The Ballad of Hildina (Foula)

The ballad was recorded by the Scottish clergyman George Low on his voyage to Foula in the early 1770s. Low had no knowledge of Norn whatsoever, so his "by-ear" transcript of the song is hardly phonetically precise. This prompted the Norwegian linguist Marius Hægstad to elaborate on Low's text attempting to reconstruct its Norn original. The outcome was published in Hægstad's brochure "Hildinakvadet, med utgreidung um det norske maal paa Shetland i eldre tid" (1900). Both Low's and Hægstad's versions of the ballad are included below. We also offer our translation of the song into Old Norse (translation of the stanzas 1-4 has in fact been copied with some minor changes from William Burley Lockwood's book "Languages of the British Isles past and present" (1975)). The Old Norse translation follows Hægstad's version and is mostly based on the vocabulary given in his paper with a few corrections and additions of ours. The English translation is borrowed from the Foula Heritage website (stanzas 1-12) and from the Hildinakvadet website (stanzas from 13 onwards and the notes). See also the vocabulary to the song at the latter resource and a separate chapter on the language of the Ballad of Hildina.
 

¹

George Low’s version
 
Marius Hægstad’s correction
 
Translation into Old Norse
 
Translation into English
 
1 Da vara Jarlin d'Orkneyar
For frinda sǐn spur de ro
Whirdi an skildè meun
Our glas buryon burtaga.
Da vara Iarlin o Orkneyar
for frinda sĭn spirde ro,
whirdì an skildè meun
or vannaro eidnar fuo –
Or glasburyon burtaga.
Þat var jarlinn af [ór] Orkneyjum
fyrir frænda sínum spurði ráð(a)
hvort hann skyldi meyna
ór vandaráði hennar fá -
ór glasborginni burt taka?
It was the Earl from Orkney,
And counsel of his kin sought he,
Whether he should the maiden
Free from her misery.
2 Or vanna ro eidnar fuo
Tega du meun our glas buryon
Kere friendè min yamna men
Eso vrildan stiendi gede min vara to din.
“Tega du meun our glasburyon,
kere friendè min,
yamna meun eso vrildan stiendi,
gede min vara to din.”
“Tekr þú meyna ór glasborginni
kæri frændi minn
jafnan meðan þessi verǫldin stendr
getit mun vera til þín.”
"If thou free the maid from her gleaming hall,
O kinsman dear of mine,
Ever while the world shall last
Thy glory still shall shine."
3 Yom keimir cullingin
Fro liene burt
Asta Vaar hon fruen Hildina
Hemi stu mer stien.
Yom keimir eullingin
fro liene;
burt asta vaar hon fruen Hildina,
hemi stu-mer stien.
Heim kemr ǫðlingrinn
frá leiðinni
burt af stað var hon frúin Hildina
heima stjúpmóðir stendr.
Home came the king,
Home from the ship's levy
The lady Hildina she was gone,
And only her stepmother there found he.
        Verse(s) missing?
The story ‘moves’ from the Earl of Orkney, to the King of Norway
4 Whar an yaar elonden
Ita kan sadnast wo
An scal vara kundè
Wo osta tre sin reithin ridna dar fro
“Whar an yaar e londen
ita kan sadnast wo,
an scal vara heindè wo osta tre,
sin reithin rìdna darfro”.
“Hvar hann er í lǫndum
þetta kann sannast á
hann skal vera hengdr á hœsta tré(t)
sem rótum rennr þar frá.”
"Be he in whatever land,
This will I prove true,
He shall be hanged from the highest tree
That ever upward grew."
5 Kemi to Orkneyar Jarlin
Vilda mien sante Maunis
I Orknian u bian sian
I lian far diar.
“Kemi to Orkneyar Iarlin,
sante Maunis vilda mien,
i Orknian u bian sian,
i lian far di an”.
“Komi til Orkneyja jarlinn
sankti Magnús valda mun,
í Orkneyjum æ biðr hann síðan,
í leiðina far þú enn”.
"If the Earl but come to Orkney,
Saint Magnus will be his aid,
And in Orkney ever he will remain—
Haste after him with speed."
6 An gevè Drotnign kedn puster
On de kin firsane furu
Tworare wo eder
Whitranè kidn.
