Fáfnismál

The Lay of Fáfnir

Fáfners kväde

44 stanzas

Summary

A

Fáfnismðl depicts Sigurðr's dragon-slaying and its immediate aftermath. Sigurðr lies in a pit on the dragon-path and stabs Fáfnir from below. The dying dragon and Sigurðr conduct a wisdom dialogue in ljóðaháttr.

Fáfnir asks Sigurðr's name; Sigurðr first gives a false name, then his true one. Fáfnir warns of the gold's curse and shares cosmological wisdom about the Norns, Ragnarök, and the gods. He warns Sigurðr that Regin plans to betray him.

After Fáfnir's death, Regin returns and asks Sigurðr to roast the dragon's heart. Sigurðr burns his finger, tastes the dragon-blood, and suddenly understands the speech of birds. The birds (ígður) warn him: Regin means to kill him.

The birds counsel Sigurðr to slay Regin, take the gold, and ride to Hindarfjall where Brynhildr sleeps in enchanted slumber. Sigurðr strikes off Regin's head, loads the gold on Grani, and rides south. The poem ends at the foot of Hindarfjall and transitions directly into Sigrdrífumál.

The story

Fáfnir kvað:"Mögr, hverr ert þú,ok mögr, hvers ert þú,er þú á Fáfnis veg komst?Mun þik eigi hrœðahræ mítt at sjá,hvars þú stóðr á vér mitt?
Fáfnir spoke:"Youth, who are you,and youth, whose son are you,who came onto Fáfnir's path?Will you not fearto look upon my corpse,you who stood at my spring?"

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Göfugt dýr em ek,gengr ek æ uppréttr,móðir á mik fœdda;Hrœrekr heitirhringr stafnaðr,þat er ek þér segja þorrak."
Sigurðr spoke:"A noble creature am I,I always walk upright,a mother has borne me;Hrœrekr is my name,the stave-ringed one,that is what I have dared to tell you."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Hverr faðir á þér,hverr þinn faðir er,eða hvers ert þú mögr?Þú kannt heldr þínum feðrnafni heita,ef þú ert sannr at segja."
Fáfnir spoke:"Who is your father,who is your sire,and whose son are you?You must surely know your father'strue name,if you speak the truth."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Sigurðr heitik,Sigmundr átti mik,voru þeir feðr ok son;ek hefk þik,Fáfnir, vegit,ok þér er dauðr at vera."
Sigurðr spoke:"Sigurðr is my name,Sigmundr begot me,father and son were they;I have struck you down,Fáfnir,and you must now die."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Regin mik réð,réð hann þér ok,verðr hann þínn bani;mun hann þér ráða,þeirs ek veit,hlíðargangs hann hefr ok meiri."
Fáfnir spoke:"Regin counselled me,he has counselled you too,he will become your slayer;he will rule over you,that I know,and he holds greater sway on the hillside."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Ráð þú mér, Fáfnir,allt þat er þú vitir,ok þú vel kannt,hvar nornir eru,þær er kjósakonungs börnum?"
Sigurðr spoke:"Counsel me, Fáfnir,all that you knowand know well,where the Norns are,those who choosefor the children of kings?"

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Nornir ek hugðanær þeim kynnum vera,þær er kjósa konungs börnum;sumar eru af Ási kyni,sumar eru af Alfa kyni,sumar dötr Dvalins."
Fáfnir spoke:"I thought the Nornsto dwell near those kindreds,those who choose for the children of kings;some are of the kin of the Aesir,some are of the kin of the Elves,some are daughters of Dvalinn."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Hvernig heita þær ærliggja á sóttarlegumok geta sótt þar svá?Segðu mér, Fáfnir,alls þú ert spakr,ef þú svara kannt."
Sigurðr spoke:"What are they called who lieon the sickbedand draw sickness to them thus?Tell me, Fáfnir,since you are wise,if you can answer."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Mjög eru margarmér þykkjaþær er heita líknir;þær taka sóttar meðalsárligra líknaok geta sótt þar svá."
Fáfnir spoke:"Very manyseem to me to bethose called líknir (healers);they take the remedyfor painful woundsand draw the sickness to themselves thus."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Hverr á ísinner liggr á ísfiöllum,ok mun ek ei þeim trúa?Segðu mér, Fáfnir,alls þú ert spakr,ef þú svara kannt."
Sigurðr spoke:"Who owns the icethat lies on the ice-mountains,and shall I not trust them?Tell me, Fáfnir,since you are wise,if you can answer."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Ísafjöll heita,en þeir búa á þeimer kenna megu;minnr mun þú þat vita,meðan ek lifi,þvít ek man þá fregna."
Fáfnir spoke:"Ice-mountains is their name,and those who can recognise themdwell upon them;you shall know less of thatwhile I live,for I intend to question them."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Segðu mér, Fáfnir,ef þú svara kannt,alls þú ert vitr ok spakr,hvat heitir ey súer liggr í suðriok kenna megu þrúnar?"
Sigurðr spoke:"Tell me, Fáfnir,if you can answer,since you are wise and knowing,what is the name of the islandthat lies to the southwhere Aesir and Fáfnir mingle?"

