"Meyjar flugu sunnan

myrkvið í gögnum,

Alvitr unga,

örlög drýgja;

þær á sævarströnd

settusk at hvílask

drósir suðrænar,

dýrt lín spunnu."

Maids from the south

through Myrkwood flew,

Fair and young,

their fate to follow;

On the shore of the sea

to rest them they sat,

The maids of the south,

and flax they spun.

"Ein nam þeira

Egil at verja,

fögr mær fira,

faðmi ljósum;

önnur var Svanhvít,

svanfjaðrar dró,

en in þriðja

þeira systir

varði hvítan

hals Völundar."

*********

Hlathguth and Hervor,

Hlothver's children,

And Olrun the Wise

Kjar's daughter was.

"Sátu síðan

sjau vetr at þat,

en inn átta

allan þráðu,

en inn níunda

nauðr of skilði;

meyjar fýstusk

á myrkvan við,

Alvitr unga,

örlög drýgja."

*********

One in her arms

took Egil then

To her bosom white,

the woman fair.

"Kom þar af veiði

veðreygr skyti,

(Völundr, líðandi

um langan veg),

Slagfiðr ok Egill,

sali fundu auða,

gengu út ok inn

ok um sáusk;

austur skreið Egill

at Ölrúnu,

en suðr Slagfiðr

at Svanhvítu."

Swan-White second,

swan-feathers she wore,

*********

And her arms the third

of the sisters threw

Next round Völund's

neck so white.

"En einn Völundr

sat í Ulfdölum,

hann sló gull rautt

við gim fastan,

lukði hann alla

lind baugum vel;

svá beið hann

sinnar ljóssar

kvánar, ef hánum

koma gerði."

There did they sit

for seven winters,

In the eighth at last

came their longing again,

(And in the ninth

did need divide them).

The maidens yearned

for the murky wood,

The fair young maids,

their fate to follow.

"Þat spyrr Níðuðr,

Níára dróttinn,

at einn Völundr

sat í Ulfdölum;

nóttum fóru seggir,

neglðar váru brynjur,

skildir bliku þeira

við inn skarða mána."

Völund home

from his hunting came,

From a weary way,

the weather-wise bowman,

Slagfith and Egil

the hall found empty,

Out and in went they,

everywhere seeking.

"Stigu ór söðlum

at salar gafli,

gengu inn þaðan

endlangan sal;

sáu þeir á bast

bauga dregna,

sjau hundruð allra,

er sá seggr átti."

East fared Egil

after Olrun,

And Slagfith south

to seek for Swan-White;

Völund alone

in Ulfdalir lay,

*********

"Og þeir af tóku

ok þeir á létu,

fyr einn útan,

er þeir af létu.

Kom þar af veiði

veðreygr skyti,

Völundr, líðandi

um langan veg."

Red gold he fashioned

with fairest gems,

And rings he strung

on ropes of bast;

So for his wife

he waited long,

If the fair one home

might come to him.

"Gekk hann brúnni

beru hold steikja,

ár brann hrísi

allþurr fura,

viðr inn vindþurri,

fyr Völundi."

This Nithuth learned,

the lord of the Njars,

That Völund alone

in Ulfdalir lay;

By night went his men,

their mail-coats were studded,

Their shields in the waning

moonlight shone.

"Sat á berfjalli,

bauga talði,

alfa ljóði,

eins saknaði;

hugði hann, at hefði

Hlöðvés dóttir,

Alvitr unga,

væri hon aftr komin."

From their saddles the gable

wall they sought,

And in they went

at the end of the hall;

Rings they saw there

on ropes of bast,

Seven hundred

the hero had.

"Sat hann svá lengi,

at hann sofnaði,

ok hann vaknaði

viljalauss;

vissi sér á höndum

höfgar nauðir,

en á fótum

fjötur of spenntan."

Off they took them,

but all they left

Save one alone

which they bore away.

