Grípisspá

Old Norse

Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗

Grípir hét sonr Eylima, bróðir Hjördísar. Hann réð löndum ok var allra manna vitrastr ok framvíss. Sigurðr reið einn saman ok kom til hallar Grípis. Sigurðr var auðkenndr. Hann hitti mann at máli úti fyrir höllini. Sá nefndist Geitir. Þá kvaddi Sigurðr hann máls ok spyrr:

Stanza 1"Hverr byggir hér borgir þessar? Hvat þann þjóðkonung þegnar nefna?"

Geitir kvað:

"Grípir heitir gumna stóri, sá er fastri ræðr foldu ok þegnum."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 2"Er horskr konungr heima í landi? Mun sá gramr við mik ganga at mæla? Máls er þarfi maðr ókunnigr, vil ek fljótliga finna Grípi."

Geitir kvað:

Stanza 3"Þess mun glaðr konungr Geiti spyrja, hverr sá maðr sé, er máls kveðr Grípi."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Sigurðr ek heiti, borinn Sigmundi, en Hjördís er hilmis móðir."

Stanza 4Þá gekk Geitir Grípi at segja; "Hér er maðr úti ókuðr kominn; hann er ítarligr at áliti; sá vill, fylkir, fund þinn hafa."

Stanza 5Gengr ór skála skatna dróttinn ok heilsar vel hilmi komnum: "þiggðu hér, Sigurðr, væri sæmra fyrr, en þú, Geitir, tak við Grana sjalfum."

Stanza 6Mæla námu ok margt hjala þá er ráðspakir rekkar fundusk.

Sigurðr kvað:

