The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson
28. Three troops of maidens; though one maid foremost rode, bright,
with helmed head. Their horses shook themselves, and from their manes
there sprang dew into the deep dales, hail on the lofty trees, whence
comes fruitfulness to man. To me all that I saw was hateful.
_Atli_.
29. Look eastward now, Hrimgerd! whether Helgi has not stricken thee
with death-bearing words. By land and water the king's fleet is safe,
and the chief's men also.
30. It is now day, Hrimgerd! and Atli has thee detained to thy loss
of life. A ludicrous haven-mark 'twill, indeed, be, where thou a
stone-image standest.
King Helgi was a renowned warrior. He came to King Eylimi and demanded
his daughter Svava. Helgi and Svava were united, and loved each other
ardently. Svava remained at home with her father, but Helgi was
engaged in warfare. Svava was a Valkyria as before. Hedin was at home
with his father, King Hiorvard in Norway. Returning home alone from
the forest on a Yule-eve, Hedin met a troll-wife riding on a wolf,
with serpents for reins, who offered to attend him, but he declined
her offer; whereupon she said: "Thou shalt pay for this at the
Bragi-cup." In the evening solemn vows were made, and the son-hog was
led forth, on which the guests laid their hands, and then made solemn
vows at the Bragi-cup.[48] Hedin bound himself by a vow to possess
Svava, the beloved of his brother Helgi; but repented it so bitterly
that he left home and wandered through wild paths to the southern
lands, and there found his brother Helgi. Helgi said:
31. Welcome art thou, Hedin! What new tidings canst thou give from
Norway? Why art thou, prince! from the land driven, and alone art come
to find us?
_Hedin_.
32. Of a much greater crime I am guilty. I have chosen a royal
daughter, thy bride, at the Bragi-cup.
_Helgi_.
33. Accuse not thyself; true will prove words at drinking uttered by
us both. Me a chieftain has to the strand summoned; within three
nights I must be there. 'Tis to me doubtful whether I return; then may
well such befall, if it so must be.
_Hedin_.
34. Thou saidst, Helgi! that Hedin well deserved of thee, and great
gifts: It would beseem thee better thy sword to redden, than to grant
peace to thy foes.
Helgi so spoke, for he had a foreboding that his death was at hand,
and that his fylgiur (attendant spirit) had accosted Hedin, when he
saw the woman riding on a wolf. There was a king named Alf, a son of
Hrodmar, who had appointed a place of combat with Helgi in Sigar's
plain within three days. Then said Helgi:
35. On a wolf rode, at evening twilight, a woman who him offered to
attend. She well knew, that the son of Sigrlinn would be slain, on
Sigar's plain.
There was a great conflict, in which Helgi got his death-wound.
36. Helgi sent Sigar riding, after Eylimi's only daughter: he bade
her quickly be in readiness, if she would find the king alive.
_Sigar_.
37. Helgi has me hither sent, with thee, Svava! thyself to speak.
Thee, said the king, he fain would see, ere the noble-born breathes
forth his last.
_Svava_.
38. What has befallen Helgi, Hiorvard's son? I am sorely by
afflictions stricken. Has the sea him deluded, or the sword wounded?
On that man I will harm inflict.
_Sigar_.
39. This morning fell, at Frekastein, the king who beneath the sun
was of all the best. Alf has complete victory, though this time it
should not have been!
_Helgi_.
40. Hail to thee, Svava! Thy love thou must divide: this in this
world, methinks, is our last meeting. They say the chieftain's wounds
are bleeding. The sword came too near my heart.
41. I pray thee, Svava!--weep not, my wife!--if thou wilt my voice
obey, that for Hedin thou a couch prepare, and the young prince in thy
arms clasp.
_Svava_.
42. I had said, in our pleasant home, when for me Helgi rings
selected, that I would not gladly, after my king's departure, an
unknown prince clasp in my arms.
_Hedin_.
43. Kiss me, Svava! I will not return, Rogheim to behold, nor
Rodulsfioll, before I have avenged Hiorvard's son, who was of kings
under the sun the best.
Helgi and Svava were, it is said, born again.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 48: At guilds the Bragi-cup (Bragafull) was drunk. It was
the custom at the funeral feast of kings and jarls, that the heir
should sit on a lower seat, until the Bragafull was brought in, that
he should then rise to receive it, make a vow, and drink the contents
of the cup (full). He was then led to his father's high seat. At an
offering guild, the chief signed with the figure of Thor's hammer both
the cup and the meat. First was drunk Odin's cup, for victory and
power to the king; then Niord's cup, and Frey's, for a good year and
peace; after which it was the custom with many to drink a Bragafull.
The peculiarity of this cup was, that it was a cup of vows, that on
drinking it a vow was made to perform some great and arduous deed,
that might be made a subject for the song of the skalld.]
THE FIRST LAY OF HELGI HUNDINGCIDE.
1. It was in times of yore, when the eagles screamed, holy waters
fell from the heavenly hills; then to Helgi, the great of soul,
Borghild gave birth in Bralund.
2. In the mansion it was night: the Norns came, who should the
prince's life determine. They him decreed a prince most famed to be,
and of leaders accounted best.
3. With all their might they span the fatal threads, when that [he]
burghs should overthrow[49] in Bralund. They stretched out the golden
cord, and beneath the middle of the moon's mansion fixed it.
4. East and west they hid the ends, where the prince had lands
between; towards the north Neri's sister cast a chain, which she bade
last for ever.
5. One thing disquieted the Ylfing's offspring, and the woman who
had the child brought forth. Sitting on a lofty tree, on prey intent,
a raven to a raven said: "I know something.
