The complete text

Helgakviða Hundingsbana I

Helgi Kills Hunding

About these two editions

These are complete reading editions of the poem and its accompanying prose, rather than a facsimile of Codex Regius. Bellows sometimes orders, divides, or supplements stanzas differently, so the two editions do not always share stanza numbers. Editorial introductions and footnotes are omitted; follow the source links for that commentary.

Original wording is retained. Obvious transcription errors in stanza numbering have been corrected. Spelling and names differ from the modern retelling.

Tap an underlined name for an explanation. Switch editions above at any time.

Old Norse

Normalized Old Norse · Guðni Jónsson edition · Source ↗

Hér hefr upp kvæði frá Hundingsbana ok þeira Höðbrodds.

Stanza 1Ár var alda, þat er arar gullu, hnigu heilög vötn af Himinfjöllum; þá hafði inn hugumstóra borit í Brálundi.

Stanza 2Nótt varð í bæ, nornir kómu, þær er öðlingi aldr of skópu; þann báðu fylki frægstan verða ok buðlunga beztan þykkja.

Stanza 3Sneru þær af afli örlögþáttu, þá er borgir braut í Bráluni; þær of greiddu gullin símu ok und mánasal miðjan festu.

Stanza 4Þær austr ok vestr enda fálu, þar átti lofðungr land á milli; brá nift Nera á norðrvega einni festi, ey bað hon halda.

Stanza 5Eitt var at angri Ylfinga nið ok þeiri meyju, er munúð fæddi; hrafn kvað at hrafni, - sat á hám meiði andvanr átu -: "ek veit nökkut.

Stanza 6Stendr í brynju burr dægrs eins gamall, nú er dagr kominn; hvessir augu sem hildingar, sá er varga vinr, vit skulum teitir."

Stanza 7Drótt þótti sá döglingr vera, kváðu með gumnum góð ár komin; sjalfr gekk vísi ór vígþrimu ungum færa ítrlauk grami.

Stanza 8Gaf hann nafn ok Hringstaði, Sólfjöll, ok Sigarsvöllu, Hringstöð, Hátún ok Himinvanga, blóðorm búinn bræðr .

Stanza 9Þá nam at vaxa fyr vina brjósti almr ítrborinn ynðis ljóma; hann galt ok gaf gull verðungu, sparði eigi hilmir hodd blóðrækinn.

Stanza 10Skammt lét vísi vígs at bíða; þá er fylkir var fimmtán vetra, ok hann harðan lét veginn þann er lengi réð löndum ok þegnum.

Stanza 11Kvöddu síðan bur auðs ok hringa synir, því at þeir áttu jöfri at gjalda fjárnám mikit ok föður dauða.

Stanza 12Lét-at buðlungr bótir uppi né niðja in heldr nefgjöld fáa; ván kvað hann mundu veðrs ins mikla grára geira ok gremi Óðins.

Stanza 13Fara hildingar hjörstefnu til, þeirar er lögðu at Logafjöllum; sleit Fróða frið fjánda á milli; fara Viðris grey valgjörn of ey.

Stanza 14Settisk vísi, þá er vegit hafði ok , und arasteini, Hjörvarð ok Hávarð, sonu; farit hafði hann allri ætt geirmímis.

Stanza 15Þá brá ljóma af Logafjöllum, en af þeim ljómum leiftrir kómu, hávar und hjalmum á Himinvanga, brynjur váru þeira blóði stokknar, en af geirum geislar stóðu.

Stanza 16Frá árliga ór úlfíði döglingr at því suðrænar, ef þær vildi heim með hildingum þá nótt fara; þrymr var alma.

Stanza 17En af hesti dóttir, - líddi randa rym, -

ræsi sagði:

"Hygg ek, at vér eigim aðrar sýslur en með baugbrota bjór at drekka.

Stanza 18Hefir minn faðir meyju sinni grimmum heitit Granmars syni, en ek hef, , kveðinn konung óneisan sem kattar son.

Stanza 19Þó kemr fylkir fára nátta, nema þú hánum vísir valstefnu til eða mey nemir frá mildingi."

kvað:

Stanza 20"Uggi eigi þú Ísungs bana; fyrr mun dolga dynr, nema ek dauðr séak."

Stanza 21Sendi áru allvaldr þaðan of land ok um lög leiðar at biðja, iðgnógan Ógnar ljóma brögnum bjóða ok burum þeira.

