Saturday 1 August 2020

Medieval Norwegian ballad 'Draumkvedet' (Maren Ramskeid)

Draumkvedet (Anon/Maren Ramskeid)

Olaf han va i Voxtern
han va som ein Selljuronne
Far aa Mor dei ont en væl
ifra en tala konne.
– Aa dæ va Olaf Aaknesonen som sovi hæve saa længje –

Olaf han va i Voxtern
han va som ein Seljuteine
Fair aa Moir dei ont ho væl
fraa en kom i denni Heimen.
– Dæ va etc.–

Han la sæg ne om Joleftansqvællen
den stærkan Svevnen fæk
han vakna inkji før om Trettandagjen
daa Folkje i Kyrkjun gjæk.

Han vakna kje før om Trettandagjen
daa Solli ran i Li
idag vil æg te Kyrkjune
fortællje vil æg Draumo mi.

Han vakna kje før om Trettandagjen
daa Soli ran i Lii
daa salar han ut fljotan Folen
aa la paa dei forgjylte Milir

No stænde du før Altraren
aa læg ut Texten din
saa stænde æg i Kyrkjedynni
fortællje vil æg Dramæn min.

Fyst va æg i Uttexti
æg for ivi Dyrering
sonde va mi Skarlakenskaape
aa Neglan a kvor min Fing
– For Maanen skjine aa Vægjene fadde saa vie –

Saa va æg i Uttexti
æg for ivi Dyretraa
sonde va mi Skarlakenskaape
aa Neglan a kvor mi Ta.
– For Maanen skjine etc. –

Aa Gjeddarbroi den æ vond
aa inkje go aa gange
Bikkjune bite aa Ormane sting
aa Stutæne stænd aa stangar.

Der saag æg dei Ormane tvei
dei hoggje kvorara i Kjæfte
aa dæ va Syskjenboni i denni Heimen
dei mone kvorare ægte.

Æg hev gjængje Voxmyren
dæ hæv kje stai mæg nokon Grund
no hæv æg gjængje Gjeddarbroi
mæ rapa mod i Mun.

Sæl æ dei i Føesheimen
den fattike gjæve Skor
han tar no inkje bærføtte gange
paa kvasse Heklemoe.

Aa sæl æ den i Føesheimen
den fattike gjæve Rug
han tar inkje somloug gange
paa høge Gjeddar Bru.

Aa sæl saa æ en i Føesheimen
den fattike gjæve kaan
han tar inkje ræddas paa Gjeddarbroi
fe kvasse Stute Hon.

Sæl æ dei i Føesheimen
den fattike gjæve Brau
han tar inkje ræddas i annen Heimen
fe lie noko nau.

Sæl æ den i Føesheimen
den fattike gjæve Klæi
han tar inkje ræddas i annen Heimen
anten for Spot hel Hæi.

Saa tok æg paa ein Vetters Ti
der Isæne vore blaa
men Gud skaut dæ i Hugjen min
æg vendte der ifraa.

Saa saag æg paa ei Vetters Ti
alt paa mi høgre Haand
saa saag æg ne te Paradiis
der lyser ivi vie Laand.

Saa saag æg mæg te Paradiis
dæ mone mæg inkje bære hænde
der kjænde æg atte Gudmo mi
mæ røde Gul paa Hænde.

Saa saag æg atte Gudmo mi
dæ mone mæg kje bete gange
reis du dæg te Broksvalin
fe der sko Domen stande.
– Maanen skjine aa Vegjene fadde saa vie –

Saa mødte æg Mannen
aa Kaapa den va blo
han bar eit Barn onde sin Arm
i Jori han gjæk te Knio.
– I Broksvalin der sko Domen stande –

Saa møte æg ein Man
Kaapa den va af Bly
dæ va honoms arme Sjæl i denne Heimen
va trong i Dyre Ti.
– I Broksvalin etc. –

Der kom færi norate
dæ tottes æg væra værst
fyry rei Grutte Graaskjæggje
han rei paa svartan Hest.

Saa kom den færi sonnate
dæ tottes mæg væra bedst
fyry rei Sancte saale-Michael
aa næste Jesum Christ.

Saa kom den færi sonnate
ho tosse me væra traa
aa fyry rei St. saale Michael
aa Luren onde Armen laag.

Dæ va St. saale Michael
han blæs i Luren den lange
aa no sko alle Synde-Sjæline
fram fe Domen stande.

