Helgakviða Hjǫrvarðssonar (with Hrímgerðarmál)

Frá Hjörvarði ok Sigrlinn.

Hjörvarðr hét konungr. Hann átti fjórar konur. Ein hét Álfhildr. Son þeira hét Heðinn. Önnur hét Særeiðr. Þeira son hét Humlungr. In þriðja hét Sinrjóð. Þeira son hét Hymlingr.

   Hjörvarðr konungr hafði þess heit strengt at eiga þá konu, er hann vissi vænsta. Hann spurði, at Sváfnir konungr átti dóttur allra fegrsta. Sú hét Sigrlinn. Iðmundr hét jarl hans. Atli var hans son, er fór at biðja Sigrlinnar til handa konungi. Hann dvalðist vetrlangt með Sváfni konungi. Fránmarr hét þar jarl, fóstri Sigrlinnar. Dóttir hans hét Álof. Jarlinn réð, at meyjar var synjat, ok fór Atli heim.

   Atli jarls son stóð einn dag við lund nökkurn, en fugl sat í limunum uppi yfir hánum ok hafði heyrt til, at hans menn kölluðu vænstar konur þær, er Hjörvarðr átti. Fuglinn kvakaði, en Atli hlýddi, hvat hann sagði. Hann kvað:

About Hjǫrvarðr and Sigrlinn

There was a king called Hjǫrvarðr. He had four wives. One was called Álfhildr. Their son was called Heðinn. The second was called Særeiðr. Their son was called Humlungr. The third was called Sinrjóð. Their son was called Hymlingr.

King Hjǫrvarðr had sworn this oath, to marry the woman who he knew to be the most lovely. He heard that King Sváfnir had the most beautiful daughter of all. She was called Sigrlinn. A jarl of his was called Iðmundr. Atli was his son, who travelled to ask for Sigrlinn on behalf of the king. He stayed with King Sváfnir over the winter. There was a jarl there called Fránmarr, Sigrlinn's foster-father. His daughter was called Álof. The jarl advised that it was denied by the maiden, and Atli journeyed home.

Atli the jarl's son was standing in a certain grove one day, and a bird was sitting in the branches up above him and had heard when his men called the wives that Hjǫrvarðr had the most lovely. The bird sang, and Atli listened to what it said. It said:

1. 1.

"Sáttu Sigrlinn "Did you see Sigrlinn,

Sváfnis dóttur, Sváfnir's daughter,

mey ina fegrstu the most beautiful maid

í munarheimi? in the world of wishes?

Þó hagligar Even though fine

Hjörvarðs konur Hjǫrvarð's wives

gumnum þykkja seem to men

at Glasislundi." at Glasislund."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

2. 2.

"Mundu við Atla "Will you with Atli

Iðmundar son, Iðmund's son,

fugl fróðhugaðr, knowledgeable-minded bird,

fleira mæla?" speak further?"

Fuglinn kvað: The bird said:

"Mun ek, ef mik buðlungr "I will, if to me the king(1)

blóta vildi will blót

ok kýs ek þats vil and I [can] choose what I want

ór konungs garði." out of the king's garth."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

3. 3.

"Kjós-at-tu Hjörvarð "Do not choose Hjǫrvarðr

né hans sonu or his sons,

né inar fögru or the beautiful

fylkis brúðir, wives of the [shire-]ruler,

eigi brúðir þær, not the wives

er buðlungr á; the king has;

kaupum vel saman, let us bargain well together,

þat er vina kynni." that is the way of friends."

Fuglinn kvað: The bird said:

4. 4.

"Hof mun ek kjósa, "I will choose hofs,

hörga marga, many hǫrgs,(2)

gullhyrnðar kýr gold-horned cattle

frá grams búi, from the king's estate,

ef hánum Sigrlinn Sigrlinn in his

sefr á armi arms sleeps

ok ónauðig and willingly

jöfri fylgir." follows the king."

Þetta var, áðr Atli færi, en er hann kom heim ok konungr spurði hann tíðenda, hann kvað:

That was before Atli left, and when he came home and the king asked him for news, he said:

5. 5.

