Villeman og Magnhild [English translation]

Villeman went to the big river

To the most beautiful lime leaf of all

There, he wanted to play the golden harp

For the runes wanted him to win

Villeman went and stood by the river

To the most beautiful lime leaf of all

Skilfully did he play the golden harp

For the runes wanted him to win

He played light-heartedly, he played cunningly

To the most beautiful lime leaf of all

And a bird on a branch in leaf went silent

For the runes wanted him to win

He played light-heartedly, he played loudly

To the most beautiful lime leaf of all

He played Magnhild out of the neck’s arms1

For the runes wanted him to win

But then the creature emerged from the deep waters

To the most beautiful lime leaf of all

The mountains were rolling, and the clouds were thundering

For the runes wanted him to win

Then he played his harp from the bottom of his wrath

To the most beautiful lime leaf of all

And outdid the strength of the creature’s arms

For the runes wanted him to win

1. A neck is a shape-shifting water spirit from Germanic folklore (a.k.a. nicor, nokk, nix, nixie, nixy, nokken, …), often characterised by a mischievous nature, but with a massive love for good music.