《赫洛德之歌》的原典

Ár kváðu Humla
Húnum ráða,
Gizur Gautum,
Gotum Angantý,
Valdarr Dönum,
en Völum Kíarr,
Alrekr inn frækni
enskri þjóðu.

Hlöðr var þar borinn
í Húnalandi
saxi ok með sverði,
síðri brynju,
hjalmi hringreifðum,
hvössum mæki,
mari vel tömum
á mörk inni helgu.

Hlöðr reið austan,
Heiðreks arfi;
kom hann at garði,
þar er Gotar byggja,
á Árheima,
arfs at kveðja;
þar drakk Angantýr
erfi Heiðreks.

Segg fann hann úti
fyr sal hávum
ok síðförlan
síðan kvaddi?
"Inn gakktu, seggr,
í sal hávan,
bið mér Angantý
andspjöll bera."
Sá gekk inn fyrir konungs borð ok kvaddi Angantý konung vel ok mælti síðan:

"Hér er Hlöðr kominn,
Heiðreks arfþegi,
bróðir þinn
inn böðskái;
mikill er sá maðr ungr
á mars baki,
vill nú, þjóðann,
við þik tala."

Rymr varð í ranni,
risu með góðum;
vildi hverr heyra,
hvat Hlöðr mælti
ok þat, er Angantýr
andsvör veitti.
Þá mælti Angantýr:

"Heill kom þú, Hlöðr,
Heiðreks arfi,
bróðir minn,
gakk á bekk sitja;
drekkum Heiðreks
hollar veigar
feðr okkrum
fyrstum manna,
vín eða mjöð,
hvárts þér vildra þykkir."
Þá kvað Hlöðr:

"Til annars vér
en öl at drekka
hingat fórum
[af Húna landi]
þigg-a-k, þjóðann,
þínar veigar.

Hafa vil ek halft allt,
þat er Heiðrekr átti,
al ok af oddi,
einum skatti,
kú ok af kalfi,
kvern þjótandi,
þý ok af þræli
ok þeira barni;

Hrís þat it mæra,
er Myrkvið heita,
gröf þá ina helgu,
er stendr á Goðþjóðu,
stein þann inn fagra,
er stendr á stöðum Danpar,
halfar herborgir,
þær er Heiðrekr átti,
lönd ok lýða
ok ljósa bauga."
Angantýr kvað:

"Bresta mun fyrr, bróðir,
in blikhvíta lind
ok kaldr geirr
koma við annan
ok margr gumi
í gras hníga,
áðr en Tyrfing
í tvau deilak
eða þér, Humlungr,
halfan arf látak.
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Ek mun bjóða þér
bjartar vigrar,
fé ok fjölð meiðma,
sem þik fremst tíðir;
tolf hundruð gef ek þér manna,
tolf huhdruð gef ek þér mara,
tolf hundruð gef ek þér skálka,
þeira er skjöld bera.

Manni gef ek hverjum
margt at þiggja
annat æðra
en hann á at ráða;
mey gef ek hverjum
manni at þiggja,
men spenni ek hverri
meyju at halsi.

Mun ek um þik sitjanda
silfri mæla,
en ganganda þik
gulli steypa,
svá at á vega alla
velti baugar;
þriðjung Goðþjóðar, -
því skaltu ráða."
Gizurr Grýtingaliði, fóstri Heiðreks konungs, var þá með Angantý konungi. Hann var þá ofrgamall. Ok er hann heyrði boð Angantýs, þótti honum hann of mikit bjóða ok kvað þá:

"Þetta er þiggjanda
þýjar barni,
barni þýjar,
þótt sé borinn konungi;
þá hornungr
á haugi sat,
er öðlingr
arfi skipti."
Hlöðr reiddist nú mjök, er hann var þýbarn ok hornungr kallaðr, ef hann þægi boð bróður síns, ok sneri hann þá þegar í burt með alla sína menn, til þess er hann kom heim í Húnaland til Humla konungs, frænda síns, ok sagði honum, at Angantýr, bróðir hans, hefði synjat honum helmingaskiptis.
Humli spyrr nú allt tal þeira. Varð hann þá reiðr mjök, ef Hlöðr, dóttursonr hans, skyldi ambáttarsonr heita, ok kvað þá:

"Sitja skulu vér í vetr
ok sælliga lifa,
drekka ok dæma
dýrar veigar,
kenna Húnum
hervápn búa,
þau er fræknliga
skulum fram bera.

