Guðrúnarkviða III

Herkja hét ambótt Atla. Hon hafði verit frilla hans. Hon sagði Atla, at hon hefði sét Þjóðrek ok Guðrúnu bæði saman. Atli var þá allókátr. Þá kvað Guðrún:"Hvat er þér, Atliæ, Buðla sonr?Er þér hryggt í hug?Hví hlær þú æva?Hitt mundi æðrajörlum þykkjaat við menn mæltirok mik sæir."Atli kvað:

Herkja was the name of a serving-woman of Atli's; she had been his mistress. She told Atli that she had seen Thjodrek and Gudrun together. Atli grew grim and silent. Then Gudrun said:"What's wrong with you, Atli —always, Budli's son?Is there grief in your heart?Why do you never laugh?Noblemen would think it more fittingthat you spoke with your men,and looked at me."

"Tregr mik þat, GuðrúnGjúka dóttirmér í hölluHerkja sagðiat þit Þjóðrekrund þaki svæfiðok léttligalíni verðið."Guðrún kvað:

Atli said:"It troubles me, Gudrun,Gjuki's daughter —Herkja told me,here in the hall,that you and Thjodreksleep under one roof,and lie together easily,under the linen."

"Þér mun ek alls þesseiða vinnaat inum hvítahelga steiniat ek við Þjóðrekþatki áttaker vörðr né verrvinna knátti.

Gudrun said:"For all of thatI'll swear you an oath,by the white,holy stone,that with ThjodrekI never didwhat neither guard nor husbandcould rightly claim —

Nema ek halsaðaherja stillijöfur óneisinneinu sinni;aðrar váruokkrar spekjurer vit hörmug tvauhnigum at rúnum.

except that I onceput my arms aroundthe blameless prince,leader of armies,a single time;our talk togetherwas something else —the two of us, grieving,leaned close in secret.

Hér kom Þjóðrekrmeð þría tegulifa þeir né einirþriggja tega manna;hnöggt þú mik at bræðrumok at brynjuðumhnöggt þú mik at öllumhöfuðniðjum.

Thjodrek came herewith thirty men —not one of that thirtyis left alive;you tore my brothers from me,and my mail-clad kinsmen —you tore from meevery one of my closest kin.

Sentu at SaxaSunnmanna gramhann kann helgahver vellanda."

Send for Saxi,lord of the southern men —he knows how to blessa boiling kettle."

Sjau hundruð mannaí sal genguáðr kvæn konungsí ketil tæki.Guðrún kvað:

Seven hundred menwalked into the hallbefore the king's wifeput her hand to the kettle.

"Kemr-a nú Gunnarrkallig-a ek Högnasékk-a ek síðansvása bræðr;sverði mundi Högnislíks harms rekanú verð ek sjalf fyrir miksynja lýta."

Gudrun said:"Gunnar doesn't come now,I can't call for Hogni,I won't seemy own dear brothers again;Hogni would have avengeda grief like this with his sword —now I must clear myselfof the charge, alone."

Brá hon til botnsbjörtum lófaok hon upp of tókjarknasteina:"Sé nú, seggirsykn em ek orðinheilagligahvé sá hverr velli."

She reached to the bottomwith her bright palm,and brought upthe glittering stones:"Look now, men —I have come out clean —see how innocentlythe kettle boiled."

Hló þá Atlahugr í brjóstier hann heilar sáhendr Guðrúnar:"Nú skal Herkjatil hvers gangasú er Guðrúnugrandi vændi."

Then joy laughedin Atli's chest,when he sawGudrun's hands unhurt:"Now Herkja must goto the kettle herself —she who meantto harm Gudrun."

Sá-at maðr armligthverr er þat sá-athvé þar á Herkjuhendr sviðnuðu;leiddu þá meyí mýri fúla.Svá þá Guðrúnsinna harma.

No one who saw itever saw a sadder sight,how Herkja's handsburned and blistered;they led the girl awayinto the foul bog.So Gudrunavenged her grief.