Helgakviða Hundingsbana I


Hér hefr upp kvæði frá Helga Hundingsbana ok þeira Höðbrodds.

Here begins the poem of Helgi Hundingsbane and of Hǫðbroddr.(1)

1.                                                               1.

Ár var alda,                                               It was early in the ages,

þat er arar gullu,                                        when eagles screamed,

hnigu heilög vötn                                      holy waters fell

af Himinfjöllum;                                       from Sky-fells;

þá hafði Helga                                           then Helgi

inn hugumstóra                                         the great-hearted

Borghildr borit                                          was borne by Borgildr(2)

í Brálundi.                                                 in Brálundr.

 

2.                                                               2.

Nótt varð í bæ,                                          Night was falling in the dwelling,

nornir kómu,                                              norns came,

þær er öðlingi                                            they who a prince's(3)

aldr of skópu;                                            lifetime shape;

þann báðu fylki                                         then they bade him

frægstan verða                                          become the most renowned chieftain

ok buðlunga                                              and be thought

beztan þykkja.                                           the best king.

 

3.                                                               3.

Sneru þær af afli                                       They twisted with might

örlögþáttu,                                                 threads of örlǫg,

þá er borgir braut                                       as the hills broke(4)

í Brálundi(5);                                             in Brálundr;

þær of greiddu                                          they laid out         

gullin símu                                                 golden cords

ok und mánasal                                         and under the moon's hall(6)

miðjan festu.                                             fastened it in the middle.

 

4.                                                               4.

Þær austr ok vestr                                     East and west they

enda fálu,                                                  hid the ends,

þar átti lofðungr                                        there the prince owned(7)

land á milli;                                               the land in between;

brá nift Nera                                              Neri's kinswoman made   

á norðrvega                                               one fast

einni festi,                                                 to northward,(8)

ey bað hon halda.                                      bade it hold forever.

 

5.                                                               5.

Eitt var at angri                                         One thing was a danger

Ylfinga nið                                                to the child of the Ylfings

ok þeiri meyju,                                          and the lady

er munúð fæddi;                                       who bore the love;(9)

hrafn kvað at hrafni,                                 raven said to raven

- sat á hám meiði                                       it sat on a high branch,

andvanr átu -:                                            lacking eating -:

"ek veit nökkut.                                         "I know something.

 

6.                                                               6.

Stendr í brynju                                          He stands in mail-shirt,

burr Sigmundar                                         the son of Sigmundr,

dægrs eins gamall,                                     one day old,

nú er dagr kominn;                                    now day is come;

hvessir augu                                              [his] eyes flash

sem hildingar,                                            like a war-leader's,

sá er varga vinr,                                         he is a friend of wolves,(10)

vit skulum teitir."                                      we should [be] glad."

 

7.                                                               7.

Drótt þótti sá                                             The household thought him

döglingr vera,                                            to be a Dag-descendant,(11)

kváðu með gumnum                                  saying that among men

góð ár komin;                                            good years [were] come;

sjalfr gekk vísi                                           the king himself came

ór vígþrimu                                                from the war-storm(12)

ungum færa                                               to bring the young

ítrlauk grami.                                             warrior a glorious leek.(13)

 

8.                                                               8.

Gaf hann Helga nafn                                He gave him the name Helgi

ok Hringstaði,                                           and Hringstaðir,

Sólfjöll, Snæfjöll                                       Sólfjöll, Snæfjöll

ok Sigarsvöllu,                                          and Sigarsvellir,

Hringstöð, Hátún                                      Hringstǫð, Hátún

ok Himinvanga,                                         and Himinvangar,

blóðorm búinn                                           [and] an ornamented blood-serpent(14)

bræðr Sinfjötla.                                         to the brother of Sinfjǫtli.(15)

 

9.                                                               9.

Þá nam at vaxa                                          Then began to grow

fyr vina brjósti                                           before his friends' breasts

almr ítrborinn                                            the noble-born elm,(16)

ynðis ljóma;                                               in the light of delight;

hann galt ok gaf                                        he dealt out and gave

gull verðungu,                                           gold to the hirdmen,

sparði eigi hilmir                                        the ruler did not spare

hodd blóðrækinn.                                      the hoards, blood-driven.(17)

 

10.                                                             10.

