The Rímur of Grettir

Eight rímur retelling the youth and early adventures of Grettir the Strong — his wild boyhood at Bjarg, the horse-flaying, the killing of Skeggi, the barrow-breaking at Háramsey, the berserkers and the bear, and his fight with Hjarrandi — drawn from a single vellum in Wolfenbüttel, the oldest rímur cycle based on Grettis saga.

Ríma I

Mansöngur and Grettir's youth at Bjarg

I cannot tell how the giant's gold
would wish to bid me shake
and wake the drink of Böðn's world;
better is another craft.

Once I thought myself the falcon's feast;
fate can turn against a man.
Since then I got a liar's lock —
long may that endure.

At last the fame is gone away
from the tree of Fáfnir's bridge;
therefore I look but little on foul deceit
and on long-laid cunning.

Why must fortune thus abandon
the breaker of the raven's branch?
Seize all the gladness away
and give him grief in return.

Grievously is the world corrupted;
I think that shall endure.
Many a man is led astray by wiles
and grants the serpent harm.

Let the tale begin anew there;
no one will attend to him.
Ásmundr set up a farm at Bjarg;
he broke stiff shields.

The spear-god held a great household;
he gained honour and glory.
To men the clear lawman seemed
the staves of the earth's resounding.

Men thought the gold-tree fierce
in battles, yet gentle;
he was known as most warlike
and held his people well.

Ásdís was the name of that wealth-woman
whom Ásmundr had won;
men thought her rich in kinsmen —
he gained much strength from that.

Atli was the name of a certain warrior,
their useful heir;
he was thought both gentle and fair,
faithful to the farmer in labour.

They had another son besides,
somewhat younger than the first;
Grettir ever caused men grief
when it came to battle-play.

Bold he seemed in boyhood,
ever in word and deed;
Ásmundr cared nothing for that lad,
the worthy gold-tree.

Long was he hard in temper,
yet he played many a trick;
in growing up he was not meek —
his mother loved Grettir.

His face was exceedingly fair,
his eyes lovely to look upon,
his hair red and very smooth
by wise men's reckoning.

The man had two precious daughters
and a wise quick-witted woman;
he married them to worthy men —
so the book tells within.

Bright at Bjarg there grew up
the breaker of the serpent's field;
he had gained fully sixteen
seasons of the serpent's fury.

Ásmundr spoke to Grettir thus:
'Be not slow to the task',
said the fellow, 'you must begin
to tend my homestead geese.'

The bold one answered with good wit,
clearly, with cunning speech:
'A small work and unmanly
it seems to me in all.'

The brave weapon-tree answered,
he who was keen with spears:
'Be faithful in this work;
more shall be given you then.'

He promised nothing for that:
'Little can I do.'
He went outside and glared about
and watched over his birds.

Fifty were they in the flock,
marvellously powerful and wide-ranging;
Grettir followed after them;
now the hours pass.

Hard it was for the lad to gather them;
each would seek its own way.
They seldom came home in one piece —
rather stiff the work proved.

The steel-god, as the text records,
grew weary of the labour;
the goslings would not settle,
and the fellow grew angry.

So it went that the wayward one
struck the birds to death.
Ásmundr was not gentle —
such things bring on hardship.

Ásmundr grew exceedingly wroth;
his wealth began to dwindle.
'Your fool has maimed the geese —
you do worse and worse.'

The weapon-tree then spoke a verse
and wished to explain it thus:
'I wrung the necks of each of them;
I cared but little for a single one.'

'You shall no longer thin their ranks,'
the shield-breaker spoke.
'Another task waits, and worse —
brave tree of swords.'

'Here one must dare to try',
the shaker of fair gloves said.
'More can be said of him
who is eager to attempt many things.'

The farmer said, when evening came
and the women were busy:
'The rascal shall stroke my back by the fire
with both his hands.'

'The weather has now grown foul,
you bold weapon-tree.'
'That is surely warm work for a man
and a wretched fellow's labour.'

Most often the fierce elm-god
got only chafing from the fire;
Fáfnir strokes his father's back
hard, and spared but little.

Here it came about that autumn took hold;
the fellow felt that well.
The champion woke from next to his clothes
and then called to the Woman.

'The sluggard must wisely
lay off the woollen sloth-skin.'
The breaker said the surf-fen's hero
egged him beyond his boyhood.

The fellow began to scratch himself;
he had been sitting near the fire.
'There is never any good in you —
you dawdle more than is proper.'

The wool-comber saw
no small thing standing there;
the fellow always brought trouble —
now things turn to mischief.

The heir let the comb run
down along the back;
the farmer leapt up exceedingly angry
and called to seize his heir.

Ásmundr seized a great staff
and aimed it straight at Grettir;
the fellow got nothing from it there —
I heard he dodged aside.

The wife came quickly to the men
and asked about this game.
Fáfnir answers swiftly:
'My father wants to burn me.'

'Sometimes grief comes from too much work
for the weakener of wound-giantesses;
the fellow thought the scratching fast —
would that he could make amends.'

The wife spoke to the gentle lad,
and blew away his anger:
'Is there no caution in you,
my good kinsman?'

Little was said of the father-and-son quarrel;
more would need to be told.
The bold one says that Grettir shall
tend to his horses.

'There is one mare,' the hero said,
and told of the dun one's nature.
'We call her Kengála;
she has many virtues.'

'Kengála is so weather-wise
she knows before a hard storm comes;
therefore worthy men of the district
hold her in high esteem.'

'She runs home early from the fields
and dreads the harshest weather;
heroes may then shut in the herd —
the storms do not fail to come.'

The ring-god answered gently,
he who bore the sword of wounds:
'Weather forecasts have been known, farmer,
to prove false sometimes.'

'Take care then of the weapon-clash
lest you wish to spoil many things;
whoever takes the mare's prediction —
it will prove ill.'

In this way their talk grew old;
the warriors were ill pleased.
I close the door of the song-hall;
I let the ríma fall.

Ríma II

The horse-flaying and the ball game at Vestrhóp

A choice of words in the verse-hall will not grow now,
since the bride of grace tends
to carve the empty swords of verse;
there will be few words for that.

The poet's gate with wisdom's might can grant honour;
that word has proved true before
from the famed reddener of the wave-bloom.

They bore before the ring-goddess a bitter omen;
it has spread through the world widely —
very slowly will this pass.

Let me tell a little from a small tale of the treasure-woman;
let us speak rather of the tough-haired one —
the breaker was bound to tend horses.

He drove the horses but got no rest, the worthy fellow;
the champion often bore cold feet;
Kengála always stood out till nightfall.

The wise serpent sits outside, not frightened;
Fáfnir was poorly clad;
fearfully was he wearied with cold.

The gentle lad, if things go this way, thinks:
the mare shall receive fitting payment —
right that he should do so.

One morning, the worthy lad, when it was very cold,
the clothes-land was then ruled by frost,
wisely he took a clever plan.

Into the stable came the hero, eager for courage;
Kengála stands before her stall —
sometimes he is known for trouble.

The ring-god stood gentle and fair always at her back;
I heard him draw the sharp knife —
he means to teach the mare a lesson.

He cut into her shoulders with the knife, where the hide is hardest;
away he flayed the skin from her back —
wounds began to bleed.

The waking one got from the worthy man a dreadful wound;
he flayed the back-strip in one piece,
all along the loin with the clean iron.

She burst away, as the farmer's child had wished, back from falling;
she bit then and struck at once —
the ring-god sprang to his feet.

Up the neck the steel-spoiler drove all the scabs;
the pale one bit no less where she was sore —
blood ran down from her nostrils.

The trickster who plays his tricks — he who bites the reed;
she will always bite at his back —
the farmer will learn of his heir.

A great fog rises while the cold bites, for it was very cold;
the whole herd came home to the house —
the fame of it will grow.

The trick-player shut the stable and brought the horses home;
the wife welcomes the fellow;
now talk begins between father and son.

The hero calmly asks about the horses: 'Tell me that, Woman';
Ögliir the wise in words answered:
'All are shut in the house within.'

'Shut in the herd,' said the ring-lord, 'and do not delay';
the mast-bender spoke of the sail's horses:
'The storm will now break upon us.'

The farmer's counsel, with the best deeds, the heroes keep;
the shield-breakers shut in their herds —
the cold night passes.

Fair was the weather that gladdens heroes, but the farmer's heir
was then late to his work;
the bold lad then took the horses.

Nearly four days pass in the hard frost;
the horses come home from the fields —
he always kept a strong watch.

Many a night the wise gold-one lets
the herd be shut in the house within;
but the storm never came at all.

The champion went with the javelin-god to his fellows;
now he wants to think about the work, Woman —
such things happen so for the good.

Rather harshly the Fenir-melter flings at his own:
'The flesh has gone from my horses;
I think it is by your doing.'

The worthy fellow goes very boldly to check the horses:
'The flesh will not fail on your back,
though you carry loads over most of the hills.'

The sword-god, I heard, bold and wise, felt anger;
the back-strip was gone from her —
the ring-god, I heard, looked upon it.

The spear-tree, exceedingly angry, spoke to Grettir:
'You must pay for this bold trick';
the trickster grinned and was silent.

The elm-god's wrath struck the young fellow;
the hero turns back to the house at once —
his wife welcomes the clear-eyed farmer.

'Tell me,' said the gold-goddess, 'sword-bender,
whether the work goes as it should
for the giver of red serpent-sand.'

He spoke a verse and wished to tell the wife:
'Things are no better with the trick-playing Woman;
the rascal shall do no more work.'

'Have that worthless fool,' said the spear-shaker,
'wisely given the worst treatment;
men may count that no harm.'

The boy stood by the spear-reddener and the gold-wife:
'Then let none blame the other —
let no work detain me.'

Time passes, and the leaf-tree is long ill-tempered;
men thought him tall and stout;
the Dragon grew marvellously strong.

I know now what the poet said of the giant-letters;
the spoiler of the serpent's seat
was then fully thirteen winters old.

Young men who were all gathered there planned games;
they went out onto the pale ice
and made the orphan-trees wander between them.

A troop of champions from Víðidalur and fair companies
head to the place called Vestrhóp;
all were merry for battle-play.

Atli was there with Ögliir
and other men besides;
warriors whet their sharp spears —
greater heroes could hardly be found.

Auðunn was the name of the man who fell before blades,
he who bore strength over all wise fellows —
all the lads in the ball-game.

The bold one surpassed the men there, where rumours spread;
he was many winters older than Grettir;
the warriors pressed against the hero's place.

Grettir had to play against the bold one, for he was eager for contests;
the fellows went together to tussle;
that one will roast the wolf's might.

The valiant one seized the bat and struck the ball;
it flew fiercely at Grettir —
it is said he was moved to anger.

The mighty man ran after it in his wrath;
the metal-tree seized the ball;
exceedingly quick was he in his movements.

I think it right, as you have heard, that the spite-knower
drove the ball square into his forehead;
blood fell from the orphan's brow.

Auðunn would have struck at Ögliir, for his temper was foul;
under the blow the other leapt;
most onlookers watched the match.

The wrestling match quickly grew fierce with furious might;
the strength was not spared —
Auðunn charged the ring-keeper.

The game was hard, little was spared by the sword-tree;
fiercely they began to grapple —
one of them must fall.

Long was the bout, but the Woman's heir had to fall at last,
exceedingly weary, the talk of Hafli —
I think Atli liked it little.

