《赫洛德之歌》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.”

相傳昔日胡姆利
統治匈人，
吉祖爾統治約特人，
安甘提爾統治哥德人，
瓦爾達爾統治丹麥人，
凱亞爾統治羅馬人，
勇猛的阿爾雷克
統治英格蘭人。

赫洛德誕生於彼方，
在匈人的國土，
生來便有短刀與長劍、
垂長的鎖子甲、
環飾的頭盔、
鋒利的寶劍，
以及馴良的駿馬，
在那神聖的林間。

赫洛德自東方策馬而來，
他是海德雷克的繼承人；
他來到城中，
來到哥德人居住的
阿爾海姆，
索求他的遺產；
安甘提爾正在那裡
飲酒，為海德雷克舉行喪宴。

他在外頭遇見一人，
就在高聳的廳堂前，
隨即向那位
遠行而來的人招呼：
「你進去吧，勇士，
進那高聳的廳堂，
請安甘提爾
出來與我交談。」
那人走進去，來到國王的桌前，向安甘提爾王恭敬致意，接著說道：

「赫洛德已來到這裡，
他是海德雷克的繼承人，
是你的兄弟，
那驍勇的戰士；
那年輕人身形魁偉，
高踞馬背，
君王啊，他如今
想與你交談。」

廳堂裡喧聲四起，
眾人隨貴人們起身；
人人都想聽聽
赫洛德說些什麼，
也想聽安甘提爾
會如何回答。
安甘提爾於是說道：

「歡迎你，赫洛德，
海德雷克的繼承人，
我的兄弟，
來長凳上坐吧；
讓我們為海德雷克
飲下敬愛的酒，
敬我們的父親，
那人中之首，
葡萄酒或蜜酒，
任你挑選喜歡的。」
赫洛德於是吟道：

「我們另有所求，
並非為了喝啤酒，
才來到此地，
［自匈人的國土而來。］
君王啊，我不接受
你的酒飲。

我要全部的一半，
海德雷克所有的一切，
錐子與矛尖，
每一件財寶，
母牛與小牛，
隆隆作響的磨石，
女奴與男奴，
以及他們的孩子；

那著名的叢林，
名叫米爾克維德，
那座神聖的墳墓，
坐落在哥德國土上，
那塊美麗的石頭，
矗立在丹普河畔，
還有海德雷克所有的
軍堡的一半，
土地與人民，
以及閃亮的臂環。」
安甘提爾吟道：

「兄弟啊，在那之前，
閃白的椴木盾必先碎裂，
冰冷的長矛
必先相互交鋒，
許許多多的人
必先倒在草地上，
我才會把提爾鋒
分成兩半，
或把一半遺產
交給你，胡姆利的子孫。
12
我願給你
明亮的長矛，
財富與許多珍寶，
任你盡情挑選；
我給你一千二百人，
我給你一千二百匹駿馬，
我給你一千二百名侍從，
人人都持盾。

我給每個人
豐厚的賞賜，
每一樣都比
他原有的更好；
我給每個人
一名少女，
也為每名少女
在頸上扣起項鍊。

你坐著時，我要在你四周
量堆白銀，
你走動時，
我要傾下黃金，
讓臂環
滾向四面八方；
哥德國土的三分之一——
歸你統治。」
海德雷克王的養父、格呂廷族的吉祖爾，當時正與安甘提爾王同在。他已極為年邁。他聽見安甘提爾的提議，覺得他給得太多，便吟道：

「這樣的賞賜，
女奴的孩子儘可接受，
女奴的孩子，
縱然是國王所生；
當王族子弟
分配遺產時，
那私生子
還坐在墳丘上。」
赫洛德聽見自己若接受兄長的提議，就要被稱為女奴的孩子與私生子，頓時大怒，立刻帶著所有隨從離去，直到回到匈人國土，來到他的親人胡姆利王面前，告訴他，兄長安甘提爾拒絕將遺產與他平分。
胡姆利隨即問明他們交談的全部經過。他聽說自己的外孫赫洛德竟要被稱為婢女之子，也勃然大怒，於是吟道：

「這個冬天我們且安居，
快活度日，
飲用、品評
珍貴的美酒，
教導匈人
備妥戰爭的兵器，
我們將勇猛地
帶著它們上陣。

赫洛德，我們要為你
備妥精良的軍隊，
勇往直前，
助你統率大軍；
徵召年滿十二歲的男丁，
徵集年滿兩歲的馬駒，
就這樣召聚
匈人的大軍。」
這個冬天，胡姆利與赫洛德留居原地。春天，他們召集了極其龐大的軍隊，以致匈人國內能作戰的男子全被徵調一空……
這支大軍集結後，便騎馬穿越名叫米爾克維德的森林；這座森林分隔匈人與哥德人的國土。他們走出森林後，眼前是大片聚落與平坦的原野。原野上矗立著一座美麗的城堡，由安甘提爾王的姊妹赫爾沃爾與她的養父奧爾馬爾治理。他們受命駐守此地，防備匈人大軍，麾下有眾多兵士。
一天清晨，太陽升起時，赫爾沃爾登上城門上方的一座塔樓。她看見南方森林那邊揚起大片馬蹄塵，久久遮蔽太陽。接著，她看見塵霧下閃閃發光，彷彿望見滿眼黃金：精美的鑲金盾牌、鍍金的頭盔與雪亮的鎖子甲。她這才看出，那是匈人的大軍，人數極其龐大。赫爾沃爾急忙走下塔樓，叫來號手，命他吹號集結兵士。隨後赫爾沃爾說道：「拿起你們的武器，準備作戰。奧爾馬爾，你騎馬去迎匈人，向他們挑戰，在南面的城門前交鋒。」奧爾馬爾吟道：