"Höfum erfiði "We had trouble

ok ekki örindi, and not success,

mara þraut óra our horses failed us

á meginfjalli, on the great fells,

urðum síðan later we were forced

Sæmorn vaða, to wade Sæmorn,

þá var oss synjat then was denied to us

Sváfnis dóttur, Sváfnir's daughter,

hringum gæddrar, endowed with rings,

er vér hafa vildum." whom we wanted to have."

Konungr bað, at þeir skyldu fara annat sinn. Fór hann sjálfr. En er þeir kómu upp á fjall, ok sá á Sváfaland landsbruna ok jóreyki stóra. Reið konungr af fjallinu fram í landit ok tók náttból við á eina. Atli helt vörð ok fór yfir ána. Hann fann eitt hús. Fugl mikill sat á húsinu ok gætti, ok var sofnaðr. Atli skaut spjóti fuglinn til bana, en í húsinu fann hann Sigrlinn konungs dóttur ok Álofu jarls dóttur ok hafði þær báðar braut með sér. Fránmarr jarl hafði hamazt í arnar líki ok varit þær fyrir hernum með fjölkynngi. Hróðmarr hét konungr, biðill Sigrlinnar. Hann drap Sváfakonung ok hafði rænt ok brent landit. Hjörvarðr konungr fekk Sigrlinnar, en Atli Álofar.

   Hjörvarðr ok Sigrlinn áttu son mikinn ok vænan. Hann var þögull. Ekki nafn festist við hann. Hann sat á haugi. Hann sá ríða valkyrjur níu ok var ein göfugligust. Hon kvað:

The king commanded that they make the journey a second time. He went himself. But when they came up on the fell, [and] they saw in Sváfaland the land burning and a big cloud of dust from horsemen. The king rode down from the mountain into the land and took up quarters for the night near a river. Atli kept watch and crossed the river. He found a house. A large bird was perched on the house and watching over it, and had fallen asleep. Atli speared the bird to death, and in the house he found Sigrlinn the king's daughter and Álof the jarl's daughter, and he carried off both with him. Jarl Fránmarr had shapeshifted to an eagle's form and guarded them from the army using magic. There was a king called Hróðmarr, a suitor of Sigrlinn. He killed the Sváfa king and had plundered and burnt his country. King Hjǫrvarðr married Sigrlinn, and Atli, Álof.

Hjǫrvarðr and Sigrlinn had a big, promising-looking son. He was silent. No name stuck to him. He was sitting on a barrow. He saw nine valkyries riding, and one was the most magnificent. She said:

6.

"Síð muntu, Helgi, "Late, Helgi, you will

hringum ráða, rule rings,

ríkr rógapaldr, a mighty war-appletree(3),

né Röðulsvöllum, or Rǫðullsvellir(4)

- örn gól árla, - - the eagle shrieked early(5) -

ef þú æ þegir, if you always keep silent,

þótt þú harðan hug, even though you hard thoughts

hilmir, gjaldir." offer, ruler."

Helgi kvað: Helgi said:

7. 7.

"Hvat lætr þú fylgja "With what will you accompany

Helga nafni, the name Helgi,(6)

brúðr bjartlituð, bright-faced maid,

alls þú bjóða ræðr? since you decide to advise?

Hygg þú fyr öllum Think well on all

atkvæðum vel. decisions.

Þigg ek eigi þat, I do not accept it,

nema ek þik hafa." unless I have you [also]."

Valkyrja kvað: The valkyrie said:

8. 8.

"Sverð veit ek liggja I know swords lie

í Sigarsholmi in Sigarsholm,

fjórum færi(7) four fewer

en fimm tögu; than fifty;

eitt er þeira one of them is

öllum betra better than all,

vígnesta böl bale of war-nest(8)

ok varit gulli. and wrapped with gold.

9. 9.

Hringr er í hjalti, There is a ring in the hilt,

hugr er í miðju, there is courage in the middle,

ógn er í oddi there is terror in the point

þeim er eiga getr; for him who gets to own [it];

liggr með eggju there lies at the edge

ormr dreyrfáiðr, a blood-coloured dragon,

en á valböstu and on the sword-knot(9)

verpr naðr hala." a snake throws its tail."