An gevè Drotnign
kednpuster onde kin;
fir sane furu tworone
wo edner whitranè kidn.
Hann gefr drottningrinn
kinnpúst undir kinn;
fyrir sǫnnu fóru tárin(i)
á hennar hvítrandi [hvít(a)ri] kinn.
The King he stood before his lady,
And a box on her ear gave he,—
And all adown her lily white cheeks
The tears did flow truly.
        Verse(s) missing?
The story ‘jumps’ from Norway to Orkney
7 In kimerin Jarlin
U klapasse Hildina
On de kidn quirto
Vult doch, fiegan vara moch or fly din.
In kimer in Iarlin
u klapa se Hildina onde kidn;
“Quirto vult doch fiegan vara
moch or fy din?”
Inn kemr enn jarlinn
Ok klappar svá Hildinu undir kinn;
“Hvort vilt þú feigan vera
mig eðr fǫðr þinn?”
The Earl he stood before Hildina,
And a pat on her cheek gave he,—
"O which of us two wouldst thou have lie dead,
Thy father dear of me?
8 Elde vilda fiegan vara
Fy min u alt sin
Ans namnu wo
So minyach u ere min heve Orkneyar kingè ro.
“Elde vild-a fiegan vara
fy min u alt sin ans namn u wo;
so min yach u ere min heve
Orkneyar lingè ro.
“Heldr vilda ek feigan vera
fǫðr minn ok allt sem hans nafn er á;
Svá mun ek ok herra minn hæfi
Orkneyjum lengi ráða.
"I would rather see my father doomed,
And all his company,
If so my own true lord and I
May long rule in Orkney.
9 Nu di skall taga dor yochwo
And u ria dor to strandane nir
U yilsa fy minu avon
Blit an ear ne cumi i dora band.
Nu di skall taga dor yoch wo and
u ria dor nir to strandane
u yilsa fy minu avon blit;
an earni cumi i dora band.
Nú þú skalt taka þér eyk [hest] á hǫnd
ok ríða þér niðr til strandarinnar
og heilsa fǫðr mínum afandi blítt;
hann gjarna kœmi [komi?] í ykkar band.
"Now do thou take in hand thy steed,
And ride thou down to the strand;
And do thou greet my sire full blithely,
And gladly will he clasp thy hand."
        Verse(s) missing
The story ‘jumps’ into the conversation between the Earl and the King.
10 Nu Swaran Konign
So mege gak honon i muthi
Whath ear di ho gane mier
I daute buthe.
No swara an Konign
- so mege gak honon i muthi -:
“Whar ear di ho gave mier
i daute-buthe?”
Nú svarar hann konungr
- svá mikit gekk honum í móti -:
“Hvar gjarna eigar [átt] þú at gefa mér
í dóttr-bœtr?”
The King he now made answer—
So sore displeased was he—
"In payment for my daughter
What will thou give to me."
11 Trettì merkè vath ru godle
Da skall yach ger yo
U all de vara sonna less
So linge sin yach liva mo.
“Tretti merkè vath ru godle,
da skall yach ger yo
u allde vara sonnaless,
so linge sin yach liva mo”.
“Þrjátíu merkr við [með] rauðu gulli,
Þá skal ek þér ljá
ok aldrig vera sonalauss
svá lengi sem ek lifa má.
"Thirty marks of the red gold,
This to thee will I give,
And never shalt thou lack a son
As long as I may live."
12 Nu linge stug an konign
U linge wo a swo
Wordig vaar dogh mugè sonè
Yacha skier fare moga so minde yach angan u frien
Rost wath comman mier to landa.
Nu linge stug an Konign,
u linge wo an swo:
“Wordig vaar dogh mugè sonè;
yach askier fare moga so.
Nú lengi stóð konungrinn
ok lengi á hann sá:
“Verðigr verð þú múga sona
ek œski fara megi svá.
Now long stood the King,
And long on the Earl gazed he:—
"O thou art worth a host of sons;
Thy boon is granted thee."
        Verse(s)/line(s) missing
Now ‘Hiluge’ (the Earls rival) joines the conversation.
12b   -------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
“so minde yach angan ufrien rost,
wath com an mier to landa”.
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
“so myndi ek engan ófrænda hræðast
at kom hann mér til landa.
