Guðrúnarkviða in fyrsta

The First Lay of Guðrún

Det första Gudrúnkvädet

27 stanzas

Summary

A

Guðrúnarkviða I is a grief poem of extraordinary emotional intensity. Guðrún sits beside dead Sigurðr's bier, unable to weep. Women come to comfort her by telling their own sorrows.

Gullrönd lifts the shroud so that Guðrún sees Sigurðr's face. Guðrún's grief finally breaks forth. She praises Sigurðr: he was the greatest among men, like a leek above grass, like a stag among other animals, like gold beside grey silver.

The women tell their own grief stories: Gjaflaug lost seven sons and a husband, Herborg lost husband, sons, mother, father, and brothers, all at sea. Yet no sorrow measures against Guðrún's.

Brynhildr curses Guðrún for her tears. The poem ranks among the most moving texts in Eddic poetry and carries an elegiac tone unmatched in Norse literature.

The story

Ár var þat,er Guðrún gorðisk at deyja,er hon sat sorgfullyfir Sigurði;né hon gret sem konur aðrarné hon klofnaðiné hon knátti vína.

There was a timewhen Guðrún prepared herself to die,when she sat in sorrowbeside Sigurðr;she wept not as other women,she did not break apart,she could not lament.

English translation: own translation.

Gengu jarlaralsnotrir fram,þeir er hennar harðanhugar léttir vildu;þorir Guðrúnþeygi gráta,svá var hon hörð,hugr at springa.

The jarls stepped forward,all of them wise,those who wishedto ease her hard heart;yet Guðrún daredstill not to weep,so hard was she,the heart near to bursting.

English translation: own translation.

Þá gengu gullnarGjúka dœtrfram til Guðrúnarat freista gráts;þorir Guðrúnþeygi gráta,svá var hon hörð,hugr at springa.

Then came forwardGjuki's golden daughtersup to Guðrúnto try to bring forth tears;yet Guðrún daredstill not to weep,so hard was she,the heart near to bursting.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Gjaflaug,Gjúka systir:'Þik veit ek mestanmann á moldu,þá er þú mestanmann á moldu misstr;'

Then Gjaflaug spoke,Gjuki's sister:'I know you have lostthe greatest man on earth,the greatest manupon the face of earth.'

English translation: own translation.

Né hon gret sem konur aðrarné hon klofnaðiné hon knátti vína,svá var hon hörð,hugr at springa,yfir gram liggja.

She wept not as other women,she did not break apart,she could not lament,so hard was she,the heart near to bursting,lying over her lord.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Gullrönd,Gjúka dóttir:'Þú veizt eigi, fóstra,þótt þik frœðir,hvé þú skallt ungrivið göfgan búa.'Bað hún hyljaaf hræ konungs.

Then Gullrönd spoke,Gjuki's daughter:'You do not understand, foster-mother,however you may instruct her,how she who is youngshall live without the noble one.'She commanded that the shroud be liftedfrom the king's body.

English translation: own translation.

Hún sneri höfðihennar á kné sérok bað hána lítaá líkn vin síns:'Sé til Sigurðar',setti munn á mun,svá sem á gram gramgæfum saman.'

She turned her headonto her own kneeand bade her lookupon the face of her beloved:'Look upon Sigurðr',she placed mouth to mouth,as one laysgood gifts before a lord.'

English translation: own translation.

Leit Guðrúngeyja einu sinni,sá und lokkumlýðkonungs hár,ok blóðgar kinnarbragar líkr,ok döðlaðu augudróttins hennar.

Guðrún gazeda single time,saw beneath the locksthe people-king's hair,and the blood-stained cheeksbefitting a prince,and the closed eyesof her lord.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kneyfði Guðrúnok gret fast,svá at tár runnutil grundar niðr,ok gól of grátgæsir í túni,fugls fráligafjöðrar á kvísl.

Then Guðrún bowed downand wept fiercely,so that tears randown to the ground,and the geese cried out in griefout in the yard,the bird's featherstrembling in the wind.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Gullrönd,Gjúka dóttir:'Ykkr vissi ek mestmanna lífaaf öllum konumok körlum saman;þá er þú kannt lífvið ljósan Sigurð.'

Then Gullrönd spoke,Gjuki's daughter:'You I knew as greatestamong the livingof all womenand men together;that was when you livedwith bright Sigurðr.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Guðrún,Gjúka dóttir:'Slíkr var minn Sigurðrmeðal sona Gjúkasem væri geirlaukrór grasi vaxinn,eða væri bjartr steinná band dreginn,jarknasteinnyfir öðrum dýrum.'

Then Guðrún spoke,Gjuki's daughter:'Such was my Sigurðramong the sons of Gjukias if a spear-leekhad grown up from the grass,or as a bright stonethreaded on a band,a precious gemabove other jewels.'

English translation: own translation.

Ek þóttumk minnmeðal manna,þann er Gjúka synirgæfum létu;nú em ek svá lítilsem lauf séá ölm viðieptir dauða hans.

I seemed to myself greatamong men,he whom Gjuki's sonslet fortune attend;now I am as smallas a leafon an elm-treeafter his death.

English translation: own translation.

Sakna ek í sætiok í sæingmins tryggva vinarGjúka sonar.Gunnar ok Högniganga mér hjá,svá kom á hlutinnhilmir minn dauðr.

I miss in the high-seatand in the bedmy faithful friend,Gjuki's son.Gunnar and Högniwalk beside me,thus it came aboutthat my lord is dead.

English translation: own translation.

Svá gengu mínirgunnhrafnar,stórir ok stuttir,stafnir búnir;svá lá Sigurðrsleginn hestar,at gerðum mérGjúka synir.

