《希約爾瓦德之子赫爾吉之歌》原典
Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar
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古諾爾斯語原文採用冰島學者 Guðni Jónsson 版本的標準化拼寫。
"Sáttu Sigrlinn
Sváfnis dóttur,
mey ina fegrstu
í munarheimi?
Þó hagligar
Hjörvarðs konur
gumnum þykkja
at Glasislundi."
Atli kvað:
"Mundu við Atla
Iðmundar son,
fugl fróðhugaðr,
fleira mæla?"
Fuglinn kvað:
"Mun ek, ef mik buðlungr
blóta vildi
ok kýs ek þats vil
ór konungs garði."
Atli kvað:
"Kjós-at-tu Hjörvarð
né hans sonu
né inar fögru
fylkis brúðir,
eigi brúðir þær,
er buðlungr á;
kaupum vel saman,
þat er vina kynni."
Fuglinn kvað:
"Hof mun ek kjósa,
hörga marga,
gullhyrnðar kýr
frá grams búi,
ef hánum Sigrlinn
sefr á armi
ok ónauðig
jöfri fylgir."
Þetta var, áðr Atli færi, en er hann kom heim ok konungr spurði hann tíðenda, hann kvað:
"Höfum erfiði
ok ekki örindi,
mara þraut óra
á meginfjalli,
urðum síðan
Sæmorn vaða,
þá var oss synjat
Sváfnis dóttur,
hringum gæddrar,
er vér hafa vildum."
Konungr bað, at þeir skyldu fara annat sinn. Fór hann sjálfr. En er þeir kómu upp á fjall, ok sá á Sváfaland landsbruna ok jóreyki stóra. Reið konungr af fjallinu fram í landit ok tók náttból við á eina. Atli helt vörð ok fór yfir ána. Hann fann eitt hús. Fugl mikill sat á húsinu ok gætti, ok var sofnaðr. Atli skaut spjóti fuglinn til bana, en í húsinu fann hann Sigrlinn konungs dóttur ok Álofu jarls dóttur ok hafði þær báðar braut með sér. Fránmarr jarl hafði hamazt í arnar líki ok varit þær fyrir hernum með fjölkynngi. Hróðmarr hét konungr, biðill Sigrlinnar. Hann drap Sváfakonung ok hafði rænt ok brent landit. Hjörvarðr konungr fekk Sigrlinnar, en Atli Álofar.
Hjörvarðr ok Sigrlinn áttu son mikinn ok vænan. Hann var þögull. Ekki nafn festist við hann. Hann sat á haugi. Hann sá ríða valkyrjur níu ok var ein göfugligust. Hon kvað:
"Síð muntu, Helgi,
hringum ráða,
ríkr rógapaldr,
né Röðulsvöllum,
- örn gól árla, -
ef þú æ þegir,
þótt þú harðan hug,
hilmir, gjaldir."
Helgi kvað:
"Hvat lætr þú fylgja
Helga nafni,
brúðr bjartlituð,
alls þú bjóða ræðr?
Hygg þú fyr öllum
atkvæðum vel.
Þigg ek eigi þat,
nema ek þik hafa."
Valkyrja kvað:
"Sverð veit ek liggja
í Sigarsholmi
fjórum færi
en fimm tögu;
eitt er þeira
öllum betra
vígnesta böl
ok varit gulli.
Hringr er í hjalti,
hugr er í miðju,
ógn er í oddi
þeim er eiga getr;
liggr með eggju
ormr dreyrfáiðr,
en á valböstu
verpr naðr hala."
Eylimi hét konungr. Dóttir hans var Sváfa. Hon var valkyrja ok reið loft ok lög. Hon gaf Helga nafn þetta ok hlífði hánum oft síðan í orrostum. Helgi kvað:
"Ert-at-tu, Hjörvarðr
heilráðr konungr,
folks oddviti,
þótt þú frægr séir;
léztu eld eta
jöfra byggðir,
en þeir angr við þik
ekki gerðu.
En Hróðmarr skal
hringum ráða,
þeim er áttu
órir niðjar;
sá sésk fylkir
fæst at lífi,
hyggsk aldauða
arfi at ráða."
Hjörvarðr svarar, at hann mundi fá lið Helga, ef hann vill hefna móðurföður síns. Þá sótti Helgi sverðit, er Sváfa vísaði hánum til. Þá fór hann ok Atli ok felldu Hróðmar ok unnu mörg þrekvirki. Hann drap Hata jötun, er hann sat á bergi nökkuru. Helgi ok Atli lágu skipum í Hatafirði. Atli helt vörð inn fyrra hluta nætrinnar. Hrímgerðr Hatadóttir kvað:
[Hrímgerðarmál]
"Hverir ro hölðar
í Hatafirði?
