Grípisspá

Grípisspá (Grp.) ‘The Prophecy of Grípir’ survives in R (fol. 27r–28v). It is a pedestrian work in fornyrðislag, but it serves a useful purpose as a synoptic preface to subsequent poems in R concerning the hero Sigurðr. It reminds the audience—most or all of whom were probably familiar with some stories about Sigurðr—of what is to come. It was probably composed in the thirteenth century.

Chapter 16 of VS, another major Old Norse source for Sigurðr’s life, also mentions his visit to his maternal uncle, Grípir, and the latter’s prophecy. In contrast to the sequence of events indicated by the order of poems in R, however, the saga has Sigurðr meet his foster-father, Reginn, before hearing Grípir’s prophecy.

As a spá ‘prophecy’, Grp. merits comparison with Vsp. and Hdl. 29–44.

Synopsis

Further Reading

Grípisspá

1. ‘Hverr byggir hér   borgir þessar?

Hvat þann þjóðkonung   þegnar nefna?’

‘Grípir heitir   gumna stjóri,

sá er fastri ræðr   foldu ok þegnum.’

2. ‘Er horskr konungr   heima í landi?

Mun sá gramr við mik   ganga at mæla?

Máls er þarfi   maðr ókunnigr,

vil ek fljótliga   finna Grípi!’

3. ‘Þess mun glaðr konungr   Geiti spyrja:

hverr sá maðr sé   er máls kveðr Grípi.’

‘Sigurðr ek heiti,   borinn Sigmundi,

en Hjǫrdís er   hilmis móðir.’

4. Þá gekk Geitir   Grípi at segja:

‘Hér er maðr úti,   ókuðr, kominn;

hann er ítarligr   at áliti;

sá vill, fylkir,   fund þinn hafa.’

5. Gengr ór skála   skatna dróttinn

ok heilsar vel   hilmi komnum:

‘Þiggðu hér, Sigurðr!   Væri sœmra fyrr!

En þú, Geitir, tak   við Grana sjálfum!’

6. Mæla námu   ok mart hjala,

þá er ráðspakir   rekkar fundusk:

‘Segðu mér, ef þú veizt,   móðurbróðir,

hvé mun Sigurði   snúna ævi?’

7. ‘Þú munt maðr vera   mæztr und sólu,

ok hæstr borinn   hverjum jǫfri,

gjǫfull af gulli,   en gløggr flugar,

ítr áliti   ok í orðum spakr!’

8. ‘Segðu, gegn konungr,   gerr en ek spyrja,

snotr, Sigurði,   ef þú sjá þikkisk:

hvat mun fyrst gørask   til farnaðar,

þá er ór garði emk   genginn þínum?’

9. ‘Fyrst muntu, fylkir,   fǫður um hefna

ok Eylima   alls harms reka;

þú munt harða   Hundings sonu,

snjalla, fella —   mundu sigr hafa!’

10. ‘Segðu, ítr konungr,   ættingi, mér,

heldr horskliga,   er vit hugat mælum:

sérðu Sigurðar   snǫr brǫgð fyrir,

þau er hæst fara   und himinskautum?’

11. ‘Mundu einn vega   orm inn frána,

þann er gráðugr liggr   á Gnitaheiði;

þú munt báðum   at bana verða,

Regin ok Fáfni —   rétt segir Grípir!’

12. ‘Auðr mun œrinn,   ef ek eflik svá

víg með virðum,   sem þú víst segir;

leið at huga   ok lengi seg:

hvat mun enn vera   ævi minnar?’

13. ‘Þú munt finna   Fáfnis bœli

ok upp taka   auð inn fagra,

gulli hlœða   á Grana bógu;

ríðr þú til Gjúka,   gramr vígrisinn.’

14. ‘Enn skaltu hilmi   í hugaðsrœðu,

framlyndr jǫfurr,   fleira segja;

gestr em ek Gjúka,   ok ek geng þaðan:

hvat mun enn vera   ævi minnar?’

15. ‘Sefr á fjalli   fylkis dóttir,

bjǫrt í brynju,   eptir bana Helga;

þú munt hǫggva   hvǫssu sverði,

brynju rísta   með bana Fáfnis.’

16. ‘Brotin er brynja,   brúðr mæla tekr,

er vaknaði   víf ór svefni;

hvat mun snót at heldr   við Sigurð mæla,

þat er at farnaði   fylki verði?’

