Guðrúnarkviða ǫnnur

The Second Lay of Guðrún

Det andra Gudrúnkvädet

44 stanzas

Summary

A

Guðrúnarkviða II is a retrospective monologue in which Guðrún tells her life to King Þjóðrekr. She recalls her happiness with Sigurðr, the bride-quarrel with Brynhildr, Sigurðr's murder, and her grief.

Grímhildr gives Guðrún a forgetting-drink and marries her off to Atli against her will. Guðrún describes the journey to Atli's court and her unhappy marriage.

Atli lures Gunnarr and Högni to his court and kills them. Gunnarr plays the harp with his toes in the serpent-pit. Högni's heart is cut out.

Guðrún's vengeance is terrible: she kills her own sons by Atli, serves him their blood as mead and their flesh as food, then reveals what he has eaten. She kills Atli in his bed and burns the hall.

The story

Þjóðrekr satþar með Húnum,stýrði hann þarstórrar þjóðar;þar settusk samanseggir at máli,leiddu at lífilíðnar sorgir.

Þjóðrekr satthere among the Huns,he ruled therea great people;there the men gatheredtogether in speech,drawing back to lifegriefs long past.

English translation: own translation.

Þar sat GuðrúnGjúka dóttir,hon tregr sínumtrega konungs;þótti henniþat upp veraaf sárum sorgumSigurðar mál.

There sat Guðrún,daughter of Gjúki,she grieved her grief,the grief of a queen;it seemed to herthat it liftedfrom burning sorrowsto speak of Sigurðr.

English translation: own translation.

Mun ek þér, Þjóðrekr,þat mæla,lífs at líðnumleiðask mín;Ek átta bræðrat Búðlungum,var ek systirsöxum þeira.

I will speak to you, Þjóðrekr,of this,of life'sdeparted sorrows;I had brothersamong the Buðlungar,I was sisterto six of them.

English translation: own translation.

Ek sofnaðaá armi Sigurðar,áðr ek vaknaðaaf vilja mínum;nú þykkjumk svásem hjörr legiþrumr ok þéttrþvert í hjarta.

I fell asleepin Sigurðr's arms,before I wokeby my own will;now it seems to meas though a sword layheavy and closeacross my heart.

English translation: own translation.

Sigurðr sóttiGjúka konungs,reið hann þarraðar til þings;Gunnarr ok Högnigengr móti honum,sá er allra mannamæztr í heimi.

Sigurðr sought outKing Gjúki,he rode therestraight to the assembly;Gunnarr and Högniwent to meet him,he who of all menis greatest in the world.

English translation: own translation.

Gaf mér Grímhildrgljúfrs drykk,köldum, er ek kvíðakkera sorgum;var þat of blandinnaf bjóri ok víni,þar váru kynnikonungs megin.

Grímhildr gave mea drink of forgetting,cold, while I shiveredwith sorrow's anguish;it was blendedof ale and wine,and in it laythe king's great power.

English translation: own translation.

Þar var af jörðuok af úpheim,þar var af hafihöfuð Svans blóð,þar var á arnarlegg at skera,dökkvar dreyrardauðra fiska.

There was from earthand from the outer world,there was from the seathe blood of the swan's head,there was from the eaglebone to cut,dark ichorof dead fish.

English translation: own translation.

Þar var of blandinnblóð af heiðan,þar var grasleykrgeymir at bregða,þar var þyrnirþurrr ok köldr,lífs ok dauðalyktar megin.

There was blended inblood from the heath,there was green leekto cast into the cauldron,there was thorndry and cold,of life and deaththe enchanted power.

English translation: own translation.

Gleymðak þarGjúka brœðrum,Þjóðrekr konungiþóttumk heima;þrír váru syniSigurðar at vinna,þrír váru dœtrDögling ynni.

There I forgotGjúki's brothers,King Þjóðrekrfelt like home to me;three sons hadSigurðr to win,three daughters hadthe noble one to delight.

English translation: own translation.

Síðan sá ekat sefa líðahjálm Gunnarheiman at fara;Högni fórór húsum sínum,brœðr mínirbáðir saman.

Then I sawgliding past in mindGunnarr's helmetsetting out from home;Högni departedfrom his dwelling,my brothersboth of them together.

