Old Norse facing a living language
Hér hefr upp kvæði frá Helga Hundingsbana ok þeira Höðbrodds.Ár var aldaþat er arar gulluhnigu heilög vötnaf Himinfjöllum;þá hafði Helgainn hugumstóraBorghildr borití Brálundi.
Here begins the poem of Helgi Hunding's-Slayer, and his dealings with Hodbrodd.It was early in the world's age,when eagles screamed,and holy waters fell from the Himinfjoll;then Helgi, the great-hearted,was born to Borghild in Bralund.
Nótt varð í bænornir kómuþær er öðlingialdr of skópu;þann báðu fylkifrægstan verðaok buðlungabeztan þykkja.
Night fell over the hall,and the norns came,those who shaped the fate of that prince;they decreed he would becomemost famed of fighters,and seem the best of kings.
Sneru þær af afliörlögþáttuþá er borgir brautí Bráluni;þær of greiddugullin símuok und mánasalmiðjan festu.
With all their strength they spunthe threads of fate —for he would tear down strongholds,there in Bralund;they drew the golden cord out straight,and made it fast beneath the moon's high hall.
Þær austr ok vestrenda fáluþar átti lofðungrland á milli;brá nift Neraá norðrvegaeinni festiey bað hon halda.
East and west they hid the ends;the prince would hold the land between.Neri's kinswoman cast one thread north,and bade it hold forever.
Eitt var at angriYlfinga niðok þeiri meyjuer munúð fæddi;hrafn kvað at hrafni- sat á hám meiðiandvanr átu -:"ek veit nökkut.
One thing brought grief to the Ylfing prince,and to the woman whom love had made a mother.Then raven spoke to raven —perched on a high bough, hungry for food —:"I know something.
Stendr í brynjuburr Sigmundardægrs eins gamallnú er dagr kominn;hvessir augusem hildingarsá er varga vinrvit skulum teitir."
Sigmund's son stands armored,only a day old —now day has broken;his eyes are sharp as a war-lord's.He's a friend to wolves —we'll have good cheer."
Drótt þótti sádöglingr verakváðu með gumnumgóð ár komin;sjalfr gekk vísiór vígþrimuungum færaítrlauk grami.
The retinue took him at once for a true king;men said good years had come.The ruler himself came from the clash of battleto bring the boy a shining leek.
Gaf hann Helga nafnok HringstaðiSólfjöll, Snæfjöllok SigarsvölluHringstöð, Hátúnok Himinvangablóðorm búinnbræðr Sinfjötla.
He gave him the name Helgi, and Hringstadir,Solfjoll, Snaefjoll, and Sigarsvellir,Hringstod, Hatun, and Himinvangar —and a blood-marked serpent-blade,to Sinfjotli's brother.
Þá nam at vaxafyr vina brjóstialmr ítrborinnynðis ljóma;hann galt ok gafgull verðungusparði eigi hilmirhodd blóðrækinn.
Then he began to grow, in his kinsmen's sight,the nobly-born elm, radiant with joy;he paid out and gave gold to his men —the war-bold ruler did not spare his hoard.
Skammt lét vísivígs at bíða;þá er fylkir varfimmtán vetraok hann harðan létHunding veginnþann er lengi réðlöndum ok þegnum.
The leader waited only a short time for war:when the king was just fifteen winters old,he had the hardy Hunding slain —the one who had long ruled over lands and liegemen.
Kvöddu síðanSigmundar burauðs ok hringaHundings synirþví at þeir áttujöfri at gjaldafjárnám mikitok föður dauða.
After that, Hunding's sons demandedwealth and rings from Sigmund's son —for they held the prince owed them payment:a great seizure of property, and their father's death.
Lét-at buðlungrbótir uppiné niðja in heldrnefgjöld fáa;ván kvað hann munduveðrs ins miklagrára geiraok gremi Óðins.
The king offered no atonement,nor let the kinsmen have their blood-price either;he said instead to expecta mighty storm of grey spears, and Odin's fury.
Fara hildingarhjörstefnu tilþeirar er lögðuat Logafjöllum;sleit Fróða friðfjánda á milli;fara Viðris greyvalgjörn of ey.
The war-lords went to the sword-meetingthey had set at Logafjoll;between enemies, the peace of Frodi was broken;Vidrir's hounds ranged the island, hungry for the slain.
Settisk vísiþá er vegit hafðiAlf ok Eyjólfund arasteiniHjörvarð ok HávarðHundings sonu;farit hafði hann allriætt geirmímis.
The leader rested, having slainAlf and Eyjolf beneath the eagle-stone,Hjorvard and Havard, sons of Hunding —he had wiped out the whole line of the spear-lord.
