Sigurðarkviða in skamma

An immediate obstacle to the appreciation of this poem is presented by its title (now titles), which, today may appear inadequately representative of its nature and set the wrong expectations. In R (fol. 34v–36r) the poem is called simply Kviða Sigurðar ‘Lay of Sigurðr’, but it is now generally known as Sigurðarkviða in skamma (Sg.) ‘The Short Lay of Sigurðr’, in contrast to *Sigurðarkviða in meira ‘The Longer/Greater Lay of Sigurðr’, a hypothetical poem often supposed to have been recorded earlier in R on leaves now lost. Sg. may have been shorter than that hypothetical poem, but at seventy-one stanzas of fornyrðislag it is not short; it is actually the third-longest poem in R (as it stands), behind only Háv. (a likely composite work) and Am. This point matters because an audience expecting a compact composition of highly charged emotional immediacy like Gðr. I may be unprepared for, and therefore disappointed by, the more expansive and less explosive nature of Sg., especially given its ‘obscure, allusive narration of events’.¹ Also, although Sigurðr does make a brief death-bed appearance, Sg. is not really about him. It would be better called Brynhildarkviða, because its main character, and the one who leaves the most abiding impression, is Brynhildr.²

For Sg. is largely a study of how the heart and mind of this impassioned woman—whose desperation, both loving and potentially murderous, for Sigurðr surfaces briefly in st. 6—turned to hard-heartedness, cold calculation, instigation of revenge, prophecy and suicide. As such, Brynhildr undergoes an inversion of Guðrún’s progression, in Gðr. I, from silent grief on the point of death to emotional release and prolonged life.

The counsels of women are proverbially ‘cold’ in Old Norse literature,³ and this view is exemplified by the thwarted, vengeful Brynhildr of Sg. In perhaps the poem’s most memorable stanza (8), she fills up metaphorically with ice-floes and icicles (or glaciers), at the same time as Sigurðr and Guðrún sleep together in a warm bed. After instigating the murder of Sigurðr and of his and Guðrún’s son, this Northern ice-maiden coolly makes preparations, in precise detail, for her final place of rest with Sigurðr. This is apparently to be an emulation of the flame-enveloped stronghold in which she had first lain in a prolonged, deathlike slumber and subsequently slept chastely beside Sigurðr. There she will melt, next to Sigurðr, in the heat of a funeral pyre. Although she could not have Sigurðr in life, having committed suicide, she will lie beside him once more in death.⁴

Recognition of this emulation of Brynhildr’s earlier slumber calls attention to the notable absence from Sg., in contrast to several preceding poems, of Óðinn, the god whose magic had condemned her to prolonged sleep. He is not mentioned once—even his protégé Sigurðr is, in Sg. 24, the friend of Freyr, the god who makes no women cry (according to Ls. 37), not of Óðinn. Furthermore, Brynhildr kills herself not by stabbing herself with a spear in classic Óðinnic fashion, but by piercing herself, through her mail-coat, with a sword.⁵ If she has rejected her god, her subsequent journey, in Hlr., to Hel rather than Valhǫll, indicates more clearly that he has rejected her.

Sg. is thought to borrow from numerous other Eddic poems and therefore to be among the youngest of these compositions.⁶ In turn, VS apparently paraphrases passages from a version of Sg., especially in chapters 32 and 33.

Important variant accounts of the dealings of figures corresponding to Sigurðr, Gunnarr, Hǫgni, Brynhildr and Guðrún appear in the Middle High German Nibelungenlied, the Old Norse (Norwegian) Þiðreks saga af Bern and the Faroese ballad Brynhildar táttur ‘Brynhild’s Story’.

Synopsis

Long ago, Sigurðr visited the home of King Gjúki, and exchanged oaths of allegiance with Gjúki’s sons, Gunnarr and Hǫgni (1). They offered him in marriage Guðrún, Gjúki’s daughter, and drank together many a day (2), until they went to ask for Brynhildr, whom Sigurðr would have had for himself, were he not married to Guðrún (3). Sigurðr, having probably assumed Gunnarr’s appearance, laid a sword between himself and Brynhildr, whom he reserved for Gunnarr (4).

Brynhildr, who had, up to that time, known no suffering or disgrace (5), yearns for Sigurðr but declares that, if she cannot have him, he will die (6). She curses the Nornir who shaped her miserable fate (7), and went outside in icy distress each evening, when Sigurðr and Guðrún lay in bed together (8). She declares she must content herself with her grim spirit (9), and threatens to leave Gunnarr unless he kills both Sigurðr (10–11) and his son (12).

Gunnarr is distressed at this, and uncertain what to do, given his affection for Sigurðr (13). He asks Hǫgni to speak with him in private (14). Gunnarr declares that he will die before he loses Brynhildr and her riches (15), and asks Hǫgni if he is willing to join him in betraying Sigurðr, in view of the great financial gain (16). Hǫgni replies that it would be unfitting for them to break their oaths by killing Sigurðr (17), and observes that there are no happier men than the four of them—he, Gunnarr, Sigurðr and Guthormr—when they rule together (18). He blames Brynhildr’s passionate incitement for this course of action (19). Gunnarr decides to have Guthormr do the killing, since he had not sworn oaths to Sigurðr (20). Guthormr was easily incited and soon buried a sword in Sigurðr’s heart (21). Sigurðr, however, threw his sword after Guthormr, slicing him in two (22–23).

