The Voyage of Ohthere

1 Ohthere sæde his hlaforde, ælfrede cyninge, þæt he ealra Norðmonna norþmest bude.

2 He cwæþ þæt he bude on þæm lande norþweardum wiþ þa Westsæ.

3 He sæde þeah þæt þæt land sie swiþe lang norþ þonan;

4 Ac hit is eal weste, buton on feawum stowum styccemælum wiciaþ Finnas, on huntoþe on wintra, and on sumera on fiscaþe be þære sæ.

6 He sæde þæt he æt sumum cirre wolde fandian hu longe þæt land norþryhte læge, oþþe hwæþer ænig mon be norþan þæm westenne bude.

9 þa for he norþryhte be þæm lande.

10 Let him ealne weg þæt weste land on þæt steorbord, ond þa widsæ on þæt bæcbord þrie dagas.

11 þa wæs he swa feor norþ swa þa hwælhuntan firrest faraþ.

12 þa for he þa giet norþryhte swa feor swa he meahte on þæm oþrum þrim dagum gesiglan.

13 þa beag þæt land þær eastryhte, oþþe seo sæ in on þæt lond, he nysse hwæþer, buton he wisse þæt he þær bad westan windes ond hwon norþan, ond siglde þa east be lande swa swa he meahte on feower dagum gesiglan.

17 þa sceolde he þær bidan ryhtnorþanwindes, for þæm þæt land beag þær suþryhte, oþþe seo sæ in on þæt land, he nysse hwæþer.

19 þa siglde he þonan suþryhte be lande swa swa he mehte on fif dagum gesiglan.

20 þa læg þær an micel ea up in on þæt land.

21 þa cirdon hie up in on þa ea, for þæm hie ne dorston forþ bi þære ea siglan for unfriþe; for þæm þæt land wæs eall gebun on oþre healfe þære eas.

23 Ne mette he ær nan gebun land, siþþan he from his agnum ham for; ac him wæs ealne weg weste land on þæt steorbord, butan fiscerum and fugelerum ond huntum, ond þæt wæron eall Finnas; ond him wæs a widsæ on þæt bæcbord.

27 þa Beormas hæfdon swiþe wel gebun hira land: ac hie ne dorston þæron cuman.

28 Ac þara Terfinna land wæs eal weste, buton þær huntan gewicodon, oþþe fisceras, oþþe fugeleras.

31 Fela spella him sædon þa Beormas ægþer ge of hiera agnum lande ge of þæm landum þe ymb hie utan wæron, ac he nyste hwæt þæs soþes wæs, for þæm he hit self ne geseah. þa Finnas, him þuhte, & þa Beormas spræcon neah an geþeode.

34 Swiþost he for ðider, toeacan þæs landes sceawunge, for þæm horshwælum, for ðæm hie habbað swiþe æþele ban on hiora toþum. þa teð hie brohton sume þæm cyninge, & hiora hyd bið swiðe god to sciprapum.

38 Se hwæl bið micle læssa þonne oðre hwalas: ne bið he lengra ðonne syfan elna lang—

39 ac on his agnum lande is se betsta hwælhuntað: þa beoð eahta and feowertiges elna lange, & þa mæstan fiftiges elna lange—

41 þara he sæde þæt he syxa sum ofsloge syxtig on twam dagum.

43 He wæs swyðe spedig man on þæm æhtum þe heora speda on beoð, þæt is on wildrum.

44 He hæfde þa gyt, ða he þone cyningc sohte, tamra deora unbebohtra syx hund. þa deor hi hatað hranas; þara wæron syx stælhranas. ða beoð swyðe dyre mid Finnum, for ðæm hy foð þa wildan hranas mid.

47 He wæs mid þæm fyrstum mannum on þæm lande; næfde he þeah ma ðonne twentig hryðera & twentig sceapa & twentig swyna, & þæt lytle þæt he erede he erede mid horsan.

50 Ac hyra ar is mæst on þæm gafole þe ða Finnas him gyldað.

51 þæt gafol bið on deora fellum & on fugela feðerum & hwales bane & on þæm sciprapum þe beoð of hwæles hyde geworht & of seoles.

54 æghwilc gylt be hys gebyrdum. Se byrdesta sceall gyldan fiftyne mearðes fell & fif hranes & an beran fel & tyn ambra feðra & berenne kyrtel oððe yterenne & twegen sciprapas; ægþer sy syxtig elna lang: oþer sy of hwæles hyde geworht, oþer of sioles.

