| Lydt gjennem Luften i Natten farer
et Tog paa skummende sorte Heste.
I Stormgang drage de vilde Skarer.
de have kun Skyer til Fodefæste.
Det gaaer over Dal, over Vang og Hei,
gjennem Mulm og Veir; de endse det ei.
Vandreren kaster sig ræd paa Veien.
Hør hvilket Gny - det er Asgaardsreien!
Thor, den stærke, med løftet Hammer,
staaer høit i sin Karm, er forrest i Laget;
han slaaer paa Skjoldet, og røde Flammer
belyse det natlige Tog ved Slaget.
Da klinge Lurer, da er der en Støi
af Bjælder og ringlende Ridetøi,
da hyler Sværmen og Folket lytter
med stigende Angst i de dirrende Hytter.
Åsgaardsreien i Fylking rider
ved Høst og Vinter i barske Nætter,
men helst den færdes ved Juletider;
da holder den Fest hos Trolde og Jetter,
da stryger den lavt over Eng og Sti
og farer den larmende Bygd forbi -
da vogt dig Bonde, hold Skik og Orden;
thi Asgaardsreien er snart ved Gaarden!
Naar Øllet virker i Bjælkestuen
og vækker de hedenske Juleskikke,
og Ilden kaster sit Skin fra Gruen
paa svingede Knive og vilde Blikke,
da gaaer der et Gys gjennem Tumlen tidt;
da høres de natlige Skarers Ridt,
da knager Væggen, da dandser Kruset;
thi Asgaardsreien slaaer Kreds om Huset.
Der holdtes et Bryllup paa Øvre-Flage
tre hellige Juledage til Ende.
Blandt Terner fandtes ei Brudens Mage,
og Brudgommens ei mellem Ungersvende.
Der stod en Glands i den bonede Hal
af dækkede Borde og dyrt Metal,
der fandtes en Skat, som er kommet for Orde,
af Kobber paa Væg og af Sølv paa Borde.
Og lystigt durede Trommer og Giger,
og Brudgommen traadte sin Dands mandhaftigt;
han førte sin Brud mellem Svende og Piger -
da gik vel Hallingen let og kraftigt!
Til Dandserens vældige Kast og Hop
fløi Ternen om som en surrende Top;
da strømmede Larmen og Spillet sammen,
da drønede Hallen af Liv og Gammen.
Den tredie Kveld, da Øllet var drukket
gjennem al den Helg af Gamle og Unge,
da var vel Tørsten i Laget slukket,
men Karlene vare drukne og tunge.
Vor Brud havde atter sin Krone paa;
thi nu skulde Skaalen om Bordet gaae.
Og nu tog Kjøgemesteren Ordet
og krævede Stilhed med Slag i Bordet.
Da styrtede ind i det bænkede Gilde
de vidt berygtede Seims-Bersærker;
Øinene rullede mørke og vilde,
paa Panderne havde de Slagsmaalsmærker.
De gjorde et Sprang over Hallens Gulv -
ja, det var Brødrene Grim og Ulv!
Grim, der nys var forskudt af Bruden,
kom nu selvanden, og var ei buden.
De døsige Gjæster foer op med Bæven
og havde kun liden Hu til at stride.
Hver ravende Mand, der knyttede Næven,
blev grebet i Bringen og kastet til Side.
Brudgommen satte sit Bæger ned,
steeg op paa Bænken og bad om Fred.
Men Brødrene reve alt Kniv af Bælte;
det var just Brudgommens Liv, det gjældte.
Da stimlede Kvinderne sammen i Klynge
og danned' en Vagt om den haardt Betrængte;
bag Borde og Bænke, der laae i en Dynge,
de stode ved Høisædet indestængte.
Den ældste Kvinde i deres Flok
blottede nu sin graanede Lok,
og gav saa Brudgommen Sønnenavnet,
og tog ham paa Skjødet og holdt ham favnet.
