egils saga skallagrÍmssonar.docx
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traslatio of part of egil's sagaTRANSCRIPT
IX EGILS SAGA SKALLAGRÍMSSONAR
EGIL AT YORK
Kom hann þar at kveldi dags ok reið hann þegar í borgina.
Came he there at night of the day and rode he at once to the stronghold.
Hann hafði síðan hátt yfir hjálmi ok alvæpni hafði hann.
He had an overhanging hood over helmet and he had full arms.
Egill spurði hvar garðr sá væri í borginni er Arinbjǫrn átti.
Egill asked where court might be in the town which Arinbjorn owned.
Honum var þat sagt. Hann reið þangat í garðinn. En er
to him was that told. He rode thither to the court. And when
hann kom at stofunni, steig hann af hesti sínum ok hitti mann 5
he came to the sitting room, stepped he off his horse and addressed a man
at máli. Var honum þá sagt at Arinbjǫrn sat yfir matborði.
to speak. Was to him then told that Arinbjorn sat at meat table.
Egill mælti: 'Ek vilda, góðr drengr, at þú gengir inn í
Egill said: "I want, good fellow, that you go inside to
stofuna, ok spyr Arinbjǫrn hvárt hann vill heldr úti eða inni
the sitting room and ask Arinbjorn whether he would rather outside or inside
tala við Egil Skallagrímsson."
talk with Egil Skallagrímsson."
Sá maðr segir, 'Þat er mér lítit starf at reka þetta ørendi'. 10
The man says, "That is to me little trouble to perform this errand."
Hann gekk inn í stofuna ok mælti stundar hátt: 'Maðr er
He went in into hall door and said quite aloud: "Man has
hér kominn úti fyrir durum', segir hann, 'mikill sem trǫll, en
arrived here before the door," says he, "big as troll, and so
sá bað mik ganga inn ok spyrja hvárt þú vildir úti eða inni
asked me go inside and ask whether you want outside or inside to
tala við Egil Skallagrímsson'.
talk with Egil Skallagrímsson'.
Arinbjǫrn segir, 'Gakk ok bið hann bíða úti, ok mun hann 15
Arinbjǫrn says, "Go and ask him to wait outside, and he shall
eigi lengi þurfa.'
not need to wait for long."
Hann gørði sem Arinbjǫrn mælti, gekk út ok sagði sem
He did as Arinbjorn said, went out and said as
mælt var við hann. Arinbjǫrn bað taka upp borðin; síðan gekk
said was to him. Arinbjorn asked to take up the table; afterwards went
hann út ok allir húskarlar hans með honum. Ok er Arinbjǫrn
he out and all his house servants with him. And when Arinbjǫrn
20 hitti Egil, heilsaði hann honum ok spurði hví hann var
found Egil, greeted he him and asked why he had
þar kominn. Egill segir í fám orðum it Ijósasta af um ferð
there came. Egil says in few words most clearly about his journey
sína -- 'en nú skaltu fyrir sjá hvert ráð ek skal taka, ef þú
his - "And now shall you first see what counsel i shall take, if you
vilt nǫkkut lið veita mér.'
will give me some help.
'Hefir þú nǫkkura menn hitt í borginni', segir Arinbjǫrn,
"Have you encountered some men in the stronghold," says Arinbjǫrn,
25 'þá er þik muni kent hafa, áðr þú komt hér í garðinn?'
"those who should have known you, before you came here to the court?"
'Engi', segir Egill.
"None", says Egil.
'Taki menn þá vápn sín', segir Arinbjǫrn,
"Let men take up weapons their". says Arinbjǫrn,
Þeir gørðu svá, ok er þeir váru vápnaðir ok allir húskarlar
They did so, and when they were armed and all house servants
Arinbjarnar, þá gekk hann í konungsgarð. En er þeir kómu
of Arinbjorn, then went he in the King´s court. And when they came
30 til hallar, þá klappaði Arinbjǫrn á durum ok bað upp láta ok
to the hall, then knocked Arinbjǫrn at the door and asked open the door and
segir hverr þar var. Dyrverðir létu þegar upp hurðina.
says who there was. Door keepers opened at once the door.