Þá brá ljómaaf Logafjöllumen af þeim ljómumleiftrir kómu-- -- --hávar und hjalmumá Himinvangabrynjur váru þeirablóði stokknaren af geirumgeislar stóðu.
Then a light flared from Logafjoll,and from that light came flashes ——high beneath their helmets on Himinvangar,their mail-shirts spattered with blood,and from their spears the light stood out in rays.
Frá árligaór úlfíðidöglingr at þvídísir suðrænaref þær vildi heimmeð hildingumþá nótt fara;þrymr var alma.
Early on, out of the wolf-wilds,the king asked the southern valkyrieswhether they would go home with the war-chiefsthat night; there was the clash of bowstrings.
En af hestiHögna dóttir- líddi randa rym, -ræsi sagði:"Hygg ek, at vér eigimaðrar sýsluren með baugbrotabjór at drekka.
Then down from her horse, Hogni's daughter —the din of shields had died away —spoke to the prince:"I think we have other work to dothan drink beer with a ring-breaker.
Hefir minn faðirmeyju sinnigrimmum heititGranmars synien ek hef, HelgiHöðbrodd kveðinnkonung óneisansem kattar son.
My father has promised his daughterto Granmar's savage son —but I, Helgi, have called Hodbrodda king with about as much nerve as a tomcat's son.
Þó kemr fylkirfára náttanema þú hánum vísirvalstefnu tileða mey nemirfrá mildingi."Helgi kvað:
Yet the king will come within a few nights —unless you meet him on the field of slaughter,or take the maiden from that ring-giving lord."Helgi said:
"Uggi eigi þúÍsungs bana;fyrr mun dolga dynrnema ek dauðr séak."
"Don't be afraid — you have Isung's slayer with you.There'll be war before I'm found dead."
Sendi áruallvaldr þaðanof land ok um lögleiðar at biðjaiðgnóganÓgnar ljómabrögnum bjóðaok burum þeira.
The mighty king sent messengers out from there,over land and sea, calling men to muster,offering shining battle-goldto warriors and their sons.
"Biðið skjótligatil skipa gangaok ór Brandeyjubúna verða."Þaðan beið þengillunz þingat kómuhalir hundmargirór Heðinseyju.
"Tell them to hurry to the ships,and be ready to sail out from Brandey."There the prince waited until men came,hundreds upon hundreds, from Hedinsey.
Ok þar af ströndumór Stafnsnesibeit her út skriðuok búin gulli;spurði HelgiHjörleif at því:"hefir þú kannaðakoni óneisa?"
And there from the shore, out of Stafnsnes,the fleet glided out, decked in gold;Helgi asked Hjorleif:"Have you counted our fearless men?"
En ungr konungröðrum sagðiseint kvað at teljaaf Trönueyrilanghöfðuð skipund líðöndumþau er í Örvasundútan fóru.
The young king answered him:it would take too long to count,from Tronueyr onward, the long-prowed ships,crewed and ready, that came in from the seainto Orvasund.
"Tolf hundruðtryggra manna;þó er í Hátúnumhalfu fleiravíglið konungs;ván erum rómu."
"Twelve hundred loyal men —but at Hatun there's half again as many more,the king's own war-host.We should expect a fight."
Svá brá stýrirstafntjöldum afat mildingamengi vakðiok döglingardagsbrún séaok siklingarsneru upp við trévefnistingumá Varinsfirði.
The helmsman struck the tent-awnings from the prowsso sharply that it woke the whole company of lords;the kings watched the dawn break,and the princes hauled the woven sails up the mastsat Varinsfjord.
Varð ára ymrok járna glymrbrast rönd við röndreru víkingar;eisandi gekkund öðlingumlofðungs flotilöndum fjarri.
There was a groan of oars, a clatter of iron,shield crashing on shield as the raiders rowed;foaming, the king's fleet drove on beneath its lords,far out from land.
Svá var at heyraer saman kómukolgu systirok kilir langirsem björg eða brimbrotna myndi.
It sounded, when Kolga's sistermet the long keels,as if cliffs themselves, or the breakers,were shattering.
Draga bað Helgihá segl ofarvarð-at hrönnumhöfn þinglogaþá er ógurligÆgis dóttirstagstjórnmörumsteypa vildi.
Helgi ordered the sail hauled higher still;the waves gave the men no harbor to shirk in,when the terrible daughter of Aegirsought to capsize the stay-steered sea-horses.
En þeim sjalfumSigrún ofanfolkdjörf of bargok fari þeira;snerisk ramligaRán ór hendigjalfrdýr konungsat Gnipalundi.
But Sigrun, battle-bold, sheltered them from above —them and their ship;the king's sea-beast wrenched itself hardout of Ran's grasp, off Gnipalund.
