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Guðrúnarkviða I The First Lay of Guthrún Translation by Lee M. Hollander of Guðrúnarkviða I in the Poetic Edda, from which the following is taken. Introduction Back Source Texts Index |
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Guthrún sate over Sigurth's body. She wept not, like other women, yet her heart was nigh bursting with sorrow. Both men and women came to speak cheer to her; but that was not easy. It is told that Guthrún had eaten of Fáfnir's heart and hence understood the speech of birds. 2 This lay, too, 3 was indited about Guthrún.
Erst Gjúki's daughter unto death was night, as o'er Sigurth she sate sorrowfully; she whimpered not, nor her hands she wrung, nor wept, either, as do women else. 2 Went to the window wise earls kindly, the heavy heart of her to ease; nor yet Guthrún her grief could weep, in her bosom though her heart would burst. 3 Sate then with her the wives of earls, with Gjúki's daughter gold-dight women: their greatest griefs they gan tell her, the fellest which had befallen them. 4 Then quoth Gjaflaug, 4 Gjúki's sister: "On earth am I most utterly wretched: five highborn husbands have I buried, three of my daughters three of my sisters, and eight brother; yet on I live." 5 Nor yet Guthrún her grief could weep, so sore her sorrow o'er Sigurth's fall, so cold her heart o'er the king's body. 6 Then quoth Herborg, the Hunnish queen: "Sadder sorrow suffered I still: my seven sons in the Southland all fell whilom in battle, my husband the eighth. 7 "Both father an mother and four brothers I lost in the waves, on wind-tossed ship, when the billows brake 'gainst the ship's bulwarks. 8 "Myself needs buried the bodies all, needs laid them out and their limbs straightened. This woe befell me in one half year- to soothe my sorrow no soul did try. 9 "As captive was I kept in bondage, that very half year this happened to me; then Trimmed I the tresses, 5 and tied the shoes, for the earl's housewife every morning. 10 "With jealous scorn she scolded me, urged me towork with angry stripes; more friendly master found I never, 6 but harsher housewife had I never." 11 Nor yet Guthrún her grief could weep, so sore her sorrow o'er Sigurth's fall, so cold her heart o'er the king's body. 12 Then quoth Gullrond, Gjúki's daughter: "Though old and wise, but ill know'st thou, foster mother, how the mourner to comfort," and bade them bare the king's body. 13 She swept the sheet from Sigurth's corse and brought the bolster to the brooding one's knees: "To the lief on'es lips lay thou thy mouth, as when didst hug when hale, the warrior!" 14 Then cast one glance Guthrún on him, saw the dear one's hair all dank with blood, asw the folk-warder's flashing eyes dimmed, and the baron's breast breached by the sword. 15 Then sank Guthrún swooning on bolster- her hair oosened, her cheeks grew hot, a rain of tears ran to her knees. 16 Then wept Guthrún, Gjúki's daughter, that through her tresses 7 the tears did flow, and in the garth the geese sang out, 8 the far-famed fowl which the fair one owned. 17 Then quoth Gullrond, Gjúki's daughter: Knew I never beneath heaven greater love than was given thee: without nor within at ease thou wast but at Sigurth's sie, thou sister mine!" 18 Guthrún said: "Seemed my Sigurth 'mongst the sons of Gjúki like the garlic, grown the grass above, 9 like a bright stone set on band of gold, a gleaming jewel, the great ones among. 19 "Was I honored highter by the king's heroes than any one of Óthin's maidens; 10 as little am I as the leaves hanging on sallow twigs, now Sigurth is dead. 20 "At board I miss, and in bed also, my bosom's friend. "Tis my brothers' guilt - 'tis my brothers'guit that this grief I bear - theri own sister - and sore tears weep. 21 "May ye lose you land, and lieges also, as ill ye kept the oaths ye sware. No good, Gunnar, of the gold will come: the dragon's hoard thy death will be, since to Sigurth oaths thou swarest. 22 "There was greather glee in the garth, by far, the time my Sigurth did saddle Grani - the time they wended to woo Brynhild, that ill witht, in evil hour" 23 Then quoth Brynhild, Buthli's daughter: "May that hag ne'er have husband nor children who again taught thee thy tears to shed, and this moren gave thee the might of speech!" 24 Then quoth Gullrond, Gjúki's daughter: "Hush thee, Brynhild, who art hated by all: athelings'ill fate thou hast ever been, and all did call thee a curse to them- a sorrow to seven dings, 11 and hast brought woe to many a wife." 25 Then quoth Brynhild, Buthli's daughter: "From Atli all this evil springs- to Buthli born, my brother he- 'mongst Hunnish hosts in the hall as we the worm-bed's fire 12 on the warrior saw. But woe did bring their wending thither: ever since see I that sight before me." 26 Neath stone post stood she, nor restrained her wrath - 13 burned in Brynhild's, Buthli's daughter's, her eyes a fire: she foamed with rage 14 when the wounds she saw on Sigurth's body. Guthrún then fared to the woods and wastes until she came to Denmark. There she stayed seven half-years with Thora, the daughter of Hakon. 15 Brynhild would live no longer after Sigurth's death. She had eight of her thralls and five of her bondmaids slain. Then she slewe herself with her sword, as it is told in "The Short Lay of Sigurth."
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.
It was suggested to him by Thorpe's translation of this lay.
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