The bold one wished eagerly in battle to wound Grettir;
the breaker made the wound-seeder
part the heroes at once.

Bessi wished that the breakers of the rascal's crew
should all afterward be called reconciled;
the warriors made for home.

Let us name the one who wins valour and bites the rogue;
Þorkell Krafla is the warrior's name —
he holds the chieftaincy over the district.

The wolf-feeder rode to Bjarg with wise men;
the men held a strong feast there —
he wished eagerly to find his kinsman.

The horn-goddess gladdens the men with honour;
the warriors discuss their assembly-rides —
such things must be told in full.

'Let Atli,' says the cheerful elder, 'ride with the men;
the fellow may then wait at home —
he will grow famous far and wide.'

'Ögliir may,' said the spoiler then, 'with your charge
uphold the answers from my hand,'
said the giant-tale's lord, 'with his wisdom.'

The ring-god rode, gentle and bright, with the sword-wielder;
Þorkell was then eager for the road;
the famous kinsmen must part.

Þorkell rode the road that lay from the tree's harm;
the swift spear-bender had
sixty-one men with him.

A host of champions with courtly name came to the woods;
for two days the oak-like one wished
to ride with fair warriors.

The gain of the gods shall not grow long;
at Hellisfiti the heroes receive
wise grace and went to rest.

Ríma III

The killing of Skeggi and the voyage abroad

The tale must now be carried forth
as the hero rightly bade;
I fuss not over hateful verses —
there will be few words for that.

I shall not therefore sing love-songs
proudly before the ring-goddess,
for the keen wife of the rooster's Hlökk
will know but little thanks for it.

Speak this, you most worthy wife,
reckon your love-life well;
no one may see this love-song —
youth is mostly gone.

I care not for Venus' play;
the women can bring delight.
Rather let me tell of Grettir —
the warriors were given the craft of Iði.

He wakes, and the company of men,
and wished then to go looking
for his horses, to think on them —
how shall things prove for them?

The bold one found his garden cleared;
of that much harm may come.
Under the belly-straps the saddle he saw —
the fellow wished to reach the horses.

Then he set that saddle right;
now at once the brave man sees
the food-sack had been taken away;
that was heard about across the land.

He went at once to search
the long day over the earth of serpents.
Little would go his way —
then the fellow saw the horse run to.

'They call me Skeggi, the men do;
I have little quarrel with you.
I am one of Þorkell the farmer's thingmen —
I am not slow to battle.'

The sword-shaker said:
'I have got myself into a fix;
the fellow has a thin provision —
strangely did I part from my food.'

The serpent said it was an honour's breach:
'That may be called the worst;
my food is lost one way —
let that be watched another time.'

'Let us search together, the two of us';
the lords went far and wide.
The shield-tree looks about —
Skeggi leaps down into the hollows.

'Did you find anything, good companion?'
The spear-reddener answered thus:
'I shall take my mount and ride my horse;
my travel-provisions are found.'

'Set it down and let me see;
then we shall both look further,'
said the worthy tree of Gerðr.
'Many a thing may turn out otherwise.'

The breaker said the hero's words —
the men needed not that:
'I tell you straight, for all your chatter,
you shall have nothing of it here.'

Grettir went toward him then;
Skeggi cared not for that.
Here again they grappled close —
neither would yield to the other.

The shield-giantess — Skeggi seized;
warriors thought he would not flinch.
With both hands he hewed at the hero —
that shall profit him but little.

Ögliir seized the axe-shaft,
he who was keen in Högni's sweep;
mostly his countenance was grim,
and Skeggi was forced to let go.

Then strikes the gold-tree;
for the warriors, I think, peace diminished.
The axe cleft his skull clean through —
the other lay dead upon the ground.

He parted there from the foolish fellow;
he took the horse and the food-sack.
He rode then and found the men;
they asked him about Skeggi.

'A mountain-troll leapt at Skeggi;
he could not strike harder.
The giant sheared through the bold one's skull —
he lay then dead upon the field.'

'Strange was such a happening,'
the rich lord answered thus.
'It is hardly the trolls' habit
to take men so in broad daylight.'

'Other matters may be at work here,'
Þorkell the farmer answered.
'Grettir has long desired ill;
the bold one has cut short his life.'

The wise gold-god told the men
everything of how it went with them.
Þorkell was not at all displeased;
thus spoke the Yggr of treasure.

'I shall pay the compensation for the leaf-tree
and lay it down in full,'
the mast-bender said of Sófnir's vessel.
'But I cannot rule your outlawry.'

The splendid man rode to the assembly;
fame and honour surrounded him.
He paid the weregild for the ring-tree;
the rich farmer rode home.

Fáfnir was required, eager for trial,
to travel as an outlaw from the land
for barely less than three winters;
thus did the judgment fall.

Here one must tell of this besides:
the chieftains parted then.
Grettir lifted a worthy stone —
exceedingly great was that earth-bone.

Men praised the mighty fellow;
all then thought much of him.
The warriors went home after;
thus were they parted.

Hafliði was the name of a sword-god,
a farmer who seemed rather bright;
at Reyðarfell the warrior dwelt —
shields often gleamed before him.

In Hvítá's estuary Hafliði had
a ship with cargo loaded;
the tiller floated upon the ropes —
the helmsman wished to put to sea.

Ásmundr put Ögliir aboard the ship;
his manner was not gentle.
The champion got passage overseas —
he got no more from it than that.

Grettir now makes ready from Bjarg;
the ring-god sets out for the road.
Ögliir asked Ásmundr to give him
some weapon to hold.

The other said there was no need for that;
the warrior spoke against it.
Ugly the spear-tree called him;
then Grettir went his way.

Ásdís follows her heir;
the ring-goddess was grieved.
'Your journey is a poor one;
you carry nothing of my wealth.'

'I will give you Gilling's fire,
a shining cutter of Högni's cloak —
it never fails in a blow
if brave champions wield it.'

'Before, the spear-tree bore it,
he who laid warriors in the earth —
Jökull the bold, your kinsman.
There is no better blade to bear.'

Grettir took the sword then gladly;
he said it was much to his liking.
'This is better than mere praise.'
Gently he thanks his mother.

The swan parts from the lad in sorrow,
the gold-tree, fair and true.
The weapon-reddener visits home;
he turns from there to the south of the heath.

Hafliði welcomes the ring-tree;
they bore themselves out to sea.
The lords put at once to sail;
they drove the ship out to open water.

Under the boat the ring-tree
settled himself and lay down;
the warrior would do no service at all —
that was a wonder to the men.

Barðr was the name of a lad aboard,
the best of the crewmen.
He had a fair wife —
none was more beautiful than she.

The men sailed out past Fles
and south past Reykjanes;
the sea-beast grows while the fair current
ran swiftly east along the land.

Still the ocean-stag grew;
none thought the journey slow.
The keel cuts the dark waves —
the champions saw land nowhere.

Next they got a hard gale;
things were not smooth for the men.
Most of the oars stood in the east —
the men had to use their hands.

The ship leaked and the weather was wet;
the folk were sorely tried.
The headwind would not ease —
this goes on for several days.

The men endured Fáfnir's presence;
most of them asked him to show his strength.
'Champion, you think yourself exceedingly bold —
prove now your seamanship.'

Grettir answered and glared about:
'That may well be said,
though cripples' fingers be cramped.'
He threw the verse-barb at them.

The Easterners grew angry at that:
'Is it better for you to stroke the belly
of Barðr's wife, you tree of wiles,
and kiss her with little honour?'

Hafliði spoke to Grettir gladly:
'Go to the bilge, man,
before the sea-serpent sinks.'
The fellow was quick to that.

The men ask what work to do;
there was no great debate then.
'Bail, you tree of spears!'
The fellow went down to the bilge.

The men sent a stalwart fellow
to try his strength against him.
This worthy spear-reddener
came from the bailing exhausted.

Next they sent two warriors;
I heard they were worn out.
Then four went together —
most of them were vigorous men.

The men fell away from the bailing;
he finished with each the same way.
The storm-spoiler bails out the sea —
their bailing was all done.

Next came a fair wind;
the ship then stood hardly still.
They sailed gladly through the herring-sea;
there was good accord among them.

The men praised the Dragon most;
he proved best in the trials.
At Sunnmæri the company arrived;
they saw an island before the prow.

The men got a fierce gale;
the storm-sheets began to swell.
The mist was dark and the skerries many —
the ship was about to founder there.

The folk were not then cheerful;
all got into the boat.
They floated quickly from the fishing-vessel;
they gained the mercy of land.

The fellows headed south to land;
Seljuey was the resting-place.
Take your goddess-song, you warriors —
I mean to go from here.

Ríma IV

Kár's barrow in Háramsey

I cannot bring the ring-goddess
the rascal's oak more gently;
my fame's grain has grown hard —
what use is such lamenting?

Once I got some share of learning
in my early youth;
the grimmest giantess-nature
has seized it with her malice.

I am become a stay-at-home;
sorrow calls upon me.
Therefore the finest, proudest women
are repelled by me altogether.

Venus gave the one thing
to the spoiler of the wave-runners;
brides win a better prize
from the gentle world's women.

It should not be wondered at
by the spoiler of the saddle's talk,
though honoured men and rich courtiers
hate an old fellow.

Even if the people try hard
to trick the leaf-tree,
none should on the orphan's account
distress himself for that.

The wise and bold one may think on this:
the shaker of the sea's bridge —
that the highest lord of bells
makes all men equal.

There shall Dáinn's fair vessel
be brought to fame's place.
Now Grettir the mighty man
had come to Háramsey.

Þorfinnr owned a tree of gold;
gently he held his warriors.
The champion had a worthy farm;
he ruled the island long.

The worthy one bids Grettir home;
he arranges the treasure-strands.
But little passed between them —
he wished to do small work.

Formerly his father Kár lived there;
he laid warriors under earth.
Grettir was prone to men's mischief;
now the hours pass.

The spoiler wandered through the island
to learn of Ónarr's maid and fire.
Grettir always went about the island,
eager for the smithy.

A certain farmer lived nearby;
men called him Auðunn.
At Vindheimar there was a wretched farm —
he was there all the days.

I shall tell of what caused complaint
between those warriors.
The fellow came home late there;
men sat before the tables.

One evening as the serpent sat
thinking to run home,
he spied a fire by the salmon-ridge,
set burning on the headland.

Grettir asked Auðunn about
the great danger of the fire.
'Give no thought to it, warrior;
go home in peace.'

Ögliir said he would rather think —
'Under the roots of mischief
one might find Fenir's gold
fair in our land.'

'There stands tall upon the headland the barrow;
Hárekr is nowhere nearby.
I guess old Kár dwells within,
he who practised sorcery.'

Auðunn said that no man
would seek that place.
Even though men have it in mind,
he cares for the ring-company.

'Kár (as I told you before) had
one farm to rule.',
The fierce sorcery-storm of his
brought warriors into danger.

'The sorcerer went again and killed men —
the foul creature of spells.
The men got a loss of wealth
from that evil ring-tree.'

'Greater now is the vision for men,'
said the sword-bender of the hags.
'He has laid all Óðinn's wife
under his power.'

'And yet, late though the men of Þorfinnr,
the wise, come to the land,
the wretch works no harm to any;
all are in peace.'

'I shall visit the hard ghost
who grips the earth's swelling;
both of us shall go to the villain's mound
and break it down to the ground.'

Auðunn begs him not to go further,
the flinger of the brow-fire:
'Þorfinnr will think it a shame to the warriors
for this deed.'