Konungr sat yfir borðum. Arinbjǫrn bað þá ganga inn tólf
King sat before the table. Arinbjǫrn asked then the 12 men to go in
menn, nefndi til þess Egil ok tíu men aðra -- 'nú skaltu,
named for this Egil and 10 more men other - "Now shall you,
Egill, fœra Eiríki konungi hǫfuð þitt ok taka um fót honum,
Egil, bring Eirik the King your head and embrace his feet,
35 en ek mun túlka mál þitt.'
and I shall plead your case.”
Síðan ganga þeir inn. Gekk Arinbjǫrn fyrir konung ok
Afterwards go they in. Went Arinbjorn before the king and
kvaddi hann. Konungr fagnaði honum ok spurði hvat er
greeted him. King welcomed him and asked what is
hann vildi. Arinbjǫrn mælti: 'Ek fylgi hingat þeim manni
he wanted. Arinbjorn said: "I follow hither that man
er kominn er um langan veg at sœkja yðr heim ok sættask
who came a long way to seek your home and reconcile
40 við yðr; er yðr þat vegr mikill, herra, er óvinir yðrir fara
with you, that honor is great to you, my lord, when enemy your travel
sjálfviljandi af ǫðrum lǫndum ok þykkjask eigi mega bera
free will from other lands and seems not able to bear
reiði yðra, þó at þér séð hvergi nær. Láttu þér nú verða
your anger, though you were nowhere near. Now show yourself
hǫfðingliga við þenna mann; lát hann fá af þér sætt góða
generously with this man, Let he get from you reconciliation good
fyrir þat er hann hefir gǫrt veg þinn svá mikinn sem nú má
before seeing he had made great your honor as you may now
45 sjá, farit yfir mǫrg hǫf ok torleiði heiman frá búum sínum.
see, gone over many seas and dangers to here from his neighborhood.
Bar honum enga nauðsyn til þessar farar, nema góðvili við
No need bore him to this journey, except goodwill to
yðr.'
you,"
Þá litaðisk konungr um ok sá hann fyrir ofan hǫfuð
Then looked the king around and saw he over heads of
mǫnnum hvar Egill stóð ok hvesti augun á hann ok mælti:
men where Egil stood and sharpened eyes at him and said:
50 'Hví ertu svá djarfr, Egill, at þú þorðir at fara á fund minn?
"Why are you so bold, Egil that you dare to come into my presence?
Leystisk þú svá heðan næstum at þér var engi ván lífs
You departed away last time that there was no hope of life
af mér.'
from me."
Þá gekk Egill at borðinu ok tók um fót konungi. Eiríkr
Then went Egil to the table and embraced feet of the king. Eirik
konungr sagði, 'Ekki þarf ek at telja upp sakar á hendr þér,
the king said, "I need not to tally up the harms on hands your,
en þó era þær svá margar ok stórar at ein hver má vel endask 55
and though they are so many and great that anyone can well bring an end
til, at þú komir aldri heðan lífs. Áttu engis annars af ván
to, that you come never hence alive. You had no other hope of anything else
en þú munt hér deyja skulu. Máttir þú þat vita áðr, at þú
than that you must die here. Might you that know before, that you
mundir enga sætt af mér fá.'
shall yet no reconciliation from me get."
Gunnhildr mælti: 'Hví skal eigi þegar drepa Egil, eða
Gunnhild said: "Why shall not at once kill Egil, or you
mantu eigi nú, konungr, hvat Egill hefir gǫrt? -- drepit vini 60
remember not now, king, what Egil has done? – killed your friends
þína ok frændr ok þar á ofan son þinn, en nítt sjálfan þik,
and kinsmen and then even your son, and slandered even you
eða hvar viti menn slíku belt við konungmann?'
nor where have men committed such against royalty?"
Arinbjǫrn segir, 'Ef Egill hefir mælt illa til konungs, þá
Arinbjorn says, "If Egil has said ill to the king, then
má hann þat bœta í lofsorðum þeim er allan aldr megi uppi
can he that compensate in words of praise that which all age can
vera.' 65
be remembered
Gunnhildr mælti: 'Vér viljum ekki lof hans heyra. Láttu,
Gunnhild said: "We don’t want to hear his praise. Now you have
konungr, leiða Egil út ok hǫggva hann. Vil ek eigi heyra
King, led Egil out and behead him. I don’t want to hear
orð hans ok eigi sjá hann.'
words his nor see him."