「我必策馬前往，
手持盾牌，
—— —— ——
為哥德人民
出陣作戰。」
奧爾馬爾於是策馬出城，迎向大軍。他高聲呼喊，要他們騎馬來到城前——「在城門外，南邊的原野上——我邀你們在那裡交戰。先到的人，就在那裡等候後到的人。」
奧爾馬爾隨即騎馬回城，此時赫爾沃爾與全軍都已準備妥當。他們率軍騎馬出城，迎戰匈人，雙方展開一場大戰。但匈人的兵力遠為雄厚，赫爾沃爾麾下的將士開始大量傷亡，最後赫爾沃爾戰死，許多兵士也倒在她四周。
奧爾馬爾看見她倒下，便與所有倖存的人一同逃走。奧爾馬爾日夜策馬，竭盡所能地趕往阿爾海姆，求見安甘提爾王。……
奧爾馬爾來到安甘提爾王面前，便吟道：

「我自南方而來，
要稟報這些消息：
米爾克維德那著名的荒原，
已全遭焚毀，
整片哥德國土，
都灑滿戰士的鮮血。

我知道海德雷克的女兒，
［倒在利劍鋒刃之前，］
你的姊妹，
已頹然倒地；
匈人已經
將她殺死，
還殺了許多
你們的臣民。

她奔赴戰場，
比與求婚者交談、
或披上嫁衣
走向婚席，更為欣然。」
安甘提爾王聽見這些話，嘴唇顫動，久久說不出話，最後才說道：

「他們待你全無手足之情，
我傑出的姊妹啊！」
接著他環視侍從，身邊的兵士並不多。他於是吟道：
「我們飲蜜酒時，
曾有那麼多人，
如今需要更多人，
人卻少了。

在我的軍中，
我看不見一個人，
即使我開口懇求，
以臂環酬賞，
也肯策馬前去，
手持盾牌，
尋訪那些匈人的
大軍。」
老吉祖爾說道：

「我不會向你索取
一盎司銀子，
也不要黃金鑄成的
閃亮鸕鶿；
我仍會策馬前去，
手持盾牌，
向匈人各部
送上戰書。」
……吉祖爾穿戴精良的甲冑兵器，躍上自己的馬，彷彿仍是個年輕人。他隨即對國王說道：

「我要告訴匈人，
在哪裡交戰？」
安甘提爾吟道：

「告訴他們，在迪爾吉亞，
在杜恩荒原，
也在那古老的
亞薩爾山脈；
哥德人常在那裡
出陣交鋒，
名揚四方的勇士
贏得輝煌的勝利。」
吉祖爾隨即策馬離去，直到來到匈人大軍前。他只騎到能與他們說話的距離，沒有再靠近。接著，他高聲呼喊，吟道：

「你們的軍陣已驚惶，
你們的君主死期已至，
戰旗高懸你們頭上，
奧丁已向你們發怒。

我邀你們到迪爾吉亞，
到杜恩荒原，
在亞薩爾山下
交戰，
願你們每座丘上
都堆滿屍身，
願奧丁讓長矛飛去，
一如我所宣告。」
赫洛德聽見吉祖爾的話，便吟道：

「你們拿下吉祖爾，
那格呂廷族的人，
安甘提爾的臣下，
從阿爾海姆而來的人。」
胡姆利王說道：
「我們不可
傷害使者，
那些獨自
前來的人。」
吉祖爾隨即用馬刺催馬，策騎回去見安甘提爾王。……安甘提爾問匈人有多少兵力。吉祖爾說：「他們人數眾多：

共有六支
戰士的軍團，
每支軍團
有五千之數，
每一千中
有一千三百，
每一百中，
每人都須算作四人。」
安甘提爾就此得知匈人大軍的情形。他派人奔赴四方，召集所有願意相助、又能持兵器作戰的人前來。他隨即率軍前往杜恩荒原，軍勢也極為浩大。匈人大軍迎面而來，兵力比他們多出一半。
第二天，雙方展開交戰，廝殺整整一日，傍晚各自退回軍營。他們就這樣打了八天，諸位首領仍安然無恙，卻沒有人知道究竟死了多少人。援軍日夜從四面八方湧向安甘提爾，最後他的人數竟不比起初少。戰鬥如今更加激烈。匈人奮戰不休，明白唯有獲勝才有活命的希望，向哥德人求饒也難有好下場。哥德人為抵禦匈人、保衛自由與故土而戰，因此堅守陣地，彼此激勵。當天稍晚，哥德人發起猛烈的攻勢，匈人的陣列為之動搖。安甘提爾看見這情形，便走出盾牆，直入敵軍陣前，手持提爾鋒，逢人斬人，遇馬殺馬。匈人諸王面前的盾牆就此破開，兄弟兩人揮劍互擊。赫洛德與胡姆利王都在那裡戰死，匈人隨即潰逃，哥德人追殺他們。……安甘提爾王隨後前去察看死者，找到了他的兄弟赫洛德。他於是吟道：

「兄弟，我曾給你
完整無缺的華服，
財富與許多珍寶，
任你盡情挑選；
如今你這場
戰爭的報償，
既無閃亮的臂環，
也沒有半點土地。

兄弟啊，我們遭了詛咒，
我竟成了殺你的人；
此事將永遠流傳；
諾恩的裁斷何其殘酷。」