Skjöldum er tjaldat á skipum;
fræknliga látið,
fátt hygg ek yðr séask,
kennið mér nafn konungs."
Atli kvað:
"Helgi hann heitir,
en þú hvergi mátt
vinna grand grami;
járnborgir ro
of öðlings flota;
knegu-t oss fálur fara."
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Hvé þik heitir,
halr inn ámáttki,
hvé þik kalla konir?
Fylkir þér trúir,
er þik í fögrum lætr
beits stafni búa."
Atli kvað:
"Atli ek heiti,
atall skal ek þér vera,
mjök em ek gífrum gramastr;
úrgan stafn
ek hefi oft búit
ok kvalðar kveldriður.
Hvé þú heitir,
hála nágráðug?
Nefndu þinn, fála, föður;
níu röstum
er þú skyldi neðar vera
ok vaxi þér á baðmi barr."
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Hrímgerðr ek heiti,
Hati hét minn faðir,
þann vissa ek ámáttkastan jötun;
margar brúðir
hann lét frá búi teknar,
unz hann Helgi hjó."
Atli kvað:
"Þú vart, hála,
fyr hildings skipum
ok látt í fjarðar mynni fyrir;
ræsis rekka
er þú vildir Rán gefa,
ef þér kæmi-t í þverst þvari."
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Duliðr ertu nú, Atli,
draums kveð ek þér vera,
síga lætr þú brýnn fyr bráar;
móðir mín
lá fyrir mildings skipum;
ek drekkða Hlövarðs sonum í hafi.
Gneggja myndir þú, Atli,
ef þú geldr né værir,
brettir sinn Hrímgerðr hala;
aftarla hjarta,
hygg ek, at þitt, Atli, sé,
þótt hafir reina rödd."
Atli kvað:
"Reini mun þér ek þykkja
ef þú reyna knátt,
ok stíga ek á land af legi,
öll muntu lemjask,
ef mér er alhugat,
ok sveigja þinn, Hrímgerðr, hala."
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Atli, gakk þú á land,
ef afli treystisk,
ok hittumk í vík Varins;
rifja rétti
er þú munt, rekkr, fáa,
ef þú mér í krummur kemr."
Atli kvað:
"Munk-a ek ganga,
áðr gumnar vakna
ok halda of vísa vörð;
er-a mér örvænt,
nær óru kemr
skass upp undir skipi."
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Vaki þú, Helgi,
ok bæt við Hrímgerði,
er þú lézt höggvinn Hata;
eina nótt
kná hon hjá jöfri sofa,
þá hefr hon bölva bætr."
Helgi kvað:
"Loðinn heitir, er þik skal eiga,
leið ertu mannkyni,
sá býr í Þolleyju þurs,
hundvíss jötunn,
hraunbúa verstr,
sá er þér makligr maðr."
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Hina vildu heldr, Helgi,
er réð hafnir skoða
fyrri nótt með firum;
marggullin mær
mér þótti afli bera;
hér sté hon land af legi
ok festi svá yðvarn flota;
hon ein því veldr,
er ek eigi mák
buðlungs mönnum bana."
Helgi kvað:
"Heyr nú, Hrímgerðr,
ef ek bæti harma þér,
segðu görr grami:
Var sú ein vættr,
er barg öðlings skipum,
eða fóru þær fleiri saman?"
Hrímgerðr kvað:
"Þrennar níundir meyja,
þó reið ein fyrir
hvít und hjalmi mær;
marir hristusk,
stóð af mönum þeira
dögg í djúpa dali,
hagl í háva viðu;
þaðan kemr með öldum ár,
allt var mér þat leitt, er ek leitk."
Helgi kvað:
"Austr líttu nú, Hrímgerðr,
ef þik lostna hefr
Helgi helstöfum;
á landi ok á vatni
borgit er lofðungs flota
ok siklings mönnum it sama."
Atli kvað:
"Dagr er nú, Hrímgerðr,
en þik dvalða hefr
Atli til aldrlaga;
hafnarmark
þykkir hlægligt vera,
þars þú í steins líki stendr."
Helgi konungr var allmikill hermaðr. Hann kom til Eylima konungs ok bað Sváfu dóttur hans. Þau Helgi ok Sváfa veittust várar ok unnust furðu mikit. Sváfa var heima með feðr sínum, en Helgi í hernaði. Var Sváfa valkyrja enn sem fyrr.
Heðinn var heima með föður sínum, Hjörvarði konungi, í Nóregi.
Heðinn fór einn saman heim ór skógi jólaaftan ok fann trollkonu. Sú reið vargi ok hafði orma at taumum ok bauð fylgð sína Heðni.
"Nei," sagði hann.
Hon sagði: "Þess skaltu gjalda at bragarfulli."
