Old Icelandic Rune Poëm
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| aurum · ylkir | gold · leader of the war-band | |
| Fé er frænda róg | Money is kinsmen’s quarrel | |
| ok flæðar1 viti | and þe puniſhment of flood | |
| ok grafseiðs2 gata. | and þe ſerpent’s paþ. | |
| 1 Þis may be “flœðar.” 2 Grafseiðr = necromancy? = ſerpent. I am uncertain of þis uſage. | ||
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| umbre · vísi | ſhadow · leader | |
| Úr er skýja grátr | Drizzle is þe ſky’s tears | |
| ok skára3 þverrir | and þe melter of ice | |
| ok hirðis hatr. | and þe herdsman’s hate. | |
| 3 Skára = ſeagull chick? Þis has been tranſlated by oþers as “rim of ice,” alþough i was unable to verify þis uſage. | ||
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| Saturnus · þengill | Saturn · ruler of þe þing | |
Þurs4 er kvenna kv l | Þurs is a torment to women | |
| ok kletta búi | and dweller in þe rocky crags | |
| ok varðrúnar verr. | and þe huſband of Varðrúna. | |
| 4 Þurs was a troll-dæmon. | ||
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| Jupiter · oddviti | Jupiter · point-leader | |
| Óss er algingautr | River-mouþ is þe faþer of old | |
| ok ásgarðs jfurr | and Ásgarð’s chieftain | |
| ok valhallar vísi. | and Valhalla’s leader. | |
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| iter · ræsir | journey · king | |
| Reið er sitiandi sæla | Riding is bliſsful ſitting | |
| ok snúðig ferð | and a ſwift journey | |
| ok jórs erfiði. | while þe horſe toils. | |
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| flagella · konungr | whip · king | |
| Kaun er barna bl | Wound is þe miſfortune of children | |
| ok bardaga [fr] | and þe paþ of battle | |
| ok holdfúa hús. | and þe houſe of mortification5. | |
| 5 Þis actually ſays “Þe Houſe of Rotten Meat.” I þought “mortification” ſounded a little leſs graphic. | ||
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| grando · hildingr | hail · battle-leader | |
| Hagall er kaldakorn | Hail is a cold ſeed | |
| ok krapadrífa | and a ſhower of ſleet | |
| ok snáka sótt. | and a plague to ſnakes. | |
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| opera · niflungr | work · deſcendant of þe dead | |
| Nauð er Þýjar þrá6 | Need is þe ſervant-girl’s longing | |
| ok þungr kostr | and a heavy choice | |
| ok vássamlig verk. | and wet and toilſome work. | |
| 6 Þis could alſo mean “Þe ſervant-girl’s defiance.” | ||
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glacies · j furr | ice · chieftain | |
| Íss er árbrkr | Ice is þe river’s edge | |
| ok unnar þak | and a roof for þe waves | |
| ok feigra manna fár. | and a danger for doomd men. | |
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| annus · allvaldr | year · all-ruler | |
| Ár er gumna góði | Year is men’s profit | |
| ok gott sumar | and a good ſummer | |
| algróinn akr. | and a fruitful field. | |
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| rota · siklingr | wheel · deſcendant of þe victor | |
| Sól er skýja skjldr | Sun is þe ſhield of þe clouds | |
| ok skínandi rðull | and a ſhining glory | |
| ok ísa aldrtregi. | and ever þe plague of ice. | |
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| Mars · tiggi | Mars · nobleman | |
| Týr er einhendr áss | Týr is þe one-handed god | |
| ok ulfs leifar7 | and what þe wolf does not eat | |
| ok hofa hilmir. | and þe prince of þe temple. | |
| 7 Leifar is literally ſomeþing left behind, “leavings.” I ſuppose þis could be taken in ſeveral ways, but uſually it refers to uneaten food. | ||
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| abies · buðlungr | ſilver fir · protector | |
| Biarkan er laufgat lim | Birch is a leafy limb | |
| ok lítit tré | and a little tree | |
| ok ungsamligr viðr. | and a youþful wood. | |
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| homo · mildingr | man · generous one | |
| Maðr er manns gaman | Man is þe joy of man | |
| ok moldar auki | and þē increaſe of dust | |
| ok skipa skreytir. | and þe decoration of ſhips. | |
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| lacus · lofðungr | lake · praiſe-worþy one | |
| Lgr er vellanda vatn | Liquid is water welling up | |
| ok viðr ketill | and a wide kettle | |
| ok glmmungr8 grund. | and þe land of fiſh. | |
| 8 It is known þat “glmmungr” was a fiſh, alþough we do not know what kind. | ||
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| arcus · ynglingr | bow · deſcendant of Yngvi | |
| Ýr er bendr bogi | Yew is a bent bow | |
| ok brotgjarnt járn | and brittle iron | |
| ok fífu fárbauti. | and þe dangerous chaſe of þē arrow. | |