《沃蘭德之歌》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."

少女們自南方飛來，
穿越幽暗的森林，
年輕的阿爾維特，
前去履行命運；
她們在海岸邊
坐下歇息，
這些南方的女子，
紡著珍貴的亞麻。

其中一位開始
將埃吉爾擁入
明亮的雙臂，
那人間的美麗少女；
另一位是斯萬赫維特，
身披天鵝羽衣，
而第三位，
她們的姊妹，
環抱沃蘭德
白皙的頸項。

此後他們相伴而居，
如此度過七個寒冬，
到了第八年，
她們整年心生渴望，
到了第九年，
迫不得已地分離；
少女們渴望前往
幽暗的森林，
年輕的阿爾維特，
前去履行命運。

那目光銳利的射手
打獵歸來，
［沃蘭德，走過
漫長的路途］，
斯拉格菲德與埃吉爾
發現廳堂空無一人，
進進出出，
四處張望；
埃吉爾向東疾行，
尋找厄爾倫，
斯拉格菲德則向南，
尋找斯萬赫維特。

唯獨沃蘭德
留在烏爾夫谷，
他錘打赤金，
鑲牢寶石，
將一串串環飾
好好串滿繩索；
他就這樣等待
自己白皙的
妻子，盼她
能夠歸來。

尼杜德聽聞此事，
他是尼亞爾人的君主，
聽說只有沃蘭德
留在烏爾夫谷；
武士們趁夜出發，
身披鉚釘鎧甲，
他們的盾牌
映著殘月閃光。

他們在廳堂山牆旁
跨下馬鞍，
從那裡走進去，
穿過整座廳堂；
他們看見樹皮繩上
串著環飾，
總共七百件，
全是那人的所有。

他們取下環飾，
又一一放回，
唯獨留下一件，
取走沒有放回。
那目光銳利的射手
打獵歸來，
沃蘭德，走過
漫長的路途。

他走去烤炙
棕母熊的肉，
不久，枝柴與乾透的松木
便燃燒起來，
那被風吹乾的木頭，
就在沃蘭德面前。

他坐在熊皮上，
清點環飾，
這位精靈之主
發現少了一件；
他以為是
赫洛德韋爾的女兒拿了，
年輕的阿爾維特，
以為她已經回來。

他坐了許久，
終於沉沉睡去，
醒來時卻
全無歡欣；
他發覺雙手
被沉重的束縛鎖住，
雙腳也被
鐐銬緊緊扣住。
沃蘭德說：

「是哪些君王，
把這些
樹皮繩索套上，
將我捆綁？」

這時尼杜德喊道，
這位尼亞爾人的君主：
「沃蘭德，
精靈的君王，
你在烏爾夫谷，
如何得到我們的金財？」
沃蘭德說：

「那裡的黃金
並不在格拉尼的路上，
我想我們的國土
遠離萊茵河的群山；
我記得我們曾有
更多珍寶，
當我們一家安好，
同在家中之時。

赫拉德古德與赫爾沃爾，
都是赫洛德韋爾所生；
睿智的厄爾倫，
則是基亞爾的女兒。」

［站在外頭的是睿智的
尼杜德之妻，］
她走了進來，
穿過整座廳堂，
站在廳堂地上，
壓低聲音說：
「從林中來的這人，
如今可沒有和善的神色。」
尼杜德王把從沃蘭德那裡的樹皮繩上取下的金環，送給女兒博德維爾德；他自己則佩帶沃蘭德的寶劍。王后說：

「他的雙眼
像那閃亮的蛇一般，
他齜牙露齒，
每逢人向他展示那把劍，
或是他認出
博德維爾德的金環；
你們割斷他
強健的筋腱，
再把他安置在
塞瓦爾斯塔德。」
於是他們照做，割斷他膝彎的筋腱，將他安置在近岸的一座小島上，名叫塞瓦爾斯塔德。他在那裡為國王打造各式珍寶。除了國王本人，沒有人敢去見他。

「尼杜德腰帶上
閃著光的寶劍，
是我磨利的，
盡我最精巧的技藝，
也是我淬硬的，
用我認為最好的方法；
那柄閃亮的劍，
永遠被帶離我身旁，
我看不見它再被送回
沃蘭德的鍛造坊。