*********

*********

Völundr kvað:

"Hverir ro jöfrar,

þeir er á lögðu

besti bör síma

ok mik bundu?"

Völund home

from his hunting came,

From a weary way,

the weather-wise bowman;

A brown bear's flesh

would he roast with fire;

Soon the wood so dry

was burning well,

(The wind-dried wood

that Völund's was).

"Kallaði nú Níðuðr

Níara dróttinn:

Hvar gaztu, Völundr,

vísi alfa,

vára aura

í Ulfdölum?"

On the bearskin he rested,

and counted the rings,

The master of elves,

but one he missed;

That Hlothver's daughter

had it he thought,

And the all-wise maid

had come once more.

Völundr Kvað:

"Gull var þar eigi

á Grana leiðu,

fjarri hugða ek várt land

fjöllum Rínar;

man ek, at vér meiri

mæti áttum,

er vér heil hjú

heima várum."

So long he sat

that he fell asleep,

His waking empty

of gladness was;

Heavy chains

he saw on his hands,

And fetters bound

his feet together.

"Hlaðguðr ok Hervör

borin var Hlöðvé

kunn var Ölrún

Kíárs dóttir."

Völund spake:

"What men are they

who thus have laid

Ropes of bast

to bind me now?"

Then Nithuth called,

the lord of the Njars:

"How gottest thou, Völund,

greatest of elves,

These treasures of ours

in Ulfdalir?"

"Úti stóð kunnig

kván Níðaðar,

hon inn of gekk

endlangan sal,

stóð á golfi,

stillti röddu:

Er-a sá nú hýrr,

er ór holti ferr."

Völund spake:

"The gold was not

on Grani's way,

Far, methinks, is our realm

from the hills of the Rhine;

I mind me that treasures

more we had

When happy together

at home we were."

Without stood the wife

of Nithuth wise,

And in she came

from the end of the hall;

On the floor she stood,

and softly spoke:

"Not kind does he look

who comes from the wood."

"Ámun eru augu

ormi þeim inum frána,

tenn hánum teygjask,

er hánum er tét sverð

ok hann Böðvildar

baug of þekkir;

sníðið ér hann

sina magni

ok setið hann síðan

í Sævarstöð."

"The glow of his eyes

is like gleaming snakes,

His teeth he gnashes

if now is shown

The sword, or Bothvild's

ring he sees;

Let them straightway cut

his sinews of strength,

And set him then

in Sævarstath."

"Skínn Níðaði

sverð á linda,

þat er ek hvessta,

sem ek hagast kunna

ok ek herðak,

sem mér hægst þótti;

sá er mér fránn mækir

æ fjarri borinn,

sékk-a ek þann Völundi

til smiðju borinn."

"At Nithuth's girdle

gleams the sword

That I sharpened keen

with cunningest craft,

(And hardened the steel

with highest skill;)

The bright blade far

forever is borne,

(Nor back shall I see it

borne to my smithy;)

Now Bothvild gets

the golden ring

(That was once my bride's,

ne'er well shall it be.)"

"Nú berr Böðvildr

brúðar minnar

— bíðk-a ek þess bót, —

bauga rauða."

He sat, nor slept,

and smote with his hammer,

Fast for Nithuth

wonders he fashioned;

Two boys did go

in his door to gaze,

Nithuth's sons,

into Sævarstath.

"Sat hann, né hann svaf, ávallt

ok hann sló hamri;

vél gerði hann heldr

hvatt Níðaði.

Drifu ungir tveir

á dýr séa

synir Níðaðar,

í Sævarstöð."

They came to the chest,

and they craved the keys,

The evil was open

when in they looked;

To the boys it seemed

that gems they saw,

Gold in plenty

and precious stones.

"Kómu þeir til kistu,

kröfðu lukla,

opin var illúð

er þeir í sáu;

fjölð var þar menja,

er þeim mögum sýndisk

at væri gull rautt

ok görsimar."

