The complete text

Helgakviða Hundingsbana II

Helgi and Sigrún Again

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 ↗

konungr Völsungsson átti Borghildi af Brálundi. Þau hétu son sinn ok eftir Hjörvarðssyni. fóstraði . hét ríkr konungr. Við hann er kennt. Hann var hermaðr mikill ok átti marga sonu, þá er í hernaði váru. Ófriðr ok dylgjur váru á milli þeira konungs ok konungs. Drápu hvárir annarra frændr. konungr ok hans ættmenn hétu Völsungar ok . fór ok njósnaði til hirðar konungs á laun.

Hemingr, son konungs, var heima. En er fór í brott, þá hitti hann hjarðarsvein ok kvað:

Stanza 1"Segðu Hemingi at man, hvern i brynju bragnar felldu; ér ulf gráan inni höfðuð, þar er hugði konungr."

Hamall hét son Hagals. konungr sendi menn til Hagals at leita , en mátti eigi forðast annan veg en tók klæði ambáttar ok gekk at mala. Þeir leituðu ok fundu eigi . Þá kvað Blindr inn bölvísi:

Stanza 2"Hvöss eru augu í Hagals þýju; er-a þat karls ætt, er á kvernum stendr; steinar rifna stökk lúðr fyrir.

Stanza 3Nú hefir hörð dæmi hildingr þegit, er vísi skal valbygg mala; heldr er sæmri hendi þeiri meðalkafli en möndultré."

svaraði ok kvað:

Stanza 4"Þat er lítil vá, þótt lúðr þrumi er mær konungs möndul hrærir; hon skævaði skýjum efri ok vega þorði sem víkingar, áðr hana höftu gerði; systir er hon þeira Sigars ok ; því hefir ötul augu Ylfinga man."

Undan komst ok fór á herskip. Hann felldi konung ok var síðan kallaðr . Hann lá með her sinn í Brunavágum ok hafði þar strandhögg ok átu þar hrátt. hét konungr. Hans dóttir var . Hon var valkyrja ok reið loft ok lög. Hon var endrborin. reið at skipum ok kvað:

Stanza 5"Hverir láta fljóta fley við bakka? Hvar, hermegir, heima eiguð? Hvers bíðið ér í Brunavágum? Hvert lystir yðr leið at kanna?"

kvað:

Stanza 6" lætr fljóta fley við bakka, eigum heima í Hléseyju, bíðum byrjar í Brunavágum, austr lystir oss leið at kanna."

kvað:

Stanza 7"Hvar hefir þú, hilmir, hildi vakða eða gögl alin systra? Hví er brynja þín blóði stokkin? Hví skal und hjalmum hrátt kjöt eta?"

kvað:

Stanza 8"Þat vann næst nýs niðr Ylfinga fyr vestan ver, ef þik vita lystir, er ek björnu tók í Bragalundi ok ætt ara oddum saddak.

Stanza 9Nú er sagt, mær, hvaðan sakar gerðusk, því var á legi mér lítt steikt etit."

kvað:

Stanza 10"Víg lýsir þú, varð fyr konungr hníga at velli; bar sókn saman, er sefa hefnduð ok busti blóð á brimis eggjar."

kvað:

Stanza 11"Hvat vissir þú, at þeir séim, snót svinnhuguð, er sefa hefndum? Margir ro hvassir hildings synir ok ámunir ossum niðjum."

kvað:

Stanza 12"Vark-a ek fjarri, folks oddviti, gær á morgun grams aldrlokum, þó tel ek slægjan bur, er í valrúnum vígspjöll segir.

Stanza 13Leit ek þik um sinn fyrr á langskipum, þá er þú byggðir blóðga stafna ok úrsvalar unnir léku; nú vill dyljask döglingr fyr mér, en mær kennir."

hét ríkr konungr, er bjó at Svarinshaugi. Hann átti marga sonu: , annarr , þriði Starkaðr. var í konungastefnu. Hann fastnaði sér Sigrúnu Högnadóttur. En er hon spyrr þat, þá reið hon með valkyrjur um loft ok um lög at leita . var þá at Logafjöllum ok hafði barizt við sonu. Þar felldi hann þá ok , Hjörvarð ok Hervarð, ok var hann allvígmóðr ok sat undir Arasteini.