59 He sæde ðæt Norðmanna land wære swyþe lang & swyðe smæl.

60 Eal þæt his man aþer oððe ettan oððe erian mæg, þæt lið wið ða sæ; & þæt is þeah on sumum stowum swyðe cludig, & licgað wilde moras wið eastan & wið uppon, emnlange þæm bynum lande.

63 On þæm morum eardiað Finnas; & þæt byne land is easteweard bradost & symle swa norðor swa smælre.

65 Eastewerd hit mæg bion syxtig mila brad oþþe hwene brædre; & middeweard þritig oððe bradre; & norðeweard, he cwæð, þær hit smalost wære, þæt hit mihte beon þreora mila brad to þæm more, & se mor syðþan, on sumum stowum swa brad swa man mæg on twam wucum oferferan, & on sumum stowum swa brad swa man mæg on syx dagum oferferan.

72 þonne is toemnes þæm lande suðeweardum, on oðre healfe þæs mores, Sweoland, oþ þæt land norðeweard; & toemnes þæm lande norðeweardum Cwena land.

74 þa Cwenas hergiað hwilum on ða Norðmen ofer ðone mor, hwilum þa Norðmen on hy.

76 & þær sint swiðe micle meras fersce geond þa moras, & berað þa Cwenas hyra scypu ofer land on ða meras & þanon hergiað on ða Norðmen; hy habbað swyðe lytle scypa & swyðe leohte.

80 Ohthere sæde þæt sio scir hatte Halgoland þe he on bude.

81 He cwæð þæt nan man ne bude be norðan him. þonne is an port on suðeweardum þæm lande, þone man hæt Sciringesheal.

83 þyder he cwæð þæt man ne mihte geseglian on anum monðe, gyf man on niht wicode, & ælce dæge hæfde ambyrne wind; & ealle ða hwile he sceal seglian be lande.

85 & on þæt steorbord him bið ærest Iraland, & þonne ða igland þe synd betux Iralande & þissum lande.

87 þone is þis land oð he cymð to Scirincgesheale, & ealne weg on þæt bæcbord Norðweg.

89 Wið suðan þone Sciringesheal fylð swyðe mycel sæ up in on ðæt lond; seo is bradre þonne ænig man ofer seon mæge.

92 Seo sæ lið mænig hund mila up in on þæt land.

93 & of Sciringesheale he cwæð þæt he seglode on fif dagan to þæm porte þe mon hæt æt Hæþum; . Se stent betuh Winedum, & Seaxum, & Angle, & hyrð in on Dene.

95 ða he þiderweard seglode fram Sciringesheale, þa wæs him on þæt bæcbord Denamearc, & on þæt steorbord widsæ þry dagas; & þa, twegen dagas ær he to Hæþum come, him wæs on þæt steorbord Gotland, & Sillende, & iglanda fela.

99 On þæm landum eardodon Engle, ær hi hider on land coman.

100 & hym wæs ða twegen dagas on ðæt bæcbord þa igland þe in Denemearce hyrað.

a adv.: forever, always

ac conj: but, however, but on the contrary, and

ægþer pron, ns: each ægþer ge . . . ge both . . . and

æghwilc pron. ns: each (one)

æhtum dp: possesions, properties

ælce ism: each

ælfrede name, ds: (King) Alfred

ænig adj., nsm: any

ær adv, conj: previously; before

ærest adv.: first

agen adj.: own

agnum dsm, dsn:

ambra gpm: measures of one amber (an unknown quantity, but a dry or liquid measure)

ambyrne adj. as: favourable

an adj. ns: a, an, one, only

anum ds:

nan ne an: not one, nobody, none

Angle dsn: the Angles

ar nsf: honour, worth, property, revenue

æt prep.: at, from

æþele adj. ap: noble, excellent

aþer oððe ... oððe conj: either ... or

bæcbord n ds: left side of a ship, port side, larboard

ban: boneban ap: bones

bane ds: bone

be prep.: by, alongside, to the (north, etc.), according to

be norðan prep.: north of

beon, bion v anom.: be

bið pres. 3s: is

beoð pres. 3p: are

is pres. 3s: is

sie, sy subj. 3s: ("to be"))

sint, synd pres. 3p: are

wære pret. subj. 3s in reported speech: was

wæron pret. 3p: were

wæs pret 3s: was

Beormas name, np: Biarmians, a people of what is now part of northwest Russia, about whom we know very little for sure and for whose existence and location at this time the Ohthere story is one of our main sources. They and their land, Bjarmaland, are also mentioned in Norse sagas, as lying near the river Dvina, which does not fit well with the Ohthere account of sailing directions. Possibly they were Karelians, whose language, like that of the Sámi people, is Finno-Ugric and related to Finnish.

