Grógaldr

Sonr kvað:"Vaki þú, Gróa,vaki þú, góð kona,vek ek þik dauðra dura,ef þú þat mant,at þú þinn mög bæðirtil kumbldysjar koma."Gróa kvað:

The son said:"Wake up, Groa,wake up, good mother —I call you at death's door,if you remembertelling your sonto come to your burial mound."

"Hvat er nú anntmínum eingasyni,hverju ertu nú bölvi borinn,er þú þá móður kallar,er til moldar er kominok ór ljóðheimum liðin?"Sonr kvað:

Groa said:"What's troubling my only son,what evil have you run into,that you call on your mother,who lies in the earthand has left the world of the living?"

"Ljótu leikborðiskaut fyr mik in lævísa kona,sú er faðmaði minn föður;þar bað hon mik koma,er kvæmtki veit,móti Menglöðu."Gróa kvað:

The son said:"A cruel gamethe scheming woman set for me —she who lay in my father's arms;she told me to travelwhere no one has ever gone,to find Mengloth."

"Löng er för,langir ro farvegar,langir ro manna munir,ef þat verðr,at þú þinn vilja bíðr,ok skeikar þá Skuld at sköpum."Sonr kvað:

Groa said:"Long is the road,long are the paths,long are the desires of men —even if it happensthat you get what you wait for,Skuld may still turn against what's fated."

"Galdra þú mér gal,þá er góðir eru,bjarg þú, móðir, megi;á vegum allrhygg ek, at ek verða muna,þykkjumk ek til ungr afi."Gróa kvað:

The son said:"Sing me charms,good ones, mother —guard your son on his way;I fear I may falldead somewhere on the road —I feel far too young for this."

"Þann gel ek þér fyrstan,- þann kveða fjölnýtan,þann gól Rindi Rani, -at þú of öxl skjótir,því er þér atalt þykkir;sjalfr leið þú sjalfan þik.

Groa said:"This is the first I chant for you —a charm tried and proven,the one Rani once sang for Rind —shake off from your shoulderswhatever weighs on you;be your own guide.

Þann gel ek þér annan,ef þú árna skaltviljalauss á vegum,Urðar lokurhaldi þér öllum megum,er þú á sinnum sér.

This is the second I chant for you —if you must travelagainst your will, with no clear path,may Urd's barshold you safe on every sidewherever you go.

Þann gel ek þér inn þriðja,ef þér þjóðáarfalla at fjörlotum,Horn ok Ruðrsnúisk til heljar meðan,en þverri æ fyr þér.

This is the third I chant for you —if great riversthreaten your life as you cross them,may Horn and Rudturn instead toward Hel,and always run low before you.

Þann gel ek þér inn fjórða,ef þik fjándr standagörvir á galgvegi,hugr þeim hverfitil handa þér,ok snúisk þeim til sátta sefi.

This is the fourth I chant for you —if enemies standready for you on the gallows-road,may their hearts turntoward your hands instead,and their minds turn to peace.

Þann gel ek þér inn fimmta,ef þér fjöturr verðrborinn at boglimum,leysigaldr læt ekþér fyr legg of kveðinn,ok stökkr þá láss af limum,en af fótum fjöturr.

This is the fifth I chant for you —if a chainis fastened on your bent limbs,I set a loosening-charmon your legs for you,and the lock springs from your joints,the fetter from your feet.

Þann gel ek þér inn sétta,ef þú á sjó kemrmeira en menn viti,logn ok lögrgangi þér í lúðr samanok léi þér æ friðdrjúgrar farar.

This is the sixth I chant for you —if you come out on the sea,into waters greater than men can master,may wind and wavesettle calm around your ship,and grant you always a peaceful crossing.

Þann gel ek þér inn sjaunda,ef þik sækja kemrfrost á fjalli háu,hræva kulðimegi-t þínu holdi fara,ok haldisk æ lík at liðum.

This is the seventh I chant for you —if frost comes for youhigh on a mountain,may the cold of the deadnever reach your flesh,and your body stay whole in every limb.

Þann gel ek þér inn átta,ef þik úti nemrnótt á niflvegi,at því firr megiþér til meins gerakristin dauð kona.

This is the eighth I chant for you —if night catches you outsideon the misty road,may no dead Christian womanever find a way to harm you.

Þann gel ek þér inn níunda,ef þú við inn naddgöfgaorðum skiptir jötun,máls ok mannvitssé þér á minni ok hjartagnóga of gefit.

This is the ninth I chant for you —if you must trade wordswith a spear-proud giant,may your mind and heartbe given speech enough,and wisdom enough to match him."

Far þú nú æva,þar er forað þykkir,ok standi-t þér mein fyr munum;á jarðföstum steinistóð ek innan dura,meðan ek þér galdra gól.

Go now, and always,wherever danger seems to wait,and let no harm block what you long for;on a stone fixed in the earthI stood inside the doorthe whole time I sang these charms for you.

Móður orðber þú, mögr, heðanok lát þér í brjósti búa;iðgnóga heillskaltu of aldr hafa,meðan þú mín orð of mant."

Carry your mother's words,my son, away from here,and let them live on in your chest;you'll have plenty of good fortunefor as long as you live,as long as you remember my words."