A certain similarity of theme, treatment, style, and locality holds the three Helgi poems together. The predominant motif is that of the hero beloved of a valkyrie. They thus form a group by themselves. And although a connection with the Volsung cycle has been brought about by making the second Helgi a son of Sigmund, and thus a half brother of Sigurth and Sinfjotli, and both a Volsung and an Ylfing, it is fairly certain—through the evidence of the names of persons and localities—that, originally, Helgi was a purely Danish hero.1 Indeed, this very attempt to weld the two cycles together argues a relatively late origin for these lays—say the eleventh century—an origin which is further borne out by the testimony of verse technique, language, and style. Except for trifling fragments, the three lays are preserved only in the Codex Regius.2
It is obvious that this poem is not of a piece, but consists of fragments of lays joined together by the Collector whose Prose is here even more awkward, rambling, and absentminded than is usual with him. By the relative copiousness of its Prose, the poem forms a transition stage, as it were, between the heroic lay on the one hand and the legendary saga on the other. In the latter one may often doubt whether the interspersed stanzas and lays are meant to serve as an authentication of the narrative, or the narrative, to explain and connect these stanzas or lays.
The first two fragments are in no sense notable efforts. The almost elegiac note, which distinguishes the stanzas on Helgi’s death in fragment IV, reminds one, in a way, of “Hjálmar’s Death Song” in the Hervarar saga, but there is too little imaginative energy, and the main figures are too faintly outlined to awaken our sympathy. A late (thirteenth-cntury?) origin is likely for this part.
Internal evidence makes it rather certain that the “flyting,” or word-duel, of Atli with the giantess Hrímgerth (Fragment III), which also stands out by the different metre (ljóðaháttr), is of a later date than the other fragments. It may be well to remind the reader that here, as in the “Lokasenna,” however offensive its coarseness to the more delicate taste of a later age, the genre as a whole is not devoid of a certain interest, showing as it does the animal side of the Viking Age, as contrasted with the frequently stilted and stereotyped idealisations of Heroic Poetry. In this particular case, a robustious, though low, humor redeems what elsewhere degenerates into a mere scolding match.
Hjorvarth was the name of a king, and he had four wives. One was called Alfhild, whose son by him was called Hethin; another, Særeith, whose son was Humlung; a third, Sinrjóth, whose son was Hymling. King Hjorvarth had vowed to marry the handsomest woman he could find. Now he had heard that King Sváfnir1 had a most fair daughter, hight Sigrlinn. (It had happened in this wise:) one day Atli,2 the son of his earl Ithmund, was standing by a clump of trees, but a bird3 sate in the branches above him which had heard how the king’s men had called Hjorvarth’s wives the fairest of all women. The bird twittered whilst Atli listened to what it said.
1. “Hast seen Sigrlinn, Sváfnir’s daughter,
the fairest maiden in Munarheim—4
handsome though be Hjorvarth’s women
in Glasir Grove, and goodly withal?”
(Atli said:)
2. “Wilt to Atli, Earl Ithmund’s son,
wise bird on bough, unburden thee?”
(The bird said:)
“I will if thou wilt worship me,
and of Hjorvarth’s chattels I may choose at will.”
(Atli said:)
3. “Choose thou nor Hjorvarth, nor Hjorvarth’s sons,
nor the folk-warder’s fair-haired women,
the winsome women of the war leader;5
let us fairly deal, as friends seemeth.”
(The bird said:)
4. “Choose I hallowed shrines and holy places,
golden-horned kine6 from the king’s stables,
in his arms if sleeps Sváfnir’s daughter,
and not unwilling wends with the king.”
Atli dwelled throughout the winter with King Sváfnir.7 Fránmar was King Sváfnir’s earl who had fostered up Sigrlinn. His own daughter was hight Álof. The earl counseled the king not to give Sirgrlinn to King Hjorvarth; so Atli journeyed home.
But when he came home the king asked what tiding he had and, he said:
5. “No welcome word rewards my toil,
our horses wearied on high mountains;
swift Sæmorn’s flood we forded then,
nor fetched whom we sought, Sigrlinn, for thee,
the ring-bedight daughter of Sváfnir.”
The king bade him fare a second time, and rode along himself. And when they came over the mountain they saw in Svávaland great fires, and great clouds of dust raised by horses. Then rode the king down from the mountain into the land and halted for the night by some river. Atli stood guard and set over the river. He found a house, and on it sate a large bird, guarding it, and was fast asleep. Atli killed the bird with his spear, but in the house he found Sigrlinn, the king’s daughter, and Álof, the earl’s daughter, and took them both with him. It was Earl Fránmar who had taken on the form of an eagle and had warded them from the foes by witchcraft; but Hróthmar was the name of the king who had vainly sought the hand of Sigrlinn and had slain the king of Svávaland and harried and burned the land. King Hjorvarth took Sigrlinn to wife, and Atli, Álof.
Hjorvarth and Sigrlinn had a son who was large of body and handsome. He spoke little, and no name would cling to him.8 One time he sate on a hill and saw nine valkyries riding by. One of them was the stateliest.
She said:
6. “Not soon wilt, Helgi,9 hold sway over rings
nor, reddener-of-swords, o’er Rothulsvoll—
screamed the eagles early10— if ay thou sayest naught;
though stouthearted, hero, I ween thee!”
(Helgi said:)
7. “What gift goes with the given name11
which, white-armed maid, on me hast bestowed?
