"Hvat skyldir um sund seilask, "Why should you reach across the sound

er sakir ro alls engar? when there is no reason at all?

Hvat vanntu þá, Þórr?" What did you get done then, Thor?"

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

29. 29.

"Ek var austr "I was in the East

ok ána varðak, and defending the river(13) alone

þá er mik sóttu when I was attacked

þeir Svárangs synir; by the sons of Svárang;

grjóti þeir mik börðu, with stones they pelted me,

gagni urðu þeir þó lítt fegnir, however they had little joy in their gains,

þó urðu þeir mik fyrri but were first before me

friðar at biðja. to sue for peace.

Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?" What did you get done in the meantime,

Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

30. 30.

"Ek var austr "I was in the East

ok við einhverja dæmðak, having fun with a certain female,

lék ek við ina línhvítu I played with the linen-white one

ok launþing háðak; and engaged in a tryst;

gladdak ina gullbjörtu, I pleased the gold-bright one,

gamni mær unði." the maid enjoyed our sporting."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

31. 31.

"Góð átt þú þér mankynni þar þá." "You had good girl-dealings that time."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

32. 32.

"Liðs þíns "Your help

væra ek þá þurfi, Þórr, I could have used then, Thor,

at ek helda þeiri inni línhvítu mey." in order to hold on to the linen-white girl."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

33. 33.

"Ek munda þér þá þat veita, "I would have given it you,

ef ek viðr of kæmumk." if I could have got to [you]."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

34. 34.

"Ek mynda þér þá trúa, "I would believe you,

nema þú mik í tryggð véltir." except you wobble(14) in your troth to

me."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

35. 35.

"Emk-at ek sá hælbítr "I am not so heel-biting

sem húðskór forn á vár." as an old rawhide shoe in springtime!"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

36. 36.

"Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?" "What did you get done in the meantime,

Thor?"

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

37. 37.

"Brúðir berserkja "Berserker females(15)

barðak í Hléseyju; I smote on Hlesey;(16)

þær höfðu verst unnit, they had done the worst things,

vélta þjóð alla." tricking(17) the whole people."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

38. 38.

"Klæki vanntu þá, Þórr, "You earned yourself shame there, Thor,

er þú á konum barðir." when you smote women."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

39. 39.

"Vargynjur þat váru, "They were she-wolves,(18)

en varla konur, and hardly women,

skelldu skip mitt, they shattered my ship,

er ek skorðat hafðak, which I had beached,

ægðu mér járnlurki threatened me with an iron cudgel

en eltu Þjalfa. and chased Þjalfi.

Hvat vanntu meðan, Hárbarðr?" What did you get done meanwhile,

Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

40. 40.

"Ek vark í hernum, "I was in the army

er hingat gerðisk that was marching this way,

gnæfa gunnfana, hoisting the war banner,

geir at rjóða." to redden the spear."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

41. 41.

"Þess viltu nú geta, "Now you mean to talk about

er þú fórt oss óljúfan at bjóða." how you set off to bring us enmity."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

42. 42.

"Bæta skal þér þat þá I am to make amends to you for that

munda baugi, with a hand ring,

sem jafnendr unnu, as the daysmen(19) determined,

þeir er okkr vilja sætta." those who want to settle our

differences."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

43. 43.

"Hvar namtu þessi "Where did you get those

in hnæfiligu orð, cutting words,

er ek heyrða aldregi than which I never heard

in hnæfiligri?" more cutting?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

44. 44.

"Nam ek at mönnum "I got them from those people

þeim inum aldrænum, the aged ones

er búa í heimis skógum." who live in the world's forests."(20)

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

45. 45.

"Þó gefr þú gott nafn dysjum, "You use a good term for cairns

er þú kallar þær heimis skóga." when you call them the world's forests."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

46. 46.

"Svá dæmi ek of slíkt far." "This is my judgement on the subject."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

47. 47.

"Orðkringi þín "Your word play

mun þér illa koma, will turn out badly for you

ef ek ræð á vág at vaða; if I determine to wade across the water;

ulfi hæra louder than a wolf,

hygg ek þik æpa munu, I think, you will howl

ef þú hlýtr af hamri högg." if you receive a blow from the hammer."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

48. 48.

"Sif á hó heima, "Sif has a boy-toy at home,

hans muntu fund vilja, you will want to find him,

þann muntu þrek drýgja, that daring [deed] you will achieve,

þat er þér skyldara." it is closer to you."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

49. 49.

"Mælir þú at munns ráði, "You speak on the advice of your mouth,

svá at mér skyldi verst þykkja, such things as will seem the worst to me,

halr inn hugblauði, cowardly man,

hygg ek, at þú ljúgir." I think(21) you are lying."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

50. 50.

"Satt hygg ek mik segja; "I think I am telling the truth;

seinn ertu at för þinni, you are too late on your travels,

langt myndir þú nú kominn, Þórr, you would have gone far by now, Thor,

ef þú litum færir." if you had left at daybreak."(22)

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

51. 51.

"Hárbarðr inn ragi, "You coward, Hárbarðr,

heldr hefr þú nú mik dvalðan." rather, you have delayed me."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

52. 52.

