Once sat women, they sat here, then there.
Some fastened bonds, some impeded an army,
Some unraveled fetters:
Escape the bonds, flee the enemy!
Then first I will chant thee
The charm oft-tried,
That Rani taught to Rind;
From the shoulder whate’er
Mislikes thee shake,
For helper thyself shalt thou have.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then next I will chant thee,
If needs thou must travel,
And wander a purposeless way:
The bolts of Urth
Shall on every side
Be thy guards on the road thou goest.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then third I will chant thee,
If threatening streams
The danger of death shall bring:
Yet to Hel shall turn
Both Horn and Ruth,
And before thee the waters shall fail.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then fourth I will chant thee,
If come thy foes
On the gallows-way against thee:
Into thine hands
Shall their hearts be given,
And peace shall the warriors wish.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then fifth I will chant thee,
If fetters perchance
Shall bind thy bending limbs:
O’er thy thighs do I chant
A loosening-charm,
And the lock is burst from the limbs,
And the fetters fall from the feet.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then sixth I will chant thee,
If storms on the sea
Have might unknown to man:
Yet never shall wind
Or wave do harm,
And calm is the course of thy boat.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then seventh I chant thee,
If frost shall seek
To kill thee on lofty crags:
The fatal cold
Shall not grip thy flesh,
And whole thy body shall be.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then eighth will I chant thee,
If ever by night
Thou shalt wander on murky ways:
Yet never the curse
of a Christian woman
From the dead shall do thee harm.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Then ninth will I chant thee,
If needs thou must strive
With a warlike giant in words:
Thy heart good store
Of wit shall have,
And thy mouth of words full wise.
(I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men.)
Once sat women, they sat here, then there.
Some fastened bonds, some impeded an army,
Some unraveled fetters:
Escape the bonds, flee the enemy!