English translation: own translation.

Fundu þeir mérfirða vanr,fundu þeir mérAtla konungi;gáfu þeir mérgull at gráta,vildu þeir mérvárar til þess.

They found for mea man beyond compare,they found for meKing Atli;they gave megold to weep over,they wanted mebound by oaths to it.

English translation: own translation.

Þekkjask þatþegar kvinna,er sér leggr maðrlífs í henni;þat veit GuðrúnGjúka dóttir,hvat henni gekkgegnum hjarta.

A woman knows itat once in herself,when a man layslife within her;Guðrún knows,daughter of Gjúki,what it was that passedthrough her heart.

English translation: own translation.

Þóttumk ek þatþjóða mæztr,fyr mér lægiljóss Sigurðr;nú þykki mérsem niðr legiein af öllumauðnar minna.

I seemed to myselfthe greatest among peoples,before me laythe radiant Sigurðr;now it seems to meas though a branch lay broken,alone of allof my fortune's tree.

English translation: own translation.

Áðr en ek kveðjakonung hvern,mætti ek af sorgumseggja mestan,nú em ek þar kominkynni at horfa,at ek á Atlaeiga skalk.

Before I take leaveof each king,I must of sorrowsspeak to the greatest,now I have come to this,to gaze upon my fate,that AtliI shall possess.

English translation: own translation.

Kvað Grímhildrkynni at fara,mál mín at mælamóður míns bræðr;hún bað mik þiggjaþaðan fé,bað mik þiggjaskþar til bœjar.

Grímhildr saidI should travelto state my casebefore my mother's brothers;she bade me acceptwealth from there,bade me goto that estate.

English translation: own translation.

Ek var þar at þingiþjóðkonunga,þar sá ek liðslítt manna minn;svá gerðusk vísarviðr þessir,Atli konungrarmi tók mik.

I was there at the assemblyof the kings of peoples,there I saw ofmy own men little;so those wise menacted,King Atlitook me in his arms.

English translation: own translation.

Réðumk eigiat ráðum þessim,þvíat mér ráðit varat ráðum öðrum;þá var mér boritbjartr fyr nótt,jafnt at lítaljós ok myrkr.

I had no sayin these deliberations,for it was decided for meby other counsel;then the light was borne before meat nightfall,equally visiblelight and darkness.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mun ek þessþágu njóta,sem ek hefiheðan at fara;sáðak ek þatsólar ljómií fögrum heimifyr okkarn son.

Then I shall of thatenjoy the gratitude,as I havefrom here to depart;I sowed thatin the light of the sunin the beautiful worldfor our son's sake.

English translation: own translation.

Sá ek þar húsarAtla konungi,borg ok breiðarbrautar stígar;þar var af gulligöfugr salr,þar váru af silfrisöxum þeira.

I saw there the hallsof King Atli,stronghold and broadroad-paths;there was of goldthe noble hall,there was of silvertheir swords.

English translation: own translation.

Lét ek þar Atlaaldri sínanjóta þess erniðjar unnu;lét ek hann þatlíða allt,hvat er hann vildivel at þessu.

I let Atliall his daysenjoy whatkinsmen had won;I let him thatall live through,whatever he wishedwell in this.

English translation: own translation.

Sá ek þá dreyrardauðra bræðra,fara til Frakklandsfémundum þeim;en mér lítt þóttilífs í þessum,þó er mér sváfusonr til sævar.

Then I saw the bloodof the slain brothers,going to Franklandwith those treasures;yet it seemed to melittle life in this,even when my sonslept toward the sea.

English translation: own translation.

Svá hafða ek þolatþungra hluta,sem hrafn þolirhlíðar tindar,þar er hann sitrvið snjóinn kaldan,ok bíðr þarbráðar sinnar.

So had I enduredheavy things,as the raven enduresthe mountain's peaks,where it sitsbeside the cold snow,and waits therefor its prey.

English translation: own translation.

Þá sendi Atliút sendimann,at spyrja ef Gunnarrgull vildi selja;kvað hann þar gångaGjúka niðjumþar sem þeir gengitgeima völlum.