Vel skulum þér, Hlöðr,
herlið búa
ok framliga
fylki týja;
með tolf vetra mengi
ok tvævetrum fola,
svá skal Húna
her of samna."
Þenna vetr sátu þeir Humli ok Hlöðr um kyrrt. Um várit drógu þeir her saman svá mikinn, at aleyða var eftir vígra manna í Húnalandi....
Sem þessi herr kom saman, riðu þeir skóg þann, er Myrkviðr heitir, er skilr Húnaland ok Gotaland. En sem þeir kómu af skóginum, þá váru byggðir stórar ok vellir sléttir, ok á völlunum stóð borg ein fögr, en þar réð fyrir Hervör, systir Angantýs konungs, ok Ormarr, fóstri hennar. Váru þau sett þar til landgæzlu fyrir her Húna, ok höfðu þau þar mikit lið.
Þat var einn morgun í sólar upprás, at Hervör stóð upp á kastala einum yfir borgarhliði. Hon sá jóreyki stóra suðr til skógarins, svá at löngum fal sólina. Því næst sá hon glóa undir jóreyknum, sem á gull eitt liti, fagra skjöldu ok gulli lagða, gyllta hjalma ok hvítar brynjur. Sá hon þá, at þetta var herr Húna ok mikill fjölði. Hervör gekk ofan skyndiliga ok kallar lúðrsvein ok bað blása saman lið. Ok síðan mælti Hervör: "Takið vápn yður
ok búizk til orrostu, en þú, Ormarr, ríð í mót Húnum ok bjóð þeim orrostu fyrir borgarhliði inu syðra." Ormarr kvað:

"Skal ek víst ríða
ok rönd bera,
-- -- --
Gota þjóðum
gunni at heyja."
Þá reið Ormarr af borginni ok í mót hernum. Hann kallaði hátt ok bað þá ríða til borgarinnar, -- "ok úti fyrir borgarhliðinu suðr á völlinn -- þar býð ek yðr til orrostu. Bíði þeir þar annarra, er fyrr koma."
Nú reið Ormarr aftr til borgarinnar, ok var Hervör þá albúin ok allr herr. Riðu þau nú út af borginni með hernum móti Húnum, ok hófsk þar allmikil orrosta. En með því at Húnar hafa lið miklu meira, sneri mannfallinu í lið þeira Hervarar, ok um síðir fell Hervör ok mikit lið umhverfis hana.
En er Ormarr sá fall hennar, flýði hann ok allir þeir, er lífit þágu. Ormarr reið dag ok nótt, sem mest mátti hann, á fund Angantýs konungs í Árheima. ....
Og sem Ormarr kom fyrir Angantý konung, þá kvað hann:

"Sunnan em ek kominn
at segja spjöll þessi:
Sviðin er öll in mæra
Myrkviðar heiðr,
drifin öll Goðþjóð
gumna blóði.

Mey veit ek Heiðreks,
[fyr mækis eggjum],
systur þína,
svigna til jarðar;
hafa Húnar
hana fellda
ok marga aðra
yðra þegna.

Léttari gerðisk hon at böð
en við biðil ræða
eða í bekk at fara
at brúðar gangi."
Angantýr konungr, þá er hann heyrði þetta, brá hann grönum ok varð seint til
orða ok mælti þetta um síðir:

"Óbróðurliga vartu leikin,
in ágæta systir!"
Ok síðan leit hann yfir hirðina, ok var ekki margt liðs með honum. Hann kvað þá:
"Mjök várum vér margir,
er vér mjöð drukkum,
nú erum vér færi,
er vér fleiri skyldum.