Þar hitti hann ok rann á háls honum ok kyssti hann ok sagði honum erindi sitt, svá sem segir í Völsungakviðu inni fornu:

Stanza 14Sótti sikling glaðan, heim nam hon hönd at sækja, kyssti ok kvaddi konung und hjalmi; þá varð hilmi hugr á vífi.

Stanza 15Fyrr lézk hon unna af öllum hug syni en hon sét hafði.

kvað:

Stanza 16" ek Höðbroddi í her föstnuð, en jöfur annan eiga vildak; þó sjámk, fylkir, frænda reiði, hefi ek míns föður munráð brotit."

Stanza 17Nam-a mær of hug mæla, hafa kvaðsk hon hylli skyldu.

kvað:

Stanza 18"Hirð eigi þú reiði né illan hug ættar þinnar. Þú skalt, mær ung, at mér lifa; ætt áttu, in góða, er ek eigi sjámk."

samnaði þá miklum skipaher ok fór til Frekasteins, ok fengu í hafi ofviðri mannhætt. Þá kómu leiftr yfir þá, ok stóðu geislar í skipin. Þeir sá í loftinu, at valkyrjur níu riðu, ok kenndu þeir Sigrúnu. Þá lægði storminn, ok kómu þeir heilir til lands. Granmarssynir sátu á bjargi nokkuru, er skipin sigldu at landi. hljóp á hest ok reið á njósn á bergit við höfnina. Þá hlóðu Völsungar seglum. Þá kvað :

Stanza 19"Hver er skjöldungr, sá er skipum stýrir, lætr gunnfana gullinn fyr stafni? Þykkja mér fríð í fararbroddi; verpr vígroða um víkinga.

kvað:

Stanza 20"Hér má kenna flótta trauðan í flota miðjum, hann hefir eðli ættar þinnar arf Fjörsunga, und sik þrungit."

kvað:

Stanza 21"Því fyrr skulu at Frekasteini sáttir saman um sakar dæma; mál er, , hefnd at vinna ef vér lægra hlut lengi bárum."

kvað:

Stanza 22"Fyrr mundu, , geitr of halda ok bergskorar brattar klífa, hafa þér í hendi heslikylfu, þat er þér blíðara en brimis dómar.

kvað:

Stanza 23"Þér er, , sæmra miklu gunni at heyja ok glaða örnu en ónýtum orðum at bregða, þótt hildingar heiftir deili.

Stanza 24Þykkja-t mér góðir Granmars synir, þó dugir siklingum satt at mæla; þeir merkt hafa á Móinsheimum, at hug hafa hjörum at bregða; eru hildingar hölzti snjallir.

reið heim með hersögu. Þá sömnuðu Granmarssynir her. Kómu þar margir konungar. Þar var , faðir , ok synir hans, ok . Þar var orrusta mikil, ok fellu allir Granmarssynir ok allir þeira höfðingjar nema Högnason fekk grið ok vann eiða Völsungum. gekk í valinn ok hitti at kominn dauða. Hon kvað:

Stanza 25"Mun-a þér, frá Sefafjöllum konungr, hníga at armi; liðin er ævi - oft náir hrævi gránstóð gríðar, - Granmars sona."

Þá hitti hon ok varð allfegin. Hann kvað:

Stanza 26"Er-at þér at öllu, alvitr, gefit, - þó kveð ek nökkvi nornir valda -: fellu í morgun at Frekasteini ok , varð ek bani þeira.

Stanza 27En at Styrkleifum Starkaðr konungr, en at Hlébjörgum Hrollaugs synir; þann sá ek gylfa grimmúðgastan, er barðisk bolr, var á brott höfuð.

