Hárbarðsljóð

Old Norse

Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗

Þórr fór ór Austrvegi ok kom at sundi einu. Öðrum megin sundsins var ferjukarlinn með skipit. Þórr kallaði:

Stanza 1"Hverr er sá sveinn sveina, er stendr fyr sundit handan?"

Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Stanza 2"Hverr er sá karl karla, er kallar of váginn?"

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 3"Fer þú mik um sundit, fæði ek þik á morgun; meis hef ek á baki, verðr-a matr in betri; át ek í hvíld, áðr ek heiman fór, síldr ok hafra; saðr em ek enn þess."

Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Stanza 4"Árligum verkum hrósar þú, verðinum; veizt-at-tu fyrir görla, döpr eru þín heimkynni, dauð, hygg ek, at þín móðir sé."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 5"Þat segir þú nú, er hverjum þykkir mest at vita, at mín móðir dauð sé."

Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Stanza 6"Þeygi er sem þú þrjú bú góð eigir; berbeinn þú stendr ok hefr brautinga gervi, þatki, at þú hafir brækr þínar."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 7"Stýrðu hingat eikjunni, ek mun þér stöðna kenna, - eða hverr á skipit, er þú heldr við landit?"

Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Stanza 8"Hildolfr sá heitir, er mik halda bað, rekkr inn ráðsvinni, er býr í Ráðseyjarsundi; bað-at hann hlennimenn flytja eða hrossaþjófa, góða eina ok þá, er ek görva kunna; segðu til nafns þíns, ef þú vill um sundit fara!"

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 9"Segja mun ek til nafns míns, þótt ek sekr séak, ok til alls eðlis: Ek em Óðins sonr, Meila bróðir, en Magna faðir, þrúðvaldr goða, við Þór knáttu hér dæma! Hins vil ek nú spyrja, hvat þú heitir."

Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Stanza 10"Hárbarðr ek heiti, hylk um nafn sjaldan."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 11"Hvat skaltu of nafn hylja, nema þú sakar eigir?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 12"En þótt ek sakar eiga, þá mun ek forða fjörvi mínu fyr slíkum sem þú ert, nema ek feigr sé."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 13"Harm ljótan mér þykkir í því at vaða um váginn til þín ok væta ögur minn; skylda ek launa kögursveini þínum kanginyrði, ef ek kæmumk yfir sundit."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 14"Hér mun ek standa ok þín heðan bíða; fannt-a þú mann in harðara at Hrungni dauðan."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 15"Hins viltu nú geta, er vit Hrungnir deildum, sá inn stórúðgi jötunn, er ór steini var höfuðit á; þó lét ek hann falla ok fyrir hníga. Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 16"Var ek með Fjölvari fimm vetr alla í ey þeiri, er Algræn heitir; vega vér þar knáttum ok val fella, margs at freista, mans at kosta."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 17"Hversu snúnuðu yðr konur yðrar?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 18"Sparkar áttu vér konur, ef oss at spökum yrði; horskar áttu vér konur, ef oss hollar væri; þær ór sandi síma undu, ok ór dali djúpum grund of grófu; varð ek þeim einn öllum efri at ráðum; hvílda ek hjá þeim systrum sjau, ok hafða ek geð þeira allt ok gaman. Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?"

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 19"Ek drap Þjaza, inn þrúðmóðga jötun, upp ek varp augum Alvalda sonar á þann inn heiða himin; þau eru merki mest minna verka, þau er allir menn síðan of séa. Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 20"Miklar manvélar ek hafða við myrkriður, þá er ek vélta þær frá verum; harðan jötun ek hugða Hlébarð vera, gaf hann mér gambantein, en ek vélta hann ór viti."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 21"Illum huga launaðir þú þá góðar gjafar."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 22"Þat hefr eik, er af annarri skefr, of sik er hverr í slíku. Hvat vanntu þá meðan Þórr?"