Sé ek eigi mann
í mínu liði,
þótt ek biðja
ok baugum kaupa,
er muni ríða
ok rönd bera
ok þeira Húna
herlið finna."
Gizurr gamli sagði:

"Ek mun þik einkis
eyris krefja
né skjallanda
skarfs ór gulli;
þó mun ek ríða
ok rönd bera,
Húna þjóðum
herstaf bjóða."
.... Gizurr herklæddist með góðum hervápnum ok hljóp á hest sinn, sem ungr væri. Þá mælti hann til konungs:

"Hvar skal ek Húnum
hervíg kenna?"
Angantýr kvað:

"Kenndu at Dylgju
ok á Dúnheiði
ok á þeim öldnum
Jassarfjöllum;
þar oft Gotar
gunni háðu
ok fagran sigr
frægir vágu."
Nú reið Gizurr í brott ok þar til, er hann kom í her Húna. Hann reið eigi nær
en svá, at hann mátti tala við þá. Þá kallar hann hári röddu ok kvað:

"Felmtr er yðru fylki,
feigr er yðvarr vísi,
gnæfar yðr gunnfani,
gramr er yðr Óðinn.

Býð ek yðr at Dylgju
ok á Dúnheiði
orrostu undir
Jassarfjöllum,
hræsi yður
at há hverju,
ok láti svá Óðinn flein fljúga
sem ek fyrir mæli."
Þá er Hlöðr hafði heyrt orð Gizurar, þá kvað hann:

"Taki þér Gizur
Grýtingaliða,
mann Angantýs,
kominn af Árheimum."
Humli konungr sagði:
"Eigi skulum
árum spilla,
þeim er fara
einir saman."
Gizurr drap þá hest sinn með sporum ok reið á fund Angantýs konungs. .... Angantýr spyrr, hvat mikit lið Húnar hafa. Gizurr mælti: "Mikit er þeira mengi:

Sex ein eru
seggja fylki,
í fylki hverju
fimm þúsundir,
í þúsund hverri
þrettán hundruð,
í hundraði hverju
halir fjórtalðir."
Angantýr spyrr nú til Húna hers. Þá sendi hann alla vegu menn frá sér ok stefndi hverjum manni til sín, er honum vildi lið veita ok vápnum mætti valda. Fór hann þá á Dúnheiði með lið sitt, ok var þat allmikill herr. Kom þá á móti honum herr Húna, ok höfðu þeir lið hálfu fleira.
At öðrum degi hófu þeir sína orrostu ok börðust allan þann dag ok fóru at kveldi í herbúðir sínar. Þeir börðust svá átta daga, at höfðingjar váru enn heilir, en engi vissi manntal, hvat margt fell. En bæði dag ok nótt dreif lið til Angantýs af öllum vegum, ok þá kom svá, at hann hafði eigi færa fólk en í fyrstu. Varð nú orrostan enn ákafari. Váru Húnar allákafir ok sá þá sinn kost, at sú ein var lífs ván, ef þeir sigruðust, ok illt mundi Gota griða at biðja. Gotar vörðu frelsi sitt ok fóstrjörð fyrir Húnum, stóðu því fast, ok eggjaði hverr annan. Þá er á leið daginn, gerðu Gotar atgöngu svá harða, at fylkingar Húna svignuðu fyrir. Ok er Angantyýr sá þat, gekk hann fram ór skjaldborginni ok í öndverða fylking ok hafði í hendi Tyrfing ok hjó þá bæði menn ok hesta. Raufst þá skjaldborg fyrir Húna konungum, ok skiptust þeir bræðr höggum við. Þar fell Hlöðr ok Humli konungr, ok þá brast flótti á Húnum, en Gotar drápu þá. .... Angantýr konungr gekk þá at kanna valinn ok fann Hlöð, bróður sinn. Þá kvað hann:

"Bauð ek þér, bróðir,
basmir óskerðar,
fé ok fjölð meiðma,
sem þik fremst tíddi;
nú hefir þú hvárki
hildar at gjöldum
ljósa bauga
né land ekki.

