THE FIRST LAY OF HELGI THE HUNDING SLAYER

HELGAKVIÐA HUNDINGSBANA I

All things considered, this lay is perhaps the truest, though certainly not
the finest, expression of the spirit of the spirit of the "Viking Age,"  when
Scandinavia---vagina gentium---poured forth, as the last wave of the Great Age
of Migration, those swarms of dragon-ships, manned with the boldest sailors
and fiercest warriors of the time, which swept like angry storm clouds over
the coastlands of the Western World.  In no other  layd is there an equal
concentration of vision, to the exclusion of all else, on the warrior's life
as the only occupation worthy of men---the joyance in dangers on land and on
sea of "athelings ever eager for war."  In no other lay, too, does the paucity
of contents verge so nearly on monotony and thinness of invention.  Barring
the word-duel between Sinfjotli and Guthmund, it is all about Helgi's warlike
deeds, beginning with his birth, and leaving him at the zenith of power, with
Sigrún won and the Hundings' lands his.  We hear nothing of the tragic end
hinted at in Stanza 5.  Characterization is totally absent and, indeed, it is
not aimed at:  both scenes and men are typical and representative, not
individual.  But within the limits of his art the poet has achieved some truly
magnificent stanzas, in the Northern mood;  such as the grandiose figure of
the norns affixing the fate-threads of the newly born hero to the very
heavens, the description of the storm at sea, and of the appearance of the
valkyries in the uproar of the elements and the clash of battle.
Otherwise the poem, like "Hymiskviða," is notable in the Collection for its
unusually numerous kennings---for hero, battle, ships, and so forth---and
frequent intercalated phrases, characteristics which make it approach somewhat
the manner of later encomiastic skaldic poetry.  And if, as has been surmised,
the Helgi of this lay is meant to idealize King Magnus Ólafsson, this would
furnish additional reason for placing composition of the lay in the middle of
the eleventh century.  Its present form may be due to later accretions.

1. 'Twas in olden times, as eagles screamed
and holy streams flowed            from the Heaven-Fells, (1)
when in Brálund Borghild (2) bore to the world
a hero highhearted,    Helgi by name.

2. At night in hall         the norns did come,
to the lord they allotted          his life and fate:
to him  awarded         under welkin most fame,
under heaven to be among heroes first.

3. His fate-thread span they (3) to o'erspread the world
(for Borghild's bairn) (4)           in Brálund castle;
they gathered together      the golden threads,
and in moon-hall's (5) middle they made them fast.

4. In East and West            the ends they hid:
the liege's lands         lay there between;
on the Northern side     Neri's sister (6)
did hang one end                to hold forever.

5. One evil only        the Ylfing (7) threatened,
the maiden eke           who the atheling bore:
(8) ..........     .........     .........         ............       .....
.........
Croaked a raven hoarsely,          on high tree sitting---
hunger gnawed him----        "I know something:

6. "In his byrnie stands (9)       who was born at night,
King Sigmund's son; now the sun is risen!
His eyes flash fire, athelingwise;
he will feast the wolves: (10) fain let us be!"

7. A true king he        to the housecarls seemed:
they hoped to have good harvest years; (11)
Sigmund himself,            from the swordplay (12) coming,
to the lordling brought     a leek most noble. (13)

8. Named him Helgi,              and Hringstead gave him,
Sun Fell, Snow Fell,    and Sigar's Field,
Hringstead, Hátún, and Himin Meadows, (14)
eke a seemly sword, to Sinfjotli's brother. (15)

9. Under kinsmen's care    the king's son thrived,
the highborn elm tree, (16)             in happiness;
gave and granted              gold to his housecarls,
nor spared the hero the hoard blood-splattered. (17)

10. Not long the lord             delayed battle,
when fifteen winters (18)         the folk-warder;
Hunding he slew,                 the hardy king
who long had ruled    over lands and thanes.

11. Then Hunding's sons      for hoard and rings
swiftly summoned King Sigmund's son,
thirsted, forsooth, to repay the thane
for their father's fall    and wealth from him taken.

12. But Helgi would hear not              of haggling gifts,
nor weregild award them,           though they wanted it;
but await rather          the wrath-of-Óthin, (19)
and whelming-storm-      of-whining-spears. (19)

13. Fared the sons of kings        to the sword-tryst then
which the lords had set     at Loga Fells;
was Fróthi's Peace by foemen broken, (20)
ran Óthin's hounds (21)         the island about.

14. Sate him Helgi        when slain he had
Álf and Eyolf,       'neath Eagle Rock;
eke Hjorvarth and Hávarth, the Hunding's sons,
had the king then killed,         all the kin of the warrior.