Guðrún awoke beside Sigurðr, drenched in his blood (24). He tells her not to weep (25) and intimates that her brothers will also kill their young son, and all because of Brynhildr (26–27). He adds that he did not touch Brynhildr and therefore did not break his oaths to Gunnarr (28). At that, Guðrún sighed, Sigurðr died (29), and Brynhildr laughed once at Guðrún’s weeping (30).

Gunnarr, having recognized the malice in Brynhildr’s laughter (31), declares that she is worthy of seeing her brother, Atli, killed in front of her (32). She replies that Atli will always be stronger than him (33), and observes that it was Gunnarr and at least one other who had decided on causing strife (probably by threatening to attack if Brynhildr were not betrothed to Gunnarr) (34). She recalls that she never wanted to marry before the sons of Gjúki rode in (35), whereupon she promised herself to Sigurðr (whether through a formal betrothal is unclear) (36 [39]). Atli had told her that he would not grant her the wealth he had bestowed on her unless she let herself be married (presumably to Gunnarr) (37 [36]). This had put her in a state of confusion as to whether to fight (probably against Gunnarr and his brothers) (38 [37]), but this was somehow resolved when (or despite the fact that) she set her heart on Sigurðr and his treasures (39 [38]). She declares that she loved only one man (Sigurðr), and determines to kill herself (40–41).

Gunnarr and others tried to dissuade her from suicide (42), but she rejected their embraces (43). Gunnarr then spoke to Hǫgni, telling him that he wanted all their men to try to stop her (44), a decision Hǫgni disapproved of, as he would rather see the cursed woman dead (45). Gunnarr left the conversation downcast, and went to where Brynhildr was distributing treasures (46).

Brynhildr gazed at her possessions and dead women (who presumably had committed suicide or been killed) before donning her golden mail-coat and stabbing herself with a sword (47). She sank down (48) and invited those women who wanted gifts to approach her (49), but all declared that enough had already died and that they had work to do (50). Brynhildr then declares that she does not want anyone to die with her unwillingly (51), but that fewer treasures will be cremated with them if they do not (52).

She then tells Gunnarr to give up hope for her (53), and starts to prophesy. She says that he and Guðrún will be reconciled sooner than he thinks (54), that Svanhildr (daughter of Guðrún and Sigurðr), a radiant girl, will be born (55), and that Guðrún will marry Atli unwillingly (56). Having recalled her betrayal (57), Brynhildr goes on to foresee that Oddrún, Atli’s other sister, will have an affair with Gunnarr (58), that Atli will put him in a snake-enclosure (59), and that, soon after, Guðrún will kill Atli and his sons (60). She adds that it would be more fitting for Guðrún to accompany Sigurðr in death (61), but that Guðrún will rather reach Jónakr’s land (62). Svanhildr will be sent away from there (63), to marry King Jǫrmunrekkr, but will be betrayed by the king’s counsellor, Bikki, with the result that Sigurðr’s line will end (64).

Brynhildr then makes her last request, which is that Gunnarr build her a stronghold that will serve as a spacious pyre for Sigurðr, her and others (65). She gives instructions for its preparation and arrangement, stipulating, among other things, that a sword be laid between her and Sigurðr, as it was formerly (66–68), so that their journey to the afterlife will be ennobled (69–70). Finally, her breath failing, Brynhildr announces her death, having spoken, in her words, ‘only truth’ (71).

Further Reading

Aðalheiður Guðmundsdóttir, ‘Gunnarr and the Snake Pit in Medieval Art and Legend’, Speculum 87 (2012), 1015–49, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0038713412003144  

Anderson, S. M., and K. Swenson, ed., Cold Counsel: Women in Old Norse Literature and Mythology: A Collection of Essays (New York: Routledge, 2002).

Andersson, T. M., The Legend of Brynhild (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1980).

Andersson, T. M., ‘Beyond Epic and Romance: Sigurðarkviða in meiri’, in R. Simek, Jónas Kristjánsson and H. Bekker-Nielsen, ed., Sagnaskemmtun: Studies in Honour of Hermann Pálsson (Vienna: Böhlau, 1986), pp. 1–11.

Andersson, T. M., A Preface to the Nibelungenlied (Stanford, CA: California University Press, 1987).

Batten, C. R., ‘Strengði hon elfi: Female Reactions to Male Violence in Eddic Heroic Poetry’, SS 91 (2019), 289–321, https://doi.org/10.5406/scanstud.91.3.0289  

Brockington, M., The Motif of the Separating Sword in World Art and Literature: A Study of Its Origins and Development (Lewiston, NY: Mellen, 2008).

Jochens, J., Old Norse Images of Women (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1996).

