The Lay of Regin
Sigurðr gekk til stóðs Hjálpreks ok kaus sér af hest einn, er Grani var kallaðr síðan.
Þá var kominn Reginn til Hjálpreks, sonr Hreiðmars. Hann var hverjum manni hagari ok dvergr of vöxt. Hann var vitr, grimmr ok fjölkunnigr. Reginn veitti Sigurði fóstr ok kennslu ok elskaði hann mjök. Hann sagði Sigurði frá forellri sínu ok þeim atburðum, at Óðinn ok Hænir ok Loki höfðu komit til Andvarafors. Í þeim forsi var fjölði fiska. Einn dvergr hét Andvari. Hann var löngum í forsinum í geddu líki ok fekk sér þar matar.
Otr hét bróðir várr, kvað Reginn, er oft fór í forsinn í otrs líki. Hann hafði tekit einn lax ok sat á árbakkanum ok át blundandi. Loki laust hann með steini til bana. Þóttust æsir mjök heppnir verit hafa ok flógu belg af otrinum. Þat sama kveld sóttu þeir gisting til Hreiðmars ok sýndu veiði sína. Þá tókum vér þá höndum ok lögðum þeim fjörlausn at fylla otrbelginn með gulli ok hylja útan með rauðu gulli. Þá sendu þeir Loka at afla gullsins. Hann kom til Ránar ok fekk net hennar ok fór þá til Andvarafors ok kastaði netinu fyrir gedduna, en hon hljóp í netit. Þá mælti Loki:
Sigurth went to Hjalprek's stud and chose for himself a horse, who thereafter was called Grani. At that time Regin, the son of Hreithmar, was come to Hjalprek's home; he was more ingenious than all other men, and a dwarf in stature; he was wise, fierce and skilled in magic. Regin undertook Sigurth's bringing up and teaching, and loved him much. He told Sigurth of his forefathers, and also of this: that once Othin and Hönir and Loki had come to Andvari's waterfall, and in the fall were many fish. Andvari was a dwarf, who had dwelt long in the waterfall in the shape of a pike, and there he got his food. "Otr was the name of a brother of ours," said. Regin, "who often went into the fall in the shape of an otter; he had caught a salmon, and sat on the high bank eating it with his eyes shut. Loki threw a stone at him and killed him; the gods thought they bad had great good luck, and stripped the skin off the otter. That same evening they sought a night's lodging at Hreithmar's house, and showed their booty. Then we seized them, and told them, as ransom for their lives, to fill the otter skin with gold, and completely cover it outside as well with red gold. Then they sent Loki to get the gold; he went to Ron and got her net, and went then to Andvari's fall and cast the net in front of the pike, and the pike leaped into the net." Then Loki said:
"Hvat er þat fiska,
er renn flóði í,
kann-at sér við víti varask?
Höfuð þitt
leystu helju ór,
finn mér lindar loga."
"What is the fish
that runs in the flood,
And itself from ill cannot save?
If thy head thou wouldst
from hell redeem,
Find me the water's flame."
Geddan kvað:
"Andvari ek heiti,
Óinn hét minn faðir,
margan hef ek fors of farit;
aumlig norn
skóp oss í árdaga,
at ek skylda í vatni vaða."
Andvari spake:
"Andvari am I,
and Oin my father,
In many a fall have I fared;
An evil Norn
in olden days
Doomed me In waters to dwell."
Loki kvað:
"Segðu þat, Andvari,
ef þú eiga vill
líf í lýða sölum,
hver gjöld fáa
gumna synir,
ef þeir höggvask orðum á?"
Loki spake:
"Andvari, say,
if thou seekest still
To live in the land of men,
What payment is set
for the sons of men
Who war with lying words?"
Andvari kvað:
"Ofrgjöld fáa
gumna synir,
þeir er Vaðgelmi vaða;
ósaðra orða,
hverr er á annan lýgr,
oflengi leiða limar."
Andvari spake:
"A mighty payment
the men must make
Who in Valthgelmir's waters wade;
On a long road lead
the lying words
That one to another utters."
