Hej!
As promised earlier today, here is the first part of a new þáttr about a tournament. In it, I´m using verses that you've seen before, with some needed modifications. The whole tale is about four paragraphs and six verses long and will be published over the next few weeks. Look for updates.
In writing this þáttr, I have gone a different route, attempting to write the prose without using any translation tools, except a dictionary and grammar. I've used the on-line Cleasby-Vigfusson and Michael Barnes's A New Introduction to Old Norse. Of course, all of the writing and errors are mine. Please. comment and suggest how my clumsy prose can be improved.
UPDATED - November 30. The new section is red-lettered.
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Krónu þáttr miðju-sumars
Svá segir skald-gamli:
Hvélinn skein á hólar
himins enda-lauss dimmir -
Stýri gildr bauð skatna
stafar malregns djarfr Ildest.
Sverð-taka jarn-fastr
ok ýtar fresknastr rítar;
forú át mó fleins flug
finnar erfingi þínna.
*****
Margir menn kómu til konungs-bús á Midju-sumars vaku. þeir váru heilsat af báðra Isenulf ok Rosalindis. Bóð mikil er haldin. Nóttina var dá-samligr ok sérhverr váru plagaðusk með mann-doma. Konung gaf þeimall gull-hring vér skulum marka áf burt-reidinn. Talði þeim hann burtreiðar-løginn. Burt-reiðainn skyldi vera berjaði með vapnum eggum-vølr. Striðs-mennin ok dómandír skydi gripa á loturin. Alla striðsmenn látum at burt-reiðdarinn ok festat á hlýða. Næsta morgin, fyrðarinir géngu á hasel-vøll burdeiga. Kvenna kusu nafn ok øttu. Burdeigaðu fyrðar til midju-dag. Skininn var sól ok dagr var heitr.
Svá segir skald-gamli:
Blaka merki bik-svart
bor'a með gull ok vørar
Kallarir hrósat hringa
hrað-mæltr sírar glaðligr.
Fram-leitat þjórar from-fuss
frýði gjórdar-vitr prýddr -
Kallad her-blástr koll-hufs
á kró litr-járn gnýs-odda.
The Tale of Mid-Summer Crown
There was a man named Eisenwulf son of Thorhall. He had fought many battles and had become a great king. He was married to Rosalindis, a noble woman from France. Together, they had ruled for nineteen winters, but they had not been blessed with children. In order that the kingdom would have an heir, Isenwulf decreed that a great tourney be held. The victor would be the heir to the crown after Isenwulf and Rosalinda. King Isenwulf sent words to all warriors: "All come to the Midsummer feast and meet my challenge!"
As the old skald says:
(The wheel of heaven shone on
endless dusky hills.
Mighty ruler you summoned
metal-rain staves bold.
Iron-fast sword-takers elder
and bold shield-impellers come
to the spear flight moor
to find your heir.)
*****
Many men came to the royal-house on Mid-summer's eve. They were warmly greeted by both Eisenwulf and Rosalindis. They held a sumptuous feast. The night was glorious and everyone was treated with great generosity. The king gave each fighter a gold ring to mark him for the tournament. He told them the rules. The tournament would be fought with blunt-edged weapons. The fighters and judges would decide each bout. All the fighters swore that they would follow the rules.
The next morning, the warriors met on the hazel-field. The Queen drew and matched names. The fighters battled until the mid-day. The sun shone and the day was hot.
As the old skald says:
(pitch black banners broidered
with gold and fur flew
Heralds quick of speech
praised cheerful ring-saplings.
Eager honor seeking young bulls
challenged adorned white belts -
war-trumpets called iron-skull-caps
to the sword-pint pen.)
*****
Many men came to the royal-house on Mid-summer's eve. They were warmly greeted by both Eisenwulf and Rosalindis. They held a sumptuous feast. The night was glorious and everyone was treated with great generosity. The king gave each fighter a gold ring to mark him for the tournament. He told them the rules. The tournament would be fought with blunt-edged weapons. The fighters and judges would decide each bout. All the fighters swore that they would follow the rules.
The next morning, the warriors met on the hazel-field. The Queen drew and matched names. The fighters battled until the mid-day. The sun shone and the day was hot.
As the old skald says:
(pitch black banners broidered
with gold and fur flew
Heralds quick of speech
praised cheerful ring-saplings.
Eager honor seeking young bulls
challenged adorned white belts -
war-trumpets called iron-skull-caps
to the sword-pint pen.)
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Of course, when translating the SCA into Old Icelandic, some liberties get taken, and I apologize here and now to Their Majesties, Isenwulf and Rosalinda, for fictionalizing slightly. I hope I do not offend.
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