Gripla - 01.01.2002, Page 133

ON TRANSLATING SAGAS
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“And here,” said Ogmund, “is a robe of state, which she sends you,
Hrút, and in which you must appear before the king.”
MM-HP: A little later they met Ogmund, who brought them Gunn-
hild’s greetings and a message that she would not ask them to her
house until they had been to see the king, in case people started
saying that she was making too much fuss of them; but she would
do all she could for them, and in the meantime Hrut was to speak
up boldly before the king and ask to be admitted to his court.
“And here,” he added, “is a robe she sends you, Hmt, to wear when
you go before the king.”
(1999: A little later they met Ögmund; he brought them Gunnhild’s
greetings and a message that she would not ask them to her house
until they had been to see the king, in case of gossip — ‘“It would
look as if I were heaping favours on them. But I shall give whatev-
er help I please; and Hrút is to speak up boldly before the king and
ask to be admitted to his court.’ And here is a ceremonial robe she
sends you, Hrút; you are to wear it when you go before the king.”)
Cook: Soon after that they met Ogmund; he gave them Gunnhild’s
greetings and added that for fear of gossip she would not invite
them to come to her until they had met the king. “It mustn’t seem
that I’m lavishing favours on them,” she had said, “and yet I will
help him as I see fit. Hmt is to speak boldly to the king and ask to
be one of his followers.”
“And here are some noble robes,” Ogmund went on, “which she
has sent for you to wear when you come before the king.”
AIl of the translators have been uneasy about this passage, which would be
obscure if translated with absolute literalness. Dasent changes the queen’s
direct speech into indirect speech (“Still she would do all she could for them”)
and adds the introductory “and she went on.” B-H give the closest rendition of
the passage, adding only “said Ogmund” to clarify that last speech. Cook clar-
ifies that speech and also Gunnhild’s (with “she had said”). MM-HP put all of
the queen’s direct speech into indirect discourse. This is an unusually tricky
passage; for the most part, however, straightforward translation of reported
speech proves no difficulty.