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The sorrow of Gudrun
Translations © by Philip Schäfer
by Peter Arnold Heise (1830 - 1879)
View original-language texts alone: Gudruns Sorg: Sange til text af Den ældre Edda
Dengang var Gudrun beredt til Døden, da sorgful hun sad over Sigurds Lig. Ej sad hun og græd og med Hænder slog; ej hun klynked som andre Kvinder. Kloge Jarler til hende kom, varligt de bøjed den haarde Vilje. Dog kunde Gudrun ikke græde; saa hun sørged, som om briste hun skulde.
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Philip Schäfer) , "Once Gudrun was ready for death", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Ce jour là Gudrun était prête à mourir", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Once Gudrun was ready for death, Full of anguish she sat by Sigurd's corpse, She sat still and did not sob And did not clap with her hands; She did not cry like other women do. Wise earls came to her, Carefully they sought to alleviate the sorrow. But Gudrun did not know a tear; That much she was grieved As if she was to shatter.
Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2004 by Philip Schäfer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Philip Schäfer.  Contact: schaeferp (AT) freenet (DOT) de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Georg Møller
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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This text was added to the website: 2004-05-03
Line count: 10
Word count: 66
Hos sad Jarlers ædle Hustruer, smykkede med Guld, ved Gudruns Side. Hver af dem sagde sin egen Sorg, den bittreste, som hun baaret havde. Da sagde Gjavløg, Gjukes Søster: "Blandt Folk over Mulde er jeg fattigst paa Glæde. Fem Mænd jeg saae i Døden segne, tvende Døttre, trende Søstre, otte Brødre. Jeg ene lever!" Dog kunde Gudrun ikke græde; saa mod var hun i Hu over den døde Mand, saa fuld af Smerte ved Fyrstens Ligfærd.
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Philip Schäfer) , "The earl's noble wives came", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La noble épouse du comte", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
The earl's noble wives came, Adorned with Gold, To Gudrun's side. Each of them spoke about her own sorrow, The most bitter they had ever experienced. Thus said Gjaflaug, the sister of Gjuke: "Among all people on earth I am the most miserable and joyless. Five men I saw sink into death, And two daughters, three sisters, eight brothers. Only I am still alive!" But Gudrun did not know a tear; Her mind was so grieved over her husband's death, So full of grief About the prince's dead body.
Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2004 by Philip Schäfer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Philip Schäfer.  Contact: schaeferp (AT) freenet (DOT) de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Georg Møller
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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This text was added to the website: 2023-10-01
Line count: 15
Word count: 89
Da sagde Herborg, Hunelands Dronning: "Jeg har en haardere Harm at fortælle. Fjernt i Sønden mine syv Sønner faldt paa Val med deres Fader. Med Fader og Moder og fire Brødre leged Vinden paa Havets Vove; Bølgen slog mod Skibets Planker. Selv skulde jeg dem smykke, selv dem begrave, og selv for deres Helfart sørge. Alt det jeg led i et eneste Aar, og Ingen talte et Ord til Trøst." Dog kunde Gudrun ikke græde; saa mod var hun i Hu over den døde Mand, saa fuld af Smerte ved Fyrstens Ligfærd.
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Philip Schäfer) , "Thus said Herborg, queen of Huneland", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Alors Herborg, la reine du Huneland parla ainsi", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Thus said Herborg, queen of Huneland: "I have still much harder sorrow to tell. Far in the South my seven sons Died in the battlefield with their father. My father and my mother and my four brothers Fell victim to the wind on the waves of the water; The breakers stroke against the ship's planks. I had to adorn him myself, To bury him myself, And to mourn for my kin myself. This all I sustained in a summer, And no one spoke a word of comfort to me." But Gudrun did not know a tear; Her mind was so grieved over her husband's death, So full of grief About the prince's dead body.
Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2004 by Philip Schäfer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Philip Schäfer.  Contact: schaeferp (AT) freenet (DOT) de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Georg Møller
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-01
Line count: 17
Word count: 114
Da sagde Gullrønd, Gjukes Datter: "Ej du mægter, Foster moder! skøndt vis du er, den unge Viv at trøste!" Ej lod hun til hylle Fyrstens Lig. Lagnet strøg hun af Sigurds Legem, vendte hans Kind mod Gudruns Knæ: "See paa din Elskte; læg din Mund til hans Skjæg, som om du favnede Fyrsten i Live."
