Kvæði were the ballads of the Faroe Islands and were traditionally accompanied by a simple chain dance. They typically told stories and could be up to several hundred stanzas long.
This kvæði tells the story from chapters 33 and 34 of Eyrbyggja’s saga, while the words of the chorus comes from chapter 52. Eventually this song will get expanded to that point, but this was a good spot to stop --- you'll have to wait to find out about ghost seals and killer bed-linens.
Eyrbyggja’s Kvæði
Chorus:
þat vera urðarmána; mun her eptir koma manndauðr,"
it was a weird-moon and it will be followed by
someone's death here,"
Verses:
Thorolf Twist-foot thundered in rage
At Snorri Godthi for stealing his trees
He searched out his son seeking support
But Arnkel would not heed his pleas
It was evening when he got home
He sat in the high-seat but took no bread
He stayed in the high-seat without a word
In the morning he was dead.
All the hall was numb with fear
Thorolf from the seat was pried
A hole was hewn in the wall of the hall
And the corpse was dragged outside.
A yoke of oxen were hitched to a sled
Through Thorsardale Thorolf was driven.
Hard work was done hauling him from Hvamm
With a solid cairn over him given.
Then when e’er the sun went down
No one outside was left in peace
Any beast near the cairn went mad
And all the bird songs ceased
Oxen used to haul the corpse
Demons rode until they died
“Thorolf’s ghost came after me”
Hvamm’s shepherd often cried
That autumn neither shepherd nor sheep
from the valley ever came back
The shepherd was found with every bone broke
And his corpse had turned coal-black
That winter Thorolf was often heard
Astride the roof or on the farm spied
His widow, she was driven mad
And from the strain she died.
Now Thorolf’s ghost haunted the whole vale
And soon most of the farms were deserted.
All he killed then later were seen
In his company spotted.
In the Spring when frost left the ground
Arnkel gathered a dozen brave souls
They opened the cairn and pulled out the corpse
And buried him on a small knoll.
They built a wall across the knoll
Just behind the grave
They built a wall that none could cross.
And here Thorolf quietly stayed.
1 июл 2024
