Helgakviða Hundingsbana I

The First Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani

Det första kvädet om Helge Hundingsbane

56 stanzas

Summary

A

Helgakviða Hundingsbana I tells of Helgi, son of Sigmundr Völsung. At his birth the norns come and spin his fate: he shall be the greatest of kings. Helgi grows quickly and kills King Hundingr early, earning his byname 'Hundingsbani'.

During his campaigns Helgi encounters the valkyrie Sigrún, daughter of King Högni. She reveals she is betrothed against her will to Höðbroddr, son of King Granmarr, and asks Helgi for aid. Helgi assembles a fleet and his finest warriors.

The fleet sails through a violent storm. Sigrún appears as a valkyrie above the ships and calms the sea. At Frekasteinn the decisive battle is fought. Höðbroddr falls and Helgi triumphs. The poem ends with the union of Helgi and Sigrún.

The poem is distinguished by the norn-scene at birth, the dramatic storm passage at sea, and the love-motif between hero and valkyrie, a theme that becomes central to the entire Helgi cycle.

The story

Ár var alda,þat er arar gullo,helgar vatnarfrá Himinfjöllum fello;þá hafði Helgiinn hugumstóriBorghildar burrí Brálundi.

It was in early ages,when eagles screamed,holy watersfell from Himinfjöll;then was Helgi,the great-hearted one,Borghildr's son,born at Brálundr.

English translation: own translation.

Nótt varð at nýjum,nornar kvámo,þær er aldarörlög skópo;þær báðo þannþjóðan verðamæztan munuðok manna bezt.

Night had newly fallen,the norns came,those who shapethe fates of men;they wished that thisprince should becomegreatest of rulersand best of men.

English translation: own translation.

Þær skópo þessþjóðkonungs lífok Helga nafnheiðum seldo;þær svinno mjök,snærist síðansvásligasunnanvegar.

They shaped thisgreat king's lifeand gave Helgihis honored name;they wound the threads well,then spungentlytoward the south.

English translation: own translation.

Þær festu þarfolginn þráttá Ránheimumum röðuls sal;þær gáfo gnógargulli fengnarvetti vísavestan fjarðar.

They fastened therethe hidden threadsat Ránheimararound the sun's hall;they gave abundantgold-embracedfate-ends to the princewest of the fjord.

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún var þarein norn þeira,sú er áttiAlf-heit;hón greip til hjálmshilmis ráðnar,Sigrlinn þóttiat svá vera.

Sigrún was oneof these norns,she who possessedthe elf-brightness;she grasped the helmetfor the prince's counselor,it seemed as ifSigrlinn was present.

English translation: own translation.

Einn var Sigmundrá ískaldanætr einarí niðmyrku;fantu þá drengjardrengi Helgaá hjálmi hersisat hamri ganga.

Alone was Sigmundrin ice-coldnightsin pitch darkness;then the warriors foundHelgi's warriorat the chieftain's helmetgoing with the hammer.

English translation: own translation.

Helgi nam þáHundingsbani,ok Hunding sonhjörvi rjóða;Alf ok Eyólf,Hjörvarð ok Hávarð,í þreki þáþjóðkonungs bur.

Helgi then slewHundingsbane,and Hunding's sonhe reddened with the sword;Alf and Eyvólf,Hjörvarðr and Hávarðr,in the crush of battle,the great king's son.

English translation: own translation.

Mér inn máttkimunr of líðrat Ráðseyjar-sundi fyr suðan;þar sitr Gandálfá grjótfjöllum,sá er mér bjóbatna veiti.

A great longingstirs in meat Ráðseyjarsundtoward the south;there sits Gandálfon stony hills,he who gives megood counsel.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað Helgiinn hugumstóri,konungr ungikynna skyldi:'Hvat hofuð berr þú,heiðis kona,at ek vinnaorð til mín?'

Then spoke Helgi,the great-hearted one,the young kingwished to declare:'What head do you carry,woman of the heath,that you urge meto my words?'

English translation: own translation.

Fjörr es allt þatflotna ræðrvið fjandmæliFreys ok Friggjar;þú skalt enn fáfyr þat gjöld,ef þú statt mérstafna næst.

Life is all thatthe sailors steeragainst the hostile wordsof Freyr and Frigg;you shall still receivereward for that,if you stood by menearest at the prow.