"Segðu mér, ef þú veizt, móðurbróðir: Hvé mun Sigurði snúna ævi."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 7"Þú munt maðr vera mæztr und sólu ok hæstr borinn hverjum jöfri, gjöfull af gulli, en glöggr flugar, ítr áliti ok í orðum spakr."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 8"Segðu, gegn konungr, gerr en ek spyrja, snotr, Sigurði, ef þú sjá þykkisk: Hvat mun fyrst gerask til farnaðar, þá er ór garði emk genginn þínum?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 9"Fyrst muntu, fylkir, föður of hefna, ok Eylima alls harms reka; þú munt harða Hundings sonu snjalla fella, muntu sigr hafa."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 10"Segðu, ítr konungr, ættingi, mér heldr horskliga, er vit hugat mælum: Sér þú Sigurðar snör brögð fyrir, þau er hæst fara und himinskautum?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 11"Muntu einn vega orm inn frána, þann er gráðugr liggr á Gnitaheiði; þú munt báðum at bana verða Regin ok Fáfni, rétt segir Grípir."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 12"Auðr mun ærinn, ef ek eflik svá víg með virðum, sem víst segir; leið at huga ok lengra seg: Hvat mun enn vera ævi minnar?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 13"Þú munt finna Fáfnis bæli ok upp taka auð inn fagra, gulli hlæða á Grana bógu; ríðr þú til Gjúka, gramr vígrisinn."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 14"Enn skaltu hilmi í hugaðsræðu, framlyndr jöfurr, fleira segja. Gestr em ek Gjúka ok ek geng þaðan, hvat mun enn vera ævi minnar?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 15"Sefr á fjalli fylkis dóttir björt í brynju eftir bana Helga; þú munt höggva hvössu sverði, brynju rísta með bana Fáfnis."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 16"Brotin er brynja, brúðr mæla tekr, er vaknaði víf ór svefni. Hvat mun snót at heldr við Sigurð mæla, þat er at farnaði fylki verði?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 17"Hon mun ríkjum þér rúnar kenna, allar þær er aldir eignask vildu, ok á manns tungu mæla hverja, líf með lækning; lifðu heill, konungr."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 18"Nú er því lokit, numin eru fræði ok em braut þaðan búinn at ríða, leið at huga ok lengra seg: Hvat mun meir vera minnar ævi?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 19"Þú munt hitta Heimis byggðir ok glaðr vera gestr þjóðkonungs; farit er, Sigurðr, þats ek fyrir vissak, skal-a fremr en svá fregna Grípi."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 20"Nú fær mér ekka orð þatstu mæltir, því at þú fram of sér fylkir, lengra; veiztu ofmikit angr Sigurði, því þú, Grípir, þat gerr-a segja."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 21"Lá mér um æsku ævi þinnar ljósast fyrir líta eftir; rétt em ek ráðspakr taliðr né in heldr framvíss, farit þats ek vissak."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 22"Mann veit ek engi fyr mold ofan, þann er fleira sé fram en þú, Grípir; skal-at-tu leyna, þótt ljót séi, eða mein gerisk á mínum hag."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 23"Er-a með löstum lögð ævi þér, láttu, inn ítri, þat, öðlingr, nemask, því at uppi mun, meðan öld lifir, naddéls boði, nafn þitt vera."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 24"Verst hyggjum því, verðr at skiljask Sigurðr við fylki at sógöru; leið vísa þú, - lagt er allt fyrir - mærr, mér, ef þú vilt, móðurbróðir."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 25"Nú skal Sigurði segja görva, alls þengill mik til þess neyðir; muntu víst vita at vætki lýgr; dægr eitt er þér dauði ætlaðr."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 26"Vilk-at ek reiði ríks þjóðkonungs, góð ráð at heldr Grípis þiggja; nú vill víst vita, þótt viltki sé, hvat á sýnt Sigurðr sér fyr höndum."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 27"Fljóð er at Heimis fagrt álitum, hana Brynhildi bragnar nefna, dóttir Buðla, en dýrr konungr harðugðigt man Heimir fæðir."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 28"Hvat er mik at því, þótt mær séi fögr áliti fædd at Heimis? Þat skaltu, Grípir, görva segja, því at þú öll of sér örlög fyrir."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 29"Hon firrir þik flestu gamni, fögr áliti, fóstra Heimis, svefn þú né sefr né of sakar dæmir, gár-a þú manna nema þú mey séir."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 30"Hvat mun til líkna lagt Sigurði? Segðu, Grípir, þat, ef þú sjá þykkisk: Mun ek mey ná mundi kaupa, þá ina fögru fylkis dóttur?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 31"It munuð alla eiða vinna fullfastliga, fá munuð halda; verit hefr þú Gjúka gestr eina nótt, mant-at-tu horska Heimis fóstru."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 32"Hvat er þá, Grípir, get þú þess fyr mér, sér þú geðleysi í grams skapi, er ek skal við mey þá málum slíta, er ek alls hugar unna þóttumk."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 33"Þú verðr, siklingr, fyr svikum annars, muntu Grímhildar gjalda ráða, mun bjóða þér bjarthaddat man dóttur sína, dregr hon vél at gram."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 34"Mun ek við þá Gunnar görva hleyti ok Guðrúnu ganga at eiga? Fullkvæni þá fylkir væri, ef meintregar mér angraði-t."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 35"Þik mun Grímhildr görva véla, mun hon Brynhildar biðja fýsa Gunnari til handa, Gotna dróttni, heitr þú fjótliga för fylkis móður."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 36"Mein eru fyr höndum, má ek líta þat; ratar görliga ráð Sigurðar, ef ek skal mærrar meyjar biðja öðrum til handa, þeirar ek unna vel."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 37"Ér munuð allir eiða vinna Gunnar ok Högni, en þú, gramr, þriði; þá it litum víxlið, er á leið eruð, Gunnar ok þú; Grípir lýgr eigi."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 38"Hví gegnir þat? Hví skulum skipta litum ok látum, er á leið erum? Þar mun fláræði fylgja annat atalt með öllu; enn segðu, Grípir."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 39"Lit hefir þú Gunnars ok læti hans, mælsku þína ok meginhyggjur; muntu fastna þér framlundaða fóstru Heimis, sér vætr fyr því."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 40"Verst hyggjum því, vándr munk heitinn Sigurðr með seggjum at sógöru; vilda ek eigi vélum beita jöfra brúði, er ek æðsta veitk."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 41"Þú munt hvíla, hers oddviti mærr, hjá meyju sem þín móðir sé; því mun uppi, meðan öld lifir, þjóðar þengill, þitt nafn vera."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 42"Mun góða kván Gunnarr eiga, mærr með mönnum, - mér segðu, Grípir, - þótt hafi þrjár nætr þegns brúðr hjá mér snarlynd sofit? Slíks eru-t dæmi."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 43"Saman munu brullup bæði drukkin Sigurðar ok Gunnars í sölum Gjúka; þá hömum víxlið, er it heim komið; hefr hvárr fyr því hyggju sína."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 44"Hvé mun at ynði eftir verða mægð með mönnum? Mér segðu, Grípir. Mun Gunnari til gamans ráðit síðan verða eða sjalfum mér?"

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 45"Minnir þik eiða, máttu þegja þó, anntu Guðrúnu góðra ráða; en Brynhildr þykkisk brúðr vargefin, snót fiðr vélar sér at hefndum."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 46"Hvat mun at bótum brúðr sú taka, er vélar vér vífi gerðum? Hefir snót af mér svarna eiða enga efnda, en unað lítit."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 47"Mun hon Gunnari görva segja, at þú eigi vel eiðum þyrmðir, þá er ítr konungr af öllum hug, Gjúka arfi, á gram trúði."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 48"Hvat er þá, Grípir, get þú þess fyr mér, mun ek saðr vera at sögu þeiri, eða lýgr á mik lofsæl kona ok á sjalfa sik? Segðu, Grípir, þat."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 49"Mun fyr reiði rík brúðr við þik né af oftrega allvel skipa; viðr þú góðri grand aldrigi, þó ér víf konungs vélum beittuð."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 50"Mun horskr Gunnarr at hvötun hennar Gutþormr ok Högni ganga síðan? Munu synir Gjúka á sifjugum mér eggjar rjóða? Enn segðu, Grípir."

