Transcribed and Edited by Ari Odhinnsen ________________________________________________________________ | Get it in print at Amazon.com | | | | We recommend: | | The_Bellows_Translation_in_Hardback | | | | | | Other Translations | | | | _The_Poetic_Edda_-_Lee_M._Hollander_Translation_ | | | | _The_Poetic_Edda_-_Carolyne_Larrington_Translation_ | | | | Terry Translation | | Hardback - Paperback | | | | Auden_and_Taylor | | Translation | |________________________________________________________________| This edited version of the Bellows Translation of the Poetic Edda has been verified to be in the Public Domain and we are very happy to nowbring this edited translation to you. This edition is has been edited by Ari Odhinnsen. >_Voluspo >_Voluspo_(notes) Havamal >_Hovamol_(Str._1-80) >_Malahattr_(Str._81-111) >_Loddfafnismal_(Str._112-_139) >_Runattal_thattr_Othins_(Str._140-147) >_Ljothatal_(148-166) >_Vafthruthnismol >_Grimnismol >_Skirnismol >_Harbardhsljoth >_Hymiskvitha >_Lokasenna >_Thrymskvitha >_Alvissmol >_Baldrs_Draumar >_Rigsthul >_Hyndluljoth >_Fragment_of_"The_Short_Voluspo" >_Groagaldr_(Svipdagsmol) >_Fjolsvinnsmol_(Svipdagsmol) >_Volundarkvitha >_Helgakvitha_Hjorvarthssonar >_Helgakvitha_Hundingsbana_I >_Helgakvitha_Hundingsbana_II >_Fra_Dautha_Sinfjotla_/The_Death_of_Sinfjotli/ >_Gripisspo >_Reginsmol >_Fafnismol >_Sigrdrifumol >_Brot_af_Sigurtharkvithu >_Guthrunarkvitha_I >_Sigurtharkvitha_en_Skamma >_Helreith_Bryhildar >_Drap_Niflunga >_Guthrunarkvitha_II,_en_Forna >_Guthrunarkvitha_III >_Oddrunargratr >_Atlakvitha_en_Gronlenzka >_Atlamol_en_Gronlenzku >_Guthrunarhvot >_Hamthesmol Transcribers note: Any text on the line after the word lacuna is an emedation by the editor. Click on the (*) to view the note for that particular verse. 1. Hearing I ask from the holy races, From Heimdalls sons, both high and low; Thou wilt, Valfather, that well I relate Old tales I remember of men long ago. (*) 2. I remember yet the giants of yore, Who gave me bread in the days gone by; Nine worlds I knew, the nine in the Tree With mighty roots beneath the mold. (*) 3. Of old was the age when Ymir lived; Sea nor cool waves nor sand there were; Earth had not been, nor heaven above, But a yawning gap, and grass nowhere (*) 4. Then Burs sons lifted the level land; Mithgarth the mighty there they made; The sun from the south warmed the stones of the earth, And green was the ground with growing leeks. (*) 5.The sun, the sister of the moon, from the south Her right hand cast over heavens rim; No knowledge she had where her home should be, The moon knew not what might was his, The stars knew not where their stations were. 6.Then sought the gods their assembly-seats, The holy ones, and council held; Names then gave they to noon and twilight, Morning they named, and the waning moon, Night and evening, the years to number. (*) 7.At Ithavoll met the mighty gods, Shrines and temples they timbered high; Forges they set, and they smithied ore, Tongs were wrought, and tools they fashioned. (*) 8.In their dwellings at peace they played at tables, Of gold no lack did the gods then know, - Till thither came up giant-maids three, Hugh of might, out of Jotunheim. (*) 9.Then sought the gods their assembly-seats, The holy ones, and council held, To find who should raise the race of dwarfs Out of Brimirs blood and the legs of Blain. (*) 10.There was Motsognir the mightiest made Of all the dwarfs, and Durin next; Many a likeness of men they made, The dwarfs in the earth, as Durin said. (*) 11.Nyi and Nithi, Northri and Suthri, Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin, Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Nori, An and Onar, Ai, Mjothvitnir, 12.Vigg and Gandalf, Vindalf, Thrain, Thekk and Thorin, Thror, Vit and Lit, Nyr and Nyrath, - Regin and Rathvith- now have I told the list aright. 13.Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali, Heptifili, Hannar, Sviur, Frar, Hornbori, Frg and Loni, Aurvang, Jari, Eikinskjaldi. 14.The race of the dwarfs in Dvalins throng Down to Lofar the list must I tell; The rocks they left, and through the wet lands They sought a home in the feilds of sand. 15.There were Draupnir and Dolgthrasir, Hor, Haugspori, Hlevang, Gloin, Dori, Ori, Duf, Andvari, Skirfir, Virfir, Skafith, Ai. (*) 16.Alf and Yngvi, Eikinskjaldi; Fjalar and Frosti, Fith and Ginnar; So for all time shall the tale be known, The list of all the forbears of Lofar. 17.Then from the throng did three come forth, From the home of the gods, the mighty and gracious; Two without fate on the land they found, Ask and Embla, empty of might. 18.Soul they had not, sense they had not, Heat nor motion, nor goodly hue; Soul gave Othin, sense gave Hnir, Heat gave Lothur and goodly hue. 19.An ask I know, Yggdrasil its name, With water white is the great tree wet; Thence come the dews that fall in the dales, Green by Urths well does it ever grow. 20.Thence come the maidens mighty in wisdom, Three from the dwelling down neath the tree; Urth is one named, Verthandi the next, - On the wood they scored,- and Skuld the third. Laws they made there, and life allotted To the sons of men and set their fates. (*) 21.The war I remember, the first in the world, When the gods with spears had smitten Gollveig, And in the hall of Hor had burned her,- Three times burned, and three times born, Oft and again, yet ever she lives. (*) 22.Heith they named her who sought their home, The wide-seeing witch, in magic wise; Minds she bewitched that were moved by her magic, To evil women a joy she was. (*) 23.On the host his spear did Othin hurl, Then in the world did war first come; The wall that girdled the gods was broken, And the field by the warlike Wanes was trodden. 24.The sought the gods their assembly-seats, The holy ones, and council held, Whether the gods should tribute give, Or to all alike should worship belong. 25.Then sought the gods their assembly-seats, The holy ones, and council held, To find who with venom the air had filled, Or had given Oths bride to the giants brood. 26.In swelling rage then rose up Thor,- Seldom he sits when he such things hears,- And the oaths were broken, the words and bonds, The mighty pledges between them made. 27.I know of the horn of Heimdall, hidden Under the high-reaching holy tree; On it there pours from Valfathers pledge A mighty stream; would you know yet more? (*) 28.Alone I sat when the Old One sought me, The terror of the gods, and gazed in mine eyes: What hast thou to ask? why comest thou hither? Othin, I know where thine eye is hidden. (*) 29.I know where Othins eye is hidden, Deep in the wide-famed well of Mimir; Mead from the pledge of Othin each morn Does Mimir drink: would you know yet more? (*) 30.Necklaces had I and rings from Heerfather, Wise was my speech and my magic wisdom; -lacuna- Widely I saw over all the worlds. (*) 31.On all sides saw I Valkyries assemble, Ready to ride to the ranks of the gods; Skuld bore the shield, and Skogul rode next, Guth, Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul. Of Herjans maidens the list have ye heard, Valkyries ready to ride oer the earth. (*) 32.I saw for Baldr, the bleeding god, The son of Othin, his destiny set: Famous and fair in the lofty fields, Full grown in strength the mistletoe stood. 33.From the branch which seemed so slender and fair Came a harmful shaft that Hoth should hurl; But the brother of Baldr was born ere long, And one night old fought Othins son. (*) 34.His hands he washed not, his hair he combed not, Till he bore to the bale-blaze Baldrs foe. But in Fensalir did Frigg weep sore For Valhalls need: would you know yet more? (*) 35.One did I see in the wet woods bound, A lover of ill, and to Loki like; By his side does Sigyn sit, nor is glad To see her mate: would you know yet more? (*) 36.From the east there pours through poisoned vales With swords and daggers the river Slith> -lacuna- frozen feilds do run its course -lacuna and never may man by oath it take (*) - 37.Northward a hall in Nithavellir Of gold there rose for Sindris race; And in Okolnir another stood, Where the giant Brimir his beer-hall had. (*) 38.A hall I saw, far from the sun, On Nastrond it stands, and the doors face north; Venom drops through the smoke-vent down, For around the walls do serpents wind. (*) 39.I saw there wading through rivers wild Treacherous men and murderers too, And workers of ill with the wives of men; There Nithhogg sucked the blood of the slain, And the wolf tore men; would you know yet more? (*) 40.The giantess old in Ironwood sat, In the east, and bore the brood of Fenrir; Among these one in monsters guise Was soon to steal the sun from the sky. (*) 41.There feeds he full on the flesh of the dead, And the home of the gods he reddens with gore; Dark grows the sun, and in summer soon Come mighty storms: would you know yet more? (*) 42.On a hill there sat, and smote on his harp, Eggther the joyous, the giants warder; Above him the cock in the bird-wood crowed, Fair and red did Fjalar stand. 43.Then to the gods crowed Gollinkambi, He wakes the heroes in Othins hall; And beneath the earth does another crow, The rust-red bird at the bars of Hel. (*) 44.Now Garm howls loud before Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, and the wolf run free; Much do I know, and more can see Of the fate of the gods, the mighty in fight. (*) 45.Brothers shall fight and fell each other, And sisters sons shall kinship stain; Hard it is on earth, with mighty whoredom; Axe-time, sword-time, shields are sundered, Wind-time, wolf-time, ere the world falls; Nor ever shall men each other spare. (*) 46.Fast moves the sons of Min, and fate Is heard in the note of the Gjallarhorn; Loud blows Heimdall, the horn is aloft, In fear quake all who on Hel-roads are. (*) 47.Yggdrasil shakes, and shiver on high The ancient limbs, and the giant is loose; To the head of Mim does Othin give heed, But the kinsman of Surt shall slay him soon. How fare the gods? how fare the elves? All Jotunheim groans, the gods are at council; Loud roar the dwarfs by the doors of stone, The masters of the rocks; would you know yet more? (*) 48.Now Garm howls loud before Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, and the wolf run free; Much do I know, and more can see Of the fate of the gods, the mighty in fight. 49.From the east comes Hrym with sheild held high; In giant-wrath does the serpent writhe; Oer the waves he twists, and the tawny eagle Gnaws corpses screaming; Naglfar is loose. (*) 50.Oer the sea from the north there sails a ship With the people of Hel, at the helm stands Loki; After the wolf do wild men follow, And with them the brother of Byleist goes. (*) 51.Surt fares from the south with the scourge of branches, The sun of the battle-gods shone from his sword; The crags are sundered, the giant-women sink, The dead throng Hel-way, and heaven is cloven. (*) 52.Now comes Hlin yet another hurt, When Othin fares to fight with the wolf, And Belis slayer seeks out Surt, For there must fall the joy of Frigg. (*) 53.Then comes Sigfathers mighty son, Vithar, to fight with the foaming wolf; In the giants son does he thrust his sword Full to the heart: his father is avenged. (*) 54.Hither there comes the son of Hlothyn, The bright snake gapes to heaven above; -lacuna- vith venom he fills both sea and air (*) 55.Against the serpent goes Othins son. (*) 56.In anger smites the warder of earth,- Forth from their homes must all men flee,- Nine paces fares the son of Fjorgyn, And, slain by the serpent, fearless he sinks. (*) 57.The sun turns black, earth sinks in the sea, The hot stars down from heaven are whirled; Fierce grows the steam and the life-feeding flame, Till fire leaps high about heaven itself. 58.Now Garm howls loud before Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, and the wolf run free; Much do I know, and more can see Of the fate of gods, the mighty in fight. (*) 59.Now do I see the earth anew Rise all green from the waves again; The cataracts fall, and the eagle flies, And fish he catches beneath the cliffs. 60.The gods in Ithavoll meet together, Of the terrible girdler of earth they talk, And the mighty past they call to mind, And the ancient runes of the Ruler of Gods. 61.In wondrous beauty once again Shall the golden tables stand mid the grass, Which the gods had owned, in days of old, -lacuna- And played at tafle, would ye know yet more? (*) 62.Then the feilds unsowed bear ripened fruit, All ills grow better, and Baldr comes back; Baldr and Hoth dwell in Hropts battle-hall, And the mighty gods: would you know yet more? 63.Then Hnir wins the prophetic wand, -lacuna- and Baldr the word of his father said And the sons of the brothers of Tveggi abide In Vindheim now: would you know yet more? (*) 64.More fair than the sun, a hall I see, Roofed with gold, on Gimle it stands; There shall the righteous rules dwell, And happiness ever there shall they have. (*) 65.There comes on high, all power to hold, A mighty lord, all lands he rules. -lacuna- rule he orders an rights he fixes -lacuna- laws he ordains that ever shalt live (*) 66.From below the dragon dark comes forth, Nithhogg flying from Nithafjoll; The bodies of men on his wings he bears, The serpent bright: but now must I sink. (*) Next_Page_>> Notes Voluspo Notes I would first like to mention that both versions of the following first half of the Poetic Edda, contained within the Regius and Hauksbok, are in very poor shape, while rewritings on paper exist that help a bit in clarifying the originals and filling in some of the gaps, yet all versions differ in sequence of the stanzas themselves and within the stanzas, and many emendations, rearrangements, and poorly fitted lines are wedged into doubtful readings. It is impossible to make, from the texts alone, a single solid manuscript that does not continue to contain strong guesswork. In some places this guesswork by the original writers is obvious, in many places obscured. This is most evident in the Havamol, a collection of wise sayings, poetic fragments, a catalogue of incantations, and odds and ends, all somehow coming together into one final grouping - it is unknown how they ever did, but the breaks between them are obvious. All interpolations, 'guessworks', are impossible to discern from the 'original' lays, if ever these lays were in full solid forms to begin with - doubtless many were. Many of them do date from great antiquity, and it is worth noting the esteem in which they were held to have been passed through so many skalds' mouths to finally come to us in the form they have. Some editors have placed stanzas 22, 28, and 30 before stanzas 1-20, in order to 'clarify' the introduction. Presented here is the orginal beginning order of both manuscripts. 1. In the fourteenth century an annotator chose to identify 'Rig' of the Rigsthula with Heimdall, it is not known under what authority or by what reference. Valfather 'Father of the Slain', Valhall 'Hall of the Slain', Valkyries 'Choosers of the Slain". Back 2. Nine worlds are Asgarth, home of the Aesir, Ljossalfheimr, home of the ljossalfar, or 'light' elves, Mithgarth, 'middle-ground' home of mankind, Vanaheimr, home of the Vanir, in this manuscript referred to by the Anglo-Saxon term Wanes, Jotunheimr, home of the Jotnar, or 'giants', Muspellheimr, firey region, home of Surt, Svartalfheimr, home of the svartalfar, or 'dark' elves, Niflheimr, bitter cold region, Helgardhr, home of Hela and the newly dead. Back 3. In Snorri's Edda the first line runs, "Of old was the age ere aught there was,". Ginnunga-gap, or "Yawning gap", is a phrase sometimes used as a noun, certainly not always. Attempting to affix it as a 'place' name and not a 'condition' leads to error. Back 4. Bur's sons are Othin, Vili and Ve, his wife was Bestla, daughter of Bolthorn. Leeks are closely connected to youthful rising power and the rune laguz. Back 6. The second line may have been inserted from stanza 9. Back 7. This is the only mention of Ithavoll, 'Feild of Deeds'. Back 8. In Vafthruthnismol the 'Giant-Maids' reference is stated 'three throngs' - not simply "three", and since a catalogue of dwarves' names follows this stanza, it is perhaps unwise to assume that these maids are the Norns (taking also into account they are mentioned as coming from Jotunheimr). There is a possibility that a stanza missing directly after this explaining these maids was replaced with the aforementioned catalogue. Back 9. "Brimir" and "blain", these are actually common words not proper nouns, the first meaning 'bloody moisture', also mentioned in stanza 37 regarding the home of the dwarves (or the condition thereof). They might be taken to refer to the rent limbs of Ymir as descriptive. Back 10. Northri, Suthri, Austri and Vestri are of course the cardinal directions. Alfthjof - 'Mighty-Theif'; Mjothvitnir - 'Mead-Wolf'; Gandalf - 'Magic-Elf'; Vindalf - 'Wind Elf', Rathsvith - 'Swift in Counsel', Eikinsjaldi 'Oak Shield', etc. Back 15. Andvari is the featured player in Reginsmol. Back 20. Urthr, Verthandi and Skuld are the three Norns, 'that which has gone before', 'that which is now coming into existence', and 'that which will be'. Back 21. In the manuscripts the first line is "She remembers..." Gollveig - 'Gold- Might'. Har - 'High One'. The entirety of stanzas 21-23 are obscure and have been emended and rearranged various times. Back 22. Heith - 'Shining One', often given to wise women and prophetesses. It may not apply to Gollveig but rather the Volva reciting the lay, for taking these mixed up stanzas in a different order that would follow. Back 27. The horn of Heimdallr is Gjallarhorn - 'Shrieking Horn', used in his capacity as watchman at age's end. Until that time it lies buried under Yggdrasil's roots. There are two entirely different versions of Othin's relationship to Mimir in this text, this is the first, the second is found in stanza 47. This story mentions Othin giving his eye in exchange for a draught of water from this well out of this horn, gaining Mimir's knowledge, which he then leaves to pour its waters on the roots of Yggdrasil. Back 28. Hauksbok edition omits 28-34. Regius puts 28 and 29 into a single unit. Back 29. This first line is in neither manuscript and is conjectured. Back 30. Heerfather - 'Father of the Host'. Back 31. There are many more Valkyries' names mentioned throughout the Eddas. Herjan - 'Leader of Hosts'. Hild - 'Warrior'. (Thus Brynhild - 'Warrior in Mailcoat') Back 33. The brother of Baldr is Vali, born of Rinda, by Othin expressly for avenging this death. Most of the lines in this and the following stanza have been conjectured quite freely to replace lacunae. Back 34. Fensalir - 'Sea marsh-Halls'. Back 35. This translation is from the Regius. Hauksbok has the same final two lines, but begins with "I know that Vali his brother gnawed,/ With his bowels then was Loki bound." Back 36. Slith - 'The Fearful'. "Swords and daggers" refers to icy coldness of this river. Back 37. Nithavellir - 'The Dark Fields', whereas 'Nithafjoll' - 'The Dark Crags". Sindri was a great gold worker. Okolnir - 'The Not Cold'. Brimir was another name of Ymir and therefore, as from his blood the dwarfs were made, the leader of dwarves has this name upon him as title. Back 38. Nastrond - 'Corpse-Strand', place of torture in Helgardhr. Back 39. Oath-breakers and unjustified murderers are the worst class of criminal. Nithhogg - 'Dread Biter'. Back 40. The children of this giantess by Fenrir are the wolves Skoll and Hati. Back 41. Eggther holds the same position for the giants as Heimdallr does for the Aesir. Back 43. Gollinkombi - 'Gold-Comb'. Back 44. Garm gaurds the gates of Helgardhr, Gniparhellir - 'The Cliff-Cave'. In Hauksbok line 3 runs: "Farther I see and more can say." Back 45. There are some lacunae and interpolations in this stanza. After line 5 Hauksbok has: "The world resounds, the witch is flying." The relationship between uncles and nephews has always been held particularly close. Back 46-47. Much mixture and rearrangement of lines in both versions. Back 49. As this is identical to stanza 44, in the manuscripts it is merely abbreviated. Back 50. Naglfar is a ship, assigned in some references to Loki, said to be composed of dead mens' nails, the helmsman conjectured here to be Hrym. Back 51. The manuscripts have 'east' not north. The manuscripts also have "the people of Muspell", not "of Hel". (This may be of some import to some readers...) Byleist is also called 'Byleipt'. Back 52. Surt rules Muspellheimr, the "scourge of branches" is fire. Back 53. Hlin is another name for Frigg. Beli's slayer will be Freyr. Back 54. Snorri quotes this line: "Fares Othin's son to fight with the wolf,". Sigfather- 'Father of Victory'. "The giant's son" is Fenrir. Back 55-56. Both are in bad shape, almost illegible in the Hauksbok. A great deal is purely conjectural. Hlothyn is another name for Jorth - 'Earth'. Fjorgyn is yet another name for Jorth. Back 58. This stanza is abbreviated in the manuscripts. Back 61. Hauksbok has: "The gods shall find there, wondrous fair, /The golden tables amid the grass." The manuscript indicates no lacuna. Back 63. Tveggi - 'The Twofold'. Vindheim - 'Home of the Winds', the heavens. Back 64. Snorri makes Gimle into a hall's name, while here it is the name of a mountain that houses this hall. Back 65. This stanza is not found in the Regius at all. Hauksbok indicates no lacuna, but in paper manuscripts has written beneath it, "Rule he orders, and rights he fixes/Laws he ordains, that ever shall live." Back 66. "Must I..." in the manuscripts this reads, "must she..." Now that the new age has been re-established, the dragon replaces the duties of Hela and her minions. Back <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Hovamol Bellows split Havamal into its component parts. For convenience we have included the strophe numbers in parenthesis for the equivalent strophe as would appear in Thorpe's translation of Havamal. (Havamal Str. 1-80) (Strophe 2 and 3 are combined into one strophe in Thorpe's Translation) 1. (1)Within the gates ere a man shall go, (full warily let him watch) Full long let him look about him; For little he knows where a foe may lurk, And sit in the seats within. (*) 2. (2) Hail to the giver! a guest has come; Where shall the stranger sit? (*) 3. (2) Swift shall he be who with swords shall try The proof of his might to make. 4. (3)Fire he needs who with frozen knees Has come from the cold without; Food and clothes must the farer have, The man from the mountains come. 5. (4) Water and towels and welcoming speech Should he find who comes to the feast; If renown he would get, and again be greeted, Wisely and well must he act. 6. (5) Wits must he have who wanders wide, But all is easy at home; At the witless man the wise shall wink When among such men he sits. (*) 7. (6) A man shall not boast of his keeness of mind, But keep it close in his breast; To the silent and wise does ill come seldom When he goes as guest to a house; (For a faster friend one never finds Than wisdom tried and true.) 8. (7) The knowing guest who goes to the feast, In silent attention sits; With his ears he hears, with his eyes he watches, Thus wary are wise men all. 9. (8) Happy the one who wins for himself Favour and praises fair; Less safe by far is the wisdom found That is hid in another’s heart. 10. (9) Happy the man who has while he lives Wisdom and praise as well, For evil counsel a man full oft Has from another’s heart. 11. (10) A better burden may no man bear For wanderings wide than wisdom; It is better than wealth on unknown ways, And in grief a refuge it gives. 12. (11) A better burden may no man bear For wanderings wide than wisdom; Worse food for the journey he brings not afield Than an over-drinking of ale. (*) 13. (12) Less good there lies than most believe In ale for mortal men; For the more he drinks the less does man Of his mind the mastery hold. (*) 14. (13) Over beer the bird of forgetfulness broods, And steals the minds of men; With the heron’s feathers fettered I lay And in Gunnloth’s house was held. 15. (14) Drunk I was, I was dead-drunk, When with Fjalar wise I was: ‘Tis the best of drinking if back one brings, His wisdom with him home. (*) 16. (15) The son of a king shall be silent and wise, And bold in battle as well; Bravely and gladly a man shall go, Till the day of his death is come. 17. (16) The sluggard believes he shall live forever, If the fight he faces not; But age shall not grant him the gift of peace, Though spears may spare his life. 18. (17) The fool is agape when he comes to the feast, He stammers or else is still; But soon if he gets a drink is it seen What the mind of the man is like. 19. (18) He alone is aware who has wandered wide, And far abroad has fared, How great a mind is guided by him That wealth of wisdom has. 20. (19) Shun not the mead, but drink in measure; Speak to the point or be still; For rudeness none shall rightly blame thee If soon thy bed thou seekest. 21. (20) The greedy man, if his mind be vague, Will eat till sich he is; The vulgar man, when among the wise, To scorn by his belly is brought. 22. (21) The herds know well when home they shall fare, And then from the grass they go; But the foolish man his belly’s measure Shall never know aright. 23. (22) A paltry man and poor of mind At all things ever mocks; For never he knows, what he ought to know, That he is not free from faults. 24. (23) The witless man is awake all night, Thinking of many things; Care-worn he is when the morning comes, And his woe is just as it was. 25. (24) The foolish man for friends all those Who laugh at him will hold; When among the wise he marks it not Though hatred of him they speak. (*) 26. (25) The foolish man for friends all those Who laugh at him will hold; But the truth when he comes to the council he learns, That few in his favour will speak. 27. (26) An ignorant man thinks that all he knows, When he sits by himself in a corner; But never what answer to make he knows, When others with questions come. 28. (27) A witless man, when he meets with men, Had best in silence abide; For no one shall find that nothing he knows, If his mouth is not open too much. (But a man knows not, if nothing he knows, When his mouth is open too much.) 29. (28) Wise shall he seem who well can question, And also answer well; Nought is concealed that men may say Among the sons of men. 30. (29) Often he speaks who never is still With words that win no faith; The babbling tongue, if a bridle it find not, Oft for itself sings ill. 31. (30) In mockery no one a man shall hold, Although he fare to the feast; Wise seems one oft, if nought he is asked, And safely he sits dry-skinned. 32. (31) Wise a guest holds it to take to his heels, When mock of another he makes; But little he knows who laughs at the feast, Though he mocks in the midst of his foes. 33. (32) Friendly of mind are many men, Till feasting they mock at their friends; To mankind a bane must it ever be When guests together strive. 34. (33) Oft should one make an early meal, Nor fasting come to the feast; Else he sits and chews as if he would choke, And little is able to ask. 35. (34) Crooked and far is the road to a foe, Though his house on the highway be; But wide and straight is the way to a friend, Though far away he fare. (*) 36. (35) Forth shall one go, nor stay as a guest In a single spot forever; Love becomes loathing if long one sits By the hearth in another’s home. 37. (36) Better a house, though a hut it be, A man is master at home; A pair of goats and a patched-up roof Are better far than begging. (*) 38. (37) Better a house, though a hut it be, A man is master at home; His heart is bleeding who needs must beg When food he fain would have. (*) 39. (38) Away from his arms in the open field A man should fare not a foot; For never he knows when the need for a spear Shall arise on the distant road. 40. (39) If wealth a man has won for himself, Let him never suffer in need; Oft he saves for a foe what he plans for a friend, For much goes worse than we wish. 41. (40) None so free with gifts or food have I found That gladly he took not a gift; Nor one who so widely scattered his wealth That of recompense hatred he had. (*) 42. (41) Freinds shall gladden each other with arms and garments, As each for himself can see; Gift-givers’ friendships are longest found, If fair their fates may be. (*) 43. (42) To his friend a man a friend shall prove, And gifts with gifts requite; But men shall mocking with mockery answer, And fraud with falsehood meet. 44. (43) To his friend a man a friend shall prove, To him and the friend of his friend; But never a man shall friendship make With one of his foeman’s friends. 45. (44) If a friend thou hast whom thou fully wilt trust, And good from him wouldst get, Thy thoughts with his mingle, and gifts shalt thou make, And fare to find him oft. 46. (45) If another thou hast whom thou hardly wilt trust, Yet good from him wouldst get, Thou shalt speak him fair, but falsely think, And fraud with falsehood requite. 47. (46) So is it with him whom thou hardly wilt trust, And whose mind thou mayst not know; Laugh with him mayst thou, but speak not thy mind, Like gifts to his shalt thou give. 48. (47) Young was I once, and wandered alone, And nought of the road I knew; Rich did I feel when a comrade I found, For man is man’s delight. 49. (48) The lives of the brave are noble and best, Sorrows they seldom feed; But the coward fear of all things feels, And not gladly the niggard gives. 50. (49) My garments once in a field I gave To a pair of carven poles; Heroes they seemed when clothes they had, But the naked man is nought. 51. (50) On the hillside drear the fir-tree dies, All bootless its needles and bark; It is like a man whom no one loves,- Why should his life be long? 52. (51) Hotter than fire between false friends Does friendship five days burn; When the sixth day comes the fire cools, And ended is all the love. 53. (52) No great thing needs a man to give, Oft little will purchase praise; With half a loaf and a half-filled cup A friend full fast I made. 54. (53) A little sand has a little sea, And small are the minds of men; Though all men are not equal in wisdom, Yet half-wise only are all. 55. (54) A measure of wisdom each man shall have, But never too much let him know; The fairest lives do those men live Whose wisdom wide has grown. 56. (55) A measure of wisdom each man shall have, But never too much let him know; For the wise man’s heart is seldom happy, If wisdoem too great he has won. 57. (56) A measure of wisdom each man shall have But never too much let him know; Let no man the fate before him see, For so is he freest from sorrow. 58. (57) A brand from a brand is kindled and burned, And fire from fire begotten; And man by his speech is known to men, And the stupid by their stillness. 59. (58) He must early go forth who fain the blood Or the goods of another would get; The wolf that lies idle shall win little meat, Or the sleeping man success. 60. (59) He must early go forth whose workers are few, Himself his work to seek; Much remains undone for the morning-sleeper. For the swift is wealth half won. 61. (60) Of seasoned shingles and strips of bark For the thatch let one know his need, And how much of wood he must have for a month, Or in half a year he will use. 62. (61) Washed and fed to the council fare, But care not too much for thy clothes; Let none be ashamed of his shoes and hose, Less still of the steed he rides, (Though poor be the horse he has.) (*) 63. (62) When the eagle comes to the ancient sea, He snaps and hangs his head; So is a man in the midst of a throng, Who few to speak for him finds. 64. (63) To question and answer must all be ready Who wish to be known as wise; Tell one thy thoughts, be beware of two,- All know what is known to three. (*) 65. (64) The man who is prudent a measured use Of the might he has will make; He finds when among the brave he fares That the boldest he may not be. (*) 66. (65) -lacuna- ed. emmendation A man must be watchful and wary as well, -lacuna- ed. emmendation And fearful of trusting a friend Oft for the words that to others one speaks He will get but an evil gift. 67. (66) Too early to many a meeting I came, And some too late have I sought; The beer was all drunk, or not yet brewed, Little the loathed man finds. 68. (67) To their homes men would bid me hither and yon, If at meal-time I needed no meat, Or would hang two hams in my true freind’s house Where only one I had eaten. 69. (68) Fire for men is the fairest gift, And power to see the sun; Health as well, if a man may have it, And a life not stained with sin. 70. (69) All wretched is no man, though never so sick; Some from their sons have joy, Some win it from kinsmen, and some from their wealth, And some from worthy works. 71. (70) It is better to live than lie like a corpse, The live man catches the cow; I saw flames rise for the rich man’s pyre, And before his door he lay dead. 72. (71) The lame rides a horse, the handless is herdsman, The deaf in battle is bold; The blind man is better than one that is burned, No good can come of a corpse. (*) 73. (72) A son is better, though late he be born, And his father to death have fared; Memory-stones seldom stand by the road Save when kinsman honours his kin. (*) 74. (73) Two make a battle, the tongue slays the head; In each furry coat a fist I look for. 75. (74) He welcomes the night whose fare is enough, (Short are the yards of a ship,) Uneasy are autumn nights; Full oft does the weather change in a week, And more in a month’s time. 76. (75) A man knows not, if nothing he knows, That gold oft apes begets; One man is wealthy and one is poor, Yet scorn for him none should know. 77. (78) Among Fitjung’s sons saw I well-stocked folds,- Now bear they the beggar’s staff; Wealth is as swift as a winking eye, Of friends the falsest it is. (*) 78. (76) Cattle die, and kinsmen die, And so one dies one’s self; But a noble name will never die, If good renown one gets. (*) 79. (77) Cattle die, and kinsmen die, And so one dies one’s self; One thing I know that never dies, The fame of a dead man’s deeds. 80. (80) Certain is that which is sought from runes, That the gods so great have made, And the Master-Poet painted; -lacuna- -lacuna- of the race of gods: Silence is safest and best. 81. (79) An unwise man, if a maiden love Or wealth he chances to win, His pride will wax, but his wisdom never, Straight forward he fares in conceit. (*) Thus ends Hovamol - and begins Malahattr - Notes for Hovamol: 1. Second line is omitted in Prose Edda. Back 2. First half of this stanza most likely did not originally link to the second half. Back 6. Lines 5-6 appear to have been late additions. Back 12. In some edition this and the last two lines of 11 are combined, with the first two lines abbreviated, hinting that the first two lines of 10 are the same. Back 13. Heron symbolizes forgetfulness, who wanders each season without a permanent home water. Gunnoth is the daughter of Suttung. Back 15. Fjalar in this text is another name for Suttung. Back 25. First two lines are abbreviated. Back 35-36. First two lines of both are abbreviated. Back 36. Manuscript has the word ‘little’ in the first line in place of ‘a hut’, but as the rhymes do not work properly, the change has been accepted. Back 37. First two lines are abbreviated. Back 40. The word ‘generous’ is assumed as it is not in the manuscript. Back 41. Line 3 has the addition ‘givers again’ to ‘gift-givers’. Back 61. Fifth line appears to be added on. Back 62. This whole stanza follows 63 in the manuscript but marks show the transposition. Back 63. No lacuna is indicated, but some have added a stanza found in a late paper manuscript that runs: “A man must be watchful and wary as well/And fearful of trusting a friend.” Back 70. Manuscript has “and a worthy life” in place of “than to lie a corpse”. Back 71-74. These lines are all mixed or interpolated, or thrown in by one hand or the other. Back 75. “Gold” in line 2 is a guess. Line 4 is also a probable guess. Back 76. Manuscript order is 77, 78, 76, 80, 79, 81. Fitjung - ‘the nourisher’ - earth. Back 79. This stanza is very irregular, it may belong in the Ljothatal. Manuscript gives no lacuna but the assumed gap is sometimes filled in with: “Certain is that which is sought from runes,/The runes - ,” Back <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Malahattr (Havamal 81-111) 1. (81) Give praise to the day at evening, to a woman on her pyre, To a weapon which is tried, to a maid at wedlock, To ice when it is crossed, to ale that is drunk. 2. (82) When the gale blows hew wood, in fair winds seek the water; Sport with maidens at dusk, for the day’s eyes are many; From the ship seek swiftness, from the shield protection, Cuts from the sword, from the maiden kisses. 3. (83) By the fire drink ale, over ice go on skates; Buy a steed that is lean, and a sword when tarnished, The horse at home fatten, the hound in thy dwelling. Break 4. (84) A man shall trust not the oath of a maid, Nor the word a woman speaks; For their hearts on a whirling wheel were fashioned, And fickle their breasts were formed. Break 5. (85) In a breaking bow or a burning flame, A ravening wolf or a croaking raven, In a grunting boar, a tree with roots broken, In billowy seas, or a bubbling kettle, 6. (86) In a flying arrow or falling waters, In ice new formed or the serpent’s folds, In a bride’s bed-speech or a broken sword, In the sport of bears or in sons of kings, 7. (87) In a calf that is sick or a stubborn thrall, A flattering witch or a foe new slain. 8. (89) In a brother’s slayer, if thou meet him abroad, In a half-burned house, in a horse full swift- One leg is hurt and the horse is useless- None had ever such faith to trust in them all. Break 9. (88) Hope not too surely for early harvest, Nor trust too soon in thy son; The field needs good weather, the son needs wisdom, And oft is either denied. Break 10. (90) The love of women fickle of will Is like starting o’er ice with a steed unshod, A two-year-old restive and little tamed, Or steering a rudderless ship in a storm, Or, lame, hunting reindeer on slippery rocks. Break 11. (91) Clear now will I speak, for I know them both, Men false to women are found; When fairest we speak, then falsest we think, Against wisdeom we work with deceit. 12. (92) Soft words shall he speak and wealth shall he offer Who longs for a maiden’s love, And the beauty praise of the maiden bright; He wins whose wooing is best. 13. (93) Fault for loving let no man find Ever with any other; Oft the wise are fettered, where fools go free, By beauty that breeds desire. 14. (94) Fault with another let no man find for what touches many a man; Wise men oft into witless fools Are made by mighty love. 15. (95) The head alone knows what dwells near the heart, A man knows his mind alone; No sickness is worse to one who is wise Than to lack the longed-for joy. 16. (96) This found I myself, when I sat in the reeds, And long my love awaited; As my life the maiden wise I loved, Yet her I never had. 17. (97) Billing’s daughter I found on her bed, In slumber bright as the sun; Empty appeared an earl’s estate Without that form so fair. 18. (98) “Othin, again at evening come, If a woman thou wouldst win; Evil it were if others than we Should know of such a transgression.” 