Skammt lét vísi                                         A short time the king(18) let [himself]

vígs at bíða;                                               wait for war;

þá er fylkir var                                           when the chieftain was

fimmtán vetra,                                           fifteen winters old,

ok hann harðan lét                                     [and] he laid low

Hunding veginn                                        Hunding the hard

þann er lengi réð                                        who long ruled

löndum ok þegnum.                                  lands and thegns.

 

11.                                                             11.

Kvöddu síðan                                           Afterwards demanded

Sigmundar bur                                          from the child of Sigmundr

auðs ok hringa                                           gold and rings

Hundings synir,                                         the sons of Hundingr,

því at þeir áttu                                           because they had

jöfri at gjalda                                             to repay the king(19)

fjárnám mikit                                             for great seizure of wealth

ok föður dauða.                                         and [their] father's death.

 

12.                                                             12.

Lét-at buðlungr                                         The ruler did not grant

bótir uppi                                                   compensation(20)

né niðja in heldr                                        but rather did not let the kinsmen

nefgjöld fáa;                                              take wergild;

ván kvað hann mundu                               he said they would(21) expect

veðrs ins mikla                                          the great storm

grára geira                                                 of grey(22) spears

ok gremi Óðins.                                         and the anger of Óðinn.(23)

 

13.                                                             13.

Fara hildingar                                            The war-leaders went

hjörstefnu til,                                             to the sword-meeting,

þeirar er lögðu                                           which was appointed

at Logafjöllum;                                         at Logafjǫll;

sleit Fróða frið                                           the peace of Fróði was broken off

fjánda á milli;                                            amidst the enemies;

fara Viðris grey                                         Viðrir's(24) hounds went

valgjörn of ey.                                           eager for slaughter across the island.

 

14.                                                             14.

Settisk vísi,                                                The king sat down—

þá er vegit hafði                                        after he had slain

Alf ok Eyjólf,                                            Alfr and Eyjólfr—

und arasteini,                                             under an eagle rock(25)—

Hjörvarð ok Hávarð,                                 Hjǫrvarðr and Hávarðr,

Hundings sonu;                                         Hunding's sons;

farit hafði hann allri                                  he had killed all the

ætt geirmímis.                                           race of the spear-Mímir(26).

 

15.                                                             15.

Þá brá ljóma                                              Then light burst forth

af Logafjöllum,                                         from Logafjǫll,

en af þeim ljómum                                    and from that light

leiftrir kómu,                                             came lightnings,

-- -- --                                                         — — —

hávar(27) und hjalmum                             high under helms

á Himinvanga,                                           in Himinvangr,(28)

brynjur váru þeira                                      their mail-shirts were

blóði stokknar,                                          splashed with blood,

en af geirum                                              and from their spears

geislar stóðu.                                             stretched beams of light.

 

16.                                                             16.

Frá árliga                                                   From early on,

ór úlfíði                                                     from wolf-forest,(29)

döglingr at því                                           the Dag-descendant thus [asked]

dísir suðrænar,                                           the southern dísir,

ef þær vildi heim                                       whether they wanted to go home

með hildingum                                          with the war-leader

þá nótt fara;                                               that night;

þrymr var alma.                                         there was a din of bowstrings.

 

17.                                                             17.

En af hesti                                                 But from her horse

Högna dóttir,                                            Hǫgni's daughter,

- líddi randa rym, -                                    - the clashing of shields was waning -

ræsi sagði:                                                 said to the chieftain:

"Hygg ek, at vér eigim                              "I think we have

aðrar sýslur                                                other tasks

en með baugbrota                                      than with a ring-breaker

bjór at drekka.                                           to drink beer."

 

18.                                                             18.

Hefir minn faðir                                        My father has

meyju sinni                                                pledged his girl

grimmum heitit                                          to the grim

Granmars syni,                                          son of Granmar,(30)

en ek hef, Helgi,                                        but I, Helgi, have

Höðbrodd kveðinn                                    called Hǫðbroddr

konung óneisan                                         the king blameless

sem kattar son.                                          as a cat's son.

