《沃伦德之歌》的原典

Meyjar flugu sunnan
myrkvið í gögnum,
Alvitr unga,
örlög drýgja;
þær á sævarströnd
settusk at hvílask
drósir suðrænar,
dýrt lín spunnu.

Ein nam þeira
Egil at verja,
fögr mær fira,
faðmi ljósum;
önnur var Svanhvít,
svanfjaðrar dró,
en in þriðja
þeira systir
varði hvítan
hals Völundar.

Sátu síðan
sjau vetr at þat,
en inn átta
allan þráðu,
en inn níunda
nauðr of skilði;
meyjar fýstusk
á myrkvan við,
Alvitr unga,
örlög drýgja.

Kom þar af veiði
veðreygr skyti,
[Völundr, líðandi
um langan veg],
Slagfiðr ok Egill,
sali fundu auða,
gengu út ok inn
ok um sáusk;
austur skreið Egill
at Ölrúnu,
en suðr Slagfiðr
at Svanhvítu.

En einn Völundr
sat í Ulfdölum,
hann sló gull rautt
við gim fastan,
lukði hann alla
lind baugum vel;
svá beið hann
sinnar ljóssar
kvánar, ef hánum
koma gerði.

Þat spyrr Níðuðr,
Níára dróttinn,
at einn Völundr
sat í Ulfdölum;
nóttum fóru seggir,
neglðar váru brynjur,
skildir bliku þeira
við inn skarða mána.

Stigu ór söðlum
at salar gafli,
gengu inn þaðan
endlangan sal;
sáu þeir á bast
bauga dregna,
sjau hundruð allra,
er sá seggr átti.

Og þeir af tóku
ok þeir á létu,
fyr einn útan,
er þeir af létu.
Kom þar af veiði
veðreygr skyti,
Völundr, líðandi
um langan veg.

Gekk hann brúnni
beru hold steikja,
ár brann hrísi
allþurr fura,
viðr inn vindþurri,
fyr Völundi.

Sat á berfjalli,
bauga talði,
alfa ljóði,
eins saknaði;
hugði hann, at hefði
Hlöðvés dóttir,
Alvitr unga,
væri hon aftr komin.

Sat hann svá lengi,
at hann sofnaði,
ok hann vaknaði
viljalauss;
vissi sér á höndum
höfgar nauðir,
en á fótum
fjötur of spenntan.
Völundr kvað:

"Hverir ro jöfrar,
þeir er á lögðu
besti bör síma
ok mik bundu?"

Kallaði nú Níðuðr
Níara dróttinn:
"Hvar gaztu, Völundr,
vísi alfa,
vára aura
í Ulfdölum?"
Völundr Kvað:

"Gull var þar eigi
á Grana leiðu,
fjarri hugða ek várt land
fjöllum Rínar;
man ek, at vér meiri
mæti áttum,
er vér heil hjú
heima várum.

Hlaðguðr ok Hervör
borin var Hlöðvé
kunn var Ölrún
Kíárs dóttir."

[Úti stóð kunnig
kván Níðaðar],
hon inn of gekk
endlangan sal,
stóð á golfi,
stillti röddu:
"Er-a sá nú hýrr,
er ór holti ferr."
Níðuðr konungr gaf dóttur sinni, Böðvildi gullhring þann, er hann tók af bastinu at Völundar, en hann sjálfr bar sverðit, er Völundr átti. En dróttning kvað:

"Ámun eru augu
ormi þeim inum frána,
tenn hánum teygjask,
er hánum er tét sverð
ok hann Böðvildar
baug of þekkir;
sníðið ér hann
sina magni
ok setið hann síðan
í Sævarstöð."
Svá var gert, at skornar váru sinar í knésfótum, ok settr í hólm einn, er þar var fyrir landi, er hét Sævarstaðr. Þar smíðaði hann konungi alls kyns görsimar. Engi maðr þorði at fara til hans nema konungr einn.

"Skínn Níðaði
sverð á linda,
þat er ek hvessta,
sem ek hagast kunna
ok ek herðak,
sem mér hægst þótti;
sá er mér fránn mækir
æ fjarri borinn,
sékk-a ek þann Völundi
til smiðju borinn.