Grettir said he cared little for that,
eager for fair deeds.
'Come when night has fallen
and both of us to the barrow.'

They met at the morning's day
and remembered their words.
Grettir then got the earth's sword
and now sets about the mound.

He digs long in the green earth;
there was stone beneath, wide.
Faithfully he cleared away turf and soil;
now the day begins to pass.

Bravely the giver of hard brooches
laboured at the wonder.
The champion wished, though night had come,
boldly to enter the barrow.

Auðunn begs him not to go further,
the flinger of the burial-slopes:
'Do not enter the sorcery-hall;
wait properly until morning.'

'You, fellow, wise and strong,
shall sit and hold the rope.
I am eager to find Kár;
full well he treats his guests.'

Into the sorcery-school he desired;
eager to seek the ring.
He found a great corpse on the seat;
the stench was foul in the mound.

He groped about the pale one then,
the one who knew every trick.
So dark it was that he could not see —
the tree of verse, not at all.

The hero went far through the mound
beside the hateful sword-dweller.
Then he found a great horse-bone
and a heap of gold.

He brought to the rope the ring-rafter,
the bright Draupnir's company.
He goes back at once to the ghost
and boldly went to search.

The champion found a great chest;
Kár stood upon it.
Grettir set about seizing it;
the fierce one opposed the spear-encounter.

He means at once to carry it away,
the breaker of hard shields.
First the champion must come to a trial
and feel the stronger hands.

Then was Grettir gripped with grim hostility
hard by the ghost;
the warrior had to wrestle back —
the tumult grew in the mound.

Fearsome was that wrestling match;
the assault went on so long.
The strength was not spared;
most everything was overturned.

He tore the champion's flesh wide;
it tends rather to bruise.
The barrow-dweller sinks deep in the earth;
the game began to grow grim.

Grettir had that stone of thought;
he could be frightened by nothing.
Then Kár, across the clear one's bone,
fell down horribly.

Great was the noise to hear then;
the mound-dweller had fallen.
Auðunn runs from the rope
and fled as fast as he could.

The warrior lies in the wreckage;
eager was he for battle.
The gold-candle — the hero drew the blade
and let it strike across his neck.

The sword sang loudly in his neck;
the blade served the giantess.
The skull he took then from him
and laid it back at his feet.

He brought to the rope the wave-head,
the dark-coloured treasure.
He found quickly that the farmer had fled
away from the rope.

The fellow came up from the mound,
hauling the hard rope;
he floated with him Fáfnir's hoard —
the bold tree was hard.

The warrior came to Þorfinnr's home;
there the farmer sat at table.
There was no warmth between them;
the farmer was surly in words.

The spoiler let the talk of Iði
fall upon the table —
dark-coloured treasure, a choice of wealth —
one may not call it little.

The other brightened, the surf-shelter,
when he saw what stood on the table:
'Whence comes this fair treasure
that you bring us into our hands?'

Answered the one who seemed pale,
he who was hard in trials:
'Your father, the fiend Kár,
filled it in his barrow.'

Then he took the one sword
that the fellow got from the giantess;
nothing better was ever borne —
he laid it on the table before Þorfinnr.

He spoke a verse and turned thus
to the giver of golden brooches:
'Never, if I owned it,
should it pass from our hands.'

'You shall not have my heirloom,'
the farmer answered to this.
'Not until I test your valour,
warrior, at the point-mass.'

'No one knows who may need what
when the hours pass.'
The farmer kept the rings then
and the fair sword besides.

The stiff warrior went to his seat
and drank but little.
He was then more esteemed by men
and spoke little to the warriors.

Next, one must tell of this
(if the fellow were not prevented):
in Eilífsfjörðr, a worthy farm
the farmer had, another one.

There the fellow wished to drink Yule;
precious he held his warriors.
The fellow let a vessel be placed
on the herring-ground for a journey.

Thirty men the farmer had;
the guests were all invited.
His wife kept bright at home
and her fair daughter.

Grettir stayed with the gold-woman
and did little of use.
The woman had five and three
bold men for labour.

The farmer kept himself abroad, glad;
soon trouble shall increase.
The warriors let the swimming serpent
glide in to land.

The fellow offered the horn's flood
to the warrior-host with splendour.
The feast stood magnificently before them;
therefore he was glad with his people.

Þorfinnr gave, gentle and fierce,
the warriors the surf of the sea.
I think the lynx-ship of the heath
comes apart in time.

Ríma V

The berserkers at Háramsey

Grief delays me early and late;
that is most to be expected.
The orchard's slope is not built
up from ancient timbers.

It was before that I could rather win
the favour of precious men;
now it is a hard fire of spite
that the men lay upon me.

Honour and might fall away from those
whom the serpent-fields shun;
now have I been in long exile
for a great many seasons.

Warriors raised the weapon-clash
and overturned the silk-grounds;
the linden-shield and linden's roof
have long come upon them.

The world deals unevenly with men;
that has stood so long.
I find rightly that the men's wisdom
and company fades from me.

I have no verse here
in Gneipar's wind.
Let us tell that Grettir was
beside the bed's linden.

Out went the one who fashioned
the sacrifice of the giantess;
he saw a fair sea-raven
sailing in towards land.

The fellow looked upon Hæking's land;
he wishes to wait outside.
There were shields stacked along the sides —
the ship was painted far and wide.

They ran the ship to land
and rowed in to the boathouse.
Sturdy men, twelve of them, leapt ashore —
I count them all as brave.

They broke open the boathouse and bore out
the farmer's fine cargo-boat;
they took the ship from the fishing-ground
and brought it inside thereafter.

The serpent walks down to the shore
and greets the mighty men.
He asked at once who was before them:
'I have seen no men like these.'

'Þórir I am, known among warriors;
most men call me Paunch.
I have long borne bloody hands
where heroes had to fall.'

'Ögmundr is my companion, tall;
he fears but little.
We have no lack of berserker-fury;
we never shrink from battle.'

'Is the farmer at home here?
We would find him.
He would have much evil from me
if that could be accomplished.'

The hero went away with the men.
'There are rather few people.
Our wife is alone here now
with a young maiden.'

'We shall sit together over Yule;
I will arrange that for the men.
There is no lack of serpent's ground
nor of anything else you desire.'

'Fortune shall honour you most
though men would forbid it.
Champions may now choose in most things —
come home to the maiden.'

They went to the farm
and came in to visit.
They were not welcome —
the women sat in the hall.

The wave-lord bids the treasure-adorned one
follow his will:
'Noble one, you shall twist the earth's thread
and receive your guests.'

'Brothers redden the wound-shaft
and threaten many with terror.
Þórir the farmer and these twelve
have forced themselves upon us.'

The wife at once, with grief,
answered the wise fellow:
'I know no worse men
in all of Norway.'

'Honourable woman, think on this,
on what fortune may provide.
He offers himself in the farmer's place —
you must not refuse.'

'Be cheerful in Gríðr's vessel;
fortune will lift you up.
Ögmundr would fold your maid
in his arms' embrace.'

Anguish bit the noble wife;
the virtuous woman answered:
'Sooner would I lose my life
than yield to foul thieves.'

'Malice drives you to such words;
that is far from truth.
The farmer gave you freedom this winter,
just as to a free man.'

'Do not vex the gold-breaker;
the tale is of the giant's saga.
Rather let us meet the guests
and give them all honour.'

'Clever words are no use now,'
said the spoiler of the burial-streets.
He took weapons and clothes from the men
and wished to guard them himself.

He set the men in their seats;
he knows how to be pleasant.
The women rushed forward then —
most of them began to weep.

The champion lets food and ale
come to the table for the warriors.
There is plenty of provision;
hardly is there want of fare.

Nothing was lacking for the heroes;
he bore them great horns.
The gluttons began to swallow hard —
truly they were thirsty.

Grettir alone was near the battle
and made them all merry.
When the ale takes hold of men,
they begin to carry on wildly.

The warriors drank far into the night;
most of them went visiting.
The wretches began to bellow loud
and would not sit still.

The ground-gallows of warriors asked,
eager for dangerous sport:
'Will you visit bed, farmer?
The women shall be at your mercy.'

The pale one spoke of foul deeds,
thinking most he could handle:
'You shall take charge of the men;
that will most likely serve.'

He goes forth and calls aloud
the grounds of gold:
'Those who wish to talk to men
may pause here a while.'

The ring-goddesses then took up
their sorrowful lament.
Grettir goes out with them
and now raises much dispute.

Grettir speaks to the spear-god,
grim his frenzy seemed:
'I shall show you silver and gold,
holy weapons and fine clothes.'

The champions found the clothes-store;
keen they were for battle.
One can see the rock-wall there —
hard it is to climb.

He opened it up and let them in;
there was great sport among the warriors.
They looked at furs and skins
set with precious stones.

They had light and looked about,
unlocking many chests.
Enough there seemed of robber's treasure
for these proud rascals.

Grettir shuts the gate again
and made it fast thereafter.
He came to the farmhouse with the javelin-swift
and calls the fair maiden.

'Woman, bring the good weapons —
war-bright things convene.
I shall wake the vikings' blood;
here are the makings of a hunt.'

The wife said that by the farmer's bed
there lay a byrnie,
and that fair ring of buckles —
'before, you wished to accept it.'

'Take then the hooked spear swiftly,
champion, keen at edge-play.
Kár's barrow-spear he had —
it bites best of all.'

The champion seized the hooked spear
and the Kjalnes hall-bracket.
Next he took the Sólli's sweep
and set it on the sea-ledge.

He was eager for the weapon-clash;
he goes outside at once.
'The Hálogalanders shall reap shame
inside our house.'

The warriors thought Grettir slow
and turned to force the door.
But a lock was upon the clean house —
'The fellow would betray us!'

The berserkers fought their way out hard;
they bore a fierce resolve.
They charged until the door burst open —
easy then was the way out.

That may bring the men grief
if they keep their lives.
The berserker-fury quickly seized them —
it rules with evil deeds.

They went out and howled;
it echoed in the high mountains.
Þórir came forth to fight first
of all his companions.

He drove the barbed spear at Þórir
with the swiftest stroke.
The point went right through his back —
just as the hook's measure fit.

Yet Þórir did not yield;
that one may call a hero.
The point leapt into Ögmundr's belly —
another dead man falls.

Those who remained leapt from the storm,
each as he could.
Grettir charged the warriors
and gave them great blows.

The great champions he seizes;
they knew how to strike hard.
They laid mightily upon Grettir
and eagerly wished to wound him.

The fellow then draws his blade;
he struck at them a long while.
It bites just as though it sliced through snow;
wounds fall upon the warriors.

Two berserkers in the farmyard
the oak-tree felled.
The blade does not seem blunt —
he struck the heads from them.

Blood of wounds runs upon the heroes;
they may be called bloody men.
Four warriors came forth
and went to attack Grettir.

The warriors showed great courage;
they ran forth in haste.
As soon as the Hálogalanders faced him,
the others shrank back.

Sefring strikes, and the assault grows;
he wounded brave warriors.
Fáfnir had now felled six;
the others fled to the boathouse.

Grettir goes after them all the more;
he now presses the attack.
Into the boathouse all of them
must retreat.

They could exchange blows there;
the will was not lacking.
It is best thought that Báleygr's kin
should beg for quarter.

Ríma VI

The burning of the berserkers

The rascal's strand-ship, Bilir's elk,
shall be brought over the lands' abyss;
it is unsure whether it floats above —
no way is it of use.