Um kveldit óru heitstrengingar. Var fram leiddr sónargöltr. Lögðu menn þar á hendr sínar ok strengðu menn þá heit at bragarfulli. Heðinn strengði heit til Sváfu Eylimadóttur, unnustu Helga, bróður síns, ok iðraðisk svá mjök, at hann gekk á braut villistígu suðr á lönd ok fann Helga bróður sinn. Helgi kvað:
"Kom þú heill, Heðinn,
hvat kanntu segja
nýra spjalla
ór Nóregi?
Hví er þér, stillir,
stökkt ór landi
ok ert einn kominn
oss at finna?"
Heðinn kvað:
"[Erumk-a, stillir,
stökkt ór landi],
mik hefr miklu glæpr
meiri sóttan:
Ek hefi körna
ina konungbornu
brúði þína
at bagarfulli."
Helgi kvað:
"Sakask eigi þú,
sönn munu verða
ölmál, Heðinn,
okkur beggja.
Mér hefir stillir
stefnt til eyrar,
þriggja nátta
skylak þar koma;
if er mér á því,
at ek aftr koma;
þá má at góðu
gerask slíkt, ef skal."
Heðinn kvað:
"Sagðir þú, Helgi,
at Heðinn væri
góðs verðr frá þér
ok gjafa stórra;
þér er sæmra
sverð at rjóða,
en frið gefa
fjándum þínum."
Þat kvað Helgi, því at hann grunaði um feigð sína ok þat, at fylgjur hans höfðu vitjat Heðins, þá er hann sá konuna ríða varginum.
Álfr hét konungr, son Hróðmars, er Helga hafði völl haslaðan á Sigarsvelli á þriggja nátta fresti. Þá kvað Helgi:
"Reið á vargi,
er rökvit var,
fljóð eitt, er Heðinn
fylgju beiddi;
hón vissi þat,
at veginn myndi
Sigrlinnar sonr
á Sigarsvöllum."
Þar var orrosta mikil, ok fekk þar Helgi banasár.
Sendi Helgi
Sigar at ríða
eftir Eylima
eingadóttur;
"Bið bráðliga
búna verða,
ef hon vill finna
fylki kvikvan."
Sigarr kvað:
"Mik hefr Helgi
hingat sendan
við þik, Sváfa,
sjalfa at mæla;
þik kvaðsk hilmir
hitta vilja,
áðr ítrborinn
öndu týndi."
Sváfa kvað:
"Hvat varð Helga
Hjörvarðs syni?
Mér er harðliga
harma leitat,
ef hann sær of lék
eða sverð of beit,
þeim skal ek gumna
grand of vinna."
Sigarr kvað:
"Fell hér í morgun
at Frekasteini,
buðlungr, sá er var,
baztr und sólu;
Alfr mun sigri
öllum ráða,
þótt þetta sinn
þörfgi væri."
Helgi kvað:
"Heil vertu, Sváfa,
hug skaltu deila,
sjá mun í heími
hinztr fundr vera;
téa buðlungi
blæða undir,
mér hefir hjörr komit
hjarta it næsta.
Bið ek þik, Sváfa,
- brúðr grát-at-tu -,
ef þú vill mínu
máli hlýða,
at þú Heðni
hvílu gervir
ok jöfur ungan
ástum leiðir."
Sváfa kvað:
"Mælt hafða ek þat
í munarheimi,
þá er mér Helgi
hringa valði,
myndig-a ek lostig
at liðinn fylki
jöfur ókunnan
armi verja."
Heðinn kvað:
"Kysstu mik, Sváfa,
kem ek eigi áðr
Rogheims á vit
né Röðulsfjalla,
áðr ek hefnt hefik
Hjörvarðs sonar,
þess er buðlungr var
beztr und sólu."
Helgi ok Sváfa, er sagt, at væri endrborin.
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。
Hjorvarth was the name of a king, who had four wives: one was called Alfhild, and their son was named Hethin; the second was called Særeith, and their son was named Humlung; the third was called Sinrjoth, and their son was named Hymling. King Hjorvarth had made a great vow to have as wife whatsoever woman he knew was fairest. He learned that King Svafnir had a daughter fairer than all others, whose name was Sigrlin. Ithmund was the name of one of his jarls; he had a son called Atli, who went to woo Sigrlin on behalf of the king. He dwelt the winter long with King Svafnir. There was a jarl called Franmar, Sigrlin's foster-father; his daughter was named Alof. The jarl told him that the maiden's hand was denied, and Atli went home. Atli, the jarl's son, stood one day in a certain wood; a bird sat in the branches up over him, and it had heard that his men called Hjorvarth's wives the fairest of women. The bird twittered, and Atli hearkened to what it spoke. It said:
"Sawest thou Sigrlin, Svafnir's daughter,
The fairest maid in her home-land found?
