Helgakviða Hundingsbana in fyrri

This poem is headed Vǫlsungakviða ‘Poem of the Vǫlsungar’ in R, but is now generally known as Helgakviða Hundingsbana in fyrri ‘The Earlier/Former Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani’ (HH. I). Preserved on R fol. 20r–22r, it is the first poem in this manuscript’s heroic group, as classified by many modern scholars. It is also the first of two works in R about a legendary hero called Helgi ‘Holy One’ who slew a certain King Hundingr, the second being now known as Helgakviða Hundingsbana ǫnnur (HH. II) ‘The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani’.1 This Helgi is the half-brother of Sigurðr, greatest hero of the Vǫlsungar, who figures prominently in subsequent poems in R. Somewhat awkwardly, it may seem, the two texts about Helgi Hundingsbani are separated by a third poem, now called Helgakviða Hjǫrvarðssonar ‘The Lay of Helgi Hjǫrvarðsson’ (HHv.), about a different Helgi, who was thought to have been reborn, possibly as Helgi Hundingsbani. It may be that the two Helgis are ultimately the same figure, ‘probably variants derived from a common ritual pattern in which a Helgi “the hallowed one” mated with a goddess, probably of tribal sovereignty, and was ritually slain by a near relative’.2

HH. I is in fornyrðislag. It is distinguished stylistically by having more kennings and other poetic terms than any other Eddic poem except Hym. Also, as one scholar observes, its ‘language is rich in new compounds which find their closest parallels in skaldic poetry’.3 Similarly, ‘[t]he spirit of the poem is that of skaldic panegyric, glorifying the victorious king’.4 The poem’s language, burnished by a poet ‘of brilliant surfaces’,5 and character have prompted the proposal that it was composed in the mid to late eleventh century at a royal court, possibly that of Magnús Óláfsson of Norway, though it may draw on earlier material.

The three Helgi-poems head the heroic poems of R, within which they form a subgroup. The association of the first and third with the subject matter of subsequent poems of the Eddic Vǫlsung-Niflung cycle appears tangential and probably arose fairly late.

HH. I, or a text very like it, was a source for chapters 8 to 9 of VS, which treat the same story, though with some differences of personal and place names. The saga’s account of the central flyting between Helgi’s half-brother, Sinfjǫtli, and Guðmundr, brother of Hǫðbroddr, in HH. I 34–44 (a shorter version of which appears in HH. II 24–29 [19–24]) helps establish which character says what. This type of verbal contest also appears in HHv. 12–30, is exemplified earlier in R by Hrbl. and Ls., and recurs in other medieval Scandinavian texts.

Saxo Grammaticus gives a different account of Helgi’s career in GD (2.5.2–7). Additionally, Helgi appears briefly in chapters 4 and 5 of the fourteenth-century Nornagests þáttr ‘Story of Nornagestr’.

Synopsis

HH. I begins in the distant past, with Helgi’s birth to Borghildr and Sigmundr (father of the hero Sigurðr who appears in subsequent poems). Helgi’s arrival is attended by auspicious signs, and his greatness is ordained by the Nornir, who arrange the threads of his destiny (1–4). One raven expresses to another its pleasure at Helgi’s birth—the child who stands in armour when only a day old will slay men, giving them corpses to eat (5–6).

Sigmundr confers a leek on his son, whom the people considered a descendant of Dagr ‘Day’, a boy whom they believed would bring them fruitful years (7). Sigmundr also names his son, gives him certain places (at least some probably mythical) and a sword (8).

Helgi grows up a generous ruler (9) and, while still a teenager, slays Hundingr (10). Hundingr’s sons demand compensation (11), which Helgi refuses (12). Battle ensues and Helgi kills all four brothers (14).

Radiant valkyries appear (15), and Helgi asks if they will come home with him and his men (16). One of them, later identified as Sigrún, says they have better things to do (17). She reveals that she has been promised in marriage to a king called Hǫðbroddr, whom she likens to a kitten (18). She invites Helgi to fight him (19), which Helgi agrees to do (20). He gathers his forces (21–22), and they set sail (23). The size of their naval force is emphasized (24–26), as is the clamour of their sea-voyage (27–28). Aided by Sigrún, they survive an attempt by the sea-goddess, Rán, to capsize them (29–30), and arrive offshore at their destination, to the concern of onlookers (31).

Guðmundr, Hǫðbroddr’s brother, asks who the visitors are (32). A flyting ensues between him and Sinfjǫtli, Helgi’s half-brother, in which they accuse each other of various kinds of unmanliness (33–44). Helgi says they would do better to fight than trade vain insults (45), as these opponents have shown themselves to have spirit (46).

Guðmundr sends out horse-messengers (47). They meet Hǫðbroddr outside his stronghold and inform him of Helgi’s arrival. Hǫðbroddr asks why they look worried (48). They describe the multitude of Helgi’s forces and declare that he will attack soon (49–50).

Hǫðbroddr summons every available man to fight with him (51–52). Immediately, the battle begins, with Helgi always in the thick of the fighting (53). Valkyries protect him (54), and Sigrún ends the poem by announcing that he has killed Hǫðbroddr and that he will enjoy both lands and her (55–56).

Further Reading

Bek-Bedersen, K., The Norns in Old Norse Mythology (Edinburgh: Dunedin, 2011).

Bugge, S., The Home of the Eddic Poems with Especial Reference to the Helgi-lays, rev. edn (London: D. Nutt, 1899).

Clark, D., Gender, Violence, and the Past in Edda and Saga (Oxford, 2012), https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199654307.001.0001

Clark, D., ‘Heroic Homosociality and Homophobia in the Helgi Poems’, in P. Acker and C. Larrington, ed., Revisiting the Poetic Edda: Essays on Old Norse Heroic Legend (New York: Routledge, 2013), pp. 11–27, https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203098608-9  

Davidson, H. R. E., ‘Insults and Riddles in the Edda Poems’, in R. J. Glendinning and Haraldur Bessason, ed., Edda: A Collection of Essays (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1983), pp. 25–46.

