Hervors arv

 

The lyric is based on Hervor, one of the main characters in Hervararsagan (Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks). Hervor is a so-called “sköldmö” (shield maiden) but during her childhood she wasn’t aware of her origin. When she later realizes that her real father was the well-known warrior Angantyr, she travels to his tomb on the island of Samsö to claim his enchanted sword. On Samsö, she enters the world of the dead and finally her dead father’s tomb. Once inside the tomb, she reads galdrar and dödsrunor (Norse magical spells) and awakens her father. A longer dialogue takes place between father and daughter (also known as Hervararkviða) and the father warns her of the curse that will follow the sword; a curse that will be passed on to her future children. Hervor, who doesn’t care about the fate of her future children, finally gets the wanted sword and leave the tomb.

 

Lyric :

Träder iland, till hemsökt land, där fränders högar står
I nattens mörker, otyg härskar, de dödas makter rår
Vänd nu om, du arma flicka, flykta härifrån
Lämna ön, dess trolldomsmarker, ensam får du gå

Heleld glimmar, sken till flamma, myrmark i brand
Helgrind svänger, högar öppnas, fallna kämpars hem
Vadandes genom eldars värn, som om dessa av dimma voro
Fast mellan världarna de två

Stig ur er grav, eller murkna i er sal !
Arngrips söner, hör mig far !
Stig ur din grav, en dotter kräver svar
Giv mig svärdet, det som är i ditt förvar

Ve dig ovist barn, du som skriar i min sal
Bär dödsrunor i tal
Ovett, vilsen du far. Räds du ej ditt liv
väcker döda krigares sömn
Jag skall ge vad du fordrar
Men minns mina ord
Din ätt slås i spillror
Ont skall dem gå

Stig ur er grav, eller murkna i er sal !
Arngrips söner, hör mig far !
Stig ur din grav, en dotter kräver svar
Giv mig svärd av dvärgastål !
Stig ur er grav, eller murkna i er sal !
Arngrips söner, hör mig far !
Stig ur din grav, jag kräver mitt arv
Giv mig svärd, det svärd som smitts av dvärgastål !

 

English translation :

Entering the land, this haunted land, to ancestor’s mounds.
In the dark of night, evil reigns, and the powers of the dead prevail.
”-Turn back, foolish girl, escape from here !
Leave the island, its magical lands, go forth in solitude !”

Heleld glitters, spark to flame, marshland on fire.
Helgrind swings, mounds opening, the home of the fallen warriors.
Wading through the flames, as though they were fog.
Stuck between the worlds.

”-Rise from your grave or fester in your hall !
Sons of Arngrip, hear me father !
Rise from your tomb, a daughter demands answers !
Hand me the sword in your possession !”

”-Be warned, foolish child, you who cry out in my hall,
and have death runes on your tongue !
Dumbfounded and lost. Do you not fear for your life ?
Awakening dead warriors from their slumber.

I shall deliver that which you demand,
but mind my words.
Your kin will be slain,
And face certain doom !”

”-Rise from your grave or fester in your hall !
Sons of Arngrip, hear me father !
Rise from your tomb, I demand my inheritance
Hand me the Sword, the sword forged from dwarven steel !”

”-Rise from your grave or fester in your hall !
Sons of Arngrip, hear me father !
Rise from your tomb, I demand my inheritance
Hand me the Sword, the sword forged from dwarven steel !”

 

Illustration by Kris Verwimp

Source : Månegarm