Bethink thee well what thou wilt say:
I’ll have none of the name, if not eke thee.”
(The valkyrie said:)
8. “Swords know I, lie in Sigarsholm,12
a full fifty but four, I ween;
of the bitter brands the best is one,
a wound-dealing wand all wound with gold.13
9. “There is Praise14 in the hilt, Power in the blade,
Awe in the edge, for whoso owns it;
on the blade winds him a blood-hued worm,15
but on the sword-guard a snake lies coiled.”
Eylimi was the name of a king, and his daughter was hight Sváva. She was a valkyrie and rode through the air and over the sea. It was she who had given Helgi his name, and she often afterwards shielded him in battles.
Helgi said:
10. “Thou takest not, Hjorvarth, wholesome counsel,
leader-in-war— though wide thy fame—
sacking with fire the seats of kings
who hardly have done harm to thee;
11. “But Hróthmar lettest lavish gold rings
which that our kin in keeping had:
but little fears he that foemen live,
but deems he wields dead men’s riches.
Hjorvarth answered that he would help Helgi with an army if he wished to avenge his mother’s father. Then sought Helgi the sword which Sváva had told him of, and fared forth with Atli. They felled Hróthmar and did many a great deed.
Helgi killed the giant Hati,16 whom he found sitting on a rock cliff. Helgi and Atli had moored their ships in the Hatafirth. Atli kept the watch during the first part of the night.
Hrímgerth, Hati’s daughter, said:
12. “Who be the heroes in Hatafirth?
Are the ships tented with shields;17
unflinching ye fare, seem to fear but little:
make known the name of your king!”
Atli said:
13. “He is Helgi hight, and no harm whate’er
canst thou do the doughty leader;
iron-clad18 is the atheling’s fleet,
so no witches may work us ill.”
Hrímgerth said:
14. “What art thou hight, thou haughty man,
and of what kin art come?
Much faith in thee the folk-leader hath,
that thou dwell’st in the fair ship’s forecastle.”19
(Atli said:)
15. “Atli am I, and awe thee 20 I shall,
most hateful am I to hags;
in the brine-washed bow was my berth full often,
when night riders21 did I to death.
16. “Of what kin art thou, corpse-greedy ogress?
What father had’st thou, hag?
Full nine leagues should’st be beneath the earth,
thy bosom o’ergrown with bushes.”22
(Hrímgerth said:)
17. “Am I Hrímgerth hight, was Hati my father,
mightiest of all the etins;
many’s the maid he made off with,
ere Helgi sent him to Hel.”
(Atli said:)
18. “’Twas thou, hag, then, who held up his ships,
in the firth as thou lay’st before us;
to Rán23 would’st have given the ring-breaker’s men,
if his spear had not spitted thee.”
(Hrímgerth said:)
19. “Mistaken art, tricked by a dream,
now thou wrinklest thy brow in rage:
’twas my mother who moveless held you:
drowned I Hlothvarth’s sons in the sea.24
20. “Thou would’st gambol and neigh if gelt thou were not,
now Hrímgerth tosses her tail;
I ween thy heart in thy hinder part be,
though strong like a stallion’s thy whinny.”25
(Atli said:)
21. “A stallion in strength, if I stepped on land,
and frisky, thou would’st find me;
I would beat thee so, if but I wished,
thou would’st lower thy tail in a twinkling.”
22. “On land step then, if thy strength thou trustest:
in Varinsfirth I’ll wait thee;
I shall stave thy ribs, steersman Atli,
if thou comest within reach of my claws.”
(Atli said:)
23. “I may not go ere the men awake
who have watch and ward of my lord;
small wonder were it if, witch, of a sudden
thou camest up under our keel.”
(Hrímgerth said:)
24. “Awake, Helgi, and to Hrímgerth atone
for felling Hati, her father;
if one night she slept with the warder-of-men
she would hold her harm made good.”
(Helgi said:)
25. “Lothin26 shall wed thee, hag loathly to men,
the thurs that in Tholl Isle27 dwells,
that wisest etin and worst of trolls:
there is mate who is meet for thee.”
(Hrímgerth said:)
26. “Wilt have her,28 rather, who the haven scanned
mail-clad, last night, with thy men!
the gold-dight maiden is mightier than I;
here stepped she from ship on to strand,
and made fast your fleet.
’Tis owing to her that I cannot
slay the sea king’s men.”
27. “Hearken, Hrímgerth, if thy harm I make good,
then tell me truly:
was it one valkyrie who warded the ships,
or fared they all in a flock?”
(Hrímgerth said:)
28. “Thrice nine maidens were they, although one led,
a white-armed maid ’neath helm;
when their steeds stirred them, astride as they sate,
[ran dew from their manes in deep dales,
fell hail into high woods;
thence come to men good crops:]29
’twas hateful for me to behold.”
(Atli said:)
29. “Look east30 now, Hrímgerth; hath Helgi now
dazed thee with deadly runes:
in the haven safe lies the sea king’s fleet,
and safe are his men also.”
(Helgi said:)
30. “’Tis day now, Hrímgerth, thy death it is
that Atli hath held thee here:
as harbor mark, mocked by sailors,
standeth thy likeness in stone.”
