Hárbarðsljóð

Þórr fór ór Austrvegi ok kom at sundi einu. Öðrum megin sundsins var ferjukarlinn með skipit. Þórr kallaði:"Hverr er sá sveinn sveinaer stendr fyr sundit handan?"Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Thor traveled from the east and came to a sound. On the other side of the sound was the ferryman with his ship. Thor called out: "What kind of boy is that,standing over there across the sound?"

"Hverr er sá karl karlaer kallar of váginn?"Þórr kvað:

The ferryman said: "What kind of old man is that,shouting away over the bay?"

"Fer þú mik um sunditfæði ek þik á morgun;meis hef ek á bakiverðr-a matr in betri;át ek í hvíldáðr ek heiman fórsíldr ok hafra;saðr em ek enn þess."Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Thor said: "Ferry me across the sound —I'll feed you for it tomorrow morning.I've got a pack on my back,and there's no better food to be had.I ate well before I left home —herring and oats.I'm still full from it."

"Árligum verkumhrósar þú, verðinum;veizt-at-tu fyrir görladöpr eru þín heimkynnidauð, hygg ek, at þín móðir sé."Þórr kvað:

The ferryman said: "You're bragging about your morning's work,about your meal —but you don't see what's ahead.Your homecoming is a grim one:I think your mother's dead."

"Þat segir þú núer hverjum þykkirmest at vitaat mín móðir dauð sé."Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Thor said: "Now you've said the one thingeveryone would find worst to hear —that my mother is dead."

"Þeygi er sem þúþrjú bú góð eigir;berbeinn þú stendrok hefr brautinga gerviþatki, at þú hafir brækr þínar."Þórr kvað:

The ferryman said: "It's not as if you own three good farms.You're standing there bare-legged,dressed like some tramp off the road —you don't even have your pants."

"Stýrðu hingat eikjunniek mun þér stöðna kenna, -eða hverr á skipiter þú heldr við landit?"Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Thor said: "Steer the boat over here —I'll show you where to land it.But whose ship is thatyou're minding on the shore?"

"Hildolfr sá heitirer mik halda baðrekkr inn ráðsvinnier býr í Ráðseyjarsundi;bað-at hann hlennimenn flytjaeða hrossaþjófagóða einaok þá, er ek görva kunna;segðu til nafns þínsef þú vill um sundit fara!"Þórr kvað:

The ferryman said: "Hildolf is the manwho told me to keep it —a wise man, he lives at Radsey Sound.He told me not to ferry robbers or horse-thieves,only good men,and those I know well.Tell me your name,if you want to cross the sound."

"Segja mun ek til nafns mínsþótt ek sekr séakok til alls eðlis:Ek em Óðins sonrMeila bróðiren Magna faðirþrúðvaldr goðavið Þór knáttu hér dæma!Hins vil ek nú spyrjahvat þú heitir."Ferjukarlinn kvað:

Thor said: "I'll tell you my name,even though I'm an outlaw,and my whole lineage too:I'm Odin's son,Meili's brother,and Magni's father —the mighty ruler of the gods.It's Thor you're talking to here!Now I want to ask —what's your name?"

"Hárbarðr ek heitihylk um nafn sjaldan."Þórr kvað:

The ferryman said: "Harbard's my name.I rarely hide it."

"Hvat skaltu of nafn hyljanema þú sakar eigir?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "Why would you hide your name —unless you're wanted for something?"

"En þótt ek sakar eigaþá mun ek forða fjörvi mínufyr slíkum sem þú ertnema ek feigr sé."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Even if I were wanted for something,I'd still guard my lifeagainst someone like you —unless I'm doomed to die anyway."

"Harm ljótanmér þykkir í þvíat vaða um váginn til þínok væta ögur minn;skylda ek launakögursveini þínumkanginyrðief ek kæmumk yfir sundit."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "It seems like an ugly insult to me,wading across the bay to reach youand getting my waist wet.I'll pay back that brat of yourswith some choice words,if I make it across the sound."

"Hér mun ek standaok þín heðan bíða;fannt-a þú mann in harðaraat Hrungni dauðan."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I'll stand right hereand wait for you.You've not found a tougher mansince Hrungnir died."

"Hins viltu nú getaer vit Hrungnir deildumsá inn stórúðgi jötunner ór steini var höfuðit á;þó lét ek hann fallaok fyrir hníga.Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You want to bring that up now —when Hrungnir and I fought,that haughty giant with the head made of stone.And still I brought him down,made him fall before me.What were you doing meanwhile, Harbard?"

"Var ek með Fjölvarifimm vetr allaí ey þeirier Algræn heitir;vega vér þar knáttumok val fellamargs at freistamans at kosta."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I spent five whole winters with Fjolvar,on the island called Algraen.There we could fightand cut men down,try plenty of things,and win women too."

"Hversu snúnuðu yðr konur yðrar?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "How did you make out with your women?"