Grípir kvað:

Stanza 51"Þá er Guðrúnu grimmt um hjarta; bræðr hennar þér til bana ráða, ok at engu verðr ynði síðan vitru vífi; veldr því Grímhildr.

Stanza 52Því skal hugga þik, hers oddviti, sú mun gift lagið á grams ævi: Mun-at mætri maðr á mold koma und sólar sjöt, en þú, Sigurðr, þykkir."

Sigurðr kvað:

Stanza 53"Skiljumk heilir, mun-at sköpum vinna. Nú hefir þú, Grípir, vel gört sem ek beiddak. Fljótt myndir þú fríðri segja mína ævi, ef þú mættir þat."

English translation

Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗

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:

Stanza 1"Who is it has | this dwelling here, Or what do men call | the people's king?"

Geitir spake:

"Gripir the name | of the chieftain good Who holds the folk | and the firm-ruled land."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 2"Is the king 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:

Stanza 3"The ruler glad | of Geitir will ask Who seeks with Gripir | speech to have."

Sigurth spake:

"Sigurth am I, | and Sigmund's son, And Hjordis the name | of the hero's mother."

Stanza 4Then Geitir went | and to Gripir spake: "A stranger comes | and stands without; Lofty he is | to look upon, And, prince, thyself | he fain would see."

Stanza 5From 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."

Stanza 6Then of many | things they talked, When thus the men | so wise had met.

Sigurth spake:

"To me, if thou knowest, | my mother's brother, Say what life | will Sigurth's be."

Gripir spake:

Stanza 7"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:

Stanza 8"Monarch wise, | now more I ask; To Sigurth say, | if thou thinkest to see, What first will chance | of my fortune fair, When hence I go | from out thy home?"

Gripir spake:

Stanza 9"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:

Stanza 10"Noble king, | my kinsman, say Thy meaning true, | for our minds we speak: For Sigurth mighty | deeds dost see, The highest beneath | the heavens all?"

Gripir spake:

Stanza 11"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:

Stanza 12"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:

Stanza 13"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:

Stanza 14"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:

Stanza 15"On the rocks there sleeps | the ruler's daughter, Fair in armor, | since Helgi fell; Thou shalt cut | with keen-edged sword, And cleave the byrnie | with Fafnir's killer."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 16"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:

Stanza 17"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:

Stanza 18"Now is it 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:

Stanza 19"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:

Stanza 20"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:

Stanza 21"Before me lay | in clearest light All of thy youth | for mine eyes to see; Not rightly can I | wise be called, Nor forward-seeing; | my wisdom is fled."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 22"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:

Stanza 23"With baseness never | thy life is burdened, Hero noble, | hold that sure; Lofty as long | as the world shall live, Battle-bringer, | thy name shall be."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 24"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:

Stanza 25"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:

Stanza 26"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:

Stanza 27"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:

Stanza 28"What is it to me, | though the maiden be So fair, and of Heimir | the fosterling is? Gripir, truth | to me shalt tell, For all of fate | before me thou seest."

Gripir spake:

Stanza 29"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:

Stanza 30"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:

Stanza 31"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:

Stanza 32"What sayst thou, Gripir? | give me the truth, Does fickleness hide | in the hero's heart? Can it be that troth | I break with the maid, With her I believed | I loved so dear?"

Gripir spake:

Stanza 33"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."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 34"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:

Stanza 35"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:

Stanza 36"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:

Stanza 37"Ye three shall | all the oaths then take, Gunnar and Hogni, | and, hero, thou; Your forms ye shall change, | as forth ye tare, Gunnar and thou; | for Gripir lies not."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 38"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:

Stanza 39"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."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 40"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' maiden | whom noblest I hold."

Gripir spake:

Stanza 41"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."

Sigurth spake:

Stanza 42"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:

Stanza 43"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:

Stanza 44"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:

Stanza 45"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:

Stanza 46"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:

Stanza 47"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:

Stanza 48"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:

Stanza 49"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:

Stanza 50"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:

Stanza 51"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:

Stanza 52"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:

53 "Ever remember, ruler of men, That fortune lies in the hero's life; A nobler man shall never live Beneath the sun than Sigurth shall seem."