Helgakviða Hundingsbana II

The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbani

Det andra kvädet om Helge Hundingsbane

51 stanzas

Summary

A

Helgakviða Hundingsbana II retells and expands the Helgi-Sigrún story with new material. The poem opens with Helgi's background and Sinfjötli's flyting with Guðmundr at sea. Helgi defeats Höðbroddr and marries Sigrún.

Dagr, Sigrún's brother, swears peace with Helgi yet is released from his oath by Odin and slays Helgi with Odin's own spear. Sigrún curses her brother in one of the most powerful grief-scenes in Eddic poetry.

The poem's emotional core is the grave-mound scene (stanzas 46-50). Helgi returns from the dead for a single night with Sigrún in his burial mound. He tells her that her tears burn his chest. At dawn he must ride back to Valhöll.

Sigrún dies shortly after from grief. The prose adds that they were said to be reborn. The grave-mound scene ranks among the most moving passages in Eddic poetry.

The story

Helgi konungrson var Sigmundar,Hundingsbaniheitir sá maðr,er hann fann,Freyju at þótta.
King Helgiwas son of Sigmund,Hundingsbaniis the name of that manwhom he foundpleasing to Freyja.

English translation: own translation.

Hann óx uppmeð jǫfrum gömlum,var hann ungr at aldriok herðimikill;Hagall hét sá,er hann fóstraði,ríkr ok traustr.
He grew upamong aged princes,young in yearsyet great of shoulder;Hagall was the nameof the man who fostered him,mighty and steadfast.

English translation: own translation.

Hǫfðu vér þat heyrt,at hér væri kominnHelgi ungr,Hundingsbani;vill hann sœkjaSigmundar arfiríki alltok auð at ráða.
We had heardthat here had comeyoung Helgi,Hundingsbani;he means to seizeSigmund's inheritance,to rule the kingdomand all its wealth.

English translation: own translation.

Þá kvað þat Sinfjǫtli,sonr Sigmundar:"Muntu, Guðmundr,ganga at leika,ef vit sókumsverða hlunni;þú ert mestrmanna í lygi."
Then spoke Sinfjötli,son of Sigmund:'Will you, Guðmundr,come to play,if we clashsword-keels together;you are the greatest manin lying.'

English translation: own translation.

"Helgi mun þikhér finna láta;þú ert svá kœnn,at þú kannt eigihvat þú segirá sæ útan,meyju görren mál at rœða."
'Helgi will let youfind him here;you are so cunningthat you know notwhat you sayout at sea,fitter as a womanthan to speak in counsel.'

English translation: own translation.

"Þegi þú, Sinfjǫtli,ok tak þér skjǫld upp,gakk at berjazá Frekasteini;hitt er betrabyrlur at reisaen orð at bregðaútar konungi."
'Be silent, Sinfjötli,and take up your shield,go to fightat Frekasteinn;it is betterto raise ship-prowsthan to fling wordsagainst a great king.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi kvað þat:"Hvat er yðr nú,nifðungar goðar,er þit flugustflár orð at deilaz?Þat sæmir yðrsverðar at beraheldr en slíkt."
Helgi spoke:'What is with you now,noble kinsmen,that you flyexchanging treacherous words?It befits you betterto carry swordsthan such things.'

English translation: own translation.

Þá ríðr herr mikillat þeim Helga;Hundingsson biðrholda sinna,at þeir bœttubróður sinneða ræki Helgaaf ríki sínu.
Then a great host ridesagainst Helgi;Hundingr's son demandsof his chieftainsthat they avengetheir brotheror drive Helgifrom his kingdom.

English translation: own translation.

Þá óx uppum allt fólkhríð ok hagl,harðlig geira;fell þar Dagr,son Hogna,ok allr herrHundingssonar.
Then there roseover all the hoststorm and hail,the hard rain of spears;Dagr fell there,son of Hogni,and all the armyof Hundingr's sons.

English translation: own translation.

Höðbroddr fellfyrir Helga;konungr sigrsamrstóð yfir honum,mælti þátil meyjar fagrar:"Vilt þú, Sigrún,ver þik kjósa?"
Höðbroddr fellbefore Helgi;the victorious kingstood over himand spoke thento the fair maiden:'Will you, Sigrún,choose yourself a husband?'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þat:"Þik vil ek, Helgi,heldr en þá,er mér fǫður valdit;þú ert sá einn,sem ek áskoruðumk,ríkr ok rammrok ráðgjarn mjǫk."
Sigrún spoke:'You I want, Helgi,rather than thosemy father chose;you are the only oneI sought,mighty and strongand great in counsel.'