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 23"Ek var austr ok jötna barðak brúðir bölvísar, er til bjargs gengu; mikil myndi ætt jötna, ef allir lifði vætr myndi manna undir Miðgarði. Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 24"Var ek á Vallandi ok vígum fylgdak, atta ek jöfrum, en aldri sættak; Óðinn á jarla, þá er í val falla, en Þórr á þrælakyn."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 25"Ójafnt skipta er þú myndir með ásum liði, ef þú ættir vilgi mikils vald."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 26"Þórr á afl ærit, en ekki hjarta; af hræðslu ok hugbleyði þér var í hanzka troðit, ok þóttisk-a þú þá Þórr vera; hvárki þú þá þorðir fyr hræðslu þinni hnjósa né físa, svá at Fjalarr heyrði."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 27"Hárbarðr inn ragi, ek mynda þik í hel drepa, ef ek mætta seilask um sund."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 28"Hvat skyldir um sund seilask, er sakir ro alls engar? Hvat vanntu þá, Þórr?"

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 29"Ek var austr ok ána varðak, þá er mik sóttu þeir Svárangs synir; grjóti þeir mik börðu, gagni urðu þeir þó lítt fegnir, þó urðu þeir mik fyrri friðar at biðja. Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 30"Ek var austr ok við einhverja dæmðak, lék ek við ina línhvítu ok launþing háðak; gladdak ina gullbjörtu, gamni mær unði."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 31"Góð átt þú þér mankynni þar þá."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 32"Liðs þíns væra ek þá þurfi, Þórr, at ek helda þeiri inni línhvítu mey."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 33"Ek munda þér þá þat veita, ef ek viðr of kæmumk."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 34"Ek mynda þér þá trúa, nema þú mik í tryggð véltir."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 35"Emk-at ek sá hælbítr sem húðskór forn á vár."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 36"Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?"

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 37"Brúðir berserkja barðak í Hléseyju; þær höfðu verst unnit, vélta þjóð alla."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 38"Klæki vanntu þá, Þórr, er þú á konum barðir."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 39"Vargynjur þat váru, en varla konur, skelldu skip mitt, er ek skorðat hafðak, ægðu mér járnlurki en eltu Þjalfa. Hvat vanntu meðan, Hárbarðr?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 40"Ek vark í hernum, er hingat gerðisk gnæfa gunnfana, geir at rjóða."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 41"Þess viltu nú geta, er þú fórt oss óljúfan at bjóða."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 42"Bæta skal þér þat þá munda baugi, sem jafnendr unnu, þeir er okkr vilja sætta."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 43"Hvar namtu þessi in hnæfiligu orð, er ek heyrða aldregi in hnæfiligri?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 44"Nam ek at mönnum þeim inum aldrænum, er búa í heimis skógum."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 45"Þó gefr þú gott nafn dysjum, er þú kallar þær heimis skóga."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 46"Svá dæmi ek of slíkt far."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 47"Orðkringi þín mun þér illa koma, ef ek ræð á vág at vaða; ulfi hæra hygg ek þik æpa munu, ef þú hlýtr af hamri högg."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 48"Sif á hó heima, hans muntu fund vilja, þann muntu þrek drýgja, þat er þér skyldara."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 49"Mælir þú at munns ráði, svá at mér skyldi verst þykkja, halr inn hugblauði, hygg ek, at þú ljúgir."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 50"Satt hygg ek mik segja; seinn ertu at för þinni, langt myndir þú nú kominn, Þórr, ef þú litum færir."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 51"Hárbarðr inn ragi, heldr hefr þú nú mik dvalðan."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 52"Ása-þórs hugða ek aldregi mundu glepja féhirði farar."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 53"Ráð mun ek þér nú ráða; ró þú hingat bátinum, hættum hætingi, hittu föður Magna."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 54"Farðu firr sundi, þér skal fars synja."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 55"Vísa þú mér nú leiðina, alls þú vill mik eigi um váginn ferja."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 56Lítit er at synja, langt er at fara; stund er til stokksins, önnur til steinsins, haltu svá til vinstra vegsins, unz þú hittir Verland; þar mun Fjörgyn hitta Þór, son sinn, ok mun hon kenna hánum áttunga brautir til Óðins landa."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 57"Mun ek taka þangat í dag?"

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 58"Taka við víl ok erfiði, at upprennandi sólu, er ek get þána."