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Óskópnir heitir,en þar skulu allir guðarganga á vápnaþing;Bifröst brotnarer þeir fara yfir,ok kvíðr i mar maðrinn."
Fáfnir spoke:"Óskópnir is its name,and there all the gods shallgo to the weapon-assembly;Bifröst breakswhen they ride over it,and the horse swims in the sea."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Ormr lá á gulliok gat sér fé;hvat þú mér segja kannt?Hjálm ógnar berryfir öllum þeimer við orma eigust."
Sigurðr spoke:"The serpent lay on goldand gained wealth for himself;what can you tell me?The helm of terror he wearsover all thosewho contend with serpents."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Ægishjálm bar ekyfir öllum þeim,meðan ek á gulli lá;einn þóttumk ekvið alla vera,ok fann ek aldri svá mörgum."
Fáfnir spoke:"The helm of terror I boreover all of them,while I lay upon the gold;alone I seemed to myselfagainst all comers,and I found none ever so many as my equal."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Sá er mörg veitmikla mæðu þolameð hróðrs ofþorsta;þvít einn þykiskyfir öllum vera,er heim kemr til heðins."
Sigurðr spoke:"He who knows muchendures great hardshipwith the excess of glory-thirst;for he who believes himselfto be above all otherswill discover it when he comes home to battle."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Eitr drák ek upp,meðan ek í egg láHreiðmars húsum í;þá varð ek sváat ek orðinn emNíðungs nafn at hafa."
Fáfnir spoke:"Venom I drankwhile I lay in the eggin Hreiðmarr's dwelling;so it came aboutthat I becamethe bearer of the name of wretch."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Segðu mér, Fáfnir,hvat þú þat kannt,alls þú ert vitr ok spakr,hvat þú ráðs mérráða kannt,er ek njóta mætta gott?"
Sigurðr spoke:"Tell me, Fáfnir,what you know of this,since you are wise and knowing,what counsel you cancounsel me,that I might make good use of?"

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Reiðr er þér Regin,mun þér ráða bana,ok mun hann þinn banorð verða;styrk þinn er meiraen ek mættaat þér leggja fram."
Fáfnir spoke:"Regin is angry with you,he will counsel your death,and he will be the cause of your downfall;your strength is greaterthan what I was ableto bring against you."

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr kvað:"Þú ræðr mér, Fáfnir,at ek á brott riða,ok gull þat eftir láta;mun ek þá hafaer í heiðum liggrá grundu Gnítaheiðar."
Sigurðr spoke:"You counsel me, Fáfnir,to ride awayand leave the gold behind;but I will take whatlies on the heath,on the ground of Gnítaheið."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Þú munt riðaok sjá rauðan baugaok gull at Gnítaheiði;þat er þér banorðer þú þat þigr,þvít eitrið fylgir."
Fáfnir spoke:"You will rideand see the red ringsand the gold at Gnítaheið;that will be your downfallif you accept it,for the venom goes with it."

English translation: own translation.

Fáfnir kvað:"Regin mik réð,réð hann þér ok,verðr hann okkar bani;hann mun þín lífslokinn vera,ef þú honum trúir."
Fáfnir spoke:"Regin counselled me,he counselled you too,he will become the slayer of us both;he will bethe ender of your life,if you place trust in him."

English translation: own translation.

Síðan fann Sigurðrat hann hafði brenntfingr sinn af hjarta Fáfnis;hann brá fingrinumí munn sér,ok er blóðit kom á tungu hans,þá skilði hann fugls rödd.
Then Sigurðr foundthat he had burnthis finger on Fáfnir's heart;he put his fingerto his mouth,and when the blood came upon his tonguehe understood the speech of birds.

English translation: own translation.