Harris, J., ‘Satire and the Heroic Life: Two Studies (Helgakviða Hundingsbana I, 18 and Bjǫrn Hítdœlakappi’s Grámagaflím)’, in J. M. Foley, ed., Oral Traditional Literature: A Festschrift for Albert Bates Lord (Columbus, OH: Slavio Publishing, 1981), pp. 322–40.

Harris, J., ‘Eddic Poetry as Oral Poetry: The Evidence of Parallel Passages in the Helgi Poems for Questions of Composition and Performance’, in R. J. Glendinning and Haraldur Bessason, ed., Edda: A Collection of Essays (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1983), pp. 210–42.

Hollander, L. M., ‘Recent Studies in the Helgi Poems’, Scandinavian Studies and Notes 8 (1924), 108–25.

Larrington, C., ‘Sibling Drama: Laterality in the Heroic Poems of the Edda’, in D. Anlezark, ed., Myths, Legends, and Heroes: Essays on Old Norse and Old English Literature in Honour of John McKinnell (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011), pp. 169–87, https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442662056-012  

Larrington, C., ‘“Sacred Hero, Holy Places”: The Eddic Helgi-Tradition’, in I. G. Losquiño, O. Sundqvist and D. Taggart, ed., Making the Profane Sacred in the Viking Age: Essays in Honour of Stefan Brink (Turnhout: Brepols, 2020), pp. 157–70, https://doi.org/10.1484/m.tcne-eb.5.119345  

Martin, J. S., ‘Some Thoughts on Kingship in the Helgi Poems’, in T. Pàroli, ed., Poetry in the Scandinavian Middle Ages (Spoleto: Presso la sede del Centro studi, 1990), pp. 369–82.

Phillpotts, B. S., The Elder Edda and Ancient Scandinavian Drama (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1920).

Von See, K., B. La Farge, W. Gerhold, D. Dusse, E. Picard and K. Schulz, Kommentar zu den Liedern der Edda, Bd. 4: Heldenlieder (Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2004).

Helgakviða Hundingsbana in fyrri

Hér hefr upp kvæði frá Helga Hundingsbana ok bana þeira Hǫðbrodds.

Vǫlsungakviða

1. Ár var alda,   þat er arar gullu,

hnigu heilǫg vǫtn   af Himinfjǫllum,

þá hafði Helga   inn hugumstóra

Borghildr borit   í Brálundi.

2. Nótt varð í bœ,   Nornir kvómu,

þær er ǫðlingi   aldr um skópu;

þann báðu fylki   frægstan verða

ok buðlunga   beztan þikkja.

3. Sneru þær af afli   ørlǫgþáttu,

þá er borgir braut   í Brálundi;

þær um greiddu   gullin símu

ok und mána sal   miðjan festu.

4. Þær austr ok vestr   enda fálu,

þar átti lofðungr   land á milli;

brá nipt Nera   á norðrvega

einni festi —   ey bað hon halda.

5. Eitt var at angri   Ylfinga nið,

ok þeiri meyju   er munuð fœddi:

hrafn kvað at hrafni   — sat á hám meiði —

andvanr átu:   ‘Ek veit nǫkkut!

6. ‘Stendr í brynju   burr Sigmundar,

dœgrs eins gamall,   nú er dagr kominn!

Hvessir augu   sem hildingar —

sá er varga vinr —   vit skulum teitir!’

7. Drótt þótti sá   dǫglingr vera,

kváðu með gumnum   góð ár komin;

sjálfr gekk vísi   ór vígþrimu

ungum fœra   ítrlauk grami.

8. Gaf hann ‘Helga’ nafn,   ok Hringstaði,

Sólfjǫll, Snæfjǫll   ok Sigarsvǫllu,

Hringstǫð, Hátún   ok Himinvanga,

blóðorm búinn,   brœðr Sinfjǫtla.

9. Þá nam at vaxa   fyr vina brjósti,

álmr ítrborinn,   ynðis ljóma;

hann galt ok gaf   gull verðungu,

sparði eigi hilmir   hodd blóðrekin.

10. Skammt lét vísi   vígs at bíða,

þá er fylkir var   fimmtán vetra;

ok hann harðan lét   Hunding veginn,

þann er lengi réð   lǫndum ok þegnum.

11. Kvǫddu síðan   Sigmundar bur

auðs ok hringa   Hundings synir,

þvíat þeir áttu   jǫfri at gjalda

fjárnám mikit   ok fǫður dauða.

12. Létat buðlungr   bótir uppi,

né niðja in heldr   nefgjǫld fá;

ván kvað hann mundu   veðrs ins mikla

grára geira   ok gremi Óðins.

13. Fara hildingar   hjǫrstefnu til,

þeirar er lǫgðu   at Logafjǫllum;

sleit Fróða frið   fjánda á milli,

fara Viðris grey   valgjǫrn um ey.

14. Settisk vísi,   þá er vegit hafði

Álf ok Eyjólf,   und Arasteini,

Hjǫrvarð ok Hávarð,   Hundings sonu —

farit hafði hann allri   ætt geir-Mímis.

15. Þá brá ljóma   af Logafjǫllum,

en af þeim ljómum   leiptrir kvómu;

þá var und hjálmum   á Himinvanga;

brynjur váru þeira   blóði stoknar,

en af geirum   geislar stóðu.

16. Frá árliga   ór úlfiði

dǫglingr at því   dísir suðrœnar,

ef þær vildi heim   með hildingum

þá nótt fara;   þrymr var álma.

17. En af hesti   Hǫgna dóttir —

líddi randa rym —   ræsi sagði:

‘Hygg ek at vér eigim   aðrar sýslur

en með baugbrota   bjór at drekka.

