The Collected Works of William Morris :: :: University of Virginia Library

[Onund.]
“What joy since that day can I get
When shield-fire's thunder last I met;
Ah, too soon clutch the claws of ill;
For that axe-edge shall grieve me still.
In eyes of fighting man and thane,
My strength and manhood are but vain,
This is the thing that makes me grow
A joyless man; is it enow?”

CHAPTER IV

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Yea, seest thou thy wide wounds bleed?]

[Onund.]
“Yea, seest thou thy wide wounds bleed?
What of shrinking didst thou heed
In the one-foot sling of gold?
What scratch here dost thou behold?
And in e'en such wise as this
Many an axe-breaker there is
Strong of tongue and weak of hand:
Tried thou wert, and mightst not stand.”

CHAPTER VIII

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Meet was I in days agone]

[Onund.]
“Meet was I in days agone
For storm, wherein the Sweeping One,
Midst rain of swords, and the darts' breath,
Blew o'er all a gale of death.
Now a maimed, one-footed man
On rollers' steed through waters wan
Out to Iceland must I go;
Ah, the skald is sinking low.”

CHAPTER IX

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Brand-whetter's life awry doth go.]

[Onund.]
“Brand-whetter's life awry doth go.
Fair lands and wide full well I know;
Past house, and field, and fold of man
The swift steed of the rollers ran:
My lands and kin I left behind,
That I this latter day might find,
Coldback for sunny meads to have;
Hard fate a bitter bargain drave.”

CHAPTER XI

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“The brave men of days of old]

“The brave men of days of old,
Whereof many a tale is told,
Bathed the whiting of the shield,
In wounds' house on battle-field;
But the honour-missing fool,
Both sides of his slaying tool,
Since faint heart his hand made vain,
With but curdled milk must stain.”

CHAPTER XII

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[Song of the meeting of the Fore-fathers of Grettir.]

“At Rib-skerries, I hear folk tell,
A hard and dreadful fray befell,
For men unarmed upon that day
With strips of whale-fat made good play.
Fierce steel-gods these in turn did meet
With blubber-slices nowise sweet;
Certes a wretched thing it is
To tell of squabbles such as this.”

HERE BEGINS THE STORY OF THE LIFE OF GRETTIR THE STRONG.

CHAPTER XIV. OF GRETTIR AS A CHILD, AND HIS FROWARD WAYS WITH HIS FATHER.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Surely as winter comes, shall I]

[Grettir.]
“Surely as winter comes, shall I
Twist the goslings' necks awry.
If in like case are the geese,
I have finished each of these.”

[“This jewel-strewer, O ground of gold]

[Grettir.]
“This jewel-strewer, O ground of gold,
(His counsels I deem over bold),
On both these hands that trouble sow,
(Ah bitter pain) will burn me now;
Therefore with wool-comb's nails unshorn
Somewhat ring-strewer's back is torn:
The hook-clawed bird that wrought his wound—
Lo, now I see it on the ground.”

[“Grettir has in such wise played]

[Asmund.]
“Grettir has in such wise played,
That Keingala has he flayed,
Whose trustiness would be my boast
(Proudest women talk the most);
So the cunning lad has wrought,
Thinking thereby to do nought
Of my biddings any more.
In thy mind turn these words o'er.”

CHAPTER XVI. OF THE SLAYING OF SKEGGI.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[Of the Slaying of Skeggi.]

“A rock-troll her weight did throw
At Skeggi's throat a while ago;
Over the battle-ogress ran
The red blood of the serving-man;
Her deadly iron mouth did gape
Above him, till clean out of shape
She tore his head and let out life:
And certainly I saw their strife.”

CHAPTER XVII. OF GRETTIR'S VOYAGE OUT.

[“Rider of wind-driven steed]

[Grettir.]
“Rider of wind-driven steed,
Little gat I to my need,
When I left my fair birth-stead,
From the snatchers of worm's bed;
But this man's-bane hanging here,
Gift of woman good of cheer,
Proves the old saw said not ill:
Best to bairn is mother still.”

[“Good luck, scurvy starvelings, if I should behold]

[Grettir.]
“Good luck, scurvy starvelings, if I should behold
Each finger ye have doubled up with the cold.”

[“Otherwise would matters be]

[Grettir.]
“Otherwise would matters be,
When this shouting Haflidi
Ate in house at Reydarfell
Curdled milk, and deemed it well;

He who decks the reindeer's side
That 'twixt ness and ness doth glide,
Twice in one day had his fill
Of the feast of dart shower shrill.”

This is about as obscure as the original, which seems to allude to some event not mentioned in the Saga.

[“Grettir, stand up from thy grave]

“Grettir, stand up from thy grave,
In the trough of the grey wave
The keel labours, tell my say
Now unto thy merry may;
From thy hands the linen-clad
Fill of sewing now has had,
Till we make the land will she
Deem that labour fitteth thee.”

Then Grettir stood up and sang:

“Stand we up, for neath us now
Rides the black ship high enow;

This fair wife will like it ill
If my limbs are laid here still;
Certes, the white trothful one
Will not deem the deed well done,
If the work that I should share
Other folk must ever bear.”

CHAPTER XVIII. OF GRETTIR AT HARAMSEY AND HIS DEALINGS WITH KARR THE OLD.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Lessener of the flame of sea]

[Grettir.]