 

19.                                                             19.

Þó(31) kemr fylkir                                     Yet the chieftain [will] come

fára nátta,                                                  in a few nights,

nema þú hánum vísir                                 unless you show a

valstefnu til                                               war-meeting to him

eða mey nemir                                           or take the maid

frá mildingi."                                             from the prince."

 

Helgi kvað:                                                            Helgi said:

20.                                                             20.

"Uggi eigi þú                                             "Do not fear

Ísungs bana;                                              Ísungr's slayer;

fyrr mun dolga dynr,                                 first there will [be] a din of swords,

nema ek dauðr séak."                                unless I be dead."(32)

 

21.                                                             21.

Sendi áru                                                   The supreme ruler(33) sent

allvaldr þaðan                                            messengers from there

of land ok um lög                                      by land and by sea

leiðar at biðja,                                            to call a levy,

iðgnógan                                                   abundant

Ógnar ljóma                                              light of Ógn(34)

brögnum bjóða                                          he pledged to warriors

ok burum þeira.                                         and their sons.

 

22.                                                             22.

"Biðið skjótliga                                         "Bid [them] swiftly

til skipa ganga                                           go to ships

ok ór Brandeyju                                        and be ready

búna verða."                                              from Brandey."(35)

Þaðan beið þengill,                                    then the prince waited

unz þingat kómu                                       until there came there

halir hundmargir                                        hundreds of fighters

ór Heðinseyju.                                           from Heðinsey.

 

23.                                                             23.

Ok þar af ströndum                                   And there from the beaches(36)

ór Stafnsnesi                                             off Stafnsnes

beit her út skriðu                                       out slipped the host, fair(37)

ok búin gulli;                                             and covered in gold;

spurði Helgi                                               Helgi asked

Hjörleif at því:                                           Hjǫrleifr about this:

"hefir þú kannaða                                      "Have you reviewed

koni óneisa?"                                             the upright gentlemen?"

 

24.                                                             24.

En ungr konungr                                       And the young king

öðrum sagði,                                              said to the other,

seint kvað at telja                                      slow [he] said [it would be] to account

                                                                  for

af Trönueyri                                              from Trönueyri

langhöfðuð skip                                        the long-headed ships

und líðöndum,                                           with voyagers aboard

þau er í Örvasund                                      that into Ǫrvasund

útan fóru.                                                  were heading out.

 

25.                                                             25.

"Tolf hundruð                                           "Twelve hundred(38)

tryggra manna;                                          trusty men;

þó er í Hátúnum                                        yet there is in Hátún

halfu fleira                                                 a greater by half

víglið konungs;                                          war-host of the king;

ván erum rómu."                                        we're liable [to have] a battle."

 

26.                                                             26.

Svá brá stýrir                                             So the leader took

stafntjöldum af,                                        off the stem-tents,(39)

at mildinga                                                so that the prince's

mengi vakði,                                              host awoke,

ok döglingar                                              and the king's men

dagsbrún séa                                             saw the brows of day(40)

ok siklingar                                                and the chieftain's men

sneru upp við tré                                       tied up to the mast

vefnistingum                                             the woven sails

á Varinsfirði.                                             in Varinsfjord.

 

27.                                                             27.

Varð ára ymr                                             There began a humming of oars

ok járna glymr,                                          and clashing of irons,

brast rönd við rönd,                                  shield struck against shield,

reru víkingar;                                             the vikings rowed;

eisandi gekk                                              dashing through the waves went

und öðlingum                                            laden with the chief's men

lofðungs floti                                            the prince's fleet,

löndum fjarri.                                            out from land.

 

28.                                                             28.

Svá var at heyra,                                       So it could be heard

er saman kómu                                          as there came together

kolgu systir                                                Kolga's sister(41)

ok kilir langir,                                            and the long keels,

sem björg eða brim                                    as if mountains and surf(42)

brotna myndi.                                            were breaking together.

 

29.                                                             29.

