Genom vättars djupa skogar
över myrars fridfulla ensamhet
bränner fruktans flamma fram.
Genom månbelysta dälder
över bergets rygg mot ett okänt mål
jagad ulv nu skyndar fram.
Kalven går i socknarna
nu blir det vargaskall.
Greppe spjut och fatta mod
i drev mot ulvens fall.
Gryningstimma, tung utav hat.
Ringa in och rota ut.
Folkets fasa skall ej mera stryka fram
genom äng, genom myr och skog
i människoland.
In i mörkrets trygghet s***er
sina skygga barn utan enslig kull
ifrån jaktens gälla larm.
Vitt revit nu sakta tynar.
Utav människans hand uti vildmarksland
sveper ödets svarta arm.
Kämpa tappert, kämpa idogt.
Känn nu eldens glöd i ditt vildmarksblod,
visa drevet ulvars mod.
Skymningstimma, tung utav blod.
Ringat in och rotat ut.
Ulvars fasa skall för alltid stryka fram
genom äng, genom myr och skog
i vargaland.
--------------------------------------------------------
Vargaskall: Wolf-bark
Through the deep forests of goblins,
over the peaceful solitude of bogs,
the flame of fear burns forth.
Through moon-illuminated dells,
over the back of the mountain to an unknown destination
a hunted wolf now hurries forth.
The stick* now moves in the shires**
now there will be wolf-bark.
Grasp spear and be courageous
in a beat*** to the fall of the wolf.
Hour of dawn, filled with hate,
encircle and exterminate.
The horror of the people shall no more roam
through meadow, through bog and forest
in land of Men.
Into the darkness safety keeps
its shy children of lonesome breed
from the shrill alarm of the hunt.
Wide territory is now slowly declining
by the hands of Men in wilderland
the black arm of destiny sweeps.
Fight bravely, fight diligently,
feel the embers of fire in your wilderness-blood.
Show the beat the courage of wolves!
Hour of twilight, heavy with blood.
Encircled and exterminated.
The horror of wolves shall forever roam
through meadow, through bog and forest
in the land of Wolves.
* "Stick" is my choice of translation of "kavle", which was a means of communication among the peasants in medieval Sweden. A carved stick with a message was sent around among the farms when all men needed to be alerted, for example did the peasants of Småland in the 16th century do this when they would decide that they would join Nils Dacke's uprising against the king Gustav I.
** I have chosen "shires" for socknar. "Socknar" is in reality the smallest administrative area in the church organization of medieval and post-medieval Sweden. The people within a "socken" cooperated concerning many things and went to the same church each Sunday.
*** ´By "beat" (which is the real word for it in English) I mean the people chasing out wild animals so that hunters can take care of them.
över myrars fridfulla ensamhet
bränner fruktans flamma fram.
Genom månbelysta dälder
över bergets rygg mot ett okänt mål
jagad ulv nu skyndar fram.
Kalven går i socknarna
nu blir det vargaskall.
Greppe spjut och fatta mod
i drev mot ulvens fall.
Gryningstimma, tung utav hat.
Ringa in och rota ut.
Folkets fasa skall ej mera stryka fram
genom äng, genom myr och skog
i människoland.
In i mörkrets trygghet s***er
sina skygga barn utan enslig kull
ifrån jaktens gälla larm.
Vitt revit nu sakta tynar.
Utav människans hand uti vildmarksland
sveper ödets svarta arm.
Kämpa tappert, kämpa idogt.
Känn nu eldens glöd i ditt vildmarksblod,
visa drevet ulvars mod.
Skymningstimma, tung utav blod.
Ringat in och rotat ut.
Ulvars fasa skall för alltid stryka fram
genom äng, genom myr och skog
i vargaland.
--------------------------------------------------------
Vargaskall: Wolf-bark
Through the deep forests of goblins,
over the peaceful solitude of bogs,
the flame of fear burns forth.
Through moon-illuminated dells,
over the back of the mountain to an unknown destination
a hunted wolf now hurries forth.
The stick* now moves in the shires**
now there will be wolf-bark.
Grasp spear and be courageous
in a beat*** to the fall of the wolf.
Hour of dawn, filled with hate,
encircle and exterminate.
The horror of the people shall no more roam
through meadow, through bog and forest
in land of Men.
Into the darkness safety keeps
its shy children of lonesome breed
from the shrill alarm of the hunt.
Wide territory is now slowly declining
by the hands of Men in wilderland
the black arm of destiny sweeps.
Fight bravely, fight diligently,
feel the embers of fire in your wilderness-blood.
Show the beat the courage of wolves!
Hour of twilight, heavy with blood.
Encircled and exterminated.
The horror of wolves shall forever roam
through meadow, through bog and forest
in the land of Wolves.
* "Stick" is my choice of translation of "kavle", which was a means of communication among the peasants in medieval Sweden. A carved stick with a message was sent around among the farms when all men needed to be alerted, for example did the peasants of Småland in the 16th century do this when they would decide that they would join Nils Dacke's uprising against the king Gustav I.
** I have chosen "shires" for socknar. "Socknar" is in reality the smallest administrative area in the church organization of medieval and post-medieval Sweden. The people within a "socken" cooperated concerning many things and went to the same church each Sunday.
*** ´By "beat" (which is the real word for it in English) I mean the people chasing out wild animals so that hunters can take care of them.