19. (99) Away I hastened, hoping for joy, And careless of counsel wise; Well I believed that soon I should win Measureless joy with the maid. 20. (100) So came I next when night it was, The warriors all were awake; With burning lights and waving brands I learned my luckless way. 21. (101) At morning then, when once more I came, And all were sleeping still, A dog I found in the fair one’s place, Bound there upon her bed. 22. (102) ed. emmendation (Few are so good that false they are never To cheat the mind of a man) Many fair maids, if a man but tries them, False to a lover are found; That did I learn when I longed to gain With wiles the maiden wise; Foul scorn was my meed from the crafty maid, And nought from the woman I won. Break 23. (103) Though glad at home, and merry with guests, A man shall be wary and wise; The sage and shrewd, wide-wisdom seeking, Must see that his speech be fair; 24. (104) A fool is he named who nought can say, For such is the way of the witless. 25. (105) I found the old giant, now back have I fared, Small gain from silence I got; Full many a word, my will to get, I spoke in Suttung’s hall. 26. (107) The mouth of Rati made room for my passage, And space in the stone he gnawed; Above and below the giants’ paths lay, So rashly I risked my head. 27. (106) Gunnloth gave on a golden stool A drink of the marvelous mead; A harsh reward did I let her have For her heroic heart, And her spirit troubled sore. 28. (108) The well-earned beauty well I enjoyed, Little the wise man lacks; So Othrörir now has up been brought To the midst of the men of earth. 29. (109) Hardly, methinks, would I home have come, And left the giants’ land, Had not Gunnloth helped me, the maiden good, Whose arms about me had been. 30. (110) The day that followed, the frost-giants came, Some word of Hor to win, (And inot the hall of Hor;) Of Bolverk they asked, were he back midst the gods, Or had Suttung slain him there? 31. (111) On his ring swore Othin the oath, methinks; Who now his troth shall trust? Suttung’s betrayal he sought with drink, And Gunnloth to grief he left. Break to begin Loddfafnismol <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Loddfafnismal (Str. 112-139) 1. (112) It is time to chant from the chanter’s stool; By the wells of Urth I was, I saw and was silent, I saw and thought, And heard the speech of Hor. 2. (113) (Of runes heard I words, nor were counsels wanting, At the hall of Hor, In the hall of Hor; Such was the speech I heard.) 3. (114) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Rise not at night, save if news thou seekest, Or fain to the outhouse wouldst fare. 4. (115) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Beware of sleep on a witch’s bosom, Nor let her limbs ensnare thee. 5. (116) Such is her might that thou hast no mind For the council or meeting of men; Meat thou hatest, joy thou hast not, And sadly to slumber thou farest. 6. (117) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Seek never to win the wife of another, Or long for her secret love. 7. (118) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If o’er mountains or gulfs thou fain wouldst go, Look well to thy food for the way. 8. (119) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: An evil man thou must not let Bring aught of ill to thee; For an evil man will never make Reward for a worthy thought. 9. (120) I saw a man who was wounded sore By an evil woman’s word; A lying tongue his death-blow launched, And no word of truth there was. 10. (121) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If a friend thou hast whom thou fully wilt trust, Then fare to find him oft; Fro brambles grow and waving grass On the rarely trodden road. 11. (122) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: A good man find to hold in friendship, And give heed to his healing charms. 12. (123) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Be never the first to break with thy friend The bond that holds you both; Care eats the heart if thou canst not speak To another all thy thought. 13. (124) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Exchange of words with a witless ape Thou must not ever make. 14. (125) For never thou mayst from an evil man A good requital get; But a good man oft the greatest love Through words of praise will win thee. 15. (126) Mingled is love when a man can speak To another all his thought; Nought is so bad as false to be, No friend speaks only fair. 16. (127) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: With a worse man speak not three words in dispute, Ill fares better oft When the worse man wields a sword. 17. (128) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: A shoemaker be, or a maker of shafts, For only thy single self; If the shoe is made ill, or the shaft prove false Then evil of thee men think. 18. (129) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If evil thou knowest, as evil proclaim it, And make no friendship with foes. 19. (130) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: In evil never joy shalt thou know, But glad the good shall make thee. 20. (131) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Look not up when the battle is on,- (Like madmen the sons of men become,-) Lest men bewitch thy wits. 21. (132) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: If thou fain wouldst win a woman’s love, And gladness get from her, Fair be thy promise and well fulfilled; None loathes what good he gets. 22. (133) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: I bed thee be wary, but be not fearful; (Beware most with ale or another’s wife, And third beware lest a thief outwit thee.) 23. (134) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Scorn or mocking ne’er shalt thou make Of a guest or a journey-goer. 24. (135) ed.em. (Evil and good do men’s sons ever Mingled bear in their breasts.) Oft scarcely he knows who sits in the house What kind is the man who comes; None so good is found that faults he has not, Nor so wicked that nought he is worth. 25. (136) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Scorn not ever the grey-haired singer, Oft do the old speak good; (Oft from shriveled skin come skillful counsels, Though it hang with the hides, And flap with the pelts, And is blown with the bellies.) 26. (137) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: Curse not thy guest, nor show him thy gate, Deal well with a man in want. 27. (138) Strong is the beam that raised must be To give an entrance to all; Give it a ring, or grim will be The wish it would work on thee. 28. (139) I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,- Profit thou hast if thou hearest, Great thy gain if thou learnest: When ale thou drinkest, seek might of earth, (For earth cures drink, and fire cures ills, The oak cures tightness, the ear cures magic, Rye cures rupture, the moon cures rage, Grass cures the scab, and runes the sword-cut;) The field absorbs the flood. Now are Hor’s words spoken in the hall, Kind for the kindred of men, Cursed for the kindred of giants: Hail to the speaker, and to him who learns! Profit be his who has them! Hail to them who hearken! Break For Runattal thattr Othinns <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> thattr Othins Runattal thattr Othins (Str. 140-147) 1. (140) I ween that I hung on the windy tree, Hung there for nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, and offered I was To Othin, myself to myself, On the tree that none may ever know What root beneath it runs. 2. (141) None made me happy with loaf or horn, And there below I looked; I took up the runes, shrieking I took them, And forthwith back I fell. 3. (142)Nine mighty songs I got from the son Of Bolthorn, Bestla’s father; And a drink I got of the goodly mead Poured out from Othrörir. 4. (143) Then began I to thrive, and wisdom to get, I grew and well I was; Each word led me on to another word, Each deed to another deed. 5. (144) Runes shalt thou find, and fateful signs, That the king of singers coloured, And the mighty gods have made; Full strong the signs, full mighty the signs That the ruler of gods doth write. 6. (145) Othin for the gods, Dain for the elves, And Dvalin for the dwarfs, Alsvith for giants and all mankind, And some myself I wrote. 7. (146) Knowest how one shall write, knowest how one shall rede? Knowest how one shall tint, knowest how one makes trial? Knowest how one shall ask, knowest how one shall offer? Knowest how one shall send, knowest how one shall sacrifice? 8. (147) Better no prayer than too big an offering, By thy getting measure thy gift; Better is none than too big a sacrifice, -lacuna- So Thundr of old wrote ere man’s race began, Where he rose on high when home he came. Break for Ljothatal <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Ljothatal (Str. 148-166) 1. (148) The songs I know that king’s wives know not, Nor men that are sons of men; The first is called help, and help it can bring thee In sorrow and pain and sickness. Ed em (In sickness and pain and every sorrow.) 2. (149) A second I know, that men shall need Who leechcraft long to use; -lacuna- -lacuna- 3. (150) A third I know, if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe; Blunt do I make mine enemy’s blade, Nor bites his sword or staff. 4. (151) A fourth I know, if men shall fasten Bonds on my bended legs; So great is the charm that forth I may go, The fetters spring from my feet, Broken the bonds from my hands. 5. (152) A fifth I know if I see from afar An arrow fly ‘gainst the folk; It flies not so swift that I stop it not, If ever my eyes behold it. 6. (153) A sixth I know, if harm one seeks With a sapling’s roots to send me; The hero himself who wreaks his hate Shall taste the ill ere I. 7. (154) A seventh I know, if I see in flames The hall o’er my comrades’ heads; It burns not so wide that I will not quench it, I know that song to sing. 8. (155) An eighth I know, that is to all Of greatest good to learn; When hatred grows among heroes’ sons, I soon can set it right. 9. (156) A ninth I know, if need there comes To shelter my ship on the flood; The wind I calm upon the waves, And the sea I put to sleep. 10. (157) A tenth I know, what time I see House-riders flying on high; So can I work that wildly they go, Showing their true shapes, Hence to their homes. 11. (158) An eleventh I know, if needs I must lead To the fight my long-loved friends; I sing in the shields, and in strength they go Whole to the field of fight, Whole from the field of fight, And whole they come thence home. 12. (159) A twelfth I know, if high on a tree I see a hanged man swing; So do I write and colour the runes That forth he fares, And to me talks. 13. (160) A thirteenth I know, if a thane full young With water I sprinkle well; He shall not fall, though he fares mid the host, Nor sink beneath the swords. 14. (161) A fourteenth I know, if fain I would name To men the mighty gods; All know I well of the gods and elves,- Few be the fools know this. 15. (162) A fifteenth I know, that before the doors Of Delling sang Thjothrörir the dwarf; Might he sang for the gods, and glory for the elves, And wisdom for Hroptatyr wise. 16. (163) A sixteenth I know, if I seek delight To win from a maiden wise; The mind I turn of the white-armed maid, And thus change all her thoughts. 17. (164) A seventeenth I know, so that seldom shall go A maiden young from me; -lacuna- -lacuna- 18. (166) Long these song thou shalt, Loddfafnir, Seek in vain to sing; Yet good it were if thou mightest get them, Well, if thou wouldst them learn, Help, if thou hadst them. 19. (165) An eighteenth I know, that ne’er will I tell To maiden or wife of man,- The best is what none but one’s self doth know, So comes the end of the songs,- Save only to her in whose arms I lie, Or who else my sister is. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Vafthruthnismol Othin spake: 1. “Counsel me, Frigg, for I long to fare, And Vafthruthnir fain would find; In wisdom old with the giant wise Myself would I seek to match.” Frigg spake: 2. “Heerfather here at home would I keep, Where the gods together dwell; Amid all the giants an equal in might To Vafthruthnir know I none.” Othin spake: 3. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got from the gods; And fain would I know how Vafthruthnir now Lives in his lofty hall.” Frigg spake: 4. “Safe mayst thou go, safe come again, And safe be the way thou wendest! Father of men, let thy mind be keen When speech with the giant thou seekest.” 5. The wisdom then of the giant wise Forth did he fare to try; He found the hall of the father of Im, And in forthwith went Ygg. Othin spake: 6. “Vafthruthnir, hail! to thy hall am I come, For thyself I fain would see; And first would I ask if wise thou art, Or, giant, all wisdom hast won.” Vafthruthnir spake: 7. “Who is the man that speaks to me, Here in my lofty hall? Forth from our dwelling thou never shalt fare, Unless wiser than I thou art.” Othin spake: 8. “Gagnrath they call me, and thirsty I come From a journey hard to thy hall; Welcome I look for, for long have I fared, And gentle greeting, giant.” Vafthruthnir spake: 9. “Why standest thou here on the floor whilst thou speakest? A seat shalt thou have in my hall; Then soon shall we know whose knowledge is more, The guest’s or the sage’s gray.” Othin spake: 10. “If a poor man reaches the home of the rich, Let him wisely speak or be still; For to him who speaks with the hard of heart Will chattering ever work ill.” Vafthruthnir spake: 11. “Speak forth now, Gangrath, if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known; What name has the steed that each morn anew The day for mankind doth draw?” Othin spake: 12. “Skinfaxi is he, the steed who for men The glittering day doth draw; The best of horses to heroes he seems, And brightly his man doth burn.” Vafthruthnir spake: 13. “Speak for now, Gagnrath, if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known; What name has the steed that from East anew Brings night for the noble gods?” Othin spake: 14. “Hrimfaxi name they the steed that anew Brings night for the noble gods; Each morning foam from his bit there falls, And thence come the dews in the dales.” Vafthruthnir spake: 15. “Speak forth, Gagnrath, if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known; What name has the river that ‘twixt the realms Of the gods and the giants goes?” Othin spake: 16. “Ifing is the river that ‘twixt the realms Of the gods and the giants goes; For all time ever open it flows, No ice on the river there is.” Vafthruthnir spake: 17. “Speak forth now, Gagnrath, if there from the floor Thou wouldst thy wisdom make known; What name has the field where in fight shall meet Surt and the gracious gods?” Othin spake: 18. “Vigrith is the field where in fight shall meet Surt and the gracious gods; A hundred miles each way does it measure, And so are its boundries set.” Vafthruthnir spake: 19. “Wise art thou, guest! To my bench shalt thou go, In our seats let us speak together; Here in the hall our heads, O guest, Shall we wager our wisdom upon.” Othin spake: 20. “First answer me well, if thy wisdom avails, And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now; In earliest time whence came the earth, Or the sky, thou giant sage?” Vafthruthnir spake: 21. “Out of Ymir’s flesh was fashioned the earth, And the mountains were made of his bones; The sky from the frost-cold giant’s skull, And the ocean out of his blood.” Othin spake: 22. “Next answer me well, if thy wisdom avails, And thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now; Whence came the moon, o’er the worlds of men That fares, and the flaming sun?” Vafthruthnir spake: 23. “Mundilferi is he who begat the moon, and fathered the flaming sun; The round of heaven each day they run, To tell the time for men.” Othin spake: 24. “Third answer me well, if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now; Whence came the day, o’er mankind that fares, Or night with the narrowing moon?” Vafthruthnir spake: 25. “The father of day is Delling called, And the night was begotten by Nor; Full moon and old by the gods were fashioned, To tell the time for men.” Othin spake: 26. “Fourth answer me well, if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now; Whence did winter come, or the summer warm, First with the gracious gods?” Vafthruthnir spake: 27. “Vindsval he was who was winter’s father, And Svothuth summer begat;” -lacuna- -lacuna- Othin spake: 28. “Fifth answer me well, if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now: What giant first was fashioned of old, And the eldest of Ymir’s kin?” Vafthruthnir spake: 29. “Winters unmeasured ere earth was made Was the birth of Bergelmir; Thruthgelmir’s son was the giant strong, And Aurgelmir’s grandson of old.” Othin spake: 30. “Sixth answer me well, if wise thou art called, If thou knowest, Vafthruthnir, now; Whence did Aurgelmir come with the giants’ kin, Long since, thou giant sage?” Vafthruthnir spake: 31. “Down from Elivagar did venom drop, And waxed till a giant it was; And thence arose our giants’ race, And thus so fierce are we found.” Othin spake: 32. “Seventh answer me well, if wise thou art called, If thou knowest, Vafthruthnir, now; How begat he children, the giant grim, Who never a giantess knew?” Vafthruthnir spake: 33. “They say ‘neath the arms of the giant of ice Grew man-child and maid together; And foot with foot did the wise one fashion A son that six heads bore.” Othin spake: 34. “Eighth answer me well, if wise thou art called If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now; What farthest back dost thou bear in mind? For wide is thy wisdom, giant!” Vafthruthnir spake: 35. “Winters unmeasured ere earth was made Was the birth of Bergelmir; This first knew I well, when the giant wise In a boat of old was borne.” Othin spake: 36. “Ninth answer me well, if wise thou art called, If thou knowest it, Vafthruthnir, now; Whence comes the wind that fares o’er the waves, Yet never itself is seen?” Vafthruthnir spake: 37. “In an eagle’s guise at the end of heaven Hræsvelg sits, they say; And from his wings does the wind come forth To move o’er the world of men.” Othin spake: 38. “Tenth answer me now, if thou knowest all The fate that is fixed for the gods; Whence came up Njorth to the kin of the gods,- (Rich in temples and shrines he rules,-) Though of gods he was never begot?” Vafthruthnir spake: 39. “In the home of the Wanes did the wise ones create him, And gave him as pledge to the gods; At the fall of the world shall he fare once more Home to the Wanes so wise.” Othin spake: 40. “Eleventh answer me well -lacuna- -lacuna- What men -lacuna- in -lacuna- home Each day to fight go forth?” 41. Ed em (“Eleventh answer me well... What men in the home mightily battle each day? They fell each other, and fare from the fight all healed full soon to sit.”) Thus: (What men are they who in Othin’s home Each day to fight go forth?”) Vafthruthnir spake: 42. “The heroes all in Othin’s hall Each day to fight go forth; They fell each other, and fare from the fight All healed full soon to sit.” Othin spake: 43. “Twelfth answer me now how all thou knowest Of the fate that is fixed for the gods; Of the runes of the gods and the giants’ race The truth indeed dost thou tell, (And wide is thy wisdom, giant!)” Vafthruthnir spake: 44. “Of the runes of the gods and the giants’ race The truth indeed can I tell, (For to every worlds have I won;) To nine worlds came I, to Niflhel beneath, The home where dead men dwell.” Othin spake: 45. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got of the gods; What shall live of mankind when at last there comes The mighty winter to men?” Vafthruthnir spake: 46. “In Hoddmimir’s wood shall hid themselves Lif and Lifthrasir then; The morning dews for meat shall they have, Such food shall men then find.” Othin spake: 47. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got of the gods; Whence comes the sun to the smooth sky back, When Fenrir has snatched it forth?” Vafthruthnir spake: 48. “A daughter bright Alfrothul bears Ere Fenrir snatches her forth; Her mother’s paths shall the maiden tread When the gods to death have gone.” Othin spake: 49. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got of the gods; What maidens are they, so wise of mind That forth o’er the sea shall fare?” Vafthruthnir spake: 50. “O’er Mogthrasir’s Hall shall the maidens pass, And three are their throngs that come; They all shall protect the dwellers on earth, Though they come of the giants’ kin.” Othin spake: 51. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got of the gods; Who then shall rule the realm of the gods, When the fires of Surt have sunk?” Vafthruthnir spake: 52. “In the gods’ home Vithar and Vali shall dwell, When the fires of Surt have sunk; Mothi and Magni shall Mjöllnir have When Vingnir falls in fight.” Othin spake: 53. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got of the gods; What shall bring the doom of death to Othin, When the gods to destruction go?” Vafthruthnir spake: 54. “The wolf shall fell the father of men, And this shall Vithar avenge; The terrible jaws shall he tear apart, And so the wolf shall he slay.” Othin spake: 55. “Much have I fared, much have I found, Much have I got from the gods; What spake Othin himself in the ears of his son, Ere in the bale-fire he burned?” Vafthruthnir spake: 56. “No man can tell what in olden time Thou spak’st in the ears of thy son; With fated mouth the fall of the gods And mine olden tales have I told; With Othin in knowledge now have I striven, And ever the wiser art thou.” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Grimnismol King Hruthung had two sons; one was called Agnar, and the other Geirröth. Agnar was ten winters old, and Geirröth eight. Once they both rowed in a boat with their fishing-gear to catch little fish; and the wind drove them out into the sea. In the darkness of the night they were wrecked on the shore; and going up, they found a poor peasant, with whom they stayed through the winter. The housewife took care of Agnar, and the peasant cared for Geirröth, and taught him wisdom. In the spring the peasant gave him a boat; and when the couple led them to the shore, the peasant spoke secretly with Geirröth. They had a fair wind, and came to their father’s landing-place, Geirröth was forward in the boat; he leaped up on land, but pushed out the boat and said, “Go thou now where evil may have thee!” The boat drifted out to sea. Geirröth, however, went up to the house, and was well received, but his father was dead. Then Geirröth was made king, and became a renowned man. Othin and Frigg sat in Hlithskjolf and looked over all the worlds. Othin said: “Seest thou Agnar, thy fosterling, how he begets children with a giantess in the cave? But Geirröth, my fosterling, is a king, and now rules over his land.” Frigg said: “He is so miserly that he tortures his guests if he thinks that too many of them come to him.” Othin replied that this was the greatest of lies; and they made a wager about this matter. Frigg sent her maidservant, Fulla, to Geirröth. She bade the king beware lest a magician who was come thither to his land should bewitch him, and told this sign concerning him, that no dog was so fierce as to leap at him. Now it was a very great slander that King Geirröth was not hospitable; but nevertheless he had them take the man whom the dogs would not attack. He wore a dark-blue mantle and called himself Grimnir, but said no more about himself, though he was questioned. The king had him tortured to make him speak, and set him between two fires, and he sat there eight nights. King Geirröth had a son ten winters old, and called Agnar after his father’s brother. Agnar went to Grimnir, and gave him a full horn to drink from, and said that the king did ill in letting him be tormented without cause. Grimnir drank from the horn; the fire had come so near that the mantle burned on Grimnir’s back. He spake: (*) 1. Hot art thou, fire! too fierce by far; Get ye now gone, ye flames! The mantle is burnt, though I bear it aloft, And the fire scorches the fur. 2. ‘Twixt the fires now eight nights have I sat, And no man brought meat to me, Save Agnar alone, and alone shall rule Geirröth’s son o’er the Goths. (*) 3. Hail to thee, Agnar! for hailed thou art By the voice of Veratyr; For a single drink shalt thou never receive A greater gift as reward. (*) 4. The land is holy that lies hard by The gods and the elves together; And Thor shall ever in Thrunthheim dwell, Till the gods to destruction go. (*) 5. Ydalir call they the place where Ull A hall for himself hath set; And Alfheim the gods to Freyr once gave As a tooth-gift in ancient times. (*) 6. A third home is there, with silver thatched By the hands of the gracious gods; Valaskjolf is it, in days of old Set by a god himself. (*) 7. Sökkvabekk is the fourth, where cool waves flow, And amid their murmur it stands; There daily do Othin and Saga drink In gladness from cups of gold. (*) 8. The fifth is Glathsheim, and gold-bright there Stands Valhall stretching wide; And there does Othin each day choose The men who have fallen in fight. (*) 9. Easy is it to know for him who to Othin Comes and beholds the hall’ Its rafter are spears, with shields is it roofed, On its benches are breastplates strewn. 10. Easy is it to know for him who to Othin Comes and beholds the hall; There hangs a wolf by the western door, And o’er it an eagle hovers. 11. The sixth is Thrymheim, where Thjazi dwelt, The giant of marvelous might; Now Skathi abides, the god’s fair bride, In the home that her father had. (*) 12. The seventh is Breithablik; Baldr has there For himself a dwelling set, In the land I know that lies so fair, And from evil fate is free. (*) 13. Himingbjorg is the eighth, and Heimdall there O’er men holds sway, it is said; In his well-built house does the warder of heaven The good mead gladly drink. (*) 14. The ninth is Folkvang, where Freya decrees Who shall have seats in the hall; The half of the dead each day does she choose, And half does Othin have. (*) 15. The tenth is Glitnir; its pillars are gold, And its roof with silver is set; There most of his days does Forseti dwell, And sets all strife at end. (*) 16. The eleventh is Noatun; there has Njorth For himself a dwelling set; The sinless ruler of men there sits In his temple timbered high. (*) 17. Filled with growing trees and high-standing grass Is Vithi, Vithar’s land; But there did the son from his steed leap down, When his father he fain would avenge. (*) 18. In Eldhrimnir Andhrimnir cooks Sæhrimnir’s seething flesh,- The best of food, but few men know On what fare the warriors feast. (*) 19. Freki and Geri does Heerfather feed, The far-famed fighter of old; But on wine alone does the weapon-decked god, Othin, forever live. (*) 20. O’er Mithgarth Hugin and Munin both Each day set forth to fly; For Hugin I fear lest he come not home, But for Munin my care is more. (*) 21. Loud roars Thund, and Thjothvitnir’s fish Joyously fares in the flood; Hard does it seem to the host of the slain To wade the torrent wild. (*) 22. There Valgrind stands, the sacred gate, And behind are the holy doors; Old is the gate, but few there are Who can tell how it tightly is locked. (*) 23. Five hundred doors and forty there are, I ween, in Valhall’s walls; Eight hundred fighters through one door fare When to war with the wolf they go. (*) 24. Five hundred rooms and forty there are I ween, in Bilskirnir built; Of all the homes whose roofs I beheld, My son’s the greatest meseemed. (*) 25. Heithrun is the goat who stands by Heerfather’s hall, And the branches of Lærath he bites; From his horns a stream into Hvergelmir drops, Thence all the rivers run. (*) 26. Sith and Vith, Sækin and Ækin, Svol and Fimbulthul, Gunnthro and Fjorm, Rin and Rinnandi (*) 27. Gipul and Gopul, Gomul and Geirvimul, That flow through the fields of the gods; Thyn and Vin, Thol and Hol, Groth and Gunnthorin. (*) 28. Vino is one, Vegsvin another, And Thjothnuma a third; Nyt and Not, Non and Hron, Slith and Hrith, Sylg and Ylg, Vith and Von, Vond and Strond, Gjol and Leipt, that go among men, And hence they fall to Hel. (*) 29. Kormt and Ormt and the Kerlaugs twain Shall Thor each day wade through, (When dooms to give he forth shall go To the ash-tree Yggdrasil;) For heaven’s bridge burns all in flame, And the sacred waters seethe. (*) 30. Glath and Gyllir, Gler and Skeithbrimir, Silfrintopp and Sinir, Gisl and Falhofnir, Golltopp and Lettfeti, On these steeds the gods shall go When dooms to give each day they ride To the ash-tree Yggdrasil. (*) 31. Three roots there are that three ways run ‘Neath the ash-tree Yggdrasil; ‘Neath the first lives Hel, ‘neath the second the frost-giants, ‘Neath the last are the lands of men. (*) 32. Ratatosk is the squirrel who there shall run On the ash-tree Yggdrasil; From above the words of the eagle he bears, And tells them to Nithhogg beneath. (*) 33. Four harts there are, that the highest twigs Nibble with necks bent back; Dain and Dvalin, -lacuna- Duneyr and Dyrathror. (*) 34. More serpents there are beneath the ash Than an unwise ape would think; Goin and Moin, Grafvitnir’s sons, Grabak and Grafvolluth, Ofnir and Svafnir shall ever, methinks, Gnaw at the twigs of the tree. (*) 35. Yggdrasil’s ash great evil suffers, Far more than men do know; The hart bites its top, its trunk is rotting, And Nithhogg gnaws beneath. 36. Hrist and Mist bring the horn at my will, Skeggjold and Skogul; Hild and Truth, Hlok and Herfjotur, Gol and Geironul, Randgrith and Rathgrith and Reginleif Beer to the warriors bring. (*) 37. Arvak and Alsvith up shall drag Weary the weight of the sun; But an iron cool have the kindly gods Of yore set under their yokes. (*) 38. In front of the sun does Svalin stand, The shield for the shining god; Mountains and sea would be set in flames If it fell from before the sun. (*) 39. Skoll is the wolf that to Ironwood Follows the glittering god, And the son of Hrothvitnir, Hati, awaits The burning bride of heaven. (*) 40. Out of Ymir’s flesh was fashioned the earth, And the ocean out of his blood; Of his bones the hills, of his hair the trees, Of his skull the heavens high. (*) 41. Mithgarth the gods from his eyebrows made, And set for the sons of men; And out of his brain the baleful clouds They made to move on high. 42. His the favour of Ull and of all the gods Who first in the flames will reach; For the house can be seen by the sons of the gods If the kettle aside were cast. 43. In days of old did Ivaldi’s sons Skithblathnir fashion fair, The best of ships for the bright god Freyr, The noble son of Njorth. (*) 44. The best of trees must Yggdrasil be, Skithblathnir best of boats; Of all the gods is Othin the greatest, And Sleipnir the best of steeds; Bilrost of bridges, Bragi of skalds, Hobrok of hawks, and Garm of hounds. (*) 45. To the race of gods my face have I raised, And the wished-for aid have I waked; For to all the gods has the message gone That sit in Ægir’s seats, That drink within Ægir’s doors. 46. Grim is my name, Gangleri am I, Hergan and Hjalmberi, Thekk and Thrithi, Thuth and Uth, Helblind and Hor; (*) 47. Sath and Svipal and Sanngetal, Herteit and Hnikar, Bileyg, Baleyg, Bolverk, Fjolnir, Grim and Grimnir, Glapsvith, Fjolsvith. (*) 48. Sithhott, Sithskegg, Sigfather, Hnikuth, Allfather, Valfather, Atrith, Farmatyr; A single name have I never had Since first among men I fared. (*) 49. Grimnir they call me in Geirröth’s hall, With Asmund Jalk am I; Kjalar I was when I went in a sledge, At the council Thror am I called, As Vithur I fare to the fight, Oski, Biflindi, Jafnhor and Omi, Gondlir and Harbarth midst the gods. (*) 50. I deceived the giant Sokkmimir old As Svithur and Svithrir of yore; Of Mithvitnir’s son the slayer I was When the famed one found his doom. (*) 51. Drunk art thou, Geirröth, too much didst thou drink, -lacuna- And greatly by me art beguiled Much hast thou lost, for help no more From me or my heroes thou hast. (*) 52. Small heed didst thou take to all that I told, And false were the words of thy friends; For now the sword of my friend I see, That waits all wet with blood. 53. They sword-pierced body shall Ygg have soon, for thy life is ended at last; The maids are hostile; now Othin behold! Now come to me if thou canst! (*) 54. Now am I Othin, Ygg was I once, Ere that did they call me Thundr; Vak and Skilfing, Vofuth and Hroptatyr, Gaut and Jalk midst the gods; Ofnir and Svafnir, and all, methinks, Are names for none but me. (*) King Geirröth sat and had his sword on his knee, half drawn from its sheath. But when he heard that Othin was come thither, then he rose up and sought to take Othin from the fire. The sword slipped from his hand, and fell with the hilt down. The king stumbled and fell forward, and the sword pierced him through, and slew him. Then Othin vanished, but Agnar long ruled there as king. Grimnismol Notes: Prose section: This text is found both in Regius and the Arnamagnaean Codex. The story line differs a bit in minor details. Hrauthung is mentioned nowhere else. Geirroth's name is spelled differently in each codex. Hlithskjolf - 'Gate Shelf'. Grimnir - 'Hooded One'. Back 2. The word 'Goths' was applied indiscriminantly to any South Germanic people, including the Burgundians. Back 3. Veratyr - 'Lord of Men'. Back 4. Thruthheim - 'Place of Might', where Thorr has his hall Bilskirnir. Back 5. Ydalir - 'Yew Dales', home of Ull, Sif's son by an earlier husband. Tooth- gift is common practice. Back 6. Valaskjolf - 'Shelf of the Slain', where Hlithskjolf is located. Back 7. Sokkvabekk - 'Sinking Stream'. Back 8. Glathsheim - 'Place of Joy', known as the most beautiful hall in the worlds. Back 11. Thrymheim - 'Home of Clamour', a mountain where Thjazi built his home. Njorth married Thjazi's daughter, Skathi. Back 12. Breithablik - 'Wide-Shining', Baldr's lands and hall. Back 13. Himinbjorg - 'Heaven's Cliffs', Heimdall's dwelling. Back 14. Folkvang - 'Field of the Folk', Freya's hall, Sessrymnir - 'Rich in Seats' is located here. Back 15. Glitnir - 'The Shining', home of Forseti. Snorri says of him, "Forseti is the son of Baldr and Nanna, daughter of Nep. All those who come to him with hard cases to settle go away satisfied; he is the best judge among gods and men." Back 16. Noatun - 'Ship's Haven', home of Njorth. Back 17. Vithi, home of Vithar, known as the forest where this silent son of Othin dwells. Back 18. Eldhrimnir - 'Sooty with Fire', kettle of Valhall, Andhrimnir - 'Sooty- Faced', the cook who prepares the boar Saehrimnir - 'The Blackened'. Back 19. Freki - 'Greedy' and Geri - 'Ravenous'. Heerfather - Othin. Back 20. Mithgarth - 'Middle home'. Hugin - 'Thought', Munin - 'Memory'. Back 21. Thund - 'The Swollen' or 'Roaring', river surrounding Valhall. Thjothvitnir's fish, Sol, pursued by the wolf Skoll. Thjothvitnir - 'Mighty Wolf'. Back 22. Valgrind - 'Death-Gate', outer gate of Valhall. Back 23. These lines are in reversed order in the Regius. Back 24. These lines are considered to be an interpolation, as Bilskirnir is Thor's hall. Back 25. Heithrun, the she goat that lives off the branches of Laerath, by some considered to be the same as Yggdrasil. Back 26. Eikthyrnir - 'Oak Thorned', in other words, having antlers. Hvergelmir - 'Cauldron-Roaring', a spring in Niflheim, beneath the third root of Yggdrasil. Back 27 - 35. These verses are very confused. Back 28. Slith, an ice-cold river flowing from Niflheim to Jotunheimr. Leipt, a river upon which oaths were sworn. Back 29. This stanza looks to be thrown in. Back 30. Glath - 'Joyous', a name for Skinfaxi, Day's horse. Gyllir - 'Golden', Gler - 'Shining', Skeithbrimir - 'Swift-Going', Silfrintopp - 'Silver-Topped', Sinir - 'Sinewy', Gisl - 'Gleaming', Falhofnir - 'Hollow-Hoofed', Golltopp - 'Gold- Topped' (Heimdall's Horse), Lettfeti - 'Light-Feet'. Back 31. It is possible that the lore of the third root is lost. Snorri says of this, "An eagle sits in the branches of the ash-tree, and he is very wise; and between his eyes sits the hawk who is called Vethfolnir." Back 32. Ratatosk - 'Swift-Tusked'. Back 33. Manuscript in bad shape. 'Highest twigs' is a guess. Back 34. Grafvitnir - 'Gnawing Wolf', Grabak - 'Gray Back', Grafvolluth - 'Field- gnawer', Ofnir - 'Bewilderer', Svafnir - 'Sleep-bringer'. These last two are also names for Othin. Back 36. Hrist - 'Shaker', Mist - 'Mist', Skeggjold - 'Ax Time', Skogul - 'Raging', Hild - 'Warrior', Thruth - 'Might', Hlok - 'Shrieking', Herfjotur - 'Host- Fetter', Gol - 'Screaming', Geironul - 'Spear-Bearer', Randgrith - 'Sheild- Bearer', Rathgrith - 'Plan Destroyer', Reginleif - 'Gods' Kin'. Manuscripts vary slightly in spelling hence meaning. Back 37. Arvak - 'Early Waker', Alsvith - 'All-Swift'. Back 38. Svalin - 'The Cooling'. Back 39. Skoll and Hati are the wolves that pursue the sun and moon. Hati is the son of Hrothvitnir - 'Mighty Wolf' (Fenrir). 