Hyndluljóð
Freyja kvað: Freyja said:
1. 1.
"Vaki mær meyja, Wake up, maid of maidens,
vaki mín vina, wake up, my friend,
Hyndla systir, sister Hyndla,
er í helli býr; who lives in the cave;
nú er rökkr rökkra, it is now the twilight of twilight,
ríða vit skulum we two must ride
til Valhallar to Vallhǫllr
ok til vés heilags. and to the holy dwelling(1).
2. 2.
Biðjum Herjaföðr Let us pray Herjafǫðr(2)
í hugum sitja, to sit in [good] mind,(3)
hann geldr ok gefr [for] he grants and gives
gull verðungu; gold to his troop(4);
gaf hann Hermóði he gave Hermóðr
hjalm ok brynju, a helmet and a mailshirt,
en Sigmundi and Sigmundr
sverð at þiggja. a sword to take.
3. 3.
Gefr hann sigr sumum, He gives victory to some,
en sumum aura, and to some, wealth, (5)
mælsku mörgum a good tongue to many
ok mannvit firum; and good sense to men;
byri gefr hann brögnum, fair wind he gives to seafarers,
en brag skaldum, and poetry to skalds,
gefr hann mannsemi he gives manliness(6)
mörgum rekki. to many a warrior.
4. 4.
Þórr mun hon blóta, To Thor she will blót,
þess mun hon biðja, this she will ask,(7)
at hann æ við þik that he ever to you
einart láti; faithful should let [himself be];(8)
þó er hánum ótítt though it is not his custom
við jötuns brúðir. with the jǫtun's brides.
5. 5.
Nú taktu ulf þinn Now take your wolf
einn af stalli, alone(9) out of the stall,
lát hann renna let him run
með runa mínum." with my boar."
Hyndla kvað: Hyndla said:
"Seinn er göltr þinn "Slow is your boar
goðveg troða, to tread the way of the gods,
vilk-at ek mar minn I do not want to saddle up
mætan hlæða. my fine steed.(10)
6. 6.
Flá ertu, Freyja, "False you are, Freyja,
er þú freistar mín, when you try me,
vísar þú augum you aim your eyes
á oss þannig, at us from there
er þú hefir ver þinn where you have your lover,
í valsinni in foreign company(11)
Óttar unga young Óttarr,
Innsteins bur." son of Innsteinn."
Freyja kvað: Freyja said:
7. 7.
"Dulin ertu, Hyndla, "You're wrong, Hyndla,
draums ætlak þér, I think you're dreaming,
er þú kveðr ver minn when you speak of my lover
í valsinni, in foreign company,
þar er göltr glóar where glows the boar
Gullinbursti, Gullinbursti,(12)
Hildisvíni, The battle pig,
er mér hagir gerðu, which made for me the skilful
dvergar tveir, dwarves two,
Dáinn ok Nabbi. Dáinn and Nabbi.
8. 8.
Senn vit ór söðlum Soon we [will be] out of our saddles,(13)
sitja vit skulum we should sit
ok um jöfra and assess
ættir dæma, the lines(14) of kings,
gumna þeira, of those men
er frá goðum kvámu. who came from the gods.
9. 9.
Þeir hafa veðjat They have wagered
Vala malmi Welsh metal(15),
Óttarr ungi young Óttarr
ok Angantýr; and Angantýr;
skylt er at veita, needs be that [I] help,
svá at skati inn ungi so that the young great man
föðurleifð hafi may have his father's inheritance
eftir frændr sína. after his kin.
10. 10.
Hörg hann mér gerði He made me a hǫrgr
hlaðinn steinum, built of rocks,
- nú er grjót þat - the stone
at gleri orðit; - has now become glass; -
rauð hann í nýju he reddened [it] in new
nauta blóði; ox-blood;
æ trúði Óttarr ever has Óttarr trusted
á ásynjur. in the goddesses.
11. 11.
Nú láttu forna Now let you recount
niðja talða ancient descendants
ok upp bornar and [be] brought up
ættir manna: the lines of people;
Hvat ek(16) Skjöldunga, Who is of the Skjǫldungs,
hvat ek Skilfinga, who is of the Skilfings,
hvat er Öðlinga, who is of the Ǫðlings,(17)
hvat er Ylfinga, who is of the Ylfings,
hvat er höldborit, who is hǫld-born,
hvat er hersborit who is hersir-born,(18)
mest manna val choicest of people
und Miðgarði?" under Miðgarðr?"