Þá mælti Arinbjǫrn: 'Eigi mun konungr láta at eggjask
Then said Arinbjorn: "The king shall not yield to urging about
um ǫll níðingsverk þín. Eigi mun hann láta Egil drepa í 70
all your shameful deed. Not shall he have Egil killed in the
nótt, því at náttvíg eru morðvíg.'
night, for that killing by night are murder."
Konungr segir, 'Svá skal vera, Arinbjǫrn, sem þú biðr, at
King says, "So shall be, Arinbjǫrn, as you asked, that
Egill skal lifa í nótt; hafðu hann heim með þér ok fœr mér
Egil shall live at night, have him home with you and bring to me
hann á morgin.'
him in the morning."
Arinbjǫrn þakkaði konungi orð sín -- 'væntu vér, herra, at 75
Arinbjorn thanked the king his words - "we expect, lord, that
heðan af muni skipask mál Egils á betri leið. En þó at
henceforward it will change Egil for the better. And though that
Egill hafi stórt til saka gǫrt við yðr, þá líti þér á þat, at hann
Egil has great to harm done with you, yet you look on this, that he
hefir mikils mist fyrir yðrum frændum. Haraldr konungr,
has much lost before you kinsmen. Harald the king,
faðir þinn, tók af lífi ágætan mann, Þórólf, fǫðurbróður hans,
father yours, took the life of an honorable man. Þórólf, his uncle,
af rógi vándra manna, en af engum sǫkum; en þér, konungr, 80
for slander of bad men, and from no reason, and you, king,
brutuð lǫg á Agli sakar Berg-Ǫnundar; en þar á ofan vildu
broke law in Egil’s case for the sake of Berg Onundar, and further wanted
þér hafa Egil at dauðamanni ok drápuð menn af honum, en
you to have Egil be a dead man and killed men of his, and
ræntuð hann fé ǫllu, ok þar á ofan gørðu þér hann útlaga ok
plundered all his possessions, and further made you him outlaw and
rákuð hann af landi; en Egill er engi ertingamaðr. En hvert
drove him from the land, and Egil is not one who will endure insult. And every
mál er maðr skal dœma, verðr at lita á tilgørðir. Ek mun 85
cause when man shall judge, worth to look at the provocations. I shall
nú', segir Arinbjǫrn, 'hafa Egil með mér í nótt heim í garð
now," says Arinbjorn, "have Egil with me at night home in my place
minn."
Var nú svá; ok er þeir kómu í garðinn, þá ganga þeir
Was now so, and when they came to the dwelling place, then they two go
tveir í lopt nǫkkut lítit ok rœða um þetta mál. Segir Arin-
in some small upper room and spoke about the matter. Says Arinbjorn
90 bjǫrn svá: 'Allreiðr var konungr nú, en heldr þótti mér
so: "very angry was the king now, and yet seemed to me
mýkjask skaplyndi hans nǫkkut, áðr létti, ok mun nú
his mood softened itself a bit, before ending, and shall now
hamingja skipta hvat upp kømr. Veit ek at Gunnhildr mun
luck determine what comes up. Know i that Gunnhild will
allan hug á leggja at spilla þínu máli. Nú vil ek þat ráð
all heart on set to destroy your cause. Now will I that counsel
gefa, at þú vakir í nótt ok yrkir lofkvæði um Eirík konung;
give, that you awake at night and compose words of praise about Erik king,
95 þœtti mér þá vel, ef þat yrði drápa tvítug ok mættir þú
Seemed to me then well, if that become 20 verse poem and might you
kveða á morgin, er vit komum fyrir konung. Svá gørði
recite in the morning, when we come before the king. So did
Bragi, frændi minn, þá er hann varð fyrir reiði Bjarnar
Bragi, kinsman mine, then when he was under the wrath of Bjarn
Svíakonungs, at hann orti drápu tvítuga um hann eina nótt,
the King of Sweden, that he composed 20 verse poem about him one night,
ok þá þar fyrir hǫfuð sitt. Nú mætti vera at vér bærim
and then he set his head before it. Now might be that we have
100 gæfu til við konung svá at þér kœmi þat í frið við konung.'
luck that with king so that you come in peace with the king."
