"Segðu Hemingi

at Helgi man,

hvern i brynju

bragnar felldu;

ér ulf gráan

inni höfðuð,

þar er Hamal hugði

Hundingr konungr."

"Say to Hæming

that Helgi knows

Whom the heroes

in armor hid;

A gray wolf had they

within their hall,

Whom King Hunding

Hamal thought."

"Hvöss eru augu

í Hagals þýju;

er-a þat karls ætt,

er á kvernum stendr;

steinar rifna

stökk lúðr fyrir."

Then Blind spake out,

the evil-minded:

"Of Hagal's bond-woman

bright are the eyes;

Yon comes not of churls

who stands at the quern;

The millstones break,

the boards are shattered.

"Nú hefir hörð dæmi

hildingr þegit,

er vísi skal

valbygg mala;

heldr er sæmri

hendi þeiri

meðalkafli

en möndultré."

"The hero has

a doom full hard,

That barley now

he needs must grind;

Better befits

his hand to feel

The hilt of the sword

than the millstone's handle."

Hagall svaraði ok kvað:

"Þat er lítil vá,

þótt lúðr þrumi

er mær konungs

möndul hrærir;

hon skævaði

skýjum efri

ok vega þorði

sem víkingar,

áðr hana Helgi

höftu gerði;

systir er hon þeira

Sigars ok Högna;

því hefir ötul augu

Ylfinga man."

Hagal answered and said:

"Small is the wonder

if boards are splintered

By a monarch's daughter

the mill is turned;

Once through clouds

she was wont to ride,

And battles fought

like fighting men,

(Till Helgi a captive

held her fast;

Sister she is

of Sigar and Hogni,

Thus bright are the eyes

of the Ylfings' maid.)"

"Hverir láta fljóta

fley við bakka?

Hvar, hermegir,

heima eiguð?

Hvers bíðið ér

í Brunavágum?

Hvert lystir yðr

leið at kanna?"

"Who rules the ship

by the shore so steep?

Where is the home

ye warriors have?

Why do ye bide

in Brunavagar,

Or what the way

that ye wish to try?"

Helgi kvað:

"Hagall lætr fljóta

fley við bakka,

eigum heima

í Hléseyju,

bíðum byrjar

í Brunavágum,

austr lystir oss

leið at kanna."

Helgi spake:

"Hamal's the ship

by the shore so steep,

Our home in Hlesey

do we have;

For fair wind bide we

in Brunavagar,

Eastward the way

that we wish to try."

Sigrún kvað:

"Hvar hefir þú, hilmir,

hildi vakða

eða gögl alin

Gunnar systra?

Hví er brynja þín

blóði stokkin?

Hví skal und hjalmum

hrátt kjöt eta?"

Sigrun spake:

"Where hast thou, warrior,

battle wakened,

Or gorged the birds

of the sisters of Guth?

Why is thy byrnie

spattered with blood,

Why helmed dost feast

on food uncooked?"

Helgi kvað:

"Þat vann næst nýs

niðr Ylfinga

fyr vestan ver,

ef þik vita lystir,

er ek björnu tók

í Bragalundi

ok ætt ara

oddum saddak."

Helgi spake:

"Latest of all,

the Ylfings' son

On the western sea,

if know thou wilt,

Captured bears

in Bragalund,

And fed the eagles

with edge of sword.

"Nú er sagt, mær,

hvaðan sakar gerðusk,

því var á legi mér

lítt steikt etit."

Now is it shown

why our shirts are bloody,

And little our food

with fire is cooked."

Sigrún kvað:

"Víg lýsir þú,

varð fyr Helga

Hundingr konungr

hníga at velli;

bar sókn saman,

er sefa hefnduð

ok busti blóð

á brimis eggjar."

Sigrun spake:

"Of battle thou tellest,

and there was bent

Hunding the king

before Helgi down;

There was carnage when thou

didst avenge thy kin,

And blood flowed fast

on the blade of the sword."

Helgi kvað:

"Hvat vissir þú,

at þeir séim,

snót svinnhuguð,

er sefa hefndum?

Margir ro hvassir

hildings synir

ok ámunir

ossum niðjum."

Helgi spake:

"How didst thou know

that now our kin,

Maiden wise,

we have well avenged?