17. ‘Hon mun ríkjum þér   rúnar kenna,

allar þær er aldir   eignask vildu,

ok á manns tungu   mæla hverja,

lif með lækning —   lifðu heill, konungr!’

18. ‘Nú er því lokit,   numin eru frœði,

ok em braut þaðan   búinn at ríða;

leið at huga   ok lengra seg:

hvat mun meirr vera   minnar ævi?’

19. ‘Þú munt hitta   Heimis byggðir

ok glaðr vera   gestr þjóðkonungs;

farit er, Sigurðr,   þats ek fyrir vissak;

skala fremr enn svá   fregna Grípi!’

20. ‘Nú fær mér ekka   orð þatstu mæltir,

þvíat þú fram um sér,   fylkir, lengra;

veiztu ofmikit   angr Sigurði —

því þú, Grípir, þat   gerra segja!’

21. ‘Lá mér um œsku   ævi þinnar

ljósast fyrir   líta eptir;

rétt emka ek   ráðspakr taliðr,

né in heldr framvíss —   farit þats ek vissak!’

22. ‘Mann veit ek engi   fyr mold ofan,

þann er fleira sé   fram en þú, Grípir;

skalattu leyna,   þótt ljótt sé,

eða mein gørisk   á mínum hag!’

23. ‘Era með lǫstum   lǫgð ævi þér —

láttu, inn ítri, þat,   ǫðlingr, nemask!

Þvíat uppi mun,   meðan ǫld lifir,

naddéls boði,   nafn þitt vera!’

24. ‘Verst hyggjum því,   verðr at skiljask

Sigurðr við fylki   at sógǫru;

leið vísaðú —   lagt er allt fyrir —

mœrr, mér, ef þú vilt,   móðurbróðir!’

25. ‘Nú skal Sigurði   segja gerva,

allz þengill mik   til þess neyðir;

mundu víst vita   at vætki lýgr:

dœgr eitt er þér   dauði ætlaðr.’

26. ‘Vilkat ek reiði   ríks þjóðkonungs,

góðráðs, at heldr,   Grípis, þiggja;

nú vill víst vita,   þótt viltki sé,

hvat á sýnt Sigurðr   sér fyr hǫndum.’

27. ‘Fljóð er at Heimis,   fagrt álitum —

hana Brynhildi   bragnar nefna —

dóttir Buðla,   en dýrr konungr,

harðugðikt man,   Heimir, fœðir.’

28. ‘Hvat er mik at því,   þótt mær sé,

fǫgr áliti,   fœdd at Heimis?

Þat skaltu, Grípir,   gǫrva segja,

þvíat þú ǫll um sér   ørlǫg fyrir!’

29. ‘Hon firrir þik   flestu gamni,

fǫgr áliti,   fóstra Heimis;

svefn þú né sefr,   né um sakar dœmir,

gáraðu manna,   nema þú mey sér!’

30. ‘Hvat mun til líkna   lagt Sigurði?

Segðu, Grípir, þat,   ef þú sjá þikkisk;

mun ek mey ná   mundi kaupa,

þá ina fǫgru   fylkis dóttur?’

31. ‘It munuð alla   eiða vinna,

fullfastliga —   fá munuð halda;

verit hefir þú Gjúka   gestr eina nótt,

mantattu horska   Heimis fóstru.’

32. ‘Hvárt er þá, Grípir?   Get þú þess fyr mér!

Sér þú geðleysi   í grams skapi,

er ek skal við mey þá   málum slíta,

er ek alls hugar   unna þóttumk?’

33. ‘Þú verðr, siklingr,   fyr svikum annars,

mundu Grímhildar   gjalda ráða;

mun bjóða þér   bjarthaddat man,

dóttur sína —   dregr hon vél at gram!’

34. ‘Mun ek við þá Gunnar   gørva hleyti

ok Guðrúnu   ganga at eiga?

Fullkvæni þá   fylkir væri,

ef meintregar   mér angraðit.’

35. ‘Þik mun Grímhildr   gǫrva véla;

mun hon Brynhildar   biðja fýsa

Gunnari til handa,   Gotna drótni;

heitr þú fljótliga fǫr   fylkis móður!’