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

McKinnell, J., ‘Female Reactions to the Death of Sigurðr’, in D. Kick and J. D. Shafer, ed., Essays on Eddic Poetry (Toronto: Toronto University Press, 2014), pp. 249–67, https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442669260-012  

Olley, K. M., ‘The Icelandic Hǫgni: The Re-imagining of a Nibelung Hero in the Eddic Tradition’, SS 90 (2018), 237–64, https://doi.org/10.5406/scanstud.90.2.0237

Sperberg-Macqueen, C. M., ‘The Legendary Form of Sigurðarkviða in Skamma’, ANF 100 (1985), 16–40.

Von See, K., B. La Farge, E. Picard, K. Schulz and M. Teichert, Kommentar zu den Liedern der Edda, Bd. 6: Heldenlieder (Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter, 2009).

Sigurðarkviða in skamma

Kviða Sigurðar

1. Ár var, þats Sigurðr   sótti Gjúka,

Vǫlsungr ungi,   er vegit hafði;

tók við tryggðum   tveggja brœðra,

seldusk eiða   eljunfrœknir.

2. Mey buðu honum   ok meiðma fjǫlð,

Guðrúnu ungu,   Gjúka dóttur;

drukku ok dœmðu   dœgr mart saman,

Sigurðr ungi   ok synir Gjúka.

3. Unz þeir Brynhildar   biðja fóru,

svá at þeim Sigurðr   reið í sinni,

Vǫlsungr ungi,   ok vega kunni;

hann um ætti,   ef hann eiga knætti.

4. Seggr inn suðrœni   lagði sverð nøkkvit,

mæki málfán,   á meðal þeira;

né hann konu   kyssa gørði,

né húnskr konungr   hefja sér at armi;

mey frumunga   fal hann megi Gjúka.

5. Hon sér at lífi   lǫst né vissi

ok at aldrlagi   ekki grand,

vamm þat er væri   eða vera hygði.

Gengu þess á milli   grimmar urðir.

6. Ein sat hon úti   aptan dags;

nam hon svá bert   um at mælask:

‘Hafa skal ek Sigurð   — eða þó svelti —

mǫg frumungan,   mér á armi!

7. ‘Orð mæltak nú,   iðrumk eptir þess;

kván er hans Guðrún,   en ek Gunnars;

ljótar Nornir   skópu oss langa þrá!’

8. Opt gengr hon innan,   ills um fyld,

ísa ok jǫkla,   aptan hvern,

er þau Guðrún   ganga á beð

ok hana Sigurðr   sveipr í ripti,

konungr inn húnski,   kván frjá sína.

9. ‘Vǫn geng ek vilja,   vers ok beggja;

verð ek mik gœla   af grimmum hug!’

10. Nam af þeim heiptum   hvetjask at vígi:

‘Þú skalt, Gunnarr,   gørst um láta

mínu landi   ok mér sjálfri;

mun ek una aldri   með ǫðlingi!

11. ‘Mun ek aptr fara,   þars ek áðan vark,

með nábornum   niðjum mínum;

þar mun ek sitja   ok sofa lífi,

nema þú Sigurð   svelta látir

ok jǫfur ǫðrum   œðri verðir!

12. ‘Látum son fara   feðr í sinni!

Skalat úlf ala   ungan lengi!

Hveim verðr hǫlða   hefnd léttari,

síðr til sátta,   at sonr lifi.’

13. Hryggr varð Gunnarr   ok hnipnaði;

sveip sínum hug,   sat um allan dag;

hann vissi þat   vilgi gǫrla,

hvat honum væri   vinna sœmst,

eða honum væri   vinna bezt,

allz sik Vǫlsung   vissi firðan

ok at Sigurð   sǫknuð mikinn.

14. Ýmist hann hugði   jafnlanga stund;

þat var eigi   árar títt

at frá konungdóm   kvánir gengi;

nam hann sér Hǫgna   heita at rúnum —

þar átti hann   alls fulltrúa.

15. ‘Ein er mér Brynhildr   ǫllum betri,

um borin Buðla —   hon er bragr kvenna!

Fyrr skal ek mínu   fjǫrvi láta

en þeirar meyjar   meiðmum týna!

16. ‘Vildu okkr fylki   til fjár véla?

Gott er at ráða   Rínar málmi

ok unandi   auði stýra

ok sitjandi   sælu njóta!’

17. Einu því Hǫgni   annsvǫr veitti:

‘Samir eigi okkr   slíkt at vinna,

sverði rofna   svarna eiða,

eiða svarna,   unnar tryggðir!

18. ‘Vituma vit á moldu   menn in sælli,

meðan fjórir vér   fólki ráðum

ok sá inn húnski   her-Baldr lifir,

né in mætri   mægð á moldu,

ef vér fimm sonu   fœðum lengi,

áttum góða   œxla knættim.

19. ‘Ek veit gǫrla,   hvaðan vegir standa:

eru Brynhildar   brek ofmikil!’

20. ‘Vit skulum Guthorm   gørva at vígi,

yngra bróður,   ófróðara;

hann var fyr útan   eiða svarna,

eiða svarna,   unnar tryggðir!’

21. Dælt var at eggja   óbilgjarnan:

stóð til hjarta   hjǫrr Sigurði.