Nú berr Böðvildr
brúðar minnar
- bíðk-a ek þess bót, -
bauga rauða."

Sat hann, né hann svaf, ávallt
ok hann sló hamri;
vél gerði hann heldr
hvatt Níðaði.
Drifu ungir tveir
á dýr séa
synir Níðaðar,
í Sævarstöð.

Kómu þeir til kistu,
kröfðu lukla,
opin var illúð
er þeir í sáu;
fjölð var þar menja,
er þeim mögum sýndisk
at væri gull rautt
ok görsimar.
Völundr kvað:

"Komið einir tveir,
komið annars dags;
ykkr læt ek þat gull
of gefit verða;
segið-a meyjum
né salþjóðum,
manni engum,
at it mik fyndið."

Snemma kallaði
seggr annan,
bróðir á bróður:
"Göngum baug séa!"
Kómu til kistu,
kröfðu lukla,
opin var illúð,
er þeir í litu.

Sneið af höfuð
húna þeira
ok und fen fjöturs
fætr of lagði;
en þær skálar,
er und skörum váru,
sveip hann útan silfri,
seldi Níðaði.

En ór augum
jarknasteina
sendi hann kunnigri
konu Níðaðar,
en ór tönnum
tveggja þeira
sló hann brjóstkringlur
sendi Böðvildi.

Þá nam Böðvildr
baugi at hrósa
-- -- --
[bar hann Völundi],
er brotit hafði:
"Þorig-a ek at segja
nema þér einum."
Völundr kvað:

"Ek bæti svá
brest á gulli
at feðr þínum
fegri þykkir
ok mæðr þinni
miklu betri
ok sjalfri þér
at sama hófi."

Bar hann hana bjóri,
því at hann betr kunni
svá at hon í sessi
of sofnaði.
"Nú hef ek hefnt
harma minna
allra nema einna
íviðgjarna."

"Vel ek," kvað Völundr,
"verða ek á fitjum
þeim er mik Níðaðar
námu rekkar."
Hlæjandi Völundr
hófsk at lofti,
grátandi Böðvildr
gekk ór eyju,
tregði för friðils
ok föður reiði.

Úti stendr kunnig
kván Níðaðar,
ok hon inn of gekk
endlangan sal,
- en hann á salgarð
settisk at hvílask -:
"Vakir þú, Níðuðr
Níara dróttinn?"
Níðuðr kvað:

"Vaki ek ávallt
viljalauss,
sofna ek minnst
síz mína sonu dauða;
kell mik í höfuð,
köld eru mér ráð þín,
vilnumk ek þess nú,
at ek við Völund dæma.

Seg þú mér þat, Völundr,
vísi alfa,
af heilum hvat varð
húnum mínum."
Völundr kvað:

"Eiða skaltu mér áðr
alla vinna,
at skips borði
ok at skjaldar rönd,
at mars bægi
ok at mækis egg,
at þú kvelj-at
kván Völundar
né brúði minni
at bana verðir,
þótt vér kván eigim,
þá er ér kunnið,
eða jóð eigim
innan hallar.

Gakk þú til smiðju,
þeirar er þú gerðir,
þar fiðr þú belgi
blóði stokkna;
sneið ek af höfuð
húna þinna,
ok und fen fjöturs
fætr of lagðak.

En þær skálar,
er und skörum váru,
sveip ek útan silfri,
selda ek Níðaði;
en ór augum
jarknasteina
senda ek kunnigri
kván Níðaðar.

En úr tönnum
tveggja þeira
sló ek brjóstkringlur,
senda ek Böðvildi;
nú gengr Böðvildr
barni aukin,
eingadóttir
ykkur beggja."
Níðuðr kvað:

"Mæltir-a þú þat mál,
er mik meir tregi,
né ek þik vilja, Völundr,
verr of níta;
er-at svá maðr hár,
at þik af hesti taki,
né svá öflugr,
at þik neðan skjóti,
þar er þú skollir
við ský uppi."