Many there are

of the sons of the mighty

Who share alike

our lofty race."

Sigrún kvað:

"Vark-a ek fjarri,

folks oddviti,

gær á morgun

grams aldrlokum,

þó tel ek slægjan

Sigmundar bur,

er í valrúnum

vígspjöll segir."

Sigrun spake:

"Not far was I

from the lord of the folk,

Yester morn,

when the monarch was slain;

Though crafty the son

of Sigmund, methinks,

When he speaks of the fight

in slaughter-runes.

"Leit ek þik um sinn

fyrr á langskipum,

þá er þú byggðir

blóðga stafna

ok úrsvalar

unnir léku;

nú vill dyljask

döglingr fyr mér,

en Högna mær

Helga kennir."

"On the long-ship once

I saw thee well,

When in the blood-stained

bow thou wast,

(And round thee icy

waves were raging;)

Now would the hero

hide from me,

But to Hogni's daughter

is Helgi known."

"Sótti Sigrún

sikling glaðan,

heim nam hon Helga

hönd at sækja,

kyssti ok kvaddi

konung und hjalmi;

þá varð hilmi

hugr á vífi."

Sigrun the joyful

chieftain sought,

Forthwith Helgi's

hand she took;

She greeted the hero

helmed and kissed him,

The warrior's heart

to the woman turned.

"Fyrr lézk hon unna

af öllum hug

syni Sigmundar

en hon sét hafði."

From her heart the daughter

of Hogni spake,

Dear was Helgi,

she said, to her;

Sigrún kvað:

"Var ek Höðbroddi

í her föstnuð,

en jöfur annan

eiga vildak;

þó sjámk, fylkir,

frænda reiði,

hefi ek míns föður

munráð brotit."

Sigrun spake:

"At the meeting to Hothbrodd

mated I was,

But another hero

I fain would have;

Though, king, the wrath

of my kin I fear,

Since I broke my father's

fairest wish."

"Nam-a Högna mær

of hug mæla,

hafa kvaðsk hon Helga

hylli skyldu."

"Long with all

my heart I loved

Sigmund's son

ere ever I saw him.

Helgi kvað:

"Hirð eigi þú

Högna reiði

né illan hug

ættar þinnar.

Þú skalt, mær ung,

at mér lifa;

ætt áttu, in góða,

er ek eigi sjámk."

Helgi spake:

"Fear not ever

Hogni's anger,

Nor yet thy kinsmen's

cruel wrath;

Maiden, thou

with me shalt live,

Thy kindred, fair one,

I shall not fear."

"Hver er skjöldungr,

sá er skipum stýrir,

lætr gunnfana

gullinn fyr stafni?

Þykkja mér fríð

í fararbroddi;

verpr vígroða

um víkinga."

"Who is the king

who captains the fleet,

And to the land

the warriors leads?"

Sinfjötli kvað:

"Hér má Höðbroddr

Helga kenna

flótta trauðan

í flota miðjum,

hann hefir eðli

ættar þinnar

arf Fjörsunga,

und sik þrungit."

"Never shall Sigrun

from Sevafjoll,

Hothbrodd king,

be held in thine arms;

Granmar's sons

full cold have grown,

And the giant-steeds gray

on corpses gorge."

Guðmundr kvað:

"Því fyrr skulu

at Frekasteini

sáttir saman

um sakar dæma;

mál er, Höðbroddr,

hefnd at vinna

ef vér lægra hlut

lengi bárum."

Gothmund spake:

"First shall swords

at Frekastein

Prove our worth

in place of words;

Time is it, Hothbrodd,

vengeance to have,

If in battle worsted

once we were."

Sinfjötli kvað:

"Fyrr mundu, Guðmundr,

geitr of halda

ok bergskorar

brattar klífa,

hafa þér í hendi

heslikylfu,

þat er þér blíðara

en brimis dómar."

Sinfjotli spake:

"Better, Gothmund,

to tend the goats,

And climb the rocks

of the mountain cliffs;

A hazel switch

to hold in thy hand

More seemly were

than the hilt of a sword."

Helgi kvað:

"Þér er, Sinfjötli,

sæmra miklu

gunni at heyja

ok glaða örnu

en ónýtum

orðum at bregða,

þótt hildingar

heiftir deili."