Eylimi hét konungr. Dóttir hans var Sváfa. Hon var valkyrja ok reið loft ok lög. Hon gaf Helga nafn þetta ok hlífði hánum oft síðan í orrostum. Helgi kvað:

There was a king called Eylimi. His daughter was Sváfa. She was a valkyrie and rode through air and over sea. She gave Helgi that name and afterwards often shielded him in battles. Helgi said:

10. 10.

"Ert-at-tu, Hjörvarðr "Hjǫrvarðr, you are not

heilráðr konungr, a king of good counsel,

folks oddviti, leader of the people,

þótt þú frægr séir; although you be famous;

léztu eld eta you let fire consume

jöfra byggðir, the buildings of kings

en þeir angr við þik and they to you grief

ekki gerðu. have not done.

11. 11.

En Hróðmarr skal But Hróðmarr shall

hringum ráða, rule rings,

þeim er áttu those that were owned

órir niðjar; by our kinsmen;

sá sésk fylkir so the king fears

fæst at lífi, least(10) for his life,

hyggsk aldauða he thinks that of [a family] died out

arfi at ráða." he rules the inheritance."(11)

Hjörvarðr svarar, at hann mundi fá lið Helga, ef hann vill hefna móðurföður síns. Þá sótti Helgi sverðit, er Sváfa vísaði hánum til. Þá fór hann ok Atli ok felldu Hróðmar ok unnu mörg þrekvirki. Hann drap Hata jötun, er hann sat á bergi nökkuru. Helgi ok Atli lágu skipum í Hatafirði. Atli helt vörð inn fyrra hluta nætrinnar. Hrímgerðr Hatadóttir kvað:

Hjǫrvarðr answered that he would give Helgi troops if he wanted to avenge his mother's father. Then Helgi went in search of the sword that Sváfa had pointed out to him. Then he and Atli went and slew Hróðmarr and achieved many heroic deeds. He killed the jǫtunn Hati when he was sitting on a certain mountain. Helgi and Atli moored their ships in Hatafjord. Atli kept watch the first part of the night. Hrímgerðr, Hati's daughter, said:

[Hrímgerðarmál]

12. 12.

"Hverir ro hölðar "Who are the warriors(12)

í Hatafirði? in Hatafjord?

Skjöldum er tjaldat á skipum; On the ships it is tented with shields;

fræknliga látið, boldly you sail,

fátt hygg ek yðr séask, little, I think, you fear,

kennið mér nafn konungs." tell me the name of [your] king."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

13. 13.

"Helgi hann heitir, Helgi he is called,

en þú hvergi mátt but you cannot achieve

vinna grand grami; any harm to the chieftain;

járnborgir ro there are iron fortresses

of öðlings flota; around the prince's fleet;(13)

knegu-t oss fálur fara." giantesses cannot take us."

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

14. 14.

"Hvé þik heitir, "What do they call you,

halr inn ámáttki, savage man,

hvé þik kalla konir? how do gentlemen refer to you?

Fylkir þér trúir, Your prince trusts you,

er þik í fögrum lætr since he lets you

beits stafni búa." stay in the bow of [his] beautiful ship."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

15. 15.

"Atli ek heiti, "My name is Atli,

atall skal ek þér vera, fierce(14) I will be to you,

mjök em ek gífrum gramastr; I am by far the harshest to ogresses;

úrgan stafn in a wet bow

ek hefi oft búit I have often spent time

ok kvalðar kveldriður. and slain night-riders.

16. 16.

Hvé þú heitir, What is your name,

hála nágráðug? corpse-greedy hag?

Nefndu þinn, fála, föður; Name your father, giantess;

níu röstum by nine leagues(15)

er þú skyldi neðar vera [it is] you should be under

ok vaxi þér á baðmi barr." and foliage grow from your bosom."

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

17. 17.

"Hrímgerðr ek heiti, "My name is Hrímgerðr,

Hati hét minn faðir, my father's name is Hati,

þann vissa ek ámáttkastan jötun; him I know [to have been] the most

savage jǫtunn,

margar brúðir many brides

hann lét frá búi teknar, he had taken from their homes,

unz hann Helgi hjó." until Helgi cut him down."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

18. 18.

