Slow secret of wet whale-way
Gray-oyster-grown
shell-treasure from sand seed sown
Well-hidden till order’s prying eyes
expose sword-hand, wise
in more than weapon’s ways
With leather, wax, wool, metal, wood, linen, horsehair, horn
With needle, hammer, saw and clamp, shuttle, torch, shears, kiln
See! Fine strong goods crafted
For Norsemen’s use
Lo! Pearl in a shell.*
So wolf-gracious bestowers of friendly gifts, King Ragnarr and Queen Mary Isabel, do induct Sir Arnoddr i Ongulseyju into the Order of the Pearl, at Ponte Alto Investiture, this 30th day of March, A.S. LVIII
Words by Anauved de Mona
Art and Calligraphy by Gesa von Wellenstein
*Format for this verse comes from the Darraðarljóð, a skaldic poem of the13th century found within Njals Saga
** The eager, wolf-gracious bestower of friendly gifts [GENEROUS RULER] - ÞjóðA Sex 13II
Diana Whaley (ed.) 2009, ‘Þjóðólfr Arnórsson, Sexstefja 13’ in Kari Ellen Gade (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 2: From c. 1035 to c. 1300. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 2. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 125. From https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=verse&i=4439&v=i