Draga bað Helgi                                        Helgi ordered drawn

há segl ofar,                                               the sails higher up,

varð-at hrönnum                                        the waves'

höfn þingloga,                                           haven did not break its agreement,(43)

þá er ógurlig                                              although the awful

Ægis dóttir                                                daughter of Ægir

stagstjórnmörum                                       the stay-steer-steeds(44)

steypa vildi.                                               wished to drown.

 

30.                                                             30.

En þeim sjalfum                                        But those themselves

Sigrún ofan                                               Sigrún from above,

folkdjörf of barg                                       courageous, protected,

ok fari þeira;                                              and their vessel;

snerisk ramliga                                          strongly escaped

Rán ór hendi                                              from Rán's hands

gjalfrdýr konungs                                      the king's surf-beast(45)

at Gnipalundi.                                           off Gnipalundr.

 

31.                                                             31.

Sat þar um aftan                                        There it rode at evening

í Unavágum,                                              in Unavágar,

flaust fagrbúin                                           the gaily bedecked ships

fljóta knáttu;                                             did float;

en þeir sjalfir                                             but those themselves

frá Svarinshaugi                                        from Svarinshaugr

með hermðar hug                                      in angry mood

her könnuðu.                                             searched out the armed force.

 

32.                                                             32.

Frá góðborinn                                            From god-born

Guðmundr at því:                                      Guðmundr thus:

"Hverr er landreki,                                    "Who is the land-protector

sá er liði stýrir                                            who guides the force

ok hann feiknalið                                      and the huge host(46)

færir at landi?"                                          leads to land?"

 

33.                                                             33.

Sinfjötli kvað                                            Sinfjǫtli said

- slöng upp við rá                                      - he raised on the sail-yard

rauðum skildi,                                           a red shield,(47)

rönd var ór gulli;                                       the rim was of gold;

þar var sundvörðr,                                     there was a sea-warder

sá er svara kunni                                        who could answer

ok við öðlinga                                           and with princes

orðum skipta --:                                         bandy words:--

 

34.                                                             34.

"Segðu þat í aftan,                                    "Say this in the evening,

er svínum gefr                                           when you give the swine [fodder]

ok tíkr yðrar                                              and fetch your bitches

teygir at solli,                                            to the swill,

at sé Ylfingar                                            that Ylfingar

austan komnir                                            have come from the east

gunnar gjarnir                                            keen men

fyr Gnipalundi.                                         from Gnipalundr.

 

35.                                                             35.

Þar mun Höðbroddr                                  There Hǫðbroddr will

Helga finna                                               find Helgi,

flugtrauðan gram                                       the flight-loth warrior,

í flota miðjum,                                           amidst the fleet,

sá er oft hefir                                             who has often

örnu sadda,                                               sated eagles,

meðan þú á kvernum                                 while you at querns

kystir þýjar."                                              kissed thrall-women."

 

Guðmundr kvað:(48)                                            Guðmundr said:

36.                                                             36.

"Fátt mantu, fylkir,                                   "Little you know, chieftain,

fornra spjalla,                                            of ancient tales,

er þú öðlingum                                          when you princes

ósönnu bregðr;                                          untruthfully challenge;

þú hefir etnar                                             you have eaten

ulfa krásir                                                  wolves' dainties

ok bræðr þínum                                         and been the death

at bana orðit,                                             of your brothers,

oft sár sogin                                              often sucked wounds

með svölum munni,                                   with cold mouth,

hefr í hreysi                                               [you] have in rock-dens

hvarleiðr skriðit."                                       slunk, ever-loathed."

 

Sinfjötli kvað:                                                       Sinfjǫtli said:

37.                                                             37.

"Þú vart völva                                           "You were a vǫlva

í Varinseyju,                                              on Varinsey,

skollvís kona,                                            a crafty woman,

bartu skrök saman;                                    you put together lies;

kvaztu engi mann                                      you said you did not want

eiga vilja,                                                   to have a man,

segg brynjaðan,                                         a fighter in mail,

nema Sinfjötla.                                          except for Sinfjǫtli.

 

38.                                                             38.