“Lessener of the flame of sea,
My strong hope was true to me,

When I deemed that treasure lay
In the barrow; from to-day
Folk shall know that I was right;
The begetters of the fight
Small joy now shall have therein,
Seeking dragon's-lair to win.”

Thorfinn answered, “Blood will seldom seem blood to thine eyes; no man before thee has had will to break open the barrow; but, because I know that what wealth soever is hid in earth or borne into barrow is wrongly placed, I shall not hold thee blameworthy for thy deed as thou hast brought it all to me; yea, or whence didst thou get the good sword?”

Grettir answered and sang:

“Lessener of waves flashing flame,
To my lucky hand this came
In the barrow where that thing
Through the dark fell clattering;
If that helm-fire I should gain,
Made so fair to be the bane
Of the breakers of the bow,
Ne'er from my hand should it go.”

CHAPTER XIX. OF YULE AT HARAMSEY, AND HOW GRETTIR DEALT WITH THE BEARSERKS.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“By the sea's wash have we made]

[Grettir.]
“By the sea's wash have we made
Graves, where twelve spear-groves are laid;
I alone such speedy end,
Unto all these folk did send.
O fair giver forth of gold,
Whereof can great words be told,
'Midst the deeds one man has wrought,
If this deed should come to nought?”

CHAPTER XXI. OF GRETTIR AND BIORN AND THE BEAR.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Oft that war-god came to hall]

[Grettir.]
“Oft that war-god came to hall
Frighted, when no blood did fall,
In the dusk; who ever cried
On the bear last autumn-tide;
No man saw me sitting there
Late at eve before the lair;
Yet the shaggy one to-day
From his den I drew away.”

CHAPTER XXII. OF THE SLAYING OF BIORN.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“In hard strife I slew the bear]

[Grettir.]
“In hard strife I slew the bear,
Thereof many a man doth hear;
Then the cloak I oft had worn,
By the beast to rags was torn;

Thou, O braggart ring-bearer,
Wrought that jest upon me there,
Now thou payest for thy jest,
Not in words am I the best.”

CHAPTER XXIV. OF THE SLAYING OF GUNNAR, & GRETTIR'S STRIFE WITH EARL SVEIN.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“To our helping came]

[Grettir.]

“To our helping came
The great of name;
Thorfinn was there
Born rule to bear;
When all bolts fell
Into locks, and hell
Cried out for my life
In the Tunsberg strife.

The Dromund fair
Of red seas was there,
The stone of the bane
Of steel-gods vain:
From Bylest's kin
My life to win,
Above all men,
He laboured then.

Then the king's folk
Would strike no stroke
To win my head;
So great grew dread;
For the leopard came
With byrni's flame,
And on thoughts-burg wall
Should that bright fire fall.”

CHAPTER XXVII. THE SUIT FOR THE SLAYING OF THORGILS MAKSON.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Mighty strife the warrior made]

[Thormod.]
“Mighty strife the warrior made
When to earth was Makson laid,
Well the sword-shower wrought he there,
Flesh the ravens got to tear;
Then when Skuf and Biarni fell,
He was there the tale to tell;
Sea-steed's rider took his way
Through the thickest of the fray.”

CHAPTER XXVIII. GRETTIR COMES OUT TO ICELAND AGAIN.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Prithee, Audun, who can tell]

[Grettir.]
“Prithee, Audun, who can tell,
But that now thy throat shall swell;
That from rough hands thou shalt gain
By our strife a certain pain.
E'en such wrong as I have done,
I of yore from Audun won,
When the young, fell-creeping lad
At his hands a choking had.”

CHAPTER XXXI. HOW GRETTIR MET BARDI, THE SON OF GUDMUND, AS HE CAME BACK FROM THE HEATH-SLAYINGS.

[Somgs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“My life trust I 'gainst three]

[Grettir.]
“My life trust I 'gainst three
Skilled in Mist's mystery;
Whatso in Hilda's weather
Shall bring the swords together;
If over four they are
My wayfaring that bar,
No gale of swords will I
Wake with them willingly.”

CHAPTER XXXVII. OLAF THE SAINT, KING IN NORWAY; THE SLAYING OF THORBIORN TARDY; GRETTIR GOES TO NORWAY.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Day by day full over long]

[Grettir.]
“Day by day full over long,
Arrow-dealer, grows thy tongue;
Such a man there is, that thou
Mayst be paid for all words now;
Many a man, who has been fain,
Wound-worm's tower with hands to gain,
With less deeds his death has bought,
Than thou, Tardy-one, hast wrought.”

101

CHAPTER XL. OF GRETTIR AND SNŒKOLL.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

102

[“There the shield that men doth save]

[Grettir.]
“There the shield that men doth save
Mighty spurn with foot I gave.
Snœkoll's throat it smote aright,
The fierce follower of the fight,
And by mighty dint of it
Were the tofts of tooth-hedge split;
The strong spear-walk's iron rim,
Tore a-down the jaws of him.”

112

CHAPTER XLVII. GRETTIR COMES OUT TO ICELAND AGAIN.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“Heavy tidings thick and fast]

[Grettir.]
“Heavy tidings thick and fast
On the singer now are cast;
My father dead, my brother dead,
A price set upon my head;
Yet, O grove of Hedin's maid,
May these things one day be paid;
Yea upon another morn
Others may be more forlorn.”

113

[“One that helm-fire well can wield]

[Grettir.]