Loki sá allt gull þat, er Andvari átti. En er hann hafði framreitt gullit, þá hafði hann eftir einn hring, ok tók Loki þann af hánum. Dvergrinn gekk inn í steininn ok mælti:
Loki saw all the gold that Andvari had. But when he had brought forth all the gold, he held back one ring, and Loki took this from him. The dwarf went into his rocky hole and said:
"Þat skal gull,
er Gustr átti,
bræðrum tveim
at bana verða
ok öðlingum átta at rógi;
mun míns féar
manngi njóta."
"Now shall the gold
that Gust once had
Bring their death
to brothers twain,
And evil be
for heroes eight;
joy of my wealth
shall no man win."
Æsir reiddu Hreiðmari féit ok tráðu upp otrbelginn ok reistu á fætr. Þá skyldu æsirnir hlaða upp gullinu ok hylja. En er þat var gört, gekk Hreiðmarr fram ok sá eitt granahár ok bað hylja. Þá dró Óðinn fram hringinn Andvaranaut ok hulði hárit. Loki kvað:
The gods gave Hreithmar the gold, and filled up the otter-skin, and stood it on its feet. Then the gods had to heap up gold and hide it. And when that was done, Hreithmar came forward and saw a single whisker, and bade them cover it. Then Othin brought out the ring Andvaranaut and covered the hair. Then Loki said:
"Gull er þér nú reitt,
en þú gjöld hefir
mikil míns höfuðs;
syni þínum
verðr-a sæla sköpuð;
þat verðr ykkarr beggja bani."
"The gold is given,
and great the price
Thou hast my head to save;
But fortune thy sons
shall find not there,
The bane of ye both it is."
Hreiðmarr sagði:
"Gjafar þú gaft,
gaft-at-tu ástgjafar,
gaft-at-tu af heilum hug;
fjörvi yðru
skylduð ér firrðir vera,
ef ek vissa ek þat fár fyrir."
Hreithmar spake:
"Gifts ye gave,
but ye gave not kindly,
Gave not with hearts that were whole;
Your lives ere this
should ye all have lost,
If sooner this fate I had seen."
Loki kvað:
"Enn er verra
— þat vita þykkjumk —
niðja stríð of neppt;
jöfra óborna
hygg ek þá enn vera
er þat er til hatrs hugat."
Loki spake:
"Worse is this
that methinks I see,
For a maid shall kinsmen clash;
Heroes unborn
thereby shall be,
I deem, to hatred doomed."
Hreiðmarr kvað:
"Rauðu gulli
hygg ek mik ráða munu,
svá lengi sem ek lifi;
hót þín
hræðumk ekki lyf,
of haldið heim heðan."
Hreithmar spake:
"The gold so red
shall I rule, methinks,
So long as I shall live;
Nought of fear
for thy threats I feel,
So get ye hence to your homes."
Fáfnir ok Reginn kröfðu Hreiðmarr niðgjalda eftir Otr bróður sinn. Hann kvað nei við. En Fáfnir lagði sverði Hreiðmar, föður sinn, sofanda. Hreiðmarr kallaði á dætr sínar:
Fafnir and Regin asked Hreithmar for a share of the wealth that was paid for the slaying of their brother, Otr. This he refused, and Fafnir thrust his sword through the body of his father, Hreithmar, while he was sleeping. Hreithmar called to his daughters:
"Lyngheiðr ok Lofnheiðr,
vitið mínu lífi farit,
mart er þat, er þörf þéar."
Lyngheiðr sagði:
"Fá mun systir,
þótt föður missi,
hefna hlýra harms."
"Lyngheith and Lofnheith,
fled is my life,
And mighty now is my need!"
Lyngheith spake:
"Though a sister loses
her father, seldom
Revenge on her brother she brings."
"Hreiðmarr kvað:
Al þú þó dóttur,
dís ulfhuguð,
ef þú getr-at son
við siklingi;
fá mey mann
í meginþarfar;
þá mun þeirar sonr
þíns harms reka."
Hreithmar spake:
"A daughter, woman
with wolf's heart, bear,
If thou hast no son
with the hero brave;
If one weds the maid,
for the need is mighty,
Their son for thy hurt
may vengeance seek."