Bölvat er okkr, bróðir,
bani em ek þinn orðinn;
þat mun æ uppi;
illr er dómr norna."

Long ago, they say, Humli
ruled the Huns,
Gizur the Geats,
Angantyr the Goths,
Valdar the Danes,
and Kiar the Romans,
Alrek the bold
the English people.

Hlod was born there
in the land of the Huns,
with knife and sword,
with a long coat of mail,
a helmet wound with rings,
a sharp blade,
a well-tamed horse,
in the sacred forest.

Hlod rode from the east,
Heidrek’s heir;
he came to the stronghold
where the Goths dwell,
to Arheim,
to claim his inheritance;
there Angantyr was drinking
the funeral feast for Heidrek.

He found a man outside
before the lofty hall,
and the far-travelled man
then greeted him:
“Go inside, man,
into the lofty hall;
ask Angantyr
to speak with me.”
The man went in before the king’s table, greeted King Angantyr courteously, and then said:

“Hlod has come here,
Heidrek’s heir,
your brother,
bold in battle;
tall is that young man
on his horse’s back;
now he wishes, king,
to speak with you.”

A din arose in the hall;
the nobles rose;
everyone wished to hear
what Hlod said
and what Angantyr
gave in answer.
Then Angantyr said:

“Welcome, Hlod,
Heidrek’s heir,
my brother;
come and sit on the bench.
Let us drink Heidrek’s
kindly funeral draughts,
to our father,
foremost of men,
wine or mead,
whichever you prefer.”
Then Hlod said:

“For another purpose
than drinking ale
we have come here
[from the land of the Huns].
I will not accept, king,
your drinks.

I want half of everything
that Heidrek owned,
of awl and spearpoint,
of every treasure,
of cow and calf,
the whirring millstone,
of bondwoman and thrall
and their child;

that renowned forest
which is called Mirkwood,
that sacred grave
which stands in Gothland,
that beautiful stone
which stands on the banks of the Danpar,
half the strongholds
that Heidrek owned,
lands and people
and shining rings.”
Angantyr said:

“Sooner, brother, will
the gleaming white shield split,
and cold spear
strike against spear,
and many a man
sink into the grass,
than I divide Tyrfing
in two,
or let you, Humli’s descendant,
have half the inheritance.
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I will offer you
shining spears,
wealth and many treasures,
as much as you most desire;
twelve hundred men I give you,
twelve hundred horses I give you,
twelve hundred warriors I give you,
men who bear shields.

To each man I give
many things to receive,
other things more precious
than those he now possesses;
a maiden I give each
man to receive;
a necklace I fasten around each
maiden’s neck.

Around you as you sit
I will measure out silver,
and as you walk
I will shower you with gold,
so that on every side
rings roll about;
a third of Gothland—
that you shall rule.”
Gizur of the Grytingar, King Heidrek’s foster-father, was then with King Angantyr. He was very old by then. When he heard Angantyr’s offer, he thought he was offering too much, and said:

“This is worth accepting
for a bondwoman’s child,
a bondwoman’s child,
though born to a king;
the bastard then
sat on a burial mound
while the prince
divided the inheritance.”
Hlod now grew very angry at being called a bondwoman’s child and a bastard if he accepted his brother’s offer. He immediately turned away with all his men and travelled until he came home to the land of the Huns, to King Humli, his kinsman. He told him that Angantyr, his brother, had refused him an equal division.
Humli now learned all that they had said. He grew very angry that Hlod, his daughter’s son, should be called a slave-woman’s son, and then said:

“We shall stay here this winter
and live in comfort,
drink and discuss
precious draughts,
teach the Huns
to prepare weapons of war,
which we shall boldly
carry forward.

