Fáfnismál

Sigurðr ok Reginn fóru upp á Gnitaheiði ok hittu þar slóð Fáfnis, þá er hann skreið til vatns. Þar gerði Sigurðr gröf mikla á veginum, ok gekk Sigurðr þar í. En er Fáfnir skreið af gullinu, blés hann eitri, ok hraut þat fyrir ofan höfuð Sigurði. En er Fáfnir skreið yfir gröfina, þá lagði Sigurðr hann með sverði til hjarta. Fáfnir hristi sik ok barði höfði ok sporði. Sigurðr hljóp ór gröfinni, ok sá þá hvárr annan. Fáfnir kvað:"Sveinn ok sveinnhverjum ertu svein of borinn?Hverra ertu manna mögrer þú á Fáfni rauttþinn inn frána mæki?Stöndumk til hjarta hjörr."Sigurðr dulði nafn síns, fyrir því at þat var trúa þeira í forneskju, at orð feigs manns mætti mikit, ef hann bölvaði óvin sínum með nafni. Hann kvað:

Sigurd and Regin went up onto Gnitaheath and found the track Fafnir left when he crawled down to the water. There Sigurd dug a great pit across the path and got down into it. When Fafnir crawled off his gold, he breathed poison, and it rained down over Sigurd's head. But when Fafnir crawled over the pit, Sigurd drove his sword into his heart. Fafnir thrashed and beat with his head and tail. Sigurd leapt out of the pit, and now each looked at the other. Fafnir said:"Boy, oh boy —whose boy were you born?Whose son are you,you who reddened your bright bladeon Fafnir's blood?The sword stands in my heart."Sigurd hid his name, because it was believed in the old days that a dying man's words carried great power if he cursed his enemy by name.

"Göfugt dýr ek heitien ek gengit hefkinn móðurlausi mögrföður ek ákk-asem fira synir;æ geng ek einn saman."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"I am called Noble Beast,and I have walked,a motherless son;I have no father,as other men's sons do;I always go alone."

"Veiztu, ef föður né átt-atsem fira syniraf hverju vastu undri alinn?"Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"Tell me — if you had no father,as other men's sons do,by what wonder were you born?"

"Ætterni mittkveð ek þér ókunnigt veraok mik sjalfan it sama;Sigurðr ek heitiSigmundr hét minn faðirer hefk þik vápnum vegit."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"My lineage, I tell you,is unknown to you,and I myself the same;Sigurd is my name —Sigmund was my father —it was I who struck you down with weapons."

"Hverr þik hvatti?Hví hvetjask léztmínu fjörvi at fara?Inn fráneygi sveinnþú áttir föður bitran;óbornum skjór á skeið."Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"Who spurred you on? Why did you let yourselfbe driven to take my life?Bright-eyed boy,you had a fierce father —bold on your road, even before you were born."

"Hugr mik hvattihendr mér fulltýðuok minn inn hvassi hjörr;fár er hvatrer hröðask tekref í barnæsku er blauðr."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"My heart spurred me on, my hands backed it up,and my sharp sword besides;few grow bold with agewho were cowards as children."

"Veit ek, ef þú vaxa næðirfyr þinna vina brjóstisæi maðr þik vreiðan vega;nú ertu haftrok hernuminn;æ kveða bandingja bifask."Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"I know — if you'd been let to grow upsheltered among your kin,men would see you fight in fury;but now you're bound,taken captive —they say a prisoner always trembles."

"Því bregðr þú mér, Fáfnirat til fjarri séakmínum feðrmunum;eigi em ek haftrþótt ek væra hernumi;þú fannt, at ek laus lifi."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"That's your taunt, Fafnir —that I've been kept farfrom my father's wealth;I am no captive,even if I had been war-taken;you've found I live free."

"Heiftyrði eintelr þú þér í hvívetnaen ek þér satt eitt segik:It gjalla gullok it glóðrauða féþér verða þeir baugar at bana."Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"You hear only hateful wordsin everything I say,but I'll tell you only the truth:that ringing gold,that glowing-red wealth —those rings will be your death."

"Féi ráðavill fyrða hverræ til ins eina dags;því at einu sinniskal alda hverrfara til heljar heðan."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"Every man wants to hold his wealthright up to that one day —because sooner or laterevery man alivemust travel from here to death."

"Norna dómþú munt fyr nesjum hafaok ósvinns apa;í vatni þú drukknaref í vindi rær;allt er feigs forað."Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"You'll face the Norns' judgmentoff every headland,and a fool's judgment too;you'll drown in the waterif you row against the wind —everything is danger to a doomed man."

