《格陵蘭阿特利之歌》原典
Atlamál in grænlenzku
本頁提供作品原文與譯文,可用上方按鈕切換。網站會記住你的選擇,並套用到所有原典頁面。
古諾爾斯語原文採用冰島學者 Guðni Jónsson 版本的標準化拼寫。
Frétt hefir öld óvu,
þá er endr of gerðu
seggir samkundu,
sú var nýt fæstum,
æxtu einmæli,
yggr var þeim síðan
ok it sama sonum Gjúka,
er váru sannráðnir.
Sköp æxtu skjöldunga,
- skyldu-at feigir, -
illa réðsk Atla,
átti hann þó hyggju;
felldi stoð stóra,
stríddi sér harðla,
af bragði boð sendi,
at kvæmi brátt mágar.
Horsk var húsfreyja,
hugði at mannviti;
lag heyrði hon orða,
hvat þeir á laun mæltu;
þá var vant vitri,
vildi hon þeim hjalpa,
skyldi of sæ sigla,
en sjalf né komsk-at.
Rúnar nam at rísta,
rengdi þær Vingi
- fárs var hann flýtandi -,
áðr hann fram seldi;
fóru þá síðan
sendimenn Atla
um fjörð Lima,
þar er fræknir bjuggu.
Ölværir urðu
ok elda kyndu,
hugðu vætr véla,
er þeir váru komnir;
tóku þeir fórnir,
er þeim fríðr sendi,
hengðu á súlu,
hugðu-t þat varða.
Kom þá Kostbera,
kvæn var hon Högna,
kona kapps gálig,
ok kvaddi þá báða;
glöð var ok Glaumvör,
er Gunnarr átti,
fellsk-at saðr sviðri,
sýsti of þörf gesta.
Buðu þeir heim Högna,
ef hann þá heldr færi,
sýn var svipvísi,
ef þeir sín gæði;
hét þá för Gunnarr,
ef Högni vildi,
Högni því nítti-t,
er hinn of réði.
Báru mjöð mærar,
margs var alls beini;
fór þar fjölð horna,
unz þótti fulldrukkit.
Hjú gerðu hvílu
sem þeim hægst þótti;
kennd var Kostbera,
kunni hon skil rúna,
innti orðstafi
at eldi ljósum;
gæta varð hon tungu
í góma báða,
váru svá villtar,
at var vant at ráða.
Sæing fóru síðan
sína þau Högni;
dreymði dróttláta,
dulði þess vætki,
sagði horsk hilmi,
þegars hon réð vakna:
"Heiman gerisk þú, Högni,
hyggðu at ráðum,
fár er fullrýninn,
far þú í sinn annat;
réð ek þér rúnar,
er reist þín systir,
björt hefir þér eigi
boðit í sinn þetta.
Eitt ek mest undrumk,
mák-at ek enn hyggja,
hvat þá varð vitri,
er skyldi villt rísta;
því at svá var á vísat,
sem undir væri
bani ykkarr beggja,
ef it bráðla kvæmið;
vant er stafs vífi,
eða valda aðrir."
Högni kvað:
"Allar ro illúðgar,
ákk-a ek þess kynni
vilk-a ek þess leita,
nema launa eigim;
okkr mun gramr gulli
reifa glóðrauðu;
óumk ek aldregi,
þótt vér ógn fregnim."
Kostbera kvað:
"Stopalt munuð ganga,
ef it stundið þangat;
ykkr mun ástkynni
eigi í sinn þetta;
dreymdi mik, Högni,
dyljumk þat eigi;
ganga mun ykkr andæris,
eða ella hræðumk.
Blæju hugða ek þína
brenna í eldi,
hryti hár logi
hús mín í gögnum."
Högni kvað:
"Liggja hér línklæði,
þau er lítt rækið,
þau munu brátt brenna,
þau er þú blæju sátt."
Kostbera kvað:
"Björn hugða ek hér inn kominn,
bryti upp stokka,
hristi svá hramma,
at vér hrædd yrðim;
munn oss mörg hefði,
svá at vér mættim ekki;
þar var ok þrömmun
þeygi svá lítil."
Högni kvað:
"Veðr mun þar vaxa,
verða ótt snemma,
hvítabjörn hugðir,
þar mun hregg austan."
Kostbera kvað:
"Örn hugða ek hér inn fljúga
at endlöngu húsi,
þat mun oss drjúgt deilask,
dreifði hann oss öll blóði,
hugða ek af heitum
at væri hamr Atla."
Högni kvað:
"Slátrum sýsliga,
séum þá roðru,
oft er þat fyr öxnum,
er örnu dreymir;
heill er hugr Atla,
hvatki er þik dreymir."
Lokit því létu,
líðr hver ræða.
Vöknuðu vel borin,
var þar sams dæmi,
gettisk þess Glaumvör,
at væri grand svefna
-- -- -- við Gunnarr
at fáa tvær leiðir.
Glaumvör kvað:
"Görvan hugða ek þér galga,
gengir þú at hanga,
æti þik ormar,
yrða ek þik kvikvan,
gerðisk rök ragna;
ráð þú, hvat þat væri."
Gunnarr kvað:
. . . . . . . . . . .
Glaumvör kvað:
"Blóðgan hugða ek mæki
borinn ór serk þínum
- illt er svefn slíkan
at segja nauðmanni, -
geir hugða ek standa
í gögnum þik miðjan,
emjuðu ulfar
á endum báðum."
Gunnarr kvað:
"Rakkar þar renna,
ráðask mjök geyja,
oft verðr glaumr hunda
fyr geira flaugun."
Glaumvör kvað:
"Á hugða ek hér inn renna
at endlöngu húsi,
þyti af þjósti,
þeystisk of bekki,
bryti fætr ykra
bræðra hér tveggja,
gerði-t vatn vægja;
vera mun þat fyr nökkvi."
Gunnarr kvað:
. . . . . . . . . . .
Glaumvör kvað:
"Konur hugðak dauðar
koma í nótt hingat,
væri-t vart búnar,
vildi þik kjósa,
byði þér bráðliga
til bekkja sinna;
ek kveð aflima
orðnar þér dísir."
Gunnarr kvað:
"Seinat er at segja,
svá er nú ráðit;
forumk-a för þó,
alls þó ar fara ætlat;
margt er mjök glíkligt,
at mynim skammæir."
Litu er lýsti,
létusk þeir fúsir,
allir upp rísa,
önnur þau löttu,
fóru fimm saman,
fleiri til váru
halfu húskarlar,
hugat var því illa.
Snævarr ok Sólarr,
synir váru þeir Högna,
Orkning þann hétu,
er þeim enn fylgði,
blíðr var börr skjaldar
bróðir hans kvánar.
Fóru fagrbúnar,
unz þau fjörðr skilði;
löttu ávallt ljósar,
létu-at heldr segjask.
Glaumvör kvað at orði,
er Gunnarr átti,
mælti hon við Vinga,
sem henni vert þótti:
"Veitk-at ek, hvárt verðlaunið
at vilja ossum;
glæpr er gests kváma,
ef í gerisk nakkvat."
Sór þá Vingi,
sér réð hann lítt eira:
"Eigi hann jötnar,
ef hann at yðr lygi,
galgi görvallan,
ef hann á grið hygði."
Bera kvað at orði,
blíð í hug sínum:
"Sigli þér sælir
ok sigr árnið;
fari sem ek fyr mælik,
fæst eigi því níta."
Högni svaraði,
hugði gótt nánum:
"Huggizk it, horskar,
hvégi er þat gervisk;
mæla þat margir,
missir þó stórum,
mörgum ræðr litlu,
hvé verðr leiddr heiman."
Sásk til síðan,
áðr í sundr hyrfi,
þá hygg ek sköp skiptu,
skilðusk vegir þeira.
Róa námu ríki,
rifu kjöl halfan,
beystu bakföllum,
brugðusk heldr reiðir,
hömlur slitnuðu,
háir brotnuðu,
gerðu-t far festa,
áðr þeir frá hyrfi.
Litlu ok lengra,
- lok mun ek þess segja -,
bæ sá þeir standa,
er Buðli átti;
hátt hriktu grindr,
er Högni kníði.
