"Ár kváðu ganga

grænar brautir

öflgan ok aldinn

ás kunnigan,

ramman ok röskvan

Ríg stíganda."

"Men say there went

by ways so green

Of old the god,

the aged and wise,

Mighty and strong

did Rig go striding.

*********"

"Gekk hann meir at þat

miðrar brautar;

kom hann at húsi,

hurð var á gætti;

inn nam at ganga,

eldr var á golfi;

hjón sátu þar

hár at arni,

Ái ok Edda,

aldinfalda."

"Forward he went

on the midmost way,

He came to a dwelling,

a door on its posts;

In did he fare,

on the floor was a fire,

Two hoary ones

by the hearth there sat,

Ai and Edda,

in olden dress."

"Rígr kunni þeim

ráð at segja;

meir settisk hann

miðra fletja,

en á hlið hvára

hjón salkynna."

"Rig knew well

wise words to speak,

Soon in the midst

of the room he sat,

And on either side

the others were."

"Þá tók Edda

ökkvinn hleif,

þungan ok þykkvan,

þrunginn sáðum;

bar hon meir at þat

miðra skutla,

soð var í bolla,

setti á bjóð;

var kalfr soðinn

krása beztr."

"A loaf of bread

did Edda bring,

Heavy and thick

and swollen with husks;

Forth on the table

she set the fare,

And broth for the meal

in a bowl there was.

(Calf's flesh boiled

was the best of the dainties.)"

"Rígr kunni þeim

ráð at segja;

reis hann upp þaðan,

réðsk at sofna;

meir lagðisk hann

miðrar rekkju,

en á hlið hvára

hjón salkynna."

"Rig knew well

wise words to speak,

Thence did he rise,

made ready to sleep;

Soon in the bed

himself did he lay,

And on either side

the others were."

"Þar var hann at þat

þríar nætr saman,

gekk hann meir at þat

miðrar brautar;

liðu meir at þat

mánuðr níu."

"Thus was he there

for three nights long,

Then forward he went

on the midmost way,

And so nine months

were soon passed by."

"Jóð ól Edda

jósu vatni,

hörvi svartan,

hétu Þræl."

"A son bore Edda,

with water they sprinkled him,

With a cloth his hair

so black they covered;

Thræll they named him,

*********"

"Hann nam at vaxa

ok vel dafna;

var þar á höndum

hrokkit skinn,

kropnir knúar,

fingr digrir,

fúlligt andlit,

lotr hryggr,

langir hælar."

"The skin was wrinkled

and rough on his hands,

Knotted his knuckles,

*********

Thick his fingers,

and ugly his face,

Twisted his back,

and big his heels."

"Nam han meir at þat

magns of kosta,

bast at binda,

byrðar gerva;

bar hann heim at þat

hrís gerstan dag."

"He began to grow,

and to gain in strength,

Soon of his might

good use he made;

With bast he bound,

and burdens carried,

Home bore faggots

the whole day long."

"Þar kom at garði

gengilbeina,

aurr var á iljum,

armr sólbrunninn,

niðrbjúgt er nef,

nefndisk Þír."

"One came to their home,

crooked her legs,

Stained were her feet,

and sunburned her arms,

Flat was her nose;

her name was Thir."

"Miðra fletja

meir settisk hon;

sat hjá henni

sonr húss;

ræddu ok rýndu,

rekkju gerðu

Þræll ok Þír

þrungin dægr."

"Soon in the midst

of the room she sat,

By her side there sat

the son of the house;

They whispered both,

and the bed made ready,

Thræll and Thir,

till the day was through."

"Börn ólu þau,

— bjuggu ok unðu, —

hygg ek at héti

Hreimr ok Fjósnir,

Klúrr ok Kleggi,

Kefsir, Fúlnir,

Drumbr, Digraldi,

Dröttr ok Hösvir.

Lútr ok Leggjaldi;

lögðu garða,

akra töddu,

unnu at svínum,

geita gættu,

grófu torf."

"Children they had,

they lived and were happy,

Fjosnir and Klur

they were called, methinks,

Hreim and Kleggi,

Kefsir, Fulnir,

Drumb, Digraldi,

Drott and Leggjaldi,

Lut and Hosvir;

the house they cared for,

Ground they dunged,

and swine they guarded,

Goats they tended,

and turf they dug."

