The complete text
Reginsmál
The Cursed Gold and the Forging of Gram
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 ↗
gekk til stóðs Hjálpreks ok kaus sér af hest einn, er var kallaðr síðan.
Þá var kominn til Hjálpreks, sonr Hreiðmars. Hann var hverjum manni hagari ok dvergr of vöxt. Hann var vitr, grimmr ok fjölkunnigr. veitti fóstr ok kennslu ok elskaði hann mjök. Hann sagði frá forellri sínu ok þeim atburðum, at ok Hænir ok höfðu komit til Andvarafors. Í þeim forsi var fjölði fiska. Einn dvergr hét . Hann var löngum í forsinum í geddu líki ok fekk sér þar matar.
" hét bróðir várr," kvað , "er oft fór í forsinn í otrs líki. Hann hafði tekit einn lax ok sat á árbakkanum ok át blundandi. laust hann með steini til bana. Þóttust æsir mjök heppnir verit hafa ok flógu belg af otrinum. Þat sama kveld sóttu þeir gisting til Hreiðmars ok sýndu veiði sína. Þá tókum vér þá höndum ok lögðum þeim fjörlausn at fylla otrbelginn með gulli ok hylja útan með rauðu gulli. Þá sendu þeir at afla gullsins.
Hann kom til ok fekk net hennar ok fór þá til Andvarafors ok kastaði netinu fyrir gedduna, en hon hljóp í netit. Þá mælti :
Stanza 1"Hvat er þat fiska, er renn flóði í, kann-at sér við víti varask? Höfuð þitt leystu helju ór, finn mér lindar loga."
Geddan kvað:
Stanza 2" ek heiti, Óinn hét minn faðir, margan hef ek fors of farit; aumlig skóp oss í árdaga, at ek skylda í vatni vaða."
kvað:
Stanza 3"Segðu þat, , ef þú eiga vill líf í lýða sölum, hver gjöld fáa gumna synir, ef þeir höggvask orðum á?"
kvað:
Stanza 4"Ofrgjöld fáa gumna synir, þeir er Vaðgelmi vaða; ósaðra orða, hverr er á annan lýgr, oflengi leiða limar."
sá allt gull þat, er átti. En er hann hafði framreitt gullit, þá hafði hann eftir einn hring, ok tók þann af hánum. Dvergrinn gekk inn í steininn ok mælti:
Stanza 5"Þat skal gull, er Gustr átti, bræðrum tveim at bana verða ok öðlingum átta at rógi; mun míns féar manngi njóta."
reiddu Hreiðmari féit ok tráðu upp otrbelginn ok reistu á fætr. Þá skyldu æsirnir hlaða upp gullinu ok hylja. En er þat var gört, gekk fram ok sá eitt granahár ok bað hylja. Þá dró fram hringinn ok hulði hárit. kvað:
Stanza 6"Gull er þér nú reitt, en þú gjöld hefir mikil míns höfuðs; syni þínum verðr-a sæla sköpuð; þat verðr ykkarr beggja bani."
sagði:
Stanza 7"Gjafar þú gaft, gaft-at-tu ástgjafar, gaft-at-tu af heilum hug; fjörvi yðru skylduð ér firrðir vera, ef ek vissa ek þat fár fyrir."
kvað:
Stanza 8"Enn er verra - þat vita þykkjumk - niðja stríð of neppt; jöfra óborna hygg ek þá enn vera er þat er til hatrs hugat."
kvað:
Stanza 9"Rauðu gulli hygg ek mik ráða munu, svá lengi sem ek lifi; hót þín hræðumk ekki lyf, of haldið heim heðan."
ok kröfðu niðgjalda eftir bróður sinn. Hann kvað nei við. En lagði sverði Hreiðmar, föður sinn, sofanda. kallaði á dætr sínar:
Stanza 10" ok , vitið mínu lífi farit, mart er þat, er þörf þéar."
sagði:
"Fá mun systir, þótt föður missi, hefna hlýra harms."
kvað:
Stanza 11"Al þú þó dóttur, ulfhuguð, ef þú getr-at son við siklingi; fá mey mann í meginþarfar; þá mun þeirar sonr þíns harms reka."
Þá dó , en tók gullit allt. Þá beiddist at hafa föðurarf sinn, en galt þar nei við. Þá leitaði ráða við Lyngheiði, systur sína, hvernig hann skyldi heimta föðurarf sinn. Hon kvað:
Stanza 12"Bróður kveðja skaltu blíðliga arfs ok æðra hugar; er-a þat hæft, at þú hjörvi skylir kveðju féar."
Þessa hluti sagði . Einn dag, er hann kom til húsa , var hánum vel fagnat. kvað:
Stanza 13"Kominn er hingat konr , seggr inn snarráði, til sala várra, móð hefir meira en maðr gamall, ok er mér fangs ván at frekum ulfi.
