Gripla - 20.12.2014, Blaðsíða 200

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trast, the original phrase “stabulo porcorum” is shortened to a mere “stalle”.
furthermore, the refrain now runs “herfang tok tok tok r herfang tok og
hrygder jók r hann þeim myrkra anda” [he took the spoils and increased
the disappointment for the Dark Spirit]. the phrase “herfang tok” cor-
responds closely to “perdidit spolia,” but the rendering “og hrygder jók |
hann þeim myrkra anda” in the final stanza deviates considerably from the
original‘s “rector superorum” and “rector inferorum” [ruler of heaven] and
[ruler of hell], respectively), even if it could be argued that the vernacular
rendering is much clearer. Even so, on the whole, the Icelandic translation
closely follows the Latin original. Indeed, considering that the entire song
structure, together with its verse, rhyme, and presumably its melody, were
reflected in the Icelandic version, the translation is no mean feat.18 In the
following section, we will take a closer look at the entire content of the
Icelandic hymn Hljómi raustin barna best.
3. the content of the Icelandic hymn
As mentioned previously, the Icelandic versions of Personent hodie can
generally be divided into two groups, a longer and shorter version. the
longer Icelandic version adds twelve to thirteen stanzas to the three-stanza
translation from Latin, the thirteenth and last stanza always being the
stanza added or omitted. the four stanzas of the Latin version of Personent
hodie, and hence the three of those found in the Icelandic versions, refer
to the nativity of Jesus, marking this hymn clearly as a Christmas song.
the topic of the added stanzas of the longer version, however, stretches
into Christian eschatology, referring to the Last Judgment and the eternal
afterlife, including images known from the Book of revelation. this is
also reflected in the rubrics. While the rubrics label the shorter version a
song or psalm on the nativity of jesus, the longer versions tend either to
label this hymn as about Jesus (in general) or about Judgment Day and the
eternal afterlife.
one might assume that the content would reflect Lutheran theo-
logical views where there were suitable points at which to express them.
18 Unfortunately, for reasons of time and space the musical aspect of these texts cannot be
taken into account here. for further discussion, see references in Mäkinen, Piae Cantiones-
Melodien, 10–23.