Orð kvað þá Vingi,
þats án væri:
"Farið firr húsi,
- flátt er til sækja,
brátt hefi ek ykkr brennda,
bragðs skuluð höggnir,
fagrt bað ek ykkr kvámu,
flátt var þó undir -
ella heðan bíðið,
meðan ek hegg yðr galga."
Orð kvað hitt Högni,
hugði lítt vægja,
varr at véttugi,
er varð at reyna:
"Hirða þú oss hræða,
hafðu þat fram sjaldan,
ef þú eykr orði,
illt muntu þér lengja."
Hrundu þeir Vinga
ok í hel drápu,
öxar at lögðu,
meðan í önd hixti.
Flykkðusk þeir Atli
ok fóru í brynjur,
gengu svá görvir,
at var garðr milli;
urpusk á orðum
allir senn reiðir:
"Fyrr várum fullráða
at firra yðr lífi."
"Á sér þat illa,
ef höfðuð áðr ráðit,
en eruð óbúnir,
ok höfum einn felldan,
lamðan til heljar,
liðs var sá yðvars."
Óðir þá urðu,
er þat orð heyrðu,
forðuðu fingrum
ok fengu í snæri,
skutu skarpliga
ok skjöldum hlífðusk.
Inn kom þá andspilli,
hvat úti drýgðu,
halir fyr höllu,
heyrðu þræl segja.
Ötul var þá Guðrún,
er hon ekka heyrði,
hlaðin halsmenjum,
hreytti hon þeim gervöllum,
slöngði svá silfri,
at í sundr hrutu baugar.
Út gekk hon síðan,
yppði-t lítt hurðum,
fór-a fælt þeygi
ok fagnaði komnum,
hvarf til Niflunga,
sú var hinzt kveðja,
fylgði saðr slíku,
sagði hon mun fleira:
"Leitaða ek í líkna
at letja ykkr heiman,
sköpum viðr manngi,
ok skuluð þó hér komnir."
Mælti af mannviti,
ef mundu sættask;
ekki at reðusk,
allir ní kváðu.
Sá þá sælborin,
at þeir sárt léku,
hugði á harðræði
ok hrauzk ór skikkju;
nökðan tók hon mæki
ok niðja fjör varði,
hæg var-at hjaldri,
hvars hon hendr festi.
Dóttir lét Gjúka
drengi tvá hníga,
bróður hjó hon Atla,
bera varð þann síðan,
skapði hon svá skæru,
skelldi fót undan.
Annan réð hon höggva,
svá at sá upp reis-at,
í helju hon þann hafði,
þeygi henni hendr skulfu.
Þjörku þar gerðu,
þeiri var við brugðit,
þat brá of allt annat,
er unnu börn Gjúka;
svá kváðu Niflunga,
meðan sjalfir lifðu,
skapa sókn sverðum,
slítask af brynjur,
höggva svá hjalma
sem þeim hugr dygði.
Morgin mest vágu,
unz miðjan dag líddi,
óttu alla
ok öndurðan dag;
fyrr var fullvegit,
flóði völlr blóði,
átján áðr fellu,
efri þeir urðu.
Beru tveir sveinar
ok bróðir hennar.
Röskr tók at ræða,
þótt hann reiðr væri:
"Illt er um litask,
yðr er þat kenna;
várum þrír tigir,
þegnar vígligir,
eftir lifum ellifu,
ór er þar brunnit.
Bæðr várum fimm,
er Buðla misstum;
hefir nú Hel halfa,
en höggnir tveir liggja.
Mægð gat ek mikla,
mák-a-k því leyna,
kona váliga,
knák-a ek þess njóta;
hljótt áttum sjaldan,
síz komt í hendr ossar,
firrðan mik frændum,
féi oft svikinn,
senduð systur helju,
slíks ek mest kennumk."
Guðrún kvað:
"Getr þú þess, Atli,
gerðir svá fyrri,
móður tókt mína
ok myrðir til hnossa,
svinna systrungu
sveltir þú í helli,
hlægligt mér þat þykkir,
er þú þinn harm tínir;
goðum ek þat þakka,
er þér gengsk illa."
Atli kvað:
"Eggja ek yðr, jarlar,
auka harm stóran
vífs ins vegliga,
vilja ek þat líta;
kostið svá keppa,
at klökkvi Guðrún,
séa ek þat mætta,
at hon sér né ynði-t.
Takið ér Högna
ok hyldið með knífi,
skerið ór hjarta,
skuluð þess görvir,
Gunnar grimmúðgan
á galga festið,
bellið því bragði,
bjóðið til ormum."
Högni kvað:
"Ger, sem til lystir,
glaðr munk þess bíða,
röskr munk þér reynask,
reynt hefi ek fyrr brattara;
höfuð hnekking,
meðan heilir várum,
nú erum svá sárir,
at þá mátt sjalfr valda."
Beiti þat mælti,
bryti var hann Atla:
"Tökum vér Hjalla,
en Högna forðum,
högum vér halft yrkjum,
hann er skapdauði,
lifir-a svá lengi,
löskr mun hann æ heitinn."
Hræddr var hvergætir,
helt-a in lengr rúmi,
kunni klökkr verða,
kleif í rá hverja;
vesall lézk vígs þeira,
er skyldi váss gjalda,
ok sinn dag dapran
at deyja frá svínum,
allri örkostu,
er hann áðr hafði.
Tóku þeir brás Buðla
ok brugðu til knífi,
æpði illþræli,
áðr odds kenndi,
tóm lézk at eiga
teðja vel garða,
vinna it vergasta,
ef hann við rétti,
feginn lézk þó Hjalli,
at hann fjör þægi.
Gættisk þess Högni
- gerva svá færi -,
at árna ánauðgum,
at undan gengi:
"Fyrir kveð ek mér minna
at fremja leik þenna.
Hví mynim hér vilja
heyra á þá skræktun?"
Þrifu þeir þjóðgóðan,
þá var kostr engi
rekkum rakklátum
ráð enn lengr dvelja;
hló þá Högni,
heyrðu dagmegir,
keppa hann svá kunni,
kvöl hann vel þolði.
Harpu tók Gunnarr,
hrærði ilkvistum,
sláa hann svá kunni,
at snótir grétu,
klukku þeir karlar,
er kunnu görst heyra;
ríkri ráð sagði;
raftar sundr brustu.
Dó þá dýrir,
dags var heldr snemma,
létu þeir á lesti
lifa íþróttir.
Stórr þóttisk Atli,
sté hann of þá báða,
horskri harm sagði
ok réð heldr at bregða:
"Morginn er nú, Guðrún,
misst hefir þú þér hollra;
sums ertu sjalfskapa,
at hafi svá gengit."
Guðrún kvað:
"Feginn ertu, Atli,
ferr þú víg lýsa,
á munu þér iðrar,
ef þú allt reynir;
sú mun erfð eftir,
ek kann þér segja:
Ills gengsk þér aldri,
nema ek ok deyja."
Atli kvað:
"Kann ek slíks synja,
sé ek til ráð annat
halfu hógligra,
- höfnum oft góðu -,
mani mun ek þik hugga,
mætum ágætum,
silfri snæhvítu,
sem þú sjalf vilir."
Guðrún kvað:
"Ón er þess engi,
ek vil því níta;
sleit ek þá sáttir,
er váru sakar minni;
afkár ek áðr þótta,
á mun nú gæða,
hræfða ek um hotvetna,
meðan Högni lifði.
Alin vit upp várum
í einu húsi,
lékum leik margan
ok í lundi óxum,
gæddi okkr Grímhildr
gulli ok halsmenjum;
bana muntu mér bræðra
bæta aldrigi
né vinna þess ekki,
at mér vel þykki.
Kostum drepr kvenna
karla ofríki;
í kné gengr hnefi,
ef kvistir þverra;
tré tekr at hníga,
ef höggr tág undan;
nú máttu einn, Atli,
öllu hér ráða."
Gnótt var grunnýðgi,
er gramr því trúði,
sýn var sveipvísi,
ef hann sín gæði;
kröpp var þá Guðrún,
kunni of hug mæla,
létt hon sér gerði,
lék hon tveim skjöldum.
