Atlakviða

Guðrún Gjúkadóttir hefndi bræðra sinna, svá sem frægt er orðit. Hon drap fyrst sonu Atla, en eftir drap hon Atla ok brenndi höllina ok hirðina alla. Um þetta er sjá kviða ort:Atli sendiár til Gunnarskunnan segg at ríðaKnéfröðr var sá heitinn;at görðum kom hann Gjúkaok at Gunnars Höllubekkjum aringreypumok at bjóri svásum.

Gudrun, Gjuki's daughter, avenged her brothers, as is now well known. She killed Atli's sons first, then killed Atli himself and burned the hall and the whole household. This poem tells of it:Long ago Atli senta rider to Gunnar,a man well known —Knefrod was his name;he came to Gjuki's courtsand Gunnar's hall,to hearth-ringed benches,and to sweet beer.

Drukku þar dróttmegiren dyljendr þögðuvín í valhölluvreiði sásk þeir Húna;kallaði þá Knéfröðrkaldri rödduseggr inn suðrænisat hann á bekk háum:

The household men drank there,but the wary stayed silent,wine in the hall —they feared the Huns' anger;then Knefrod called outin a cold voice,the man from the south,seated on the high bench:

"Atli mik hingat sendiríða erendimar inum mélgreypamyrkvið inn ókunnaat biðja yðr, Gunnarrat it á bekk kæmiðmeð hjalmum aringreypumat sækja heim Atla.

"Atli sent me hereto ride his errand,on a horse chewing its bit,through Mirkwood, unknown to me,to ask you, Gunnar,that you both come to his bench,hearth-ringed helmets on,to visit Atli's home.

Skjöldu kneguð þar veljaok skafna askahjalma gullroðnaok Húna mengisilfrgyllt söðulklæðiserki valrauðadafar darraðardrösla mélgreypa.

Shields you could choose there,and polished ash-wood spears,gold-red helmets,and a host of Huns,silver-gilt saddle-cloths,tunics blood-red,an abundance of battle-gear,horses chewing their bits.

Völl lézk ykkr ok mundu gefavíðrar Gnitaheiðaraf geiri gjallandaok af gylltum stöfnumstórar meiðmarok staði Danparhrís þat it mæraer meðr Myrkvið kalla."

He said he would give you botha stretch of wide Gnita Heath —won by the ringing spearand gilded ships' prows —great treasures,and Danp's lands,that famous woodlandmen call Mirkwood."

Höfði vatt þá Gunnarrok Högna til sagði:"Hvat ræðr þú okkr, seggr inn ærialls vit slíkt heyrum?Gull vissa ek ekkiá Gnitaheiðiþat er vit ættim-aannat slíkt.

Gunnar turned his head thenand said to Hogni:"What do you make of this, young man,now that we hear such things?I know of no gold on Gnita Heaththat we don't alreadyown the equal of.

Sjau eigum vit salhússverða fullhverju eru þeirahjölt ór gulli;minn veit ek mar beztanen mæki hvassastanboga bekksæmaen brynjur ór gullihjalm ok skjöld hvítastankominn ór höll Kíarseinn er minn betrien sé allra Húna."Högni kvað:

We own seven halls,full of swords,every one of themhilted in gold;my horse, I know, is the best,my sword the sharpest,bows fit for battle,mail-shirts of gold,a helmet and the whitest shield,brought from Kjar's hall —mine alone is worth morethan all the Huns together."

"Hvat hyggr þú brúði benduþá er hon okkr baug sendivarinn váðum heiðingja?Hygg ek, at hon vörnuð byði.Hár fann ek heiðingjariðit í hring rauðumylfskr er vegr okkarrat ríða erendi."

Hogni said:"What do you make of the bride's token,when she sent us a ringwound round with wolf's hair?I think she meant a warning.I found wolf's hairwoven into the red ring —wolfish is the roadwe ride on this errand."

Niðjar hvöttu Gunnarné náungr annarrrýnendr né ráðendrné þeir er ríkir váru;kvaddi þá Gunnarrsem konungr skyldimærr í mjöðranniaf móði stórum:

No kinsman urged Gunnar on,nor any other close to him,neither counselor nor adviser,nor any man of power;but Gunnar spoke out,as a king should,glorious in the mead-hall,with great courage:

"Rístu nú, Fjörnirláttu á flet vaðagreppa gullskálirmeð gumna höndum.