“One that helm-fire well can wield
Rode off from my well-fenced field,
Helm-stalk stole away from me
Saddle-fair, the swift to see;
Certes, more great deeds this Frey
Yet shall do in such-like way
As this was done; I deem him then
Most overbold and rash of men.”

Then he took horse and rode after him; Grettir rode on till he came up to the homestead at Kropp; there he met a man called Hall, who said that he was going down to the ship at the Wolds; Grettir sang a stave:

“In broad-peopled lands say thou
That thou sawest even now
Unto Kropp-farm's gate anigh,
Saddle-fair and Elm-stalk high;
That thou sawest stiff on steed
(Get thee gone at greatest speed),
One who loveth game and play
Clad in cape of black to-day.”

[“Sawest thou him who did me harm]

[Svein.]
“Sawest thou him who did me harm
On my horse by yonder farm?
Even such an one was he,
Sluggish yet a thief to see;
From the neighbours presently
Doom of thief shall he abye
And a blue skin shall he wear,
If his back I come anear.”

114

[“Say to guard of deep-sea's flame]

[Grettir.]
“Say to guard of deep-sea's flame
That here worm-land's haunter came;
Well-born goddess of red gold,
Thus let gamesome rhyme be told:
‘Giver forth of Odin's mead,
Of thy black mare have I need;
For to Gilsbank will I ride,
Meed of my rash words to bide.’”

[“What foreteller of spear-shower]

[Svein.]
“What foreteller of spear-shower
E'en within this nigh-passed hour,
Swift through the rough weather rode
Past the gate of this abode?
He, the hound-eyed reckless one,
By all good deeds left alone,
Surely long upon this day
From my hands will flee away.”

115

[“Who rode on my mare away?]

[Svein.]
“Who rode on my mare away?
What is that which thou wilt pay?
Who a greater theft has seen?
What does the cowl-covered mean?”

[“I did ride thy mare to Grim]

[Grettir.]
“I did ride thy mare to Grim
(Thou art feeble weighed with him),
Little will I pay to thee,
Yet good fellows let us be.”

116

CHAPTER XLVIII. THE SLAYING OF THORBIORN OXMAIN.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

118

[“Giant's friend fell dead to earth]

[Grettir.]
“Giant's friend fell dead to earth
On the grass of Wether-firth,
No fierce fighting would avail
Oxmain in the Odin's gale.
So, and in no other wise,
Has been paid a fitting price
For that Atli, who of yore,
Lay dead-slain a-nigh his door.”

126

CHAPTER LII. HOW GRETTIR WAS TAKEN BY THE ICEFIRTH CARLES.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

130

[“Ill luck to me]

[Grettir.]

“Ill luck to me
That I should be
On sea-roof-firth
Borne unto earth;
Ill luck enow
To lie alow,
This head of mine
Griped fast by swine.”

“What were they minded to do to thee,” said Vermund, “when they took thee there?” Quoth Grettir:

“There many men
Bade give me then
E'en Sigar's meed
For lovesome deed;
Till found me there
That willow fair,
Whose leaves are praise,
Her stems good days.”

Vermund asked, “Would they have hanged thee then, if they alone had had to meddle with matters?” Said Grettir:

“Yea, to the snare
That dangled there
My head must I
Soon bring anigh;

131

But Thorbiorg came
The brightest dame,
And from that need
The singer freed.”

Then said Vermund, “Did she bid thee to her?” Grettir answered:

“Sif's lord's good aid,
My saviour, bade
To take my way
With her that day;
So did it fall;
And therewithal
A horse she gave;
Good peace I have.”

132

CHAPTER LIV. GRETTIR MEETS HALLMUND ON THE KEEL.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

134

[“To the Kettle's side]

[Air.]

“To the Kettle's side
Now will I ride,
Where the waters fall
From the great ice-wall;
If thou hast mind
There mayest thou find
With little stone
Fist's land alone.”

Grettir said, “It is of no avail to seek after thine abode if thou tellest of it no clearer than this.”

Then Air spake and sang:

“I would not hide
Where I abide,
If thou art fain
To see me again;
From that lone weald,
Over Burgfirth field,
That ye men name
Balljokul, I came.”

Hall, a “stone:” mund, is “hand,” and by periphrasis “land of fist;” so that Hallmund is meant by this couplet, and that was the real name of “Air,” who is not a mere man, but a friendly spirit of the mountains.

[“Too far on this luckless day]

[Grettir.]
“Too far on this luckless day,
Atli, good at weapon-play,
Brisk Illugi were from me;
Such-like oft I shall not be
As I was, when I must stand
With the reins drawn through my hand
By the unflinching losel Air.
Maids weep when they know I fear.”

139

CHAPTER LVII. HOW THORIR OF GARTH SET ON GRETTIR ON ERNEWATERHEATH.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

141

[Grettir's lay on Hallamind.]

“Wide and high doth Hallmund stride,
In the hollow mountain side.”

And this stave also is therein:

“At Ernewater, one by one,
Stole the swords forth in the sun,
Eager for the road of death
Swept athwart by sharp spears' breath;
Many a dead Wellwharfer's lands
That day gave to other hands.
Hallmund, dweller in the cave,
Grettir's life that day did save.”

