"Mær var ek meyja,

— móðir mik fæddi, —

björt í búri,

unna ek vel bræðrum, —

unz mik Gjúki

gulli reifði,

gulli reifði,

gaf Sigurði."

"A maid of maids

my mother bore me,

Bright in my bower,

my brothers I loved,

Till Gjuki dowered

me with gold,

Dowered with gold,

and to Sigurth gave me."

"Svá var Sigurðr

of sonum Gjúka

sem væri grænn laukr

ór grasi vaxinn

eða hjörtr hábeinn

of hvössum dýrum

eða gull glóðrautt

af gráu silfri."

"So Sigurth rose

o'er Gjuki's sons

As the leek grows green

above the grass,

Or the stag o'er all

the beasts doth stand,

Or as glow-red gold

above silver gray."

"Unz mér fyrmunðu

mínir bræðr,

at ek ætta ver

öllum fremra;

sofa þeir né máttu-t

né of sakar dæma,

áðr þeir Sigurð

svelta létu."

"Till my brothers let me

no longer have

The best of heroes

my husband to be;

Sleep they could not,

or quarrels settle,

Till Sigurth they

at last had slain."

"Grani rann at þingi,

— gnýr var at heyra, —

en þá Sigurðr

sjalfr eigi kom;

öll váru söðuldýr

sveita stokkin

ok of vanið vási

und vegöndum."

"From the Thing ran Grani

with thundering feet,

But thence did Sigurth

himself come never;

Covered with sweat

was the saddle-bearer,

Wont the warrior's

weight to bear."

"Gekk ek grátandi

við Grana ræða,

úrughlýra

jó frá ek spjalla;

hnipnaði Grani þá,

drap í gras höfði,

jór þat vissi,

eigendr né lifðu-t."

"Weeping I sought

with Grani to speak,

With tear-wet cheeks

for the tale I asked;

The head of Grani

was bowed to the grass,

The steed knew well

his master was slain."

"Lengi hvarfaðak,

lengi hugir deildusk,

áðr ek of frægak

folkvörð at gram."

"Long I waited

and pondered well

Ere ever the king

for tidings I asked.

*********"

Hnipnaði Gunnarr,

sagði mér Högni

frá Sigurðar

sárum dauða:

"Liggr of höggvinn

fyr handan ver

Gothorms bani

of gefinn ulfum."

His head bowed Gunnar,

but Hogni told

The news full sore

of Sigurth slain:

"Hewed to death

at our hands he lies,

Gotthorm's slayer,

given to wolves."

"Líttu þar Sigurð

á suðrvega;

þá heyrir þú

hrafna gjalla,

örnu gjalla

æzli fegna,

varga þjóta

of veri þínum."

"On the southern road

thou shalt Sigurth see,

Where hear thou canst

the ravens cry;

The eagles cry

as food they crave,

And about thy husband

wolves are howling."

"Hví þú mér, Högni,

harma slíka

viljalaussi

vill of segja?

Þitt skyli hjarta

hrafnar slíta

við lönd yfir

en þú vitir manna!"

"Why dost thou, Hogni,

such a horror

Let me hear,

all joyless left?

Ravens yet

thy heart shall rend

In a land that never

thou hast known."

"Svaraði Högni

sinni einu,

trauðr góðs hugar,

af trega stórum:

Þess áttu, Guðrún,

græti at fleiri,

at hjarta mitt

hrafnar slíti."

Few the words

of Hogni were,

Bitter his heart

from heavy sorrow:

"Greater, Guthrun,

thy grief shall be

If the ravens so

my heart shall rend."

"Hvarf ek ein þaðan

annspilli frá

á við lesa

varga leifar;

gerðig-a ek hjúfra

né höndum slá

né kveina um

sem konur aðrar,

þá er sat soltin

of Sigurði."

"From him who spake

I turned me soon,

In the woods to find

what the wolves had left;

Tears I had not,

nor wrung my bands,

Nor wailing went,

as other women,

(When by Sigurth

slain I sat)."

"Nótt þótti mér

niðmyrkr vera,

er ek sárla satk

yfir Sigurði;

ulfar þóttumk

öllu betri,

ef þeir léti mik

lífi týna

eða brenndi mik

sem birkinn við."

