Five Pieces of Runic Poetry/Funeral Song of Hacon
( IV. )
THE
FUNERAL SONG
OF
HACON.
INTRODUCTION.
“HACON, the subject of the following piece, was son of the celebrated Harold Harfax, whose death is recorded in Regner's ode. He was the great hero of the Norwegians, and the last of their Pagan kings. Hacon was slain about the year 960 in a battle with the Danes, in which eight of his brethren fell before him. Eyvindur his cousin, a famous scald, or poet, who was present at the battle, composed this poem to be sung at his funeral.———What seems to have suggested the plan of the ode, was Hacon’s surviving the battle, and afterwards dying of his wounds, which were not at first apprehended to be mortal. Although this is not very clear from the history, something of this kind must be understood, to render the poem intelligible.
“To save the necessity of many notes, we must remind the Reader, that Odin or Woden was worshipped in the northern nations, as the god of war, and as father of the other gods. Such as died in battle were believed to be received into the habitation of the gods, and there to feast and carrouse full goblets of the northern nectar Ale and Beer; this place or Elizium was called Valhall or the hall of slaughter. To receive an invitation to Valhall or the palace of the gods meant the same as to receive a death-summons.
“The Islandic original of this poem is preserved in Snorro Sturleson’s Hist. Regum Septentrionalium, folio. vol. 1. pag. 163. The Latin version of Peringskiold has been chiefly followed, except in some few places in which the preference was given to that of Bartholin in his Causa de contempt. a Danis mortis, and to the French translation of the Chev. Mallet in his L'Edda, pag. 159.”
THE
FUNERAL SONG
OF
HACON.
GONDUL and Scogul, the goddesses of destiny, were sent by Odin to chuse, among the kings, one of the race of Yngvon, who should go dwell with him in the palace of the gods.
They found the brother of Biorno putting on his coat of mail: that excellent king stood ready under the banner: the enemies fell; the sword was brandished; the conflict was begun.
The slayer of princes had conjured the inhabitants of Haleyg: he had conjured the inhabitants of the isles: he went to the battle. The renowned chief had a gallant retinue of northern men. The depopulator of the Danish islands stood under his helmet.
The leader of the people had just before cast aside his armour; he had put off his coat of mail: he had thrown them down in the field a little before the beginning of the battle. He was playing with the sons of renowned men, when he was called forth to defend his kingdom. The gallant king now stood under his golden helmet.
Then the sword in the king's hand cut the coverings of brass, as easily as if it had been brandished in water. The javelins clashed together: the shields were broken: the arms resounded on the sculls of men.
The arms of Tyr, the arms of Bauga[1] were broke to pieces; so hard were the helmets of the northern warriors. They joined battle in the island Storda. The kings broke through the shining fences of shields: they stained them with human blood.
The swords waxed hot[2] in the wounds distilling blood. The long shields inclined themselves over the lives of men. The deluge from the spears ran down the shore of Storda: there on that promontory fell the wounded bodies.
Wounds suffused with gore were received among the shields; while they played in the battle contending for spoil. The blood rapidly flowed in the storm of Odin. Many men perished thro’ the flowings from the sword.
Then sate the chiefs with their blunted swords; with broken and shattered shields; with their coats of mail pierced thro’ with arrows. The host no longer thought of visiting the habitation of the gods.
When lo! Gondul leaned on her lance and thus bespake them, The assembly of the gods is going to be increased, for they invite Hacon with a mighty host to their banquet.
The king heard what the beautiful nymphs of war, sitting on their horses, Spake. The nymphs seemed full of thought: they were covered with their helmets: they had their sheilds before them.
Hacon said, Why hast thou, O goddess, thus disposed of the battle? Were we not worthy to have obtained a more perfect victory?———Thou owest to us, retorted Scogul, that thou hast carried the field: that thy enemies have betaken themselves to flight.
Scogul the wealthy[3] spake thus; Now we must ride through the green worlds of the gods, to tell Odin that the all-powerful king is coming to his hall; that he is coming to visit him.
The father of the gods said, Hermode and Brago, my sons, go to meet the king: for now Hacon, the admired warrior, approacheth to our hall.
The king was now arrived from the battle, he stood all besprinkled with blood and said; Odin appeareth very severe and terrible: he smileth not upon my soul.
Brago said, Thou shall have peace here with all the heroes: drink Ale therefore with the gods. Thou destroyer of princes hast here within eight brethren.
The good king answered; We will retain our arms[4]: the mail and helmet are carefully to be retained: it is good to have the sword in readiness.
Then was seen how religiously the king had performed all sacred duties; since the great council of the gods, and all the lesser divinities received Hacon among them with acclamations of welcome.
That king is born on a fortunate day, who gains to himself such favour from the gods. The age in which he hath lived shall ever be held in high remembrance.
The wolf Fenris[5], freed from his chains, shall range through the world among the sons of men, before so renowned and so good a king shall again tread the desolate path of his kingdom.
Riches perish: relations die: kingdoms are laid waste. Let Hacon dwell with the magnificent gods: While many nations are plunged in grief.
- ↑ Tyr and Bauga were two subordinate gods of war: the expression means no more than the Martia tela of Virgil.
- ↑ Or perhaps more literally, “burnt in the wounds.” One name for swords among the Runic poets is, “The fires of wounds,” Latin Vulnerum ignes.
- ↑ The Destinies are called rich or wealthy, becauſe they finally inherit and possess all things.
- ↑ Meaning that he would only enjoy warlike amusements, for so they believed their heroes were employed in Elysium.———It is probably a poetical insinuation that he would have his arms buried with him.
- ↑ By the wolf Fenris, the northern nations understood a kind of demon or evil principle at enmity with the gods, who, tho’ at present chained up from doing mischief, was hereafter to break loose and destroy the world. See the Edda.