Þá dó Hreiðmarr, en Fáfnir tók gullit allt. Þá beiddist Reginn at hafa föðurarf sinn, en Fáfnir galt þar nei við. Þá leitaði Reginn ráða við Lyngheiði, systur sína, hvernig hann skyldi heimta föðurarf sinn. Hon kvað:
Then Hreithmar died, and Fafnir took all the gold. Thereupon Regin asked to have his inheritance from his father, but Fafnir refused this. Then Regin asked counsel of Lyngheith, his sister, how he should win his inheritance. She said:
"Bróður kveðja
skaltu blíðliga
arfs ok æðra hugar;
er-a þat hæft,
at þú hjörvi skylir
kveðju Fáfni féar."
"In friendly wise
the wealth shalt thou ask
Of thy brother, and better will;
Not seemly is it
to seek with the sword
Fafnir's treasure to take."
Þessa hluti sagði Reginn Sigurði. Einn dag, er hann kom til húsa Regins, var hánum vel fagnat. Reginn kvað:
All these happenings did Regin tell to Sigurth.
One day, when he came to Regin's house, he was gladly welcomed. Regin said:
"Kominn er hingat
konr Sigmundar,
seggr inn snarráði,
til sala várra,
móð hefir meira
en maðr gamall,
ok er mér fangs ván
at frekum ulfi."
"Hither the son
of Sigmund is come,
The hero eager,
here to our hall;
His courage is more
than an ancient man's,
And battle I hope
from the hardy wolf."
"Ek mun fæða
folkdjarfan gram;
nú er Yngva konr
með oss kominn;
sjá mun ræsir
ríkstr und sólu;
þrymr um öll lönd
örlögsímu."
"Here shall I foster
the fearless prince,
Now Yngvi's heir
to us is come;
The noblest hero
beneath the sun,
The threads of his fate
all lands enfold."
Sigurðr var þá jafnan með Regin, ok sagði hann Sigurði, at Fáfnir lá á Gnitaheiði ok var í orms líki. Hann átti ægishjalm, er öll kvikendi hræddust við. Reginn gerði Sigurði sverð, er Gramr hét. Þat var svá hvasst, at hann brá því ofan í Rín ok lét reka ullarlagð fyrir straumi ok tók í sundr lagðinn sem vatnit. Því sverði klauf Sigurðr í sundr steðja Regins. Eftir þat eggjaði Reginn Sigurð at vega Fáfni. Hann sagði:
Sigurth was there continually with Regin, who said to Sigurth that Fafnir lay at Gnitaheith, and was in the shape of a dragon. He had a fear-helm, of which all living creatures were terrified. Regin made Sigurth the sword which was called Gram; it was so sharp that when he thrust it down into the Rhine, and let a strand of wool drift against it with the stream, it cleft the strand asunder as if it were water. With this sword Sigurth cleft asunder Regin's anvil. After that Regin egged Sigurth on to slay Fafnir, but he said:
"Hátt munu hlæja
Hundings synir,
þeir er Eylima
aldrs synjuðu,
ef meir tyggja
munar at sækja
hringa rauða
en hefnd föður."
"Loud will the sons
of Hunding laugh,
Who low did Eylimi
lay in death,
If the hero sooner
seeks the red
Rings to find
than his father's vengeance."
Hjálprekr konungr fekk Sigurði skipalið til föðurhefnda. Þeir fengu storm mikinn ok beittu fyrir bergsnös nökkura. Maðr einn stóð á berginu ok kvað:
King Hjalprek gave Sigurth a fleet for the avenging of his father. They ran into a great storm, and were off a certain headland. A man stood on the mountain, and said:
"Hverir ríða þar
Ræfils hestum
hávar unnir,
haf glymjanda?
Seglvigg eru
sveita stokkin,
mun-at vágmarar
vind of standask."
"Who yonder rides
on Rævil's steeds,
O'er towering waves
and waters wild?
The sail-horses all
with sweat are dripping,
Nor can the sea-steeds
the gale withstand."
Reginn svaraði:
"Hér ro vér Sigurðr
á sætréum;
er oss byrr gefinn
við bana sjalfan;
fellr brattr breki
bröndum hæri,
hlunnvigg hrapa.