15. A light shone then from Loga Fells;
and out of that light lightning flashed:
(saw the matchless hero         the maidens riding) (22)
high and helmeted, on Himin Meadows.
Were their byrnies   blood bespattered,
from their spear points bright sparks flew forth.

16. At earliest dayspring,      in wolf forest (23)
asked Sigmund's son    the Southron maidens
if with the heroes               home they would fare
at time of night---- twanged the bowstrings.

17. But, high on horseback,          Hogni's daughter----(24)
was the shield-din lulled---             to the lord spoke thus:
"Other deeds, I deem,    we must do ere night,
breaker-of-rings, (25) than drink thy beer.

18. "Hath my father             my faith plighted
to wed Granmar's (26)     grim son Hothbrodd
yet have I, Helgi,             of Hothbrodd said
that the king callow like a kitten seemed. (27)

19. "Will he fare hither in few days' time
(to fetch home with him         Hogni's daughter), (28)
but to battle on holm    thou biddest him,
or from the king             carriest the maiden."

(Helgi said:)
20. "In awe stand not of Isung's slayer: (29)
(our swords shall say    and settle first,
who Hogni's daughter's        husband shall be) (30)
----will be din of fight----        ere dead I lie."

21. Over land and sea the lord did send,
to gather together his goodly hosts:
rich meed pledged he       of the river-hoard (31)
as reward to warriors      and warriors' sons.

22. "Bid them swiftly                to board their ships,
to set sail then           to sea from Brand Isle!"
There he waited             till thither came
many hundred heroes      from Hethin's Isle.(32)

23. Straightway also (33) from Stave Ness thither
rode dark warships,    all decked with gold.
Then asked Helgi              of Hjorleif (34) this:
"Hast thou mustered    the mighty host?"

24. The young sea king said to the other:
" 'Twere lengthy to tell         the long-necked ships
from Tronu Strand, teeming with men,
which in Orva Sound       outbound hovered.

25. "Are there twelve hundred                  trusty warriors;
yet more by half              in Hátún stand
'neath the king's banner---             battle I wait me."

26. Off the awnings             the atheling drew, (36)
so that awaked           the warrior host,
his doughty men,             and saw the dawn;
then hoisted the heroes         high on mast-tree
the woven sails             in Varinsfirth. (37)

27. Rose the din of oars, of iron clashing, (38)
crashed shield 'gainst shield with shock of rowing,
as dashed through the waves the warrior's fleet;
the stanch wave-steeds (39) stood out to sea.

28. It burst on the ears when, buffeting,
the long ship keels met Kolga's sister, (40)
as if surf with cliff did clash in storm.

29. Then higher Helgi bade hoist the topsails---
the crews shunned not        the shock of billows---
when the dreadful daughter of Ægir
would overwhelm the hawser-steeds. (39)

30. But Sigrún on high hovering above
did shield them stoutly,        and their ships also;
the king's brine-hogs (39)           and of Rán's (41) clutches
glided safely       at Gnipa Grove.

31. Floated the fair-dight      fleet at ease then
in Una Bay,    at eventide;
suddenly saw them from Svarins Hill
the sons of Granmar,     and sorrowfully.

32. Asked then Guthmund,          of goodly kin:
"Who the highborn hero, leading
these hosts hither     to harry on us?"

33. Said Sinfjotli----(42) to the sailyard hoisted
the red warshield, (43)         with rim of gold----
in the stem standing to strive with words,
to athelings who           could answer make:

34. "Tonight say thou, when the swine thou feedest,
and givest to hungry    hounds their meat, (44)
that the Ylfing hosts from the East have come,
girded for war,        from Gnipa Grove:

35. "Here may Hothbrodd       find Helgi now,
in the midst of his fleet,         the fearless hero
who sated eagles           oft and anon,
by the quern whilest thou              didst kiss bondmaids."

(Guthmund said:)
36. "Thou speakest rashly         nor reck'st old tales,
when untruth thou of atheling tellest.

37. "Thou hast made thy meal                of the meat of wolves,
and been the bane of thy brothers twain;
with they cold snout hast                oft sucked men's wounds,
and hateful to all              hast hid in the waste." (45)

(Sinfjolti said:)
38. "A witch wast thou on Varins Isle,
didst fashion falsehoods              and fawn on me, hag:
to no wight would'st thou                be wed but to me,
to no sword-weilding       but to Sinfjotli.

39. "Thou wast, witch-hag,           a valkyrie fierce
in Alfather's hall,                hateful and grim:
all Valholl's warriors      had well-nigh battled,
wilful woman,           to win thy hand.
On Saga Ness       full nine wolves we
had together----             I gat them all."

(Guthmund said:)
40. "The father wast not   to Fenris-Wolves, (46)
though older thou than all of them;
for gelded wast thou       near Gnipa Grove
by thurs maidens              on Thór's Ness, before.