King Helgi was a mighty warrior. He fared to King Eylimi and asked for the hand of his daughter. Helgi and Sváva sware oaths to each other, and their love was great. Sváva stayed at home with her father, but Helgi was in the wars; yet was Sváva a valkyrie as before. Hethin was at home with his father, King Hjorvarth, in Norway. One time Hethin was coming home alone from the forest on Yule eve. He met a troll woman riding on a wolf, with snakes as reins. She asked his leave to keep him company, but he would not. She said: “That shalt thou rue when drinking from the hallowed cup.” In the evening vows were made: the sacrificial boar was led in, men laid their hands on him and sware dear oaths as they drank from the hallowed cup.31 Hethin made a vow that he would have Sváva, Eylimi’s daughter, the maiden beloved by Helgi, his brother; but he forthwith rued it so greatly that he hastened South on wild ways till he found his brother Helgi.
Helgi said:
31. “Hail to thee, Hethin! What hast to tell
of weighty news from Norroway?
Why hast, hero, hastened away
and fared alone to find me here?”
(Hethin said:)
32. “A wretched wrong I wrought on thee,
(far greater, brother, than good I can make):32
on holy beaker in banquet hall
thy bride I chose me, the child of kings.”
(Helgi said:)
33. “Taunt thee no more, for true will come
thy vow on beaker, for both of us:
on holm I was bidden33 by hero bold;
in three days’ time we there shall meet.
I much fear me that from it I wend not;
then without harm all may happen to us.”
(Hethin said:)
34. “Thou heldest, Helgi, Hethin worthy
of great gifts from thee, thy good will to have.
More seeming is it thy sword to redden,
than thy fell foeman feebly forgive.”34
Helgi had spoken thus because he thought himself fey, and believed that it was his wraith35 Hethin had met with when he saw the woman riding on the wolf. King Álf, the son of Hróthmar, had challenged him to do battle with him on ‘Sigar’s Field’ on the third day.
Then said Helgi:
35. “A witch woman on wolf did ride
in the gloaming, wished to go with Hethin:
full well saw she that soon would fall
Sigrlinn’s son on Sigarsvellir.”
There was a great battle, and Helgi was mortally wounded.
36. Sent then Helgi Sigar, to fetch
King Eylimi’s only daughter:
“Bid her quickly come hitherward
if her lord she alive would find.”
(Sigar said:)
37. “Helgi hath me hitherward sent
to say to thee, Sváva, these words:
he longeth sorely to see thee, ere
the bold baron’s breath have left him.”
(Sváva said:)
38. “What harmed Helgi, King Hjorvarth’s son?
Most heavy is my heart with sorrow:
if sea him swallowed, or sword wounded,
my wrath shall reach the wretch full soon.”
39. “He fell this morn at Freka Stone,36
under heaven who was of all heroes best;
’tis Álf hath won in the weapon-play.37
In evil hour it all happened.”
(Helgi said:)
40. “Hail to thee, Sváva! Sorrow thou not,
though nevermore we meet together;
in the blood of my wounds I welter here:
all too near the steel struck to my heart.
41. “I beg of thee, my bride, weep not;
but to my words, Sváva, I beseech thee, hearken:
with my brother thy bed share thou,
let young Hethin have thy love.”
(Sváva said:)
42. “That vow made I in Munarheim,
when Helgi gave me gold rings many,
that never would I, if not in his,
in unfamed hero’s arms lie willing.”
(Hethin said:)
43. “Kiss me, Sváva: I come not ever,
Rógheim to see, nor Rothul-fells,
ere avenged I have King Hjorvarth’s son,
under heaven who was of all heroes best.”
Of Helgi and Sváva it is said they were born again.38
All things considered, this lay is perhaps the truest, though certainly not the finest, expression of the spirit of the “Viking Age,” when Scandinavia—vagina gentium—poured forth, as the last wave of the Great Age of Migration, those swarms of dragon-ships, manned with the boldest sailors and fiercest warriors of the time, which swept like angry storm clouds over the coastlands of the Western World. In no other lay is there an equal concentration of vision, to the exclusion of all else, on the warrior’s life as the only occupation worthy of men—the joyance in dangers on land and on sea of “athelings ever eager for war.” In no other lay, too, does the paucity of contents verge so nearly on monotony and thinness of invention. Barring the word-duel between Sinfjotli and Guthmund, it is all about Helgi’s warlike deeds, beginning with his birth, and leaving him at the zenith of power, with Sigrún won and the Hundings’s lands his. We hear nothing of the tragic end hinted at in Stanza 5. Characterization is totally absent and, indeed, it is not aimed at: both scenes and men are typical and representative, not individual. But within the limits of his art the poet has achieved some truly magnificent stanzas, in the Northern mood; such as the grandiose figure of the norns affixing the fate-threads of the newly born hero to the very heavens, the description of the storm at sea, and of the appearance of the valkyries in the uproar of the elements and the clash of battle.
Otherwise the poem, like “Hymiskviða,” is notable in the Collection for its unusually numerous kennings—for hero, battle, ships, and so forth—and frequent intercalated phrases, characteristics which make it approach somewhat the manner of later encomiastic skaldic poetry. And if, as has been surmised, the Helgi of this lay is meant to idealize King Magnús Ólafsson, this would furnish additional reason for placing composition of the lay in the middle of the eleventh century. Its present form may be due to later accretions.
1. ’Twas in olden times, as eagles screamed
and holy streams flowed from the Heaven-Fells,1
when in Brálund Borghild2 bore to the world
a hero highhearted, Helgi by name.