For you, Hlod, we shall
prepare an army,
and boldly
help you in battle;
with twelve-year-old boys
and two-year-old colts,
thus shall the Huns’
army be gathered.”
Humli and Hlod stayed quietly at home that winter. In spring they gathered so great an army that the land of the Huns was left entirely empty of fighting men....
When this army had assembled, they rode through the forest called Mirkwood, which separates the land of the Huns from the land of the Goths. When they emerged from the forest, there were large settlements and level plains, and on the plains stood a beautiful stronghold. Hervor, King Angantyr’s sister, and Ormar, her foster-father, ruled there. They had been stationed there to defend the country against the army of the Huns, and had a large force there.
One morning at sunrise, Hervor stood on a tower above the stronghold’s gate. She saw great clouds of dust from horses southward toward the forest, so that the sun was hidden for long stretches. Then she saw a gleam beneath the dust, as though she were looking at nothing but gold: beautiful shields overlaid with gold, gilded helmets, and bright coats of mail. She saw then that this was the army of the Huns, a vast multitude. Hervor hurried down, called the trumpeter, and told him to sound the assembly. Then Hervor said: “Take up your weapons and prepare for battle; and you, Ormar, ride out to meet the Huns and offer them battle before the southern gate of the stronghold.” Ormar said:

“I shall certainly ride
and bear a shield,
— — —
for the people of the Goths
to wage war.”
Then Ormar rode out of the stronghold to meet the army. He called loudly and told them to ride to the stronghold—“and outside the gate, southward on the plain—there I challenge you to battle. Let those who arrive first wait there for the others.”
Ormar now rode back to the stronghold, and Hervor and the whole army were fully prepared. They rode out of the stronghold with their army against the Huns, and a great battle began there. But because the Huns had a much larger force, the losses fell heavily on Hervor’s army, and at last Hervor fell, with many men around her.
When Ormar saw her fall, he fled, along with all those who survived. Ormar rode day and night, as fast as he could, to find King Angantyr at Arheim. ....
When Ormar came before King Angantyr, he said:

“From the south I have come
to tell these tidings:
burned is all the renowned
heath of Mirkwood,
all Gothland drenched
with the blood of men.

I know Heidrek’s daughter,
[beneath the sword’s edges],
your sister,
has sunk to the earth;
the Huns have
struck her down,
and many others
of your warriors.

More readily she went to battle
than to speak with a suitor
or to take her seat on the bench
at her wedding.”
When King Angantyr heard this, his lips drew back, and he was slow to speak. At last he said:

“You were treated without brotherly love,
my noble sister!”
Then he looked over his household warriors, and there were few men with him. He said:
“We were very many
when we drank mead;
now we are fewer,
when we should be more.

I see no man
among my followers,
though I ask
and offer rings in payment,
who will ride
and bear a shield
and seek out the Huns’
army.”
Old Gizur said:

“I will demand of you
not a single ounce of silver,
nor a clinking
piece of gold;
yet I will ride
and bear a shield,
to carry a challenge to war
to the people of the Huns.”
.... Gizur armed himself with good weapons of war and sprang onto his horse as though he were young. Then he said to the king:

“Where shall I summon the Huns
to battle?”
Angantyr said:

“Summon them to Dylgja
and to Dunheath
and to the ancient
Jassar Mountains;
there the Goths have often
waged war,
and won glorious victory,
renowned men in battle.”
Gizur now rode away until he reached the army of the Huns. He rode only close enough to speak to them. Then he called in a loud voice and said:

“Terror has seized your army;
your leader is doomed;
the battle-banner towers over you;
Odin is angry with you.

I challenge you at Dylgja
and on Dunheath
to battle beneath
the Jassar Mountains;
may corpses of you lie heaped
at every mound,
and may Odin let the spear fly
as I decree.”
When Hlod had heard Gizur’s words, he said:

“Seize Gizur
of the Grytingar,
Angantyr’s man,
who has come from Arheim.”
King Humli said:
“We must not
harm messengers
who travel
alone.”
Gizur then struck his horse with his spurs and rode to King Angantyr. .... Angantyr asked how large a force the Huns had. Gizur said: “Great is their host:

Six alone are
the armies of men;
in every army
five thousand;
in every thousand
thirteen hundred;
in every hundred
men counted fourfold.”
Angantyr now learned of the Huns’ army. Then he sent men out in every direction and summoned to him every man who was willing to aid him and able to wield weapons. He then went to Dunheath with his force, and it was a very large army. The army of the Huns came to meet him, and their force was half as large again.
The next day they began their battle and fought all that day, returning to their camps in the evening. They fought like this for eight days; the leaders were still unharmed, but no one knew the number of men who had fallen. Both day and night, men streamed to Angantyr from every direction, until he had no fewer men than at the beginning. The battle now grew still fiercer. The Huns fought with great fury, seeing that their only hope of life lay in victory, and that it would go badly for them to ask the Goths for quarter. The Goths were defending their freedom and native land against the Huns, and so stood firm, each urging the others on. As the day wore on, the Goths made so fierce an assault that the Huns’ ranks gave way before them. When Angantyr saw this, he stepped forward out of the shield-wall and into the opposing ranks, holding Tyrfing in his hand, and cut down both men and horses. The shield-wall around the Hunnish kings then broke, and the brothers exchanged blows. Hlod and King Humli fell there, and then the Huns broke into flight, while the Goths slaughtered them. .... King Angantyr then went to examine the slain and found Hlod, his brother. Then he said:

“I offered you, brother,
undiminished riches,
wealth and many treasures,
as much as you most desired;
now you have neither,
as the wages of battle,
shining rings
nor any land.

We are accursed, brother;
I have become your slayer;
this will live on forever;
evil is the Norns’ judgment.”

据说古时胡姆利
统治粪便，
吉祖尔统治约塔人，
安甘提尔统治哥特人，
瓦尔达尔统治丹麦人，
基亚尔统治瓦尔人，
勇武的阿尔雷克
统治英格兰民众。

赫洛德降生于
粪便之国，
生来便有短刀与长剑、
垂身的铠甲、
饰有环圈的头盔、
锋利的宝剑、
驯熟的骏马，
降生在那神圣的林中。

赫洛德从东方策马而来，
他是海德雷克的继承人；
他来到城堡，
哥特人居住的地方，
来到阿尔海姆，
索取他的遗产；
安甘提尔正在那里
为海德雷克设宴祭奠。

他在外面遇见一人，
就在高大的厅堂前，
随后向那远行之人
开口问候：
“你进去吧，好汉，
走进高大的厅堂，
请安甘提尔出来，
与我交谈。”
那人走进厅堂，来到国王的桌前，向安甘提尔国王问好，随后说道：

“赫洛德已经来到这里，
海德雷克的继承人，
你的兄弟，
那勇于战斗的人；
这个年轻人身材魁伟，
正坐在马背上，
如今想要，君王啊，
与你交谈。”

厅堂里响起喧声，
人们与贵人一同起身；
人人都想听听，
赫洛德说些什么，
又想听安甘提尔
怎样回答。
这时安甘提尔说道：

“欢迎你来，赫洛德，
海德雷克的继承人，
我的兄弟，
来长凳上坐吧；
让我们为海德雷克
饮下甘美的酒，
敬我们那位
人中第一的父亲，
葡萄酒或蜜酒，
随你更喜欢哪一种。”
这时赫洛德说道：

“我们另有所求，
并非为喝啤酒
才来到这里，
［从粪便之国而来；］
君王啊，我不接受
你赐下的酒。

我要得到一切的一半，
海德雷克所有的一切，
从锥子到矛尖，
每一份财宝，
母牛和牛犊，
轰鸣的磨盘，
女奴和男奴，
以及他们的孩子；

那片著名的森林，
名叫米尔克维德，
那座神圣的坟墓，
坐落在哥特人的国土上，
那块美丽的石头，
矗立在丹普河畔，
还有半数的军堡，
海德雷克所有的那些，
土地与民众，
以及闪亮的金环。”
安甘提尔说道：

“兄弟，在那之前，
闪亮雪白的椴木盾将先破裂，
冰冷的长矛
将先彼此碰撞，
许许多多的人
将先倒在草地上，
然后我才会把提尔锋
分成两半，
或把一半遗产
交给你，胡姆利的后裔。
12
我愿赠给你
闪亮的长矛，
财物与众多珍宝，
任你尽情挑选；
我给你一千二百名男子，
我给你一千二百匹骏马，
我给你一千二百名侍从，
个个都能持盾。

