"Hverr byggir hér

borgir þessar?

Hvat þann þjóðkonung

þegnar nefna?"

Geitir kvað:

"Grípir heitir

gumna stóri,

sá er fastri ræðr

foldu ok þegnum."

"Who is it has

this dwelling here,

Or what do men call

the people's king?"

Geitir spake:

"Gripir the name

of the chieftain good

Who holds the folk

and the firm-ruled land."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Er horskr konungr

heima í landi?

Mun sá gramr við mik

ganga at mæla?

Máls er þarfi

maðr ókunnigr,

vil ek fljótliga

finna Grípi."

Sigurth spake:

"Is the king all-knowing

now within,

Will the monarch come

with me to speak?

A man unknown

his counsel needs,

And Gripir fain

I soon would find."

Geitir kvað:

"Þess mun glaðr konungr

Geiti spyrja,

hverr sá maðr sé,

er máls kveðr Grípi."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Sigurðr ek heiti,

borinn Sigmundi,

en Hjördís er

hilmis móðir."

Geitir spake:

"The ruler glad

of Geitir will ask

Who seeks with Gripir

speech to have."

Sigurth spake:

"Sigurth am I,

and Sigmund's son,

And Hjordis the name

of the hero's mother."

"Þá gekk Geitir

Grípi at segja;

Hér er maðr úti

ókuðr kominn;

hann er ítarligr

at áliti;

sá vill, fylkir,

fund þinn hafa."

Then Geitir went

and to Gripir spake:

"A stranger comes

and stands without;

Lofty he is

to look upon,

And, prince, thyself

he fain would see."

Gengr ór skála

skatna dróttinn

ok heilsar vel

hilmi komnum:

"þiggðu hér, Sigurðr,

væri sæmra fyrr,

en þú, Geitir, tak

við Grana sjalfum."

From the hall the ruler

of heroes went,

And greeted well

the warrior come:

"Sigurth, welcome

long since had been thine;

Now, Geitir, shalt thou

Grani take."

Mæla námu

ok margt hjala

þá er ráðspakir

rekkar fundusk.

Sigurðr kvað:

"Segðu mér, ef þú veizt,

móðurbróðir:

Hvé mun Sigurði

snúna ævi."

Then of many

things they talked,

When thus the men

so wise had met.

Sigurth spake:

"To me, if thou knowest,

my mother's brother,

Say what life

will Sigurth's be."

Grípir kvað:

"Þú munt maðr vera

mæztr und sólu

ok hæstr borinn

hverjum jöfri,

gjöfull af gulli,

en glöggr flugar,

ítr áliti

ok í orðum spakr."

Gripir spake:

"Of men thou shalt be

on earth the mightiest,

And higher famed

than all the heroes;

Free of gold-giving,

slow to flee,

Noble to see,

and sage in speech."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Segðu, gegn konungr,

gerr en ek spyrja,

snotr, Sigurði,

ef þú sjá þykkisk:

Hvat mun fyrst gerask

til farnaðar,

þá er ór garði emk

genginn þínum?"

Sigurth spake:

"Monarch wise,

now more I ask;

To Sigurth say,

if thou thinkest to see,

What first will chance

of my fortune fair,

When hence I go

from out thy home?"

Grípir kvað:

"Fyrst muntu, fylkir,

föður of hefna,

ok Eylima

alls harms reka;

þú munt harða

Hundings sonu

snjalla fella,

muntu sigr hafa."

Gripir spake:

"First shalt thou, prince,

thy father avenge,

And Eylimi,

their ills requiting;

The hardy sons

of Hunding thou

Soon shalt fell,

and victory find."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Segðu, ítr konungr,

ættingi, mér

heldr horskliga,

er vit hugat mælum:

Sér þú Sigurðar

snör brögð fyrir,

þau er hæst fara

und himinskautum?"

Sigurth spake:

"Noble king,

my kinsman, say

Thy meaning true,

for our minds we speak:

For Sigurth mighty

deeds dost see,

The highest beneath

the heavens all?"

Grípir kvað:

"Muntu einn vega

orm inn frána,

þann er gráðugr liggr

á Gnitaheiði;

þú munt báðum

at bana verða

Regin ok Fáfni,

rétt segir Grípir."