English translation: own translation.

Hlæja þat skyldiheiðar Nornarat víga blótivandraðar niðjar;þær bauðu lífá línborð sér,er menn genguí meginhelgu.

The heath-norms would laughat the battle sacrificeof the wicked lineage'skinsmen;they offered lifebeside themselves,when men enteredthe great sanctuary.

English translation: own translation.

Þá var Helgihregg-vitaðr,skjöldungr ungrat skóga rökum;þá var sigr gefinnSigmundar syni,enn Hundingr fellat hildar leiki.

Then was Helgistorm-tested,the young Skjöldungat the forest dusk;then victory was givento Sigmundr's son,and Hundingr fellin the play of battle.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kom Sigrún,sverðar glóðar,um fold faritfornar gögnum;valkyrja reiðof við geysar,lindi blíðumlogi þverra.

Then came Sigrún,maiden of sword-fires,riding through landsof ancient origin;the valkyrie rodethrough roaring forests,with mild shield-burdendimming the flames.

English translation: own translation.

Þeir váru hávarhjálmar lýsir,ór heimi komnarhjördís meyjar;þær sátu á bakiblakkar stóðar,skjaldar bjartirskáru ljóman.

They wore tallgleaming helmets,come from the worldthe sword-goddess maidens;they sat astridedark stallions,bright shieldscut through the radiance.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti HelgiHjörvarðs sonr,ok Hákon konungrhugði at hendi:'Hverr ríðr her sváhjálmar lýsir,meyjar gervarat malmþingi?'

Then spoke HelgiHjörvarðr's son,and king Hákonthought at his side:'Who rides here sowith gleaming helmet,maidens preparedfor the sword-assembly?'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún mælti:'Sætt þú Hundingsbani,þann er fyr mérflotna ræðr;hefr hann vígvið víðar þjóð,enn þjóðar gramrþrútinn reiðr.'

Sigrún spoke:'Have you seen Hundingsbane,he who before merules over ships;he has made waragainst wide peoples,and the people's kingswelled with wrath.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún mælti:'Höðbroddr mikhefi at kvánfangiþótt ek þat þolaþjóðkonungs burr;hitt er mér kærrakonungr þinnat ek lauk of þikljóma hjálm.'

Sigrún spoke:'Höðbroddr claims meas his bridal prizethough I, the great king's daughter,cannot endure it;it is dearer to me,your king,that I fastened around youthe gleaming helmet.'

English translation: own translation.

Fyr austan hafAlf vegit hefr,Hundingr hollrvið hilmi sat;þat hafði þjóðkonungrþverliga tekit,es Hundingsbanihlaut á konungi.

East of the seaAlf has been slain,loyal Hundingrsat with the ruler;that the great kinghad taken hard,that Hundingsbanehad struck down the king.

English translation: own translation.

Helgi mælti:'Hverr mun vegavíðar lýðarHögna mær,ef ek hitt fær?Brúðr sál þínberr þú mér,þá er sundr faraseggir rauðir.'

Helgi spoke:'Who shall subduethe wide peoples,Högni's daughter,if I achieve this?Your bridal hallyou bring to me,when the red warriorsfall in battle.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún mælti:'Friðr mun Þórrþat fremia ok guðir,er Höðbroddr þykirhéðan fara;þó mun hann þigþjóðkonungrhér á heiðumhjálm gefa.'

Sigrún spoke:'Thor shall confirmthis and the gods,that Höðbroddr seemsto depart hence;yet shall he to you,great king,here on the heathsgive the helmet.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti HelgiHundingsbani:'Sitr á Svávasunnanvegar,mær á miðjuMunarvági,sú er mér segirsvásliga.'

Then spoke HelgiHundingsbane:'Sigrún sitsfrom the south,a maiden in the midstof Munarvágr,she who tellstenderly to me.'

English translation: own translation.

Sér þú þar fyr austanari ok úlfar,á nornagögnumnes ok hólma?Þar munu komakonungs megir,þar es Hundingr fellþjóðar vísa.

Do you see there in the easteagle and wolves,on the norns' pathheadlands and islets?There shall comethe sons of kings,there where Hundingr fell,the ruler of peoples.

English translation: own translation.