18. ‘Hefir minn faðir   meyju sinni

grimmum heitit   Granmars syni;

en ek hefi, Helgi,   Hǫðbrodd kveðinn

konung óneisan   sem kattar son!

19. ‘Þá kømr fylkir   fára nátta,

nema þú honum vísir   valstefnu til

eða mey nemir   frá mildingi.’

20. ‘Uggi eigi þú   Ísungs bana!

Fyrr mun dólga dynr,   nema ek dauðr sják!’

21. Sendi áru   allvaldr þaðan,

of lopt ok um lǫg,   leiðar at biðja,

iðgnógan   Ógnar ljóma

brǫgnum bjóða   ok burum þeira.

22. ‘Biðið skjótliga   til skipa ganga

ok ór Brandeyju   búna verða!’

Þaðan beið þengill,   unz þinig kvómu

halir hundmargir   ór Heðinseyju.

23. Ok þar af strǫndum,   ór Stafnsnesi,

beit hans út skriðu   ok búin gulli;

spurði Helgi   Hjǫrleif at því:

‘Hefir þú kannaða   koni óneisa?’

24. En ungr konungr   ǫðrum sagði:

‘Seint’, kvað, ‘at telja   af Trǫnueyri

langhǫfðuð skip   und líðǫndum,

þau er í Ǫrvasund   útan fóru!’

25. ‘Tólf hundruð   tryggra manna,

þó er í Hátúnum   hálfu fleira

víglið konungs —   ván erum rómu!’

26. Svá brá stýrir   stafntjǫldum af,

at mildinga   mengi vakði,

ok dǫglingar   dagsbrún sjá,

ok siklingar   sneru upp við tré

vefnistingum   á Varinsfirði.

27. Varð ára ymr   ok járna glymr,

brast rǫnd við rǫnd,   reru víkingar;

eisandi gekk    und ǫðlingum

lofðungs floti,   lǫndum fjarri.

28. Svá var at heyra,   er saman kvómu,

Kólgu systir   ok kilir langir,

sem bjǫrg eða brim   brotna myndi!

29. Draga bað Helgi   há segl ofarr,

varðat hrǫnnum   hǫfn þingloga,

þá er ógurlig   Ægis dóttir

stagstjórnmǫrum   steypa vildi.

30. En þeim sjálfum   Sigrún ofan,

fólkdjǫrf, um barg   ok fari þeira;

snørisk ramliga   Rán ór hendi

gjálfrdýr konungs   at Gnipalundi.

31. Svát þar um aptan   í Unavágum

flaust fagrbúin   fljóta knáttu;

en þeir sjálfir   frá Svarinshaugi

með hermðar hug   her kǫnnuðu.

32. Frá góðborinn   Guðmundr at því:

‘Hverr er landreki,   sá er liði stýrir,

ok hann feiknalið   fœrir at landi?’

33. Sinfjǫtli kvað —   slǫng upp við rá

rauðum skildi,   rǫnd var ór gulli;

þar var sundvǫrðr,   sá er svara kunni

ok við ǫðlinga   orðum skipta!

34. ‘Segðu þat í aptan,   er svínum gefr

ok tíkr yðrar   teygir at solli,

at sé Ylfingar   austan komnir,

gunnar gjarnir,   frá Gnipalundi!

35. ‘Þar mun Hǫðbroddr   Helga finna,

flugtrauðan gram,   í flota miðjum,

sá er opt hefir   ǫrnu sadda,

meðan þú á kvernum   kystir þýjar!’

36. ‘Fátt mantu, fylkir,   fornra spjalla,

er þú ǫðlingum   ósǫnnu bregðr!

Þú hefir etnar   úlfa krásir

ok brœðr þínum   at bana orðit,

opt sár sogin   með svǫlum munni —

hefr í hreysi   hvarleiðr skriðit!’

37. ‘Þú vart vǫlva   í Varinseyju,

skollvís kona,   bartu skrǫk saman!

Kvaztu engi mann   eiga vilja,

segg brynjaðan,   nema Sinfjǫtla!

38. ‘Þú vart in skœða,   skass, valkyrja,

ǫtul, ámátlig,   at Alfǫður!

Mundu einherjar   allir berjask,

svévís kona,   um sakar þínar!

39. ‘Níu áttu vit   á nesi Ságu

úlfa alna —   ek var einn faðir þeira!’

40. ‘Faðir varattu   Fenrisúlfa,

ǫllum ellri,   svá at ek muna,

sízt þik geldu   fyr Gnipalundi

þursa meyjar,   á Þórsnesi!

41. ‘Stjúpr vartu Siggeirs,   látt und stǫðum heima,

vargljóðum vanr   á viðum úti!

Kómu þér ógǫgn   ǫll at hendi,

þá er brœðr þínum   brjóst raufaðir!

Gørðir þik frægjan   af firinverkum!’

42. ‘Þú vart brúðr Grana   á Brávelli,

gullbitluð, vart   gǫr til rásar!

Hafða ek þér móðri   mart skeið riðit,

svangri und sǫðli,   simul, forbergis!

43. ‘Sveinn þóttir   þú siðlauss vera,

þá er þú Gullnis   geitr mólkaðir,

en í annat sinn   Ímðar dóttir,

tǫtrughypja —   vill þú tǫlu lengri?’

44. ‘Fyrr vilda ek   at Frekasteini

hrafna seðja   á hræum þínum,

en tíkr yðrar   teygja at solli

eða gefa gǫltum —   deili grǫm við þik!’

45. ‘Væri ykkr, Sinfjǫtli,   sœmra myklu

gunni at heyja   ok glaða ǫrnu

en sé ónýtum   orðum at bregðask,

þótt hringbrotar   heiptir deili!

