Hamðismál

Spruttu á táitregnar íðirgræti alfain glýstömu;ár of morginmanna bölvasútir hverjarsorg of kveykva.

Grim deeds sprang upat the edge of dawn —the joyless tearsthe elves weep each morning;and early each dayamong men's misfortunesevery sorrowstirs fresh grief.

Var-a þat núné í gærþat hefir langtliðit síðan- er fátt fornarafremr var þat halfu, -er hvatti GuðrúnGjúka borinsonu sína ungaat hefna Svanhildar:

It wasn't now,nor yesterday —long has it beensince it happened —few things are older;it was that, and half again —when Gudrun,Gjuki's daughter,drove her young sonsto avenge Svanhild:

"Systir var ykkurSvanhildr of heitinsú er Jörmunrekkrjóm of traddihvítum ok svörtumá hervegigrám, gangtömumGotna hrossum.

"Your sister was namedSvanhild —the one Jormunrektrampled with horses,white and black,on the war-road,grey, road-brokenhorses of the Goths.

Eftir er ykkr þrungitþjóðkonunga;lifið einir érþátta ættar minnar.

"You alone are leftof the mighty kings;you two alone liveof my family's line.

Einstæð em ek orðinsem ösp í holtifallin at frændumsem fura at kvistivaðin at viljasem viðr at laufiþá er in kvistskæðakemr um dag varman."

"I've become aloneas an aspen in the wood,stripped of kinas a pine of its branches,stripped of joyas a tree of its leaves,when the branch-cuttercomes on a warm day."

Hitt kvað þá Hamðirinn hugumstóri:"Lítt myndir þú þá, Guðrúnleyfa dáð Högnaer þeir Sigurð vökðusvefni órsaztu á beðen banar hlógu.

Hamdir, the great-hearted,said this:"You'd have praised Hogni's deedlittle then, Gudrun,when they woke Sigurdout of his sleep —you sat on the bedwhile the killers laughed.

Bækr váru þínarinar bláhvítuofnar völundumflutu í vers dreyra;svalt þá Sigurðrsaztu yfir dauðumglýja þú né gáðirGunnarr þér svá vildi.

"Your bedcovers,the blue-white oneswoven with skill,floated in your husband's blood;Sigurd grew cold,you sat by the dead,you took no joy —Gunnar willed it so.

Atla þóttisk þú stríðaat Erps morðiok at Eitils aldrlagiþat var þér enn verra;svá skyldi hverr öðrumverja til aldrlagasverði sárbeituat sér né stríddi-t."

"You thought to hurt Atliby murdering Erp,and by ending Eitil's life —that was worse for you still;so should each manguard against dealing deathwith a wound-sharp sword —that it not turn on himself."

Hitt kvað þá Sörli- svinna hafði hann hyggju -:"Vilk-at ek við móðurmálum skipta;orðs þykkir enn vantykkru hváru.Hvers biðr þú nú, Guðrúner þú at gráti né fær-at?

Then Sorli,who had a clear head, said this:"I won't trade wordswith our mother;it seems neither of youis short of things to say.What do you want now, Gudrun,that tears alone won't bring you?

Bræðr grát þú þínaok buri svásaniðja nábornaleidda nær rógi;okkr skaltu ok, Guðrúngráta báðaer hér sitjum feigir á mörumfjarri munum deyja."

"Weep for your brothers,and your own dear sons,close-born kinled to their ruin;weep for the two of us too, Gudrun,as we sit here doomedon our horses —far from home we'll die."

Gengu ór garðigörvir at eiskraliðu þá yfir ungirúrig fjöllmörum húnlenzkummorðs at hefna.

They went from the courtyard,ready for slaughter;the young men rodeover dew-wet mountains,on Hunnish horses,to avenge the murder.

Fundu á strætistórbrögðóttan:"Hvé mun jarpskammrokkr fulltingja?"

On the road they foundone full of cunning:"How will the little dark onebe any use to us?"

Svaraði inn sundrmæðrisvá kvaðsk veita mundufullting frændumsem fótr öðrum."Hvat megi fótrfæti veitané holdgróinhönd annarri?"

The half-brother answered —said he would helphis kinsmen,as one foot helps another."What can a footgive a foot,or one flesh-grown handgive the other?"

Þá kvað þat Erpreinu sinni- mærr of léká mars baki -:"Illt er blauðum halbrautir kenna."Kóðu harðan mjökhornung vera.

Then Erp said this,once and only —the proud one,riding his horse —"It's ill luckto point the wayfor a coward."They called him a harsh bastard.

Drógu þeir ór skíðiskíðiéarnmækis eggjarat mun flagði;þverrðu þeir þrótt sinnat þriðjungilétu mög ungantil moldar hníga.

They drew from the sheaththe sheathed iron,the sword's edges,to please the hag;they cut their own strengthby a third —they let the young mansink into the ground.

Skóku loðaskalmir festuok góðbornirsmugu í guðvefi.

They shook out their cloaks,buckled their blades,and the well-born mendressed in fine-woven cloth.

