Guðrúnarkviða I

Guðrún sat yfir Sigurði dauðum. Hon grét eigi sem aðrar konur, en hon var búinn til at springa af harmi. Til gengu bæði konur ok karlar at hugga hana, en þat var eigi auðvelt. Þat er sögn manna, at Guðrún hefði etit af Fáfnis hjarta ok hon skilði því fugls rödd. - Þetta er enn kveðit um Guðrúnu:Ár var, þats Guðrúngerðisk at deyjaer hon sat sorgfullyfir Sigurði;gerði-t hon hjúfrané höndum sláné kveina umsem konur aðrar.

Gudrun sat over the dead Sigurd. She did not weep like other women, though her heart was ready to break with grief. Both women and men came to comfort her, but it wasn't easy. Some say that Gudrun had eaten of Fafnir's heart, and that was why she understood the speech of birds. This too is told about Gudrun:It was early onthat Gudrun thought to die,as she sat grievingover Sigurd;she did not sobor wring her hands,or wail aloudlike other women.

Gengu jarlaralsnotrir framþeir er harðs hugarhana löttu;þeygi Guðrúngráta máttisvá var hon móðugmundi hon springa.

Wise lordscame forward,men of hard resolve,to hold her back;yet Gudruncould not weep —so fierce was her grief,she thought she would break.

Sátu ítrarjarla brúðirgulli búnarfyr Guðrúnu;hvar sagði þeirasinn oftregaþann er bitrastanof beðit hafði.

Noble wives of lords,dressed in gold,sat before Gudrun;each of them toldher own deepest sorrow,the bitterest griefshe had ever borne.

Þá kvað GjaflaugGjúka systir:"Mik veit ek á moldumunarlausasta;hefi ek fimm veraforspell beðittveggja dætraþriggja systraátta bræðraþó ek ein lifi."

Then Gjaflaug spoke,Gjuki's sister:"I know myselfthe most joyless soul on earth;I've lost five husbands,two daughters,three sisters,eight brothers —and I alone still live."

Þeygi Guðrúngráta máttisvá var hon móðugat mög dauðanok harðhuguðof hrör fylkis.

Yet Gudruncould not weep —so fierce was her grieffor her dead husband,so hardened her heart,over the fallen king.

Þá kvað þat HerborgHúnalands dróttning:"Hefi ek harðaraharm at segja;mínir sjau synirsunnan landsverr inn áttií val fellu.

Then Herborg spoke,queen of the Huns:"I have a hardergrief to tell:my seven sons,in a southern land,and my husband, the eighth,all fell in battle.

Faðir ok móðirfjórir bræðrþau á vágivindr of lékbarði báravið borðþili.

My father and mother,my four brothers —the wind played with themout on the water,the wave struckagainst the ship's planking.

Sjalf skylda ek göfgasjalf skylda ek götvasjalf skylda ek höndlahrör þeira;þat ek allt of beiðein misserisvá at mér maðr engimunar leitaði.

I alone had to dress them,I alone had to bury them,I alone had to handletheir bodies;I bore all thisin a single half-year,with no manever seeking my love.

Þá varð ek haftaok hernumasams misserissíðan verða;skylda ek skreytaok skúa bindahersis kvánhverjan morgin.

Then I was taken,a captive of war,that same half-year,soon after;I had to dressand lace the shoesof a chieftain's wifeevery morning.

Hon ægði méraf afbrýðiok hörðum mikhöggum keyrði;fann ek húsgumahvergi in betraen húsfreyjuhvergi verri."

She tormented meout of jealousy,and drove me onwith cruel blows;I never founda better master,and nevera worse mistress."

Þeygi Guðrúngráta máttisvá var hon móðugat mög dauðanok harðhuguðof hrör fylkis.

Yet Gudruncould not weep —so fierce was her grieffor her dead husband,so hardened her heart,over the fallen king.

Þá kvað þat GullröndGjúka dóttir:"Fá kanntu, fóstraþótt þú fróð séirungu vífiandspjöll bera."Varaði hon at hyljaum hrör fylkis.

Then Gullrond spoke,Gjuki's daughter:"Little skill you have, foster-mother,wise as you are,to bring words of comfortto a young wife." She would not let themcover the fallen king any longer.

Svipti hon blæjuaf Sigurðiok vatt vengifyr vífs knéum:"Líttu á ljúfanleggðu munn við grönsem þú halsaðirheilan stilli."

She pulled the shroudoff Sigurd,and turned a pillowto his wife's knees:"Look at your beloved —press your mouth to his —as if he still lived,and you held your lord whole."

Á leit Guðrúneinu sinnisá hon döglings skördreyra runnafránar sjónirfylkis liðnarhugborg jöfurshjörvi skorna.

Gudrun lookedjust once;she saw the prince's hairmatted with blood,his shining eyesgone dark in death,his heart's strongholdcut open by the sword.

Þá hné Guðrúnhöll við bolstrihaddr losnaðihlýr roðnaðien regns dropirann niðr of kné.