22. Réð til hefnda   hergjarn í sal

ok eptir varp   óbilgjǫrnum;

fló til Guthorms   Grams ramliga

kynbirt járn   ór konungs hendi.

23. Hné hans um dólgr   til hluta tveggja:

hendr ok haufuð   hné á annan veg,

en fótahlutr   fell aptr í stað.

24. Sofnuð var Guðrún   í sæingu,

sorga laus,   hjá Sigurði;

en hon vaknaði   vilja firð,

er hon Freys vinar   flaut í dreyra.

25. Svá sló hon svárar   sínar hendr

at rammhugaðr   reis upp við beð:

‘Grátaðu, Guðrún,   svá grimmliga,

brúðr frumunga —   þér brœðr lifa!

26. ‘Á ek til ungan   erfinytja —

kannat hann firrask   ór fjándgarði;

þeir sér hafa,   svárt ok dátt,

en nær numit,   nýlig ráð.

27. ‘Ríðra þeim síðan,   þótt sjau alir,

systur sonr   slíkr at þingi!

Ek veit gǫrla   hví gegnir nú:

ein veldr Brynhildr   ǫllu bǫlvi!

28. ‘Mér unni mær   fyr mann hvern,

en við Gunnar   grand ekki vannk;

þyrmða ek sifjum,   svǫrnum eiðum,

síðr værak heitinn   hans kvánar vinr!’

29. Kona varp ǫndu,   en konungr fjǫrvi;

svá sló hon svára   sinni hendi,

at kváðu við   kálkar í vá

ok gullu við   gæss í túni.

30. Hló þá Brynhildr,   Buðla dóttir,

einu sinni,   af ǫllum hug,

er hon til hvílu   heyra knátti

gjallan grát   Gjúka dóttur.

31. Hitt kvað þá Gunnarr,   gramr haukstalda:

‘Hlæraðu af því,   heiptgjǫrn kona,

glǫð á gólfi,   at þér góðs viti!

Hví hafnar þú   inum hvíta lit,

feikna fœðir?   Hygg ek at feig sér!

32. ‘Þú værir þess   verðust kvenna,

at fyr augum þér   Atla hjøggim,

sæir brœðr þínum   blóðugt sár,

undir dreyrgar,   knættir yfir binda!’

33. ‘Frýra maðr þér engi, Gunnarr:   hefir þú fullvegit!

Lítt sésk Atli   ófu þína;

hann mun ykkar   ǫnd síðari

ok æ bera   afl it meira.

34. ‘Segja mun ek þér, Gunnarr —   sjálfr veiztu gǫrla —

hvé ér yðr snemma   til saka réðuð!

Varðkat ek til ung,   né ofþrungin:

fullgœdd fé   á fleti bróður.

35. ‘Né ek vilda þat,   at mik verr ætti,

áðr þér Gjúkungar   riðuð at garði,

þrír á hestum,   þjóðkonungar;

en þeira fǫr   þǫrfgi væri!

36 [39]. ‘Þeim hétumk þá,   þjóðkonungi

er með gulli sat   á Grana bógum;

varat hann í augu   yðr um líkr,

né á engi hlut   at álitum —

þó þikkisk ér   þjóðkonungar!

37 [36]. ‘Ok mér Atli þat   einni sagði,

at hvárki létz   hǫfn um deila,

gull né jarðir,   nema ek gefask létak,

ok engi hlut   auðins fjár,

þá er mér jóðungri   eigu seldi

ok mér jóðungri   ára talði.

38 [37]. ‘Þá var á hvǫrfum   hugr minn um þat,

hvárt ek skylda vega   eða val fella,

bǫll í brynju,   um bróður sǫk;

þat myndi þá   þjóðkunt vera,

mǫrgum manni   at munar stríði.

39 [38]. ‘Létum síga   sáttmál okkur —

lék mér meirr í mun   meiðmar þiggja,

bauga rauða,   burar Sigmundar;

né ek annars manns   aura vildak.

40. ‘Unna einum,   né ýmissum —

bjóat um hverfan   hug men-Skǫgul!

Allt mun þat Atli   eptir finna,

er hann mína spyrr   morðfǫr gǫrva,

41. at þeygi skal   þunngeð kona

annarrar ver   aldri leiða;

þá mun á hefndum   harma minna!’

42. Upp reis Gunnarr,   gramr verðungar,

ok um háls konu   hendr um lagði;

gengu allir,   ok þó ýmsir,

af heilum hug,   hana at letja.

43. Hratt af hálsi   hveim þar sér;

léta mann sik letja   langrar gǫngu.

44. Nam hann sér Hǫgna   hvetja at rúnum:

‘Seggi vil ek alla   í sal ganga,

þína með mínum —   nú er þǫrf mikil —

vita ef meini   morðfǫr konu,

unz, af méli,   enn mein komi;

þá látum því   þarfar ráða.’

45. Einu því Hǫgni   andsvǫr veitti:

‘Letia maðr hana   langrar gǫngu,

þars hon aptrborin   aldri verði!

Hon krǫng of komsk   fyr kné móður,

hon æ borin   óvilja til,

mǫrgum manni   at móðtrega!’