Þar sat ígðaí limum ok mælti:"Þar sitr Sigurðrblóði svartr;Fáfnis hjartalætr hann á funa brenna.Spakr þætti mérhringbrjótr,ef hann et sjalfr nyti."
There sat a nuthatchin the branches and spoke:"There sits Sigurðrblack with blood;Fáfnir's hearthe lets burn upon the fire.Wise would seem to methe ring-breaker,if he ate it himself."

English translation: own translation.

Þar liggr Reginræðr of sik,vill tæla þanner hann treystir;berr af reiðirangan hug,vill hann hefna bróður síns.
There lies Regintaking counsel with himself,intending to deceive the onein whom he trusts;he bears in his wratha crooked mind,he will avenge his brother.

English translation: own translation.

Skammr er lífi,ef hann vill latalíf at þeim bróður bana;ráð þat taka,er þér er boðit:hogg af höfuð Regins.
Short is life,if he letsthe brother's slayer live;take the counselthat is offered to you:cut off Regin's head.

English translation: own translation.

Gamall jötunnþykki mér Regin vera,vill hann við vél taka;berr í brjóstibitran hug,þrýtr eitr af tungu hans.
An old giantRegin seems to me to be,he will resort to cunning;he carries in his breasta bitter mind,venom drips from his tongue.

English translation: own translation.

Höfuð hogg af,hringum njóttu,gullinu er á Gnitaheiði;vakna munt þúá vegi miklum,ef þú ert horskr ok hugumstórr.
Cut off the head,enjoy the rings,the gold that lies on Gnitaheiðr;you shall wakeon a great road,if you are wise and great of heart.

English translation: own translation.

Þar sé eká Hindarfjallifljóð hvátt liggja,ok um þærlogar brunnar;þessa er þér mesta þörf.
There I seeon Hindarfjalla fierce woman lying,and about herfires are blazing;this is what you need most.

English translation: own translation.

Ríðr gramrá Granaþar er Gjúka vegar,þar mun á þing faraþjóðkonungr;dóttir hans gefr þér þá.
The king rideson Graniwhere the roads of Gjúki lead,there shall the people-kinggo to the assembly;his daughter is then given to you.

English translation: own translation.

Þar mun Grímhildrgefa þér drekk,er þú munar glöggr at sjá;gleymisk þérganga sögu,ok kvinna öll mun þiggja.
There shall Grímhildrgive you a drink,when you seem clear of sight;forgotten will bethe tale of your journey,and every woman shall accept.

English translation: own translation.

Brúðr mun þú fáok brúðfé þiggja,Guðrúnar kynstigi;þér mun gefastgóð kona,er þú kannt at þiggja.
A bride you shall winand receive a bride-gift,climbing Guðrún's lineage;to you shall be givena good wife,if you know how to receive.

English translation: own translation.

Mundu Gjúkungrganga at þingiok mæla saman orð;þú munt verðaat vaxta karl,ef þú fylgir okkrum ráðum.
The Gjúkungar shallgo to the assemblyand speak words together;you shall becomea man of consequence,if you follow our counsel.

English translation: own translation.

Við ulfr þanner þú við skóg sér,varask þú vel, Sigurðr;þar er Gunnarrgengr með dólg,bitr á þik bít hans.
Guard yourself well, Sigurðr,against the wolfyou see by the wood;there is Gunnarrwho walks with enmity,his bite shall bite you.

English translation: own translation.

Ráð þú, Sigurðr,þínum sjálfr,ok hlýð at okkrum ráðum;mundu þér þatþegar þú ert gamall,er við þá er unnit.
Counsel yourself, Sigurðr,and listento our counsel;you shall remember itwhen you are old,what was fought against them.

English translation: own translation.

Þar liggja gullá Gnitaheiðiok rauðar baug;eitt er þar hjálmrok brynjaer Fáfnir fór með.
There lies goldon Gnitaheiðrand red rings;there is a helmetand a corsletthat Fáfnir bore.

English translation: own translation.

Ríð, Sigurðr,þar er rauðr hringr liggrá Hindarfjalli;þar sitr spakrá sverðs eggjumsá er þú skalt friðla.
Ride, Sigurðr,where the red ring lieson Hindarfjall;there sits the wise oneon the sword's edgeswhom you shall love.

English translation: own translation.

Ríðr gramrá Granaá gulli fáðan veg;þar mun hann finnafljóð hugstórter glæmr gulli.
The king rideson Granion a path adorned with gold;there shall he finda great-hearted womanwho glitters with gold.