berað v.: bear

beran gsm: bear's

berenne adj. as: made of bear skin

bi prep.: near, in, on ,upon, with, along, at, to

betsta supl. ns: best

betux, betuh prep.: between, among

bidan v 1: wait (for) with genitive of object

bad pret 3s: waited (for)

brad adj. ns: broad

brædre, bradre adj. comp. ns: broader

bradost adj. supl. ns: broadest

brohton v. pret. 3p: brought

buan v 3: stay, dwell, live

bude pret. 3s: lived

gebun pp: settled, inhabited

byne pp. as adj.: inhabited

bynum pp. ds: inhabited

bugan v 2: bow down, turn, bend, stoop

beag pret 3s: turned

butan prep.: without, except

buton prep.: without, except, but, only

gebyrdum dpn: birth, rank, condition

byrdesta adj. ns: highest born, highest ranked

cierr m.: turn, change, time, occasion

cirre ds:

cirran v ?: turn, cause to move

cirdon pret. 3p: turned

cludig adj. ns: rocky

cuman v 4: come, approach, get to, attain

cymð pres. 3s: comes

come pret. 3s: came

coman pret. 3p: came

Cwenas npm: a Sámi people

Cwena gp:

cweþan v 5: say

cwæþ pret. 3s: said

cyning m.: king

cyningc as:

cyninge ds:

cyrtel, kyrtel asm: kirtle, coat, tunic

dæg m.: day

dæge is:

dagas np, ap:

dagan dp:

dagum dp:

Denamearc nsf: Denmark

Denemearce ds:

Dene apm: the Danes

deor apn: wild beasts, animals

deora gp:

durran pret. pres.: dare

dorston pret. 3p: dared

dyre adj. np: dear, costly

ea f. ns: river

eas gs:

eahta num.: eight

eall adj.: all

ealle asf:

eal nsm:

ealne asm:

ealra gp:

eardian v. II: to dwell

eardiað pres 3p: live

eardodon pret. 3p: lived

east adv.: eastwards

easteweard adj. ns: eastward

eastryhte adv: eastward

elna gp: ell (an historical measure of length, that varied in meaning in different places and times, but here probably translating Latin cubitus and somewhere in the range from 45 to 55 cm.)

emnlange prep.: along

Engle mp: the Angles

erian v. infinitive: to plough

erede pret. 3s: plowed

ettan v. infinitive: to graze

fandian v 2: try, examine, explore, experience, visit

faran v 6: to set forth, go, travel, wander, proceed

faraþ pret 3p: travel, go

for pret 3s: travelled, went

fea adj.: few

feawum dp:

fela pron. many

fell, fel asn, apn: fell, skin, hide

fellum dpn:

feor adv: far

firrest sup.: farthest

feower num.: four

feowertiges num. g: forty

fersce adj. np: fresh

feðra gp: feathers

feðerum dpf: feathers

fif num.: five

fiftyne num: fifteen

fiftiges num. g: fifty

Finn m.: "Finn," but probably actually referring to members of the Sámi aboriginal peoples, whose languages are related to Finnish

Finnas np, ap:

Finnum dp:

fiscere m. fisherman:

fisceras np:

fiscerum dp:

fiscian v 2: fish

fiscaþ m: fishing;

fiscaþe ds:

for prep: for, because of, before

for þæm conj.: because

forþ adv.: forth, forwards, onwards, further

foð v. pres. 3p: take, seize, capture

from, fram prep: from, by

fugela gpm: birds' /p>

fugelere m.: fowler, bird-catcher

fugeleras np:

fugelerum dp:

fylð pres. 3s: falls

fyrstum adj. supl. dp: first, most important

gafol nsn: tax, tribute

gafole dsn:

geond prep.: throughout

giet adv.: yet, still

god adj. ns: good

Gotland nsn: Jutland

gyf conj.: if

gyldan v. infinitive: pay, yield

gyldað v. pres. 3p: pay

gylt v. pres. 3s: pays

habban v 3: have, hold

habbað pres. 3p: have

hæfde pret. 3s: had

hæfdon pret. 3p: had

næfde pret. 3s: did not have

æt Hæþum: Hedeby, a trading port on the Baltic Sea side of the Jutland penninsula (now in Schleswig, Germany)