Þórr kvað:

Stanza 59"Skammt mun nú mál okkat, alls þú mér skætingu einni svarar; launa mun ek þér farsynjun, ef vit finnumk í sinn annat."

Hárbarðr kvað:

Stanza 60"Far þú nú, þars þik hafi allan gramir."

English translation

Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗

Thor was on his way back from a journey in the East, and came to a sound; on the other side of the sound was a ferryman with a boat. Thor called out:

Stanza 1"Who is the fellow yonder, | on the farther shore of the sound?"

The ferryman spake:

Stanza 2"What kind of a peasant is yon, | that calls o'er the bay?"

Thor spake:

Stanza 3"Ferry me over the sound; | I will feed thee therefor in the morning; A basket I have on my back, | and food therein, none better; At leisure I ate, | ere the house I left, Of herrings and porridge, | so plenty I had."

The ferryman spake:

Stanza 4"Of thy morning feats art thou proud, | but the future thou knowest not wholly; Doleful thine home-coming is: | thy mother, me thinks, is dead."

Thor spake:

Stanza 5"Now hast thou said | what to each must seem The mightiest grief, | that my mother is dead."

The ferryman spake:

Stanza 6"Three good dwellings, | methinks, thou hast not; Barefoot thou standest, | and wearest a beggar's dress; Not even hose dost thou have."

Thor spake:

Stanza 7"Steer thou hither the boat; | the landing here shall I show thee; But whose the craft | that thou keepest on the shore?"

The ferryman spake:

Stanza 8"Hildolf is he | who bade me have it, A hero wise; | his home is at Rathsey's sound. He bade me no robbers to steer, | nor stealers of steeds, But worthy men, | and those whom well do I know. Say now thy name, | if over the sound thou wilt fare."

Thor spake:

Stanza 9"My name indeed shall I tell, | though in danger I am, And all my race; | I am Othin's son, Meili's brother, | and Magni's father, The strong one of the gods; | with Thor now speech canst thou get. And now would I know | what name thou hast."

The ferryman spake:

Stanza 10"Harbarth am I, | and seldom I hide my name."

Thor spake:

Stanza 11"Why shouldst thou hide thy name, | if quarrel thou hast not?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 12"And though I had a quarrel, | from such as thou art Yet none the less | my life would I guard, Unless I be doomed to die."

Thor spake:

Stanza 13"Great trouble, methinks, | would it be to come to thee, To wade the waters across, | and wet my middle; Weakling, well shall I pay | thy mocking words, if across the sound I come."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 14"Here shall I stand | and await thee here; Thou hast found since Hrungnir died | no fiercer man."

Thor spake:

Stanza 15"Fain art thou to tell | how with Hrungnir I fought, The haughty giant, | whose head of stone was made; And yet I felled him, | and stretched him before me. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 16"Five full winters | with Fjolvar was I, And dwelt in the isle | that is Algrön called; There could we fight, | and fell the slain, Much could we seek, | and maids could master."

Thor spake:

Stanza 17"How won ye success with your women?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 18"Lively women we had, | if they wise for us were; Wise were the women we had, | if they kind for us were; For ropes of sand | they would seek to wind, And the bottom to dig | from the deepest dale. Wiser than all | in counsel I was, And there I slept | by the sisters seven, And joy full great | did I get from each. What, Thor, didst thou the while?"

Thor spake:

Stanza 19"Thjazi I felled, | the giant fierce, And I hurled the eyes | of Alvaldi's son To the heavens hot above; Of my deeds the mightiest | marks are these, That all men since can see. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?" Harbarth spoke:

Stanza 20"Much love-craft I wrought | with them who ride by night, When I stole them by stealth from their husbands; A giant hard | was Hlebarth, methinks: His wand he gave me as gift, And I stole his wits away."

Thor spake:

Stanza 21"Thou didst repay good gifts with evil mind."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 22"The oak must have | what it shaves from another; In such things each for himself. What, Thor, didst thou the while?"

Thor spake:

Stanza 23"Eastward I fared, | of the giants I felled Their ill-working women | who went to the mountain; And large were the giants' throng | if all were alive; No men would there be | in Mithgarth more. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 24"In Valland I was, | and wars I raised, Princes I angered, | and peace brought never; The noble who fall | in the fight hath Othin, And Thor hath the race of the thralls."