"Sparkar áttu vér konuref oss at spökum yrði;horskar áttu vér konuref oss hollar væri;þær ór sandisíma unduok ór dali djúpumgrund of grófu;varð ek þeim einn öllumefri at ráðum;hvílda ek hjá þeim systrum sjauok hafða ek geð þeira allt ok gaman.Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?"Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Lively women, we had —if we could keep them wise.Wise women, we had —if they'd be kind to us.They spun rope out of sand,dug the groundout of a deep valley.I outdid them all in cleverness —I slept with all seven sisters,and had all their affection and delight.What were you doing meanwhile, Thor?"

"Ek drap Þjazainn þrúðmóðga jötunupp ek varp augumAlvalda sonará þann inn heiða himin;þau eru merki mestminna verkaþau er allir menn síðan of séa.Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "I killed Thjazi,that fierce-hearted giant.I threw the eyes of Alvaldi's sonup into the bright sky above.Those are the greatest marks of all my deeds,the ones all men can see ever since.What were you doing meanwhile, Harbard?"

"Miklar manvélarek hafða við myrkriðurþá er ek vélta þær frá verum;harðan jötunek hugða Hlébarð veragaf hann mér gambanteinen ek vélta hann ór viti."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I worked plenty of love-tricks on the night-riding witches,stealing them away from their husbands.Hlebard was a tough giant, I'd say —he gave me a magic wand,and I tricked him out of his wits."

"Illum hugalaunaðir þú þá góðar gjafar."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You paid back good giftswith an evil turn."

"Þat hefr eiker af annarri skefrof sik er hverr í slíku.Hvat vanntu þá meðan Þórr?"Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "An oak takes what it shaves off another —everyone looks out for himself in such things.What were you doing meanwhile, Thor?"

"Ek var austrok jötna barðakbrúðir bölvísarer til bjargs gengu;mikil myndi ætt jötnaef allir lifðivætr myndi mannaundir Miðgarði.Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "I was out east,and I struck down giant-women —vicious brideswho'd gone up into the mountains.The race of giants would grow huge if they all lived —there'd be nothing left of mankindunder Midgard.What were you doing meanwhile, Harbard?"

"Var ek á Vallandiok vígum fylgdakatta ek jöfrumen aldri sættak;Óðinn á jarlaþá er í val fallaen Þórr á þrælakyn."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I was in Valland,and I stirred up wars —I set princes against each otherand never brought peace.Odin gets the nobles who fall in battle,but Thor gets the race of slaves."

"Ójafnt skiptaer þú myndir með ásum liðief þú ættir vilgi mikils vald."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You'd divide the host unfairly among the gods,if you had too much power."

"Þórr á afl æriten ekki hjarta;af hræðslu ok hugbleyðiþér var í hanzka troðitok þóttisk-a þú þá Þórr vera;hvárki þú þá þorðirfyr hræðslu þinnihnjósa né físasvá at Fjalarr heyrði."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Thor has strength to spare,but no backbone.Out of fear and cowardice,you got yourself stuffed into a glove —and didn't even think you were Thor then.You were too scared, in your fright,even to sneeze or fart,in case Fjalar heard you."

"Hárbarðr inn ragiek mynda þik í hel drepaef ek mætta seilask um sund."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You spineless Harbard —I'd knock you straight to hell,if I could just reach across this sound."

"Hvat skyldir um sund seilasker sakir ro alls engar?Hvat vanntu þá, Þórr?"Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Why would you reach across the sound,when there's no quarrel at all?What have you done, Thor?"

"Ek var austrok ána varðakþá er mik sóttuþeir Svárangs synir;grjóti þeir mik börðugagni urðu þeir þó lítt fegnirþó urðu þeir mik fyrrifriðar at biðja.Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Hárbarðr?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "I was out east,guarding a river,when Svarang's sons came at me.They pelted me with stones —got little joy from the fight —and it was theywho came begging for peace first.What were you doing meanwhile, Harbard?"

"Ek var austrok við einhverja dæmðaklék ek við ina línhvítuok launþing háðak;gladdak ina gullbjörtugamni mær unði."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I was out east too, sweet-talking someone —I played with a girl white as linen,met her in secret.I made the golden-bright one happy,and she gave me her joy in return."

"Góð átt þú þér mankynni þar þá."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "That's a fine bit of woman-hunting you had there."

"Liðs þínsværa ek þá þurfi, Þórrat ek helda þeiri inni línhvítu mey."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Your muscle would've come in handy then, Thor —to help me hold onto that linen-white girl."

"Ek munda þér þá þat veitaef ek viðr of kæmumk."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "I'd have given you that, gladly,if I'd been there."

"Ek mynda þér þá trúanema þú mik í tryggð véltir."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I might have trusted you then —if you hadn't betrayed my trust."