Hlæjandi Völundr
hófsk at lofti,
en ókátr Níðuðr
sat þá eftir.
Níðuðr kvað:

"Upp rístu, Þakkráðr,
þræll minn inn bezti,
bið þú Böðvildi,
meyna bráhvítu,
ganga fagrvarið
við föður ræða.

Er þat satt, Böðvildr,
er sögðu mér:
Sátuð it Völundr
saman í holmi?"
Böðvildr kvað:

"Satt er þat, Níðuðr,
er sagði þér:
Sátum vit Völundr
saman í holmi
eina ögurstund,
æva skyldi;
ek vætr hánum
vinna kunnak,
ek vætr hánum
vinna máttak."

Maids from the south through Myrkwood flew,
Fair and young, their fate to follow;
On the shore of the sea to rest them they sat,
The maids of the south, and flax they spun.

..............
Hlathguth and Hervor, Hlothver's children,
And Olrun the Wise Kjar's daughter was.

..............
One in her arms took Egil then
To her bosom white, the woman fair.

Swan-White second,— swan-feathers she wore,
..............
And her arms the third of the sisters threw
Next round Völund's neck so white.

There did they sit for seven winters,
In the eighth at last came their longing again,
(And in the ninth did need divide them).
The maidens yearned for the murky wood,
The fair young maids, their fate to follow.

Völund home from his hunting came,
From a weary way, the weather-wise bowman,
Slagfith and Egil the hall found empty,
Out and in went they, everywhere seeking.

East fared Egil after Olrun,
And Slagfith south to seek for Swan-White;
Völund alone in Ulfdalir lay,
..............

Red gold he fashioned with fairest gems,
And rings he strung on ropes of bast;
So for his wife he waited long,
If the fair one home might come to him.

This Nithuth learned, the lord of the Njars,
That Völund alone in Ulfdalir lay; By night went his men, their mail-coats were studded,
Their shields in the waning moonlight shone.

From their saddles the gable wall they sought,
And in they went at the end of the hall;
Rings they saw there on ropes of bast,
Seven hundred the hero had.

Off they took them, but all they left
Save one alone which they bore away.
..............
..............

Völund home from his hunting came,
From a weary way, the weather-wise bowman;
A brown bear's flesh would he roast with fire;
Soon the wood so dry was burning well,
(The wind-dried wood that Völund's was).

On the bearskin he rested, and counted the rings,
The master of elves, but one he missed;
That Hlothver's daughter had it he thought,
And the all-wise maid had come once more.

So long he sat that he fell asleep,
His waking empty of gladness was;
Heavy chains he saw on his hands,
And fetters bound his feet together.

Völund spake: 15.
"What men are they who thus have laid
Ropes of bast to bind me now?"

Then Nithuth called, the lord of the Njars:
"How gottest thou, Völund, greatest of elves,
These treasures of ours in Ulfdalir?"

Völund spake: 16.
"The gold was not on Grani's way, Far, methinks, is our realm from the hills of the Rhine;
I mind me that treasures more we had
When happy together at home we were."

Without stood the wife of Nithuth wise,
And in she came from the end of the hall;
On the floor she stood, and softly spoke:
"Not kind does he look who comes from the wood."

"The glow of his eyes is like gleaming snakes,
His teeth he gnashes if now is shown
The sword, or Bothvild's ring he sees;
Let them straightway cut his sinews of strength,
And set him then in Sævarstath."

"At Nithuth's girdle gleams the sword
That I sharpened keen with cunningest craft,
(And hardened the steel with highest skill;)
The bright blade far forever is borne,
(Nor back shall I see it borne to my smithy;)
Now Bothvild gets the golden ring
(That was once my bride's,— ne'er well shall it be.)"

He sat, nor slept, and smote with his hammer,
Fast for Nithuth wonders he fashioned;
Two boys did go in his door to gaze,
Nithuth's sons, into Sævarstath.

They came to the chest, and they craved the keys,
The evil was open when in they looked;
To the boys it seemed that gems they saw,
Gold in plenty and precious stones.

Völund spake: 22.
"Come ye alone, the next day come,
Gold to you both shall then be given;
Tell not the maids or the men of the hall,
To no one say that me you have sought."

