Poetic EddaNorse MythologyAncient Myth / ComparativeOld NorseSharePoetic Edda 40Bellows - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableBellowsLanguageEnglishEspañol‹Poetic Edda 1Poetic Edda 2Poetic Edda 3Poetic Edda 4Poetic Edda 5Poetic Edda 6Poetic Edda 7Poetic Edda 8Poetic Edda 9Poetic Edda 10Poetic Edda 11Poetic Edda 12Poetic Edda 13Poetic Edda 14Poetic Edda 15Poetic Edda 16Poetic Edda 17Poetic Edda 18Poetic Edda 19Poetic Edda 20Poetic Edda 21Poetic Edda 22Poetic Edda 23Poetic Edda 24Poetic Edda 25Poetic Edda 26Poetic Edda 27Poetic Edda 28Poetic Edda 29Poetic Edda 30Poetic Edda 31Poetic Edda 32Poetic Edda 33Poetic Edda 34Poetic Edda 35Poetic Edda 36Poetic Edda 37Poetic Edda 38Poetic Edda 39Poetic Edda 40Poetic Edda 41Poetic Edda 42Poetic Edda 43Poetic Edda 44Poetic Edda 45Poetic Edda 46Poetic Edda 47Poetic Edda 48Poetic Edda 49Poetic Edda 50Poetic Edda 51Poetic Edda 52Poetic Edda 53Poetic Edda 54Poetic Edda 55Poetic Edda 56Poetic Edda 57Poetic Edda 58Poetic Edda 59Poetic Edda 60Poetic Edda 61Poetic Edda 62Poetic Edda 63Poetic Edda 64Poetic Edda 65Poetic Edda 66Poetic Edda 67Poetic Edda 68Poetic Edda 69Poetic Edda 70Poetic Edda 71Poetic Edda 72Poetic Edda 73Poetic Edda 74Poetic Edda 75Poetic Edda 76Poetic Edda 77Poetic Edda 78Poetic Edda 79Poetic Edda 80Poetic Edda 81Poetic Edda 82Poetic Edda 83Poetic Edda 84Poetic Edda 85Poetic Edda 86›Introductory NotePoetic Edda 40ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1The general subject of the Helgi lays is considered in the introduction to Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar, and it is needless here to repeat the statements there made. The first lay of Helgi Hundingsbane is unquestionably one of the latest of the Eddic poems, and was composed probably not earlier than the second quarter of the eleventh century. It presents several unusual characteristics. For one thing, it is among the few essentially narrative poems in the whole collection, telling a consecutive story in verse, and, except for the abusive dialogue between Sinfjotli and Gothmund, which clearly was based on another and older poem, it does so with relatively little use of dialogue. It is, in fact, a ballad, and in the main an exceedingly vigorous one. The annotator, who added his prose narrative notes so freely in the other Helgi poems, here found nothing to do. The available evidence indicates that narrative verse was a relatively late development in Old Norse poetry, and it is significant that most of the poems which consist chiefly, not of dialogue, but of narrative stanzas, such as the first Helgi Hundingsbane lay and the two Atli lays, can safely be dated, on the basis of other evidence, after the year 1000. 2The first Helgi Hundingsbane lay is again differentiated from most of the Eddic poems by the character of its language. It is full of those verbal intricacies which were the delight of the Norse skalds, and which made Snorri’s dictionary of poetic phrases an absolute necessity. Many of these I have paraphrased in the translation; some I have simplified or wholly avoided. A single line will serve to indicate the character of this form of complex diction (stanza 56, line 4): “And the horse of the giantess | raven’s-food had.” This means simply that wolves (giantesses habitually rode on wolves) ate the bodies of the dead. 3Except for its intricacies of diction, and the possible loss of a stanza here and there, the poem is comparatively simple. The story belongs in all its essentials to the Helgi tradition, with the Volsung cycle brought in only to the extent of making Helgi the son of Sigmund, and in the introduction of Sinfjotli, son of Sigmund and his sister Signy, in a passage which has little or nothing to do with the course of the narrative, and which looks like an expansion of a passage from some older poem, perhaps from the “old Volsung lay” to which the annotator of the second Helgi Hundingsbane lay refers (prose after stanza 12). There are many proper names, some of which betray the confusion caused by the blending of the two sets of traditions; for example, Helgi appears indiscriminately as an Ylfing (which presumably he was before the Volsung story became involved) and as a Volsung. Granmar and his sons are called Hniflungs (Nibelungen) in stanza 50, though they seem to have had no connection with this race. The place names have aroused much debate as to the localization of the action, but while some of them probably reflect actual places, there is so much geographical confusion, and such a profusion of names which are almost certainly mythical, that it is hard to believe that the poet had any definite locations in mind. 41. In olden days, | when eagles screamed, And holy streams | from heaven’s crags fell, Was Helgi then, | the hero-hearted, Borghild’s son, | in Bralund born. 52. ’Twas night in the dwelling, | and Norns 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. 