Solarlióð.

_____

The Song of the Sun.

 

This singular poem, the authorship of which is, in some manuscripts, assigned to Sæmund himself, may be termed a Voice from the Dead, given under the form of a dream, in which a deceased father is supposed to address his son from another world. The first 7 strophes seem hardly connected with the following ones, which, as far as the 32nd consist chiefly in aphorisms with examples, some closely resembling those in the Havamal. In the remaining portion is given the recital of the last illness of the supposed speaker, his death, and the scenes his soul passed through on the way to its final home. 

 The composition exhibits a strange mixture of Christianity and Heathenism, whence it would seem that the poet´s own religion was in a transition state. Of the allusions to Heathenism it is, however, to be observed that they are chiefly to persons and actions of which there is no trace in the Odinic mythology, as known to us, and are possibly the fruits of the poet´s own imagination. The title of the poem is no doubt derived from the allusion to the Sun at the beginning of the strophes 39-45.   

      For an elaborate and learned commentary, with an interlinear version of "the Song of the Sun", the reader may consult "Les Chants de Sol", by Professor Bergmann, Strassbourg & Paris, 1858.

 

 

 

1. Of life and property

a fierce freebooter

despoiled mankind;

over the ways

beset by him

might no one living pass.

 

2. Alone he ate

most frequently,

no one invited he to his repast;

until weary,

and with failing strength,

a wandering guest

came from the way.

 

3. In need of drink

that way-worn man,

and hungry feigned to be:

with trembling heart

he seemed to trust

him who had been so evil-minded.

4. Meat and drink

to the weary one he gave,

all with upright heart;

on God he thought,

the traveller's wants supplied;

for he felt he was an evil-doer.

 

5. Up stood the guest,

he evil meditated,

he had not been kindly treated;

his sin within him swelled,

he while sleeping murdered

his wary cautious host.

 

6. The God of heaven

he prayed for help,

when being struck he woke;

but he was doomed the sins of him

on himself to take,

whom sackless he had slain.

 

7. Holy angels came

from heaven above,

and took to them his soul:

in a life of purity

it shall ever live

with the almighty God.

 

 

8. Riches and health

no one may command,

though all go smoothly with him.

To many that befalls

which they least expect.

No one may command his tranquility.

 

9. Unnar and Sævaldi

never imagined

that happiness would fall on them,

yet naked they became,

and of all bereft,

and, like wolves, ran to the forest.

 

 

 

10. The force of pleasure

has many a one bewailed.

Cares are often caused by women;

pernicious they become,

although the mighty God

them pure created.

 

11. United were

Svafud and Skarthedin,

neither might without the other be,

until to frenzy they were driven

for a woman;

she was destined for their perdition.

 

12. On account of that fair maid,

neither of them cared

for games or joyous days;

no other thing

could they in memory bear

then that bright form.

 

13. Sad to them were

the gloomy nights,

no sweet sleep might they enjoy:

but from that anguish

rose hate intense

between the faithful friends.

 

14. Hostile deeds

are in most places

fiercely avenged.

To the holm they went,[1]

for that fair woman,

and each one found his death.

 

 

15. Arrogance should no one entertain:

I indeed have seen

that those who follow her,

for the most part,

turn from God.

 

16. Rich were both,

Radey and Vebogi,

and thought only of their well-being;

now they sit

and turn their sores

to various hearths.

 

17. They in themselves confided,

and though themselves alone to be

above all people;

but their lot

Almighty God was pleased

otherwise to appoint.

 

18. A life of luxury they led,

in may ways,

and had gold for sport.

Now they are requited,

so that they must walk

between frost and fire.

 

 

19. To thy enemies

trust thou never,

although they speak thee fair:

promise them good:

'tis good to have another's injury

as a warning.

 

20. So it befell

Sörli the upright,

when he placed himself in Vigolf's power;

he confidently trusted him,

his brother's murderer,

but he proved false.

 

21. Peace to them he granted,

with heart sincere;

they in return promised him gold,

feigned themselves friends.,

while they together drank;

but then came forth their guile.

 

22. Then afterwards,

on the second day,

when they in Rýgiardal rode,

they with swords wounded him

who sackless was,

and let his life go forth.