Thor spake:

Stanza 25"Unequal gifts | of men wouldst thou give to the gods, If might too much thou shouldst have."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 26"Thor has might enough, | but never a heart; For cowardly fear | in a glove wast thou fain to crawl, And there forgot thou wast Thor; Afraid there thou wast, | thy fear was such, To fart or sneeze | lest Fjalar should hear."

Thor spake:

Stanza 27"Thou womanish Harbarth, | to hell would I smite thee straight, Could mine arm reach over the sound."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 28"Wherefore reach over the sound, | since strife we have none? What, Thor, didst thou do then?"

Thor spake:

Stanza 29"Eastward I was, | and the river I guarded well, Where the sons of Svarang | sought me there; Stones did they hurl; | small joy did they have of winning; Before me there | to ask for peace did they fare. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 30"Eastward I was, | and spake with a certain one, I played with the linen-white maid, | and met her by stealth; I gladdened the gold-decked one, | and she granted me joy."

Thor spake:

Stanza 31"Full fair was thy woman-finding."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 32"Thy help did I need then, Thor, | to hold the white maid fast."

Thor spake:

Stanza 33"Gladly, had I been there, | my help to thee had been given."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 34"I might have trusted thee then, | didst thou not betray thy troth."

Thor spake:

Stanza 35"No heel-biter am I, in truth, | like an old leather shoe in spring." Harbarth spoke:

Stanza 36"What, Thor, didst thou the while?"

Thor spake:

Stanza 37"In Hlesey the brides | of the Berserkers slew I; Most evil they were, | and all they betrayed."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 38"Shame didst thou win, | that women thou slewest, Thor."

Thor spake:

Stanza 39"She-wolves they were like, | and women but little; My ship, which well | I had trimmed, did they shake; With clubs of iron they threatened, | and Thjalfi they drove off. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 40"In the host I was | that hither fared, The banners to raise, | and the spear to redden."

Thor spake:

Stanza 41"Wilt thou now say | that hatred thou soughtest to bring us?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 42"A ring for thy hand | shall make all right for thee, As the judge decides | who sets us two at peace."

Thor spake:

Stanza 43"Where foundest thou | so foul and scornful a speech? More foul a speech | I never before have heard."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 44"I learned it from men, | the men so old, Who dwell in the hills of home."

Thor spake:

Stanza 45"A name full good | to heaps of stones thou givest When thou callest them hills of home."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 46"Of such things speak I so."

Thor spake:

Stanza 47"Ill for thee comes | thy keenness of tongue, If the water I choose to wade; Louder, I ween, | than a wolf thou cryest, If a blow of my hammer thou hast."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 48"Sif has a lover at home, | and him shouldst thou meet; More fitting it were | on him to put forth thy strength."

Thor spake:

Stanza 49"Thy tongue still makes thee say | what seems most ill to me, Thou witless man! Thou liest, I ween."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 50"Truth do I speak, | but slow on thy way thou art; Far hadst thou gone | if now in the boat thou hadst fared."

Thor spake:

Stanza 51"Thou womanish Harbarth! | here hast thou held me too long."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 52"I thought not ever | that Asathor would be hindered By a ferryman thus from faring."

Thor spake:

Stanza 53"One counsel I bring thee now: | row hither thy boat; No more of scoffing; | set Magni's father across."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 54"From the sound go hence; | the passage thou hast not."

Thor spake:

Stanza 55"The way now show me, since thou takest me not o'er the water."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 56"To refuse it is little, to fare it is long; A while to the stock, and a while to the stone; Then the road to thy left, till Verland thou reachest; And there shall Fjorgyn her son Thor find, And the road of her children she shows him to Othin's realm."

Thor spake:

Stanza 57"May I come so far in a day?"

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 58"With toil and trouble perchance, While the sun still shines, or so I think."

Thor spake:

Stanza 59"Short now shall be our speech, for thou speakest in mockery only; The passage thou gavest me not I shall pay thee if ever we meet."

Harbarth spake:

Stanza 60"Get hence where every evil thing shall have thee!"