Völundarkviða

The Lay of Völundr

Kvädet om Völund

41 stanzas

Summary

A

Völundarkviða tells the story of the smith Völundr (Wayland), one of the darkest and most complex figures in the Poetic Edda. The poem opens with three brothers, Völundr, Egill, and Slagfiðr, who marry three swan-maidens (valkyries). After seven winters the maidens fly away. Egill and Slagfiðr search for them; Völundr stays behind, forging rings in waiting.

King Níðuðr hears of Völundr's treasure and sends his men. They steal a ring and capture Völundr in his sleep. Níðuðr's queen advises severing his knee-sinews to prevent escape. Völundr is placed on a skerry (Sævarstaðr) and forced to forge for the king.

Völundr's revenge is systematic and terrible. He lures Níðuðr's two sons to his smithy and kills them; from their skulls he makes drinking bowls, from their eyes jewels, from their teeth a brooch. All are sent to the parents as gifts. Then Böðvildr, Níðuðr's daughter, comes with the stolen ring which has broken. Völundr drugs her and rapes her.

Völundr forges wings and flies into the air. Hovering beyond reach, he reveals the truth to Níðuðr: his sons' fate and Böðvildr's pregnancy. Níðuðr sits in grief. The poem ends without reconciliation.

The story

Meyjar flugo sunnanMyrkviðr í gognum,alvitr ungar,ørlǫg drýgja;þær á sævarstrǫndsettusk at hvílask,drósilar dýrardúðu línsævi.
Maidens flew from the souththrough Myrkviðr,young all-wise ones,to work their fate;they sat at the seashoreto rest themselves,those precious womenspinning flax in stillness.

English translation: own translation.

Þar var Hlǫðvérhilmir norrœnn;þrír vóro þeirþegnar hans synir:Slagfiðr ok Egill,þriði Vǫlundr,þeir á skíðum hljópook á veiðar fóro.
There was Hlǫðvér,a northern prince;three were they,sons of his thanes:Slagfiðr and Egill,the third Völundr,they ran on skisand went out hunting.

English translation: own translation.

Þær á land stigu,línsævi tóko,alvitr ungar,ein nam Egill fanga,Slagfiðr aðra,saman hvílðo,Hlǫðvérs dóttirhlaut Vǫlundi.
They stepped onto land,laid aside their flax-spinning,the young all-wise ones;one came into Egill's arms,another to Slagfiðr,they rested together,Hlǫðvér's daughterfell to Völundr's lot.

English translation: own translation.

Sat hann á Úlfdalisjau vetr at þat,þá nam hann þreyjaþings at vitja.Egill fór at leitaÖglunar austr,Slagfiðr snøriá Sólfjǫll suðr.
He sat in Úlfdalirseven winters at that,then he began to longto seek the assembly.Egill went to seekÖglunar to the east,Slagfiðr turnedtoward Sólfjǫll to the south.

English translation: own translation.

Hann einn sat þarár ok síðan;baugr var þarat blóði roðinn.Fúss var hann faraef náði,þótti honum seintat sjá víf sitt.
He sat there aloneyear after year;a ring lay therereddened with blood.Eager was he to goif he only could,long it seemed to himbefore he'd see his wife.

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr lætrnema at Vǫlundiá Ulfdali,ulfar hǫfðo þar hljópit.Fundu þeir á brottufara Vǫlund,þeir á skíðum hljópook á veiðar fóro.
Níðuðr sent mento take Völundrin Úlfdalir,wolves had been running there.They found that Völundrhad departed,they ran on skisand went out hunting.

English translation: own translation.

Gekk hann at húsi,hlífar rann,baugr var þarof beðit langa.Settisk á þatsegl at teljasjau hundruð allra,þeira er sagði hann.
He went to the house,sought shelter,a ring lay therelong awaited.He sat downto count the ringsseven hundred in all,those which he named.

English translation: own translation.

Vann hann at hvíla,hugr var hneppr,vaknaði hannvildu hann þiggja.Sá hann at baugrvar af tekinn,hugðisk hann atHlǫðvés dóttiralvitr unguaptr of komin.
He lay down to rest,his spirit was heavy,he wokeand wished to receive.He saw that a ringhad been taken,he thought thatHlǫðvér's daughter,the young all-wise one,had returned.

English translation: own translation.

Sat hann svá lengiat hann sofnaði,ok vann hann þater vildi hann.Vaknaði hannvið vánda draumar,sá at hans mennmuno þar standa.
He sat so longthat he fell asleep,and accomplished thatwhich he desired.He wokefrom evil dreams,saw that his menmust be standing there.