Stanza 28Liggja at jörðu allra flestir niðjar þínir, at náum orðnir; vannt-at-tu vígi, var þér þat skapat, at þú at rógi ríkmenni vart."

Þá grét . Hann kvað:

Stanza 29"Huggastu, ! hefr þú oss verið; vinna-t skjöldungar sköpum."

kvað:

"Lifna mynda ek nú kjósa, er liðnir eru, ok knætta ek þér þó í faðmi felask."

fekk , ok áttu þau sonu. eigi gamall. Högnason blótaði til föðurhefnda. léði geirs síns. fann , mág sinn, þar sem heitir at Fjöturlundi. Hann lagði í gögnum með geirnum. Þar fell , en reið til Sefafjalla ok sagði Sigrúnu tíðindi.

Stanza 30"Trauðr em ek, systir, trega þér at segja, því at ek hefi nauðigr nifti grætta; fell í morgun und Fjöturlundi buðlungr, sá er var beztr í heimi ok hildingum á halsi stóð."

kvað

Stanza 31"Þik skyli allir eiðar bíta, þeir er hafðir unna at inu ljósa Leiftrar vatni ok at úrsvölum Unnarsteini.

Stanza 32Skríði-at þat skip, er und þér skríði, þótt óskabyrr eftir leggisk; renni-a sá marr, er und þér renni, þóttú fjándr þína forðask eigir.

Stanza 33Bíti-a þér þat sverð, er þú bregðir, nema sjalfum þér syngvi of höfði. Þá væri þér hefnt dauða, ef þú værir vargr á viðum úti auðs andvani ok alls gamans, hefðir eigi mat, nema á hræjum spryngir."

Dagur kvað:

Stanza 34"Ær ertu, systir, ok örvita, er þú bræðr þínum biðr forskapa; einn veldr öllu bölvi, því at með sifjungum sakrúnar bar.

Stanza 35Þér býðr bróðir bauga rauða, öll ok Vígdali; hafðu halfan heim harms at gjöldum, brúðr baugvarið, ok burir þínir."

kvað:

Stanza 36"Sitk-a ek svá sæl at Sefafjöllum ár né of nætr, at ek una lífi, nema at liði lofðungs ljóma bregði, renni und vísa þinig, gullbitli vanr, knega ek grami fagna.

Stanza 37Svá hafði hrædda görva fjándr sína alla ok frændr þeira sem fyr ulfi óðar rynni geitr af fjalli geiskafullar.

Stanza 38Svá bar af hildingum sem ítrskapaðr askr af þyrni eða sá dýrkalfr döggu slunginn er efri ferr öllum dýrum ok horn glóa við himin sjalfan."

Haugr var gjörr eftir . En er hann kom til Valhallar, þá bauð honum öllu at ráða með sér. kvað:

Stanza 39"Þú skalt, , hverjum manni fótlaug geta ok funa kynda, hunda binda, hesta gæta, gefa svínum soð, áðr sofa gangir."

Ambótt gekk um aftan hjá haugi ok sá, at reið til haugsins með marga menn. Ambótt kvað:

Stanza 40"Hvárt eru þat svik ein, er ek sjá þykkjumk, eða ragnarök, - ríða menn dauðir, er jóa yðra oddum keyrið - eða er hildingum heimför gefin?"

kvað:

Stanza 41"Er-a þat svik ein, er þú sjá þykkisk, né aldar rof, þóttú oss lítir, þótt vér jóa óra oddum keyrim, né er hildingum heimför gefin." Heim gekk ambátt ok sagði Sigrúnu:

Stanza 42"Út gakk þú, frá Sefafjöllum, ef þik folks jaðar finna lystir; upp er haugr lokinn, kominn er , dolgspor dreyra, döglingr bað þik, at þú sárdropa svefja skyldir."

gekk í hauginn til ok kvað:

Stanza 43"Nú em ek svá fegin fundi okkrum sem átfrekir Óðins haukar, er val vitu, varmar bráðir, eða dögglitir dagsbrún sjá.