(---Now ‘Hiluge’ (the Earls rival) joines the conversation.---)
so need I not fear any enemy
who might come to this land.
13 Nu swara Hiluge
Hera geve honon scam
Taga di gild firre Hildina
Sin yach skall liga dor fram.
Nu swara Hiluge
- hera geve honon scam -:
“Taga di gild firre Hildina
sin yach skall lega dor fram:
Ni svarar Hiluge
- herra gef honum skǫmm -:
“Tekr þú gjald fyrir Hildina
sem ek skal leggja þér fram:
Now Hiluge answers ‘Sir, thou
shouldst inflict injury on him’
Now thee canst accept a fitting dowry
for Hildina, that I shall bring forth:
14 Estin whaar u feur fetign
Agonga kadn i sluge
Feur fetign sin gonga
Kadn i pluge.
Estin whaar u feur-fetign
a gonga kadn i sluge, -
estin whaar u feur-fetign
sin gonga kadn i pluge.
Hestinn hvern ok fjórfœtinginn
eð ganga kann í slóða, -
hestinn hvern ok fjórfœtinginn
sem ganga kann í plógi.
Every horse and ‘four-footed’
that can follow a path,
every horse and ‘four-footed’
that can pull a plough’.
15 Nu stienderin Jarlin.
U linge wo an wo
Dese mo eke Orknear
So linge san yach lava mo.
Nu stiender in Iarlin
u linge wo an swo:
“Dese mo eki Orknear,
so linge san yach lava mo”.
Nú stendr hann jarlinn
ok lengi á hann sá:
“Þess má ekki Orkneyjar,
so lengi sem ek lifa má”.
Now the Earl he stood for a
long time, and gazed at him,
‘This can Orkney not be equal to
as long as I may live’.
        The Earl addressing Lady Hildina
16 Nu eke tegaran san
Sot Koningn fyrin din
U alt yach an Hilhugin
Widn ugare din arar.
“Nu eke tegar an san sot,
Koningn fyrin din;
u alt yach an Hilhugin
u garedin arar widn.”
“Nú ekki tekr hann sanna [sådan?] sátt
konungrinn fyrir þín [þig];
og allt ek hann Hilhugin
á gerðinni annarri vinn.
‘Now he’s not willing to make a deal
with me, the King your father;
and instead I think that Hilhugin
by another decision will win.
17 Nu swarar an frauna Hildina
U dem san idne i fro
Di slo dor a bardagana
Dar comme ov sin mo.
Nu swarar an frauna Hildina
u dern san idne i fro:
“Di slo dor a bardagana,
Dar comme ov sin mo!”
Nú svarar hon frúin Hildina
ór dur(un)um sínum inni í frá:
“Þú slær þér á bardaganum [-ana?],
Þar komi af sem má!”
Now the Lady Hildina answers
from inside the house;
‘Someone will die if you fight,
that will happen for sure’.
        Verse(s) missing?
The scene switches to the ‘duelling ground’
18 Nu Jarlin an genger
I vadlin fram
U kadnar sina mien
Geven skeger i Orkneyan.
Nu Iarlin an genger i vadlin fram
u kadnar sìna mien,
gever skeger i Orkneyan
-----------------------------------------------
Nú jarlinn hann gengr í vǫllinn fram
ok kallar sína menn,
gæfir skeggjar í Orkneyjum
-----------------------------------------------
Now the Earl steps forward onto the
duelling ground and adresses his men:
‘brave islanders of Orkney
-----------------------------------------------
19 Han u cummin
In u vod lerdin
Fronde fans lever
Vel burne mun.
“Han u cummin
in u vodler din;
frinde hans lever
velburne mien.”
“Hann er kominn
inn á vǫll þinn
frændi hans hleypir
velborna menn [velbornum mǫnnum]
He has come onto the duelling
ground; his friend follows
the men of royal lineage’.
20 Nu fruna Hildina
On genger i vadlin fram
Fy di yera da ov man dum
Dora di spidlaikì mire man.
Nu fruna Hildina
on genger i vadlin fram:
“Fy di yera da ov mandum dora,
di spidla ikì mire man”.
Nú frúin Hildina
Hon gengr í vǫllinn fram:
“Faðir þú gerir þá af manndóm ykkar,
þú spillir ekki meira mann[i].