46. ‘Þikkjat mér góðir   Granmars synir,

þó dugir siklingum   satt at mæla;

þeir hafa markat   á Móinsheimum

at hug hafa   hjǫrum at bregða.’

47. Þeir af ríki   renna létu

Svipuð ok Sveggjuð,   Sólheima til,

dala dǫggótta,   døkkvar hlíðir;

skalf Mistar marr,   hvars megir fóru.

48. Mœttu þeir tiggja   í túnhliði,

sǫgðu stríðliga   stilli kvómu;

úti stóð Hǫðbroddr,   hjálmi faldinn,

hugði hann jóreið   ættar sinnar:

‘Hví er hermðar litr   á Hniflungum?’

49. ‘Snúask hér at sandi   snœfgir kjólar,

rakka hirtir   ok rár langar,

skildir margir,   skafnar árar,

gǫfugt lið gylfa,   glaðir Ylfingar.

50. ‘Ganga fimmtán   fólk upp á land,

þó er í Sogn út   sjau þúsundir;

liggja hér í grindum   fyr Gnipalundi

brimdýr blásvǫrt   ok búin gulli.

Þar er miklu mest   mengi þeira —

muna nú Helgi   hjǫrþing dvala!

51. ‘Renni raukn bitluð   til reginþinga,

en Sporvitnir   at Sparinsheiði,

Mélnir ok Mýlnir   til Myrkviðar!

Látið engi mann   eptir sitja,

þeira er benlogum   bregða kunni!

52. ‘Bjóði þér Hǫgna   ok Hrings sonum,

Atla ok Yngva,   Ǫlf inum gamla;

þeir ru gjarnir   gunni at heyja —

látum Vǫlsunga   viðrnám fá!’

53. Svipr einn var þat,   er saman kvómu

fǫlvir oddar   at Frekasteini;

ey var Helgi,   Hundings bani,

fyrstr í fólki,   þar er firar bǫrðusk,

œstr á ímu,   alltrauðr flugar —

sá hafði hilmir   hart móðakarn!

54. Kómu þar ór himni   hjálmvitr ofan —

óx geira gnýr —   þær er grami hlífðu;

þá kvað þat Sigrún —   sárvitr flugu,

át hálu skær   af Hugins barri:

55. ‘Heill skaltu, vísi,   virða njóta,

áttstafr Yngva,   ok una lífi,

er þú felt hefir   inn flugartrauða

jǫfur, þann er olli   ægis dauða!

56. ‘Ok þér, buðlungr,   samir bæði vel

rauðir baugar   ok in ríkja mær!

Heill skaltu, buðlungr,   bæði njóta

Hǫgna dóttur   ok Hringstaða,

sigrs ok landa —   þá er sókn lokit!’

The Earlier Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani

Here begins a poem about Helgi Hundingsbani and the death of Hǫðbroddr and his men.

Lay of the Vǫlsungar6

1. It was early in ages7 when eagles screamed,8

holy waters bowed down9 from Himinfjǫll,10

when to Helgi the great-hearted

Borghildr11 had given birth in Brálundr.12

2. Night fell in the farmstead, Nornir13 came,

those who shaped a life for the princeling;

they decreed that he would become the most famous king

and be thought the best of Buðli’s descendants.14

3. They twisted fate-strands with strength,

when he broke strongholds in Brálundr;15

they set in order the golden strings

and fastened them under the middle of the moon’s hall.16

4. East and west they concealed the ends,

where the praiseworthy one17 possessed lands in between;18

Neri’s kinswoman19 threw onto the north-road20

one fastening21 — she decreed that it should always hold.

5. One thing caused anguish to the kinsman of the Ylfingar,22

and to the girl who gave birth to the beloved one:

raven spoke to raven — it sat on a high branch23

in anticipation of food: ‘I know something!

6. ‘Sigmundr’s24 son stands in his mail-coat,

one day old,25 now day has come!26

He whets his eyes as warriors do —

that one’s a friend of wolves27 — we shall be cheerful!’

7. He seemed to the host28 to be a descendant of Dagr,29

they said good years30 had come among men;

the leader31 himself went from battle-turmoil

to bring a noble leek32 to the young warrior.

8. He33 gave him the name ‘Helgi’, and Hringstaðir,34

Sólfjǫll,35 Snæfjǫll36 and Sigarsvellir,37

Hringstǫð,38 Hátún39 and Himinvangar,40

[and] a decorated blood-snake,41 to the brother of Sinfjǫtli.42

9. Then he began to grow in the bosom of friends,

a noble-born elm,43 in the light of bliss;

he repaid and gave gold to his retinue,

the ruler did not spare blood-splattered hoards.

10. The leader44 waited [only] a short time for war,

once the marshal45 was fifteen winters old;

and he had slain the hard Hundingr,46

the one who long ruled lands and thanes.

11. From Sigmundr’s boy Hundingr’s sons

then demanded riches and rings,

because they had to requite the boar47

for his great wealth-taking and their father’s death.

12. Buðli’s descendant48 did not offer up remedies,49

none the quicker did the relatives50 receive kin-compensation;

he said there would be the prospect of the great storm

of grey spears51 and the anger of Óðinn.52

13. Warriors advance to the sword-assembly,53

that which they laid down54 at Logafjǫll;55

Fróði’s peace56 was torn apart between enemies,

Viðrir’s corpse-eager bitches57 go about the island.

14. The leader58 sat himself down, when he had slain

Álfr59 and Eyjólfr,60 beneath Arasteinn,61

Hjǫrvarðr62 and Hávarðr,63 the sons of Hundingr

he had destroyed the whole family of spear-Mímir.64

15. Then light sprang from Logafjǫll,

and from those lights came lightnings;

then it65 was under helmets on Himinvangar;66

their mail-coats were bespattered with blood,

and from their spears stood rays of light.