Sat þar um aftaní Unavágumflaust fagrbúinfljóta knáttu;en þeir sjalfirfrá Svarinshaugimeð hermðar hugher könnuðu.
That evening the fair-decked shipslay at rest in Unavagar, riding easy;but from Svarinshaug, men with hate in their heartskept watch on the fleet.
Frá góðborinnGoðmundr at því:"Hverr er landrekisá er liði stýrirok hann feiknaliðfærir at landi?"
Then noble-born Gudmund called out:"Who is the lord who commands this fleet,bringing so vast a host to land?"
Sinfjötli kvað- slöng upp við rárauðum skildirönd var ór gulli;þar var sundvörðrsá er svara kunniok við öðlingaorðum skipta --:
Sinfjotli answered — hoisting on the yardarma red shield rimmed in gold;a channel-guard he was, one who knew how to answer,and trade words with princes —:
"Segðu þat í aftaner svínum gefrok tíkr yðrarteygir at solliat sé Ylfingaraustan komnirgunnar gjarnirfyr Gnipalundi.
"Tell them tonight, when you're slopping the pigsand calling your bitches to the trough:the Ylfings have come from the east,hungry for battle, off Gnipalund.
Þar mun HöðbroddrHelga finnaflugtrauðan gramí flota miðjumsá er oft hefirörnu saddameðan þú á kvernumkystir þýjar."Guðmundr kvað:
There Hodbrodd will find Helgi — a king who never runs —right in the middle of his fleet,a man who's fed the eagles their fill more than once,while you were at the millstone, kissing slave-girls."Gudmund said:
"Fátt mantu, fylkirfornra spjallaer þú öðlingumósönnu bregðr;þú hefir etnarulfa krásirok bræðr þínumat bana orðitoft sár soginmeð svölum munnihefr í hreysihvarleiðr skriðit."Sinfjötli kvað:
"You remember little of old tales, king,to charge princes with lies —you who've eaten wolf-carrion,and become your own brother's killer;with a cold mouth you've sucked at woundsagain and again, and crept, loathed by everyone,into your den."Sinfjotli said:
"Þú vart völvaí Varinseyjuskollvís konabartu skrök saman;kvaztu engi manneiga viljasegg brynjaðannema Sinfjötla.
"You were a witch on Varin's Isle,a lying, scheming woman — you spun falsehoods together;you said you'd have no man, no mail-clad warrior,but Sinfjotli.
Þú vart, in skæðaskass, valkyrjaötul, ámátligat Alföður;mundu einherjarallir berjasksvevís konaof sakar þínar.
You were a vicious hag, a valkyrie —grim and monstrous at the Allfather's side;the einherjar themselves would come to blowsover you, scheming woman.
Níu áttu vitá nesi Ságuulfa alnaek var einn faðir þeira."Guðmundr kvað:
The two of us had nine wolf cubs togetheron Saga's Ness — and I alone was their father."Gudmund said:
"Faðir var-at-tufenrisulfaöllum ellrisvá at ek munasíz þik geldufyr Gnipalundiþursa meyjará Þórsnesi.
"You never fathered Fenris-wolves, not that I recall —not since the giant-women gelded youoff Gnipalund, at Thorsnes.
Stjúpr vartu Siggeirslátt und stöðum heimavargljóðum vanrá viðum úti;kómu þér ógögnöll at hendiþá er bræðr þínumbrjóst raufaðir;gerðir þik frægjanaf firinverkum."Sinfjötli kvað:
You were Siggeir's stepson — you lay under woodpiles at home,used to wolf-howls out in the forest;every kind of horror came to your hand,the day you tore your brother's chest open;you made yourself famous for monstrous deeds."Sinfjotli said:
"Þú vart brúðr Granaá Brávelligullbitluð vartgör til rásar;hafða ek þér móðrimarg skeið riðitsvangri und söðlisimul, forbergis."Guðmundr kvað:
"You were Grani's mare on Bravalla,gold-bitted, primed to run;I rode you weary, mile after mile,starved under the saddle, down off the mountainside."Gudmund said:
"Sveinn þóttir þúsiðlauss veraþá er þú Gullnisgeitr molkaðiren í annat sinnImðar dóttirtötrughypja.Vill þú tölu lengri?"Sinfjötli kvað:
"You seemed a shameless boy,back when you milked Gullnir's goats —and another time you were Imd's daughter,a rag-clad drudge. Want the list longer?"Sinfjotli said:
"Fyrr vilda ekat Frekasteinihrafna seðjaá hræum þínumen tíkr yðrarteygja at sollieða gefa göltum;deili gröm við þik."Helgi kvað:
"I'd rather feed ravens on your corpse at Frekasteinthan call your bitches to the trough, or feed your pigs —may demons take you."Helgi said:
"Væri ykkr, SinfjötliSæmra miklugunni at heyjaok glaða örnuen sé ónýtumorðum at bregðaskþótt hringbrotarheiftir deili.
