The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson
thence the Oegis-helm, a golden corslet, the sword named Hrotti, and
many precious things, all which he laid on Grani; but the horse would
not proceed until Sigurd had mounted on his back.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 63: I.e., Sigurd; a transition from the 3d person to the
2nd.]
[Footnote 64: Another periphrasis for gold.]
[Footnote 65: A periphrasis for fire.]
[Footnote 66: Of Skioldungs.]
THE LAY OF SIGRDRIFA.
Sigurd rode up the Hindarfiall, and directed his course southwards
towards Frankland. In the fell he saw a great light, as if a fire were
burning, which blazed up to the sky. On approaching it, there stood a
"skialdborg," and over it a banner. Sigurd went into the skialdborg,
and saw a warrior lying within it asleep, completely armed. He first
took the helmet off the warrior's head, and saw that it was a woman.
Her corslet was as fast as if it had grown to her body. With his sword
Gram he ripped the corslet from the upper opening downwards, and then
through both sleeves. He then took the corslet off from her, when she
awoke, sat up and, on seeing Sigurd, said:
1. What has my corslet cut? why from sleep have I started? who has
cast from me the fallow bands?
_Sigurd_.
Sigmund's son has just now ript the raven's perch,[67] with Sigurd's
sword.
_She_.
2. Long have I slept, long been with sleep oppressed, long are
mortals' sufferings! Odin is the cause that I have been unable to cast
off torpor.
Sigurd sat down and asked her name. She then took a horn filled with
mead, and gave him the _minnis-cup_.
_She_.
3. Hail to Day! Hail to the sons of Day! To Night and her daughter
hail! With placid eyes behold us here, and here sitting give us
victory.
4. Hail to the Æsir! Hail to the Asyniur! Hail to the bounteous
earth! Words and wisdom give to us noble twain, and healing hands[68]
while we live.
She was named Sigrdrifa, and was a Valkyria. She said that two kings
had made war on each other, one of whom was named Hialmgunnar; he was
old and a great warrior, and Odin had promised him victory. The other
was Agnar, a brother of Hoda, whom no divinity would patronize.
Sigrdrifa overcame Hialmgunnar in battle; in revenge for which Odin
pricked her with a sleep-thorn, and declared that henceforth she
should never have victory in battle, and should be given in marriage.
"But I said to him, that I had bound myself by a vow not to espouse
any man who could be made to fear." Sigurd answers, and implores her
to teach him wisdom, as she had intelligence from all regions:
_Sigrdrifa_.
5. Beer I bear to thee, column[69] of battle! with might mingled,
and with bright glory: 'tis full of song, and salutary saws, of potent
incantations, and joyous discourses.
6. Sig-runes thou must know, if victory (sigr) thou wilt have, and
on thy sword's hilt grave them; some on the chapes, some on the guard,
and twice name the name of Ty.
7. Ol- (beer-) runes thou must know, if thou wilt not that another's
wife thy trust betray, if thou in her confide. On the horn must they
be graven, and on the hand's back, and Naud[70] on the nail be scored.
8. A cup must be blessed, and against peril guarded, and garlick in
the liquor cast: then I know thou wilt never have mead with treachery
mingled.
9. Biarg- (help-) runes thou must know, if thou wilt help, and loose
the child from women. In the palm they must be graven, and round the
joints be clasped, and the Disir prayed for aid.
10. Brim- (sea-) runes thou must know, if thou wilt have secure
afloat thy sailing steeds. On the prow they must be graven, and on the
helm-blade, and with fire to the oar applied. No surge shall be so
towering, nor waves so dark, but from the ocean thou safe shalt come.
11. Lim- (branch-) runes thou must know, if thou a leech wouldst be,
and wounds know how to heal. On the bark they must be graven, and on
the leaves of trees, of those whose boughs bent eastward.
12. Mal- (speech-) runes thou must know, if thou wilt that no one
for injury with hate requite thee. Those thou must wind, those thou
must wrap round, those thou must altogether place in the assembly,
where people have into full court to go.
13. Hug- (thought-) runes thou must know, if thou a wiser man wilt
be than every other. Those interpreted, those graved, those devised
Hropt, from the fluid, which had leaked from Heiddraupnir's head, and
from Hoddropnir's horn.
14. On a rock he stood, with edged sword, a helm on his head he
bore. Then spake Mim's head its first wise word, and true sayings
uttered.
15. They are, it said, on the shield graven, which stands before the
shining god, on Arvakr's ear, and on Alsvid's hoof, on the wheel which
rolls under Rognir's car, on Sleipnir's teeth, and on the sledge's
bands.
16. On the bear's paw, and on Bragi's tongue, on the wolf's claws,
and the eagle's beak, on bloody wings, and on the bridge's end, on the
releasing hand, and on healing's track.
17. On glass and on gold, on amulets of men, in wine and in wort,
and in the welcome seat, on Gungnir's point, and on Grani's breast, on
the Norn's nail, and the owl's neb.
18. All were erased that were inscribed, and mingled with the sacred
mead, and sent on distant ways: they are with the Æsir, they are with
the Alfar, some with the wise Vanir, some human beings have.
19. Those are bok-runes,[71] those are biarg-runes, and all
ol- (beer-) runes, and precious megin- (power-) runes, for those who
can, without confusion or corruption, turn them to his welfare. Use,
if thou hast understood them, until the powers perish.
20. Now thou shalt choose, since a choice is offered thee, keen
armed warrior! my speech, or silence: think over it in thy mind. All
evils[72] have their measure.
_Sigurd_.