16. Dagr’s descendant asked this early,

from a wolf-lair,67 of the southern women,68

if they would go home with the warriors that night;

there was thrumming of elm-bows.

17. And from her horse Hǫgni’s daughter69

the din of shield-rims70 subsided — spoke to the prince:

‘I think that we have other tasks

than to drink beer with the ring-breaker.71

18. ‘My father has promised his maiden

to the fierce son of Granmarr;72

but, Helgi, I’ve called Hǫðbroddr

a king bold as a cat’s son!73

19. ‘That marshal will come in a few nights,

unless you direct him to a slaughter-assembly74

or take the maiden from the munificent prince.’75

20. ‘Don’t you be afraid of Ísungr’s slayer!76

First there will be the din of combats, unless I’m dead!’

21. The all-ruler77 sent emissaries from there,

through air and over sea, to muster sailors,

to offer abundant light of Ógn78

to men and to their boys.

22. ‘Bid them go speedily to the ships

and prepare [to depart] from Brandey!’79

There the prince waited, until there came

innumerable heroes from Heðinsey.80

23. And there from the shores, from Stafnsnes,81

his boats glided out and [they were] adorned with gold;

at that Helgi asked Hjǫrleifr:82

‘Have you inspected the bold men?’

24. And the young king spoke to others:83

‘[It would be a] slow [task],’ he said, ‘to tally from Trǫnueyrr84

the long-headed ships85 beneath the sailors,

those which set out into Ǫrvasund!’86

25. ‘Twelve hundred trusty men,

though in Hátún the king’s battle-host

is double the size87 — I expect a din!’88

26. The captain took down the stem-tents,

so that the multitude of munificent men awoke,

and the descendants of Dagr see ‘day’s brow’,89

and the princes hoisted up by the mast

weave-fastened [cloths]90 in Varinsfjǫrðr.91

27. There was din of oars and clanking of irons,92

shield-rim clashed with shield-rim, vikings rowed;

plunging ahead beneath noblemen

went the prince’s fleet, far from lands.

28. Thus it was to hear, when they came together,

Kólga’s sister93 and the long keels,

as if cliffs or sea would break!

29. Helgi had the high sail drawn higher,

the crew did not shrink from the meeting with the waves,94

when an awful daughter of Ægir95

wanted to capsize the stay-bridle-horses.96

30. And, from above, Sigrún,97 army-brave,

safeguarded them and their ship;

strongly the king’s roaring-sea beast98 wrenched itself

from Rán99 — from her hand — at Gnipalundr.100

31. So that there, during the evening, in Unavágar,101

the attractively equipped ships floated;

and they themselves102 from Svarinshaugr103

scrutinized the army with an anxious mind.

32. Well-born104 Guðmundr105 asked this:

‘Who is the land-ruler, the one who steers this force

and leads a fell force to land?’106

33. Sinfjǫtli spoke — he slung up by the yardarm

his red shield, its rim was of gold;

there was a sound-warder,107 the one who knew how to answer

and exchange words with noblemen!

34. ‘Say this this evening, when you’re feeding swine

and enticing your bitches to their swill,

that the Ylfingar have come from the east,

eager for battle, from108 Gnipalundr!

35. ‘There Hǫðbroddr will find Helgi,

a flight-averse prince, in the fleet’s midst,

the one who has often sated eagles,109

while you were kissing slave-girls at querns!’

36. ‘You remember, marshal, few ancient tales,

when you fling falsehoods at noblemen!

You’ve eaten wolves’ dainties110

and brought about your brother’s death,111

often sucked wounds with a cold mouth —

hated everywhere, you’ve slithered into a heap of stones!’112

37. ‘You were a seeress on Varinsey,113

a deceit-wise woman, you drew together lies!

You said you wanted to possess no man,

[no] mail-coated fighter, except Sinfjǫtli!

38. ‘You were the wounding one, a witch, a valkyrie,

awful, immensely mighty, at Alfaðir’s!114

The unique champions would all fight each other,

headstrong woman, for your sake!115

39. ‘Nine wolves we two had begotten on Sága’s ness116

I alone was their father!’

40. ‘You weren’t the father of Fenrir’s wolves,117

older than all, as I recall,

because giants’ maidens gelded you

before Gnipalundr, on Þórsnes!118

41. ‘You were Siggeir’s stepson,119 you were at home lying under haystacks,120

accustomed to wolf-songs121 out in the woods!

Every sort of disaster came upon you,

when you pierced your brother’s breast!122

You made yourself famous from dreadful deeds!’

42. ‘You were Grani’s bride123 on Brávǫllr,124

gold-bridled, you were made for galloping!

I had ridden you, giantess(?),125 to exhaustion on many roads,

scrawny beneath a saddle, downhill!

43. ‘You appeared to be an indecent youth,

when you milked Gullnir’s goats,126

and on another occasion [you were] Imðr’s daughter,127

one with a tattered dress — do you want a longer list?’128

44. ‘I would sooner sate ravens

on your corpses129 at Frekasteinn,130

than entice your bitches to their swill

or feed gelded boars131 — may fiends deal with you!’

45.132 ‘It would be more fitting by far, Sinfjǫtli, for you two

to engage in war and to gladden eagles

than it is to cast useless words at each other,

even if the ring-breakers deal in hatreds!133

46. ‘Granmarr’s sons don’t seem good to me,

yet it befits princes to speak truly;

they have made it clear at Móinsheimar134

that they have the spirit to wield swords.’135

47. They136 made run from the realm

Svipuðr and Sveggjuðr,137 to Sólheimar,138

[through] dewy dales, [over] dark hillsides;

Mist’s sea139 shook, wherever the young men went.

48. They met the prince140 at the courtyard-gate,

said severely that a king had come;141

outside stood Hǫðbroddr, encased in a helmet,

he considered the horse-ride of his kin:

‘Why is there a look of anxiety on the Hniflungar?’142

49.143 ‘Swift longships head to the sand144 here,

harts of mast-rings145 and long yardarms,

many shields, shaven oars,146

the noble host of a sea-king, happy Ylfingar.