Sorrow has come near to me;
I am not fit for the task
of praising any noble woman;
old age harms the spear-reddener.

There is no lie about the spirit's torment;
my words must turn away.
As soon as the giantess-storm arrives,
the spear's Sjöfn holds the hand-goddess.

That is more to be thought about;
I shall never turn from there.
Honoured men once held me high —
sorrow's tendrils increase the strife.

The serpent fell for the fifth time;
Fáfnir got into the boathouse.
With arms they guarded the outer walls;
they give no small blows.

The spoiler alone attacked the six,
the wondrous bold serpent-stream;
they gave him great blows —
the champion never retreated.

So it went that two more fell,
doomed in either way.
Four warriors got outside —
they will get greater grief later.

Grettir runs after the wretches;
the sea-beast wishes to redden its teeth.
Into the corn-barn two of them got;
the champion killed them with a sharp spear.

He could not search any longer;
the cunning man goes to prayer.
It was so dark that the tree of verse
could see nothing.

He went to the door, the spear-reddener;
the bold one was exceedingly weary.
The wife then came to meet him
and greeted the brave warrior.

'Welcome shall you be among us,'
the treasure-goddess spoke thus.
'You who freed me from foul shame —
I shall reward you with honour.'

'Uneven is fortune for many an age;
you said something different earlier tonight.'
'Better now is the bride's state,'
the fair woman smiled at that.

Then spoke the swan, glad:
'Truly you are a man of fame;
all shall be yours here —
whatever I can offer you.'

They go in and make themselves merry;
the warrior drank far into the night.
The whole household went and slept;
he did not take his clothes off.

Then came that victorious night;
they sent messengers swiftly across the island.
Enough men came there —
the vikings must be sought.

They found ten against the earth-bone
who had gained death's harm.
The serpent reddened the wound-shaft —
he had felled all twelve.

They bore away to the sea's brink
— his fame was widely heard —
the berserkers' cursèd corpses;
their bodies lie all by the sea.

The fellow sat there, near the wife;
she was dear to the warrior.
Well shall his service be repaid;
the people thought him chosen in peace.

That shall be told to Þorfinnr;
to the warriors he gave the craft of Iði.
When the feast had passed for the men,
he set out on his ship.

The warriors drew the sail to the yard;
they sailed as quickly as they could.
The cargo-ship across the rough deep
bore them swiftly home to the boathouse.

Þorfinnr went ashore at once;
the warrior sees where there lies upon the sand
his fine ship of battle.
The hero goes up to the boathouse.

The farmer recognised his brothers' ship;
at once he was seized with anger.
Anguish bit the wealth-tree —
he could not speak for a long while.

Þorfinnr spoke what seemed a foreboding:
'We have gained much shame.
The berserkers have shamed my wife —
better to have lost my life.'

'Rather few were at home, I think;
I think things are not cheerful for them.
Grettir will give them little aid,
I'm afraid — much was needed.'

The wife shall tell of things from there;
she wishes to come down to the shore.
The Dragon has delayed this a while;
the lady speaks to the wealth-tree.

'The cunning man allowed us, the beloved,
to find the steel-river.
His mind shall be upon the ring-bride.'
The hero bade her lead the way.

The men go with the ring-goddess
and her daughter down to see.
As soon as the farmer saw his bride,
then he brightened in his countenance.

That may be called a joyful find;
the folk sat down upon the ground.
The treasure-adorned one, with worthy custom,
told everything of their situation.

'We owe Grettir the greatest thanks;
do not let the bold one rest.
Honour the one who rules the battles;
the flood's fire shall be given him.'

The shield-breaker asked the buckle-goddess
where Grettir was.
'The champion sits at home in peace;
the fellow is swift and wise.'

The warrior and the woman entered the hall;
Grettir turns to meet them.
The farmer welcomes the steel-changer;
gently then he began to speak.

'Never can I thank you enough
for this virtue you have shown me,
unless you should have need of men —
I shall give you trust and aid.'

To Þorfinnr the warrior was dearest;
therefore he sat always nearest the farmer.
This fame flies far and wide —
what a man of renown Grettir is.

Still when it is the serpent's strife outside,
the serpent asked the champion gently:
'What will the warrior decide?
I shall see to your needs.'

The fellow said it was his wish
to sail north to Vogi first —
'Hither I shall come at harvest.'
The other said he would provide for him.

He gave him silver enough,
the one keen with spear-play.
He gave the good sword Sefring;
then they set out to sea.

The warriors let the sea-hound
run north through the herring-grounds.
The men came to Vogi by day;
an assembly was being held there.

There one could see many a man;
the throng came and found Grettir.
For the victory that the fellow won,
all companies honoured him.

Rich men bade the warrior home;
he would not ride with any of them.
The victor wished to go south in the land,
he who was keen at the sword's mischief.

In a cargo-ship he got passage;
Þorkell was very rich.
The warrior owned that vessel
which had been in the spear-storm before.

In Hálogaland the fellow stayed;
he spared neither ale nor food.
In Saltre there the farmer dwelt;
the settlement stands near the sea.

Grettir went with the warriors together;
it grew fond between them.
The fellow asked the Dragon at once
to stay with him the winter's night.

Grettir was bound by this need
to the ring-prince, as the warrior asked.
Decently the brave fellow behaved;
the companies were given Fenir's gold.

Björn was the name of one with the farmer;
his mother had borne a steed-boy.
The warrior was of good family,
yet he often quarrelled with people.

Þorkell supported the warrior's honour,
though he was disliked by many.
The serpent began to envy him greatly;
he always laid some fault on all.

He made a commotion outside at night;
the warriors got no benefit.
There were many young men there;
all still followed Björn.

Their noise the fellow heard;
it rang exceedingly wide over ground and mountain.
A certain cave-bear woke at that;
he shall give them little peace.

That one went far through the districts;
to the heroes it dealt great harm.
He had become so fierce and mad
that no one dared come near.

The beast killed men and herds;
that was not a pleasant deed.
To drive him from his den was
no task for the Hálogalanders.

Þorkell's buildings the bear destroyed;
the shelters were not trustworthy.
He got enough of Njörðr's wife —
that is surely to be expected.

Þorkell seeks the bear's den;
the breakers found the serpent's shelter
in a cave set among cliffs —
it is not good to seek him there.

A narrow path led up;
it was terribly far to look down.
The scree beneath was vast —
the metal-god thought it impassable.

The beast lay inside by day;
mostly it was his habit
to come out when evening falls —
many a living creature he kills.

Þorkell got the most harm;
many count him the bravest of champions.
The farmhands could complain —
Grettir was silent throughout.

'Warriors ought to carry themselves well,'
Björn said he would counsel in hell.
'Your peace will be swift
if you first fight the namesake.'

The serpent grinned at the warrior's words;
it is best thought that the host of Þekkr's
tooth-fortress's Týr and Nil depart —
let whoever will take the beast on.

Ríma VII

The bear and the killing of Björn

Now shall the miser's speech-horse be brought to men;
the sorrow-snare grows upon the warriors
who make themselves dear to a wise lady.

The peace-gods could turn together the tale's thread;
nothing unworthy endures well,
though patience last a certain while.

I left off where the warriors argued about the beast;
the men began to grow angry —
Björn did not go to bed.

He went away, and the heroes sat at their table eating;
the enjoyer sent the serpent-band
to visit his namesake's dwelling.

He lay down by the den, the sword-tree, as shield-bearer;
so I heard, the worthy warrior
eagerly wished to betray his friend.

He let little show of himself, the branch-spoiler;
Björn then plots to harm the bear —
he goes away as was his custom.

The beast knew that the man was near him;
he will know how to look to himself.
I heard that the champion was asleep.

Rightly he rushed out to test the sword-breaker;
he snatches from him Hrungnir's bane —
the other then leaps to his feet.

The shield broke against the broad cliff at the breakers' edge;
the cunning fellow set off running —
the lad, I think, dreads the fright.

He goes home with an ill game to his men;
the heroes found him out —
he was jeered at nonetheless.

Farmer Þorkell readies himself now to kill the bear;
eight were the bold ones with him —
they all carry wound-lindens.

Björn and Grettir both follow the spike-fighter;
the heroes went to the bear's den —
I think the bear hurt but little.

The warrior who dropped his feldr — he is far from the rout;
it was a wonder that the fellow attacked the beast —
exceedingly great was the dread of him.

No weapon could touch him save the keenest of spears;
it went ill for the wealth-enjoyers —
he kicked the weapons away with his feet.

Björn began to goad the men as though he were mad:
'The heroes will not get a better chance' —
yet he himself came nowhere near the bear.

Grettir seized his feldr and flung it from his hand;
the fellow sent it right into the den —
the blade was that girdle's vendor.

The men could not conquer the laid-down wonder;
the breakers of Fjörnir's giantesses
must find more stratagems.

Fáfnir lost his feldr, though fame is kind;
the hero sees it lying in the biding —
the fierce bear played on it.

'Who, you glad ones, has mocked me, the dread-verse,
by flinging my feldr to the bear?
Little indeed comes of this.'

Björn answered, who seldom seemed to help in tales:
'I do not care to argue about that —
you yourself would not guard it.'

Quickly the heroes went home to the farm;
the serpent then stayed behind —
that bear-like one wishes to cause trouble.

As soon as no folk could be seen, the branch-spoiler
draws his sword, the shield-breaker —
now comes the chance to use one's hands.

The treasure-spoiler went up the narrow path;
the breaker heard the bear growling —
the bear began to roar aloud.

The hound leapt with spite and fury at Grettir;
the blow at once with his paws he set —
the other thrust the sword to meet it.

The rogue shoved the paw away from the den-lord;
truly he had to suffer a wound —
he now lies dear upon the ground.

The serpent leaps into the beast's embrace with fierce fury;
I heard he reached the grips —
he took its ears with both hands.

He held the bear away from himself, for it bit hard;
the weapon-tree, accustomed to battle,
knew not what scheme to use.

The beast pressed hard on the one who wrought deeds;
they both cried out beneath the cliff —
little mercy was given them.

The serpent gains the upper hand as men must fight;
the blade shall repay the fellows —
the bender drew that serpent-street.

Then he shot the bear in the breast with the byrnie-giantess;
the beast fell dead by his hand —
the fellow laid the feldr over himself.

The keeper then went home to the farm of the heath-bridge;
the warriors then sat drinking —
the Dragon went into the hall.

He went before the table where the warriors sat, the wise one;
the men laughed at the feldr's tatters —
the feldr hung upon the hero, sharp as ever.

He lays on the table what he had brushed from the foot of the beast;
the worthy farmer grinned at that —
he always judged the serpent's-street.

'Where is Björn now?' said the breaker of bright verse.
'I did not see your blade bite —
you shall not learn that from Grettir.'

'Rather show Grettir honour for such gallantry';
the giver of Viðrir's bridge answered:
'We shall please him later.'

The fellow spoke to the Dragon in his generosity:
'I shall help with your honour;
do not take revenge on my kinsman.'

'I shall pay you weregild for the woman's harm;
the settlement might then stand.
I would wish, fellow, to ward off trouble.'

'In a better place may the worthy farmer exchange his wealth,'
Björn answered, that rogue of honour.
'Sadly then goes the red coin.'

'First we two shall redden the spears of the earth's wagons;
nothing else shall be offered him' —
the barley-glow spoke to the end.

Grettir began to grin at what the warrior said;
the steel point can bite them.
Björn now deems the fellow foolish.