Now the lady Hildina, she steps
forward onto the duelling ground,
‘father thou overdost thy manhood
don’t let a brave man die’.
21 Nu sware an Hiluge
Crego gevan a scam
Gayer an Jarlin frinde
Din an u fadlin in.
Nu sware an Hiluge
- erego gev ana scam -:
“Yayer an Iarlin frinde din
an u fadlin in”.
Nú svarar hann Hiluge
- herra guð gefr honum skǫmm -:
“Þegar hann jarlinn frændi þinn
hann er fallinn enn.
But Hiluge he answers:
‘May God inflict injury on him’
‘then the Earl your friend
will surely be dead.
22 Nu fac an Jarlin dahuge
Dar min de an engine gro
An east ans huge ei
Fong ednar u vaxhedne more neo.
Nu fac an Iarlin dahuge
- dar minde an engin gro -.
An cast ans huge ei fong ednar,
u vaks hedne mere meo.
Nú fekk hann jarlinn dauðahøggit
- þar myndi hann engan grœða -.
Hann kastaði hans hǫfði í fang hennar,
ok óx henni meiri móðr.
Now the Earl received a deadly cut,
no one there could heal him
Hilunge threw his head into
Hildina's lap; thus added to her grief.
        Verse(s) missing?
The Earl is now dead. Hiluge talks to the King:
23 Di lava mir gugna
Yift bal yagh fur o lande
Gipt mir nu fruan Hildina
Vath godle u fasta bande.
“Di lava mir yugna,
yift bal yagh fur o landi;
gipt mir nu fruan Hildina
vath godle u fasta bande.”
“Þú lofar mér gagna [eigna, unga?],
ef baldr ek fór af [ór] landi;
gipt mér nú frúna Hildina
við [með] gulli ok fǫstu bandi”.
You promised me marriage
if I boldly voyaged from our land
Now let me marry Hildina,
with golden dowry and solid pact.
        The King to Hiluge:
24 Nu bill on heve da yals
Guadnè borè u da kadn
Sina kloyn a bera do skall
Fon fruna Hildina verka wo sino chelsina villya.
“Nu billon heve day alty uadn è borè,
u da kadn sina kloyna bera;
do skall hon fruna Hildina
verka wo sino chelsina villya”.
“Nú biðlund hefir þú alt til barns er borit,
ok þá kann sín klæðin(i) bera;
þá skal hon frúin Hildina
verka á sínu sjalfs síns vilja.
‘Now you will suffer long, until a
child is born, and wearing its own
clothes; then the Lady Hildina
will act upon her own will’.
        The scene switches to the preparations for Hiluge’s and Hildina’s wedding.
Then Hildina gets her revenge.
25 Hildina liger wo chaldona
U o dukrar u grothè
Min du buga till bridlevsin
Bonlother u duka dogha.
Hildina liger wo chaldona
uo dukrar u grothè;
min du buga til bridlevsin,
hon lothir u duka dogha.
Hildina liggr á tjaldinu
auga døkkvar ór gráti;
meðan þú býr til brúðhlaupsins,
hón lætr í drykkju dáa.
Hildina is lying on the blanket
her eyes all wet with tears;
while they’re preparing the wedding
she pours poison into the drinks.
26 Nu Hildina on askar feyrin
Sien di gava mier livè
Ou skinka vin
Ou guida vin.
Nu Hildina on askar
feyrin sien:
“Di gava mier live ou skinka vin,
ou guida vin”.
Nú Hildina hon aksar [œskir, Eng. asks]
fǫðrinn sinn:
“Þú gefr mér leyfi at skenkja vín,
at gjóta vín”.
Now Hildina she asks her father:
“Wilt thou permit me to pour the wine,
and serve it for the guests?
27 Duska skinka vin, u guida vin
Tinka dogh eke wo
Jarlin an gougha here din.
“Du ska skinka vin
u guida vin;
tinka dogh eke wo Iarlin,
an gougha here din.”
“Þú skalt skenkja vín
at gjóta vín;
þenkja þó ekki á jarlinn,
þann góða herra þinn”
‘You may pour the wine
and serve the wine;
don’t think any more of the Earl,
the dear late husband of yours.