Halgoland nsn: a district of ancient Norway probably more extensive than the modern Norwegian province of Halogaland

ham m., ds: home

hatan v.: order, command, name

hæt pres. 3s: names, calls

hatte v subj. pres. 3s in reported speech: is called

hatað pres. 3p: call

he 3rd pers. pron.: he

hie, hi, hy asf, np, ap: her, they, them

him, hym mds or nds or dp: him, to him; them, to them

hira, hiera, hiora, heora, hyra gp: their

his, hys gsm or gsn: his, its ("of it"))

hit na, as: it

healf f.: half, side

healfe ds:

hergiað v. pres. 3p: ravage, plunder, raid

hider adv.: hither, here

hlaford m.: lord, master

hlaforde ds:

hranas apm: reindeer

hranes gsm: reindeer's

horsan apn: horses

horshwælum dp: walruses (literally, "horse-whales")

hryðera gpn: cattle

hu adv.: how

hund num.: (a) hundred

hunta m.: hunter

huntan np:

huntum dp:

huntian v 2: hunt

huntoþ m: hunting huntoþe ds:

hwæl ns: whale (referring to the "horse-whale" or walrus,

hwales, hwæles gs: whale's

hwalas np: whales

hwælhunta m. : whalehunter

hwælhuntan np:

hwælhuntað ns: whale-fishing

hwæt pron. ns: what

hwæþer conj.: whether hwæþer pron: which (of two) (

hwene adv.: a little, somewhat

hwile asf: time, while

hwilum dp: sometimes

hwon adv.: a little

hyd ns: hide

hyde ds:

hyrð in on pres. 3s: belongs to

in . . . hyrað pres. 3p: belong to . . .

igland npn: islands

iglanda gp:

in prep.: in, into

Iraland nsn: Ireland (possibly in error for Iceland)

Iralande ds:

land n. as, ns, ap: land, country

lande ds:

landes gs:

lond as:

landum dp:

lang adj. asn: long lange npm:

lengra adj.comp. ns: longer

læssa adj. comp. ns: less, smaller

lætan v 7: let, allow

let pret. 3s: let (be), kept

leohte adj.: light

licgan v 5: lie, extend

læg pret. 3s: lay

læge subj. 3s: might lie

licgað pres. 3p: lies

lið pres. 3s: lies, extends, runs

longe adv: long, for a long time, far

lytle adj. as: little

mænig adj. ns: many (

ma comp. adv: more

mæst adj. supl. most

mæstan adj. apm: largest

magan pret. pres.: be able, can, be competent

mæg pres. 3s: can, may

mæge pres. 3s: can, may

meahte pret. 3s: might

mehte pret. 3s: might

mihte subj. 3s: might

mann m.: person, man

mon, man ns: ) man, mon ns as indefinite pronoun: one

mannum dp: men /p>

mearðes gsm: marten's

meras npm, ap: meres, lakes, seas

metan v 1: meet, encounter

mette pret. 3s: came across

micel adj, asf: great, large, much

micle adv: much ; adj, npm: large

mycel nsn: large

mid prep: with, among

middeweard adj. ns: towards the middle

mila gpf: miles

monðe dsm: month

mor nsm, as: moor, mountainous region

moras ap:

more ds:

mores gs:

morum dp:

nan adj, asn: none, not one, not any, no

ne adv., conj.: not, nor

neah adv.: near, almost, nearly

niht asf: night

norþ adv.: north

norþmest adv. sup.: northmost

norþan adj.: northerly; from the north

be norþan prep.: to the north of

norðor adv. comp: more northerly, north, northwards, in the north

Norðmen npm, ap: Northmen; Norwegians

Norþmonna, Norðmanna gp:

norþryhte conj: northwards; to the north

norðeweard adj. ns: northward

norþweardum adj. ds: northern, northward, northerly

Norðweg ns: Norway

of prep: of, from, among, concerning

ofer prep: over, across

oferferan v. infinitive to traverse

Ohthere name, ns: Ohthere

ofsloge v. pret. 3s: killed

on prep.: on, onto, upon, in ,into, against

ond, and, & conj.: and (

oþ conj.: until, up to, as far as

oþer adj., pron.: other, another, next, remaining

oþre dsf:

oþrum dp: oþer . . . oþer . . . correl. conj.: either . . . or . . .

oþþe conj.: or

port nsm: port, harbour

porte ds:

ryhtnorþanwind m.: a wind from the north

ryhtnorþanwindes gs:

sæ fns: sea

sceapa gpn: sheep

sceawunge ds: seeing, surveying

sculan pret. pres.: must, ought to, have to, shall

sceolde pret. 3p: had to

sceal pres. 3s: shall

sceall pres. 3s: must, is supposed to

sciprapas apm: ship-ropes, cables (here, ones twisted from walrus-hide )

sciprapum dp:

scir nsf: shire, district, division

Sciringesheal asm: Skiringssalr, identified by a recent archaeological team as the trading port excavated at Kaupang, Norway (link * to the project Web site, unfortunately only in Norwegian)