'Ironwood' is guessed here, the phrase is obscure. Back 40- 41. These are quoted by Snorri but seem to have come from a different source, possibly an older version of the Vafthruthnismol. Back 43-44. These two stanzas are most likely interpolations for they have little to do with the context. Ivaldi - 'Mighty', father of the craftsman dwarves, who made the golden hair for Sif, and Othin's spear Gungnir. Skithblathnir - 'Wooden-Bladed', a ship that could be folded and carried easily. Back 44. One manuscript has a fifth half-line after: "Brimir of swords, -" Bilrost - another version of Bifrost. Hobrok - 'Short Breeches'. Back 46. Most of these lines are changed and rearranged in various manuscripts. Grim - 'Hooded', Gangleri - 'Wanderer', Herjan - 'Ruler', Hjalmberi - 'Helmet- Bearer', Thekk - 'Much-Loved', Thrithi - 'The Third', Helblindi - 'Hel-Binder', in some manuscripts this is Herblindi - 'Host-Blinder', Har/Hor - 'High One'. Back 47. Sath - 'Truthful', Svipal - 'Changing', Sanngetal - 'Truth-Teller', Herteit - 'Glad of the Host', Hnikar - 'The Overthrower', Bileyg - 'Shifty-Eyed', Baleyg - 'Flaming-Eyed', Bolverkr - 'Doer of Ill', Fjolnir - 'Many-Shaped', Grimnir - 'Hooded', Glapsvith - 'Swift in Deceit', Fjolsvith - 'Wide of Wisdom'. Back 48. Sithhott - 'With Broad Hat', Sithskegg - 'Long-Bearded', Sigfather - 'Father of Victory', Hnikuth - 'Overthrower', Valfather - 'Father of the Slain', Atrith - 'The Rider', Farmatyr - 'Helper of Cargoes' (god of sailors). Back 49. Kjalar - 'Ruler of Keels', Oski - 'God of Wishes', Jafnhor - 'Equally High', Omi - 'Shouting', Gondlir - 'Wand-Bearer', Harbarth - 'Grey Beard'. Back 50. Sokkmimir is presumed to be Mithvitnir's son. Back 51. Manuscripts show no lacuna, but some editor's add the line: "Greatly by me are beguiled," Back 53. Ygg - 'The Terrible'. Back 54. Thund - 'Thunderer', Vak - 'Wakeful', Skilfing - 'The Shaker', Vofuth - 'The Wanderer', Hroptatyr - 'Crier of the Gods', Gaut - 'Father'. Back <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Skirnismol Freyr, the son of Njorth, had sat one day in Hlithskjolf, and looked over all the worlds. He looked into Jotunheim, and saw there a fair maiden, as she went from her father’s house to her bower. Forthwith he felt a mighty love- sickness. Skirnir was the name of Freyr’s servant; Njorth bade him ask speech of Freyr. He said: 1. “Go now, Skirnir! and seek to gain Speech from my son; And answer to win, for whom the wise one Is mightily moved.” Skirnir spake: 2. “Ill words do I now await from thy son, If I seek to get speech with him, And answer to win, for whom the wise one Is mightily moved.” Skirnir spake: 3. “Speak prithee, Freyr, foremost of the gods, For now I fain would know; Why sittest thou here in the wide halls, Days long, my prince, alone?” Freyr spake: 4. “How shall I tell thee, thou hero young, Of all my grief so great? Though every day the elfbeam dawns, It lights my longing never.” Skirnir spake: 5. “They longings, methinks, are not so large That thou mayst not tell them to me; Since in days of yore we were young together, We two might each other trust.” Freyr spake: 6. “From Gymir’s house I beheld go forth A maiden dear to me; Her arms glittered, and from their gleam Shown all the sea and sky. 7. “To me more dear than in days of old Was ever maiden to man; But no one of gods or elves will grant That we both together should be.” Ed em 8. (“Hither to me shalt thou bring the maid, And home shalt thou lead her here, If her father wills it or wills it not, And good reward shalt thou get.”) Skirnir spake: 9. “Then give me the horse that goes through the dark And magic flickering flames; And the sword as well that fights of itself Against the giants grim.” Freyr spake: 10. “The horse will I give thee that goes through the dark And magic flickering flames, And the sword as well that will fight of itself If a worthy hero wields it.” Skirnir spake to the horse: 11. “Dark it is without, and I deem it time To fare through the wild fells, (To far through the giants’ fastness;) We shall both come back, or us both together The terrible giant will take.” Skirnir rode into Jotunheim to Gymir’s house. There were fierce dogs bound before the gate of the fence which was around Gerth’s hall. He rode to where a herdsman sat on a hill, and said: 12. “Tell me, herdsman, sitting on the hill, And watching all the ways, How may I win a word with the maid Past the hounds of Gymir here?” The herdsman spake: 13. “Art thou doomed to die or already dead, Thou horseman that ridest hither? Barred from speech shalt thou ever be With Gymir’s daughter good.” Skirnir replied: 14. “Boldness is better than plaints can be For him whose feet must fare; To a destined day has mine age been doomed, And my life’s span thereto laid.” Gerth spake: 15. “What noise is that which now so loud I hear within our house? The ground shakes, and the home of Gymir Around me trembles too.” The Serving-Maid spake: 16. “One stands without who has leapt from his steed, And lets his horse loose to graze;” -lacuna- -lacuna- Gerth spake: 17. “Bid the man come in, and drink good mead Here within our hall; Though this I fear, that there without My brother’s slayer stands. “Art thou of the elves or the offspring of gods, 18. Or of the wise Wanes? How camst thou alone through the leaping flame Thus to behold thy home?” Skirnir spake: “I am not of the elves, nor the offspring of gods, 19. Nor of the wise Wanes, Though I came alone through the leaping flame Thus to behold thy home. “Eleven apples, all of gold, 20. Here will I give thee, Gerth, To buy thy troth that Freyr shall be Deemed to be dearest to you.” Gerth spake: 21. “I will not take at any man’s wish These eleven apples ever; Nor shall Freyr and I one dwelling find So long as we two live.” Skirnir spake: 22. “Then do I bring thee the ring was burned Of old with Othin’s son; From it do eight of like weight fall On every ninth night.” Gerth spake: 23. “The ring I wish not, though burned it was Of old with Othin’s son; In Gymir’s home is no lack of gold In the wealth my father wields.” Skirnir spake: 24. “Seest thou, maiden, this keen, bright sword That I hold here in my hand? Thy head from thy neck shall I straightway hew, If thou wilt not do my will.” Gerth spake: 25. “For no man’s sake will I ever suffer To be thus moved by might; But gladly, methinks, will Gymir seek To fight if he finds thee here.” Skirnir spake: 26. “Seest thou, maiden, this keen, bright sword That I hold here in my hand? Before its blade the old giant bends,- Thy father is doomed to die. “I strike thee, maid, with my magic staff, 27. To tame thee to work my will; There shalt thou go where never again The sons of men shall see thee. 28. “On the eagle’s hill shalt thou ever sit, And gaze on the gates of Hel; (ed em “And look and hanker for Hel;) More loathsome to thee than the light-hued snake To men, shall thy meat become. 29. “Fearful to see, if thou comest forth, Hrimnir will stand and stare, (Men will marvel at thee;) More famed shalt thou grow than the watchman of the gods! Peer forth, then, from thy prison. 30. “Rage and longing, fetters and wrath, Tears and torment are thine; Where thou sittest down my doom is on thee Of heavy heart And double dole. 31. “In the giants’ home shall vile things (kobolds) harm thee Each day with evil deeds; Grief shalt thou get instead of gladness, And sorrow to suffer with tears. 32. “With three-headed giants thou shalt dwell ever, Or never know a husband; (Let longing grip thee, let wasting waste thee,-) Be like to the thistle that in the loft Was cast and there was crushed. 33. “I go to the wood, and to the wet forest, To win a magic wand; -lacuna- I won a magic wand. 34. “Othin grows angry, angered is the best of gods, Freyr shall be thy foe, Most evil maid, who the magic wrath Of gods hast got for thyself. 35. “Give heed, frost-rulers, hear it, giants, Sons of Suttung, And gods, ye too, How I forbid and how I ban The meeting of men with the maid, (The joy of men with the maid.) 36. “Hrimgrimnir is he, the giant who shall have thee In the depth by the doors of Hel; To the frost-giants’ halls each day shalt thou fare, Crawling and craving in vain, (Crawling and having no hope.) 37. “Base wretches there by the root of the tree Will hold for thee horns of filth; A fairer drink shalt thou never find, Maid, to meet thy wish, (Maid, to meet my wish.) 38. “I write thee a charm and three runes therewith, Longing and madness and lust; But what I have writ I may yet unwrite If I find a need therefor.” Gerth spake: 39. “Find welcome rather, and with it take The frost-cup filled with mead; Though I did not believe that I should so love Ever one of the Wanes.” Skirnir spake: 40. “My tiding all must I truly learn Ere homeward hence I ride; How soon thou wilt with the mighty son Of Njorth a meeting make.” Gerth spake: 41. “Barri there is, which we both know well, A forest fair and still; And nine nights hence to the son of Njorth Will Gerth there grant delight.” Then Skirnir rode home. Freyr stood without, and spoke to him, and asked for tidings: 42. “Tell me, Skirnir, ere thou take off the saddle Or farest forward a step; What hast thou done in the giants’ dwelling To make glad thee or me?” Skirnir spake: 43. “Barri there is, which we both know well, A forest fair and still; And nine nights hence to the son of Njorth Will Gerth there grant delight.” Freyr spake: 44. “Long is one night, longer are two; How then shall I bear three? Often to me has a month seemed less Than now half a night of desire.” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Harbarthsjloth Thor was on his way back from a journey in the East, and came to a sound; on the other side of the sound was a ferryman with a boat. Thor called out: 1. "Who is the fellow yonder, on the farther shore of the sound?" The ferryman spake: 2. "What kind of peasant is yon, that calls o'er the bay?" Thor spake: 3. "Ferry me over the sound; I will fee thee therefor in the morning; A basket I have on my back, and food therein, none better; At leisure I ate, ere the house I left, Of herrings and porridge, so plenty I had." The ferryman spake: 4. "Of thy morning feats are thou proud, but the future thou knowest not wholly; Doleful thine home-coming is: thy mother, methinks, is dead." Thor spake: 5. "Now hast thou said what to each must seem The mightiest grief, that my mother is dead." The ferryman spake: 6. "Three good dwellings, methinks, thou hast not; Barefoot thou standest, and wearest a beggar's dress; Not even hose dost thou have." Thor spake: 7. "Steer thou hither the boat; the landing here shall I show thee; But whose craft that thou keepest on the shore?" The ferryman spake: 8. "Hildolf is he who bade me have it, A hero wise; his home is at Rathsey's sound. He bade me no robbers to steer, nor stealers of steeds, But worthy men, and those whom well do I know. Say now thy name, if over the sound thou wilt fare." Thor spake: 9. "My name indeed shall I tell, thou in danger I am, And all my race; I am Othin's son, Meili's brother, and Magni's father, The strong one of the gods; with Thor now speech canst thou get. And now would I know what name thou hast." The ferryman spake: 10. "Harbarth am I, and seldom I hide my name." Thor spake: 11. "Why shouldst thou hide thy name, if quarrel thou hast not?" Harbarth spake: 12. "And thou I had a quarrel, from such as thou art Yet none the less my life would I guard, Unless I be doomed to die." Thor spake: 13. "Great trouble, methinks, would it be to come to thee, To wade the waters across, and wet my middle; Weakling, well shall I pay thy mocking words, If across the sound I come." Harbarth spake: 14. "Here shall I stand and await thee here; Thou hast found since Hrungnir died no fiercer man." Thor spake: 15. "Fain art thou to tell how with Hrungnir I fought, The haughty giant, whose head of stone was made; And yet I felled him, and stretched him before me. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?" Harbarth spake: 16. "Five full winters with Fjolvar was I, And dwelt in the isle that is Algrön called; There could we fight, and fell the slain, Much could we seek, and maids could master." Thor spake: 17. "How won ye success with your women?" Harbarth spake: 18. "Lively women we had, if they wise for us were; Wise were the women we had, if they kind for us were; For ropes of sand they would seek to wind, And the bottom to dig from the deepest dale. Wiser than all in counsel I was, And there I slept by the sisters seven, And joy full great did I get from each. What, Thor, didst thou the while?" Thor spake: 19. "Thjazi I felled, the giant fierce, And I hurled the eyes of Alvaldi's son To the heavens hot above; Of my deeds the mightiest marks are these, That all men can see. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?" Harbarth spake: 20. "Much love-craft I wrought with them who ride by night, When I stole them by stealth from their husbands;' A giant hard was Hlebarth, methinks: His wand he gave me as gift, And I stole his wits away." Thor spake: 21. "Thou didst repay good gifts with evil mind." Harbarth spake: 22. "The oak must have what it shaves from another; In such things each for himself. "What, Thor, didst thou the while?" Thor spake: 23. "Eastward I fared, of the giants I felled Their ill-working women who went to the mountain; And large were the giants' throng if all were alive; No men would there be in Mithgarth more. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?" Harbarth spake: 24. "In Valland I was, and wars I raised, Princes I angered, and peace brought never; The noble who fall in the fight hath Othin, And Thor hath the race of the thralls." Thor spake: 25. "Unequal gifts of men wouldst thou give to the gods, If might too much thou shouldst have." Harbarth spake: 26. "Thor has might enough, but never a heart; For cowardly fear in a glove wast thou fain to crawl, And there forgot thou wast Thor; Afraid there thou wast, thy fear was such, To fart or sneeze lest Fjalar should hear." Thor spake: 27. "Thou womanish Harbarth, to hell would I smite thee straight, Could mine arm reach over the sound." Harbarth spake: 28. "Wherefore reach over the sound, since strife we have none? What, Thor, didst thou do then?" Thor spake: 29. "Eastward I was, and the river I guarded well, Where the sons of Svarang sought me there; Stones did they hurl; small joy did they have of winning; Before me there to ask for peace did they fare. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?" Harbarth spake: 30. "Eastward I was, and spake with a certain one, I played with the linen-white maid, and met her by stealth; I gladdened the gold-decked one, and she granted me joy." Thor spake: 31. "Full fair was thy women-finding." Harbarth spake: 32. "Thy help did I need then, Thor, to hold the white maid fast." Thor spake: 33. "Gladly, had I been there, my help to thee had been given." Harbarth spake: 34. "I might have trusted thee then, didst thou not betray thy troth." Thor spake: 35. "No heel-biter am I, in truth, like an old leather shoe in spring." Harbarth spake: 36. "What, Thor, didst thou the while?" Thor spake: 37. "In Hlesey the brides of the Berserkers slew I; Most evil they were, and all they betrayed." Harbarth spake: 38. "Shame didst thou win, that women thou slewest, Thor." Thor spake: 39. "She-wolves they were like, and women but little; My ship, which well I had trimmed, did they shake; With clubs of iron they threatened, and Thjalfi they drove off. What, Harbarth, didst thou the while?" Harbarth spake: 40. "In the host I was that hither fared, The banners to raise, and the spears to redden." Thor spake: 41. "Wilt thou now say that hatred thou soughtest to bring us?" Harbarth spake: 42. "A ring for thy hand shall make all right for thee, As the judge decides who sets us two at peace." Thor spake: 43. "Where foundest thou so foul and scornful a speech? More foul a speech I never before have heard." Harbarth spake: 44. "I learned it from men, the men so old, Who dwell in the hills of home." Thor spake: 45. "A name full good to heaps of stones thou givest When thou callest them hills of home." Harbarth spake: 46. "Of such things speak I so." Thor spake: 47. "Ill for thee comes thy keeness of tongue, If the water I choose to wade; Louder, I ween, than a wolf thou cryest, If a blow of my hammer thou hast." Harbarth spake: 48. "Sif has a lover at home, and him shouldst thou meet; More fitting it were on him to put forth thy strength." Thor spake: 49. "Thy tongue still makes thee say what seems most ill to me, Thou witless man! Thou liest, I ween." Harbarth spake: 50. "Truth do I speak, but slow on thy way thou art; Far hadst thou gone if now in the boat thou hast fared." Thor spake: 51. "Thou womanish Harbarth! here hast thou held me too long." Harbarth spake: 52. "I though not ever that Asathor would be hindered By a ferryman thus from faring." Thor spake: 53. "One counsel I bring thee now: row hither thy boat; No more of scoffing; set Magni's father across." Harbarth spake: 54. "From the sound go hence; the passage thou hast not." Thor spake: 55. "The way now show me, since thou takest me not o'er the water." Harbarth spake: 56. "To refuse it is little, to fare it is long; A while to the stock, and a while to the stone; Then the road to thy left, til Verland thou reachest; And there shall Fjorgyn her son Thor find, And the road of her children she shows him to Othin's realm." Thor spake: 57. "May I come so far in a day?" Harbarth spake: 58. "With toil and trouble perchance, While the sun still shines, or so I think." Thor spake: 59. "Short now shall be our speech, for thou speakest in mockery only; The passage thou gavest me not I shall pay thee if ever we meet." Harbarth spake: 60. "Get hence where every evil thing shall have thee!" <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Hymiskvitha 1. Of old the gods made feast together And drink they sought ere sated they were; Twigs they shook, and blood they tried: Rich fare in Ægir’s hall they found. 2. The mountain-dweller sat merry as boyhood, But soon like a blinded man he seemed; The son of Ygg gazed in his eyes: “For the gods a feast shalt thou forthwith get.” 3. The word-wielder toil for the giant worked, And so revenge on the gods he sought; He bade Sif’s mate the kettle bring: “Therein for ye all much ale shall I brew.” 4. The far-famed ones could find it not, And the holy gods could get it nowhere; Till in truthful wise did Tyr speak forth, And helpful counsel to Hlorrithi gave. 5. “There dwells to the east of Elivagar Hymir the wise at the end of heaven; A kettle my father fierce doth own, A mighty vessel a mile in depth.” Thor spake: 6. “May we win, dost thou think, this whirler of water?” Tyr spake: 7. “Aye, friend, we can, if cunning we are.” 8. Forward that day with speed they fared, From Asgarth came they to Egil’s home; The goats with horns bedecked he guarded; Then they sped to the hall where Hymir dwelt. 9. The youth found his grandam, that greatly he loathed; And full nine hundred heads she had; But the other fair with gold came forth, And the bright-bowered one brought beer to her son. 10. “Kinsman of giants, beneath the kettle Will I set ye both, ye heroes bold; For many a time my dear-loved mate To guests is wrathful and grim of mind.” 11. Late to his home the misshapen Hymir, The giant harsh, from his hunting came; The icicles rattled as in he came, For the fellow’s chin-forest frozen was. 12. “Hail to thee, Hymir! good thoughts mayst thou have; Here has thy son to thine hall now come; (For him have we waited, he way was long;) And with him fares the foeman of Hroth, The friend of mankind, and Veur they call him. 13. “See where under the gable they sit! Behind the beam do they hide themselves.” The beam at the glance of the giant broke, And the mighty pillars in pieces fell. 14. Eight fell from the ledge, and one alone, The hard-hammered kettle, of all was whole; Forth came they then, and his foes he sought, The giant old, and held with his eyes. 15. Much sorrow his heart foretold when he saw The gaintess’ foeman come forth on the floor; Then of the steers did they bring in three; Their flesh to boil did the giant bid. 16. By a head was each the shorter hewed, And the beasts to the fire straight they bore; The husband of Sif, ere to sleep he went, Alone two oxen of Hymir ate. 17. To the comrade hoary of Hrungnir then Did Hlorrithi’s meal full mighty seem; “Next time at eve we three must eat The food we have as the hunting’s spoil.” 18. -lacuna- Fain to row on the sea was Veur, he said, If the giant bold would give him bait. Hymir spake: 19. “Go to the herd, if thou hast it in mind, Thou slayer of giants, thy bait to seek; For there thou soon mayst find, methinks, Bait from the oxen easy to get.” 20. Swift to the wood the hero went, Till before him an ox all black he found; From the beast the slayer of giants broke The fortress high of his double horns. Hymir spake: 21. “Thy works, methinks, are worse by far, Thou steerer of ships, than when still thou sittest.” -lacuna- -lacuna- 22. The lord of the goats bade the ape-begotten Farther to steer the steed of the rollers; But the giant said that his will, forsooth, Longer to row was little enough. 23. Two whales on his hook did the mighty Hymir Soon pull up on a single cast; In the stern the kinsman of Othin sat, And Veur with cunning his cast prepared. 24. The warder of men, the worm’s destroyer, Fixed on his hook the head of the ox; There gaped at the bait the foe of the gods, The girdler of all the earth beneath. 25. The venomous serpent swiftly up To the boat did Thor, the bold one, pull; With his hammer the loathly hill of the hair Of the brother of Fenrir he smote from above. 26. The monster roared, and the rocks resounded, And all the earth so old was shaken; -lacuna- Then sank the fish in the sea forthwith. 27. -lacuna- Joyless as back they rowed was the giant; Speechless did Hymir sit at the oars, With the rudder he sought a second wind. Hymir spake: 28. “The half of our toil wilt thou have with me, And now make fast our goat of the flood; Or home wilt thou bear the whales to the house, Across the gorge of the wooded glen?” 29. Hlorrithi stood and the stem he gripped, And the sea-horse with water awash he lifted; Oars and bailer and all he bore With the surf-swine home to the giant’s home. 30. His might the giant again would match, For stubborn he was, with the strength of Thor; None truly strong, though stoutly he rowed, Would he call save one who could break the cup. 31. Hlorrithi then, when the cup he held, Struck with the glass the pillars of stone; As he sat the posts in pieces he shattered, Yet the glass to Hymir whole they brought. 32. But the loved on fair of the giant found A counsel true, and told her thought: “Smite the skull of Hymir, heavy with food, For harder it is than ever was glass.” 33. The goats’ mighty ruler then rose on his knee, And with all the strength of a god he struck; Whole was the fellow’s helmet-stem, But shattered the wine-cup rounded was. Hymir spake: 34. “Fair is the treasure that from me is gone, Since now the cup on my knees lies shattered;” So spake the giant: “No more can I say In days to be, ‘Thou art brewed, mine ale.’ 35. “Enough shall it be if out ye can bring Forth from our house the kettle here.” Tyr then twice to move it tried, But before him the kettle twice stood fast. 36. The father of Mothi the rim seized firm, And before it stood on the floor below; Up on his head Sif’s husband raised it, And about his heels the handles clattered. 37. Not long had they fared, ere backwards looked The son of Othin, once more to see; From their caves in the east beheld he coming With Hymir the throng of the many-headed. 38. He stood and cast from his back the kettle, And Mjollnir, the lover of murder, he wielded; -lacuna- So all the whales of the waste he slew. 39. Not long had they fared ere one there lay Of Hlorrithi’s goats half-dead on the ground; In his leg the pole-horse there was lame; The deed the evil of Loki had done. 40. But ye all have heard,- for of them who have The tales of the gods, who better can tell it? - What prize he won from the wilderness-dweller, Who both his children gave him to boot. 41. The mighty one came to the council of gods, And the kettle he had that Hymir’s was; So gladly their ale the gods could drink In Ægir’s hall at the autumn-time. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Lokasenna Loki's Wrangling Ægir, who was also called Gymir, had prepared ale for the gods, after he had got the mighty kettle, as now has been told. To this feast came Othin and Frigg, his wife. Thor came not, as he was on a journey in the East. Sif, Thor's wife was there, and Bragi with Ithun, his wife. Tyr, who had but one hand, was there; the wolf Fenrir had bitten off his other hand when they had bound him. There were Njorth and Skathi his wife, Freyr and Freyja, and Vithar, the son of Othin. Loki was there, and Freyr's servants Byggvir and Beyla. Many were there of the gods and elves. Ægir had two serving-men, Fimafeng and Eldir. Glittering gold they had in place of firelight; the ale came in of itself; and great was the peace. The guests praised much the ability of Ægir's serving-men. Loki might not endure that, and he slew Fimafeng. Then the gods shook their shields and howled at Loki and drove him away to the forest, and thereafter set to drinking again. Loki turned back, and outside he met Eldir. Loki spoke to him: 1. "Speak now, Eldir, for not one step Farther shalt thou fare; What ale-talk here do they have within, The sons of the glorious gods?" Eldir spake: 2. "Of their weapons they talk, and their might in war, The sons of the glorious gods; From the gods and elves who are gathered here No friend in words shalt thou find." Loki spake: 3. "In shall I go into Ægir's hall, For the feast I fain would see; Bale and hatred I bring to the gods, And their mead with venom I mix." Eldir spake; 4. "If in thou goest to Ægir's hall, And fain the feast wouldst see, And with slander and spite wouldst sprinkle the gods, Think well lest they wipe it on thee." Loki spake: 5. "Bethink thee, Eldir, if thou and I Shall strive with spiteful speech; Richer I grow in ready words If thou speakest too much to me." Then Loki went into the hall, but when they who were there saw who had entered, they were all silent. Loki spake: 6. "Thirsty I come into this thine hall, I, Lopt, from a journey long, To ask of the gods that one should give Fair mead for a drink to me. 7. "Why sit ye silent, swollen with pride, Ye gods, and no answer give? At your feast a place and a seat prepare me, Or bid me forth to fare." Bragi spake: 8. "A place and a seat will the gods prepare No more in their midst for thee; For the gods know well what men they wish To find at their mighty feasts." Loki spake: 9. "Remember, Othin, in olden days That we both our blood have mixed; Then didst thou promise no ale to pour, Unless it were brought for us both." Othin spake: 10. "Stand forth then, Vithar, and let the wolf's father Find a seat at our feast; Lest evil should Loki speak aloud Here within Ægir's hall." Then Vithar arose and poured drink for Loki; but before he drank he spoke to the gods: 11. "Hail to you, gods! ye goddesses, hail! Hail to the holy throng! Save for the god who yonder sits, Bragi there on the bench." Bragi spake: 12. "A horse and a sword from my hoard will I give, And a ring gives Bragi to boot, That hatred thou makst not among the gods; So rouse not the great ones to wrath." Loki spake: 13. "In horses and rings thou shalt never be rich, Bragi, but both shalt thou lack; Of the gods and elves here together met Least brave in battle art thou, (And shyest thou art of the shot.)" Bragi spake: 14. "Now were I without as I am within, And here in Ægir's hall, Thine head would I bear And pay thee the price of thy lies." Loki spake: 15. "In thy seat art thou bold, not so are thy deeds, Bragi, adorner of benches! Go out and fight if angered thou feelest, No hero such forethought has." Ithun spake: 16. "Well, prithee, Bragi, his kinship weigh, Since chosen as wish-son he was; And speak not to Loki such words of spite Here within Ægir's hall." Loki spake: 17. "Be silent, Ithun! thou art, I say, Of women most lustful in love, Since thou thy washed-bright arms didst wind About thy brother's slayer." Ithun spake: 18. "To Loki I speak not with spiteful words Here within Ægir's hall; And Bragi I calm, who is hot with beer, For I wish not that fierce they should fight." Gefjun spake: 19. "Why, ye gods twain, with bitter tongues Raise hate among us here? Loki is famed for his mockery foul, And the dwellers in heaven he hates." Loki spake: 20. "Be silent, Gefjun! for now shall I say Who led thee to evil life; The boy so fair gave a necklace bright, And about him thy leg was laid." Othin spake: 21. "Mad art thou, Loki, and little of wit, The wrath of Gefjun to rouse; For the fate that is set for all she sees, Even as I, methinks." Loki spake: 22. "Be silent, Othin! not justly thou settest The fate of the fight among men; Oft gavest thou to him who deserved not the gift, To the baser, the battle's prize." Othin spake: 23. "Though I gave to him who deserved not the gift, To the baser, the battle's prize; Winters eight wast thou under the earth, Milking cows as a maid, (Ay, and babes didst thou bear; Unmanly thy soul must seems.)" Loki spake: 24. "They say that with spells in Samsey once Like witches with charms didst thou work; And in witch's guise among men didst thou go; Unmanly thy soul must seem." Frigg spake: 25. "Of the deeds ye two of old have done Ye should make no speech among men; Whate'er ye have done in days gone by, Old tales should ne'er be told." Loki spake: 26. "Be silent, Frigg! thou art Fjorgyn's wife, But ever lustful in love; For Vili and Ve, thou wife of Vithrir, Both in thy bosom have lain." Frigg spake: 27. "If a son like Baldr were by me now, Here within Ægir's hall, From the sons of the gods thou shouldst go not forth Till thy fierceness in fight were tried." Loki spake: 28. "Thou wilt then, Frigg, that further I tell Of the ill that now I know; Mine is the blame that Baldr no more Thou seest ride home to the hall." Freyja spake: 29. "Mad art thou, Loki, that known thou makest The wrong and shame thou hast wrought; The fate of all does Frigg know well, Though herself she says it not." Loki spake: 30. "Be silent, Freyja! for fully I know thee, Sinless thou art not thyself; Of the gods and elves who are gathered here, Each one as thy lover has lain." Freyja spake: 31. "False is thy tongue, and soon shalt thou find That it sings thee an evil song; The gods are wroth, and the goddesses all, And in grief shalt thou homeward go." Loki spake: 32. "Be silent, Freyja! thou foulest witch, And steeped full sore in sin; In the arms of thy brother the bright gods caught thee When Freyja her wind set free." Njorth spake: 33. "Small ill does it work though a woman may have A lord or a lover or both; But a wonder it is that this womanish god Comes hither, though babes he has borne." Loki spake: 34. "Be silent, Njorth; thou was eastward sent, To the gods as a hostage given; And the daughters of Hymir their privy had When use did they make of thy mouth." Njorth spake: 35. "Great was my gain, though long was I gone, To the gods as a hostage given; The son did I have whom no man hates, And foremost of gods is found." Loki spake: 36. "Give heed now, Njorth, nor boast too high, No longer I hold it hid; With thy sister hadst thou so fair a son, Thus hadst thou no worse a hope." Tyr spake: 37. "Of the heroes brave is Freyr the best Here in the home of the gods; He harms not maids nor the wives of men, And the bound from their fetters he frees." Loki spake: 38. "Be silent, Tyr! for between two men Friendship thou ne'er couldst fashion; Fain would I tell how Fenrir once Thy right hand rent from thee." Tyr spake: 39. "My hand do I lack, but Hrothvitnir thou, And the loss brings longing to both; Ill fares the wolf who shall ever await In fetters the fall of the gods." Loki spake: 40. "Be silent, Tyr! for a son with me Thy wife once chanced to win; Not a penny, methinks, wast thou paid for the wrong, Nor wast righted an inch, poor wretch." Freyr spake: 41. "By the mouth of the river the wolf remains Till the gods to destruction go; Thou too shalt soon, if thy tongue is not stilled, Be fettered, thou forger of ill." Loki spake: 42. "The daughter of Gymir with gold didst thou buy, And sold thy sword to boot; But when Muspell's sons through Myrkwood ride, Thou shalt weaponless wait, poor wretch." Byggvir spake: 43. "Had I birth so famous as Ingunar-Freyr, And sat in so lofty a seat, I would crush to marrow this croaker of ill, And beat all his body to bits." Loki spake: 44. "What little creature goes crawling there, Snuffling and snapping about? At Freyr's ears ever wilt thou be found, Or muttering hard at the mill." Byggvir spake: 45. "Byggvir my name, and nimble am I, As gods and men do grant; And here am I proud that the children of Hropt Together all drink ale." Loki spake: 46. "Be silent, Byggvir! thou never couldst set Their shares of the meat for men; Hid in straw on the floor, they found thee not When heroes were fain to fight." Heimdall spake: 47. "Drunk art thou, Loki, and mad are thy deeds, Why, Loki, leavst thou this not? For drink beyond measure will lead all men No thought of their tongues to take." Loki spake: 48. "Be silent, Heimdall! in days long since Was an evil fate for thee fixed; With back held stiff must thou ever stand, As warder of heaven to watch." Skathi spake: 49. "Light art thou, Loki, but longer thou mayst not In freedom flourish thy tail; On the rocks the gods bind thee with bowels torn Forth from thy frost-cold son." Loki spake: 50. "Though on rocks the gods bind me with bowels torn Forth from my frost-cold son, I was first and last at the deadly fight There where Thjazi we caught." Skathi spake: 51. "Wert thou first and last at the deadly fight There where Thjazi was caught, From my dwellings and fields shall ever come forth A counsel cold for thee." Loki spake: 52. "More lightly thou spakest with Laufey's son When thou badst me come to thy bed; Such things must be known if now we two Shall seek our sins to tell." Then Sif came forward and poured mead for Loki in a crystal cup, and said: 53. "Hail to thee, Loki, and take thou here The crystal cup of old mead; For me at least, alone of the gods, Blameless thou knowest to be." He took the horn, and drank therefrom: 54. "Alone thou wert if truly thou wouldst All men so shyly shun; But one do I know full well, methinks, Who had thee from Hlorrithi's arms, - (Loki the crafty in lies.)" Beyla spake: 55. "The mountains shake, and surely I think From his home comes Hlorrithi now; He will silence the man who is slandering here Together both gods and men." Loki spake: 56. "Be silent, Beyla! thou art Byggvir's wife, And deep art thou steeped in sin; A greater shame to the gods came ne'er, Befouled thou art with thy filth." Then came Thor forth, and spake: 57. "Unmanly one, cease, or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; Thy shoulder-cliff shall I cleave from thy neck, And so shall thy life be lost." Loki spake: 58. "Lo, in has come thy son of Earth: Why threaten so loudly, Thor? Less fierce thou shalt go to fight with the wolf When he swallows Sigfather up." Thor spake: 59. "Unmanly one, cease, or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; I shall hurl thee up and out in the East, Where men shall see thee no more." Loki spake: 60. "That thou hast fared on the East-road forth To men shouldst thou say no more; In the thumb of a glove didst thou hide, thou great one, And there forgot thou wast Thor." Thor spake: 61. "Unmanly one, cease, or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth; My right hand shall smite thee with Hrugnir's slayer, Till all thy bones are broken." Loki spake: 62. "A long time still do I think to live, Though thou threatenest thus with thy hammer; Rough seemed the straps of Skrymir's wallet, When thy meat thou mightest not get, (And faint from hunger didst feel.)" Thor spake: 63. "Unmanly one, cease, or the mighty hammer, Mjollnir, shall close thy mouth, The slayer of Hrugnir shall send thee to Hel, And down to the gate of death." Loki spake: 64. "I have said to the gods and the sons of the gods The things that whetted my thoughts; But before thee alone do I now go forth, For thou fightest well, I ween. 65. "Ale hast thou brewed, but, Ægir, now Such feasts shalt thou make no more; O'er all that thou hast which is here within Shall play the flickering flames, (And thy back shall be burnt with fire.)" And after that Loki hid himself in Franang's waterfall in the guise of a salmon, and there the gods took him. He was bound with the bowels of his son Vali, but his son Narfi was changed to a wolf. Skathi took a poison-snake and fastened it up over Loki's face, and the poison dropped thereon. Sigyn, Loki's wife, sat there and held a shell under the poison, but when the shell was full she bore away the poison, and meanwhile the poison dropped on Loki. Then he struggled so hard that the whole earth shook therewith; and now that is called an earthquake. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Thrymskvitha 1. Wild was Vingthor when he awoke, And when his mighty hammer he missed; he shook his beard, his hair was bristling, As the son of Jorth about him sought. 2. Hear now the speech that first he spake: "Harken, Loki, and heed my words, Nowhere on earth is it known to man, Nor in heaven above: our hammer is stolen." 3. To the dwelling fair of Freya went they, Hear now the speech that first he spake: "Wilt thou, Freya, thy feather-dress lend me, That so my hammer I may seek?" Freya spake: 4. "Thine should it be though of silver bright, And I would give it though ‘twere of gold." Then Loki flew, and the feather-dress whirred, Till he left behind him the home of the gods, And reached at last the realm of the giants. 5. Thrym sat on a mound, the giants' master, Leashed of gold he laid for his dogs, And stroked and smoothed the manes of his steeds. Thrym spake: 6. "How fare the gods, how fare the elves? Why comst thou alone to the giants' land?" Loki spake: 7. "Ill fare the gods, ill fare the elves! Hast thou hidden Hlorrithi's hammer?" Thrym spake: 8. "I have hidden Hlorrithi's hammer, Eight miles down deep in the earth; And back again shall no man bring it If Freya I win not to be my wife." 9. Then Loki flew, and the feather-dress whirred, Till he left behind him the home of the giants, And reached at last the realm of the gods. There in the courtyard Thor he met: Hear now the speech that first he spoke: 10. "Hast thou found tidings as well as trouble? Thy news in the air shalt thou utter now; Oft doth the sitter his story forget, And lies he speaks who lays himself down." Loki spake: 11. "Trouble I have, and tidings as well: Thrym, king of the giants, keeps thy hammer, And back again shall no man bring it If Freya he wins not to be his wife." 12. Freyja the fair then went they to find; Hear now the speech that first he spake: "Bind on, Freyja, the bridle veil, For we two must haste to the giants' home." 13. Wrathful was Freyja, and fiercely she snorted, And the dwelling great of the gods was shaken, And burst was the mighty Brisings' necklace: "Most lustful indeed should I look to all If I journyed with thee to the giants' home." 14. Then were the gods together met, And the goddesses came and council held, And the far-famed ones a plan would fine, How they might Hlorrithi's hammer win. 15. Then Heimdall spake, whitest of the gods, Like the Wanes he knew the future well: "Bind we on Thor the bridal veil, Let him bear the mighty Brisings' necklace; 16. "Keys around him let there rattle, And down to his knees hang woman's dress; With gems full broad upon his breast, And a pretty cap to crown his head." 17. Then Thor the mighty his answer made: "Me would the gods unmanly all If I let bind the bridle veil." 18. Then Loki spake, the son of Laufey: "Be silent, Thor, and speak not thus; Else will the giants in Asgarth dwell If thy hammer is brought not home to thee." 19. Then bound they on Thor the bridal veil, And next the mighty Brisings' necklace. 20. Keys around him let they rattle, And down to his knees hung woman's dress; With gems full broad upon his breast, And a pretty cap to crown his head. 21. Then Loki spake, the son of Laufey: "As thy maid-servant thither I go with thee; We two shall haste to the giants' home." 22. Then home the goats to the hall were driven, They wrenched at the halters, swift were they to run; The mountains burst, earth burned with fire, And Othin's son sought Jotunheim. 23. Then loud spake Thrym, the giants' leader: "Bestir ye, giants, put straw on the benches; Now Freyja they bring to be my bride, The daughter of Njorth out of Noatun. 24. "Gold-horned cattle go to my stables, Jet-black oxen, the giant's joy; Many my gems, and many my jewels, Freyja alone did I lack, methinks." 25. Early it was to evening come, And forth was borne the beer for the giants; Thor alone ate an ox, and eight salmon, All the dainties as well that were set for the women; And drank Sif's mate three tuns of mead. 26. Then loud spake Thrym, the giants' leader; "Who ever saw bride more keenly bite? I ne'er saw bride with a broader bite, Nor a maiden who drank more mead than this!" 27. Hard by there sat the serving-maid wise, So well she answered the giant's words: "From food has Freyja eight nights fasted, So hot was her longing for Jotunheim." 28. Thrym looked ‘neath the veil, for he longed to kiss, But back he leaped the length of the hall: "Why are so fearful the eyes of Freyja? Fire, methinks, from her eyes burns forth." 29. Hard by there sat the serving-maid wise, So well she answered the giant's words: "No sleep has Freyja for eight nights found, So hot was her longing for Jotunheim." 