Icelandic Saga - Ragnar's Saga (chap. 1) lyrics

Ragnar Lodbrok Saga: Chapter 1 Chris van Dykes Translation Chapter I In Hlymdalir, Heimir heard the tidings of the d**h of Sigurd and Brynhild. Aslaug, their daughter and his foster child, was then three winters old. He knew that there would be an attempt to destroy the girl and end her line. So great was his grief for Brynhild, his fosterling, that he did not care for either his kingdom or his goods. When he realized that he could not keep the girl hidden there, he had a harp made which was so large that he could place the maiden Aslaug within it along with many treasures of gold and silver, and then he went abroad throughout the lands and afterwards through the regions of the North-lands. His harp was so sk**fully made that it could be taken apart and put together at the joints, and, on the days when he came beside a waterfall that was nowhere near a farm, he would take the harp apart and bath the little girl. He had one vinlauk, which he gave to her to eat. It was the nature of this leek that a man could live long through he had no other food. And when the girl wept, he played the harp and then she would fall silent, since Heimir was well versed in the idrottir that were customary at the time. He had many glorious clothes with her in the harp, and much gold. Then he went from there out until he came to Noreg, and he came to a small farm, which was called Spangarheid, and there lived a poor man called Aki. He had a wife and she was called Grima. There were no others than themselves. One day, the poor man had gone into the woods and the poor woman was at home. She greeted Heimir and asked what kind of man he might be. He said he was a begger, and asked the poor woman to give him lodgings. She said that not many came there, so she could easily take him in, if he thought it was necessary. then it came about that he said it seemed to him the greatest comfort would be if a fire might be lit before him, and therefore he was accompanied to the sleeping hall where he might sleep. And then when the poor woman had kindled the fire, he sat the harp beside himself, and the poor woman was not very talkative. Often her eyes were drawn to the harp, since the fringes of one of the glorious dresses stuck out the harp. And when he rubbed his limbs before the fire she saw one glorious gold ring showing from under his rags, since he was badly clothed. And when he had warmed himself as much as he thought was needed, the he had supper. After that he told the poor woman to guide him to were he should sleep during the night. The poor woman said that it might be better for him to be outside than inside, ” since my husband and I talk when he comes home.” He told her to make the decision. Then he went out along with her. He took the harp and kept it with him. The poor woman went out until she came to a barn and accompanied him into it, and said that he should stay there, and said that he might expect to enjoy his sleep there. And then the poor woman went on her way and busied herself with her daily task, and himself went to sleep. The poor man came home when evening had fallen, but the poor woman had done little of what she needed to do. And he was weary when he came home, and difficult with when all was not done which she should have done. The poor man said that there must be a great difference in their happiness when he worked each day more than he could, but she did not get on with those things which needed to be done. ” Do not be angry, Husband,” she said, ” because it may be that you might, with a short while's work, insure that we will be happy for all time.” ”What is this?” said the poor man. The poor woman answered: “A man came here to our farm, and I think that he has much wealth with him for traveling-he is bowed by old age, but he must have been a great hero, though now he is very weary. I do not think I have seen his equal, but I think he his tired and sleepy.” The poor man said, “It seems in advisable to me to betray one of those few have come here.” She answered; “This is why you will for a long time be a little man, for all grows large in your eyes; you must now do one of two things-either you k** him, or I will take him as my husband and we will drive you away. And I can tell you of how it happened when he spoke with me earlier this evening, and it will seem unpleasant to you. He spoke lustfully with me, and it is my plan to take him as my husband and drive you away or k** you, if you will not do what I want.” And it is said that the poor man had a domineering wife, and she went on until he gave into her goading, took up his axe, and whetted it keenly. And when he was done, his wife lead him there to where Heimir slept and was then snoring greatly. Then the poor woman told the poor man that he should make an attack as best he could, ” and then leap away quickly since you will be able to withstand if he gets his hands on you.” She then took the harp and went away with it. The the poor man went where Heimir slept. He struck at him, and gave him a great wound, but he dropped his axe, He at once leapt away as quickly as he could. then Heimir woke at the blow, which was his bane. And it is said that so great a din arose in his d**h-throes that the pillars of the house collapsed and all the house fell down and a great earthquake occurred, and there his life ended. The the poor man went to where the poor woman was and said that he had k**ed him-“but nevertheless for a while I was not certain how it would go, as this man was terrible powerful, but I expect that he might now be in Hel!” The poor woman said that he should have thanks for the deed,”And it gives me hope, that now we will have sufficient money, and we shall see whether what I said was true.”Then they lit a fire and the poor woman took the harp and wanted to open it up, but was not able to do it any other way than breaking it, Since she had no sk** in the craft. And then she went and open up the harp, and there she saw a girl-child, such as she thought had not seen before, along with much money in the harp. Then the poor man spoke: “Now it must happen as it often does that it will turn out badly for those who betray one who trust them. It seems that a dependent has come int our hands.” The poor woman said: “This is not as I expected, but no harm will come about.” And then she asked what the girl's family-line might be. But the young girl did not answer as if she had not yet begun to talk. ”Now it has come about as I expected, that our plan goes badly,” said the poor man.”We have committed a great crime. How shall we provide for this child?” ”That is clear,” said Grima.”She shall be called Kraka, after my mother.” Then the poor man said: “How shall we provide for this child?” The poor woman answered: “I see a good plan: we shall call her our daughter and raise her up.” ”No one will believe that,” said her husband,” as this child is much more pleasing than we are. We are both born very ugly, and people will not think it likely that we would have a child like this, as uncommonly ugly as we both are.” Then the poor woman spoke: “You do not know that I have a cunning plan, so that this might not seem unlikely. I will shave her head, and rub in tar an other things when it is expected that her hair will come back in. She shall then have a hat. She shall not be well clothed. We will all look alike then. It may be that men will believe that I had great beauty when I was young. And she shall do all the worst work.” And the poor man and poor woman thought that she was unable to speak because she never answered them. Then it came about as the woman had first suggested. She grew up there, and was very poor.