41. "As Siggeir's stepson (47)              'neath stones didst dwell (48)
in woody wastes,                with the wolves howling;
'twas ever thy share    to do shameful deeds:
thy own brother's breast thou torest, (49)
and mad'st thee known         by nameless deeds.

42. "Wast Grani's (50) bride          on Brávoll Field, (51)
for the race ready             with reins all golden;
full many a space            I spurred thee on,
slender 'neath saddle,      till thou slunk'st downhill." (52)

(Sinfjotli said:)
43. "A foul-mouthed fellow          I found thee to be,
the time thou Gollnir's     she-goats didst milk;
another time,       as Imth's daughter,
a tattered troll-wench. (53)             Wilt taunt me longer?"

(Guthmund said:)
44. "At Freka Stone             would I feed, rather,
ravening ravens             on thy riddled body,
than give thine hungry        hounds their meat,
or the swine their swill:          go snarl with the trolls!"

(Helgi said:)
45. " 'Twere, Sinfjotli,              more seeming far
to wield your swords     and sate eagles,
than with words to wage         war between you,
though the ring-breakers'           wrath is kindled.

46. "No good I wait me from Granmar's sons,
yet befits it kings              no falsehood to say;
at Móinsheim (54) right manfully
their wands-of-wounds (55) they wielded boldly."

47. They spurred the steeds        to speed amain,
Sviputh and Sveggjuth,        to Sólheim castle---
through dewy dales    and darksome glens;
the earth did quake where the king's sons (56) rode.
At the gate met they     the mighty ruler,
said that foemen               were faring hither.

48. Without stood Hothbrodd, in helmet dight---
had cast his eyes           on his kinsmen's riding:
("Say ye, kinsmen, whom seen ye have:) (57)
what rouses, Niflungs, (58) your wrath so sore?"

(Guthmund said:)
49. "Are swiftly swimming     to sandy shore
mast-stags (59) many with mighty sailyards,
with shining shields    and shaven oars,
a goodly host of            gladsome warriors;
fifteen thousand               set foot on land,
but seven thousand more           in Sogn are waiting.

50. "Foregathered lie                before Gnipa Grove
blue-black brine-hogs, (59)              ablaze with gold:
by far the most             of the foes are there---
will Helgi haste        the hail-of-arrows."  (60)

(Hothbrodd said:)
51. "Let the reined steeds run           to Regin Thing,
Mélnir and Mýlnir, to Myrkvith dark,
and Sporvitnir         to Sparins Heath.
Each man bestir him, nor stay behind
who the wand-of-wounds             can wield in battle.

52. "Bid Hogni come, and Hring's sons eke,
Atli and Yngvi,         and Álf the Hoary,
athelings ever      eager for war;
let us warmly welcome     the Volsung's sons!"

53. With swift swoop then           smote together
the flashing swords at Freka Stone:
was ay Helgi,         the Hunding's Slayer,
foremost in fray             where fought heroes;
fierce in fighting,               to fly unready,
stouthearted hero                 was Helgi ever.

54. From high heaven came         helmeted maidens----
waxed the shafts' shrilling---- who shielded the king;
then said Sigrún--- sang the arrows,
the ogresses' horse ate       the eagle's food----(61)

55. "Hail to thee, hero! In happiness live,
Yngvi's (62) scion, hold sway over men:
unfleeing foe   felled now hast thou,
in swordplay who slew         sea kings many.

56. "Now, folk-warder, befit thee well
the red-gold rings and the ruler's daughter;
hale shalt, hero,            hold these twain:
Hogni's daughter               and Hringstead eke,
victory and wealth: is the war ended."

