The Runes

Norwegian

Wealth causes kinsmen's strife;
The wolf feeds itself in the wood.

fé vældr fráenda róge;
føðesk ulfr í skóge.

Icelandic

Wealth is kinsmen's strife
and sea's flame
and serpent's way.
King of gold.

fé er frænda róg
ok flæðar viti
ok grafseiðs gata.
aurum fylkir.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Wealth first

feu forman

Old English

Feoh byþ frōfur fira gehwylcum;
sceal ðēah manna gehwylc miclun hyt dāēlan;
gif hē wile for drihtne dōmes hlēotan

[Dickins translation]

Wealth is a comfort to any man;
Yet each person must share it out well;
If he wants to win a good name before his lord

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Cattle are compensation for everyone,
though each man shall greatly share his
if he will be awarded honors from his lord.

Norwegian

Slag (or dross) is from bad iron;
The reindeer often runs over frozen snow.

úr er af illu jarne;
opt løypr ræinn á hjarne

Icelandic

Drizzle is the cloud's weeping
and harvest's diminish
and herder's hated.
Leader of shadow.

úr er skýja grátr
ok skára þverrir
ok hirðis hatr.
umbre vísi.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Aurochs after

ur after

Old English

Ur byþ anmod ond oferhyrned,
felafrecne deor, feohteþ mid hornum
mære morstapa; þæt is modig wuht.

[Dickins translation]

The aurochs is proud and has great horns;
it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns;
a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation]

Aurochs is brace and has horns above,
this very fierce animal fights with its horns,
a great wanderer of the moors, it is a proud creature.

Norwegian

Giant causes anguish to women;
misfortune makes few men cheerful. 

Þurs vældr kvinna kvillu;
kátr værðr fár af illu. 

Icelandic

Giant is womens' torture
and cliff-dweller
and husband of a giantess.
Prince of Saturn.

Þurs er kvenna kvöl
ok kletta búi
ok varðrúnar verr.
Saturnus þengill. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Giant, the third stave

thuris thritten stabu

Old English

ðorn byþ ðearle scearp; ðegna gehwylcum
anfeng ys yfyl, ungemetum reþe
manna gehwelcum, ðe him mid resteð.

[Dickins translation]

The thorn is exceedingly sharp;
an evil thing for any knight to touch;
uncommonly severe on all who sit among them.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation]

Hawthorn is exceedingly sharp for every servant,
seizing it is evil, and it is extremely harsh
to each man who rests among it.

Norwegian

Estuary is the way of most journeys;
but a scabbard is of swords. 

Óss er flæstra færða fǫr;
en skalpr er sværða.

Icelandic

God/Odinn is the aged Gautr
and prince of Ásgardr
and lord of Vallhalla.
Jupiter Leader.

Óss er algingautr
ok ásgarðs jöfurr,
ok valhallar vísi.
Jupiter oddviti. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

God is over it

os is themo oboro

Old English

Os byþ ordfruma ælere spræce,
wisdomes wraþu ond witena frofur
and eorla gehwam eadnys ond tohiht. 

[Dickins translation]

The mouth is the source of all language;
a pillar of wisdom and a comfort to wise men;
a blessing and a joy to every knight.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The God is the creator of all language,
wisdom's foundation and consolation of sages
and every man's joy and trust.

Norwegian

Riding is said to be the worst thing for horses;
Reginn forged the finest sword. 

Ræið kveða rossom væsta;
Reginn sló sværðet bæzta. 

Icelandic

Riding is the joy of the horsemen
and speedy journey
and toil of the steed.
Ruler of journey.

Reið er sitjandi sæla
ok snúðig ferð
ok jórs erfiði.
iter ræsir.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Write riding at the end

rat endos uuritan

Old English

Rad byþ on recyde rinca gehwylcum;
sefte ond swiþhwæt, ðamðe sitteþ on ufan;
meare mægenheardum ofer milpaþas. 