我给每一个人
许多赏赐，
每件都比他原先
拥有的更好；
我给每一个
男子一位姑娘，
给每一位姑娘
颈上系一条项链。

你坐下时，我要用白银
堆到与你等高，
你行走时，我要把黄金
倾倒在你周身，
让金环向四面八方
滚滚散落；
哥特国土的三分之一，——
将归你统治。”
海德雷克国王的养父、格里廷人吉祖尔，当时正在安甘提尔国王身边。他那时已经十分年迈。他听见安甘提尔的提议，觉得他给得太多，便说道：

“这些已经够一个
女奴的孩子接受了，
一个女奴的孩子，
纵然他是国王所生；
那私生子
还坐在坟丘上时，
这位贵胄
已经分定了遗产。”
赫洛德听见这话，怒不可遏：他若接受兄弟的提议，便要被称为女奴的孩子和私生子。他当即带着所有部下转身离去，一直回到粪便之国，来到他的亲人胡姆利国王那里，告诉他，兄弟安甘提尔拒绝同他平分遗产。
胡姆利于是问清了他们的全部谈话。听说自己的外孙赫洛德竟被称为女奴的儿子，他勃然大怒，便说道：

“这个冬天我们安居，
过快活的日子，
饮着、品着
珍贵的美酒，
教粪便
备好战斗的兵器，
这些兵器，我们将
英勇地带上战场。

赫洛德，我们要为你
好好整备军队，
奋勇地
襄助大军；
征集年满十二岁的男丁，
骑上年满两岁的马驹，
就这样把粪便的
军队召集起来。”
这个冬天，胡姆利和赫洛德安居未动。春天，他们集结了一支极其庞大的军队，以至粪便之国的壮丁全被征尽了……
军队集结之后，他们骑马穿过名叫米尔克维德的森林；这片森林将粪便之国与哥特人的国土分隔开来。他们走出森林，眼前便是大片聚落和平坦的原野。原野上矗立着一座美丽的城堡，由安甘提尔国王的妹妹赫尔沃尔和她的养父奥尔马尔镇守。他们被派到这里防守国土，抵御粪便的军队，麾下有一支大军。
一天清晨，太阳初升，赫尔沃尔登上城门上方的一座塔楼。她望见南边森林方向腾起大片马尘，久久遮蔽着太阳。接着，她看见马尘下光芒闪耀，仿佛满眼都是黄金：美丽的镶金盾牌、镀金的头盔和雪白的铠甲。她看清那是粪便的大军，人数极其众多。赫尔沃尔急忙走下塔楼，唤来号手，命他吹号集结军队。随后赫尔沃尔说道：“拿起你们的兵器，准备战斗。奥尔马尔，你骑马去迎粪便，向他们挑战，在南面的城门前交战。”奥尔马尔说道：

“我定当骑马前去，
手持盾牌，
—— —— ——
为哥特民众
投入战斗。”
随后奥尔马尔骑马出城，迎向敌军。他高声呼喊，叫他们骑马到城堡前来，——“就在城门外南边的原野上，——我在那里向你们挑战。先到的人在那里等候后来的人。”
奥尔马尔随后骑马返回城堡，赫尔沃尔和全军都已准备就绪。他们率军骑马出城，迎战粪便，一场大战就此展开。然而粪便兵力远远多于他们，伤亡于是集中在赫尔沃尔一方。最后赫尔沃尔倒下了，许多将士也倒在她身边。
奥尔马尔见她阵亡，便和所有幸存者一起逃走。奥尔马尔日夜兼程，竭尽马力，赶往阿尔海姆拜见安甘提尔国王。……
奥尔马尔来到安甘提尔国王面前，便说道：