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr gafNíeru dótturþann baug rauðaner hann af hendi tók.En sverð þater smiðr áttiNíðuðr tókþat nema af honum.
Níðuðr gaveto his daughter Níeruthat red ringwhich he took from his hand.And the swordwhich the smith owned,Níðuðr tookit from him.

English translation: own translation.

Rað þú oss, Níðuðr,niðja dróttin,hvé við Vǫlundrverðum at ganga.Bitu þér sverðbœttu menn,þý ætti eigiVǫlundr fara.
Advise us, Níðuðr,lord of kinsmen,how we areto deal with Völundr.Cut with swords,men make amends,therefore Völundr oughtto travel no more.

English translation: own translation.

Hlógu þeir Níðuðarniðjar þá,ok á Sævarstaðrsettu þeir Vǫlund.Þar skar hann þeirasinor í hǫmlumok lét hann gangaá grǫn neð.
Níðuðr's kinsmen laughedthen,and on Sævarstaðrthey placed Völundr.There they cut hissinews in the hamstringsand let him walkon the island's ground.

English translation: own translation.

Sat hann á eyjunniok sló hann þar,smíðaði Níðuðrmargar lurar.Gekk aldri maðrá grunni þar,nema Níðuðrsjálfr konungr.
He sat on the islandand struck there,forged for Níðuðrmany treasures.No man ever walkedon land there,except Níðuðrthe king himself.

English translation: own translation.

Kveðr at NíðuðrNíeru konungr:'Hvat þreyir Vǫlundrá várum eyjum?''Hann þar smíðarok sló margar lurarok gengr nú hanná grǫn neð.'
King Níðuðrsays to Níeru:'What does Völundr long foron our islands?''He forges thereand struck many treasuresand he walks nowon the island's ground.'

English translation: own translation.

Vill ek, at Vǫlundrvísi at reki,er eigi kvamikonungs synir.Ráðs mun ekráðinn verða,nema ek þekkjumkþeira hlutum.
I want Völundrthe wise to be driven away,who did not cometo the king's sons.Counsel I shallfind for myself,unless I knowwhat their lots hold.

English translation: own translation.

Hann þar smíðaðisilvr ok gullat fagnað fira,fátt þá þar.Níðuðr tók þarVǫlundar sverð,er hann var bundinok brotinn maðr.
He forged theresilver and goldfor the joy of men,little was left then.Níðuðr took thereVölundr's sword,when he was a boundand broken man.

English translation: own translation.

Lítt né lengileið at þat,at synir Níðuðarsóttu til Vǫlundar.Kómu þeir til kistuok kréfjask lukla,illt var þater þeir inn líto.
Little time and not longpassed after that,before Níðuðr's sonssought out Völundr.They came to the chestand demanded keys,evil was itwhen they looked inside.

English translation: own translation.

Bað hann þá gangaglaðir heim þaðan,ok þeir genguglaðir heim þaðan.En um nóttnámu þeir at koma,ok vildu þeirvið gullit leika.
He bade them goglad homeward from there,and they wentglad homeward from there.But in the nightthey came back,and they wantedto play with the gold.

English translation: own translation.

Hǫggr hann þá afhǫfuð þeira,ok undir fenfáar leggr þeira.En ór skǫlumsér þeira gerðiok ór augumjarknasteina.
He hews off thentheir heads,and under the fenhe lays their bodies.And from their skullshe made himself drinking-bowls,and from their eyesprecious stones.

English translation: own translation.

Sendi hann þærtil Níðuðar,en jarknasteinatil Níðuðar konu.Sendi hann þærtil Böðvildar,bauginn þanner brotnaðr var.
He sent themto Níðuðr,and precious stonesto Níðuðr's wife.He sent themto Böðvildr,that ringwhich had been broken.

English translation: own translation.

Böðvildr gekktil Vǫlundarok sagði honumhvat hon vildi.'Ek em eigiófrœkn þóttbaugr minn sébrotinn þessum.'
Böðvildr wentto Völundrand told himwhat she wanted.'I am notwithout fear thoughmy ring isbroken in this way.'

English translation: own translation.

Vǫlundr kvað þá:'Ek kann at bœta'gullit rauðtok gerði heilt.Gerði hann þatsem hann gat best,gaf henni ǫlok ǫll dǫgg.
Völundr said then:'I can repair it,'the red goldand made it whole.He did itas best he could,gave her aleand all dew.