Æxti hon öldrykkjur
at erfa bræðr sína,
samr lézk ok Atli
at sína gerva.
Lokit því létu,
lagat var drykkju,
sú var samkunda
við svörfun ofmikla;
ströng var stórhuguð,
stríddi hon ætt Buðla,
vildi hon ver sínum
vinna ofrhefndir.
Lokkaði hon litla
ok lagði við stokki,
glúpnuðu grimmir
ok grétu þeygi,
fóru í faðm móður,
fréttu, hvat þá skyldi.
Guðrún kvað:
"Spyrið lítt eftir,
spilla ætla ek báðum,
lyst várumk þess lengi
at lyfja ykkr elli."
Sveinarnir kváðu:
"Blótt, sem vill, börnum,
bannar þat manngi,
skömm mun ró reiði,
ef þú reynir görva."
Brá þá barnæsku
bræðra in kappsvinna,
skipti-t skapliga,
skar hon á hals báða.
Enn frétti Atli,
hvert farnir væri
sveinar hans leika,
er hann sá þá hvergi.
Guðrún kvað:
"Yfir ráðumk ganga
Atla til segja;
dylja munk þik eigi,
dóttir Grímhildar;
glaða mun þik minnst, Atli,
ef þú görva reynir;
vakðir vá mikla,
er þú vátt bræðr mína.
Svaf ek mjök sjaldan,
síðans þeir fellu,
hét ek þér hörðu,
hefi ek þik nú minntan;
morgin mér sagðir,
man ek enn þann görva,
nú er ok aftann,
átt þú slíkt at frétta.
Maga hefir þú þinna
misst, sem þú sízt skyldir,
hausa veizt þú þeira
hafða at ölskálum,
drýgða ek þér svá drykkju,
dreyra blett ek þeira.
Tók ek þeira hjörtu,
ok á teini steikðak,
selda ek þér síðan,
sagðak, at kalfs væri:
einn þú því ollir,
ekki réttu leifa,
töggtu tíðliga,
trúðir vel jöxlum.
Barna veiztu þinna,
biðr sér fár verra;
hlut veld ek mínum,
hælumk þó ekki."
Atli kvað:
"Grimm vartu, Guðrún,
er þú gera svá máttir,
barna þinna blóði
at blanda mér drykkju;
snýtt hefir þú sifjungum,
sem þú sizt skyldir,
mér lætr þú ok sjalfum
millum ills lítit."
Guðrún kvað:
"Vili mér enn væri
at vega þik sjalfan,
fátt er fullilla
farit við gram slíkan;
drýgt þú fyrr hafðir
þat, er menn dæmi vissu-t til,
heimsku, harðræðis
í heimi þessum;
nú hefir þú enn aukit,
þat er áðan frágum;
greipt glæp stóran,
gört hefir þú þitt erfi."
Atli kvað:
"Brennd muntu á báli
ok barið grjóti áðr,
þá hefir þú árnat
þatstu æ beiðisk."
Guðrún kvað:
"Seg þér slíkar
sorgir ár morgin,
fríðra vil ek dauða
fara í ljós annat."
Sátu samtýnis,
sendusk fárhugi,
hendusk heiftyrði,
hvártki sér unði;
heift óx Hniflungi,
hugði á stórræði,
gat fyr Guðrúnu,
at hann væri grimmr Atla.
Kómu í hug henni
Högna viðfarar,
talði happ hánum,
ef hann hefnt ynni.
Veginn var þá Atli,
var þess skammt bíða,
sonr vá Högna
ok sjalf Guðrún.
Röskr tók at ræða,
rakðisk ór svefni,
kenndi brátt benja,
bands kvað hann þörf enga:
"Segið it sannasta,
hverr vá son Buðla,
emk-a ek lítt leikinn,
lífs tel ek ván enga."
Guðrún kvað:
"Dylja mun þik eigi
dóttir Grímhildar,
látumk því valda,
er líðr þína æfi,
en sumu sonr Högna,
er þik sár mæða."
Atli kvað:
"Vaðit hefir þú at vígi,
þótt væri-t skaplikt,
illt er vin véla,
þanns þér vel trúir;
beiddr fór ek heiman
at biðja þín, Guðrún.
Leyfð vartu ekkja,
létu stórráða,
varð-a ván lygi,
er vér of reyndum;
fórtu heim hingat,
fylgði oss herr manna,
allt var ítarligt
um órar ferðir.
Margs var alls sómi
manna tíginna,
naut váru ærin,
nutum af stórum,
þar var fjölð féar,
fengu til margir.
Mund galt ek mærri
meiðma fjölð þiggja,
þræla þría tigu,
þýjar sjau góðar,
sæmð var at slíku,
silfr var þó meira.
Léztu þér allt þykkja,
sem ekki væri,
meðan lönd þau lágu,
er mér leifði Buðli,
gróftu svá undir,
gerði-t hlut þiggja;
sværu léztu þína
sitja oft grátna,
fann ek í hug heilum
hjóna vætr síðan."
Guðrún kvað:
"Lýgr þú nú, Atli,
þótt ek þat lítt rekja;
heldr var ek hæg sjaldan,
hóftu þó stórum;
börðuzk ér bræðr ungir,
báruzk róg milli;
halft gekk til heljar
ór húsi þínu;
hrolldi hotvetna
þat er til hags skyldi.
Þrjú várum systkin,
þóttum óvægin,
fórum af landi,
fylgðum Sigurði,
skæva vér létum,
skipi hvert várt stýrði,
örkuðum at auðnu,
unz vér austr kómum.
Konung drápum fyrstan,
kurum land þaðra,
hersar oss á hönd gengu,
hræðslu þat vissi;
vágum ór skógi
þanns vildum syknan,
settum þann sælan,
er sér né átti-t.
Dauðr varð inn húnski,
drap þá brátt kosti,
strangt var angr ungri
ekkju nafn hljóta;
kvöl þótti kvikri
at koma í hús Atla,
átti áðr kappi,
illr var sá missir.
Komt-a-ðu af því þingi,
er vér þat frægim,
at þú sök sættir
né slekðir aðra;
vildir ávallt vægja
en vætki halda,
kyrrt of því láta,
-- -- -- -- -- --"
Atli kvað:
"Lýgr þú nú, Guðrún,
lítt mun við bætask
hluti hvárigra,
höfum öll skarðan.
Gerðu nú, Guðrún,
af gæzku þinni
okkr til ágætis,
er mik út hefja."
Guðrún kvað:
"Knörr mun ek kaupa
ok kistu steinda,
vexa vel blæju
at verja þitt líki,
hyggja á þörf hverja,
sem vit holl værim."
Nár varð þá Atli,
niðjum stríð æxti,
efndi ítrborin
allt þats réð heita;
fróð vildi Gudrún
fara sér at spilla,
urðu dvöl dægra,
dó hon í sinn annat.
Sæll er hverr síðan,
er slíkt getr fæða
jóð at afreki,
sems ól Gjúki;
lifa mun þat eftir
á landi hverju
þeira þrámæli,
hvargi er þjóð heyrir.
英譯採用 Henry Adams Bellows 的1923年譯本,已屬公有領域;詩節編號可能與原文不同。
There are many who know how of old did men
In counsel gather; little good did they get;
In secret they plotted, it was sore for them later,
And for Gjuki's sons, whose trust they deceived.
Fate grew for the princes, to death they were given;
Ill counsel was Atli's, though keenness he had; He felled his staunch bulwark, his own sorrow fashioned,
Soon a message he sent that his kinsmen should seek him.
Wise was the woman, she fain would use wisdom,
She saw well what meant all they said in secret;
From her heart it was hid how help she might render,
The sea they should sail, while herself she should go not.
Runes did she fashion, but false Vingi made them,
The speeder of hatred, ere to give them he sought;
Then soon fared the warriors whom Atli had sent,
And to Limafjord came, to the home of the kings.
They were kindly with ale, and fires they kindled, They thought not of craft from the guests who had come;
The gifts did they take that the noble one gave them,
On the pillars they hung them, no fear did they harbor.
