"Atli sendi

ár til Gunnars

kunnan segg at ríða,

Knéfröðr var sá heitinn;

at görðum kom hann Gjúka

ok at Gunnars Höllu,

bekkjum aringreypum

ok at bjóri svásum."

"Atli sent

of old to Gunnar

A keen-witted rider,

Knefröth did men call him;

To Gjuki's home came he

and to Gunnar's dwelling,

With benches round the hearth,

and to the beer so sweet."

"Drukku þar dróttmegir,

en dyljendr þögðu,

vín í valhöllu,

vreiði sásk þeir Húna;

kallaði þá Knéfröðr

kaldri röddu,

seggr inn suðræni

sat hann á bekk háum:"

"Then the followers, hiding

their falseness, all drank

Their wine in the war-hall,

of the Huns' wrath wary;

And Knefröth spake loudly,

his words were crafty,

The hero from the south,

on the high bench sitting:"

"Atli mik hingat sendi

ríða erendi

mar inum mélgreypa

myrkvið inn ókunna,

at biðja yðr, Gunnarr,

at it á bekk kæmið

með hjalmum aringreypum

at sækja heim Atla."

"Now Atli has sent me

his errand to ride,

On my bit-champing steed

through Myrkwood the secret,

To bid You, Gunnar,

to his benches to come,

With helms round the hearth,

and Atli's home seek."

"Skjöldu kneguð þar velja

ok skafna aska,

hjalma gullroðna

ok Húna mengi,

silfrgyllt söðulklæði,

serki valrauða,

dafar darraðar,

drösla mélgreypa."

"Shields shall ye choose there,

and shafts made of ash-wood,

Gold-adorned helmets,

and slaves out of Hunland,

Silver-gilt saddle-cloths,

shirts of bright scarlet,

With lances and spears too,

and bit-champing steeds."

"Völl lézk ykkr ok mundu gefa

víðrar Gnitaheiðar,

af geiri gjallanda

ok af gylltum stöfnum,

stórar meiðmar

ok staði Danpar,

hrís þat it mæra,

er meðr Myrkvið kalla."

"The field shall be given you

of wide Gnitaheith,

With loud-ringing lances,

and stems gold-o'er-laid,

Treasures full huge,

and the home of Danp,

And the mighty forest

that Myrkwood is called."

"Höfði vatt þá Gunnarr

ok Högna til sagði:

Hvat ræðr þú okkr, seggr inn æri,

alls vit slíkt heyrum?

Gull vissa ek ekki

á Gnitaheiði,

þat er vit ættim-a

annat slíkt."

His head turned Gunnar,

and to Hogni he said:

"What thy counsel, young hero,

when such things we hear?

No gold do I know

on Gnitaheith lying

So fair that other

its equal we have not."

"Sjau eigum vit salhús

sverða full,

hverju eru þeira

hjölt ór gulli;

minn veit ek mar beztan,

en mæki hvassastan,

boga bekksæma,

en brynjur ór gulli,

hjalm ok skjöld hvítastan

kominn ór höll Kíars,

einn er minn betri

en sé allra Húna."

"We have seven halls,

each of swords is full,

(And all of gold

is the hilt of each;)

My steed is the swiftest,

my sword is sharpest,

My bows adorn benches,

my byrnies are golden,

My helm is the brightest

that came from Kjar's hall,

(Mine own is better

than all the Huns' treasure.)"

Högni kvað:

"Hvat hyggr þú brúði bendu,

þá er hon okkr baug sendi,

varinn váðum heiðingja?

Hygg ek, at hon vörnuð byði.

Hár fann ek heiðingja

riðit í hring rauðum,

ylfskr er vegr okkarr

at ríða erendi."

Hogni spake:

"What seeks she to say,

that she sends us a ring,

Woven with a wolf's hair?

methinks it gives warning;

In the red ring a hair

of the heath-dweller found I,

Wolf-like shall our road be

if we ride on this journey."

"Niðjar hvöttu Gunnar

né náungr annarr,

rýnendr né ráðendr

né þeir er ríkir váru;

kvaddi þá Gunnarr,

sem konungr skyldi,

mærr í mjöðranni

af móði stórum:"

"Not eager were his comrades,

nor the men of his kin,

The wise nor the wary,

nor the warriors bold.

But Gunnar spake forth

as befitted a king,

Noble in the beer-hall,

and bitter his scorn:"

"Rístu nú, Fjörnir,

láttu á flet vaða

greppa gullskálir

með gumna höndum."

"Stand forth now, Fjornir!

and hither on the floor

The beakers all golden

shalt thou bring to the warriors.

*********

*********"

"Ulfr mun ráða

arfi Niflunga,

gamlir, gránvarðir,

ef Gunnars missir,

birnir blakkfjallir

bíta þreftönnum,

gamna greystóði,

ef Gunnarr né kemr-at."