Though Hjorvath's wives by men are held
Goodly to see in Glasir's wood."
Atli spake: 2.
"Now with Atli, Ithmund's son,
Wilt thou say more, thou bird so wise?"
The bird spake:
"I may if the prince an offering makes,
And I have what I will from the house of the king."
Atli spake: 3.
"Choose not Hjorvarth, nor sons of his,
Nor the wives so fair of the famous chief;
Ask not the brides that the prince's are;
Fair let us deal in friendly wise."
The bird spake: 4.
"A fane will I ask, and altars many,
Gold-horned cattle the prince shall give me,
If Sigrlin yet shall sleep in his arms,
Or free of will the hero shall follow."
"Trouble we had, but tidings none,
Our horses failed in the mountains high,
The waters of Sæmorn we needs must wade;
Svafnir's daughter, with rings bedecked,
She whom we sought, was still denied us."
The king bade that they should go another time, and he went with them himself. But when they came up on the mountain, they saw Svavaland burning and mighty dust-clouds from many steeds. The king rode from the mountain forward into the land, and made a night's stay hard by a stream. Atli kept watch and went over the stream; he found there a house. A great bird sat on the housetop to guard it, but he was asleep. Atli hurled his spear at the bird and slew it, and in the house he found Sigrlin the king's daughter and Alof the jarl's daughter, and he brought them both thence with him. Jarl Franmar had changed himself into the likeness of an eagle, and guarded them from the enemy host by magic. Hrothmar was the name of a king, a wooer of Sigrlin; he slew the king of Svavaland and had plundered and burned his land. King Hjorvarth took Sigrlin, and Atli took Alof.
(II)
Hjorvarth and Sigrlin had a son, mighty and of noble stature; he was a silent man, and no name stuck fast to him. He sat on a hill, and saw nine Valkyries riding; one of them was the fairest of all. She spake:
"Late wilt thou, Helgi, have hoard of rings,
Thou battle-tree fierce, or of shining fields,—
The eagle screams soon,— if never thou speakest,
Though, hero, hard thy heart may cry."
Helgi spake: 7.
"What gift shall I have with Helgi's name,
Glorious maid, for the giving is thine? All thy words shall I think on well,
But I want them not if I win not thee."
The Valkyrie spake: 8.
"Swords I know lying in Sigarsholm,
Fifty there are save only four;
One there is that is best of all,
The shield-destroyer, with gold it shines.
"In the hilt is fame, in the haft is courage,
In the point is fear, for its owner's foes;
On the blade there lies a blood-flecked snake,
And a serpent's tail round the flat is twisted."
Eylimi was the name of a king, whose daughter was Svava; she was a Valkyrie, and rode air and sea. She gave Helgi this name, and shielded him oft thereafter in battle. Helgi spake:
"Hjorvarth, king, unwholesome thy counsels,
Though famed thou art in leading the folk, Letting fire the homes of heroes eat,
Who evil deed had never done thee.
"Yet Hrothmar still the hoard doth hold,
The wealth that once our kinsmen wielded;
Full seldom care the king disturbs,
Heir to dead men he deems himself."
Hjorvarth answered that he would give Helgi a following if he fain would avenge his mother's father. Then Helgi got the sword that Svava had told him of. So he went, and Atli with him, and they slew Hrothmar, and they did many great deeds.
(III)
He slew the giant Hati, whom he found sitting on a certain mountain. Helgi and Atli lay with their ships in Hatafjord. Atli kept watch during the first part of the night. Hrimgerth, Hati's daughter, spake:
"Who are the heroes in Hatafjord?
The ships are covered with shields; Bravely ye look, and little ye fear,
The name of the king would I know."
Atli spake: 13.
"Helgi his name, and never thou mayst
Harm to the hero bring;
With iron is fitted the prince's fleet,
Nor can witches work us ill."
Hrimgerth spake: 14.
"Who now, thou mighty man, art thou?
By what name art thou known to men?
He trusts thee well, the prince who wills
That thou stand at the stem of his ship."
Atli spake: 15.
"Atli am I, and ill shalt thou find me,
Great hate for witches I have;
Oft have I been in the dripping bows,
And to dusk-riders death have brought.
"Corpse-hungry giantess, how art thou called?
Say, witch, who thy father was! Nine miles deeper down mayst thou sink,
And a tree grow tall on thy bosom."
Hrimgerth spake: 17.
"Hrimgerth am I, my father was Hati,
Of giants the most in might;
Many a woman he won from her home,
Ere Helgi hewed him down."
Atli spake: 18.
