 Talhjolde, Hvals Bol |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Added by | Tamriel Data | ||
| ID | T_Bk_TalhjoldeSHOTN_V2 | ||
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40 |  |
3 |
In slipping shadows the weeping Whale waits
Dripping dappled in dark cast by master’s walls
Great guts groan with turbulent tumult
For into love the breathless beast is swept
Three times she was spied along the sighing shore
Autumnal in her crackling raiment, her knowing Lady Harvest [1]
Her daunting husband demanding his death
If Whale would woo Lord Winter’s wife.
Like fighting twins of old, love and fear take over
Wreaking writhing anguish until Whale wishes unbalance
To tip the painful scales and find love or fear the victor
Better one and consequence than torment until the end
A hoot on high and flapping feathers announce another
As scheming Snake takes roost upon the hangman’s branch
Seeming to Whale’s wet eyes as wise as old and amiable Owl [2]
Saying "Solutions, say? Smiling Snake can save you."
"See this coin? A simple kiss upon your lips and thus
"Your pain will disappear. One side severs love,
"The other fear." The coin hasty Whale did snatch
And declaring "I care not which!" did kiss and fall down dead
As sneaky Snake shed his wings, he shook his scaly head
Saying "See how stupid are these of warm blood,
Who are so eager to slip their shackled states
They could not scent a thousand poisoned coins." [3]
Footnotes:
[1] "Knowing", here, is a Nordic term roughly equivalent to "cognomen" or "sobriquet".
[2] Snake, the totem of Orkey, is here taking the form of Owl, the totem of an old analogue to Julianos.
[3] Poisoned coins appear surprisingly often in older Nordic folktales. Possibly a king or great warrior was killed by such means.