English translation: own translation.

Þau fóru þátil brúðkaups síns,Helgi ok Sigrún,ok váru þar kátir;leiddu þau tillíknar sinnarríka mennok rauðan gull.
They went thento their wedding,Helgi and Sigrún,and were joyful there;they led to itfor their welcomemighty menand red gold.

English translation: own translation.

Lifðu þau lengiok elskuðuz vel,áttu þau sonok dóttur fleiri;Högni faðirlifði enn þá,ok Dagr, bróðir,drengr inn hvatr.
They lived longand loved each other well,they had a sonand several daughters;Högni the fatherstill lived then,and Dagr, the brother,the bold young man.

English translation: own translation.

Þat varð at líkumlíf Helga konungs,er Dagr blótaðiÓðni at hefna fǫður,Óðinn lék honumgeir sinn til láns,þann er Helgihjǫrva missti.
It came to endking Helgi's life,when Dagr sacrificedto Odin to avenge his father;Odin lent himhis spear,the one for which Helgiwould lose his life.

English translation: own translation.

Dagr reið þátil Fjǫturlundarok hitti Helgamág sinn þar;hann lét geiriganga þvertí gegnum Helgahjálmstofn miðja.
Dagr rode thento Fjǫturlundrand met Helgihis brother-in-law there;he drove the spearstraight throughthe middle of Helgi,the helm's trunk.

English translation: own translation.

Fell þar Helgiá Frekasteini,en Dagr reiðat dyggja Sigrúniharma þeiraok hefna grams.
Helgi fellat Frekasteinn,and Dagr rodeto tell Sigrúnof their bitter sorrowand the king's fall.

English translation: own translation.

Dagr kvað þat:"Syst, þú skaltseggja þér illt;olli ek sjálfrþess er þú griðrgrét til Helga;hann er feldrá Frekasteini."
Dagr spoke:'Sister, you shallhear ill tidings;I am myself to blamefor what youwept peace-tears for with Helgi;he has fallenat Frekasteinn.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þat:"Megi þér allireiðar verða,þeir er þú sórtHelga at halda;rauð logok rennandi vatn,Vinskornir fótrer hann gengr á veg."
Sigrún spoke:'May all the oathsturn against you,those you sworeto keep toward Helgi;red flameand running water,Vínskornir's hoofas he treads the road.'

English translation: own translation.

"Þik skyli rekarauðum eldiok af ríki þínurekinn verða,hafa þú matnema af mǫrk skógum,vera þú arfrútlagr um alla daga."
'Red fire shall drive youand from your kingdomyou shall be driven,have your foodonly from forest ground,be disinheritedand outlaw all your days.'

English translation: own translation.

Dagr kvað þat:"Œrr vartu, Sigrún,ok sára œrr,er þú mér bölvaðirbróður þínum;Óðinn ór ráðiteinum allt,þá er hann létgram í vígi falla."
Dagr spoke:'You were mad, Sigrún,and bitterly mad,when you cursedyour own brother;Odin alone ordered allwhen he letthe prince fall in battle.'

English translation: own translation.

"Legg ek þér, Dagr,ljósaðr góðr,gulli keyptok gullbaug rauðan,til bótar þesser þú bróður minnmyrðir á morginat Fjǫturlundi."
'I lay before you, Dagr,fine bright gold,bought with goldand a red gold ring,as reparation foryour murder of my brotherin the morning lightat Fjǫturlundr.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún satá haugi Helga;þú er ambátt sáríðast norðanmenn með hjálmiok með brynjum,þeir hlupuof þyrnisgrein.
Sigrún saton Helgi's mound;a serving-woman sawriding from the northmen with helmetsand with mail coats,they leapedover thornbushes.

English translation: own translation.

Ambátt kvað þat:"Mun Helgihér vera kominn?Þat sér honfrá haugi ríðarauðan skjǫldok rauð brynja."
The serving-woman spoke:'Can it be Helgiwho has come here?She seesriding from the mounda red shieldand red mail coat.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þat:"Þat er Helgiok hans herr;þú skalt gangaok gangr fagnamanni þínumok mæla við hann."
Sigrún spoke:'That is Helgiand his host;you shall goand go to greetyour lordand speak with him.'

English translation: own translation.