Forth did Kostbera, wife of Hogni, then come,
Full kindly she was, and she welcomed them both;
And glad too was Glaumvor, the wife of Gunnar,
She knew well to care for the needs of the guests.
Then Hogni they asked if more eager he were,
Full clear was the guile, if on guard they had been;
Then Gunnar made promise, if Hogni would go,
And Hogni made answer as the other counseled.
Then the famed ones brought mead, and fair was the feast, Full many were the horns, till the men had drunk deep;
..............
Then the mates made ready their beds for resting.
Wise was Kostbera, and cunning in rune-craft,
The letters would she read by the light of the fire;
But full quickly her tongue to her palate clave,
So strange did they seem that their meaning she saw not.
Full soon then his bed came Hogni to seek,
..............
The clear-souled one dreamed, and her dream she kept not,
To the warrior the wise one spake when she wakened:
"Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, but heed my counsel,— Known to few are the runes,— and put off thy faring;
I have read now the runes that thy sister wrote,
And this time the bright one did not bid thee to come.
"Full much do I wonder, nor well can I see,
Why the woman wise so wildly hath written;
But to me it seems that the meaning beneath
Is that both shall be slain if soon ye shall go.
But one rune she missed, or else others have marred it."
Hogni spake: 13.
"All women are fearful; not so do I feel,
Ill I seek not to find till I soon must avenge it;
The king now will give us the glow-ruddy gold;
I never shall fear, though of dangers I know."
Kostbera spake: 14.
"In danger ye fare, if forth ye go thither, No welcoming friendly this time shall ye find;
For I dreamed now, Hogni, and nought will I hide,
Full evil thy faring, if rightly I fear.
"Thy bed-covering saw I in the flames burning,
And the fire burst high through the walls of my home."
Hogni spake:
"Yon garment of linen lies little of worth,
It will soon be burned, so thou sawest the bed-cover."
Kostbera spake: 16.
"A bear saw I enter, the pillars he broke,
And he brandished his claws so that craven we were;
With his mouth seized he many, and nought was our might,
And loud was the tumult, not little it was."
Hogni spake: 17.
"Now a storm is brewing, and wild it grows swiftly,
A dream of an ice-bear means a gale from the east."
Kostbera spake: 18.
"An eagle I saw flying from the end through the house,
Our fate must be bad, for with blood he sprinkled us;
..............
From the evil I fear that 'twas Atli's spirit."
Hogni spake: 19.
"They will slaughter soon, and so blood do we see,
Oft oxen it means when of eagles one dreams; True is Atli's heart, whatever thou dreamest."
Then silent they were, and nought further they said.
The high-born ones wakened, and like speech they had,
Then did Glaumvor tell how in terror she dreamed,
..............
.....Gunnar two roads they should go.
Glaumvor spake: 21.
"A gallows saw I ready, thou didst go to thy hanging,
Thy flesh serpents ate, and yet living I found thee;
..............
The gods' doom descended; now say what it boded."
******
"A sword drawn bloody from thy garments I saw,— Such a dream is hard to a husband to tell,—
A spear stood, methought, through thy body thrust,
And at head and feet the wolves were howling."
Gunnar spake: 23.
"The hounds are running, loud their barking is heard,
Oft hounds' clamor follows the flying of spears."
Glaumvor spake: 24.
"A river the length of the hall saw I run,
Full swiftly it roared, o'er the benches it swept;
O'er the feet did it break of ye brothers twain,
The water would yield not; some meaning there was."
******
"I dreamed that by night came dead women hither, Sad were their garments, and thee were they seeking;
They bade thee come swiftly forth to their benches,
And nothing, methinks, could the Norns avail thee."
Gunnar spake: 26.
"Too late is thy speaking, for so is it settled;
From the faring I turn not, the going is fixed,
Though likely it is that our lives shall be short."
Then bright shone the morning, the men all were ready,
They said, and yet each would the other hold back;
Five were the warriors, and their followers all
But twice as many,— their minds knew not wisdom.
Snævar and Solar, they were sons of Hogni,
Orkning was he called who came with the others, Blithe was the shield-tree, the brother of Kostbera;
The fair-decked ones followed, till the fjord divided them,
Full hard did they plead, but the others would hear not.
Then did Glaumvor speak forth, the wife of Gunnar,
To Vingi she said that which wise to her seemed:
"I know not if well thou requitest our welcome,
Full ill was thy coming if evil shall follow."
Then did Vingi swear, and full glib was his speech,
..............
"May giants now take me if lies I have told ye,
And the gallows if hostile thought did I have."
Then did Bera speak forth, and fair was her thought, ..............
"May ye sail now happy, and victory have,
To fare as I bid ye, may nought your way bar."
Then Hogni made answer,— dear held he his kin,—
"Take courage, ye wise ones, whatsoever may come;
Though many may speak, yet is evil oft mighty,
And words avail little to lead one homeward."
They tenderly looked till each turned on his way,
Then with changing fate were their farings divided.
Full stoutly they rowed, and the keel clove asunder,
Their backs strained at the oars, and their strength was fierce; The oar-loops were burst, the thole-pins were broken,
Nor the ship made they fast ere from her they fared.
Not long was it after— the end must I tell—
That the home they beheld that Buthli once had;
Loud the gates resounded when Hogni smote them;
Vingi spake then a word that were better unsaid:
"Go ye far from the house, for false is its entrance,
Soon shall I burn you, ye are swiftly smitten;
I bade ye come fairly, but falseness was under,
Now bide ye afar while your gallows I fashion."
Then Hogni made answer, his heart yielded little, And nought did he fear that his fate held in store:
"Seek not to affright us, thou shalt seldom succeed;
If thy words are more, then the worse grows thy fate."
Then Vingi did they smite, and they sent him to hell,
With their axes they clove him while the death-rattle came.
Atli summoned his men, in mail-coats they hastened,
All ready they came, and between was the courtyard.
******
Then came they to words, and full wrathful they were: "Long since did we plan how soon we might slay you."
Hogni spake: 41.
"Little it matters if long ye have planned it;
For unarmed do ye wait, and one have we felled,
We smote him to hell, of your host was he once."
Then wild was their anger when all heard his words;
Their fingers were swift on their bowstrings to seize,
Full sharply they shot, by their shields were they guarded.
In the house came the word how the heroes without Fought in front of the hall; they heard a thrall tell it;
Grim then was Guthrun, the grief when she heard,
With necklaces fair, and she flung them all from her,
(The silver she hurled so the rings burst asunder.)
Then out did she go, she flung open the doors,
All fearless she went, and the guests did she welcome;
To the Niflungs she went— her last greeting it was,—
In her speech truth was clear, and much would she speak.
"For your safety I sought that at home ye should stay;
None escapes his fate, so ye hither must fare."
Full wisely she spake, if yet peace they might win, But to nought would they hearken, and "No" said they all.
Then the high-born one saw that hard was their battle,
In fierceness of heart she flung off her mantle;
Her naked sword grasped she her kin's lives to guard,
Not gentle her hands in the hewing of battle.
Then the daughter of Gjuki two warriors smote down,
Atli's brother she slew, and forth then they bore him;
(So fiercely she fought that his feet she clove off;)
Another she smote so that never he stood,
To hell did she send him,— her hands trembled never.
Full wide was the fame of the battle they fought,
'Twas the greatest of deeds of the sons of Gjuki;
Men say that the Niflungs, while themselves they were living,
With their swords fought mightily, mail-coats they sundered,
And helms did they hew, as their hearts were fearless.
All the morning they fought until midday shone,
(All the dusk as well and the dawning of day,)
When the battle was ended, the field flowed with blood;
Ere they fell, eighteen of their foemen were slain,
By the two sons of Bera and her brother as well.
Then the warrior spake, and wild was his anger:
"This is evil to see, and thy doing is all; Once we were thirty, we thanes keen for battle,
Now eleven are left, and great is our lack.
"There were five of us brothers when Buthli we lost,
Now Hel has the half, and two smitten lie here;
A great kinship had I,— the truth may I hide not,—
From a wife bringing slaughter small joy could I win.
We lay seldom together since to me thou wast given,
Now my kin all are gone, of my gold am I robbed;
Nay, and worst, thou didst send my sister to hell."