如今博德維爾德
佩戴著我新娘的
——此恨我無望得償——
赤金環飾。」

他始終坐著，不曾入睡，
不停揮錘敲打；
他更一心為尼杜德
急急布下圈套。
兩個年輕人趕來，
要看那些珍寶，
那是尼杜德的兒子，
來到了塞瓦爾斯塔德。

他們來到箱子前，
索取鑰匙，
當他們向內窺看，
惡意便敞開了；
裡頭有許多項飾，
在那兩個少年眼裡，
盡是赤金
與珍寶。
沃蘭德說：

「只有你們兩人來，
明天再來；
我會把那些黃金
贈給你們；
別告訴侍女，
也別告訴廳堂裡的人，
別對任何人說，
你們來見過我。」

一大清早，
一個少年叫喚另一個，
兄弟相呼：
「我們去看金環吧！」
他們來到箱子前，
索取鑰匙，
當他們向內窺看，
惡意便敞開了。

他砍下
那兩個孩子的頭，
將他們的軀體埋在
風箱下的泥污裡；
那些原本藏在
頭髮底下的頭骨，
他在外頭包上白銀，
送給尼杜德。

他又將他們的眼睛
製成寶石，
送給尼杜德
睿智的妻子；
再拿那兩人的
牙齒，
打成胸前的圓飾，
送給博德維爾德。

這時博德維爾德
開始誇讚那金環，
—— —— ——
［把它帶給沃蘭德，］
那金環已被她弄斷：
「我不敢告訴別人，
只敢告訴你。」
沃蘭德說：

「我會這樣修補
黃金的裂口，
讓你的父親
覺得它更美，
讓你的母親
覺得它好上許多，
而在你自己看來，
也會同樣如此。」

他以啤酒灌醉她，
因為他的計謀更高明，
就這樣讓她在座位上
沉沉睡去。
「如今我已報復了
自己所受的一切苦痛，
只剩下一個
滿懷惡意的女人。」

「但願，」沃蘭德說，
「我能重新站在那雙腳上，
那雙被尼杜德的
武士奪去的腳。」
沃蘭德笑著
升上天空，
博德維爾德哭著
離開小島，
為情人的離去
與父親的怒火而悲傷。

站在外頭的是睿智的
尼杜德之妻，
她走了進來，
穿過整座廳堂，
——而他在廳牆旁
坐下歇息——：
「尼杜德，尼亞爾人的君主，
你醒著嗎？」
尼杜德說：

「我始終醒著，
全無歡欣，
自從兒子們死去，
我幾乎無法成眠；
我的頭陣陣發冷，
你的計策何其冷酷，
如今我只盼望
能與沃蘭德交談。

沃蘭德，告訴我，
精靈的君王，
我那些原本安好的孩子，
究竟遭遇了什麼？」
沃蘭德說：

「你得先向我
立下所有誓言，
對著船舷，
對著盾緣，
對著馬的肩胛，
對著劍刃，
發誓你不會折磨
沃蘭德的妻子，
也不會害死
我的新娘，
即使我娶了
你們所認識的女子，
或在你的廳堂裡
有了孩子。

走進鍛造坊，
就是你建起的那座，
你會在那裡找到
濺滿鮮血的風箱；
我砍下了
你那些孩子的頭，
將他們的軀體埋在
風箱下的泥污裡。

那些原本藏在
頭髮底下的頭骨，
我在外頭包上白銀，
送給尼杜德；
又將他們的眼睛
製成寶石，
送給尼杜德
睿智的妻子。

再拿那兩人的
牙齒，
打成胸前的圓飾，
送給博德維爾德；
如今博德維爾德
已經身懷六甲，
她是你們兩人的
獨生女兒。」
尼杜德說：

「你再也說不出
更令我悲痛的話，
也無法讓我更想
狠狠報復你，沃蘭德；
沒有人高得足以
將你從坐騎上拉下，
也沒有人強得足以
從下方將你射落，
當你高高懸在
雲端之時。」

沃蘭德笑著
升上天空，
只留下憂鬱的尼杜德
坐在原地。
尼杜德說：

「起來，薩克拉德，
我最好的奴僕，
去請博德維爾德，
那眉宇皎潔的少女，
身著美麗衣飾，
來與父親交談。

博德維爾德，這是真的嗎，
他們告訴我的事：
你曾與沃蘭德
一同待在島上？」
博德維爾德說：

「是真的，尼杜德，
你所聽說的事：
我曾與沃蘭德
一同待在島上，
度過那可怕的一刻，
那本不該發生；
我不知道如何
抵抗他，
我也沒有力量
抵抗他。」