63. Mightily wove they | the web of fate, While Bralund’s towns | were trembling all; And there the golden | threads they wove, And in the moon’s hall | fast they made them. 74. East and west | the ends they hid, In the middle the hero | should have his land; And Neri’s kinswoman | northward cast A chain, and bade it | firm ever to be. 85. Once sorrow had | the Ylfings’ 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. 96. “In mail-coat stands | the son of Sigmund, 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.” 107. The 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. 118. Helgi he named him, | and Hringstathir gave him, Solfjoll, Snæfjoll, | and Sigarsvoll, Hringstoth, Hotun, | and Himinvangar, And a blood-snake bedecked | to Sinfjotli’s brother. 129. Mighty 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. 1310. Short time for war | the chieftain waited, When fifteen winters | old he was; Hunding he slew, | the hardy wight Who long had ruled | o’er lands and men. 1411. Of Sigmund’s son | then next they sought Hoard and rings, | the sons of Hunding; They bade the prince | requital pay For booty stolen | and father slain. 1512. The prince let not | their prayers avail, Nor gold for their dead | did the kinsmen get; Waiting, he said, | was a mighty storm Of lances gray | and Othin’s grimness. 1613. The warriors forth | to the battle went, The field they chose | at Logafjoll; Frothi’s peace | midst foes they broke, Through the isle went hungrily | Vithrir’s hounds. 1714. The king then sat, | when he had slain Eyjolf and Alf, | ’neath the eagle-stone; Hjorvarth and Hovarth, | Hunding’s sons, The kin of the spear-wielder, | all had he killed. 1815. Then glittered light | from Logafjoll, And from the light | the flashes leaped; . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . 1916. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . High under helms | on heaven’s field; Their byrnies all | with blood were red, And from their spears | the sparks flew forth. 2017. Early 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. 2118. Down from her horse | sprang Hogni’s daughter,— The shields were still,— | and spake to the hero: “Other tasks | are ours, methinks, Than drinking beer | with the breaker of rings. 2219. “My father has pledged | his daughter fair As bride to Granmar’s | son so grim; But, Helgi, I | once Hothbrodd called As fine a king | as the son of a cat. 2320. “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.” 2421. “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.” 2522. Messengers 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. 2623. “Bid them straightway | seek the ships, And off Brandey | ready to be!” There the chief waited | till thither were come Men by hundreds | from Hethinsey. 2724. Soon off Stafnsnes | stood the ships, Fair they glided | and gay with gold; Then Helgi spake | to Hjorleif asking: “Hast thou counted | the gallant host?” 2825. The young king answered | the other then: “Long were it to tell | from Tronueyr The long-stemmed ships | with warriors laden That come from without | into Orvasund. 2926. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . “There are hundreds twelve | of trusty men, But in Hotun lies | the host of the king, Greater by half; | I have hope of battle.” 3027. The ship’s-tents soon | the chieftain struck, And waked the throng | of warriors all; (The heroes the red | of dawn beheld;) And on the masts | the gallant men Made fast the sails | in Varinsfjord. 3128. There 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. 3229. So did it sound, | when together the sisters Of Kolga struck | with the keels full long, As if cliffs were broken | with beating surf, . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . 3330. Helgi bade higher | hoist the sails, Nor did the ships’-folk | shun the waves, Though dreadfully | did Ægir’s daughters Seek the steeds | of the sea to sink. 3431. But from above | did Sigrun brave Aid the men | and all their faring; Mightily came | from the claws of Ron The leader’s sea-beast | off Gnipalund. 