"The wolves then shall rule

the wealth of the Niflungs,

Wolves aged and grey-hued,

if Gunnar is lost,

And black-coated bears

with rending teeth bite,

And make glad the dogs,

if Gunnar returns not."

"Leiddu landrögni

lýðar óneisir,

grátendr gunnhvata

ór garði húna.

Þá kvað þat inn æri

erfivörþr Högna:

Heilir farið nú ok horskir,

hvars ykkr hugr teygir!"

"A following gallant

fared forth with the ruler,

Yet they wept as their home

with the hero they left;

And the little heir

of Hogni called loudly:

Go safe now, ye wise ones,

wherever ye will!"

"Fetum létu fræknir

um fjöll at þyrja

mari ina mélgreypu

Myrkvið inn ókunna;

hristisk öll Húnmörk

þar er harðmóðgir fóru,

ráku þeir vandstyggva

völlu algræna."

"Then let the bold heroes

their bit-champing horses

On the mountains gallop,

and through Myrkwood the secret;

All Hunland was shaken

where the hard-souled ones rode,

On the whip-fearers fared they

through fields that were green."

"Land sáu þeir Atla

ok liðskjalfar djúpa,

Bikka greppar standa

á borg inni háu,

sal of suðrþjóðum

sleginn sessmeiðum,

bundnum röndum,

bleikum skjöldum,

dafar darraðar;

en þar drakk Atli

vín í valhöllu,

verðir sátu úti

at varða þeim Gunnari,

af þeir hér vitja kvæmi

með geiri gjallanda

at vekja gram hildi."

"Then they saw Atli's halls,

and his watch-towers high,

On the walls so lofty

stood the warriors of Buthli;

The hall of the southrons

with seats was surrounded,

With targets bound

and shields full bright."

"Systir fann þeira snemst,

at þeir í sal kómu

bræðr hennar báðir, —

bjóri var hon lítt drukkin:

Ráðinn ertu nú, Gunnarr.

Hvat muntu, ríkr, vinna

við Húna harmbrögðum?

Höll gakk þú ór snemma."

"Mid weapons and lances

did Atli his wine

In the war-hall drink,

without were his watchmen,

For Gunnar they waited,

if forth he should go,

With their ringing spears

they would fight with the ruler."

"Betr hefðir þú, bróðir,

at þú í brynju færir,

sem hjalmum aringreypum

at séa heim Atla,

sætir þú í söðlum

sólheiða daga,

nái nauðfölva

létir nornir gráta,

Húna skjaldmeyjar

herfi kanna,

en Atla sjalfan

létir þú í ormgarð koma,

nú er sá ormgarðr

ykkr of folginn."

This their sister saw,

as soon as her brothers

Had entered the hall,

little ale had she drunk:

"Betrayed art thou, Gunnar!

what guard hast thou, hero,

'Gainst the plots of the Huns?

from the hall flee swiftly!

Brother, twere far better

to have come in byrnie,

With thy household helmed,

to see Atli's home,

And to sit in the saddle

all day neath the sun,

(That the sword-norns might weep

for the death-pale warriors,

And the Hunnish shield-maids

might shun not the sword,)

And send Atli himself

to the den of the snakes;

(Now the den of the snakes

for thee is destined."

Gunnarr kvað:

"Seinat er nú, systir,

at samna Niflungum;

langt er at leita

lýða sinnis til,

ef rosmufjöll Rínar

rekka óneissa."

Gunnar spake:

*********

"Too late is it, sister,

to summon the Niflungs,

Long is it to come

to the throng of our comrades,

The heroes gallant,

from the hills of the Rhine."

"Fengu þeir Gunnar

ok í fjötur settu

vin Borgunda

ok bundu fastla."

"Then Gunnar they seized,

and they set him in chains,

The Burgundians' king,

and fast they bound him."

"Sjau hjó Högni

sverði hvössu,

en inum átta

hratt hann í eld heitan;

svá skal frækn

fjándum verjask

(sem) Högni varði

hendr (sínar)."

"Hogni slew seven

with sword so keen,

And an eighth he flung

in the fire hot;

A hero should fight

with his foemen thus,

As Hogni strove

in Gunnar's behalf."

"********* Gunnars;

frágu fræknan,

ef fjör vildi,

gotna þjóðann,

gulli kaupa."

"*********

*********

The leader they asked

if his life he fain

With gold would buy,

the king of the Goths."

Gunnarr kvað:

"Hjarta skal mér Högna

í hendi liggja

blóðugt, ór brjósti

skorit baldriða

saxi slíðrbeitu,

syni þjóðans."

Gunnar spake:

"First the heart of Hogni

shall ye lay in my hands,

All bloody from the breast

of the bold one cut

With ke-en-biting sword,

from the son of the king."