______________________

1. The hero child is born in a tempestuous hour----eagles screaming (in
anticipation of carnage) and rain pouring down from the "fells of heaven."
The names seem symbolic.  See also "Helgakviða Hjorvarþssonar," St. 6 and Note
10.
2. King Sigmund's wife.  See St. 6 below, and "Helgakviða Hundingsbana" II,
Introductory Prose.
3. The fate-thread spinning of the norns is here taken literally.
4. Accepting Grundtvig's emendation.
5. Kenning for "the heavens," similar to those given in "Alvíssmál,"  St. 12.
6. Evidently one of the norns.
7. See "Hyndlujóð," St. 11, and "Helgakviða Hundingsbana" II, Introductory
Prose.
8. No gap is indicated in the manuscript.  Did the missing lines, or stanzas,
contain the curse of one of the weird sisters, as is the case with Ólaf, the
son of Frithleif (Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum, liber VI, 4).  The
impending evil certainly does not refer to the wars foretold by the raven:
only by fighting can glory be won.
9. This is, probably, to be interpreted, not literally, but as meaning that on
Helgi from his tenderest childhood is imposed the duty to avenge his father.
10. Ravens, wolves, and eagles rejoice at the birth of a hero who will feed
them on the carcasses of his slain foes---a standard conceit in Old Germanic
poetry.
11. It is one of the attributes of a great king to bring to his land good
harvest years.  A housecarl is a member of the king's bodyguard.
12. A kenning for "battle."
13. As a fast-growing plant the leek seems symbolic of rapid access in royal
power.  Compare with the virga ("rod") used, beside the sceptre, in the
coronation of the early English kings.
14. "Heaven-meadows"; some of these and other place names in the poem must be
symbolic.
15. According to the Volsunga Saga, Sinfjotle is Sigmund's son by his own
sister, Signý.  Another half brother of Helgi's is Sigurth.  See "Frá dauða
Singjotla."
16. A heiti, or synonym, for "man," "warrior."
17. As gained by warfare.
18. According to the ancient laws of Norway a lad was of age when he had
reached his fifteenth year.
19. Kennings for "battle."
20. This is the standing poetic phrase for the beginning of hostilities.  See
"Grottasongr," Introductory Prose.
21. The wolves, as scavengers after battle.
22. Supplied after Bugge.
23. Doubtful;  possibly a kenning for "battle-field" (as the abode of wolves).
24. Sigrún.  See St. 54 below and the Prose before Part II of "Helgakviða
Hundingsbana" II.
25. Kenning for "(generous) ruler," "hero."  Before the use of coins became
general in the Germanic North, the ponderous spiral armrings of gold and
silver were cut or broken in pieces, which served as payment and reward.
26. Concerning Granmar and his sons Hothbrodd, Guthmund, and Starkath, see
"Helgakviða Hundingsbana" II, Prose after St. 13.
27.  The line is doubtful.
28. Supplied, following Grundtvig.
29. Hothbrodd. We know nothing about his antagonist.
30. Supplied, following Gering.
31. Kenning for "gold":  the Niflung treasure, the treasure par excellence,
was thrown into the Rhine.
32. Probably, the island of Hiddense, north of Rugen.
33. Accepting Bugge's emendation.
34. Some follower of Helgi's.
35. "Arrow Sound."  Compare with the German Stralsund of the same meaning.
36. See "Helgakviða Hjorvarþssonar,"  Note 17.
37. For this as well as Svarins Hill, see St. 31.  Compare with the modern
Schwerin.
38. See "Helgakviða Hjorvarþssonar,"  St. 13, Note 18.
39. Kennings for "ships."
40. One of Ægir's daughters, hence "the wave."
41. See "Helgakviða Hjorvarþssonar," St. 18, Note 23.
42. "The Stained (Piebald) One"  (?), perhaps referring to his illegitimate
origin (compare with the Anglo-Saxon Fitela).  He is Helgi's brother and
forecastleman, like Atli ("Helgakviða Hjorvarþssonar," St. 14 and Note 19).
43. A red shield indicated warlike intentions, a white one, peace.
44. That is, when made a slave?
45. According to the Volsunga Saga, both Sigmund and Sinfjotli roam the woods
as werewolves until they see their chance to avenge themselves on King
Siggeir, who had slain Sigmund's and Signý's father, Eylimi.  Coming to
Siggeir's hall, Sinfjotli slays the two boys whom his mother Signý has borne
to Siggeir and who, hence, are his half brothers.  The imputations which the
two speakers otherwise heap on each other cannot be verified.
46. That is, to wolves as fierce as the wolf Fenrir;  see "Voluspá," St. 39
and Note 54.
47. Since his mother Signý was married to Siggeir.
48. Conjectural.
49. Perhaps an allusion to combat between Sigmund and Sinfjotli in their
werewolf condition, when Sigmund bit Singjotli's throat (Volsunga Saga, Chap.
8).
50. The name of Sigurth's horse.
51. A plain in eastern Sweden.  It is the scene of the great (legendary)
battle between the kings Sigurth Ring and Harald Wartooth.
52. Conjectural.
53. The two events referred to are unknown elsewhere.
54. Possibly, the Danish island of Moen.
55. Kenning for "swords."
56. Hothbrodd's sons.
57. Supplied here by the Translator.
58. Here, used as honorific epithet for "warriors."
59. Kenning for "ships."
60. Kenning for "battle."
61. That is, "the wolf ate the slain."  See "Hyndluljóð,"  St. 5 and Note 8,
and "Helgakviða Hjorvarþssonar,"  Prose before Fragment IV.
62. Yng is the mythical progenitor of the earliest Swedish kings.  Here, only
an honorific epithet.