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Grípisspá The Prophecy of Grípir Translation by Lee M. Hollander of Grípisspá in the Poetic Edda, from which the following is taken. Introduction Back Source Texts Index |
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Grípir 2 was the name of Eylimi's son, and he was the brother of Hjordís. He ruled a kingdom and was the wisest of men and had foreknowledge of the future. Sigurth rode alone and came to Grípir's hall. Sigurth was easily known. Outside of the hall he met a man whose name was Geitir. 3 1 Sigurth greeted him and said: "This high-built castle what king houseth, known by what name his knights among?"
o'er land and lieges who lordeth it here."
Sigurth said:
Would the noble king hold converse with me? A man unknown hath need of it; would he forthwith find the folk-warder." 3 Geitir said:
with whom he is to hold converse." Sigurth said: "I am Sigurth hight, to Sigmund born, and Hjordis is the hero's mother." 4 Then went Geitir, Grípir to tell: "An unkown man without doth stand; of lofty mien this lord seemeth: would he, noble king, hold converse with thee."
to greet as guest the goodly warrior: "Welcome, Sigurth - why no sooner here? Thou, Geitir, stable Grani, his steed." 5 6 The thoughtful thanes of things many gan tidings tell, trueheartedly. Sigurth said: "Make known to me, my mother's brother, what life will Sigurth lead hereafter?"
Grípir said: "Among sons of men, the sun beneath, wilt be held of heroes the highest born, free with thy gold, to flee unready, in thy words most wise, and wondrous fair."
Sigurth said:
say to Sigurth, if 'tis seen by thee: of my fate what first befalls me now, when from thy hall I fare on the morrow?"
Grípir said:
and Eylimi eke, for evil deed: the hardy sons to Hunding born thou wilt lay low, the lieges doughty." 6 10 Sigurth said:
thy sister's child, right cheerfully: seest deeds of daring done by Sigurth, which soar highest the heavens beneath?"
Grípir said: "Thyself wilt slay the serpent glitt'ring which greedy lieth on Gnita Heath; 7 to both brothers wilt bring quick death, to Regin and Fafnir: 8 aright saith Grípir." 12 Sigurth said: "Great wealth I win if I work it so, as thou sayest certain, and slay these twain. Scan yet longer the skein of fate: what will further fall to my lot?"
Grípir said:
and have from the heath the hoarded wealth; wilt load the gold on Grani's saddle: then ride to Gjuki 9 the gladsome king." 14 Sigurth said: "Shalt, wise folk-warder, my weird tell further and, sage sea king, say still onward: when Gjuki's guest goes on his way, what will still further fall to his lot?"
Grípir said:
in weeds of war, since wound-dead Helgi; 11 with keen edge wilt cut her byrnie, slitting with sword which slew Fafnir." 16 Sigurth said: "Her mail is slitted, the maiden speaketh, as from her sleep she sitteth up then. To thy sib Sigurth what saith the lady, which to the leader good luck will bring?"
Grípir said:
which all men are eager to learn - teach thee to talk the tongues of men, and healing leechcraft: 12 hail to thee, king!" 18 Sigurth said:
ready am I to ride from thence. Scan yet longer the skein of fate: what will further fall to my lot?"
Grípir said: "To Heimir's 13 halls wilt, hero come, and gladly dwell as guest with the king: at an end is now all my knowledge - ask no more of thy mother's brother." 20 Sigurth said: "Sorrow see I in what thou sayest since, folk-warder, farther dost see: too great the grief Grípir weeneth, hence more wilt not to me now say."
Grípir said:
which in youth thou, nor beyond wilt lead; nor in truth can I foretell thy fate: at an end is now all my knowledge."
Sigurth said:
who forward sees farther than thou: hide not from me, unhappy though be my life and lot, and luckless my end."
Grípir said:
no fault nor flaw thy fate doth blot: know that most noble thy name will be the while, warrior, the world lasteth."
Sigurth said:
from thee Sigurth, though thus it be; the way now show - his weird none fleeth - my mother's brother, to me if thou wilt."
Grípir said:
since, war-worker, thou wilt it thus - thou know'st full well that naught I lie - I see the day thy death will bring."
Sigurth said:
but the good rede of Grípir, rather: to wit I wish, though welcome nowise, what fate lieth before Sigurth."
Grípir said:
who is Brynhild 14 hight, his hall within - Buthli's daughter, the brave folk-king's - of hardy mind is the maiden fair." 28 Sigurth said:
fostered at Heimir's, fair to behold? Thou shalt, Grípir, tell altogether: before thee lieth my fate clearly."
Grípir said:
who is Brynhild hight, Buthli's daughter: no sleep thou sleepest nor seekest Thing 15 nor men's meetings, but the maid thou seest." 30 Sigurth said:
Say thou, Grípir, if 'tis seen by thee: will I the dear one by dowry win, the folk-warder's daughter, so fair to see?"
Grípir said: "Oaths ye will pledge altogether, will pledge fully, but few ye will keep: art with Gjuki a guest one night, from thy mind then falls Heimir's foster child."
Sigurth said:
is fickle found the folk-warder's mind? Will I faithlessly fail the maiden to whom my whole heart I had given?"