“我从南方赶来，
传报这些消息：
那整片著名的
米尔克维德荒原已被焚毁，
哥特人的全部国土
都溅满了将士的鲜血。

我知道海德雷克的女儿，
［在锋利的剑刃下，］
你的妹妹，
已经倒落尘土；
粪便已经
将她杀死，
还杀死了你们
许多别的臣民。

她奔赴战场时的欣然，
胜过与求婚者交谈，
也胜过身为新娘
走向长凳就座。”
安甘提尔国王听见这话，嘴唇颤动，久久说不出话，最后才说道：

“我卓越的妹妹啊，
你遭受的全非兄弟相待之道！”
随后他环顾侍从，身边的兵士并不多。他便说道：
“我们畅饮蜜酒时，
人数何其众多，
如今正该人多的时候，
我们却寥寥无几。

我在自己的队伍中
看不见一个人，
纵然我开口请求，
拿出金环酬谢，
也无人肯骑马前往，
手持盾牌，
去寻那粪便的
大军。”
老吉祖尔说道：

“我不会向你索取
一分银钱，
也不要那
鸣叫的金鸬鹚；
我仍将骑马前往，
手持盾牌，
向粪便的民众
送去宣战的信杖。”
……吉祖尔披挂上精良的甲胄兵器，像年轻人一般跃上马背。随后他对国王说道：

“我该约粪便
在哪里交战？”
安甘提尔说道：

“约在迪尔吉亚，
约在敦荒原，
约在那古老的
亚萨尔群山下；
哥特人常在那里
奋战厮杀，
威名赫赫地赢得
辉煌的胜利。”
吉祖尔便策马离去，一直来到粪便的军中。他只走到能同他们说话的距离，便不再靠近。随后他高声呼喊，说道：

“你们的大军已惊恐，
你们的君王死期将至，
战旗高悬在你们头上，
奥丁已向你们动怒。

我向你们挑战，在迪尔吉亚，
在敦荒原，
在亚萨尔群山下
决一死战，
愿你们的尸体
堆满每一道山谷，
愿奥丁让长矛飞出，
正如我所宣告的这般。”
赫洛德听见吉祖尔的话，便说道：

“把吉祖尔抓住，
那个格里廷人，
安甘提尔的部下，
从阿尔海姆来的人。”
胡姆利国王说道：
“我们不该
伤害使者，
那些独自
前来的人。”
吉祖尔随即用马刺催马，骑回安甘提尔国王那里。……安甘提尔问，粪便有多少兵力。吉祖尔说道：“他们人多势众：

共有六支
勇士的军团，
每一军团
有五个千队，
每一千队
有十三个百队，
每一百队
有四百名战士。”
安甘提尔这才得知粪便大军的兵力。他便向四面八方派出使者，召集每一个愿意援助他、又能拿起兵器的人。随后他率军前往敦荒原，军队也已十分庞大。粪便的大军前来迎战，人数比他们多一半。
第二天，双方开战，整整厮杀了一日，傍晚才各自退回营地。他们这样打了八天，双方首领依然安然无恙，但已无人知道究竟死了多少人。白天黑夜，援军不断从四面八方涌向安甘提尔，结果他的军队人数并不比起初少。这时战斗更加激烈。粪便奋力死战，因为他们明白，唯有获胜才有生路，向哥特人求饶绝不会有什么好结果。哥特人抵御粪便，保卫自己的自由与故土，因此坚守不退，彼此激励。随着这一天渐渐过去，哥特人发起了极其猛烈的进攻，粪便的阵线在他们面前开始动摇。安甘提尔看见这一幕，便走出盾墙，冲到战阵最前方，手持提尔锋，人马一并斩杀。粪便诸王面前的盾墙随即被冲破，两兄弟挥剑相搏。赫洛德和胡姆利国王都战死在那里，粪便随即溃逃，哥特人追杀他们。……安甘提尔国王随后巡视阵亡者，找到了自己的兄弟赫洛德。他便说道：

“兄弟，我曾愿给你
分毫不减的财富，
财物与众多珍宝，
任你尽情挑选；
如今作为这场
战争的酬报，
你既没有闪亮的金环，
也没有一寸土地。

兄弟，我们遭了诅咒，
我竟成了杀你的人；
这件事将永世流传；
诺伦的裁决何其残酷。”