Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Page 91

The Case of »Hernilds kvæði
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won’t get peace at night.« (18) And that was Bad Hermoð, he scratched
on his silver sword: »If you weren’t Lady Hæge, you wouldn’t be going
anywhere!« (19) And that was Bad Hermoð, he scratched on his silver
knife: »If you weren’t Lady Hæge, you would lose your life!« (20) And
that was Bad Hermoð, he strode out by the gable: »Hæge’s words are
worse for me than all my hidden worries.« (21)And that was Bad Hermoð,
he strode out by the fortress: »Hægc’s words are worse for me than all my
hidden sorrows.« (22) They walked over the western bridge, which God
put at their disposal, they gave each other their pledge of faith, and they
both took an oath.
17 Trans.: (49) »Lady Halga lives on in so much perplexity, all of her
days she grieves for Bad Hermundur.« (53) To that answered old man
Haki: »1 still have more to say, Halga has engaged herself to a knight
and he is named Hergeiri.«
18 Trans.: Lady Halga answered, which all thought strange: »1 don’t
mind about my father’ death, if only Hermundur lives.«
19 There are at least eight extant texts of »Hermundur illi« from Suður-
oy, Skúvoy, one of the northern islands and Sandoy.
20 Trans.: (10) The king has one daughter, she has grown so tall, on
her has Hermundur set his whole heart. (11) The king has one daughter,
she has grown like a lily, on her has Hermundur set his heart and all
his will. (12) Not much more time went by than a short while, when he
shares his love with Halga in yon green glade. (13) Not much more time
went by than a short interval, when he shares his love with Halga in
yon green field.
21 The stanzas in »Hernilds kvæði« and their counterparts in the D-
text of »Hermundur illi« are as follows: 1:1, 2:2, 4:5, 23:91, 24:92, 23:94,
35:103, 36:104, 50:106, 51:107, 52:108, 53:108, 54:109, 33:110 and 73:112.
I have italicized the six stanzas which have no counterparts in any other
variant of »Hermundur illi.«
22 Trans.: (6) Heiðrikur grew up on his father’s estate, as all have heard
about him, he was so cowardly in his heart, he didn’t dare look at an
angry man. (7) He was so cowardly in his heart, he didn’t dare look at
a man bleed, he didn’t want to be in those contests when a hart was shot
to death. (8) Hermundur grew up on his father’s estate, and at that point
he went off, he didn’t let a day go by when he didn’t bloody a man.
(9) Hermundur grew up on his father’s estate, as many tales are told,
he didn’t let a day go by, that he didn’t bloody one or two. (10) He
wasn’t more than twelve years old, when he set out with his sword, he
threw himself at Atli’s troops and didn’t care what he did.
23 Trans.: (5) The elder is called Aksal, he was frightened among men,
he doesn’t dare to venture on the wide field and try out some weapons.
(6) That was Sir Aksal, he wasn’t so ambitious, he was so cowardly in