Þat es, Sigmundar son,svá er mér lízt,at vegr víðrvið víkja ganga;hefr þú orðitat öðlingummeðan landrekarliggja undir.

It is, Sigmundr's son,as it seems to me,that the wide roadleads against the vikings;you have becomea lord of lineageswhile the chieftainslie defeated.

English translation: own translation.

Þá sendi Helgihjálmar beiðirørendi röskumrekum víða:skiptu seggirá sandi Brandey,báðu þar tilberja manna.

Then Helgi,the helmet-demander,sent word to boldwarriors far and wide:the fighters assembledon Brandey's shores,called there tothe warriors' meeting.

English translation: own translation.

Þeir váru margirmegindjarfir,er þeir réðu tilreynanda hildrar;konungr hafðikynstórra mannahundruð þrjúat hildar þingi.

They were many,greatly bold,when they steered towardthe trial of battle;the king hadof noble lineagesthree hundredat the battle-assembly.

English translation: own translation.

Konungr mæltikynna skyldi,er á sæ sigldiSigarsvöllum:'Hvat segir mérseggr inn gamli,hvern er at bíðabannsvörðr rögnar?'

The king spoke,wished to tell,when he sailed the seaat Sigarsvellir:'What does the old mantell me,what must awaitthe guardian of doom?'

English translation: own translation.

Gunnar mæltigumnar þikkvast,þann er knörr stýrðirá kaf djúpum:'Skiptu menná Sigarssvöllum,við hundruð tvauhraustra guma.'

Gunnarr spoke,the manliest of men,he who steered the shipin deepest water:'The men divided themselvesat Sigarsvellir,with two hundredbrave fighters.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi mælti:'Höfum vér sigr,þótt sigr verðiat Sigarssvöllum;ráð er oss at reisarak fyr borð,at þjóðkonungsþorp líðr.'

Helgi spoke:'We shall have victory,though victory must be wonat Sigarsvellir;we shall raisethe boom before the boards,that the great king'svillage passes.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá váru knörrarknáliga þundnar,skip við skipisett at lauki;Helgi mæltivið hólma fúss,er herr komá hafstöng niðr.

Then the ships werefirmly bound,ship beside shipset in row;Helgi spoke,ready for the islets,when the host camedown to the sea-stay.

English translation: own translation.

Fyr austan Grándanaesgingu menn fram,þeir er á knörrumkunnir váru;Helgi bad hannhjálm bera,en Sinfjötlisenn at leita.

East of Grándanesthe men went forth,those who on the shipswere known;Helgi asked himto carry the helmet,and Sinfjötlito search at once.

English translation: own translation.

Sinfjötli mælti,sunnanvegar,við mann inn illamæðra son:'Hugðir þú þatHundingsbani,at ek þínþurfa skyldi?'

Sinfjötli spoke,from the south,to the evil man,son of mothers:'Did you think,Hundingsbane,that Ihad need of you?'

English translation: own translation.

Gramr mælti:'Skaltú þat gjalda,þótt gangir tilgoðs ins mikla,at þú urðiróvaskr maðr,er þú flýðirfyr folkvígi.'

The man spoke:'You shall pay for that,though you go tothe great god,that you becamea cowardly man,when you fledthe battle.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi mælti:'Betr þykki mérat þegja enn mælaníð ef sjá má;hvárr er þérhróðugr þat,Sigrún er mínSváfnis dóttir.'

Helgi spoke:'It seems better to meto be silent than to speakshame if one can see it;which of youboasts of that,Sigrún is mine,Sváfnir's daughter.'

English translation: own translation.

Gekk þá hárá heiðar þokar,þar er konungr satá kaf djúpum;þá kvamt til handarhilmi stórumhraustr ok hugaðrhann er hyggi skyldi.

Then went the tall oneinto the heath's mist,where the king satin deep water;then came to handthe great ruler,brave and minded,he who must think.

English translation: own translation.

Rann þar hár geðrof heiðar svörtu,þar er skip lágoá sjóvar botni;hvess ok hræstrarhrann á borð,ok stóð hvert skipá stöfnum upp.

Ran the high spiritover the black heaths,where the ships layon the sea's floor;sharp and foamingit sang at the boards,and every ship stoodup on its stems.

English translation: own translation.