Sciringesheale ds:

Scirincgesheale ds:

scypu apn: ships

scypa apn:

se dem. pron.: the, that seo nsf:

þa fas, np, ap:

þæm dsm, dsn, dp:

þære gsf, dsf:

þæs gsm, gsn:

þæt nns, nas:

thara dp: 41 "of those",

þone asm:

Seaxum dpm: the Saxons, Saxony

seoles, sioles gsm: seal's

Sillende ns: Zealand

sohte v. pret. 3s: sought, searched for

secgan v 1: say, tell

sæde pret. 3s: said

sædon pret. 3p: said

self pron. ns: self, himself

seon v. infinitive: to see, look

geseah v. pret. 3s: saw

siglan v 1: sail

seglian inf: sail

gesiglan v 1: sail

geseglian inf: sail

siglde pret 3s: sailed

seglode pret. 3s: sailed

siþþan conj. or adv.: after, since, when; afterwards

smæl adj. ns: small, narrow

smælre adj. comp. ns: narrower

smalost adj. supl. ns: narrowest

soþes gs: truth

speda np: successes, riches

spedig adj. ns: prosperous, rich, powerful

spella gp: stories, fables

spræcon v pret. 3p: spoke

stælhranas npm: decoy reindeer

steorbord n ds: starboard, right hand side of a ship

stent pres. 3s: stands

stow f.: place

stowum dp: places

styccemælum adv.: in pieces, bit by bit, piecemeal, here and there

suþryhte adv.: southwards

suðweardum adj.: southward

sum adj.: some, a certain

sume asm:

sumum dsm, dp:

sumor m.: summer

sumera ds:

swa . . . swa correl. adv and conj.:so . . . as; as . . . as; so much the more . . . so much the more; swa swa: conj.: so as; as much as

Sweoland country, nsn: Sweden

swiþe, swyðe adj: very, exceedingly

swiþost adv.: especially, most

swyna gpn: swine, hogs

syfan num: seven

symle adv: ever, always

syx num: six

syxa sum as one of six (i.e. with five others)

syxtig num: sixty (

tamra adj. gp: tame

Terfinna gp: the Ter Sámi, aboriginal inhabitants of the Kola Penninsula

teð ap: teeth

toþum dp: teeth

to prep.: to, at, for, (adv.) too

to eacan conj.: in addition to

toemnes prep.: alongside

twam num. dp: two

twegen apm: two

twentig num: twenty

tyn num: ten

þa conj.: then, at that time, when

þa gyt adv.: still

þe rel. part.: that, which

þeah adv.: however, yet

þær adv, conj: there, where

þæron adv.: therein

þæt conj.: that, so that

ðider adv.: thither, there

þiderweard adv.: thitherwards, to that place

þis dem. pron. nsn, asn: this

þissum dem. pron. dsn:

geþeode as: language br>

þrie, þry num.: three

þreora num. gp: three

þrim dp.: three

þritig num.: thirty

þonan, þanon adv.: from that time or place, away

þonne adv.: then, when: comp: than

þuhte v. pret. 3s: seemed

unbebohtra adj. gp: unsold

unfriþ m.: breach of peace, enmity, war

unfriþe ds:

up adv.: up

weg m as: way, direction

wel adv.: well

weste adj.; nsn, asn: waste, barren, desolate, uninhabited, empty

Westsæ f: Western Sea

westan adj: from the west

westen m,n: desert, wilderness

westenne ds:

wician v 2: dwell, lodge, camp

gewicodon pret. 3p: camped

wicode pret. 3s: put in to shore and anchored the ship for the night

wiciaþ pres. 3p: camp

widsæ f as: open sea, ocean

wildan adj. ap: wild

wilde adj. apm:

wildrum dp: wild beasts (here, especially reindeer)

will v anom.: wish, desire, will

wolde subj. 3s: wanted to

gewyrcan v: to make, produce, create

geworht pret. 3s: made

wind m.: wind

windes gs:

Winedum dpm: the Wends

winter m.: winter

wintra ds:

witan pret. pres.: to know, to understand, to be aware of

nysse, nyste = ne wisse, pret 3s: did not know

wisse pret 3s: knew

wiþ prep. : against, along, in return for, from, with

wiþ eastan prep: to the east

wið uppon prep: above

wiþ suðan prep.: to the south of

wucum dpf: weeks

ymb . . . utan adv.: about, around, by

yterenne adj. asm: made of otter skin