46. Hvarf sér óhróðugr   andspilli frá,

þar er mǫrk menja   meiðmum deildi.

47. Leit hon um alla   eigu sína,

soltnar þýjar   ok salkonur;

gullbrynju smó —   vara gott í hug —

áðr sik miðlaði   mækis eggjum.

48. Hné við bólstri   hon á annan veg,

ok hjǫrunduð   hugði at ráðum:

49. ‘Nú skulu ganga,   þeir er gull vili

ok minna því   at mér þiggja;

ek gef hverri   um hroðit sigli,

bók ok blæju,   bjartar váðir!’

50. Þǫgðu allir,   hugðu at ráðum,

ok allir senn   annsvǫr veittu:

‘Œrnar soltnar —   munum enn lifa!

Verða salkonur   sœmð at vinna!’

51. Unz af hyggjandi   hǫrskrýdd kona,

ung at aldri,   orð viðr um kvað:

‘Vilkat ek mann trauðan   né torbœnan

um óra sǫk   aldri týna!

52. ‘Þó mun á beinum   brenna yðrum

færi eyrir,   þá er ér fram komið —

neitt Menju góð —   mín at vitja!

53. ‘Seztu niðr, Gunnarr!   Mun ek segja þér

lífs ørvæna   ljósa brúði;

muna yðvart far   allt í sundi,

þótt ek hafa   ǫndu látit!

54. ‘Sátt munuð it Guðrún,   snemr en þú hyggir;

hefir kunn kona   við konung,

daprar minjar   at dauðan ver.

55. ‘Þar er mær borin,   móðir fœðir;

sú mun hvítari   en inn heiði dagr,

Svanhildr, vera,   sólar geisla.

56. ‘Gefa mundu Guðrúnu   góðra nøkkurum,

skeyti skœða   skatna mengi;

munat at vilja,   versæl, gefin;

hana mun Atli   eiga ganga,

of borinn Buðla,   bróðir minn.

57. ‘Margs á ek minnask,   hvé við mik fóru,

þá er mik sára   svikna hǫfðuð;

vaðin at vilja   vark, meðan ek lifðak!

58. ‘Muntu Oddrúnu   eiga vilja,

en þik Atli mun   eigi láta;

it munuð lúta   á laun saman;

hon mun þér unna,   sem ek skyldak,

ef okkr góð um skǫp   gørði verða!

59. ‘Þik mun Atli   illu beita:

mundu í ǫngan   ormgarð lagiðr!

60. ‘Þat mun ok verða   þvígit lengra

at Atli mun   ǫndu týna,

sælu sinni   ok sona lífi,

þvíat honum Guðrún   grýmir á beð,

snǫrpum eggjum,   af sárum hug.

61. ‘Sœmri væri Guðrún,   systir okkur,

frumver sínum   fylgja dauðum,

ef henni gæfi   góðra ráð,

eða ætti hon hug   oss um líkan!

62. ‘Óǫrt mæli ek nú,   en hon eigi mun

of óra sǫk   aldri týna;

hana munu hefja   hávar bárur

til Jónakrs   óðaltorfu.

63. ‘Eru í varúðum   Jónakrs sonum;

mun hon Svanhildi   senda af landi,

sína mey   ok Sigurðar.

64. ‘Hana munu bíta   Bikka ráð,

þvíat Jǫrmunrekkr   óþarft lifir;

þá er ǫll farin   ætt Sigurðar,

eru Guðrúnar   grœti at fleiri.

65. ‘Biðja mun ek þik   bœnar einnar,

sú mun í heimi   hinzt bœn vera:

láttu svá breiða   borg á velli,

at undir oss ǫllum   jafnrúmt sé,

þeim er sultu   með Sigurði!

66. ‘Tjaldi þar um þá borg   tjǫldum ok skjǫldum,

valarift vel fáð   ok Vala mengi;

brenni mér inn húnska   á hlið aðra.

67. ‘Brenni inum húnska   á hlið aðra

mína þjóna,   menjum gǫfga,

tveir at hǫfðum,   ok tveir haukar;

þá er ǫllu skipt   til jafnaðar.

68. ‘Liggi okkar enn í milli   málmr hringvariðr,

egghvast járn,   svá endr lagit,

þá er vit bæði   beð einn stigum

ok hétum þá   hjóna nafni.

69. ‘Hrynja honum þá   á hæl þeygi

hlunnblik hallar,   hringi litkuð,

ef honum fylgir   ferð mín heðan —

þeygi mun vár fǫr   aumlig vera!

70. ‘Þvíat honum fylgja   fimm ambóttir,

átta þjónar,   eðlum góðir,

fóstrman mitt,   ok faðerni,

þat er Buðli gaf   barni sínu.

71. ‘Mart sagða ek,   mynda ek fleira,

ef mér meirr mjǫtuðr   málrúm gæfi;

ómun þverr,   undir svella,

satt eitt sagðak —   svá mun ek láta!’

The Short Lay of Sigurðr

Lay of Sigurðr

1. Early it was,⁷ when Sigurðr visited Gjúki,8

the young Vǫlsungr,9 who had slain;¹⁰

he¹¹ received the troths of two brothers,¹²

the strong-willed bold ones gave each other oaths.

