Old Norse facing a living language
Eftir dauða Brynhildar váru gör bál tvau, annat Sigurði, ok brann þat fyrr, enn Brynhildr var á öðru brennd, ok var hon í reið þeiri, er guðvefjum var tjölduð. Svá er sagt, at Brynhildr ók með reiðinni á helveg ok fór um tún, þar er gýgr nökkur bjó. Gýgrin kvað:"Skaltu í gögnumganga eigigrjóti studdagarða mínabetr semði þérborða at rekjaheldr en vitjavers annarrar.
After Brynhild's death, two pyres were built — one for Sigurd, which burned first, and Brynhild was burned on the other. She rode there in a wagon hung with costly cloth. It is said that Brynhild drove the wagon along the road to Hel and passed through a farmstead where a giantess lived. The giantess said:"You will not goany further throughmy rock-bracedwalls;it would suit you betterto weave at your loomthan to go chasingafter another woman's man.
Hvat skaltu vitjaaf Vallandihvarfúst höfuðhúsa minna?Þú hefir, Vár gullsef þik vita lystirmild af höndummanns blóð þvegit."Brynhildr kvað:
What do you wantfrom Valland,fickle-headed one,here at my house?You have — goddess of gold,if you want to know —washed men's bloodoff your gentle hands."
"Bregðu eigi mérbrúðr ór steiniþótt ek værakí víkingu;ek mun okkuræðri þykkjahvars menn eðliokkart kunna."Gýgrin kvað:
Brynhild said:"Don't blame me,woman born of stone,though I went raiding once;I will still come outthe better of us two,wherever peopleknow the truth of our natures."
"Þú vart, BrynhildrBuðla dóttirheilli verstuí heim borin;þú hefir Gjúkaof glatat börnumok búi þeirabrugðit góðu."Brynhildr kvað:
The giantess said:"You, Brynhild,Budli's daughter,were born into the worldunder the worst of luck;you have destroyedGjuki's childrenand wreckedtheir household's fortune."
"Ek mun segja þérsvinn ór reiðuvitlaussi mjökef þik vita lystirhvé gerðu mikGjúka arfarástalausaok eiðrofa.
Brynhild said:"I will tell you the truthfrom my wagon,you utter fool,if you want to knowhow Gjuki's heirsmade melovelessand an oath-breaker.
Hétu mik allirí HlymdölumHildi undir hjalmihverr er kunni.
Everyone in Hlymdalircalled meHild-under-Helm,whoever knew me.
Annar hét AgnarrAuðu bróðirer véttr engivildi týja.
Another was named Agnar,Auda's brother —no living thingwould come to his aid.
Lét hami várahugfullr konungrátta systraundir eik borit;var ek vetra tolfef þik vita lystirer ek ungum grameiða seldak.
The bold kinglaid our swan-cloaksunder an oak,eight sisters' worth;I was twelve winters old,if you want to know,when I gave my oathsto that young lord.
Þá lét ek gamlaná GoðþjóðuHjalmgunnar næstheljar ganga;gaf ek ungum sigrAuðu bróður;þar varð mér Óðinnofreiðr of þat.
Then I sent oldHjalmgunnar in Gothlanddown to Hel;I gave the young manvictory —Auda's brother —and for thatOdin was furious with me.
Lauk hann mik skjöldumí Skatalundirauðum ok hvítumrandir snurtu;þann bað hann slítasvefni mínumer hvergi landshræðask kynni.
He shut me inside shieldsat Skatalund,red and white,their rims overlapping;he ordered that whoeverbroke my sleepwould have to be a manwho feared nothing anywhere on earth.
Lét hann um sal minnsunnanverðanhávan brennaher alls viðar;þar bað hann einn þegnyfir at ríðaþanns mér færði gullþats und Fáfni lá.
He had a high fire litof every kind of woodaround the south sideof my hall;he ordered that onlyone warrior could ride through it —the one who would bring methe gold that lay under Fafnir.
Reið góðr Granagullmiðlandiþars fóstri minnfletjum stýrði;einn þótti hann þaröllum betrivíkingr Danaí verðungu.
The gold-giver rodegood Granito where my foster-fatherruled his hall;he seemed therebetter than all the rest,a Danish warrioramong the retinue.
Sváfu við ok unðumí sæing einnisem hann minn bróðirof borinn væri;hvárki knáttihönd yfir annatátta nóttumokkart leggja.
We slept and were contentin one bed,as if he had beenborn my brother;for eight nightsneither of uslaid a handon the other.
Því brá mér GuðrúnGjúka dóttirat ek Sigurðisvæfak á armiþar varð ek þess víser ek vildig-a-kat þau véltu mikí verfangi.
For that Gudrun,Gjuki's daughter,accused me —that I had sleptwith Sigurd in my arms —and that was how I learnedwhat I wished I hadn't:that they had tricked mein the taking of a husband.
Munu við ofstríðalls til lengikonur ok karlarkvikvir fæðask;við skulum okkrumaldri slítaSigurðr saman.Sökkstu, gýgjar kyn."
For all too longmen and womenwill be born into the worldto suffer this grief;but Sigurd and Iwill neverbe torn apart.Sink, kin of giants."