English translation: own translation.

Sat hann svá lengiat hann sofnaði,Böðvildr sat þarok beið hans.En er hann vaknaðivildi hann þiggja,ok náði þess ernauðugr var.
She sat so longthat she fell asleep,Böðvildr sat thereand waited for him.And when he wokehe wished to take,and accomplished thatwhich was compelled.

English translation: own translation.

Hlæjandi Vǫlundrhóf sik á loptgrátandi Böðvildrgekk á brott þaðan,ok sá hon aldriaptr síðanVǫlund skjaldmærvísa smíðar.
Laughing Völundrlifted himself into the air,weeping Böðvildrwent away from there,and she never saw againafter thatVölundr, the valkyrie'swise smith.

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr sat þarok ilt hugði,gékk eigi svarartil gœðingr.Hvat nam Vǫlundrvitr at gera,er hann stóð þará Sævarstaðr.
Níðuðr sat thereand thought evil thoughts,no answer cameto the noble.What had Völundrthe wise one done,when he stood thereon Sævarstaðr.

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr konungrkallar at Vǫlundi:'Hvar ert þú, Vǫlundr,vísi álfa,er sá golligeymslu mína?'Lét hann upp stigaok á lopt koma.
King Níðuðrcalls out to Völundr:'Where are you, Völundr,wisest of elves,who saw the goldin my keeping?'He let him rise upand come aloft.

English translation: own translation.

Vǫlundr kvað:'Sverð er at Níðuðar,þat er ek smíðaðasíðast allra.Rauðr er á hjǫltirinar blóð,es ek hǫfuð hjóþinna sona.'
Völundr said:'The sword is with Níðuðr,the one I forgedlast of all.Red is on the hiltthe reindeer's blood,it was I who struck offthe heads of your sons.'

English translation: own translation.

Þær er skálarer þú drakkir af,þær gerðak ór skǫlumsona þinna.En ór augumjarknasteinr,þér senda ek tilNíðuðar konu.
Those bowlsthat you drank from,I made them from the skullsof your sons.And from their eyesprecious stones,those I sent toNíðuðr's wife.

English translation: own translation.

En tǫnn þeiratveggia samangørðak ór brjóstningBöðvildi þinni.Nú gengr Böðvildrbarni aukinein dóttir ykkar,ein lifir enn.
And from the teethof the two togetherI made a breast-pinfor your Böðvildr.Now Böðvildr walksheavy with child,your only daughter,she lives still.

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr kvað:'Hvat máttu meiramál at segja,þat er þú villdirat við þiggjum.',Vǫlundr kvað:'Þat er við mérþiggja máttu.'
Níðuðr said:'What more can youwords to say,that which you wantedus to receive?'Völundr said:'That is with mewhich you can receive.'

English translation: own translation.

Hlæjandi Vǫlundrhóf sik á lopt,en grátandi Níðuðrsat þar eptir.Níðuðr kvað þatniðja dróttin:'Upp rís, Þakkráðr,þegna beztr.'
Laughing Völundrlifted himself into the air,and weeping Níðuðrsat behind there.Níðuðr said that,lord of kinsmen:'Rise up, Þakkráðr,best of thanes.'

English translation: own translation.

'Knésetja ok gakká kné fyr mér,bið þú Böðvildibrúnhvítuganga með gulliat mæla við mik.'
'Kneel down and goon your knee before me,ask Böðvildrof the white browsto come with goldto speak with me.'

English translation: own translation.

Böðvildr kvað þater bauð konungr:'Kveðr hann méraf kné þegar,segðu þú Böðvildibrúnhvítuganga þérat gjalti við mik.'
Böðvildr said thatwhich the king commanded:'He speaks to mestraightway from the knee,tell Böðvildrof the white browsto come to youto speak with me.'

English translation: own translation.

Eitt veit ek,er þú eigi veizt:Vǫlundr er hárá himni nú.Þar rennr hanná roðnum skíðum,þar fær engifara nú eptir.
One thing I knowthat you do not know:Völundr is highin the sky now.There he glideson reddened skis,there can no onetravel after him now.

English translation: own translation.

Grátandi Níðuðrgekk af þingi,hugr var hnepprá hjarta honum.Kallaði hann þákonu sína:'Hvat mæltu viðVǫlund mætu?'
Weeping Níðuðrwent from the assembly,his spirit was heavyin his heart.He called thenon his wife:'What did you speak withVölundr the great?'

