"Jungfru Gunnela och Riddar Perleman"

[regndoft]

I could try to describe what this entry is really for, but I'll probably end up embarrassing myself.

Long story short, stalkerbunny wrote THIS a couple of days ago after a most interesting MSN convo. Because we are terrible that way. And because we are partners in crime, I translated the medieval ballad it is based on and post it here for you to see in all its glory.

Now you can see that our version isn't that far off. Really.


Lady Gunnela and Knight Perleman

It was Lady Gunnela
She was to fare to church
And it was Knight Perleman
He wanted to take her by force
//Green are all the trees in the woods//

“Hear ye, Knight Perleman
Ye will do me no harm;
When the mass has been sung
I will come to you”

When the mass was sung
And all people walked out
It was Lady Gunnela
She was the last to leave

And it was Lady Gunnela,
She spoke to the coachman this:
“You shall dress up in silk
And I in the hodden grey”

It was the young coachman
He took seat in the wagon with haste
It was Lady Gunnela
She firmly gripped the reins

As they arrived
To Knight Perleman’s manor
Out for them
Knight Perleman stands

“Welcome here
My most beloved
For you I’ve let blend
Both mead and wine”

It was the young coachman
He drank the mead from horn
It was Lady Gunnela
She fed barley to the horse

It was Knight Perleman
He spoke to Lady Gunnela this:
“What kind of coachman is that
Who walks over the floor?

Eyes he has most kind
They glance both to and fro’
Fingers he has most soft
Like the wings of a lark so small”

When it was eve and dark
In every corner
Knight Perleman wants
To steer his steps to bed

It was the young coachman
He lay down on the bed
And it was Knight Perleman
Lay down nicely by his side

“Hear ye Knight Perleman
What I have to say;
I am not Lady Gunnela
Although it seems that way

I am not Lady Gunnela
Although it seems that way
I am the young coachman
Who had to visit you”

And it was Knight Perleman
He took his rusty spear;
It was the young coachman
He knew the way out

It was Lady Gunnela
She showed her coachman faith
She waited for him in the hall
With both socks and shoes

It was Lady Gunnela
She took seat in the wagon with haste
It was the young coachman
He firmly gripped the reins

It was Lady Gunnela
She did Perleman harm;
She sent to him a cradle
For the young coachman’s child

It was Lady Gunnela
She did him greater scorn;
She sent him a pot of clay
And to that a tiny spoon
//Green are all the trees in the woods//


... I don't think I've ever heard about anyone getting owned as hard as this. For serious.

Comments

[ootorotan.livejournal.com]

Hahaha OWNED xD
This was so amusing. And that fic too!
I died a little. Again, Swedish stuff is so much more awesome than Norwegian, though now I feel like seeing if we have something similar xD

Also, yes, your translation is shiny *w*

[taiyou_to_tsuki.livejournal.com]

PWNNND. Who ever thought that the people in the Middle Ages didn't have a sense of humour? :'D This is... The gayest thing from that time I've ever read. Although the ballad about the knight dressing up as a woman to be able to spend time with his beloved in the Queen's court comes close. x'D This ballad really was kind of... Asking for it. I'm so glad I know people that are as insane as I am to create such lovely pieces of fiction~ <3

My book says that there are other versions in Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic as well, but God knows how to find them...

It's annoying to translate songs though, since I often know the tune. I'm always painfully aware that they're not singable in the translation. XD