Völundarkviða

Níðuðr hét konungr í Svíþjóð. Hann átti tvá sonu ok eina dóttur. Hon hét Böðvildr. Bræðr váru þrír, synir Finnakonungs. Hét einn Slagfiðr, annarr Egill, þriði Völundr. Þeir skriðu ok veiddu dýr. Þeir kómu í Úlfdali ok gerðu sér þar hús. Þar er vatn, er heitir Úlfsjár. Snemma of morgin fundu þeir á vatnsströndu konur þrjár, ok spunnu lín. Þar váru hjá þeim álftarhamir þeira. Þat váru valkyrjur. Þar váru tvær dætr Hlöðvés konungs, Hlaðguðr svanhvít ok Hervör alvitr, in þriðja var Ölrún Kjársdóttir af Vallandi. Þeir höfðu þær heim til skála með sér. Fekk Egill Ölrúnar, en Slagfiðr Svanhvítrar, en Völundr Alvitrar. Þau bjuggu sjau vetr. Þá flugu þær at vitja víga ok kómu eigi aftr. Þá skreið Egill at leita Ölrúnar, en Slagfiðr leitaði Svanhvítrar, en Völundr sat í Úlfdölum. Hann var hagastr maðr, svá at menn viti, í fornum sögum. Níðuðr konungr lét hann höndum taka, svá sem hér er um kveðit:Meyjar flugu sunnanmyrkvið í gögnumAlvitr ungaörlög drýgja;þær á sævarströndsettusk at hvílaskdrósir suðrænardýrt lín spunnu.

Nidud was a king in Sweden. He had two sons and one daughter, named Bodvild. There were three brothers, sons of the Sami king: one named Slagfid, the second Egil, the third Volund. They went on skis and hunted game. They came to Ulfdalir and built themselves a house there. There is a lake there called Ulfsjar. Early one morning they found three women on the shore, spinning linen. Beside them lay their swan-cloaks — they were valkyries. Two were daughters of King Hlodver: Hladgud Svanhvit and Hervor Alvit; the third was Olrun, daughter of Kjar of Valland. The brothers took the women home to their hall. Egil got Olrun, Slagfid got Svanhvit, and Volund got Alvit. They lived together seven winters. Then the women flew off to visit wars and never came back. Egil set off on skis to find Olrun, and Slagfid to find Svanhvit, but Volund stayed behind in Ulfdalir. He was the most skilled craftsman men know of from the old tales. King Nidud had him seized, as is told here:Maidens flew from the souththrough Myrkwood,young Alvit,to fulfil her fate;they came to the sea's shoreand sat down to rest —women out of the south,spinning costly linen.

Ein nam þeiraEgil at verjafögr mær firafaðmi ljósum;önnur var Svanhvítsvanfjaðrar dróen in þriðjaþeira systirvarði hvítanhals Völundar.

One of them,the fair woman,took Egilinto her bright embrace;the second was Svanhvit,who wore swan-feathers;and the third,their sister,wound her armsround Volund's white neck.

Sátu síðansjau vetr at þaten inn áttaallan þráðuen inn níundanauðr of skilði;meyjar fýstuská myrkvan viðAlvitr ungaörlög drýgja.

They sat there togetherseven winters after that;in the eighththe longing came over them;in the ninthneed parted them;the maidens longedfor the dark wood —young Alvit,to fulfil her fate.

Kom þar af veiðiveðreygr skyti[Völundr, líðandium langan veg]Slagfiðr ok Egillsali fundu auðagengu út ok innok um sáusk;austur skreið Egillat Ölrúnuen suðr Slagfiðrat Svanhvítu.

Home from the hunt camethe weather-wise archer,Volund, journeyinga long road back;Slagfid and Egilfound the hall empty;they went out and in,looking everywhere;east skied Egilafter Olrun,and south Slagfidafter Svanhvit.

En einn Völundrsat í Ulfdölumhann sló gull rauttvið gim fastanlukði hann allalind baugum vel;svá beið hannsinnar ljóssarkvánar, ef hánumkoma gerði.

But Volund stayed alonein Ulfdalir;he beat red goldaround a hard gem,bound every ringwell on its band;so he waitedfor his brightwife, if shewould come to him.