Stanza 14Ek mun fæða folkdjarfan gram; nú er Yngva konr með oss kominn; sjá mun ræsir ríkstr und sólu; þrymr um öll lönd örlögsímu."
var þá jafnan með , ok sagði hann , at lá á ok var í orms líki. Hann átti ægishjalm, er öll kvikendi hræddust við. gerði sverð, er hét. Þat var svá hvasst, at hann brá því ofan í ok lét reka ullarlagð fyrir straumi ok tók í sundr lagðinn sem vatnit. Því sverði klauf í sundr steðja . Eftir þat eggjaði at vega . Hann sagði:
Stanza 15"Hátt munu hlæja synir, þeir er aldrs synjuðu, ef meir tyggja munar at sækja hringa rauða en hefnd föður." konungr fekk skipalið til föðurhefnda. Þeir fengu storm mikinn ok beittu fyrir bergsnös nökkura. Maðr einn stóð á berginu ok kvað:
Stanza 16"Hverir ríða þar Ræfils hestum hávar unnir, haf glymjanda? Seglvigg eru sveita stokkin, mun-at vágmarar vind of standask." svaraði:
Stanza 17"Hér ro vér á sætréum; er oss byrr gefinn við bana sjalfan; fellr brattr breki bröndum hæri, hlunnvigg hrapa. Hverr spyrr at því?"
Maðr kvað:
Stanza 18" hétu mik, þá er hugin gladdak Völsungr ungi, ok vegit hafðak; nú máttu kalla karl af bergi Fengi eða Fjölni; far vil ek þiggja."
Þeir viku at landi, ok gekk karl á skip, ok lægði þá veðrit. kvað:
Stanza 19"Segðu mér þat, , alls þá hvárttveggja veizt goða heill ok guma: hver bözt eru, ef berjask skal, heill at sverða svipun."
kvað:
Stanza 20"Mörg eru góð, ef gumar vissi, heill at sverða svipun; dyggva fylgju hygg ek ins dökkva vera hrottameiði hrafns.
Stanza 21Þat er annat, ef þú ert út of kominn ok ert á braut búinn, tvá þú lítr á tái standa hróðrfúsa hali.
Stanza 22Þat er it þriðja, ef þú þjóta heyrir ulf und asklimum; heilla auðit verðr þér af hjalmstöfum, ef þú sér þá fyrri fara.
Stanza 23Engr skal gumna í gögn vega síð skínandi systur Mána; þeir sigr hafa, er séa kunnu, hjörleiks hvatir, eða hamalt fylkja.
Stanza 24Þat er fár mikit, ef þú fæti drepr, þars þú at vígi veðr; tálar standa þér á tvær hliðar ok vilja þik sáran sjá.
Stanza 25Kembður ok þveginn skal kænna hverr ok at morgni mettr, því at ósýnt er, hvar at aftni kemr; illt er fyr heill at hrapa." átti orrostu mikla við Lyngva Hundingsson ok bræðr hans. Þar fell ok þeir þrír bræðr. Eftir orrostu kvað :
Stanza 26"Nú er blóðugr örn bitrum hjörvi bana á baki ristinn; engr var fremri, sá er fold ryði, hilmis arfi, ok hugin gladdi." Heim fór til Hjálpreks. Þá eggjaði til at vega .
English translation
Henry Adams Bellows · First published 1923 · Source & commentary ↗
went to 's stud and chose for himself a horse, who thereafter was called . At that time , the son of , was come to 's home; he was more ingenious than all other men, and a dwarf in stature; he was wise, fierce and skilled in magic. undertook 's bringing up and teaching, and loved him much. He told of his forefathers, and also of this: that once and and had come to 's waterfall, and in the fall were many fish.
was a dwarf, who had dwelt long in the waterfall in the shape of a pike, and there he got his food. " was the name of a brother of ours," said. , "who often went into the fall in the shape of an otter; he had caught a salmon, and sat on the high bank eating it with his eyes shut. threw a stone at him and killed him; the gods thought they bad had great good luck, and stripped the skin off the otter. That same evening they sought a night's lodging at 's house, and showed their booty. Then we seized them, and told them, as ransom for their lives, to fill the otter skin with gold, and completely cover it outside as well with red gold. Then they sent to get the gold; he went to and got her net, and went then to 's fall and cast the net in front of the pike, and the pike leaped into the net." Then said:
Stanza 1"What is the fish | that runs in the flood, And itself from ill cannot save? If thy head thou wouldst | from hell redeem, Find me the water's flame."
spake:
Stanza 2" am I, | and Oin my father, In many a fall have I fared; An evil | in olden days Doomed me In waters to dwell."
spake:
Stanza 3", say, | if thou seekest still To live in the land of men, What payment is set | for the sons of men Who war with lying words?"
spake:
Stanza 4"A mighty payment | the men must make Who in Valthgelmir's waters wade; On a long road lead | the lying words That one to another utters." saw all the gold that had. But when
he had brought forth all the gold, he held back one ring, and took this from him. The dwarf went into his rocky hole and said:
Stanza 5"Now shall the gold | that once had Bring their death | to brothers twain, And evil be | for heroes eight; joy of my wealth | shall no man win."
