Helgakviða Hundingsbana ǫnnur

Helgakviða Hundingsbana ǫnnur (HH. II) ‘The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani’, on fol. 24r–26v of R, is the second of two compositions in this manuscript about the legendary hero Helgi Hundingsbani. They are separated by HHv., about another Helgi—Helgi Hjǫrvarðsson, who gave his name to, and was possibly thought to have been reborn as, Helgi Hundingsbani.

HH. II is another prosimetrum—that is, a mixture of prose and poetry. Its verses are in fornyrðislag, except for one stanza of ljóðaháttr (23 [29]). The work gives an overall somewhat scrappy and secondary impression, due to certain groups of stanzas appearing out of their logical narrative order, the artlessness of the prose, and the explicit reliance on separate sources. Nevertheless, HH. II rewards attention by including many noteworthy details, scenes and themes. Among these are Helgi’s disguise, effectively as wolf in sheep’s clothing, in the court of his enemy, King Hundingr; Helgi’s treacherous killing by his brother-in-law, Dagr, with the spear of Óðinn; Dagr’s consequent cursing by his sister, Sigrún, Helgi’s valkyrie-wife; her eulogy of Helgi in terms of a young solar stag; Helgi’s joint rule with Óðinn in the afterlife; the dead Helgi’s ride to his burial-mound, and his meeting with the living Sigrún inside it; and the concluding revelation that Helgi and Sigrún were believed to have been reincarnated.

Three other Eddic poems are mentioned as sources for HH. II: the ancient Vǫlsungakviða ‘Poem of the Vǫlsungar’, which is lost; Helgakviða ‘Helgi’s Poem’, by which is apparently meant HH. I, a work which HH. II may partly paraphrase in prose and with which it displays obvious parallels, including a shorter version of the flyting between Sinfjǫtli and Guðmundr; and Káruljóð ‘Kára’s Song’, also lost.

Synopsis

Verse: Abruptly, and out of chronological sequence, the scene then returns to Guðmundr (whose death has already been noted).1 Four stanzas of flyting between him and Sinfjǫtli follow (an exchange also noted earlier) (24–27), and two in which Helgi says Sinfjǫtli would do better to fight than to insult, and that Granmarr’s sons, though unimpressive, are not negligible (28–29).

Prose: Another prose passage records the marriage of Helgi and Sigrún. This is immediately followed by Helgi’s death at the hands of Dagr, who slew him in a grove with the spear of Óðinn.

Verse: Dagr reluctantly tells Sigrún, his sister, of his killing of Helgi (30), whereupon she curses him (31–33). He tries to excuse himself by blaming Óðinn (34), and offers her compensation (35). She expresses her misery and laments Helgi (36–38).

Prose: A brief passage records the making of a burial-mound for Helgi, and his arrival in Valhǫll, where Óðinn invites him to rule at his side.

Verse: Helgi immediately assigns Hundingr demeaning tasks (39).

Prose: The focus then shifts to a serving-woman of Sigrún, who sees Helgi riding to his burial-mound with a host of men.

Verse: She wonders if it is an illusion or a sign of Ragnarok, which Helgi denies (40–41). The serving-woman informs Sigrún (42), who enters the mound and elatedly addresses her husband, but is aghast at his physical condition (43–44). Helgi notes her grief and expresses his delight at her coming (45–46). Sigrún makes his bed in the barrow, and falls asleep in his embrace (47–48). He, however, has to return to Valhǫll before cock-crow (49).

Prose: Helgi and his men and the women return to their respective homes, but Sigrún has her serving-woman watch the grave-mound the following evening. Sigrún herself arrives at sunset.

Verse: Her serving-women (or Sigrún herself) declares that now that eagles and humans are sleeping, hopes that Helgi would return are fading (50). The serving-woman warns Sigrún not to enter the mound alone at night due to the nocturnal power of undead enemies (51).

Prose: A final passage records Sigrún’s death from grief soon after. It also states that both she and Helgi were supposedly reborn, as Helgi Haddingjaskaði and Kára, daughter of Hálfdan, if only according to what is now considered an old wives’ tale.

Further Reading

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., ‘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.

Kroesen, R., ‘One Hadingus—Two Haddingjar’, SS 59 (1987), 404–35.

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.