Þat spyrr NíðuðrNíára dróttinnat einn Völundrsat í Ulfdölum;nóttum fóru seggirneglðar váru brynjurskildir bliku þeiravið inn skarða mána.

Nidud heard of it,lord of the Njars,that Volund satalone in Ulfdalir;by night his men rode out,their mail-coats riveted;their shields glintedunder the notched moon.

Stigu ór söðlumat salar gafligengu inn þaðanendlangan sal;sáu þeir á bastbauga dregnasjau hundruð allraer sá seggr átti.

They swung down from the saddleat the gable of the hall,walked in from therethe length of it;they saw ringsstrung on bast-cord —seven hundred in allthat the man owned.

Og þeir af tókuok þeir á létufyr einn útaner þeir af létu.Kom þar af veiðiveðreygr skytiVölundr, líðandium langan veg.

They took them offand put them back on,all but one,which they took away.Home from the hunt camethe weather-wise archer,Volund, journeyinga long road back.

Gekk hann brúnniberu hold steikjaár brann hrísiallþurr furaviðr inn vindþurrifyr Völundi.

He came over the moorto roast bear-meat;the brushwood caught fast,the pine bone-dry —the wind-dried woodlay ready before Volund.

Sat á berfjallibauga talðialfa ljóðieins saknaði;hugði hann, at hefðiHlöðvés dóttirAlvitr ungaværi hon aftr komin.

He sat on the bearskincounting his rings,the lord of elves —one was missing;he thought that Hlodver's daughter,young Alvit,must have it,that she had come back.

Sat hann svá lengiat hann sofnaðiok hann vaknaðiviljalauss;vissi sér á höndumhöfgar nauðiren á fótumfjötur of spenntan.Völundr kvað:

He sat so longthat he fell asleep,and wokestripped of his will;he felt on his handsheavy shackles,and on his feeta fetter clasped shut.

"Hverir ro jöfrarþeir er á lögðubesti bör símaok mik bundu?"

Volund said:"What lords are thesewho laid ropeof bast on meand bound me fast?"

Kallaði nú NíðuðrNíara dróttinn:"Hvar gaztu, Völundrvísi alfavára auraí Ulfdölum?"Völundr Kvað:

Nidud called out then,lord of the Njars:"Where did you get, Volund,prince of elves,our treasure,there in Ulfdalir?"

"Gull var þar eigiá Grana leiðufjarri hugða ek várt landfjöllum Rínar;man ek, at vér meirimæti áttumer vér heil hjúheima várum.

Volund said:"There was no goldon Grani's road;I thought our land lay farfrom the hills of the Rhine;I remember we hadgreater richeswhen we were a whole householdat home together.

Hlaðguðr ok Hervörborin var Hlöðvékunn var ÖlrúnKíárs dóttir."

Hladgud and Hervorwere born to Hlodver;well known was Olrun,Kjar's daughter."

[Úti stóð kunnigkván Níðaðar]hon inn of gekkendlangan salstóð á golfistillti röddu:"Er-a sá nú hýrrer ór holti ferr."Níðuðr konungr gaf dóttur sinni, Böðvildi gullhring þann, er hann tók af bastinu at Völundar, en hann sjálfr bar sverðit, er Völundr átti. En dróttning kvað:

Outside stood the knowingwife of Nidud;she walked inthe length of the hall,stood on the floor,steadied her voice:"He's not so gentle now,the one who comes from the woods."King Nidud gave his daughter Bodvild the gold ring he had taken from Volund's store of rings on the bast-cord, and he himself carried the sword that had belonged to Volund.

"Ámun eru auguormi þeim inum fránatenn hánum teygjasker hánum er tét sverðok hann Böðvildarbaug of þekkir;sníðið ér hannsina magniok setið hann síðaní Sævarstöð."Svá var gert, at skornar váru sinar í knésfótum, ok settr í hólm einn, er þar var fyrir landi, er hét Sævarstaðr. Þar smíðaði hann konungi alls kyns görsimar. Engi maðr þorði at fara til hans nema konungr einn.