143

CHAPTER LIX. GISLI'S MEETING WITH GRETTIR.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

148

[“In fighting ring where steed meets steed]

[Grettir.]
“In fighting ring where steed meets steed,
The sluggish brute of mongrel breed,
Certes will shrink back nothing less
Before the stallion's dauntlessness,
Than Gisli before me to-day;
As, casting shame and clothes away,
And sweating o'er the marsh with fear,
He helped the wind from mouth and rear.”

151

CHAPTER LXI. HOW GRETTIR LEFT FAIR-WOOD-FELL, & OF HIS ABIDING IN THORIR'S-DALE

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

[“O thou warder of horn's wave]

[Grettir.]
“O thou warder of horn's wave,
Not on this side of the grave
Will Steinulf's head be whole again;
Many more there gat their bane;
Little hope of Thorgils now
After that bone-breaking blow:
Eight Gold-scatterers more they say,
Dead along the river lay.”

154

CHAPTER LXII. OF THE DEATH OF HALLMUND, GRETTIR'S FRIEND.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

155

[“Now know I aright]

[Grim.]
“Now know I aright,
That in man's might,
And in man's bliss,
No trust there is;
On the day of bale
Shall all things fail;
Courage is o'er,
Luck mocks no more.”

[“When I drew adown]

[Grim.]

“When I drew adown
The bridle brown
Grettir's hard hold,
Men deemed me bold;
Long while looked then
The brave of men
In his hollow hands,
The harm of lands.

“Then came the day
Of Thorir's play
On Ernelake-heath
When we from death
Our life must gain;

156

Alone we twain
With eighty men
Must needs play then.

“Good craft enow
Did Grettir show
On many a shield
In that same field;
Natheless I hear
That my marks were
The deepest still;
The worst to fill.

“Those who were fain
His back to gain,
Lost head and hand,
Till of the band,
From the Well-wharf-side,
Must there abide
Eighteen behind
That none can find.

“With the giant's kin
Have I oft raised din;
To the rock folk
Have I dealt out stroke;
Ill things could tell
That I smote full well;
The half-trolls know
My baneful blow.

“Small gain in me
Did the elf-folk see,
Or the evil wights
Who ride anights.”

158

CHAPTER LXIII. HOW GRETTIR BEGUILED THORIR OF GARTH WHEN HE WAS NIGH TAKING HIM.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

159

[“Now make I no battle-field]

[Grettir.]

“Now make I no battle-field
With the searching stems of shield.
Rife with danger is my day,
And alone I go my way:
Nor shall I go meet, this tide,
Odin's storm, but rather bide
Whatso fate I next may have;
Scarce, then, shalt thou deem me brave.

“Thence where Thorir's company
Thronging ride, I needs must flee;
If with them I raised the din,
Little thereby should I win;
Brave men's clashing swords I shun,
Woods must hide the hunted one;
For through all things, good and ill,
Unto life shall I hold still.”

[“O wise sun of golden stall]

[Grettir.]
“O wise sun of golden stall,
When thy sire comes back to hall,
Thou mayst tell him without sin
This, though little lies therein,
That thou saw'st me ride hereby,

160

With but two in company,
Past the door of Skeggi's son,
Nigh his hearth, O glittering one.”

165

CHAPTER LXVI. OF THE DWELLER IN THE CAVE UNDER THE FORCE.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

166

[“There into gloomy gulf I passed]

[Grettir.]

“There into gloomy gulf I passed,
O'er which from the rock's throat is cast
The swirling rush of waters wan,
To meet the sword-player feared of man,
By giant's hall the strong stream pressed
Cold hands against the singer's breast;
Huge weight upon him there did hurl
The swallower of the changing whirl.”

And this other one withal:

“The dreadful dweller of the cave
Great strokes and many 'gainst me drave;
Full hard he had to strive for it,
But toiling long he wan no whit;
For from its mighty shaft of tree
The heft-sax smote I speedily;
And dulled the flashing war-flame fair
In the black breast that met me there.”

179

CHAPTER LXXIV. OF GRETTIR'S WRESTLING: AND HOW THORBIORN ANGLE NOW BOUGHT THE MORE PART OF DRANGEY.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

180

[“I, well known to men, have been]

[Grettir.]
“I, well known to men, have been
On this morn both hid and seen;
Double face my fortune wears,
Evil now, now good it bears;
Doubtful play-board have I shown
Unto these men, who have grown
Doubtful of their given word;
Hafr's big noise goes overboard.”

[“Raisers-up of roof of war]

[Grettir.]
“Raisers-up of roof of war
Nose to nose in counsel are;
Wakeners of the shield-rain sit
Wagging beard to talk of it:
Scatterers of the serpent's bed
Round about lay head to head.
For belike they heard my name;
And must balance peace and shame.”

184

CHAPTER LXXVII. GRETTIR AT THE HOMESTEAD OF REEKS.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

185

[“Stay a little, foolish one!]

[Grettir.]
“Stay a little, foolish one!
When the shield-shower is all done,
With the conquered carles and lords,
Men bide not to measure swords:
Many a man had there been glad,
Lesser war-gear to have had,
With a heart more void of fear;
Such I am not, sweet and dear.”

[“Sweet amender of the seam]

[Grettir.]
“Sweet amender of the seam,
Weak and worn thou dost me deem:
O light-handed dear delight,
Certes thou must say aright.
Weak I am, and certainly
Long in white arms must I lie:
Hast thou heart to leave me then,
Fair-limbed gladdener of great men?”