Þú vart, in skæða,                                      You were, damaging woman,

skass, valkyrja,                                          ogress, a valkyrie,

ötul, ámátlig                                              fierce, loathsome

at Alföður;                                                to Allfather;

mundu einherjar                                        the einherjar would have

allir berjask,                                               all fought each other,

svevís kona,                                               fickle(49) woman,

of sakar þínar.                                           on account of you.

 

39.                                                             39.

Níu áttu vit                                                Nine we two had

á nesi Ságu                                                on Sága's headland

ulfa alna,                                                   of wolves in all;

ek var einn faðir þeira."                             I alone was their father."

 

Guðmundr kvað:                                                   Guðmundr said:

40.                                                             40.

"Faðir var-at-tu                                          "Father you were not

fenrisulfa                                                   of Fenris wolves,

öllum ellri,                                                 older than all,

svá at ek muna,                                         the way I recall it,

síz þik geldu                                              since you were gelded

fyr Gnipalundi                                          outside Gnipalundr

þursa meyjar                                              by thurs(50) maidens

á Þórsnesi.                                                 on Thorsness.

 

41.                                                             41.

Stjúpr vartu Siggeirs,                                You were Siggeir's stepson,

látt und stöðum heima,                             you lay under the places of homes,(51)

vargljóðum vanr                                        used to wolf-songs

á viðum úti;                                               out in the withies;

kómu þér ógögn                                        all kinds of destructiveness came

öll at hendi,                                               to your hands,

þá er bræðr þínum                                     when you your brother's

brjóst raufaðir;                                           breast tore open;

gerðir þik frægjan                                      you made yourself famous

af firinverkum."                                         for foul deeds."

 

Sinfjötli kvað:                                                       Sinfjǫtli said:

42.                                                             42.

"Þú vart brúðr Grana                                 "You were Grani's(52) mate

á Brávelli,                                                  at Brávǫllr,

gullbitluð vart                                            gold-bridled you were

gör til rásar;                                               readied for the race;

hafða ek þér móðri                                    I have you weary

marg skeið riðit                                         many a course ridden,

svangri und söðli,                                      skinny under the saddle,

simul, forbergis."                                       ever, downhill.(53) "

 

Guðmundr kvað:                                                   Guðmundr said:

43.                                                             43.

"Sveinn þóttir þú                                       "You seemed an uncouth

siðlauss vera,                                             youth to be,

þá er þú Gullnis                                         when you Gullnir's

geitr molkaðir,                                           goats were milking,

en í annat sinn                                           and another time,

Imðar dóttir                                               [to be] Imði's daughter,

tötrughypja.                                               [in] tattered frock.

Vill þú tölu lengri?"                                   Do you want a longer tale?"

 

Sinfjötli kvað:                                                       Sinfjǫtli said:

44.                                                             44.

"Fyrr vilda ek                                            "Sooner would I

at Frekasteini                                             at Frekastein

hrafna seðja                                               feed ravens

á hræum þínum                                         with your dead body

en tíkr yðrar                                               than fetch your bitches

teygja at solli                                             to the swill

eða gefa göltum;                                       or give [fodder] to the hogs;(54)

deili gröm við þik."                                   let the fiends deal with you."

 

Helgi kvað:                                                            Helgi said:

45.                                                             43.

"Væri ykkr, Sinfjötli,                                "Sinfjǫtli, it would be for you both

Sæmra miklu                                             much more seemly

gunni at heyja                                            to wage war

ok glaða örnu,                                           and gladden eagles,

en sé ónýtum                                             than useless

orðum at bregðask,                                    words to wield against each other,

þótt hringbrotar                                         although ring-breakers

heiftir deili.                                               do pursue feuds.

 

46.                                                             46.

Þykkja-t mér góðir                                    I do not think [they are] good,

Granmars synir,                                         Granmarr's sons,

þó dugir siklingum                                    yet it behooves kings

satt at mæla;                                              to speak the truth;

þeir hafa markat                                        they showed

á Móinsheimum,                                        at Móinsheimar

at hug hafa                                                that they have the courage

hjörum at bregða."                                     to wield swords."

 

47.                                                             47.