Pettit, E., The Waning Sword: Conversion Imagery and Celestial Myth in ‘Beowulf’ (Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2020), https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0190

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 ǫnnur

1. ‘Segðu Hœmingi   at Helgi man,

hvern í brynju   bragnar feldu;

ér úlf grán   inni hǫfðuð,

þar er Hamal hugði   Hundingr konungr!’

Hamall hét sonr Hagals. Hundingr konungr sendi menn til Hagals at leita Helga. En Helgi mátti eigi forðask annan veg en tók klæði ambáttar ok gekk at mala. Þeir leituðu ok fundu eigi Helga. Þá kvað Blindr inn bǫlvísi:

2. ‘Hvǫss eru augu   í Hagals þýju —

era þat karls ætt   er á kvernum stendr;

3. ‘Nú hefir hǫrð dœmi   hildingr þegit,

er vísi skal   valbygg mala;

heldr er sœmri   hendi þeiri

meðalkafli   en mǫndultré!’

Hagall svaraði ok kvað:

4. ‘Þat er lítil vá,   þótt lúðr þrumi,

er mær konungs   mǫndul hrœrir;

hon skævaði   skýjum efri

ok vega þorði   sem víkingar,

áðr hana Helgi   hǫptu gørði;

systir er hon þeira   Sigars ok Hǫgna,

því hefir ǫtul augu   Ylfinga man!’

Undan komsk Helgi ok fór á herskip. Hann feldi Hunding konung ok var síðan kallaðr Helgi Hundingsbani. Hann lá með her sinn í Brunavágum ok hafði þar strandhǫgg, ok átu þar hrátt.

Hǫgni hét konungr. Hans dóttir var Sigrún. Hon varð valkyrja ok reið lopt ok lǫg. Hon var svá endrborin. Sigrún reið at skipum Helga ok kvað:

5. ‘Hverir láta fljóta   fley við bakka?

Hvar, hermegir,   heima eiguð?

Hvers bíðið ér   í Brunavágum?

Hvert lystir yðr   leið at kanna?’

6. ‘Hamall lætr fljóta   fley við bakka,

eigum heima   í Hléseyju;

bíðum byrjar   í Brunavágum —

austr lystir oss   leið at kanna!’

7. ‘Hvar hefir þú, hilmir,   hildi vakða

eða gǫgl alin   Gunnar systra?

Hví er brynja þín   blóði stokkin?

Hví skal und hjálmum   hrátt kjǫt eta?’

8. ‘Þat vann næst nýs   niðr Ylfinga

fyr vestan ver,   ef þik vita lystir,

er ek bjǫrnu tók   í Bragalundi

ok ætt ara   oddum saddak.

9. ‘Nú er sagt, mær,   hvaðan sakar gørðusk;

því var á legi mér   lítt steikt etit.’

10. ‘Víg lýsir þú!   Varð fyr Helga

Hundingr konungr   hníga at velli;

bar sókn saman,   er sefa hefnduð,

ok busti blóð   á Brimis eggjar.’

11. ‘Hvat vissir þú,   at þeir sé,

snót svinnhuguð,   er sefa hefndu?

Margir ru hvassir   hildings synir

ok ámunir   ossum niðjum.’

12. ‘Varka ek fjarri,   fólks oddviti,

gær á morgun,   grams aldrlokum;

þó tel ek slœgjan   Sigmundar bur,

er í valrúnum   vígspjǫll segir!

13. ‘Leit ek þik um sinn fyrr   á langskipum,

þá er þú byggðir   blóðga stafna

ok úrsvalar   unnir léku;

nú vill dyljask   dǫglingr fyr mér,

en Hǫgna mær   Helga kennir!’

Granmarr hét ríkr konungr er bjó at Svarinshaugi. Hann átti marga sonu: Hǫðbroddr, annarr Guðmundr, þriði Starkaðr. Hǫðbroddr var í konungastefnu. Hann fastnaði sér Sigrúnu, Hǫgna dóttur. En er hon spyrr þat, þá reið hon með valkyrjur um lopt ok um lǫg at leita Helga.