Gripir spake:

"The fiery dragon

alone thou shalt fight

That greedy lies

at Gnitaheith;

Thou shalt be of Regin

and Fafnir both

The slayer; truth

doth Gripir tell thee."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Auðr mun ærinn,

ef ek eflik svá

víg með virðum,

sem víst segir;

leið at huga

ok lengra seg:

Hvat mun enn vera

ævi minnar?"

Sigurth spake:

"Rich shall I be

if battles I win

With such as these,

as now thou sayest;

Forward look,

and further tell:

What the life

that I shall lead?"

Grípir kvað:

"Þú munt finna

Fáfnis bæli

ok upp taka

auð inn fagra,

gulli hlæða

á Grana bógu;

ríðr þú til Gjúka,

gramr vígrisinn."

Gripir spake:

"Fafnir's den

thou then shalt find,

And all his treasure

fair shalt take;

Gold shalt heap

on Grani's back,

And, proved in fight,

to Gjuki fare."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Enn skaltu hilmi

í hugaðsræðu,

framlyndr jöfurr,

fleira segja.

Gestr em ek Gjúka

ok ek geng þaðan,

hvat mun enn vera

ævi minnar?"

Sigurth spake:

"To the warrior now

in words. so wise,

Monarch noble,

more shalt tell;

I am Gjuki's guest,

and thence I go:

What the life

that I shall lead?"

Grípir kvað:

"Sefr á fjalli

fylkis dóttir

björt í brynju

eftir bana Helga;

þú munt höggva

hvössu sverði,

brynju rísta

með bana Fáfnis."

Gripir spake:

"On the rocks there sleeps

the ruler's daughter,

Fair in armor,

since Helgi fell;

Thou shalt cut

with keen-edged sword,

And cleave the byrnie

with Fafnir's killer."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Brotin er brynja,

brúðr mæla tekr,

er vaknaði

víf ór svefni.

Hvat mun snót at heldr

við Sigurð mæla,

þat er at farnaði

fylki verði?"

Sigurth spake:

"The mail-coat is broken,

the maiden speaks,

The woman who

from sleep has wakened;

What says the maid

to Sigurth then

That happy fate

to the hero brings?"

Grípir kvað:

"Hon mun ríkjum þér

rúnar kenna,

allar þær er aldir

eignask vildu,

ok á manns tungu

mæla hverja,

líf með lækning;

lifðu heill, konungr."

Gripir spake:

"Runes to the warrior

will she tell,

All that men

may ever seek,

And teach thee to speak

in all men's tongues,

And life with health;

thou'rt happy, king!"

Sigurðr kvað:

"Nú er því lokit,

numin eru fræði

ok em braut þaðan

búinn at ríða,

leið at huga

ok lengra seg:

Hvat mun meir vera

minnar ævi?"

Sigurth spake:

"Now is it ended,

the knowledge is won,

And ready I am

forth thence to ride;

Forward look

and further tell:

What the life

that I shall lead?"

Grípir kvað:

"Þú munt hitta

Heimis byggðir

ok glaðr vera

gestr þjóðkonungs;

farit er, Sigurðr,

þats ek fyrir vissak,

skal-a fremr en svá

fregna Grípi."

Gripir spake:

"Then to Heimir's

home thou comest,

And glad shalt be

the guest of the king;

Ended, Sigurth,

is all I see,

No further aught

of Gripir ask."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Nú fær mér ekka

orð þatstu mæltir,

því at þú fram of sér

fylkir, lengra;

veiztu ofmikit

angr Sigurði,

því þú, Grípir, þat

gerr-a segja."

Sigurth spake:

"Sorrow brings me

the word thou sayest,

For, monarch, forward

further thou seest;

Sad the grief

for Sigurth thou knowest,

Yet nought to me, Gripir,

known wilt make."

Grípir kvað:

"Lá mér um æsku

ævi þinnar

ljósast fyrir

líta eftir;

rétt em ek

ráðspakr taliðr

né in heldr framvíss,

farit þats ek vissak."

Gripir spake:

"Before me lay

in clearest light

All of thy youth

for mine eyes to see;

Not rightly can I

wise be called,

Nor forward-seeing;

my wisdom is fled."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Mann veit ek engi

fyr mold ofan,

þann er fleira sé

fram en þú, Grípir;

skal-at-tu leyna,

þótt ljót séi,

eða mein gerisk

á mínum hag."