Þeir af ríki                                                 Mightily off they(55)

renna létu                                                  made run

Svipuð ok Sveggjuð                                  Svipuð and Sveggjuð(56)

Sólheima til                                               to Sólheimar

dala döggótta,                                           [through] dewy dales,

dökkvar hlíðir;                                           dark ravines;

skalf Mistar marr                                       the steed of Mist(57) shook

hvar er megir fóru.                                    where the men rode.

 

48.                                                             48.

Mættu þeir tyggja                                     They met the leader

í túnhliði,                                                   in the courtyard gateway,

sögðu stríðliga                                           said opposing

stilli kómu;                                                kings had come;

úti stóð Höðbroddr                                   outside stood Hǫðbroddr,

hjalmi faldinn,                                           clad in his helm,

hugði hann jóreið                                      he considered the riding

ættar sinnar:                                              of his kinsmen:

"Hví er hermðar litr                                   "Why is there flushed colouring

á Hniflungum?"                                         on Hniflungs?"(58)

 

Guðmundr kvað:                                                   Guðmundr said:

49.                                                             49.

"Snúask hér at sandi                                  "Here to our sands are turning

snævgir kjólar,                                           lithe keels,

rakka-hirtir                                                mast-ring-harts(59)

ok ráar langar,                                           and long yards,

skildir margir,                                            many shields,       

skafnar árar,                                              scraped oars,

göfugt lið gylfa,                                        a noble host of Gylfi(60),

glaðir Ylfingar.                                          the glad(61) Ylfings.

 

50.                                                             50.

Ganga fimmtán                                         There are going fifteen

folk upp á land,                                         troops up onto shore,

þó er í Sogn út                                           yet out in Sogn there are

sjau þúsundir;                                            seven thousand;

liggja hér í grindum                                   there lie here in the docks(62)

fyr Gnipalundi                                          off  Gnipalundr

brimdýr blásvört                                        surf-deer(63) blue-black

ok búin gulli;                                             and decorated with gold,

þar er miklu mest                                       there are by far most

mengi þeira;                                               of their forces;

mun-a nú Helgi                                         Helgi will not now

hjörþing dvala."                                         delay the sword-thing(64)."

 

Höðbroddr kvað:                                                  Hǫðbroddr said:

51.                                                             51.

"Renni rökn bitluð                                     "Bridle running steeds

til Reginþinga,                                           for the Regin-thing,

en Sporvitnir                                             and Sporvitnir

at Sparinsheiði,                                          for Sparinsheiðr,

Mélnir ok Mýlnir                                       Mélnir and Mýlnir

til Myrkviðar;                                            to Myrkviðr;

látið engi mann                                          let no one

eftir sitja,                                                   stay behind

þeira er benlogum                                      who a wound-wand(65)

bregða kunni.                                            can wield.

 

52.                                                             52.

Bjóðið ér Högna                                        Let send to Hǫgni

ok Hrings sonum,                                      and Hringr's sons,

Atla ok Yngva,                                         Atli and Yngvi,

Alf inum gamla,                                        Alfr the old,

þeir ró gjarnir                                             they are eager

gunni at heyja;                                           to wage war;

látum Völsunga                                         let the Vǫlsungs

viðrnám fáa."                                             have resistance."

 

53.                                                             53.

Svipr einn var þat,                                     A swoop it was,

er saman kómu                                          when there came together

fölvir oddar                                               the pale swordpoints

at Frekasteini;                                            at Frekasteinn;

ey var Helgi                                               ever was Helgi

Hundings bani                                           Hunding's bane

fyrstr í fólki,                                              first in the troop,

þar er firar börðusk,                                   when men fought,

æstr á ímu,                                                 fiercest in battle,

alltrauðr flugar;                                         very loth to flee;

sá hafði hilmir                                           that ruler had        

hart móðakarn.                                          a stout mood-acorn.(66)

 

54.                                                             54.

