Tvenne drömmar

 

“Two Dreams is based on the saga “Om kong Götrik och hans son kong Rolof” (Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar).

One night the queen of Uppsala, Ingerd, is dreaming that a mighty white bear was coming.

The bear she saw in her dream was in reality the warrior Rolf, who comes to propose to Ingerd and King Erik’s daughter. Rolfs visit is received with derision and Rolf may himself go to Ullåker, where the daughter reigns. The proposal is not accepted with kind-heartedness and Rolf and his entourage is chased away by the daughter and her warriors.

Rolf seeks refuge in Scotland where he ties alliances and gains a reputation as a great warrior and later on Rolf travels back to Uppsala with a great army and friends. This time the queen dreams another dream; now of a great entourage with white ferocious bears and a wild boar and this time they are all but friendly.”

 

Source : Månegarm

Illustration by Kris Verwimp

 

Lyric :

Hörde du mitt rop, ur sömnens djupa värld

En underlig syn allt till mig kom, jag såg den ljus och klar

Ett följe från götars land, ledda av vit björn.

Med härdad ragg, en högrest best, vars lynne tordes spak

 

En krigares hamn, har äntrat vårt land

En konunga son, foren hit

 

Gäckad, prövad, narrad, hånad, blevo götars son

bidar vrede, bort i skoters land.

Vänder åter, ryktbar, härdad med mantalig här

Med broder, och vän, de tre i vilddjurs hamn.

Åter gästar han min dröm

 

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Vreda björnar och en stridslysten galt

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Dräpande folket, ty vårt rike stacks i brand

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Med skeppshästar vida och ulvar i stor flock

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Dräpande folk, ty vårt rike står i brand

 

Den första gång han gästade min sömn,

med lynne så blitt, han foren ej i nid

Den andra gång med vrede och järn, krävandes Ullåkers mö.

Åter gästar han min dröm

 

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Vreda björnar och en stridslysten galt

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Dräpande folket, ty vårt rike stacks i brand

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Med skeppshästar vida och ulvar i stor flock

I drömmen jag ser, trenne höga hamnar

Dräpande folk, ty vårt rike står i brand

 

English translation :

Did you hear my cry, from the deep world of sleep ?

A strange sight came to me, I saw it bright and clear

A companion from the land of Göter, led by a white bear.

With reinforced fur, a giant beast, but with a vacant mind

 

A warrior’s essence, has entered our land

The son of a King, has arrived.

 

He was ridiculed, tested, fooled, mocked, the son of Götar

Biding anger, in the land of the Scots.

Returns, infamous, strengthened and with a vast army.

With brother and friend, all in the skin of beasts.

Once again, he enters my dream

 

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

Angered bears and a furious boar

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

Slaying our people, as our kingdom was set ablaze

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

With wide ships and packs of wolves

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

Slaying our people, though our kingdom was set ablaze

 

The first time he visited my dream,

With a mind so serene, no ferocity in him.

The second time with anger and steel, demanding the maiden of Ullåker.

Once again, he enters my dream

 

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

Angered bears and a furious boar

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

Slaying our people, as our kingdom was set ablaze

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

With wide ships and packs of wolves

In the dream I saw, three great shapes

Slaying our people, though our kingdom was set ablaze