Ambátt kvað þat:"Sá ek Helgaríða at haugi,ok lítt dvaldi;kallaði hannat koma þútil hans í haug,hér er hann."
The serving-woman spoke:'I saw Helgiriding toward the moundand tarrying little;he calledthat you should cometo him in the mound,here he is.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún gekkí haug til Helgaok fagnað hannmeð fullum fögnum.
Sigrún wentinto the mound to Helgiand greeted himwith full joy.

English translation: own translation.

Helgi kvað þat:"Fagnaðr er mérþat er ek finn þik,Sigrún sæl,svá sem ek vildiat vit mættim,þá er ek varí lifi nú."
Helgi spoke:'Joy it is to methat I find you,blessed Sigrún,as I wishedthat we might meet,when I wasin life.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þat:"Ek fagna þér,Helgi, fullhugi,sem fúss hrafnþá er morgin líðrok líkr er hanntil lífs at koma."
Sigrún spoke:'I rejoice in you,Helgi, the bold-hearted,as the eager ravenwhen morning breaksand it seemshe will come to life.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi kvað þat:"Heill sé þú, Sigrún,sem heil þú ert;gef mér þínagleðimunnar,áðr ek faraaf fjǫllum niðri."
Helgi spoke:'Be hale, Sigrún,as you are whole;give me yourlips of gladness,before I gobeneath the mountains.'

English translation: own translation.

Þau sofðu þarum alla nóttsaman í haug,ok um morgininnreið Helgitil Valhǫllar.
They slept thereall that nighttogether in the mound,and in the morningHelgi rodeto Valhǫll.

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún bjó ambáttat hánum,ok beið honaðra nótt Helga;en Helgi kom eigi,því at hann reiðtil Óðins."
Sigrún sent the serving-womanto keep watch at the mound,and she waiteda second night for Helgi;but Helgi came not,for he had riddento Odin.

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún lifðiskamma stundeptir þat;þat er sǫgn mannaat Sigrúnunði við Helgaeina nótt.
Sigrún liveda short timeafter that;it is men's accountthat Sigrúnhad joy of Helgifor one night only.

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þater hon veitat Helgi muneigi koma:"Ek mun biðjaþess er mérlíkar at vera,at ek mættieigi við hans mynd vera."
Sigrún spokewhen she knewthat Helgi wouldcome no more:'I shall prayfor whatseems best to me,that I could notendure life without his face.'

English translation: own translation.

Svá er sagtat Sigrún dóaf harmi ok þrá,þvíat Helgikom aldri aptr.
So it is toldthat Sigrún diedof grief and longing,because Helginever came back.

English translation: own translation.

Þat er trúa mannaat Helgiok Sigrúnværi endrborinn;þá hét hannHelgi Haddingjaskati,en hon Kára Hálfðanarson,sem kveðit er í Káruljóðum.
It is men's beliefthat Helgiand Sigrúnwere reborn;he was then calledHelgi Haddingjaskati,and she Kára Hálfðanarson,as told in the Káraljóð.

English translation: own translation.

Þá er Sigrúngreip um hals Helgaok kvað þat:"Ek fagna þérsem Gautatýrgrœnum arfiþá er hann rennrupp at himni."
Then Sigrúnclasped Helgi's neckand said:'I rejoice in youas Gautatýrrejoices in green growthwhen he risesup toward heaven.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi kvað þat:"Þik þykkir mérþing at segja,Sigrún sól,þat er mér sárt um hjarta,at tár þín brennrá brjósti mér,blóðugt, heitt."
Helgi spoke:'There seems to mesomething to tell you,Sigrún, sun,what burns against my heart,that your tears burnagainst my breast,bloody, hot.'

English translation: own translation.

"Svá ertuSigrún mín,sem sól er björtþegar hon skein,en nú líðr honat loga niðr."
'So you aremy Sigrún,as bright as the sunwhen it shone,but now it sinkstoward the flames below.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þat:"Líknsamr ertúHelgi minn,þú kemr til míná kveld ok morginn,en daginn liggr þúá Óðins stigi."
Sigrún spoke:'Beloved you aremy Helgi,you come to mein evening and morning,but by day you lieon Odin's path.'

English translation: own translation.

Helgi kvað þat:"Vit munum sjáof síðir tímar,hvárr okkarrlengr megi þola;þú átt lífitok ek dreyrinn dómr."
Helgi spoke:'We shall seein later timeswhich of uscan longer endure;you hold lifeand I the bloody doom.'

English translation: own translation.