30. Soon came the giant's luckless sister, Who feared not to ask the bridal fee: "From thy hands the rings of red gold take, If thou wouldst win my willing love, (My willing love and welcome glad.)" 31. Then loud spake Thrym, the giants' leader: "Bring in the hammer to hallow the bride; On the maiden's knees let Mjollnir lie, That us both the hand of Vor may bless." 32. The heart in the breast of Hlorrithi laughed When the hard-souled one his hammer beheld; First Thrym, the king of the giants, he killed, Then all the folk of the giants he felled. 33. The giant's sister old he slew, She who had begged the bridal fee; A stroke she got in the shillings' stead, And for many rings the might of the hammer. 34. And so his hammer got Othin's son. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Alvissmol Alvis spake: 1. "Now shall the bride my benches adorn, And homeward haste forthwith; Eager for wedlock to all shall I seem, Nor at home shall they rob me of rest." Thor spake: 2. "What, pray, art thou? Why so pale round the nose? By the dead hast thou lain of late? To a giant like dost thou look, methinks; Thou was not born for the bride." Alvis spake: 3. "Alvis am I, and under the earth My home 'neath the rocks I have; With the wagon-guider a word do I seek; Let the gods their bond not break." Thor spake: 4. "Break it shall I, for over the bride Her father has foremost right; At home was I not when the promise thou hadst, And I give her alone of the gods." Alvis spake: 5. "What hero claims such right to hold O'er the bride that shines so bright? Not many will know thee, thou wandering man! Who was bought with rings to bear thee?" Thor spake: 6. "Vingthor, the wanderer wide, am I, And I am Sithgrani's son; Against my will shalt thou get the maid, And win the marriage word." Alvis spake: 7. "Thy good-will now shall I quickly get, And win the marriage word; I long to have, and I would not lack, This snow-white maid for mine." 8. Ed emm; /"Ask then, Vingthor, since eager thou art The lore of the dwarf to learn, Oft have I fared in the nine worlds all, And wide is my wisdom of each."/ Thor spake: 9. "The love of the maid I may not keep thee From winning, thou guest so wise, If of every world thou canst tell me all That now I wish to know. 10. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the earth, that lies before all, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 11. "'Earth' to men, 'Field' to the gods it is, 'The Ways' is it called by the Wanes; 'Ever Green' by the giants, 'The Grower' by elves, 'The Moist' by the holy ones high." Thor spake: 12. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the heaven, beheld of the high one, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 13. "'Heaven' men call it, 'The Height' the gods, The Wanes 'The Weaver of Winds'; Giants 'The Up-World,' elves 'The Fair-Roof,' The dwarfs 'The Dripping Hall.'" Thor spake: 14. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the moon, that men behold, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 15. "'Moon' with men, 'Flame' the gods among, 'The Wheel' in the house of hell; 'The Goer' the giants, 'The Gleamer' the dwarfs, The elves 'The Teller of Time.'" Thor spake: 16. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the sun, that all men see, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 17. "Men call it 'Sun,' gods 'Orb of the Sun,' 'The Deceiver of Dvalin' the dwarfs; The giants 'The Ever-Bright,' elves 'Fair Wheel,' 'All-Glowing' the sons of the gods." Thor spake: 18. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the clouds, that keep the rains, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 19. "'Clouds' men name them, 'Rain-Hope' gods call them, The Wanes call them 'Kites of the Wind'; 'Water-Hope' giants, 'Weather-Might' elves, 'The Helmet of Secrets' in Hel." Thor spake: 20. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the wind, that widest fares, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 21. "'Wind' do men call it, the gods 'The Waverer,' 'The Neigher' the holy ones high; 'The Wailer' the giants, 'Roaring Wender' the elves, In Hel 'The Blustering Blast'" ed emm /In Hel 'The Pounder'/ Thor spake: 22. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the calm, that quiet lies, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 23. "'Calm' men call it, 'The Quiet' the gods, The Wanes 'The Hush of the Winds'; 'The Sultry' the giants, elves 'Day's Stillness,' The dwarfs 'The Shelter of Day.'" Thor spake: 24. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the sea, whereon men sail, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 25. "'Sea' men call it, gods 'The Smooth-Lying,' 'The Wave' is it called by the Wanes; 'Eel-Home' the giants, 'Drink-Stuff' the elves, For the dwarfs its name is 'The Deep.'" Thor spake: 26. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the fire, that flames for men, In each of all the worlds?" Alvis spake: 27. "'Fire' men call it, and 'Flame' the gods, By the Wanes is it 'Wildfire' called; 'The Biter' by giants, 'The Burner' by dwarfs, 'The Swift' in the house of Hel." Thor spake: 28. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the wood, that grows for mankind, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 29. "Men call it 'The Wood,' gods 'The Mane of the Field,' 'Seaweed of Hills' in Hel; 'Flame-Food' the giants, 'Fair-Limbed' the elves, 'The Wand' is it called by the Wanes." Thor spake: 30. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the night, the daughter of Nor, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 31. "'Night' men call it, 'Darkness' gods name it, 'The Hood' the holy ones high; The giants 'The Lightless,' ed emm/ 'The Unsorrowing'/ the elves 'Sleep's Joy,' The dwarfs 'The Weaver of Dreams.'" Thor spake: 32. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the seed, that is sown by men, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 33. "Men call it 'Grain,' and 'Corn' the gods, 'Growth' in the world of Wanes; 'The Eaten' by giants, 'Drink-Stuff' by elves, In Hel 'The Slender Stem.'" Thor spake: 34. "Answer me, Alvis! thou knowest all, Dwarf, of the doom of men: What call they the ale, that is quaffed of men, In each and every world?" Alvis spake: 35. "'Ale' among men, 'Beer' the gods among, In the world of the Wanes 'The Foaming'; 'Bright Draught' with the giants, 'Mead' with dwellers in Hel, 'The Feast-Draught' with Suttung's sons." Thor spake: 36. "In a single breast I never have seen More wealth of wisdom old; But with treacherous wiles must I now betray thee: The day has caught thee, dwarf! (Now the sun shines here in the hall.)" <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Baldrs Draumar 1. Once were the gods together met, And the goddesses came and council held, And the far-famed ones the truth would find, Why baleful dreams to Baldr had come. 2. Then Othin rose, the enchanter old, And the saddle he laid on Sleipnir's back; Thence rode he down to Niflhel deep, And the hound he met that came from hell. 3. Bloody he was on his breast before, At the father of magic he howled from afar; Froward rode Othin, the earth resounded Till the house so high of Hel he reached. 4. Then Othin rode to the eastern door, There, he knew well, was the wise-woman's grave; Magic he spoke and mighty charms, Till spell-bound she rose, and in death she spoke: 5. "What is the man, to me unknown, That has made me travel the troublous road? I was snowed on with snow, and smitten with rain, And drenched with dew; long was I dead." Othin spake: 6. "Vegtam my name, I am Valtam's son; Speak thou of hel, for of heaven I know; For whom are the benches bright with rings, And the platforms gay bedecked with gold?" 7. The Wise-Woman spake: "Here for Baldr the mead is brewed, The shining drink, and a shield lied o'er it; But their hope is gone from the mighty gods. Unwilling I spake, and now would be still." Othin spake: 8. "Wise-woman, cease not! I seek from thee All to know that I fain would ask; Who shall the bane of Baldr become, And steal the life from Othin's son?" 9. The Wise-Woman spake: "Hoth thither bears the far-famed branch, He shall the bane of Baldr become, And steal the life from Othin's son. Unwilling I spake, and now would be still." Othin spake: 10. "Wise-woman, cease not! I seek from thee All to know that I fain would ask: Who shall vengeance win for the evil work, Or bring to the flames the slayer of Baldr?" The Wise-Woman spake: 11. "Rind bears Vali in Vestrsalir, And one night old fights Othin's son; His hands he shall wash not, his hair he shall comb not, Till the slayer of Baldr he brings to the flames. Unwilling I spake, and now would be still." Othin spake: 12. "Wise-woman, cease no I seek from thee All to know that I fain would ask: What maidens are they who then shall weep And toss to the sky the yards of sails?" 13. The Wise-Woman spake: "Vegtam thou art not, as erstwhile I thought; Othin thou art, the enchanter old." Othin spake: 14. "No wise-woman art thou, nor wisdom hast; Of giants three the mother art thou." The Wise-Woman spake: 15. "Home ride, Othin, be ever proud; For no one of men shall seek me more Till Loki wanders loose from his bonds, And to the last strife the destroyers come." <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Rigsthul They tell in old stories that one of the gods, whose name was Heimdall, went on his way along a certain seashore, and came to a dwelling, where he called himself Rig. According to these stories is the following poem: 1. Men say there went by ways so green Of old the god, the ages and wise, Mighty and strong did Rig go striding. -assumed lacuna- 2. Forward he went on the midmost way, He came to a dwelling, a door on its posts; In did he fare, on the floor was a fire, Two hoary ones by the hearth there sat, Ai and Edda, in olden dress. 3. Rig knew well wise words to speak, Soon in the midst of the room he sat, And on either side the others were. 4. A loaf of bread did Edda bring, Heavy and thick and swollen with husks; Forth on the table she sat the fare, And broth for the meal in a bowl there was. (Calf’s flesh boiled was the best of dainties.) 5. Rig knew well wise words to speak, Thence did he rise, made ready to sleep; Soon in the bed himself did he say, And on either side the others were. 6. Thus was he there for three nights long, Then forward he went on the midmost way, And so nine months were soon passed by. 7. A son bore Edda, with water they sprinkled him, With a cloth his hair so black they covered; Thraell they named him, -lacuna- 8. The skin was wrinkled and rough on his hands, Knotted his knuckles, -lacuna- ed em /and rough his nails/ Thick his fingers, and ugly his face, Twisted his back, and big his heels. 9. He began to grow, and to gain in strength, Soon of his might good use he made With bast he bound, and burdens carried, Home bore faggots the whole day long. 10. One came to their home, crooked her legs, Stained were her feet, and sunburned her arms, Flat was her nose; her name was Thir. 11. Soon in the midst of the room she sat, By her side there sat the son of the house; They whispered both, and the bed made ready, Thraell and Thir, till the day was through. 12. Children they had, they lived and were happy, Fjosnir and Klur they were called, methinks, Hreim and Kleggi, Kefsir, Fulnir, Drumb, Digraldi, Drott and Leggjaldi, Lut and Hosvir; the house they cared for, Ground they dunged, and swine they guarded, Goats they tended, and turf they dug. 13. Daughters had they, Drumba and Kumba, Okkvinkalfa, Arinnefja, Ysja and Ambott, Eikintjasna, Totrughypja and Tronubeina; And thence has risen the race of thralls. 14. Forward went Rig, his road was straight, To a hall he came, and a door there hung; In did he fare, on the floor was a fire: Afi and Amma owned the house. 15. There sat the twain, and worked at their tasks; The man hewed wood for the weaver’s beam; His beard was trimmed, o’er his brow a curl, His clothes fitted close; in the corner a chest. 16. The woman sat and the distaff wielded, At the weaving with arms outstretched she worked; On her head was a band, on her breast a smock; On her shoulders a kerchief with clasps there was. 17. Rig knew well wise words to speak, Soon in the midst of the room he sat, And on either side the others were. 18. Then took Amma -lacuna- The vessels full with the fare she sat, Calf’s flesh boiled was the best of dainties. 19. Rig knew well wise words to speak, He rose from the board, made ready to sleep; Soon in the bed himself did lay, And on either side the others were. 20. Thus was he there for three nights long, Then forward he went on the midmost way, And so nine months were soon passed by. 21. A son bore Amma, with water they sprinkled him, Karl they named him; in a cloth she wrapped him, He was ruddy of face, and flashing his eyes. 22. He began to grow, and to gain in strength, Oxen he ruled, and plows made ready, Houses he built, and barns he fashioned, Carts he made, and the plow he managed. 23. Home did they bring the bride for Karl, In goatskins clad, and keys she bore; Snor was her name, ‘neath the veil she sat; A home they made ready, and rings exchanged, The bed they decked, and a dwelling made. 24. Sons they had, the lived and were happy; Hal and Dreng, Holth, Thegn and Smith, Breith and Bondi, Bundinskeggi, Bui and Boddi, Brattskegg and Segg. 25. Daughters they had, and their names are here: Snot, Bruth, Svanni, Svarri, Sprakki, Fljoth, Sprund and Vif, Feima, Ristil: And thence has risen the yeoman’s race. 26. Thence went Rig, his road was straight, A hall he saw, the doors faced south; The portal stood wide, on the posts was a ring, Then in he fared; the floor was strewn. 27. Within two gazed in each other’s eyes, Fathir and Mothir, and played with their fingers; There sat the house-lord, wound strings for the bow, Shafts he fashioned, and bows he shaped. 28. The lady sat, at her arms she looked, She smoothed the cloth, and fitted the sleeves; Gay was her cap, on her breast were clasps, Broad was her train, of blue her gown. Her brows were bright, her breast was shining, Whiter her neck than new-fallen snow. 29. Rig knew well wise words to speak, Soon in the midst of the room he sat, And on either side the others were. 30. Then Mothir brought a broidered cloth, Of linen bright, and the board she covered; And then she took the loaves so thin, And laid them, white from the wheat, on the cloth. 31. Then forth she brought the vessels full, With silver covered, and set before them, Meat all browned, and well-cooked birds; In the pitcher was wine, of plate were the cups, So drank they and talked till the day was gone. 32. Rig knew well wise words to speak, Soon did he rise, made ready to sleep; So in the bed himself did lay, And on either side the others were. 33. Thus was he there for three nights long, Then forward he went on the midmost way, And so nine months were soon passed by. 34. A son had Mothir, in silk they wrapped him, With water they sprinkled him, Jarl he was; Blond was his hair, and bright his cheeks, Grim as a snake’s were his glowing eyes. 35. To grow in the house did Jarl begin, Shields he brandished, and bow-strings wound, Bows he shot, and shafts he fastened, Arrows he loosened, and lances wielded, Horses he rode, and hounds unleashed, Swords he handled, and sounds he swam. Straight from the grove came striding Rig, Rig came striding, and runes he taught him; By his name he called him, as son he claimed him, And bade him hold his heritage wide, His heritage wide, the ancient homes. 36. -lacuna- Forward he rode through the forest dark, O’er the frosty crags, till a hall he found. 37. His spear he shook, his shield he brandished, His horse he spurred, with his sword he hewed; Wars he raised, and reddened the field, Warriors slew he, and land he won. 38. Eighteen halls ere long did he hold, Wealth did he get, and gave to all, Stones and jewels and slim-flanked steeds, Rings he offered, and arm-rings shared. 39. His messengers went by the ways so wet, And came to the hall where Hersir dwelt; His daughter was fair and slender-fingered, Erna the wise the maiden was. 40. Her hand they sought, and home they brought her, Wedded to Jarl the veil she wore; Together they dwelt, their joy was great, Children they had, and happy they lived. 41. Bur was the eldest, and Barn the next, Joth and Athal, Arfi, Mog, Nith and Svein, soon they began- Sun and Nithjung- to play and swim; Kund was one, and the youngest Kon. 42. Soon grew up the sons of Jarl, Beasts they tamed, and bucklers rounded, Shafts they fashioned, and spears they shook. 43. But Kon the Young learned runes to use, Runes everlasting, the runes of life; Soon could he well the warriors shield, Dull the swordblade, and still the seas. 44. Bird-chatter learned he, flames could he lessen, Minds could quiet, and sorrows calm; -lacuna- The might and strength of twice four men. 45. With Rig-Jarl soon the runes he shared, More crafty he was, and greater his wisdom; The right he sought, and soon he won it, Rig to be called, and runes to know. 46. Young Kon rode forth through forest and grove, Shafts let loose, and birds he lured; There spake a crow on a bough that sat: “Why lurest thou, Kon, the birds to come? 47. “Twere better forth on thy steed to fare, -lacuna- /the sword to wield/ and the host to slay. 48. “The halls of Dan and Danp are noble, Greater their wealth than thou hast gained; Good are they at guiding the keel, Trying of weapons, and giving of wounds.” (Kon the Young is a play on Konungur, King.) <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Hyndluljoth This is found in neither of the larger manuscripts of the Poetic Edda, but is included in the Flateyjarbok, which was put together around 1400. The two ‘sections’ of which the Hyndluljoth is comprised are not well put together, one, of 51 lines, the ‘Short Voluspo’, which appears to have originated around the twelfth century, is clumsily thrust into the middle of the other. Neither section is anything but confused in its facts, the ‘Short Voluspo’ being a poor rendering of the Voluspo itself. Freya spake: 1. “Maiden, awake! wake thee, my friend, My sister Hyndla, in thy hollow cave! Already comes darkness, and ride must we To Valhall to seek the sacred hall. 2. “The favour of Heerfather seek we to find, To his followers god he gladly gives; To Hermoth gave he helm and mail-coat, And to Sigmund he gave a sword as gift. 3. “Triumph to some, and treasure to others, To many wisdom and skill in words, Fair winds to the sailor, to the singer his art, And a manly heart to many a hero. 4. “Thor shall I honour, and this shall I ask, That his favour true mayst thou ever find; -lacuna- Though little the brides of the giants he loves. 5. “From the stall now one of thy wolves lead forth, And along with my boar shalt thou let him run; For slow my boar goes on the road of the gods, And I would not weary my worthy steed.” Hyndla spake: 6. “Falsely thou askest men, Freyja, to go, For so in the glance of thine eyes I see; On the way of the slain thy lover goes with thee, Ottar the young, the son of Instein.” Freya spake: 7. “Wild dreams, methinks, are thine when thou sayest My lover is with me on the way of the slain; there shines the boar with bristles of gold, Hildisvini, he who was made By Dain and Nabbi, the cunning dwarfs. 8. “Now let us down from our saddles leap, And talk of the race of the heroes twain; The men who were born of the gods above, -lacuna?- 9. “A wager have made in the foreign metal Ottar the young and Angantyr; We must guard, for the hero young to have, His father’s wealth, the fruits of his race. (‘foreign’ (gold) in the text is ‘valr’, akin to the word ‘welsh’ which also means foreign, and some translators have interpreted it simply to mean Keltic, which may not stand to reason given the time frame.) 10. “For me a shrine of stones he made,- And now to glass the rock has grown;- Oft with the blood of beasts was it red; In the goddesses ever did Ottar trust. 11. “Tell me now the ancient names, And the races of all that were born of old: Who are the Skjoldungs, who of the Skilfings, Who of the Othlings, who of the Ylfings, Who are the free-born, who are the high-born, The noblest of men that in Mithgarth dwell?” Hyndla spake: 12. “Thou art, Ottar, the son of Instein, And Instein the son of Alf the Old, Alf of Ulf, Ulf of Saefari, And Saefari’s father was Svan the Red. (Instein is mentioned in Halfssaga as a warrior of King Half of Horthaland/Halfsrekkar, the rest are mentioned in the founding of Norway.) 13. “Thy mother, bright with bracelets fair, Hight, methinks, the priestess Hledis; Frothi her father, and Friaut her mother;- Her race the mightiest men must seem. 14. “Of old the noblest of all was Ali, Before him Halfdan, foremost of Skjoldungs; Famed were the battles the hero fought, To the corners of heaven his deeds were carried. 15. “Strengthened by Eymund, the strongest of men, Sigtrygg he slew with the ice-cold sword; His bride was Almveig, the best of women, And eighteen boys did Almveig bear him. 16. “Hence come the Skjoldungs, hence the Skilfings, Hence the Othlings, hence the Ynglings, Hence come the free-born, hence the high-born, The noblest of men that in Mithgarth dwell: And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 17. “Hildigun then her mother hight, The daughter of Svava and Saekonung; And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! It is much to know,- wilt thou hear yet more? 18. “The mate of Dag was a mother of heroes, Thora, who bore him the bravest of fighters, Frathmar and Gyrth and the Frekis twain, Am and Jofurmar, Alf the Old; It is much to know,- wilt thou hear yet more? 19. “Her husband was Ketil, the heir of Klypp, He was of thy mother the mother’s-father; Before the days of Kari was Frothi, And born of Hild was Hoalf then. 20. “Next was Nanna, daughter of Nokkvi, Thy father’s kinsman her son became; Old is the line, and longer still, And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 21. “Isolf and Osolf, the sons of Olmoth, Whose wife was Skurhild, the daughter of Skekkil, Count them among the heroes mighty, And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 22. “Gunnar the Bulwark, Grim the Hardy, Thorir the Iron-Shield, Ulf the Gaper, Brodd and Horvir both did I know; In the household they were of Hrolf the Old. 23. “Hervarth, Hjorvarth, Hrani, Angantryr, Bui and Brami, Barri and Reifnir, Tind and Tyrfing, the Haddings twain,- And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 24. “Eastward in Bolm were born of old The sons of Arngrim and Eyfura; With berserk-tumult and baleful deed Like fire o’er land and sea they fared,- And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 25. “The sons of Jormunrek all of yore To the gods in death were as offerings given; He was kinsman of Sigurth,- hear well what I say,- The foe of hosts, and Fafnir’s slayer. 26. “From Volsung’s seed was the hero sprung, And Hjordis was born of Hrauthung’s race, And Eylimi from the Othlings came,- And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 27. “Gunnar and Hogni, the heirs of Gjuki, And Guthrun as well, who thy sister was; But Gotthorm was not of Gjuki’s race, Although the brother of both he was: And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool! 28. “Of Hvethna’s sons was Haki the best, And Hjorvarth the father of Hvethna was; -lacuna- 29. “Harald the Battle-tooth of Auth was born, Hrorek the Ring-giver her husband was; Auth the Deep-minded was Ivar’s daughter, But Rathbarth the father of Randver was: And all are thy kinsmen, Ottar, thou fool!” Break Here begins “The Short Voluspo” Break Freya spake: 30. “To my boar now bring the memory-beer, So that all thy words, that well thou hast spoken, The third morn hence he may hold in mind, When their races Ottar and Angantyr tell.” Hyndla spake: 31. “Hence shalt thou fare, for fain would I sleep, From me thou gettest few favours good; My noble one, out in the night thou leapest As Heithrun goes the goats among. 32. “To Oth didst thou run, who loved thee ever, And many under thy apron have crawled; My noble one, out in the night thou leapest, As Heithrun goes the goats among. Freya spake: 33. “Around the giantess flames shall I raise, So that forth unburned thou mayst not fare.” Hyndla spake: 34. “Flames I see burning, the earth is on fire, And each for his life the price must lose; Bring then to Ottar the draught of beer, Of venom filled for an evil fate.” Freya spake: 35. “Thine evil words shall work no ill, Though, giantess, bitter thy baleful threats; A drink full fair shall Ottar find, If of all the gods the favour I get.” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Fragment of "The Short Voluspo" 1. Eleven in number the gods were known, When Baldr o'er the hill of death was bowed; And this to avenge was Vali swift, When his brother's slayer soon he flew. 2. The father of Baldr was the heir of Bur, -lacuna- 3. Freyr's wife was Gerth, the daughter of Gymir, Of the giants' brood, and Aurbotha bore her; To these as well was Thjazi kin, The dark-loving giant; his daughter was Skathi. 4. Much have I told thee, and further will tell; There is much that I know;- wilt thou hear yet more? 5. Heith and Hrossthjof, the children of Hrimnir, -lacuna- 6. The sybils arose from Vitholf's race, From Vilmeith all the seers are, And the workers of charms are Svarthofthi's children, And from Ymir sprang the giants all. 7. Much have I told thee, and further will tell; There is much that I know;- wilt thou hear yet more? 8. One there was born in the bygone days, Of the race of the gods, and great was his might; Nine giant women, at the world's edge, Once bore the man so mighty in arms. 9. Gjolp there bore him, Greip there bore him, Eistla bore him, and Eyrgjafa, Ulfrun bore him, and Angeyja, Imith and Atla, and Jarnsaxa. 10. Strong was he made with the strength of earth, With the ice-cold sea, and the blood of swine. 11. One there was born, the best of all, And strong was he made with the strength of earth; The proudest is called the kinsman of men Of the rulers all throughout the world. 12. Much have I told thee, and further will tell; There is much that I know;- wilt thou hear yet more? 13. The wolf did Loki with Angrbotha win, And Sleipnir bore he to Svathilfari; The worst of marvels seemed the one That sprang from the brother of Byleist then. 14. A heart ate Loki;- in the embers it lay, And half-cooked found he the woman's heart;- With child from the woman Lopt soon was, And thence among men came the monsters all. 15. The sea, storm-driven, seeks heaven itself, O'er the earth it flows, the air grows sterile; Then follow the snows and the furious winds, For the gods are doomed, and the end is death. 16. Then comes another, a greater than all, Though never I dare his name to speak; Few are they now that farther can see Than the moment when Othin shall meet the wolf. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Svipdagsmol I. GROUAGALDR Groa's Spell Svipdag spake: 1. "Wake thee, Groa! wake, mother good! At the doors of the dead I call thee; Thy son, bethink thee, thou badst to seek Thy help at the hill of death." Groa spake: 2. "What evil vexes mine only son, What baleful fate hast thou found, That thou callest thy mother, who lies in the mould, And the world of the living has left?" Svipdag spake: 3. "The woman false whom my father embraced Has wrought me a baleful game; For she bade me go forth where none may fare, And Mengloth the maid to seek." Groa spake: 4. "Long is the way, long must thou wander, But long is love as well; Thou mayst fine, perchance, what thou fain wouldst have, If the fates their favor will give." Svipdag spake: 5. "Charms full good then chant to me, mother, And seek thy son to guard; For death do I fear on the way I shall fare, And in years am I young, methinks." Groa spake: 6. "Then first I will chant thee the charm oft-tried, That Rani taught to Rind; From the shoulder whate'er mislikes thee shake, For helper thyself shalt thou have. 7. "Then next I will chant thee, if needs thou must travel, And wander a purposeless way: The bolts of Urth shall on every side Be thy guards on the road thou goest. 8. "Then third I will chant thee, if threatening streams The danger of death shall bring: Yet to Hel shall turn both Horn and Ruth, And before thee the waters shall fail. 9. "Then fourth I will chant thee, if come thy foes On the gallows-way against thee: Into thine hands shall their hearts be given, And peace shall the warriors wish. 10. "Then fifth I will chant thee, if fetters perchance Shall bind thy bending limbs: O'er thy thighs do I chant a loosening-charm, And the lock is burst from the limbs, And the fetters fall from the feet. 11. "Then sixth I will chant thee, if storms on the sea Have might unknown to man: Yet never shall wind or wave do harm, And calm is the course of thy boat. 12. "Then seventh I chant thee, if frost shall seek To kill thee on lofty crags: The fatal cold shall not grip thy flesh, And whole thy body shall be. 13. "Then eighth will I chant thee, if ever by night Thou shalt wander on murky ways: Yet never the curse of a Christian woman From the dead shall do thee harm. 14. "Then ninth will I chant thee, if needs thou must strive With a warlike giant in words: Thy heart good store of wit shall have, And thy mouth of words full wise. 15. "Now fare on the way where danger waits, Let evils not lessen thy love! I have stood at the door of the earth-fixed stones, The while I chanted thee charms. 16. "Bear hence, my son, what thy mother hath said, And let it live in thy breast; Thine ever shall be the best of fortune, So long as my words shall last." <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Svipdagsmol II. Fjolsvinnsmol The Lay of Fjolsvith 17. Before the house he beheld one coming To the home of the giants high. Svipdag spake: 18. "What seekest thou here? for what is thy search? What, friendless one, fain wouldst thou know? By the ways so wet must thou wander hence, For, weakling, no home hast thou here. Svipdag spake: 19. "What giant is here, in front of the house, To the wayfarer welcome denying?" Fjolsvith spake: "Greeting full fair thou never shalt find, So hence shalt thou get thee home. 20. "Fjolsvith am I, and wise am I found, But miserly am I with meat; Thou never shalt enter within the house,- Go forth like a wolf on thy way!" Svipdag spake: 21. "Few from the joy of their eyes will go forth, When the sight of their loves they seek; Full bright are the gates of the golden hall, And a home shall I here enjoy." Fjolsvith spake: 22. "Tell me now, fellow, what father thou hast, And the kindred of whom thou camst." Svipdag spake: "Vindkald am I, and Varkald's son, And Fjolkald his father was. 23. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: Who is it that holds and has for his own The rule of the hall so rich?" Fjolsvith spake: 24. "Mengloth is she, her mother bore her To the son of Svafrthorin; She is it that holds and has for her own The rule of the hall so rich." Svipdag spake: 25. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What call they the gate? for among the gods Ne'er saw man so grim a sight." Fjolsvith spake: 26. "Thrymgjol they call it; ‘twas made by the three, The sons of Solblindi; And fast as a fetter the farer it holds, Whoever shall lift the latch." Svipdag spake: 27. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What call they the home? for no man beheld ‘Mongst the gods so grim a sight." Fjolsvith spake: 28. "Gastropnir is it, of old I made it From the limbs of Leirbrimr; I braced it so strongly that fast it shall stand So long as the world shall last." Svipdag spake: 29. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What call they the tree that casta abroad Its limbs o'er every land?" Fjolsvith spake: 30. "Mimameith its name, and no man knows What root beneath it runs; And few can guess what shall fell the tree, For fire nor iron shall fell it." Svipdag spake: 31. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What grows from the seed of the tree so great, That fire nor iron shall fell?" Fjolsvith spake: 32. "Women, sick with child, shall seek Its fruit to the flames to bear; Then out shall come what within was hid, And so is it mighty with men." Svipdag spake: 33. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What cock is he on the highest bough, That glitters all with gold?" Fjolsvith spake: 34. "Vithofnir his name, and now he shines Like lightning on Mimameith's limbs; And great is the trouble with which he grieves Both Surt and Sinmora." Svipdag spake: 35. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What call they the hounds, that before the house So fierce and angry are?" Fjolsvith spake: 36. "Gif call they one, and Geri the other, If now the truth thou wouldst know; Great they are, and their might will grow, Till the gods to death are doomed." Svipdag spake: 37. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: May no man hope the house to enter, While the hungry hounds are sleeping?" Fjolsvith spake: 38. "Together they sleep not, for so was it fixed When the guard to them was given; One sleeps by night, the next by day, So no man may enter ever." Svipdag spake: 39. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: Is there no meat that men may give them, And leap within while they eat?" Fjolsvith spake: 40. "Two wing-joints there be in Vithofnir's body, If now the truth thou wouldst know; That alone is the meat that men may give them, And leap within while they eat." Svipdag spake: 41. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What weapon can send Vithofnir to seek The house of Hel below?" Fjolsvith spake: 42. "Lævatein is there, that Lopt with runes Once made by the doors of death; In Lægjarn's chest by Sinmora lies it, And nine locks fasten it firm." Svipdag spake: 43. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: May a man come thence who thither goes, And tries the sword to take?" Fjolsvith spake: 44. "Thence may he come who thither goes, And tries the sword to take, If with him he carries what few can win, to give to the goddess of gold." Svipdag spake: 45. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What treasure is there that men may take To rejoice the giantess pale?" Fjolsvith spake: 46. "The sickle bright in thy wallet bear, Mid Vithofnir's feathers found; To Sinmora give it, and then shall she grant That the weapon by thee be won." Svipdag spake: 47. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What call they the hall, encompassed here With flickering magic flames?" Fjolsvith spake: 48. "Lyr is it called, and long it shall On the tip of a spear-point tremble; Of the noble house mankind has heard, But more has it never know." Svipdag spake: 49. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What one of the gods has made so great The hall I behold within?" Fjolsvith spake: 50. "Uni and Iri, Bari and Jari, Var and Vegdrasil, Dori and Ori, Delling, and there Was Loki, the fear of the folk." Svipdag spake: 51. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What call they the mountain on which the maid Is lying so lovely to see?" Fjolsvith spake: 52. "Lyfjaberg is it, and long shall it be A joy to the sick and the sore; For well shall grow each woman who climbs it, Though sick full long she has lain." Svipdag spake: 53. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: What maidens are they that at Mengloth's knees Are sitting so gladly together?" Fjolsvith spake: 54. "Hlif is one named, Hlifthrasa another, Thjothvara call they the third; Bjort and Bleik, Blith and Frith, Eir and Aurbotha." Svipdag spake: 55. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: Aid bring they to all who offerings give, If need be found therefor?" Fjolsvith spake: 56. "Soon aid they all who offerings give On the holy altars high; And if danger they see for the sons of men, Then each from ill do they guard." Svipdag spake: 57. "Now answer me, Fjolsvith, the question I ask, For now the truth would I know: Lives there the man who in Mengloth's arms So fair may seek to sleep?" Fjolsvith spake: 58. "No man there is who in Mengloth's arms So fair may seek to sleep, Save Svipdag alone, for the sun-bright maid Is destined his bride to be." Svipdag spake: 59. "Fling back the gates! make the gateway wide! Here mayst thou Svipdag see! Hence get thee to find if gladness soon Mengloth to me will give." Fjolsvith spake: 60. "Hearken, Mengloth, a man is come; Go thou the guest to see! The hounds are fawning, the house bursts open,- Svipdag, methinks, is there." Mengloth spake: 61. "On the gallows high shall hungry ravens Soon thine eyes pluck out, If thou liest in saying that here at last The hero is come to my hall. 62. "Whence camest thou hither? how camest thou here? What name do thy kinsmen call thee? Thy race and thy name as a sign must I know, That thy bride I am destined to be." Svipdag spake: 63. "Svipdag am I, and Solbjart's son; Thence came I by wind-cold ways; With the words of Urth shall no man war, Though unearned her gifts be given." Mengloth spake: 64. "Welcome thou art, for long have I waited; The welcoming kiss shalt thou win! For two who love is the longed-for meeting The greatest gladness of all. 65. "Long have I sat on Lyfjaberg here, Awaiting thee day by day; And now I have what I ever hoped, For here thou art come to my hall. 66. "Alike we yearned; I longed for thee, And thou for my love hast longed; But now henceforth together we know Our lives to the end we shall live." <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Volundarkvitha There was a king in Sweden named Nithuth. He had two sons and one daughter; her name was Bothvild. There were three brothers, sons of a king of the Finns; one was called Slagfith, another Egil, the third Volund. They went on snowshoes and hunted wild beasts. They came into Ulfdalir and there they built themselves a house; there was a lake there which is called Ulfsjar. Early one morning they found the shore of the lake three women, who were spinning flax. Near them were their swan-garments, for they were Valkyries. Two of them were daughters of King Hlothver, Hlathguth the Swan-White and Hervor the All- Wise, and the third was Olrun, daughter of Kjar from Valland. There did they bring home to their hall with them. Egil took Olrun, and Slagfith Swan-White, and Volund All-Wise. There they dwelt seven winters; but then they flew away to find battles, and came back no more. Then Egil set forth on his snowshoes to follow Olrun, and Slagfith followed Swan-White, but Volund stayed in Ulfdalir. He was a most skillful man, as men know from old tales. King Nithuth had him taken by force, as the poem tells here. 1. Maids from the south through Myrkwood flew, Fair and young, their fate to follow; On the shore of the sea to rest them they sat, The maids of the south, and flax they spun. 2. -lacuna- Hlathguth and Hervor, Hlothver's chidren, And Olrun the Wise Kjar's daughter was. 3. -lacuna- One in her arms took Egil then To her white bosom, the woman fair. 4. Swan-White the second,- swan-feathers she wore, -lacuna- ed em /then to her breast Slagfith embraced/ And her arms the third of the sisters threw Next round Volund's neck so white. 5. There did they sit for seven winters, In the eighth at last came their longing again, (And in the ninth did need divide them) The maidens yearned for the murky wood, The fair young maids, their fate to follow. 