2. At night in hall the norns did come,
to the lord they allotted his life and fate:
to him awarded under welkin most fame,
under heaven to be among heroes first.
3. His fate-thread span they3 to o’erspread the world
(for Borghild’s bairn)4 in Brálund castle;
they gathered together the golden threads,
and in moon-hall’s5 middle they made them fast.
4. In East and West the ends they hid:
the liege’s lands lay there between;
on the Northern side, Neri’s sister6
did hang one end to hold forever.
5. One evil only the Ylfing7 threatened,
the maiden eke who the atheling bore:
8…. … …. …. … ….
Croaked a raven hoarsely, on high tree sitting—
hunger gnawed him— “I know something:
6. “In his byrnie stands9 who was born at night,
King Sigmund’s son; now the sun is risen!
His eyes flash fire, athelingwise;
he will feast the wolves:10 fain let us be!”
7. A true king he to the housecarls seemed:
they hoped to have good harvest years;11
Sigmund himself, from the swordplay12 coming,
to the lordling brought a leek most noble.13
8. Named him Helgi, and Hringstead gave him,
Sun Fell, Snow Fell, and Sigar’s Field,
Hringstead, Hátún, and Himin Meadows,14
eke a seemly sword, to Sinfjotli’s brother.15
9. Under kinsmen’s care the king’s son thrived,
the highborn elm tree,16 in happiness;
gave and granted gold to his housecarls,
nor spared the hero the hoard blood-splattered.17
10. Not long the lord delayed battle,
when fifteen winters18 the folk-warder;
Hunding he slew, the hardy king
who long had ruled over lands and thanes.
11. Then Hunding’s sons for hoard and rings
swiftly summoned King Sigmund’s son,
thirsted, forsooth, to repay the thane
for their father’s fall and wealth from him taken.
12. But Helgi would hear not of haggling gifts,
nor weregild award them, though they wanted it;
but await rather the wrath-of-Óthin,19
and whelming-storm- of-whining-spears.19
13. Fared the sons of kings to the sword-tryst then
which the lords had set at Loga Fells;
was Fróthi’s Peace by foemen broken,20
ran Óthin’s hounds21 the island about.
14. Sate him Helgi when slain he had
Álf and Eyolf, ’neath Eagle Rock;
eke Hjorvarth and Hávarth, the Hunding’s sons,
had the king then killed, all the kin of the warrior.
15. A light shone then from Loga Fells;
and out of that light lightning flashed:
(saw the matchless hero the maidens riding)22
high and helmeted, on Himin Meadows.
Were their byrnies blood bespattered,
from their spear points bright sparks flew forth.
16. At earliest dayspring, in wolf forest23
asked Sigmund’s son the Southron maidens
if with the heroes home they would fare
at time of night— twanged the bowstrings.
17. But, high on horseback, Hogni’s daughter—24
was the shield-din lulled— to the lord spoke thus:
“Other deeds, I deem, we must do ere night,
breaker-of-rings,25 than drink thy beer.
18. “Hath my father my faith plighted
to wed Granmar’s26 grim son Hothbrodd;
yet have I, Helgi, of Hothbrodd said
that the king callow like a kitten seemed.27
19. “Will he fare hither in few days’ time
(to fetch home with him Hogni’s daughter),28
but to battle on holm thou biddest him,
or from the king carriest the maiden.”
20. “In awe stand not of Isung’s slayer:29
(our swords shall say and settle first,
who Hogni’s daughter’s husband shall be)30
—will be din of fight— ere dead I lie.”
21. Over land and sea the lord did send,
to gather together his goodly hosts:
rich meed pledged he of the river-hoard31
as reward to warriors and warriors’ sons.
22. “Bid them swiftly to board their ships,
to set sail then to sea from Brand Isle!”
There he waited till thither came
many hundred heroes from Hethin’s Isle.32
23. Straightway also33 from Stave Ness thither
rode dark warships, all decked with gold.
Then asked Helgi of Hjorleif34 this:
“Hast thou mustered the mighty host?”
24. The young sea king said to the other:
“’Twere lengthy to tell the long-necked ships
from Tronu Strand, teeming with men,
which in Orva Sound35 outbound hovered.
25. “Are there twelve hundred trusty warriors;
yet more by half in Hátún stand
’neath the king’s banner— battle I wait me.”
26. Off the awnings the atheling drew,36
so that awaked the warrior host,
his doughty men, and saw the dawn;
then hoisted the heroes high on mast-tree
the woven sails in Varinsfirth.37
27. Rose the din of oars, of iron clashing,38
crashed shield ’gainst shield with shock of rowing,
as dashed through the waves the warrior’s fleet;
the stanch wave-steeds39 stood out to sea.
28. It burst on the ears when, buffeting,
the long ship keels met Kolga’s sister,40
as if surf with cliff did clash in storm.
29. Then higher Helgi bade hoist the topsails—
the crews shunned not the shock of billows—
when the dreadful daughter of Ægir
would overwhelm the hawser-steeds.39
30. But Sigrún on high hovering above
did shield them stoutly, and their ships also;
the king’s brine-hogs39 out of Rán’s41 clutches
glided safely at Gnipa Grove.
31. Floated the fair-dight fleet at ease then
in Una Bay, at eventide;
suddenly saw them from Svarins Hill
the sons of Granmar, and sorrowfully.
