Here begins the tale of Helgi the Bane of Hunding and Hodhbroddr.
1.
Ancient the year
when eagles screamed
holy waters fell down
from Heaven-Fells.
Then had Helgi
the hugr-great
Borghild born
in Bralundr.2.
Night was in dwelling
norns came,
for the atheling
being to shape.
They bade the folk-leader
most famed be
and of princes
the best to seem.3.
They spun from strength
ørlog-threads,
for him brought forth
to burgs in Bralund.
They wound about
the golden threads
and under the moon's hall's
middle fastened.4.
They eastwards and westwards
concealed the threads,
there had the prince
the land between.
Brought Neri's sister
to the north-way
one fast.
She bade it hold ever.5.
One thing was to harm
the Ylfings' descendant
and that maid
who should raise him up.
Raven spoke to raven
- sat on high gallows-tree -
greedy for fodder,
'I know something!6.
'Stands in byrnie
the bairn of Sigmundr,
one day old -
now is day come!
With keen eyes
like a warrior!
Be he friend to wargs!
we two shall be glad!'7.
To the army seemed he
day-bright leader to be,
the warriors said
good harvest-years should come.
Himself went the prince
from battle-press,
to bring to the young one
a noble leek, the prince.8.
He gave Helgi name
and Hringstead,
Sun-Fell, Snow-Fell
and Sigar's Field,
Hringstead, Hatun
and Heaven-Meadow -
blood-dyed wyrm-sword
to Sinfjotli's brother.9.
Then took to waxing
before friends' breasts,
the noble-born elm
in gleaming joy.
He got and gave
gold to his band,
the prince spared not
blood-sprinkled hoard.10.
Shortly let the prince
battle be bidden,
when the folk-leader
was fifteen winters,
and he let the hardy
Hunding be slain,
he who long ruled
over lands and thanes.11.
Spoke thereafter
to Sigmundr's bairn,
of wealth and rings
Hunding's sons,
because they had
to pay for the boar
for mickle wealth-taking
and father slain.12.
The prince let not
gifts be offered,
nor the descendants
rather weregild get;
He said they must await
mickle weather
of gray spears
and Óðínn's wrath.13.
The warriors fared
to blade-meeting
which they had laid
at Logafells.
Slit Frodhi's frith
among the foes,
fared Vidhrir's hounds
wal-greedy, around island.14.
The prince sat himself
when he had slain
Alfr and Eyjolfr
under Eagle-Stone,
Hjorvardh and Havardhr
Hunding's sons;
spilt had he all
the aett of spear-Mímir.15.
Then burst a light
from Loga Fells
and from that light
lightnings came
[...]16.
[...
...]
There were under helms on Heaven-Meadows...
Their byrnies were
with blood sprinkled,
and from spears
sparks sprang forth.17.
Asked then early
from the wolf's work
the daybright to
the southern dísir,
if they would home
with the warriors
that night fare -
bowstrings resounded.18.
But from horse
Hogni's daughter,
stilled the shields' clash
said to the prince
'I think, that we have
other deeds,
than with ring-breakers
beer to drink.19.
'My father has
his maid,
to the grim one promised
Granmar's son;
But I have, o Helgi
said Hodhbroddr to be,
a shameless king
like a cat's son.20.
'Then comes the folk-leader
in few nights,
[...
...]
unless you show him
to the wal-stead
or take the maid
from the gracious prince.'
Helgi said:
21.
'Be not in awe
of Isung's bane!
First must be din of blades
or else I must be dead!'22.
Sent messengers
the all-ruler then,
aloft and on water
to bid the warbands,
deed-rich
river's gleam
to promise to heroes
and their bairns.23.
'Bid swiftly
to ships to go,
and on Brand-Isle
to be ready!'
After that the prince
bided till to meeting came
heroes hundred-many
from Heðinn's Isle.24.
And there from the stead
out of Stave-Ness
glided the warships
adorned with gold -
Asked Helgi
Hjorleifr of this:
'Have you counted
the fearless sons?"25.
But the young king
said to the other:
'Hard were it to count
from Troni Strand
the long-headed ships
and host-loaded,
which from Jorvasund
outward fared.26.
'Twelve hundred
of trusty men,
yet are in Hatun
half as many
battle-host of kings
we expect strife...'27.
So ripped the steersman
the awnings off
that of heroes
the horde awake
and the day-bright ones
day's brow see
and the princes
pulled up on mast-tree
the woven sails
in Varin's Firth.28.
Was oars' din
and iron's clashing
shield struck on shield
vikings rowed;
swift-forwards went
among athelings
the hero's fleet
far from lands.29.
So was to hear
where together came
Kolga's sister
and the old keels,
as if berg and wave
broke together.30.
Helgi bade pull high
the sail over,
of the waves were not
the shipfolk shy -
when there frightful
Ægir's daughter
over the steering-mares
would climb.31.
But herself Sigrún
above them
the folk-host warded
and their vessels:
she wound strongly
out of Ran's hands
the king's wave-beasts
at Gnipa Grove.32.
Sat there by evening
in Una Bay
the fair-built ships
were able to float,
but those themselves
from Svarin's Howe
with bitter hugr
the army recognised.33.