'The serpent shall not cause grief to the malice-eager
while you are both in my house;
the mead shall be poured to you from bowls.'

The warrior wished to agree to this, the tree of shields;
he will keep his word well.
'Yet this may be settled later.'

The other says he shall not be afraid of the fellow:
'Though you grant the garden-goddess,
I mean to go my way.'

Spring comes, and the serpent wishes to head to Vogi;
the plank bores the pale wave —
the wave-born knew how to fold.

The giver lingers in Vogi northward, Vignir's storm;
the champion found bold companions
who could offer him honour.

Then he wished south to the land, as shall be told;
the cargo-ship was ready for the road —
the wind then began to strain the ropes.

The champion gives cups of wave-embers;
the headwind was fair in course.
He went south past Þrándheim's memory.

The warriors reached a good harbour called Göltur;
the companies of men went ashore —
the lords were all content.

The champions see a merchant-ship there coming to land;
the wind is sharp, blowing on the sails —
the men drove their spear into the sand.

The warriors step ashore first, as they asked each other;
the men bore helm and serpent —
each side asked the other its news.

The warrior looked and saw Björn in their company;
he did not think him at all timid —
yet there was no fondness in him.

Grettir speaks to Björn at once: 'Prepare yourself for battle;
one of us must fall —
let neither shirk the contest.'

Björn said he would rather mend his ways;
the fellow then began to recount his charges:
'I will now avenge your every insult.'

'Warriors have not been kind to me,' Grettir said;
'Now the byrnie-giantess shall bite.'
Björn seized his weapons in short order.

Then the warriors rush at each other and swing their swords;
the blows need no bidding —
the blade began to wound Björn.

The fellow takes dreadful wounds at every stroke;
blood reddened the wound-rivers —
Björn fell dead to the ground.

The bender went then south to Mæri, to Sefring's lands;
Þorfinnr came at once to hand —
gently he received the spoiler of brands.

The giver told of Viðrir's tent the slaying of Björn;
the flinger of Fáfnir's pools answered:
'I shall gladly give you my support.'

'I shall not part from the blade's din-sender
even though men send the spear,
until the case has left my hands.'

Now sat the guardian of Norway north in the land;
he was generous with the woman's gold —
yet many suffered from it.

There sat, proud and mighty, at Steinker
Jarl Sveinn, who wielded the brand;
gently he held his companies.

The mighty ruler wished to keep this henchman;
men may know Hjarrandi —
he will never shrink from battle.

Men thought him exceedingly eager for the wave-paths;
Hjarrandi was Björn's brother —
the brothers seemed not good.

Þorfinnr sends the king a summons, the warrior who holds
to come to him; thus he causes —
wisely, I think, one of them pays.

They come glad before the prince's court with bold warriors;
the shaker parts the string of song —
I think few shall mend what is broken.

Ríma VIII

The fight with Hjarrandi and return to Iceland

Vignir's cask from wisdom's wood
I would bring to men.
It goes crookedly and goes slowly
to nourish Glapsvið's cargo.

A love-song's hat around the treasure-gate
I cannot now forge.
In my lineage the norn has set
the arrow of bitter sorrow.

What shall Baldr, the toppled power,
the heath-stream's harmer, say in verse —
love-words for the treasure-adorned one —
to the fair and wise master?

There broke the verse — the good farmer
and the hero together
visited the jarl, and the heath's bench
warriors summoned from within.

On the appointed day with proud custom
the ruler set the case before the law.
Hjarrandi was with the prince there;
harshly, I heard, he spoke.

He will not — and he said no —
accept any settlement.
'Before the strife is ended,
Grettir shall lie in hell.'

From the assembly goes the strong warrior;
that one will court danger.
The worthy one, at Þorfinnr's prayer,
shall now hold his place in the land.

Arnbjörn shall with the valiant fellow
always be on guard outside.
'Hjarrandi will, as I suspect,
betray the brave man.'

Two warriors went before the yard-gate,
champions out in the street.
From six men — and the storm grows —
I think they met with blows.

The one who longed for strife,
Grettir, always advanced first.
Arnbjörn thrust — and it is true —
a warrior away from him.

Hjarrandi leapt forward
and hewed at once at the hero.
On the shoulder-blade the blow fell —
he had to suffer a wound.

The wound-river no less
ran down into the street.
The blade turned, and the wound healed —
he turned back then.

The rogue strikes with valiant might —
the hand off the jarl's man.
The warrior-host with the byrnie's wash
fought at once with all their strength.

Grettir lets the worthy men
know Gilling's fire.
Arnbjörn too, and the other warrior —
the spear-contest grows.

There fell upon the ground in spear-murder
four of the jarl's champions.
Verse was broken and bodies carved —
Sorli's contests faltered.

The fifth was he who bore the brand,
Björn's life-guard, the strong one.
The famous and cunning warrior
received death's mark.

The sixth ran and found a landing;
the bender of the precious runners.
He made that worthy man
tell him everything.

The anger swelled in the rich lord
at the warriors' fall.
He set an assembly, and honour was at stake;
the men gather thither.

The ruler turns to the assembly, mighty;
he set forth the entire case.
The oak-tree spoke angrily,
faithfully accusing Grettir.

'My hands have had to defend themselves,
o prince, you who send metal.
I got my wounds,' said the most valiant
flinger of the barbed spear.

'It went ill,' said the swift prince;
'that you did not die.
The people shall pay if life holds
for the harmer of the gold's redness.'

Kár's son, keen and gentle,
offered the wave-fellow of the hero
the jarl's mercy; and the eager folk
all began to attend to him.

There was a man who knew Viðrir,
who could sharpen the fame of verse —
a prince's hero, the wolf-feeder —
men called him Bessi.

The warrior's mother cheered the weary
and served many a man.
The buckle-goddess with seemly words
was named Skáld-Torfa.

The warrior stood before the prince's knee,
gentle and keen in speech:
'Grant them quarter and full peace;
the warriors were won with steel.'

'In Tønsberg sits one true and wise,'
the lord said this was true.
'A farmer who wields the spear —
the brother of those men.'

'A friend of warriors — and I intend
to avenge those worthy brothers.'
Thither east the trusty prince
directed the warrior.

'This summer I shall with a chosen troop
sit in Tønsberg.
The warriors,' said that prince,
'shall not slip away.'

They did as the prince's son asked;
the warriors went east to visit.
In the town, with the cold of waves,
the champions settled down.

The hero found there a man of skill,
his brother, the wise one.
He holds a farm where fortune rules;
the warriors call it Drómundr.

The hero offered honour and wealth
to his wise brother.
'Sit beside me,' said the sword-keen one;
'I shall attend to your case.'

Kár's son, keen, both wise and fair,
sits in Þosteinn's farm.
Such a farmer, mighty among heroes —
Björn he did not spare.

The swift serpent was on his guard;
the men gave him their attention.
With a gilded spear they intend —
Gunnarr wishes to find him.

One certain day with honourable custom
Ögliir sits drinking.
In the merchant's booth the champion sits proud;
he was cheerful with the warriors.

There came a commotion, and the precious hero
leapt to his weapons.
The door was struck hard and it burst —
the din was no less.

In there charged with hilts of blades
men exceedingly many.
With Gjúki's cloak and Grímnir's tent
the warriors bore a flood.

They struck and showed their might —
the warriors charged at the hero.
Gunnarr was in front of the battle —
he wishes to find Grettir.

The champion held a hard board
keenly before himself.
His blade holds; the company roars;
they charged at Grettir.

The hero, who advances valour,
strikes one champion with a blow.
He cleft asunder the Skjölfungr's wood,
the shield of the bright spear-flinger.

Another got — who attacked him —
no smaller wound.
Skull-fortress and the mind's market —
the sword cut through in one.

Gunnarr's lad was left alone;
he leapt out before Grettir.
That one lay flat, too weak for fame;
his feet caught the threshold.

He thrusts hard, and the linden broke,
the harmer of the serpent's company.
Gunnarr, since the payment is grim,
eagerly wishes to flee.

The battle-shield before the mind's town
he holds with both hands.
The one who received the blow backed out —
he shall be deprived of mercy.

The serpent struck — he who could wake
wounds upon men —
both hands from the sin-bender
off from the battle-rune.

Swiftly on his back in the spear-clash
I think he must fall.
Another blow ended the day
for the spoiler of fair Gerðr.

The jarl heard that the spear rang;
the warriors were slain.
Then the shield-tree was angered
as the great matter demanded.

The assembly is set and the ruler lets
the lord of Norway's ground settle it.
Fáfnir comes, he who maims life —
swiftly to this meeting.

Still with the bold men
Kár's son, the famous, follows the hero.
Þosteinn's company the prince saw;
they bore stiff shields.

A byrnie-robe and a warrior-flock
Bessi had to command.
All of them with their gilded spears
wished to stand by Grettir.

The sea-storm's steed — the prince's judgment —
the wise warriors offer.
If quarter could be won for the weapon-strife,
all would be reconciled.

No atonement from young heroes
the men wished to accept.
The Dragon, before the dangerous fellow,
must lie dead upon the field.

'The war-trumpet sounds; the prince is proud;
warriors, ready yourselves to fight.
I shall now, with Ögliir's bride,
shield none of them.'

'If you wish that,' said Kár's son,
'let the champions redden their spears.
Ögliir's life in the orphan's strife
shall cost you more.'

They parted then, and it is written,
the warriors follow Drómundr.
They turn while the lord's host
sought the wolf-feeder.

First stood forth from the famous folk
the flinger of the serpent's company.
Nearest to Grettir, dearest Kár's son,
who knew how to wield the sword.

Grettir's brothers, worthy and keen,
stand near to him.
Bessi was with the heroes there,
ready with foot and hand.

There came swiftly the fair band
forward with the jarl's banner.
Before the gate stood with Gilling's glow
Grettir the Strong, the first.

The elm-tree rang, and the other jarl
spoke to the men in peace:
'Give up the one who won the fight;
otherwise we shall do battle.'

Þosteinn said that the prince
would hardly accept that.
'Though the weapon-storm grows fierce,
the warriors must fall.'

'What shall it profit you,' said the prince,
'Þosteinn, to stand by Grettir,
against us with the blade's edge
to wield the war-god's chariot?'

'My brother with the wound-linden
men may call outlawed.
The lord is marked, exceedingly strong;
let not wrath fall.'

'Accept atonement for the ring-enjoyer
and fight not against the lord.'
In another way Bessi asked
the prince to accept a settlement.

The company turns, for so was better;
a settlement might be reached.
'Worst it is to harden the sword-play
against one's own lord.'

The jarl knew it was for the warriors' sake
the greater honour.
Then peace was made, and the battle-pay —
the wise one held to the giant's storm.

Yet there was little of that settlement;
I heard they parted then.
The noble jarl for the warriors' contest
departed from his will.

Kár's son turns from the cold beast,
he kneeled upon the plank-wave.
Grettir went with the spear-god;
they make their way home.

Kár's son got, where the tidings spread,
true fame from this affair,
for the aid he gave
to the bright-lit harbour.

The ring-god, bright and keen, wishes
soon to visit Iceland.
Þorfinnr gave the giant's tale
to the serpent-band.

The fellow's tricks are known and told;
the champion surpassed them all.
Home to Bjarg came the wolf's brother.
The verse shall thus fall.