32. Asked then Guthmund, of goodly kin:
“Who the highborn hero, leading
these hosts hither to harry on us?”
33. Said Sinfjotli—42 to the sailyard hoisted
the red warshield,43 with rim of gold—
in the stem standing to strive with words,
to athelings who could answer make:
34. “Tonight say thou, when the swine thou feedest,
and givest to hungry hounds their meat,44
that the Ylfing hosts from the East have come,
girded for war, from Gnipa Grove:
35. “Here may Hothbrodd find Helgi now,
in the midst of his fleet, the fearless hero
who sated eagles oft and anon,
by the quern whilst thou didst kiss bondmaids.
(Guthmund said:)
36. “Thou speakest rashly nor reck’st old tales,
when untruth thou of atheling tellest.
37. “Thou hast made thy meal of the meat of wolves,
and been the bane of thy brothers twain;
with thy cold snout hast oft sucked men’s wounds,
and hateful to all hast hid in the waste.”45
(Sinfjotli said:)
38. “A witch wast thou on Varins Isle,
didst fashion falsehoods and fawn on me, hag:
to no wight would’st thou be wed but to me,
to no sword-wielding swain but to Sinfjotli.
39. “Thou wast, witch-hag, a valkyrie fierce
in Alfather’s hall, hateful and grim:
all Valholl’s warriors had well-nigh battled,
wilful woman, to win thy hand.
On Saga Ness full nine wolves we
had together— I gat them all.”
40. “The father wast not to Fenris-Wolves,46
though older thou than all of them;
for gelded wast thou near Gnipa Grove
by thurs maidens on Thór’s Ness, before.
41. “As Siggeir’s stepson47 ’neath stones didst dwell48
in woody wastes, with the wolves howling;
’twas ever thy share to do shameful deeds:
thy own brother’s breast thou torest,49
and mad’st thee known by nameless deeds.
42. “Wast Grani’s50 bride on Brávoll Field,51
for the race ready with reins all golden;
full many a space I spurred thee on,
slender ’neath saddle, till thou slunk’st downhill.”52
(Sinfjotli said:)
43. “A foul-mouthed fellow I found thee to be,
the time thou Gollnir’s she-goats didst milk;
another time, as Imth’s daughter,
a tattered troll-wench.53 Wilt taunt me longer?”
(Guthmund said:)
44. “At Freka Stone would I feed, rather,
ravening ravens on thy riddled body,
than give thine hungry hounds their meat,
or the swine their swill: go snarl with the trolls!”
Helgi said:
45. “’Twere, Sinfjotli, more seeming far
to wield your swords and sate eagles,
than with words to wage war between you,
though the ring-breakers’ wrath is kindled.
46. “No good I wait me from Granmar’s sons,
yet befits it kings no falsehood to say;
at Móïnsheim54 right manfully
their wands-of-wounds55 they wielded boldly.”
47. They spurred the steeds to speed amain,
Sviputh and Sveggjuth, to Sólheim castle—
through dewy dales and darksome glens;
the earth did quake where the king’s sons56 rode.
At the gate met they the mighty ruler,
said that foemen were faring hither.
48. Without stood Hothbrodd, in helmet dight—
had cast his eyes on his kinsmen’s riding:
(“Say ye, kinsmen, whom seen ye have:)57
what rouses, Niflungs,58 your wrath so sore?”
(Guthmund said:)
49. “Are swiftly swimming to sandy shore
mast-stags59 many with mighty sailyards,
with shining shields and shaven oars,
a goodly host of gladsome warriors;
fifteen thousand set foot on land,
but seven thousand more in Sogn are waiting.
50. “Foregathered lie before Gnipa Grove
blue-black brine-hogs,59 ablaze with gold:
by far the most of the foes are there—
will Helgi haste the hail-of-arrows.”60
51. “Let the reined steeds run to Regin Thing,
Mélnir and Mýlnir, to Myrkvith dark,
and Sporvitnir to Sparins Heath.
Each man bestir him, nor stay behind
who the wand-of-wounds can wield in battle.
52. “Bid Hogni come, and Hring’s sons eke,
Atli and Yngvi, and Álf the Hoary,
athelings ever eager for war;
let us warmly welcome the Volsung’s sons!”
53. With swift swoop then smote together
the flashing swords at Freka Stone:
was ay Helgi, the Hunding’s Slayer,
foremost in fray where fought heroes;
fierce in fighting, to fly unready,
stouthearted hero was Helgi ever.
54. From high heaven came helmeted maidens—
waxed the shafts’ shrilling— who shielded the king;
then said Sigrún— sang the arrows,
the ogresses’ horse ate the eagles’ food—61
55. “Hail to thee, hero! In happiness live,
Yngvi’s62 scion, hold sway over men:
unfleeing foe felled now hast thou,
in swordplay who slew sea kings many.
56. “Now, folk-warder, befit thee well
the red-gold rings and the ruler’s daughter;
hale shalt, hero, hold these twain:
Hogni’s daughter and Hringstead eke,
victory and wealth: is the war ended.”
The same theme as in the preceding poem is here treated in a minor key, and doubtless by another poet, with all stress laid on the loves of Helgi and Sigrún.1 The result is by far more appealing to the modern taste.