The gods gave the gold, and filled up the otter-skin, and stood it on its feet. Then the gods had to heap up gold and hide it. And when that was done, came forward and saw a single whisker, and bade them cover it. Then brought out the ring and covered the hair. Then said:
Stanza 6"The gold is given, | and great the price Thou hast my head to save; But fortune thy sons | shall find not there, The bane of ye both it is."
spake:
Stanza 7"Gifts ye gave, | but ye gave not kindly, Gave not with hearts that were whole; Your lives ere this | should ye all have lost, If sooner this fate I had seen."
spake:
Stanza 8"Worse is this | that methinks I see, For a maid shall kinsmen clash; Heroes unborn | thereby shall be, I deem, to hatred doomed."
spake:
Stanza 9"The gold so red | shall I rule, methinks, So long as I shall live; Nought of fear | for thy threats I feel, So get ye hence to your homes."
and asked for a share of the wealth that was paid for the slaying of their brother, . This he refused, and thrust his sword through the body of his father, , while he was sleeping. called to his daughters:
Stanza 10" and , | fled is my life, And mighty now is my need!"
spake:
"Though a sister loses | her father, seldom Revenge on her brother she brings."
spake:
Stanza 11"A daughter, woman | with wolf's heart, bear, If thou hast no son | with the hero brave; If one weds the maid, | for the need is mighty, Their son for thy hurt | may vengeance seek."
Then died, and took all the gold. Thereupon asked to have his inheritance from his father, but refused this. Then asked counsel
of , his sister, how he should win his inheritance. She said:
Stanza 12"In friendly wise | the wealth shalt thou ask Of thy brother, and better will; Not seemly is it | to seek with the sword 's treasure to take." All these happenings did tell to .
One day, when he came to 's house, he was gladly welcomed. said:
Stanza 13"Hither the son | of is come, The hero eager, | here to our hall; His courage is more | than an ancient man's, And battle I hope | from the hardy wolf.
Stanza 14"Here shall I foster | the fearless prince, Now 's heir | to us is come; The noblest hero | beneath the sun, The threads of his fate | all lands enfold."
was there continually with , who said to that lay at , and was in the shape of a dragon. He had a fear-helm, of which all living creatures were terrified. made the sword which was called ; it was so sharp that when he thrust it down into the , and let a strand of wool drift against it with the stream, it cleft the strand asunder as if it were water. With this sword cleft asunder 's anvil.
After that egged on to slay , but he said:
Stanza 15"Loud will the sons | of laugh, Who low did | lay in death, If the hero sooner | seeks the red Rings to find | than his father's vengeance." King gave a fleet for the avenging
of his father. They ran into a great storm, and were off a certain headland. A man stood on the mountain, and said:
Stanza 16"Who yonder rides | on 's steeds, O'er towering waves | and waters wild? The sail-horses all | with sweat are dripping, can the sea-steeds | the gale withstand." answered:
Stanza 17"On the sea-trees here | are and I, The storm wind drives us | on to our death; The waves crash down | on the forward deck, And the roller-steeds sink; | who seeks our names?"
The Man spake:
Stanza 18" I was | when once Gladdened the ravens | and battle gave; Call me the Man | from the Mountain now, or ; | with you will I fare."
They sailed to the land, and the man went on board the ship, and the storm subsided. spake:
Stanza 19", say, | for thou seest the fate That to gods and men is given; What sign is fairest | for him who fights, And best for the swinging of swords?"
spake:
Stanza 20"Many the signs, | if men but knew, That are good for the swinging of swords; It is well, methinks, | if the warrior meets A raven black on his road.
Stanza 21"Another it is | if out thou art come, And art ready forth to fare, To behold on the path | before thy house Two fighters greedy of fame.
Stanza 22"Third it is well | if a howling wolf Thou hearest under the ash; And fortune comes | if thy foe thou seest Ere thee the hero beholds.
Stanza 23"A man shall fight not | when he must face The moon's bright sister setting late; Win he shall | who well can see, And wedge-like forms | his men for the fray.
Stanza 24"Foul is the sign | if thy foot shall stumble As thou goest forth to fight; Goddesses baneful | at both thy sides Will that wounds thou shalt get.
Stanza 25"Combed and washed | shall the wise man go, And a meal at mom shall take; For unknown it is | where at eve he may be; It is ill thy luck to lose." had a great battle with , the son of
, and his brothers; there fell, and his two brothers with him. After the battle said:
Stanza 26"Now the bloody eagle | with biting sword Is carved on the back | of 's killer; Few were more fierce | in fight than his son, Who reddened the earth | and gladdened the ravens." went home to 's house; thereupon egged him on to fight with .