Colophon

Grettisrímur ("The Rímur of Grettir") is an anonymous cycle of eight rímur retelling the early chapters of Grettis saga Ásmundarsonar. The cycle survives only in the Wolfenbüttel manuscript (Herzog August Bibliothek, Cod. Guelf. 120.5 Extrav.), a vellum dated to the fifteenth century. The rímur cover Grettir's boyhood at Bjarg, his first killing, his voyage abroad, his breaking of Kár's barrow in Háramsey, the burning of the berserkers, the bear-fight, and his combat with Hjarrandi — ending with his return to Iceland. The poet is unknown. The manuscript was first published by Finnur Jónsson in Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer (1905).

Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Old Icelandic by Sólveig with Claude (NTAC). Gospel register. 478 stanzas across eight rímur.

🌲

Source Text

Grettisrímur

Findes kun i Wolfenbüttel-rímehándskriftet

Ríma I

Skil eg nu ei hve Skrimnis seims
skelfir vili mie bidia
vekia vpp Bodnar brosmu heims;
betri er onnUR jdia.

Fordum potti eg falka kras,
forlog kvnnv at vendazt;
sidan feck eg lygra las,-
Iengi mvn sa endazt.

Horfen giorezt at nlestu mærd
mejdi fofnis bryggiv ;
se eg pvi litt vid liotri flærd
ok langri vndirhyggiu.

Pvi mUH hamingian hafna so
hræfa teina brioti,
gripa alIa gledina fra,
en gefa honum angr j motj.

Hormvlega er heimvRenn spilltr,
hygg eg pat mun standa,
margr finzt af velvm villtr
veitir nodrv granda.
54 veitir

Hrodvrenn skal par hefia ny,
honvm viII engi sinna,
Asmund setti æ. Biargi bv;
bravt hann skiolldv stinna.

Fiolmenne hiellt fleina TYR,
feck hann heidl' ok soma,
lydum potti logmais SkYR
lestir foIIdar droma.

Seggium potti j soknvm strangr
seima lvndr enn pydi;
hann var kendr "hærvlangur
ok helt vel sina lydi.

Asdis het sv avdar brik,
Asmund hafdi fengit;
fyrdvm potti hvn frænda rik,
feck hann af pvi gengi.

Atli nefndizt einnhvet reckvR
arfi peirra en parfi,
badi potti blidr ok peckr,
bonda hollur j starfi.

Attv pav sier annann svein,
yngri var sa hoti;
Grettir jafnan gunnvm mein
giordi at fleina moti.

Belldinn potti j bernskv hann
heint til orda ok verka;
Asmund hirti eckj vm pann
orfa Pvnd en merka.

Longum var hann j lyndi faR,
lek po marga preUi;
j vppuexti ecki knaR,
elskadi modir GreUi.
11 s gvnn·

Andlit hans var einkar fritt,
avgvn væn at lita,
harit ravtt ok hardIa sitt
aL hoskvm fleygi rita.

Dyrar aUi dætr tvær
dreingr ok snotin suinna;
gofgum monnum gipti hann pær,
giorir so bokin jnna.

Blidr vpp at Biargi vex
briotvr orma valla;
fulla hafdi flora ok sex
fengit nodru galla.

Asmund talar vid GreUj pat
"eigi seinn til ferda
vm heimgæs minar, haluren kvad,
hugsa nluntv verda."

Garpurenn svarar af godri slegt
glogt med mali sniollv:
"litit verk ok lodrmannlegt
lizt mier peUa at ollv."

Waskvr svaradi uopna polIur,
var sa kænn vid geira,
"verUu j pessv verke hollvr.
virda skal pig nleira. Io

Lezt hann ongu lofa vm pat:
"litit kann eg vinna;"
geck j hurt ok gI otti at
ok geymdi fugla sinna.

Fimtigi voru j flocki pær,
furdu re ika vida;
GreUir eftir gengit fær;
giora nv stundir lida.

Bagt vard svein e at safna peim,
sin veg hver vill leita;
koma pær sialldan heilar beim;
helldur stirt kann veita.
45 -

Stala Tyr, sem stendvr greint,
starfinn tok at leidaz;
kiuklingarner keifa seint,
kalli er buit at reidazt.

For so enn at farandi lydl'
fugla hiUi da vda;
Asmund gel'dizt eigi pydr,
Ol'kar sligt til nauda.

Asmundi yard vndra leitt,
audinn tok at pverra,
"hefir pinn glopur gæsnar meiU,
giorir pu JIU ok verra."

Visu kvad pa uopna Pvndr
ok villdi pannig gl'eina: -
"balsinn peira bristig sundr,
birde eg liU vm eina."

"Skalttv ei leingr skerda pæl',"
sky fer taIadj randa,
.,annat verkit verra fæl',
vaskr lundur branda."

"Hier mvn verda at hætta al
hristir vænna glofa,
pann ma seia fleira fra
er fyser mart at -profa. "

Bondinn seier, pa komit er kvelld
ok kvinnr lata l'ivka:
"bofinn skal mitt bak vid elld
badvm hondvm strivka.

Helldr giorazt nv uel'ken vond,
vopna lundr enn diarfe."
., Vist er petta varmt vm bond
ok vesalIa manna starfi."
branda.
GRETTISRIMUR I

Optazt feek af elldi mak
alma Tyr en hardi;
Fafnir strykvr fodur sins bak
fast ok Htit spar di.

Hier kom enn at hausta tekur,
halurenn mun pat tinna;
kappa næsta kladinn vekur,
haun kallcal' pa vid Linna.

"Vomurenn skalttv voUv sIens
uislega af per leggia;"
briotr kuad sig brima fens
bernskv rad at eggia.

KalI toe bel1dr at klora sier,
kominn v~r elldi næri;
"alldre er dvggan dvgl' j pier,
dvelvr pu meir enn bæri."

Ullar kamba A vglir sa
eigi litla standa;
halnvm færdi berdal' æ;
horfezt nv til vanda.

Eptir bakenv orfa mei dur
ofan let kambin ganga;
bondin stoek vpp bysna reidr,
bad sinn arfa fanga.

Asmund greip vm storan staf,
stefnde pegar at Gretti;
halvren feek paR eeki af,
vndan fra eg hann seUj.

Hvstrv kom til fyrda fliott
Fafnir anear furdv skiott:
"fadir minn vill mie brenna.

Stundum fær af starfa last
styfir vnda skessv;
karle poUj eg klora fasl,
kvnni hann jUa pessu."

Brvdren talar vid blidan svein.
bles pa en af mode:
"finzt eigi med pier forsia nein,
frændi minn en gOdi."

FaU var helldr vnl fedga tal,
fleira pvrtj at jnna;
garpurenn seiir at Grettir skal
geyma hro8sa sinna.

"Hross er eitt," ed hetian kvad,
hh,ti sagdi varga,
"Kengalv ver kollvm pat,
kosti hefir h \Tn marga.

Kengaia er so vm vedvren vis,
hvn veit firi hrider sterkar,
hier firi skulv henni hallda pris
holda kindir merkar.

Hleypur hvn snemma heim af jord,
hordvm vedrvm kvidir,
bragnar mega pa byrgia hiord,
bresta eigi hridir."

Blidr anear bavga TYR,
bar sa sverd at vndvm;
"brvgdiz hafa po, bonden skyr,
betri vonir stvndum.

VarUu fyr. vid vopna hark
ok villdir morgv spiUa;
h ver sem teer æ merinni mark:
mvn pat reynazt jUa."
GRETTISRIMUR I-II

Pann veg elldizt peira tal,
pegnvm likar varla;
lyk eg aptvr lioda sal.
læt eg rilllv falla.

Ríma II

ORda val j odar sal vill nv eigi vaxa,
sidan gædir gridar faxa
gerd i at taIga eydi saxa.

Veiga gaU med vizkv matt kann at yeita soma,
pat hefir ord it fyr at froma
frægvll1 riodi yIgiar bIoma.

Barv peir firi bavga Eir beiskan kvida,
hefir pat dreifzt vm heilllinn vida,
hardia seint mvn peHa lida.

Lysig faU j litlvm patt af lindi hnossa,
seivm helldr af harv hIossa
briot er for at geYllla hrossa.

Hrossin rak ok hrepti ei nlak halurenn mæt VI',
kappinn bar opt kallda fætvr,
Keingala stod æ altt til nætvr.

Ofner VituR vti sitr eigi hræddr,
furdu liU var Fofnir klæddr,
. ferliga var hann af kvIda mæddr.

Pydur dreingr ef pann veg geingr peinkir al,
maklig giolld skal merinne fa,
mæUi vera hann giordi svo.

Morginn einn enn mæti sveinn er miog var kallt,
klæda lanit var d pa vallt,
visIega tok hann radit sniallt.

I hesta hys kom hetian fvs hreysti vendr
Keingala firi stalli stendr,
stvndum er han n vid hvecki ken dr.
h briot er: reN. fra briotr.
4

Bavga Tyr ste blidvr ok hyr æ bakit al henni,
nvassann fra eg han n hnifenn spenni,
hans er von at meren kennj.

Herdal' skar med hnifi par sem hardazt fært
bvrtv hud af bakenv fIær,
benia tok at renna sær.

Vakrinn feck af vænvm reck voda skeinv,
bakleingiv fiær aptr j einv
alU æ lend med jarni hreinv.

Brazt hun vidvr so bondans nid r afbakenv daU,
beit hun pegar ok bardi hratt,
bauga Tyr æ fætr spratt.

Vpp ru. hals rak eydir stals alla klara,
bleikala ecke beit en sara,
bIo dit rennr ofan al nara.

Brosti hinn er brogdin vinnvr beitir rita,
h vn viII æ til baksins bita;
bondi mvn sinn arfa vita.

Dregr vpp mock en nierin stock pvi l11iog
var kallt
heiui al l~id til hvssins allt;
hrodrar mvn pvi avkazt malUe

Bragda mann red byrgia rann ok beiglar heim;
hvstrv fagnar halnvm peim,
hefzt nv tal med fedgvm tveim.

Hetian kyrr at hrossvm spyrr: "pu herm pat
Linne";
Auglil' svarar en orda suinnj:
"oll erv byrgd j hvsi jnne."

~,Byrgit hiord," kvad bavga NiOl'dr ok bidr
ei fresta,
sveigil' taia di siglv hesta:
"sizt 111 vn oss nv hridin bresta."

. Bondans rad vid bezta dad er bragnar hallda,
bYl'gia sav di briotar skialIda ;
bvrtv lidI' natten kallda.

Biart var vedr pat bragna gledr, en bond·
ans arfi
val' pa sen at sinv' starfi,
sveinnenn toc !Ja hross en diarfi.

For pvi nær sem fyra gær j frosti h6rdv,
hrossin ganga heim af jordy,
hefr hann æ peim sterka vordv.

Margar nætr mygir lætr mens enn svinni
byrgia hiord j hvsvm jnne;
hriden kom po ecki at sinne.

Kappinn for med kesiv POl' til kapla sinna,
viII nu hvgsa vm verkin Linna,
vel'dr sligt so gioda jnna.

A fakvm helldr Feniv meIIdrs fleygir sinvm:
"holld eru engi a hrossvl1l minvm,
hygg ek slikt af voldvm pinvm."

Miog so geingur enn ,mæti dreingr at modI'
hesta:
"eigi mvnv pier bakholld bresta,
bel' pv pol yfir kapla flesta."

Randa Tyr fra eg roskr ok skyr at reidi kenni,
bakleingian var bvrt af henni,
bavga fra eg pat lita spenni.