Men Brødrene endsed' ei Kvindemildhed,
de stormede frem over Borde og Bænke
og splittede Kvindernes Flok med Vildhed -
da var der ei længer paa Fred at tænke.
De greb' deres Offer og slæbte ham hen
til Hallens Dør og ud gjennem den.
Da blev der en rasende Kamp i Gaarden,
og Gjæsterne fulgte i vild Uorden.
De styrtede ud med Blus og med Brande;
thi over Egnen rugede Mørket.
Da saae de Brudgommen opreist stande;
nu var han af Vinterens Luftning styrket.
Han brugte sin Kniv til Snit og til Stød -
saa gav han igjen hvad de Andre bød.
De Trende danned' et rædsomt Knippe,
og Ingen af dem vilde Taget slippe.
Da tumlede Grim med Eet overende,
og Blodet strømmed ham bredt af Brystet.
Des haardere brødes de andre Tvende
og holdt hinanden i Rygtag krystet.
Tilsidst blev Brudgommen sat mod Jord,
og Kniven alt mod hans Strube foer.
men Ulv holdt inde og stod bedøvet,
og skjælved og bæved som Aspeløvet.
Thi gjennem Luften i Mulmet sused
et huiende Tog paa fnysende Heste;
det foer over Skoven mod Brudehuset,
og vilde det blodige Gilde gjæste.
Da klang der Lurer, da blev der en Støi
af Bjælder og ringlende Ridetøi.
Nu var det nær - det kom over Heien -
der hørtes et Skrig: Det er Asgaardsreien!
Da blev der et Veir mellem Jord og Himmel,
der kastede Rædsel i alle Barme;
det hvirvled afsted i voxende Stimmel,
det slog med Vinger, det greb med Arme.
Da var det Ulv blev draget i Haar,
og slynget i Luften og ført af Gaard,
ja ført over Skov, over Fjeldetinde -
han spurgtes ei meer, han var ei at finde.
Da Larmen stilned om Rædselsstedet,
laae Grim af Dødskampen sammenkrummet,
men Brudgommen blev over Sneen ledet,
og sattes paa Hynden i Gjæsterummet.
Hans Hoved vakled, hans Blodstrøm flød,
han svæved en Tid mellem Liv og Død;
men han blev pleiet og vel forbundet,
om Vaaren havde han Alt forvundet.
Nu sidder han bøiet og høit bedaget,
og kan sin Æt omkring Arnen samle,
nu sidder han ofte med Sagn i Laget
og korter Tiden for Unge og Gamle.
Saa var det seneste Julekveld,
da Ungdommen raabte: "Fortæl, fortæl!"
Da flammed hans Blik, da saae han tilbage,
da maned han frem sine Bryllupsdage. |
|
Loudly through air at night they haste,
An uproar on wild black horses!
As a storm the wild crowds travel by
With nothing but clouds for foothold.
Over the valleys, the woods and meadows -
Through darkness and weather, they never heed.
The traveler throws himself frightened to ground.
Listen... what clamor! It's the forces of Asgard!
Thor, the strong one, his hammer high,
Stands tall in his rig, in front of the pack.
He strikes his shield and hot red flames
Light up the nightly raid at the scene.
Horns blow, and an awesome noise
From bells and riding gear resounds.
Then the pack roars loudly and people listen
With rising fear in their quaking homes.
The Wild Hunt of Asgard raids the county
Whilst fall and winter at stormy nights.
But it favors to travel at Yuletide...
They feast with trolls and giants;
they closely ride by meadow and path
And pass the fearful nation.
Then, - take care farmer! Keep all in order!
As the wild hunt of Asgard may visit your home!
With the beer working in your lodge
Awaking the heathen Yule-tradition...
And fire from the fireplace shines
on swinging knives and crazy eyes,
Then a sudden shiver goes through the party,
Then sound the nightly black riders' clamor...