50. ‘Fifteen companies go ashore,

yet there are seven thousand out in Sogn;147

there lie here within the gates148 before Gnipalundr

blue-black sea-beasts149 and [they’re] adorned with gold.

There is their greatest multitude by far —

Helgi won’t delay the sword-meeting now!’

51.150 ‘May bridled horses run to mighty assemblies,

and Sporvitnir151 to Sparinsheiðr,152

Mélnir153 and Mýlnir154 to Myrkviðr!155

Let‎ no man linger behind,

of those who know how to wield wound-flames!156

52. ‘Summon Hǫgni157 and Hringr’s158 sons,

Atli and Yngvi, Álfr the Old;

they’re eager to engage in war —

let’s give the Vǫlsungar some resistance!’

53. It was in only a blink of an eye that

pale weapon-points came together at Frekasteinn;

Helgi, slayer of Hundingr, was always

first in the army,159 where men fought each other,

keen on fighting, wholly averse to flight —

that king had a hard mood-acorn!160

54. There came from the sky helmet-creatures,161 from above —

the clamour of spears162 grew — they who protected the prince;163

then Sigrún said this — wound-creatures164 flew,

the horse of the troll-woman ate from Huginn’s barley:165

55. ‘Unharmed,166 prince, you shall profit from men,

descendant of Yngvi,167 and enjoy life,

since you have felled the flight-averse boar,168

the one who caused the death of a frightful one!169

56. ‘And for you, Buðli’s descendant, are most befitting

both red rings and the mighty maiden!170

Unharmed, Buðli’s descendant, you shall enjoy both

Hǫgni’s daughter and Hringstaðir,

victory and lands — then the battle is concluded!’

Textual Apparatus to Helgakviða Hundingsbana in fyrri

Helgakviða Hundingsbana in fyrri] This title is not in R but supplied from later, paper manuscripts

The introductory line of prose is rubricated but illegible in the photograph in the facsimile volume of R; this edition therefore draws on the transcription therein and prior editions

ok bana þeira Hǫðbrodds] R apparently reads þeira h.

Vǫlsungakviða] Illegible in the photograph in the facsimile volume of R; this edition therefore relies on the transcription therein, in which ga qviþa is bracketed

1/1 Ár] The Á is a large, red, decorative initial in R, which clearly marks the start of a major new section

5/3 ok] R er

7/4 góð] Missing in R, which has a blank space

8/3 Sólfjǫll] R sól fivll

9/8 blóðrekin] Or blóðrekinn

10/4 fimmtán] R xv.

11/3 ok] R absent

15/9 geirum] R geiror

22/6 þinig] R þing

23/1 strǫndum] R stǫndom

31/1 Svát] R Sat

31/4 fljóta] R flita

35/3 flugtrauðan] R flaug trauþan

46/8 hjǫrum] R hioriom

47/8 hvars] R hvar

52/5 þeir ru] R Þeiro

54/6 flugu] R fluga

54/7 hálu] R haulþa


1 The relationship between these two texts seems likely to involve both borrowing and the use of shared inherited oral tradition.

2 J. Harris, ‘Eddic Poetry as Oral Poetry: The Evidence of Parallel Passages in the Helgi Poems for Questions of Composition and Performance’, in R. J. Glendinning and Haraldur Bessason, ed., Edda: A Collection of Essays (Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1983), pp. 210–42 at 214.

3 Harris, ‘Eddic Poetry’, p. 226.

4 Harris, ‘Eddic Poetry’, pp. 226–27.

5 Harris, ‘Eddic Poetry’, p. 230.

6 This poem appears distinct from, but related to, ‘the ancient Vǫlsungakviða cited in HH. II. The Vǫlsungar are descendants of Vǫlsungr, a king of Húnaland ‘Hunland’, according to VS 2.

7 The same phrase appears in Vsp. 3.

8 Cf. HHv. 6.

9 I.e., ‘poured’, but it might be intimated that the falling waters humbly acknowledged the new-born Helgi’s destined status.

10 ‘Heaven/Sky Fells’, possibly a mythological term for ‘clouds’, perhaps especially cumulonimbus, in which case thunder and lightning may be implicitly present. It was traditional for new-borns to be sprinkled with water, and here Helgi ‘Holy One’ is consecrated by holy water.

11 ‘Stronghold Battle’, first wife of Sigmundr.

12 ON lundr means ‘grove’, but the meaning of Brá is uncertain (perhaps ‘bright’, so ‘Bright Grove’).

13 Supernatural females who determined the fates of humans; cf. Vsp. 20.

14 Buðli was a legendary king. ‘Descendant of Buðli’ is a term for ‘prince.’

15 A somewhat puzzling line, perhaps suggestive of a violent birth, amid associated warfare, from the womb of Borghildr ‘Stronghold Battle’; cf. the last line of st. 1. Or perhaps þá er borgir braut is an impersonal expression meaning ‘when strongholds broke’ (literally ‘when it broke strongholds’).

16 The ‘moon’s hall’ is the night sky. In this stanza and the next, the Nornir should be understood as twisting or ‘plying’ three strands of Helgi’s fate, respectively fastened at one end to the east, west and north, and all attached at the other end to the middle of the sky, in order to form a single, stronger thread of destiny which hangs down from the suspended midpoint.

17 Helgi.

18 Cf. Rm. 14.

19 One of the Nornir. Neri is obscure, but possibly relates to Nǫrr ‘Narrow (One)’, the father of Nótt ‘Night’ in Vm. 25, Alv. 29.