Asked the good-born
Gudhmundr of this:
'Who is the land-ruler
who steers the host,
and he who furious host
leads to the land?'34.
Sinfjotli said -
swung up to boat's edge,
the red shield,
whose rim was of gold,
there was a sound warder
who knew how to answer
and with athelings
words to exchange -35.
'Say thou that in evening
when to swine you give
and to your bitches
you give milk-bread,
that the Ylfings
are from eastward come,
greedy for battle
from Gnipa Grove.36.
'There shall Hodhbroddr
Helgi find,
unflying prince
in the fleet's middle,
he who has often
eagles sated,
while you, by quern
kissed thrall-maids!'
Gudhmundr said:
37.
'Little think you, folk-leader
of ancient tales
when you of athelings
untruths brandish!38.
You have eaten
wolves' carrion
and to your brother
the bane become,
and wounds sucked
with cold mouth,
have in stone-waste
all-loathed, crept.'
Sinfjotli said:
39.
'You were a volva
on Varin's Isle,
treachery-wise woman
bore you lies together:
you claimed no man
to wish to have,
warrior in byrnie
except Sinfjotli!40.
'You were a harmful witch,
valkyrie,
awful, ill-mighty
with All-Father.
The einherjar had
to all do battle,
contrary-willed woman
for thy sake!41.
'Nine had we
- on Saga Ness -
wolves begotten
only I was their father!'
Gudhmundr said:
42.
'You were not father
of Fenris-Wolves,
older than all
as I remember,
since you were gelded
before Gnipa Grove
by thurse maidens
on Thorr's Ness.43.
'You were Siggeirr's stepson
lay under home-stead,
to wolf's songs accustomed
in the wood outside;
came to you ills
all to hand
when you of your brother
the breast ripped;
you made yourself famed
through blasphemous deeds.'
Sinfjotli said:
44.
'You were Grani's bride
on Bravelli,
gold-bridled, were
ready for racing.
I had you, tired,
many steps ridden,
slender under saddle
cow, downhill!
Gudhmundr said:
45.
A swain you seemed
senseless to be,
when you Gullnir's
goats milked,
yet another time
as Imidhr's daughter,
a tattered troll-maid!
will you speak further?'
Sinfjotli said:
46.
'First will I
at Freki Stone
sate the ravens
on your corpse,
before your bitches
give your meat
or give to boars!
grim wights deal with thee!'
Helgi said:
47.
'It were for you two, Sinfjotli,
seemlier greatly,
battle to raise
and gladden eagles,
than with unneeded
words to battle,
although the ring-breakers
are estranged by hate.48.
'I expect no good
from Granmarr's sons,
yet fit is for princes
to tell the truth.
They have shown
at Moins-Home,
that they have courage
blades to brandish.'49.
They, with strength,
let run
Svipudhr and Sveggjud
to Sun-Home,
through dewy dales
and dark glens,
Trembled Mist's horse
where the kinsmen fared.50.
They met the prince
at the hall's gate,
they said angrily
the ruler had come!
Without stood Hodhbroddr
in helm bedecked
he sensed the horse-ride
of his aett.
'Why is fury's colour
on the Niflungs?'
Gudhmundr said:
51.
'Wend here to sand
swift keels,
Revenge's stags
and long rows,
many shields
shaven oars,
Gylfi's stately host
the glad Ylfings.52.
Fifteen went,
folk up on land,
Though in Sogn
out seven thousand.
Lie here in the gates
before Gnipa Grove
brime-beasts blue-black
and built with gold.
There are by far
most of their horde.
Now shall Helgi
hasten blade-Thing!'
Hodhbroddr said:
53.
'May run the bridled
to regin-Thing
but Sporvitnir
to Sparin's heath,
Melnir and Mylnir
to Mirk-Wood!
Let no man
sit behind
who the wound-flame
is able to brandish!54.
'Bid thee, Hogni
and Hringr's sons,
Atli and Yngvi
Alfr the Old,
they who are greedy
battle to raise.
let the Volsungs
withstanding get!'55.
Swift alone was that
when together came,
the pale edges
at Freki Stone.
Ever was Helgi
Hunding's-Bane,
first in the folk
where men did battle...
first in the war
unwilling to flee;
so had the helm-bearer
a hard mood-acorn!56.
Came then from heaven
helm-beings over
- waxed din of spears -
they who warded the hero.
Then Sigrún said
'Wound-beings behind
the curses of men
cut Huginn's barley!57.
'Hail thee, wise leader,
ruler of men,
aett-stave of Yngvi
and enjoy life,
for you have felled
the flight-unwilling
boar, who ruled
the awful one's death.58.
'And for you, prince
are both well seemly,
the red rings
and the mighty maid,
Hale shall you,
prince both enjoy,
Hogni's daughter
and Hring-Stead,
Victory and lands!
the strife is closed!'
Note: This translation and others in this collection bearing this notice are the sole work of Stephan Grundy and are here with his permission. They are under his copyright. They are freely reproducible and quotable as long as this notice is attached if these are being reproduced or due credit is given to him for his translation if they are being quoted in another work.