28 Watha skilde tinka
Wo Jarlin gouga herè min
Hien minde yagh inga forlskona
Bera fare kera fyrin min.
“Wath a skilde tinka wo Iarlin
an gouga herè min,
hien mindi yagh inga forlskona bera
fare kera fyrin min”.
“Þó at ek skyldi þenkja á jarlinn
þann góða herra minn,
héðan myndi ek enga fárskǫnnu bera
fyrir kæra fǫðrinn minn”.
Why should I think of the Earl
the dear late husband of mine?
and sure I will not present any
poisoned drink, to serve for my father’.
29 Da gerde on fruna Hildina
On bar se mien ot
On soverin fest,
Fysin u quarsin sat.
Da gerde on fruna Hildina,
on bar se mien ot;
on sover in fest fysin,
fysin u quar sin sat.
Það gerði hún frúin Hildina,
hón bar svá mjǫðinn út;
hón syfjar inn fast fǫðr sinn
fǫðr sinn eð hvar sem sat.
Then the lady Hildina, she
served the drinks for the men; she
sent to sleep her father, and all
the guests that were present.
30 Da gerde un fruna Hildina
On bard im ur
Hadlin burt sien on laghdè
Gloug I osta jatha port.
Da gerde un fruna Hildina,
on bar dim ur hadlin burt;
sien on laghdè gloug
i otsta jath a port.
Það gerði hún frúin Hildina,
hún bar þeim [þá] ór hǫllinni burt;
síðan hún lagði glóð
í ýzta gataport.
Then the Lady Hildina,
she dragged her father and his
friends, out of the hall; then she
lit a fire, in the main entrance.
31 Nu iki visti an Hiluge
Ike ov till do
Eldin var commin i lut
U stor u silkè sark ans smo.
Nu iki visti an Hiluge
ike ov till do
eldin var commin i lutustor
u sìlkìsark ans smo.
Nú ekki vissi hann Hiluge
ekki af til þá
eldrinn var kominn í lopthúsdyr
eð silkiserkr hans smár.
Now Hiluge he didn’t wake up, not
until too late; when the fire
had covered the entrance, and his
silk shift had caught fire as well.
32 Nu leveren fram
Hiluge du kereda
Fraun Hildina du
Gevemir live u gre
Nu lever en fram Hiluge
-------------------------------------
“Du keresta fraun Hildina,
du geve mir live u gre”.
Nú hlaupr hann fram Hiluge
-----------------------------------------
“Þú kærasta frúin Hildina,
Þú gefr mér lífit ok grið”.
Then Hiluge he jumped up
and cried out to Hildina
“My dearest Lady Hildina,
please let me live and give me quarter”.
33 So mege u gouga gre
Skall dogh swo
Skall lathì min heran
I bardagana fwo.
“So mege u gouga gre
skall dogh swo,
sin shall lathì min heran
i bardagana fwo.
“Sá mikit það góða grið
skalt þú sjá
sem sjalfr lézt þú minn herrann
í bardaganum fá.
‘Thus much good life and quarter
you shall receive,
as you yourself let my late husbond
have, on the duelling ground.
34 Du tuchtada lide undocht yach
Swo et sa ans bugin bleo
Dogh casta ans huge
I mit fung u vexemir mise meo.
Du tuchta da lide undocht yach
swo etsa ans bugin bleo;
dogh casta ans huge i mit fung,
u vexe mir mìre meo”.
Þér þótti það lítit en þótt ek
sá einnug hans búkinn blœða;
þú kastaðir hans hǫfði í mitt fang,
ok vex [óx] mér meiri móðr.”
You thought little of it, even though
I saw also his body bleeding;
you threw his head into my lap,
and added to my grief’.
35 Nu tachtè on heve fwelsko
Ans bo vad mild u stien
Dogh skall aidè misè Koningnsens
Vadna vilda mien.
Nu tachtè on heve fwelsko ans
bo vad mild u stien.
“Dogh skall aldè mirè Koningnsens
vadne vilda mien”.
Nú þakt hún hefir fǫlska hans
bæði með mold og steini.
“Þú skalt aldrig meira konungsins
barni valda mein[i]”.
Now she has covered his falseness
both with earth and stone.
‘You will do the King’s children,
no harm ever  again’.