"Rise now, Fjornir,let the gold cups passaround the hall floor,from hand to hand.

Ulfr mun ráðaarfi Niflungagamlir, gránvarðiref Gunnars missirbirnir blakkfjallirbíta þreftönnumgamna greystóðief Gunnarr né kemr-at."

The wolf will rulethe Niflungs' inheritance,grey and ancient,if Gunnar is lost;dark-flanked bearswill bite with battling teeth,and gladden the pack of hounds,if Gunnar does not come back."

Leiddu landrögnilýðar óneisirgrátendr gunnhvataór garði húna.Þá kvað þat inn ærierfivörþr Högna:"Heilir farið nú ok horskirhvars ykkr hugr teygir!"

The people, undaunted,led the land's ruler out,weeping for the battle-keen one,from the young men's court.Then the young one spoke,Hogni's heir:"Fare well now, and wisely,wherever your hearts lead you!"

Fetum létu fræknirum fjöll at þyrjamari ina mélgreypuMyrkvið inn ókunna;hristisk öll Húnmörkþar er harðmóðgir fóruráku þeir vandstyggvavöllu algræna.

The bold ones lettheir bit-worrying horsesrace over the mountains,through Mirkwood unknown;all of Hunmark shookwhere the hard-hearted rode;they drove their whip-shy steedsacross fields all green.

Land sáu þeir Atlaok liðskjalfar djúpaBikka greppar standaá borg inni háusal of suðrþjóðumsleginn sessmeiðumbundnum röndumbleikum skjöldumdafar darraðar;en þar drakk Atlivín í valhölluverðir sátu útiat varða þeim Gunnariaf þeir hér vitja kvæmimeð geiri gjallandaat vekja gram hildi.

They saw Atli's land,and deep watchtowers,Bikki's champions standingon the high fortress —a hall built for southern men,fitted with seat-beams,rimmed shields,pale shields,an abundance of battle-gear;and there Atli drankwine in the hall;watchmen sat outsideto guard against Gunnar,in case he came to callwith a ringing spear,to wake the lord to war.

Systir fann þeira snemstat þeir í sal kómubræðr hennar báðir, -bjóri var hon lítt drukkin:"Ráðinn ertu nú, Gunnarr.Hvat muntu, ríkr, vinnavið Húna harmbrögðum?Höll gakk þú ór snemma.

Their sister was the first to seeher two brotherswhen they came into the hall —she'd had little to drink:"You're a dead man now, Gunnar.What will you do, my lord,against the Huns' treachery?Get out of this hall, now.

Betr hefðir þú, bróðirat þú í brynju færirsem hjalmum aringreypumat séa heim Atlasætir þú í söðlumsólheiða daganái nauðfölvalétir nornir grátaHúna skjaldmeyjarherfi kannaen Atla sjalfanlétir þú í ormgarð komanú er sá ormgarðrykkr of folginn."Gunnarr kvað:

Better it would have been, brother,if you'd come in mail-armor,with hearth-ringed helmets,to see Atli's home —if you'd sat in your saddlesthrough sun-bright days,let the Norns weepover the corpse-pale dead,let the Huns' shield-maidenslearn what ruin means —and sent Atli himselfinto the snake-pit.Now that pitis waiting for the two of you instead."

"Seinat er nú, systirat samna Niflungum;langt er at leitalýða sinnis tilef rosmufjöll Rínarrekka óneissa."

Gunnar said:"Too late now, sister,to gather the Niflungs;far it is to seek outa following of men,from the walrus-mountains of the Rhine —undaunted warriors."

Fengu þeir Gunnarok í fjötur settuvin Borgundaok bundu fastla.

They seized Gunnarand put him in irons,the Burgundians' friend,and bound him fast.

Sjau hjó Högnisverði hvössuen inum áttahratt hann í eld heitan;svá skal fræknfjándum verjask[sem] Högni varðihendr [sínar].

Seven men Hogni cut downwith his sharp sword,and an eighthhe threw into the burning fire;so should a brave mandefend himself against enemies —as Hogni defendedhimself, with his own hands.

-- -- Gunnars;frágu fræknanef fjör vildigotna þjóðanngulli kaupa.Gunnarr kvað:

— — Gunnar's;they asked the bold one,the lord of the Goths,whether he wantedto buy his lifewith gold.

"Hjarta skal mér Högnaí hendi liggjablóðugt, ór brjóstiskorit baldriðasaxi slíðrbeitusyni þjóðans."