6. Stands cased in mail Sigmund's son, one day old: now is our day
come. His eyes are piercing as a warrior's; the wolf's friend is he:
we shall rejoice!"
7. He to the folk appeared a noble chief to be; among men 'twas said
that happy times were come; went the king himself from the din of war,
noble garlic to bring to the young prince;
8. Gave him the name of Helgi, and Hringstadir, Solfioll, Snæfioll,
and Sigarsvellir, Hringstad, Hatun, and Himinvangar, a sword ornate,
to Sinfiotli's brother.
9. Then grew up, in his friends' bosom, the high-born youth, in
joyous splendour. He paid and gave gold for deserts; nor spared the
chief the blood-stained sword.
10. A short time only the leader let warfare cease. When the prince
was fifteen winters old, he caused the fierce Hunding to fall, who
long had ruled over lands and people.
11. The sons of Hunding afterwards demanded from Sigmund's son
treasure and rings; because they had on the prince to avenge their
great loss of wealth, and their father's death.
12. The prince would neither the blood-fine pay, nor for the slain
indemnity would give. They might expect, he said, a terrific storm of
grey arrows, and Odin's ire.
13. The warriors went to the trysting place of swords, which they
had appointed at Logafioll. Broken was Frodi's peace between the foes:
Vidrir's hounds went about the isle slaughter-greedy.
14. The leader sat under the Arastein, after he had slain Alf and
Eyiolf, Hiorvard and Havard, sons of Hunding: he had destroyed all
Geirmimir's race.
15. Then gleamed a ray from Logafioll, and from that ray lightnings
issued; then appeared, in the field of air, a helmed band of
Valkyriur: their corslets were with blood besprinkled, and from their
spears shone beams of light.
16. Forthwith inquired the chieftain bold, from the wolf-congress of
the southern Disir, whether they would, with the warriors, that night
go home?--then was a clash of arms!
17. One from her horse, Hogni's daughter, stilled the crash of
shields, and to the leader said: "We have, I ween, other objects than
with princely warriors to drink beer.
18. My father has his daughter promised to the fierce son of
Granmar; but I have, Helgi! declared Hodbrodd, the proud prince, like
to a cat's son.
19. That chief will come in a few days, unless thou him call to a
hostile meeting; or the maiden take from the prince."
_Helgi_.
20. Fear thou not Isung's slayer; there shall be first a clash of
foes, unless I am dead.
21. Thence sent messengers the potent prince through air and over
water, succours to demand, and abundance of ocean's gleam to men to
offer, and to their sons.
22. "Bid them speedily to the ships to go, and those from Brandey to
hold them ready." There the king abode, until thither came warriors in
hundreds from Hedinsey.
23. From the strands also, and from Stafnsnes, a naval force went
out, with gold adorned. Helgi then of Hiorleif asked: "Hast thou
mustered the valiant people?"
24. But the young king the other answered: "Slowly" said he "are
counted from Tronuey the long-beaked ships, under the seafarers, which
sail without in the Oresund,--
25. Twelve hundred faithful men; though in Hatun there is more than
half of the king's host--We are to war inured."
26. Then the steersman threw the ship's tents aside, that the
princes' people might awake, and the noble chiefs the dawn might see;
and the warriors hauled the sails up to the mast in Varinsfiord.
27. There was a dash of oars, and clash of iron, shield against
shield resounded: the vikings rowed; roaring went, under the
chieftains the royal fleet far from the land.
28. So might be heard, when together came the tempest's sister[50]
and the long keels, as when rock and surge on each other break.
29. Higher still bade Helgi the deep sail be hauled. No port gave
shelter to the crews; when Oegir's terrific daughter the chieftains'
vessels would o'erwhelm,
30. But from above Sigrun intrepid, saved them and their fleet also;
from the hand of Ran powerfully was wrested the royal ship at
Gnipalund.
31. At eve they halted in Unavagar; the splendid ships might into
port have floated, but the crews, from Svarinshaug, in hostile mood,
espied the host.
32. Then demanded the god-born Gudmund: "Who is the chieftain that
commands the fleet, and that formidable force brings to our land?"
33. Sinfiotli said, slinging up on the yard a red-hued shield with
golden rim;--He at the strait kept watch, and able was to answer, and
with nobles words exchange--
34. "Tell it at eve, when you feed your pigs, and your dogs lead to
their food, that the Ylfings from the east are come, ready to fight at
Gnipalund.
35. Hodbrodd will Helgi find in the fleet's midst, a king hard to
make flee, who has oft the eagles sated, while thou wast at the mills,
kissing the thrall-wenches.
_Gudmund_.
36. Little dost thou remember of ancient saws, when of the noble
thou falsehoods utterest. Thou hast been eating wolves' dainties, and
of thy brother wast the slayer; wounds hast thou often sucked with
cold mouth; every where loathed, thou hast crawled in caverns.
_Sinfiotli_.
37. Thou wast a Valacrone in Varinsey, cunning as a fox, a spreader
of lies. Thou saidst thou no man wouldst ever marry, no corsleted
warrior, save Sinfiotli.
38. A mischievous crone wast thou, a giantess, a Valkyria, insolent,
monstrous, in Alfather's hall. All the Einheriar fought with each
other, deceitful woman! for thy sake. Nine wolves we begat in Sagunes;
I alone was father of them all.
_Gudmund_.
39. Father thou wast not of Fenriswolves, older than all, as far as
I remember; since by Gnipalund, the Thurs-maidens thee emasculated
upon Thorsnes.
40. Thou wast Siggeir's stepson, at home under the benches layest,
accustomed to the wolf's howl out in the forests: calamity of every