Sigurth spake:

"No man, Gripir,

on earth I know

Who sees the future

as far as thou;

Hide thou nought,

though hard it be,

And base the deeds

that I shall do."

Grípir kvað:

"Er-a með löstum

Iögð ævi þér,

láttu, inn ítri, þat,

öðlingr, nemask,

því at uppi mun,

meðan öld lifir,

naddéls boði,

nafn þitt vera."

Gripir spake:

"With baseness never

thy life is burdened,

Hero noble,

hold that sure;

Lofty as long

as the world shall live,

Battle-bringer,

thy name shall be."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Verst hyggjum því,

verðr at skiljask

Sigurðr við fylki

at sógöru;

leið vísa þú,

— lagt er allt fyrir —

mærr, mér, ef þú vilt,

móðurbróðir."

Sigurth spake:

"Nought could seem worse,

but now must part

The prince and Sigurth,

since so it is,

My road I ask,

the future lies open,

Mighty one, speak,

my mother's brother."

Grípir kvað:

"Nú skal Sigurði

segja görva,

alls þengill mik

til þess neyðir;

muntu víst vita

at vætki lýgr;

dægr eitt er þér

dauði ætlaðr."

Gripir spake:

"Now to Sigurth

all shall I say,

For to this the warrior

bends my will;

Thou knowest well

that I will not lie,

A day there is

when thy death is doomed."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Vilk-at ek reiði

ríks þjóðkonungs,

góð ráð at heldr

Grípis þiggja;

nú vill víst vita,

þótt viltki sé,

hvat á sýnt Sigurðr

sér fyr höndum."

Sigurth spake:

"No scorn I know

for the noble king,

But counsel good

from Gripir I seek;

Well will I know,

though evil awaits,

What Sigurth may

before him see."

Grípir kvað:

"Fljóð er at Heimis

fagrt álitum,

hana Brynhildi

bragnar nefna,

dóttir Buðla,

en dýrr konungr

harðugðigt man

Heimir fæðir."

Gripir spake:

"A maid in Heimir's

home there dwells,

Brynhild her name

to men is known,

Daughter of Buthli,

the doughty king,

And Heimir fosters

the fearless maid."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hvat er mik at því,

þótt mær séi

fögr áliti

fædd at Heimis?

Þat skaltu, Grípir,

görva segja,

því at þú öll of sér

örlög fyrir."

Sigurth spake:

"What is it to me,

though the maiden be

So fair, and of Heimir

the fosterling is?

Gripir, truth

to me shalt tell,

For all of fate

before me thou seest."

Grípri kvað:

"Hon firrir þik

flestu gamni,

fögr áliti,

fóstra Heimis,

svefn þú né sefr

né of sakar dæmir,

gár-a þú manna

nema þú mey séir."

Gripir spake:

"Of many a joy

the maiden robs thee,

Fair to see,

whom Heimir fosters;

Sleep thou shalt find not,

feuds thou shalt end not,

Nor seek out men,

if the maid thou seest not."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hvat mun til líkna

lagt Sigurði?

Segðu, Grípir, þat,

ef þú sjá þykkisk:

Mun ek mey ná

mundi kaupa,

þá ina fögru

fylkis dóttur?"

Sigurth spake:

"What may be had

for Sigurth's healing?

Say now, Gripir,

if see thou canst;

May I buy the maid

with the marriage-price,

The daughter fair

of the chieftain famed?"

Grípir kvað:

"It munuð alla

eiða vinna

fullfastliga,

fá munuð halda;

verit hefr þú Gjúka

gestr eina nótt,

mant-at-tu horska

Heimis fóstru."

Gripir spake:

"Ye twain shall all

the oaths then swear

That bind full fast;

few shall ye keep;

One night when Gjuki's

guest thou hast been,

Will Heimir's fosterling

fade from thy mind."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hvat er þá, Grípir,

get þú þess fyr mér,

sér þú geðleysi

í grams skapi,

er ek skal við mey þá

málum slíta,

er ek alls hugar

unna þóttumk."

Sigurth spake:

"What sayst thou, Gripir?

give me the truth,

Does fickleness hide

in the hero's heart?

Can it be that troth

I break with the maid,

With her I believed

I loved so dear?"