"Skáru þeir hjarta

Hjalla ór brjósti

blóðugt ok á bjóð lögðu

ok báru þat fyr Gunnar."

"*********

They cut out the heart

from the breast of Hjalli,

On a platter they bore it,

and brought it to Gunnar."

"Þá kvað þat Gunnarr,

gumna dróttinn:

Hér hefi ek hjarta

Hjalla ins blauða,

ólíkt hjarta

Högna ins frækna,

er mjök bifask,

er á bjóði liggr,

bifðisk halfu meir,

er í brjósti lá."

Then Gunnar spake forth,

the lord of the folk:

"Here have I the heart

of Hjalli the craven,

Unlike to the heart

of Hogni the valiant,

For it trembles still

as it stands on the platter;

Twice more did it tremble

in the breast of the man."

"Hló þá Högni,

er til hjarta skáru

kvikvan kumblasmið,

klökkva hann sízt hugði;

blóðugt þat á bjóð lögðu

ok báru fyr Gunnar."

"Then Hogni laughed

when they cut out the heart

Of the living helm-hammerer;

tears he had not.

*********

On a platter they bore it,

and brought it to Gunnar."

"Mærr kvað þat Gunnarr

geirniflungr:

Hér hefi ek hjarta

Högna ins frækna,

ólíkt hjarta

Hjalla ins blauða,

er lítt bifask,

er á bjóði liggr,

bifðisk svági mjök,

þá er í brjósti lá."

Then Gunnar spake forth,

the spear of the Niflungs:

"Here have I the heart

of Hogni the valiant,

Unlike to the heart

of Hjalli the craven,

Little it trembles

as it lies on the platter,

Still less did it tremble

when it lay in his breast."

"Svá skaltu, Atli,

augum fjarri,

sem munt

menjum verða;

er und einum mér

öll of folgin

hodd Niflunga,

lifir-a nú Högni."

"So distant, Atli,

from all men's eyes,

Shalt thou be as thou

********* from the gold.

*********

*********

To no one save me

is the secret known

Of the Niflungs' hoard,

now Hogni is dead;"

"Ey var mér týja,

meðan vit tveir lifðum,

nú er mér engi,

er ek einn lifik.

Rín skal ráða

rógmalmi skatna,

svinn, áskunna

arfi Niflunga,

— í veltanda vatni

lýsask valbaugar, —

heldr en á höndum gull

skíni Húna börnum."

"Of old there were two,

while we twain were alive,

Now is none but I,

for I only am living.

The swift Rhine shall hold

the strife-gold of heroes,

That once was the gods,

the wealth of the Niflungs,

In the depths of the waters

the death-rings shall glitter,

And not shine on the hands

of the Hunnish men."

Atli kvað:

"Ýkvið ér hvélvögnum,

haftr er nú í böndum."

Atli spake:

"Ye shall bring the wagon,

for now is he bound."

*********

"Atli inn ríki

reið Glaum mönum,

sleginn rógþornum,

sifjungr þeira.

*********

Guðrún sigtífa,

varnaði við tárum,

vaðin í þyshöllu."

"On the long-maned Glaum

rode Atli the great,

About him were warriors

*********

But Guthrun, akin

to the gods of slaughter,

Yielded not to her tears

in the hall of tumult."

Guðrún kvað:

"Svá gangi þér, Atli,

sem þú við Gunnar áttir

eiða oft of svarða

ok ár of nefnda,

at sól inni suðrhöllu

ok at Sigtýs bergi,

hölkvi hvílbeðjar

ok at hringi Ullar.

Ok meir þaðan

menvörð bituls

dolgrögni dró

til dauðs skokkr."

Guthrun spake:

"It shall go with thee, Atli,

as with Gunnar thou heldest

The oaths ofttimes sworn,

and of old made firm,

By the sun in the south,

by Sigtyr's mountain,

By the horse of the rest-bed,

and the ring of Ull.

Then the champer of bits

drew the chieftain great,

The gold-guarder, down

to the place of death.

*********"

"Lifanda gram

lagði í garð,

þan er skriðinn var,

skatna mengi,

innan ormum,

en einn Gunnarr

heiftmóðr hörpu

hendi kníði,

glumðu strengir;

svá skal gulli

frækn hringdrifi

við fira halda."

"By the warriors' host

was the living hero

Cast in the den

where crawling about

Within were serpents,

but soon did Gunnar

With his hand in wrath

on the harp-strings smite;

The strings resounded,

so shall a hero,

A ring-breaker, gold

from his enemies guard."

"Atli lét

lands síns á vit

jó eyrskáan

aftr frá morði;

dynr var í garði,

dröslum of þrungit,

vápnsöngr virða,

váru af heiði komnir."

"Then Atli rode

on his earth-treading steed,

Seeking his home,

from the slaughter-place;

There was clatter of hoofs

of the steeds in the court,

And the clashing of arms

as they came from the field."