"Dætr váru þær

Drumba ok Kumba,

Ökkvinkalfa

ok Arinnefja,

Ysja ok Ambátt,

Eikintjasna,

Tötrughypja

ok Trönubeina.

Þaðan eru komnar

þræla ættir."

"Daughters had they,

Drumba and Kumba,

Ökkvinkalfa,

Arinnefla,

Ysja and Ambott,

Eikintjasna,

Totrughypja

and Tronubeina;

And thence has risen

the race of thralls."

"Gekk Rígr at þat

réttar brautir,

kom hann at höllu,

hurð var á skíði,

inn nam at ganga,

eldr var á golfi,

hjón sátu þar,

heldu á sýslu."

"Forward went Rig,

his road was straight,

To a hall he came,

and a door there hung;

In did he fare,

on the floor was a fire:

Afi and Amma

owned the house."

"Maðr teglði þar

meið til rifjar;

var skegg skapat,

skör var fyrir enni,

skyrtu þröngva,

skokkr var á golfi."

"There sat the twain,

and worked at their tasks:

The man hewed wood

for the weaver's beam;

His beard was trimmed,

o'er his brow a curl,

His clothes fitted close;

in the corner a chest."

"Sat þar kona,

sveigði rokk,

breiddi faðm,

bjó til váðar;

sveigr var á höfði,

smokkr var á bringu,

dúkr var á halsi,

dvergar á öxlum.

Afi ok Amma

áttu hús."

"The woman sat

and the distaff wielded,

At the weaving with arms

outstretched she worked;

On her head was a band,

on her breast a smock;

On her shoulders a kerchief

with clasps there was."

"Rígr kunni þeim

ráð at segja;

meir settisk hann

miðra fletja,

en á hlið hvára

hjón salkynna."

"Rig knew well

wise words to speak,

Soon in the midst

of the room he sat,

And on either side

the others were."

"Þá tók Amma

*********

var kalfr soðinn

krása beztr."

"Then took Amma

*********

The vessels full

with the fare she set,

Calf's flesh boiled

was the best of the dainties."

"Rígr kunni þeim

ráð at segja

reis frá borði,

réð at sofna;

meir lagðisk hann

miðrar rekkju,

en á hlið hvára

hjón salkynna."

"Rig knew well

wise words to speak,

He rose from the board,

made ready to sleep;

Soon in the bed

himself did he lay,

And on either side

the others were."

"Þar var hann at þat

þríar nætr saman;

liðu meir at þat

mánuðr níu."

"Thus was he there

for three nights long,

Then forward he went

on the midmost way,

And so nine months

were soon passed by."

"Jóð ól Amma

jósu vatni,

kölluðu Karl,

kona sveip rifti,

rauðan ok rjóðan,

riðuðu augu."

"A son bore Amma,

with water they sprinkled him,

Karl they named him;

in a cloth she wrapped him,

He was ruddy of face,

and flashing his eyes."

"Hann nam at vaxa

ok vel dafna,

öxn nam at temja,

arðr at gerva,

hús at timbra

ok hlöður smíða,

karta at gerva

ok keyra plóg."

"He began to grow,

and to gain in strength,

Oxen he ruled,

and plows made ready,

Houses he built,

and barns he fashioned,

Carts he made,

and the plow he managed."

"Heim óku þá

hanginluklu,

geitakyrtlu,

giftu Karli;

Snör heitir sú,

settisk und rifti;

bjuggu hjón,

bauga deildu,

breiddu blæjur

ok bú gerðu."

"Home did they bring

the bride for Karl,

In goatskins clad,

and keys she bore;

Snör was her name,

neath the veil she sat;

A home they made ready,

and rings exchanged,

The bed they decked,

and a dwelling made."

"Börn ólu þau,

— bjuggu ok unðu, —

hét Halr ok Drengr,

Hölðr, Þegn ok Smiðr,

Breiðr, Bóndi,

Bundinskeggi,

Búi ok Boddi,

Brattskeggr ok Seggr."

"Sons they had,

they lived and were happy:

Hal and Dreng,

Holth, Thegn and Smith,

Breith and Bondi,

Bundinskeggi,

Bui and Boddi,

Brattskegg and Segg."

"Enn hétu svá

öðrum nöfnum,

Snót, Brúðr, Svanni,

Svarri, Sprakki,

Fljóð, Sprund ok Víf,

Feima, Ristill.

Þaðan eru komnar

karla ættir."