20 I.e., to the north.

21 One of the strands of Helgi’s destiny.

22 Sigmundr, the Ylfingar ‘Wolfings’ (OE Wylfingas) being his dynasty. The cause of the anguish suffered by Helgi’s parents is probably his extraordinarily youthful preparedness for battle, which suggests he may die much sooner than he would otherwise.

23 Alternatively, ‘it sat in a high tree’ or ‘it sat on a high gallows’.

24 ‘Victory Hand/Protection’.

25 Cf. Vsp. 32, BDr. 11.

26 This line might intimate that Helgi is a reincarnation of Dagr, a mythical-sounding figure who may have personified the ‘day’; see the next stanza.

27 The idea is that Helgi will kill men, whose bodies will be eaten by wolves and ravens. Cf. HH. I 16.

28 I.e., the host of warriors, or people in general.

29 ‘Day’. The etymology of dǫglingr ‘descendant of Dagr(?)’ is disputed, but here the word may suggest the daylight that will contribute to a fruitful year (cf. HH. I 26). An alternative, generalized translation, ‘prince’, seems bland in the context. For Helgi’s killing by a man called Dagr who wields Óðinn’s spear, see HH. II 29 pr. Sigurðr is called dǫglingr in Gðr. I 14.

30 I.e., years in which there would be a fruitful harvest.

31 Sigmundr.

32 Leek or garlic was deemed to have magically protective properties. There is a possibility, however, that ‘leek’ is here a metaphor for the sword of the next stanza.

33 Sigmundr.

34 ‘Ring Steads’ is a place-name, like the next six proper nouns in this stanza. It might be modern-day Ringsted on the Danish island of Zealand.

35 ‘Sun Fells’.

36 ‘Snow Fells’.

37 ‘Sigarr’s Plains’; cf. Sigersted, Zealand. In HH. II 4, Sigarr is the name of a brother of Hǫgni, father of Sigrún.

38 ‘Ring Harbour’.

39 ‘High Home-Meadow(s)’.

40 ‘Heaven Fields’.

41 I.e., sword.

42 I.e., to Helgi. Sinfjǫtli, Helgi’s half-brother, was Sigmundr’s son by his sister, Sign‎ý, according to VS 7. His name is interpretable as ‘Sinew-Fettered One’, but its first element may originally have been Sindr- ‘Cinder-/Ash-‘. In Old English he is called simply Fitela ‘Spotted One(?)’.

43 Old Norse poetry often likens men to trees.

44 Helgi.

45 Helgi again.

46 A king whose name means ‘Descendant of a Hound’. Several kings of this name appear in GD. VS 9 briefly describes this battle.

47 When not denoting an actual boar, jǫfurr is, as here, a common metaphor for ‘warrior’ or ‘prince’, here Helgi.

48 Helgi. The term buðlungr, literally ‘Buðli’s descendant’, often signifies merely ‘prince’.

49 I.e., pay compensation.

50 The sons of Hundingr.

51 A metaphor for ‘battle’, in which spears ‘rain’ from the sky.

52 The war-god Óðinn’s iconic weapon is the spear.

53 Battlefield.

54 I.e., appointed.

55 ‘Mountains of Flame(s)’.

56 Fróði was a legendary king whose peaceful reign became proverbial.

57 Viðrir is an alias of Óðinn, which might identify him as a god of the weather (veðr); his bitches are wolves.

58 Helgi.

59 Possibly ‘Noble Wolf’ or ‘Elf’.

60 Possibly ‘Luck(y) Wolf’.

61 ‘Eagle’s (or Eagles’) Stone’.

62 ‘Sword Warder’.

63 ‘High Warder’.

64 Mímir is a mythical figure, possibly a giant, with whom Hundingr and his family are here associated.

65 The light, ostensibly at least. However, there might be some textual corruption, including the loss of a preceding line.

66 This line refers to radiant, armoured valkyries.

67 Or ‘wolf-wood’. Either way, this is an obscure reference. Perhaps Helgi, like Sigmundr and Sinfjǫtli in VS 8, had spent time as a wolf; cf. HH. I 6.

68 More specifically, supernatural women — here valkyries.

69 A valkyrie, later called Sigrún. Her father, Hǫgni, is distinct from Hǫgni, brother of Gunnarr and Guðrún, who appears in subsequent poems of the Poetic Edda.

70 A kenning for ‘battle’; ‘shield-rims’ can be a synecdoche for ‘shields’.

71 I.e., leader. The breaking of rings enabled lords to distribute wealth to their followers.

73 Or ‘blameless/innocent as a kitten’.

74 I.e., unless Helgi challenges him to battle.

75 Possibly an ironic designation, if it is not merely formulaic.

76 Hǫðbroddr. Ísungr is obscure.

77 Helgi.

78 If Ógn, possibly ‘Terror’, is the name of a river, its ‘light’ is gold.

79 ‘Ship-Beak Isle’, a common name.

80 ‘Heðinn’s Island’, now the Baltic island of Hiddensee.

81 ‘Prow’s Ness’.

82 ‘Sword Leaving’, one of Helgi’s men. In VS 9 he is called Leifr ‘Leaving’, ‘Inheritance’.

83 Or ‘to another man’.

84 ‘Crane Sandbank’.

85 A reference to ships with long prows, perhaps elongated dragon-heads.

86 ‘Arrows’ Sound’, perhaps now Stralsund in northern Germany. VS 9 has ór Nǫrvasundum ‘from the Straits of Gibraltar’, rather outlandishly.

87 Literally, ‘more by half’.

88 The din of battle. This stanza is perhaps spoken by the captain mentioned in the next stanza.

89 The sun rising over the horizon.

90 Sails.

91 ‘Varinn’s Fjord’, possibly the estuary at Warnemünde, Mecklenburg, Germany.

92 Iron weapons and armour.

93 A kenning for ‘wave’. Kólga is one of the daughters of the sea-giant Ægir, who personify waves; her name may be related to kala ‘to become cold’.