"Út gekk þá Guðrún

Atla í gögn

með gylltum kálki

at reifa gjöld rögnis:

Þiggja knáttu, þengill,

í þinni höllu

glaðr at Guðrúnu

gnadda niflfarna."

Out then came Guthrun

to meeting with Atli,

With a golden beaker

as gift to the monarch:

"Thou mayst eat now, chieftain,

within thy dwelling,

Blithely with Guthrun

young beasts fresh slaughtered."

"Umðu ölskálir

Atla vínhöfgar,

þá er í höll saman

Húnar tölðusk,

gumar gransíðir,

gengu inn hvatir."

"The wine-heavy ale-cups

of Atli resounded,

When there in the hall

the Hunnish youths clamored,

And the warriors bearded,

the brave ones, entered."

"Skævaði þá in skírleita

*********

veigar þeim at bera,

afkár dís jöfrum

ok ölkrásir valði

nauðug neffölum,

en níð sagði Atla:"

"Then in came the shining one,

*********

*********

and drink she bore them;

Unwilling and bitter

brought she food to the warrior,

Till in scorn to the white-faced

Atli did she speak:"

"Sona hefir þinna,

sverða deilir,

hjörtu hrædreyrug

við hunang of tuggin;

melta knáttu, móðugr,

manna valbráðir,

eta at ölkrásum

ok í öndugi at senda."

"Thou giver of swords,

of thy sons the hearts

All heavy with blood

in honey thou hast eaten;

Thou shalt stomach, thou hero,

the flesh of the slain,

To eat at thy feast,

and to send to thy followers."

"Kallar-a þú síðan

til knéa þinna

Erp né Eitil,

ölreifa tvá;

sér-a-ðu síðan

í seti miðju

gulls miðlendr

geira skefta,

manar meita

né mara keyra."

"Thou shalt never call

to thy knees again

Erp or Eitil,

when merry with ale;

Thou shalt never see

in their seats again

The sharers of gold

their lances shaping,

(Clipping the manes

or minding their steeds.)"

"Ymr varð á bekkjum,

afkárr söngr virða,

gnýr und guðvefjum,

grétu börn Húna;

nema ein Guðrún,

er hon æva grét

bræðr sína berharða

ok buri svása,

unga, ófróða,

þá er hon við Atla gat."

"There was clamor on the benches,

and the cry of men,

The clashing of weapons,

and weeping of the Huns,

Save for Guthrun only,

she wept not ever

For her bear-fierce brothers,

or the boys so dear,

So young and so unhappy,

whom with Atli she had."

"Gulli söri

in gaglbjarta,

hringum rauðum

reifði hon húskarla;

sköp lét hon vaxa,

en skíran malm vaða,

æva fljóð ekki

gáði fjarghúsa."

"Gold did she scatter,

the swan-white one,

And rings of red gold

to the followers gave she;

The fate she let grow,

and the shining wealth go,

Nor spared she the treasure

of the temple itself."

"Óvarr Atli

óðan hafði hann sik drukkit,

vápn hafði hann ekki,

varnaði-t hann við Gudrúnu,

oft var sá leikr betri,

þá er þau lint skyldu

oftar um faðmask

fyr öðlingum."

"Unwise then was Atli,

he had drunk to wildness,

No weapon did he have,

and of Guthrun bewared not;

Oft their play was better

when both in gladness

Each other embraced

among princes all."

"Hon beð broddi

gaf blóð at drekka

hendi helfússi

ok hvelpa leysti,

hratt fyr hallar dyrr

ok húskarla vakði

brandi brúðr heitum,

þau lét hon gjöld bræðra."

"With her sword she gave blood

for the bed to drink,

With her death-dealing hand,

and the hounds she loosed,

The thralls she awakened,

and a firebrand threw

In the door of the hall;

so vengeance she had."

"Eldi gaf hon þá alla,

er inni váru

ok frá morði þeira Gunnars

komnir váru ór Myrkheimi;

forn timbr fellu,

fjarghús ruku,

bær Buðlunga,

brunnu ok skjaldmeyjar

inni aldrstamar,

hnigu í eld heitan."

"To the flames she gave all

who yet were within,

And from Myrkheim had come

from the murder of Gunnar;

The timbers old fell,

the temple was in flames,

The dwelling of the Buthlungs,

and the shield-maids burned,

They were slain in the house,

in the hot flames they sank."

"Fullrætt er um þetta,

ferr engi svá síðan

brúðr í brynju

bræðra at hefna;

hon hefir þriggja

þjóðkonunga

banorð borit,

björt, áðr sylti."

"Now the tale is all told,

nor in later time

Will a woman in byrnie

avenge so her brothers;

The fair one to three

of the kings of the folk

Brought the doom of death

ere herself she died."