Helgakviða Hundingsbana II

Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane II

HEROIC LEGEND

1866 translation to English by Benjamin Thorpe from the original Helgakviða Hundingsbana II (e. Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane II), also known as Völsungakviða in forna. The poem is preserved in the Codex Regius manuscript.

King Sigmund, son of Völsung, had to wife Borghild of Brálund. They named their son Helgi, after Helgi Hiörvard’s son. Helgi was fostered by Hagal. There was a powerful king named Hunding, after whom the land was called Hundland. He was a great warrior, and had many sons, who were engaged in warfare. There was enmity, both open and concealed, between King Hunding and King Sigmund, and they slew each others kinsmen. King Sigmund and his kindred were called Völsungs, and Ylfings. Helgi went forth and secretly explored the court of King Hunding. Heming, Hunding’s son, was at home. On departing Helgi met a herdsman, and said:



1.
“Say thou to Heming,
that Helgi bears in mind
who the mailed warrior was,
whom the men laid low,
when the grey wolf
ye had within,
and King Hunding
that it was Hamal.”


Hamal was the son of Hagal. King Hunding sent men to Hagal in search of Helgi, and Helgi had no other way to save himself than by taking the clothes of a female slave and going to grind. They sought but did not find him. Then said Blind the Baleful:


2.
Sharp are the eyes of Hagal’s thrall-wench;
of no churlish race is she
who at the mill stands.
The mill-stones are split,
the receiver flies asunder.
Now a hard fate has
befallen the warrior,
when a prince must
barley grind:
much more fitting
to that hand
is the falchion’s hilt
than a mill-handle.

Hagal answered and said: –
3.
No wonder ‘tis
that the receiver rattles,
when a royal damsel
the handle turns.
She hovered
hither than the clouds,
and, like the vikings,
dared to fight,
until Helgi
made her captive.
She is a sister of
Sigar and Högni;
therefore has fierce eyes
the Ylfing maid.
******************


Helgi escaped and went on board a ship of war. He slew King Hunding, and was afterwards named Helgi Hundingsbani. He lay with his force in Brunavágar, and carried on ‘strand-högg’ and ate raw flesh. There was a king named Högni, whose daughter was Sigrún: she was a Valkyria, and rode through air and over the sea. She was Svava regenerated. Sigrún rode to Helgi, and said: –


4.
What men cause a ship
along the coasts to float?
where do ye warriors a home possess?
what await ye
in Brunavágar?
whither desire ye
to explore a way?

Helgi
5.
Hamal causes a ship
along the coasts to float;
we have home
in Hlésey;
a fair wind we await
in Brunavágar;
eastward we desire
to explore a way.

Sigrún
6.
Where, o prince!
hast thou wakened war,
or fed the birds
on conflict’s sisters?
Why is thy corslet
sprinkled with blood?
Why beneath the helm
eat ye raw flesh?

Helgi
7.
It was the Ylfings’ son’s
last achievement, –
if thou desirest to know –
west of the ocean,
that I took bears
in Bragalund,
and the eagles’ race
with our weapons sated.
Now, maiden! I have said
what the reasons were,
why at sea
we little cooked meat ate.

Sigrún
8.
To a battle thou alludest.
Before Helgi has
King Hunding
been doomed to fall.
In conflict ye have engaged,
when your kindred ye avenged,
and stained with blood
the falchion’s edge.

Helgi
9.
Why dost thou suppose,
sagacious maiden!
that it was they,
who their kin avenged?
Many a warrior’s
bold sons there are,
and hostile
to our kindred.

Sigrún
10.
I was not far,
leader of people!
eager, at many
a chieftain’s end:
yet crafty I account
Sigmund’s son,
when in val-runes
the slaughter he announces.


11.
A while ago I saw thee
commanding war-ships,
when thou hadst station
on the bloody prow,
and the cold sea
waves were playing.
Now, prince! thou wilt
from me conceal it,
but Högni’s daughter
recognizes thee.
******************


Granmar was the name of a powerful prince who dwelt at Svarinshaug. He had many sons: one was called Hödbrodd, the second Gudmund, the third Starkadr. Hödbrodd was at the assembly of kings, and there betrothed himself to Sigrún, the daughter of Högni. But when she was informed of it, she rode with the Valkyriur through the air and over the sea in quest of Helgi. Helgi was at Logafiöll, warring against the sons of Hunding, where he slew Alf and Eyiólf, Hiörvard and Hervard. Being over-fatigued with the conflict, he was sitting under the Arastein, where Sigrún found him, and running to him, threw her arms round his neck, and, kissing him, told him her errand so as it is related in the first Völsungakviða.


12.
Sigrún sought
the joyous prince,
Helgi´s hand
she forthwith grasped,
kissed and addressed
the helm-decked king.

13.
Then was the chieftain’s mind
to the lady turned.
She declared that she had loved,
with her whole heart,
Sigmund’s son,
before she had seen him.

