"Ár var alda,

þat er arar gullu,

hnigu heilög vötn

af Himinfjöllum;

þá hafði Helga

inn hugumstóra

Borghildr borit

í Brálundi."

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.

"Nótt varð í bæ,

nornir kómu,

þær er öðlingi

aldr of skópu;

þann báðu fylki

frægstan verða

ok buðlunga

beztan þykkja."

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.

"Sneru þær af afli

örlögþáttu,

þá er borgir braut

í Bráluni;

þær of greiddu

gullin símu

ok und mánasal

miðjan festu."

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.

"Þær austr ok vestr

enda fálu,

þar átti lofðungr

land á milli;

brá nift Nera

á norðrvega

einni festi,

ey bað hon halda."

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.

"Eitt var at angri

Ylfinga nið

ok þeiri meyju,

er munúð fæddi;

hrafn kvað at hrafni,

— sat á hám meiði

andvanr átu —:

ek veit nökkut."

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.

"Stendr í brynju

burr Sigmundar

dægrs eins gamall,

nú er dagr kominn;

hvessir augu

sem hildingar,

sá er varga vinr,

vit skulum teitir."

"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."

"Drótt þótti sá

döglingr vera,

kváðu með gumnum

góð ár komin;

sjalfr gekk vísi

ór vígþrimu

ungum færa

ítrlauk grami."

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.

"Gaf hann Helga nafn

ok Hringstaði,

Sólfjöll, Snæfjöll

ok Sigarsvöllu,

Hringstöð, Hátún

ok Himinvanga,

blóðorm búinn

bræðr Sinfjötla."

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.

"Þá nam at vaxa

fyr vina brjósti

almr ítrborinn

ynðis ljóma;

hann galt ok gaf

gull verðungu,

sparði eigi hilmir

hodd blóðrækinn."

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.

"Skammt lét vísi

vígs at bíða;

þá er fylkir var

fimmtán vetra,

ok hann harðan lét

Hunding veginn

þann er lengi réð

löndum ok þegnum."

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.

"Kvöddu síðan

Sigmundar bur

auðs ok hringa

Hundings synir,

því at þeir áttu

jöfri at gjalda

fjárnám mikit

ok föður dauða."

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.

"Lét-at buðlungr

bótir uppi

né niðja in heldr

nefgjöld fáa;

ván kvað hann mundu

veðrs ins mikla

grára geira

ok gremi Óðins."

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.

"Fara hildingar

hjörstefnu til,

þeirar er lögðu

at Logafjöllum;

sleit Fróða frið

fjánda á milli;

fara Viðris grey

valgjörn of ey."

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.

"Settisk vísi,

þá er vegit hafði

Alf ok Eyjólf,

und arasteini,

Hjörvarð ok Hávarð,

Hundings sonu;

farit hafði hann allri

ætt geirmímis."

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.

"Þá brá ljóma

af Logafjöllum,

en af þeim ljómum

leiftrir kómu,

*********

hávar und hjalmum

á Himinvanga,

brynjur váru þeira

blóði stokknar,

en af geirum

geislar stóðu."

Then glittered light

from Logafjoll,

And from the light

the flashes leaped;

*********

High under helms

on heaven's field;

Their byrnies all

with blood were red,

And from their spears

the sparks flew forth.

"Frá árliga

ór úlfíði

döglingr at því

dísir suðrænar,

ef þær vildi heim

með hildingum

þá nótt fara;

þrymr var alma."

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.

"En af hesti

Högna dóttir,

— líddi randa rym, —

ræsi sagði:

Hygg ek, at vér eigim

aðrar sýslur

en með baugbrota

bjór at drekka."

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.

"Hefir minn faðir

meyju sinni

grimmum heitit

Granmars syni,

en ek hef, Helgi,

Höðbrodd kveðinn

konung óneisan

sem kattar son."

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.

"Þó kemr fylkir

fára nátta,

nema þú hánum vísir

valstefnu til

eða mey nemir

frá mildingi."

"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."

Helgi kvað:

"Uggi eigi þú

Ísungs bana;

fyrr mun dolga dynr,

nema ek dauðr séak."

Helgi spake:

"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."

"Sendi áru

allvaldr þaðan

of land ok um lög

leiðar at biðja,

iðgnógan

Ógnar ljóma

brögnum bjóða

ok burum þeira."

Helgi spake:

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.

"Biðið skjótliga

til skipa ganga

ok ór Brandeyju

búna verða.