"Never so black

had seemed the night

As when in sorrow

by Sigurth I sat;

The wolves *********

*********

Best of all

methought 'twould be

If I my life

could only lose,

Or like to birch-wood

burned might be."

"Fór ek af fjalli

fimm dægr talið,

unz ek höll Halfs

háva þekkðak."

"From the mountain forth

five days I fared,

Till Hoalf's hall

so high I saw;"

"Sat ek með Þóru

sjau misseri,

dætr Hákonar

í Danmörku;

hon mér at gamni

gullbókaði

sali suðræna

ok svani danska."

"Seven half-years

with Thora I stayed,

Hokon's daughter,

in Denmark then.

With gold she broidered,

to bring me joy,

Southern halls

and Danish swans;"

"Hafðu vit á skriftum

þat er skatar léku,

ok á hannyrðum

hilmis þegna,

randir rauðar,

rekka Húna,

hjördrótt, hjalmdrótt,

hilmis fylgju."

"On the tapestry wove we

warrior's deeds,

And the hero's thanes

on our handiwork;

(Flashing shields

and fighters armed,

Sword-throng, helm-throng,

the host of the king)."

"Skip Sigmundar

skriðu frá landi,

gylltar grímur,

grafnir stafnar;

byrðu vit á borða,

þat er þeir börðusk

Sigarr ok Siggeirr

suðr á Fjóni."

"Sigmund's ship

by the land was sailing,

Golden the figure-head,

gay the beaks;

On board we wovet

he warriors faring,

Sigar and Siggeir,

south to Fjon."

"Þá frá Grimildr,

gotnesk kona,

hvat ek væra

hyggjuð *********;

hon brá borða

ok buri heimti

þrágjarnliga

þess at spyrja,

hverr vildi son

systur bæta

eða ver veginn

vildi gjalda."

"Then Grimhild asked,

the Gothic queen,

Whether willingly would I *********

*********

Her needlework cast she

aside, and called

Her sons to ask,

with stern resolve,

Who amends to their sister

would make for her son,

Or the wife requite

for her husband killed."

"Görr lézk Gunnarr

gull at bjóða

sakar at bæta,

ok it sama Högni.

Hon frétti at því,

hverr fara vildi

vigg at söðla

vagn at beita,

hesti ríða,

hauki fleygja,

öðrum at skjóta

af ýboga."

"Ready was Gunnar

gold to give,

Amends for my hurt,

and Hogni too;

Then would she know

who now would go,

The horse to saddle,

the wagon to harness,

(The horse to ride,

the hawk to fly,

And shafts from bows

of yew to shoot)."

"Valdarr Dönum

með Jarizleifi,

Eymóðr þriði

með Jarizskári

inn gengu þá,

jöfrum líkir,

Langbarðs liðar,

höfðu loða rauða,

stuttar brynjur,

steypða hjalma,

skalmum gyrðir,

höfðu skarar jarpar."

"(Valdar, king

of the Danes, was come,

With Jarizleif, Eymoth,

and Jarizskar).

In like princes

came they all,

The long-beard men,

with mantles red,

Short their mail-coats,

mighty their helms,

Swords at their belts,

and brown their hair."

"Hverr vildi mér

hnossir velja,

hnossir velja

ok hugat mæla,

ef þeir mætti mér

margra súta

tryggðir vinna, —

né ek trúa gerða."

"Each to give me

gifts was fain,

Gifts to give,

and goodly speech,

Comfort so

for my sorrows great

To bring they tried,

but I trusted them not."

"Færði mér Grímhildr

full at drekka

svalt ok sárligt,

né ek sakar munðak;

þat var of aukit

jarðar magni,

svalköldum sæ

ok sónum dreyra."

"A draught did Grimhild

give me to drink,

Bitter and cold;

I forgot my cares;

For mingled therein

was magic earth,

Ice-cold sea,

and the blood of swine."

"Váru í horni

hvers kyns stafir

ristnir ok roðnir,

— ráða ek né máttak, —

lyngfiskr langr,

lands Haddingja

ax óskorit,

innleið dyra."

"In the cup were runes

of every kind,

Written and reddened,

I could not read them;

A heather-fish

from the Haddings' land,

An ear uncut,

and the entrails of beasts."