Grípir said:
will Queen Grimhild 16 beguile thy mind and offer to thee her own daughter, the lovely maiden, and lure thee on." 34 Sigurth said:
when that as wife he weds Guthrun. Full well wedded then would I be, if the ruler ruled not the wrong that's done." 35 Grípir said:
and egg thee on to ask Brynhild for Gunnar's wife, the Gothic 19 king's: thy faith wilt thou forthwith plight him." 36 Sigurth said:
foresight Sigurth, I fear me, lacks if I shall ask for another man her whom my whole heart I had given."
Grípir said:
Gunnar and Hogni - 20 thou, hero, too; each other's form, when faring to her, takest thou and Gunnar: 21 Grípir lies not." 38 Sigurth said:
shift face and form when faring to her? Still other falsehoods will follow after, all fraught with sorrow; but say on, Grípir!"
Grípir said:
but keep thy speech and spirit eke; wilt pledge the troth of the proudhearted winsome woman: fate wills it so."
Sigurth said: "Little I like it; a loathly deed all thanes will think it, if thus I do. With wiles I would not woo for Gunnar as bride Brynhild, best of maidens."
Grípir said:
of the maiden, as though thy mother she were; 22 will hence be known thy name, great king, the while, warrior, the world lasteth." 42 Sigurth said:
the good woman - this, Grípir, tell me! - three nights although the thane's fair bride with me did sleep? A marvel were it." 43 Grípir said:
Sigurth's and Gunnar's, in Gjuki's hall. The sham shapes then will ye shift at home, though each within him his own thoughts kept." 44 Sigurth said: 25
when wedded thus? I wish to know. Will Gunnar's lot be good, thereafter, and eke my own? I ask thee, Grípir." 45 Grípir said:
wilt grudge not Guthrun thy goodly body; but Brynhild will ween her a bride mismated: the woman will of the wiles avenge her."
Sigurth said:
of the woman, since we with wiles tricked her? Hath the fair one from me false oaths many, lying pledges, but little joy."
Grípir said:
how that thy oaths most ill didst keep, when altogether Gjuki's son had, the lieges' lord, believed in thee." 27 48 Sigurth said:
did in truth I betray the king? Or will lie on me the highborn lady 28 - on me and herself? Say now, Grípir!" 49 Grípir said:
in moody mourning, the mighty queen: no whit has thou harmed the lady, though the king's wife ye with wiles did trick."
Sigurth said:
be egged thereafter against their oaths? Will Gjuki's sons their swords redden in Sigurth's blood? Say on, Grípir!" 51 Grípir said:
the time her brothers betray her foully; nor love ever the lady hath, nor gladness, thereafter: 30 'tis Grimhild's fault." 52. Sigurth said: 31 "Fare thee well, then: over fate wins no one. Thou'st done my bidding as best thou could'st; a fairer fate thou fain had'st told me, Grípir, ungrudging, if granted it were." 53 Grípir said:
is this lot, leader, to thy life given: will no better hero be born in the world 'neath sun in heaven than, Sigurth, thou!" Back to Top ________________________________________________________ The Poetic Edda Translated by Lee M Hollander © 1962 ISBN 0-292-76499-5 LCCCN 61-10045 Fifth paperback printing 1994 University of Texas Press Box 7819, Austin, Texas, 78713-7819 _______________________________________________________ Notes 1.
In particular, grievous confusion was wrought in the poem (and in the
account of Skaldskaparmál,
Chap. 39, based on it), as well as in some modern treatments, either
by the author's inability to discern that there were current two incompatible
versions of Sigurth's relations with Brynhild and with Guðrún,
or else by his trying to reconcile them in true medieval fashion. 3.
"Goat-herd." Compare with the situation in Skírnismál
and Fjolsvinnsmál. 11.
It has been suggested that this Helgi is identical with the Hjalmgunnar
who is mentioned in the Prose following St. 4 of Sigrdrifumál
and in Helreidh Brynhildar, St. 8.
"The Prophecy of Gripir" was chosen by the Collector to introduce the Sigurth poems, no doubt because it contained a sort of epitome of them all. This sufficiently evinces his lack of critical discernment, for even a slight acquaintance with the Heroic Lay teaches us that this one is of a different class: given in the form of a gnomic dialogue, it is but a sapless versified excerpt, utterly lacking originality of treatment, and full of inepituteds and contradictions, 1 at that! Poetically warthless, it is of interest because its author---no doubt some Icelander of the thirteenth century---still had before him the poems of "The Great Lacuna." I. According to "Fafnismal," "Sigurtharkvidha hin skamma," and "Helreidh Brynhildar" (also the Nibelungenlied), the hero first proceeds to Gjuki's court and wins Guthrun. When there, he is prevailed upon to win Brynhild for Gunnar by riding through the wall of fire and assuming Gunnar's shape. He rouses Brynhild from her sleep, lies three nights beside her, his sword separating them, and then yields her to Gunnar. II. In the Volsunga saga, the Nornagests Thattr (based, it seems, on poems now lost), "Sigrdrifumal," and the Thidhreks saga, Sigurth first delivers and pledges himself to Brynhild. He then proceeds to Gjuki's court where a "drink of forgetfulness," given him by Grimhild, makes him oblivious of his former love and he marries Guthrun. Curiously enough, the Nibelungenlied shows traces of a similar confusion (Aventiure VI, VII); and the bird prophecy in "Fafnismal" is ambiguous. In form, the jejune stanzas (in fornyrdhislag) are flawless. It may be noted that the alternation between the first and the third person, as used by the speaker of himself, occurs commonly enough in Old Norse poetry, but not to the wearisome extent seen in this piece. The poem is transmitted only in Codex Regius.
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