Garmarna - Herr Mannelig (translation + lyrics)

Описание: Herr Mannelig is a song from the Chonobi clans, said to be from Cho origin. It is a song about a woman that lived near or on a mountain and proposes to a man. The man declines her proposal in a harsh manner, stating she is a troll.

It is assumed that the woman is of Taika origin and is rejected by a man of Chonobi origin.

"Chonobi"
The Chonobi language is described by outsiders as short and harsh; whereas others find the language most useful to convey emotions. The language is formed by writing in runes, which has made it hard for outsiders to understand the myriad of runes and their meanings. It is common in the eastern half of the Akinian Empire as the far northern reaches of the Northern Dominion.

"Taika"
The most present culture on the western continent is the Taika culture. Most clans and people (that also don't belong to a clan) speak and have manners and traditions that adhere to the Taika. This can be seen back as most countries were formed in a similar hierarchy, with a daimyo becoming the absolute ruler of a nation, after the Warring Clans Era. To, however, state that the Taika is one and single culture is wrong. There are many branches, such as clans, that have their own traditions and different values. However, speaking the same language they are considered to be part of the Taika
culture.

Swedish (original) Lyrics~

Bittida en morgon innan solen upprann
Innan foglarna började sjunga
Bergatrollet friade till fager ungersven
Hon hade en falskeliger tunga

Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
För det jag bjuder så gerna
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej
Om i viljen eller ej

Eder vill jag gifva de gångare tolf
Som gå uti rosendelunde
Aldrig har det varit någon sadel uppå dem
Ej heller betsel uti munnen

Eder vill jag gifva de qvarnarna tolf
Som stå mellan Tillö och Ternö
Stenarna de äro af rödaste gull
Och hjulen silfverbeslagna

Eder vill jag gifva ett förgyllande svärd
Som klingar utaf femton guldringar
Och strida huru I strida vill
Stridsplatsen skolen i väl vinna

Eder vill jag gifva en skjorta så ny
Den bästa I lysten att slita
Inte är hon sömnad av nål eller trå
Men virkat av silket det hvita

Sådana gåfvor jag toge väl emot
Om du vore en kristelig qvinna
Men nu så är du det värsta bergatroll
Af Neckens och djävulens stämma

Bergatrollet ut på dörren sprang
Hon rister och jämrar sig svåra
Hade jag fått den fager ungersven
Så hade jag mistat min plåga

Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
För det jag bjuder så gerna
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej
Om i viljen eller ej


English Translation~

Early one morning before the sun did rise
And the birds sang their sweet song
The mountain troll proposed to the fair squire
She had a false deceitful tongue

Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no

To you I will give the twelve great steeds
That graze in a shady grove
Never has a saddle been mounted on their backs
Nor had a bit in their mouths

To you I will give the twelve fine mills
That stand between Tillo and Terno
The mill stones are made of the reddest brass
And the wheels are silver-laden

To you I will give the gilded sword
That jingles from fifteen gold rings
And strike with it in battle as you will
On the battlefield you will conquer

To you I will give a brand new shirt
The lustrous best for to wear
It is not sewn with needle or thread
But crocheted of the whitest silk

Gifts such as these I would gladly receive
If you were a Christian woman
But I know you are the worst mountain troll
From the spawn of Necken* and the devil

The mountain troll ran out the door
She wailed and she shrieked so loudly
"Had I gotten that handsome squire
From my torment I would be free now"

Sir Mannelig, Sir Mannelig won't you marry me
For all that I'll gladly give you
You may answer only yes or no
Will you do so or no