'Sven Svane' - Norwegian medieval ballad

Sven Svane han ganger seg et stykke utpå veg,

der møtte det hannem en vandringsmann.

«Å hør nå min vandring hva jeg spørger deg

og om du på de spørsmåla vil svara meg.»

«Å hvo er nå rundar hell det rundaste hjul?

Og hvo sjunger fagrest utav alle kreatur?

Og hvo er nå hvitare enn svanen?

Og hvo roper høyere enn tranen?»

«Og sola er nå rundar hell det rundaste hjul,

og engla sjunger fagrest utav alle kreatur,

og månen er hvitare enn svanen,

og tora roper høyere enn tranen.»

«Og vet du nå dette så vet du fulla mer.»

Sven Svane tok gullringen utav fingeren ner

og ga så den vandringsmann for svara.

Og dermed skiltes båe desse kara.

Svens Svane went walking down a lonely country road,

He there met a wayfarer that had no fixed abode;

Good day to you, traveller, and listen to me do,

Please say if these riddles four mean anything to you:

And what is yet rounder than the wheel that’s most round?

And who in creation are the fairest singers found?

And what is yet whiter than is swan’s down?

And what cry is louder than the crane’s sound?

‘The sun is yet rounder than the wheel that’s most round,

And angels in creation are the fairest singers found,

The moon is yet whiter than is swan’s down,

And thunder’s cry is louder than the crane’s sound.’

‘If this you know truly, you need know nothing more.’

Sven Svane took off the ring of gold he always wore

And gave him for answering correctly,

And then they both went on their way directly.