Þaðan beið þengill,

unz þingat kómu

halir hundmargir

ór Heðinseyju."

"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.

"Ok þar af ströndum

ór Stafnsnesi

beit her út skriðu

ok búin gulli;

spurði Helgi

Hjörleif at því:

hefir þú kannaða

koni óneisa?"

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?"

"En ungr konungr

öðrum sagði,

seint kvað at telja

af Trönueyri

langhöfðuð skip

und líðöndum,

þau er í Örvasund

útan fóru."

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.

"Tolf hundruð

tryggra manna;

þó er í Hátúnum

halfu fleira

víglið konungs;

ván erum rómu."

*********

"There are hundreds twelve

of trusty men,

But in Hotun lies

the host of the king,

Greater by half;

I have hope of battle."

"Svá brá stýrir

stafntjöldum af,

at mildinga

mengi vakði,

ok döglingar

dagsbrún séa

ok siklingar

sneru upp við tré

vefnistingum

á Varinsfirði."

Helgi spake:

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.

"Varð ára ymr

ok járna glymr,

brast rönd við rönd,

reru víkingar;

eisandi gekk

und öðlingum

lofðungs floti

löndum fjarri."

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.

"Svá var at heyra,

er saman kómu

kolgu systir

ok kilir langir,

sem björg eða brim

brotna myndi."

So did it sound,

when together the sisters

Of Kolga struck

with the keels full long,

As if cliffs were broken

with beating surf,

*********

"Draga bað Helgi

há segl ofar,

varð-at hrönnum

höfn þingloga,

þá er ógurlig

Ægis dóttir

stagstjórnmörum

steypa vildi."

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.

"En þeim sjalfum

Sigrún ofan

folkdjörf of barg

ok fari þeira;

snerisk ramliga

Rán ór hendi

gjalfrdýr konungs

at Gnipalundi."

But from above

did Sigrun brave

Aid the men and

all their faring;

Mightily came

from the claws of Rán

The leader's sea-beast

off Gnipalund.

"Sat þar um aftan

í Unavágum,

flaust fagrbúin

fljóta knáttu;

en þeir sjalfir

frá Svarinshaugi

með hermðar hug

her könnuðu."

Helgi spake:

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.

"Frá góðborinn

Goðmundr at því:

Hverr er landreki,

sá er liði stýrir

ok hann feiknalið

færir at landi?"

Then Gothmund asked,

goodly of birth,

*********

"Who is the monarch

who guides the host,

And to the land

the warriors leads?"

"Sinfjötli kvað

— slöng upp við rá

rauðum skildi,

rönd var ór gulli;

þar var sundvörðr,

sá er svara kunni

ok við öðlinga

orðum skipta —:"

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.

"Segðu þat í aftan,

er svínum gefr

ok tíkr yðrar

teygir at solli,

at sé Ylfingar

austan komnir

gunnar gjarnir

fyr Gnipalundi."

"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."

"Þar mun Höðbroddr

Helga finna

flugtrauðan gram

í flota miðjum,

sá er oft hefir

örnu sadda,

meðan þú á kvernum

kystir þýjar."

"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."

Guðmundr kvað:

"Fátt mantu, fylkir,

fornra spjalla,

er þú öðlingum

ósönnu bregðr;

þú hefir etnar

ulfa krásir

ok bræðr þínum

at bana orðit,

oft sár sogin

með svölum munni,

hefr í hreysi

hvarleiðr skriðit."

Gothmund spake:

"Hero, the ancient

sayings heed,

And bring not lies

to the nobly born.

*********

*********

"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."

Sinfjötli kvað:

"Þú vart völva

í Varinseyju,

skollvís kona,

bartu skrök saman;

kvaztu engi mann

eiga vilja,

segg brynjaðan,

nema Sinfjötla."

Sinfjotli spake:

"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.

"Þú vart, in skæða,

skass, valkyrja,

ötul, ámátlig

at Alföður;

mundu einherjar

allir berjask,

svevís kona,

of sakar þínar."

"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.

"Níu áttu vit

á nesi Ságu

ulfa alna,

ek var einn faðir þeira."

"*********

*********

Nine did we

in Sogunes

Of wolf-cubs have;

I their father was."

Guðmundr kvað:

"Faðir var-at-tu

fenrisulfa

öllum ellri,

svá at ek muna,

síz þik geldu

fyr Gnipalundi

þursa meyjar

á Þórsnesi."