94 I.e., when the waves crashed into the ship.

95 A wave.

96 Ships, imagined as horses with stays (mast-supported ropes) for bridles.

97 ‘Victory Rune’, a valkyrie.

98 Ship.

99 ‘Plunder’, wife of the sea-giant Ægir. She was thought to drown people at sea.

100 Perhaps ‘Overhanging Grove’.

101 ‘Contentment Bays’.

102 Apparently Helgi’s foes.

103 ‘Svarinn’s (Burial-)Mound’; possibly one of the hills near Schwerin, Mecklenberg, Germany.

104 I.e., of noble birth. Alternatively, goðborinn ‘god-born’.

105 ‘God/Battle Hand/Protection’, Hǫðbroddr’s brother.

106 Guðmundr’s words are quoted, with variation, in HH. II 18 pr.

107 I.e., guardian of a sound. This refers to Sinfjǫtli, who acted as watchman.

108 Or ‘at/to’, if the emendation at is adopted.

109 I.e., who has often killed men, whose corpses became food for eagles.

110 Corpses.

111 See also HH. I 41. VS 8 describes how Sinfjǫtli and Sigmundr became werewolves, and how the former slew his young half-brothers. The present accusation is of a single fratricide, however.

112 Presumably a cairn. In this line and the previous one, Guðmundr likens Sinfjǫtli to a snake.

113 ‘Varinn’s Island’. Cf. Ls. 24.

114 I.e., Valhǫll ‘Hall of the Slain’, the dwelling of Óðinn, whose alias Alfaðir is usually interpreted as ‘All Father’.

115 The ‘unique champions’ are fallen warriors whom Óðinn selects to join him in the afterlife in Valhǫll, in preparation for the battles of Ragnarok.

116 Sága is a goddess. VS 8 has á Láganesi ‘on Láganess’.

117 Fenrir is the apocalyptic wolf of Norse mythology.

118 ‘Þórr’s Ness’. VS 8 has á Þrasnesi ‘on Þrasness’.

119 King Siggeir was Sign‎ý’s husband.

120 Cf. VS 8, which describes how Siggeir buried Sinfjǫtli and Sigmundr alive, but how they escaped thanks to Sign‎ý, who, before the mound was complete, threw down to them straw in which she had concealed food and Sigmundr’s marvellous sword.

121 I.e., wolves’ howling. Sinfjǫtli and Sigmundr spent time in the woods as werewolves, according to VS 8.

122 Cf. HH. I 36.

123 Grani was the stallion of Sigurðr, the hero of subsequent poems in the Poetic Edda.

124 Perhaps a reference to the eighth-century Battle of Brávellir, for which see especially the eighth book of GD.

125 Or perhaps ‘witch’, ‘wolf’ or ‘cow’.

126 In VS 9 Sinfjǫtli declares that Hǫðbroddr’s brother Granmarr (who corresponds to Guðmundr in the present poem) was geitasvenn Gǫlnis jǫtuns ‘goatherd of the giant Gǫlnir’.

127 Imðr is the name of a giantess.

128 Or ‘do you want a longer talk?’

129 I.e., the corpses of Sinfjǫtli and his men.

130 ‘Freki’s Stone’. Freki is both a poetic term for ‘wolf’ and the name of one of Óðinn’s wolves.

131 Here actual boars.

132 This stanza is spoken by Helgi, as is the following one.

133 Cf. HH. II 28.

134 ‘Moor-Creature’s Homes’, a moor-creature probably being a snake or a horse. Cf. Móinsey, now the Danish island of Mœn.

135 Cf. HH. II 29.

136 Guðmundr and his men.

137 ‘Fast-Moving One’ and ‘One With a Rolling Gait’, the names of two horses.

138 ‘Sun Homes’.

139 Or ‘horse’. Mist ‘Mist’ is a valkyrie-name; her ‘sea’ or ‘horse’ is presumably either the air or the earth.

140 Hǫðbroddr.

141 Or perhaps ‘They spoke severely to the king (Hǫðbroddr) of the coming (of Helgi)’.

142 A family name, originally at least, for members of the Burgundian royalty; a variant of Niflungar ‘Nibelungs’.

143 This stanza is probably spoken by Guðmundr, as is the next.

144 I.e., the shore.

145 A kenning for ‘ships’.

146 Oars smoothed by shaving.

147 Sogn fjord in Norway. VS 9 has Sǫk.

148 Perhaps a reference to palisades, stake-fences forming a harbour. VS 9 has fyrir Grindum ‘off Grindir’, a supposed place-name.

149 Ships. Their colour suggests deadly purpose.

150 This stanza is spoken by Hǫðbroddr, as is the next.

151 ‘Spur Wolf’ or ‘Track Wolf’, a horse.

152 ‘Sparinn’s Heath’.

153 ‘One with a Mouth-Bit’, a horse.

154 Perhaps ‘One with a Halter’ or ‘Muzzled One’, another horse.

155 ‘Murk Wood’.

156 Swords.

157 Sigrún’s father.

158 ‘Ring’, possibly Sigurðr Hringr, victor at the Battle of Brávellir.

159 Or ‘battle’.

160 Heart.

161 Valkyries.

162 A kenning for ‘battle’.

163 Helgi.

164 Valkyries.

165 ‘Horse of the troll-woman/giantess’ is a kenning for ‘wolf’ (cf. Hdl. 5). Huginn is one of Óðinn’s ravens. A raven’s ‘barley’ (i.e., food) is the flesh of dead warriors. In other words, ‘the wolf ate corpses’.

166 Literally, ‘hale’, ‘whole’.

167 This name often describes the god Freyr, especially in the title Yngvi-Freyr, but was also given to humans.

168 Presumably Hǫðbroddr.

169 An obscure reference.

170 Sigrún refers to herself in the third person. VS 9 records that Helgi and Sigrún married, as does HH. II.

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