21. I will not flee, though thou shouldst know me doomed. I am not
born a craven. Thy friendly counsels all I will receive, as long as
life is in me.
_Sigrdrifa_.
22. This I thee counsel first: that towards thy kin thou bear thee
blameless. Take not hasty vengeance, although they raise up strife:
that, it is said, benefits the dead.
23. This I thee counsel secondly: that no oath thou swear, if it be
not true. Cruel bonds follow broken faith: accursed is the
faith-breaker.
24. This I thee counsel thirdly: that in the assembly thou contend
not with a fool; for an unwise man oft utters words worse than he
knows of.
25. All is vain, if thou holdest silence; then wilt thou seem a
craven born, or else truly accused. Doubtful is a servant's testimony,
unless a good one thou gettest. On the next day let his life go forth,
and so men's lies reward.
26. This I counsel thee fourthly: if a wicked sorceress dwells by
the way, to go on is better than there to lodge, though night may
overtake thee.
27. Of searching eyes the sons of men have need, when fiercely they
have to fight: oft pernicious women by the way-side sit, who swords
and valour deaden.
28. This I thee counsel fifthly: although thou see fair women on the
benches sitting, let not their kindred's silver over thy sleep have
power. To kiss thee entice no woman.
29. This I thee counsel sixthly: although among men pass offensive
tipsy talk, never while drunken quarrel with men of war: wine steals
the wits of many.
30. Brawls and drink to many men have been a heartfelt sorrow; to
some their death, to some calamity: many are the griefs of men!
31. This I thee counsel seventhly: if thou hast disputes with a
daring man, better it is for men to fight than to be burnt within
their dwelling.
32. This I thee counsel eighthly: that thou guard thee against evil,
and eschew deceit. Entice no maiden, nor wife of man, nor to
wantonness incite.
33. This I thee counsel ninthly: that thou corpses bury, wherever on
the earth thou findest them, whether from sickness they have died, or
from the sea, or are from weapons dead.
34. Let a mound be raised for those departed; let their hands and
head be washed, combed, and wiped dry, ere in the coffin they are
laid: and pray for their happy sleep.
35. This I thee counsel tenthly: that thou never trust a foe's
kinsman's promises, whose brother thou hast slain, or sire laid low.
there is a wolf in a young son, though he with gold be gladdened.
36. Strifes and fierce enmities think not to be lulled, no more than
deadly injury. Wisdom and fame in arms a prince not easily acquires,
who shall of men be foremost.
37. This I counsel thee eleventhly: that thou at evil look, what
course it may take. A long life, it seems to me the prince may [not]
enjoy;--fierce disputes will arise.
Sigurd said: "A wiser mortal exists not, and I swear that I will
possess thee, for thou art after my heart." She answered: "Thee I will
have before all others, though I have to choose among all men." And
this they confirmed with oaths to each other.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 67: The original words, hrafns hrælundir, _the raven's
corpse-trees._ So Grimm understands the line; because that bird hops
about upon the armour as upon a tree.]
[Footnote 68: The superstition of the _healing hand_ is not yet
extinct in Iceland. Dr. Maurer relates a story of a man in Reykjavik
to whom it would seem to have been communicated by an elfin, in a
dream.]
[Footnote 69: Literally _apple-tree_.]
[Footnote 70: The name of a rune.]
[Footnote 71: Literally beech- (book-) runes, from being used for book
writing or graving on thin leaves of beech (bok), whence our _book_.
Bok also signifies _acupictile_, vel _acupictum (velum, auloeum_).]
[Footnote 72: An allusion to Sigurd's unhappy end.]
FRAGMENTS OF THE LAY OF SIGURD AND BRYNHILD.[73]
[Sigurd then rides away from Hindarfiall, and journeys on till he
comes to the habitation of Heimir, who was married to Beckhild,
Brynhild's sister. Alsvid, Heimir's son, who was at play when Sigurd
arrived at the mansion, received him kindly, and requested him to stay
with him. Sigurd consented, and remained there a short time. Brynhild
was at that time with Heimir, and was weaving within a gold border the
great exploits of Sigurd.
One day, when Sigurd was come from the forest, his hawk flew to the
window at which Brynhild sat employed on weaving. Sigurd ran after it,
saw the lady, and appeared struck with her handiwork and beauty. On
the following day Sigurd went to her apartment, and Alsvid stood
outside the door shafting arrows. Sigurd said: "Hail to thee, lady!"
or "How fares it with thee?" She answered: "We are well, my kindred
and friends are living, but it is uncertain what any one's lot may be
till their last day." He sat down by her. Brynhild said: "This seat
will be allowed to few, unless my father comes." Sigurd answered: "Now
is that come to pass which thou didst promise me." She said: "Here
shalt thou be welcome." She then arose, and her four maidens with her,
and, approaching him with a golden cup, bade him drink. He reached
towards her and took hold of her hand together with the cup, and
placed her by him, clasped her round the neck, kissed her, and said:
"A fairer than thou was never born." She said: "It is not wise to
place faith in women, for they so often break their promise." He said:
"Better days will come upon us, so that we may enjoy happiness,"
Brynhild said: "It is not ordained that we shall live together, for I
am a shield-maiden (skjaldmær)." Sigurd said: "Then will our happiness
be best promoted, if we live together; for harder to endure is the
pain which herein lies than from a keen weapon." Brynhild said: "I
shall be called to the aid of warriors, but thou wilt espouse Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter." Sigurd said: "No king's daughter shall ensnare me,
therefore have not two thoughts on that subject; and I swear by the
gods that I will possess thee and no other woman." She answered to the