"Segðu mér, Fáfniralls þik fróðan kveðaok vel margt vitahverjar ro þær nornirer nauðgönglar rook kjósa mæðr frá mögum."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"Tell me, Fafnir — since they call you wiseand say you know a great deal —who are the Nornswho come to those in need,and decide the fate of mother and son?"

"Sundrbornar mjöksegi ek nornir veraeigu-t þær ætt saman;sumar eru áskunngarsumar alfkunngarsumar dætr Dvalins."Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"The Norns are born of many stocks,I tell you —they share no single kin;some are kin to the gods,some are kin to the elves,some are daughters of Dvalin."

"Segðu mér þat, Fáfniralls þik fróðan kveðaok vel margt vitahvé sá holmr heitirer blanda hjörlegiSurtr ok æsir saman."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"Tell me this too, Fafnir — since they call you wiseand say you know a great deal —what is that island calledwhere Surt and the godswill mix sword-blood together?"

"Óskópnir hann heitiren þar öll skulugeirum leika goð;Bilröst brotnarer þeir á brú faraok svima í móðu marir."

Fafnir said:"It's called Oskopnir —there all the godswill make sport with spears;Bilrost will shatteras they ride onto the bridge,and the horses will swim in the flood.

Ægishjalmbar ek of alda sonummeðan ek of menjum lák;einn rammarihugðumk öllum verafannk-a ek svá marga mögu."Sigurðr kvað:

"I wore the helm of terrorover every son of manwhile I lay upon my hoard;I believed myselfmightier than all —I never met men enough to match me."

"Ægishjalmrbergr einungihvar skulu vreiðir vega;þá þat finnrer með fleirum kemrat engi er einna hvatastr."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"The helm of terrorprotects no onewhere angry men must fight;a man discovers,once he faces many,that no one alone is the boldest of all."

"Eitri ek fnæstaer ek á arfi lámiklum míns föður."-- -- -- --Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"I breathed out venomas I lay upon my father'sgreat inheritance."—

"Inn fráni ormrþú gerðir fræs miklaok galzt harðan hug;heift at meiriverðr hölða sonumat þann hjalm hafi."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"Bright serpent,you hissed loudlyand showed a hard heart;but men's hatred grows only greaterfor whoever wears that helm."

"Ræð ek þér nú, Sigurðren þú ráð nemirok ríð heim heðan;it gjalla gullok it glóðrauða féþér verða þeir baugar at bana."Sigurðr kvað:

Fafnir said:"I counsel you now, Sigurd —take this counseland ride home from here;that ringing gold,that glowing-red wealth —those rings will be your death."

"Ráð er þér ráðiten ek ríða muntil þess gulls, er í lyngvi liggren þú, Fáfnirligg í fjörbrotumþar er þik hel hafi."Fáfnir kvað:

Sigurd said:"Your counsel is given,but I will rideto the gold that lies in the heather;and you, Fafnir,lie there in your death-throes,until Hel takes you."

"Reginn mik réðhann þik ráða munhann mun okkr verða báðum at bana;fjör sitt látahygg ek, at Fáfnir myni;þitt varð nú meira megin."Reginn var á brott horfinn, meðan Sigurðr vá Fáfni, ok kom þá aftr, er Sigurðr strauk blóð af sverðinu. Reginn kvað:

Fafnir said:"Regin betrayed me —he'll betray you too;he'll be the death of us both;Fafnir must give up his life now,I think;your strength proved greater."Regin had slipped away while Sigurd fought Fafnir, and now came back as Sigurd wiped the blood from his sword.

"Heill þú nú, Sigurðrnú hefir þú sigr vegitok Fáfni of farit;manna þeiraer mold troðaþik kveð ek óblauðastan alinn."Sigurðr kvað:

Regin said:"Hail to you now, Sigurd —you've won the victoryand brought down Fafnir;of all the menwho walk this earth,I say none was born less a coward than you."

"Þat er óvíst at vitaþá er komum allir samansigtíva synirhverr óblauðastr er alinn;margr er sá hvatrer hjör né rýðrannars brjóstum í."Reginn kvað:

Sigurd said:"There's no way to know for certain,when all of us come together,sons of the victory-gods,who was born least a coward;many a man is boldwho never reddens his swordin another man's chest."