Þau lágu samaní haug um nóttina,ok er dag varreið Helgibrott af haugiok til Valhǫllar.
They lay togetherin the mound through the night,and when day cameHelgi rodeaway from the moundand to Valhǫll.

English translation: own translation.

Ambátt kvað þat:"Ek sá riðnaHelga konungok hans mennmarga við hann;þeir riðutil Valhǫllar."
The serving-woman spoke:'I saw ridingKing Helgiand his manymen with him;they rodeto Valhǫll.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún kvað þat:"Þat sagðir þú mértil svefns at fara,er þú sagðirHelga koma;nú er hann farinnok sé ek hann eigi."
Sigrún spoke:'That you told mefor going to sleep,when you saidHelgi was coming;now he has goneand I see him no more.'

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún mælti til ambáttar:"Gakk þúá haug aptrok bíð þaref hann komienn eina nótt,sem hann kom fyrr."
Sigrún said to the serving-woman:'Go youto the mound againand wait thereif he comesyet one more night,as he came before.'

English translation: own translation.

Ok er var komittil nótt ok dagr líðrambátt satá haugi Helga;en Helgi kom eigiþá nóttina.
And when night cameand day passedthe serving-woman saton Helgi's mound;but Helgi came notthat night.

English translation: own translation.

Sigrún satvið haug ok beiðok grét þar,þar til hon andaðizaf harmi ok þrá.
Sigrún satby the mound and waitedand wept there,until she diedof grief and longing.

English translation: own translation.

Þat er sǫgn mannaat Helgiok Sigrúnhafi veritendrborinn,ok var hann þákallaðr Helgi Haddingjaskati.
It is men's accountthat Helgiand Sigrúnhad beenreborn,and he was then calledHelgi Haddingjaskati.

English translation: own translation.

En Sigrún var þákǫlluð KáraHálfðanarson,sem kveðit erí Káraljóðum,ok var hon valkyrja.
And Sigrún was thencalled Káradaughter of Hálfdan,as is sungin the Káraljóð,and she was a valkyrie.

English translation: own translation.

Þat er sagtat hann fellundir Helga vígumDagr Hogna son,er hann fann Helgaí Fjǫturlundi.
It is toldthat he fellto Helgi's weaponsDagr son of Hogni,when he met Helgiin Fjǫturlundr.

English translation: own translation.

Ok eptir þatfell Dagrí vígi Helga;ok varð þatmikit harmrok harmr Sigrúnar,ok af þeim harminumandaðiz hon.
And after thatDagr fellin Helgi's battle;and it becamegreat sorrowand Sigrún's sorrow,and of that sorrowshe died.

English translation: own translation.

Ok þetta er þater fornir menntrúðu at mennmætti endrborinn verða,en þat heitirnú ósviðra trú.En af Helga ok Sigrúnier þess getitat þau séu endrborin.
And this is whatmen of old believed,that peoplecould be reborn,but it is now calleda foolish belief.Yet of Helgi and Sigrúnit is saidthat they were reborn.

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

  • einherjar , Helgi rides with his retinue from Valhöll to the mound; the return of the dead warriors
  • flyting , the Sinfjötli-Guðmundr flyting opens the poem with verbal combat at sea
  • valkyrja , Sigrún as valkyrie whose love extends beyond death
  • Völsungar , Helgi belongs to the Völsung dynasty; Sinfjötli is his half-brother

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Helgakviða Hundingsbana II is preserved in Codex Regius. It is the second and final Helgi Hundingsbani lay.

The grave-mound scene (stanzas 46-50) has parallels in Irish and Celtic tradition, and the motif of 'the dead returning to the living beloved' is widespread in European folk poetry.

The prose interludes are more extensive than in most Eddic poems and provide narrative context the stanzas presuppose.

Dagr's oath-breaking and Odin's involvement (he grants the spear) reflect the pervasive Eddic theme that Odin determines who falls in battle.

B What we think we know

Whether the poem is a reworking of the first Helgi lay or an independent version of the same story is debated. They share material yet differ in important details.

The relationship between the stanzas and the prose, whether the prose summarizes lost stanzas or is secondary, is a central text-critical question.

The grave-mound scene's Celtic parallels have prompted discussion of cultural exchange between Norse and Irish poetry.

C What we do not know

The lost Káraljóð, mentioned in the prose epilogue, is entirely unknown beyond this reference.

Whether the grave-mound scene reflects an actual death-cult or ritual practice at burial mounds 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.
  • McKinnell, John. 2014. Essays on Eddic Poetry. Ed. Donata Kick and John D. Shafer. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.