Men daa skolv alle Synde Sjæline
som Aaspelauv for Vinde
aa kvor den, kvor den Sjæl der va
dei gret for Syndine sine.

Og det var St. saale Mikkjel
han vog med Skaalevigt
saa vog han alle Syndesjælene
hen til Jesum Krist.

Saa vaagnede jeg den trettende
omtrent ved Midnatstid
aa Gud bevare en og her
for at vandre i saadan Tid.
– Dæ va Olaf Aakneson som sove hæve saa længje –

Saa vaagner jeg om Trettandagjen
af den lange Søvne
det er en Sjælefristelse
at falde i saadan Drømme.
– Aa dæ va etc. –

 The Ballad of the Dream

Olaf he was a fine young man
like a sallow bush the same
Father and mother they wished him well
from the time that he spoke their name.
– And it was Olaf Aaknesonen who slept a sleep so long –

Olaf he was a fine young man
like a sallow twig the same
Father and mother they wished him well
from the time to this earth he came.
– It was etc.

He laid him down a Christmas Eve
and soon fell fast asleep,
he did not wake till past Twelfth Night
when folk their church shall keep,

He did not wake till past Twelfth Night
when sun’s dawn rays did gleam
today I will be off to church
I wish to tell my dream.

He did not wake till past Twelfth Night
when sun’s rays ended his dream
then did he saddle his fine steed
its harness like gold did gleam

Now at the altar you do stand
and reel prayers off by the ream
I in porch outside will stand
where I will tell my dream.

First on my journey I set out
o’er a plain of sand and thorns,
my scarlet cloak was sorely rent
from each finger the nail was torn.
– For the moon shines bright and the roads are endless wide –

Then on my journey I set out
through the narrow ring of thorns
my scarlet cloak was sorely rent
from each toe the nail was torn.
– For the moon shines etc.

Then I arrived at Gjallar bridge
a bad place to go o’er
The hounds they bite the snakes they sting
and the bulls stand ready to gore.

There did I see two snakes that fought
that struck at each other’s head
and there were siblings in that place
that wanted each other to wed.

Waded have I through miry bogs
where a foot can never touch ground
Crossed over Gjallar bridge have I
with grave-earth in my mouth.

Blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some shoes
He need not walk o’er the thorny heath
barefoot should he not choose.

And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some rye
he need not take a dizzy walk
on Gjeddar bridge so high.

And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some corn
he need not fear on Gjeddar bridge
the fierce bull’s sharp-tipped horn.

And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man gave some bread
he need not in the other realm
of any harm be in dread.

And blessed are those who here on earth
the poor man clothes did give
he need not fear in the other realm
with hatred or mocking to live.

Then I set out in wintertime
where the ice was glittering blue
but God put it clearly in my mind
so from there I fast withdrew.

Then did I see in wintertime
all on my right hand
I caught a glimpse of paradise
that gleamed like a distant land.

Then did I glimpse paradise
it could not have gone better for me
there with red gold on her hands
my godmother I did see.

There did I see my godmother 
it could not have been better for me
now set you out to Broksvalin
for there Judgment Day shall be.
– The moon shines bright and the roads are endless wide –

Then it was I met the man
his cloak was blue to see
a child he bore upon his arm
and sank down to his knee.
– In Broksvalin for there Judgment Day shall be –

There it was I met a man
his cloak it was of lead
his sorry soul upon this earth
was miserly indeed.
– In Broksvalin etc.

A mighty host came from the north
and now I feared the worst
With Grizzly Greybeard at its head
upon a jet-black horse.

A mighty host came from the south,
and now I hoped the best
Archangel Michael at its head
closest to Jesus Christ. 

A mighty host came from the south
and slowly it did ride
Archangel Michael at its head
his horn was by his side.

Archangel Michael took his horn
and blew it loud and clear
And now for every living soul
does Judgment Day draw near.

But then each sinful mortal shook
like aspen leaves in the wind
and each and every soul alive
shed tears for every sin.

Archangel Michael took the scales
and all did pay in kind,
all sinful souls that he there weighed
were to Jesus Christ consigned.

Then did I wake up when past Twelfth Night
after the midnight chime
may God preserve both one and all
who are out at such a time.
– It was Olaf Aakneson who slept a sleep so long

I first wake up at past Twelfth Night
have slept so long it seems 
it is temptation to every soul
to fall into such dreams.
– And it was etc.



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