[Dickins translation]

Riding seems easy to every warrior while he is indoors;
and very courageous to him who traverses the high-roads;
on the back of a stout horse.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The ride up to every man's hall is
comfortable and very fast for he who sits high on
a mighty horse over the miles.

Norwegian

Ulcer is fatal to children;
death makes a corpse pale. 

Kaun er barna bǫlvan;
bǫl gørver nán fǫlvan. 

Icelandic

Ulcer is disease fatal to children
and painful spot
and abode of mortification.
King of scourge.

Kaun er barna böl
ok bardaga [för]
ok holdfúa hús.
flagella konungr.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Ulcer then separates

chaon thanne cliuot

Old English

Cen byþ cwicera gehwam, cuþ on fyre
blac ond beorhtlic;
byrneþ oftust ðær hi æþelingas inne restaþ. 

[Dickins translation]

The torch is known to every living man by its
pale, bright flame;
it always burns where princes sit within.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Pine is a tree known for all of its flame,
shining and brilliant it often burns
where people relax inside.

Old English

Gyfu gumena byþ gleng and herenys;
wraþu and wyrþscype and wræcna gehwam
ar and ætwist, ðe byþ oþra leas. 

[Dickins translation]

Generosity brings credit and honour, which support one's dignity;
it furnishes help and subsistence
to all broken men who are devoid of aught else.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

A gift from others is an honor and praise,
a help and of worth, and for sojourners everywhere
a benefit and presence that is otherwise missing.

Old English

Wenne bruceþ, ðe can weana lyt
sares and sorge and him sylfa hæfþ
blæd and blysse and eac byrga geniht. 

[Dickins translation]

Bliss he enjoys who knows not suffering, sorrow nor anxiety,
and has prosperity and happiness and a good enough house.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Joy possesses him who knows little want,
illnesses and sorrows, and himself has
prosperity and happiness and also a sufficient dwelling.

Norwegian

Hail is the coldest of grain;
Christ created the world of old. 

Hagall er kaldastr korna;
Kristr skóp hæimenn forna. 

Icelandic

Hail is a cold grain
and shower of sleet
and sickness of serpents.
Warrior king of hail.

Hagall er kaldakorn
ok krapadrífa
ok snáka sótt.
grando hildingr. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Hail has need

hagal naul habet

Old English

Hægl byþ hwitust corna;
hwyrft hit of heofones lyfte,
wealcaþ hit windes scura;
weorþeþ hit to wætere syððan. 

[Dickins translation]

Hail is the whitest of grain;
it is whirled from the vault of heaven
and is tossed about by gusts of wind
and then it melts into water.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Hail is the whitest of seeds, its circling comes
from the lofty sky,
it tosses in the wind's shower,
it then becomes water afterwards.

Norwegian

Constraint gives scant choice;
a naked man is chilled by the frost. 

Nauðr gerer næppa koste;
nøktan kælr í froste. 

Icelandic

Need is grief of the bond-maid
and state of oppression
and toilsome work.
Effort of the Niflungr.

Nauð er Þýjar þrá
ok þungr kostr
ok vássamlig verk.
opera niflungr. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Hail has need

hagal naul habet

Old English

Nyd byþ nearu on breostan;
weorþeþ hi þeah oft niþa bearnum
to helpe and to hæle gehwæþre,
gif hi his hlystaþ æror. 

[Dickins translation]

Trouble is oppressive to the heart;
yet often it proves a source of help and salvation
to the children of men, to everyone who heeds it betimes.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Need is oppressive on the heart,
although it often befalls this affliction of men
to help and to heal somewhat,
if it is heard beforehand.

Norwegian

Ice we call the broad bridge;
the blind man must be led. 

Ís kǫllum brú bræiða;
blindan þarf at læiða. 

Icelandic

Ice is the bark of rivers
and roof of the wave
and destruction of the doomed.
King of ice.

Íss er árbörkr
ok unnar þak
ok feigra manna fár.
glacies jöfurr.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Ice, season, and sun

is, ar endi sol

Old English

Is byþ ofereald, ungemetum slidor,
glisnaþ glæshluttur gimmum gelicust,
flor forste geworuht, fæger ansyne. 