Guthrun spake: 53.
"Hear me now, Atli! the first evil was thine;
My mother didst thou take, and for gold didst murder her,
My sister's daughter thou didst starve in a prison.
A jest does it seem that thy sorrow thou tellest,
And good do I find it that grief to thee comes."
Atli spake: 54.
"Go now, ye warriors, and make greater the grief
Of the woman so fair, for fain would I see it;
So fierce be thy warring that Guthrun shall weep,
I would gladly behold her happiness lost.
"Seize ye now Hogni, and with knives shall ye hew him,
His heart shall ye cut out, this haste ye to do;
And grim-hearted Gunnar shall ye bind on the gallows, Swift shall ye do it, to serpents now cast him."
Hogni spake: 56.
"Do now as thou wilt, for glad I await it,
Brave shalt thou find me, I have faced worse before;
We held thee at bay while whole we were fighting,
Now with wounds are we spent, so thy will canst thou work."
Then did Beiti speak, he was Atli's steward:
"Let us seize now Hjalli, and Hogni spare we!
Let us fell the sluggard, he is fit for death,
He has lived too long, and lazy men call him."
Afraid was the pot-watcher, he fled here and yon,
And crazed with his terror he climbed in the corners: "Ill for me is this fighting, if I pay for your fierceness,
And sad is the day to die leaving my swine
And all the fair victuals that of old did I have."
They seized Buthli's cook, and they came with the knife,
The frightened thrall howled ere the edge did he feel;
He was willing, he cried, to dung well the courtyard,
Do the basest of work, if spare him they would;
Full happy were Hjalli if his life he might have.
Then fain was Hogni— there are few would do thus—
To beg for the slave that safe hence he should go;
"I would find it far better this knife-play to feel,
Why must we all hark to this howling longer?"
Then the brave one they seized; to the warriors bold
No chance was there left to delay his fate longer;
Loud did Hogni laugh, all the sons of day heard him, So valiant he was that well he could suffer.
******
A harp Gunnar seized, with his toes he smote it;
So well did he strike that the women all wept,
And the men, when clear they heard it, lamented;
Full noble was his song, the rafters burst asunder.
Then the heroes died ere the day was yet come;
Their fame did they leave ever lofty to live.
..............
Full mighty seemed Atli as o'er them he stood,
The wise one he blamed, and his words reproached her:
"It is morning, Guthrun; now thy dear ones dost miss,
But the blame is part thine that thus it has chanced."
Guthrun spake: 65.
"Thou art joyous, Atli, for of evil thou tellest,
But sorrow is thine if thou mightest all see;
Thy heritage heavy here can I tell thee,
Sorrow never thou losest unless I shall die."
Atli spake: 66.
"Not free of guilt am I; a way shall I find
That is better by far,— oft the fairest we shunned;—
With slaves I console thee, with gems fair to see,
And with silver snow-white, as thyself thou shalt choose."
Guthrun spake: 67.
"No hope shall this give thee, thy gifts I shall take not,
Requital I spurned when my sorrows were smaller;
Once grim did I seem, but now greater my grimness,
There was nought seemed too hard while Hogni was living.
"Our childhood did we have in a single house,
We played many a game, in the grove did we grow;
Then did Grimhild give us gold and necklaces;
Thou shalt ne'er make amends for my brother's murder,
Nor ever shalt win me to think it was well.
"But the fierceness of men rules the fate of women,
The tree-top bows low if bereft of its leaves,
The tree bends over if the roots are cleft under it;
Now mayest thou, Atli, o'er all things here rule."
Full heedless the warrior was that he trusted her,
So clear was her guile if on guard he had been;
But crafty was Guthrun, with cunning she spake,
Her glance she made pleasant, with two shields she played.
The beer then she brought for her brothers' death-feast,
And a feast Atli made for his followers dead;
No more did they speak, the mead was made ready,
Soon the men were gathered with mighty uproar.
Thus bitterly planned she, and Buthli's race threatened,
And terrible vengeance on her husband would take;
The little ones called she, on a block she laid them;
Afraid were the proud ones, but their tears did not fall;
To their mother's arms went they, and asked what she would.
Guthrun spake: 73.
"Nay, ask me no more! You both shall I murder, For long have I wished your lives to steal from you."
The boys spake:
"Slay thy boys as thou wilt, for no one may bar it,
Short the angry one's peace if all thou shalt do."
Then the grim one slew both of the brothers young,
Full hard was her deed when their heads she smote off;
Fain was Atli to know whither now they were gone,
The boys from their sport, for nowhere he spied them.
Guthrun spake: 75.
"My fate shall I seek, all to Atli saying,
The daughter of Grimhild the deed from thee hides not;
No joy thou hast, Atli, if all thou shalt hear,
Great sorrow didst wake when my brothers thou slewest.
"I have seldom slept since the hour they were slain,
Baleful were my threats, now I bid thee recall them;
Thou didst say it was morning,— too well I remember,—
Now is evening come, and this question thou askest.
"Now both of thy sons thou hast lost...
....... as thou never shouldst do;
The skulls of thy boys thou as beer-cups didst have,
And the draught that I made thee was mixed with their blood.
"I cut out their hearts, on a spit I cooked them,
I came to thee with them, and calf's flesh I called them;
Alone didst thou eat them, nor any didst leave. Thou didst greedily bite, and thy teeth were busy.
"Of thy sons now thou knowest; few suffer more sorrow;
My guilt have I told, fame it never shall give me."
Atli spake: 80.
"Grim wast thou, Guthrun, in so grievous a deed,
My draught with the blood of thy boys to mingle;
Thou hast slain thine own kin, most ill it beseemed thee,
And little for me twixt my sorrows thou leavest."
Guthrun spake: 81.
"Still more would I seek to slay thee thyself,
Enough ill comes seldom to such as thou art;
Thou didst folly of old, such that no one shall find In the whole world of men a match for such madness.
Now this that of late we learned hast thou added,
Great evil hast grasped, and thine own death-feast made."
Atli spake: 82.
"With fire shall they burn thee, and first shall they stone thee,
So then hast thou earned what thou ever hast sought for."
Guthrun spake:
"Such woes for thyself shalt thou say in the morning,
From a finer death I to another light fare."
Together they sat and full grim were their thoughts,
Unfriendly their words, and no joy either found;
In Hniflung grew hatred, great plans did he have,
To Guthrun his anger against Atli was told.
To her heart came ever the fate of Hogni,
She told him 'twere well if he vengeance should win;
So was Atli slain,— 'twas not slow to await,—
Hogni's son slew him, and Guthrun herself.
Then the warrior spake, as from slumber he wakened,
Soon he knew for his wounds would the bandage do nought:
"Now the truth shalt thou say: who has slain Buthli's son?
Full sore am I smitten, nor hope can I see."
Guthrun spake: 86.
"Ne'er her deed from thee hides the daughter of Grimhild, I own to the guilt that is ending thy life,
And the son of Hogni; 'tis so thy wounds bleed."
Atli spake:
"To murder hast thou fared, though foul it must seem;
Ill thy friend to betray who trusted thee well.
"Not glad went I hence thy hand to seek, Guthrun,
In thy widowhood famed, but haughty men found thee;
My belief did not lie, as now we have learned;
I brought thee home hither, and a host of men with us.
"Most noble was all when of old we journeyed,
Great honor did we have of heroes full worthy;
Of cattle had we plenty, and greatly we prospered,
Mighty was our wealth, and many received it.
"To the famed one as bride-gift I gave jewels fair, I gave thirty slaves, and handmaidens seven;
There was honor in such gifts, yet the silver was greater.
"But all to thee was as if nought it were worth,
While the land lay before thee that Buthli had left me;
Thou in secret didst work so the treasure I won not;
My mother full oft to sit weeping didst make,
No wedded joy found I in fullness of heart."
Guthrun spake: 91.
"Thou liest now, Atli, though little I heed it; If I seldom was kindly, full cruel wast thou;
Ye brothers fought young, quarrels brought you to battle,
And half went to hell of the sons of thy house,
And all was destroyed that should e'er have done good.