Völund spake:

"Come ye alone,

the next day come,

Gold to you both

shall then be given;

Tell not the maids

or the men of the hall,

To no one say

that me you have sought."

Völundr kvað:

"Komið einir tveir,

komið annars dags;

ykkr læt ek þat gull

of gefit verða;

segið-a meyjum

né salþjóðum,

manni engum,

at it mik fyndið."

*********

Early did brother

to brother call:

"Swift let us go

the rings to see."

"Snemma kallaði

seggr annan,

bróðir á bróður:

Göngum baug séa!

Kómu til kistu,

kröfðu lukla,

opin var illúð,

er þeir í litu."

They came to the chest,

and they craved the keys,

The evil was open

when in they looked;

He smote off their heads,

and their feet he hid

Under the sooty

straps of the bellows.

"Sneið af höfuð

húna þeira

ok und fen fjöturs

fætr of lagði;

en þær skálar,

er und skörum váru,

sveip hann útan silfri,

seldi Níðaði."

Their skulls, once hid

by their hair, he took,

Set them in silver

and sent them to Nithuth;

Gems full fair

from their eyes he fashioned,

To Nithuth's wife

so wise he gave them.

"En ór augum

jarknasteina

sendi hann kunnigri

konu Níðaðar,

en ór tönnum

tveggja þeira

sló hann brjóstkringlur

sendi Böðvildi."

And from the teeth

of the twain he wrought

A brooch for the breast,

to Bothvild he sent it;

*********

"Þá nam Böðvildr

baugi at hrósa

*********

(bar hann Völundi),

er brotit hafði:

Þorig-a ek at segja

nema þér einum."

Völund spake:

Bothvild then

of her ring did boast,

*********

*********

"The ring I have broken,

I dare not say it

save to thee."

Völundr kvað:

"Ek bæti svá

brest á gulli

at feðr þínum

fegri þykkir

ok mæðr þinni

miklu betri

ok sjalfri þér

at sama hófi."

Völund spake:

'I shall weld the break

in the gold so well

That fairer than ever

thy father shall find it,

And better much

thy mother shall think it,

And thou no worse

than ever it was."

"Bar hann hana bjóri,

því at hann betr kunni

svá at hon í sessi

of sofnaði.

Nú hef ek hefnt

harma minna

allra nema einna

íviðgjarna."

Beer he brought,

he was better in cunning,

Until in her seat

full soon she slept.

Völund spake:

"Now vengeance I have

for all my hurts,

Save one alone,

on the evil woman."

"Vel ek, kvað Völundr,

verða ek á fitjum

þeim er mik Níðaðar

námu rekkar.

Hlæjandi Völundr

hófsk at lofti,

grátandi Böðvildr

gekk ór eyju,

tregði för friðils

ok föður reiði."

*********

*********

Völund: "Would

that well were the sinews

Maimed in my feet

by Nithuth's men."

"Úti stendr kunnig

kván Níðaðar,

ok hon inn of gekk

endlangan sal,

— en hann á salgarð

settisk at hvílask —:

Vakir þú, Níðuðr

Níara dróttinn?"

Laughing Völund

rose aloft,

Weeping Bothvild

went from the isle,

For her lover's flight

and her father's wrath.

Níðuðr kvað:

"Vaki ek ávallt

viljalauss,

sofna ek minnst

síz mína sonu dauða;

kell mik í höfuð,

köld eru mér ráð þín,

vilnumk ek þess nú,

at ek við Völund dæma."

Without stood the wife

of Nithuth wise,

And in she came

from the end of the hall;

But he by the wall

in weariness sat:

"Wakest thou, Nithuth,

lord of the Njars?"

"Seg þú mér þat, Völundr,

vísi alfa,

af heilum hvat varð

húnum mínum."

Nithuth spake:

"Always I wake,

and ever joyless,

Little I sleep

since my sons were slain;

Cold is my head,

cold was thy counsel,

One thing, with Völund

to speak, I wish.