"Þú vart, hála, "You, hag, were

fyr hildings skipum [in the water] in front of the king's ships

ok látt í fjarðar mynni fyrir; and lay in the fjord at its mouth;

ræsis rekka the chief's crews

er þú vildir Rán gefa, it is you wanted to give to Rán,

ef þér kæmi-t í þverst þvari." if a bolt had not come athwart you."(16)

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

19. 19.

"Duliðr ertu nú, Atli, "Now you're deluded, Atli,

draums kveð ek þér vera, I declare you are in a dream,

síga lætr þú brýnn fyr bráar; you are letting your eyebrows sink over

your eyelids;

móðir mín my mother

lá fyrir mildings skipum; lay in front of the prince's ships;

ek drekkða Hlövarðs sonum í hafi. I drowned Hlǫvarð's sons in the sea.

20. 20.

Gneggja myndir þú, Atli, You would neigh, Atli,

ef þú geldr né værir, if you were not gelded,

brettir sinn Hrímgerðr hala; Hrímgerðr tosses her tail;

aftarla hjarta, a far behind(17) heart

hygg ek, at þitt, Atli, sé, I think yours is, Atli,

þótt hafir reina rödd." though you have a stallion's voice."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

21. 21.

"Reini mun þér ek þykkja "A stallion I will seem to you

ef þú reyna knátt, if you can test [me],

ok stíga ek á land af legi, and [if] I step from water to land,

öll muntu lemjask, you will be all beaten up

ef mér er alhugat, if I am serious about it,

ok sveigja þinn, Hrímgerðr, hala." your tail, Hrímgerðr, [will] sink."

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

22. 22.

"Atli, gakk þú á land, "Atli, come on land

ef afli treystisk, if you trust your mettle,

ok hittumk í vík Varins; and let us meet in Varinn's bay;

rifja rétti a rib-stretching

er þú munt, rekkr, fáa, it is you will get, guy(18),

ef þú mér í krummur kemr." if you come into my clutches(19)."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

23. 23.

"Munk-a ek ganga, "I won't go,(20)

áðr gumnar vakna before the men wake up

ok halda of vísa vörð; and keep watch over the chief;

er-a mér örvænt, it's not beyond my imagination

nær óru kemr that there should come

skass upp undir skipi." up a monster under our ship."

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

24. 24.

"Vaki þú, Helgi, "Wake up, Helgi,

ok bæt við Hrímgerði, and pay wergild to Hrímgerðr,

er þú lézt höggvinn Hata; for having Hati cut down;

eina nótt [if] for one night

kná hon hjá jöfri sofa, she can sleep with the king,

þá hefr hon bölva bætr." then she [will] have wergild for the

harms."

Helgi kvað: Helgi said:

25. 25.

"Loðinn heitir, er þik skal eiga, Loðinn(21) is his name who will marry

you,

leið ertu mannkyni, you are loathsome to mankind,

sá býr í Þolleyju þurs, that þurs(22) that lives on Þolley,

hundvíss jötunn, a hugely wise(23) jǫtunn,

hraunbúa verstr, worst of the wasteland dwellers,

sá er þér makligr maðr." that is a man suited to you."

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

26. 26.

"Hina vildu heldr, Helgi, "You would rather have her, Helgi,

er réð hafnir skoða who planned to watch the harbour

fyrri nótt með firum; over night with the men;

marggullin mær the much-golden maid

mér þótti afli bera; seemed to me to have strength;

hér sté hon land af legi here she stepped on land from the sea

ok festi svá yðvarn flota; and so made fast your fleet;

hon ein því veldr, her rule alone makes it so(24)

er ek eigi mák that I cannot [be]

buðlungs mönnum bana." the death of the king's men."

Helgi kvað: Helgi said:

27. 27.

"Heyr nú, Hrímgerðr, "Hear now, Hrímgerðr,

ef ek bæti harma þér, if I give wergild for your hurts,

segðu görr grami: tell the king the fact:

Var sú ein vættr, Was it one wight(25)

er barg öðlings skipum, who protected the prince's ships,

eða fóru þær fleiri saman?" or did many travel together there?"

Hrímgerðr kvað: Hrímgerðr said:

28. 28.

