The complete text

Völundarkviða

Wayland the Smith

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 ↗

hét konungr í Svíþjóð. Hann átti tvá sonu ok eina dóttur. Hon hét . Bræðr váru þrír, synir Finnakonungs. Hét einn , annarr , þriði . Þeir skriðu ok veiddu dýr. Þeir kómu í Úlfdali ok gerðu sér þar hús. Þar er vatn, er heitir . Snemma of morgin fundu þeir á vatnsströndu konur þrjár, ok spunnu lín. Þar váru hjá þeim álftarhamir þeira. Þat váru valkyrjur.

Þar váru tvær dætr Hlöðvés konungs, svanhvít ok alvitr, in þriðja var Kjársdóttir af Vallandi. Þeir höfðu þær heim til skála með sér. Fekk Ölrúnar, en Svanhvítrar, en Alvitrar. Þau bjuggu sjau vetr. Þá flugu þær at vitja víga ok kómu eigi aftr. Þá skreið at leita Ölrúnar, en leitaði Svanhvítrar, en sat í Úlfdölum. Hann var hagastr maðr, svá at menn viti, í fornum sögum. konungr lét hann höndum taka, svá sem hér er um kveðit:

Stanza 1Meyjar flugu sunnan myrkvið í gögnum, Alvitr unga, örlög drýgja; þær á sævarströnd settusk at hvílask drósir suðrænar, dýrt lín spunnu.

Stanza 2Ein nam þeira at verja, fögr mær fira, faðmi ljósum; önnur var Svanhvít, svanfjaðrar dró, en in þriðja þeira systir varði hvítan hals Völundar.

Stanza 3Sátu síðan sjau vetr at þat, en inn átta allan þráðu, en inn níunda nauðr of skilði; meyjar fýstusk á myrkvan við, Alvitr unga, örlög drýgja.

Stanza 4Kom þar af veiði veðreygr skyti, [, líðandi um langan veg], ok , sali fundu auða, gengu út ok inn ok um sáusk; austur skreið at Ölrúnu, en suðr at Svanhvítu.

Stanza 5En einn sat í Ulfdölum, hann sló gull rautt við gim fastan, lukði hann alla lind baugum vel; svá beið hann sinnar ljóssar kvánar, ef hánum koma gerði.

Stanza 6Þat spyrr , Níára dróttinn, at einn sat í Ulfdölum; nóttum fóru seggir, neglðar váru brynjur, skildir bliku þeira við inn skarða mána.

Stanza 7Stigu ór söðlum at salar gafli, gengu inn þaðan endlangan sal; sáu þeir á bast bauga dregna, sjau hundruð allra, er sá seggr átti.

Stanza 8Og þeir af tóku ok þeir á létu, fyr einn útan, er þeir af létu. Kom þar af veiði veðreygr skyti, , líðandi um langan veg.

Stanza 9Gekk hann brúnni beru hold steikja, ár brann hrísi allþurr fura, viðr inn vindþurri, fyr Völundi.

Stanza 10Sat á berfjalli, bauga talði, alfa ljóði, eins saknaði; hugði hann, at hefði Hlöðvés dóttir, Alvitr unga, væri hon aftr komin.

Stanza 11Sat hann svá lengi, at hann sofnaði, ok hann vaknaði viljalauss; vissi sér á höndum höfgar nauðir, en á fótum fjötur of spenntan.

kvað:

Stanza 12"Hverir ro jöfrar, þeir er á lögðu besti bör síma ok mik bundu?"

Stanza 13Kallaði nú Níara dróttinn: "Hvar gaztu, , vísi alfa, vára aura í Ulfdölum?" Kvað:

Stanza 14"Gull var þar eigi á leiðu, fjarri hugða ek várt land fjöllum Rínar; man ek, at vér meiri mæti áttum, er vér heil hjú heima várum.

Stanza 15 ok borin var Hlöðvé kunn var Kíárs dóttir."