It does not seem necessary to assume, with some investigators, that we have here, as in “The Lay of Helgi Hjorvarthsson,” a number of fragments pieced together by the Collector, or a sort of gleaning of various snatches about Helgi which were not utilized in the preceding poems: with the exception of the first five stanzas,2 the twenty-second, the twenty-third through the twenty-eighth, and the thirty-ninth, it is essentially one in idea—centering around the valkyrie’s absolute devotion to the hero, a devotion which involved the destruction of her own kin and continued beyond death. If this view is correct—and a study of both style and versification serves but to confirm it—the complete lay must have been one of the glories of Heroic Song.
As it stands, there are lacunæ, awkwardly bridged by the Collector, who with a maladroit hand mars the continuity by inserting a variation of the flyting between Sinfjotli and Guthmund, oddly enough after referring to it! There are also a few telling but disconnected stanzas from some poem about Helgi’s youth (Sts. 1-5).
Even in its present sadly mutilated condition the lay cannot fail to give the impression of simple power. Its diction is noble and restrained, the treatment worthy of the intrinsic interest. Famous throughout the North, in ancient as in modern times, is Sigrún’s terrible curse upon her traitor brother and her proud praise of the splendid hero, hinting at defiant love beyond the grave. Nor has time diminished the deep appeal of the passionate lovers’ meeting in the barrow—the first appearance in literature of this romantic theme of so many later ballads.3
The casual mention by the Collector that the original title of the poem was “The Old Lay of the Volsungs” may indicate that its composition antedates that of the other two. Nevertheless it seems best to retain the order of the Collection; especially as the death of the lovers makes a fitting conclusion for the cycle.
ABOUT THE VOLSUNGS. King Sigmund, the son of Volsung, had to wife Borghild from Brálund. They named their son Helgi, after Helgi Hjorvarthsson. He was given to Hagal4 in fosterage. Hunding was hight a mighty king from whom Hundland5 has its name. He was a great man of war and had many sons who were out on forays. There was hatred and feud between King Hunding and King Sigmund, and they slew one another’s kinsmen. King Sigmund and his kin were hight Volsungs6 and Ylfings.
Helgi went as a spy in disguise to the hall of King Hunding. Heming, one of the sons of King Hunding, was at home.
Now when Helgi was about to leave, he met a shepherd boy and he said:
1. “Say to Heming that Helgi recalleth
whom in byrnie the heroes felled:7
in the hall had ye the grey heath-dweller8
whom King Hunding thought Hamal to be.”
Hamal was the name of Hagal’s son. King Hunding sent men to Hagal to seek Helgi, and Helgi could not save himself but by putting on the clothes of a bondmaid and turning the millstone. They searched but found Helgi nowhere.
2. 9 (Then Blind said thus, ay bent on ill):
“Bright are the eyes of Hagal’s bondmaid;
no cotter’s quean at the quern who standeth:
the bin breaketh, burst the millstones.10
3. “A harsh fate hath the hero fettered,
since the bold one now must barley grind;
the hilt rather of hero’s sword,
than the mill-handle, that hand befitteth.”
Hagal answered and said:
4. “Little wonder that, though throbs the bin,
since queenly maiden the mill-handle turns:
she was wont to ride the welkin above,
and vikingwise wielded the sword;11
5. “Ere that Helgi her led home as thrall,
(and the mighty maiden at the mill did drudge;)12
a sister she of Sigar and Hogni,
hence awful the eyes of the Ylfing maid.”
Helgi escaped from there and went on a warship. He slew King Hunding and was thereafter called the Hunding-Slayer.
One time he lay with his fleet in Bruna Bay and made a cattle raid on land, and his men ate the meat raw.13 Hogni was the name of a king whose daughter was Sigrún. She became a valkyrie and rode through the air and over the sea. She was Sváva born again.
She rode to Helgi’s ships and said:
6. “To the steep shore who steereth the fleet?
Where, ye heroes lies your homestead?
For what bide ye in Bruna Bay?
Whither list ye now to lay your course?”
(Helgi said:)
7. “’Tis Hamal steers to steep shore the fleet,
the warriors’ homestead on Hlés Isle14 lies;
a good breeze bide we in Bruna Bay,
and east list we to lay our course.”
(The valkyrie said:)
8. “Where hast, hero, hoisted war shield,15
or fed Gunn’s fowls16 with fallen men?
Why is thy byrnie with blood besprent,
why, clad in armor, eat ye raw meat?”
9. “This, last of all did the Ylfing’s son
west of the sea, if to wit thee list,
that bears17 we bound in Braga Grove,
and with sword sated the sib of eagles:
said have I now why my sark is red;
and by strand why little we steak our meat.”18
(The valkyrie said:)
10. “Of the fight tell’st thou when fell in battle,
by Helgi’s hand, Hunding the king;
clashed ye in combat thy kinsman to avenge:
streamed the blood then o’er the brand’s edges.”
(Helgi said:)
11. “How wist thou, woman, that we the men
who in combat clashing their kinsman avenged?
No lack is there of lordly kings’ sons
in all like to our kindred.”
(The valkyrie said:)
12. “Not far was I, young folk-warder,
when yestermorn the mighty king fell;
but Sigmund’s son most sly I ween
to hint of that battle with hidden runes19.
13. “I watched thee eke on warship standing,
on bloody bow, breasting the waves—
they coolly played the keels about.
Now strives the hero to hide him from me,
but to Hogni’s daughter is Helgi known.”