Helgi var þá at Logafjǫllum ok hafði barisk við Hundings sonu. Þar feldi hann þá Álf ok Eyjólf, Hjǫrvarð ok Hervarð, ok var hann allvígmóðr, ok sat undir Arasteini. Þar hitti Sigrún hann ok rann á háls honum ok kysti hann ok sagði honum erindi sitt, svá sem segir í ‘Vǫlsungakviðu inni fornu’:

14. Sótti Sigrún   sikling glaðan,

heim nam hon Helga   hǫnd at sœkja;

kysti ok kvaddi   konung und hjálmi,

þá varð hilmi   hugr á vífi.

15. Fyrr létz hon unna   af ǫllum hug

16. ‘Var ek Hǫðbroddi   í her fǫstnuð,

en jǫfur annan   eiga vildak;

þó sjámk, fylkir,   frœnda reiði;

hefi ek míns fǫður   munráð brotit!’

17. Nama Hǫgna mær   of hug mæla;

hafa kvazk hon Helga   hylli skyldu.

18. ‘Hirð eigi þú   Hǫgna reiði,

né illan hug   ættar þinnar!

Þú skalt, mær ung,   at mér lifa!

Ætt áttu, in góða,   er ek eigi sjámk!’

Helgi samnaði þá miklum skipaher ok fór til Frekasteins, ok fengu í hafi ofviðri mannhætt. Þá kvómu leiptr yfir þá, ok stóðu geislar í skipin. Þeir sá í loptinu at valkyrjur níu riðu, ok kendu þeir Sigrúnu. Þá lægði storminn ok kvómu þeir heilir til lands.

Granmars synir sátu á bjargi nøkkoru er skipin sigldu at landi. Guðmundr hljóp á hest ok reið á njósn á bergit við hǫfnina. Þá hlóðu Vǫlsungar seglum. Þá kvað Guðmundr, svá sem fyrr er ritat í ‘Helgakviðu’:

‘Hverr er fylkir,   sá er flota stýrir,

ok feiknalið   fœrir at landi?’

Sinfjǫtli, Sigmundar sonr, svaraði, ok er þat enn ritat. Guðmundr reið heim með hersǫgu. Þá sǫmnuðu Granmars synir her. Kómu þar margir konungar. Þar var Hǫgni, faðir Sigrúnar, ok synir hans Bragi ok Dagr. Þar var orrosta mikil, ok fellu allir Granmars synir ok allir þeira hǫfðingjar, nema Dagr, Hǫgna sonr, fekk grið ok vann eiða Vǫlsungum. Sigrún gekk í valinn ok hitti Hǫðbrodd at kominn dauða. Hon kvað:

19 [25]. ‘Muna þér Sigrún   frá Sevafjǫllum,

Hǫðbroddr konungr,   hníga at armi!

Liðin er ævi —   opt náir hrævi

gránstóð gríðar —   Granmars sona!’

Þá hitti hon Helga ok varð allfegin.

Hann kvað:

20 [26]. ‘Erat þér at ǫllu,   alvitr, gefit,

þó kveð ek nøkkvi   Nornir valda:

fellu í morgun   at Frekasteini

Bragi ok Hǫgni —   varð ek bani þeira.

21 [27]. ‘En at Styrkleifum   Starkaðr konungr,

en at Hlébjǫrgum   Hrollaugs synir;

þann sá ek gylfa   grimmúðgastan,

er barðisk bolr,   var á brot hǫfuð!

22 [28]. ‘Liggja at jǫrðu   allra flestir

niðjar þínir,   at nám orðnir;

vantattu vígi,   var þér þat skapat

at þú at rógi   ríkmenni vart.’

Þá grét Sigrún.

Hann kvað:

23 [29]. ‘Huggastu, Sigrún!   “Hildr” hefir þú oss verit;

vinnat Skjǫldungar skǫpum!’

‘Lifna mynda ek nú kjósa,   er liðnir eru,

ok knætta ek þér þó í faðmi felask!’

Þetta kvað Guðmundr, Granmars sonr:

24 [19]. ‘Hverr er Skjǫldungr,   sá er skipum stýrir?

Lætr gunnfana   gullinn fyrir stafni;

þikkja mér friðr   í farar broddi;

verpr vígroða   um víkinga.’

Sinfjǫtli kvað:

25 [20]. ‘Hér má Hǫðbroddr   Helga kenna,

flótta trauðan,   í flota miðjum;

hann hefir eðli   ættar þinnar,

arf Fjǫrsunga,   und sik þrungit.’