6. Volund home from his hunting came, From a weary way, the weather-wise bowman, Slagfith and Egil the hall found empty, Out and in went they, everywhere seeking. 7. East fared Egil after Olrun, And Slagfith south to seek for Swan-White; Volund alone in Ulfdalir lay -lacuna- ed em /Till back the maiden bright should come/ 8. Red gold he fashioned with fairest gems, And rings he strung on ropes of bast; So for his wife he waited long, If the fair one home might come to him. 9. This Nithuth learned, the lord of Njars, That Volund alone in Ulfdalir lay; By night went his men, their mail-coats were studded, Their shields in the waning moonlight shone. 10. From their saddles the gable wall they sought; And in they went at the end of the hall; Rings they saw there on ropes of bast, Seven hundred the hero had. 11. Off they took them, but all they left Save one alone which they bore away. -lacuna- -lacuna- 12. Volund home from his hunting came, From a weary way, the weather-wise bowman; A brown bear's flesh would he roast with fire; Soon the wood so dry was burning well, (The wind-dried wood that Volund's was). 13. On the bearskin he rested, and counted the rings, The master of elves, but one he missed; That Hlothver's daughter had it he thought, And the all-wise maid had come one more. 14. So long he sat that he fell asleep, His waking empty of gladness was; Heavy chains he saw on his hands, And fetters bound his feet together. Volund spake: 14. "What men are they who thus have laid Ropes of bast to bind me now?" 15. The Nithuth called, the lord of Njars; "How gottest thou, Volund, greatest of elves, These treasures of ours in Ulfdalir?" Volund spake: 16. "The gold was not on Grani's way, Far methinks, is our realm from the hills of the Rhine; I mind me that treasures more we had When happy together at home we were." 17. Without stood the wife of Nithuth wise, And in she came from the end of the hall; On the floor she stood, and softly spoke: "Not kind does he look who comes from the wood." King Nithuth gave to his daughter Bothvild the gold ring that he had taken from the bast rope in Volund's house, and he himself wore the sword that Volund had had. The queen spake: 18. "The glow of his eyes is like gleaming snakes, His teeth he gnashes if now is shown The sword, or Bothvild's ring he sees; Let them straightway cut his sinews of strength, And set him then in Saevarstath." So it was done: the sinews in his knee-joints were cut, and he was set in an island which was near the mainland, and was called Saevarstath. There he smithied for the king all kinds of precious things. No man dared to go to him, save only the king himself. Volund spake: 19. "At Nithuth's girdle gleams the sword That I sharpened keen with cunningest craft, (And hardened the steel with highest skill;) The bright blade far forever is borne, (Nor back shall I see it borne to my smithy;) Now Bothvild gets the golden ring (That was once my bride's,- ne'er well shall it be.") 20. He sat, nor slept, and smote with his hammer, Fast for Nithuth wonders he fashioned; Two boys did go in his door to gaze, Nithuth's sons, into Saevarstath. 21. They came to the chest, and they craved the keys, The evil was open when in they looked; To the boys it seemed that gems they saw, Gold in plenty and precious stones. Volund spake: 22. "Come ye alone, the next day come, Gold to you both shall then be given; Tell not the maids or the men of the hall, To no one say that me you have sought." 23. -lacuna- questionable gap Early did brother to brother call: "Swift let us go the rings to see." 24. They came to the chest, and they craved the keys, The evil was open when in they looked; He smote off their heads, and their feet he hid Under the sooty straps of the bellows. 25. Their skulls, once hid by their hair, he took, Set them in silver and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair from their eyes he fashioned, To Nithuth's wife so wise he gave them. 26. And from the teeth of the twain he wrought A brooch for the breast, to Bothvild he sent it; -lacuna- 27. Bothvild then of her ring did boast, -lacuna- ed em (But soon it broke, and swiftly to Volund,/ She bore it and said - ") "The ring I have broken, I dare not say it save to thee." Volund spake: 28. "I shall weld the break in the gold so well That fairer than ever thy father shall find it, And better much thy mother shall think it, And thou no worse than ever it was." 29. Beer he brought, he was better in cunning, Until in her seat full soon she slept. Volund spake: 30. "Now vengence I have for all my hurts, Save one alone, on the evil woman." 31. -lacuna- -lacuna- Quoth Volund: "Would that well were the sinews Maimed in my feet by Nithuth's men." 32. Laughing Volund rose aloft, Weeping Bothvild went from the isle, For her lover's flight and her father's wrath. 33. Without stood the wife of Nithuth wise, And in she came from the end of the hall; But he by the wall in weariness sat: "Wakest thou, Nithuth, lord of the Njars?" Nithuth spake: 34. "Always I wake, and ever joyless, Little I sleep since my sons were slain; Cold is my head, cold was thy counsel, One thing, with Volund to speak, I wish. 35. -lacuna- questionable "Answer me, Volund, greatest of elves, What happed with my boys that hale once were?" Volund spake: 36. "First shalt thou all the oaths now swear, By the rail of the ship, and the rim of the shield, By the shoulder of the steed, and the edge of the sword, That to Volund's wife thou wilt work no ill, Nor yet my bride to her death wilt bring, Though a wife I should have that well thou knowest, And a child I should have within thy hall. 37. "Seek the smithy that thou didst set, Thou shalt find the bellows sprinkled with blood; I smote off the heads of both thy sons, And their feet 'neath the sooty straps I hid. 38. "Their skulls, once hid by their hair, I took, Set them in silver and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair from their eyes I fashioned, To Nithuth's wife so wise I gave them. 39. "And from the teeth of the twain I wrought A brooch for the breast, to Bothvild I gave it; Now big with child does Bothvild go, The only daughter ye two had ever." Nithuth spake: 40. "Never spakest thou word that worse could hurt me, Nor that me, Volund, more bitter for vengence; There is no man so high from thy horse to take thee, Or so doughty an archer as down to shoot thee, While high in the clouds thy course thou takest." 41. Laughing Volund rose aloft, But left in sadness Nithuth sat. -lacuna- 42. The spake Nithuth, lord of Njars: "Rise up, Thakkrath, best of my thralls, Bid Bothvild come, the bright-bowed maid, Bedecked so fair, with her father to speak." 43. -lacuna- -lacuna- "Is it true, Bothvild, that which was told me; Once in the isle with Volund wert thou?" Bothvild spake: 44. "True is it, Nithuth, that which was told thee, Once in the isle with Volund was I, An hour of lust, alas it should be! Nought was my might with such a man, Nor from his strength could I save myself." (According to Thithrekssaga, son of Volund and Bothvild was Vithga /alt. Spelling Witege.) <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar Of Hjorvarth and Sigrlin Hjorvarth was the name of a king, who had four wives: one was called Alfhild, and their son was named Hethin; the second was called Saereith, and their son was named Humlung; the third was called Sinrjoth, and their son was named Hymling. King Hjorvarth had made a great vow to have as wife whatsoever woman he knew was fairest. He learned that King Svafnir had a daughter fairer than all others, whose name was Sigrlin. Ithmund was the name of one of his jarls; he had a son called Atli, who went to woo Sigrlin on behalf of the king. He dwelt the winter long with King Svafnir. There was a jarl called Franmar, Sigrlin’s foster-father; his daughter was named Alof. The jarl told him that the maiden’s hand was denied, and Atli went home. Atli, the jarl’s son, stood one day in a certain wood; a bird sat in the branches up over him, and it had heard that his men called Hjorvarth’s wives the fairest of women. The bird twittered, and Atli hearkened to what it spoke. It said: 1. “Sawest thou Sigrlin, Svafnir’s daughter, The fairest maid in her home-land found? Though Hjorvarth’s wives by men are held Goodly to see in Glasir’s wood.” Atli spake: 2. “Now with Atli, Ithmund’s son, Wilt thou say more, thou bird so wise?” The bird spake: 3. “I may if the prince an offering makes, And I have what I will from the house of the king.” Atli spake: 4. “Choose not Hjorvarth, not sons of his, Nor the wives so fair of the famous chief; Ask not the brides that the prince’s are; Fair let us deal in friendly wise.” The bird spake: 5. “A fane will I ask and altars many, Gold-horned cattle the prince shall give me, If Sigrlin yet shall sleep in his arms, Or free of will the hero shall follow.” 6. This was before Atli went on his journey; but when he came home, and the king asked his tidings, he said: “Trouble we had, but tidings none, Our horses failed in the mountains high, The waters of Saemorn we needs must wade; Svafnir’s daughter, with rings bedecked, She whom we sought, was still denied us.” The king bade that they should go another time, and he went with them himself. But when they came up on the mountain, they saw Svavaland burning and mighty dust-clouds from many steeds. The king rode from the mountain forward into the land, and made a night’s stay hard by a stream. Atli kept watch and went over the stream; he found there a house. A great bird sat on the housetop to guard it, but he was asleep. Atli hurled his spear at the bird and slew it, and in the house he found Sigrlin the king’s daughter and Alof the jarl’s daughter, and he brought them both thence with him. Jarl Franmar had changed himself into the likeness of an eagle, and guarded them from the enemy host by magic. Hrothmar was the name of a king, a wooer of Sigrlin; he slew the king of Svavaland and had plundered and burned his land. King Hjorvarth took Sigrlin, and Atli took Alof. Part Two Hjorvarth and Sigrlin had a son, mighty and of noble stature; he was a silent man, and no name stuck fast to him. He sat on a hill, and saw nine Valkyries riding; one of them was the fairest of all. She spake: 7. “Late wilt thou, Helgi, have hoard of rings, Thou battle-tree fierce, or of shining feilds,- The eagle screams soon,- if never thou speakest, Though, hero, hard thy heart may cry.” Helgi spake: 8. “What gift shall I have with Helgi’s name, Glorious maid, for the giving is thine? All thy words shall I think on well, But I want them not if I win not thee.” The Valkyrie spake: 9. “Swords I know lying in Sigarsholm, Fifty there are save only four; One there is that is best of all, The sheild-destroyer, with gold it shines. 10. “In the hilt is fame, in the haft is courage, In the point is fear, for its owner’s foes; On the blade there lies a blood-flecked snake, And a serpent’s tail round the flat is twisted.” Eylimi was the name of a king, whose daughter was Svava; she was a Valkyrie, and rode air and sea. She gave Helgi this name, and sheilded him oft thereafter in battle. Helgi spake: 11. “Hjorvarth, king, unwholesome they counsels, Though famed thou art in leading the folk, Letting fire the homes of heroes eat, Who evil deed had never done thee. 12. “Yet Hrothmar still the hoard doth hold, The wealth that once our kinsmen wielded: Full seldom care the king disturbs, Heir to dead men he deems himself.” Hjorvarth answered that he would give Helgi a following if he fain would avenge his mother’s father. Then Helgi got the sword that Svava had told him of. So he went, and Atli with him, and they slew Hrothmar, and they did many great deeds. Part Three He slew the giant Hati, whom he found sitting on a certain mountain. Helgi and Atli lay with their ships in Hjatafjord. Atli kept watch during the first part of the night. Hrimgerth, Hati’s daughter, spake: 13. “Who are the heroes, in Hatafjord? The ships are covered with shields; Bravely ye look, and little ye fear, The name of the king would I know.” Atli spake: 14. “Helgi his name, and never thou mayst Harm to the hero bring; With iron is fitted the prince’s fleet, Nor can witches work us ill.” Hrimgerth spake: 15. “Who now, thou mighty man, art thou? By what name art thou known to men? He trusts thee well, the prince who wills That thou stand at the stem of his ship.” Atli spake: 16. “Atli am I, and ill shalt thou find me, Great hate for witches I have; Oft have I been in the dripping bows, And to dusk-riders death have brought. (The first line is a play on Atli’s name, the word atall meaning ill in rhyme with it.) 17. “Corpse-hungry giantess, how art thou called? Say, witch, who thy father was! Nine miles deeper down mayst thou sink, And a tree grow tall on thy bosom.” Hrimgerth spake: 18. “Hrimgerth am I, my father was Hati, Of giants the most in might; Many a woman he won from her home, Ere Helgi hewed him down.” Atli spake: 19. “Witch, in front of the ship thou wast, And lay before the fjord; To Ran wouldst have given the ruler’s men, If a spear had not stuck in thy flesh.” Hrimgerth spake: 20. “Dull art thou, Atli, thou dreamest, methinks, The lids lie over thine eyes; By the leader’s ships my mother lay, Hlothvarth’s sons on the sea I slew. 21. “Thou wouldst neigh, Atli, but gelded thou art, See, Hrimgerth hoists her tail; In thy hinder end is thy heart, methinks, Though thy speech is a stallion’s cry.” Atli spake: 22. “A stallion I seem if thou seekest to try me, And I leap to land from the sea; I shall smite thee to bits, if so I will, And heavy sinks Hrimgerth’s tail.” Hrimgerth spake: 23. “Go ashore then, Atli, if sure of thy might, Let us come to Varin’s cove; Straight shall thy rounded ribs be made If thou comest within my claws.” Atli spake: 24. “I will not go till the warriors wake, Again their chief to guard; I should wonder not, foul witch, if up From beneath our keel thou shouldst come.” Hrimgerth spake: 25. “Awake now, Helgi, and Hrimgerth requite, That Hati to death thou didst hew; If a single night she can sleep by the prince, Then requited are all her ills.” Helgi spake: 26. “ ‘Tis Lothin shall have thee,- thou’rt loathsome to men,- His home in Tholley he has; Of the wild-dwellers worst is the giant wise, He is meet as a mate for thee.” Hrimgerth spake: 27. “More thou lovest her who scanned the harbour, Last night among the men; (The gold-decked maid bore magic, methinks, When the land from the sea she sought, And fast she kept your fleet;) She alone is to blame that I may not bring Death to the monarch’s men.” Helgi spake: 28. “Hrimgerth, mark, if thy hurts I requite, Tell now the truth to the king; Was there one who the ships of the warrior warded, Or did many together go?” Hrimgerth spake: 29. “Thrice nine there were, but one rode first, A helmed maid white of hue; Their horses quivered, there came from their manes Dew in the dales so deep, (Hail on the woods so high, Thence men their harvest have, But ill was the sight I saw.)” Atli spake: 30. “Look eastward, Hrimgerth, for Helgi has struck thee, Down with the runes of death; Safe in harbor floats the prince’s fleet, And safe are the monarch’s men.” Helgi spake: 31. “It is day, Hrimgerth, for Atli held thee Till now thy life thou must lose; As a harbor mark men shall mock at thee, Where in stone thou shalt ever stand.” Part Four King Helgi was a mighty warrior. He came to King Eylimi and sought the hand of his daughter, Svava. Then Helgi and Svava exchanged vows, and greatly they loved each other. Svava was at home with her father, while Helgi was in the field; Svava was still a Valkyrie as before. Hethin was at home with his father, King Hjorvarth, in Norway. Hethin was coming home alone from the forest one Yule-eve, and found a troll-woman; she rode on a wolf, and had snakes in place of a bridle. She asked Hethin for his company, “Nay,” said he. She said, “Thou shalt pay for this at the king’s toast.” That evening the great vows were taken; the sacred boar was brought in, the men laid their hands thereon, and took their vows at the king’s toast. Hethin vowed that he would have Svava, Eylimi’s daughter, the beloved of his brother Helgi; then such great grief seized him that he went forth on wild paths southward over the land, and found Helgi, his brother. Helgi said: 32. “Welcome, Hethin! what hast thou to tell Of tidings new that from Norway come? Wherefore didst leave they land, O prince, And fared alone to find us here?” Hethin spake: 33. “A deed more evil I have done Then, brother mine, thou e’er canst mend; For I have chosen the child of the king, Thy bride, for mine at the monarch’s toast.” Helgi spake: 34. “Grieve not, Hethin, for true shall hold The words we both by the beer have sworn; To the isle a warrior wills that I go, (There shall I come the third night hence;) And doubtful must be my coming back, (So may all be well, if fate so wills.)” Hethin spake: 35. “Thou saidst once, Helgi, that Hethin was A friend full good, and gifts didst give him; More seemly it were thy sword to redden, Than friendship thus to thy foe to give.” Helgi spoke thus because he foresaw his death, for his following-spirits had met Hethin when he saw the woman riding the wolf. Alf was the name of a king, the son of Hrothmar, who had marked out a battle-place with Helgi at Sigarsvoll after a stay of three nights. Then Helgi spake: 36. “On a wolf there rode, when dusk it was, A woman who fain would have him follow; Well she knew that now would fall Sigrlin’s son at Sigarsvoll.” There was a great battle, and there Helgi got a mortal wound. 37. Sigar riding did Helgi send To seek out Eylimi’s only daughter: “Bid her swiftly ready to be, If her lover alive she would find.” Sigar spake: 38. “Hither now has Helgi sent me, With thee, Svava, thyself to speak; The hero said he fain would see thee Ere life the nobly born should have.” Svava spake: 39. “What chanced with Helgi, Hjorvarth’s son? Hard to me is harm now come; If the sea smote him, or sword bit him, Ill shall I bring to all his foes.” Sigar spake: 40. “In the morn he fell at Frekastein, The king who was noblest beneath the sun; Alf has the joy of victory all, Though need therefore is never his.” Helgi spake: 41. “Hail to thee, Svava! thy sorrow rule, Our meeting last in life is this; Hard the wounds of the hero bleed, And close to my heart the sword has come. 42. “I bid thee, Svava,- weep not, bride,- If thou wilt hearken to these my words, The bed for Hethin have thou ready, and yeild thy love to the hero young.” Svava spake: 43. “A vow I had in my dear-loved home, When Helgi sought with rings to have me, That not of my will, if the warrior died, Would I fold in my arms a man unfamed.” Hethin spake: 44. “Kiss me, Svava, I come not back, Rogheim to see, or Rothulsfjoll, Til vengeance I have for the son of Hjorvarth, The king who was noblest beneath the sun.” Of Helgi and Svava it is said that they were born again. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I (Here begins the lay of Helgi Hundingbane and h. (Hothbrodd?) The lay of the Volsungs.”) 1. In olden days, when eagles screamed, And holy streams from heaven’s crags fell, Was Helgi then, the hero-hearted, Borghild’s son, in Bralund born. 2. ‘Twas night in the dwelling, and Norns there came, Who shaped the life of the lofty one; They bade him most famed of fighters all And best of princes ever to be. 3. Mightily wove they the web of fate, While Bralund’s towns were trembling all; And there the golden threads they wove, And in the moon’s hall fast they made them. 4. East and west the ends they hid, In the middle the hero should have his land; And Neri’s kinswoman northward cast A chain, and bade it firm ever to be. 5. Once sorrow had the Ylfings’ son, And grief the bride who the loved one had borne. (Ed. note - The Ylfings’ and the Volsungs are not however the same family) 6. Quoth raven to raven, on treetop resting, Seeking for food, “There is something I know, 7. “In mail-coat stands the son of Sigmund, A half-day old; now day is here; His eyes flash sharp as the hero’s are, He is friend of the wolves; full glad are we.” 8. The warrior throng a ruler thought him, Good times, they said, mankind should see; The king himself from battle-press came, To give the prince a leek full proud. 9. Helgi he named him, and Hringstathir gave him, Solfjoll, Snaefjoll, and Sigarsvoll, Hringstoth, Hotun, and Himinvangar, And a blood-snake bedecked to Sinfjotli’s brother. 10. Mighty he grew in the midst of his friends, The fair-born elm, in fortune’s glow; To his comrades gold he gladly gave, The hero spared not the blood-flecked hoard. 11. Short time for war the chieftain waited, When fifteen winters old he was; Hunding he slew, the hardy wight Who long had ruled o’er lands and men. 12. Of Sigmund’s son then next they sought Hoard and rings, the sons of Hunding; They bade the prince requital pay For booty stolen and father slain. 13. The prince let not their prayers avail, Nor gold for their dead did the kinsmen get; Waiting, he said, was a mighty storm Of lances gray and Othin’s grimness. 14. The warriors forth to the battle went, The field they chose at Logafjoll; Frothi’s peace midst foes they broke, Through the isle went hungrily Vithrir’s hounds. 15. The king then sat, when he had slain Eyjolf and Alf, ‘neath the eagle-stone; Hjorvarth and Hovarth, Hunding’s sons, The kin of the spear-wielder, all had he killed. 16. Then glittered light from Logafjoll, And from the light the flashes leaped; -lacuna- -lacuna- 17. -lacuna- (He saw there mighty maidens riding,) High under helms on heaven’s field; Their byrnies all with blood were red, And from their spears the sparks flew forth. Early then in wolf-wood asked The mighty king of the southern maid, If with the hero home would she Come that night; the weapons clashed. 18. Down from her horse sprang Hogni’s daughter,- The shields were still,- and spake to the hero; “Other tasks are ours, methinks, Than drinking beer with the breaker of rings. 19. “My father has pledged his daughter fair As bride to Granmar’s son so grim; But, Helgi, I once Hothbrodd called As fine a king as the son of a cat. 20. “Yet the hero will come a few nights hence, -lacuna- (And home will carry Hogni’s daughter,) Unless thou dost bid him the battle-ground seek, Or takest the maid from the warrior mighty.” Helgi spake: 21. “Fear him not, though Isung he felled, First must our courage keen be tried, Before unwilling thou fare with the knave; Weapons will clash, if to death I come not.” 22. Messengers sent the mighty one then, By land and by sea, a host to seek, Store of wealth of the water’s gleam, And men to summon, and sons of men. 23. “Bid them straightway seek the ships, And off Brandey ready to be!” There the chief waited till thither were come Men by hundreds from Hethinsey. 24. Soon off Stafnsnes stood the ships, Fair they glided and gay with gold; Then Helgi spake to Hjorleif asking: “Hast thou counted the gallant host?” 25. The young king answered the other then; “Long were it to tell from Tronueyr The long-stemmed ships with warriors laden That come from without into Orvasund. 26. -lacuna- (not indicated) “There are hundreds twelve of trusty men, But in Hotun lied the host of the king, Greater by half; I have hope of battle.” 27. The ship’s-tents soon the chieftain struck, And waked the throng of warriors all; (The heroes the red of dawn beheld;) And on the masts the gallant men Made fast the sails in Varinsfjord. 28. There was the beat of oars and clash of iron, Shield smote shield as the ships’-folk rowed; Swiftly went the warrior-laden Fleet of the ruler forth from the land. 29. So did it sound, when together the sisters Of Kolga struck with the keels full long, As if cliffs were broken with beating surf, -lacuna- (V. Now there was a great storm....) 30. Helgi bade higher hoist the sails, Nor did the ships’-folk shun the waves, Though dreadfully did Aegir’s daughters Seek the steeds of the sea to sink. 31. But from above did Sigrun brave Aid the men and all their faring; Mightily came from the claws of Ran The leader’s sea-beast of Gnipalund. 32. At evening there in Unavagar Floated the fleet bedecked full fair; But they who saw from Svarin’s hill, Bitter at heart the host beheld. 33. Then Gothmund asked, goodly of birth, -lacuna- “Who is the monarch who guides the host, And to the land the warriors leads?” Sinfjotli answered, and up on an oar Raised a shield all red with golden rim; A sea-sentry was he, skilled to speak, And in words with princes well to strive. 34. “Say tonight when you feed the swine, And send you bitches to seek their swill, That out of the East have Ylfings come, Greedy for battle, to Gnipalund. 35. “There will Hothbrodd Helgi find, In the midst of the fleet, and flight he scorns; Often has he the eagles gorged, Whilst thou at the quern wert slave-girls kissing.” Gothmund spake: 36. “Hero, the ancient sayings heed, And bring not lied to the nobly born, -lacuna- -lacuna- (both in doubt) 37. “Thou has eaten the entrails of wolves, And of thy brothers the slayer been; Oft wounds to suck thy cold mouth sought, And loathed in rocky dens didst lurk.” Sinfjotli spake: 38. “A witch in Varin’s isle thou wast, A woman false, and lies didst fashion; Of the mail-clad heroes thou wouldst have No other, thou saidst, save Sinfjotli only. 39. “A Valkyrie wast thou, loathly witch, Evil and base, in Allfather’s home; The warriors all must ever fight, Woman subtle, for sake of thee. 40. “-lacuna- -lacuna- Nine did we in Sogunes Of wolf-cubs have; I their father was.” Gothmund spake: 41. “Thou didst not father Fenrir’s-wolves, Though older thou art than all I know; For they gelded thee in Gnipalund, The giant-women at Thorsnes once. 42. “Under houses the stepson of Siggeir lay, Fain of the wolf’s cry out in the woods; Evil came then all to thy hands, When thy brothers’ breasts thou didst redden, Fame didst thou win for foulest deeds. 43. “In Bravoll was thou Grani’s bride, Golden-bitted and ready to gallop; I rode thee many a mile, and down Didst sink, thou giantess, under the saddle.” Sinfjotli spake: 44. “A brainless fellow didst seem to be, When once for Gollnir goats didst milk, And another time when as Imth’s daughter In rags thou wentest; wilt longer wrangle?” Gothmund spake: 45. “Sooner would I at Frekastein Feed the ravens with flesh of thine Than send your bitches to seek their swill, Or feed the swine; may the fiends take you!” Helgi spake: 46. “Better, Sinfjotli, thee ‘twould beseem Battle to give and eagles to gladden, Than vain and empty words to utter, Though ring-breakers oft in speech to wrangle. 47. “Good I find not the sons of Granmar, But for heroes ‘tis seemly the truth to speak; At Moinsheimar proved the men That hearts for the wielding of swords they had.” 48. Mightily then they made to run Sviputh and Sveggjuth to Solheimar; (By dewy dales and chasms dark, Mist’s horse shook where the men went by;) The king they found at his courtyard gate, And told him the foeman fierce was come. 49. Forth stood Hothbrodd, helmed for battle, Watched the riding of his warriors; -lacuna- “Why are the Hniflungs white with fear?” Gothmund spake: 50. “Swift keels lie hard by the land, (Mast-ring harts and mighty yards, Wealth of shields and well-planed oars;) The king’s fair host, the Ylfings haughty; Fifteen bands to land have fared, But out in Sogn are seven thousand. 51. “At anchor lying off Gnipalund Are fire-beasts black, all fitted with gold; There wait most of the foeman’s men, Nor will Helgi long the battle delay.” Hothbrodd spake: 52. “Bid the horses run to the Reginthing, Melnir and Mylnir to Myrkwood now, (And Sporvitnir to Sparinsheith;) Let no man seek henceforth to sit Who the flame of wounds knows well to wield. 53. “Summon Hogni, the sons of Hring, Atli and Yngvi and Alf the Old; Glad they are of battle ever; Against the Volsungs let us go.” 54. Swift as a storm there smote together The flashing blades at Frekastein; Ever was Helgi, Hunding’s slayer, First in the throng where warriors fought; (Fierce in battle, slow to fly, Hard the heart of the hero was.) 55. From heaven there came the maidens helmed,- The weapon-clang grew,- who watched o’er the king; Spake Sigrun fair,- the wound-givers flew, And the horse of the giantess raven’s-food had:- 56. “Hail to thee, hero! full happy with men, Offspring of Yngvi, shalt ever live, For thou the fearless foe hast slain Who to many the dread of death had brought. 57. “Warrior, well for thyself has won Red rings bright and the noble bride; Both now, warrior, thine shall be, Hogni’s daughter and Hringstathir, Wealth and triumph; the battle wanes.” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II (Of the Volsungs - ) King Sigmund, the son of Volsung, had a wife Borghild, from Bralund. They named their son Helgi, after Helgi Hjorvarthsson; Hagal was Helgi’s foster- father. Hunding was the name of a powerful king, and Hundland is named from him. He was a mighty warrior, and had many sons with him on his campaigns. There was enmity and strife between these two, King Hunding and King Sigmund, and each slew the other’s kinsmen. King Sigmund and his family were called Volsungs and Ylfings. Helgi went as a spy to the home of King Hunding in disguise. Haeming, a son of King Hunding’s, was at home. When Helgi went forth, then he met a young herdsman, and said: 1. “Say to Haeming that Helgi knows Whom the heroes in armor hid; A gray wolf had they within their hall, Whom King Hunding Hamal thought.” Hamal was the name of Hagal’s son. King Hunding sent men to Hagal to seek Helgi, and Helgi could not save himself in any other way, so he put on the clothes of a bond-woman and set to work at the mill. They sought Helgi but found him not. Then Blind spake out, the evil-minded, 2. “Of Hagal’s bond-woman bright are the eyes; Yon comes not of churls who stands at the quern; The millstones break, the boards are shattered. 3. “The hero has a doom full hard, That barley now he needs must grind; Better befits his hand to feel The hilt of the sword than the millstone’s handle.” Hagal answered and said: 4. “Small is the wonder if boards are splintered; By a monarch’s daughter the mill is turned; Once through clouds she was wont to ride, And battles fought like fighting men, (Till Helgi a captive held her fast; Sister she is of Sigar and Hogni, Thus bright are the eyes of the Ylfings’ maid.)” Helgi escaped and went to a fighting ship. He slew King Hunding, and thenceforth was called Helgi Hundingsbane. II He lay with his host in Brunavagar, and they had there a strand- slaughtering, and ate the flesh raw. Hogni was the name of a king. His daughter was Sigrun; she was a Valkyrie and rode air and water; she was Svava reborn. Sigrun rode to Helgi’s ship and said: 5. “Who rules the ship by the shore so steep? Where is the home ye warriors have? Why do ye bide in Brunavagar, Or what the way that ye wish to try?” Helgi spake: 6. “Hamal’s the ship by the shore so steep, Our home in Hlessey do we have; For fair wind bide we in Brunavagar, Eastward the way that we wish to try.” Sigrun spake: 7. “Where hast thou, warrior, battle wakened, Or gorged the birds of the sisters of Guth? Why is thy byrnie spattered with blood, Why helmed dost feast on food uncooked?” Helgi spake: 8. “Latest of all, the Ylfings’ son On the western sea, if know thou wilt, Captured bears in Bragalund, And fed the eagles with edge of sword. Now is it shown why our shirts are bloody, and little our food with fire is cooked.” Sigrun spake: 9. “Of battle thou tellest, and there was bent Hunding the king before Helgi down; There was carnage when thou didst avenge thy kin, And blood flowed fast on the blade of the sword.” Helgi spake: 10. “How didst thou know that now our kin, Maiden wise, we have well avenged? Many there are of the sons of the mighty Who share alike our lofty race.” Sigrun spake: 11. “Not far was I from the lord of the folk, Yester morn, when the monarch was slain; Though crafty the son of Sigmund, methinks, When he speaks of the fight in slaughter-runes. 12. “On the long-ship once I saw thee well, When in the blood-stained bow thou wast, (And round thee icy waves were raging;) Now would the hero hide from me, But to Hogni’s daughter is Helgi known.” III Granmar was the name of a mighty king, who dwelt at Svarin’s hill. He had many sons; one was named Hothbrodd, another Gothmund, a third Starkath. Hothbrodd was in a kings’ meeting, and he won the promise of having Sigrun, Hogni’s daughter, for his wife. But when she heard this, she rode with the Valkyries over air and sea to seek Helgi. Helgi was then at Logafjoll, and had fought with Hunding’s sons; there he killed Alf and Eyolf, Hjorvarth and Hervarth. He was all weary with battle, and sat under the eagle-stone. There Sigrun found him, and ran to throw her arms about his neck, and kissed him, and told him her tidings, as is set forth in the old Volsung lay: 13. Sigrun the joyful chieftain sought, Forthwith Helgi’s hand she took; She greeted the hero helmed and kissed him, The warrior’s heart to the woman turned. 14. From her heart the daughter of Hogni spake, Dear was Helgi, she said, to her; “Long with all my heart I loved Sigmund’s son ere ever I saw him. 15. “At the meeting to Hothbrodd mated I was, But another hero I fain would have; Though, king, the wrath of my kin I fear, Since I broke my father’s fairest wish.” Helgi spake: 16. “Fear not ever Hogni’s anger, Nor yet thy kinsmen’s cruel wrath; Maiden, thou with me shalt live, Thy kindred, fair one, I shall not fear.” IV Helgi then assembled a great sea-host and went to Frekastein. On the sea he met a perilous storm; lightning flashed overhead and the bolts struck the ship. They saw in the air that nine Valkyries were riding, and recognized Sigrun among them. Then the storm abated, and they came safe and sound to land. Granmar’s sons sat on a certain mountain as the ships sailed toward the land. Gothmund leaped on a horse and rode for news to a promotory near the harbour; the Volsungs were even then lowering their sails. Then Gothmund said, as is written in the Helgi lay: 17. “Who is the king who captains the fleet, And to the land the warriors leads?” Sinfjotli, Sigmund’s son, answered him, and that too is written. Gothmund rode home with his tidings of the host; then Granmar’s sons summoned an army. Many kings came there; there were Hogni, Sigrun’s father, and his sons Bragi and Dag. There was a great battle, and all Granmar’s sons were slain and all their allies; only Dag, Hogni’s son, was spared, and he swore loyalty to the Volsungs. Sigrun went among the dead and found Hothbrodd at the coming of death. She said: 18. “Never shall Sigrun from Sevafjoll, Hothbrodd king, be held in thine arms; Granmar’s sons full cold have grown, And the giant-steeds gray on corpses gorge.” Then she sought out Helgi, and was full of joy. He said: 19. “Maid, not fair is all thy fortune, The Norns I blame that this should be; This morn there fell at Frekastein Bragi and Hogni beneath my hand. 20. “At Hlebjorg fell the sons of Hrollaug, Starkath the king at Styrkleifar; Fighters more noble saw I never, The body fought when the head had fallen. 21. “On the ground full low the slain are lying, Most are there of the men of thy race; Nought hast thou won, for thy fate it was Brave men to bring to the battle-field.” Then Sigrun wept. Helgi said: 22. “Grieve not, Sigrun, the battle is gained, The fighter can shun not his fate.” Sigrun spake: 23. “To life would I call them who slaughtered lie, If safe on thy breast I might be.” V This Gothmund the son of Granmar spoke: 24. “What hero great is guiding the ships? A golden flag on the stem he flies; I find not peace in the van of your faring, And round the fighters is battle-light red.” Sinfjolti spake: 25. “Here may Hothbrodd Helgi find, The hater of flight, in the midst of the fleet; The home of all thy race he has, And over the realm of the fishes he rules.” Gothmund spake: 26. “First shall swords at Frekastein Prove our worth in place of words; Time is it, Hothbrodd, vengeance to have, If in battle worsted once we were.” Sinfjotli spake: 27. “Better, Gothmund, to tend the goats, And climb the rocks of the mountain cliffs; A hazel switch to hold in thy hand More seemly were than the hilt of a sword.” Helgi spake: 28. “Better, Sinfjolti, thee ‘twould beseem Battles to give, and eagles to gladden, Than vain and empty speech to utter, Though warriors oft with words do strive. 29. “Good I find not the sons of Granmar, But for heroes ‘tis seemly the truth to speak; At Moinsheimar proved the men That hearts for wielding of swords they had, (And ever brave the warriors are.)” VI Helgi took Sigrun to wife, and they had sons. Helgi did not reach old age. Dag, the son of Hogni, offered sacrifice to Othin to be avenged for his father’s death; Othin gave Dag his spear. Dag found Helgi, his brother-in-law, at a place which is called Fjoturland. He thrust the spear through Helgi’s body. Then Helgi fell, and Dag rode to Sevafjoll and told Sigrun the tidings: 30. “Sad am I, sister, sorrow to tell thee, Woe to my kin unwilling I worked; In the morn there fell at Fjoturlund The noblest prince the world has known, (And his heel he set on the heroes’ necks.)” Sigrun spake: 31. “Now may every oath thee bite That with Helgi sworn thou hast, By the water bright of Leipt, And the ice-cold stone of Uth. 32. “The ship shall sail not in which thou sailest, Though a favoring wind shall follow after; The horse shall run not whereon thou ridest, Though fain thou art thy foe to flee. 33. -lacuna- -lacuna- (“The shield shall not help thee which thou holdest,) The sword shall bite not which thou bearest, Till thy head itself it signs about. 34. “Vengeance were mine for Helgi’s murder, Wert thou a wolf in the woods without, Possessing nought and knowing no joy, Having no food save corpses to feed on.” Dag spake: 35. “Mad art thou, sister, and wild of mind, Such a curse on thy brother to cast; Othin is ruler of every ill, Who sunders kin with runes of spite. 36. “Thy brother rings so red will give thee, All Vandilsve and Vigdalir; Take half my land to pay the harm, Ring-decked maid, and as meed for thy sons.” Sigrun spake: 37. “I shall sit not happy at Sevafjoll, Early or late, my life to love, If the light cannot show, in the leader’s band, Vigblaer bearing him back to his home, (the golden-bitted; I shall greet him never.) 38. “Such the fear that Helgi’s foes Ever felt, and all their kin, As makes the goats with terror mad Run from the wolf among the rocks. 