194

CHAPTER LXXXII. GRETTIR SINGS OF HIS GREAT DEEDS.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

195

[“Doubtful played the foredoomed fate]

[Grettir.]

“Doubtful played the foredoomed fate
Round the sword in that debate,
When the bearserks' outlawed crew
In the days of yore I slew.
Screamed the worm of clashing lands
When Hiarandi dropped his hands
Biorn and Gunnar cast away,
Hope of dwelling in the day.

“Home again then travelled I;
The broad-boarded ship must lie,
Under Door-holm, as I went,
Still with weapon-play content,
Through the land; and there the thane
Called me to the iron rain,
Bade me make the spear-storm rise,
Torfi Vebrandson the wise.

“To such plight the Skald was brought,
Wounder of the walls of thought,
Howsoever many men
Stood, all armed, about us then,
That his hand that knew the oar,
Grip of sword might touch no more;
Yet to me the wound who gave
Did he give a horse to have.

196

“Thorbiorn Arnor's son, men said,
Of no great deed was afraid,
Folk spake of him far and wide;
He forbade me to abide
Longer on the lovely earth;
Yet his heart was little worth,
Not more safe alone was I,
Than when armed he drew a-nigh.

“From the sword's edge and the spears,
From my many waylayers,
While might was, and my good day,
Often did I snatch away;
Now a hag, whose life outworn
Wicked craft and ill hath borne,
Meet for death lives long enow,
Grettir's might to overthrow.”

205

CHAPTER LXXXVI. HOW THORBIORN ANGLE BROUGHT GRETTIR'S HEAD TO BIARG.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

206

[“A greedy head I bring with me]

[Angle.]
“A greedy head I bring with me
Up from the borders of the sea;
Now may the needle-pliers weep,
The red-haired outlaw lies asleep;
Gold-bearer, cast adown thine eyes,
And see how on the pavement lies
The peace-destroying head brought low,
That but for salt had gone ere now.”

[“O thou poor wretch, as sheep that flee]

[The good wife.]
“O thou poor wretch, as sheep that flee
To treacherous ice when wolves they see,
So in the waves would ye have drowned
Your shame and fear, had ye but found
That steel-god hale upon the isle:
Now heavy shame, woe worth the while!
Hangs over the north country-side,
Nor I my loathing care to hide.”

213

CHAP. XC. HOW THE LADY SPES REDEEMED THORSTEIN FROM THE DUNGEON.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

214

[“Field of rings, eight men, who raise]

[Thorstein.]
“Field of rings, eight men, who raise
Din of sword in clattering ways,
Strove the good short-sword in vain
From the strong dead hand to gain;
So they ever strained and strove,
Till at last it did behove
The feared quickener of the fight
From the glorious man to smite.”

227

GOOD PEOPLE, HERE THE WORK HATH END:
MAY ALL FOLK TO THE GOOD GOD WEND!

VÖLSUNGA SAGA: THE STORY OF THE VOLSUNGS AND NIBLUNGS, WITH CERTAIN SONGS FROM THE ELDER EDDA.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ICELANDIC BY EIRÍKR MAGNÚSSON & WILLIAM MORRIS

289

A PROLOGUE IN VERSE

O hearken, ye who speak the English Tongue,
How in a waste land ages long ago,
The very heart of the North bloomed into song
After long brooding o'er this tale of woe!
Hearken, and marvel how it might be so,
That such a sweetness so well crowned could be
Betwixt the ice-hills and the cold grey sea.

Or rather marvel not, that those should cling
Unto the thoughts of great lives passed away,
Whom God has stripped so bare of everything,
Save the one longing to wear through their day,
In fearless wise; the hope the Gods to stay,
When at that last tide gathered wrong and hate
Shall meet blind yearning on the Fields of Fate.

Yea, in the first grey dawning of our race,
This ruth-crowned tangle to sad hearts was dear.
Then rose a seeming sun, the lift gave place
Unto a seeming heaven, far off, but clear;
But that passed too, and afternoon is here;
Nor was the morn so fruitful or so long
But we may hearken when ghosts moan of wrong.

For as amid the clatter of the town
When eve comes on with unabated noise,
The soaring wind will sometimes drop adown
And bear unto our chamber the sweet voice
Of bells that 'mid the swallows do rejoice,
Half-heard, to make us sad, so we awhile
With echoed grief life's dull pain may beguile.

290

Naught vague, naught base our tale, that seems to say:
“Bewide-eyed, kind; curse not the hand that smites;
Curse not the kindness of a past good day,
Or hope of love; cast by all earth's delights,
For very love: through weary days and nights,
Abide thou, striving howsoe'er in vain,
The inmost love of one more heart to gain!”

So draw ye round and hearken, English Folk,
Unto the best tale pity ever wrought!
Of how from dark to dark bright Sigurd broke,
Of Brynhild's glorious soul with love distraught,
Of Gudrun's weary wandering unto naught,
Of utter love defeated utterly,
Of Grief too strong to give Love time to die!

WILLIAM MORRIS

302

CHAPTER VIII. THE DEATH OF KING SIGGEIR AND OF SIGNY.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

305

[Sinfjotli sawed]

[Song.]
Sinfjotli sawed
And Sigmund sawed,
Atwain with main
The stone was done.