Then the walls crack and the glasses dance;
the Armies of Asgard surround the building!
There was a wedding at Oevre Flage
Three holy Yule-days to the end.
Among the maids there were none like the bride
And no rival to the groom among men.
There was a glow to the shining hall
from set tables and expensive metal,
There was a treasure, the rumor says,
Of copper on walls and silver on tables.
And merrily sounded the drums and fiddles
as the groom was steadily dancing
leading his bride among young men and women -
Then the Halling-dance easily rumbled!
To the Dancer's forceful moves and jumps
the Maiden would swing like a pendulum,
Then floated the noise and the music together
And the hall would thunder from vigor and delight.
The third night, -when the beer was consumed
through all the holidays - by old and young,
Then thirst in the party was stopped,
But the men were drunken and slow.
Our bride wore her crown...
It was time for the bowl to be sent round the table
And the toastmaster demanded silence
with a knock on the table, - and started his speech.
Then charging in on the benched circle
the widely infamous Seim's Berserks,
Their eyes were rolling dark and wild
On their foreheads they had scars from fighting.
They leaped over the floor of the hall,
-Yes! It was the brothers Grim and Wolf!
Grim, who was recently turned down by the bride
Came there himself, - and he was not invited.
The sleepy guests got up shaking
And had little desire for fighting.
Every raving man who raised his fist
Was grabbed by the chest and thrown aside.
The groom placed his mug down on the table
Stepped up on the bench and asked for peace.
But the brothers already took out their knives,
- It was the groom's life it was all about.
Then women gathered into a crowd
and formed a guard for the man in danger;
sheltered behind tables and benches,
They stood closed in at the Bench of Honor.
The eldest woman in their circle
removed her headwear, revealed her gray hair
and gave the groom the name of her son,
Embraced him and sat him on her knee.
But the brothers wouldn't listen to women's plea -
Attacked forward over tables and benches
and divided the women with wildness-
Now every thought of peace was forgotten...
They grabbed their victim and dragged him along
To the door of the hall and out through it.
It came to a cruel fight in the yard,
And the guests followed in wild disorder.
They rushed out there with candles and torches,
‘Cause over the landscape the darkness reigned.
They saw the groom standing tall and strong,
As now he was strengthened by winter air.
He used his knife for cutting and slashing -
So he gave back what they offered him.
The three of them formed an ugly triangle,
And none would let go of the others.
Then, -all of a sudden Grim fell over!
With blood running like streams from his chest.
Then even harder the other two wrestled
And held each other’s backs in a grip.
In the end the groom was laid to the ground,
With the knife on it’s way to his throat...
But then Wolf held back and stood like a drunk,
And trembled and shook like a leaf.
As through the air in the dark came a thunder,
- a howling horde on ferocious horses,
It raced over woods to the wedding house,
Intended to visit the bloody performance.
Then horns blew, and an awesome noise
From bells and riding-gear resounded.
Now it was close - it came over the hill -
There was an outcry: The wild hunt of Asgard!
There was a tempest in Heaven and Earth,
That hurled a horror in every heart,
It blasted along in growing circles,
It punched with wings and grabbed with arms.
Then Wolf was dragged away by his hair,
thrown up in the air and taken away,
Yes, taken away over woods and mountains,
He was never seen or heard of again.
When tumults were over at the horror scene,
lay Grim from his death pains coiled up,
But the groom was escorted inside from the snow
And placed on a bunk in the guestroom.
His head was shaking, his blood was pouring;
he was pending a while between life and death,
But he was nursed and well taken care of,
so by spring he had healed from it all.
Now he sits there, - aged and well respected,
He can gather his offspring around the fire,
now he often tells stories in the circle
And shortens time for the young and the old.
It was like that last Yule-night too,
When the youth shouted, "Tell us, tell us!"
His eyes in flames as he was looking back...
And then he recalled his wedding days. |