"Daughters they had,

and their names are here:

Snot, Bruth, Svanni,

Svarri, Sprakki,

Fljoth, Sprund and Vif,

Feima, Ristil:

And thence has risen

the yeomen's race."

"Gekk Rígr þaðan

réttar brautir;

kom hann at sal,

suðr horfðu dyrr,

var hurð hnigin,

hringr var í gætti."

"Thence went Rig,

his road was straight,

A hall he saw,

the doors faced south;

The portal stood wide,

on the posts was a ring,

Then in he fared;

the floor was strewn."

"Gekk hann inn at þat,

golf var stráat;

sátu hjón,

sáusk í augu,

Faðir ok Móðir,

fingrum at leika."

"Within two gazed

in each other's eyes,

Fathir and Mothir,

and played with their fingers;

There sat the house-lord,

wound strings for the bow,

Shafts he fashioned,

and bows he shaped."

"Sat húsgumi

ok sneri streng,

alm of bendi,

örvar skefti;

en húskona

hugði at örmum,

strauk of rifti,

sterti ermar."

"The lady sat,

at her arms she looked,

She smoothed the cloth,

and fitted the sleeves;

Gay was her cap,

on her breast were clasps,

Broad was her train,

of blue was her gown,

Her brows were bright,

her breast was shining,

Whiter her neck

than new-fallen snow."

"Keisti fald,

kinga var á bringu,

síðar slæður,

serk bláfáan;

brún bjartari,

brjóst ljósara,

hals hvítari

hreinni mjöllu."

"Rig knew

well wise words to speak,

Soon in the midst

of the room he sat,

And on either side

the others were."

"Rígr kunni þeim

ráð at segja;

meir settisk hann

miðra fletja,

en á hlið hvára

hjón salkynna."

"Then Mothir brought

a broidered cloth,

Of linen bright,

and the board she covered;

And then she took

the loaves so thin,

And laid them, white

from the wheat, on the cloth."

"Þá tók Móðir

merkðan dúk,

hvítan af hörvi,

hulði bjóð,

hon tók at þat

hleifa þunna,

hvíta af hveiti,

ok hulði dúk."

"Then forth she brought

the vessels full,

With silver covered,

and set before them,

Meat all browned,

and well-cooked birds;

In the pitcher was wine,

of plate were the cups,

So drank they and talked

till the day was gone."

"Framm setti hon

fulla skutla,

silfri varða, á bjóð,

fáin fleski

ok fugla steikða,

vín var í könnu,

varðir kálkar;

drukku ok dæmðu,

dagr var á sinnum."

"Rig knew well

wise words to speak,

Soon did he rise,

made ready to sleep;

So in the bed

himself did he lay,

And on either side

the others were."

"Rígr kunni þeim

ráð at segja;

reis hann at þat,

rekkju gerði.

Þar var hann at þat

þríar nætr saman;

gekk hann meir at þat

miðrar brautar;

liðu meir at þat

mánuðr níu."

"Thus was he there

for three nights long,

Then forward he went

on the midmost way,

And so nine months

were soon passed by."

"Svein ól Móðir,

silki vafði,

jósu vatni,

Jarl létu heita;

bleikt var hár,

bjartir vangar,

ötul váru augu

sem yrmlingi."

"A son had Mothir,

in silk they wrapped him,

With water they sprinkled him,

Jarl he was;

Blond was his hair,

and bright his cheeks,

Grim as a snake's

were his glowing eyes."

"Upp óx þar

Jarl á fletjum;

lind nam at skelfa,

leggja strengi,

alm at beygja,

örvar skefta,

flein at fleygja,

frökkur dýja,

hestum ríða,

hundum verpa,

sverðum bregða,

sund at fremja."

"To grow in the house

did Jarl begin,

Shields he brandished,

and bow-strings wound,

Bows he shot,

and shafts he fashioned,

Arrows he loosened,

and lances wielded,

Horses he rode,

and hounds unleashed,

Swords he handled,

and sounds he swam."

"Kom þar ór runni

Rígr gangandi,

Rígr gangandi,

rúnar kendi;

sitt gaf heiti,

son kveðsk eiga;

þann bað hann eignask

óðalvöllu,

óðalvöllu,

aldnar byggðir."

"Straight from the grove

came striding Rig,

Rig came striding,

and runes he taught him;

By his name he called him,

as son he claimed him,

And bade him hold

his heritage wide,

His heritage wide,

the ancient homes."

