Although I almost never make the mistake of going back and reading what I've posted previously, I did peruse the jibba-jabba I spilled earlier today. God, I may have to kick my own ass (unless someone beats me to it). Awful. Simply awful. Although I don't think I should delete this nonsense, I will bury it with stuff that doesn't suck (i.e. stuff written by other people). Here's a sweet little dose of goodness. (Note to self: stop using the word "although.") Writer Frank O'Connor has a slightly better translation (it's from Old Irish), which I will try to find. This is the version that Seamus Heaney refers to in one of his poems in District and Circle, although I can't remember which one right now. (Fuck, another "although," and displaying a total lack of memory! If I only had a brain....)
The Viking Terror
Bitter is the wind tonight.
It tosses the ocean's white hair.
Tonight I fear not the fierce warriors of Norway
Coursing on the Irish Sea.
-- Anon., (Irish, 9th century)
3 comments:
I was wrong. In "Out of Shot," Heaney references the "fierce raiders" translation of "The Viking Terror;" that's different than what I posted. Color me dumb. Anyhoo, here's O'Connor's translation (which I promised). It rules.
Since tonight the wind is high,
The sea's white mane a fury,
I need not fear the hordes of hell
Coursing the Irish Channel.
"the fierce warriors of Norway" -- rendered moot by the ensuing years of Norwayness.
At least their not Finns.
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