 

23. His corpse they dragged

(on a lonely way,

and cut up piecemeal) into a well,

and would it hide;

but the holy Lord

beheld from heaven.

 

24. His soul summoned home

the true God

into his joy to come;

but the evil doers

will, I ween, late

be from torments called.

 

 

25. Do thou pray the Disir

of the Lord's words

to be kind to thee in spirit:

for a week after,

all shall then go happily,

according to thy will.

 

26. For a deed of ire

that thou has perpetrated,

never atone with evil:

the weeping thou shalt

sooth with benefits:

that is salutary to the soul.

 

27. On God a man

shall for good things call,

on him who has mankind created.

Greatly sinful is

every man

who late finds the Father.

 

28. To be solicited, we opine,

is with all earnestness

for that which is lacking:

of all things may be destitute

he who for nothing asks:

few heed the wants of the silent.

 

29. Late I came,

though called betimes,

to the supreme Judge's door;

thitherward I yearn;

for it was promised me,

he who craves it shall of the feast partake.

30. Sins are the cause

that sorrowing we depart

from this world:

no one stands in dread,

if he does no evil:

good it is to be blameless.

 

31. Like unto wolves

all those seem

who have a faithless mind:

so he will prove

who has to go

through ways strewed with gleeds.

 

32. Friendly counsels,

and wisely composed, seven

I have imparted to thee:

consider thou them well,

and forget them never:

they are all useful to learn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

33. Of that I will speak,

how happy I was

in the world,

and secondly,

how the sons of men

reluctantly become corpses.

 

34. Pleasure and pride

deceive the sons of men

who after money crave;

shining riches

at last become a sorrow:

many have riches driven to madness.

 

35. Steeped in joys

I seemed to men;

for little did I see before me:

our worldly sojourn

has the Lord created

in delights abounding.

 

36. Bowed down I sat,

long I tottered,

of life was most desirous;

but He prevailed

who was all-powerful:

onward are the ways of the doomed.

 

37. The cords of Hel

were tightly

bound round my sides;

I would rend them,

but they were strong.

"Tis easy free to go.

 

38. I alone knew,

how on all sides

my pains increased.

The maids of Hel each eve

with horror bade me

to their home.

 

39. The sun I saw,

true star of day,

sink in its roaring home;

but Hel's grated doors

on the other side I heard

heavily creaking.

 

40. The sun I saw

with blood-red beams beset:

(fast was I then from this world declining)

mightier she appeared,

in many ways

than she was before.

 

41. The sun I saw,

and it seemed to me

as if I saw a glorious god:

I bowed before her,

for the last time,

in the world of men.

 

42. The sun I saw:

she beamed forth so

that I seemed nothing to know;

but Giöll's streams

roared from the other side

mingled much with blood.

 

43. The sun I saw,

with quivering eyes,

appalled and shrinking;

for my heart

in great measure was

dissolved in languor.

 

44. The sun I saw

seldom sadder;

I had then almost from the world declined:

my tongue was

as wood become,

and all was cold without me.

 

45. The sun I saw

never after,

since that gloomy day;

for the mountain-waters

closed over me,

and I went called from torments.

 

46. The star of hope,

when I was born,

fled from my breast away;

high it flew,

settled nowhere,

so that it might find rest.

 

47. Longer than all

was that one night,

when stiff on my straw I lay;

then becomes manifest

the divine word:

"Man is the same as earth."

 

48. The Creator God can

it estimate and know,

(He who made heaven and earth)

how forsaken

many go hence,

although from kindred parted.

 

49. Of his works

each has the reward:

happy is he who does good.

Of my wealth bereft,

to me was destined

a bed strewed with sand.

50. Bodily desires

men oftentimes seduce,

of them has many a one too much:

water of baths

was of all things to me

most loathsome.

 

51. In the Norns' seat

nine days I sat,

thence I was mounted on a horse:

there the giantess's sun

shone grimly

through the dripping clouds of heaven.

 

52. Without and within,

I seemed to traverse all

the seven nether worlds:

up and down,

I sought an easier way,

where I might have the readiest paths.