26 [21]. ‘Því fyrr skulu   at Frekasteini

sáttir saman   um sakar dœma;

mál er, Hǫðbroddr,   hefnd at vinna,

ef vér lægra hlut   lengi bárum!’

27 [22]. ‘Fyrr mundu, Guðmundr,   geitr um halda,

ok bergskorar   brattar klífa,

hafa þér í hendi   heslikylfu —

þat er þér blíðara   en Brimis dómar!’

28 [23]. ‘Þér er, Sinfjǫtli,   sœmra myklu

gunni at heyja   ok glaða ǫrnu,

en ónýtum   orðum at deila,

þótt hildingar   heiptir deili!

29 [24]. ‘Þikkit mér góðir   Granmars synir,

þó dugir siklingum   satt at mæla:

30. ‘Trauðr em ek, systir,   trega þér at segja,

þvíat ek hefi nauðigr   nipti grœtta:

fell í morgun   und Fjǫturlundi

buðlungr, sá er var   beztr í heimi

ok hildingum   á hálsi stóð.’

31. ‘Þik skyli allir   eiðar bíta,

þeir er Helga   hafðir unna,

at inu ljósa   Leiptrar vatni

ok at úrsvǫlum   Unnar steini!

32. ‘Skríðiat þat skip,   er und þér skríði,

þótt óskabyrr   eptir leggisk!

Rennia sá marr,   er und þér renni,

þóttu fjándr þína   forðask eigir!

33. ‘Bítia þér þat sverð,   er þú bregðir,

nema sjálfum þér   syngvi um hǫfði!

Þá væri þér hefnt   Helga dauða,

ef þú værir vargr   á viðum úti,

auðs andvani   ok alls gamans,

hefðir eigi mat,   nema á hræum spryngir!’

Dagr kvað:

34. ‘Œr ertu, systir,   ok ørvita,

er þú brœðr þínum   biðr forskapa!

35. ‘Þér býðr bróðir   bauga rauða,

ǫll Vandilsvé   ok Vígdali;

hafðu hálfan heim   harms at gjǫldum,

brúðr baugvarið,   ok burir þínir!’

36. ‘Sitka ek svá sæl   at Sevafjǫllum,

ár né um nætr,   at ek una lífi,

nema at liði lofðungs   ljóma bregði,

renni und vísa   Vígblær þinig,

gullbitli vanr,   knega ek grami fagna!

37. ‘Svá hafði Helgi hrædda gǫrva

fjándr sína alla   ok frændr þeira,

sem fyr úlfi   óðar rynni

geitr af fjalli,   geiska fullar!

38. ‘Svá bar Helgi   af hildingum

sem ítrskapaðr   askr af þyrni,

eða sá dýrkálfr,   dǫggu slunginn,

er øfri ferr   ǫllum dýrum,

ok horn glóa   við himin sjálfan!’

Haugr var gørr eptir Helga. En er hann kom til Valhallar, þá bauð Óðinn honum ǫllu at ráða með sér.

Helgi kvað:

39. ‘Þú skalt, Hundingr,   hverjum manni

fótlaug geta   ok funa kynda,

hunda binda,   hesta gæta,

gefa svínum soð,   áðr sofa gangir!’

Ambótt Sigrúnar gekk um aptan hjá haugi Helga, ok sá at Helgi reið til haugsins með marga menn.

Ambótt kvað:

40. ‘Hvárt eru þat svik ein,   er ek sjá þikkjumk,

eða ragna rǫk —   ríða menn dauðir,

er jóa yðra   oddum keyrið —

eða er hildingum   heimfǫr gefin?’

41. ‘Era þat svik ein,   er þú sjá þikkisk,

né aldar rof,   þóttu oss lítir,

þótt vér jói óra   oddum keyrim —

né er hildingum   heimfǫr gefin.’

Heim gekk ambótt ok sagði Sigrúnu:

42. ‘Út gakk þú,   Sigrún frá Sevafjǫllum,

ef þik fólks jaðar   finna lystir!

Upp er haugr lokinn,   kominn er Helgi!

Dólgspor dreyra,   dǫglingr bað þik,

at þú sárdropa   svefja skyldir!’

Sigrún gekk í hauginn til Helga ok kvað:

43. ‘Nú em ek svá fegin   fundi okkrum

sem átfrekir   Óðins haukar,

er val vitu,   varmar bráðir,

eða dǫgglitir   dagsbrún sjá!