"It would suit you both far better, Sinfjotli,to make war and gladden eagles,than trade worthless words —though ring-breakers deal out hate.
Þykkja-t mér góðirGranmars synirþó dugir siklingumsatt at mæla;þeir hafa markatá Móinsheimumat hug hafahjörum at bregða."
Granmar's sons don't look like good men to me —yet it suits a king to speak the truth:they proved at Moinsheimarthat they've the heart to swing a sword."
Þeir af ríkirenna létuSvipuð ok SveggjuðSólheima tildala döggóttadökkvar hlíðir;skalf Mistar marrhvar er megir fóru.
With all their strength they letSvipud and Sveggjud run, on toward Solheimar,through dewy dales, dark hillsides;Mist's steed shuddered wherever the riders passed.
Mættu þeir tyggjaí túnhliðisögðu stríðligastilli kómu;úti stóð Höðbroddrhjalmi faldinnhugði hann jóreiðættar sinnar:"Hví er hermðar litrá Hniflungum?"Guðmundr kvað:
They met the king at his courtyard gate,spoke grimly — told the lord they'd come;outside stood Hodbrodd, crowned in his helm,watching his kinsmen ride in. He said:"Why do the Hniflungs wear such a grim look?"Gudmund said:
"Snúask hér at sandisnævgir kjólarrakka-hirtirok ráar langarskildir margirskafnar árargöfugt lið gylfaglaðir Ylfingar.
"Snow-pale ships are turning in to the sand here,prows carved like stags, long yardarms,shield on shield, oars planed smooth —a lordly host, the Ylfings, glad for battle.
Ganga fimmtánfolk upp á landþó er í Sogn útsjau þúsundir;liggja hér í grindumfyr Gnipalundibrimdýr blásvörtok búin gulli;þar er miklu mestmengi þeira;mun-a nú Helgihjörþing dvala."Höðbroddr kvað:
Fifteen companies are coming ashore —and out in Sogn there are seven thousand more;here at anchor before Gnipalund lie the black sea-beasts,decked in gold — by far the greatest part of them.Helgi won't put off the battle now."Hodbrodd said:
"Renni rökn bitluðtil Reginþingaen Sporvitnirat SparinsheiðiMélnir ok Mýlnirtil Myrkviðar;látið engi manneftir sitjaþeira er benlogumbregða kunni.
"Let the bridled horses run to Reginthing,Sporvitnir to Sparinsheid,Melnir and Mylnir to Mirkwood —let no man who knows how to swing a swordstay behind.
Bjóðið ér Högnaok Hrings sonumAtla ok YngvaAlf inum gamlaþeir ró gjarnirgunni at heyja;látum Völsungaviðrnám fáa."
Send for Hogni, and Hring's sonsAtli and Yngvi, and Alf the Old —they're eager for a fight.Let's give the Volsungs a battle to remember."
Svipr einn var þater saman kómufölvir oddarat Frekasteini;ey var HelgiHundings banifyrstr í fólkiþar er firar börðuskæstr á ímualltrauðr flugar;sá hafði hilmirhart móðakarn.
It happened in a single momentwhen the pale spear-points met at Frekastein;Helgi, Hunding's-Bane, was always first in the fightingwhere men clashed — fierce in the fray, never one to flee;that king had a hard, unyielding heart.
Kómu þar ór himnihjalmvítr ofan- óx geira gnýr, -þær er grami hlífðu;þá kvað þat Sigrúnsárvitr fluga- át hálu skæraf hugins barri -:
Then down from heaven came the helmeted maidens —the clash of spears grew loud —those who shielded the king;then Sigrun spoke, the wound-wise valkyrie flying above —the wolf, the hag's own steed, had fed on Huginn's harvest —:
"Heill skaltu, vísivirða njótaáttstafr Yngvaok una lífier þú fellt hefirinn flugartrauðajöfur, þann er olliægis dauða.
"Hail to you, king — may you win honor among men,kinsman of Yngvi's line, and take joy in life,for you have felled the prince who never fled,the one who dealt death and terror.
Ok þér, buðlungrsamir bæði velrauðir baugarok in ríkja mær;heill skaltu, buðlungrbæði njótaHögna dótturok Hringstaðasigrs ok landa.Þá er sókn lokit.
And you, my king — both become you well:red-gold rings, and the mighty maiden.Hail, king — may you enjoy them both,Hogni's daughter, and Hringstadir,victory and land.Now the fighting is done."