Völundr kvað:

"Eiða skaltu mér áðr

alla vinna,

at skips borði

ok at skjaldar rönd,

at mars bægi

ok at mækis egg,

at þú kvelj-at

kván Völundar

né brúði minni

at bana verðir,

þótt vér kván eigim,

þá er ér kunnið,

eða jóð eigim

innan hallar."

*********

"Answer me, Völund,

greatest of elves,

What happed with my boys

that hale once were?"

"Gakk þú til smiðju,

þeirar er þú gerðir,

þar fiðr þú belgi

blóði stokkna;

sneið ek af höfuð

húna þinna,

ok und fen fjöturs

fætr of lagðak."

Völund spake:

"First shalt thou all

the oaths now swear,

By the rail of ship,

and the rim of shield,

By the shoulder of steed,

and the edge of sword,

That to Völund's wife

thou wilt work no ill,

Nor yet my bride

to her death wilt bring,

Though a wife I should have

that well thou knowest,

And a child I should have

within thy hall.

"En þær skálar,

er und skörum váru,

sveip ek útan silfri,

selda ek Níðaði;

en ór augum

jarknasteina

senda ek kunnigri

kván Níðaðar."

"Seek the smithy

that thou didst set,

Thou shalt find the bellows

sprinkled with blood;

I smote off the heads

of both thy sons,

And their feet 'neath the sooty

straps I hid.

"En úr tönnum

tveggja þeira

sló ek brjóstkringlur,

senda ek Böðvildi;

nú gengr Böðvildr

barni aukin,

eingadóttir

ykkur beggja."

"Their skulls, once hid

by their hair, I took,

Set them in silver

and sent them to Nithuth;

Gems full fair

from their eyes I fashioned,

To Nithuth's wife

so wise I gave them.

Níðuðr kvað:

"Mæltir-a þú þat mál,

er mik meir tregi,

né ek þik vilja, Völundr,

verr of níta;

er-at svá maðr hár,

at þik af hesti taki,

né svá öflugr,

at þik neðan skjóti,

þar er þú skollir

við ský uppi."

"And from the teeth

of the twain I wrought

A brooch for the breast,

to Bothvild I gave it;

Now big with child

does Bothvild go,

The only daughter

ye two had ever."

"Hlæjandi Völundr

hófsk at lofti,

en ókátr Níðuðr

sat þá eftir."

Nithuth spake:

"Never spakest thou word

that worse could hurt me,

Nor that made me, Völund,

more bitter for vengeance;

There is no man so high

from thy horse to take thee,

Or so doughty an archer

as down to shoot thee,

While high in the clouds

thy course thou takest."

Níðuðr kvað:

"Upp rístu, Þakkráðr,

þræll minn inn bezti,

bið þú Böðvildi,

meyna bráhvítu,

ganga fagrvarið

við föður ræða."

Laughing Völund

rose aloft,

But left in sadness

Nithuth sat.

*********

"Er þat satt, Böðvildr,

er sögðu mér:

Sátuð it Völundr

saman í holmi?"

Then spake Nithuth,

lord of the Njars:

"Rise up, Thakkrath,

best of my thralls,

Bid Bothvild come,

the bright-browed maid,

Bedecked so fair,

with her father to speak."

Böðvildr kvað:

"Satt er þat, Níðuðr,

er sagði þér:

Sátum vit Völundr

saman í holmi

eina ögurstund,

æva skyldi;

ek vætr hánum

vinna kunnak,

ek vætr hánum

vinna máttak."

*********

"Is it true, Bothvild,

that which was told me;

Once in the isle

with Völund wert thou?"

Bothvild spake:

"True is it, Nithuth,

that which was told thee,

Once in the isle

with Völund was I,

An hour of lust,

alas it should be!

Nought was my might

with such a man,

Nor from his strength

could I save myself."