Helgi spake:

"Better, Sinfjotli,

thee 'twould beseem

Battles to give,

and eagles to gladden,

Than vain and empty

speech to utter,

Though warriors oft

with words do strive.

"Þykkja-t mér góðir

Granmars synir,

þó dugir siklingum

satt at mæla;

þeir merkt hafa

á Móinsheimum,

at hug hafa

hjörum at bregða;

eru hildingar

hölzti snjallir."

"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,

(And ever brave

the warriors are.)"

"Mun-a þér, Sigrún

frá Sefafjöllum

Höðbroddr konungr,

hníga at armi;

liðin er ævi

— oft náir hrævi

gránstóð gríðar, —

Granmars sona."

"Never shall Sigrun

from Sevafjoll,

Hothbrodd king,

be held in thine arms;

Granmar's sons

full cold have grown,

And the giant-steeds gray

on corpses gorge."

Þá hitti hon Helga ok varð allfegin. Hann kvað:

"Er-at þér at öllu,

alvitr, gefit,

— þó kveð ek nökkvi

nornir valda —:

fellu í morgun

at Frekasteini

Bragi ok Högni,

varð ek bani þeira."

Then she sought out Helgi, and was full of joy He said:

"Maid, not fair

is all thy fortune,

The Norns I blame

that this should be;

This morn there fell

at Frekastein

Bragi and Hogni

beneath my hand.

"En at Styrkleifum

Starkaðr konungr,

en at Hlébjörgum

Hrollaugs synir;

þann sá ek gylfa

grimmúðgastan,

er barðisk bolr,

var á brott höfuð."

"At Hlebjorg fell

the sons of Hrollaug,

Starkath the king

at Styrkleifar;

Fighters more noble

saw I never,

The body fought

when the head had fallen.

"Liggja at jörðu

allra flestir

niðjar þínir,

at náum orðnir;

vannt-at-tu vígi,

var þér þat skapat,

at þú at rógi

ríkmenni vart."

"On the ground full low

the slain are lying,

Most are there

of the men of thy race;

Nought hast thou won,

for thy fate it was

Brave men to bring

to the battle-field.

Þá grét Sigrún. Hann kvað:

"Huggastu, Sigrún!

Hildr hefr þú oss verið;

vinna-t skjöldungar sköpum.

Sigrún kvað:

Lifna mynda ek nú kjósa,

er liðnir eru,

ok knætta ek þér þó í faðmi felask."

Then Sigrun wept.

Helgi said:

"Grieve not, Sigrun,

the battle is gained,

The fighter can shun not his fate."

Sigrun spake:

"To life would I call

them who slaughtered lie,

If safe on thy breast I might be."

"Trauðr em ek, systir,

trega þér at segja,

því at ek hefi nauðigr

nifti grætta;

fell í morgun

und Fjöturlundi

buðlungr, sá er var

beztr í heimi

ok hildingum

á halsi stóð."

"Sad am I, sister,

sorrow to tell thee,

Woe to my kin

unwilling I worked;

In the morn there fell

at Fjoturlund

The noblest prince

the world has known,

(And his heel he set

on the heroes' necks.)"

"Sigrún kvað

Þik skyli allir

eiðar bíta,

þeir er Helga

hafðir unna

at inu ljósa

Leiftrar vatni

ok at úrsvölum

Unnarsteini."

Sigrun spake:

"Now may every

oath thee bite

That with Helgi

sworn thou hast,

By the water

bright of Leipt,

And the ice-cold

stone of Uth.

"Skríði-at þat skip,

er und þér skríði,

þótt óskabyrr

eftir leggisk;

renni-a sá marr,

er und þér renni,

þóttú fjándr þína

forðask eigir."

"The ship shall sail not

in which thou sailest,

Though a favoring wind

shall follow after;

The horse shall run not

whereon thou ridest,

Though fain thou art

thy foe to flee.

"Bíti-a þér þat sverð,

er þú bregðir,

nema sjalfum þér

syngvi of höfði.

Þá væri þér hefnt

Helga dauða,

ef þú værir vargr

á viðum úti

auðs andvani

ok alls gamans,

hefðir eigi mat,

nema á hræjum spryngir."

"The sword shall bite not

which thou bearest,

Till thy head itself

it sings about.

