| Come listen to my song! The song of a nimble youth. Of Olaf Åsteson will I sing, Who lay and slept so long.IIHe laid him down on Christmas Eve And soon lay deeply sleeping. Nor could he awaken Until the people went to church Upon the thirteenth day.Of Olaf Åsteson will I sing, Who lay and slept so long.He laid him down on Christmas Eve And he slept long indeed! He could not awaken Until the bird was on the wing Upon the thirteenth day.Of Olaf Åsteson will I sing, Who lay and slept so long.Olaf could not awaken Until the sun shone o’er the peaks Upon the thirteenth day. Then saddled he his nimble horse And rode in haste to the church.Of Olaf Åsteson will I sing, Who lay and slept so long.The priest was at the altar Reading holy mass When Olaf alighted at the gate To tell the many dreams That had passed through his soul When he did sleep so long.Of Olaf Åsteson will I sing, Who lay and slept so long.Then old and young they all gave heed, To Olaf’s words they harkened That told them of his dreamsOf Olaf Åsteson will I sing, Who lay and slept so long.III‘I laid me down on Christmas Eve And soon lay deeply sleeping. Nor could I awaken Before the people went to church Upon the thirteenth day.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.I was borne up into the clouds Thrown down to the ocean’s depths, And whosoever will follow after Good cheer he will not find.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.I was borne up into the clouds Then hurled into murky swamps, And I saw the horrors of hell And also heaven’s light.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.I had to go through deep, dark clefts Where heaven’s rivers rushed and roared. The power to see them was not mine Yet I could hear their roaring.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.My coal-black horse he did not neigh, Nor did my good hounds bark, The bird of morning did not sing For a wonder lay on all.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.I had to travel in spiritland Through stretch on stretch of thorny heath, My scarlet mantle was torn to shreds The nails of my feet likewise.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.Then I came to the Gjallar Bridge Suspended in the windblown heights, Studded it is with rich red gold And the nails thereon have sharp points.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.The spirit snake he struck at me The spirit hound bit me, And lo! the bull did bar the way. These are the three beasts of the bridge, Most wicked are they all.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.The hound he is a snappish beast The serpent waits to strike, The bull is ready to attack! And no one may pass o’er the bridge Who will not honour truth!The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.I passed o’er the Gjallar Bridge On dizzy heights and narrow. I who had waded in the swamps . . . . Behind me now they lie!The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.I had waded in the swamps There seemed no foothold I could find As I passed o’er the Gjallar Bridge Earth did I feel within my mouth As the dead who lie in their graves.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.To the waters then I came, ’Twas where the icy masses gleamed Like unto flames of blue. . . . And God did guide me in my steps That I did not come close.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.So I went on the wintry way And saw on my right hand: Like unto paradise it was, Light shining far and wide.The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away.God’s Holy Mother then I saw Amidst most wondrous glory! ‘Now take thy way to Brooksvalin, the place where souls are judged!’The moon shone bright And all the paths led far away. IVIn other worlds I tarried then Through many nights and long; And God alone can know The suffering I saw there —In Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.I could see a young man Who in life had killed a child. Now he must carry him always And stand in mud to his kneeIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.Also I saw an old man Wearing a cloak of lead; Thus was he punished, The miser on earth,In Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.And men appeared before me Wearing apparel of fire; So does their dishonesty Weigh on their poor soulsIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.Children I also saw, Glowing coals beneath their feet, In life they did their parents ill, Now must their spirits feel itIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.And to a house I had to go Where witches toiled in blood; This was the blood of those Who had enraged them whilst on earth,In Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.Now there came riding from the North Wild hordes of evil spooks, Led by the Prince of Hell,In Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.This horde riding from the North Was the wickedest ever seen; And the Prince of Hell rode out in front, And he rode on his coal-black steedIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.Yet now came a host from the South Bringing holy calm, And at their head rode Saint Michael At the side of Jesu ChristIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.The souls weighed down by sin Had to tremble in anguish and fear! Their tears ran down in streams To hear of their wicked deedsIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo.Michael stood in majesty And weighed the souls of men Upon his heavenly scales, And near him, judging, stood The Lord of Judgment, Jesu ChristIn Brooksvalin, where souls World judgment undergo. VBlessed is he who in earthly life Gives shoes unto the poor; He does not need, with naked feet, To walk on the heath of thorn.Thus speaks the Balance, And World truth Sounds forth in spirit heights.Blessed is he who in earthly life Unto the poor gave bread! For nothing of harm can come to him From the hounds of spiritland.Thus speaks the Balance, And World truth Sounds forth in spirit heights.Blessed is he who in earthly life Gave corn unto the poor! The horns of the bull are no threat to him When he crosses the Gjallar Bridge.Thus speaks the Balance, And World truth Sounds forth in spirit heights.Blessed is he who in earthly life Unto the poor gives clothes! He need not fear the freezing wastes Of ice in Brooksvalin.Thus speaks the Balance, And World truth Sounds forth in spirit heights. And young and old they all gave heed, To Olaf’s words they harkened That told them of his dreams. You have slept long indeed. . . . Awaken now, O Olaf Åsteson! |
Dreamquest 