The queen said:"His eyes are likethe glittering serpent's;his teeth bare themselveswhen the sword is shown him,and he knowsBodvild's ring;cut the strengthout of his sinews,and set him thenon Saevarstad."So it was done: they cut the sinews at the back of his knees and set him on an island that lay off the coast there, called Saevarstad. There he forged the king every kind of treasure. No one dared go near him except the king alone.

"Skínn Níðaðisverð á lindaþat er ek hvesstasem ek hagast kunnaok ek herðaksem mér hægst þótti;sá er mér fránn mækiræ fjarri borinnsékk-a ek þann Völunditil smiðju borinn.

"At Nidud's beltthe sword still shines,the one I groundas well as I couldand temperedto my finest skill;that bright bladeis carried far from me now —I'll never see itbrought back to my forge.

Nú berr Böðvildrbrúðar minnar- bíðk-a ek þess bót, -bauga rauða."

Now Bodvild wearsmy wife'sred-gold rings —and no amends will come for that."

Sat hann, né hann svaf, ávalltok hann sló hamri;vél gerði hann heldrhvatt Níðaði.Drifu ungir tveirá dýr séasynir Níðaðarí Sævarstöð.

He sat and never slept,and he swung the hammer;faster and fasterhe worked a trap for Nidud.Two young boys came running,eager to see the treasures —Nidud's sons,out to Saevarstad.

Kómu þeir til kistukröfðu luklaopin var illúðer þeir í sáu;fjölð var þar menjaer þeim mögum sýndiskat væri gull rauttok görsimar.Völundr kvað:

They came to the chest,demanded the keys;evil looked out at themthe moment they looked in;heaps of jewelryseemed to those boysto be red goldand treasure.

"Komið einir tveirkomið annars dags;ykkr læt ek þat gullof gefit verða;segið-a meyjumné salþjóðummanni engumat it mik fyndið."

Volund said:"Come back alone,just the two of you,come again tomorrow —I'll see that goldis given to you both.Tell no one —not the women, not the household,not a soul —that you came and found me."

Snemma kallaðiseggr annanbróðir á bróður:"Göngum baug séa!"Kómu til kistukröfðu luklaopin var illúðer þeir í litu.

Early one brothercalled to the other,brother to brother:"Let's go see the rings!"They came to the chest,demanded the keys;evil looked out at themthe moment they looked in.

Sneið af höfuðhúna þeiraok und fen fjötursfætr of lagði;en þær skálarer und skörum várusveip hann útan silfriseldi Níðaði.

He struck off the headsof the boysand buried their feetunder the bellows-pit;but the skullsthat had lain under their hairhe covered outside with silverand sent to Nidud.

En ór augumjarknasteinasendi hann kunnigrikonu Níðaðaren ór tönnumtveggja þeirasló hann brjóstkringlursendi Böðvildi.

And out of their eyeshe made precious stones,sent them to Nidud'sknowing wife;and out of the teethof the two of themhe beat brooches,sent them to Bodvild.

Þá nam Böðvildrbaugi at hrósa-- -- --[bar hann Völundi]er brotit hafði:"Þorig-a ek at segjanema þér einum."Völundr kvað:

Then Bodvild cameto praise the ring ——she brought it to Volund,for it had broken:"I dare not tell anyonebut you alone."

"Ek bæti svábrest á gulliat feðr þínumfegri þykkirok mæðr þinnimiklu betriok sjalfri þérat sama hófi."

Volund said:"I'll mend the crackin the gold so wellthat your fatherwill find it finer,and your mothermuch better still,and to you yourselfjust as good as before."

Bar hann hana bjóriþví at hann betr kunnisvá at hon í sessiof sofnaði."Nú hef ek hefntharma minnaallra nema einnaíviðgjarna."

He brought her beer,for he knew how better than most,until she fellasleep in her seat."Now I have avengedmy wrongs —all but one,the one I want most."

"Vel ek," kvað Völundr"verða ek á fitjumþeim er mik Níðaðarnámu rekkar."Hlæjandi Völundrhófsk at loftigrátandi Böðvildrgekk ór eyjutregði för friðilsok föður reiði.

