Five Pieces of Runic Poetry/Incantation of Hervor
( I. )
THE
INCANTATION
OF
HERVOR.
INTRODUCTION.
“ANDGRYM the grandfather of Hervor, was prince of a part of Sweden, now in the province of Smaland: He forcibly carried away out of Russia Eyvor the daughter of Suafurlama, by whom he had twelve sons, four whereof were Hervardur, Hiorvardur, Hrani, and Angantyr the father of Hervor. These twelve brethren, according to the usual practice of those times, followed piracy. In one of their expeditions they landed in the territories of Hialmar king of Thulemark, where a fierce battle ensuing they all lost their lives. Angantyr fell the last of his brethren, having first with his own hand killed their adversary Hialmar. They were buried in the field of battle, together with their arms: and it is at their tombs that Hervor, the daughter of Angantyr, who had taken a voyage thither on purpose, makes the following invocation.”
“N. B. This Piece is published from the translation of Dr. Hickes, with some considerable emendations; See his Thesaurus Antiq. Literaturæ Septentrion. Tom. 1. p. 193.
“The Hervarer Saga, whence this poem is extracted, is an old Islandic history[1], the author and date of which are unknown: but it is believed, in general, to be of very great antiquity. It records the atchievements of Hervor, a celebrated northern heroine, as also the exploits of her ancestors and descendants, in Sweden and other northern countries. It was printed in a thin folio vol. at Upsal in 1672, with a Swedish version and Latin notes by Olaus Verelius: and contains many other pieces of Runic poetry.”
“To prevent as much as possible the interruption of notes, it was thought proper to premise a few miscellaneous observations.
I.
“THE northern nations held their Runic verses in such reverence, that they believed them sufficient (provided they were pronounced with great emotion of mind) to raise the ghosts of the departed: and that without other magical rites, especially if the the party had worked himself up to a firm persuasion that it would happen according to his desires. ——— Hervor therefore in the first stanza or strophe calls upon her father to awake and deliver to her his sword. —This not succeeding, in the next place the adjures him and his brethren by all their arms, the shield, &c. ——— Being still unanswered, she wonders that her father and uncles should be so mouldered to dust, as that nothing of them should remain, and adds, as it were by way of imprecation, so may you all be, &c. a form of conjuring not peculiar to this poem, Olaus Verelius quotes a like passage from another ancient piece to the following effect.
Innan rifia, oc vesta bal:
Nema suerdid selier mier
Samit rauda jotna mal.
“May the poison of serpents and noxious flames torment you all within your ribs, unless you deliver me the sword adorned with gold.”
Vid. Herv. Saga, pag. 100, &c.
II.
“By Duergar or Dwarfs, the ancient Scandinavians did not understand human creatures defective in size or stature, but a distinct race of beings, a kind of lesser demons, who inhabited the rocks and mountains, and were remarkably expert at forging weapons, that were proof against all force or fraud.———They meant by dwarfs, much the same as we do by fairies.”
Olaus Ver. ad Her. Sag. p. 44. 45.
Hickes Thes. tom. 2. p. 311.
III.
“As to what is said in the second stanza, of their being buried under the roots of trees. It may be observed, that the northern nations, in the first ages, usually burnt their dead: afterwards they buried them under a barrow or hillock of earth, &c. but no author mentions the roots of trees, as chosen particularly for the place of interment. There is, indeed, one instance of this to be found, in a fragment of an ancient Runic poem preserved in the history of Snorro Sturleson, but it seems to be attended with circumstances too particular to prove the generality of the practice.”
Austur konga &c.
“ —The eastern kings contended together with vehement rage, when the sons of Yngvon hanged the generous king on a tree.
“And there on a promontory is that ancient tree, on which the dead body was suspended: where the promontory Straumyernes divides the bay; there, I say, exposed to the winds, stands that most noted tree, remarkable for the tomb and monument[2] of the king.”
Snorro Sturl. Hist. Reg. Sept. fol. p. 28.
IV.
“The northern nations believed that the tombs of their heroes emitted a kind of lambent flame, which was always visible in the night, and served to guard the ashes of the dead. They called it Hauga Elldr, or The sepulchral fire. It was supposed more particularly to surround such tombs as contained hidden treasures.”
Barthol. de contempt. a Dan. Mort. p. 275.
V.
“Most of the proper names in the ancient northern languages were significant. Thus Angantyr signifies One who bravely does his duty.” Hervardur, “A preserver of the army.” Hiorvardur, “A keeper of the sword.” &c.