Grípir kvað:

"Þú verðr, siklingr,

fyr svikum annars,

muntu Grímhildar

gjalda ráða,

mun bjóða þér

bjarthaddat man

dóttur sína,

dregr hon vél at gram."

Gripir spake:

"Tricked by another,

prince, thou art,

And the price of Grimhild's

wiles thou must pay;

Fain of thee

for the fair-haired maid,

Her daughter, she is,

and she drags thee down."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Mun ek við þá Gunnar

görva hleyti

ok Guðrúnu

ganga at eiga?

Fullkvæni þá

fylkir væri,

ef meintregar

mér angraði-t."

Sigurth spake:

"Might I with Gunnar

kinship make,

And Guthrun win

to be my wife,

Well the hero

wedded would be,

If my treacherous deed

would trouble me not."

Grípir kvað:

"Þik mun Grímhildr

görva véla,

mun hon Brynhildar

biðja fýsa

Gunnari til handa,

Gotna dróttni,

heitr þú fjótliga för

fylkis móður."

Gripir spake:

"Wholly Grimhild

thy heart deceives,

She will bid thee go

and Brynhild woo

For Gunnar's wife,

the lord of the Goths;

And the prince's mother

thy promise shall win."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Mein eru fyr höndum,

má ek líta þat;

ratar görliga

ráð Sigurðar,

ef ek skal mærrar

meyjar biðja

öðrum til handa,

þeirar ek unna vel."

Sigurth spake:

"Evil waits me,

well I see it,

And gone is Sigurth's

wisdom good,

If I shall woo

for another to win

The maiden fair

that so fondly I loved."

Grípir kvað:

"Ér munuð allir

eiða vinna

Gunnar ok Högni,

en þú, gramr, þriði;

þá it litum víxlið,

er á leið eruð,

Gunnar ok þú;

Grípir lýgr eigi."

Gripir spake:

"Ye three shall

all the oaths then take,

Gunnar and Hogni,

and, hero, thou;

Your forms ye shall change,

as forth ye tare,

Gunnar and thou;

for Gripir lies not."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hví gegnir þat?

Hví skulum skipta

litum ok látum,

er á leið erum?

Þar mun fláræði

fylgja annat

atalt með öllu;

enn segðu, Grípir."

Sigurth spake:

"How meanest thou?

Why make we the change

Of shape and form

as forth we fare?

There must follow

another falsehood

Grim in all ways;

speak on, Gripir!"

Grípir kvað:

"Lit hefir þú Gunnars

ok læti hans,

mælsku þína

ok meginhyggjur;

muntu fastna þér

framlundaða

fóstru Heimis,

sér vætr fyr því."

Gripir spake:

"The form of Gunnar

and shape thou gettest,

But mind and voice

thine own remain;

The hand of the fosterling

noble of Heimir

Now dost thou win,

and none can prevent."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Verst hyggjum því,

vándr munk heitinn

Sigurðr með seggjum

at sógöru;

vilda ek eigi

vélum beita

jöfra brúði,

er ek æðsta veitk."

Sigurth spake:

"Most evil it seems,

and men will say

Base is Sigurth

that so he did;

Not of my will shall

I cheat with wiles

The heroes' maiden

whom noblest I hold."

Grípir kvað:

"Þú munt hvíla,

hers oddviti

mærr, hjá meyju

sem þín móðir sé;

því mun uppi,

meðan öld lifir,

þjóðar þengill,

þitt nafn vera."

Gripir spake:

"Thou dwellest, leader

lofty of men,

With the maid as if

thy mother she were;

Lofty as long

as the world shall live,

Ruler of men,

thy name shall remain."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Mun góða kván

Gunnarr eiga,

mærr með mönnum,

— mér segðu, Grípir, —

þótt hafi þrjár nætr

þegns brúðr hjá mér

snarlynd sofit?

Slíks eru-t dæmi."

Sigurth spake:

"Shall Gunnar have

a goodly wife,

Famed among men,

speak forth now, Gripir!

Although at my side

three nights she slept,

The warrior's bride?

Such ne'er has been."

Grípir kvað:

"Saman munu brullup

bæði drukkin

Sigurðar ok Gunnars

í sölum Gjúka;

þá hömum víxlið,

er it heim komið;

hefr hvárr fyr því

hyggju sína."