"Glaðr ertu nú, Sigurðrok gagni feginner þú þerrir Gram á grasi;bróður minnhefr þú benjaðanok vald ek þó sjalfr sumu."Sigurðr kvað:

Regin said:"You're glad now, Sigurd,happy with your victory,as you wipe Gram clean in the grass;you've wounded my brother —though I toohad some part in it."

"Þú því rétter ek ríða skyldakhélug fjöll hinig;féi ok fjörviréði sá inn fráni ormrnema þú frýðir mér hvats hugar."Þá gekk Reginn at Fáfni ok skar hjarta ór hánum með sverði, er Riðill heitir, ok þá drakk hann blóð ór undinni eftir. Reginn kvað:

Sigurd said:"You're the reasonI had to ride hereover the frost-covered mountains;that bright serpent would still holdgold and life both,if you hadn't taunted me for lacking courage."Then Regin went to Fafnir and cut out his heart with the sword called Ridil, and afterward drank the blood from the wound.

"Sittu nú, Sigurðren ek mun sofa gangaok halt Fáfnis hjarta við funa;eisköld ek viletin látaeftir þenna dreyra drykk."Sigurðr kvað:

Regin said:"Sit here now, Sigurd,while I go to sleep —hold Fafnir's heart to the fire;I want it eaten,cold from the ashes,after this drink of blood."

"Fjarri þú gekktmeðan ek á Fáfni rauðkminn inn hvassa hjör;afli mínuatta ek við orms meginmeðan þú í lyngvi látt."Reginn kvað:

Sigurd said:"You kept your distancewhile I reddened my sharp swordon Fafnir's blood;I matched my strengthagainst the serpent's power,while you lay in the heather."

"Lengi liggjalétir þú lyngvi íþann inn aldna jötunef þú sverðs né nytirþess er ek sjalfr gerðaok þíns ins hvassa hjörs."Sigurðr kvað:

Regin said:"That old giantwould still be lying in the heathera long time yet,if you hadn't used the swordI forged myself —your own sharp blade."

"Hugr er betrien sé hjörs meginhvars vreiðir skulu vegaþví at hvatan mannek sé harðliga vegameð slævu sverði sigr."

Sigurd said:"Courage is worth morethan a sharp sword's strength,wherever angry men must fight —I've seen a bold manwin fiercelyeven with a dull blade.

"Hvötum er betraen sé óhvötumí hildileik hafask;glöðum er betraen sé glúpnandahvat sem at hendi kemr."Sigurðr tók Fáfnis hjarta ok steikði á teini. Er hann hugði, at fullsteikt væri ok freyddi sveitinn ór hjartanu, þá tók hann á fingri sínum ok skynjaði, hvárt fullsteikt væri. Hann brann ok brá fingrinum í munn sér. En er hjartablóð Fáfnis kom á tungu hánum, ok skilði hann fugls rödd. Hann heyrði, at igður klökuðu á hrísinu. Igðan kvað:

"It's better to be boldthan unboldwhen the war-game is played;better to be gladthan downcast,whatever comes to hand."Sigurd took Fafnir's heart and roasted it on a spit. When he thought it was fully cooked and the blood was foaming out of it, he touched it with his finger to test whether it was done. It burned him, and he stuck his finger in his mouth. And when Fafnir's heart-blood touched his tongue, he understood the speech of birds. He heard nuthatches chattering in the brush.

"Þar sitr Sigurðrsveita stokkinnFáfnis hjartavið funa steikir;spakr þætti mérspillir baugaef hann fjörsegafránan æti."Önnur kvað:

A nuthatch said:"There sits Sigurd,splashed with blood,roasting Fafnir's heartover the fire;wise, I'd call the ring-giver,if he atethat gleaming heart himself."

"Þar liggr Reginnræðr um við sikvill tæla mögþann er trúir hánumberr af reiðiröng orð samanvill bölvasmiðrbróður hefna."In þriðja kvað:

A second said:"There lies Regin,plotting with himself;he means to betray the young manwho trusts him;out of spitehe strings together lies;the maker of evilwants to avenge his brother."

"Höfði skemmraláti hann inn hára þulfara til heljar heðan;öllu gulliþá kná hann einn ráðafjölð því er und Fáfni lá."In fjórða kvað:

A third said:"Let him make that grey-bearded talkershorter by a head —send him off to hell;then he alone can ruleall the gold,the whole hoard that lay under Fafnir."

