30/08/2024
I have been inspired by the poem Lausavisur by Egil Skallagrimsson for years. Neil Sutcliffe and I did Walk the Oars inspired by the lyrics from around 900AD, and this year we will do Gullruns Saga - She Built a Boat to be performed as a Work in Process at The International Storytelling Festival 30th October and Hilmarfestival in Steinkjer Norway, 8th November.
See www.svenderikengh.com
Here is the poem in Old Norse
from https://heimskringla.no/
Þat mælti mín móðir,
at mér skyldi kaupa
fley ok fagrar árar,
fara á braut með víkingum,
standa upp í stafni,
stýra dýrum knerri,
halda svá til hafnar
hǫggva mann ok annan.
Danish translation of the first two lines
Old Norse
Þat mælti mín móðir,
at mér skyldi kaupa
Danish
Så min moder mente,
at mig man skulle købe et skib
English translation of these Danish words
So my mother meant
That for me they should buy me a ship
That is not
My mother told me
Some day I would buy a ship
As most translators these days translate the Old Norse words (Google translate does it!)
It totally takes away the power of the beginning.
The mother is telling someone, maybe even commanding someone to build a boat for this son, that when he was twelve years old killed a boy same age because her son was angry about a game with a ball.
From Reddit four years ago
Yezdigerd
•4y ago
For some reason people translate "at mér skyldi kaupa" to "I would buy" but it's "for me should they buy".
It's kinda important. The point of the poem is a defence for a senseless honor killing that his kin and everyone else resent him for but mommy comes to the rescue.
Rather then comforting him(someday you will buy a ship), mum thinks he should be indulged and rewarded for the homocide.(we (the family)should buy a ship for him.
An example of the Google Translation
https://youtu.be/tpR2v98qZGE?si=VniLwA2VrMeOWiyW
My dear friends! you share subscribe, this time I bring you a mix of talents with a great VIKING spirit! with the strength and courage that characterizes the...