Gunnar said:"Hogni's heart shall liein my hand,bloody, cut from the breastof the bold rider — the king's son —with a blade that bites through its sheath."

Skáru þeir hjartaHjalla ór brjóstiblóðugt ok á bjóð lögðuok báru þat fyr Gunnar.

They cut the heartof Hjalli from his chest,bloody, laid it on a platter,and carried it in to Gunnar.

Þá kvað þat Gunnarrgumna dróttinn:"Hér hefi ek hjartaHjalla ins blauðaólíkt hjartaHögna ins fræknaer mjök bifasker á bjóði liggrbifðisk halfu meirer í brjósti lá."

Then Gunnar spoke,lord of men:"Here I have the heartof Hjalli the coward —unlike the heartof Hogni the brave —it trembles wildlyas it lies on the platter;it shook half again morewhen it lay in his chest."

Hló þá Högnier til hjarta skárukvikvan kumblasmiðklökkva hann sízt hugði;blóðugt þat á bjóð lögðuok báru fyr Gunnar.

Hogni laughedas they cut the heartfrom the living wound-dealer —he showed no grief at all;bloody, they laid it on the platterand carried it in to Gunnar.

Mærr kvað þat Gunnarrgeirniflungr:"Hér hefi ek hjartaHögna ins fræknaólíkt hjartaHjalla ins blauðaer lítt bifasker á bjóði liggrbifðisk svági mjökþá er í brjósti lá.

Then the glorious Gunnar spoke,spear-lord of the Niflungs:"Here I have the heartof Hogni the brave —unlike the heartof Hjalli the coward —it barely tremblesas it lies on the platter;it trembled just as littlewhen it lay in his chest."

Svá skaltu, Atliaugum fjarrisem muntmenjum verða;er und einum méröll of folginhodd Niflungalifir-a nú Högni.

"So shall you, Atli,be far from sightas you will befar from these treasures;under me alonelies hiddenthe whole hoard of the Niflungs —Hogni lives no longer.

Ey var mér týjameðan vit tveir lifðumnú er mér engier ek einn lifik.Rín skal ráðarógmalmi skatnasvinn, áskunnaarfi Niflunga- í veltanda vatnilýsask valbaugar, -heldr en á höndum gullskíni Húna börnum."Atli kvað:

I always had strengthwhile the two of us lived;now I have none,since I alone remain.The Rhine shall rulethis metal that breeds strife,the god-descendedinheritance of the Niflungs —let the rings of the fallengleam in the rolling waterrather than gold shineon the hands of the Huns' children."

"Ýkvið ér hvélvögnumhaftr er nú í böndum."

Atli said:"Hitch up the wagons —the prisoner is bound now."

Atli inn ríkireið Glaum mönumsleginn rógþornumsifjungr þeira.-- -- --Guðrún sigtífavarnaði við tárumvaðin í þyshöllu.Guðrún kvað:

Atli the mightyrode on Glaumr's mane,pierced by strife's thorns,their own kinsman.—Gudrun, the war-goddess,held back her tears,moving through the roaring hall.

"Svá gangi þér, Atlisem þú við Gunnar áttireiða oft of svarðaok ár of nefndaat sól inni suðrhölluok at Sigtýs bergihölkvi hvílbeðjarok at hringi Ullar."Ok meir þaðanmenvörð bitulsdolgrögni drótil dauðs skokkr.

Gudrun said:"So may it go for you, Atli,as you kept the oathsyou swore to Gunnar,often sworn, and named early —by the sun in its southern hall,and by Sigtyr's mountain,the bed's resting-bar,and by Ull's ring."And further from therethe neck-guard of the bitdragged the battle-lord —the wagon, to his death.

Lifanda gramlagði í garðþan er skriðinn varskatna mengiinnan ormumen einn Gunnarrheiftmóðr hörpuhendi kníðiglumðu strengir;svá skal gullifrækn hringdrifivið fira halda.

The throng of warriors laidthe living lord into the pit,crawling, inside,with snakes;but Gunnar alone,grim with rage,struck the harpwith his hand —the strings rang out;so must a boldgiver of ringshold his ground against men.

Atli létlands síns á vitjó eyrskáanaftr frá morði;dynr var í garðidröslum of þrungitvápnsöngr virðaváru af heiði komnir.

Atli turnedhis dun horse backtoward his own land,away from the killing;there was a din in the yard,crowded with horses,the weapon-song of men —they had come back from the moor.