Kómu þar ór himni                                    Then there came from the sky

hjalmvítr ofan,                                           down, helmet-wights(67)

- óx geira gnýr, -                                        —the clashing of spears grew—

þær er grami hlífðu;                                   they who shielded the warrior;

þá kvað þat Sigrún,                                   then Sigrún said this,

sárvitr fluga                                               wound-wise fly(68)         

- át hálu skær                                             —the ogress's steed(69) ate

af hugins barri -:                                        of Huginn's barley(70)—

 

55.                                                             55.

"Heill skaltu, vísi,                                      Hail to you, king,

virða njóta,                                                glory in your men,

áttstafr Yngva,                                          stave of the line of Yngvi,

ok una lífi,                                                 and enjoy your life,

er þú fellt hefir                                          for you have felled

inn flugartrauða                                         the flight-loth

jöfur, þann er olli                                       king, who caused

ægis dauða.                                               dread of death.(71)

 

56.                                                             56.

Ok þér, buðlungr(72),                               And to you, king,

samir bæði vel                                           both together well [belong],

rauðir baugar                                             red rings(73)

ok in ríkja mær;                                         and the noble maiden;

heill skaltu, buðlungr,                                hail to you, king,

bæði njóta                                                 glory in both

Högna dóttur                                            Hǫgni's daughter

ok Hringstaða,                                           and Hringstaðir(74),

sigrs ok landa.                                           victory and lands.

Þá er sókn lokit.                                        Then the action(75) is ended."

 

 

Notes

 

 

1.  ok þeira Höðbrodds is an emendation by the editor, Guðni Jónsson. The poem is found only in the Codex Regius. The superscript there ends þa h..., with the rest being illegible.

2.  Borghildr was Sigmund's first wife; Brálundr was her home.

3.  An ǫðlingr was properly an owner of odal land; it's one of many words used in poetry for a prince or chief. In the remainder of the verse, fylki(r) technically means the ruler of a fylki or shire, while buðlungr is a more or less poetic word for "king".

4.  This line makes little sense whether borgir is taken as "(fortified) towns", as it usually means, or "hills", and even if the verb is taken as meaning "shook", far from its usual meanings; the word can also mean "away". Frequently amended to burar Borghildar, "Borghild's son".

5.  I have corrected an apparent typo.

6.  kenning: the sky

7.  i.e., would own

8.  reversing the lines for clarity in English.

9.  Something about the threat appears to have been lost here.

10.  i.e., he will provide lots of fodder for scavengers by fighting battles.

11.  king: descendant of King Dagr.

12.  kenning: battle

13.  garlic?

14.  kenning: sword

15.  Sigmund's son by his sister, Signý, and hence Helgi's stepbrother.

16.  i.e, man

17.  Blóðrækinn is a bit of a puzzle because it must describe hilmir, i.e., Helgi, who has yet to shed blood. The verb reka has many meanings, "wreak" and "drive" being basic; one wants to apply the adjective to hodd and have it mean that the wealth is figuratively blood-"inlaid" or comes from blood-letting.

18.  Vísi, like buðlungr a more or less poetic word for "king", referred in Verse 8 to someone else, but from this verse on, refers to Helgi. Jǫfurr, which first occurs in the following verse, is also "king".

19.  i.e., make him pay

20.  Accepting the general emendation to bœtr; bótir means "boots".

21.  i.e, could or should

22.  Grár, "grey" sometimes has a metaphorical meaning of "malicious, hurtful".

23.  Both the storm of spears and the anger of Óðinn are kennings for war, battle.

24.  Óðinn's

25.  or Arasteinn, a placename

26.  kenning: warrior. (Or a proper name, Geirmímir.)

27.  (feminine plural): Sophus Bugge's suggested correction for þa var in the manuscript. He thought at least two lines were missing.

28.  Field of Heaven; may not be a placename.

29.  possibly a kenning for battle

30.  some re-ordering for sense in English.

31.  Bugge's emendation based on Vǫlsungasaga; the manuscript has Þa, "then".

32.  Something is missing here. The manuscript does not have the label that this verse is spoken by Helgi.

33.  Just another "ruler" word referring to Helgi, as is þengill in the next verse.

34.  Kenning for gold; Ógn is one of the river names listed in the Prose Edda, hence "light of a river", referring to the Rhinegold. However, ógn means "terror", so it has been suggested it should be lowercase here, and in "Fáfnismál", and be taken as a kenning for swords.