Geira. meidr geysi reidr GreUi sagdi:
"pv munt pessv bella bragdi;"
brosti hinn. j nl0t ok pagdi.

Angul' feck af vngvm reck alma Tyl';
hetian pegar til hvsa snyr,
hvstrv fagnar bonda skyr.
2ti2 holld t·ett. fra holIdhl.
4*

"Seg pv til," kvad seima Bil, "sveigir branda,
hvort at ganga verk at vanda
veitis ravdra orma sanda. "

Wisu kvad ok villdi pat so vift jnna:
"batnar sizt vm brogdinLinna,
belling skal nv eekj vinna.

Hafa skal pann enn heimski mann." kvad
hrister fleina,
"visliga allann verre beina,
virda ma pat engi meina."

Gargan stod hia geira riod ok gullhlads selia:
"pa skal engi æ. annann telia,
eeki giora mie vel'k at dvelia."

Lidr stund en laufa Pvndr er lOngvm far,
dreingiym poUj hann digr ok har,
Drakon giordiz fvrdv knar.

Skil eg nv pat er skalldit kvad af skrymj letra,
eydir var pa orma setra
ordin fvllra prettan vetra.

Vngir menn er aller senn par etla leika."
ætleg burt æ jsenn bleika
orfva meidal' giordu at reika.

Kappa val ur Vididalok vænar sueitir
vikia ok pangad, er Vestrhop heitir,
vorv aIlir gvnnar teitir.

Atle var med Augle par ok ytar fleire,
holdar beita hvossvm geire,
hetivl' finnazt valla meire.
K. Gisl. har i afskr. foreslået at læse: drakon giordiz digr
ok har I dreingivm poUi hann fvrdv knar.
362 jsenn: her-

A vdvn het sa yta let firi eggium falla,
sa bar afl yfir seggi snialla
sveina j leiknvlu pessa alIa.

Garpuren bar yfir gunna par sem gengv freUir,
arvm mOl'gvm ellre enn Grettir;
ytvm beiUj frænings stettir.

GreUir hlaut, sa er giarn j pravt, vid garp
at leika;
seggir giordv saman at reika;
sa mun afla vargi steika.

Hnatt tre tok sa hreysti jok ok hnottin slo,
geyse snart y til' Gretti flo,
getit er hann royni reidazt po.

Afrekx mann at epter ran n er pa reidr,
prifvr hnottin malma meidr,
miog so var hann j ferdvm greidr.

Hyg eg reU, sem haft pier frett, at heiptar
kenni;
færdi hann hnottinn framan j enne;
felI pa blod af orfa spennj.

Audvn vill, pvi efnj eru jll, til Auglis sIa;
vndir hoggit hliop hann pa;
horfa flestir leikinn æ.

Giordiz braU vid grimdar matt sv gliman hord;
oflin vorv eigi spord,
Avdvn soUi bavga vord.

Leikuren hardr liU var spardr af lvndi sverda,
ferlega toku fang at herd a,
falla mun po annal' verda.

Lengir pravt, en Linne hlavt firi lesti at falla
hardIa modvr Hafla spialla,
hygg eg Atla lika valla.
fra ofolin.

Garpren viIIdi giarn j hiIIdj Gretti meida;
briotr giordi benia seida
bragna pegar j svndr leida.

Bessi viII di at briotar skyIIdu bellings sveita
sidall allir sattir heita,
seggir giordv heim at leita.

Nefnum hinn er hreysti vinnr ok hrotta beitir,
Forkell krafla pegninn heitir,
pessi hefir par godord Vln sveitir.

Fædir vargs er fol' til Biargs med fyrda svinna,
virdar hafa par veizslu stinna,
viII di hann giarna mag sinn finna.

Holda gledr par heidri medr horna Vina;
pegnar taIa vm pingreid sina,
pvrfti slikt so giorla at tina.

"Atla lat", seiir olldin kat, "med ytvn1 rida,
halvrinn ma pa heima bida,
hann mvn venia frægr vida."

"Avgler ma," kvad eyder pa, "med vmsia pinne
hallda upp svorum af hendi minni, "
Hrimnis tals, "med vizkv sin ni. "

Bavga Tyr fol' blidvr ok skyr med beiti sverda;
Porkell var pa fus til ferda,
frægir magal' ski lia verda.

PorkelI reid sem liggur leid fra lesti teina;
svinnr hafdi sveigir fleina
sextigi manz ok tuttngu eina.

Kappa sveit med kurteis heit koma til vida;
Tvidægru viII transtI' dda
tiorgv hlynvR med recka frida.

Ei skalleingI' eflazt fengr asa tiggia ;
æ HeIIisfitivm holdal' piggia
hoskir nad ok foru at liggia.

Ríma III

FRarids skal nv færa af stad
fvndenn rett sem hetian bad;
vanda ek ecki æ ViSV111 haU,
verdr par til orda faU.

Mvn ek pvi ecki mansong sia
luerkeliga firi hringa Na,
pviat en kæna kogra Hlock
kvnna mvn pess liUa pock.

Mælapetta enu mætu vif,
mekta sitt rned elsku lif,
ma sa engi mannsong sia,
mest er horfinn æskv fra.

Vakta eg ecki vm Venris lat,
vifin kaun at frygda kat;
greinvlll helldr GreUi af,
gorpvm veiUi Idia skraf.

Waknar han n ok virda sveit,
villdi sidan fara j leit,
hestvm sinum hyggia at;
hversv mvn peim veita pat.

Garprinn fann sinn giarda hrein,
giorazt nla nv af pvi mein;
ynder kvidnvm sodvlinn sa;
seggvrenn villdi faknvlll na.

Sidan reUj s6dvlinn pann,
sier n v pegar en vaske luann
vista malvrinn var pa bvrt;
vida landz var peUa spvrt.

Leita fol' han n pegar .i stad
linna jardar langan dag
liU vill honvm nv gang a j hag
halin S3 hann par hlavp3 at.

"Skeggia kalla skatnar mie,
skiaIa eg eeki mart vid pig;
Porkels bonda pingmann einn,
pikir eg ei til viga seinn."

Hristir sagdi hilldar blys s :
"heftr eg næsta fengit slys;
kall hefeR litit krasa val,
kynliga feck eg skilizt vid nIal."

Ofnir kvad pat ærv brest:
"eindæmi ma kalla vest;
tyndr er einn veg malurinnminn,
ma sligt varazt j ana d sinne

Leggivm saman ok leitvm tueir;"
]ofdaR foru vida peiL',
skyniar vnl pat skialIda vidr,
Skegge lavt j monvm nidr.

"Fantv noekut felagin godr;"
fleina svarade pannig riodr:
"tlyta skal egh ok fara hest,
fundit er mitt leidar nest."

"Leggpu nidr ok lat mik sia,
litvm sidan badir ffi,"
mætr sagdi meidir gerda,
"mart kann odrv ligt at venia."

Briotr sagdi barv ess
bragna eigi pvrfa pess,
"retla eg rett firi alU Pitt skraf,
eeki skalUv fa hier af."

Grettir pangat gengr at,
gaf sier eeki Skeggi VBl pat;
hier kom enn peir helldvzt æ,
hvorgi villdi odrvni fa.
12 2 vid a 'j'eft. f'j'a bida.
122-14 2 foru-1itvm med ande1~ hånd.
sagdu.
GRETTISniMUR III

SkialIda gygi Skeggi prifvr,
skotnvm poUi hann eigi svifr;
hondum badum hio til Linna,
honvm mvn peUa litit vinna.

Aoxar skaptit OgliR greip,
el' sa kæn vid Hogna sveip;
optazt var honum atlit tra vst,
en yard Skeggi at lata lavst.

Sidan hoggvr seima vidr,
seggnvlll trveg at minnkezt fridr,
oxin klyfr heila havdr,
hinn la pegar æ jordy daudr.

Skilst hann par vit heimskan hal,
hestin toc ok vista mal;
reid hann pa ok fyrda fann,
frettv peir at Skeggia hanno

"Hliop at Skeggia hamar troll eitt,
hardara pvrtj eigi neiU,
garpsens sneid pat heila helli,
hann la pegar daudr, at velli."

"Un'darleg yard atferd slik,"
annzar . pann veg pio din rik,
"travtt er peUa trolla plag
at tak a so menn vm liosan dag."

"Onnul' mvnv hier efnj j,"
anzar Porkell bondi pvi,
"Grettir longum girnezt JIU,
garpsens hefer hann lifi spint."

Svinnr greindi seima POl'
seggivm aIlt hve med peilll for;
Porken yard nv peygi styggr,
panneg taladi lllenia Y ggvr.

"Bæta skal eg firi laufa lund
ok leggia at pat alIa stvnd,"
sveigir mælti sofnis lada,
"sekt pinni ma eg eckj rada."

Ravsnar madrenn reid at pi.ng,
ravn mi og var honum dadin kring;
bæUi vig firi bavga meid,
bondinn riki aptr reid.

Fofnir skylIdi fvs j IH'avt
fara sekvr af landi braut
varla midr enn vetrna pria;
viII so domrenn falIa at.

Her skal fyri herma pat
enn hofdingiarneR skildvzt at,
gilIdan hof pa Grettir stein;
geysi micit var folldar bein .

ytar lofvdv afrex mann,
ollvm fanzt pa mikit Vin hann;
vendv sidan virdal' heim,
verdr pannen skilt med peim.

Haflidi nefnezt hiorfa Tyr,
heIl dr syndizt bondi skyr,
at Reydarfelli reckurenn hio,
randir opt llled 'skioma hio.

I Hvitar osi Haflidi at
hlunna dyr ok varning hia;
styris hiorn vm streingimll flaut;
styrimadr vill hallda j braut.

Asmund kOln par A vgli j skip,
ecki var hann med hlidv svip,
kappa feck hann kost vm haf,
komst par eigi med meira af.

Grettir nv fra Biargi byzt,
bavga Tyr til ferdar snyzt;
Avglir bad sier Asmund fa
eitthvert vopn at hallda m.

Hinn kvad onga porf at pvi,
pegnin sagdi hier firi nj;
faliga kvad di hann fleina meid,
for pa Grettir sina leid.

Asdis fylgir arfa sin,
okat var pa bavga Hlin,
,,fatæklig er ferdin pin,
fæl' pv ecki af av di min.

Gefa vil eg pier Gillings elld,
glæstan snidr Hogna felld,
hvergi gefr j hoggi stad,
ef hraustir kappar reida pat.

Fyrre bar pat fleina vidr,
fyrda lagdi at jordv nidr,
Jokvll en fræknj frændi pinn;
fæl' eigi betra hi alIta linn."

Grettir tok pa gladr vid hior,
ganga kvad hann sier næsta j kior:
"betra er petta enn barv glædr;"
blidliga packar . sinni mædr.

Svanenn skilst vid sveinen hrygg,
seima pollin fogr ok dygg;
vitiar heim enn vopna rvdr
vende padan at heidar svdvr.

Haflidi fagnar hringa meid,
hofdv peir sig vt a skeid;
lofdar pegar at lægi gaf
logdv skipinv vt at haf.

Undir bati bavga vidr
byzt hann vm ok Iagdizt nidr;
pegninn viII eigi piona neiU,
pat var monnum vndra IeiU.

Bardr hiet par bvczu sveinn,
beztr var sa skipmann einn;
væn a aUi veiga Gna,
var pa engj fegri enn sia.