Stanza 16[Úti stóð kunnig kván Níðaðar], hon inn of gekk endlangan sal, stóð á golfi, stillti röddu: "Er-a sá nú hýrr, er ór holti ferr." konungr gaf dóttur sinni, Böðvildi gullhring þann, er hann tók af bastinu at Völundar, en hann sjálfr bar sverðit, er átti. En dróttning kvað:

Stanza 17"Ámun eru augu ormi þeim inum frána, tenn hánum teygjask, er hánum er tét sverð ok hann Böðvildar baug of þekkir; sníðið ér hann sina magni ok setið hann síðan í Sævarstöð."

Svá var gert, at skornar váru sinar í knésfótum, ok settr í hólm einn, er þar var fyrir landi, er hét . Þar smíðaði hann konungi alls kyns görsimar. Engi maðr þorði at fara til hans nema konungr einn.

Stanza 18"Skínn Níðaði sverð á linda, þat er ek hvessta, sem ek hagast kunna ok ek herðak, sem mér hægst þótti; sá er mér fránn mækir æ fjarri borinn, sékk-a ek þann Völundi til smiðju borinn.

Stanza 19Nú berr brúðar minnar - bíðk-a ek þess bót, - bauga rauða."

Stanza 20Sat hann, né hann svaf, ávallt ok hann sló hamri; vél gerði hann heldr hvatt Níðaði. Drifu ungir tveir á dýr séa synir Níðaðar, í Sævarstöð.

Stanza 21Kómu þeir til kistu, kröfðu lukla, opin var illúð er þeir í sáu; fjölð var þar menja, er þeim mögum sýndisk at væri gull rautt ok görsimar.

kvað:

Stanza 22"Komið einir tveir, komið annars dags; ykkr læt ek þat gull of gefit verða; segið-a meyjum né salþjóðum, manni engum, at it mik fyndið."

Stanza 23Snemma kallaði seggr annan, bróðir á bróður: "Göngum baug séa!" Kómu til kistu, kröfðu lukla, opin var illúð, er þeir í litu.

Stanza 24Sneið af höfuð húna þeira ok und fen fjöturs fætr of lagði; en þær skálar, er und skörum váru, sveip hann útan silfri, seldi Níðaði.

Stanza 25En ór augum jarknasteina sendi hann kunnigri konu Níðaðar, en ór tönnum tveggja þeira sló hann brjóstkringlur sendi Böðvildi.

Stanza 26Þá nam baugi at hrósa [bar hann Völundi], er brotit hafði: "Þorig-a ek at segja nema þér einum."

kvað:

Stanza 27"Ek bæti svá brest á gulli at feðr þínum fegri þykkir ok mæðr þinni miklu betri ok sjalfri þér at sama hófi."

Stanza 28Bar hann hana bjóri, því at hann betr kunni svá at hon í sessi of sofnaði. "Nú hef ek hefnt harma minna allra nema einna íviðgjarna."

Stanza 29"Vel ek," kvað , "verða ek á fitjum þeim er mik Níðaðar námu rekkar." Hlæjandi hófsk at lofti, grátandi gekk ór eyju, tregði för friðils ok föður reiði.

Stanza 30Úti stendr kunnig kván Níðaðar, ok hon inn of gekk endlangan sal, - en hann á salgarð settisk at hvílask -: "Vakir þú, Níara dróttinn?"

kvað:

Stanza 31"Vaki ek ávallt viljalauss, sofna ek minnst síz mína sonu dauða; kell mik í höfuð, köld eru mér ráð þín, vilnumk ek þess nú, at ek við dæma.

Stanza 32Seg þú mér þat, , vísi alfa, af heilum hvat varð húnum mínum."

kvað:

Stanza 33"Eiða skaltu mér áðr alla vinna, at skips borði ok at skjaldar rönd, at mars bægi ok at mækis egg, at þú kvelj-at kván Völundar né brúði minni at bana verðir, þótt vér kván eigim, þá er ér kunnið, eða jóð eigim innan hallar.