"Váru þeim bjóri

böl mörg saman,

urt alls viðar

ok akarn brunnin,

umdögg arins,

iðrar blótnar,

svíns lifr soðin,

því at hon sakar deyfði."

"Much evil was brewed

within the beer,

Blossoms of trees,

and acorns burned,

Dew of the hearth,

and holy entrails,

The liver of swine,

all grief to allay."

"En þá gleymðu,

er getit höfðu,

öll jöfurs

jórbjúg í sal;

kómu konungar

fyr kné þrennir,

áðr hon sjalfa mik

sótti at máli."

"Then I forgot,

when the draught they gave me,

There in the hall,

my husband's slaying;

On their knees

the kings all three did kneel,

Ere she herself

to speak began:"

Grímhildr kvað:

"Gef ek þér, Guðrún,

gull at þiggja,

fjölð alls féar,

at þinn föður dauðan,

hringa rauða,

Hlöðvés sali,

ársal allan

at jöfur fallinn."

Grimhild spake:

"Guthrun, gold

to thee I give,

The wealth that once

thy father's was,

Rings to have,

and Hlothver's halls,

And the hangings all

that the monarch had."

"Húnskar meyjar,

þær er hlaða spjöldum

ok gera gull fagrt,

svá at þér gaman þykki;

ein skaltu ráða

auði Buðla,

gulli göfguð

ok gefin Atla."

Grimhild spake:

"Hunnish women,

skilled in weaving,

Who gold make fair

to give thee joy,

And the wealth of Buthli

thine shall be,

Gold-decked one,

as Atli's wife."

Guðrún kvað:

"Vilk eigi ek

með veri ganga

né Brynhildar

bróður eiga;

samir eigi mér

við son Buðla

ætt at auka

né una lífi."

Guthrun spake:

"A husband now

I will not have,

Nor wife of Brynhild's

brother be;

It beseems me not

with Buthli's son

Happy to be,

and heirs to bear."

Grímhildr kvað:

"Hirð-a-ðu hölðum

heiftir gjalda,

því at vér höfum

valdit fyrri;

svá skaltu láta,

sem þeir lifi báðir

Sigurðr ok Sigmundr,

ef þú sonu fæðir."

Grimhild spake:

"Seek not on men

to avenge thy sorrows,

Though the blame at first

with us hath been;

Happy shalt be

as if both still lived,

Sigurth and Sigmund,

if sons thou bearest."

Guðrún kvað:

"Mák-a ek, Grímhildr,

glaumi bella

né vígrisins

vánir telja,

siz Sigurðar

sárla drukku

hrægífr, huginn

hjartblóð saman."

Guthrun spake:

"Grimhild, I may not

gladness find,

Nor hold forth hopes

to heroes now,

Since once the raven

and ravening wolf

Sigurth's heart's-blood

hungrily lapped."

Grímhildr kvað:

"Þann hefi ek allra

ættgöfgastan

fylki fundit

ok framast nökkvi;

hann skaltu eiga,

unz þik aldr viðr,

verlaus vera,

nema þú vilir þenna."

Grimhild spake:

"Noblest of birth

is the ruler now

I have found for thee,

and foremost of all;

Him shalt thou have

while life thou hast,

Or husbandless be

if him thou wilt choose not."

Guðrún kvað:

"Hirð-a-ðu bjóða

bölvafullar

þrágjarnliga

þær kindir mér;

hann mun Gunnar

grandi beita

ok ór Högna

hjarta slíta;

munk-at ek létta,

áðr lífshvatan

eggleiks hvötuð

aldri næmik."

Guthrun spake:

"Seek not so eagerly

me to send

To be a bride

of yon baneful race;

On Gunnar first

his wrath shall fall,

And the heart will he tear

from Hogni's breast."

"Grátandi Grímhildr

greip við orði,

er burum sínum

bölva vætti

ok mögum sínum

meina stórra."

"Weeping Grimhild

heard the words

That fate full sore

for her sons foretold,

(And mighty woe

for them should work;)"

Grímhildr kvað:

"Lönd gef ek enn þér,

lýða sinni,

Vinbjörg, Valbjörg,

ef þú vill þiggja;

eigðu um aldr þat

ok uni, dóttir."