44. ‘Fyrr vil ek kyssa   konung ólifðan,

en þú blóðugri   brynju kastir!

Hár er þitt, Helgi,   hélu þrungit,

allr er vísi   valdǫgg sleginn,

hendr úrsvalar   Hǫgna mági!

Hvé skal ek þér, buðlungr,   þess bót of vinna?’

45. ‘Ein veldr þú, Sigrún   frá Sevafjǫllum,

er Helgi er   harmdǫgg sleginn!

Grætr þú, gullvarið,   grimmum tárum,

sólbjǫrt, suðrœn,   áðr þú sofa gangir;

hvert fellr blóðugt   á brjóst grami,

úrsvalt, innfjálgt,   ekka þrungit!

46. ‘Vel skulum drekka   dýrar veigar,

þótt mist 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!’

Sigrún bjó sæing í hauginum.

47. ‘Hér hefi ek þér, Helgi,   hvílu gǫrva,

angrlausa mjǫk,   Ylfinga niðr;

vil ek þér í faðmi,   fylkir, sofna,

sem ek lofðungi   lifnum myndak!’

48. ‘Nú kveð ek enskis   ørvænt vera,

síð né snimma,   at Sevafjǫllum,

er þú á armi   ólifðum sefr,

hvít, í haugi,   Hǫgna dóttir,

ok ertu kvik,   in konungborna!

49. ‘Mál er mér at ríða   roðnar brautir,

láta fǫlvan jó   flugstíg troða;

skal ek fyr vestan   vindhjálms brúar,

áðr Salgofnir   sigrþjóð veki!’

Þeir Helgi riðu leið sína, en þær fóru heim til bœjar. Annan aptan lét Sigrún ambótt halda vǫrð á hauginum. En at dagsetri, er Sigrún kom til haugsins, hon kvað:

50. ‘Kominn væri nú,   ef koma hygði,

Sigmundar burr   frá sǫlum Óðins;

kveð ek grams þinig   grænask vánir,

er á asklimum   ernir sitja

ok drífr drótt ǫll   draumþinga til.

51. ‘Verðu eigi svá œr,   at ein farir,

dís Skjǫldunga,   draughúsa til!

Verða ǫflgari   allir á nóttum

dauðir dólgar, mær,   en um daga ljósa!’

Sigrún varð skammlíf af harmi ok trega. Þat var trúa í forneskju at menn væri endrbornir, en þat er nú kǫlluð kerlingavilla. Helgi ok Sigrún er kallat at væri endrborin. Hét hann þá Helgi Haddingjaskaði, en hon Kára Hálfdanar dóttir, svá sem kveðit er í ’Káruljóðum’, ok var hon valkyrja.

The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani

About the Vǫlsungar

King Sigmundr, Vǫlsungr’s son, married Borghildr from Brálundr. They called their son Helgi, and [that was] after Helgi Hjǫrvarðsson.2 Hagall3 fostered Helgi.

There was a powerful king called Hundingr. Hundland is named after him. He was a great warrior and had many sons, who were raiding.

There was strife and hostility between King Hundingr and King Sigmundr. They slew each other’s kinsmen. King Sigmundr and his relatives were called Vǫlsungar and Ylfingar.

Helgi went and reconnoitred King Hundingr’s court in secret. Hœmingr, son of King Hundingr, was at home. And when Helgi went away, then he met a herd-boy and said:

1. ‘Say to Hœmingr that Helgi remembers

who, in a mail-coat, the men felled;4

you had a grey wolf in your house,

where King Hundingr thought of Hamall!’5

Hamall was the name of Hagall’s son. King Hundingr sent men to Hagall to look for Helgi. And Helgi could save himself in no other way than by taking the clothes of a serving maid and going to mill. They searched and did not find Helgi. Then Blindr the ‘harm-wise’6 said:

2. ‘Sharp are the eyes in Hagall’s slave-girl —

3. ‘Now the ruler has received a harsh fate,

when the leader must mill foreign barley;

a sword-hilt⁷ is more seemly for that hand

than a mill-handle-tree!’