Hyndla kvað: Hyndla said:
12. 12.
"Þú ert, Óttarr, "Óttarr, you were
borinn Innsteini, born of Innsteinn,
en Innsteinn var and Innsteinn was [born]
Alfi inum gamla, of Alfr the Old,
Alfr var Ulfi, Alfr was [born] of Ulfr,
Ulfr Sæfara, Ulfr of Sæfari,
en Sæfari and Sæfari
Svan inum rauða. of Svann the Red.
13. 13.
Móður átti faðir þinn Your father had a mother
menjum göfga, noble with necklaces,
hygg ek, at hon héti I think she was called
Hlédís gyðja; Hlédis the Gyðja(19);
Fróði var faðir þeirar, Fróði was her father,
en Fríund móðir; and Fríund(20) her mother;
öll þótti ætt sú all have considered her line
með yfirmönnum. among high-born people.
14. 14.
Auði var áðr Auði(21) was of old
öflgastr manna, the mightiest of men,,
Halfdan fyrri Halfdan earlier
hæstr Skjöldunga; the highest of the Skjǫldungs;
fræg váru folkvíg, famed were the wars between peoples
þau er framir gerðu, that the chieftains waged,
hvarfla þóttu hans verk his deeds were considered to have spread
með himins skautum. to the skirts of heaven.
15. 15.
Eflðisk hann við Eymund He allied himself by marriage to
Eymund,
æðstan manna, highest of men,
en hann vá(22) Sigtrygg and he slew Sigtrygg
með svölum eggjum, with the cold edge,
eiga gekk Almveig, took as wife Almveig,
æðsta kvinna, highest of women,
ólu þau ok áttu they had children and had
átján sonu. eight sons.
16. 16.
Þaðan eru Skjöldungar, From there come the Skjǫldungs,
þaðan Skilfingar, from there the Skilfings,
þaðan Öðlingar, from there the Ǫðlings,
þaðan Ynglingar, from there the Ynglings,
þaðan höldborit, from there hǫld-born,
þaðan hersborit, from there hersir-born,
mest manna val choicest of people
und Miðgarði; under Miðgarðr;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly(23) Óttarr.
17. 17.
Var Hildigunnr Hildigunnar was
hennar móðir, her mother,(24)
Sváfu barn child of Sváfa
ok sækonungs; and a sea-king;(25)
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
Varðar, at viti svá. Important that [he] know so.(26)
Viltu enn lengra? Do you want longer still?
18. 18.
Dagr átti Þóru Dagr married Þóra
drengja móður, mother of warriors,
ólusk í ætt þar born into the race there were
æðstir kappar: the most outstanding champions:
Fraðmarr ok Gyrðr Fraðmarr and Gyrðr
ok Frekar báðir, and the two Frekis,
Ámr ok Jösurmarr, Ámr and Jǫsurmarr,
Alfr inn gamli. Alfr the Old.
Varðar, at viti svá. Important that [he] know so.
Viltu enn lengra? Do you want further still?
19. 19.
Ketill hét vinr þeira, A friend of theirs was called Ketill,
Klypps arfþegi, heir of Klyppr,
var hann móðurfaðir he was the mother's father
móður þinnar; of your mother;
þar var Fróði Fróði was there
fyrr en Kári, before Kári,
inn eldri var but elder(27) was
Alfr of getinn. Alfr born.
20. 20.
Nanna var næst þar Nanna was next there,
Nökkva dóttir, daughter of Nǫkkvi,
var mögr hennar her child was
mágr þíns föður; your father's in-law;
fyrnð er sú mægð, aged is that kinship,
fram tel ek lengra; I [will] tell further;
kunna ek báða I knew both
Brodd ok Hörvi; Brodd and Hǫrvi;(28)
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
21. 21.
Ísolfr ok Ásolfr Ísolfr and Ásolfr,
Ölmóðs synir Ǫlmóð's sons,
ok Skúrhildar and Skúrhildar,
Skekkils dóttur; Skekkill's daughter;
skaltu til telja you must reckon to
skatna margra; outstanding great men;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
22. 22.
