Ben Waggoner's Blog - Posts Tagged "vikings"
The Saga of Samson the Fair
So. . . in the mid-1200s, King Hakon of Norway was trying hard to give his weak, unstable country (just coming out of a century of unrest and divided kingship) stability and a touch of class. He sponsored the translation of a number of courtly romances from continental Europe -- Tristan and Isolde, the chivalric lays of Marie de France, the lay of Yvaine, and some others. Chivalry got infused into Norse literature -- castles, jousting, courtly love, and other things that King Hakon's Viking ancestors would have scratched their heads to see. Oh, and one other translation done around this time was a Norse translation of the French Arthurian fabliau, Le manteau mautaillé. This ended up as Möttuls saga in Norse, "The Saga of the Mantle".
OK, skip over to Iceland, where these chivalric tales inspired a huge number of "indigenous romances" that blended chivalry with Norse legend and myth. Someone wrote a prequel to Möttuls saga called Samsons saga in fagra, which is an interesting and lively hybrid of chivalry and Norse legend -- on the one hand, fair damsels and bold knights who seek them as lovers; on the other hand, giants and trolls.
Here's my current working draft of my translation of the first two chapters. I'll post a few more chapters if people are interested. (And please don't complain that the queen is called Silvia and not Guinevere -- this is a translation, and I'm just putting down what the original Norse text says. Medieval folk very frequently played quite fast and loose with texts (by our standards); there was no One Authoritative Story.)
THE SAGA OF SAMSON THE FAIR
CHAPTER I. Samson’s Fosterage
There was a king named Arthur who ruled over England. He was a mighty king with a large following, and a powerful ruler. He had a queen of noble descent, as befitted him well. She was named Silvia, the daughter of the king of Hungary. Their son was named Samson. He was tall and strong, handsome to look at, courteous and mannerly, well-beloved and fond of fine clothing, zealous by nature and cheerful each day, so that everyone loved him wholeheartedly. He was called Samson the Fair, and he was well and truly named, for there was not a blemish to be seen on his body.
The king and queen had another child, a daughter named Grega. She was both fair and courteous, and she was well versed and instructed in most of the handicrafts that were then customary for young ladies.
King Arthur was a great warrior while he was young. But when he began to grow old, he settled down quietly and ruled his kingdom with great renown and splendor.
The prince was given in fosterage to a knight named Salmon. He was wise and well-beloved and insightful in counsels. His wife was named Olympia. She was a native of Brittany, and there she had many large estates. She understood many things well; she was wise and insightful in counsels, as will be told later. She was a most loving foster-mother to Samson. There he grew up until he was eleven years old, and he learned sports and knightly skills from Salmon. He was so accomplished at sports and skills that no one in all England could equal him.
Then his foster-father fell ill and breathed his last. Everyone felt this to be a terrible loss. Samson went to his father and stayed by his side. Olympia no longer wished to stay in England, and she traveled to Brittany and settled down on her estates. She owned a castle that stood in a certain forested district, far off the beaten path, and most often she stayed there, without many retainers.
CHAPTER II. On the Dealings of the Kings, Arthur and Garlant
At that time, the king named Garlant ruled over Ireland. He was powerful and a great ruler. He had had a queen, but she was dead by the time that this saga takes place. He had one daughter whose name was Valentina. She was both wise and well-beloved and well-mannered. She had learned all the accomplishments of ladies.
In those days there had been great strife between King Arthur of England and King Garlant. They had fought many perilous battles, and sometimes one and sometimes the other had come out on top. In the end, the rulers reached a settlement between them. They exchanged hostages: King Garlant sent his own daughter Valentina into King Arthur’s power and keeping, and in return King Arthur sent his sister’s son to King Garlant. They kept to their agreement firmly and courteously. Some time passed.
OK, skip over to Iceland, where these chivalric tales inspired a huge number of "indigenous romances" that blended chivalry with Norse legend and myth. Someone wrote a prequel to Möttuls saga called Samsons saga in fagra, which is an interesting and lively hybrid of chivalry and Norse legend -- on the one hand, fair damsels and bold knights who seek them as lovers; on the other hand, giants and trolls.
Here's my current working draft of my translation of the first two chapters. I'll post a few more chapters if people are interested. (And please don't complain that the queen is called Silvia and not Guinevere -- this is a translation, and I'm just putting down what the original Norse text says. Medieval folk very frequently played quite fast and loose with texts (by our standards); there was no One Authoritative Story.)
THE SAGA OF SAMSON THE FAIR
CHAPTER I. Samson’s Fosterage
There was a king named Arthur who ruled over England. He was a mighty king with a large following, and a powerful ruler. He had a queen of noble descent, as befitted him well. She was named Silvia, the daughter of the king of Hungary. Their son was named Samson. He was tall and strong, handsome to look at, courteous and mannerly, well-beloved and fond of fine clothing, zealous by nature and cheerful each day, so that everyone loved him wholeheartedly. He was called Samson the Fair, and he was well and truly named, for there was not a blemish to be seen on his body.
The king and queen had another child, a daughter named Grega. She was both fair and courteous, and she was well versed and instructed in most of the handicrafts that were then customary for young ladies.
King Arthur was a great warrior while he was young. But when he began to grow old, he settled down quietly and ruled his kingdom with great renown and splendor.
The prince was given in fosterage to a knight named Salmon. He was wise and well-beloved and insightful in counsels. His wife was named Olympia. She was a native of Brittany, and there she had many large estates. She understood many things well; she was wise and insightful in counsels, as will be told later. She was a most loving foster-mother to Samson. There he grew up until he was eleven years old, and he learned sports and knightly skills from Salmon. He was so accomplished at sports and skills that no one in all England could equal him.
Then his foster-father fell ill and breathed his last. Everyone felt this to be a terrible loss. Samson went to his father and stayed by his side. Olympia no longer wished to stay in England, and she traveled to Brittany and settled down on her estates. She owned a castle that stood in a certain forested district, far off the beaten path, and most often she stayed there, without many retainers.
CHAPTER II. On the Dealings of the Kings, Arthur and Garlant
At that time, the king named Garlant ruled over Ireland. He was powerful and a great ruler. He had had a queen, but she was dead by the time that this saga takes place. He had one daughter whose name was Valentina. She was both wise and well-beloved and well-mannered. She had learned all the accomplishments of ladies.
In those days there had been great strife between King Arthur of England and King Garlant. They had fought many perilous battles, and sometimes one and sometimes the other had come out on top. In the end, the rulers reached a settlement between them. They exchanged hostages: King Garlant sent his own daughter Valentina into King Arthur’s power and keeping, and in return King Arthur sent his sister’s son to King Garlant. They kept to their agreement firmly and courteously. Some time passed.