Hagall answered and said:

4. ‘It means little,⁸ even though the mill thunders,

and dared to fight as vikings do,9

before Helgi held her captive;

she’s the sister of Sigarr and Hǫgni,10

which is why the Ylfingar’s girl has terrible eyes!’

Helgi escaped and went to the warships. He felled King Hundingr and thereafter was called Helgi Hundingsbani ‘Hundingr’s Slayer’. He lay with his army in Brunavágar,11 and there on the shore slew cattle stolen on a raid,¹² and they ate them raw there.

There was a king called Hǫgni. His daughter was Sigrún. She became13 a valkyrie and rode sky and sea. She was reborn that way.¹⁴ Sigrún rode to Helgi’s ships and said:

5. ‘Who lets ships float by the shore?

Where, warriors, do you have homes?

What are you waiting for in Brunavágar?

6.¹⁵ ‘Hamall lets ships float by the shore,

we have homes on Hlésey;16

we’re awaiting a fair wind in Brunavágar —

7. ‘Where, ruler, have you awoken battle

or nourished the goslings of Gunnr’s sisters?17

Why is your mail-coat besmirched with blood?

Why, beneath your helms, must you eat raw meat?’

8. ‘Most recently, the kinsman of the Ylfingar18 fought anew

west of the sea, if you want to know,

when I captured bears¹⁹ in Bragalundr20

and sated the family of eagles with spear-points.²¹

9. ‘Now it’s been said, maiden, whence strife came about;

that’s why it was [that], by the sea, I had eaten meat scarcely roasted.’²²

10. ‘You’re declaring a manslaughter!²³ It was before Helgi

that King Hundingr sank down on the field;

a battle began in which you24 avenged a kinsman,²⁵

and blood streamed along Brimir’s edges.’26

11. ‘How do you know, wise-minded woman,

that they are [those] who avenged a kinsman?²⁷

There are many keen sons of a warrior

and similar to our kinsmen.’

12. ‘I wasn’t far, army’s point-wise one,²⁸

yesterday morning, from the leader’s²⁹ life’s-end;

yet I reckon Sigmundr’s son [to be] sly,

when he tells30 war-stories in slaughter-runes!³¹

13. ‘I saw you once before on longships,

when you settled in the bloody stems

and the drizzle-cool waves sported;

now the descendant of Dagr32 wants to conceal himself before me,

but Hǫgni’s maiden recognizes Helgi!’

There was a powerful king called Granmarr who lived at Svarinshaugr.33 He had many sons: Hǫðbroddr, second Guðmundr, third Starkaðr.34 Hǫðbroddr was at a meeting of kings. He betrothed himself to Sigrún, Hǫgni’s daughter. But when she heard that, she rode with valkyries through sky and over sea to look for Helgi.

Helgi was then at Logafjǫll35 and had fought with Hundingr’s sons. There he felled Álfr and Eyjólfr, Hjǫrvarðr36 and Hervarðr,37 and he was exhausted from battle, and he sat beneath Arasteinn.38 There Sigrún met him and threw her arms round his neck and kissed him and told him her errand, just as it says in ‘the ancient Vǫlsungakviða [“Lay of the Vǫlsungar”]’:39

14. Sigrún sought the glad prince,

she sought Helgi’s hand;

then the prince’s40 heart warmed to the woman.

15. She said she had loved Sigmundr’s son

16. ‘I was betrothed to Hǫðbroddr on a campaign,

but I wanted to have another boar;41

yet, marshal, I dread the wrath of kinsmen;

I have broken my father’s dearest wish!’

17. Hǫgni’s maid didn’t speak contrary to her feelings;42

she said she should have Helgi’s favour.

18. ‘Pay no heed to Hǫgni’s wrath,

Helgi then gathered a great fleet of ships and went to Frekasteinn, and heavy storms, dangerous to men, seized them in the sea. Then lightnings came over them, and rays of light shone into the ships. They43 saw in the sky that nine valkyries were riding, and they recognized Sigrún. Then the storm abated and they came safely to land.