Gunnarr balkr, Gunnar Balkr,
Grímr arðskafi, Grímr Arðskafi,
járnskjöldr Þórir, Þórir Járnskjǫldr,
Ulfr gínandi. Ulfr Ginandi.(29)
23. 23.
[Hervarðr, Hjörvarðr, [Hervarðr, Hjǫrvarðr,
Hrani, Angantýr], Hrani, Angantýr],(30)
Búi ok Brámi, Búi and Brámi,
Barri ok Reifnir, Barri and Reifnir,
Tindr ok Tyrfingr, Tindr and Tyrfingr,
ok tveir Haddingjar; and two Haddings;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
24. 24.
Austr í Bolm East in Bolm(31)
váru bornir were born
Arngríms synir the sons of Arngrím
ok Eyfuru, and Eyfura,
brökun var berserkja, [there was](32) crashing of
berserks,
böl margs konar, woe(33) of many kinds,
um lönd ok um lög by land and sea
sem logi færi; like the travelling of wildfire;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
25. 25.
Kunnak báða I knew both
Brodd ok Hörvi; Brodd and Hǫrvi;
váru þeir í hirð they were in the following
Hrolfs ins gamla. of Hrolfr the Old.
Allir bornir All born
frá Jörmunreki, of Jǫrmunrekr,
Sigurðar mági, Sigurðr's in-law,
- hlýð þú sögu minni, - - listen to my tale, -
folkum grimms, of the terror of armies
þess er Fáfni vá. who slew Fáfnir.
26. 26.
Sá var vísir That chieftain was
frá Völsungi of the Vǫlsungs,
ok Hjördís and Hjǫrdís
frá Hrauðungi, of the Hrauðungs,
en Fylimi(34) but Fylimi
frá Öðlingum; of the Ǫðlings;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
27. 27.
Gunnarr ok Högni, Gunnar and Hǫgni
Gjúka arfar, [were] Gjúki's heirs,
ok it sama Guðrún, and likewise Guðrún,
systir þeira; their sister;
eigi var Gutþormr Gutþormr was not
Gjúka ættar, of Gjúki's line,
þó var hann bróðir although he was brother
beggja þeira; to both of them;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski. silly Óttarr.
28. 28.
Haraldr hilditönn Haraldr Hilditǫnn(35)
borinn Hræreki [was] born to Hrærekr
slöngvanbauga, Ring-Slinger,
sonr var hann Auðar, he was Auðr's son,
Auðr djúpúðga Auðr the Deep-Minded(36)
Ívars dóttir, son of Ívarr,
en Ráðbarðr var and Ráðbarðr was
Randvers faðir; Randver's father;
þeir váru gumnar they were men
goðum signaðir; marked by the gods;
allt er þat ætt þín, all this is your line,
Óttarr heimski." silly Óttarr."(37)
-- -- -- — — —
Freyja kvað: Freyja said:
29. 29.
"Ber þú minnisöl "Bring the ale of remembrance
mínum gesti, to my guest,(38)
svá hann öll muni so that he will recount
orð at tína all the words
þessar ræðu of this speech
á þriðja morgni, on the third morning,
þá er þeir Angantýr when he and Angantýr
ættir rekja." reckon [their] lines."
Hyndla kvað: Hyndla said:
30. 30.
"Snúðu braut heðan, "Go away from here,
sofa lystir mik, I want to sleep,
fær þú fátt af mér you [will] get from me few
fríðra kosta; good nice things;
hleypr þú, Óðs vina, Óðr's friend(39), you jump
úti á náttum, out at night
sem með höfrum as with the he-goats
Heiðrún fari. goes Heiðrún.(40)
31. 31.
Rannt at Óði You ran after Óðr(41)
ey þreyjandi, ever longing,
skutusk þér fleiri many have slipped
und fyrirskyrtu; under your front skirt(42);
hleypr þú, Óðs vina, Óðr's friend, you jump
úti á náttum, out at night
sem með höfrum as with the he-goats
Heiðrún fari." goes Heiðrún."
Freyja kvað: Freyja said:
32. 32.
"Ek slæ eldi "I cast fire
of íviðju, around [you], ogress,
svá at þú eigi kemsk so that you do not come
á braut heðan." away from here."(43)
Hyndla kvað: Hyndla said:
33. 33.