Gothmund spake:

Though older thou art

than all I know;

For they gelded thee

in Gnipalund,

The giant-women

at Thorsnes once.

"Stjúpr vartu Siggeirs,

látt und stöðum heima,

vargljóðum vanr

á viðum úti;

kómu þér ógögn

öll at hendi,

þá er bræðr þínum

brjóst raufaðir;

gerðir þik frægjan

af firinverkum."

Gothmund spake:

"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.

Sinfjötli kvað:

"Þú vart brúðr Grana

á Brávelli,

gullbitluð vart

gör til rásar;

hafða ek þér móðri

marg skeið riðit

svangri und söðli,

simul, forbergis."

Sinfjotli spake:

"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."

Guðmundr kvað:

"Sveinn þóttir þú

siðlauss vera,

þá er þú Gullnis

geitr molkaðir,

en í annat sinn

Imðar dóttir

tötrughypja.

Vill þú tölu lengri?"

Gothmund spake:

"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?"

Sinfjötli kvað:

"Fyrr vilda ek

at Frekasteini

hrafna seðja

á hræum þínum

en tíkr yðrar

teygja at solli

eða gefa göltum;

deili gröm við þik."

Sinfjotli spake:

"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!"

Helgi kvað:

"Væri ykkr, Sinfjötli,

Sæmra miklu

gunni at heyja

ok glaða örnu,

en sé ónýtum

orðum at bregðask,

þótt hringbrotar

heiftir deili."

Helgi spake:

"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.

"Þykkja-t mér góðir

Granmars synir,

þó dugir siklingum

satt at mæla;

þeir hafa markat

á Móinsheimum,

at hug hafa

hjörum at bregða."

Helgi spake:

"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."

"Þeir af ríki

renna létu

Svipuð ok Sveggjuð

Sólheima til

dala döggótta,

dökkvar hlíðir;

skalf Mistar marr

hvar er megir fóru."

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.

"Mættu þeir tyggja

í túnhliði,

sögðu stríðliga

stilli kómu;

úti stóð Höðbroddr

hjalmi faldinn,

hugði hann jóreið

ættar sinnar:

Hví er hermðar litr

á Hniflungum?"

Forth stood Hothbrodd,

helmed for battle,

Watched the riding

of his warriors;

*********

"Why are the Hniflungs

white with fear?"

Guðmundr kvað:

"Snúask hér at sandi

snævgir kjólar,

rakka-hirtir

ok ráar langar,

skildir margir,

skafnar árar,

göfugt lið gylfa,

glaðir Ylfingar."

Gothmund spake:

"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.

"Ganga fimmtán

folk upp á land,

þó er í Sogn út

sjau þúsundir;

liggja hér í grindum

fyr Gnipalundi

brimdýr blásvört

ok búin gulli;

þar er miklu mest

mengi þeira;

mun-a nú Helgi

hjörþing dvala."

"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."

Höðbroddr kvað:

"Renni rökn bitluð

til Reginþinga,

en Sporvitnir

at Sparinsheiði,

Mélnir ok Mýlnir

til Myrkviðar;

látið engi mann

eftir sitja,

þeira er benlogum

bregða kunni."

Hothbrodd spake:

"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.

"Bjóðið ér Högna

ok Hrings sonum,

Atla ok Yngva,

Alf inum gamla,

þeir ró gjarnir

gunni at heyja;

látum Völsunga

viðrnám fáa."

"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."

"Svipr einn var þat,

er saman kómu

fölvir oddar

at Frekasteini;

ey var Helgi

Hundings bani

fyrstr í fólki,

þar er firar börðusk,

æstr á ímu,

alltrauðr flugar;

sá hafði hilmir

hart móðakarn."

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.)

"Kómu þar ór himni

hjalmvítr ofan,

— óx geira gnýr, —

þær er grami hlífðu;

þá kvað þat Sigrún,

sárvitr fluga

— át hálu skær

af hugins barri —:"

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:

"Heill skaltu, vísi,

virða njóta,

áttstafr Yngva,

ok una lífi,

er þú fellt hefir

inn flugartrauða

jöfur, þann er olli

ægis dauða."

"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.

"Ok þér, buðlungr,

samir bæði vel

rauðir baugar

ok in ríkja mær;

heill skaltu, buðlungr,

bæði njóta

Högna dóttur

ok Hringstaða,

sigrs ok landa.

Þá er sókn lokit."

"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."