"My two brothers and I were bold in our thoughts,
From the land we went forth, with Sigurth we fared;
Full swiftly we sailed, each one steering his ship,
So our fate sought we e'er till we came to the East.
"First the king did we slay, and the land we seized, The princes did us service, for such was their fear;
From the forest we called them we fain would have guiltless,
And rich made we many who of all were bereft.
"Slain was the Hun-king, soon happiness vanished,
In her grief the widow so young sat weeping;
Yet worse seemed the sorrow to seek Atli's house,
A hero was my husband, and hard was his loss.
"From the Thing thou camst never, for thus have we heard,
Having won in thy quarrels, or warriors smitten;
Full yielding thou wast, never firm was thy will,
In silence didst suffer, ........"
Atli spake: 96.
"Thou liest now, Guthrun, but little of good Will it bring to either, for all have we lost;
But, Guthrun, yet once be thou kindly of will,
For the honor of both, when forth I am borne."
Guthrun spake: 97.
"A ship will I buy, and a bright-hued coffin,
I will wax well the shroud to wind round thy body,
For all will I care as if dear were we ever."
Then did Atli die, and his heirs' grief doubled;
The high-born one did as to him she had promised;
Then sought Guthrun the wise to go to her death,
But for days did she wait, and 'twas long ere she died.
Full happy shall he be who such offspring has,
Or children so gallant, as Gjuki begot;
Forever shall live, and in lands far and wide,
Their valor heroic wherever men hear it.
繁體中文譯文由 AI 根據古諾爾斯語原文翻譯,並參考英文譯文。
世人曾聽聞那場慘禍,
當年曾有
眾勇士聚會,
那聚會少有人得益;
他們密議陰謀,
後來招來恐怖,
吉烏基的兒子們也同遭其殃,
他們原本一片赤誠。
王侯的厄運日漸逼近,
——命定赴死,無從逃避——
阿特利謀劃失當,
縱使他頗有心智;
他摧倒堅強的支柱,
使自己深受苦痛,
匆匆遣人傳信,
請妻舅們速來。
女主人聰慧,
用心思量對策;
她聽出了話中深意,
聽出他們暗中所謀;
智者此時也感為難,
她有意相救,
須有人渡海傳訊,
她自己卻無法成行。
她開始刻寫盧恩符文,
溫吉卻竄改了字句,
——他一心催促禍事——
才將信交出;
隨後上路的是
阿特利的使者,
他們穿過利馬峽灣,
前往勇士的居所。
主人以啤酒款待,
又把爐火燃起,
毫不疑心有詐,
當那些人來到時;
他們收下贈禮,
那是親愛的人所寄,
將它們掛在柱上,
並未放在心上。
科斯特貝拉此時走來,
她是霍格尼的妻子,
是個十分殷勤的女子,
向兩位使者問候;
格勞姆沃爾也滿懷歡喜,
她是貢納爾的妻子,
這賢慧女子不曾疏忽,
一心照料賓客所需。
他們邀霍格尼前往作客,
想看他是否更願成行,
騙術原是昭然若揭,
只要兄弟倆留心;
貢納爾於是答應啟程,
只要霍格尼願意,
霍格尼也不推拒,
依從兄長的決定。
姑娘們奉上蜜酒,
各樣佳餚無不齊備;
一角又一角的酒傳過,
直到眾人都喝得盡興。
夫妻倆鋪好床褥,
務求睡得安適;
科斯特貝拉學識豐富,
懂得辨讀盧恩符文,
她藉著明亮爐火,
細究字句的含意;
她不得不把舌頭
在上下顎間仔細挪動,
符文被改得如此錯亂,
要解讀實在困難。
隨後她與霍格尼
上了自己的床;
這大家閨秀做了一夢,
絲毫沒有隱瞞,
聰慧的她向丈夫訴說,
就在她醒來之時:
「霍格尼,你正準備離家,
請把忠告放在心上,
少有人能洞察一切,
請你改日再去;
我為你解讀了盧恩符文,
那是你妹妹所刻,
那明麗女子這一回
並沒有邀你前往。
有件事最令我驚異,
我至今仍想不透,
那聰慧女子怎麼了,
竟會把符文刻錯;
因為其中所指,
彷彿暗藏著
你們兄弟倆的死訊,
若是你們匆匆前去;
她漏刻了一個字,
或是別人動了手腳。」
霍格尼說:
「女人個個心懷疑懼,
我卻不曾如此,
我不願尋究這些事,
除非我們必須報仇;
君王將以黃金
賜給我們,那金子紅如烈焰;
我從來不知畏懼,
縱使聽聞險情。」
科斯特貝拉說:
「你們此行必有顛躓,
若執意前去;
這一回你們得不到
親切的接待;
霍格尼,我做了個夢,
我不向你隱瞞;
你們將遭遇逆境,
不然便是我多慮了。
我夢見你的被褥
在火中燃燒,
高高的火舌噴湧,
穿過我的屋宇。」
霍格尼說:
「這裡放著亞麻布,
你向來不大照管,
那些很快就會燒掉,
便是你夢見的被褥。」
科斯特貝拉說:
「我夢見一頭熊進到這裡,
撞破了屋梁,
揮舞牠的巨掌,
令我們驚惶;
牠把我們許多人銜在嘴裡,
使我們無力抵抗;
那裡還響起踐踏聲,
聲勢著實不小。」
霍格尼說:
「那是風勢將要轉強,
很快就會猛烈起來,
你夢見了白熊,
那便是東方將起暴風。」
科斯特貝拉說:
「我夢見一隻鷹飛進這裡,
沿著長屋飛過,
這必將使我們長受苦難,
牠把鮮血灑遍我們全身;
我想,從這凶兆看來,
那是阿特利所化的形體。」
霍格尼說:
「我們不久便要宰牲,
到時自會看見鮮血,
夢見鷹,往往
預示要宰牛;
阿特利心懷善意,
無論你夢見什麼。」
他們便就此作罷,
話語一一止息。
出身高貴的夫妻醒來,
那裡也是同樣的情景,
格勞姆沃爾說起,
夢裡有凶險的預兆,
—— —— ——與貢納爾
走上兩條不同的路。
格勞姆沃爾說:
「我夢見絞架已為你備妥,
你走去受絞刑,
毒蛇吞噬你的身體,
我卻見你還活著,
諸神的末日降臨;
請解說,這是何意。」
貢納爾說:
. . . . . . . . . . .
格勞姆沃爾說:
「我夢見一柄血淋淋的劍
從你的衣衫裡抽出,
——把這樣的夢告訴丈夫,
實在令人難受——
我夢見一桿矛
貫穿你的腰身,
兩端各有狼
發出哀號。」
貢納爾說:
「那是獵犬奔跑,
放聲吠叫,
飛矛出擊之前,
常有犬群喧鬧。」
格勞姆沃爾說:
「我夢見一條河流入這裡,
沿著長屋奔湧,
怒氣沖沖地咆哮,
漫過一排排長凳,
撞斷你們的雙腳,
你們兄弟兩人的腳,
河水絲毫不肯退讓;
這必定有所預兆。」
貢納爾說:
. . . . . . . . . . .