14.
“To Hödbrodd I was
in th’assembly betrothed,
but I another
prince would have:
yet, chieftain! I foresee
my kindred’s wrath:
I have my father’s
promise broken.”

15.
Högni’s daughter spoke not
at variance with her heart:
she said that Helgi’s
affection she must possess.

Helgi
16.
Care thou not
for Högni’s wrath,
nor for the evil
mind of thy kin.
Thou shalt, young maiden!
live with me:
of a good race thou art,
as I perceive.


Helgi then collected a large fleet and proceeded to Frekastein, and at sea experienced a perilous storm. Lightnings came over them, and the flashes entered the ships. They saw that nine Valkyriur were riding in the air, and recognized Sigrún among them. The storm then abated and they reached land in safety. The sons of Granmar were sitting on a hill as the ships were sailing towards the land. Gudmund leapt on a horse, and rode to explore on the hill by the haven. The Völsungs then lowered their sails, and Gudmund spoke as it is before written in the Helgakvida:


“Who is the leader
that commands the fleet,
and an appalling host
leads to our land?”

This said Gudmund, Granmar’s son.

17.
Who is the warrior
that commands the ships,
and lets his golden banner
wave o’er his prow?
No peace seems to me
in that ship’s front;
it casts a warlike glow
around the vikings.

Sinfiölti, Sigmund’s son, answered:

18.
Here may Hödbrodd
Helgi learn to know,
the hard of flight,
in the fleet’s midst:
he the possession
hold of thy race;
he the fishes’ heritage
has to him subjected.

Gudmund
19.
Therefore ought we first,
at Frekastein,
to settle together,
and decide our quarrels!
Hödbrod! ‘tis time
vengeance to take,
if an inferior lot
we long have borne.

Sinfiötli
20.
Rather shalt thou, Gudmund!
tend goats,
and steep mountain-tops
shalt climb,
have in thy hand
a hazel staff,
that will better please thee
than judgments of the sword.


Helgi
21.
“Much more seemly, Sinfiölti!
would it be for you both
in battle to engage,
and the eagles gladden,
than with useless
words to contend,
however princes
may foster hate.

22.
Not good to me appear
Granmar’s sons,
yet ‘tis right that princes
should speak the truth:
they have shown,
at Móinsheimar,
that they have courage
to draw the sword.” –
Warriors they are most valiant.

(Note: Stanza 21 and 22 are almost the same as stanzas 44 and 45 of the preceding poem, with the addition only of the last lines: Warriors they are most valiant.)

Gudmund rode home with intelligence of the hostile arrangement; whereupon the sons of Granmar collected a host, and many kings came thither. Among them were Högni, the father of Sigrún, with his sons Bragi and Dag. There was a great battle, and all the sons of Högni, and all their chiefs were slain, except Dag, who obtained peace, and swore oaths to the Völsungs. Sigrún, going among the slain, found Hödbrodd at the point of death. She said:


23.
Not will Sigrún
of Sefafiöll,
King Hödbrodd!
sink in thy arms:
thy life is departed.
Oft the axe’s blade
the head approaches
of Granmar’s sons.

She then met Helgi, and was overjoyed. He said:

24.
Not to thee, all-wise maiden!
are all things granted,
though, I say, in somewhat
are the Norns to blame.
This morn have fallen
at Frekastein
Bragi and Högni:
I was their slayer.

25.
But at Styrkleifar
King Starkadr,
and at Hlebiörg
the son of Hrollaug.
That prince I saw
of all most fierce,
whose trunk yet fought
when the head was far.


26.
On the earth lie
the greater number
of thy kinsmen,
to corpses turned.
Thou hast not fought the battle,
yet ´twas decreed,
that thou, potent maiden!
shouldst cause the strife.

Sigrún then wept. Helgi said:

27.
Sigrún! console thyself;
a Hild thou hast been to us.
Kings cannot conquer fate:
gladly would I have them living
who are departed,
if I might clasp thee to my breast.


Helgi obtained Sigrún, and they had sons. Helgi lived not to be old. Dag, the son of Högni, sacrificed to Odin, for vengeance for his father. Odin lent Dag his spear. Dag met with his relation Helgi in a place called Fiöturlund, and pierced him through with his spear. Helgi fell there, but Dag rode to the mountains and told Sigrún what had taken place.


28.
Loath am I, sister!
sad news to tell thee;
for unwillingly I have
my sister caused to weep.
This morning fell,
in Fiöturlund,
the prince who was
on earth the best,
and on the necks
of warriors stood.

Sigrún
29.
Thee shall the oaths
all gnaw,
which to Helgi
thou didst swear,
at the limpid
Leiptr’s water,
and at the cold dank
wave-washed rock.

30.
May the ship not move forward,
which under thee should move,
although the wished-for wind
behind thee blow.
May the horse not run,
which under thee should run,
although from enemies
thou hast to flee!

31.
May the sword not bite
which thou drawest,
unless it sing
round thy own head.
Then would Helgi’s death
be on thee avenged,
if a wolf thou wert,
out in the woods,
of all good bereft,
and every joy,
have no sustenance,
unless on corpses thou shouldst spring.