[Dickins translation]

Ice is very cold and immeasurably slippery;
it glistens as clear as glass and most like to gems;
it is a floor wrought by the frost, fair to look upon.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Ice is extremely cold, very slippery,
it glistens clear, like precious gems,
a floor wrought by frost, fair thing seen.

Norwegian

Harvest is a boon to men;
I say that Frodi was generous. 

Ár er gumna góðe;
get ek at ǫrr var Fróðe. 

Icelandic

Harvest is boon to men
and good summer
and thriving crops.
Year ruler.

Ár er gumna góði
ok gott sumar
algróinn akr.
annus allvaldr.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Ice, season, and sun

is, ar endi sol

Old English

Ger byþ gumena hiht, ðonne God læteþ,
halig heofones cyning, hrusan syllan
beorhte bleda beornum ond ðearfum.

[Dickins translation]

Summer is a joy to men, when God, the holy King of Heaven,
suffers the earth to bring forth shining fruits
for rich and poor alike.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The year is making's joy, when the god bequeaths,
ruler of the sacred sky, the earth offers
splendid crops for the well-born and the poor.

Old English

Eoh byþ utan unsmeþe treow,
heard hrusan fæst, hyrde fyres,
wyrtrumun underwreþyd, wyn on eþle. 

[Dickins translation]

The yew is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the earth, supported by its roots,
a guardian of flame and a joy upon an estate.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Yew is a rough tree on the outside,
hard and secured in the earth, keeper of fires,
Sustained by deep roots, it is a pleasure to have on one's land.

Old English

Peorð byþ symble plega and hlehter
wlancum [on middum], ðar wigan sittaþ
on beorsele bliþe ætsomne. 

[Dickins translation]

Peorth is a source of recreation and amusement to the great,
where warriors sit blithely together in the banqueting-hall.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Gaming is always sport and laughter,
where boastful they sit to make war
in the banquet hall cheerfully together.

Old English

Eolh-secg eard hæfþ oftust on fenne
wexeð on wature, wundaþ grimme,
blode breneð beorna gehwylcne
ðe him ænigne onfeng gedeþ.

[Dickins translation]

The Eolh-sedge is mostly to be found in a marsh;
it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound,
covering with blood every warrior who touches it.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Elk-sedge is native to the marsh,
it grows in thew water, it can wound cruelly,
the blood of any man burns who in any way dares to seize it.

Norwegian

Sun is the light of the world;
I bow to the divine decree. 

Sól er landa ljóme;
lúti ek helgum dóme. 

Icelandic

Sun is the shield of the clouds
and shining ray
and destroyer of ice.
King Wheel.

Sól er skýja skjöldr
ok skínandi röðull
ok ísa aldrtregi.
rota siklingr. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Ice, season, and sun

is, ar endi sol

Old English

Sigel semannum symble biþ on hihte,
ðonne hi hine feriaþ ofer fisces beþ,
oþ hi brimhengest bringeþ to lande. 

[Dickins translation]

The sun is ever a joy in the hopes of seafarers
when they journey away over the fishes' bath,
until the courser of the deep bears them to land.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The sun for sailors is always hoped for,
when they depart over the fishes' bath,
until their ship carries them to land.

Norwegian

Tyr is a one-handed god;
often has the smith to blow.

Týr er æinendr ása;
opt værðr smiðr blása. 

Icelandic

Tyr is the one-handed god,
and leavings of the wolf
and prince of temples.
King of Mars.

Týr er einhendr áss
ok ulfs leifar
ok hofa hilmir.
Mars tiggi. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Tiw, birch, and man amid

tiu, brica endi, man midi

Old English

Tir biþ tacna sum, healdeð trywa wel
wiþ æþelingas; a biþ on færylde
ofer nihta genipu, næfre swiceþ.