 

 

 

53. Of that is to be told,

which I first saw,

when I to the worlds of torment came:-

scorched birds,

which were souls,

flew numerous as flies.

 

54. From the west I saw

Von's dragons fly,

and Glæval's paths obscure:

their wings they shook;

wide around me seemed

the earth and heaven to burst.

 

55. The sun's hart I saw

from the south coming,

he was by two together led:

his feet stood on the earth,

but his horns

reached up to heaven.

 

56. From the north riding I saw

the sons of Nidi,

they were seven in all:

from full horns,

the pure mead they drank

from the heaven-god's well.

 

57. The wind was silent,

the waters stopped their course;

then I heard a doleful sound:

for their husbands

false-faced women

ground earth for food.

 

58. Gory stones

those dark women

turned sorrowfully;

bleeding hearts hung

out of their breasts,

faint with much affliction.

 

59. Many a man I saw

wounded go

on those gleed-strewed paths;

their faces seemed

to me all reddened

with reeking blood.

 

60. Many men I saw

to earth gone down,

who holy service might not have;

heathen stars

stood above their heads,

painted with deadly characters.

 

61. I saw those men

who much envy harbour

at another's fortune;

bloody runes

were on their breasts

graved painfully.

 

62. I there saw men

many not joyful;

they were all wandering wild:

this he earns,

who by this world's vices

is infatuated.

 

63. I saw those men

who had in various ways

acquired other's property:

in shoals they went

to Castle-covetous,

and burthens bore of lead.

 

64. I saw those men

who many had

of life and property bereft:

through the breasts

of those men passed

strong venomous serpents.

 

65. I saw those men

who the holy days

would not observe:

their hands were

on hot stones

firmly nailed.

 

66. I saw those men

who from pride

valued themselves too highly;

their garments

ludicrously were

in fire enveloped.

 

67. I saw those men

who had many

false words of others uttered:

Hel's ravens

from their heads

their eyes miserably tore.

 

68. All the horrors

thou wilt not get to know

which Hel's inmates suffer.

Pleasant sins

end in painful penalties:

pains ever follow pleasure.

 

 

69. I saw those men

who had much given

for God's laws;

pure lights were

above their heads

brightly burning.

 

70. I saw those men

who from exalted mind

helped the poor to aid:

angels read

holy books

above their heads.

 

71. I saw those men

who with much fasting had

their bodies wasted:

God's angels

bowed before them:

that is the highest joy.

 

72. I saw those men

who had put food

into their mothers' mouth:

their couches were

on the rays of heaven

pleasantly placed.

 

73. Holy virgins

had cleanly washed

the souls from sin

of those men,

who for a long time had

themselves tormented.

 

74. Lofty cars I saw

towards heaven going;

they were on the way to God:

men guided them

who had been murdered

wholly without crime.

 

75. Almighty Father!

greatest Son!

holy Spirit of heaven!

Thee I pray,

who hast us all created;

free us all from miseries.

 

 

76. Biugvör and Listvör

sit at Herðir´s doors,

on resounding seat;

iron gore

falls from their nostrils,

which kindles hate among men.

 

77. Odin's wife

rows in earth's ship,

eager after pleasures;

her sails are

reefed late,

which on the ropes of desire are hung.

 

78. Son! I thy father

and Solkatla's sons

have alone obtained for thee

that horn of hart,

which from the grave-mound bore

the wise Vigdvalin.

 

79. Here are runes

which have engraven

Niörd´s daughters nine,

Radvör the eldest,

and the youngest Kreppvör,

and their seven sisters.

 

80. How much violence

have they perpetrated

Svaf and Svaflogi!

bloodshed they have excited,

and wounds have sucked,

after an evil custom.

 

81. This lay,

which I have taught thee,

thou shalt before the living sing,

the Sun-Song,

which will appear

in many parts no fiction.

 

82. Here we part,

but again shall meet

on the day of men's rejoicing.

Oh Lord!

unto the dead grant peace,

and to the living comfort.

 

83. Wondrous lore

has in dream to thee been sung,

but thou hast seen the truth:

no man has been

so wise created

that has before heard the Sun-Song.

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[1] That is, they engaged in single combat; the spot for such encounters being called a holm, consisting of a circular space marked out by stones.