..............
Early did brother to brother call:
"Swift let us go the rings to see."

They came to the chest, and they craved the keys,
The evil was open when in they looked;
He smote off their heads, and their feet he hid
Under the sooty straps of the bellows.

Their skulls, once hid by their hair, he took,
Set them in silver and sent them to Nithuth;
Gems full fair from their eyes he fashioned,
To Nithuth's wife so wise he gave them.

And from the teeth of the twain he wrought
A brooch for the breast, to Bothvild he sent it;
..............

Bothvild then of her ring did boast,
.............. ....... "The ring I have broken,
I dare not say it save to thee."

Völund spake: 28.
"I shall weld the break in the gold so well
That fairer than ever thy father shall find it,
And better much thy mother shall think it,
And thou no worse than ever it was."

Beer he brought, he was better in cunning,
Until in her seat full soon she slept.

Völund spake:
"Now vengeance I have for all my hurts,
Save one alone, on the evil woman."

..............
..............
Quoth Völund: "Would that well were the sinews
Maimed in my feet by Nithuth's men."

Laughing Völund rose aloft,
Weeping Bothvild went from the isle,
For her lover's flight and her father's wrath.

Without stood the wife of Nithuth wise,
And in she came from the end of the hall;
But he by the wall in weariness sat:
"Wakest thou, Nithuth, lord of the Njars?"

Nithuth spake: 33.
"Always I wake, and ever joyless,
Little I sleep since my sons were slain;
Cold is my head, cold was thy counsel,
One thing, with Völund to speak, I wish.

.............. "Answer me, Völund, greatest of elves,
What happed with my boys that hale once were?"

Völund spake: 35.
"First shalt thou all the oaths now swear,
By the rail of ship, and the rim of shield,
By the shoulder of steed, and the edge of sword,
That to Völund's wife thou wilt work no ill,
Nor yet my bride to her death wilt bring,
Though a wife I should have that well thou knowest,
And a child I should have within thy hall.

"Seek the smithy that thou didst set,
Thou shalt find the bellows sprinkled with blood;
I smote off the heads of both thy sons,
And their feet 'neath the sooty straps I hid.

"Their skulls, once hid by their hair, I took,
Set them in silver and sent them to Nithuth; Gems full fair from their eyes I fashioned,
To Nithuth's wife so wise I gave them.

"And from the teeth of the twain I wrought
A brooch for the breast, to Bothvild I gave it;
Now big with child does Bothvild go,
The only daughter ye two had ever."

Nithuth spake: 39.
"Never spakest thou word that worse could hurt me,
Nor that made me, Völund, more bitter for vengeance;
There is no man so high from thy horse to take thee,
Or so doughty an archer as down to shoot thee,
While high in the clouds thy course thou takest."

Laughing Völund rose aloft,
But left in sadness Nithuth sat.
..............

Then spake Nithuth, lord of the Njars:
"Rise up, Thakkrath, best of my thralls,
Bid Bothvild come, the bright-browed maid,
Bedecked so fair, with her father to speak."

..............
..............
"Is it true, Bothvild, that which was told me;
Once in the isle with Völund wert thou?"

Bothvild spake: 43.
"True is it, Nithuth, that which was told thee,
Once in the isle with Völund was I,
An hour of lust, alas it should be!
Nought was my might with such a man,
Nor from his strength could I save myself."

少女们从南方飞来，
穿过幽暗的森林，
年轻的阿尔维特，
前来履行命运；
她们在水滨
坐下歇息，
这些南国的女子，
纺着珍贵的亚麻。

她们中的一位
将埃吉尔拥住，
那人间的美丽少女，
用她莹白的双臂；
另一位是斯万赫维特，
身披天鹅的羽衣，
而第三位，
她们的姐妹，
环抱着沃伦德
洁白的颈项。

此后他们相守，
如此过了七个冬天，
而第八个年头，
她们整年心怀渴望，
到了第九年，
命数迫使他们分离；
少女们渴望
前往幽暗的森林，
年轻的阿尔维特，
前去履行命运。