[Dickins translation]

Tiw is a guiding star; well does it keep faith with princes;
it is ever on its course over the mists of night and never fails.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The North Star is one signal, it holds faith well
with nobles, it is always on track,
throughout night's darkness it never deceives.

Norwegian

Birch has the greenest leaves of any shrub;
Loki was fortunate in his deceit. 

Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma;
Loki bar flærða tíma. 

Icelandic

Birch is a leafy twig
and little tree
and fresh young shrub.
King of fir.

Bjarkan er laufgat lim
ok lítit tré
ok ungsamligr viðr.
abies buðlungr. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Tiw, birch, and man amid

tiu, brica endi, man midi

Old English

Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne swa ðeah
tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum wlitig,
heah on helme hrysted fægere,
geloden leafum, lyfte getenge. 

[Dickins translation]

The poplar bears no fruit; yet without seed it brings forth suckers,
for it is generated from its leaves.
Splendid are its branches and gloriously adorned
its lofty crown which reaches to the skies.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Birch is without fruit, it bears even so,
it bears shoots instead of fruit, its branches are beautiful,
high in the tree tops decorated attractively,
laden with foliage, lofty pressing.

Old English

Eh byþ for eorlum æþelinga wyn,
hors hofum wlanc, ðær him hæleþ ymb[e]
welege on wicgum wrixlaþ spræce
and biþ unstyllum æfre frofur.

[Dickins translation]

The horse is a joy to princes in the presence of warriors.
A steed in the pride of its hoofs,
when rich men on horseback bandy words about it;
and it is ever a source of comfort to the restless.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The horse is for lords the joy of the aristocracy,
horse hooves boastful, where around the hero,
prosperous in respect to horses, it exchanges discourse
and its restlessness is ever a help.

Norwegian

Man is an augmentation of the dust;
great is the claw of the hawk.

Maðr er moldar auki;
mikil er græip á hauki. 

Icelandic

Man is man's delight
and augmentation of the earth
and adorner of ships.
Prince of man.

Maðr er manns gaman
ok moldar auki
ok skipa skreytir.
homo mildingr. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Tiw, birch, and man amid

tiu, brica endi, man midi

Old English

Man byþ on myrgþe his magan leof:
sceal þeah anra gehwylc oðrum swican,
forðum drihten wyle dome sine
þæt earme flæsc eorþan betæcan.

[Dickins translation]

The joyous man is dear to his kinsmen;
yet every man is doomed to fail his fellow,
since the Lord by his decree will commit the vile carrion to the earth.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Person with joy is beloved of his kin,
even though each one depart away,
for moreover the lord wills his fate,
the destitute flesh will be delivered to the earth.

Norwegian

A waterfall is a river which falls from a mountain-side;
but ornaments are of gold. 

Lǫgr er, fællr ór fjalle foss;
en gull ero nosser. 

Icelandic

Water is an eddying stream
and broad geysir
and land of the fish.
Lake king.

Lögr er vellanda vatn
ok viðr ketill
ok glömmungr grund.
lacus lofðungr. 

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

the bright water

lago the leohto

Old English

Lagu byþ leodum langsum geþuht,
gif hi sculun neþan on nacan tealtum
and hi sæyþa swyþe bregaþ
and se brimhengest bridles ne gym[eð]. 

[Dickins translation]

The ocean seems interminable to men,
if they venture on the rolling bark
and the waves of the sea terrify them
and the courser of the deep heed not its bridle.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Water seems of endless length to people,
if they must venture on unstable ships,
and the sea waves terrify them exceedingly,
and the ship does not heed its reins.

Old English

Ing wæs ærest mid East-Denum
gesewen secgun, oþ he siððan est
ofer wæg gewat; wæn æfter ran;
ðus Heardingas ðone hæle nemdun. 

[Dickins translation]

Ing was first seen by men among the East-Danes,
till, followed by his chariot,
he departed eastwards over the waves.
So the Heardingas named the hero.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Lord Ing was the first seen among the East Danes
it is said,
until he later went back over the sea, his chariot following after,
thus the brave men named that hero.