35.  Order of the two lines reversed for clarity in English.

36.  Emended from stǫndum, which has alternatively been amended to stǫndu, "they stood".

37.  Beit is a puzzle. As a noun, one of its meanings is "ship", so possibly we should read beither, "ship-host". However, as a masculine word herr should have a second -r and búinn a second -n.

38.  A first pair of lines are likely missing here.

39.  Awnings in the bow or stern, sheltering the crew as they slept; presumably he ordered them removed rather than doing it personally.

40.  Dawn; this pair of half-lines resembles the last pair in "Helgakviða Hundingsbana II", Verse 43.

41.  A wave; Kolga (more often Kólga) is one of the nine daughters of Ægir. Why the editor did not capitalise the name is unclear.

42.  Eða is usually "or" but this is one of the instances where it has to mean "and". Mountains: i.e., sea cliffs. Vǫlsungasaga makes it clear that there was a storm.

43.  A þinglogi is a "meeting-liar", someone who breaks a court date, or by extension another obligation to appear; höfn hrönnum is here taken together, "they did not fail to reach the harbour". But the words have been variously amended and interpreted: the crew (höfn) did not fail to meet their appointment with the waves; the seas (hrönn) did not let up on the keels (húfum).

44.  A complex kenning for ships; the first part, stag, is a stay in the sense of a rope on a sailing ship.

45.  kenning for ship

46.  The 110 lines beginning with this one are parallelled in "Helgakviða Hundingsbana II".

47.  A declaration of war; a white shield was a sign of peace.

48.  Guðmundr is one of Hǫðbroddr's sons. From now to the end of the flyting, the stage directions are supplied by the editor; however, who speaks which insult can be partially reconstructed from Vǫlsungasaga. There also appears to be something missing somewhere in this verse that would have made it two verses.

49.  Following an emendation to sveipvís.

50.  A kind of giant; the distinction between a thurs and a jǫtunn is not very clear, although modern Icelanders characterise the thurs as stupid, the jötunn as strong and the risi as big: "Hár sem risi, sterkr sem jötunn, heimskr sem þurs".

51.  Bugge suggested amending this to hreina, to get "reindeer's lairs".

52.  Sigurð's horse

53.  Unclear line

54.  Compare verse 34. Guðbrandur Vigfússon and F. York Powell suggested this verse should follow that one as a response.

55.  Hǫðbrodd's sons on shore

56.  names of horses

57.  Kenning: either marr is the poetic word for a horse (and Mist is the valkyrie name, correctly capitalized by the editor) and the meaning is "the earth", or marr is the homonym meaning "sea" and "sea of mist" means "the air". The former seems more likely. These four half-lines may be an interpolation.

58.  Here used to mean "warriors."

59.  Deer of the rings around a mast to which sail-yards are secured: kenning for ships.

60.  Although not capitalised by the editor, Gylfi appears here to be the name, used metaphorically as Hniflungar was in the previous stanza.

61.  Presumably this means "cheerful about war" or "hearty".

62.  probably meaning "at anchor"

63.  kenning for ships

64.  kenning for battle

65.  kenning for sword

66.  heart

67.  taking vítr as a variant on vættr; the other interpretation would be as hvít, "white". Both ways, the plural seems to have gone missing. Also see sárvitr, below.

68.  Kenning for valkyrie. Vitr here has also been taken as vættr, and fluga as an adjective: "winged wound-wight." Magicians could bewitch flies and send them to harm enemies.

69.  kenning for wolf; giantesses are often said to ride them.

70.  Taking hugins to refer to Huginn, one of Óðin's ravens: kenning for the bodies of those killed, raven's food.

71.  or Ægir's death; Guðbrandur Vigfússon suggested this was an error for Ísungr's.

72.  Bugge suggested that siklingr, yet another word for "king", may have been the original word here, for alliteration and to avoid repeating the same word below.

73.  i.e., gold

74.  Already mentioned in Verse 8; some have suggested this verse is an interpolation.

75.  Sókn may refer to either a military attack or a lawsuit.