狩猎归来了
目光敏锐的射手，
［沃伦德，一路行来，
走过漫长的路途］，
斯拉格菲德与埃吉尔
发现厅堂空无一人，
他们出出进进，
四处张望；
埃吉尔踏雪向东，
去寻找厄尔伦，
斯拉格菲德则向南，
去寻找斯万赫维特。

唯有沃伦德
独居于乌尔夫谷，
他锤打赤金，
牢牢镶上宝石，
把整条树皮绳
密密穿满金环；
他就这样等候
自己明艳的
妻子，盼她
能回到他身边。

尼杜德听到了消息，
这位尼亚尔人的君主，
听说唯有沃伦德
独居于乌尔夫谷；
武士们趁夜出发，
身穿铆钉甲衣，
他们的盾牌闪烁
在残缺的月光下。

他们在厅堂山墙旁
走下马鞍，
从那里进入，
穿过整座厅堂；
看见树皮绳上
穿着许多金环，
总共七百枚，
都是那男子所有。

他们把金环取下，
又一一穿回，
只除了一枚，
被他们拿走。
狩猎归来了
目光敏锐的射手，
沃伦德，一路行来，
走过漫长的路途。

他走去烤炙
棕色母熊的肉，
很快，枝条燃起，
干透的松木，
那风吹干的木柴，
在沃伦德面前燃烧。

他坐在熊皮上，
清点金环，
这精灵的君长，
发现少了一枚；
他想，定是
赫洛德韦尔的女儿拿走了，
年轻的阿尔维特，
她已经回来了。

他久久坐着，
直到沉沉睡去，
而他醒来时，
已毫无欢喜；
发觉自己双手上
戴着沉重的镣铐，
双脚也被
脚镣紧紧锁住。
沃伦德说：

“是哪些王侯，
把这绳索加上，
用树皮搓成的绳索，
将我捆绑？”

这时尼杜德高声说道，
这位尼亚尔人的君主：
“沃伦德，你从哪里得来，
精灵的君王，
我们的黄金，
竟藏在乌尔夫谷？”
沃伦德说：

“那黄金并不在
格拉尼走过的路上，
我想我们的国土远离
莱茵河畔的山峦；
我记得我们曾有
更多的珍宝，
那时我们一家安然无恙，
一同住在家中。

赫拉德古德与赫尔沃尔
都是赫洛德韦尔所生，
聪慧的厄尔伦
是基亚尔的女儿。”

［门外站着精于谋算的
尼杜德之妻］，
她走了进来，
穿过整座厅堂，
站在厅堂地上，
压低声音说：
“从林中来的这个人，
如今可不和善。”
尼杜德国王把从沃伦德家树皮绳上取下的那枚金环，赐给了自己的女儿博德维尔德，自己则佩着沃伦德的剑。王后说：

“他的眼睛像
那闪光的毒蛇一样，
一露出那把剑，
他便龇牙咧嘴，
又认出了博德维尔德
戴着的金环；
你们割断他
强健的筋腱，
然后把他安置
在塞瓦尔斯塔德。”
他们照办了，割断了他膝弯处的筋腱，把他安置在大陆近旁一座名叫塞瓦尔斯塔德的小岛上。他在那里为国王打造各式珍宝。除了国王本人，谁也不敢到他那里去。

“尼杜德的腰带上
闪耀着那把剑，
那是我磨利的，
用尽我最精湛的技艺，
也是我淬硬的，
用了我最得心应手的手法；
那把明晃晃的利剑
被带走，永远离我而去，
我再也看不到它被送回
沃伦德的铁匠铺。

如今博德维尔德戴着
我新娘的
——我等不到这损失的补偿——
赤金的环饰。”

他始终坐着，不曾睡眠，
不断挥动锤子；
却更急切地为尼杜德
谋划着诡计。
两个年幼的孩子
赶来观看珍宝，
那是尼杜德的儿子，
来到塞瓦尔斯塔德。

他们来到箱子前，
索要钥匙，
他们往里看时，
邪恶已敞开门户；
箱中有许多项饰，
在两个孩子眼里，
那都是赤金
和珍奇的宝物。
沃伦德说：

“只你们两个来，
明天再来；
我会把这些黄金
送给你们；
别告诉侍女，
也别告诉厅堂里的人，
谁也不要告诉，
你们来见过我。”