"Emk-at ek sá hælbítrsem húðskór forn á vár."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "I'm no heel-biter —not like an old worn-out shoe in spring."

"Hvat vanntu þá meðan, Þórr?"Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "What were you doing meanwhile, Thor?"

"Brúðir berserkjabarðak í Hléseyju;þær höfðu verst unnitvélta þjóð alla."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "I struck down the berserkers' brides on Hlesey.They were the worst of the lot —they'd betrayed everyone."

"Klæki vanntu þá, Þórrer þú á konum barðir."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "That's a shameful thing you did, Thor —striking down women."

"Vargynjur þat váruen varla konurskelldu skip mitter ek skorðat hafðakægðu mér járnlurkien eltu Þjalfa.Hvat vanntu meðan, Hárbarðr?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "They were she-wolves, not women, not really.They shook my ship, which I'd propped up carefully,threatened me with iron clubs,and chased off Thjalfi.What were you doing meanwhile, Harbard?"

"Ek vark í hernumer hingat gerðiskgnæfa gunnfanageir at rjóða."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I was in the army that marched here —hoisting the banners high,reddening spears."

"Þess viltu nú getaer þú fórt oss óljúfan at bjóða."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "So now you want to bring uphow you came here to bring us nothing but trouble."

"Bæta skal þér þat þámunda baugisem jafnendr unnuþeir er okkr vilja sætta."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I'll make up for that with a ring on your arm,the way arbiters dowhen they want to settle us."

"Hvar namtu þessiin hnæfiligu orðer ek heyrða aldregiin hnæfiligri?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "Where did you learn this kind of talk —this insolent talk?I've never heard anything more insolent."

"Nam ek at mönnumþeim inum aldrænumer búa í heimis skógum."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I learned it from old men —the ancient oneswho live in the home-woods."

"Þó gefr þú gott nafn dysjumer þú kallar þær heimis skóga."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You're giving a fine name to burial mounds,calling them 'home-woods.'"

"Svá dæmi ek of slíkt far."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "That's how I judge such a thing."

"Orðkringi þínmun þér illa komaef ek ræð á vág at vaða;ulfi hærahygg ek þik æpa munuef þú hlýtr af hamri högg."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "That smart mouth of yours will land you in trouble,if I decide to wade across the bay.You'll howl louder than a wolf,once you feel my hammer's blow."

"Sif á hó heimahans muntu fund viljaþann muntu þrek drýgjaþat er þér skyldara."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Sif has a lover at home —go find him.That's where you should put your strength —more your business than this."

"Mælir þú at munns ráðisvá at mér skyldi verst þykkjahalr inn hugblauðihygg ek, at þú ljúgir."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You're just saying whatever comes to your tongue,to make me as angry as you can.You spineless coward —I think you're lying."

"Satt hygg ek mik segja;seinn ertu at för þinnilangt myndir þú nú kominn, Þórref þú litum færir."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I think I'm telling the truth.You're slow getting where you're going —you'd be much further along by now, Thor,if you'd taken the boat."

"Hárbarðr inn ragiheldr hefr þú nú mik dvalðan."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "You spineless Harbard —you've held me up long enough now."

"Ása-þórs hugða ekaldregi munduglepja féhirði farar."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "I never thought Asa-Thor would be stoppedfrom his journeyby a mere herdsman."

"Ráð mun ek þér nú ráða;ró þú hingat bátinumhættum hætingihittu föður Magna."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "Here's some advice:row the boat over here.Enough with the taunting —come meet Magni's father face to face."

"Farðu firr sundiþér skal fars synja."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "Get away from the sound —you're not getting a ride."

"Vísa þú mér nú leiðinaalls þú vill mik eigi um váginn ferja."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "Show me the way, then,since you won't ferry me across the bay."

Lítit er at synjalangt er at fara;stund er til stokksinsönnur til steinsinshaltu svá til vinstra vegsinsunz þú hittir Verland;þar mun Fjörgynhitta Þór, son sinnok mun hon kenna hánum áttunga brautirtil Óðins landa."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "It's a small thing to refuse,a long way to walk.A stretch to the stump,another to the stone —keep to the road on your leftuntil you reach Verland.There Fjorgyn will meet her son Thor,and she'll show him the family pathsto Odin's lands."

"Mun ek taka þangat í dag?"Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "Can I get there today?"

"Taka við víl ok erfiðiat upprennandi sóluer ek get þána."Þórr kvað:

Harbard said: "With toil and trouble,by sunrise —that's my guess."

"Skammt mun nú mál okkatalls þú mér skætingu einni svarar;launa mun ek þér farsynjunef vit finnumk í sinn annat."Hárbarðr kvað:

Thor said: "This conversation's over —since all I get from you is mockery.I'll pay you back for refusing me passage,if we ever meet again."

"Far þú núþars þik hafi allan gramir."

Harbard said: "Get lost —and may the trolls take every last bit of you."