格勞姆沃爾說:
「我夢見死去的女人
在夜裡來到這裡,
衣著毫不華美,
想要選中你,
催你趕快
去坐她們的長凳;
我說,守護你的女神
已被斬斷了肢體。」
貢納爾說:
「如今再說已太遲,
事情已經決定;
我仍不會推卻此行,
既已決意前往;
種種跡象都顯示,
我們恐將不久於人世。」
他們見天色亮起,
便說已迫不及待,
眾人全都起身,
女人們卻勸阻他們;
五個人一同出發,
家中侍從的人數
還多出一倍,
此事考慮得欠周詳。
斯奈瓦爾與索拉爾,
他們是霍格尼的兒子,
另有一人叫奧爾克寧,
也隨他們同行,
那快活的持盾勇士,
是他妻子的兄弟。
盛裝的女子一路相送,
直到峽灣將他們分開;
明麗的女子始終勸阻,
他們仍不肯聽從。
格勞姆沃爾開口說話,
她是貢納爾的妻子,
她對溫吉說出
自己覺得該說的話:
「我不知你們會如何報答,
是否合乎我們的心意;
倘若出了什麼差錯,
客人的來訪便是罪行。」
溫吉於是起誓,
全然不顧惜自己:
「倘若他欺騙你們,
就讓巨人將他擒去,
倘若他心存破壞和約之念,
就讓絞架收去他的全身。」
貝拉開口說話,
心裡滿是溫情:
「願你們航行順遂,
願你們贏得勝利;
願事情如我所祝禱,
誰也不能阻撓。」
霍格尼答道,
一心盼親人安好:
「兩位聰慧的女子,請寬心,
無論事情將會如何;
許多人都說預兆,
卻往往錯得離譜,
對許多人而言,送行時的吉凶
對命運並無多大影響。」
他們彼此回望,
直到各自遠去,
我想,命運此刻分了岔,
他們的道路就此分離。
壯士們奮力划槳,
幾乎扯裂半條船龍骨,
仰身猛力後划,
使出的勁道愈發狂烈,
槳索掙斷了,
槳架折斷了,
他們不曾把船繫牢,
便離船而去。
再往前不多遠,
——我要說出此事的結局——
他們望見一座宅邸,
那原是布德利所有;
大門震得轟然作響,
霍格尼正用力推撞。
溫吉此時說了些話,
那原是不該說的:
「離這屋子遠一些,
——走近便有詭計,
我很快便要燒死你們,
你們立刻就會遭砍殺,
我好言邀你們前來,
暗地卻藏著奸計——
不然便在此等候,
待我砍木造好你們的絞架。」
霍格尼則如此回答,
絲毫無意退讓,
面對即將來臨的考驗,
他全無戒懼:
「休想恐嚇我們,
少再搬弄這套,
你若還要多嘴,
只會使自己受苦更久。」
他們把溫吉推倒,
將他打死,
一斧接一斧砍下,
直到他氣息哽絕。
阿特利與部眾聚集,
披上鎖子甲,
全副武裝走來,
中間隔著庭院;
眾人怒氣沖沖,
互相叫罵:
「我們早就定下計謀,
要取你們的性命。」
「若你們早已定下計謀,
如今這樣可真難看,
你們還沒準備好,
我們便已殺了一個,
將他打入死境,
那可是你們的人。」
他們聽見這話,
頓時怒不可遏,
手指飛快動作,
緊緊扣住弓弦,
猛烈地放箭,
又以盾牌護身。
此時消息傳入屋內,
說起外面發生的事,
勇士們正在廳前交戰,
眾人聽奴隸如此稟告。
古德倫聽見噩耗,
立刻奮起,
她頸上綴滿項鍊,
一把全都扯下,
將銀飾猛然擲去,
使環圈迸裂四散。
隨後她走到屋外,
猛力推開門扉,
她走去毫不畏懼,
向來客致意,
轉身走向尼伯龍根兄弟,
那是最後一次問候,
那問候滿是真情,
她還有許多話要說:
「我設法搭救你們,
勸你們別離家遠行,
可誰也擋不住命運,
你們終究來到了這裡。」
她以明智的言語相勸,
想看眾人能否言和;
他們卻全不理會,
個個都說不肯。
這高貴女子看見,
他們鬥得如此慘烈,
便下定決心奮戰,
甩掉身上的斗篷;
她握起出鞘的劍,
捍衛親人的性命,
她出手交戰之處,
沒有半分溫柔。
吉烏基的女兒
使兩名勇士倒下,
她砍倒阿特利的兄弟,
那人隨後只能讓人抬走,
她如此奮力廝殺,
斬掉了他的腳。
另一人也遭她砍倒,
再也不能起身,
她將他送入死境,
雙手卻毫不顫抖。
他們在那裡掀起激戰,
那一戰聲名遠播,
吉烏基兒女所做的事,
凌駕其他一切事蹟;
人們說尼伯龍根勇士,
只要一息尚存,
便揮劍猛攻,
撕裂鎖子甲,
砍劈頭盔,
盡展心中膽魄。
大半個早晨他們都在廝殺,
一直戰到正午,
整段黎明時分,
直到白晝初起;
在戰鬥告終以前,
鮮血已淹沒大地,
十八人先已倒下,
他們才遭到壓倒:
貝拉的兩個兒子,
以及她的兄弟。
那勇士開始說話,
縱然心中盛怒:
「眼前的景象真慘,
這都得怪你們;
我們原有三十人,
都是善戰的勇士,
如今只剩十一人生還,
其餘已盡遭毀滅。
我們失去布德利時,
共有兄弟五人;
如今赫爾已收去一半,
兩人躺著,遭刀斧砍倒。
我結下顯赫的姻親,
這一點無須隱瞞,
可你是個帶來災禍的女人,
我無從享到好處;
自從你嫁到我家,
我們便少有安寧,
你們使我失去親族,
又屢次騙走我的財物,
還將我妹妹送入死境,
這一樁最令我痛心。」
古德倫說:
「你提起這事,阿特利,
你從前也做過這種事,
你擒住我的母親,
為奪珍寶而殺了她,
又將你聰慧的姨表姊妹
餓死在洞穴裡;
在我看來,實在可笑,
你竟細數自己的悲苦;
我感謝諸神,
讓你遭逢厄運。」
阿特利說:
「伯爵們,我命你們
加深那巨大的悲苦,
使這位高貴的婦人受苦,
我正想親眼看見;
你們竭力下手,
好讓古德倫哭泣,
但願我能看見
她再無半點歡欣。
你們抓住霍格尼,
用刀剖開他的胸膛,
挖出他的心,
你們就著手去做;
把心性剛烈的貢納爾
縛在絞架上,
放膽使出這手段,
把他獻給群蛇。」
霍格尼說:
「隨你的心意去做,
我會欣然等候,
你會見識我的勇氣,
我從前經歷過更險惡的境地;
我們未受傷時,
曾將你擊退,
如今我們傷重如此,
你才得以自行作主。」
貝提如此說,
他是阿特利的管事:
「我們抓住希亞利,
放過霍格尼吧,
我們這樣便能省下一半工夫,
那人命中注定該死,
活不了多久,
他總會被人叫作懶漢。」
看鍋的人嚇壞了,
再也待不住原地,
忍不住哭了起來,
爬上一根根屋梁;
他說他們這場爭戰害苦了他,
竟要他為這場苦難償命,
又說自己這一天何等淒慘,
竟得死去,離開他的豬,
離開他從前享有的
一切豐盛吃食。
他們抓住布德利的廚子,
拔刀向他逼近,
那卑賤的奴僕便放聲尖叫,
刀尖還不曾碰到他;
他說自己有的是工夫,
能替園圃好好施肥,
能做最卑賤的工作,
只要他們饒過他;
希亞利說,只要保住性命,
他便心滿意足。
霍格尼留意到這事,
——少有人會如此行事——
便為這奴僕求情,
請他們讓他脫身:
「我說,讓我來受這一遭,
反而算不得什麼。
我們為何要在這裡
聽那陣尖叫?」
他們抓住那位眾人敬重的英雄,
那些勇武的戰士
已無別的選擇,
不能再拖延行刑;
霍格尼這時笑了,
白晝之子們都聽見了,
他如此善於迎戰,
也如此善於忍受酷刑。
貢納爾拿起豎琴,
用腳趾撥動琴弦,
他彈奏得如此動人,
婦人們都哭泣了,
那些聽得最真切的男人,
也都低聲啜泣;
他訴說著高貴的心志,
屋椽都迸裂了。
兩位尊貴的英雄就此死去,
天色還早,
臨終之際,他們讓自己的絕藝
長留世間。
阿特利自覺威風凜凜,
跨過他們兩人的身軀,