一大早，一个孩子
便叫另一个，
兄弟呼唤兄弟：
“我们去看金环吧！”
他们来到箱子前，
索要钥匙，
他们往里看时，
邪恶已敞开门户。

他砍下了
那两个孩子的头，
将他们的躯体
埋在风箱下的泥里；
而那藏在头发下面的
两只头骨碗，
他在外面包上白银，
送给尼杜德。

又用他们的眼睛
制成璀璨的宝石，
送给精于谋算的
尼杜德之妻，
再用那两个孩子
口中的牙齿，
打成圆形胸饰，
送给博德维尔德。

这时博德维尔德
说起那枚引以为傲的金环，
—— —— ——
［把它带给沃伦德］，
那是她弄断的：
“除了你一个人，
我不敢告诉谁。”
沃伦德说：

“我会修好
这金环上的裂口，
让你的父亲
觉得它更美，
也让你的母亲
觉得它好得多，
你自己也会
同样满意。”

他用啤酒灌醉了她，
他的手段更高明，
直到她在座位上
沉沉睡去。
“如今我已报复了
自己的痛苦，
一切都已报偿，唯有一桩
深重的苦难除外。”

“但愿安好，”沃伦德说，
“但愿我的双足复原，
那是尼杜德的
武士们毁掉的。”
沃伦德大笑着
腾空飞起，
博德维尔德哭着
离开了小岛，
为情人的离去而悲伤，
又为父亲的愤怒而忧惧。

门外站着精于谋算的
尼杜德之妻，
她走了进来，
穿过整座厅堂，
——而他在厅堂围墙旁
坐下歇息——：
“尼杜德，你醒着吗，
尼亚尔人的君主？”
尼杜德说：

“我总是醒着，
毫无欢喜，
自从儿子们死去，
我便极少入睡；
我的头里一片冰冷，
你的计策令我心寒，
如今我只盼望
能同沃伦德交谈。

沃伦德，告诉我，
精灵的君王，
我那原本好端端的孩子们，
究竟遭遇了什么。”
沃伦德说：

“你必须先向我
立下所有誓言，
指着船舷，
指着盾缘，
指着骏马的肩胛，
指着利剑的锋刃，
发誓你绝不折磨
沃伦德的妻子，
也不把我的新娘
置于死地，
即便我的妻子
是你们熟知的人，
即便我有孩子
身在你的厅堂。

你到铁匠铺去，
你建造的那一间，
在那里你会发现风箱
溅满鲜血；
我砍下了
你儿子们的头，
将他们的躯体
埋在风箱下的泥里。

而那藏在头发下面的
两只头骨碗，
我在外面包上白银，
送给了尼杜德；
又用他们的眼睛
制成璀璨的宝石，
送给精于谋算的
尼杜德之妻。

再用那两个孩子
口中的牙齿，
打成圆形胸饰，
送给了博德维尔德；
如今博德维尔德
已怀上孩子，
她是你们两人的
独生女儿。”
尼杜德说：

“你再说不出
令我更悲痛的话，
也不能让我更想
狠狠惩罚你，沃伦德；
没有人高大到
能把你从坐骑上拽下，
也没有人强健到
能从下方将你射落，
你在那高处
云间翱翔。”

沃伦德大笑着
腾空飞起，
留下悲伤的尼杜德
独自坐在那里。
尼杜德说：

“起来，塔克拉德，
我最好的奴仆，
去叫博德维尔德，
那眉额皎白的少女，
穿戴得漂漂亮亮，
来同父亲说话。

博德维尔德，这是真的吗，
他们告诉我的事：
你和沃伦德
曾在岛上独处？”
博德维尔德说：

“尼杜德，那是真的，
他们告诉你的事：
我和沃伦德
曾在岛上独处，
度过可怕的一刻，
那本不该发生；
我全然不知
该怎样抗拒他，
我全然无力
去抗拒他。”