36. ‘Mein eru fyr hǫndum,   má ek líta þat;

ratar gǫrliga   ráð Sigurðar

ef ek skal mærrar   meyjar biðja

ǫðrum til handa,   þeirar ek unna vel.’

37. ‘Ér munuð allir   eiða vinna,

Gunnarr ok Hǫgni,   en þú, gramr, þriði,

þvíat litum víxla,   er á leið eruð,

Gunnarr ok þú —   Grípir lýgr eigi!’

38. ‘Hví gegnir þat?   Hví skulum skipta

litum ok látum   er á leið erum?

Þar mun fláræði   fylgja annat,

atalt með ǫllu:   enn segðu, Grípir!’

39. ‘Lit hefir þú Gunnars   ok læti hans,

mælsku þína   ok meginhyggjur;

mundu fastna þér   framlundaða

fóstru Heimis —   sér vætr fyr því!’

40. ‘Verst hyggjum því,   vándr munk heitinn,

Sigurðr, með seggjum,   at sógǫru!

Vilda ek eigi   vélum beita

jǫfra brúði,   er ek œzta veitk!’

41. ‘Þú munt hvíla,   hers oddviti,

mærr, hjá meyju,   sem þín móðir sé!

Því mun uppi,   meðan ǫld lifir,

þjóðar þengill,   þitt nafn vera!

42 [43]. ‘Saman munu brullaup   bæði drukkin,

Sigurðar ok Gunnars,   í sǫlum Gjúka;

þá hǫmum víxlið,   er it heim komið,

hefir hvárr fyr því   hyggju sína!’

43 [42]. ‘Mun góða kván   Gunnarr eiga,

mærr, með mǫnnum   — mér segðu, Grípir! —

þóat hafi þrjár nætr   þegns brúðr hjá mér,

snarlynd, sofit?   Slíks erut dœmi!

44. ‘Hvé mun at ynði   eptir verða

mægð með mǫnnum?   Mér segðu, Grípir!

Mun Gunnari   til gamans ráðit

síðan verða,   eða sjálfum mér?’

45. ‘Minnir þik eiða,   máttu þegja þó,

antu Guðrúnu   góðra ráða;

en Brynhildr þikkisk,   brúðr, vargefin,

snót fiðr vélar   sér at hefndum!’

46. ‘Hvat mun at bótum   brúðr sú taka,

er vélar vér   vífi gerðum?

Hefir snót af mér   svarna eiða,

enga efnda,   en unað lítit!’

47. ‘Mun hon Gunnari   gǫrva segja,

at þú eigi vel   eiðum þyrmðir,

þá er ítr konungr   af ǫllum hug,

Gjúka arfi,   á gram trúði.’

48. ‘Hvat er þá, Grípir?   Get þú þess fyr mér!

Mun ek saðr vera   at sǫgu þeiri?

Eða lýgr á mik   lofsæl kona

ok á sjálfa sik?   Segðu, Grípir, þat!’

49. ‘Mun fyr reiði   rík brúðr við þik

né af oftrega   allvel skipa;

viðr þú góðri   grand aldregi,

þó ér víf konungs   vélum beittuð.’

50. ‘Mun horskr Gunnarr   at hvǫtun hennar,

Guthormr ok Hǫgni,   ganga síðan?

Munu synir Gjúka   á sifjugum mér

eggjar rjóða?   Enn segðu, Grípir!’

51. ‘Þá er Guðrúnu   grimt um hjarta —

brœðr hennar   þér til bana ráða —

ok at øngu verðr   ynði síðan

vitru vífi —   veldr því Grímildr.

52. ‘Því skal hugga þik,   hers oddviti,

sú mun gipt lagið   á grams ævi:

munat mætri maðr   á mold koma,

und sólar sjǫt,   en þú, Sigurðr, þikkir!’

53. ‘Skiljumk heilir!   Munat skǫpum vinna!

Nú hefir þú, Grípir, vel   gǫrt, sem ek beiddak;

fljótt myndir þú   fríðri segja

mína ævi,   ef þú mættir þat!’

The Prophecy of Grípir

Grípir,1 brother of Hjǫrdís,2 was the name of a son of Eylimi. He ruled lands and was the wisest of all men and prescient. Sigurðr rode alone and came to the hall of Grípir. Sigurðr was easily recognized. He met a man to speak to outside the hall. He3 named himself Geitir.4 Then Sigurðr asked to speak with him and enquired:

1. ‘Who inhabits these strongholds here?