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr kvað:'Hvé er þér, Böðvildr?Hvé ertú svá hvít?Fǫr þú á eyat vitja smiðs?'Böðvildr kvað:'Satt er þat Níðuðrer hann sagði þér.'
Níðuðr said:'How is it with you, Böðvildr?How are you so pale?Did you travel to the islandto visit the smith?'Böðvildr said:'True is that, Níðuðr,which he told you.'

English translation: own translation.

Böðvildr kvað:'Sat ek við Vǫlundá eyjunni,vilda ek eigivið hann vera.Mátta ek eigivið hans kraptiok hans listlengr halda mik.'
Böðvildr said:'I sat with Völundron the island,I did not wishto be with him.I could notagainst his strengthand his crafthold myself any longer.'

English translation: own translation.

Níðuðr kvað:'Hvat kann ek ráðráða þér, Böðvildr,dóttir mín?Hitt veit eker ek eigi veithverr mun þérhugr vera.'
Níðuðr said:'What counsel can Igive you, Böðvildr,my daughter?That I knowwhich I do not know,what yourspirit will be.'

English translation: own translation.

Þar sat Níðuðrþungr hugaðr,þeir synir hansdauðir váru,þat er dóttir hansdrukkin þykkisk.Fló Vǫlundrupp í lopt þaðan.
There sat Níðuðrheavy of mind,his sonswere dead,there was his daughterwho seemed stunned.Völundr flewup into the air from there.

English translation: own translation.

Vǫlundr er hárá himni nú,hlæjandi hann fórá lopt þaðan.Níðuðr sittrsorgfullr þar,dauðir synirok dóttir þungr.
Völundr is highin the sky now,laughing he wentinto the air from there.Níðuðr sitssorrowful there,sons deadand daughter burdened.

English translation: own translation.

Hvat er þér, Níðuðr,nema kynnt at þat?Þat kannt þúer þú eigi vissir.Vǫlundr er vitrvísi álfa,en þú sittr þarsorgfullr konungr.
What is it to you, Níðuðr,save that you know it now?That you knowwhich you did not know.Völundr is wise,wisest of elves,and you sit therea sorrowful king.

English translation: own translation.

Key concepts

  • Völundr , the legendary smith, identical with Anglo-Saxon Weland and German Wieland
  • valkyrja , the swan-maidens the brothers marry are identified as valkyries in the prose introduction
  • Níðuðr , the king who captures and maims Völundr; his name may mean 'the hostile one'
  • Sævarstaðr , the island or skerry where Völundr is held captive and forges
  • fornyrðislag , the narrative metre Völundarkviða primarily uses

Interpretive traditions

A What we know

Völundarkviða is preserved in Codex Regius (GKS 2365 4to). The poem is framed by prose providing narrative context.

The Völundr legend has a broad Germanic distribution. Anglo-Saxon parallels exist in Deor, Waldere, and the famous Franks Casket (Auzon casket) from the 8th century, demonstrating that the story was known long before Codex Regius.

The poem's placement among the heroic poems (after the mythological poems) in Codex Regius is textually established, despite Völundr's semi-mythical character as elf-prince and smith.

The prose introduction identifies the three brothers as sons of a 'finnakonungr' (Sámi or Finnish king), an ethnic marker without counterpart in the Anglo-Saxon versions.

B What we think we know

The dating is debated. The poem's archaic language and broad Germanic parallels have led scholars such as de Vries to propose early composition (9th-10th century). Others see it as younger, though based on older legendary material.

Whether Völundr's wings are a technological invention (forged flying device) or magical transformation has been discussed. The prose introduction's identification of the brothers as elf-kin ('álfa konungr') suggests supernatural abilities.

The Böðvildr episode's relationship to the rest of the poem has been debated. Some scholars view the rape as a late addition to an older revenge narrative; others see it as integral to the original motif complex.

The relationship between Völundr and the elves (he is called 'vísi álfa' in the poem) has been linked to Old Norse conceptions of elves as semi-divine smith-beings.

C What we do not know

The exact mythological status of Völundr (human, elf, demigod, culture hero) remains unclear. The poem alternates between human and supernatural traits without establishing a definite category.

Whether the poem reflects a historical smith-culture or ritual practice linked to metalworking lacks decisive evidence.

The ethical evaluation of Völundr's revenge within the poem's own world is ambiguous. The poem provides no unequivocal moral judgment, neither condemnation nor justification.

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.