Granmarr’s sons were sitting on a certain cliff when the ships sailed to land. Guðmundr leapt on his horse and rode on reconnaissance to the cliff by the haven. Then the Vǫlsungar lowered the sails. Then Guðmundr said, as is written earlier in Helgakviða ‘Helgi’s Poem’:

and leads a fell force to land?’44

Sinfjǫtli, Sigmundr’s son, answered, and that is also written.45 Guðmundr rode home with news of the army. Then Granmarr’s sons mustered an army. Many kings came there. There was Hǫgni, father of Sigrún, and his sons Bragi46 and Dagr.47 There was a great battle, and all of Granmarr’s sons fell and all of their chieftains, except Dagr, Hǫgni’s son, accepted immunity and swore oaths to the Vǫlsungar. Sigrún went among the slain and came upon Hǫðbroddr at the point of death. She said:

19 [25].⁴⁸ ‘Sigrún from Sevafjǫll49 will not

sink into your arms, King Hǫðbroddr!

Spent is the life — the grey steeds of a giantess50

often get a corpse — of Granmarr’s sons!’

Then she came upon Helgi and was overjoyed.

20 [26]. ‘You’ve not been given entirely good luck, alien creature,

yet I declare that the Nornir caused this, in part:

there fell this morning at Frekasteinn

Bragi and Hǫgni — I was their slayer.

21 [27]. ‘And at Styrkleifar,51 King Starkaðr [fell],

and at Hlébjǫrg,52 Hrollaugr’s sons;53

I saw that most grim-minded ruler,

when his trunk fought — his head was gone!⁵⁴

22 [28]. ‘There lie on the earth almost all

of your kinsmen, turned into corpses;

you couldn’t prevent the battle, for you it was decreed

that you were the source of strife for powerful men.’

Then Sigrún wept.

23 [29]. ‘Comfort yourself, Sigrún! You have been a “Hildr”55 to us;

Skjǫldungar56 cannot escape fate!’

‘Now I would choose that those should live, who have passed away,

and I could yet conceal myself in your embrace!’

Guðmundr, Granmarr’s son, said this:57

24 [19]. ‘Who is the Skjǫldungr, the one who steers the ships?

a battle-redness is cast over the vikings.’58

Sinfjǫtli said:

25 [20]. ‘Here Hǫðbroddr can recognize Helgi,

your family’s homeland, the inheritance of the Fjǫrsungar.’59

26 [21] ‘Before that [comes about], at Frekasteinn

they60 shall be reconciled through discussion of the dispute;⁶¹

it’s time, Hǫðbroddr, to take vengeance,

if we bear the lower part for long!’62

27 [22]. ‘Before that, Guðmundr, you’d tend goats,

that’s pleasanter for you than Brimir’s judgements!’63

28 [23].⁶⁴ ‘For you, Sinfjǫtli, it’s much more seemly

even if the warriors deal in hatreds!65

29 [24]. ‘Granmarr’s sons don’t seem good to me,

they’ve made it clear at Móinsheimar,

that they have the spirit to wield swords;66

the warriors are far too brave!’

Helgi married Sigrún and they had sons; Helgi was not old. Dagr, Hǫgni’s son, sacrificed to Óðinn to avenge his father. Óðinn lent Dagr his spear. Dagr found Helgi, his brother-in-law, at the place called Fjǫturlundr.67 He ran Helgi through with the spear.68 There Helgi fell.69 And Dagr rode to the fell and told Sigrún the news:

30. ‘I am loath, sister, to tell you of sorrows,

as, against my will, I have to make my kinswoman weep:

there fell this morning beneath Fjǫturlundr

a descendant of Buðli, the one who was best in the world

31. ‘All the oaths shall bite you,

those which you had sworn to Helgi,

by the lustrous water of Leiptr70

and by the drizzle-cool stone of Unnr!71

32. ‘May the ship not glide, which glides beneath you,

even if a fair wind lies behind it!

May the steed not run, which runs beneath you,

even if you have to escape your enemies!

33. ‘May the sword not bite for you, which you brandish,

unless it sing above your own head!

Then Helgi’s death would be avenged on you,

if you were a wolf72 out in the woods,

devoid of wealth and of all pleasure,

[if you] had no food, unless you burst [from feeding] on corpses!’

Dagr said:

34. ‘You’re mad, sister, and out of your mind,⁷³

when you invoke an evil fate for your brother!

Óðinn alone is the cause of all the misfortune,

35. ‘Your brother⁷⁴ offers you red rings,

all Vandilsvé75 and Vígdalir;76

have half our homeland in compensation for the harm,

ring-adorned bride, [you] and your boys!’