Stanza 34Gakk þú til smiðju, þeirar er þú gerðir, þar fiðr þú belgi blóði stokkna; sneið ek af höfuð húna þinna, ok und fen fjöturs fætr of lagðak.

Stanza 35En þær skálar, er und skörum váru, sveip ek útan silfri, selda ek Níðaði; en ór augum jarknasteina senda ek kunnigri kván Níðaðar.

Stanza 36En úr tönnum tveggja þeira sló ek brjóstkringlur, senda ek Böðvildi; nú gengr barni aukin, eingadóttir ykkur beggja."

kvað:

Stanza 37"Mæltir-a þú þat mál, er mik meir tregi, né ek þik vilja, , verr of níta; er-at svá maðr hár, at þik af hesti taki, né svá öflugr, at þik neðan skjóti, þar er þú skollir við ský uppi."

Stanza 38Hlæjandi hófsk at lofti, en ókátr sat þá eftir.

kvað:

Stanza 39"Upp rístu, Þakkráðr, þræll minn inn bezti, bið þú Böðvildi, meyna bráhvítu, ganga fagrvarið við föður ræða.

Stanza 40Er þat satt, , er sögðu mér: Sátuð it saman í holmi?"

kvað:

Stanza 41"Satt er þat, , er sagði þér: Sátum vit saman í holmi eina ögurstund, æva skyldi; ek vætr hánum vinna kunnak, ek vætr hánum vinna máttak."

English translation

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

There was a king in Sweden named . He had two sons and one daughter; her name was . There were three brothers, sons of a king of the Finns: one was called , another , the third . They went on snowshoes and hunted wild beasts. They came into and there they built themselves a house; there was a lake there which is called . Early one morning they found on the shore of the lake three women, who were spinning flax.

Near them were their swan garments, for they were . Two of them were daughters of King , the Swan-White and the All-Wise, and the third was , daughter of from . These did they bring home to their hall with them. took , and Swan-White, and All-Wise. There they dwelt seven winters; but then they flew away to find battles, and came back no more. Then set forth on his snowshoes to follow , and followed Swan White, but stayed in . He was a most skillful man, as men know from old tales. King had him taken by force, as the poem here tells.

Stanza 1Maids from the south | through flew, Fair and young, | their fate to follow; On the shore of the sea | to rest them they sat, The maids of the south, | and flax they spun.

Stanza 2. . . . . . . . . . and , | 's children, And the Wise | 's daughter was.

Stanza 3. . . . . . . . . . One in her arms | took then To her bosom white, | the woman fair.

Stanza 4Swan-White second,-- | swan-feathers she wore, . . . . . . . . . . And her arms the third | of the sisters threw Next round 's | neck so white.

Stanza 6 home | from his hunting came, From a weary way, | the weather-wise bowman, and | the hall found empty, Out and in went they, | everywhere seeking.

Stanza 7East fared | after , And south | to seek for Swan-White; alone | in lay, . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 8Red gold he fashioned | with fairest gems, And rings he strung | on ropes of bast; So for his wife | he waited long, If the fair one home | might come to him.

Stanza 9This learned, | the lord of the , That alone | in lay; By night went his men, | their mail-coats were studded, Their shields in the waning | moonlight shone.

Stanza 10From their saddles the gable | wall they sought, And in they went | at the end of the hall; Rings they saw there | on ropes of bast, Seven hundred | the hero had.

Stanza 11Off they took them, | but all they left Save one alone | which they bore away. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 13On the bearskin he rested, | and counted the rings, The master of elves, | but one he missed; That 's daughter | had it he thought, And the all-wise maid | had come once more.

Stanza 14So long he sat | that he fell asleep, His waking empty | of gladness was; Heavy chains | he saw on his hands, And fetters bound | his feet together.

spake:

spake:

Stanza 16"The gold was not | on 's way, Far, methinks, is our realm | from the hills of the ; I mind me that treasures | more we had When happy together | at home we were."