What do thanes call the people-king?’

‘The steerer of men is called Grípir,

2. ‘Is the wise king at home in the land?

Will the leader come to talk with me?

An unknown man is in need of speech,

I want to meet Grípir at once!’

3. ‘The glad king will ask Geitir this:

who the man is who asks to speak with Grípir.’

‘I am called Sigurðr, born to Sigmundr,

and Hjǫrdís is the ruler’s5 mother.’

4. Then Geitir went to speak to Grípir:

5. The lord of warriors walks from the dwelling

and greets well the [newly] arrived ruler;

‘Accept [our hospitality] here, Sigurðr! Sooner would have been better!

And you, Geitir, take care of Grani himself!’6

6. They began to speak and to chat at length,

when the counsel-wise men met each other:

‘Tell me, if you know, maternal uncle,⁷

how will life turn out for Sigurðr?’

7. ‘You will be the most glorious man under the sun,

and the highest born of any boar,⁸

generous with gold, but stingy of flight,

stately in appearance and wise in words!’

8. ‘Tell Sigurðr, just [and] wise king,

9. ‘First, marshal, you will avenge your father

and entirely avenge Eylimi’s harm;9

you will fell the hard, bold sons of Hundingr —

you will have victory!’10

10. ‘Tell me, noble king [and] kinsman,

rather wisely, since we’re speaking agreeably:

do you foresee Sigurðr’s strong, swift deeds,

those that will journey highest under heaven’s corners?’11

11. ‘You will alone slay the shining snake,

the one which lies greedy on Gnitaheiðr;12

you will become the killer of both,

Reginn13 and Fáfnir14 — Grípir speaks rightly!’15

12. ‘Wealth will be abundant, if I accomplish

such a killing among men, as you say with certainty;

put your mind to it and speak at length:¹⁶

what more will be in my life?’

13. ‘You will find Fáfnir’s lair

load gold on Grani’s shoulders;17

you will ride to Gjúki’s,18 battle-proud prince.’¹⁹

14. ‘Still you must in confidential speech,

high-minded boar,²⁰ say more to the ruler;

I’m a guest of Gjúki, and I go from there:

15. ‘A marshal’s daughter21 sleeps on a mountain,

bright in a mail-coat, after Helgi’s death;22

you will strike with a sharp sword,

cut the mail-coat with Fáfnir’s bane.’23

16. ‘Broken is the mail-coat, the bride starts to speak,

when the wife²⁴ awoke from her sleep;

what will the woman say rather [soon] to Sigurðr

17. ‘She will teach you, powerful one, runes,²⁵

all those that people want to possess,

and to talk in every human tongue,

[and] medicines with healing art — live healthily, king!’

18. ‘Now that’s finished, the lore has been learnt,

and I’m ready to ride away from there;

put your mind to it and speak more fully:

what more will be in my life?’

19. ‘You’ll come upon Heimir’s settlements26

and be the glad guest of the people-king;

it’s at an end, Sigurðr, that which I foresaw;

you shouldn’t question Grípir still further like this!’

20. ‘Now the words you speak cause me sorrow,

because you [do] see further [ahead], marshal;

you know of extreme anguish for Sigurðr —

that’s why, Grípir, you don’t say it!’

21. ‘The youth of your life lay before me

most clearly to look upon;

not rightly am I reckoned counsel-wise,

nor any the more prescient — what I knew is ended!’

22. ‘I know no one above ground²⁷

who sees further ahead than you, Grípir;

23. ‘Life is not laid out for you with shame —

let that be learned, glorious nobleman!

Because, announcer of the point-shower,²⁸

your name will be remembered as long as men live!’

24. ‘I think this the worst [thing],

that Sigurðr must part from the marshal in such circumstances;

if you will, famed maternal uncle!’29

25. ‘Now I shall speak to Sigurðr in full,

you will surely know that he30 does not lie:

one day is appointed for your death.’

26. ‘I don’t want [to incur] the wrath of the powerful people-king,

but would rather receive Grípir’s good counsel;

now he wants31 to know for certain, even if it’s unpleasant,

what Sigurðr plainly has in store.’32

27. ‘There’s a woman at Heimir’s, fair in appearance —

men call her Brynhildr33 —

daughter of Buðli, and the worthy king, Heimir,

28. ‘What’s it to me, even if the maiden is

fair in appearance, brought up at Heimir’s?