Vid. Ol. Verel. ad Herv. Saga, p. 49.
THE
INCANTATION
OF
HERVOR.
AWAKE, Angantyr; Hervor, the only daughter of thee and Suafu, doth awaken thee. Give me, out of the tomb, the hardened sword, which the dwarfs made for Suafurlama.
Hervardur, Hiorvardur, Hrani, and Angantyr; with helmet and coat of mail, and a sharp fword; with shield and accoutrements and bloody spear, I. wake you all under the roots of trees.
Are the sons of Andgrym, who delighted in mischief, now become dust and ashes? Can none of Eyvor’s sons now speak with me out of the habitations of the dead? Hervardur, Hiorvardur!
So may you all be, within your ribs, as a thing that is hanged up to putrefy among infects, unless you deliver me the sword, which the dwarfs made, * * * and the glorious belt.
[Here the tomb opens, the inside of which appears all on fire, and the following words are sung out of the tomb.]
Angantyr.
Daughter Hervor, full of spells to raise the dead, why doest thou call so? Wilt thou run on to thy own mischief? Thou art mad and out of thy senses, who art desperately resolved to waken dead men.
I was not buried either by father or other friends: two which lived after me got Tirfing; one of whom is now possessor thereof[3].
Hervor.
Thou dost not tell the truth. So let Odin preserve thee safe in the tomb, as thou hast not Tirfing by thee. Art thou unwilling, Angantyr, to give an inheritance to thy only child?
Angantyr.
I will tell thee, Hervor, what will, come to pass: this Tirfing will, if thou dost believe me, destroy almost all thy offspring. Thou shalt have a son, who afterwards must possess Tirfing, and many think he will be called Heidrek by the people.
Hervor.
I do by inchantments make that the dead shall never enjoy rest, unless Angantyr deliver me Tirfing; that cleaveth shields, and killed Hialmar.
Angantyr.
Young maid, I say, thou art of manlike courage, who dost rove about by night to tombs, with spear engraven with magic spells[4], with helmet and coat of mail, before the door of our hall.
Hervor.
I took thee for a brave man, before I found out your hall. Give me, out of the tomb, the workmanship of the dwarfs, which hateth all coats of mail. It is not good for thee to hide it.
Angantyr.
The death of Hialmar lies under my shoulders: it is all wrapt up in fire: I know no maid, in any country, that dares take this sword in hand.
Hervor.
I shall keep and take in my hand the sharp sword, if I may obtain it. I do not think that fire will burn, which plays about the sight of deceased men.
Angantyr.
O conceited Hervor, thou art mad: rather than thou, in a moment, shouldest fall into the fire, I will give thee the sword out of the tomb, young maid; and not hide it from thee.
[Here the sword was delivered to Hervor out of the tomb, who proceeds thus.]
Hervor.
Thou didst well, thou offspring of heroes, that thou didst send me the sword out of the tomb; I am now better pleased, O prince, to have it, than if I had gotten all Norway.
Angantyr.
False woman, thou dost not understand that thou speakest foolishly of that in which thou doest rejoice: for Tirfing shall, if thou doest believe me, maid, destroy all thy offspring.
Hervor.
I must go to my seamen. Here I have no mind to stay longer. Little do I care, O royal ancestor, about what my sons may hereafter quarrel.
Angantyr.
Take and keep Hialmar’s bane, which thou shalt long have and enjoy: touch but the edges of it, there is poison in them both: it is a most cruel devourer of men.
Hervor.
I shall keep, and take in hand, the sharp sword, which thou hast let me have: I do not fear, O slain father, about what my sons may hereafter quarrel.
Angantyr.
Farewel, daughter: I do quickly give thee twelve men’s death: if thou canst believe with might and courage: even all the goods, which Andgrym’s sons left behind them.
Hervor.
Dwell all of you safe in the tomb. I must be gone, and hasten hence; for I seem to be in the midst of a place where fire burneth round about me.
- ↑ Saga in the Islandic language signifies a History, &c.
- ↑ Or rather barrow, Lat. tumulus.
- ↑ This is said merely to make her desist from
her purpose; as foreseeing it will prove fatal to her
posterity.
Tirfing is the name of the sword. The etymology of this word is not known.
- ↑ It was usual with the northern warriors to inscribe Runic characters on their weapons, to prevent their being dulled or blunted by inchantment, as also to give them a keenness and strength which nothing could resist. Ol. Verel. pag. 101.