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Philip Schäfer) , "Thus said Gullrønd, the daughter of Gjuke", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Alors Gullrønd, la fille de Gjuke dit", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Thus said Gullrønd, the daughter of Gjuke: "You are unable, foster mother! Although you certainly Wanted to comfort the young girl." She had the body of the prince unveiled, From the rapier she drew back the blanket, Shoved the cushion in front of Gudrun's knee: "Look at your beloved; Rest your mouth on his neck, As if you were embracing The living prince."
Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2004 by Philip Schäfer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Philip Schäfer.  Contact: schaeferp (AT) freenet (DOT) de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Georg Møller
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-01
Line count: 11
Word count: 63
Engang Gudrun end ham skued, saae Blodet, som Herskerens Haar mon væde, Fyrstens straalende Øjne slukte, Kongens Bryst af Sværdet kløvet, Gudrun tilbage paa Bolstret segned, Lokkerne løstes, Kinden rødmed, Taarer som Regn randt over Knæ. Da græd Gudrun, Gjukes Datter, saa Taarerne løb fra Øjets Laag. Da sagde Gudrun, Gjukes Datter:
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Philip Schäfer) , "All at once Gudrun looked up", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Dès que Gudrun le regarda", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
All at once Gudrun looked up, Saw blood covering the knight's hair, The prince's bright eyes had faded, The king's breast was pierced by the sword, Gudrun sank back into the cushion, Her curls came undone, her cheeks reddened, A flood of tears ran onto her knee, She cried, Gudrun, Gjuke's daughter, So many tears covered her eyes. Then Gudrun, Gjuke's daughter, said:
Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2004 by Philip Schäfer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Philip Schäfer.  Contact: schaeferp (AT) freenet (DOT) de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Georg Møller
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-01
Line count: 10
Word count: 63
"Saa var min Sigurd blandt Gjukes Sønner som Løget, der groer op over Græsset, eller den blinkende Sten, der drages paa Baand, som Ædelsten over Ædlinges Skare. Jeg monne Kongens Kæmper tykkes herligere end alle Herjans Diser. Nu er jeg saa liden, som Løvet er paa Buskene ofte, thi den Ædle er død. For Borde jeg savner, i Seng jeg savner min fuldtro Fælle. Gjukes Sønner, volde min Ve, volde deres Søsters sorgfulde Graad. Folkets Land I læge øde, thi ej I holdt de svorne Eder. Ej skal du, Gunnar! Guldet nyde; Ringene vil dig Bane volde, siden du Sigurd Eder svor. Ofte var Glæden større i Gaarde, da min Sigurd sadlede Grane og da de fore til Brynhild at frie, den usalige Kvind i Ulykkes stund."
Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Philip Schäfer) , "So was my Sigurd", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Mon Sigurd était", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
"So was my Sigurd Amongst the sons of Gjuke like leek Growing in the grass, Like a gleaming stone, Studded in the band, A precious stone among a precious throng. Methought The king's fighters liked me Still more than Herjan's girls. Now I am much bowed down, Like the leaves of a weeping willow, For my precious is dead. At the table I miss him, In bed I miss him, my familiar fellow. The sons of Gjuke Wanted my sorrow, Wanted their sister's woeful weeping. May the people leave your land deserted, As you took your sworn oaths. You must not, Gunnar! Reign over the gold; May the ring guide you, You swore an oath to Sigurd on this. Often the yard was full of joy, When my Sigurd went to saddle Grane And rode away to wed Brynhild, That ill-fated woman at an unfortunate time."
Authorship:
- Translation from Danish (Dansk) to English copyright © 2004 by Philip Schäfer, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Philip Schäfer.  Contact: schaeferp (AT) freenet (DOT) de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Georg Møller
Based on:
- a text in Old Norse (Fornnorræna) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-02
Line count: 27
Word count: 146