2. They offered him a maiden and a multitude of treasures,

young Guðrún, daughter of Gjúki;

they drank and debated together many a day,

young Sigurðr and the sons of Gjúki.

3.¹³ Until they¹⁴ went to ask for Brynhildr,

so that Sigurðr rode in their fellowship,

the young Vǫlsungr, and he knew the ways;15

he¹⁶ would have owned her,¹⁷ if he could have.¹⁸

4. The southern man¹⁹ laid a naked sword,

a sign-coloured blade,²⁰ in between them;

he did not attempt to kiss the woman,

nor did the Hunnish king²¹ lift her in his arms;

he reserved the very young girl²² for the son of Gjúki.23

5. She²⁴ had known no wrong in her life

and no injury in her allotted span,

[no] disgrace that was or that might be conceived.

Grim fates intervened in this.

6. Alone she sat outside in the evening of the day;

she started to speak about herself then, openly:²⁵

‘I must have Sigurðr — or else he dies26 —

the very young man, in my arms!

7. ‘The words I say now,²⁷ I shall regret after this;²⁸

his wife is Guðrún, and I am Gunnarr’s;

loathsome Nornir29 shaped long sufferings for us!’

8. Often she³⁰ goes outside, filled with evil,³¹

ice-floes and icicles,³² each evening,

when Guðrún and Sigurðr go to bed

and Sigurðr swathes her in bedclothes,

the Hunnish king, in order to caress his wife.

9. ‘I walk in want of joy and man both(?);³³

I must gratify myself with my grim heart!’³⁴

10. She began, out of those hatreds, to incite herself to slaying:

‘You, Gunnarr, shall entirely lose

my land and me myself;

I will never be happy with a nobleman!

11. ‘I will go back, to where I was before,

among my close-born kinsmen;

there I will sit and sleep my life [away],

unless you let Sigurðr die35

and you become a boar³⁶ better than others!

12. ‘Let’s make the son depart³⁷ in company with the father!³⁸

One shouldn’t rear a young wolf for long!

For every man,³⁹ vengeance becomes easier,

[and] settlement⁴⁰ less [likely], if a son lives.’⁴¹

13. Gunnarr became distressed42 and hung his head;

he turned things over in his mind, sat all the day through;

he didn’t know clearly what he desired,

what would be most fitting for him to do,

or would be best for him to do,

since he himself would feel robbed of the Vǫlsungr43

and [feel] a great loss after Sigurðr.44

14. He considered diverse options for an equally long time;

it was not customary earlier⁴⁵

that wives should depart from a kingdom;⁴⁶

he called Hǫgni to him for a private conversation —

there he had a faithful friend in all respects.

15. ‘To me, Brynhildr, born of Buðli, alone

is better than all [others] — she is the best of women!

I shall relinquish my life before

I lose that lady’s riches!

16. ‘Are you willing for us both to betray the marshal for money?

It’s good⁴⁷ to rule the Rín’s metal48

and, living contentedly, to command wealth

and, sitting down, to savour good fortune!’

17. Only this did Hǫgni give in reply:

‘It is not fitting for us two to do such [a thing],

to tear apart sworn oaths with a sword,

sworn oaths, pledged troths!

18. ‘We both know of no happier men on earth,

while we four⁴⁹ rule the people

and the Hunnish army-Baldr50 lives,

nor of a worthier in-law relationship on earth,

[even] if we father, at length, five sons,

[if] we can produce good ones for our families.

19. ‘I know for certain, whence these ways come:⁵¹

Brynhildr’s emotions are too extreme!’

20.⁵² ‘We two shall prepare Guthormr for the killing,

our younger, more unwise brother;

he was exempt from53 the sworn oaths,

sworn oaths, pledged troths!’

21. It was easy to incite the unhesitant one:⁵⁴

a sword stood at Sigurðr’s heart.55

22. The battle-eager one⁵⁶ sought vengeance in the hall

and hurled [a weapon] after the unhesitant one;

Gramr’s highly brightened iron57 flew towards Guthormr,

forcefully, from the king’s hand.

23. His enemy⁵⁸ sank in two parts:

hands and head⁵⁹ sank one way,

and the foot-part⁶⁰ fell backwards on the spot.

24. Guðrún had fallen asleep in bed,

free of sorrows, beside Sigurðr;

but she awoke robbed of joy,

as she floated in the blood of Freyr’s friend.61

25. She struck her heavy⁶² hands [together] in such a way⁶³

that the strong-hearted one⁶⁴ raised himself up in bed:

‘Don’t weep, Guðrún, so grievously,

[my] very young bride — your brothers live!

26. ‘I have too young an heir —

he doesn’t know how to distance himself from the enemy-court;

they have themselves a new course of action, heavy⁶⁵ and dire,

and it is nearly decided upon.

27. ‘No such sister’s son, even if you bear seven,

will ride with them hereafter to the assembly!⁶⁶

I know for certain what [all this] means now:

Brynhildr alone is the cause of all [this] evil!