向那聰慧的女子宣告噩耗,
還刻意出言責怪:
「如今是早晨了,古德倫,
你已失去忠於你的人;
事情落到這個地步,
你自己也有幾分責任。」
古德倫說:
「你很得意,阿特利,
四處宣揚你的殺戮,
若你嚐盡這一切的後果,
必會悔恨不已;
我能告訴你,
這事將留下怎樣的遺產:
除非我也死去,
你的災禍便永無止息。」
阿特利說:
「我能使這事不成真,
我另有一個辦法,
要好上許多,
——我們常把好辦法拋開——
我會用奴僕撫慰你,
用珍貴的寶物,
用雪白的銀子,
一切隨你心意。」
古德倫說:
「這事毫無指望,
我決意拒絕;
當我的怨恨還較輕時,
我便已斷絕和解;
從前人們以為我兇狠,
如今只會更加厲害,
霍格尼還活著時,
我對萬事都無所畏懼。
我們一同長大,
住在同一座屋子裡,
玩過許多遊戲,
在林間漸漸長成,
格里姆希爾德贈給我們
黃金和項鍊;
你殺我兄弟的血債,
永遠也償還不了,
無論你做什麼,
都不能讓我稱心。
男人的強權
摧折女人的福分;
枝條若凋零,
樹冠便低垂;
根鬚若遭砍斷,
樹便開始傾倒;
如今,阿特利,
這裡一切都由你獨自作主。」
那君王竟相信這話,
實在愚昧至極;
只要他留心自身安危,
便會看出其中的詭詐;
古德倫此時心思狡黠,
懂得說出違心的話,
她裝出輕鬆的模樣,
同時舞弄兩面盾牌。
她籌辦盛大的酒宴,
祭奠自己的兄弟,
阿特利也說要同樣
祭奠他死去的部屬。
他們就此說定,
酒宴備辦妥當,
眾人聚集一堂,
喧囂聲震耳欲聾;
那志氣高傲的女子心意堅決,
她要打擊布德利的家族,
她要向自己的丈夫
施以極慘烈的報復。
她哄來兩個幼兒,
將他們放到木塊旁,
兩個勇悍的孩子面露懼色,
卻沒有哭泣,
他們投入母親懷中,
問她要將他們怎樣。
古德倫說:
「別再追問,
我打算殺死你們兩人,
我早就渴望
使你們免受衰老之苦。」
男孩們說:
「你要怎樣,就怎樣獻祭孩子吧,
沒有人會阻止,
但你若真付諸實行,
怒氣平息也只是一時。」
那兇悍剛烈的女子
終結了兄弟倆的幼年,
她下手毫不留情,
割開了兩人的咽喉。
阿特利隨後問起,
他的兒子們
到哪裡玩耍去了,
因為他四處都見不到他們。
古德倫說:
「我決意走得更遠,
把事情告訴阿特利;
格里姆希爾德的女兒,
不會向你隱瞞;
阿特利,你若知道全部真相,
絕不會歡喜;
你殺死我的兄弟時,
便喚醒了巨大的災禍。
自從他們倒下,
我便很少安睡,
我曾揚言要狠狠報復你,
如今已讓你記起;
你曾對我說起早晨,
那時刻我仍記得清楚,
如今已是黃昏,
你也該聽到同樣的噩耗。
你失去了自己的兒子,
那本是你最不該失去的,
你要知道,他們的頭骨
已被拿來作啤酒碗,
我如此添足你的酒,
摻入了他們的鮮血。
我取出他們的心,
串在鐵籤上烤熟,
隨後端給你,
說那是小牛的心;
全由你獨自吃下,
一點也沒留下,
你嚼得津津有味,
臼齒使得好不暢快。
如今你知道孩子們的事了,
少有人會祈求更糟的遭遇;
我承認自己所做的,
卻不以此自誇。」
阿特利說:
「古德倫,你真殘忍,
竟能做出這樣的事,
用你孩子的血
摻入給我的酒;
你毀了自己的親人,
那本是你最不該做的,
連我也被你害得
災禍接踵而至。」
古德倫說:
「我還想
親手殺死你,
對你這種君王,
怎樣狠毒都不算過分;
你從前做過的事,
論愚昧,論暴虐,
在這世間,
人們都找不到先例;
如今你又添上了
我們方才聽到的惡行;
你犯下滔天大罪,
替自己辦好了喪宴。」
阿特利說:
「你會被放上柴堆燒死,
在那之前,還要遭石頭擊打,
如此,你便贏得了
你一向求取的下場。」
古德倫說:
「這樣的悲苦,
留到明早對你自己說吧,
我要死得更體面,
走向另一個光明世界。」
兩人坐在一起,
各懷惡念,
彼此投以怨毒的話,
誰也不得安寧;
赫尼夫隆格心中的仇恨漸增,
盤算著一番大事,
他告訴古德倫,
自己對阿特利滿懷恨意。
她想起了
霍格尼所受的遭遇,
便對他說,若能報仇,
將是他的福分。
阿特利於是遭到殺害,
這事並未等候多久,
殺他的是霍格尼的兒子,
還有古德倫本人。
那勇士開口說話,
從睡夢中驚醒,
隨即察覺自己的傷,
說已不必包紮:
「把真相告訴我,
是誰殺了布德利之子?
我受的傷可不輕,
我想已沒有活命的希望。」
古德倫說:
「格里姆希爾德的女兒
不會向你隱瞞,
我承認是我
使你的生命將盡,
霍格尼的兒子也有一份,
是我們使你受創垂死。」
阿特利說:
「你竟悍然殺人,
縱然這事全不合情理,
謀害一個真心信賴你的伴侶,
何等邪惡;
古德倫,我當初是受人敦促,
才離家前去向你求婚。
人們稱讚你這寡婦,
說你胸懷大志,
後來我們親身領教,
才知這期望並不虛假;
你來到這裡的家,
大隊人馬隨我們同行,
我們一路上的行止,
一切都氣派非凡。
高貴的人們
享有種種榮耀,
牛群充足,
我們盡情享用,
那裡財物豐饒,
許多人都分得一份。
我付給那位有名望的新娘聘禮,
讓她收下許多珍寶,
三十名男奴,
七名上好的女奴,
這些贈禮已很體面,
銀子卻還多得多。
你卻將這一切
視若無物,
只要布德利留給我的
那些土地還在,
你便暗中挖我的根基,
不讓我享有應得的一份;
你讓自己的婆婆
常常坐著哭泣,
從此我再也找不到
夫妻間一絲真心的和睦。」
古德倫說:
「阿特利,你如今說謊,
我也不多加追究;
我固然很少溫順,
你卻遠比我過分;
你們兄弟年輕時便相鬥,
彼此挑起爭端;
你家裡有一半人
去了赫爾的國度;
一切本該帶來福祉的事,
全都遭到摧毀。
我們兄妹三人,
素來被視為毫不退讓,
我們離開故土,
追隨西格爾德,
任船疾馳,
各自掌舵,
奮力追尋好運,
直到來到東方。
我們先殺了那國王,
奪得他的土地,
地方領主向我們臣服,
那是出於恐懼;
我們從林中召回
那些我們願赦免的人,
使一無所有的人
得享富足。
那匈人的英雄死了,
幸福隨即斷絕,
年紀輕輕便得了寡婦之名,
是何等深重的悲哀;
活著走進阿特利的家,
在我看來宛如酷刑,
我從前嫁的是英雄,
失去他何等痛苦。
據我們所聞,
你從不曾離開議會,
是因為你調解了爭訟,
或平息了別的紛爭;
你總是想退讓,
什麼也不肯堅持,
只想讓事情悄悄過去,
—— —— —— —— —— ——」
阿特利說:
「古德倫,你如今說謊,
這也無法使我們任何一方
多得什麼好處,
我們都已殘破不全。
古德倫,如今請你
發一份善心,
等人將我抬出去時,
讓我倆都保有體面。」
古德倫說:
「我會買一艘船,
一口彩繪的棺木,
把裹屍布好好上蠟,
用來包裹你的屍身,
顧全一切所需,
彷彿我倆仍相親相愛。」
阿特利於是成了屍體,
親族的悲痛更深,
那出身高貴的女子
履行了她許下的一切承諾;
聰慧的古德倫想要
離去,了結自己的生命,
卻又耽延了些時日,
她是在另一次才死去的。
此後,凡能養育
這般英勇的子女,
如吉烏基所生的,
無不有福;
關於他們的長久傳說
將流傳後世,
遍及每一片土地,
凡有人聽聞的地方。