39. “Helgi rose above heroes all Like the lofty ash above lowly thorns, Or the noble stag, with dew besprinkled, Bearing his head above all beasts, (And his horns gleam bright to heaven itself.)” A hill was made in Helgi’s memory. And when he came to Valhall, then Othin bade him rule over everything with himself. VII Helgi said: 40. “Thou shalt, Hunding, of every hero Wash the feet, and kindle the fire, Tie up dogs, and tend the horses, And feed the swine ere to sleep thou goest.” VIII One of Sigrun’s maidens went one evening to Helgi’s hill, and saw that Helgi rode to the hill with many men. The maiden said: 41. “Is this a dream that methinks I see, Or the doom of the gods, that dead men ride, And hither spurring urge your steeds, Or is home-coming now to the heroes granted?” Helgi spake: 42. “No dream is this that thou thinkst to see, Nor the end of the worlds, though us thou beholdest, And hither spurring we urge our steeds, Nor is home-coming now to the heroes granted.” The maiden went home and said to Sigrun: 43. “Go forth, Sigrun, from Sevafjoll, If fain the lord of the folk wouldst find; (The hill is open, Helgi is come;) The sword-tracks bleed; the monarch bade That thou his wounds shouldst now make well.” Sigrun went in the hill to Helgi, and said: 44. “Now am I glad of our meeting together, As Othin’s hawks, so eager for prey, When slaughter and flesh all warm they scent, Or dew-wet see the red of day. 45. “First will I kiss the lifeless king, Ere off the bloody byrnie thou cast; With frost thy hair is heavy, Helgi, And damp thou art with the dew of death; (Ice-cold hands has Hogni’s kinsman, What, prince, can I to bring thee ease?)” Helgi spake: 46. “Thou alone, Sigrun, of Sevafjoll, Art cause that Helgi with dew is heavy, Gold-decked maid, thy tears are grievous, (Sun-bright south-maid, ere thou sleepest;) Each falls like blood on the hero’s breast, (Burned-out, cold, and crushed with care.) 47. “Well shall we drink a noble draught, Though love and lands are lost to me; No man a song of sorrow shall sing, Though bleeding wounds are on my breast; Now in the hill our brides we hold, The heroes’ loves, by their husbands dead.” Sigrun made ready a bed in the hill. 48. “Here a bed I have made for thee, Helgi, To rest thee from care, thou kin of the Ylfings; I will make thee sink to sleep in my arms, As once I lay with the living king.” Helgi spake: 49. “Now do I say that in Sevafjoll Aught may happen, early or late, Since thou sleepest clasped in a corpse’s arms, So fair in the hill, the daughter of Hogni! (Living thou comest, a daughter of kings.) 50. “Now must I ride the reddened ways, And my bay steed set to tread the sky; Westward I go to wind-helm’s bridges, Ere Salgofnir wakes the warrior throng.” Then Helgi and his followers rode on their way, and the women went home to the dwelling. Another evening Sigrun bade the maiden keep watch at the hill. And at sunset when Sigrun came to the hill she said: 51. “Now were he come, if come he might, Sigmund’s son, from Othin’s seat; Hope grows dim of the hero’s return When eagles sit on the ash-tree boughs, And men are seeking the meeting of dreams.” The Maiden said: 52. “Mad thou wouldst seem alone to seek, Daughter of heroes, the house of the dead; For mightier now at night are all The ghosts of the dead then when day is bright.” Sigrun was early dead of sorrow and grief. It was believed in olden times that people were born again, but that is now called old wives’ folly. Of Helgi and Sigrun it is said that they were born again; he became Helgi Haddingjaskati, and she Kara the daughter of Halfdan, as is told in the Lay of Kara, and she was a Valkyrie. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Fra Dautha Sinfjotla /The Death of Sinfjotli/ Sigmund, the son of Volsung, was a king in the land of the Franks; Sinfjotli was his eldest son, the second was Helgi, and the third Hamund. Bordhild, Sigmund’s wife, had a brother who was named -lacuna- , Sinfjotli, her stepson, and -lacuna- both wooed the same woman, wherefore Sinfjotli slew him. And when he came home, Borghild bade him depart, but Sigmund offered her atonement-money, and this she had to accept. At the funeral feast Borghild brought in ale; she took poison, a great horn full, and brought it to Sinfjotli. But when he looked into the horn, he saw that it was poison, and said to Sigmund: “Muddy is the drink, Father!” Sigmund took the horn and drank therefrom. It is said that Sigmund was so hardy that poison might not harm him, either outside or in, but all his sons could withstand poison only without on their skin. Borghild bore another horn to Sinfjotli and bade him drink, and all happened as before. And yet a third time she brought him a horn, and spoke therewith scornful words of him if he should not drink from it. He spoke as before with Sigmund. The latter said: “Let it trickle through your beard, Son!” Sinfjotli drank, and straight-way was dead. Sigmund bore him a long way in his arms, and came to a narrow and long fjord, and there was a little boat and a man in it. He offered to take Sigmund across the fjord. But when Sigmund had borne the corpse out into the boat, then the craft was full. Then man told Sigmund to go round the inner end of the fjord. Then the man pushed the boat off, and disappeared. King Sigmund dwelt long in Denmark in Borghild’s kingdom after he had married her. Thereafter Sigmund went south into the land of the Franks, to the kingdom which he had there. There he married Hjordis, the daughter of King Eylimi; their son was Sigurth. King Sigmund fell in a battle with the sons of Hunding, and Hjordis then married Alf the son of King Hjalprek. There Sigurth grew up in his boyhood. Sigmund and all his sons were far above all other men in might and stature and courage and every kind of ability. Sigurth, however, was the foremost of all, and all men call him in the old tales the noblest of mankind and the mightiest leader. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Gripisspo (Ed. Notes. Regarding Sigurth/ In Old High German this name is ‘Sigifrid’ meaning ‘Peace-Bringing through Victory’ in Old Norse it is ‘Sigvorth’ meaning ‘Victory-Gaurder’, which in this text becomes ‘Sigurth’.) Gripir was the name of Eylimi’s son, the brother of Hjordis; he ruled over lands and was of all men the wisest and most forward-seeing. Sigurth once was riding alone and came to Gripir’s hall. Sigurth was easy to recognize; he found out in front of the hall a man whose name was Geitir. Then Sigurth questioned him and asked: 1. “Who is it has this dwelling here, Or what do men call the people’s king?” Geitir spake: 2. “Gripir the name of the chieftain good Who holds the folk and the firm-ruled land.” Sigurth spake: 3. “Is the kin all-knowing now within, Will the monarch come with me to speak? A man unknown his counsel needs, And Gripir fain I soon would find.” Geitir spake: 4. “The ruler glad of Geitir will ask Who seeks with Gripir speech to have.” Sigurth spake: 5. “Sigurth am I, and Sigmund’s son, And Hjordis the name of the hero’s mother.” Then Geitir went and to Gripir spake: 6. “A stranger comes and stands without; Lofty he is to look upon, And, prince, thyself he fain would see.” 7. From the hall the ruler of heroes went, And greeted well the warrior come: “Sigurth, welcome long since had been thine; Now, Geitir, shalt thou Grani take.” (Grani is known as the son of Sleipnir, granted to Sigurth by Odhinn himself. Some texts disagree with his origin and Sigurth’s attainment of him.) 8. Then of many Things they talked, When thus the men so wise had met. Sigurth spake: 9. “To me, if thou knowest, my mother’s brother, Say what life will Sigurth’s be.” Gripir spake: 10. “Of men thou shalt be on earth the mightiest, And higher famed than all the heroes; Free of gold-giving, slow to flee, Noble to see, and sage in speech.” Sigurth spake: 11. “Monarch wise, now more I ask; To Sigurth say, if thou thinkst to see, What first will chance of my fortune fair, When hence I go from out thy home?” Gripir spake: 12. “First shalt thou, prince, thy father avenge, And Eylimi, their ills requiting; The hardy sons of Hunding thou Soon shalt fell, and victory find.” Sigurth spake: 13. “Noble king, my kinsman, say Thy meaning true, for our minds we speak; For Sigurth the mighty deeds dost see, The highest beneath the heavens all?” Gripir spake: 14. “The fiery dragon alone thou shalt fight That greedy lies at Gnitaheith; Thou shalt be of Regin and Fafnir both The slayer; truth doth Gripir tell thee.” Sigurth spake: 15. “Rich shall I be if battles I win With such as these, as now thou sayest; Forward look, and further tell: What the life that I shall lead?” Gripir spake: 16. “Fafnir’s den thou then shalt find, And all his treasure fair shalt take; Gold shalt heap on Grani’s back, And, proved in fight, to Gjuki fare.” Sigurth spake: 17. “To the warrior now in words so wise, Monarch noble, more shalt tell; I am Gjuki’s guest, and thence I go; What the life that I shall lead?” Gripir spake: 18. “On the rocks there sleeps the ruler’s daughter, Fair in armour, since Helgi fell; Thou shalt cut With keen-edged sword, And cleave the byrnie with Fafnir’s killer.” Sigurth spake: 19. “The mail-coat is broken, the maiden speaks, The woman who from sleep has wakened; What says the maid to Sigurth then That happy fate to the hero brings?” Gripir spake: 20. “Runes to the warrior will she tell, All that men may ever seek, And teach thee to speak in all men’s tongues, And life with health; thou’rt happy, king!” Sigurth spake: 21. “Now it is ended, the knowledge is won, And ready I am forth thence to ride; Forward look and further tell: What the life that I shall lead?” Gripir spake: 22. “Then to Heimir’s home thou comest, And glad shalt be the guest of the king; Ended, Sigurth, is all I see, No further aught of Gripir ask.” Sigurth spake: 23. “Sorrow brings me the word thou sayest, For, monarch, forward further thou seest; Sad the grief for Sigurth thou knowest, Yet nought to me, Gripir, known wilt make.” Gripir spake: 24. “Before me lay in clearest light All of thy youth for mine eyes to see; Nor rightly can I wise be called, Nor forward-seeing; my wisdom is fled.” Sigurth spake: 25. “No man, Gripir, on earth I know Who sees the future as far as thou; Hide thou nought, though hard it be, And base the deeds that I shall do.” Gripir spake: 26. “With baseness never thy life is burdened, Hero noble, hold that sure; Lofty as long and the world shall live, Battle-bringer, thy name shall be.” Sigurth spake: 27. “Nought could seem worse, but now must part The prince and Sigurth, since so it is; My road I ask,- the future lies open,- Mighty one, speak, my mother’s brother.” Gripir spake: 28. “Now to Sigurth all shall I say, For to this the warrior bends my will; Thou knowest well that I will not lie,- A day there is when thy death is doomed.” Sigurth spake: 29. “No scorn I know for the noble king, But counsel good from Gripir I seek; Well will I know, though evil awaits, What Sigurth may before him see.” Gripir spake: 30. “A maid in Heimir’s home there dwells, Brynhild her name to men is known, Daughter of Buthli, the doughty king, And Heimir fosters the fearless maid.” Sigurth spake: 31. “What is it to me, though the maiden be So fair, and Heimir the fosterling is? Gripir, truth to me shalt tell, For all of fate before me thou seest.” Gripir spake: 32. “Of many a joy the maiden robs thee, Fair to see, whom Heimir fosters; Sleep thou shalt find not, feuds thou shalt end not, Nor seek out men, if the maid thou seest not.” Sigurth spake: 33. “What may be had for Sigurth’s healing? Say now, Gripir, if see thou canst; May I buy the maid with the marriage-price, The daughter fair of the chieftain famed?” Gripir spake: 34. “Ye twain shall all the oaths then swear That bind full fast; few shall ye keep; One night when Gjuki’s guest thou hast been, Will Heimir’s fosterling fade from thy mind.” Sigurth spake: 35. “What sayst thou, Gripir? give me the truth, Does fickleness hide in the hero’s heart? Can it be that touch I break with the maid, With her I believed I loved so dear?” Gripir spake: 36. “Tricked by another, prince, thou art, And the price of Grimhild’s wiles thou must pay; Fain of thee for the fair-haired maid, Her daughter, she is, and she drags thee down.” (Ed. em. or (/Fain of thee the fair-haired one for her daughter is/) Sigurth spake: 37. “Might I with Gunnar kinship make, And Guthrun win to be my wife, Well the hero wedded would be, If my treacherous deed would trouble me not.” Gripir spake: 38. “Wholly Grimhild thy heart deceives, She will bid thee go and Brynhild woo For Gunnar’s wife, the lord of the goths; And the prince’s mother thy promise shall win.” Sigurth spake: 39. “Evil waits me, well I see it, And gone is Sigurth’s wisdom good, If I shall woo for another to win The maiden fair that so fondly I loved.” Gripir spake: 40. “Ye three shall all the oaths then take, Gunnar and Hogni, and, hero, thou; Your forms ye shall change, as forth ye fare, Gunnar and thou; for Gripir lies not.” Sigurth spake: 41. “How meanest thou? Why make we the change Of shape and form as forth we fare? There must follow another falsehood Grim in all ways; speak on, Gripir!” Gripir spake: 42. “The form of Gunnar and shape thou gettest, But mind and voice thine own remain; The hand of the fosterling noble of Heimir Now dost thou win, and none can prevent it.” Sigurth spake: 43. “Most evil it seems, and men will say Base is Sigurth that so he did; Not of my will shall I cheat with wiles The heroes’s maiden whom noblest I hold.” Gripir spake: 44. “Thou dwellest, leader lofty of men, With the maid as if thy mother she were; Lofty as long as the world shall live, Ruler of men, thy name shall remain.” (Ed. em. /With thy sword between, three nights sleepest/ With her thou winnest for Gunnar’s wife/) Sigurth spake: 45. “Shall Gunnar have a goodly wife, Famed among men,- speak forth now, Gripir! Although at my side three nights she slept, The warrior’s bride? Such ne’er has been.” Gripir spake: 46. “The marriage draught will be drunk for both, For Sigurth and Gunnar, in Gjuki’s hall; Your forms ye change, when home ye fare, But the mind of each to himself remains.” Sigurth spake: 47. “Shall the kinship new thereafter come To good among us? Tell me, Gripir! To Gunnar joy shall it later give, Or happiness send for me myself?” Gripir spake: 48. “Thine oaths remembering, silent thou art, And dwellest with Guthrun in wedlock good; But Brynhild shall deem she is badly mated, And wiles she seeks, herself to avenge.” Sigurth spake: 49. “What may for the bride requital be, the wife we won with subtle wiles? From me she has the oaths I made, And kept not long; they gladdened her little.” Gripir spake: 50. “To Gunnar soon his bride will say That ill didst thou thine oath fulfill, When the goodly king, the son of Gjuki, With all his heart the hero trusted.” Sigurth spake: 51. “What sayst thou, Gripir? give me the truth! Am I guilty so as now is said, Or lies does the far-famed queen put forth Of me and herself? Yet further speak.” Gripir spake: 52. “In wrath and grief full little good The noble bride shall work thee now; No shame thou gavest the goodly one, Though the monarch’s wife with wiles didst cheat.” Sigurth spake: 53. “Shall Gunnar the wise to the woman’s words, And Gotthorm and Hogni, then give heed? Shall Gjuki’s sons, now tell me, Gripir, Redden their blades with their kinsman’s blood?” Gripir spake: 54. “Heavy it lies on Guthrun’s heart, When her brothers all shall bring thee death, Never again shall she happiness know, The woman so fair; ‘tis Grimhild’s work.” Sigurth spake: 55. “Now fare thee well! our fates we shun not; And well has Gripir answered my wish; More of joy to me wouldst tell Of my life to come if so thou couldst.” Gripir spake: 56. “Ever remember, ruler of men, That fortune lies in the hero’s life; A noble man shall never live Beneath the sun than Sigurth shall seem.” Gjuki: Old Norse/Gibeche (The Giver) Brynhild: (Armed Warrior) <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Reginsmol Sigurth went to Hjalprek’s stud and chose for himself a horse, who thereafter was called Grani. /see notes Gripisspo/ At that time Regin, the son of Hreithmar, was come to Hjalprek’s home; he was more ingenious than all other men, and a dwarf in stature; he was wise, fierce and skilled in magic. Regin undertook Sigurth’s bringing up and teaching, and loved him much. He told Sigurth of his forefathers, and also of this: that once Othin and Honir and Loki had come to Andvari’s waterfall, and in the fall were many fish. Andvari was a dwarf, who had dwelt long in the waterfall in the shape of a pike, and there he got his food. “Otr was the name of a brother of ours,” said Regin, “who often went into the fall in the shape of an otter; he had caught a salmon, and sat on the high bank eating it with eyes shut. Loki threw a stone at him and killed him; the gods thought they had great good luck, and stripped the skin off the otter. That same evening they sought a night’s lodging at Hreithmar’s house, and showed their booty. Then we seized them, and told them, as ransom for their lives, to fill the otter skin with gold, and completely cover it outside as well with red gold. Then they sent Loki to get the gold; he went to Ran and got her net, and went then to Andvari’s fall and caste the net in front of the pike, and the pike leaped into the net.” Then Loki said: 1. “What is the fish that runs in the flood, And itself from ill cannot save? If thy head thou wouldst from Hel redeem, Find me the water’s flame.” Andvari spake: 2. “Andvari am I, and Oin my father, In many a fall have I fared; An evil Norn in olden days Doomed me in waters to dwell.” Loki spake: 3. “Andvari, say, if thou seekest still To live in the land of men, What payment is set for the sons of men Who war with lying words?” Andvari spake: 4. “A mighty payment the men must make Who in Vathgelmir’s waters wade; On a long road lead the lying words That one to another utters.” Loki saw all the gold that Andvari had. But when he had brought forth all the gold, he held back one ring, and Loki took this from him. The dwarf went into his rocky hole and said: 5. “Now shall the gold that Gust once had Bring their death to brothers twain, And evil be for heroes eight; Joy of my wealth shall no man win.” The gods gave Hreithmar the gold, and filled up the otter-skin, and stood it on its feet. Then the gods had to heap up gold and hide it. And when that was done, Hreithmar came forward and saw a single whisker, and bade them cover it. Then Othin brought out the ring Andvaranaut (Andvari’s gem) and covered the hair. Then Loki said: 6. “The gold is given, and great the price Thou hast my head to save; But fortune thy sons shall find not there, The bane of ye both it is.” Hreithmar spake: 7. “Gifts ye gave, but ye gave not kindly, Gave not with hearts that were whole; Your lives ere this should ye all have lost, If sooner this fate I had seen.” Loki spake: 8. “Worse is this that methinks I see, For a maid shall kinsmen clash; Heroes unborn thereby shall be, I deem, to hatred doomed.” Hreithmar spake: 9. “The gold so red shall I rule, methinks, So long as I shall live; Nought of fear for thy threats I feel, So get ye hence to your homes.” Fafnir and Regin asked Hreithmar for a share of the wealth that was paid for the slaying of their brother, Otr. This he refused, and Fafnir thrust his sword through the body of his father, Hreithmar, while he was sleeping. Hreithmar called to his daughters: 10. “Lyngheith and Lofnheith, fled is my life, And mighty is my need!” Lyngheith spake: 11. “A daughter, woman with wolf’s heart, bear, If thou hast no son with hero brave; If one weds the maid, for the need is mighty, Their son for thy hurt may vengeance seek.” Then Hreithmar died, and Fafnir took all the gold. Thereupon Regin asked to have his inheritance from his father, but Fafnir refused this. Then Regin asked counsel of Lyngheith, his sister, how he should win his inheritance. She said: 12. “In friendly wise the wealth shalt thou ask Of thy brother, and better will; Not seemly is it to seek with the sword Fafnir’s treasure to take.” All these happenings did Regin tell to Sigurth. One day, when he came to Regin’s house, he was gladly welcomed. Regin said: 13. “Hither the son of Sigmund is come, The hero eager, here to our hall; His courage is more than an ancient man’s, And battle I hope from the hardy wolf. 14. “Here shall I forever the fearless prince, Now Yngvi’s heir to us is come; The noblest hero beneath the sun, The threads of his fate all lands enfold.” Sigurth was there continually with Regin, who said to Sigurth that Fafnir lay at Gnitaheith, and was in the shape of a dragon. He had a fear-helm, of which all living creatures were terrified. Regin made Sigurth the sword which was called Gram; it was so sharp that when he thrust it down into the Rhine, and let a strand of wool drift against it with the stream, it cleft the strand asunder as if it were water. With this sword Sigurth cleft asunder Regin’s anvil. After that Regin egged Sigurth on to slay Fafnir, but he said: 15. “Loud will the son of Hunding laugh, Who low did Eylimi lay in death, If the hero sooner seeks the red Rings to find than his father’s vengeance.” King Hjalprek gave Sigurth a fleet for the avenging of his father. They ran into a great storm, and were off a certain headland. A man stood on the mountain, and said: 16. “Who yonder rides on Raevil’s steeds O’er towering waves and waters wild? The sail-horses all with sweat are dripping Nor can the sea-steeds the gale withstand.” Regin answered: 17. “On the sea-trees here are Sigurth and I, The storm wind drives us on to our death; The waves crash down on the forward deck, And the roller-steeds sink; who seeks our names?” The man spake: 18. “Hnikar I was when Volsung once Gladdened the ravens and battle gave; Call me the Man from the Mountain now, Feng (Seizer) or Fjolnir; with you will I fare.” They sailed to the land, and the man went on board the ship, and the storm subsided. Sigurth spake: 19. “Hnikar, say, for thou seest the fate That to the gods and men is given; What sign is fairest for him who fights, And best for the swinging of swords?” Hnikar spake: 20. “Many the signs, if men but knew, That are good for the swinging of swords; It is well, methinks, if the warrior meets A raven black on his road. 21. “Another it is if out thou art come, And art ready forth to fare, To behold on the path before thy house Two fighters greedy of fame. 22. “Third it is well if a howling wolf Thou hearest under the ash; And fortune comes if thy foe thou seest Ere thee the hero beholds. 23. “A man shall fight not when he must face The moon’s bright sister setting late; Win he shall who well can see, And wedge-like forms his men for the fray. 24. “Foul is the sign if thy foot shall stumble As thou goest forth to fight; Goddesses baneful at both thy sides Will that wounds thou shalt get. 25. “Combed and washed shall the wise man go, And a meal at morn shall take; For unknown it is where at eve he may be; It is ill thy luck to lose.” Sigurth had a great battle with Lyngvi, the son of Hunding, and his brothers; there Lyngvi fell, and his two brothers with him. After the battle Regin said: 26. “Now the bloody eagle with biting sword Is carved on the back of Sigmund’s killer; Few were more fierce in fight than his son, Who reddened the earth and gladdened the ravens.” Sigurth went home to Hjalprek’s house; thereupon Regin egged him on to fight with Fafnir. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Fafnismol Sigurth and Regin went up to the Gnitaheith, and found there the track that Fafnir made when he crawled to water. Then Sigurth made a great trench across the path, and took his place therein. When Fafnir crawled from his gold, he blew out venom, and it ran down from above on Sigurth’s head. But when Fafnir crawled over the trench, then Sigurth thrust his sword into his body to the heart. Fafnir writhed and struck out with his head and tail. Sigurth leaped from the trench, and each looked at the other. Fafnir said: 1. “Youth, oh, youth! of whom then, youth, art thou born? Say whose son thou art, Who in Fafnir’s blood thy bright blade reddened, And struck thy sword to my heart.” Sigurth concealed his name because it was believed in olden times that the word of a dying man might have great power if he cursed his foe by his name. He said: 2. “The Noble Hart my name, and I go A motherless man abroad; Father I had not, as others have, And lonely ever I live.” Fafnir spake: 3. “If father thou hadst not, as others have, By what wonder wast thou born? (Though thy name on the day of my death thou hidest, Thou knowest now thou dost lie.)” Sigurth spake: 4. “My race, methinks, is unknown to thee, And so am I myself; Sigurth my name, and Sigmund’s son, Who smote thee thus with the sword.” Fafnir spake: 5. “Who drove thee on? why wert thou driven My life to make me lose? A father brave had the bright-eyed youth, For bold in boyhood thou art.” Sigurth spake: 6. “My heart did drive me, my hand fulfilled, And my shining sword so sharp; Few are keen when old age comes, Who timid in boyhood be.” Fafnir spake: 7. “If thou mightest grow thy friends among, One might see thee fiercely fight; But bound thou art, and in battle taken, And to fear are prisoners prone.” Sigurth spake: 8. “Thou blamest me, Fafnir, that I see from afar The wealth that my father’s was; Not bound am I, though in battle taken, Thou has found that free I live.” Fafnir spake: 9. “In all I say dost thou hatred see, Yet truth alone do I tell; The sounding gold, the glow-red wealth, And the rings thy bane shall be.” Sigurth spake: 10. “Some one the hoard shall ever hold, Till the destined day shall come; For a time there is when every man Shall journey hence to Hel.” Fafnir spake: 11. “The fate of the Norns before the headland Thou findest, and doom of a fool; In the water shalt drown if thou row ‘gainst the wind, All danger is near to death.” Sigurth spake: 12. “Tell me then, Fafnir, for wise art famed, And much thou knowest now: Who are the Norns who are helpful in need, And the babe from the mother bring?” Fafnir spake: 13. “Of many births the Norns must be, Nor one in race they were Some to gods, others to elves are kin, And Dvalin’s daughters some.” Sigurth spake: 14. “Tell me then, Fafnir, for wise thou art famed, And much thou knowest now: How call they the isle where all the gods And Surt shall sword-sweat mingle?” Fafnir spake: 15. “Oskopnir is it, where all the gods Shall seek the play of swords; Bilrost breaks when they cross the bridge, And the steeds shall swim the flood. 16. “The fear-helm I wore to afright mankind, While gaurding my gold I lay; Mightier seemed I than any man, For a fiercer never I found.” Sigurth spake: 17. “The fear-helm surely no man shields When he faces a valiant foe; Oft one finds, when the foe he meets, That he is not the bravest of all.” Fafnir spake: 18. “Venom I breathed when bright I lay By the hoard my father had; (There was none so mighty as dared to meet me, And weapons nor wiles I feared.)” Sigurth spake: 19. “Glittering worm, thy hissing was great, And hard dist show thy heart; But hatred more have the sons of men For him who owns the helm.” Fafnir spake: 20. “I counsel thee, Sigurth, heed my speech, And ride thou homeward hence; The sounding gold, the glow-red wealth, And the rings thy bane shall be.” (V. “For it often happens that he who gets a deathly wound yet avenges himself.”) Sigurth spake: 21. “Thy counsel is given, but go I shall To the gold in the heather hidden; And, Fafnir, thou with death dost fight, Lying where Hel shall have thee.” Fafnir spake: 22. “Regin betrayed me, and thee will betray, Us both to death will he bring; His life, methinks, must Fafnir lose, For the mightier man wast thou.” Regin had gone to a distance while Sigurth fought Fafnir, and came back while Sigurth was wiping the blood from his sword. Regin said: 23. “Hail to thee, Sigurth! Thou victory hast, And Fafnir in fight hast slain; Of all the men who tread the earth, Most fearless art thou, methinks.” Sigurth spake: 24. “Unknown it is, when all are together, (The sons of the glorious gods,) Who bravest born shall seem; Some are valiant who redden no sword In the blood of a foeman’s breast.” Regin spake: 25. “Glad art thou, Sigurth, of battle gained, As Gram with grass thou cleanest; My brother fierce in fight hast slain, And somewhat I did myself.” Sigurth spake: 26. “Afar didst thou go while Fafnir reddened With his blood my blade so keen; With the might of the dragon my strength I matched, While thou in the heather didst hide.” Regin spake: 27. “Longer wouldst thou in the heather have let Yon hoary giant hide, Had the weapon availed not that once I forged, The keen-edged blade thou didst bear.” Sigurth spake: 28. “Better is heart than a mighty blade For him who shall fiercely fight; The brave man well shall fight and win, Though dull his blade may be. 29. “Brave men better than cowards be, When the clash of battle comes; And better the glad than the gloomy men Shall face what before him lies. 30. “Thy rede it was that I should ride Hither o’er mountains high; The glittering worm would have wealth and life If thou hadst not mocked at my might.” Then Regin went up to Fafnir and cut out his heart with his sword, that was named Rithil, and then he drank blood from the wounds. Regin said: 31. “Sit now, Sigurth, for sleep will I, Hold Fafnir’s heart to the fire; For all his heart shall eaten be, Since deep of blood I have drunk.” Sigurth took Fafnir’s heart and cooked it on a spit. When he thought that it was fully cooked, and the blood foamed out of the heart, then he tried it with his finger to see whether it was fully cooked. He burned his finger, and put it in his mouth. But when Fafnir’s heart’s-blood came on his tongue, he understood the speech of birds. He heard nut-hatches chattering in the thickets. A nut-hatch said: 32. “There sits Sigurth, sprinkled with blood, And Fafnir’s heart with fire he cooks; Wise were the breaker of rings, I ween, To eat the life-muscles all so bright.” A second spake: 33. “There Regin lies, and plans he lays The youth to betray who trusts him well; Lying words with wiles will he speak, Till his brother the maker of mischief avenges.” A third spake: 34. “Less by a head let the chatterer hoary Go from here to Hel; Then all of the wealth he alone can wield, The gold that Fafnir gaurded.” A forth spake: 35. “Wise would he seem if so he would heed The counsel good we sisters give; Thought he would give, and the ravens gladden, There is ever a wolf where his ears I spy.” A fifth spake: 36. “Less wise must be the tree of battle Than to me would seem the leader of men, If forth he lets one brother fare, When he of the other the slayer is.” A sixth spake: 37. “Most foolish he seems if he shall spare His foe, the bane of the folk; There Regin lies, who hath wronged him so, Yet falsehood knows he not.” A seventh spake: 38. “Let the head from the frost-cold giant be hewed, And let him of rings be robbed; Then all the wealth which Fafnir’s was Shall belong to thee alone.” Sigurth spake: 39. “Not so rich a fate shall Regin have As the tale of my death to tell; For soon the brothers both shall die, And hence to Hel shall go.” Sigurth hewed off Regin’s head, and then he ate Fafnir’s heart, and drank the blood of both Regin and Fafnir. Then Sigurth heard what the nut-hatch said: 40. “Bind, Sigurth, the golden rings together, Not kingly is it aught to fear; I know a maid, there is none so fair, Rich in gold, if thou mightest get her. 41. “Green the paths that to Gjuki lead, And his fate the way to the wanderer shows; The doughty king a daughter has, That thou as a bride mayst, Sigurth, buy.” Another spake: 42. “A hall stands high on Hindarfjoll, All with flame is it ringed without; Warriors wise did make it once Out of the flaming light of the flood. 43. “On the mountain sleeps a battle-maid, And about her plays the bane of the wood; Ygg with the thorn hath smitten her thus, For she felled the fighter he fain would save. 44. “There mayst thou behold the maiden helmed, Who forth on Vingskornir rode from the fight; The victory-bringer her sleep shall break not, Thou heroes’ son, so the Norns have set.” Sigurth rode along Fafnir’s trail to his lair, and found it open. The gate-posts were of iron, and the gates; of iron, too, were all the beams in the house, which was dug down into the earth. There Sigurth found a mighty store of gold, and he filled two chests full thereof; he took the fear-helm and a golden mail-coat and the sword Hrotti, and many other precious things, and loaded Grani with them, but the horse would not go forward until Sigurth mounted on his back. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Sigrdrifumol Sigurth rode up on Hindarfjoll and turned southward toward the land of the Franks. On the mountain he saw a great light, as if fire were burning, and the glow reached up to haven. And when he came thither, there stood a tower of shields, and above it was a banner. Sigurth went into the shield-tower, and saw that a man lay there sleeping with all his war-weapons. First he took the helm from his head, and then he saw that it was a woman. The mail-coat was as fast as if it had grown to the flesh. Then he cut the mail-coat from the head- opening downward, and out to both the arm-holes. Then he took the mail-coat from her, and she awoke, and sat up and saw Sigurth, and said: 1. “What bit through the byrnie? how was broken my sleep? Who made me free of the fetters pale?” He answered: 2. “Sigmund’s son, with Sigurth’s sword, That late with flesh hath fed the ravens.” Sigurth sat beside her and asked her name. She took a horn full of mead and gave him a memory-draught. 3. “Hail, day! Hail, sons of day! And night and her daughter now! Look on us here with loving eyes, that waiting we victory win. 4. “Hail to the gods! Ye goddesses, hail, And all the generous earth! Give to us wisdom and goodly speech, And healing hands, life-long. 5. “Long did I sleep, my slumber was long, And long are the griefs of life; Othin decreed that I could not break The heavy spells of sleep.” Her name was Sigrdrifa, and she was a Valkyrie. She said that two kings fought in battle; one was called Hjalmgunnar, an old man but a mighty warrior, and Othin had promised him the victory, and The other was Agnar, brother of Autha, None he found who fain would shield him. (Or: “Hjalmgunnar was one, the hoary king, and triumph to him had Heerfather promised.”) (Ed. ‘Sigrdrifa’ means ‘Victory-Bringer’ and is more epithet than proper name.) Sigrdrifa slew Hjalmgunnar in the battle, and Othin pricked her with the sleep-thorn in punishment for this, and said that she should never thereafter win victory in battle, but that she should be wedded. “And I said to him that I had made a vow in my turn, that I would never marry a man who knew the meaning of fear.” Sigurth answered and asked her to teach him wisdom, if she knew of what took place in all the worlds. Sigrdrifa said: 6. “Beer I bring thee, tree of battle, Mingled of strength and mighty fame; Charms it holds and healing signs, Spells full good, and gladness-runes.” 7. Winning-runes learn, if thou longest to win, And the runes on thy sword-hilt write; Some on the furrow, and some on the flat, And twice shalt thou call on Tyr. (Ed. Risting tivaz twice is common practice for weapon runes.) 8. Ale-runes learn, that with lies the wife Of another betray not thy trust; On the horn thou shalt write, and the backs of thy hands, And Need shalt thou mark on thy nails. Thou shalt bless the draught, and danger escape, And cast a leek in the cup; (For so I know thou never shalt see Thy mead with evil mixed.) (Ed. Need here stands for nauthiz, and ‘leek’, laguz.) 9. Birth-runes learn, if help thou wilt lend, The babe from the mother to bring; On thy palms shalt write them, and round thy joints, And ask the fates to aid. (Ed. ‘Fates’ here is ‘Norns’.) 10. Wave-runes learn, if well thou wouldst shelter The sail-steeds out on the sea; On the stem shalt thou write, and the steering-blade, And burn them into the oars; Thou high be the breakers, and black the waves, Thou shalt safe the harbour seek. 11. Branch-runes learn, if a healer wouldst be, And cure for wounds wouldst work; On the bark shalt thou write, and on trees that be With boughs to the eastward bent. (Ed. In some texts the word ‘limrunar’ or branch-runes is in error ‘lifrunar’ or life-runes, which would be inappropriate to context.) 12. Speech-runes learn, that none may seek To answer harm with hate; Well he winds and weaves them all, And sets them side by side, At the judgement-place, when justice there The folk shall fairly win. 13. Thought-runes learn, if all shall think Thou art keenest minded of men. 14. Them Hropt arranged, and them he wrote, And them in thought he made, Out of the draught that down had dropped From the head of Heithdraupnir, And the horn of Hoddrofnir. (Ed. ‘Heithdraupnir’ is ‘Light-Dropper’ and ‘Hoddrofnir’ is ‘Treasure-Opener’, both names for Mimir’s energy function.) 15. On the mountain he stood with Brimir’s sword, On his head the helm he bore; Then first the head of Mim spoke forth, And words of truth it told. (Ed. Brimir was a Jotun.) 16. He bade write on the shield before the shining goddess, On Arvak’s ear, and on Alsvith’s hoof, On the wheel of the car of Hrungnir’s killer On Sleipnir’s teeth, and the straps of the sledge. (Ed. Hrungnir’s killer is Thorr.) 17. On the paws of the bear, and on Bragi’s tongue, On the wolf’s claws bared, and the eagle’s beak, On bloody wings, and bridge’s end, On freeing hands and helping foot-prints. 18. On glass and on gold, and on goodly charms, In wine and in beer, and on well-loved seats, On Gungnir’s point, and on Grani’s breast, On the nails of the Norns, and the night-owl’s beak. Shaved off were the runes that of old were written, And mixed with the holy mead, And sent on ways so wide; So the gods had them, so the elves got them, And some for the Wanes so wise, And some for mortal men. 19. Beech-runes are there, birth-runes are there And all the runes of ale, And the magic runes of might; Who knows them rightly and reads them true, Has them himself to help; Ever they aid, Till the gods are gone. (Ed. ‘Ale’ is not only ‘beer’ but also word for ‘inspiration’.) Brynhild spake: 21. “Now shalt thou choose, for the choice is given, Thou tree of the biting blade; Speech or silence, ‘tis thine to say, Our evil is destined all.” Sigurth spake: 22. “I shall not flee, though my fate be near, I was born not a coward to be; Thy loving word for mine will I win, As long as I shall live.” 23. Then first I rede thee, that free of guilt Toward kinsmen ever thou art; No vengeance have, though they work thee harm, Reward after death thou shalt win. 24. Then second I rede thee, to swear no oath If true thou knowest it not; Bitter the fate of the breaker of troth, And poor is the wolf of his word. 25. Then third I rede thee, that thou at the Thing Shalt fight not in words with fools; For the man unwise a worser word Than he thinks doth utter oft. Seldom safe is fame, Unless wide renown be won; On the day thereafter send him to death, Let him pay the price of his lies. 26. Then forth I rede thee, if thou shalt find A wily witch on the road, It is better to go than her guest to be, Though night enfold thee fast. 27. Eyes that see need the sons of men Who fight in battle fierce; Oft witches evil sit by the way, Who blade and courage blunt. 28. Then fifth I rede thee, though maidens fair Thou seest on benches sitting, Let the silver of kinship not robe thee of sleep, And the kissing of women beware. 29. Then sixth I rede thee, if men shall wrangle, And ale-talk rise to wrath, No words with a drunken warrior have, For wine steals many men’s wits. 30. Brawls and ale full oft have been An ill to many a man, Death for some, and sorrow for some; Full many the woes of men. 31. Then seventh I rede thee, if battle thou seekest With a foe that is full of might; It is better to fight than to burn alive In the hall of the hero rich. 32. Then eighth I rede thee, that evil thou shun, And beware of lying words; Take not a maid, nor the wife of a man, Nor lure them on to lust. 33. The ninth I rede thee; burial render If thou findest a fallen corpse, Of sickness dead, or dead in the sea, Or dead of weapons’ wounds. A bath shalt thou give them who corpses be, And hands and head shalt wash; Wipe them and comb, ere they go in the coffin, And pray that they sleep in peace. 