Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HACONAMAL, by EYVIND SKALDA-SPILLER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HACONAMAL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gondul and skogul / the gods of the goths sent
Last Line: Sunk have many to slaves.
Alternate Author Name(s): Eyvindr Finnsson SkÁldaspilli
Subject(s): Goths; Mythology


Gondul and Skogul
The gods of the Goths sent
To choose 'mong the kings
Of Yngvi's race which
With Odin should fare
And live in Valhalla.

Bjorn's brother found they
Faring in mail-coat,
Marching 'neath gonfalon;
Scared were the foe,
The shafts shook,
The battle began.

"On, Halogalanders!
On, ye West-Islanders!"
Cried the earl-slayer,
Rushed to the fray.
Well did his Northmen
Follow their noble lord,
Dread of the isle Danes
Helmed in gold.

Flung off his armor
Down on the plain,
The chief of the body-guard,
Ere he set on.
Joked with his men-at-arms,
"We'll keep the land safe,"
Laughed the King gayly,
Helmed in gold.

So sliced his sharp sword
In the chief's hand
Right through the mail-coats
As they were water.
Crash went the arrows,
Split were the shields;
Rattled the blades
On the foemen's skulls.

Through targets tough,
Through plates of iron,
Smashed irresistible
The Norse King's brand.
Th' isle pealed with battle-din,
Crimsoned the kings
Their glistening shields
In the blood of the throng.

Quivered the flashing swords
In the wounds gory;
Louted the halberds,
Greedy of life;
Soused the red wound-stream
'Gainst the splashed bucklers;
Fell crimson arrow-rain
On Stord's shore.

All blood-bedabbled
Surged the fierce fray;
Thundered the shield rims
'Mid storm of war;
Pattered down point stream
Odin's red shower.
Many fell fainting
In their life's blood.

Sat were the princes
Drawn were their swords,
Battered their bucklers,
Armor all gashed;
Ill at ease felt the
Monarch, for he was
Bound to Valhalla.

Gondul she spoke,
Leaning on spear-shaft: --
"Grows the gods' company;
They have bid Hacon,
With a great retinue,
Home to their hall!"

Heard the fey chieftain
What said the Valkyr --
Maids from their steeds:
Thoughtful their faces looked
As they sat helmed,
Sheltered with shields.

HACON

"Why so the contest
Deal'st thou, Geirskogul?
Worthy of victory
We from the gods!"

SKOGUL

"We were the cause
The battle you won
And the foes fled.
Now will we speed."
Quoth mighty Skogul,
"To heaven's green glades,
King Odin to tell
A great lord is coming.
Who longs him to see!"

Quoth aloud Odin,
"Go meet the chieftain;
Hither is faring
A king, and a valiant one,
Lo! to my hall."

The captain he cried,
Just fresh from the fray.
All dripping with gore: --
"Very hard-hearted
Truly me seemeth
Odin to be."

ODIN

"All of my warriors
Welcome thee in!
Drink of our ale-cups,
Bane of the Jarls."
"Already you've here
Eight brothers," quoth Bragi.

HACON

"All our war-gear,"
Quoth the good King.
"Ourselves will we hold;
Our helmet and mail,
We'll guard them full well;
'Tis pleasant to handle the spear."

Then straight it appeared
How the good King had
Protected the temples,
For Hacon they bade
Be heartily welcome,
The assembly of gods.
On fortunate day
Was that monarch born,
With such a mind gifted;
His age and day
Must ever be held
In kindly remembrance.
Ere will break his chain
And rush on mankind
Fell Ferris Wolf.
Ere a man so good
In his footsteps tread
One of royal birth --
Riches depart,
And likewise friends,
The land is laid waste:
Since Hacon fared
To the heathen gods,
Sunk have many to slaves.






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