So went mywar-ravens,great and small,ready to fly;so lay Sigurðrslain among the horses,that was what Gjuki's sonsbrought upon me.

English translation: own translation.

Þekkjum ek Sigurðsem sé samanupp vaxinnulfi biturnar,eða væriaf öllum dýrumhjörtr einnyfir öðrum.

I knew Sigurðras if he had grown uptogetherwith sharp wolves,or as if he wereof all animalsalone a stagabove the others.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Herborg,dróttning Húnalands:'Ek á harðaraharmr at gráta;missta ek sjau sonasuðr í víking,átta bróður.

Then Herborg spoke,queen of the Hunlands:'I have heaviergrief to weep;I lost seven sonssouthward on a viking raid,eight brothers.

English translation: own translation.

Föður ok móðurfór ek at líkna,frændr mínir allirá floti drukknuðu,bræðr mínir allirá báti brunnu,ek varð at þjónaþjóðkonungi.',

Father and motherI went to tend,all my kinsmendrowned at sea,all my brothersburned in their ship,I was forced to servethe great king.'

English translation: own translation.

Ek skóp ok saumlaðrskóp hvern morginek var þjónarþjóðkonungs kván;hon mik barðibitr reiðr,hverr dagrhvárrgi lengr.

I sewed and stitchedevery morning,I servedthe great king's wife;she struck mein bitter rage,every daywithout ceasing.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Gjaflaug,Gjúka systir:'Ek á harðaraharmr at gráta;missta ek sjau mannaok sex sona,bræðra tveggjaok bóanda.

Then Gjaflaug spoke,Gjuki's sister:'I have heaviergrief to weep;I lost seven husbandsand six sons,two brothersand one husband.

English translation: own translation.

Né hon gret sem konur aðrarné hon klofnaði,svá er Guðrúngrátit hafðivið hræ Sigurðarsveinn ok mær;svá kneyfði honknáttivélar.

She wept not as other women,she did not break apart,such was how Guðrúnhad weptover Sigurðr's corpse,boy and maid alike;so did she bowon her knees.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Gjaflaug,Gjúka systir:'Þú ert, Guðrún,gört of harma,svá at þér munmargs mis líða;rað af þérráðit fara.'

Then Gjaflaug spoke,Gjuki's sister:'You are, Guðrún,made for griefs,so that you mustgo without much;counsel from youhas departed.'

English translation: own translation.

Þrjár nátt ok þrjár dagarþótti mér vera,er ek hlóðumk harmrhveim es kynni;þá réð mérráðgjafi gott,ok kallaðimkkonungsins vin.

Three nights and three daysit seemed to me,while I loaded griefupon each one who asked;then a good counselwas given to me,and I was calledthe king's friend.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Brynhildr,Buðla dóttir:'Sú á mann einnmanna bezt,er aldri grétof gram sínum,né hennar bræðrné bóandi.'

Then Brynhildr spoke,Budli's daughter:'She possesses the bestamong all menwho never weptover her lord,neither her brothersnor her husband.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Gullrönd,Gjúka dóttir:'Þegi þú, Brynhildr,þat mál eru þín þungt,alls þú ertöllum könum verst,ok hvatt tilhans dauða.'

Then Gullrönd spoke,Gjuki's daughter:'Be silent, Brynhildr,your words are heavy,for you areworst among all women,and you incitedhis death.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá hlœgði Brynhildr,Buðla dóttir,einu sinniaf öllum hug,er hon heyrðiharma grátsGuðrúnar kvánarGjúka sonar.

Then Brynhildr laughed,Budli's daughter,a single timewith her whole heart,when she heardthe grief-cryof Guðrún,wife of Gjuki's son.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Gullrönd,Gjúka dóttir:'Hvat hlœgir þú,ill kván,er þú heyrðirharm at gráta?Hví máttu eigimál at þegja?'

Then Gullrönd spoke,Gjuki's daughter:'Why do you laugh,evil woman,when you have heardgrief and weeping?Why can you notkeep your silence?'

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Brynhildr,Buðla dóttir:'Týna ek þértárum þínum,þarfar þérþrekvirki mín;sé þú Guðrúngráta svá.'

Then Brynhildr spoke,Budli's daughter:'I give youyour tears,my deeds of powerserve you well;see, Guðrúnweeps so.'

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

Guðrún , the grieving central figure whose frozen sorrow and outburst carry the entire poem
Sigurðr , the dead hero praised in nature similes of extraordinary poetic power
Brynhildr , her curse upon Guðrún's tears closes the poem with dramatic contrast

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Guðrúnarkviða I is preserved in Codex Regius, placed directly after Brot af Sigurðarkviðu.

The poem's structure, the frozen grief broken by seeing the dead man's face, has parallels in Irish and Anglo-Saxon elegiac poetry.

The nature similes for Sigurðr (leek/grass, stag/animals, gold/silver) belong to an established Norse praise tradition and appear in skaldic poetry.

B What we think we know

Gjaflaug and Herborg are otherwise unknown in Norse literature. Whether they reflect lost sagas or are poetic creations for this poem is debated.

The poem's relationship to Anglo-Saxon elegiac tradition (cf. 'The Wife's Lament', 'Wulf and Eadwacer') has prompted discussion of a shared Germanic heritage in elegiac poetry.

C What we do not know

Whether the poem was originally performed as a ritual mourning ceremony or is a purely literary composition 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.
Clunies Ross, Margaret. 1994–1998. Prolonged Echoes: Old Norse Myths in Medieval Northern Society, vols. I–II. Odense: Odense University Press.