Dag
32.
Sister! thou ravest,
and hast lost thy wits,
when on thy brother thou
callest down such miseries.
Odin alone is cause
of all the evil;
for between relatives
he brought the runes of strife.

33.
Thy brother offers thee
rings of red gold,
all Vandilsvé
and Vigdalir:
have half the land,
thy grief to compensate,
woman ring-adorned!
thou and thy sons.

Sigrún
34.
So happy I shall not sit
at Sefafiöll,
neither at morn nor night,
as to feel joy in life,
if o’er the people plays not
the prince’s beam of light;
if his war-steed runs not
under the chieftain hither,
to the gold bit accustomed;
if in the king I cannot rejoice.

35.
So had Helgi
struck with fear
all his foes
and their kindred,
as before the wolf
the goats run frantic
from the fell,
of terror full.

36.
So himself Helgi
among warriors bore,
as the towering ash
is among thorns,
or as the fawn,
moistened with dew,
that more proudly stalks
than all the other beasts,
and its horns glisten
against the sky.


A mound was raised for Helgi; but when he came to Valhall, Odin offered him rule over all jointly with himself. Helgi said:


37.
Thou, Hunding! shalt
for every man
a foot-bath get,
and fire kindle;
shalt bind the dogs,
to the horses look,
to the swine give wash,
ere to sleep thou goest.


A female slave passing at evening by Helgi’s mound, saw him riding towards it with many men:


38.
Is it a delusion
which methinks I see,
or the powers’ dissolution,
that ye, dead men, ride,
and your horses
with spurs urge on,
or to warriors is
a home journey granted?

Helgi
39.
‘Tis no delusion
which thou thinkst to see,
nor of mankind the end,
although thou seest us,
although our horses we
with spurs urge on,
nor to warriors is
a home-journey granted.

The slave went home and said to Sigrún:

40.
Sigrún! go forth
from Sefafiöll,
if the people’s chief
thou desirest to meet.
The mound is opened,
Helgi is come,
his wounds still bleed;
the prince prayed thee
that thou wouldst still
the trickling blood.

Sigrún entered the mound to Helgi and said:

41.
Now am I as glad,
at our meeting,
as the voracious
hawks of Odin,
when they of slaughter know;
of warm prey,
or, dewy-feathered, see
the peep of day.

42.
I will kiss
my lifeless king,
ere thou thy bloody corslet
layest aside.
Thy hair is, Helgi!
tumid with sweat of death;
my prince is all
bathed in slaughter-dew;
cold, clammy are the hands
of Högni’s son.
How shall I, prince! for this
make thee amends?

Helgi
43.
Thou art alone the cause,
Sigrún of Sefafiöll!
that Helgi is
with sorrow’s dew suffused.
Thou weepest, gold-adorned!
cruel tears,
sun-bright daughter of the south!
ere to sleep thou goest;
each one falls bloody
on the prince’s breast,
wet, cold, and piercing,
with sorrow big.

44.
We shall surely drink
delicious draughts,
though we have lost
life and lands.
No one shall
a song of mourning sing,
though on my breast
he wounds behold.
Now are women
in the mound enclosed,
daughters of kings,
with us the dead.

Sigrún prepares a bed in the mound.

45.
Here, Helgi! have I for thee
a peaceful
couch prepared,
for the Ylfings’ son.
On thy breast I will,
chieftain! repose,
as in my hero’s lifetime
I was wont.

Helgi
46.
Nothing I now declare
unlooked for,
at Sefafiöll
late or early,
since in a corpse’s
arms thou sleepest,
Högni’s fair daughter!
in a mound,
and thou art living,
daughter of kings!

47.
Time ‘tis for me to ride
on the reddening ways:
let the pale horse
tread the aërial path.
I towards the west must go
over Vindhiálm’s bridge,
ere Salgofnir
awakens heroes.


Helgi and his attendants rode their way, but Sigrún and hers proceeded to their habitation. The following evening Sigrún ordered her serving-maid to hold watch at the mound; but at nightfall, when Sigrún came thither, she said:


48.
Now would be come,
if he to come intended,
Sigmund’s son,
from Odin’s halls.
I think the hope lessens
of the king’s coming,
since on the ash’s boughs
the eagles sit,
and all the folk
to the dreams’ tryst are hastening.

Serving-maid
49.
Be not so rash
alone to go,
daughter of heroes!
to the house of draugs:
more powerful are,
in the night-season,
all dead warriors,
then in the light of day.


Sigrún’s life was shortened by grief and mourning. It was a belief in ancient times that men were regenerated, but that is now regarded as an old crone’s fancy. Helgi and Sigrún are said to have been regenerated. He was then called Helgi Haddingiaskadi, and she Kara Hálfdan’s daughter, as it is said in the songs of Kara; and she also was a Valkyria.

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Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar is the 2nd poem of the Lays of Helgi.

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