Hverr spyrr at því?"
Regin answered:
"On the sea-trees here
are Sigurth and I,
The storm wind drives us
on to our death;
The waves crash down
on the forward deck,
And the roller-steeds sink;
who seeks our names?"
Maðr kvað:
"Hnikar hétu mik,
þá er hugin gladdak
Völsungr ungi,
ok vegit hafðak;
nú máttu kalla
karl af bergi
Fengi eða Fjölni;
far vil ek þiggja."
The Man spake:
"Hnikar I was
when Volsung once
Gladdened the ravens
and battle gave;
Call me the Man
from the Mountain now,
Feng or Fjolnir;
with you will I fare."
Þeir viku at landi, ok gekk karl á skip, ok lægði þá veðrit. Sigurðr kvað:
They sailed to the land, and the man went on board the ship, and the storm subsided. Sigurth spake:
"Segðu mér þat, Hnikarr,
alls þá hvárttveggja veizt
goða heill ok guma:
hver bözt eru,
ef berjask skal,
heill at sverða svipun."
"Hnikar, say,
for thou seest the fate
That to gods and men is given;
What sign is fairest
for him who fights,
And best for the swinging of swords?"
Hnikarr kvað:
"Mörg eru góð,
ef gumar vissi,
heill at sverða svipun;
dyggva fylgju
hygg ek ins dökkva vera
hrottameiði hrafns."
Hnikar spake:
"Many the signs,
if men but knew,
That are good for the swinging of swords;
It is well, methinks,
if the warrior meets
A raven black on his road."
"Þat er annat,
ef þú ert út of kominn
ok ert á braut búinn,
tvá þú lítr
á tái standa
hróðrfúsa hali."
Hnikar spake:
"Another it is
if out thou art come,
And art ready forth to fare,
To behold on the path
before thy house
Two fighters greedy of fame."
"Þat er it þriðja,
ef þú þjóta heyrir
ulf und asklimum;
heilla auðit
verðr þér af hjalmstöfum,
ef þú sér þá fyrri fara."
"Third it is well
if a howling wolf
Thou hearest under the ash;
And fortune comes
if thy foe thou seest
Ere thee the hero beholds."
"Engr skal gumna
í gögn vega
síð skínandi
systur Mána;
þeir sigr hafa,
er séa kunnu,
hjörleiks hvatir,
eða hamalt fylkja."
"A man shall fight not
when he must face
The moon's bright sister setting late;
Win he shall
who well can see,
And wedge-like forms
his men for the fray."
"Þat er fár mikit,
ef þú fæti drepr,
þars þú at vígi veðr;
tálar dísir
standa þér á tvær hliðar
ok vilja þik sáran sjá."
"Foul is the sign
if thy foot shall stumble
As thou goest forth to fight;
Goddesses baneful
at both thy sides
Will that wounds thou shalt get."
"Kembður ok þveginn
skal kænna hverr
ok at morgni mettr,
því at ósýnt er,
hvar at aftni kemr;
illt er fyr heill at hrapa."
"Combed and washed
shall the wise man go,
And a meal at mom shall take;
For unknown it is
where at eve he may be;
It is ill thy luck to lose."
Sigurðr átti orrostu mikla við Lyngva Hundingsson ok bræðr hans. Þar fell Lyngvi ok þeir þrír bræðr. Eftir orrostu kvað Reginn:
Sigurth had a great battle with Lyngvi, the son of Hunding, and his brothers; there Lyngvi fell, and his two brothers with him. After the battle Regin said:
"Nú er blóðugr örn
bitrum hjörvi
bana Sigmundar
á baki ristinn;
engr var fremri,
sá er fold ryði,
hilmis arfi,
ok hugin gladdi."
"Now the bloody eagle
with biting sword
Is carved on the back
of Sigmund's killer;
Few were more fierce
in fight than his son,
Who reddened the earth
and gladdened the ravens."
Heim fór Sigurðr til Hjálpreks. Þá eggjaði Reginn Sigurð til at vega Fáfni.
Sigurth went home to Hjalprek's house; thereupon Regin egged him on to fight with Fafnir.
Translation by Henry Adams Bellows.