Granmar was the name of a mighty king who dwelled at Svarins Hill. He had many sons. One was hight Hothbrodd, another, Guthmund, and a third, Starkath. At a meeting of kings, Hothbrodd plighted himself to Sigrún, the daughter of King Hogni.20 But when she heard of that she rode through the air and over the sea with (her) valkyries to seek Helgi. He was then at the Loga Fells and had fought against the sons of Hunding, and there he had felled Álf and Eyolf, Hjorvarth and Hervarth, and was now all wearied with battle, and was seated beneath the Eagle Rock. There Sigrún found him, and flung her arms about his neck and kissed him and told him the tidings, as is told in “The Old Lay of the Volsungs.”
14. Sought then Sigrún the gladsome sea king,
and hastened Helgi’s his hand to grasp,
helmeted king with kiss greeted;
to the maiden turned then his mind the lord.
15. 21Nor hid her heart’s wish Hogni’s daughter;
said that Helgi’s love she would have,
that dear had been, and dwelled in her heart,
the son of Sigmund ere seen by her.
16. “Was I given to Hothbrodd before gathered host,
but for other hero my heart did long;
though fear I, king, my kinsmen’s wrath,
for thwarted have I the thanes’ dearest wish.”
(Helgi said:)
17. “Reck thou shalt not of Hogni’s wrath,
nor of the ill will of all thy kin;
with me shalt now, young maiden, live;
nor dread I, dear one, thy doughty brothers.”
22Helgi drew together a great fleet and sailed to Freka Stone. At sea a fearful storm arose. Flashes of lightning shone about them and struck the ships. They saw nine valkyries ride aloft and knew again Sigrún. Then the storm fell and they made land unharmed. The sons of Granmar were seated on a cliff when the ships neared land. Guthmund leaped on his horse and rode to a hill by the harbor to find out whose fleet it was. The Volsungs were then lowering their sails.
Then said Guthmund, as is written above in “The Lay of Helgi”:23
“Who the highborn hero, leading
these hosts hither to harry on us?”
Sinfjotli, the son of Sigmund, made answer to him, and that also is written there.
Guthmund rode home with these tidings of war. Then gathered the sons of Granmar an army. Many kings came there, and among them Hogni, Sigrún’s father, and his sons Bragi and Dag. A great battle followed, and there fell all the sons of Granmar, and all their leaders but only Dag, the son of Hogni. He was given quarter and sware oaths to the Volsungs. Sigrún went upon the battlefield and found Hothbrodd nigh unto death.
She said:
18. “Wilt not Sigrún of the Seva Fells,
highborn Hothbrodd, e’er hold in thy arms;
have lost their lives— men’s limbs tear now
grey-coated wolves— all of Granmar’s sons.”
Then found she Helgi and was most glad.
He said:
19. “Not good only was given thee, Sigrún,
ill norns, though, in this had a share:
fell this morning at Freka Stone
Bragi and Hogni— my brand slew them;
20. “and at the Hlé Fells, Hrollaug’s sons,
and at the Styr Cliffs, Starkath the king:
of goodly warriors I grimmest ween him—
his body battled albeit headless.24
21. “On the field have fallen by far the most,
slain by the sword, of Sigrún’s kinsmen;
in war hast won great woe only,
since strife didst stir ’mong sturdy lords.”
Then wept Sigrún.
He said:
22. “Take heart, Sigrún, a Hild25 though thou’st been to us:
avails not fight against fate.”
(Sigrún said:)
“Alive I could wish who are lying dead,
and eke in my arms could fold thee.”
Thus spoke Guthmund, the son of Granmar:
23. “What king is it these keels who steereth?
His golden banner at the bow floateth,
his proud prows seem no peace to betoken,
a blood-red glow forebodeth war.”26
(Sinfjotli said:)
24. “Here mayst, Hothbrodd, find Helgi now
in the midst of his fleet, the fearless hero;
the Fjorsung’s lands fighting he won him,
all the gold eke which owned thy kin.”27
(Guthmund said:)
25. “Rather shall, foeman, at Freka Stone
our slaughterous swords settle between us;
’tis time, Hothbrodd, to take revenge,
since by them oft overborne we were.”
(Sinfjotli said:)
26. “Rather shalt, Guthmund, the goat flocks herd,
in clefts of cliffs clambering about,
and hold in thy hand a hazel rod:
that’s better for thee than battling with swords.”
(Helgi said:)
27. 28“’Twere, Sinfjotli, more seeming far
to wield thy sword and sate eagles,
than with words to wage war between you,
though the ring-breakers’ wrath is kindled.
28. “No good I wait me from Granmar’s sons,
yet befits it kings no falsehood to say;
at Móïnsheim right manfully
their wands-of-wounds they wielded boldly.”
Helgi wedded Sigrún and had sons by her. Helgi lived not long. Dag, Hogni’s son, sacrificed to Óthin that he should help him avenge his father, and Óthin lent Dag his spear.29 Dag found Helgi, his sister’s husband, in a grove which is hight Fjotur Grove.30 He ran Helgi through with his spear. Helgi died.
Dag rode to the Seva Fells and told Sigrún the tidings:
29. “Loath am I, sister, to tell sad tidings;
for unwilling was I to work thee harm:31
fell this morning by Fjotur Grove
under heaven who was of all heroes best,
and set his foot on sea kings’ necks.”