Hyr sé ek brenna, I see embers(44) burning,
en hauðr loga, and the earth blazing,
verða flestir most will
fjörlausn þola; suffer loss of their lives;
ber þú Óttari give Óttarr
bjór at hendi the beer to his hand
eitri blandinn mjök, mixed with much poison,
illu heilli." with ill fortune."
Freyja kvað: Freyja said:
34. 34.
"Orðheill þín "Your omen
skal engu ráða, will not come true,
þóttú, brúðr jötuns, though, bride of a jǫtunn,
bölvi heitir; you speak curses;
hann skal drekka he will drink
dýrar veigar; wealful draughts;
bið ek Óttari I bid all the gods
öll goð duga." to aid Óttarr."
Notes
1. The original meaning of vé.
2. Father of Hosts, a name of Óðinn.
3. More loosely: "to abide in a [good] state of mind"
4. Emendation. The text reads verðugum, "the worthy".
5. Sumum is an emendation in both cases. The text reads sonum, "sons", for the victory line and either summum, "some" or suinnum, "swains", for the wealth line.
6. Either courage or mansemi, luck in love.
7. Both lines often emended to ek, "I".
8. Or "straightforward": the intended meaning appears to be that she will ask him to give Hyndla safe conduct.
9. It is uncertain how to fit in this word, but the manuscript has ein, feminine.
10. Some editors have assigned this half verse also to Freyja, removing the negatives.
11. This word (here and in the next verse) is hard to parse. Sinn and sinni have a number of meanings, including "path" and "time" in the sense of repetition, and it has been taken as formed from valr, slaughter, rather than val, "foreign", to get "path of death", and emended by Guðbrandur Vigfússon to valsvini, "pig form".
12. Goldenbristle, Freyr's boar.
13. The editor, Guðni Jónsson, has emended the text from Sennum, which would give "Let us discuss from our saddles".
14. Ætt can also be rendered "race" or "clan".
15. Or "foreign" metal - i.e., gold.
16. I am ignoring the ek, "I", in this and the next line and translating all the lines as with er, "is"; I am not sure what the editor intended. The manuscript has the same abbreviation in them all.
17. This line is inserted based on Verse 16.
18. These are two ancient Scandinavian classes: a hǫldr was a kind of yeoman, a hersir a lord.
19. Feminine of goði.
20. The manuscript has Friaut, a puzzling form. Some foreign name or other is probably intended.
21. The manuscript has Aali (Áli).
22. Word missing in the manuscript.
23. Heimskr is a belittling word implying someone is foolish because they have always stayed at home.
24. Whose is unclear. Olive Bray reordered the verses, moving this to after Verse 13 so that "her" referred to Fríund. Lee M. Hollander thought it might refer to Almveig.
25. Or a man named Sækonungr.
26. Varðar is emended from the manuscript's vardi, i.e., varði, on the model of the end of the next verse.
27. Perhaps "eldest" is meant.
28. These two lines also appear at the start of Verse 25.
29. Battle-Wall (?); Ploughshare; Ironshield; Gaping.
30. These two lines are added based on Ǫrvar-Odds Saga, Hervarar Saga and Saxo; the suggestion was first made by P.A. Munch.
31. Changed based on Ǫrvar-Odds Saga; the manuscript has Ani omi.
32. The editor has added var.
33. The manuscript has bauls, i.e., bǫls, possessive.
34. Possible error by the editor or transcriber - the manuscript has Eylimi.
35. Harald War-Tooth
36. Emended based on "Brot"; the manuscript has djúpauðga, "of deep wealth".
37. At this point in the manuscript "Vǫluspá in skamma" appears.
38. Emended by the editor following Sophus Bugge; the manuscript has gellti, i.e, gelti, "boar".
39. i.e, wife, as in the Prose Edda, or perhaps lover; this is an emendation from the mansucript edlvina, noble friend.
40. The nannygoat in Valhǫll.
41. Also emended; the manuscript has ædi.
42. i.e, apron
43. Something has gone wrong with this line; the alliteration does not work. In the manuscript, it's followed by the 4-line insult to Freyja, clearly miscopied.
44. Guðbrandur Vigfússon emended hyr here to haf, "sea". Hyr is also used as a poetic word for "fire": "I see a fire burning".