Stanza 17Without stood the wife | of wise, And in she came | from the end of the hall; On the floor she stood, | and softly spoke: "Not kind does he look | who comes from the wood." King gave to his daughter the gold ring that he had taken from the bast rope in 's

house, and he himself wore the sword that had had. The queen spake:

So was it done: the sinews in his knee-joints were cut, and he was set in an island which was near the mainland, and was called . There he smithied for the king all kinds of precious things. No man dared to go to him, save only the king himself. spake:

Stanza 20He sat, nor slept, | and smote with his hammer, Fast for | wonders he fashioned; Two boys did go | in his door to gaze, 's sons, | into .

Stanza 21They came to the chest, | and they craved the keys, The evil was open | when in they looked; To the boys it seemed | that gems they saw, Gold in plenty | and precious stones.

spake:

Stanza 22"Come ye alone, | the next day come, Gold to you both | shall then be given; Tell not the maids | or the men of the hall, To no one say | that me you have sought."

Stanza 23. . . . . . . . . . Early did brother | to brother call: "Swift let us go | the rings to see."

Stanza 24They came to the chest, | and they craved the keys, The evil was open | when in they looked; He smote off their heads, | and their feet he hid Under the sooty | straps of the bellows.

Stanza 25Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, he took, Set them in silver | and sent them to ; Gems full fair | from their eyes he fashioned, To 's wife | so wise he gave them.

Stanza 26And from the teeth | of the twain he wrought A brooch for the breast, | to he sent it; . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 27 then | of her ring did boast, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | "The ring I have broken, I dare not say it | save to thee."

spake:

Stanza 28'I shall weld the break | in the gold so well That fairer than ever | thy father shall find it, And better much | thy mother shall think it, And thou no worse | than ever it was."

Stanza 29Beer he brought, | he was better in cunning, Until in her seat | full soon she slept.

spake:

"Now vengeance I have | for all my hurts, Save one alone, | on the evil woman."

Stanza 30. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quoth : "Would | that well were the sinews Maimed in my feet | by 's men."

Stanza 31Laughing | rose aloft, Weeping | went from the isle, For her lover's flight | and her father's wrath.

Stanza 32Without stood the wife | of wise, And in she came | from the end of the hall; But he by the wall | in weariness sat: "Wakest thou, , | lord of the ?"

spake:

Stanza 33"Always I wake, | and ever joyless, Little I sleep | since my sons were slain; Cold is my head, | cold was thy counsel, One thing, with | to speak, I wish.

Stanza 34. . . . . . . . . . "Answer me, , | greatest of elves, What happed with my boys | that hale once were?"

spake:

Stanza 36"Seek the smithy | that thou didst set, Thou shalt find the bellows | sprinkled with blood; I smote off the heads | of both thy sons, And their feet 'neath the sooty | straps I hid.

Stanza 37"Their skulls, once hid | by their hair, I took, Set them in silver | and sent them to ; Gems full fair | from their eyes I fashioned, To 's wife | so wise I gave them.

Stanza 38"And from the teeth | of the twain I wrought A brooch for the breast, | to I gave it; Now big with child | does go, The only daughter | ye two had ever."

spake:

Stanza 39"Never spakest thou word | that worse could hurt me, that made me, , | more bitter for vengeance; There is no man so high | from thy horse to take thee, Or so doughty an archer | as down to shoot thee, While high in the clouds | thy course thou takest."

Stanza 40Laughing | rose aloft, But left in sadness | sat. . . . . . . . . . .

Stanza 41Then spake , | lord of the : "Rise up, , | best of my thralls, Bid come, | the bright-browed maid, Bedecked so fair, | with her father to speak."

Stanza 42. . . . . . . . . . "Is it true, , | that which was told me; Once in the isle | with wert thou?"

spake:

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