3532. At evening there | in Unavagar Floated the fleet | bedecked full fair; But they who saw | from Svarin’s hill, Bitter at heart | the host beheld. 3633. Then Gothmund asked, | goodly of birth, . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . “Who is the monarch | who guides the host, And to the land | the warriors leads?” 3734. Sinfjotli 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. 3835. “Say tonight | when you feed the swine, And send your bitches | to seek their swill, That out of the East | have the Ylfings come, Greedy for battle, | to Gnipalund. 3936. “There will Hothbrodd | Helgi 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.” 4037. “Hero, the ancient | sayings heed, And bring not lies | to the nobly born. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . 4138. “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.” 4239. “A witch in Varin’s | isle thou wast, A woman false, | and lies didst fashion; Of the mail-clad heroes | thou wouldst have No other, thou saidst, | save Sinfjotli only. 4340. “A Valkyrie wast thou, | loathly witch, Evil and base, | in Allfather’s home; The warriors all | must ever fight, Woman subtle, | for sake of thee. 4441. “. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . Nine did we | in Sogunes Of wolf-cubs have; | I their father was.” 4542. “Thou didst not father | Fenrir’s-wolves, Though older thou art | than all I know; For they gelded thee | in Gnipalund, The giant-women | at Thorsnes once. 4643. “Under houses the stepson | of Siggeir lay, Fain of the wolf’s cry | out in the woods; Evil came then | all to thy hands, When thy brothers’ | breasts thou didst redden, Fame didst thou win | for foulest deeds. 4744. “In Bravoll wast thou | Grani’s bride, Golden-bitted | and ready to gallop; I rode thee many | a mile, and down Didst sink, thou giantess, | under the saddle.” 4845. “A brainless fellow | didst seem to be, When once for Gollnir | goats didst milk, And another time | when as Imth’s daughter In rags thou wentest; | wilt longer wrangle?” 4946. “Sooner would I | at Frekastein Feed the ravens | with flesh of thine Than send your bitches | to seek their swill, Or feed the swine; | may the fiends take you!” 5047. “Better, Sinfjotli, | 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. 5148. “Good I find not | the sons of Granmar, But for heroes ’tis seemly | the truth to speak; At Moinsheimar | proved the men That hearts for the wielding | of swords they had.” 5249. Mightily then | they made to run Sviputh and Sveggjuth | to Solheimar; (By dewy dales | and chasms dark, Mist’s horse shook | where the men went by;) The king they found | at his courtyard gate, And told him the foeman | fierce was come. 5350. Forth stood Hothbrodd, | helmed for battle, Watched the riding | of his warriors; . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . “Why are the Hniflungs | white with fear?” 5451. “Swift keels lie | hard by the land, (Mast-ring harts | and mighty yards, Wealth of shields | and well-planed oars;) The king’s fair host, | the Ylfings haughty; Fifteen bands | to land have fared, But out in Sogn | are seven thousand. 5552. “At anchor lying | off Gnipalund Are fire-beasts black, | all fitted with gold; There wait most | of the foeman’s men, Nor will Helgi long | the battle delay.” 5653. “Bid the horses run | to the Reginthing, Melnir and Mylnir | to Myrkwood now, (And Sporvitnir | to Sparinsheith;) Let no man seek | henceforth to sit Who the flame of wounds | knows well to wield. 5754. “Summon Hogni, | the sons of Hring, Atli and Yngvi | and Alf the Old; Glad they are | of battle ever; Against the Volsungs | let us go.” 5855. Swift as a storm | there smote together The flashing blades | at Frekastein; Ever was Helgi, | Hunding’s slayer, First in the throng | where warriors fought; (Fierce in battle, | slow to fly, Hard the heart | of the hero was.) 5956. From heaven there came | the maidens helmed,— The weapon-clang grew,— | who watched o’er the king; Spake Sigrun fair,— | the wound-givers flew, And the horse of the giantess | raven’s-food had:— 6057. “Hail to thee, hero! | full happy with men, Offspring of Yngvi, | shalt ever live, For thou the fearless | foe hast slain Who to many the dread | of death had brought. 6158. “Warrior, well | for thyself hast won Red rings bright | and the noble bride; Both now, warrior, | thine shall be, Hogni’s daughter | and Hringstathir, Wealth and triumph; | the battle wanes.” ‹Previous chapterPoetic Edda 39Next chapterPoetic Edda 41›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the United States via Project Gutenberg