Gripir spake:

"The marriage draught

will be drunk for both,

For Sigurth and Gunnar,

in Gjuki's hall;

Your forms ye change,

when home ye fare,

But the mind of each

to himself remains."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hvé mun at ynði

eftir verða

mægð með mönnum?

Mér segðu, Grípir.

Mun Gunnari

til gamans ráðit

síðan verða

eða sjalfum mér?"

Sigurth spake:

"Shall the kinship new

thereafter come

To good among us?

Tell me, Gripir!

To Gunnar joy

shall it later give,

Or happiness send

for me myself?"

Grípir kvað:

"Minnir þik eiða,

máttu þegja þó,

anntu Guðrúnu

góðra ráða;

en Brynhildr þykkisk

brúðr vargefin,

snót fiðr vélar

sér at hefndum."

Gripir spake:

"Thine oaths remembering,

silent thou art,

And dwellest with Guthrun

in wedlock good;

But Brynhild shall deem

she is badly mated,

And wiles she seeks,

herself to avenge."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hvat mun at bótum

brúðr sú taka,

er vélar vér

vífi gerðum?

Hefir snót af mér

svarna eiða

enga efnda,

en unað lítit."

Sigurth spake:

"What may for the bride

requital be,

The wife we won

with subtle wiles?

From me she has

the oaths I made,

And kept not long;

they gladdened her little."

Grípir kvað:

"Mun hon Gunnari

görva segja,

at þú eigi vel

eiðum þyrmðir,

þá er ítr konungr

af öllum hug,

Gjúka arfi,

á gram trúði."

Gripir spake:

"To Gunnar soon

his bride will say

That ill didst thou

thine oath fulfill, When the goodly king,

the son of Gjuki, With all his heart

the hero trusted."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Hvat er þá, Grípir,

get þú þess fyr mér,

mun ek saðr vera

at sögu þeiri,

eða lýgr á mik

lofsæl kona

ok á sjalfa sik?

Segðu, Grípir, þat."

Sigurth spake:

"What sayst thou, Gripir?

give me the truth!

Am I guilty so

as now is said,

Or lies does the far-famed

queen put forth

Of me and herself?

Yet further speak."

Grípir kvað:

"Mun fyr reiði

rík brúðr við þik

né af oftrega

allvel skipa;

viðr þú góðri

grand aldrigi,

þó ér víf konungs

vélum beittuð."

Gripir spake:

"In wrath and grief

full little good

The noble bride

shall work thee now;

No shame thou gavest

the goodly one,

Though the monarch's wife

with wiles didst cheat."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Mun horskr Gunnarr

at hvötun hennar

Gutþormr ok Högni

ganga síðan?

Munu synir Gjúka

á sifjugum mér

eggjar rjóða?

Enn segðu, Grípir."

Sigurth spake:

"Shall Gunnar the wise

to the woman's words,

And Gotthorm and Hogni,

then give heed?

Shall Gjuki's sons,

now tell me, Gripir,

Redden their blades

with their kinsman's blood?"

Grípir kvað:

"Þá er Guðrúnu

grimmt um hjarta;

bræðr hennar

þér til bana ráða,

ok at engu verðr

ynði síðan

vitru vífi;

veldr því Grímhildr."

Gripir spake:

"Heavy it lies

on Guthrun's heart,

When her brothers all

shall bring thee death;

Never again

shall she happiness know,

The woman so fair;

'tis Grimhild's work."

"Því skal hugga þik,

hers oddviti,

sú mun gift lagið

á grams ævi:

Mun-at mætri maðr

á mold koma

und sólar sjöt,

en þú, Sigurðr, þykkir."

Sigurth spake:

"Now fare thee well!

our fates we shun not;

And well has Gripir

answered my wish;

More of joy

to me wouldst tell

Of my life to come

if so thou couldst."

Sigurðr kvað:

"Skiljumk heilir,

mun-at sköpum vinna.

Nú hefir þú, Grípir, vel

gört sem ek beiddak.

Fljótt myndir þú

fríðri segja

mína ævi,

ef þú mættir þat."

Gripir spake:

"Ever remember, ruler of men,

That fortune lies in the hero's life;

A nobler man shall never live

Beneath the sun than Sigurth shall seem."