"Reið hann meir þaðan

myrkvan við,

hélug fjöll,

unz at höllu kom;

skaft nam at dýja,

skelfði lind,

hesti hleypði

ok hjörvi brá;

víg nam at vekja,

völl nam at rjóða,

val nam at fella,

vá til landa."

"*********

Forward he rode

through the forest dark,

O'er the frosty crags,

till a hall he found."

"Réð hann einn at þat

átján búum,

auð nam skipta,

öllum veita

meiðmar ok mösma,

mara svangrifja,

hringum hreytti,

hjó sundr baug."

"His spear he shook,

his shield he brandished,

His horse he spurred,

with his sword he hewed;

Wars he raised,

and reddened the field,

Warriors slew he,

and land he won."

"Óku ærir

úrgar brautir,

kómu at höllu,

þar er Hersir bjó;

mey átti hann

mjófingraða,

hvíta ok horska,

hétu Erna."

"Eighteen halls

ere long did he hold,

Wealth did he get,

and gave to all,

Stones and jewels

and slim-flanked steeds,

Rings he offered,

and arm-rings shared."

"Báðu hennar

ok heim óku,

giftu Jarli,

gekk hon und líni;

saman bjuggu þau

ok sér unðu,

ættir jóku

ok aldrs nutu."

"His messengers went

by the ways so wet,

And came to the hall

where Hersir dwelt;

His daughter was fair

and slender-fingered,

Erna the wise

the maiden was."

"Burr var inn ellsti,

en Barn annat,

Jóð ok Aðal,

Arfi, Mögr,

Niðr ok Niðjungr,

— námu leika, —

Sonr ok Sveinn,

— sund ok tafl, —

Kundr hét enn,

Konr var inn yngsti."

"Her hand they sought,

and home they brought her,

Wedded to Jarl

the veil she wore;

Together they dwelt,

their joy was great,

Children they had,

and happy they lived."

"Upp óxu þar

Jarli bornir,

hesta tömðu,

hlífar bendu,

skeyti skófu,

skelfðu aska."

"Bur was the eldest,

and Barn the next,

Joth and Athal,

Arfi, Mog,

Nith and Svein,

soon they began

Sun and Nithjung

to play and swim;

Kund was one,

and the youngest Kon."

"En Konr ungr

kunni rúnar,

ævinrúnar

ok aldrrúnar;

meir kunni hann

mönnum bjarga,

eggjar deyfa,

ægi lægja."

"Soon grew up

the sons of Jarl,

Beasts they tamed,

and bucklers rounded,

Shafts they fashioned,

and spears they shook."

"Klök nam fugla,

kyrra elda,

sefa of svefja,

sorgir lægja,

afl ok eljun

átta manna."

"But Kon the Young

learned runes to use,

Runes everlasting,

the runes of life;

Soon could he well

the warriors shield,

Dull the swordblade,

and still the seas."

"Hann við Ríg jarl

rúnar deildi,

brögðum beitti

ok betr kunni;

þá öðlaðisk

ok þá eiga gat

Rígr at heita,

rúnar kunna."

"Bird-chatter learned he,

flames could he lessen.,

Minds could quiet,

and sorrows calm;

*********

The might and strength

of twice four men."

"Reið Konr ungr

kjörr ok skóga,

kolfi fleygði,

kyrrði fugla."

"With Rig-Jarl soon

the runes he shared,

More crafty he was,

and greater his wisdom;

The right he sought,

and soon he won it,

Rig to be called,

and runes to know."

"Þá kvað þat kráka,

sat kvisti ein:

Hvat skaltu, Konr ungr,

kyrra fugla?

Heldr mætti ér

hestum ríða,

hjörvi bregða

ok her fella."

"Young Kon rode forth

through forest and grove,

Shafts let loose,

and birds he lured;

There spake a crow

on a bough that sat:

Why lurest thou, Kon,

the birds to come?"

"Á Danr ok Danpr

dýrar hallir,

æðra óðal

en ér hafið;

þeir kunnu vel

kjóli at ríða,

egg at kenna,

undir rjúfa."

"Twere better forth

on thy steed to fare,

*********

and the host to slay."

"Brún bjartari,

brjóst ljósara,

hals hvítari

hreinni mjöllu."

"The halls of Dan

and Danp are noble,

Greater their wealth

than thou bast gained;

Good are they

at guiding the keel,

Trying of weapons,

and giving of wounds."

"Bjuggu hjón,

bauga deildu."