"Witch, in front of the ship thou wast,
And lay before the fjord;
To Ron wouldst have given the ruler's men,
If a spear had not stuck in thy flesh."
Hrimgerth spake: 19.
"Dull art thou, Atli, thou dreamest, methinks,
The lids lie over thine eyes;
By the leader's ships my mother lay,
Hlothvarth's sons on the sea I slew.
"Thou wouldst neigh, Atli, but gelded thou art,
See, Hrimgerth hoists her tail;
In thy hinder end is thy heart, methinks,
Though thy speech is a stallion's cry."
Atli spake: 21.
"A stallion I seem if thou seekest to try me,
And I leap to land from the sea;
I shall smite thee to bits, if so I will,
And heavy sinks Hrimgerth's tail."
Hrimgerth spake: 22.
"Go ashore then, Atli, if sure of thy might,
Let us come to Varin's cove;
Straight shall thy rounded ribs be made
If thou comest within my claws."
Atli spake: 23.
"I will not go till the warriors wake,
Again their chief to guard;
I should wonder not, foul witch, if up
From beneath our keel thou shouldst come."
Hrimgerth spake: 24.
"Awake now, Helgi, and Hrimgerth requite,
That Hati to death thou didst hew; If a single night she can sleep by the prince,
Then requited are all her ills."
Helgi spake: 25.
"'Tis Lothin shall have thee,— thou'rt loathsome to men,—
His home in Tholley he has;
Of the wild-dwellers worst is the giant wise,
He is meet as a mate for thee."
Hrimgerth spake: 26.
"More thou lovest her who scanned the harbor,
Last night among the men;
(The gold-decked maid bore magic, methinks,
When the land from the sea she sought,
And fast she kept your fleet;)
She alone is to blame that I may not bring
Death to the monarch's men."
Helgi spake: 27.
"Hrimgerth, mark, if thy hurts I requite,
Tell now the truth to the king; Was there one who the ships of the warrior warded,
Or did many together go?"
Hrimgerth spake: 28.
"Thrice nine there were, but one rode first,
A helmed maid white of hue;
Their horses quivered, there came from their manes
Dew in the dales so deep,
(Hail on the woods so high,
Thence men their harvest have,
But ill was the sight I saw.)"
Atli spake: 29.
"Look eastward, Hrimgerth, for Helgi has struck thee
Down with the runes of death;
Safe in harbor floats the prince's fleet,
And safe are the monarch's men."
Helgi spake: 30.
"It is day, Hrimgerth, for Atli held thee
Till now thy life thou must lose; As a harbor mark men shall mock at thee,
Where in stone thou shalt ever stand."
(IV)
King Helgi was a mighty warrior. He came to King Eylimi and sought the hand of his daughter, Svava. Then Helgi and Svava exchanged vows, and greatly they loved each other. Svava was at home with her father, while Helgi was in the field; Svava was still a Valkyrie as before.
Hethin was at home with his father, King Hjorvarth, in Norway. Hethin was coming home alone from the forest one Yule-eve, and found a troll-woman; she rode on a wolf, and had snakes in place of a bridle. She asked Hethin for his company. "Nay," said he. She said, "Thou shalt pay for this at the king's toast." That evening the great vows were taken; the sacred boar was brought in, the men laid their hands thereon, and took their vows at the king's toast. Hethin vowed that he would have Svava, Eylimi's daughter, the beloved of his brother Helgi; then such great grief seized him that he went forth on wild paths southward over the land, and found Helgi, his brother. Helgi said:
"Welcome, Hethin! what hast thou to tell
Of tidings new that from Norway come?
Wherefore didst leave thy land, O prince,
And fared alone to find us here?"
Hethin spake: 32.
"A deed more evil I have done
Than, brother mine, thou e'er canst mend;
For I have chosen the child of the king,
Thy bride, for mine at the monarch's toast."
Helgi spake: 33.
"Grieve not, Hethin, for true shall hold
The words we both by the beer have sworn;
To the isle a warrior wills that I go,
(There shall I come the third night hence;)
And doubtful must be my coming back,
(So may all be well, if fate so wills.)"
Hethin spake: 34.
"Thou saidst once, Helgi, that Hethin was
A friend full good, and gifts didst give him;
More seemly it were thy sword to redden,
Than friendship thus to thy foe to give."
Helgi spoke thus because he foresaw his death, for his following-spirits had met Hethin when he saw the woman riding on the wolf. Alf was the name of a king, the son of Hrothmar, who had marked out a battle-place with Helgi at Sigarsvoll after a stay of three nights. Then Helgi spake:
"On a wolf there rode, when dusk it was,
A woman who fain would have him follow;
Well she knew that now would fall
Sigrlin's son at Sigarsvoll."
There was a great battle, and there Helgi got a mortal wound.
