Misplaced Pages

"Hvat's þat drauma?   hugðumk fyr dag rísa
Valhöll at ryðja   fyr vegnu fólki;
vakðak Einherja,   baðk upp at rísa,
bekki at stráa,   bjórker at leyðra,
valkyrjur vín bera,   sem vísi kœmi."

"What kind of dream is this? I thought myself rise before day-break
to prepare Valhalla for a slain troop.
I awoke the Einherjar, I bade them to rise up
to strew up benches, to rinse the beer-vats;
the Valkyries to carry wine, as if a prince were coming.

Erum ór heimi   hölða vánir
göfugra nökkurra,   svá's mér glatt hjarta."

Out of the world are by me warriors expected,
some certain glorious ones; thus my heart is glad."

"Hvat þrymr þar,   sem þúsund bifisk
eða mengi til mikit?
Braka öll bekkþili,   sem muni Baldr koma
eptir í Óðins sali."

"What thunders there, as if a thousand were marching,
or a too great gathering of men?
The tables are all crashing, as if Balder were coming
back to Odin's halls."

"Heimsku mæla   skalat hinn horski Bragi,
þvít þú vel hvat vitir.
Fyr Eireki glymr,   es hér mun inn koma
jöfurr í Óðins sali."

"The wise Bragi should not speak foolishly,
for you know well what is happening:
For Erik this noise is made, as he here will come in;
the prince into Odin's halls!"

"Sigmundr ok Sinfjötli,   rísið snarliga
ok gangið í gögn grami,
inn þú bjóð,   ef Eirekr sé,
hans es mér nú ván vituð."

"Sigmund and Sinfjotli, rise quickly
and go to meet the ruler.
Invite him in, if Erik it is,
it is he I now expect."

"Hví 's þér Eireks ván   heldr an annarra?"
"Þvít mörgu landi   hefr hann mæki roðit
ok blóðugt sverð borit."

"Why do you expect Erik, rather than others?"
"For in many lands has he reddened the blade
and borne a bloody sword."

"Hví namt hann sigri þá,   es þér þótti snjallr vesa?"
"Óvíst 's at vita,   nær ulfr hinn hösvi
á sjöt goða."

"Why did you then deprive him of victory, when you thought him so brave?"
"For it is uncertain to know when the grey-coated wolf
attacks the seat of the gods."

"Heill þú nú Eirekr,   vel skalt hér kominn
ok gakk í höll horskr.
Hins vilk þik fregna,   hvat fylgir þér
jöfra frá eggþrimu."

"Hail you now, Erik, you will here be greeted well
so enter the hall, wise one!
This I will ask you, who are those following you,
princes, from the edge-thunder?"

"Konungr 'ru fimm,   kennik þér nafn allra,
ek em hinn sétti sjalfr."

There are five kings, I shall teach you the names of them all;
I am myself the sixth.