28. ‘The maiden loves me above every [other] man,

but I did no injury to Gunnarr;

I kept our kinship inviolate, our sworn oaths,

lest I should be called his wife’s “friend”!’67

29. The woman⁶⁸ let out a sigh,⁶⁹ and the king his life;

she struck heavily with her hand,

so that the cups in the corner responded

and the geese in the home-meadow honked⁷⁰ in reply.⁷¹

30. Then Brynhildr laughed, Buðli’s daughter,

one time [only], with all her heart,72

when she could hear from the bed

the shrill crying of Gjúki’s daughter.

31. Then Gunnarr, prince of warriors,73 said this:

‘You’re not laughing on account of this, hatred-eager woman,

glad on the floor, that you know of something good for you!

Why do you lose those white looks⁷⁴ [of yours],

fomenter of evils? I think that you’re doomed!

32. ‘You’d be the most worthy of women for this,

that before your eyes we should hack Atli down,

that you should see bloody wounds on your brother,

gory gashes, that you could bind up!’

33.⁷⁵ ‘No one questions you,⁷⁶ Gunnarr: you’ve fought enough!77

Little does Atli fear your enmity;

of the two of you, he’ll bear the longer breath78

and always the greater strength.

34. ‘I will tell you, Gunnarr — you know it yourself clearly —

how you79 decided on this strife of yours early!⁸⁰

I was not too young, nor too hard-pressed:⁸¹

[I was] fully endowed with wealth on my brother’s floor.

35. ‘I didn’t desire it, that a man should possess me,

before you Gjúkungar82 rode into the courtyard,⁸³

three on horses,⁸⁴ people-kings;

but their⁸⁵ journey ought not to have occurred!⁸⁶

36 [39].⁸⁷ ‘I promised myself then to that one,⁸⁸ to the people-king⁸⁹

who sat with gold on Grani’s shoulders;90

he was not alike to you in his eyes,

nor in any respect in appearance —

yet you think yourselves people-kings!⁹¹

37 [36]. ‘And Atli said this to me alone,92

that he would not allow possessions to be shared,

neither gold nor earth,⁹³ unless I let myself be given,⁹⁴

and no part of the bestowed wealth,

of the property which he assigned me when I was very young⁹⁵

and allotted⁹⁶ me when I was very young in years.⁹⁷

38 [37]. ‘Then my mind was in a muddle⁹⁸ about this,

whether I should fight and⁹⁹ fell warriors,¹⁰⁰

bold in my mail-coat, for my brother’s sake;

that would then be widely known,

for many a man an affliction of will.¹⁰¹

39 [38]. ‘We let an agreement settle between the two of us¹⁰² —

a greater longing played on my mind,¹⁰³ to obtain the precious objects,

the red arm-rings, of Sigmundr’s son;104

I didn’t want another man’s treasures.

40. ‘I loved one [man],¹⁰⁵ not several —

the torc-Skǫgul106 did not harbour a spinning heart!¹⁰⁷

Atli will find out all this afterwards,

when he hears of my murder-journey108 in full,

41. that a single-minded¹⁰⁹ woman shall in no way

accompany another’s husband¹¹⁰ in life;¹¹¹

then there will be [?] in acts of vengeance for my harms!’¹¹²

42. Up rose Gunnarr, prince of the retinue,

and laid his arms around his wife’s neck;

they all went, and yet severally,113

with sincere heart, to dissuade her.

43. She thrust each one from her neck there;

she let no one dissuade her from the long journey.¹¹⁴

44. He¹¹⁵ urged Hǫgni to speak with him in secret:

‘I want all the men to go into the hall,

yours with mine — now there’s great necessity —

to see if they may keep the woman from her murder-journey,

before, from this time [on], further misfortunes arise;116

then let’s decide what’s necessary in this case.’

45. Only this did Hǫgni grant in answer:

‘Let no one dissuade her from the long journey,

[and] may she never be reborn from there!117

Awkward she came before her mother’s knee,¹¹⁸

she was always born for misery,

as a [source of] mood-sorrow for many a man!’

46. He¹¹⁹ turned downcast from the conversation,

to where the woodland of torcs¹²⁰ was distributing treasures.

47. She looked over all her possessions,

her dead slave-girls and hall-women;¹²¹

she donned her gold mail-coat — she wasn’t in good heart —

before she stabbed her middle with a sword’s edges.

48. She sank against the bolster on one side,

and, sword-wounded, deliberated her decisions:

49. ‘Now shall they come, those who want to accept

from me gold and lesser things than that;

I give each [woman] a [gold-]adorned item of jewelry,

an embroidered coverlet and a bed-cover, bright clothes!’

50. All fell silent, deliberated their decisions,¹²²

and all gave answer at once:

‘Enough¹²³ have died — we shall live on!

Hall-women must do honourable work!’¹²⁴

51. Until, in her wisdom, the linen-adorned woman,¹²⁵

young in years, spoke words in response:

‘I don’t want a person [who is] reluctant or hard to persuade

to lose their life for our¹²⁶ sake!