Sigar riding did Helgi send
To seek out Eylimi's only daughter:
"Bid her swiftly ready to be,
If her lover alive she would find."
Sigar spake: 37.
"Hither now has Helgi sent me,
With thee, Svava, thyself to speak;
The hero said he fain would see thee
Ere life the nobly born should leave."
Svava spake: 38.
"What chanced with Helgi, Hjorvarth's son?
Hard to me is harm now come;
If the sea smote him, or sword bit him,
Ill shall I bring to all his foes."
Sigar spake: 39.
"In the morn he fell at Frekastein,
The king who was noblest beneath the sun;
Alf has the joy of victory all,
Though need therefor is never his."
Helgi spake: 40.
"Hail to thee, Svava! thy sorrow rule,
Our meeting last in life is this;
Hard the wounds of the hero bleed,
And close to my heart the sword has come.
"I bid thee, Svava,— weep not, bride,—
If thou wilt hearken to these my words,
The bed for Hethin have thou ready,
And yield thy love to the hero young."
Svava spake: 42.
"A vow I had in my dear-loved home,
When Helgi sought with rings to have me,
That not of my will, if the warrior died,
Would I fold in my arms a man unfamed."
Hethin spake: 43.
"Kiss me, Svava, I come not back, Rogheim to see, or Rothulsfjoll,
Till vengeance I have for the son of Hjorvarth,
The king who was noblest beneath the sun."
Of Helgi and Svava it is said that they were born again.
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。
「你可曾見過西格琳,
斯瓦夫尼爾的女兒,
情愛之世中
最美的少女?
儘管希奧爾瓦德的妻子們
在格拉希爾林中,
在人們眼裡
個個姿容秀麗。」
阿特利說:
「你願不願對阿特利,
伊德蒙德之子,
智慧深遠的鳥兒啊,
再多說些話?」
鳥兒說:
「我願意,只要君王
肯向我獻祭,
並讓我隨心挑選
王庭中的事物。」
阿特利說:
「你不可挑選希奧爾瓦德,
也不可挑選他的兒子,
不可挑選君王
那些美麗的妻子,
不可挑選那些
君王擁有的新娘;
讓我們公平交易,
這才是朋友相交之道。」
鳥兒說:
「我要挑選一座神廟,
許多祭壇,
還有王家牧場裡
犄角鍍金的母牛,
只要西格琳
肯枕著他的臂膀入睡,
並且心甘情願
跟隨這位君王。」
這是在阿特利出發之前的事。他回來後,國王問他有何消息,他說:
「我們徒費辛勞,
使命卻未能完成,
我們的馬匹
在大山上精疲力盡,
後來我們不得不
涉過塞莫恩河;
他們不肯將
斯瓦夫尼爾的女兒,
那佩戴金環的女子,
許給前來求親的我們。」
國王命他們再去一次,這回他也親自同行。他們登上山頂時,望見斯瓦瓦國境內烽火四起,群馬揚起大片塵煙。國王騎馬下山,進入那片國土,在一條河邊紮營過夜。阿特利守夜,渡過河去,發現一棟屋子。一隻大鳥停在屋頂守護,卻已睡著。阿特利投矛將鳥刺死,在屋內找到國王的女兒西格琳和伯爵的女兒阿洛芙,便帶著她們兩人離去。原來弗蘭馬爾伯爵化作鷹形,以魔法保護她們,抵禦大軍。有位國王名叫赫羅德馬爾,是西格琳的求婚者。他殺死斯瓦瓦國王,劫掠並焚毀了這片國土。希奧爾瓦德國王娶了西格琳,阿特利則娶了阿洛芙。
希奧爾瓦德與西格琳生了一個兒子,身材高大,容貌俊美。他沉默寡言,沒有一個名字能在他身上留住。他坐在一座墳丘上,看見九位女武神騎馬而來,其中一位最為尊貴。她說:
「赫爾吉啊,你將很晚
才能掌有金環,
強大的戰爭之樹啊,
也很晚才能統治勒杜爾平原,
——雄鷹清早便已啼鳴——
倘若你始終沉默,
縱使你懷著剛強的心志,
君王啊,也是如此。」
赫爾吉說:
「你要讓什麼禮物
伴隨赫爾吉這名字而來,
容光明麗的女子啊,
既然是你決定賜予?