Horskr þætti méref hafa kynniástráð mikityðvar systrahygði hann of sikok hugin gleddi;þar er mér ulfs váner ek eyru sék."In fimmta kvað:

A fourth said:"Wise he'd seem to me,if he'd takethe loving counselof you sisters —if he thought of his own goodand lifted his spirit;I expect a wolfwherever I see its ears."

"Er-at svá horskrhildimeiðrsem ek hers jaðarhyggja myndakef hann bróður lætrá brot komasken hann öðrum hefiraldrs of synjat."In sétta kvað:

A fifth said:"That warrior isn't as wiseas I'd expecta leader of men to be,if he lets the brotherget away safe,after he's alreadytaken the other's life."

"Mjök er ósviðref hann enn sparirfjánda inn folkskáaþar er Reginn liggrer hann ráðinn hefrkann-at hann við slíku at séa."In sjaunda kvað:

A sixth said:"He's a great foolif he still sparesthat enemy of men,there where Regin liesplotting against him —he can't see through such treachery."

"Höfði skemmra láti hannþann inn hrímkalda jötunok af baugum búa;þá mun hann fjár þesser Fáfnir réðeinvaldi vera."Sigurðr kvað:

A seventh said:"Let him make that frost-cold giantshorter by a head,and strip him of his rings;then he alone will ruleall the wealththat Fafnir once held."

"Verða-t svá rík sköpat Reginn skylimitt banorð bera;því at þeir báðir bræðrskulu bráðligafara til heljar heðan."Sigurðr hjó höfuð af Regin, ok þá át han Fáfnis hjarta ok drakk blóð þeira beggja, Regins ok Fáfnis. Þá heyrði Sigurðr, hvar igður mæltu:

Sigurd said:"Fate won't turn out so strongthat Regin gets to speakthe word of my death;both brothers,instead,will travel from here to hell together."Sigurd struck off Regin's head, then ate Fafnir's heart and drank the blood of them both, Regin's and Fafnir's.

"Bitt þú, Sigurðrbauga rauða;er-a konungligtkvíða mörgu.Mey veit ek einamiklu fegrstagulli gæddaef þú geta mættir."

Then Sigurd heard the nuthatches speak:"Bind up the red rings, Sigurd —it isn't kinglyto fear so many things.I know a maiden,far the fairest,decked in gold,if you could win her.

"Liggja til Gjúkagrænar brautirfram vísa sköpfolklíðöndum;þar hefir dýrr konungrdóttur alna;þá muntu, Sigurðrmundi kaupa."

"Green roads leadto Gjuki's hall —fate points the wayfor those who travel there;a noble king has raiseda daughter there;her, Sigurd,you could win as your bride.

"Salr er á háuHindarfjalliallr er hann útaneldi sveipinnþann hafa horskirhalir of görvanór ódökkumÓgnar ljóma."

"There's a hall highon Hindarfjall,wrapped all aroundin flame;wise men raised itfrom the bright,gleaming lightof dread.

"Veit ek á fjallifolkvitr sofaok leikr yfirlindar váði;Yggr stakk þorniaðra felldihör-Gefn halien hafa vildi."

"I know that on a mountaina war-wise woman sleeps,and flame playsabove her;Yggr pricked her with a thorn —that linen-clad womanhad felled another warriorwhom he wished spared.

"Knáttu, mögr, séamey und hjalmiþá er frá vígiVingskorni reið;má-at Sigrdrífarsvefni bregðaskjöldunga niðrfyr sköpum norna."Sigurðr reið eftir slóð Fáfnis til bælis hans ok fann þat opit ok hurðir af járni ok gætti. Af járni váru ok allir timbrstokkar í húsinu, en grafit í jörð niðr. Þar fann Sigurðr stórmikit gull ok fylldi þar tvær kistur. Þar tók hann ægishjálm ok gullbrynju ok sverðit Hrotta ok marga dýrgripi ok klyfjaði þar með Grana, en hestrinn vildi eigi fram ganga, fyrr en Sigurðr steig á bak hánum.

"You can see, young man,the maiden under her helm,who rode Vingskornirback from the battle;no son of kingscan break Sigrdrifa's sleep,against the willof the Norns."Sigurd rode along Fafnir's track to his lair and found it open, its doors made of iron, and the door-posts too. All the timber beams in the hall were iron as well, and it was dug down into the earth. There Sigurd found a vast hoard of gold and filled two chests with it. He took the helm of terror there, a gold mail-shirt, the sword called Hrotti, and many precious things, and loaded them onto Grani — but the horse would not move until Sigurd mounted on his back.