320

CHAP. XIV. REGIN'S TALE OF HIS BROTHERS, AND THE GOLD CALLED ANDVARI'S HOARD.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

321

[“‘What fish of all fishes]

[Loki.]
“‘What fish of all fishes,
Swims strong in the flood,
But hath learnt little wit to beware?
Thine head must thou buy,
From abiding in hell,
And find me the wan waters' flame.’

[“‘Andvari folk call me]

[Andvari.]
“‘Andvari folk call me,
Call Oinn my father,
Over many a force have I fared;
For a Norn of ill-luck,
This life on me lay
Through wet ways ever to wade.’

[“‘Gold enow, good enow]

[Loki.]
“‘Gold enow, good enow,
A great weregild, thou hast,
That my head in good hap I may hold;
But thou and thy son
Are naught fated to thrive,
The bane shall it be of you both.’

324

CHAPTER XVII. OF SIGURD'S AVENGING OF SIGMUND HIS FATHER.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

325

[“Hnikar I hight]

[Hnikar.]

“Hnikar I hight,
When I gladdened Huginn,
And went to battle,
Bright son of Volsung;
Now may ye call
The carl on the cliff top,
Feng or Fjolnir:
Fain would I with you.”

They made for land therewith, and took that man aboard. Then quoth Sigurd, as the song says:

“Tell me this, O Hnikar,
Since full well thou knowest
Fate of Gods, good and ill of mankind,
What best our hap foresheweth,
When amid the battle
About us sweeps the sword edge.”

Quoth Hnikar.

“Good are many tokens
If thereof men wotted
When the swords are sweeping:
Fair fellow deem I
The dark-winged raven,
In war, to weapon-wielder.

“The second good thing:
When abroad thou goest
For the long road well arrayed,
Good if thou seest
Two men standing,
Fain of fame within the forecourt.

“A third thing:
Good hearing,
The wolf a howling
Abroad under ash boughs;

326

Good hap shalt thou have
Dealing with helm-staves,
If thou seest these fare before thee.

“No man in fight
His face shall turn
Against the moon's sister
Low, late-shining,
For he winneth battle
Who best beholdeth
Through the midmost sword-play,
And the sloping ranks best shapeth.

“Great is the trouble
Of foot ill-tripping,
When arrayed for fight thou farest,
For on both sides about
Are the Dísir by thee,
Guileful, wishful of thy wounding.

“Fair-combed, well-washen
Let each warrior be,
Nor lack meat in the morning,
For who can rule
The eve's returning,
And base to fall before fate grovelling.”

331

CHAPTER XIX. OF THE SLAYING OF REGIN, SON OF HREIDMAR.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

333

[The wood-peckers a-singing.]

[The first:]
“Bind thou, Sigurd,
The bright red rings!
Not meet it is
Many things to fear.
A fair may know I,
Fair of all the fairest,
Girt about with gold,
Good for thy getting.”

And the second:

“Green go the ways
Toward the hall of Giuki,
That the fates show forth
To those who fare thither;
There the rich king
Reareth a daughter;
Thou shalt deal, Sigurd,
With gold for that sweetling.”

And the third:

“A high hall is there
Reared upon Hindfell,
Without all around it
Sweeps the red flame aloft;
Wise men wrought
That wonder of halls
With the unhidden gleam
Of the glory of gold.”

Then the fourth sang:

“Soft on the fell
A shield-may sleepeth,
The lime-trees' red plague
Playing about her:
The sleep-thorn set Odin

334

Into that maiden
For her choosing in war
The one he willed not.”

“Go, son, behold
That may under helm
Whom from battle
Vinskornir bore,
From her may not turn
The torment of sleep,
Dear offspring of kings,
In the dread Norns' despite.”

CHAPTER XX. OF SIGURD'S MEETING WITH BRYNHILD ON THE MOUNTAIN.

[Songs extracted from the verse narrative.]

335

[What bit on the byrny]

[Brynhild.]
What bit on the byrny,
Why breaks my sleep away,
Who has turned from me
My wan tormenting?

[“Sigmund's son]

[Sigurd.]
“Sigmund's son
With Sigurd's sword
E'en now rent down
The raven's wall.

[“Long have I slept]

[Brynhild.]

“Long have I slept
And slumbered long,
Many and long are the woes of mankind,
By the might of Odin
Must I bide helpless
To shake from off me the spells of slumber.

336

“Hail to the day come back!
Hail, sons of the daylight!
Hail to thee, dark night, and thy daughter!
Look with kind eyes a-down,
On us sitting here lonely,
And give unto us the gain that we long for.

“Hall to the Æsir,
And the sweet Asyniur!
Hail to the fair earth fulfilled of plenty!
Fair words, wise hearts,
Would we win from you,
And healing hands while life we hold.”

[“Beer bring I to thee]

[Brynhild.]

“Beer bring I to thee,
Fair fruit of the byrnies' clash,
Mixed is it mightily,

337

Mingled with fame,
Brimming with bright lays
And pitiful runes,
Wise words, sweet words,
Speech of great game.

“Runes of war know thou,
If great thou wilt be!
Cut them on hilt of hardened sword,
Some on the brand's back,
Some on its shining side,
Twice name Tyr therein.

“Sea-runes good at need,
Learnt for ship's saving,
For the good health of the swimming horse;
On the stern cut them,
Cut them on the rudder-blade
And set flame to shaven oar:
Howso big be the sea-hills,
Howso blue beneath,
Hail from the main then comest thou home.