Grimhild spake:

"Lands I give thee,

with all that live there,

(Vinbjorg is thine,

and Valbjorg too,)

Have them forever,

but hear me, daughter."

Guðrún kvað:

"Þann mun ek kjósa

af konungum

ok þó af niðjum

nauðig hafa;

verðr eigi mér

verr at ynði

né böl bræðra

at bura skjóli."

Guthrun spake:

"So must I do

as the kings besought,

And against my will

for my kinsmen wed,

Ne'er with my husband

joy I had,

And my sons by my brothers'

fate were saved not."

"Senn var á hesti

hverr drengr litinn,

en víf valnesk

hafið í vagna;

vér sjau daga

svalt land riðum,

en aðra sjau

unnir kníðum,

en ina þriðju sjau

þurrt land stigum."

"*********

I could not rest

till of life I had robbed

The warrior bold,

the maker of battles."

"Þar hliðverðir

hárar borgar

grind upp luku,

áðr í garð riðum."

Guthrun spake:

"Soon on horseback

each hero was,

And the foreign women

in wagons faring;

A week through lands

so cold we went,

And a second week

the waves we smote,

(And a third through lands

that water lacked)."

"Vakði mik Atli,

en ek vera þóttumk

full ills hugar

at frændr dauða."

"The warders now

on the lofty walls

Opened the gates,

and in we rode.

*********"

Atli kvað:

"Svá mik nýliga

nornir vekja, —

vílsinnis spá

vildi, at ek réða, —

hugða ek þik, Guðrún

Gjúka dóttir,

læblöndnum hjör

leggja mik í gögnum."

"Atli woke me,

for ever I seemed

Of bitterness full

for my brothers' death."

Guðrún kvað:

"Þat er fyr eldi,

er éarn dreyma,

fyr dul ok vil

drósar reiði;

mun ek þik við bölvi

brenna ganga,

líkna ok lækna,

þótt mér leiðir séir."

Atli spake:

"Now from sleep

the Norris have waked me

With visions of terror,

to thee will I tell them;

Methought thou, Guthrun,

Gjuki's daughter,

With poisoned blade

didst pierce my body."

Atli kvað:

"Hugða ek hér í túni

teina fallna,

þá er ek vildak

vaxna láta,

rifnir með rótum,

roðnir í blóði,

bornir á bekki,

beðit mik at tyggva."

Guthrun spake:

"Fire a dream

of steel shall follow

And willful pride

one of woman's wrath;

A baneful sore

I shall burn from thee,

And tend and heal thee,

though hated thou am"

"Hugða ek mér af hendi

hauka fljúga

bráðalausa

bölranna til;

hjörtu hugða ek þeira

við hunang tuggin,

sorgmóðs sefa,

sollin blóði."

Atli spake:

"Of plants I dreamed,

in the garden drooping,

That fain would I have

full high to grow;

Plucked by the roots,

and red with blood,

They brought them hither,

and bade me eat."

"Hugða ek mér af hendi

hvelpa losna,

glaums andvana,

gylli báðir;

hold hugða ek þeira

at hræum orðit,

nauðigr nái

nýta ek skyldak."

"I dreamed my hawks

from my hand had flown,

Eager for food,

to an evil house;

I dreamed their hearts

with honey I ate,

Soaked in blood,

and heavy my sorrow."

Guðrún kvað:

"Þar munu seggir

of sæing dæma

ok hvítinga

höfði næma;

þeir munu feigir

fára nátta

fyrir dag litlu,

drótt of bergja."

"Hounds I dreamed

from my hand I loosed,

Loud in hunger

and pain they howled;

Their flesh methought

was eagles' food,

And their bodies now

I needs must eat."

Atli kvað:

"Lægja ek síðan,

né ek sofa vildak,

þrágjarn í kör;

þat man ek görva."

Guthrun spake:

"Men shall soon

of sacrifice speak,

And off the heads

of beasts shall hew

Die they shall

ere day has dawned,

A few nights hence,

and the folk shall have them."

Atli spake:

"On my bed I sank,

nor slumber sought,

Weary with woe,

full well I remember.

*********"