STORIES AND BALLADS OF THE FAR PAST, Nora Kershaw

INTRODUCTION TO THE FAROESE BALLAD OF NORNAGEST

The Ballad of Nornagest was published for the first time by Lyngbye in 1822 in Færöiske Kvæder om Sigurd Fofnersbane etc. In his visit to the Faroes in 184708, Hammershaimb took down the ballad from oral recitation at Sumbø. He afterwards collated his version carefully with those of Svabo, Schrøter and Lyngbye, and published the result in Fær&röiske Kvæder, Vol. I, Copenhagen, 1851. This is the version of the ballad translated below.

Lyngbye points out that Nornagest has become a well-known character in modern Faroese legend. We certainly note his popularity in the ballads, which is no doubt due to his association with Sigurth in the original story. In some ballads he appears as a companion in arms of the latter and even as a great warrior himself. He it is who rides with Sigurth and Virgar to meet the giant in Holmgarth (cf. Rísin í Holmgarðum, v. 33), and in Ragnarlikkja (cf. v. 39 ff.) "the fierce Nornagest" sails with Sigurth, Brand, and Virgar to slay the King of Girtland; and so too in other stories.

It will be observed that the framework of the story differs considerably from that of the Saga, notably in the opening and closing scenes. The beginning of another story, dealing likewise with an old man, has been substituted for the original opening. The

BALLAD OF NORNAGEST       177

mention of the boat in verse 40 is perhaps reminiscent of some folk-tale; and the story of the leaden casket containing the soul of Nornagest which was sunk in the lake is an interesting instance of the external soul. I have no doubt that it is a reference to some folk-tale, but have not yet been able to identify it. Among many primitive peoples, who can hardly grasp abstract ideas, the life or soul of a man is regarded as a concrete thing which can be laid aside, and which, so long as it remains unharmed, will secure for him immortality. There is, for example, a Hindoo story of a princess whose soul was believed to be in her necklace.—One day an astrologer said to her parents: "This is no common child; the necklace of gold about her neck contains your daughter's soul; let it therefore be guarded with the utmost care; for if it were taken off and worn by another person she would die1."

Many similar folk-tales are known from Icelandic and Danish sources as well as from many parts of Europe and Asia.

The air to which the following ballad is sung will be found on pp. 117, 118 of Thuren's Folkesangen paa Færøerne.

1 For many interesting parallels, cf. Frazer, Golden Bough (London, 1911-1915), "Balder the Beautiful," ch. II.
 
 

178       BALLADS

THE FAROESE BALLAD OF NORNAGEST

Nornagests Rima Taken down by A. P. Berggeen

1. A Ballad there is of Nornagest,
Refrain: — Be ready with a plan in trouble! —
In manly virtues among the best.
Refrain: — Every lad should do so! —

2. Twelve oxen were led to the market square,
And onward thence to a castle fair.

3. The King he thought to hew them to earth,
And with courage and joy did he sally forth.

4. The King he struck such a mighty blow
That the blood from the wounds did swiftly flow.

BALLAD OF NORNAGEST       179

5. All the oxen fell down dead,
And the axe sank deep that he brandished.

6. All men praised his princely blow;
The blood from the wounds did swiftly flow.

7. A man there came with crutches twain:
With these he steadied himself amain.

8. The King to the man full mildly spoke:—
"O why, and O why, dost thou praise not my stroke?"

9. "O Sire, thou struckest full manfully;
But I saw a finer stroke in days gone by.

10. "Of Sigurth's deeds hast thou heart he worth, —
The mightiest champion of men on earth!

11. "Leaf and grove did tremble and quake
When Sigurth clove in sunder the snake.

12. "This may you tell of Sigurth the bold: —
'He was mightiest of all men in days of old.'

13. "This can I tell of Sigurth's fame:—
'I know no hero with eyes so keen.'

14. "Leaf and grove did tremble and shake
When Sigurth clove in sunder the snake.

15. "A noble man was Högni, I ween,
Full well did I know his ugly mien.

16. "Rich, brave and gentle was Gunnar enow,
Wise too, and Gunnhild was like him, I trow.

17. "Wise too, and Gunnhild was like him, I trow.
Of heroes like him are there all too few.

18. "My father he had a homestead fair:
Herds of cattle were pastured there.

19. "And horses I tended as I sat in the wood. —
And blithest my heart when the weather was good!

20. "One and all in their saddles they ride,
Childe Sigurth, and Högni, and Gunnar beside.

[*note: omission of stanza 21 occurs in print]


180       BALLADS

22. "Over the mire-pit rode all and one. —
I was a lad, and I looked thereon.

23. "First sprang Gunnar's horse forthright.
Gunnar measured his leap aright.

24. "Högni's horse sprang after then.
Fast struck Grani in the fen.

25. "The last to spring was Sigurth's steed.
Sigurth had given him so heavy a feed!

26. "Grani floundered in the fen;
His saddle girth brake in pieces twain.

27. "Down from their saddles each did glide, —
Childe Sigurth, and Högni, and Gunnar beside.

28. "They dragged at the noble steed amain;
But Sigurth pulled hardest the bridal rein.

29. "'Oft have I leapt o'er the pit aright
By day and eke in the murky night.

30. "'O Guest, a service of thee I pray: —
Wash from my courser the mire away.

31. "'The saddle buckle which broke 'neath me —
The same, O Guest, will I give to thee.'

32. "Forth they rode to a river then.
No-one was there to look to the men.

33. "I washed his potrail and breast for him,
His thigh, his leg, and each long limb.

34. "The noble courser I made full clean.
Then Sigurth took me for his horse-swain.

35. "So rode we forth to Fanfinr's lair.
Like the sun's own beams did the gold shine there.

36. "From Sigurth's steed did I draw a hair,
Of wondrous length and beyond compare.

37. "The hair i nthe tail of Grani hung,
&mdah;Well-nigh a foot and a fathom long.

BALLAD OF NORNAGEST       181

38. "Well-nigh a foot and a fathom in height,
And it shone and gleamed like silver so bright.

39. "In days gone by, full far have I strayed,
Nor found I my candle and span of days."

40. The King he gave him pole and boat,
And directed the old man on his road.

41. "In the Land of the Franks is a lake broad and wide
Where thy candle and span of days do bide."

42. Long and long dived the courteous man
Before he came his candle upon.

43. Körnar the priest baptised him anon.
When th candle burnt out his life was done.

44. When the light in the lanthorn had burnt away,
Refrain: — Be ready with a plan in trouble! —
Then ended too his own life's day.
Refrain: — Every lad should do so! —
Nornagests Rima

Taken down by A.P. Berggeen
Eitt er frøðið um Nornagest, — Lat tær ráða raðgerð í vanda —
Ti likum góðum gekk hann næst.

Oxar tolv voru leiddir á torg,
og so fram áfríðu borg.

Gra-ni bar gullið af heiði.
 
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