36. ‘I shan’t sit so happily in Sevafjǫll,

[and] there should run here, beneath the ruler, Vígblær,77

used to a golden bit, [and] I can greet the prince!

37. ‘So fully had Helgi frightened

38. ‘So Helgi surpassed [other] warriors,

which walks superior to all [other] beasts,78

and whose horns glow against heaven itself!’⁷⁹

A burial-mound was prepared for Helgi. And when he came to Valhǫll,80 then Óðinn invited him to rule over all with him.

Helgi said:

39. ‘You, Hundingr, shall for every man

Sigrún’s serving-woman was walking during the evening by Helgi’s burial-mound, and she saw that Helgi rode to the mound with many men.

40. ‘Is it an illusion, that which I seem to see,

or the doom of the powers⁸¹ — dead people riding,

as your steeds are spurred by points⁸² —

or has a homeward-journey been granted to the warriors?’

41.⁸³ ‘It’s no illusion, that which you seem to see,

nor the age’s destruction, even though you observe us,

even though we spur our steeds with points —

nor has a homeward journey been granted to the warriors.’

The serving-woman went and said to Sigrún:

42. ‘Go outside, Sigrún from Sevafjǫll,

if you wish to meet the troop’s protector!84

The mound has opened up, Helgi has come!

His battle-traces85 bleed, the descendant of Dagr86 asked that you

should staunch⁸⁷ his wound-drops!’⁸⁸

Sigrún went into the mound to Helgi and said:

43. ‘Now I’m as elated at our meeting

as Óðinn’s ravenous hawks,89

when they perceive the slain, warm pieces of meat,

or, dew-glistening, they see daybreak!⁹⁰

44. ‘I want to kiss the unliving king,

before you cast off your bloody mail-coat!

Your hair, Helgi, is covered with hoar-frost,

the prince is all drenched in slaughter-dew,91

drizzle-cool are the hands of Hǫgni’s son-in-law!

How, descendant of Buðli, shall I make you a remedy for this?’

45.⁹² ‘You alone, Sigrún from Sevafjǫll, are the reason

why Helgi is drenched in harm-dew!93

You, gold-adorned, weep grim tears,

sun-bright, southern [lady], before you go to sleep;

each falls bloody on the leader’s breast,⁹⁴

drizzle-cool, searing, swollen with grief!

46. ‘Well shall we drink costly liquors,

even though we’ve lost love and lands!

No one shall recite a grief-song,

even if one beholds mortal wounds on my breast!

Now brides are buried in the grave-mound,

the women of praiseworthy ones, passed away beside us!’

Sigrún prepared a bed in the burial-mound.

47. ‘Here, Helgi, I have made a bed for you,

very carefree, kinsman of the Ylfingar;

48. ‘Now I declare nothing to be unexpected,

late or early, at Sevafjǫll,

white, in the mound, Hǫgni’s daughter,

49. ‘It’s time to ride reddened ways,

to let my fallow steed tread the flight-path;⁹⁵

I must be west of wind-helm’s bridges,⁹⁶

before Salgofnir97 wakens the victory-people!’⁹⁸

Helgi and his men rode on their way, and the women went home to the farmstead. The following evening, Sigrún had the serving-woman keep watch at the burial-mound. And at sunset, when Sigrún came to the mound, she said:

50.⁹⁹ ‘He’d have come by now, if he intended to come,

Sigmundr’s son from the halls of Óðinn;

I declare that hopes of the fierce one100 [coming] here are fading,

when eagles sit on ash-branches¹⁰¹

and the whole warrior-host¹⁰² drifts to dream-assemblies.¹⁰³

51.¹⁰⁴ ‘Don’t be so insane that you go alone,

woman of the Skjǫldungar, to revenant-houses!105

All dead enemies become mightier at night,¹⁰⁶

lady, than during bright days!’

Sigrún was short-lived due to sorrow and anguish. It was a belief in olden times that people were reborn, but that it now called an old wives’ tale. It is declared that Helgi and Sigrún were reborn.107 He was then called Helgi Haddingjaskaði,108 and she Kára Hálfdan’s daughter,109 as is related in Káruljóð ‘Kára’s Song,’110 and she was a valkyrie.

Textual Apparatus to Helgakviða Hundingsbana ǫnnur

39/7 gefa] R ge inserted in the outer margin; the rest of the word is lacking