Stanza 44Fyrr vil ek kyssa konung ólifðan en þú blóðugri brynju kastir; hár er þitt, , hélu þrungit, allr er vísi valdögg sleginn, hendr úrsvalar mági; hvé skal ek þér, buðlungr, þess bót of vinna?"

kvað:

Stanza 45"Ein veldr þú, frá Sefafjöllum, er er harmdögg sleginn; grætr þú, gullvarið, grimmum tárum, sólbjört, suðræn, áðr þú sofa gangir; hvert fellr blóðugt á brjóst grami, úrsvalt, innfjalgt, ekka þrungit.

Stanza 46Vel skulum drekka dýrar veigar, þótt misst hafim munar ok landa; skal engi maðr angrljóð kveða, þótt mér á brjósti benjar líti; nú eru brúðir byrgðar í haugi, lofða , hjá oss liðnum." bjó sæing í hauginum.

Stanza 47"Hér hefi ek þér, , hvílu görva angrlausa mjök, Ylfinga niðr, vil ek þér í faðmi, fylkir, sofna sem ek lofðungi lifnum myndak."

kvað:

Stanza 48"Nú kveð ek enskis örvænt vera síð né snimma at Sefafjöllum, er þú á armi ólifðum sefr, hvít, í haugi, dóttir, ok ertu kvik, in konungborna.

Stanza 49Mál er mér at ríða roðnar brautir, láta fölvan jó flugstíg troða; skal ek fyr vestan vindhjalms brúar, áðr sigrþjóð veki."

Þeir riðu leið sína, en þær fóru heim til bæjar. Annan aftan lét ambótt halda vörð á hauginum. En at dagsetri, er kom til haugsins, hon kvað:

Stanza 50"Kominn væri nú, ef koma hygði, burr frá sölum Óðins; kveð ek grams þinig grænask vánir, er á asklimum ernir sitja ok drífr drótt öll draumþinga til."

Ambótt kvað:

Stanza 51"Verðu eigi svá ær, at ein farir, skjöldunga, draughúsa til; verða öflgari allir á nóttum dauðir dolgar, mær, en um daga ljósa."

varð skammlíf af harmi ok trega. Þat var trúa í forneskju, at menn væri endrbornir, en þat er nú kölluð kerlingavilla. ok , er kallat, at væri endrborin. Hét hann þá , en hon Hálfdanardóttir, svá sem kveðit er í Káruljóðum, ok var hon valkyrja.

English translation

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

King , the son of , had as wife , from . They named their son , after Hjorvarthsson; was 's foster-father. was the name of a powerful king, and is named from him. He was a mighty warrior, and had many sons with him on his campaigns. There was enmity and strife between these two, King and King , and each slew the other's kinsmen. King and his family were called and . went as a spy to the home of King in disguise. , a son of King 's, was at home. When went forth, then he met a young herdsman, and said:

Stanza 1"Say to | that knows Whom the heroes | in armor hid; A gray wolf had they | within their hall, Whom King | thought." was the name of 's son. King

sent men to to seek , and could not save himself in any other way, so he put on the clothes of a bond-woman and set to work at the mill. They sought but found him not.

Stanza 2Then spake out, | the evil-minded: " Of 's bond-woman | bright are the eyes; Yon comes not of churls | who stands at the quern; The millstones break, | the boards are shattered.

Stanza 3"The hero has | a doom full hard, That barley now | he needs must grind; Better befits | his hand to feel The hilt of the sword | than the millstone's handle."

answered and said:

Stanza 4"Small is the wonder | if boards are splintered By a monarch's daughter | the mill is turned; Once through clouds | she was wont to ride, And battles fought | like fighting men, (Till a captive | held her fast; Sister she is | of and , Thus bright are the eyes | of the ' maid.)" escaped and went to a fighting ship. He slew King , and thenceforth was called . (II)

He lay with his host in , and they had there a strand-slaughtering, and ate the flesh raw. was the name of a king. His daughter was ; she was a and rode air and water; she was reborn. rode to 's ship and said:

Stanza 5"Who rules the ship | by the shore so steep? Where is the home | ye warriors have? Why do ye bide | in , Or what the way | that ye wish to try?"

spake:

Stanza 6"'s the ship | by the shore so steep, Our home in | do we have; For fair wind bide we | in , Eastward the way | that we wish to try."

spake:

Stanza 7"Where hast thou, warrior, | battle wakened, Or gorged the birds | of the sisters of ? Why is thy byrnie | spattered with blood, Why helmed dost feast | on food uncooked?"

spake:

spake:

Stanza 9"Of battle thou tellest, | and there was bent the king | before down; There was carnage when thou | didst avenge thy kin, And blood flowed fast | on the blade of the sword."

spake:

Stanza 10"How didst thou know | that now our kin, Maiden wise, | we have well avenged? Many there are | of the sons of the mighty Who share alike | our lofty race."

spake:

Stanza 11"Not far was I | from the lord of the folk, Yester morn, | when the monarch was slain; Though crafty the son | of , methinks, When he speaks of the fight | in slaughter-.

was the name of a mighty king, who dwelt at 's hill. He had many sons; one was named , another , a third . was in a kings' meeting, and he won the promise of having , 's daughter, for his wife. But when she heard this, she rode with the over air and sea to seek . was then at , and had fought with 's sons; there he killed and Eyolf, and .

He was all weary with battle, and sat under the eagle-stone. There found him, and ran to throw her arms about his neck, and kissed him, and told him her tidings, as is set forth in the old lay:

Stanza 13 the joyful | chieftain sought, Forthwith 's | hand she took; She greeted the hero | helmed and kissed him, The warrior's heart | to the woman turned.

Stanza 14From her heart the daughter | of spake, Dear was , | she said, to her; "Long with all | my heart I loved 's son | ere ever I saw him.

Stanza 15"At the meeting to | mated I was, But another hero | I fain would have; Though, king, the wrath | of my kin I fear, Since I broke my father's | fairest wish."

spake:

Stanza 16"Fear not ever | 's anger, yet thy kinsmen's | cruel wrath; Maiden, thou | with me shalt live, Thy kindred, fair one, | I shall not fear." (IV)

then assembled a great sea-host and went to . On the sea he met a perilous storm; lightning flashed overhead and the bolts struck the ship. They saw in the air that nine were riding, and recognized among them. Then the storm abated, and they came safe and sound to land. 's sons sat on a certain mountain as the ships sailed toward the land. leaped on a horse and rode for news to a promontory near the harbor; the were even then lowering their sails.

Then said, as is written before in the lay:

"Who is the king | who captains the fleet, And to the land | the warriors leads?"

, 's son, answered him, and that too is written.

rode home with his tidings of the host; then 's sons summoned an army. Many kings came there; there were , 's father, and his sons and . There was a great battle, and all 's sons were slain and all their allies; only , 's son, was spared, and he swore loyalty to the . went among the dead and found at the coming of death. She said:

Stanza 17"Never shall | from , king, | be held in thine arms; 's sons | full cold have grown, And the giant-steeds gray | on corpses gorge."

Then she sought out , and was full of joy He said:

Stanza 18"Maid, not fair | is all thy fortune, The Norris I blame | that this should be; This morn there fell | at and | beneath my hand.

Stanza 19"At fell | the sons of , the king | at ; Fighters more noble | saw I never, The body fought | when the head had fallen.

Stanza 20"On the ground full low | the slain are lying, Most are there | of the men of thy race; Nought hast thou won, | for thy fate it was Brave men to bring | to the battle-field."

Then wept. | said:

Stanza 21"Grieve not, , | the battle is gained, The fighter can shun not his fate."

spake:

"To life would I call | them who slaughtered lie, If safe on thy breast I might be."