"Þrennar níundir meyja, "Three nines of maidens;

þó reið ein fyrir however one rode ahead,

hvít und hjalmi mær; white maid under helmet;

marir hristusk, the steeds shook themselves,

stóð af mönum þeira [and] from their manes fell

dögg í djúpa dali, dew into deep dales,

hagl í háva viðu; hail into high woods;

þaðan kemr með öldum ár, from this to humans comes good harvest;

allt var mér þat leitt, er ek leitk." everything I saw was loathsome to me."

Helgi kvað: Helgi said:

29. 29.

"Austr líttu nú, Hrímgerðr, "See now to the east, Hrímgerðr,

ef þik lostna hefr whether Helgi has struck you

Helgi helstöfum; with the staff of Hel;(26)

á landi ok á vatni on land and on water

borgit er lofðungs flota the prince's fleet is saved

ok siklings mönnum it sama." and the king's men the same."

Atli kvað: Atli said:

30. 30.

"Dagr er nú, Hrímgerðr, "It is now day, Hrímgerðr,

en þik dvalða hefr and Atli has delayed you

Atli til aldrlaga; fatally;(27)

hafnarmark a harbour marker

þykkir hlægligt vera, laughable it seems [to me] to be,

þars þú í steins líki stendr." where you stand in the form of a

stone."

Helgi konungr var allmikill hermaðr. Hann kom til Eylima konungs ok bað Sváfu dóttur hans. Þau Helgi ok Sváfa veittust várar ok unnust furðu mikit. Sváfa var heima með feðr sínum, en Helgi í hernaði. Var Sváfa valkyrja enn sem fyrr.
  Heðinn var heima með föður sínum, Hjörvarði konungi, í Nóregi.
   Heðinn fór einn saman heim ór skógi jólaaftan ok fann trollkonu. Sú reið vargi ok hafði orma at taumum ok bauð fylgð sína Heðni.
   "Nei," sagði hann.
   Hon sagði: "Þess skaltu gjalda at bragarfulli."
   Um kveldit óru heitstrengingar. Var fram leiddr sónargöltr. Lögðu menn þar á hendr sínar ok strengðu menn þá heit at bragarfulli. Heðinn strengði heit til Sváfu Eylimadóttur, unnustu Helga, bróður síns, ok iðraðisk svá mjök, at hann gekk á braut villistígu suðr á lönd ok fann Helga bróður sinn. Helgi kvað:

King Helgi was a very great warrior. He came to King Eylimi and asked for his daughter Sváfa. Helgi and Sváfa [had] plighted their troth to each other and loved each other wondrously much. Sváfa was at home with her father, but Helgi was waging war. Sváfa was still a valkyrie, as before.

Heðinn was at home with his father, King Hjǫrvarðr, in Norway.

On Yule Eve, Heðinn was coming home from the forest alone and found a troll-woman. She was riding a wolf and had snakes as reins and offered Heðinn her company.

"No", he said.

She said, "You will pay for this at the bragarfull."

The swearing of oaths took place in the evening. The sónargǫltr was led out. People laid their hands on it and then people swore oaths at the bragarfull.(28) Heðinn swore an oath to [possess] Sváfa daughter of Eylimi, the beloved of Helgi, his brother, and was so greatly upset at himself that he went away on wild paths into the south of the country and found his brother Helgi. Helgi said:

31. 31.

"Kom þú heill, Heðinn, "Welcome Heðinn,

hvat kanntu segja what can you tell

nýra spjalla of new news

ór Nóregi? from Norway?

Hví er þér, stillir, Why are you, ruler,(29)

stökkt ór landi thrown out of the country

ok ert einn kominn and have come alone

oss at finna?" to find us?"

Heðinn kvað: Heðinn said:

32. 32.

"[Erumk-a, stillir, "[I am not, ruler,

stökkt ór landi], thrown out of the country,]

mik hefr miklu glæpr a bad action far

meiri sóttan: greater has come upon me:

Ek hefi körna I have chosen

ina konungbornu your bride,

brúði þína the king-born,(30)

at bragarfulli."(31) at the bragarfull."

Helgi kvað: Helgi said:

33. 33.

"Sakask eigi þú, "Do not blame yourself,

sönn munu verða true will be

ölmál, Heðinn, the ale-talk, Heðinn,

okkur beggja. of us both.