Stanza 22"Biðið skjótliga til skipa ganga ok ór Brandeyju búna verða." Þaðan beið þengill, unz þingat kómu halir hundmargir ór Heðinseyju.

Stanza 23Ok þar af ströndum ór Stafnsnesi beit her út skriðu ok búin gulli; spurði at því: "hefir þú kannaða koni óneisa?"

Stanza 24En ungr konungr öðrum sagði, seint kvað at telja af Trönueyri langhöfðuð skip und líðöndum, þau er í útan fóru.

Stanza 25"Tolf hundruð tryggra manna; þó er í Hátúnum halfu fleira víglið konungs; ván erum rómu."

Stanza 26Svá brá stýrir stafntjöldum af, at mildinga mengi vakði, ok döglingar dagsbrún séa ok siklingar sneru upp við tré vefnistingum á Varinsfirði.

Stanza 27Varð ára ymr ok járna glymr, brast rönd við rönd, reru víkingar; eisandi gekk und öðlingum lofðungs floti löndum fjarri.

Stanza 28Svá var at heyra, er saman kómu kolgu systir ok kilir langir, sem björg eða brim brotna myndi.

Stanza 29Draga bað há segl ofar, varð-at hrönnum höfn þingloga, þá er ógurlig dóttir stagstjórnmörum steypa vildi.

Stanza 30En þeim sjalfum ofan folkdjörf of barg ok fari þeira; snerisk ramliga ór hendi gjalfrdýr konungs at Gnipalundi.

Stanza 31Sat þar um aftan í Unavágum, flaust fagrbúin fljóta knáttu; en þeir sjalfir frá Svarinshaugi með hermðar hug her könnuðu.

Stanza 32Frá góðborinn Goðmundr at því: "Hverr er landreki, sá er liði stýrir ok hann feiknalið færir at landi?"

Stanza 33 kvað - slöng upp við rá rauðum skildi, rönd var ór gulli; þar var sundvörðr, sá er svara kunni ok við öðlinga orðum skipta --:

Stanza 34"Segðu þat í aftan, er svínum gefr ok tíkr yðrar teygir at solli, at sé austan komnir gunnar gjarnir fyr Gnipalundi.

Stanza 35Þar mun finna flugtrauðan gram í flota miðjum, sá er oft hefir örnu sadda, meðan þú á kvernum kystir þýjar."

kvað:

Stanza 36"Fátt mantu, fylkir, fornra spjalla, er þú öðlingum ósönnu bregðr; þú hefir etnar ulfa krásir ok bræðr þínum at bana orðit, oft sár sogin með svölum munni, hefr í hreysi hvarleiðr skriðit."

kvað:

Stanza 37"Þú vart völva í Varinseyju, skollvís kona, bartu skrök saman; kvaztu engi mann eiga vilja, segg brynjaðan, nema .

Stanza 38Þú vart, in skæða, skass, valkyrja, ötul, ámátlig at Alföður; mundu einherjar allir berjask, svevís kona, of sakar þínar.

Stanza 39Níu áttu vit á nesi Ságu ulfa alna, ek var einn faðir þeira."

kvað:

Stanza 40"Faðir var-at-tu fenrisulfa öllum ellri, svá at ek muna, síz þik geldu fyr Gnipalundi þursa meyjar á Þórsnesi.

Stanza 41Stjúpr vartu Siggeirs, látt und stöðum heima, vargljóðum vanr á viðum úti; kómu þér ógögn öll at hendi, þá er bræðr þínum brjóst raufaðir; gerðir þik frægjan af firinverkum."

kvað:

Stanza 42"Þú vart brúðr á Brávelli, gullbitluð vart gör til rásar; hafða ek þér móðri marg skeið riðit svangri und söðli, simul, forbergis."

kvað:

Stanza 43"Sveinn þóttir þú siðlauss vera, þá er þú Gullnis geitr molkaðir, en í annat sinn Imðar dóttir tötrughypja. Vill þú tölu lengri?"

kvað:

Stanza 44"Fyrr vilda ek at Frekasteini hrafna seðja á hræum þínum en tíkr yðrar teygja at solli eða gefa göltum; deili gröm við þik."

kvað:

Stanza 45"Væri ykkr, , Sæmra miklu gunni at heyja ok glaða örnu, en sé ónýtum orðum at bregðask, þótt hringbrotar heiftir deili.