你說出的每一句話,
都要仔細思量。
我不接受這份禮物,
除非我能得到你。」
女武神說:
「我知道有些寶劍
藏在西加爾島上,
總共比五十把
少了四把;
其中有一把
勝過其餘所有,
是盾牌的災殃,
以黃金包覆。
劍柄上有環,
劍身中央有勇氣,
劍尖蘊藏威懾,
賜予能將它握有的人;
沿著劍刃伏臥著
一條染血的蛇,
而在劍脊上,
另一條蛇甩動尾巴。」
有位國王名叫埃利米,他的女兒是斯薇法。她是女武神,騎馬馳過天空與海洋。她給赫爾吉取了這個名字,此後常在戰場上保護他。赫爾吉說:
「希奧爾瓦德啊,你並非
善謀良策的國王,
軍旅的統帥啊,
儘管你聲名遠播;
你任憑烈火吞噬
君王們的居所,
然而他們未曾
對你做過任何惡事。
如今赫羅德馬爾卻要
掌有那些金環,
那些原本屬於
我們親族的財寶;
那位君王對自己的性命
幾乎毫不擔憂,
自以為可以繼承
所有死者的遺產。」
希奧爾瓦德回答說,若赫爾吉要為外祖父報仇,他願意給他一支軍隊。於是赫爾吉取來斯薇法指點他尋找的那把劍,與阿特利一同出征,殺死赫羅德馬爾,完成了許多英勇的功業。他殺死了坐在一處山崖上的巨人哈提。赫爾吉和阿特利將船停泊在哈提峽灣。阿特利在前半夜守望。哈提的女兒赫里姆蓋德說:
[赫里姆蓋德之歌]
「哪些勇士
來到哈提峽灣?
船上排列著盾牌,宛如帷幕;
你們舉止英勇,
我想少有事物令你們害怕,
告訴我國王的名字。」
阿特利說:
「他名叫赫爾吉,
而你絕不可能
傷害這位君王;
鋼鐵的城牆
環護著王者的船隊;
女妖不能侵害我們。」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「你名叫什麼,
強而有力的男子啊,
人們怎麼稱呼你?
君王信任你,
才讓你守在
華美戰船的船首。」
阿特利說:
「我名叫阿特利,
我將使你畏懼,
我是女巨人最兇狠的仇敵;
我時常守在
濕淋淋的船首,
也曾殺死暮夜騎行的女妖。
你名叫什麼,
貪食屍體的女妖?
說出你父親的名字,妖婦;
你該埋在地下
九拉斯特(古北歐長度單位)深處,
讓樹木在你胸膛上長出枝葉。」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「我名叫赫里姆蓋德,
我的父親名叫哈提,
我知道他是最強大的巨人;
他曾使許多女子
被擄離家園,
直到赫爾吉將他斬殺。」
阿特利說:
「女妖,你曾擋在
君王的船隊前方,
橫臥在峽灣入口;
你原想把君王的戰士
送給蘭,
若非尖槍橫刺進你的身體。」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「阿特利,你如今糊塗了,
我說你還在夢裡,
眉毛都垂到睫毛上了;
我的母親
才是橫臥在仁君船隊前的那個;
我則在海裡溺死了赫洛瓦爾德的兒子們。
阿特利,你本會嘶鳴,
要是你不曾被閹割,
當赫里姆蓋德翹起尾巴時;
我想你的心,
阿特利,是長在屁股裡,
儘管你的嗓音像匹公馬。」
阿特利說:
「你會覺得我是匹公馬,
只要你有膽來試,
等我從海上踏上陸地;
你將渾身被打得稀爛,
只要我下定決心,
赫里姆蓋德,你的尾巴也要垂下。」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「阿特利,上岸來吧,
若你相信自己的力氣,
就到瓦林灣與我相會;
勇士啊,你的肋骨
將被一根根拉直,
只要你落進我的爪子裡。」
阿特利說:
「我不會離去,
直到戰士們醒來,
守護他們的君王;
我絲毫不會意外,
無論何時,那女妖
從船底下冒上來。」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「醒來吧,赫爾吉,
賠償赫里姆蓋德,
因為你使哈提遭到斬殺;
只要一夜,
讓她睡在君王身旁,
她的苦難就得到補償。」
赫爾吉說:
「將娶你的名叫洛丁,
人類都厭惡你,
那巨魔住在索萊島,
是個狡黠的巨人,
荒岩居民中最惡的一個,
他才是與你相配的丈夫。」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「赫爾吉,你更想要另一個,