Mér hefir stillir A ruler has

stefnt til eyrar, summoned me to a gravel bank,(32)

þriggja nátta in three nights

skylak þar koma; I must arrive there;

if er mér á því, I have doubt

at ek aftr koma; that I [will] come back;

þá má at góðu yet it may to the good

gerask slíkt, ef skal." happen thus, if [it] must [be]."

Heðinn kvað: Heðinn said:

34. 34.

"Sagðir þú, Helgi, "You said, Helgi,

at Heðinn væri that Heðinn was

góðs verðr frá þér worthy of goodwill from you

ok gjafa stórra; and of great gifts;

þér er sæmra it is more becoming to you

sverð at rjóða, to redden the sword

en frið gefa than to give frith

fjándum þínum." to your enemy."(33)

Þat kvað Helgi, því at hann grunaði um feigð sína ok þat, at fylgjur hans höfðu vitjat Heðins, þá er hann sá konuna ríða varginum.
   Álfr hét konungr, son Hróðmars, er Helga hafði völl haslaðan á Sigarsvelli á þriggja nátta fresti. Þá kvað Helgi:

Helgi said that because he suspected his state was "fey"(34) and that his fylgjur(35) had visited Heðinn when he saw the woman riding the wolf.

There was a king called Álfr, Hróðmar's son, who had challenged Helgi to the hazel-field(36) at Sigarsvǫllr in three days' time. Then Helgi said:

35. 35.

"Reið á vargi, "She rode on a wolf,

er rökvit var, when it was twilight,

fljóð eitt, er Heðinn a woman who

fylgju beiddi; bade Heðinn follow;

hón vissi þat, she knew

at veginn myndi that would be slain

Sigrlinnar sonr the son of Sigrlinn

á Sigarsvöllum." at Sigarsvǫllr.

Þar var orrosta mikil, ok fekk þar Helgi banasár.

There was a great battle, and Helgi got a fatal wound there.

36. 36.

Sendi Helgi Helgi sent

Sigar at ríða Sigarr riding

eftir Eylima to Eylimi's

eingadóttur; only daughter;(37)

"Bið bráðliga "Tell [her] hastily

búna verða, to get ready

ef hon vill finna if she wants to find

fylki kvikvan." the lord alive."

Sigarr kvað: Sigarr said:

37. 37.

"Mik hefr Helgi "Helgi sent

hingat sendan me here

við þik, Sváfa, to speak to you

sjalfa at mæla; yourself, Sváfa;(38)

þik kvaðsk hilmir the ruler said he

hitta vilja, wanted to meet with you

áðr ítrborinn before the high-born one

öndu týndi." breathed his last."(39)

Sváfa kvað: Sváfa said:

38. 38.

"Hvat varð Helga "What happened to Helgi

Hjörvarðs syni? son of Hjǫrvarðr?

Mér er harðliga To me has hard

harma leitat, harm come,

ef hann sær of lék if a sea swamped him

eða sverð of beit, or a sword cut him down,

þeim skal ek gumna to that person of persons I will

grand of vinna." bring ruin."

Sigarr kvað: Sigarr said:

39. 39.

"Fell hér í morgun "This morning there fell here(40)

at Frekasteini, at Frekasteinn

buðlungr, sá er var, the king who was

baztr und sólu; best under the sun;

Álfr(41) mun sigri Álfr will enjoy

öllum ráða, all the victory,

þótt þetta sinn although of that

þörfgi væri." he have no need."(42)

Helgi kvað: Helgi said:

40. 40.

"Heil vertu, Sváfa, "Hail to you Sváfa,

hug skaltu deila, you must have heartbreak,

sjá mun í heími this will be in the world

hinztr fundr vera; [our] last meeting;

téa buðlungi in the king wounds

blæða undir, show bleeding,

mér hefir hjörr komit the blow came in me

hjarta it næsta. right to the heart.

41. 41.

Bið ek þik, Sváfa, I ask you, Sváfa,

- brúðr grát-at-tu -, - bride, do not cry -

ef þú vill mínu if you will

máli hlýða, listen to my words,

at þú Heðni that you for Heðinn

hvílu gervir prepare a bed

ok jöfur ungan and to the young king

ástum leiðir." lead [your] love."