30. “Shall every one of the oaths strike thee
which to Sigmund’s son thou swarest of yore
by light-hued leaping Leiptr’s water,32
and eke by Unn’s33 ice-cold altar.
31. “The boat shall budge not which beareth thee,
a fair wind though doth fill its sails;
the steed shall run not thou ridest on,
though fain thy foeman flee thou wouldest!
32. “The sword shall bite not which is bared by thee,
but it sing o’er thyself and smite thee down,
(nor shield shelter but be shattered quickly,)34
(though sore needed when set upon).35
33. “Then had I vengeance for Helgi’s death,
if a wolf thou wert in the wilderness,
wretchedly roving, and ravenous,
and feed to bursting on foul carrion.”
Dag said:
34. “Bereft of reason and raving art thou,
to wish thy brother, such baleful fate:
of all evil is Óthin father:
he strife did stir among stanch kinsmen.36
35. “Weregild I give thee— red-golden rings,
Vandil’s hallowed stead, and Víg Dales also,
half our homeland— for the harm done thee,
Sigrún, sister, and to thy sons.”
36. “Shall I sadly sit at Seva Fells,
nor late nor early in life be glad
but on lord and liegemen fall light again,37
and on Vígblær’s back he is borne hither,
on gold-bitted steed: would I greet him fondly.
37. “Were filled with fear his foemen all,
their kinsmen eke, cowed by Helgi,
as from the wolf will wildly run
fell-grazing goats aghast with dread.
38. “High among heroes did Helgi stand,
like shapely ash tree ’mong shrubs and thorns;
or as dew-dripping38 deer doth tower
above all other beasts of the woodlands:
glow his horns on high to very heaven.”
A mound was thrown up over Helgi. But when he came to Valholl, Óthin let him have sway over all things together with himself.
Helgi said:
39. “Thou shalt, Hunding, hearth fires kindle,
and wash the feet of every wight;
shalt herd horses and the hounds tether,
give the swine their swill ere to sleep thou goest.”39
One of Sigrúns bondmaids went at eventide past the barrow and beheld Helgi riding toward it with many men.
The bondmaid said:
40. “Is’t a dream-sight only my eyes behold,
or the doom of the gods— dead men riding!
With spurs ye urge to speed your horses:
or may the heroes wend home again?”
(Helgi said:)
41. “No dream-sight only thine eyes behold,
nor world’s end is’t, though us thou see’st
with spurs urging to speed our horses;
nor may the heroes wend home again.”40
The bondmaid went back and said to Sigrún:
42. “Come out, Sigrún of Seva Fells,
if the folk-warder to find thee list:
Helgi is here, his howe, open;
his wounds do bleed: he begs of thee
to stay the bloody stream from his breast.”
Sigrún went into the mound to Helgi and said:
43. “As fain am I to find thee, Helgi,
as Óthin’s hawks,41 hungry for meat,
when war they scent and warm corpses,
and dew besprent the daylight see.
44. “The lifeless king to kiss I list,
ere the bloody byrnie thou unbucklest;
thy hair, Helgi, ’tis hoar with frost,
with dew-of-wounds42 all wet art thou.
Clammy the hands of Hogni’s kinsman;43
how shall I, hero, find help for that?”
(Helgi said:)
45. “’Tis Sigrún’s doing, of Seva Fells,
that Helgi drips with the dew-of-sorrow:42
woman sun-bright, southern.44 ere to sleep thou goest,
thou ceaseless, sadly salt tears weepest;
falls each one, bloody, on the breast of the king,
icy, festering, full of sorrow.
46. “Is this wondrous wine45 a welcome drink,
though life and lands be lost for ay;
songs of sadness shall no one sing,
albeit my breast doth bleed with wounds:
now hath my bride into barrow come,
the maid praised of men, to me, the dead!”
Sigrún made ready a bed in the mound.
She said:
47. “A bed made I ready for both of us,
’tis free from care, kingly Helgi;
in thy arms will I, atheling, sleep,
as in life, lief one, I would lie with thee.”
(Helgi said:)
48. “No wonder, ween I, will unwonted seem,
sooner or later, at Seva Fells,
since lies with lifeless leader’s body
in the howe, Hogni’s white-armed daughter—
with the dead the quick, the queenly woman.”
(When morning dawned, Helgi arose and said:)46
49. “Along reddening roads to ride I hie me,
on fallow steed aery paths to fly:
to the west shall I of Windhelm’s bridge,47
ere Valholl’s warriors wakes Salgofnir.”48
Helgi and his men rode on their way, but Sigrún and her women wended home. On the next evening, Sigrún had a maid watch by the mound.
But when the day was at an end, Sigrún came to the mound and said:
50. “Come had by now, if to come he wished,
the son of Sigmund from the seat of Óthin;
little hope that hither the hero will ride,
now the eagles perch on ash-tree limbs,
and all hosts hie them to the home of dreams.”49
(The bondmaid said:)
51. “’Twere folly, lady, to fare alone,
thou Hogni’s daughter, to dead man’s howe.
All dead men’s ghosts do grow more dread
as daylight darkens to dimness of night.”
Sigrún lived but a short while longer, for grief and sorrow. It was the belief in olden times that men were born again, but that is now called old women’s superstition. Helgi and Sigrún are said to have been born again as Helgi Haddingjaskati50 and Kára, the daughter of Hálf dan, as is told in “The Lay of Kára.”51 She was a valkyrie.