(V) This the son of spoke:

Stanza 22"What hero great | is guiding the ships? A golden flag | on the stem he flies; I find not peace in | the van of your faring, And round the fighters | is battle-light red."

spake:

Stanza 23"Here may | find, The hater of flight, | in the midst of the fleet; The home of all | thy race he has, And over the realm | of the fishes he rules."

spake:

Stanza 24"First shall swords | at Prove our worth | in place of words; Time is it, , | vengeance to have, If in battle worsted | once we were."

spake:

Stanza 25"Better, , | to tend the goats, And climb the rocks | of the mountain cliffs; A hazel switch | to hold in thy hand More seemly were | than the hilt of a sword."

spake:

Stanza 26"Better, , | thee 'twould beseem Battles to give, | and eagles to gladden, Than vain and empty | speech to utter, Though warriors oft | with words do strive.

took to wife, and they had sons. did not reach old age. , the son of , offered sacrifice to to be avenged for his father's death; gave his spear. found , his brother-in-law, at a place which is called . He thrust the spear through 's body. Then fell, and rode to and told the tidings:

spake:

Stanza 29"Now may every | oath thee bite That with | sworn thou hast, By the water | bright of , And the ice-cold | stone of .

Stanza 30"The ship shall sail not | in which thou sailest, Though a favoring wind | shall follow after; The horse shall run not | whereon thou ridest, Though fain thou art | thy foe to flee.

Stanza 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "The sword shall bite not | which thou bearest, Till thy head itself | it sings about.

Stanza 32"Vengeance were mine | for 's murder, Wert thou a wolf | in the woods without, Possessing nought | and knowing no joy, Having no food | save corpses to feed on."

spake:

Stanza 33"Mad art thou, sister, | and wild of mind, Such a curse | on thy brother to cast; is ruler | of every ill, Who sunders kin | with of spite.

Stanza 34"Thy brother rings | so red will give thee, All | and ; Take half my land | to pay the harm, Ring-decked maid, | and as meed for thy sons."

spake:

Stanza 36"Such the fear | that 's foes Ever felt, | and all their kin, As makes the goats | with terror mad Run from the wolf | among the rocks.

Stanza 37" rose | above heroes all Like the lofty ash | above lowly thorns, Or the noble stag, | with dew besprinkled, Bearing his head | above all beasts, (And his horns gleam bright | to heaven itself.) A hill was made in 's memory. And when he came to , then bade him rule over every thing with himself. (VII)

said:

Stanza 38"Thou shalt, , | of every hero Wash the feet, | and kindle the fire, Tie up dogs, | and tend the horses, And feed the swine | ere to sleep thou goest." (VIII)

One of 's maidens went one evening to 's hill, and saw that rode to the hill with many men, The maiden said:

Stanza 39"Is this a dream | that methinks I see, Or the doom of the gods, | that dead men ride, And hither spurring | urge your steeds, Or is home-coming now | to the heroes granted?"

spake:

Stanza 40"No dream is this | that thou thinkest to see, the end of the world, | though us thou beholdest, And hither spurring | we urge our steeds, is home-coming now | to the heroes granted." The maiden went home and said to :

went in the hill to , and said:

Stanza 42"Now am I glad | of our meeting together, As 's hawks, | so eager for prey, When slaughter and flesh | all warm they scent, Or dew-wet see | the red of day.

spake:

Stanza 46"Here a bed | I have made for thee, , To rest thee from care, | thou kin of the ; I will make thee sink | to sleep in my arms, As once I lay | with the living king."

spake:

Stanza 48"Now must I ride | the reddened ways, And my bay steed set | to tread the sky; Westward I go | to wind-helm's bridges, Ere wakes | the warrior throng." Then and his followers rode on their way, and the women went home to the dwelling. Another evening bade the maiden keep watch at the hill. And at sunset when came to the hill she said:

The Maiden said:

Stanza 50"Mad thou wouldst seem | alone to seek, Daughter of heroes, | the house of the dead; For mightier now | at night are all The ghosts of the dead | than when day is bright."

was early dead of sorrow and grief. It was believed in olden times that people were born again, but that is now called old wives' folly. Of and it is said that they were born again; he became , and she the daughter of , as is told in the Lay of , and she was a .

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