Then Atli senta messenger out,to ask if Gunnarrwould sell the gold;he said Gjuki'skinsmen would goto where they had walkedacross the wide plains.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kveðr þat Gunnarr,gramr Niflunga:'Hvat munuð Niflungarnú ráða?'Huginn kvaddi þatá hám meiði,á þeim gullsetuganga þeir skyldi.

Then Gunnarr spoke,lord of the Niflungar:'What shall the Niflungarnow decide?'Huginn cried itfrom the high branch,that they should goto that golden meeting.

English translation: own translation.

Réð þat Gunnarrok Hǫgni þá,ríða til Atlaat reiðaðisk;gerðu þeir afgull at skjótaniðr í Rínáðr þeir fœri.

Gunnarr then decided,and Hogni with him,to ride to Atliand face his anger;they threw downthe gold into the Rhine,and hid it therebefore they departed.

English translation: own translation.

Nú riðu þeirnorðr í fjǫll,en mér gefinngrátr at ofugt;þá er konungarAtla vísaðu,þá varð oss báðumbitr skilnaðr.

Now they rodenorthward into the mountains,and to me was givenweeping against my will;when the kingswere shown to Atli,then bitter for us bothwas the parting.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Gunnarrgullhrings deilir:'Far þú, Guðrún,friðliga heim;mun ek sem ek máminnask á þik,þars er þú sértsæl við Atla.'

Then Gunnarr spoke,giver of the gold-ring:'Go, Gudrun,peacefully home;I shall as best I canremember you,there where you arehappy with Atli.'

English translation: own translation.

Síðan lét Atlisinn her ríða,en Gunnarr varí naðragörðum;þar lék hann harpuhárri rödd,svipuðu naðrarNíflungr at þat.

Then Atli hadhis army ride,and Gunnarr wasin the serpent-yard;there he played the harpwith a high voice,the serpents dartedat the Niflung then.

English translation: own translation.

Þá var ek at líkumlíknar munuð,þat er ek sá Gunnarhjarta blœða;let ek þó naðranjósna þar,svá at honumslœgr gat varnat.

Then I was at the corpse,without comfort,when I saw Gunnarr'sheart bleeding;I let the serpentssense it then,so that no cunningcould protect him.

English translation: own translation.

Tók Hǫgnihjarta skáru þeir,blóðugt ór brjóstibræðr mínum;gáfu þeir ossgeirans fœra,ok sváfu þeirsíðan aldri.

Hogni's heartthey carved out,bloody from the breastof my brother;they gave usthe spear's gift,and they sleptnever again.

English translation: own translation.

Hugðak þá, Atli,hvat þú skyldirlífa við Guðrúnulengr at njóta;munat þér af mínumminjum gæfa,þó er hann þóttiþingat líkr.

Then I thought, Atli,what you deserved,to live with Gudrunlonger to enjoy;you shall have no luckfrom my memories,though he seemedlike to that.

English translation: own translation.

Minnisk þú, Atli,hverr við þik deildi,er þú mæltirmargar eiðarvið Guðrúnuat Grana reiðum,ok við sólskinat suðrberg gullins.

Do you remember, Atli,who struggled with you,when you sworemany oathsto Gudrunby Grani's riding,and by the sunlighton the golden southern rock.

English translation: own translation.

Nú er þat komitsem koma skyldi;drap ek þína sonodýrra þinna,dreif þeira blóðdrykkjar í mjöð,gaf ek þér at drekkadreyra barna.

Now has it comeas it had to come;I killed your sons,your precious ones,mixed their bloodin the mead for drinking,I gave you to drinkthe children's blood.

English translation: own translation.

Hvíldr ek þar síðanhjá honum einni;gaf ek honum holdhrœra þeira,mataðak konunginnmeð kylfunumsona þinna,seggr, til þinga.

I rested thenbeside him alone;I gave him the fleshof their bodies,I fed the kingwith the meatof your sons,man, at the feast.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvazk Atlieigi vitahvat þar veiztuvel at þessu;þótti honum þatþinga mælt,er hann drakk þardreyra sona.

Then Atli saidhe did not knowwhat you knewwell of this;it seemed to himfitting at the feast,when he drank therethe sons' blood.

English translation: own translation.

Sagðak þér þá,seggr, at þú draktblóð þinna sonablandið mjöðinn;kvað þú þat þáþinga mælt vera,þá er þú draktdreyra þeira.