“Word-runes learn well
If thou wilt that no man
Pay back grief for the grief thou gavest;
Wind thou these,
Weave thou these,
Cast thou these all about thee,
At the Thing,
Where folk throng,
Unto the full doom faring.

“Of ale-runes know the wisdom
If thou wilt that another's wife
Should not bewray thine heart that trusteth;
Cut them on the mead-horn,
On the back of each hand,
And nick an N upon thy nail.

338

“Ale have thou heed
To sign from all harm,
Leek lay thou in the liquor,
Then I know for sure
Never cometh to thee
Mead with hurtful matters mingled.

“Help-runes shalt thou gather
If skill thou wouldst gain
To loosen child from low-laid mother;
Cut be they in hands hollow,
Wrapped the joints round about;
Call for the Good-folks' gainsome helping.

“Learn the bough-runes' wisdom
If leech-lore thou lovest;
And wilt wot about wounds' searching
On the bark be they scored;
On the buds of trees
Whose boughs look eastward ever.

“Thought-runes shalt thou deal with
If thou wilt be of all men
Fairest-souled wight, and wisest;
These areded,
These first cut,
These first took to heart high Hropt.

“On the shield were they scored
That stands before the shining God,
On Early-waking's ear,
On All-knowing's hoof,
On the wheel which runneth
Under Rognir's chariot;
On Sleipnir's jaw-teeth,
On the sleigh's traces.

“On the rough bear's paws,
And on Bragi's tongue,

339

On the wolf's claws,
And on eagle's bill,
On bloody wings,
And bridge's end;
On loosing palms,
And pity's path:

“On glass, and on gold,
And on goodly silver,
In wine and in wort,
And the seat of the witch-wife;
On Gungnir's point,
And Grani's bosom;
On the Norn's nail,
And the neb of the night-owl.

“All these so cut,
Were shaven and sheared,
And mingled in with holy mead,
And sent upon wide ways enow;
Some abide with the Elves,
Some abide with the Æsir,
Or with the wise Vanir,
Some still hold the sons of mankind.

“These be the book-runes,
And the runes of good help,
And all the ale-runes,
And the runes of much might;
To whomso they may avail,
Unbewildered unspoilt;
They are wholesome to have:
Thrive thou with these then,
When thou hast learnt their lore,
Till the Gods end thy life-days.

“Now shalt thou choose thee
E'en as choice is bidden,
Sharp steel's root and stem,

340

Choose song or silence;
See to each in thy heart,
All hurt has been heeded.”

Then answered Sigurd:

“Ne'er shall I flee,
Though thou wottest me fey;
Never was I born for blenching,
Thy loved rede will I
Hold aright in my heart
Even as long as I may live.”

351

CHAPTER XXVII. THE WOOING OF BRYNHILD.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

352

[Song.]

The flame flared at its maddest,
Earth's fields fell a-quaking
As the red flame aloft
Licked the lowest of heaven.
Few had been fain,
Of the rulers of folk,
To ride through that flame,
Or athwart it to tread.

Then Sigurd smote
Grani with sword,
And the flame was slaked
Before the king;
Low lay the flames
Before the fain of fame;
Bright gleamed the array
That Regin erst owned.

354

CHAPTER XXVIII. HOW THE QUEENS HELD ANGRY CONVERSE TOGETHER AT THE BATHING.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

356

[Song.]

The worm Sigurd slew,
Nor e'er shall that deed
Be worsened by age
While the world is alive:
But thy brother the King
Never durst, never bore
The flame to ride down,
Through the fire to fare.

357

CHAP. XXIX. OF BRYNHILD'S GREAT GRIEF AND MOURNING.

362

[Song of Sigurd.]

Out then went Sigurd,
The great kings' well-loved,
From the speech and the sorrow,
Sore drooping, so grieving,
That the shirt round about him
Of iron rings woven,
From the sides brake asunder
Of the brave in the battle.

363

CHAPTER XXX. OF THE SLAYING OF SIGURD FAFNIR'S BANE.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

364

[Song.]

Fish of the wild-wood,
Worm smooth crawling,
With wolf-meat mingled,
They minced for Guttorm;
Then in the beaker,
In the wine his mouth knew,
They set it, still doing
More deeds of wizards.

366

CHAPTER XXXI. OF THE LAMENTATION OF GUDRUN OVER SIGURD DEAD, AS IT IS TOLD IN THE ANCIENT SONGS.

[Gudrun of old days]

Gudrun of old days
Drew near to dying
As she sat in sorrow
Over Sigurd;
Yet she sighed not
Nor smote hand on hand,
Nor wailed she aught
As other women.

367

Then went earls to her,
Full of all wisdom,
Fain help to deal
To her dreadful heart:
Hushed was Gudrun
Of wail or greeting,
But with heavy woe
Was her heart a-breaking.

Bright and fair
Sat the great earls' brides,
Gold arrayed
Before Gudrun;
Each told the tale
Of her great trouble,
The bitterest bale
She erst abode.

Then spake Giaflaug,
Giuki's sister:
“Lo upon earth
I live most loveless
Who of five mates
Must see the ending,
Of daughters twain
And three sisters,
Of brethren eight,
And abide behind lonely.”

Naught gat Gudrun
Of wail or greeting,
So heavy was she
For her dead husband,
So dreadful-hearted
For the King laid dead there.