You must tell it, Grípir, in full,

29. ‘She, Heimir’s fosterling, fair in appearance;

you won’t heed men, unless you see that maiden!’34

30. ‘What will be laid down as comfort for Sigurðr?

Speak, Grípir, if you seem to see it;

31. ‘You two will swear all oaths,³⁵

very firmly — few will hold;

[when] you have been Gjúki’s guest for one night,

you won’t recall Heimir’s clever fosterling.’36

32. ‘What’s [this], then, Grípir? Explain it for me!

33. ‘You’ll fall victim, prince, to the treacheries of another,

you’ll pay for Grímhildr’s counsels;37

she’ll offer you a bright-haired girl,

her daughter³⁸ — she’ll plot against the prince!’

34. ‘Will I, then, become an in-law to Gunnarr39

and go to marry Guðrún?40

The marshal⁴¹ would then be well-married,

if outrage-sorrows didn’t cause me anguish.’

35. ‘Grímhildr will trick you entirely;

she’ll urge you to ask for Brynhildr

on behalf of Gunnarr, lord of the Gotar;42

you’ll immediately promise the journey to the marshal’s mother!’⁴³

36. ‘Misfortunes are before me,⁴⁴ I can see that;

Sigurðr’s decision-making will fall down entirely

37. ‘You’ll all swear oaths —

Gunnarr and Hǫgni, and you, prince, third —

Gunnarr and you — Grípir does not lie!’45

38. ‘What does that mean? Why shall we exchange

appearances and manners when we’re on the way?

There will be another deception accompanying [this one],

entirely dreadful — speak on, Grípir!’

39. ‘You’ll have Gunnar’s appearance and his manner,

fosterling of Heimir — you’ll think nothing of it!’46

40. ‘I think this the worst [thing, that] I, Sigurðr,

the boars’47 bride, whom I know to be the noblest!’

41. ‘You will sleep, army’s point-wise one,⁴⁸

glorious, beside the maiden, as if she were your mother!⁴⁹

For that, nation’s prince, your name

will be remembered as long as humanity lives!

42 [43].⁵⁰ ‘Both weddings will be drunk⁵¹ together,

Sigurðr’s and Gunnarr’s, in Gjúki’s halls;

43 [42]. ‘Will glorious Gunnarr have a good wife,

among people — tell me, Grípir! —

44. ‘How will this marital kinship between people

turn to happiness? Tell me, Grípir!

Will pleasure be assigned to Gunnarr

45. ‘You’ll recall your oaths, but be able to keep quiet,

you’ll grant Guðrún a good marriage;

but Brynhildr, the bride, will think herself badly married,

the woman will find tricks to avenge herself!’52

46. ‘What will that bride accept as compensations,

when we have worked tricks on the wife?

The woman has sworn oaths from me,

none kept, and little contentment!’⁵³

47. ‘She’ll say clearly to Gunnarr,

that you didn’t keep the oaths well,54

when the noble king, with his whole heart,

Gjúki’s heir,55 trusted in the prince.’

48. ‘What will happen then, Grípir? Explain this for me!

and about herself? Tell me that, Grípir!’

49. ‘Out of wrath, from excessive grief,

the powerful bride will not treat you altogether well;

you’ll never do harm to the good woman,

though you deceived the king’s wife with tricks.’

50. ‘Will wise Gunnarr, Guthormr56 and Hǫgni

Will the sons of Gjúki redden their sword-edges

on me, their in-law? Speak on, Grípir!’

51. ‘Then, for Guðrún, there will be grimness of heart57 —

her brothers will bring about your death⁵⁸ —

and contentment will then come to nothing⁵⁹

for the wise wife — Grím(h)ildr will cause this.

52. ‘You shall console yourself with this, army’s point-wise one,

[that] this gift will be laid down in the prince’s life:

a worthier man than you seem, Sigurðr,

won’t come on [this] earth, under the sun’s seat!’60

53. ‘Let’s part in good spirits! One can’t resist fate!

Now, Grípir, you’ve done well, as I asked;

Textual Apparatus to Grípisspá