52. ‘Yet there will burn on your bones

fewer treasures, when you go forth —

no goods of Menja127 — to visit me!¹²⁸

53. ‘Sit down, Gunnarr! I shall tell you

that your lustrous bride [is] without hope of life;

your voyage129 won’t all be in a sound,¹³⁰

even though I’ve given up breath!¹³¹

54.¹³² ‘You and Guðrún will be reconciled, sooner than you think;

the well-known woman will have,133 along with the king,¹³⁴

sorrowful memories of the dead man.¹³⁵

55. ‘Then a maiden will be born, her mother will raise her;

she, Svanhildr,136 will be fairer¹³⁷ than the shining day,

than a ray of the sun.

56. ‘You will give Guðrún to a certain good man,138

a damaging arrow for a multitude of men;¹³⁹

not according to her wishes, [or] husband-happy, will she be given;

Atli will go to own140 her,

[the man] born of Buðli, my brother.

57. ‘I have much to remember, how things went against me,

when you¹⁴¹ had betrayed me bitterly;¹⁴²

I was deprived of my wishes, while I lived!

58. ‘You’ll want to own¹⁴³ Oddrún,144

but Atli won’t let you;

you two will incline together145 in secret;

she will love you, as I should [have],

if a good fate had been forthcoming for us!

59. ‘Atli will persecute you with evil:

you’ll be laid in a narrow snake-yard!

60. ‘It will also come to pass not much later

that Atli will lose his breath,146

his happiness and the life of his sons,

because Guðrún will besmear him in bed,147

with sharp edges,¹⁴⁸ out of wounded spirit.

61. ‘It would be more seemly for Guðrún, our sister,149

to follow her first, dead husband,¹⁵⁰

if one were to give her good people’s advice,

or she had a spirit like ours!¹⁵¹

62. ‘Not hastily do I speak now, but she will not

lose her life in line with our¹⁵² wishes;

high waves will carry her

to Jónakr’s153 ancestral territory.

63. ‘They¹⁵⁴ will be in the care of Jónakr’s sons;

she155 will send Svanhildr from the land,

her girl and Sigurðr’s.156

64. ‘Bikki’s counsels will bite her,157

because Jǫrmunrekkr158 lives to do evil;

when all of Sigurðr’s family has passed [away],

Guðrún’s griefs will be the more.

65. ‘I will make only one request of you,

it will be my last request in this world:

let a stronghold¹⁵⁹ be prepared on the plain,

so that it’s¹⁶⁰ equally roomy for us all,

for those who died with Sigurðr!161

66. ‘Let the stronghold be hung with tapestries and shields,

well-coloured foreign cloth and a multitude of Valir;162

let the Hunnish man¹⁶³ be burnt with me on one side.

67. ‘Let there be burned on the other side of the Hunnish man

my servants, made stately with torcs,

two at his head, and two hawks;

then it will be arranged as is fitting in all [respects].

68. ‘Let there also lie between us the ring-adorned metal,¹⁶⁴

the edge-sharp iron, as it was once laid,

when we both climbed into one bed

and were then called by the name of married couple.

69. ‘The hall’s roller-gleams,¹⁶⁵ decorated with a ring,

won’t then close on his heel with a clang,¹⁶⁶

if my entourage accompanies him hence —

our journey won’t be at all wretched!

70. ‘For five handmaidens accompany him,

[and] eight servants, of good origin,

my slaves who grew up with me, and my patrimony,

that which Buðli gave to his child.

71. ‘I have said much, I would [say] more,

if fate should give me more speech-time;

my voice fades, my wounds swell,

I have spoken only truth — thus shall I expire!’

Textual Apparatus to Sigurðarkviða in skamma

Sigurðarkviða in skamma] This title is not in R; it is supplied editorially

Kviða Sigurðar] This rubricated, but faded, heading is illegible in the photograph in the facsimile volume of R; this reading is therefore reliant on the transcription therein

1/1 Ár] The first letter is large, inset and rubricated, but faded

4/1 Seggr] R Segvrr

12/7 síðr] R siþ’, which may alternatively be an abbreviation of síðan ‘then, later’

15/3 hon er] After these words, the words bvdla broþir minn are erased in R (cf. 56/9–10)

13/1 Hryggr] R reiðr ‘angry’; the emendation provides alliteration

23/5 fótahlutr] R fota lvtr

25/1 hon] R h’ (which otherwise stands for hann)

29/3 svára] R svárar

33/7 bera] R vera

36/2 þjóðkonungi] R absent

36/7 hlut] R lvt

36/6] A drawing of a dragon’s head appears at the foot of the page in R

37/4 hǫfn um] R hǫfnum

37/7 hlut] R lvt

37/10 eigu] R eiga

37/10 seldi] R selldak

38/1 hvǫrfum] R hvorfo with a macron above the second ‘o’

43/2 hveim] R heim

51/3 ung] R óng

52/5 neitt] R neit (with e caudata)

60/6 sona] R sofa

60/9 eggjum] R egiom

61/4 fylgja dauðum] R absent

61/5 henni] R henði

67/2 á] R absent

69/8 vera] Corrected from þiccia (i.e., þikkja ‘seem’) in R

71/3 ef] R er

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