Út gekk þá GuðrúnAtla í gögnmeð gylltum kálkiat reifa gjöld rögnis:"Þiggja knáttu, þengillí þinni hölluglaðr at Guðrúnugnadda niflfarna."

Out then went Gudrunto meet Atli,with a gilded cup,to render the lord his due:"You may receive now, my king,here in your own hall,gladly, from Gudrun,young ones gone to darkness."

Umðu ölskálirAtla vínhöfgarþá er í höll samanHúnar tölðuskgumar gransíðirgengu inn hvatir.

The ale-bowls hummed,heavy with Atli's wine,when the Huns gatheredtogether in the hall,long-bearded mencame striding in, eager.

Skævaði þá in skírleita-- -- --veigar þeim at beraafkár dís jöfrumok ölkrásir valðinauðug neffölumen níð sagði Atla:

Then the bright-faced one strode forth ——to carry them their drinks,the grim lady to the princes,and chose out delicacies,reluctant, for the pale-faced men.

"Sona hefir þinnasverða deilirhjörtu hrædreyrugvið hunang of tuggin;melta knáttu, móðugrmanna valbráðireta at ölkrásumok í öndugi at senda.

She spoke her scorn to Atli:"You have your sons' hearts,giver of swords,blood-soaked,chewed up with honey;you can digest, proud one,the flesh of the slain,eat it as ale-snacksand send it round the high seat.

Kallar-a þú síðantil knéa þinnaErp né Eitilölreifa tvá;sér-a-ðu síðaní seti miðjugulls miðlendrgeira skeftamanar meitané mara keyra."

You'll never again callto your kneesErp and Eitil,the two, glad with ale;you'll never again see them,there in the middle seat,those gold-givers,shaping spear-shafts,trimming manes,or racing their horses."

Ymr varð á bekkjumafkárr söngr virðagnýr und guðvefjumgrétu börn Húna;nema ein Guðrúner hon æva grétbræðr sína berharðaok buri svásaunga, ófróðaþá er hon við Atla gat.

There was uproar on the benches,a grim cry from the men,a din beneath rich cloth —the children of the Huns wept;all but Gudrun alone,who never wept,not for her bear-fierce brothers,nor for her own dear sons,young and unknowing,whom she had borne to Atli.

Gulli söriin gaglbjartahringum rauðumreifði hon húskarla;sköp lét hon vaxaen skíran malm vaðaæva fljóð ekkigáði fjarghúsa.

With scattered gold,the swan-bright one,with red rings,she gifted the household men;she let fate run its course,let the shining metal flow —that woman never oncecared for her own house.

Óvarr Atlióðan hafði hann sik drukkitvápn hafði hann ekkivarnaði-t hann við Gudrúnuoft var sá leikr betriþá er þau lint skylduoftar um faðmaskfyr öðlingum.

Unwary was Atli —he'd drunk himself to frenzy —he carried no weapon,he had no guard against Gudrun;that game between them was often better,when they used to lie gently,and embrace each other more often,in front of the nobles.

Hon beð broddigaf blóð at drekkahendi helfússiok hvelpa leystihratt fyr hallar dyrrok húskarla vakðibrandi brúðr heitumþau lét hon gjöld bræðra.

With a blade's point she gavethe marriage-bed blood to drink,her hand eager for death,and loosed the hounds;she drove them out before the hall doors,and woke the household menwith a burning torch, the bride —so she paid for her brothers.

Eldi gaf hon þá allaer inni váruok frá morði þeira Gunnarskomnir váru ór Myrkheimi;forn timbr fellufjarghús rukubær Buðlungabrunnu ok skjaldmeyjarinni aldrstamarhnigu í eld heitan.

Then she gave to the flames allwho were inside,and those who had comefrom Myrkheim, from Gunnar's murder;the old timbers fell,the halls went up in smoke,the hall of the Budlungsburned, and shield-maidensinside, their lives cut short,sank into the hot fire.

Fullrætt er um þettaferr engi svá síðanbrúðr í brynjubræðra at hefna;hon hefir þriggjaþjóðkonungabanorð boritbjört, áðr sylti.Enn segir gleggra í Atlamálum inum grænlenzkum.

This tale is fully told;no bride will go again,clad in mail,to avenge her brothers so;she brought about the deathof three great kings,the bright one,before she died herself.It is told more fully still in the Greenlandic Lay of Atli.