34. Then tenth I rede thee, that never thou trust The word of the race of wolves, (If his brother thou broughtest to death, Or his father thou didst fell;) Often a wolf in a son there is, Though gold he gladly takes. 35. Battle and hate and harm, methinks, Full seldom fall asleep; Wits and weapons the warrior needs If boldest of men he would be. 36. Then eleventh I rede thee, that wrath thou shun, And treachery false with thy friends; Not long the leader’s life shall be, For great are the foes he faces. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Brot af Sigurtharkvithu Hogni spake: 1. “(What evil deed has Sigurth) done, That the hero’s life thou fain wouldst have?” Gunnar spake: 2. “Sigurth oaths to me hath sworn, Oaths hath sworn, and all hath broken; He betrayed me there where truest all His oaths, methinks, he ought to have kept.” Hogni spake: 3. “Thy heart hath Brynhild whetted to hate, Evil to work and harm to win; She grudges the honor that Guthrun has, And that joy of herself thou still dost have.” 4. They cooked a wolf, they cut up a snake, They gave to Gotthorm the greedy one’s flesh, Before the men, to murder minded, Laid their hands on the hero bold. 5. Slain was Sigurth south of the Rhine; From a limb a raven called full loud: “Your blood shall redden Atli’s blade, And your oaths shall bind you both in chains.” 6. Without stood Guthrun, Gjuki’s daughter, Hear now the speech that first she spake: “Where is Sigurth now, the noble king, That my kinsmen riding before him come?” Only this did Hogni answer: 7. “Sigurth we with our swords have slain; The gray horse mourns by his master dead.” Then Brynhild spake, the daughter of Buthli: 8. “Well shall ye joy in weapons and lands; Sigurth alone of all had been lord, If a little longer his life had been. 9. “Right were it not that so he should rule O’er Gjuki’s wealth and the race of the Goths; Five are the sons for ruling the folk, And greedy of fight, that he hath fathered.” Then Brynhild laughed – and the building echoed – Only once, with all her heart; 10. “Long shall ye joy in lands and men, Now ye have slain the hero noble.” Then Guthrun spake, the daughter of Gjuki: 11. “Much thou speakest in evil speech; Accursed be Gunnar, Sigurth’s killer, Vengeance shall come for his cruel heart.” 12. Early came evening, and ale was drunk, And among them long and loud they talked; They slumbered all when their beds they sought, But Gunnar alone was long awake. 13. His feet were tossing, he talked to himself, And the slayer of hosts began to heed What the twain from the tree had told him then, The raven and eagle, as home they rode. 14. Brynhild awoke, the daughter of Buthli, The warrior’s daughter, ere dawn of day: “Love me or hate me, the harm is done, And my grief cries out, or else I die.” 15. Silent were all who heard her speak, And nought of the heart of the queen they knew, Who wept such tears the thing to tell That laughing once of the men she had won. Brynhild spake: 16. “Gunnar, I dreamed a dream full grim: In the hall were corpses; cold was my bed; And, ruler, thou didst joyless ride, With fetters bound in the foemen’s throng. 17. “ - lacuna- -lacuna- Utterly now your Niflung race All shall die; your oaths ye have broken. 18. “Thou hast, Gunnar, the deed forgot, When blood in your footprints both ye mingled; All to him has repaid with ill Who fain had made thee the foremost of kings. 19. “Well did he prove, when proud he rode To win me then thy wife to be, How true the host-slayer ever had held The oaths he had made with the monarch young. 20. “The wound-staff then, all wound with gold, The hero let between us lie; With fire the edge was forged full keen, And with drops of venom the blade was damp.” (Ed. Here in the manuscript in red lettering is the phrase, “Of Sigurth’s Death” as a heading.) Here it is told in this poem about the death of Sigurth, and the story goes here that they slew him out of doors, but some say that they slew him in the house, on his bed while he was sleeping. But German men say that the killed him out of doors in the forest; and so it is told in the old Guthrun lay, that Sigurth and Gjuki’s sons had ridden to the council-place, and that he was slain there. But in this story they are all agreed, that they deceived him in his trust of them, and fell upon him when he was lying down and unprepared. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Guthrunarkvitha I Guthrun sat by the dead Sigurth; she did not weep as other women, but her heart was near to bursting with grief. The men and women came to her to console her, but that was not easy to do. It is told of men that Guthrun had eaten of Fafnir’s heart, and that she understood the speech of birds. This is a poem about Guthrun. 1. Then did Guthrun think to die, When she by Sigurth sorrowing sat; Tears she had not, nor wrung her hands, Nor ever wailed, as other women. To her the warriors wise there came, Longing her heavy woe to lighten; Grieving could not Guthrun weep, So sad her heart, it seemed, would break. Then the wives of the warriors came, Gold-adorned, and Guthrun sought; Each one then of her own grief spoke, The bitterest pain she had ever borne. Then spake Gjaflaug, Gjuki’s sister: “Most joyless of all on earth am I; Husbands five were from me taken, (Two daughters then, and sisters three,) Brothers eight, yet I have lived. 2. Grieving could not Guthrun weep, Such grief she had for her husband dead, And so grim her heart by the hero’s body. 3. Then Herborg spake, the queen of the Huns: “I have a greater grief to tell; My seven sons in the southern land, And my husband, fell in fight all eight. (Father and mother and brothers four Amid the waves the wind once smote, And the seas crashed through the sides of the ship.) 4. “The bodies all with my own hands then I decked for the grave, and the dead I buried; A half-year brought me this to bear; And no one came to comfort me. 5. “Then bound I was, and taken in war, A sorrow yet in the same half-year; They bade me deck and bind the shoes Of the wife of the monarch every morn. 6. “In jealous rage her wrath she spake, And beat me oft with heavy blows; Never a better lord I knew, And never a woman worse I found.” 7. Grieving could not Guthrun weep, Such grief she had for her husband dead, And so grim her heart by the hero’s body. 8. Then spake Gollrond, Gjuki’s daughter: “Thy wisdom finds not, my foster-mother, The way to comfort the wife so young.” She bade them uncover the warrior’s corpse. 9. The shroud she lifted from Sigurth, laying His well-loved head on the knees of his wife: “Look on thy loved one, and lay thy lips To his as if yet the hero lived.” 10. Once alone did Guthrun look; His hair all clotted with blood beheld, The blinded eyes that once shone bright, The hero’s breast that the blade had pierced. 11. Then Guthrun bent, on her pillow bowed, Her hair was loosened, her cheek was hot, And the tears like raindrops downward ran. 12. Then Guthrun, daughter of Gjuki, wept, And through her tresses flowed the tears; And from the court came the cry of geese, The birds so fair of the hero’s bride. Then Gollrond spake, the daughter of Gjuki: 13. “Never a greater love I knew Than yours among all men on earth; Nowhere wast happy, at home or abroad, Sister mine, with Sigurth away.” Guthrun spake: 14. “So was my Sigurth o’er Gjuki’s sons As the spear-leek grown above the grass, Or the jewel bright borne on the band, The precious stone that princes wear. 15. “To the leader of men I loftier seemed And higher than all of Herjan’s maids; As little now as the leaf I am On the willow hanging; my hero is dead. (Ed. Herjan’s maids are Othinn’s valkyries.) 16. “In his seat, in his bed, I see no more My heart’s true friend; the fault is theirs, The sons of Gjuki, for all my grief, That so their sister sorely weeps. 17. “So shall your land its people lose As ye have kept your oaths of yore; Gunnar, no joy the gold shall give thee, (The rings shall soon thy slayers be,) Who swarest oaths with Sigurth once. 18. “In the court was greater gladness then The day my Sigurth Grani saddled, And went forth Brynhild’s hand to win, That woman ill, in an evil hour.” Then Brynhild spake, the daughter of Buthli: 19. “May the witch now husband and children want Who, Guthrun, loosed thy tears at last, And with magic today hath made thee speak.” Then Gollrond, daughter of Gjuki, spake: 20. “Speak not such words, thou hated woman; Bane of the noble thou e’er hast been, (Borne thou art on an evil wave, Sorrow hast brought to seven kings,) And many a woman hast loveless made.” Then Brynhild, daughter of Buthli, spake: 21. “Atli is guilty of all the sorrow, (Son of Buthli and brother of mine,) When we saw in the hall of the Hunnish race The flame of the snake’s bed flash round the hero; (For the journey since full sore have I paid, And ever I seek the sight to forget.”) 22. By the pillars she stood, and gathered her strength, From the eyes of Brynhild, Buthli’s daughter, Fire there burned, and venom she breathed, When the wounds she saw on Sigurth then. Guthrun went thence away to a forest in the waste, and journeyed all the way to Denmark, and was there seven half-years with Thora, daughter of Hakon. Brynhild would not live after Sigurth. She had eight of her thralls slain and five serving-women. Then she killed herself with a sword, as is told in the Short Lay of Sigurth. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Sigurtharkvitha en Skamma 1. Of old did Sigurth Gjuki seek, The Volsung young, in battles victor; Well he trusted the brothers twain, With mighty oaths among them sworn. A maid they gave him, and jewels many, Guthrun the young, the daughter of Gjuki; They drank and spake full many a day, Sigurth the young and Gjuki’s son. 2. Thereafter went they Brynhild to woo, And so with them did Sigurth ride, The Volsung young, in battle valiant,- Himself would have had her if all he had seen. 3. The southern hero his naked sword, Fair-flashing, let between them lie; (Nor would he come the maid to kiss;) The Hunnish king in his arms ne’er held The maiden he gave to Gjuki’s sons. 4. Ill she had known not in all her life, And nought of the sorrows of men she knew; Blame she had not, nor dreamed she should bear it, But cruel the fates that among them came. 5. By herself at the end of day she sat, And in open words her heart she uttered: “I shall Sigurth have, the hero young, E’en though within my arms he die. 6. “The word I have spoken; soon shall I rue it, His wife is Guthrun, and Gunnar’s am I; Ill Norns set for me long desire.” 7. Oft did she go with grieving heart On the glacier’s ice at even-tide, When Guthrun then to her bed was gone, And the bedclothes Sigurth about her laid.. 8. “(Now Gjuki’s child to her lover goes,) And the Hunnish king with his wife is happy; Joyless I am and mateless ever, Till cries from my heavy heart burst forth.” 9. In her wrath to battle she roused herself; “Gunnar, now thou needs must lose Lands of mine and me myself, No joy shall I have with the hero ever. 10. “Back shall I fare where first I dwelt, Among the kin that come of my race, To wait there, sleeping my life away, If Sigurth’s death thou shalt not dare, (And best of heroes thou shalt not be.) 11. “The son shall fare with his father hence, And let not long the wolf-cub live; Lighter to pay is the vengeance-price After the deed if the son is dead.” 12. Sad was Gunnar, and bowed with grief, Deep in thought the whole day through; Yet from his heart it was ever hid What deed most fitting he should find, (Or what thing best for him should be, Or if he should seek the Volsung to slay, For with mighty longing Sigurth he loved.) 13. Much he pondered for many and hour; Never before was the wonder known That a queen should thus her kingdom leave; In counsel then did he Hogni call, (For him in truest trust he held.) 14. “More than all to me is Brynhild, Buthli’s child, the best of women; My very life would I sooner lose Than yield the love of yonder maid. 15. “Wilt thou the hero for wealth betray? ‘Twere good to have the gold of the Rhine, And all the hoard in peace to hold, And waiting fortune thus to win.” 16. Few the words of Hogni were: “Us it beseems not so to do, To cleave with swords the oaths we swore, The oaths we swore and all our vows. 17. “We know no mightier men on earth, The while we four o’er the folk hold sway, And while the Hunnish hero lives, Nor higher kinship the world doth hold. 18. “If sons we five shall soon beget, Great, methinks, our race shall grow; Well I see whence lead the ways; Too bitter far is Brynhild’s hate.” Gunnar spake: 19. “Gotthorm to wrath we needs must rouse, Our younger brother, in rashness blind; He entered not in oaths we swore, The oaths we swore and all our vows.” 20. It was easy to rouse the reckless one, -lacuna?- The sword in the heart of Sigurth stood. 21. In vengeance the hero rose in the hall, And hurled his sword at the slayer bold; At Gotthorm flew the glittering steel Of Gram full hard from the hand of the king. 22. The foeman cleft asunder fell, Forward hands and head did sink, And legs and feet did backward fall. 23. Guthrun soft in her bed had slept, Safe from care at Sigurth’s side; She woke to find her joy had fled, In the blood of the friend of Freyr she lay. 24. So hard she smote her hands together That the hero rose up, iron-hearted: “Weep not, Guthrun, grievous tears, Bride so young, for thy brothers live. 25. “Too young, methinks, is my son as yet, He cannot flee from the home of his foes; Fearful and deadly the plan they found, The counsel new that now they have heeded. 26. “No son will ride, though seven thou hast, To the Thing as the son of their sister rides; Well I see who the ill has worked, On Brynhild alone lies the blame for all. 27. “Above all men the maiden loved me, Yet false to Gunnar I ne’er was found; I kept the oaths and the kinship I swore; Of his queen the lover none may call me. 28. In a swoon she sank when Sigurth died; So hard she smote her hands together That all the cups in the cupboard rang, And loud in the courtyard cried the geese. 29. Then Brynhild, daughter of Buthli, laughed, Only once, with all her heart, When as she lay full loud she heard The grievous wail of Gjuki’s daughter 30. Then Gunnar, monarch of men, spake forth; “Thou dost not laugh, thou lover of hate, In gladness there, or for aught of good; Why has thy face so white a hue, Mother of ill? Foredoomed thou art. 31. “A worthier woman wouldst thou have been If before thine eyes we had Atli slain; If thy brother’s bleeding body hadst seen And the bloody wounds that thou shouldst bind.” Brynhild spake: 32. “None mock thee, Gunnar! thou hast mightily fought, But thy hatred little doth Atli heed; Longer than thou, methinks, shall he live, And greater in might shall he ever remain. 33. “To thee I say, and thyself thou knowest, That all these ills thou didst early shape; No bonds I knew, nor sorrow bore, And wealth I had in my brother’s home. 34. “Never a husband sought I to have, Before the Gjukings fared to land; Three were the kings on steeds that came,- Need of their journey never there was. 35. “To the hero great my troth I gave Who gold-decked sat on Grani’s back; Not like to thine was the light of his eyes, (Nor like in form and face are ye,) Though kingly both ye seemed to be. 36. “And so to me did Atli say That share in our wealth I should not have, Of gold or lands, if my hand I gave not; (More evil yet, the wealth I should yield,) The gold that he in my childhood gave me, (The wealth from him in my youth I had.) 37. “Oft in my mind I pondered much If still I should fight, and warriors fell, Brave in my byrnie, my brother defying; That would wide in the worlds be known, And sorrow for many a man would make. 38. “But the bond at last I let be made, For more the hoard I longed to have, The rings that the son of Sigmund won; No other’s treasure e’er I sought. 39. “One alone of all I loved, Nor changing heart I ever had; All in the end shall Atli know, When he hears I have gone on the death-road hence.” -break- 40. “Never a wife of fickle will Yet to another man should yield. -lacuna- So vengeance for all my ills shall come.” 41. Up rose Gunnar, the people’s ruler, And flung his arms round her neck so fair; And all who came, of every kind, Sought to hold her with all their hearts. 42. But back she cast all those who came, Nor from the long road let them hold her; In counsel then did he Hogni call; “Of wisdom now full great is our need. 43. “Let the warriors here in the hall come forth, Thine and mine, for the need is mighty, If haply the queen from death they may hold, Till her fearful thoughts with time shall fade.” 44. (Few the words of Hogni were:) “From the long road now shall ye hold her not, That born again she may never be! Foul she came from her mother forth, And born she was for wicked deeds, (Sorrow to many a man to bring.)” 45. From the speaker gloomily Gunnar turned, From the jewel-bearer her gems was dividing; On all her wealth her eyes were gazing, On the bond-woman slain and the slaughtered slaves. 46. Her byrnie of gold she donned, and grim Was her heart ere the point of her sword had pierced it; On the pillow at last her head she laid, And, wounded, her plan she pondered o’er. 47. “Hither I will that my women come Who gold are fain from me to get; Necklaces fashioned fair to each Shall I give, and cloth, and garments bright.” 48. Silent were all as so she spake, And all together answer made: “Slain are enough; we seek to live, Not thus thy women shall honour win.” 49. Long the women, linen-decked, pondered,- -Young she was,- and weighed her words: “For my sake now shall none unwilling Or loath to die her life lay down. 50. “But little of gems to gleam on your limbs Ye then shall find when forth ye fare To follow me, or of Menja’s wealth. -lacuna- 51. “Sit now, Gunnar! for I shall speak Of thy bride so fair and so fain to die; Thy ship in harbour home thou hast not, Although my life I now have lost. 52. “Thou shalt Guthrun requite more quick than thou thinkest, -lacuna- Though sadly mourns the maiden wise, Who dwells with the king, o’er her husband dead. 53. “A maid shall then the mother bear; Brighter far than the fairest day Svanhild shall be, or the beams of the sun. 54. “Guthrun a noble husband thou givest, Yet to many a warrior woe will she bring, Not happily wedded she should herself; Her shall Atli hither seek, (Butli’s son, and brother of mine.) 55. “Well I remember how me ye treated When ye betrayed me with treacherous wiles; -lacuna- Lost was my joy as long I lived. 56. “Oddrun as wife thou fain wouldst win, But Atli this from thee withholds; Yet in secret tryst ye twain shall love; Shall she hold thee dear, as I had done If kindly fate to us had fallen. 57. “Ill to thee shall Atli bring, When he casts thee down in the den of snakes. 58. “But soon thereafter Atli too His life, methinks, as thou shalt lose, (His fortune lose and the lives of his sons;) Him shall Guthrun, grim of heart, With the biting blade in his bed destroy. 59. “It would better beseem thy sister fair To follow her husband first in death, If counsel good to her were given, Or a heart akin to mine she had. 60. “Slowly I speak,- but for my sake Her life, methinks, she shall not lose; She shall wander over the tossing waves, To where Jonak rules his father’s realm. 61. “Sons to him she soon shall bear, Heirs therewith of Jonak’s wealth; But Svanhild far away is sent, The child she bore to Sigurth brave. 62. “Bikki’s word her death shall be, For dreadful the wrath of Jormunrek; So slain is all of Sigurth’s race, And greater the woe of Guthrun grows. 63. “Yet one born I beg of thee, The last of boons in my life it is: Let the pyre be built so broad in the field That room for us all will ample be, (For us who slain with Sigurth are.) 64. “With shields and carpets cover the pyre, -lacuna- Shrouds full fair, and fallen slaves, And besides the Hunnish hero burn me. 65. “Besides the Hunnish hero there Slaves shall burn, full bravely decked, Two at his head and two at his feet, A brace of hounds and a pair of hawks, For so shall all be seemly done. 66. “Let between us lie once more The steel so keen, as so it lay When both within one bed we were, And wedded mates by men were called. 67. “The door of the hall shall strike not the heel Of the hero fair with flashing rings, If hence my following goes with him; Not mean our faring forth shall be. 68. “Bond-women five shall follow him, And eight of my thralls, well-born are they, Children with me, and mine they were As gifts that Buthli his daughter gave. 69. “Much have I told thee, and more would say If fate more space for speech had given; My voice grows weak, my wounds are swelling; Truth I have said, and so I die.” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Helreith Bryndhildar After the death of Brynhild there were made two bale-fires, the one for Sigurth, and that burned first, and on the other was Brynhild burned, and she was on a wagon which was covered with a rich cloth. Thus it is told, that Brynhild went in the wagon on Hel-way, and passed by a house where dwelt a certain giantess. The giantess spake: 1. “Thou shalt not further forward fare, My dwelling ribbed with rocks across; More seemly it were at thy weaving to stay, Than another’s husband here to follow. 2. “What wouldst thou have from Valland here, Fickle of heart, in this my house? Gold-goddess, now, if thou wouldst know, Heroes’ blood from thy hands hast washed.” Brynhild spake: 3. “Chide me not, woman from rocky walls, Thou to battle once I was wont to go; Better than thou I shall seem to be, When men us two shall truly know.” The giantess spake: 4. “Thou wast, Brynhild, Buthli’s daughter, For the worst of evils born in the world; To death thou hast given Gjuki’s children, And laid their lofty house full low.” Brynhild spake: 5. “Truth from the wagon here I tell thee, Witless one, if know thou wilt How the heirs of Gjuki gave me to be Joyless ever, a breaker of oaths. 6. “Hild the helmed in Hlymdalir They named me of old, all they who knew me. -lacuna- -lacuna- (Ed. Hlymdalir ‘Tumult-Dale’ is here used as a ‘home’ for the Valkyries.) 7. “The monarch bold the swan-robes bore Of the sisters eight beneath an oak; Twelve winters I was, if know thou wilt, When oaths I yielded the king so young. “Next I let the leader of Goths, Hjalmgunnar the old, go down to hell, And victory brought to Autha’s brother; For this was Othin’s anger mighty. 8. “He beset me with shields in Skatalund, Red and white, their rims o’erlapped; He bade that my sleep should broken be By him who fear had nowhere found. 9. “He let round my hall that southward looked, The branches’ foe high-leaping burn; Across it he bade the hero come Who brought me the gold that Fafnir guarded. 10. “On Grani rode the giver of gold, Where my foster-father ruled his folk; Best of all he seemed to be, The prince of the Danes, when the people met. 11. “Happy we slept, one bed we had, As he my brother born had been; Eight were the nights when neither there Loving hand on the other laid. 12. “Yet Guthrun reproached me, Gjuki’s daughter, That I in Sigurth’s arms had slept; Then did I hear what I would were hid, That they had betrayed me in taking a mate. 13. “Ever with grief and all too long Are men and women born in the world; But yet we shall live our lives together, Sigurth and I. Sink down, Giantess!” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Drap Niflunga Gunnar and Hogni then took all the gold that Fafnir had had. There was strife between the Gjukungs and Atli, for he held the Gjukungs guilty of Brynhild’s death. It was agreed that they should give him Guthrun as wife, and they gave her a draught of forgetfulness to drink before she would consent to be wedded to Atli. The sons of Atli were Erp and Eitil, and Svanhild was the daughter of Sigurth and Guthrun. King Atli invited Gunnar and Hogni to come to him, and sent as messenger Vingi or Knefroth. Guthrun was aware of treachery, and sent with him a message in runes that they should not come, and as a token she sent to Hogni the ring Andvaranaut and tied a wolf’s hair in it. Gunnar had sought Oddrun, Atli’s sister, for his wife, but had her not; then he married Glaumvor, and Hogni’s wife was Kostbera; their sons were Solar and Snaevar and Gjuki. And when the Gjukungs came to Atli, then Guthrun besought her sons to plead for the lives of both the Gjukungs, but they would not do it. Hogni’s heart was cut out, and Gunnar was cast into the serpent’s den. He smote on the harp and put the serpents to sleep, but an adder stung him in the liver. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Guthrunarkvitha II, En Forna King Thjothrek was with Atli, and had lost most of his men. Thjothrek and Guthrun lamented their griefs together. She spoke to him, saying: 1. A maid of maids my mother bore me, Bright in my bower, my brothers I loved, Till Gjuki dowered me with gold, Dowered with gold, and to Sigurth gave me. So Sigurth rose o’er Gjuki’s sons As the leek grows green above the grass, Or the stag o’er all the beasts doth stand, Or as glow-red gold above silver gray. 2. Till my brothers let me no longer have The best of heroes my husband to be; Sleep they could not, or quarrels settle, Till Sigurth they at last had slain. 3. From the Thing ran Grani with thundering feet, But thence did Sigurth himself come never; Covered with sweat was the saddle-bearer, Wont the warrior’s weight to bear. 4. Weeping I sought with Grani to speak, With tear-wet cheeks for the tale I asked; The head of Grani was bowed to the grass, The steed knew well his master was slain. 5. Long I waited and pondered well Ere ever the king for tiding I asked. -lacuna- 6. His head bowed Gunnar, but Hogni told The news full sore of Sigurth slain: “Hewed to death at our hands he lies, Gotthorm’s slayer, given to wolves. 7. “On the southern road thou shalt Sigurth see, Where hear thou canst the ravens cry; The eagles cry as food they crave, And about thy husband wolves are howling.” “Why dost thou, Hogni, such a horror Let me hear, all joyless left? Ravens yet thy heart shall rend In a land that never thou hast known.” 8. Few the words of Hogni were, Bitter his heart from heavy sorrow: “Greater, Guthrun, thy grief shall be If the ravens so my heart shall rend.” 9. From him who spake I turned me soon, In the woods to find what the wolves had left; Tears I had not, nor wrung my hands, Nor wailing went, as other women, (When by Sigurth slain I sat). 10. Never so black had seemed the night As when in sorrow by Sigurth I sat; The wolves - lacuna - - lacuna - 11. - lacuna- Best of all methought ‘twould be If I my life could only lose, Or like to birch-wood burned might be. 12. From the mountain forth five days I fared, Till Hoalf’s hall so high I saw; Seven half-years with Thora I stayed, Hakon’s daughter, in Denmark then. 13. With gold she broidered, to bring me joy, Southern halls and Danish swans; On the tapestry wove we warrior’s deeds, And the hero’s thanes on our handiwork; (Flashing shields and fighters armed, Sword-throng, helm-throng, the host of the king.) 14. Sigmund’s ship by the land was sailing, Golden the figure-head, gay the beaks; On board we wove the warriors faring, Sigar and Siggeir, south to Fjon. 15. Then Grimhild asked, the Gothic queen, Whether willingly would I - lacuna - - lacuna - 16. Her needlework cast she aside, and called Her sons to ask, with stern resolve, Who amends to their sister would make for her son, Or the wife requite for her husband killed. 17. Ready was Gunnar gold to give, Amends for my hurt, and Hogni too; Then would she know who now would go, The horse to saddle, the wagon to harness, (The horse to ride, the hawk to fly, And shafts from bows of yew to shoot.) 18. (Valdar, king of the Danes, was come, With Jarizleif, Eymoth, and Jarizskar). 19. In like princes came they all, The long-beard men, with mantles red, Short their mail-coats, mighty their helms, Swords at their belts, and brown their hair. 20. Each to give me gifts was fain, Gifts to give, and goodly speech, Comfort so for my sorrows great To bring they tried, but I trusted them not. 21. A draught did Grimhild give me to drink, Bitter and cold; I forgot my cares; For mingled therein was magic earth, Ice-cold sea, and the blood of swine. 22. In the cup were runes of every kind, Written and reddened, I could not read them; A heather-fish from the Haddings’ land, An ear uncut, and the entrails of beasts. 23. Much evil was brewed within the beer, Blossoms of trees, and acorns burned, Dew of the hearth, and holy entrails, The liver of swine,- all grief to allay. Then I forgot, when the draught they gave me, There in the hall, my husband’s slaying; On their knees the kings all three did kneel, Ere she herself to speak began: 24. “Guthrun, gold to thee I give, The wealth that once they father’s was, Rings to have, and Hlothver’s halls, And the hangings all that the monarch had. 25. “Hunnish women, skilled in weaving, Who gold make fair to give thee joy, And the wealth of Buthli thine shall be, Gold-decked one, as Atli’s wife.” Guthrun spake: 26. “A husband now I will not have, Nor wife of Brynhild’s brother be; It beseems me not with Buthli’s son Happy to be, and heirs to bear.” 27. “Seek not on men to avenge thy sorrows, Though the blame at first with us hath been; Happy shalt be as if both still lived, Sigurth and Sigmund, if sons thou bearest.” Guthrun spake: 28. “Grimhild, I may not gladness find, Nor hold forth hopes to heroes now, Since once the raven and ravening wolf Sigurth’s heart’s-blood hungrily lapped.” Grimhild spake: 29. “Noblest of birth is the ruler now I have found for thee, and foremost of all; Him shalt thou have while life thou hast, Or husbandless be if him thou wilt choose not.” Guthrun spake: 30. “Seek not so eagerly me to send To be a bride of yon baneful race; On Gunnar first his wrath shall fall, And the heart will he tear from Hogni’s breast.” Weeping Grimhild heard the words That fate full sore for her sons foretold, (And mighty woe for them should work;) “Lands I give thee, with all that live there, (Vingjorg is thine, and Valbjorg too,) Have them forever, but here me, daughter.” 31. So must I do as the kings besought, And against my will for my kinsmen wed; Ne’er with my husband joy I had, And my sons by my brothers’ fate were saved not. 32. -lacuna- I could not rest till of life I had robbed The warrior bold, the maker of battles. 33. Soon on horseback each hero was, And the foreign women in wagons faring; A week through lands so cold we went, And a second week the waves we smote, (And a third through lands that water lacked). 34. The warders now on the lofty walls Opened the gates, and in we rode. - break - 35. Atli woke me, for ever I seemed Of bitterness full for my brothers’ death. Atli spake: 36. “Now from sleep the Norns have waked me With visions of terror,- to thee will I tell them; Methought thou, Guthrun, Gjuki’s daughter, With poisoned blade didst pierce my body.” Guthrun spake: 37. “Fire a dream of steel shall follow And willful pride one of woman’s wrath; A baneful sore I shall burn from thee, And tend and heal thee, though hated thou art.” Atli spake: 38. “Of plants I dreamed, in the garden drooping, That fain would I have full high to grow; Plucked by the roots, and red with blood, They brought them hither, and bade me eat. 39. “I dreamed my hawks from my hand had flown, Eager for food, to an evil house; I dreamed their hearts with honey I ate, Soaked in blood, and heavy my sorrow. 40. “Hounds I dreamed from my hand I loosed, Loud in hunger and pain they howled; Their flesh methought was eagles’ food, And their bodies now I needs must eat.” Guthrun spake: 41. “Men shall soon of sacrifice speak, And off the heads of beasts shall hew; Die they shall ere day has dawned, A few nights hence, and the folk shall have them.” Atli spake: 42. “On my bed I sank, nor slumber sought, Weary with woe,- full well I remember.” - lacuna - <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Guthrunarkvitha III Herkja was the name of a serving-woman of Atli’s; she had been his concubine. She told Atli that she had seen Thjothrek and Guthrun both together. Atli was greatly angered thereby. Then Guthrun said: 1. “What thy sorrow, Atli, Buthli’s son? Is thy heart heavy-laden? Why laughest thou never? It would better befit the warrior far To speak with men, and me to look on.” Atli spake: 2. “It troubles me, Guthrun, Gjuki’s daughter, What Herkja here in the hall hath told me, That thou in the bed with Thjothrek liest, Beneath the linen, in lovers’ guise.” Guthrun spake: 3. “This shall I with oaths now swear, Swear by the sacred stone so white, That nought was there with Thjothmar’s son That man or woman may not know. 4. “Nor ever once did my arms embrace That hero brave, the leader of hosts; In another manner our meeting was, When our sorrows we in secret told. 5. “With thirty warriors Thjothrek came, Nor of all his men doth one remain; Thou hast murdered my brothers and mail-clad men, Thou hast murdered all the men of my race. 6. “Gunnar comes not, Hogni I greet not, No longer I see my brothers loved; My sorrow would Hogni avenge with the sword, Now myself for my woes I shall payment win. 7. “Summon Saxi, the southrons’ king, For he the boiling kettle can hallow.” 8. Seven hundred there were in the hall, Ere the queen her hand in the kettle thrust. 9. To the bottom she reached with hand so bright, And forth she brought the flashing stone: “Behold, ye warriors, well am I cleared Of sin by the kettle’s sacred boiling.” 10. Then Atli’s heart in happiness laughed, When Guthrun’s hand unhurt he saw; “Now Herkja shall come the kettle to try, She who grief for Guthrun planned.” 11. Ne’er saw man sight more sad than this, How burned were the hands of Herkja then; In a bog so foul the maid they flung, And so was Guthrun’s grief requited. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Oddrunargratr Heithrek was the name of a king, whose daughter was called Borgny. Vilmund was the name of the man who was her lover. She could not give birth to a child until Oddrun, Atli’s sister, had come to her; Oddrun had been beloved of Gunnar, son of Gjuki. About this story is the following poem. 1. I have heard it told in olden tales How a maiden came to Morningland; No one of all on earth above To Heithrek’s daughter help could give. 2. This Oddrun learned, the sister of Atli, That sore the maiden’s sickness was; The bit-bearer forth from his stall she brought, And the saddle laid on the steed so black. 3. She let the horse go o’er the level ground, Till she reached the hall that loftily rose, (And in she went from the end of the hall;) From the weary stead the saddle she took; Hear now the speech that first she spake: 4. “What news on earth, - lacuna- Or what has happened in Hunland now?” A serving-maid spake: 5. “Here Borgny lies in bitter pain, Thy friend, and, Oddrun, thy help would find.” Oddrun spake: 6. “Who worked this woe for the woman thus, Or why so sudden is Borgny sick?” (Ed. or “What warrior now hath worked this woe?”) The serving-maid spake: 7. “Vilmund is he, the heroes’ friend, Who wrapped the woman in bedclothes warm, (For winters five, yet her father knew not).” 8. Then no more they spake, methinks; She went at the knees of the woman to sit; With magic Oddrun and mightily Oddrun Chanted for Borgny potent charms. At last were born a boy and girl, Son and daughter of Hogni’s slayer; Then speech the woman so weak began, Nor said she aught ere this she spake: (Ed. or “Born of the sister of Hogni’s slayer.”) 9. “So may the holy ones thee help, Frigg and Freya and favouring gods, As thou hast saved me from sorrow now.” Oddrun spake: 10. “I came not hither to help thee thus Because thou ever my aid didst earn; I fulfilled the oath that of old I swore, That aid to all I should ever bring, (When they share the wealth the warriors had.) Borgny spake: 11. “Wild art thou, Oddrun, and witless now, That so in hatred to me thou speakest; I followed thee where thou didst fare, As we had been born of brothers twain.” Oddrun spake: 12. “I remember the evil one eve thou spakest, When a draught I gave to Gunnar then; Thou didst say that never such a deed By maid was done save by me alone.” 13. Then the sorrowing woman sat her down To tell the grief of her troubles great. 14. “Happy I grew in the hero’s hall As the warriors wished, and they loved me well; Glad I was of my father’s gifts, For winters five, while my father lived. 15. “These were the words the weary king, Ere he died, spake last of all; He bade me with red gold dowered be, And to Grimhild’s son in the South be wedded. 16. “But Brynhild the helm he bade to wear, A wish-maid bright he said she should be; For a noble maid would never be born On earth, he said, if death should spare her. 17. “At her weaving Brynhild sat in her bower, Lands and folk alike she had; The earth and heaven high resounded When Fafnir’s slayer the city saw. 18. “Then battle was fought with the foreign swords, And the city was broken that Brynhild had; Not long thereafter, but all too soon, Their evil wiles full well she knew. 19. “Woeful for this her vengeance was, As so we learned to our sorrow all; In every land shall all men hear How herself at Sigurth’s side she slew. 20. “Love to Gunnar then I gave, To the breaker of rings, as Brynhild might; To Atli rings so red they offered, And mighty gifts to my brother would give. 21. “Fifteen dwellings fain would he give For me, and the burden that Grani bore; But Atli said he would never receive Marriage gold from Gjuki’s son. 22. “Yet could we not our love o’ercome, And my head I laid on the hero’s shoulder; Many there were of kinsmen mine Who said that together us they had seen. 23. “Atli said that never I Would evil plan, or ill deed do; But none may this of another think, Or surely speak, when love is shared. 24. “Soon his men did Atli send, In the murky wood on me to spy; Thither they came where they should not come, Where beneath one cover close we lay. “To the warriors ruddy rings we offered, That nought to Atli e’er they should say; But swiftly home they hastened thence, And eager all to Atli told. 25. “But close from Guthrun kept they hid What first of all she ought to have known. - lacuna - - lacuna - 26. “Great was the clatter of gilded hoofs When Gjuki’s sons through the gateway rode; The heart they hewed from Hogni then, And the other they cast in the serpents’ cave. 27. “The hero wise on his harp then smote, - lacuna - For help from me in his heart yet hoped The high-born king, might come to him. 28. “Alone was I gone to Geirmund then, The draught to mix and ready to make; Sudden I heard from Hlesey clear How in sorrow the strings of the harp resounded. 29. “I bade the serving-maids ready to be, For I longed the hero’s life to save; Across the sound the boats we sailed, Till we saw the whole of Atli’s home. 30. “Then crawling the evil woman came, Atli’s mother- may she ever rot! And hard she bit to Gunnar’s heart, So I could not help the hero brave. 