Egill segir, 'Freista skal ek þessa ráðs, er þú vill, en ekki
Egil says, "Try shall i this counsel, when you want, and not
hefi ek við því búizk, at yrkja lof um Eirík konung.'
had i with such prepare, to work praise about Erik the king."
Arinbjǫrn bað hann freista. Síðan gekk hann brott til
Arinbjorn asked him to try. Afterwards went he away to
manna sinna; sátu þeir at drykkju til miðrar nætr. Þá gekk
men his, set they to drink until midnight . Then went
105 Arinbjǫrn til svefnhúss ok sveit hans, ok áðr hann afklæddisk,
Arinbjorn to sleeping chamber and retainers his, and before he undresses himself,
gekk hann upp í loptit til Egils ok spurði hvat þá liði um
went he up to the upper room to Egil and asked what then progress about
kvæðit. Egill segir at ekki var ort-'hefir hér setit svala ein
the poem. Egil says that not was word"has here sitten swallow one
við glugginn ok klakat í alla nótt, svá at ek hefi aldregi beðit
against the window and chatters through the whole night, so that i has never have quiet
ró fyrir.'
rest before."
110 Síðan gekk Arinbjǫrn á brott ok út um dyrr þær er ganga
Afterwards went Arinbjorn away and out by the door there when go
mátti upp á húsit, ok settisk við glugg þann á loptinu, er
was able up on the house and sat again window that on the roof, where
fuglinn hafði áðr við setit. Hann sá hvar hamhleypa nǫkkur
the birds had before - sat. He saw where skin chaning witch some
fór annan veg af húsinu. Arinbjǫrn sat þar við glugginn
went away from the roof. Arinbjorn sat there against the window
alla nóttina, til þess er lýsti. En síðan er Arinbjǫrn hafði
all night, until this is dawn. And later when Arinbjorn had
115 þar komit, þá orti Egill alla drápuna, ok hafði fest svá at
there came, then composed Egil the whole long lay, and had so that
hann mátti kveða um morgininn, þá er hann hitti Arinbjǫrn.
he could recite in the morning, - when he met Arinbjorn.
Þeir heldu vǫrð á, nær tími mundi vera at hitta konung.
They rather watch on, near occasion will be to meet the king.
Eiríkr konungr gekk til borða at vanda sínum, ok var þá
Eirik the king went to table to trouble his, and was then
fjǫlmenni mikit með honum. Ok er Arinbjǫrn varð þess
crowd big with him. And when Arinbjorn was this
120 varr, þá gekk hann með alla sveit sína alvápnaða í konungs-
expecst, then went he with all men his fully armed in king´s
garð, þá er konungr sat yfir borðum. Arinbjǫrn krafði sér
court, - when the king sat before the table. Arinbjorn asked him
inngǫngu í hǫllina; honum var þat ok heimult gǫrt. Ganga
the entrance into the hall, to him was that and permission granted. Go
þeir Egill inn með helming sveitarinnar; annarr helmingr
they Egil in with half of his people, the other half
stóð úti fyrir durum. Arinbjǫrn kvaddi konung, en konungr
stood outside before the door. Arinbjorn said to the king, when king
fagnaði honum vel. Arinbjǫrn mælti, 'Nú er hér kominn 125
welcomed him well. Arinbjorn said, "Now has here came,
Egill; hefir hann ekki leitat til brotthlaups í nótt. Nú viljum
Egil, has he not sought to run away during the night. Now would
vér vita, herra, hverr hans hluti skal verða. Vænti ek góðs af
we know, lord, every his lot shall become. Hope i good from
yðr; hefi ek þat gǫrt, sem vert var, at ek hefi engan hlut til
you, have i that done, as worth was, that i had not lot to
þess sparat, at gøra ok mæla svá at yðvarr vegr væri þá meiri
this spared, that make and say so that you honor were then more
en áðr. Hefi ek ok látit allar mínar eigur ok frændr ok vini 130
than before. Have I and gave up all my possessions and kinsmen and friends
er ek átta í Nóregi, ok fylgt yðr, en allir lendir menn yðrir
who i had in Norway, and followed you, and all men your
skildusk við yðr; ok er þat makligt, því at þú hefir marga
parted from you, and is that fitting, for - you had many
hluti til mín stórvel gǫrt.'
lot to me much well done."