Then I told you,man, that you had drunkyour sons' bloodmixed in the mead;you said that wasfitting then,when you dranktheir blood.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Atli,ámælis fullr:'Hart ertu, Guðrún,hugum sterkri,er þú dreyra sonadrukkit hefr mér;stríðask þú kanntstorum hlutum.'

Then Atli spoke,full of reproach:'Hard are you, Gudrun,strong in spirit,who has made me drinkthe sons' blood;you can wrestlewith great things.'

English translation: own translation.

Hvat mun þér, Guðrún,gott at þessu,er þú dreyra sonadruckt hefr mér?Mun ek þik lítalíknar munuð,þar er ek sitsorgfullr jafnan.'

'What will be good for you, Gudrun,in this,that you made me drinkthe sons' blood?I shall look upon youwithout comfort,where I sitin sorrow always.'

English translation: own translation.

Kvað þat GuðrúnGjúka dóttir:'Þat mun þér, Atli,ámælt verða,þó at ek níunótt sofa,við Guðrúnugerða eiða.'

Then Gudrun spoke,Gjuki's daughter:'That shall be, Atli,a reproach to you,though I sleepnine nightsbeside Gudrunby sworn oaths.'

English translation: own translation.

Dreif þá Guðrúnof dag síðan,tók sverd í hǫnd,geirr inn skarpi;veitti hon þávígs at Atlafell hann í blóðá beðjum þar.

Then Gudrun rushedforward in the day,took a sword in hand,the sharp spear;she gave to Atlithe gift of battle,he fell in bloodon the bed there.

English translation: own translation.

Þá laust hon eldinní lǫngum sal,vakti hon vörðuþær er þar váru;gaf hon þá húskarlarhundum at bíta,brann þar innibuðlungr gamli.

Then she set fireto the long hall,she roused the guardswho were there;she gave the household mento the dogs to bite,the old king burnedinside there.

English translation: own translation.

Þar var Guðrúngrátandi sett,þá er hon gengit hafðiof góðan dag;harðr var hugr hennará hilmi þá,þó mundu hon eftirmín trauð gånga.

There stood Gudrunweeping then,when she had walkedthrough the good day;hard was her heartagainst the king then,yet she wishedto follow in my tracks.

English translation: own translation.

Sagðak þér þá,segðr Þjóðrekr,mínar sorgir,þær er mér setjask;hvat ek heyra hafðakhennar grát eina,þó at hennar hjartaharðt við mér þœtti.

I told you then, says Tjodrerk,my sorrows,those that weigh upon me;what I had heardof her weeping alone,though her heartseemed hard toward me.

English translation: own translation.

Þvílíkr munþeira níðingr vera,sás Guðrúnugrams einnar gengr;skyldir eigiskjaldmeyjar líkrvera við hanavel at þessu.

Such shalltheir wretch be,who from Gudrunthe king alone departs;he should notlike a shield-maidenbe toward herwell in this.

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

Guðrún , the grieving and avenging central figure; her monologue spans the entire Sigurðr-Atli cycle
Atli , Guðrún's second husband whose greed for the Gjúkung gold drives the catastrophe
Gjúkungar , Gunnarr and Högni whose deaths in the serpent-pit and by heart-cutting rank among the Edda's most famous scenes

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Guðrúnarkviða II is preserved in Codex Regius. The poem's retrospective monologue form makes it a summary of the entire Sigurðr-Atli cycle seen through Guðrún's eyes.

Gunnarr's harp-playing in the serpent-pit is one of the most iconic motifs in Norse tradition and is depicted in Viking Age art.

The forgetting-drink (stanzas 7-8) with its detailed ingredient catalogue (runes, ale-wort, sacrificial blood) has parallels in Celtic and Germanic sorcery tradition.

B What we think we know

The poem's dating and relationship to Atlakviða and Atlamál is debated. Some scholars view it as a late compilation, others as an independent early tradition.

Whether Guðrún's child-murder and cannibalism vengeance reflects an older mythic tradition or is a poetic intensification of the revenge motif is debated.

C What we do not know

Þjóðrekr's identity in the poem, whether he represents the historical Theoderic the Great or an independent saga figure, 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.