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr reiðsíðan á Gnitaheiðiok fann þar gull mikit;hann tók þar hjálmok brynjuer Fáfnir hafði átt.
Sigurðr rodethen to Gnitaheiðrand found great gold there;he took there the helmetand the corsletthat Fáfnir had owned.

English translation: own translation.

Hann fann orminndauðan liggjaok Regin hjá honum;þá mælti hann:"Hér liggja báðir,þeir er mik undu."
He found the serpentlying deadand Regin beside him;then he said:"Here lie both,those who have wronged me."

English translation: own translation.

Hljóp hann þá á Granaok reið at Fáfnis bæli;hann fann þar gull mikitok lade á bak Grana;reið hann þá suðrtil Gjúka.
He leapt then onto Graniand rode to Fáfnir's lair;he found great gold thereand laid it on Grani's back;he rode then southwardtoward Gjúki.

English translation: own translation.

Hann sá loga mikinná fjalli ok ljóma af honum;hann reið at ljómanumok sá þar skipóok skjöld fagranok konu í brynju.
He saw a great fireon the mountain and radiance from it;he rode toward the radianceand saw there a shipand a fair shieldand a woman in a corslet.

English translation: own translation.

Hann tók sverðok skár brynjuna;hon vaknaði þáok settist uppok sá Sigurðok mælti:"Hverr klauf brynju mína?"
He took his swordand cut open the corslet;she woke thenand sat upand saw Sigurðrand said:"Who has cleft my corslet?"

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr mælti:"Sigurðr heitir,sonr Sigmundar,er þér klauf brynju."Hon mælti:"Lengi svaf ekok lengi var ek í svefni;langir erulífs mínna mein,hverr knátti mik vekja?"
Sigurðr said:"I am called Sigurðr,son of Sigmundr,who cleft your corslet."She said:"Long I sleptand long I lay in sleep;long arethe sorrows of my life,who was able to wake me?"

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

  • Fáfnir , the dragon Sigurðr slays; in death a wisdom-figure who warns of the gold's curse
  • ægishjálmr , the terror-helm Fáfnir wore; one of the dragon-hoard's most powerful objects
  • nornir , the fate-goddesses Fáfnir discusses with Sigurðr in the wisdom dialogue
  • Brynhildr , the sleeping valkyrie on Hindarfjall to whom the birds direct Sigurðr
  • Gramr , the sword that pierces Fáfnir from below

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Fáfnismál is preserved in Codex Regius and follows directly after Reginsmál. The poem is a wisdom dialogue in ljóðaháttr, the same verse form as Vafþrúðnismál and Grímnismál.

The dragon-slaying in the pit is firmly anchored in the Norse tradition and depicted on the Ramsund carving (ca. 1030) and the Hylestad stave church portal.

The birds' (ígður) role as advisors after the dragon-blood tasting appears in Völsunga saga and Þiðreks saga, confirming the motif was well known.

The transition to Sigrdrífumál occurs without a clear boundary in the manuscript; the title division is modern.

B What we think we know

Fáfnir's cosmological wisdom (stanzas 11-16) has similarities with Vafþrúðnismál and Grímnismál. Whether these stanzas are original or borrowed from the wisdom poetry tradition is debated.

The false name Sigurðr gives (varying between manuscripts) may reflect an older taboo belief concerning naming before dying enemies.

The number of birds and their identity vary across sources; the Codex Regius version has more bird-stanzas than Völsunga saga's retelling.

C What we do not know

The exact boundary between Fáfnismál and Sigrdrífumál in Codex Regius is disputed; where one poem ends and the other begins depends on editorial decisions.

Whether the dragon-blood motif (understanding animal speech through tasting blood) has a common Indo-European root or is a Norse innovation cannot be determined with current evidence.

Sources and further reading

Primary sources

  • Neckel, Gustav, och Hans Kuhn. 1983. Edda: Die Lieder des Codex Regius nebst verwandten Denkmälern. 5. uppl. Heidelberg: Winter.

Translations

  • Bellows, Henry Adams (trans.). 1923. The Poetic Edda. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. (PD)
  • Larrington, Carolyne (trans.). 2014. The Poetic Edda. Rev. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Scholarly works

  • Lindow, John. 2001. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Simek, Rudolf. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer.
  • de Vries, Jan. 1956–1957. Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte. 2 vols. Berlin: de Gruyter.
  • Turville-Petre, E. O. G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.