"It suits me well," said Volund,"that I stand again on legsthat Nidud'smen crippled."Laughing, Volundrose into the air;weeping, Bodvildwalked from the island,grieving her lover's flightand her father's rage.

Úti stendr kunnigkván Níðaðarok hon inn of gekkendlangan sal- en hann á salgarðsettisk at hvílask -:"Vakir þú, NíðuðrNíara dróttinn?"Níðuðr kvað:

Outside stands the knowingwife of Nidud,and she walks inthe length of the hall —but he had sat downby the courtyard wall to rest —:"Are you awake, Nidud,lord of the Njars?"

"Vaki ek ávalltviljalausssofna ek minnstsíz mína sonu dauða;kell mik í höfuðköld eru mér ráð þínvilnumk ek þess núat ek við Völund dæma.

Nidud said:"I'm always awake,stripped of joy,I sleep least of allsince my sons died;my head is cold,your counsel was cold to me —now I wantto speak with Volund.

Seg þú mér þat, Völundrvísi alfaaf heilum hvat varðhúnum mínum."Völundr kvað:

Tell me this, Volund,prince of elves:what became, whole and sound,of my boys?"

"Eiða skaltu mér áðralla vinnaat skips borðiok at skjaldar röndat mars bægiok at mækis eggat þú kvelj-atkván Völundarné brúði minniat bana verðirþótt vér kván eigimþá er ér kunniðeða jóð eigiminnan hallar.

Volund said:"First you'll swear meevery oath:by the ship's railand the shield's rim,by the horse's shoulderand the sword's edge,that you won't tormentVolund's wife,nor be the deathof my bride —though you know wellI have a wife,and a child too,inside your hall.

Gakk þú til smiðjuþeirar er þú gerðirþar fiðr þú belgiblóði stokkna;sneið ek af höfuðhúna þinnaok und fen fjötursfætr of lagðak.

Go to the smithythat you built for me;there you'll find the bellowsspattered with blood;I struck off the headsof your two boysand buried their feetunder the bellows-pit.

En þær skálarer und skörum várusveip ek útan silfriselda ek Níðaði;en ór augumjarknasteinasenda ek kunnigrikván Níðaðar.

And the skullsthat had lain under their hairI covered outside with silver,sent them to Nidud;and out of their eyesI made precious stones,sent them to Nidud'sknowing wife.

En úr tönnumtveggja þeirasló ek brjóstkringlursenda ek Böðvildi;nú gengr Böðvildrbarni aukineingadóttirykkur beggja."Níðuðr kvað:

And out of the teethof the two of themI beat brooches,sent them to Bodvild;now Bodvild walksheavy with child,the only daughterthe two of you had."

"Mæltir-a þú þat máler mik meir treginé ek þik vilja, Völundrverr of níta;er-at svá maðr hárat þik af hesti takiné svá öflugrat þik neðan skjótiþar er þú skollirvið ský uppi."

Nidud said:"You've spoken no wordthat grieves me more,nor is there any wayI'd want to punish you worse, Volund;there's no man tall enoughto pull you from your horse,no man strong enoughto shoot you downwhere you hangagainst the sky."

Hlæjandi Völundrhófsk at loftien ókátr Níðuðrsat þá eftir.Níðuðr kvað:

Laughing, Volundrose into the air,and joyless Nidudsat there behind.

"Upp rístu, Þakkráðrþræll minn inn beztibið þú Böðvildimeyna bráhvítuganga fagrvariðvið föður ræða.

Nidud said:"Get up, Thakkrad,best of my thralls;go ask Bodvild,the bright-browed girl,to dress herself fairand come speak with her father.

Er þat satt, Böðvildrer sögðu mér:Sátuð it Völundrsaman í holmi?"Böðvildr kvað:

Is it true, Bodvild,what they told me:that you and Volundsat together on the island?"

"Satt er þat, Níðuðrer sagði þér:Sátum vit Völundrsaman í holmieina ögurstundæva skyldi;ek vætr hánumvinna kunnakek vætr hánumvinna máttak."

Bodvild said:"It's true, Nidud,what they told you:Volund and Isat together on the island —one hour of dreadthat should never have been;I had no strengthto resist him,no power at allto fight him off."