Fyr Gnipalundigerðisk þrungit,miklir stórmrá miklum knörrum;þá mælti Helgiþegnar hans létuhvárki ræðaskof rögn viðri.

At Gnipalundrit pressed in,great stormagainst the great ships;then spoke Helgi,his men letneither fearthe gods' weather.

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún sá þáyfir sjó faravalkyrjur ríðará valbjörnum;gripu þær þáá gervum skipumok hlutu eigihlunnar fara.

Sigrún saw thenriding over the seathe valkyrieson battle-bears;they grasped thenthe ready shipsand could not letthe rollers pass.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kváðu þærok þetta mæltumeyjar ríðarmeira drjúgt:'Hvat ér yðvarterindi her?Hvat sér þú þatsjóns af borð?'

Then they saidand this they spoke,the riding maidensyet more:'What is yourerrand here?What do you seewith the gaze from the boards?'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún mælti:'Helgi ek vilhér þiggja skjöld,þótt vér sæimsvást vinir;ek hefi fyr Helgahönd boðit,skaltu gefa mérslíkt gjöld.'

Sigrún spoke:'Helgi, I wishto receive the shield here,though we aredearest friends;I have for Helgioffered my hand,you shall give mesuch reward.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi mælti:'Þat mun ver gangaþótt vit gagngimat geirþingi;mér þykki atþjóðan ungirauðr remirœkr fyr borð.'

Helgi spoke:'It shall go wellthough we goto the spear-assembly;it seems to methat the young kingthe red seacasts over the boards.'

English translation: own translation.

Við Frekasteinfóru til bardaga,Helgi inn hugumstóriok Höðbroddr þar;þar fell Gramrfrá geirþingi,ok Hreinn ok Hjörrhvárr at öðrum.

At Frekasteinnthey went to battle,Helgi the great-heartedand Höðbroddr there;there fell Gramrfrom the spear-assembly,and Hreinn and Hjörr,one after the other.

English translation: own translation.

Helgi þá stóðhárr yfir höfðum,sendi árat orrosta;þá fell Dagrok Dagr's menn,hvárr hjálmr blóðrauðrá herðar fell.

Helgi stood thentall above the heads,sent earlyto the battle;then fell Dagrand Dagr's men,every blood-red helmetfell on the shoulders.

English translation: own translation.

Œrðisk þar herrok hjörvar gnýr,fjöll ok fljótof fami lágo;lék þá Helgiljós í skjöldur,glóðar genguskat geirþingi.

The host raged thereand swords' din,mountains and riverslay in the embrace;then Helgi playedthe light in the shield,the embers streamedat the spear-assembly.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Dagrdeyðisk vísa,víga maðrvið vígis þing:'Höðbroddr hérhjörr ber á sér,svart es lífá sunnum knörr.'

Then spoke Dagr,the slayer of princes,the battle-manat the war-assembly:'Höðbroddr herecarries sword on him,dark is lifeon the southern ships.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Helgi:'Hér mun komahilmis megirá heiðvöllum;þar mun Höðbroddrhér hjörr þola,ef hann fær eigifrið af oss.'

Then spoke Helgi:'Here shall comethe prince's sonson the heath-plains;there shall Höðbroddrhere suffer the sword,if he gets notpeace from us.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Höðbroddr,hyggja skyldi,hilmis megirat hilmi stórum:'Hví rennr þú sváráðgjafi minn,þá er hér beraskhjörvar þingat?'

Then spoke Höðbroddr,wished to think,the prince's sonsto the great ruler:'Why do you run so,my counselor,when hereswords are carried thither?'

English translation: own translation.

Hlif né höfuðhilmi þykkigeymt af granda,at geira þingum;þar þyrptisk herrat hjörva sté,ok Helgi knúðiská hilmis hendr.

Neither shield nor headseems the princeguarded from harmat the spears' assembly;there the host pressedagainst the swords' stream,and Helgi pushedon the prince's hands.

English translation: own translation.

Þar fell Höðbroddrok hvers konungsmenn á molduá margan veg;þat varð auðitöðlingum sínumat Helgi réðat hilmi sögu.

There fell Höðbroddrand every king'smen on the groundin many ways;it was fatedto his noblesthat Helgi ruledthe prince's tale.