Sváfa kvað: Sváfa said:

42. 42.

"Mælt hafða ek þat "I have said

í munarheimi, in the world of wishes,

þá er mér Helgi when Helgi

hringa valði, chose me with rings,

myndig-a ek lostig I would not willingly

at liðinn fylki after the lord's death

jöfur ókunnan a king unknown(43)

armi verja." fold in my arms."

Heðinn kvað: Heðinn said:

43. 43.

"Kysstu mik, Sváfa, "Kiss me, Sváfa,

kem ek eigi áðr I [will] never come back

Rogheims á vit towards Rogheimr

né Röðulsfjalla, or Rǫðullsvellir,

áðr ek hefnt hefik until I have avenged

Hjörvarðs sonar, the son of Hjǫrvarðr,

þess er buðlungr var he who was the king

beztr und sólu." best under the sun."

Helgi ok Sváfa, er sagt, at væri endrborin.

[Of] Helgi and Sváfa it is said that they were born again.

Notes

1. Buðlungr, here and in the next verse, and gramr and jǫfurr in Verse 4, are all more or less poetic words for "king", whereas fylkir in Verse 3 technically means the ruler of a fylki, a county or shire.

2. A hǫrgr is a (usually outdoor) stone altar, while a hof is a temple. They may or may not be being equated here.

3. Kenning: warrior, ruler (tree = man)

4. translates to Sunfields

5. a sign of the birth of a hero

6. It was traditional to give a naming gift with a name.

7. Misprint by the editor, Guðni Jónsson? The manuscript has færa.

8. Kenning: mail(shirts)

9. Which part of the sword is the valbǫst is not known: boss? guard?

10. i.e., not at all

11. i.e., he thinks King Sváfnir's line extinct, not realising that Sigrlinn survived and has a child.

12. Properly a hǫldr is a member of a yeoman class; in poetry it often means simply "man".

13. Probably this means merely that the ships are in defensive formation and bristling with iron.

14. Wordplay on his name

15. Properly a rǫst was the distance between stops on a journey; its length differed according to the terrain but it was often about a mile.

16. Possibly just metaphorical for "if you had not been thwarted".

17. i.e, very downcast or cowardly

18. Rekkr is one of several words that indicate some sort of respectable freeman used in poetry to mean vaguely "man" or "warrior".

19. Krummr (the manuscript spells the word krymmor here) refers to a crooked hand or an animal's clawed paw.

20. Here and in several lines in following verses, the poet has both the word ek and the enclitic -k, giving a surplus "I".

21. Hairy, Shaggy

22. A kind of giant, more likely to be viewed as an ogre than is a jǫtunn; however, from the following line they are equated here.

23. lit. "hundred-[times-]wise".

24. more literally: "she alone rules such".

25. In Norse, unlike Anglo-Saxon, vættr is usually used of supernatural beings rather than humans.

26. i.e., struck you a death blow

27. lit. "to life-law".

28. The swearing of formal oaths at the bragarfull, with or without mention of laying hands on the sónargǫltr or sonargǫltr (sacrificial boar), is a heathen Yule tradition that also occurs as a plot point in sagas.

29. yet another word for "king"

30. Translation of these two lines reversed for clarity

31. correcting a typo by the editor.

32. i.e, a duel; islands and gravelly river-banks were the usual location of "holmgangs".

33. To make "enemy" make sense here, Guðbrandur Vigfússon changed "Heðinn" in the verse to "Hróðmarr".

34. More literally, "suspected about his feyness". "Fey" here means "doomed to die soon".

35. plural of fylgja, or "fetch". It's unusual to have more than one.

36. More literally, "hazelled a field": the reference is to the duelling ground marked off with hazel poles.

37. Sváfa

38. Rearrangement between lines for clarity in English

39. More literally: lost breath.

40. The "here" seems to make little sense; in his edition Sophus Bugge suggested it derives from "Helgakviða Hundingsbana I".

41. I've made the name consistent; the editor left off the length mark in the verse.

42. i.e., it was wrong.

43. sometimes taken to mean "of no repute" rather than "strange to me".