就是昨夜與眾人一起
巡視港灣的那一位;
那滿身黃金的少女,
我看她身懷神力;
她在此從海上登岸,
使你們的船隊安然停泊;
全是她一人的緣故,
使我無法
取走君王部下的性命。」
赫爾吉說:
「聽著,赫里姆蓋德,
若要我補償你的悲苦,
就向君王說得更明白:
拯救王侯船隻的,
只有那一位神靈,
還是有更多同伴同行?」
赫里姆蓋德說:
「共有三隊,每隊九名少女,
其中一人騎在前頭,
是頭戴盔甲、膚色皎白的少女;
馬兒抖動身軀,
從牠們的鬃毛灑下
露水,落入深谷,
冰雹,落入高聳的林木;
人世的豐年由此而來,
我眼見的這一切,都令我厭憎。」
赫爾吉說:
「現在朝東看,赫里姆蓋德,
看看赫爾吉是否已用
死亡符文擊中了你;
無論陸上或水上,
君王的船隊都已安然無恙,
王侯的部下也一樣。」
阿特利說:
「天已亮了,赫里姆蓋德,
阿特利把你拖延至此,
直到你的死期;
你這港灣的標記,
看來真是可笑,
你就化作石頭,站在那裡。」
赫爾吉王是個極其勇猛的戰士。他來到埃利米王那裡,求娶他的女兒斯薇法。赫爾吉與斯薇法彼此立誓,相愛至深。斯薇法留在家中陪伴父親,赫爾吉則出外征戰。斯薇法仍和從前一樣,是一名女武神。
赫定與父親希奧爾瓦德王一起住在挪威。
耶誕節前夕,赫定獨自從森林返家,遇見一名女巨魔。她騎著狼,以蛇為韁繩,表示願與赫定相伴。
「不要,」他說。
她說:「你將在舉誓酒杯前,為此付出代價。」
當晚,眾人立下誓言。獻祭的公豬被牽了出來,眾人將手放在牠身上,舉起誓酒杯發誓。赫定立誓要得到埃利米之女斯薇法,也就是他兄弟赫爾吉的未婚妻。他隨即懊悔萬分,便離去,沿荒僻小徑向南穿過各地,找到兄弟赫爾吉。赫爾吉說:
「歡迎你,赫定,
你能說些什麼
新鮮消息,
從挪威帶來?
王侯啊,為何你
被迫逃離國土,
獨自前來
尋找我們?」
赫定說:
「[王侯啊,我並未
被迫逃離國土,]
是更重大的罪過
纏住了我:
我已選定
你那王族出身的
新娘,
在舉誓酒杯前立了誓。」
赫爾吉說:
「別責怪自己,
赫定,我們兩人
酒席上的誓言,
都將成真。
一位君王已約我
前往沙洲決鬥,
三夜之後,
我須到那裡;
我心中懷疑,
自己能否回來;
若命運如此安排,
此事也能有好結果。」
赫定說:
「赫爾吉,你曾說,
赫定值得你
善待,
並賜予厚禮;
但你更該做的,
是染紅你的劍,
而非給予
仇敵和平。」
赫爾吉之所以那樣說,是因為他預感自己死期將至,也猜到赫定看見騎狼的女人時,是他的隨行靈前去找了赫定。
有一位名叫阿爾夫的國王,是赫羅德馬爾之子;他已在西加爾原野為赫爾吉用榛木枝劃定決鬥場地,約定三夜之後交戰。這時赫爾吉說:
「暮色降臨時,
有個女子
騎著狼,向赫定
求取相伴;
她早已知道,
西格琳之子
將被殺死
在西加爾原野。」
那裡爆發了一場大戰,赫爾吉在戰中受了致命傷。
赫爾吉派遣
西加爾騎馬
去尋埃利米的
獨生女兒;
「叫她趕快
準備動身,
若她還想見到
活著的君王。」
西加爾說:
「赫爾吉派我
來到這裡,
斯薇法,
要親自向你傳話;
君王說他
想要見你,
趁他這高貴之人
尚未斷氣。」
斯薇法說:
「赫爾吉,希奧爾瓦德之子,
出了什麼事?
悲苦向我襲來,
何等沉重;
若是大海傷了他,
或是利劍咬了他,
那些人,
我必加以傷害。」
西加爾說:
「今天早晨,
他倒在弗雷卡石旁,
那位君王,原是
普天之下最出眾的人;
阿爾夫將把
勝利盡收囊中,
雖然這一次,
他並不需要。」
赫爾吉說:
「願你安好,斯薇法,
你須平復心緒,
這將是我們在人世
最後一次相見;
君王的傷口
不斷淌血,
劍刃已刺入
緊鄰我心之處。
斯薇法,我求你,
——新娘啊,別哭——
若你願意
聽從我的話,
就為赫定
鋪設床榻,
以愛情接納
這年輕的王侯。」
斯薇法說:
「我曾說過,
在愛意盈滿的世界裡,
當赫爾吉
為我挑選指環之時:
君王逝去之後,
我決不甘願
以雙臂擁抱
一位陌生的王侯。」
赫定說:
「吻我吧,斯薇法,
我絕不回去
探訪羅格海姆
或勒杜爾群山,
直到我為
希奧爾瓦德之子報仇,
他曾是普天之下
最出眾的君王。」
據說,赫爾吉與斯薇法後來轉世重生。