"Ása-þórs hugða ek "Ása-Thor's journeying

aldregi mundu I never thought

glepja féhirði farar." a ferryman could confound."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

53. 53.

"Ráð mun ek þér nú ráða; "I will now give you some advice;

ró þú hingat bátinum, row the boat over here,

hættum hætingi, let's stop the taunting,

hittu föður Magna." come and meet Magni's father."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

54. 54.

"Farðu firr sundi, "go back from the sound,

þér skal fars synja." Passage is denied to you."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

55. 55.

"Vísa þú mér nú leiðina, "Then show me the way,

alls þú vill mik eigi um váginn ferja." since you refuse to ferry me across the

water."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

56. 56.

Lítit er at synja, It's a small thing to deny,

langt er at fara; it's a long way(23) to travel;

stund er til stokksins, it's an hour to the stock,

önnur til steinsins, another to the stone,

haltu svá til vinstra vegsins, stay then with the left-hand path,

unz þú hittir Verland; until you come to Verland;(24)

þar mun Fjörgyn there Fjǫrgyn will

hitta Þór, son sinn, meet Thor, her son,

ok mun hon kenna hánum áttunga brautir and will show him his kindred's way

til Óðins landa." to the lands of Óðinn."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

57. 57.

"Mun ek taka þangat í dag?" "Will I get there today?"

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

58. 58.

"Taka við víl ok erfiði, "Toil and trouble get [you] there

at upprennandi(25) sólu, at the rising of the sun,

er ek get þána." as I think, more or less."

Þórr kvað: Thor said:

59. 59.

"Skammt mun nú mál okkat, "Short will our conversation now [be],

alls þú mér skætingu einni svarar; since you are answering me only with

mockery;

launa mun ek þér farsynjun, I will repay you for denying me passage,

ef vit finnumk í sinn annat." if we two meet again."

Hárbarðr kvað: Hárbarðr said:

60. 60.

"Far þú nú, "Go now,

þars þik hafi allan gramir." to where the fiends may have you whole."

Notes

1. Literally "biggest".

2. i.e., you don't look as if you do.

3. Isle of Good Counsel, apparently fictitious

4. Hoarybeard

5. Thor's first statement, " þótt ek sekr séak", appears to use sekr in its meaning under Icelandic law, "condemned to either greater or lesser outlawry". Its broader meaning is "sentenced". However, the noun sǫk, in the phrase here, "sakar eigir", usually refers to an accusation; it can mean a case one is bringing, although it is more often used of a crime one is accused of.

6. Ǫgur is a hapax legomenon (unique word) of uncertain meaning. Several scholars have taken it as referring to the container with Thor's previously mentioned meal; Bugge emended it to dǫgurð, "breakfast". Some recent translators have built on the fact Hárbarðr has said that Thor is bare-legged, and taken it as meaning his private parts. Guðbrandur Vigfússon was persuaded by the argument that since kǫgursvein occurs later in the verse, it should be amended to kǫgur, which should be taken to mean "quiver". The word otherwise means "quilt" in Icelandic, and the -svein and -barn compounds, although they could be used to mean "quiver-boy, quiver-bearer", are usually insults referring to a babe in arms - all bundled up. Also the "quiver" would refer to Thor carrying thunderbolts on his back that he does not want to get wet, something uncharacteristic. So I have kept it

generic but signalled that a connection has been suggested by using "bundle" and "bundle-boy".

7. Algræn: All-Green. This and Fjǫlvari are otherwise unknown.

8. Myrkriður may mean either ogresses or human hags/witches.

9. The second element in manvélar and the two vélti past tenses are forms of the same verb; he seduced them and drove Hlébarð mad through magic or other forms of trickery. The name literally means "leopard" but the word is used for many kinds of wild beast.

10. Valland occurs in sagas as "the land of the Welsh", i.e., foreign parts, often referring to France; but it could also mean "the land of valr", the slain, slaughter.

11. i.e., Skrymir

12. The adjective ragr has two separate highly insulting meanings. In this passage (repeated in verse 51) it is usually taken as "cowardly"; the other meaning is the same as argr, "sexually like a woman", and in this meaning it is one of the three words whose use is listed in Grágas as punishable by full outlawry - or justifying being killed on the spot.

13. Possibly Ifing, the river that flows between Asgard and Jǫtunheim.

14. Lit. "rotate".

15. Lit. brides, married women.

16. Læsø, Denmark

17. Véla again, as in Verse 20.

18. Feminine of vargr, the "wolf" word that also means an outlaw.

19. Jafnendr is a compacted version of jamyndir menn: local judges who determined the amount of a fine/wergild to be paid to settle a dispute.

20. The manuscripts have skógum and skóga in this and the following verse, but it is often amended to haugum and hauga, "mounds", on metrical and meaning grounds, starting with Bugge's edition. Heimr could be either "home" or "world/land" here.

21. In this and the next verse, hygg ek likely has the force of "I am sure".

22. This line is disputed. Other interpretations include "if you had travelled in disguise" and "if you had travelled in my boat".

23. This has also been read as one word, erat, in which case the line would mean "it's not a long way travelling".

24. "Land of Men"

25. This is the A manuscript reading; the Codex Regius has upverandi, with similar meaning.