"Vengeance were mine

for Helgi's murder,

Wert thou a wolf

in the woods without,

Possessing nought

and knowing no joy,

Having no food

save corpses to feed on."

Dagur kvað:

"Ær ertu, systir,

ok örvita,

er þú bræðr þínum

biðr forskapa;

einn veldr Óðinn

öllu bölvi,

því at með sifjungum

sakrúnar bar."

Dag spake:

"Mad art thou, sister,

and wild of mind,

Such a curse

on thy brother to cast;

Othin is ruler

of every ill,

Who sunders kin

with runes of spite.

"Þér býðr bróðir

bauga rauða,

öll Vandilsvé

ok Vígdali;

hafðu halfan heim

harms at gjöldum,

brúðr baugvarið,

ok burir þínir."

"Thy brother rings

so red will give thee,

All Vandilsve

and Vigdalir;

Take half my land

to pay the harm,

Ring-decked maid,

and as meed for thy sons."

Sigrún kvað:

"Sitk-a ek svá sæl

at Sefafjöllum

ár né of nætr,

at ek una lífi,

nema at liði lofðungs

ljóma bregði,

renni und vísa

Vígblær þinig,

gullbitli vanr,

knega ek grami fagna."

Sigrun spake:

"I shall sit not happy

at Sevafjoll,

Early or late,

my life to love,

If the light cannot show,

in the leader's band,

Vigblær bearing him

back to his home,

(The golden-bitted;

I shall greet him never.)

"Svá hafði Helgi

hrædda görva

fjándr sína alla

ok frændr þeira

sem fyr ulfi

óðar rynni

geitr af fjalli

geiskafullar."

"Such the fear

that Helgi's foes

Ever felt,

and all their kin,

As makes the goats

with terror mad

Run from the wolf

among the rocks.

"Svá bar Helgi

af hildingum

sem ítrskapaðr

askr af þyrni

eða sá dýrkalfr

döggu slunginn

er efri ferr

öllum dýrum

ok horn glóa

við himin sjalfan."

"Helgi rose

above heroes all

Like the lofty ash

above lowly thorns,

Or the noble stag,

with dew besprinkled,

Bearing his head

above all beasts,

(And his horns gleam bright

to heaven itself.)

"Þú skalt, Hundingr,

hverjum manni

fótlaug geta

ok funa kynda,

hunda binda,

hesta gæta,

gefa svínum soð,

áðr sofa gangir."

Helgi said:

A "Thou shalt, Hunding,

of every hero

Wash the feet,

and kindle the fire,

Tie up dogs,

and tend the horses,

And feed the swine

ere to sleep thou goest."

"Hvárt eru þat svik ein,

er ek sjá þykkjumk,

eða ragnarök,

— ríða menn dauðir,

er jóa yðra

oddum keyrið —

eða er hildingum

heimför gefin?"

"Is this a dream

that methinks I see,

Or the doom of the gods,

that dead men ride,

And hither spurring

urge your steeds,

Or is home-coming now

to the heroes granted?"

Helgi kvað:

"Er-a þat svik ein,

er þú sjá þykkisk,

né aldar rof,

þóttú oss lítir,

þótt vér jóa óra

oddum keyrim,

né er hildingum

heimför gefin."

Helgi spake:

"No dream is this

that thou thinkest to see,

Nor the end of the world,

though us thou beholdest,

And hither spurring

we urge our steeds,

Nor is home-coming now

to the heroes granted."

Heim gekk ambátt ok sagði Sigrúnu:

"Út gakk þú, Sigrún

frá Sefafjöllum,

ef þik folks jaðar

finna lystir;

upp er haugr lokinn,

kominn er Helgi,

dolgspor dreyra,

döglingr bað þik,

at þú sárdropa

svefja skyldir."

The maiden went home and said to Sigrun:

"Go forth, Sigrun,

from Sevafjoll,

If fain the lord

of the folk wouldst find;

(The hill is open,

Helgi is come;)

The sword-tracks bleed;

the monarch bade

That thou his wounds

shouldst now make well."

Sigrún gekk í hauginn til Helga ok kvað:

"Nú em ek svá fegin

fundi okkrum

sem átfrekir

Óðins haukar,

er val vitu,

varmar bráðir,

eða dögglitir

dagsbrún sjá."