Fram lágu brautirfundu vástiguok systursonsáran á meiðivargtré vindköldvestan bæjartrýtti æ trönu hvöttitt var-at bíða.

The road lay ahead;they found a path of grief —their sister's sonhanging wounded from a tree,the wind-cold gallows-tree,west of the hall;the greedy cranekept urging on —it was no place to linger.

Glamr var í hölluhalir ölreifirok til gota ekkigerðu at heyraáðr halr hugfullrí horn of þaut.

There was noise in the hall —men merry with ale —and no one heardthe horses coming,until a brave manblew his horn.

Segja fóru ærirJörmunrekkiat sénir váruseggir und hjalmum:"Ræðið ér um ráðríkir eru komnirfyr máttkum hafið ér mönnummey of tradda."

Messengers wentto tell Jormunrekthat helmeted menhad been sighted:"Take counsel now —mighty men have come;before powerful menyou'll answerfor trampling a girl."

Hló þá Jörmunrekkrhendi drap á kampabeiddisk-at brönguböðvaðisk at víni;skók hann skör jarpasá á skjöld hvítanlét hann sér í hendihvarfa ker gullit.

Then Jormunrek laughed,struck his hand to his beard,didn't call for armor —grew bold on wine instead;he shook his brown hair,looked at his white shield,let the golden cupturn in his hand.

"Sæll ek þá þóttumkef ek sjá knættaHamði ok Sörlaí höllu minniburi mynda ek þá bindameð boga strengjumgóð börn Gjúkafesta á galga."

"Happy I'd count myselfif I could seeHamdir and Sorlihere in my hall;I'd bind those sonswith bowstrings,and hang Gjuki'sfine children on the gallows."

Hitt kvað þá Hróðrglöðstóð of hleðummæfingr mæltivið mög þenna:-- -- --"Því at þat heitaat hlýðigi myni;megu tveir menn einirtíu hundruð Gotnabinda eða berjaí borg inni háu."

Then Hrodrglod said this —she stood by the walls,deft-handed,and spoke to this young man:—"For it's said,and won't be heeded —can two men alonebind or cut downten hundred Gothsin the high fortress?"

Styrr varð í rannistukku ölskálirí blóði bragnar lágukomit ór brjósti Gotna.

There was uproar in the hall,ale-cups flew,warriors lay in bloodthat poured from Gothic breasts.

Hitt kvað þá Hamðirinn hugumstóri:"Æstir, Jörmunrekkrokkarrar kvámubræðra sammæðrainnan borgar þinnar;fætr sér þínahöndum sér þú þínumJörmunrekkr, orpití eld heitan."

Hamdir, the great-hearted,said this:"You wished for it, Jormunrek —our coming,brothers of one mother,inside your walls;now see your feet,see your hands,Jormunrek,thrown into the burning fire."

Þá hraut viðinn reginkunngibaldr í hrynjusem björn hryti:"Grýtið ér á gumnaalls geirar né bítaeggjar né éarnJónakrs sonu."

Then the god-born one roared,bold in his mail,roaring like a bear:"Stone them down, men —since spears won't cut them,nor blades, nor iron —the sons of Jonak!"

Hitt kvað þá Hamðirinn hugumstóri:"Böl vanntu, bróðirer þú þann belg leystir;oft ór þeim belgböll ráð koma."Sörli Kvað:

Hamdir, the great-hearted,said this:"You did us harm, brother,when you loosed that bag —evil counseloften comes from such a bag." Sorli said:

"Hug hefðir þú, Hamðiref þú hefðir hyggjandi;mikils er á mann hvern vanter mannvits er!"Hamðir kvað:

"You'd have courage enough, Hamdir,if you had sense too;a man lacks a great dealwhen he lacks understanding."

"Af væri nú höfuðef Erpr lifðibróðir okkarr inn böðfræknier vit á braut vágumverr inn vígfrækni- hvöttumk at dísir, -gumi inn gunnhelgi- gerðumk at vígi -."Sörli kvað:

"His head would be off now,if Erp were living,our battle-bold brother,whom we killed on the road —that fierce fighter —the spirits drove me to it —that man made holy by war —I was pushed to the kill." Sorli said:

"Ekki hygg ek okkrvera ulfa dæmiat vit mynim sjalfir of sakasksem grey nornaþá er gráðug eruí auðn of alin.

"I don't think it fits usto act like wolves,turning on each other,like the hounds of the Norns —greedy things,raised in the wasteland.

Vel höfum vit vegitstöndum á val Gotnaofan eggmóðumsem ernir á kvisti;góðs höfum tírar fengitþótt skylim nú eða í gær deyja;kveld lifir maðr ekkieftir kvið norna."

"We've fought well —we stand on Gothic dead,sword-weary above them,like eagles on a branch;we've won good fame,though we die now or tomorrow —no man outlives the eveningonce the Norns have spoken."

Þar fell Sörliat salar gaflienn Hamðir hnéat húsbaki.Þetta eru kölluð Hamðissmál in fornu.

There Sorli fellat the gable of the hall,and Hamdir sank downbehind the house.This is called the old Hamdismal.