Then Gudrun sankagainst the pillow,her hair came loose,her cheek reddened,and a rain of tearsran down onto her knee.

Þá grét GuðrúnGjúka dóttirsvá at tár flugutresk í gögnumok gullu viðgæss í túnimærir fuglarer mær átti.

Then Gudrun wept,Gjuki's daughter,until the tears flewstraight through the linen;and in the yardthe geese cried out,those fine birdsthat the maiden owned.

Þá kvað þat GullröndGjúka dóttir:"Ykkrar vissa ekástir mestarmanna allrafyr mold ofan;unðir þá hvárkiúti né innisystir mínnema hjá Sigurði."Guðrún kvað:

Then Gullrond spoke,Gjuki's daughter:"I knew your lovewas greaterthan any two people'son this earth;you had no peace,at home or away,my sister,except beside Sigurd." Gudrun said:

"Svá var minn Sigurðrhjá sonum Gjúkasem væri geirlaukrór grasi vaxinneða væri bjartr steinná band dreginnjarknasteinnyfir öðlingum.

"My Sigurd, next to Gjuki's sons,was like a spear-leekgrown up out of the grass,or a bright stonestrung on a cord,a precious gemabove every prince.

Ek þótta okþjóðans rekkumhverri hæriHerjans dísi;nú em ek svá lítilsem lauf séioft í jölstrumat jöfur dauðan.

I seemed, too,to the king's own warriors,taller than every oneof Odin's own valkyries;now I am as smallas a leafcaught in the willows,now that the king is dead.

Sakna ek í sessiok í sæingumíns málvinarvalda megir Gjúka;valda megir Gjúkamínu bölviok systur sinnarsárum gráti.

I miss him in my seat,I miss him in my bed —my truest friend;Gjuki's sons brought this about;Gjuki's sons broughtmy ruin,and their own sister'sbitter tears.

Svá ér of lýðalandi eyðiðsem ér of unnuðeiða svarða;mun-a þú, Gunnarrgulls of njóta;þeir munu þér baugarat bana verðaer þú Sigurðisvarðir eiða.

So may you wastethe land and its people,just as you brokethe oaths you swore;you'll get no joy, Gunnar,from that gold —those very ringswill be your death,since you sworeoaths to Sigurd.

Oft var í túniteiti meiriþá er minn Sigurðrsöðlaði Granaok þeir Brynhildarbiðja fóruarmar véttarillu heilli."

There was more joyin the yard, once,when my Sigurdsaddled Grani,and they rode outto court Brynhild —that wretched creature,in an evil hour."

Þá kvað þat BrynhildrBuðla dóttir:"Vön sé sú véttrvers ok barnaer þik, Guðrúngráts of beiddiok þér í morgunmálrúnar gaf."

Then Brynhild spoke,Budli's daughter:"May that creaturelose husband and children,whoever made you weep,Gudrun,and gave youthe words to speak this morning."

Þá kvað þat GullröndGjúka dóttir:"Þegi þú, þjóðleiðþeira orða;urðr öðlingahefir þú æ verit;rekr þik alda hverillrar skepnusorg sárasjau konungaok vinspellvífa mest."

Then Gullrond spoke,Gjuki's daughter:"Be quiet — hold backthose hateful words;you have always beenthe ruin of princes;every wave of misfortunedrives you on,vile thing —sorrow to seven kings,and the worstdestroyer of women's friendship."

Þá kvað þat BrynhildrBuðla dóttir:"Veldr einn Atliöllu bölviof borinn Buðlabróðir minn.

Then Brynhild spoke,Budli's daughter:"Atli aloneis the cause of all this grief —my own brother,Budli's son.

Þá er vit í höllhúnskrar þjóðareld á jöfriormbeðs litumþess hefi ek gangsgoldit síðanþeirar sýnarsáumk ey."

When the two of us stoodin the hallof the Hunnish people,and saw the fireglinting gold on the prince,the serpent's-bed's gleam —I have paid for that visitever since,for the sightthe two of us saw."

Stóð hon und stoðstrengði hon efli;brann BrynhildiBuðla dóttureldr ór augumeitri fnæstier hon sár of leitá Sigurði.Guðrún gekk þaðan á braut til skógar á eyðimerkr ok fór allt til Danmarkar ok var þar með Þóru Hákonardóttur sjau misseri. Brynhildr vildi eigi lifa eftir Sigurð. Hon lét drepa þræla sína átta ok fimm ambóttir. Þá lagði hon sik sverði til bana, svá sem segir í Sigurðarkviðu inni skömmu.

She stood by the pillarand gathered her strength;fire burnedin Brynhild's eyes,Budli's daughter —she breathed out venom,when she saw the woundon Sigurd. Gudrun went away from there, out into the forest and the wilderness, and traveled all the way to Denmark, and stayed there with Thora, daughter of Hakon, for seven half-years. Brynhild would not live on after Sigurd. She had eight of her thralls put to death, and five bondwomen. Then she took her own life with a sword, as is told in the Short Lay of Sigurd.