Stanza 46Þykkja-t mér góðir Granmars synir, þó dugir siklingum satt at mæla; þeir hafa markat á Móinsheimum, at hug hafa hjörum at bregða."

Stanza 47Þeir af ríki renna létu Svipuð ok Sveggjuð Sólheima til dala döggótta, dökkvar hlíðir; skalf Mistar marr hvar er megir fóru.

Stanza 48Mættu þeir tyggja í túnhliði, sögðu stríðliga stilli kómu; úti stóð hjalmi faldinn, hugði hann jóreið ættar sinnar: "Hví er hermðar litr á Hniflungum?"

kvað:

Stanza 49"Snúask hér at sandi snævgir kjólar, rakka-hirtir ok ráar langar, skildir margir, skafnar árar, göfugt lið gylfa, glaðir .

Stanza 50Ganga fimmtán folk upp á land, þó er í út sjau þúsundir; liggja hér í grindum fyr Gnipalundi brimdýr blásvört ok búin gulli; þar er miklu mest mengi þeira; mun-a nú hjörþing dvala."

kvað:

Stanza 51"Renni rökn bitluð til Reginþinga, en at Sparinsheiði, ok til Myrkviðar; látið engi mann eftir sitja, þeira er benlogum bregða kunni.

Stanza 52Bjóðið ér ok Hrings sonum, ok Yngva, inum gamla, þeir ró gjarnir gunni at heyja; látum Völsunga viðrnám fáa."

Stanza 53Svipr einn var þat, er saman kómu fölvir oddar at Frekasteini; ey var bani fyrstr í fólki, þar er firar börðusk, æstr á ímu, alltrauðr flugar; sá hafði hilmir hart móðakarn.

Stanza 54Kómu þar ór himni hjalmvítr ofan, - óx geira gnýr, - þær er grami hlífðu; þá kvað þat , sárvitr fluga - át hálu skær af hugins barri -:

Stanza 55"Heill skaltu, vísi, virða njóta, áttstafr Yngva, ok una lífi, er þú fellt hefir inn flugartrauða jöfur, þann er olli ægis dauða.

Stanza 56Ok þér, buðlungr, samir bæði vel rauðir baugar ok in ríkja mær; heill skaltu, buðlungr, bæði njóta dóttur ok Hringstaða, sigrs ok landa. Þá er sókn lokit.

English translation

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

Stanza 1In olden days, | when eagles screamed, And holy streams | from heaven's crags fell, Was then, | the hero-hearted, 's son, | in born.

Stanza 2'Twas night in the dwelling, | and 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.

Stanza 3Mightily wove they | the web of fate, While 's towns | were trembling all; And there the golden | threads they wove, And in the moon's hall | fast they made them.

Stanza 4East and west | the ends they hid, In the middle the hero | should have his land; And 's kinswoman | northward cast A chain, and bade it | firm ever to be.

Stanza 5Once sorrow had | the ' son, And grief the bride | who the loved one had borne. Quoth raven to raven, | on treetop resting, Seeking for food, | "There is something I know.

Stanza 6"In mail-coat stands | the son of , A half-day old; | now day is here; His eyes flash sharp | as the heroes' are, He is friend of the wolves; | full glad are we."

Stanza 7The 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.

Stanza 8 he named him, | and gave him, Solfjoll, , | and , , , | and , And a blood-snake bedecked | to 's brother.

Stanza 9Mighty 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.

Stanza 10Short time for war | the chieftain waited, When fifteen winters | old he was; he slew, | the hardy wight Who long had ruled | o'er lands and men.

Stanza 11Of 's son | then next they sought Hoard and rings, | the sons of ; They bade the prince | requital pay For booty stolen | and father slain.

Stanza 12The prince let not | their prayers avail, gold for their dead | did the kinsmen get; Waiting, he said, | was a mighty storm Of lances gray | and 's grimness.

Stanza 13The warriors forth | to the battle went, The field they chose | at ; 's peace | midst foes they broke, Through the isle went hungrily | 's hounds.

Stanza 14The king then sat, | when he had slain and , | 'neath the eagle-stone; and , | 's sons, The kin of the spear-wielder, | all had he killed.

Stanza 15Then glittered light | from , And from the light | the flashes leaped; . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 16. . . . . . . . . . High under helms | on heaven's field; Their byrnies all | with blood were red, And from their spears | the sparks flew forth.

Stanza 17Early 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.

