Herr Mannelig, 2024, oil on linen, wood, wood stain, paint, hinge, screw, doorknob, variable size (height 86.1cm) (closed)
Herr Mannelig, 2024, oil on linen, wood, wood stain, paint, hinge, screw, doorknob, variable size (height 86.1cm) (closed)
Herr Mannelig, 2024, oil on linen, wood, wood stain, paint, hinge, screw, doorknob, variable size (height 86.1cm) (open)
*lyrics (original Swedish / English translation)
(left)
Bittida en morgon innan solen upprann
Innan foglarna började sjunga
Bergatrollet friade till fager ungersven
Hon hade en falskeliger tunga
*
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
*
(*) Herr Mannelig herr Mannelig trolofven i mig
För det jag bjuder så gärna
I kunnen väl svara endast ja eller nej
Om I viljen eller ej:
(right)
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
*
*eng.
(left)
Early one morning before the sun rose up
Before the birds began to sing
The mountain troll proposed to the handsome young man
She had a false tongue
*
To you I wish to give the twelve steeds
That go in the grove of roses
Never has there been any saddles upon them
Nor bridles in their mouths
*
To you I wish to give the twelve mills
That stand between Tillö and Ternö
The stones are made of the reddest gold
And the wheels are silver-laden
*
To you I wish to give a gilded sword
With a blade of fifteen gold rings
And battle how you will [well or badly]
The battle you would surely win
*
(*) Herr Mannelig, herr Mannelig, will you be
betrothed to me?
For that, I offer you gifts very gladly
Surely you can answer but yes or no
Whether you wish to or not:
(right)
To you I wish to give a shirt so new
The best you will want to wear
It [literally: she] was not sewn by needle or thread
But crocheted of white silk
*
Such gifts I would surely accept
If thou wert a Christian [or: pious] woman
However, thou art the worst mountain troll
The spawn of a Neck (water spirit) and the Devil
*
The mountain troll ran out the door
She shakes and wails hard
Had I got the handsome young man
I would have got rid of my plight
*