Home of the Eddic Lays
Chapter 18
THE STORY OF KING HJÖRVARTH AND HIS SON HELGI
We are then told (in prose and in verse) of Helgi, the son of Hjörvarth and Sigrlinn. He grew up and became strong and handsome; but he was silent and received no name. Once, while he was sitting on a hill, Sváfa, the daughter of Eylimi, came riding to him with her maidens. She gave him a name, and therewith a marvellous sword as a name gift. She was a valkyrie who rode through the air and over the sea, and she afterwards acted as his protectress in fight.
Helgi got from his father people and ships for an expedition against King Hróthmar, who had killed Helgi's grandfather. He slew Hróthmar with the sword which he had received from Sváfa. He also killed the giant Hati. Then comes a poem in the metre ljóðaháttr on an encounter between Helgi and his watchman Atli and the sea-troll Hrímgerth, Hati's daughter.
The last section of the Lay of Helgi Hjörvarthsson contains, like the first, both prose and verse (in fornyrðislag). Helgi and Sváfa swear to be faithful to each other. Helgi sets out alone on a warlike expedition. He is challenged to fight by Hróthmar's son Alf. His attendant spirit (fylgja), who knows that he is to fall in this approaching combat, meets, one Christmas Eve, in the form of a witch, Helgi's brother Hethin, who is at home with his father in Norway, and offers to become his attendant spirit. When Hethin rejects her, she takes her revenge by confusing his mind to such an extent that in the evening he vows a sacred oath on the brag-breaker to win Sváfa, his brother's beloved. Afterwards Hethin regrets his vow, and wanders about in desolate regions. In a foreign land he meets Helgi, and sorrowfully tells him of his oath. Helgi, who has a foreboding of his fate, says that after his death Hethin's vow shall be fulfilled. Helgi is fatally wounded in the fight with Alf. He then sends a message to Sváfa, who comes to his deathbed. Helgi begs her to become Hethin's bride; but Sváfa answers that she has vowed, when Helgi shall die, to have no chieftain who is not famous. In the last strophe, Hethin begs Sváfa to kiss him, declaring that he will not return to his home until he has revenged Helgi, who was the best chieftain in the world. The following sentence in prose is added: 'It is said that Helgi and Sváfa were born again.' Thereupon a new section, entitled 'On the Völsungs,' begins with the words: 'The son of King Sigmund the Völsung was married to Borghild from Brálund. They called their son Helgi, after Helgi Hjörvarthsson.'
We must not forget that it is only in the prose bits that Sváfa is called a valkyrie. It is only in the Lay on Hrímgerth, which is in ljóðaháttr, and in the prose fragments, that she is represented as a supernatural woman, who rides at the head of a company of maidens through the air and over the sea, and who protects Helgi in storm and in battle. The verses in fornyrðislag represents Sváfa as a woman, entirely human in nature, but yet as giving to Helgi a name and a sword.
<< Previous Page Next Page >>
© 2004-2007 Northvegr.
Most of the material on this site is in the public domain. However, many people have worked very hard to bring these texts to you so if you do use the work, we would appreciate it if you could give credit to both the Northvegr site and to the individuals who worked to bring you these texts. A small number of texts are copyrighted and cannot be used without the author's permission. Any text that is copyrighted will have a clear notation of such on the main index page for that text. Inquiries can be sent to info@northvegr.org. Northvegr™ and the Northvegr symbol are trademarks and service marks of the Northvegr Foundation.
|