Old English

Eþel byþ oferleof æghwylcum men,
gif he mot ðær rihtes and gerysena on
brucan on bolde bleadum oftast. 

[Dickins translation]

An estate is very dear to every man,
if he can enjoy there in his house
whatever is right and proper in constant prosperity.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Home is very dear to all people,
if there they have the opportunity for justice and honesty while
enjoying prosperity in the dwelling most often.

Old English

Dæg byþ drihtnes sond, deore mannum,
mære metodes leoht, myrgþ and tohiht
eadgum and earmum, eallum brice. 

[Dickins translation]

Day, the glorious light of the Creator, is sent by the Lord;
it is beloved of men, a source of hope and happiness to rich and poor,
and of service to all.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

Day is the god's ambassador, beloved of men,
the great god's light, mirth and also hope,
prosperous and poor, all enjoy it.

Old English

Ac byþ on eorþan elda bearnum
flæsces fodor, fereþ gelome
ofer ganotes bæþ; garsecg fandaþ
hwæþer ac hæbbe æþele treowe. 

[Dickins translation]

The oak fattens the flesh of pigs for the children of men.
Often it traverses the gannet's bath,
and the ocean proves whether the oak keeps faith
in honourable fashion.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation]

The oak is on Earth for the children of men,
meat-animal's fodder, it travels often over the gannet's bath,
the sea tests whether the oak possesses noble truth.

Old English

Æsc biþ oferheah, eldum dyre
stiþ on staþule, stede rihte hylt,
ðeah him feohtan on firas monige. 

[Dickins translation]

The ash is exceedingly high and precious to men.
With its sturdy trunk it offers a stubborn resistance,
though attacked by many a man.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation]

Ash tree is lofty, glorified by men,
stiff in its truck, it holds its position exactly,
although it fights against many men.

Norwegian

Yew is the greenest of trees in winter;
it is wont to crackle when it burns. 

Ýr er vetrgrønstr viða;
vænt er, er brennr, at sviða. 

Icelandic

Yew is a bent bow
and brittle iron
and giant of the arrow.
Bow of Ynglings.

Ýr er bendr bogi
ok brotgjarnt járn
ok fífu fárbauti.
arcus ynglingr.

Abecedarium Nordmannicum

Yew closes all

yr al bihabet

Old English

Yr byþ æþelinga and eorla gehwæs
wyn and wyrþmynd, byþ on wicge fæger,
fæstlic on færelde, fyrdgeatewa sum. 

[Dickins translation]

Yr is a source of joy and honour to every prince and knight;
it looks well on a horse and is a reliable equipment for a journey.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation]

Bow is for noblemen and warriors everywhere,
joy and a mark of distinction, upon a fair horse,
steadfast on its course, a part of the war-gear.

Old English

Iar byþ eafix and ðeah a bruceþ
fodres on foldan, hafaþ fægerne eard
wætre beworpen, ðær he wynnum leofaþ. 

[Dickins translation]

Iar is a river fish and yet it always feeds on land;
it has a fair abode encompassed by water, where it lives in happiness.

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation]

Beaver is a river fish, and though he resides there,
he forages on land, he has a fair dwelling,
water surrounding, that place he joyfully holds dear.

Old English

Ear byþ egle eorla gehwylcun,
ðonn[e] fæstlice flæsc onginneþ,
hraw colian, hrusan ceosan
blac to gebeddan; bleda gedreosaþ,
wynna gewitaþ, wera geswicaþ.

[Dickins translation]

The grave is horrible to every knight,
when the corpse quickly begins to cool
and is laid in the bosom of the dark earth.
Prosperity declines, happiness passes away
and covenants are broken. 

[Albertsson's Wyrdworking translation] 

The ground is loathsome to all men,
yet certainly the body will be set upon there,
the corpse grows cold, the soil accepts its pale bedfellow;
leaves fall, pleasures depart, men cease to be.