Then spake Herborg
Queen of Hunland:

368

“Crueller tale
Have I to tell of,
Of my seven sons
Down in the Southlands,
And the eighth man, my mate,
Felled in the death-mead.

“Father and mother,
And four brothers,
On the wide sea
The winds and death played with:
The billows beat
On the bulwark boards.

“Alone must I sing o'er them,
Alone must I array them,
Alone must my hands deal with
Their departing;
And all this was
In one season's wearing,
And none was left
For love or solace.

“Then was I bound
A prey of the battle,
When that same season
Wore to its ending;
As a tiring may
Must I bind the shoon
Of the duke's high dame,
Every day at dawning.

“From her jealous hate
Gat I heavy mocking,
Cruel lashes
She laid upon me,

369

Never met I
Better master
Or mistress worser
In all the wide world.”

Naught gat Gudrun
Of wail or greeting,
So heavy was she
For her dead husband,
So dreadful-hearted
For the King laid dead there.

Then spake Gullrond,
Giuki's daughter:
“O foster-mother,
Wise as thou mayst be,
Naught canst thou better
The young wife's bale.”
And she bade uncover
The dead King's corpse.

She swept the sheet
Away from Sigurd,
And turned his cheek
Towards his wife's knees—
“Look on thy loved one
Lay lips to his lips,
E'en as thou wert clinging
To thy king alive yet!”

Once looked Gudrun—
One look only,
And saw her lord's locks
Lying all bloody,
The great man's eyes
Glazed and deadly,

370

And his heart's bulwark
Broken by sword-edge.

Back then sank Gudrun,
Back on the bolster,
Loosed was her head array,
Red did her cheeks grow,
And the rain-drops ran
Down over her knees.

Then wept Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter,
So that the tears flowed
Through the pillow;
As the geese withal
That were in the homefield,
The fair fowls the may owned,
Fell a-screaming.

Then spake Gullrond,
Giuki's daughter:
“Surely knew I
No love like your love
Among all men,
On the mould abiding;
Naught wouldst thou joy in
Without or within doors,
O my sister,
Save beside Sigurd.”

Then spoke Gudrun,
Giuki's daughter:
“Such was my Sigurd
Among the sons of Giuki,
As is the king leek
O'er the low grass waxing,
Or a bright stone

371

Strung on band,
Or a pearl of price
On a prince's brow.

“Once was I counted
By the king's warriors
Higher than any
Of Herjan's mays;
Now am I as little
As the leaf may be,
Amid wind-swept wood
Now when dead he lieth.

“I miss from my seat,
I miss from my bed,
My darling of sweet speech.
Wrought the sons of Giuki,
Wrought the sons of Giuki,
This sore sorrow,
Yea, for their sister,
Most sore sorrow.

“So may your lands
Lie waste on all sides,
As ye have broken
Your bounden oaths!
Ne'er shalt thou, Gunnar,
The gold have joy of,
The dear-bought rings
Shall drag thee to death,
Whereon thou swarest
Oath unto Sigurd.

“Ah, in the days by-gone
Great mirth in the homefield
When my Sigurd
Set saddle on Grani,

372

And they went their ways
For the wooing of Brynhild!
An ill day, an ill woman,
And most ill hap!”

Then spake Brynhild,
Budli's daughter:
“May the woman lack
Both love and children,
Who gained greeting
For thee, O Gudrun!
Who gave thee this morning
Many words!”

Then spake Gullrond,
Giuki's daughter:
“Hold peace of such words
Thou hated of all folk!
The bane of brave men
Hast thou been ever,
All waves of ill
Wash over thy mind,
To seven great kings
Hast thou been a sore sorrow
And the death of good will
To wives and women.”

Then spake Brynhild,
Budli's daughter:
“None but Atli
Brought bale upon us,
My very brother
Born of Budli.

“When we saw in the hall
Of the Hunnish people
The gold a-gleaming

373

On the kingly Giukings;
I have paid for that faring
Oft and full,
And for the sight
That then I saw.”

By a pillar she stood
And strained its wood to her;
From the eyes of Brynhild,
Budli's daughter,
Flashed out fire,
And she snorted forth venom,
As the sore wounds she gazed on
Of the dead-slain Sigurd.

375

CHAP. XXXIII. GUDRUN WEDDED TO ATLI.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

377

[Song.]

Byrnies short cut,
Strong helms hammered,
Girt with good swords,
Red hair gleaming.

[Song.]

On the horn's face were there
All the kin of letters
Cut aright and reddened,
How should I rede them rightly?
The ling-fish long
Of the land of Hadding,
Wheat-ears unshorn,
And wild things' inwards.

In that beer were mingled
Many ills together,
Blood of all the wood
And brown-burnt acorns,
The black dew of the hearth,
The God-doomed dead beast's inwards,
And the swine's liver sodden
Because all wrongs that deadens.

395

CHAPTER XLIII. THE LATTER END OF ALL THE KIN OF THE GIUKINGS.

[Songs extracted from the prose narrative.]

396

[Song.]

Off were the head
If Erp were alive yet,
Our brother the bold,
Whom we slew by the way,
The well-famed in warfare.
NOW MAY ALL EARLS
BE BETTERED IN MIND,
MAY THE GRIEF OF ALL MAIDENS
EVER BE MINISHED,
FOR THIS TALE OF TROUBLE
SO TOLD TO ITS ENDING.