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Helgihinns hugumstórisvá at sumir heyrðuat sælu gerðisk:'Höfum sigr fengitá sverðfimi,ok Frekasteinfarit af oss.'

Then spoke Helgi,the great-hearted one,so that some heardthat fortune was made:'We have taken victoryin sword-skill,and Frekasteinnhas passed from us.'

English translation: own translation.

Hvarr sá hjörrer Helgi barlíf ok landaf lýðum tók;skyldi þat satt veraer Sigrún kvað,at Hundingsbanihún af goðum.

Every swordthat Helgi boretook life and landfrom the peoples;it should be truewhat Sigrún said,that Hundingsbaneshe from the gods.

English translation: own translation.

Þá reið Sigrúnof sævar þokartil þess er hún fannfriðreka sinn;þá kvað hún þessakveðju við hann:'Helgi, þú lifir,hilmir, heill.'

Then rode Sigrúnthrough the sea's mistuntil she foundher peace-king;then she said thesegreeting words to him:'Helgi, you live,ruler, whole.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi mælti:'Heil sé þú,hjálmvitr fögr,ok þér heill gefihimins rögn;þú skalt ok lífalíf af mér,þér es auðitat eiga mik.'

Helgi spoke:'Be whole,fair helmet-woman,and may the gods of heavengive you blessing;you shall also livelife from me,to you it is fatedto possess me.'

English translation: own translation.

Veit ek þatat þau fara saman,Helgi ok Sigrúná heiðum völlum;hún er á hanshöndum fallin,ok hann hefr hanaat hjartarót.

I know thatthey travel together,Helgi and Sigrúnon the heath-plains;she has falleninto his hands,and he has herat his heart's root.

English translation: own translation.

Þau fóru þáá fjall saman,Helgi ok Sigrúnhilmir stórr;hón bauð honumat bíða sín,ok hann þóttiat þat vera.

They went thento the mountains together,Helgi and Sigrún,the great ruler;she asked himto wait for her,and he thoughtthat was right.

English translation: own translation.

Sól var at setrer Sigrún sáþar er hún komtil Sefafjallar;þá kvað hún þessakveðju at Helga:'Nú mun veranótt of þessa.'

The sun was settingwhen Sigrún sawwhere she cameto Sefafjall;then she said thesegreeting words to Helgi:'Now it shall benight around this.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá mælti Helgihilmir ungi,konungr kynstórrkveðja skyldi:'Sigrún, þú ertsólar ljós,glaðr gramrat geira þingi.'

Then spoke Helgi,the young ruler,the king of noble lineagewished to greet:'Sigrún, you arethe sun's light,a glad kingat the spears' assembly.'

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

nornir , the fate-goddesses who spin Helgi's destiny at birth (stanzas 2-4)
valkyrja , Sigrún appears as a valkyrie and protects Helgi's fleet through the storm
Völsungar , Helgi belongs to the Völsung dynasty through his father Sigmundr
fornyrðislag , the poem's narrative metre

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Helgakviða Hundingsbana I is preserved in Codex Regius. It is the first of two Helgi Hundingsbani lays, with a third Helgi lay (Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar) between them.

The poem's connection to the Völsung cycle through Sigmundr is textually established and confirmed by parallels in Völsunga saga.

The norn-scene at Helgi's birth (stanzas 2-4) is one of the most detailed depictions of the norns' fate-spinning in Eddic poetry.

The motif of the valkyrie who loves the hero and protects him in battle is consistent across all three Helgi poems.

B What we think we know

The dating of the poem is uncertain. The style has features of the more ornate skaldic tradition, leading some scholars to suggest a relatively late composition (11th-12th century).

Whether Sigrún and the other Helgi poems reflect an older valkyrie cult or a younger literary development of the valkyrie motif is debated.

The relationship between the three Helgi poems and their mutual chronology is discussed. The heroes' 'rebirth' suggests a cycle, yet whether the poems were intentionally composed as one is unclear.

C What we do not know

The historical kernel behind Helgi Hundingsbani, whether the figure is based on a historical king or is entirely mythical, cannot be determined with current source material.

Whether the storm scene (stanzas 29-31) reflects a ritual narrative linked to seafaring or is a purely poetic composition remains unknown.

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.
McKinnell, John. 2014. Essays on Eddic Poetry. Ed. Donata Kick and John D. Shafer. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.