31. “Oft have I wondered how after this, Serpents’-bed goddess! I still might live, For well I loved the warrior brave, The giver of swords, as my very self. 32. “Thou didst see and listen, the while I said The mighty grief that was mine and theirs; Each man lives as his longing wills,- Oddrun’s lament is ended now.” <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Atlakvitha en Gronlenzka Greenland Lay of Atli Guthrun, Gjuki's daughter, avenged her brothers, as has become well known. She slew first Atli's sons, and thereafter she slew Atli, and burned the hall with his whole company. Concerning this was the following poem made: 1. Atli sent of old to Gunnar A keen-witted rider, Knefroth did men call him; To Gjuki's home came he and to Gunnar's dwelling, With benches round the hearth, and to the beer so sweet. Then the followers, hiding their falseness, all drank Their wine in the war-hall, of the Huns' wrath wary; And Knefroth spake loudly, his words were crafty, The hero came from the south, on the high bench sitting: "Now Atli has sent me his errand to ride, On my bit-champing steed through Myrkwood the secret, To bid you Gunnar, to his benches to come, With helms round the hearth, and Atli's home seek. 2. "Shields shall ye choose there, and shafts made of ash-wood, Gold-adorned helmets, and slaves out of Hunland, Silver-gilt saddle-cloths, shirts of bright scarlet, With lances and spears too, and bit-champing steeds. 3. "The field shall be given you of wide Gnitaheith, With loud-ringing lances, and stems gold-o'er-laid, Treasures full huge, and the home of Danp, And the mighty forest that Myrkwood is called." 4. His head turned Gunnar, and to Hogni said: "What thy counsel, young hero, when such things do we hear? No gold do I know on Gnitaheith lying So fair that other its equal we have not. 5. "We have seven halls, each of swords is full, (And all of gold is the hild of each;) My steed is the swiftest, my sword is sharpest, My bows adorn benches, my byrnies are golden, My helm is the brightest that came from Kmar's hall, (Mine own is better than all the Huns' treasure.)" Hogni spake: 6. "What seeks she to say, that she sends us a ring, Woven with a wolf's hair? methinks it gives warning; In the red rind a hair of the heath-dweller found I, Wolf-like shall our road be if we ride on this journey." 7. Not eager were his comrades, nor the men of his kin, (Ms. has written in: His comrades did not urge Gunnar....) The wise nor the wary, nor the warriors bold. But Gunnar spake forth as befitted a king, Noble in the beer-hall, and bitter his scorn; 8. "Stand forth now, Fjornir! and hither on the floor The beakers all golden shalt thou bring to the warriors, -lacuna- (V. "Give us to drink in great cups, for it may well be that this shall be our last feast.") -lacuna- 9. "The wolves then shall rule the wealth of the Niflungs, Wolves aged and grey-hued, if Gunnar is lost, And black-coated bears with rending teeth bit, And make glad the dogs, if Gunnar returns not." 10. A following gallant fared forth with the ruler, Yet they wept as their home with the hero they left; And the little heir of Hogni called loudly: "Go safe now, ye wise ones, wherever ye will!" 11. Then let the bold heroes their bit-champing horses On the mountains gallop, and through Myrkwood the secret; All Hunland was shaken where the hard-souled ones rode, On the whip-fearers fared they through fields that were green. 12. Then they saw Atli's halls, and his watch-towers high, On the walls so lofty stood the warriors of Buthli; The hall of the southrons with seats was surrounded, With targets bound and shields full bright. 13. Mid weapons and lances did Atli his wine In the war-hall drink, without were his watchmen, For Gunnar they waited, if forth he should go, With their ringing spears they would fight with the ruler. 14. This their sister saw, as soon as her brothers Had entered the hall,- little ale had she drunk: "Betrayed art thou, Gunnar! what guard has thou, hero? 'Gainst the plots of the Huns? from the hall flee swiftly!" 15. "Brother, 'twere far better to have come in byrnie, With thy household helmed, to see Atli's home, And to sit in the saddle all day 'neath the sun, (That the sword-norns might weep for the death-pale warriors, And the Hunnish shield-maids might shun not the sword,) And send Atli himself to the den of the snakes; (Now the den of the snakes for thee is destined.)" Gunnar spake: 16. " - lacuna - Too late is it, sister, to summon the Niflungs, Long is it come to the throng of our comrades, The heroes gallant, from the hills of the Rhine." Break 17. Then Gunnar they seized, and they set him in chains, The Burgundians' king, and fast they bound him. 18. Hogni slew seven with sword so keen, And an eighth he flung in the fire hot; A hero should fight with his foeman thus, As Hogni strove in Gunnar's behalf. 19. -lacuna- -lacuna- The leader they asked if his life he fain With gold would buy, the king of the Goths. Gunnar spake: 20. "First the heart of Hogni shall ye lay in my hands, All bloody from the breast of the bold one cut With keen-biting sword, from the son of the king." 21. -lacuna- They cut out the heart from the breast of Hjalli, On a platter they bore it, and brought it to Gunnar. Then Gunnar spake forth, the lord of the folk: 22. "Here have I the heart of Hjalli the craven, Unlike to the heart of Hogni the valiant, For it trembles still as it stands on the platter; Twice more did it tremble in the breast of the man." 23. Then Hogni laughed when they cut out the heart Of the living helm-hammerer; tears he had not. -lacuna- On a platter they bore it, and brought it to Gunnar. 24. Then Gunnar spake forth, the spear of the Niflungs: "Here have I the heart of Hogni the valiant, Unlike to the heart of Hjalli the craven, Little it trembles as it lies on the platter, Still less did it tremble when it lay in his breast. 25. "So distant, Atli, from all men's eyes, Shalt thou be as thou -lacuna - from the gold. -lacuna- -lacuna- 26. "To no one save me is the secret known Of the Niflungs' hoard, now Hogni is dead; Of old there were two, while we twain were alive, Now is none but I, for I only am living. 27. "The swift Rhine shall hold the strife-gold of heroes, That once was the gods', the wealth of the Niflungs, In the depths of the waters the death-rings shall glitter, And not shine on the hands of the Hunnish men." Atli spake: 28. "Ye shall bring the wagon, for now is he bound." Break 29. On the long-maned Glaum rode Atli the great, About him were warriors -lacuna- But Guthrun, akin to the gods of slaughter, Yielded not to her tears in the hall of tumult. Guthrun spake: 30. "It shall go with thee, Atli, as with Gunnar thou heldest The oaths ofttimes sworn, and of old made firm, By the sun in the south, by Sigutyr's mountain, By the horse of the rest-bed, and the ring of Ull." 31. Then the champer of bits drew the chieftain great, The gold-guarder, down to the place of death. -lacuna- 32. By the warriors' host was the living hero Cast in the den where crawling about Within were serpents, but soon did Gunnar With his hand in wrath on the harp-strings smite; The strings resounded,- so shall a hero A ring-breaker, gold from his enemies guard. 33. Then Atli rode on his earth-treading steed, Seeking his home, from the slaughter-place; There was a clatter of hoofs on the steeds in the court, And the clashing of arms as they came from the field. 34. Out then came Guthrun to meeting with Atli, With a golden beaker as gift to the monarch; "Thou mayst eat now, chieftain, within thy dwelling, Blithely with Guthrun young beasts fresh slaughtered." 35. The wine-heavy ale-cups of Atli resounded, When there in the hall the Hunnish youths clamored, And the warriors bearded, the brave ones, entered. 36. Then in came the shining one, -lacuna- -lacuna- and drink she bore them; Unwilling and bitter brought she food to the warrior, Till in scorn to the white-faced Atli did she speak: 37. "Thou giver of swords, of thy sons the hearts All heavy with blood in honey thou hast eaten; Thou shalt stomach, thou hero, the flesh of the slain, To eat at thy feast, and to send to thy followers. 38. "Thou shalt never call to thy knees again Erp or Eitil, when merry with ale; Thou shalt never see in their seats again The sharers of gold their lances shaping, (Clipping the manes or minding their steeds.)" 39. There was clamour on the benches, and the cry of men, The clashing of weapons, and weeping of the Huns, Save for Guthrun only, she wept not ever For her bear-fierce brothers, or the boys so dear, So young and so unhappy, whom with Atli she had. 40. Gold did she scatter, the swan-white one, And rings of red gold to the followers gave she; The fate she let grow, and the shining wealth go, Nor spared she the treasure of the temple itself. 41. Unwise then was Atli, he had drunk to wildness, No weapon did he have, and of Guthrun bewared not; Oft their play was better when both in gladness Each other embraced among princes all. 42. With her sword she gave blood for the bed to drink, With her death-dealing hand, and the hounds she loosed, The thralls she awakened, and a firebrand threw In the door of the hall; so vengeance she had. 43. To the flames she gave all who yet were within, And from Myrkheim had come from the murder of Gunnar; The timbers old fell, the temple was in flames, The dwelling of the Buthlungs, and the shield-maids burned, They were slain in the house, in the hot flames they sank. 44. Now the tale is all told, nor in later time Will a woman in byrnie avenge so her brothers; The fair one to three of the kings of the folk Brought the doom of death ere herself she died. Still more is told in the Greenland ballad of Atli. <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Atlamol en Gronlenzku 1. There are many who know how of old did men In counsel gather; little good did they get; In secret they plotted, it was sore for them later, And for Gjuki's sons, whose trust they deceived. 2. Fate grew for the princes, to death they were given; Ill counsel was Atli's, thou keenness he had; He felled his staunch bulwark, his own sorrow fashioned, Soon a message he sent that his kinsmen should seek him. 3. Wise was the woman, she fain would use wisdom, She saw well what meant all they said in secret; From her heart it was hid how help she might render, The sea they should sail, while herself she should go not. 4. Runes did she fashion, but false Vingi made them, The speeder of hatred, ere to give them he sought; Then soon fared the warriors whom Atli had sent, And to Limafjord came, to the home of the kings. 5. They were kindly with ale, and fires they kindled, They thought not of craft from the guests who had come; The gifts did they take that the noble one gave them, On the pillars they hung them, no fear did they harbour. 6. Forth did Kostbera, wife of Hogni, then come, Full kindly she was, and she welcomed them both; And glad to was Glaumvor, the wife of Gunnar, She knew well to care for the needs of the guests. 7. Then Hogni they asked if more eager he were, Full clear was the guile, if on guard they had been, Then Gunnar made promise, if Hogni would go, And Hogni made answer as the other counseled. 8. Then the famed ones brought mead, and fair was the feast, Full many were the horns, till the men had drunk deep; _lacuna_ Then the mates made ready their beds for resting. 9. Wise was Kostbera, and cunning in rune_craft, The letters would she read by the light of the fire; But full quickly her tongue to her palate clave, So strange did they seem that their meaning she saw not. 10. Full soon then his bed came Hogni to seek, _lacuna_ (But sleep to the woman so wise came little) The clear_souled one dreamed, and her dream she kept not, To the warrior the wise one spake when she wakened: 11. "Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, but heed my counsel,_ Known to few are the runes,_ and put off thy faring; I have read now the runes that thy sister wrote, And this time the bright one did not bid thee to come. 12. "Full much do I wonder, nor well can I see, Why the woman wise so wildly hath written; But to me it seems that the meaning beneath Is that both shall be slain if soon ye shall go. But one rune she missed, or else others have marred it." Hogni spake: 13. "All women are fearful; not so do I feel, Ill I seek not to find till I soon must avenge it; The king now will give us the glow_ruddy gold; I never shall fear, thou of dangers I know." Kostbera spake: 14. "In danger ye fare, if forth ye go thither, No welcoming friendly this time shall ye find; For I dreamed now, Hogni, and nought will I hide, Full evil thy faring, if rightly I fear. 15. "Thy bed_covering saw I in flames burning, And the fire burst high through the walls of my home." Hogni spake: 16. "Yon garment of linen lies little of worth, It will soon be burned, so thou sawest the bedcover." Kostbera spake: 17. "A bear saw I enter, the pillars he broke, And he brandished his claws so that craven we were; With his mouth seized he many, and nought was our might, And loud was the tumult, not little it was." Hogni spake: 18. "Now a storm is brewing, and wild it grows swiftly, A dream of an ice_bear means a gale from the east." Kostbera spake: 19. "An eagle I saw flying from the end through the house, Our fate must be bad, for with blood he sprinkled us; _lacuna_ (Black were his feathers with blood he was covered) From the evil I fear that was Atli's spirit." (Ed. The word 'hamr' is used here to indicate Atli taking eagle_form) Hogni spake: 20. "They will slaughter soon, and so blood do we see, Oft oxen it means, when of eagles one dreams; True is Atli's heart, whatever thou dreamest." Then silent they were, and nought further they said. 21. The high_born ones wakened, and like speech they had, Then did Glaumvor tell how in terror she dreamed, _lacuna_ _lacuna_ Gunnar two roads they should go. Glaumvor spake: 22. "A gallows saw I ready, thou didst go to thy hanging, Thy flesh serpents ate, and yet living I found thee; _lacuna_ The gods' doom descended; now say what it boded." (Gunnar spake: 23. "Banners are gleaming, since of gallows didst dream, And wealth it must mean that thou serpents didst watch.") Break 24. "A sword drawn bloody from they garments I saw,_ Such a dream is hard to a husband to tell,_ A spear stood, methought, through thy body thrust, And at head and feet the wolves were howling." Gunnar spake: 25. "The hounds are running, loud their barking is heard, Oft hounds' clamour follows the flying of spears." Glaumvor spake: 26. "A river the length of the hall saw I run, Full swiftly it roared, o'er the benches it swept; O'er the feet did it break of ye brothers twain, The water would yield not; some meaning there was." (V. The grain shall flow, since thou hast dreamed of rivers, and when we go to the fields, often the chaff rises above our feet." Break 27. "I dreamed that by night came dead women hither, Sad were their garments, and thee were they seeking; They bade thee come swiftly forth to their benches, And nothing, methinks, could the Norns avail thee." Gunnar spake: 28. "Too late is thy speaking, for so is it settled; From the faring I turn not, the going is fixed, Though likely it is that our lives shall be short." 29. Then bright shone the morning, the men all were ready, They said, and yet each would the other hold back; Five were the warriors, and their followers all But twice as many,_ their minds knew not wisdom. 30. (Gunnar and Hogni, the heirs twain of Gjuki,) Snaevar and Solar, they were sons of Hogni, Orkning was he called who came with the others, Blithe was the shield_tree, the brother of Kostbera; The fair_decked ones followed, till the fjord divided them, Full hard did they plead, but the others heard not. 31. Then did Glaumvor speak forth, the wife of Gunnar, To Vingi she said that which wise to her seemed: "I know not if well thou requitest our welcome, Full ill was thy coming, if evil shall follow." 32. Then did Vingi swear, and full glib was his speech, _lacuna_ (The evil was clear when his words he uttered,) "May giants now take me if lies I have told ye, And the gallows hostile thought did I have." 33. Then did Bera speak forth, and fair was her thought, _lacuna_ (And clear was her cry to her kinsmen dear,) "May ye sail now happy, and victory have, To fare as I bid ye, may nought your way bar." 34. Then Hogni made answer,_ dear held he his kin,_ "Take courage, ye wise ones, whatsoever may come; Though many may speak, yet is evil oft mighty, And words avail little to lead one homeward." 35. They tenderly looked till each turned on his way, Then with clanging fate were their farings divided. 36. Full stoutly they rowed, and the keel clove asunder, Their backs strained at the oars, and their strength was fierce; The oar_loops were burst, the thole_pins were broken, Nor the ship made they fast ere from her they fared. 37. Not long was it after_ the end must I tell_ That the home they beheld that Buthli once had; Loud the gated resounded when Hogni smote them; Vingi spake then a word that were better unsaid: (V. "Better had ye left this undone,) 38. "Go ye far from the house, for false is its entrance, Soon shall I burn you, ye are swiftly smitten; I bade ye come fairly, but falseness was under, Now bide ye afar while your gallows I fashion." 39. Then Hogni made answer, his heart yielded little, And nought did he fear that his fate held in store; "Seek not to affright us, thou shalt seldom succeed; If thy words are more, then the worse grows thy fate." 40. Then Vingi did they smite, and they sent him to Hel, With their axes they clove him while the death_rattle came. 41. Atli summoned his men, in mail_coats they hastened, All ready they came, and between was the court_yard. (V. "Be welcome among us, and give me that store of gold which is ours by right, the gold that Sigurth had, and that now belong to Guthrun." 42. Gunnar spake: "Never shalt thou get that gold, and mena of might shalt thou find here, ere we give up our lives, if it is battle thou dost offer us; in thought it seems that thou has prepared this feast in kingly fashion, with little grudging toward eagle and wolf." Break 43. Then came they to words, and full wrathful they were: "Long since did we plan how soon we might slay you." Hogni spake: 44. (Then Hogni laughed loud where the slain Vingi lay,) "Little it matters if long ye have planned it; For unarmed do ye wait, and one have we felled, We smote him to Hel, of your host was he once." 45. Then wild was their anger when all heard his words; Their fingers were swift on their bowstrings to seize, Full sharply they shot, by their shields were they guarded. 46. In the house came the word how the heroes without Fought in the front of the hall; they heard a thrall tell it; (or "In the house came the word of the warring without Loud in the front of the hall they heard a thrall shouting;) Grim then was Guthrun, the grief when she heard, With necklaces fair, and she flund them all from her, (The silver she hurled so the rings burst asunder.) 47. Then out did she go, she flung open the doors, All fearless she went, and the guests did she welcome; To the Niflungs she went_ her last greeting it was,_ In her speech truth was clear, and much would she speak. 48. "For your safety I sought that at home ye should stay; None escapes his fate, so ye hither must fare." Full wisely she spake, if yet peach they might win, But to nought would they hearken, and "No" said they all. 49. Then the high_born one saw that hard was their battle, In fierceness of heart she flung off her mantle; Her naked sword grasped she her kin's lives to guard, Not gentle her hands in the hewing of battle. 50. Then the daugher of Gjuki two warriors smote down, Atli's brother she slew, and forth then they bore him; (So fiercely she fought that his feet she clove off;) Another she smote so that never he stood, To Hel did she send him,_ her hands trembled never. 51. Full wide was the fame of the battle they fought, 'Twas the greatest of deeds of the sons of Gjuki; Men say that the Niflungs, while themselves they were living, With their swords fought mightily, mail_coats they sundered, And helms did they hew, as their hearts were fearless. 52. All the morning they fought until midday shone, (All the dusk as well and the dawning of day,) When the battle was ended, the field flowed with blood; Ere they fell, eighteen of their foemen were slain, By the two sons of Bera and her brother as well. 53. Then the warrior spake, and wild was his anger: "This is evil to see, and thy doing is all; Once we were thirty, we thanes keen for battle, Now eleven are left, and great is our lack. 54. "There were five of us brothers when Buthli we lost, Now Hel has the half, and two smitten lie here; A great kinship had I,_ the truth may I hide not,_ From a wife bringing slaughter small joy could I win. 55. We lay seldom together since to me thou wast given, Now my kin all are gone, of my gold am I robbed; Nay, and worst, thou didst send my sister to Hel." Guthrun spake: 56. "Hear me now, Atli! the first evil was thine; My mother didst thou take, and for gold didst murder her, My sister's daughter thou didst starve in a prison. A jest does it seem that thy sorrow thou tellest, And good do I find it that grief to thee comes." (V. or Hogni spake: "Why speakest thou so? Thou wast the first to break peace; thou didst take my kinswoman and starved her in a prison, and murdered her and took her wealth; tha twas not kinglike; and laughable does it seem to me that thou talkest of thy sorrow, and good shall I find it that all goes ill with thee.") Atli spake: 57. "Go now, ye warriors, and make greater the grief Of the woman so fair, for fain would I see it; So fierce be thy warring that Guthrun shall weep, I would gladly behold her happiness lost. 58. "Seize ye now Hogni, and with knives shall ye hew him, His heart shall ye cut out, this hast ye to do; And grim-hearted Gunnar shall ye bind on the gallows, Swift shall ye do it, to serpents now cast him." Hogni spake: 59. "Do now as thou wilt, for glad I await it, Brave shalt thou find me, I have faced worse before; We held thee at bay while whole we were fighting, Now with wounds are we spent, so thy will canst thou work." 60. Then did Beiti speak, he was Atli's steward: "Let us seize now Hjalli, and Hogni spare we! Let us fell the sluggard, he is fit for death, He has lived too long, and lazy men call him." 61. Afraid was the pot-watcher, he fled here and yon, And crazed with his terror he climbed in the corners: "Ill for me is this fighting, if I pay for your fierceness, And sad is the day to die leaving my swine And all the fair victuals that of old did I have." 62. They seized Buthli's cook, and they came with the knife, The frightened thrall howled ere the edge did he feel; He was willing, he cried, to dung well the courtyard, Do the basest of work, if spare him they would; Full happy were Hjalli if his life he might have. 63. Then fain was Hogni- there are few would do thus- To beg for the slave that safe hence he should go; "I would find it far better this knife-play to feel, Why must we all hark to this howling longer?" 64. Then the brave one they seized; to the warriors bold No chance was there left to delay his fate longer; Loud did Hogni laugh, all the sons of day heard him, So valiant he was that well he could suffer. Break 65. A harp Gunnar seized, with his toes he smote it; So well did he strike that the women all wept, And the men, when clear they heard it, lamented; Full noble was his song, the rafters burst asunder. 66. Then the heroes died ere the day was yet come; Their fame did they leave ever lofty to live. _lacuna_ (Few braver shall ever be found on earth, Or loftier men in the world ever live.) 67. Full mighty seemed Atli as o'er them he stood, The wise ones he blamed, and his words reproached her: "It is morning, Guthrun; now thy dear ones dost miss, But the blame is part thine that thus it has chanced." Guthrun spake: 68. "Thou art joyous, Atli, for of evil thou tellest, But sorrow is thing if thou mightest all see; Thy heritage is heavy here can I tell thee, Sorrow never thou losest unless I shall die." Atli spake: 69. "Not free of guilt am I; a way shall I find That is better by far,- oft the fairest we shunned;- With slaves I console thee, with gems fair to see, And with silver snow-white, as thyself thou shalt choose." Guthrun spake: 70. "No hope shall this give thee, thy gifts I shall take not, Requital I spurned when my sorrows were smaller; Once grim did I seem, but now greater my grimness, There was nought seemed too hard while Hogni was living. 71. "Our childhood did we have in a single house, We played many a game, in the grove did we grow; Then did Grimhild give us gold and necklaces; Thou shalt ne'er make amends for my brother's murder, Nor ever shalt win me to think it was well. 72. "But the fierceness of men rules the fate of women, The tree-top bows low if bereft of its leaves, The tree bends over if the roots are cleft under it; Now mayst thou, Atli, o'er all things here rule." (line 2: On the knee goes the fist if the twigs are taken off,) 73. Full heedless the warrior was that he trusted her, So clear was her guile if on guard he had been; But crafty was Guthrun, with cunning she spake, Her glance she made pleasant, with two shields she played. 74. The beer then she sought for her brothers' death-feast, And a feast Atli made for his followers dead; No more did they speak, the mead was made ready, Soon the men were gathered with mighty uproar. 75. Thus bitterly planned she, and Buthli's race threatened, And terrible vengeance on her husband would take; The little ones called she, on a block she laid them; Afraid were the proud ones, but their tears did not fall; To their mother's arms went they, and asked what she would. Guthrun spake: 76. "Nay, ask me no more! You both shall I murder, For long I have wished your lives to steal from you." The boys spake: 77. "Slay the boys as thou wilt, for no one may bar it, Short the angry one's peace if all thou shalt do." 78. Then the grim one slew both of the brothers young, Full hard was her deed when their heads she smote off; Fain was Atli to know whither now they were gone, The boys from their sport, for nowhere he spied them. Guthrun spake: 79. "My fate shall I seek, all to Atli saying, The daughter of Grimhild the deed from thee hides not; No joy thou hast, Atli, if all thou shalt hear, Great sorrow didst wake when my brothers thou slewest. 80. "I have seldom slept since the hour they were slain, Baleful were my threats, now I bid thee recall them; Thou didst say it was morning,- too well I remember,- Now is evening come, and this question thou askest. 81. "Now both of thy sons thou hast lost -lacuna- -lacuna- (Thy sons hast thou lost as thou never shouldst lose them,) The skulls of thy boys thou as beer-cups didst have, And the draught that I made thee was mixed with their blood. 82. "I cut out their hearts, on a spit I cooked them, I came to thee with them, and calf's flesh I called them; Alone didst thou eat them, nor any didst leave, Thou didst greedily bite, and thy teeth were busy. 83. "Of thy sons now thou knowest; few suffer more sorrow; My guilt have I told, fame it never shall give me." Atli spake: 84. "Grim wast thou, Guthrun, in so grievous a deed, My draught with the blood of thy boys to mingle; Thou hast slain thine own kin, most ill it beseemed thee, And little for me twixt my sorrows thou leavest." <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Guthrunarhvot (Guthrun’s Inciting) (*) Guthrun went forth to the sea after she had slain Atli. She went out into the sea and fain would drown herself, but she could not sink. The waves bore her across the fjord of the land of King Jonak; he too her as wife; their sons were Sorli and Erp and Hamther. There was brought up Svanhild, Sigurth’s daughter; she was married to the mighty Jormunrek. With him was Bikki, who counseled that Randver, the King’s son, should have her. This Bikki told to the king. The king had Randver hanged, and Svanhild trodden to death under horses’ feet. And when Guthrun learned this, she spake with her sons. 1. A word-strife I learned, most woeful of all, A speech from the fullness of sorrow spoken, When fierce of heart her sons to the fight Did Guthrun whet with words full grim. (*) 2. “Why sit ye idle, why sleep out your lives, Why grieve ye not in gladness to speak? Since Jormunrek you sister young Beneath the hoofs of horses hath trodden, (White and black on the battle-way, Gray, road-wonted, the steeds of the Goths.) (*) 3. “Not like are ye to Gunnar of yore, Nor have ye hearts such as Hogni’s was; Vengeance for her ye soon would have If brave ye were as my brothers of old, Or hard your hearts as the Hunnish kings’.” (*) 4. Then Hamther spake, the high of heart: “Little the deed of Hogni didst love, When Sigurth they wakened from his sleep; They bed-covers white were red with blood Of thy husband, drenched with gore from his heart. (*) 5. “Bloody revenge didst have for thy brothers, Evil and sore, when thy sons didst slay; Else yet might we all on Jormunrek Together our sister’s slaying avenge. (*) 6. “-lacuna- The gear of Hunnish kings now give us! Thou hast whetted us so to the battle of swords.” (*) 7. Laughing did Guthrun go to her chamber, The helms of kings from the cupboards she took, And mail-coats broad, to her sons she bore them; On their horses’ backs the heroes leaped. 8. Then Hamther spake, the high of heart: “Homeward no more his mother to see Comes the spear-god, fallen mid Gothic folk; One death-draught thou for us all shalt drink, For Svanhild then and thy sons as well.” (*) 9. Weeping Guthrun, Gjuki’s daughter, Went sadly before the gate to sit, And with tear-stained cheeks to tell the tale Of her mighty griefs, so many in kind. 10. “Three home-fires knew I, three hearths I knew, Home was I brought by husbands three; But Sigurth only of all was dear, He whom my brothers brought to his death. 11. “A greater sorrow I saw not nor knew, Yet more it seemed I must suffer yet When the princes great to Atli gave me. (*) 12. “The brave boys I summoned to secret speech; For my woes requital I might not win Till off the heads of the Hniflungs I hewed. (*) 13. “To the sea I went, my heart full sore For the Norns, whose wrath I would now escape; But the lofty billows bore me undrowned, Till to land I came, so I longer must live. 14. “Then to the bed- of old was it better!- Of a king of the folk a third time I came; Boys I bore his heirs to be, Heirs so young, the sons of Jonak. 15. “But round Svanhild handmaidens sat, She was dearest ever of all my children; So did Svanhild seem in my hall As the ray of the sun is fair to see. 16. “Gold I gave her and garments bright, Ere I let her go to the Gothic folk; Of my heavy woes the hardest it was When Svanhild’s tresses fair were trodden In the mire by hoofs of horses wild. (*) 17. “The sorest it was when Sigurth mine On his couch, of victory robbed, they killed; And grimmest of all when to Gunnar’s heart There crept the bright-hued crawling snakes. (*) 18. “And keenest of all when they cut the heart From the living breast of the king so brave; Many woes I remember, -lacuna- (*) -lacuna- 19. “Bridle, Sigurth, thy steed so black, Hither let run thy swift-faring horse; Here there sits not son or daughter Who yet to Guthrun gifts shall give. (*) 20. “Remember, Sigurth, what once we said, When together both on the bed we sat, That mightily thou to me wouldst come From Hel and I from earth to thee. 21. “Pile ye up, jarls, the pyre of oak, Make it the highest a hero e’er had; Let the fire burn my grief-filled breast, My sore-pressed heart, till my sorrows melt.” (*) 22. May nobles all less sorrow know, And less the woes of women become, Since the tale of this lament is told. NOTES In the manuscript the prose passage is headed ‘Of Guthrun’, and ‘Guthrunarhvot’ comes before the first stanza. Jonak is a northern addition, it sounds like a Slavic name. The Volsungasaga also makes Erp a son of Guthrun, but in Hamthesmol he is a son of Jonak by another wife. Jormunrek is also called Ermanarich. Bikki corresponds to the Sifka or Sibicho of Gothic lays on Ermanarich, whose counsel was always evil. In Volsungasaga, Jormunrek sends Randver with Bikki to seek Svanhild’s hand, on the voyage home Bikki says to Randver, “It were right for you to have so fair a wife, and not such an old man.” Randver was pleased with the advice, “and he spake to her with gladness, and she to him.” Bikki then told Ermanarich that guilty love lay between his son and his young wife. Thus the revenge. Back 1. The Skald introducing himself into the prose speaks of the lateness of the script. Back 2. The word ‘idle’ is a guess and is missing in the original, line 5 is marked as beginning a new stanza, and 5-6 seem to come from Hamthesmol, 3. Back 3. Hunnish is a generic term for all South Germanic people. Back 4. In some scripts Hamther is spelt ‘Hamthir’. Back 5. The words ‘bloody’ and ‘all’ are missing in the original. Back 6. The lacuna has been assumed, perhaps even two lines are lost. Back 8. ‘Spear-god’ refers to Hamther. At this stanza the ‘hvot’ or ‘inciting’ ends, and at 9 the lament begins. Back 11. A lost line is assumed after line 1, it has been reconstructed by other translators. Back 12. The Niflungs were the descendants of Gjuki, Guthrun’s father. Back 16. This stanza is mixed in many editions. Back 17. The manuscript does not indicate line 1 beginning it, 17-18 are probably later thrown in, although the compilers of Volsungasaga knew them as they are here. This whole stanza depends on word-play, such as harthaster, “hardest”; sarastr “sorest”, grimmastr, “grimmest”; and hvassastr, “keenest”. Back 18. In the manuscript line 3 marks the beginning of a new stanza. Most translators consider this the end of the original and the rest coming from a different lay. Back 19. This promise is spoken of in Volsungasaga. Back 21. It seems that many lines of this later-addition end piece have been thrown in out of order. Back <<_Previous_Page Next_Page_>> Hamthesmol 1. Great the evils once that grew, With the dawning sad of the sorrow of elves; In early morn awake for men The evils that grief to each shall bring. 2. Not now, nor yet of yesterday was it, Long the time that since hath lapsed, So that little there is that is half as old, Since Guthrun,daughter of Gjuki, whetted Her sons so young to Svanhild's vengeance. 3. "The sister ye had was Svanhild called, And her did Jormunrek trample with horses, White and black on the battle-way, Gray, road-wonted, the steeds of the Goths. 4. "Little the kings of the folk are ye like, For now ye are living alone of my race. 5. "Lonely am I as the forest aspen, Of kindred bare as the fir of its boughs, My joys are all lost as the leaves of the tree When the scather of twigs from the warm day turns." 6. Then Hamther spake forth, the high of heart; "Small praise didst thou, Guthrun, to Hogni's deed give When they wakened thy Sigurth from out of his sleep, Thou didst sit on the bed while his slayers laughed. 7. "Thy bed-covers white with blood were red From his wounds, and with gore of thy husband were wet; So Sigurth was slain, by his corpse didst thou sit, And of gladness didst think not: 'twas Gunnar's doing. 8. "Thou wouldst strike at Atli by the slaying of Erp And the killing of Eitil; thine own grief was worse; So should each one weild the wound-biting sword That another it slays but smites not himself." 9. Then did Sorli speak out, for wise was he ever: "With my mother I never a quarrel will make; Full little in speaking methinks ye both lack; What asketh thou, Guthrun, that will give thee no tears? 10. "For thy brothers dost weep, and thy boys so sweet, Thy kinsmen in birth on the battlefield slain; Now, Guthrun, as well for us both shalt thou weep, We sit doomed on our steeds, and far hence shall we die." 11. Then the fame-glad one - on the steps she was- The slender-fingered, spake with her son: "Ye shall danger have if counsel ye heed not; -lacuna- By two heroes alone shall two hundred of Goths Be bound or be slain in the lofty-walled burg." 12. From the courtyard they fared, and fury they breathed; The youths swiftly went o'er the mountain wet, On their Hunnish steeds, death's vengeance to have. 13. On the way they found the man so wise; -lacuna- "What help from the weakling brown may we have?" 14. So answered them their half-brother then; "So well may I my kinsmen aid As help one foot from the other has." 15. "How may a foot its fellow aid, Or a flesh-grown hand another help?" 16. Then Erp spake forth, his words were few, As haughty he sat on his horse's back: "To the timid 'tis ill the way to tell." A bastard they the bold one called. 17. From their sheaths they drew their shining swords, Their blades, to the giantess the might that was theirs, The fighter young to earth they felled. 20. Their cloaks they shook, their swords they sheathed, The high-born men wrapped their mantles close. 21. On their road they fared and an ill way found, And their sister's son on a tree they saw, On the wind-cold wolf-tree west of the hall, And cranes'-bait crawled; none would care to linger. 22. In the hall was din, the men drank deep, And the horses' hoofs could no one hear, Till the warrior hardy sounded his horn. 23. Men came and the tale to Jormunrek told How warriors helmed without they beheld: "Take counsel wise, for brave ones are come, Of mighty men thou the sister didst murder." 24. Then Jormunrek laughed, his hand laid on his beard, His arms, for with wine he was warlike, he called for; He shook his brown locks, on his white shield he looked, And raised high the cup of gold in his hand. 25. "Happy, methinks, were I to behold Hamther and Sorli here in my hall; The men would I bind with strings of bows, And Gjuki's heirs on the gallows hang." 26. In the hall was clamour, the cups were shattered, Men stood in blood from the breasts of the Goths. 27. Then did Hamther speak forth, the haughty of heart: "Thou soughtest, Jormunrek, us to see, Sons of one mother seeking thy dwelling; Thou seest thy hands, thy feet thou beholdest, Jormunrek, flung in the fire so hot." 28. Then roared the king, of the race of the gods, Bold in his armour, as roars a bear: "Stone ye the men that steel will bite not, Sword nor spear, the sons of Jonak." Sorli spake: 29. "Ill didst win, brother, when the bag thou didst open, Oft from that bag came baleful counsel; Heart hast thou, Hamther, if knowledge thou hadst! A man without wisdom is lacking in much." Hamther spake: 30. "His head were now off if Erp were living, The brother so keen whom we killed on our road, The warrior noble,- 'twas the Norns that drove me The hero to slay who in fight should be holy. 31. "In fashion of wolves in befits us not Amongst ourselves to strive, Like the hounds of the Norns, that nourished were In greed mid wastes so grim. 32. "We have greatly fought, o'er the Goths do we stand By our blades laid low, like eagles on branches; Great our fame though we die today or tomorrow; None outlives the night when the Norns have spoken." 33. Then Sorli beside the gable sank, And Hamther fell at the back of the house. This is called the old ballad of Hamther. <<_Previous_Page