In the Eastern lands ruled great King called Brennan and also his wife Queen Caoilfhionn. Brynhildr Amsvarsdottir had come to serve their longhouse and was sent to guard the land’s most precious treasure, the Queen. It was the fiftieth year, on the seventh day of nóvember, after Gormánuður but before Ýlir, that Brynhildr was called to the Crown Tournament in the holdings of the Hersir of Bergental. Because she had served with joy and abundance, she was given the right to bear arms, ____________________________________ and take the title Hefdharkona. The King had his poet and scribe make for her a ring of word-gold to be read and seen that day.

The linden of the battle-wall  

lifted her slender hands

to join the Njords of swords.

Shield-bearer now arms-bearer

Silver-goddess of the raven-field

You are worthy to hear an ode

war-valiant one, wrought for you*
King Brennan and Queen Caiolfhionn made their names on it.

Brynhildr is a fighter and man-at-arms to Sir Brennan, who has been a brother to me. I was thrilled to be able to write text for her. Norse sagas frequently used prose and then called out a poem of praise (or insult, on occasion too!). I used the same technique to do this. I had to edit mercilessly – the original wanted to be longer, but sometimes we just have to live by the word count. I pulled directly one line from the Sagas of the Warrior Poets, because I wanted her to have that direct connection to the past in this piece. (I try to do that with pretty much all my text.)

Below are my working notes to produce this piece.

(The longer piece)

In those days the ruler of the Eastern lands was a great Chieftain called Brennan. Beside him ruled his wife Caoilfhionn. Now Brynhildr Amsvarsdottir had come to serve the King and was sent to guard his most precious treasure, the Queen. Brynhildr wore a shirt of silver plates against which her dark hair shone like trees against the moon. After she had served for a full year and more, at the Crown Tournament in the holdings of the Hersir of Bergental. It was held on the seventh day of nóvember, after Gormánuður but before Ýlir. Brynhildr was called to court that day where she was given the right to bear arms

________________________________________ and be called Hefdharkona. The King had his poet make for her a ring of word-gold and it was read.

You are worthy to hear an ode

war-valiant one, wrought for you*   (31 in Sagas of the Warrior Poets)

The linden of the battle-wall  (the shield maiden)

has lifted her slender hands

to join the Njords of swords. (the gods of the swords)

Silver-goddess of the raven-field

from shield-bearer to arms-bearer

1. Gormánuður (mid October – mid November, “slaughter month” or “Gór’s month”)
2. Ýlir (mid November – mid December, “Yule month”)

http://oldeuropeanculture.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-riddle-of-odins-ravens.html

kennings:

Linden birch goddess

Holder of the king cup

Shield sister

Man at arms

And so the king bade a verse to be made for her

1,2,3, 1234 / Sagas of the warrior poets

A

Pearl of goodnesse, Ishoot of Admirinda,

That al hire bountee telle can

Heo so blithe, so bright, Admirinda

In world nis noon so witer,

semlokest of alle things, Merye sing,

Hire limb pullth true the string,

With lossum cheere heo mak the mark

And wunderliche heo mak the feaste,

that we mak merie with drinche and an meat

Sevant trewe, of wise virtue

Herkne to our roun, To Alle sweetness sae

That Lady Adminanda Howard be.

Ymende. þet þis boc is uolueld ine þe Hunt in þe Barony of Endewearde on þe day of Saint Comgan of Iona in ane Kenric Cyng and Avelina Quene of þe East, ine þe yeare of oure Society beringe 48.

MODERN ENGLISH

A

Pearl of goodness,
I speak of Admiranda, Muse of Aranmor

That all her excellence can tell

She so blithe, so bright, Admiranda

In the world is none so witty

Seemliest of all things, we merry sing

Her arm pulleth true the string

With lovely cheer she makes the mark

And wonderfully she makes the feast

That we make merry with drink and meat

Servant true, of wise virtue

Hark to our song,

To all sweetness see

That Lady Admiranda Howard be

And give her arms for her alone
_____________

___________

_____________

Let it be known that this work was fulfilled in the Hunt in the Barony of Endewearde on the day of Saint Comgan* of Iona by Kenric King and Avelina Queen of the East, in the year of the society 48.

Words based on the earliest English I could manage (a mix of 13^th/14^th c inspired by period lyric verses in praise of women, for example, “Alesone”) with a finishing phrase from the English translation by Michael of Northgate from 1340, from the French “Somme le Roi” to the English “Ayenbite of Inwyt” (or ‘the again-biting of inner wit’, Remorse (or Prick) of Conscience. 12^th Century English is actually Anglo-Saxon, and it’s beyond my ability without major reading and research. I tried to read some and …it looks like I should be able to read it but I can’t. It made me feel like I was going sort of insane.

*October 13th is the feast day