Sigrun went in the hill to Helgi, and said:

"Now am I glad

of our meeting together,

As Othin's hawks,

so eager for prey,

When slaughter and flesh

all warm they scent,

Or dew-wet see

the red of day.

"Fyrr vil ek kyssa

konung ólifðan

en þú blóðugri

brynju kastir;

hár er þitt, Helgi,

hélu þrungit,

allr er vísi

valdögg sleginn,

hendr úrsvalar

Högna mági;

hvé skal ek þér, buðlungr,

þess bót of vinna?"

"First will I kiss

the lifeless king,

Ere off the bloody

byrnie thou cast;

With frost thy hair

is heavy, Helgi,

And damp thou art

with the dew of death;

(Ice-cold hands

has Hogni's kinsman,

What, prince, can I

to bring thee ease?)"

Helgi kvað:

"Ein veldr þú, Sigrún

frá Sefafjöllum,

er Helgi er

harmdögg sleginn;

grætr þú, gullvarið,

grimmum tárum,

sólbjört, suðræn,

áðr þú sofa gangir;

hvert fellr blóðugt

á brjóst grami,

úrsvalt, innfjalgt,

ekka þrungit."

Helgi spake:

"Thou alone, Sigrun

of Sevafjoll,

Art cause that Helgi

with dew is heavy;

Gold-decked maid,

thy tears are grievous,

(Sun-bright south-maid,

ere thou sleepest;)

Each falls like blood

on the hero's breast,

(Burned-out, cold,

and crushed with care.)

"Vel skulum drekka

dýrar veigar,

þótt misst hafim

munar ok landa;

skal engi maðr

angrljóð kveða,

þótt mér á brjósti

benjar líti;

nú eru brúðir

byrgðar í haugi,

lofða dísir,

hjá oss liðnum."

Helgi spake:

"Well shall we drink

a noble draught,

Though love and lands

are lost to me;

No man a song

of sorrow shall sing,

Though bleeding wounds

are on my breast;

Now in the hill

our brides we hold,

The heroes' loves,

by their husbands dead."

Sigrún bjó sæing í hauginum.

"Hér hefi ek þér, Helgi,

hvílu görva

angrlausa mjök,

Ylfinga niðr,

vil ek þér í faðmi,

fylkir, sofna

sem ek lofðungi

lifnum myndak."

Sigrun made ready a bed in the hill.

"Here a bed

I have made for thee, Helgi,

To rest thee from care,

thou kin of the Ylfings;

I will make thee sink

to sleep in my arms,

As once I lay

with the living king."

Helgi kvað:

"Nú kveð ek enskis

örvænt vera

síð né snimma

at Sefafjöllum,

er þú á armi

ólifðum sefr,

hvít, í haugi,

Högna dóttir,

ok ertu kvik,

in konungborna."

Helgi spake:

"Now do I say

that in Sevafjoll

Aught may happen,

early or late,

Since thou sleepest clasped

in a corpse's arms,

So fair in the hill,

the daughter of Hogni!

(Living thou comest,

a daughter of kings.)

"Mál er mér at ríða

roðnar brautir,

láta fölvan jó

flugstíg troða;

skal ek fyr vestan

vindhjalms brúar,

áðr Salgófnir

sigrþjóð veki."

"Now must I ride

the reddened ways,

And my bay steed set

to tread the sky;

Westward I go

to wind-helm's bridges,

Ere Salgofnir wakes

the warrior throng."

"Kominn væri nú,

ef koma hygði,

Sigmundar burr

frá sölum Óðins;

kveð ek grams þinig

grænask vánir,

er á asklimum

ernir sitja

ok drífr drótt öll

draumþinga til."

"Now were he come,

if come he might,

Sigmund's son,

from Othin's seat;

Hope grows dim

of the hero's return

When eagles sit

on the ash-tree boughs,

And men are seeking

the meeting of dreams."

Ambótt kvað:

"Verðu eigi svá ær,

at ein farir,

dís skjöldunga,

draughúsa til;

verða öflgari

allir á nóttum

dauðir dolgar, mær,

en um daga ljósa."

The Maiden said:

"Mad thou wouldst seem

alone to seek,

Daughter of heroes,

the house of the dead;

For mightier now

at night are all

The ghosts of the dead

than when day is bright."