Stanza 18Down from her horse | sprang 's daughter,-- The shields were still,-- | and spake to the hero: "Other tasks | are ours, methinks, Than drinking beer | with the breaker of rings.

Stanza 19"My father has pledged | his daughter fair As bride to 's | son so grim; But, , I | once called As fine a king | as the son of a cat.

Stanza 20"Yet the hero will come | a few nights hence, . . . . . . . . . . Unless thou dost bid him | the battle-ground seek, Or takest the maid | from the warrior mighty."

spake:

Stanza 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."

Stanza 22Messengers 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.

Stanza 23"Bid them straightway | seek the ships, And off | ready to be!" There the chief waited | till thither were come Men by hundreds | from .

Stanza 24Soon off | stood the ships, Fair they glided | and gay with gold; Then spake | to asking: "Hast thou counted | the gallant host?"

Stanza 25The young king answered | the other then: "Long were it to tell | from The long-stemmed ships | with warriors laden That come from without | into .

Stanza 26. . . . . . . . . . "There are hundreds twelve | of trusty men, But in lies | the host of the king, Greater by half; | I have hope of battle."

Stanza 28There was 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.

Stanza 29So did it sound, | when together the sisters Of struck | with the keels full long, As if cliffs were broken | with beating surf, . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 30 bade higher | hoist the sails, did the ships'-folk | shun the waves, Though dreadfully | did 's daughters Seek the steeds | of the sea to sink.

Stanza 31But from above | did brave Aid the men and | all their faring; Mightily came | from the claws of The leader's sea-beast | off .

Stanza 32At evening there | in Floated the fleet | bedecked full fair; But they who saw | from 's hill, Bitter at heart | the host beheld.

Stanza 33Then asked, | goodly of birth, . . . . . . . . . . "Who is the monarch | who guides the host, And to the land | the warriors leads?"

Stanza 34 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.

Stanza 35"Say tonight | when you feed the swine, And send your bitches | to seek their swill, That out of the East | have the come, Greedy for battle, | to .

Stanza 36"There will | 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."

spake:

Stanza 37"Hero, the ancient | sayings heed, And bring not lies | to the nobly born. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 38"Thou hast 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."

spake:

Stanza 39"A witch in 's | isle thou wast, A woman false, | and lies didst fashion; Of the mail-clad heroes | thou wouldst have No other, thou saidst, | save only.

Stanza 40"A wast thou, | loathly Witch, Evil and base, | in Allfather's home; The warriors all | must ever fight, Woman subtle, | for sake of thee.

Stanza 41". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nine did we | in Of wolf-cubs have; | I their father was."

spake:

Stanza 42"Thou didst not father | 's-wolves, Though older thou art | than all I know; For they gelded thee | in , The giant-women | at once.

Stanza 44"In wast thou | 's bride, Golden-bitted | and ready to gallop; I rode thee many | a mile, and down Didst sink, thou giantess, | under the saddle."

spake:

Stanza 45"A brainless fellow | didst seem to be, When once for | goats didst milk, And another time | when as 's daughter In rags thou wentest; | wilt longer wrangle?"

spake:

Stanza 46"Sooner would I | at Feed the ravens | with flesh of thine Than send your bitches | to seek their swill, Or feed the swine; | may the fiends take you!"

spake:

Stanza 47"Better, , | thee 'twould beseem Battle to give | and eagles to gladden, Than vain and empty | words to utter, Though ring-breakers oft | in speech do wrangle.

Stanza 48"Good I find not | the sons of , But for heroes 'tis seemly | the truth to speak; At | proved the men That hearts for the wielding | of swords they had."

Stanza 50Forth stood , | helmed for battle, Watched the riding | of his warriors; . . . . . . . . . . "Why are the | white with fear?"

spake:

Stanza 52"At anchor lying | off Are fire-beasts black, | all fitted with gold; There wait most | of the foeman's men, will long | the battle delay."

spake:

Stanza 54"Summon , | the sons of , and | and the Old; Glad they are | of battle ever; Against the | let us go."

Stanza 56From heaven there came | the maidens helmed,-- The weapon-clang grew,-- | who watched o'er the king; Spake fair,-- | the wound-givers flew, And the horse of the giantess | raven's-food had:--

Stanza 57"Hail to thee, hero! | full happy with men, Offspring of , | shalt ever live, For thou the fearless | foe hast slain Who to many the dread | of death had brought.

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