Ytar hendv vt VBl fles
ok so sv dr firi Reykianes;
gylfrit vex enn godligt flavstr
geck pa snart vm landit austr.

Æ pui vex en ægis hreinn
eigi potti j ferdvm seinn;
kioIren snidr koIgv bIa,
kappar hvergi Iandit sia.

Hier næst fa peir hardan reU,
hoIdvm vanzt nv eigi slett;
olldin flest j avstri stendr,
y tal' verda at reyna hendr.

Skipit er legt en vedrit vott,
var d pvi folkit hardIa mot;
gonsvdr ecki giordizt hæg r,
gengr petta nockvr dægr.

Fyrdar toIvdu Fofni vid,
flestir badv hann syna lid,
"kempan pickizt pv fvrdv from,
frem pv nv pinn skipmanzdom."

Grettir svarar ok gIotti at:
"geysi vel ma kalla pat,
po at krypplingvm kneppist fingr;"
kvidlingvnvm hann at peim stingr.
42 1 bvezu = buzu.
46 J legt = lekt.
2 mot = moU.

Austmenn verda jUa vid:
"er pier betra at klappa vm kvid
kvinnv Bardar, kogra meidr,
ok kysa hana IDed litin heidl""

Haflidi talar vid Gretti gladr:
"gack til austrar lista r madr
fyn en sockvi siofar nadr;"
seggrinn var til pessa hradr.

Wirda spyr hvad vinna skal,
vard tJa ecki nlart vm tal;
"dyf pu byUvm darra vidr;"
dreingrin for j austurinn nidr.

Reckar fa til roskan mann,
reyna skylIdi sig vit hann;
pessi en gilldi geira riodr
geck fra avstri ok var pa modI'.

Pvi næst fara til pegnar tveir,
pl'eyUir fra eg at væri peir;
foru_ pa til fiorir senn,
flestir voru kaskir menn.

Ytar falla avstri fra,
einn veg skildizt hann vid pa;
alma spillir eys vi d sey,
vpp var avsit peira fiey.

Hier næst kemI' blidr byr,
bvzan stod pa varla kyrr;
sigldv gladir vm sildar heim,
sampyckit var goU med peim.

Dreingir lofvdv Drakon mest,
dvgdi hann j pravtvm bezt;
at Svnnmæri seggi bar,
sa peir ey {iri stafne par.

Ytar fengv ædi vedr,
ylmazt toc pa styriar bedvI',
skodda myrk en skerjott var,
skeidin var d at broUna par.

Eigi var pa olldin kat,
aller fengv komizt j bat,
flvUvzt braU af fiska lad,
fengv sidan lalldi nad.

Seggil' helldv svdr j land,
Seliv var par eptir band;
Gvnnladar taki pier gotna la,
ganga ætla eg pannveg fra.

Ríma IV

BIidri ma eg eigi bavga norn
beIlings eik i v færa;
mitt er hortH hrodrar korn,
hvat giorir slikt at kæra.

Feck eg nockvrn fræda part
fYIT j æskv minne;
pann hefir grimmuzt gygiar art
gripid med jllzkv sinne.

Horfen giorvzt eg heime VI',
hl'ygdin at mier kallaR,
pvi hinv stæstv stolltar frvr
styggiazt' vid mig allaR.

Venus gaf pat efnit eitt
eydi frænings hlvnna;
peim fa brvdir betra veiU,
blidv heimsel1s kvnna.

Ei pvrtj at vndra sligt
eydir savdvngs spialla,
po heidrs menn ok hoffolk rikt
hatiz vid gamla kalla.
'GRETTISRiMUR III-IV

Enn po lydrinn leiti svidr
lavfa lvnd at pretta,
engi skylIdi orfa vidr
angra sic firi peUa.
"-

Hvgsa ma pat hoskvI' ok framr
hristeR ægis brika,
at sa en hæsti hlyrna gramvr
hann giorir alla lika.

Par skal Dains ed frida fley
færa at mærdar steUir.
Pa var kominn j Aramarsey
afrex madrenn GreUir.

Porfinnr aUi Pvndar fry,
pyda hellt hann dreingi,
reckvrinn hafdi rav snar by,
red sa eynne lengi.

Gilldr bydr GreUi heim
greidir fetla linna;
var pa faU med virdvm peiln;
viII di hann litit vinna.

Fyre bio par fadir hans· Kar,
fyrda lag di vndir;
GreUir var vid gvna far;
giora nv lida stvndir.

Eydir giordi Onars mey
el da brims at kanna;
GreUir jafnan geck vm ey,
giarn til smæd ranna.

Bondi nockur bio par nær,
bragnar Avdvn kalla,
at Vindheimvm var vondr bær,
var hann par dagana alIa.
6 2 !vud: læs Pvnd?
10 3 pa:
læs po?
11 1 Fyre = Fyrri.
s gyna = gynna ;): gumna.

Geta skal pess er gvnnvm peim
gi ord i kært j ord vm;
seggrinn kom par silla heim,
satv menvfir bordvm.

Eitthvert kvelld sem Ofnir sid
ætladi heim at renna,
leit hann elld hia laxa hlid
lagt æ nesinv brenna.

Grettir spurdi Audvl1 at
ellris miclum voda;
"gef pier ecki garpr vm pat,
gack pv heim til nada."

A vglir kvezt pat ætla helldr -
"under rotaR grandi
mundi finazt Feniv melldr
fagr æ voru landj."

"Stentr al nesinv havgrinn har,
hvergi Hare midiv,
get eg hann byg gi en gamlj Kar,
er galldra kvni jdiv."

Avdvn seiir at engi mvn
yta pangat leita,
en po holdar hafi æ grvn
hirdi hann bauga sveita.

"AUj Kar (sem jnnti eg fyr)
einvm gardi at rada,
hans hefir grimmr gaIldra styr
gorpum komit j voda.

Geck sa aptr ok gvnna drap
galldra kall hin leidi,
ytar fengv avra tap
firi jllvm bavga meidi.
. .
l'ra benia.
(i margen K. Gisl.: tap? brap?).

Rikare er nv seggivnl sion,"
kvad sveigir bryni v flagda,
"alIa heft r hann Odins kvon
vndir so1t sinn Iagda.

Enn po silla set j vm land
seggir Forfinz sniallir,
engvm vinnvr avlinn grand;
eru j nadum aller."

"Eg skal hitta enn harda dravg,
er helIdr greipar svelIi;
badir skvlv vid bofans havg
briota nidr at velIi."

Avdvn bidr eigi fara pvi fram
fleygi eisv brvnna: .
"ForfinnI' mvn pegnvm skam
firi petta verkit kunna."

GreUir kvezt par gefa vm fa U,
giarn al fagrar dadir:
"finvzt pegar at faren er natt
ok forvID til havgsins badir. «

MæUvzt peir at mornj dags
ok mintvzt ord a sinna;
Grettir feck pa grvndar sax
ok giorir nv havgin vinna.

Grefr hann Iengi græna fold,
griot var vndir vida,
trvliga rvddi hann torfi ok mol d ;
tecvr nv dagr at lida.

Vasklega feck at vidunvm sott
veitir hardra spanga;
kappinn viII po komin sie nott
kaskr j havginn ganga.
3 finvzt = finnumz. 29 2 spanga

A vdvn bidr eigi fara pvi franl
fleygi grafnings hlida:
"gaek pv eeki j galldra rann,
giorvlll til morgvns bida."

"Seggvrinn skalttv svinnr ok knar
sitia ok geyma festi;
fvs el' eg at finna Kar,
fvIl vel plagar hann gesti."

I galldra skolan girntizt hann,
giarll at leita at bavgi;
dolg æ stoli digran fann,
davn var jIll' j havgi.

FiplaR hann vm folann pa,
er flesta kvnni hueeke;.
so var myrt at matti sia
meidir rita eeki.

Hetian vida vm havginn for
hia hiorva leidvm VIIi;
hiUi sidan hestbein stOl'
ok hrvgv miela af gvlli.

Bar til festar bavga raptr
biarian Dravpnis sveita;
dregr sie pegar at dravgnvl11 aptr,
diarfliga for at leita.

Kempan storann kistil fann,
Kar stod vndir fotum;
GreUir red at gripa hann,
grimmr at fleina 1110tum.

Ætlar pegar at bera j bravt
briotr hardra randa ~
fyn mvn kappin koma j pravt
o'k kenna styrkl'a handa.
er fvs. 36 2 Kar e'J' dativ.

Pa var gripinn med grim dal' hot
GreUir fast af dravgi,
reckrinn yard at rada j mot;
rimman ox j havgi.

Greplega var sv gIiI11an hord,
giorir nv sokn so langa;
oflin voru eigi spord;
vpp yard flest at ganga.

Klypti hann vida kappans hold,
kann pat helldr at blana;
lokrinn stigr langt j molld,
leikrinn tok at grana.

Heftr pann Grettir hyggiv stein,
hrædazt kvnni valla;
pa yard Kar vm klarsens bein
kynia leidr at falla.

Hark var micid at heyra pa,
havgbven fallit aUj,
A vdvn hleypr festi fra,
fol' sel11 hardazt mattj.

Garprinn liggr gavrnvm ru,
giarn val' sa til viga,
linda kerti Linni bra
ok ,let ru halsinn bniga.

Som e hatt j svira gall,
sverdit pionar flagdi;
ennis tok pa af honum stall
ok aptr at pionum lagdi.

Bar til festar frænings havdr
falv sotu lesUr,
fann pa skioU at bondin blavdr
j bvrtv var fra festi.
40 3 stigr 'j'eU. tra sj gr.
44 3 ellnis: utydel. i hrlsk'r.
5*

Halvren kom so havgnvm VI',
halar vpp streinginn harda;
fl vUi med sier fafnis 111 VI'
frækinn l vndr harda.

Pegnin kom til Porfinz heim,
pa sat hann y til' bordvlll;
heint var ecki hliU med peim,
bondi er stygvr j ord vm.

Eyder lætr ldia tal
vpp æ. bordit falla
jrpv sotu; avra val
ei ma litit kalla.

Blidkazt hinn at brima hle
al bordi litr standa:
"hver æ peUa hit fagra fe,
pv færir oss til handa?"

Svaradi hinn ed syndizt blaR,
sa var hardr j pinvm,
,
"pat hefer fianden fadir pinn Kar
fylt j havgi sinvm. "

Sidaz tok hann saxit eiU,
seggvr hin nadi af flagdi,
borit var ecki betra neiU,
al. bord firi Porfinn lagdj.

Visv kvad ok veik so at
veitir gylldra spanga:
"alldri skylldi ef æUi eg pat,
oss firr hendi ganga."

"Eigi fær pv æUgrip minn,"
anzar bondi pessv,
"fyrr en reyni eg roskleik pinn
reckur at odda messu."
46 1 kom: læs komz?
aurnis bedre).
50 4 fyU: læs falt (=
GRETTISRIMUR IV

"Peygi veit hver pvrfa Illa
pegar en stnndir lida;"
bondi geymdi bavga pa
bædi ok saxit frida.

Geck til sætis garpvren stirdr
ok giordi litit drecka,
af monnnm var hann pa meira virdr,
ok mælti fatt vid recka.

Hi~t er skyUt at henna nv
(ef halnvrn væri ei hannat),
j Eilifsfirdj bvrdvgt bv
bondin aUj annat.

Par viII dreingrenn drecka jol,
dyra hellt hann sveina,
seggren let æ sildal' bol
setia feriv eina.

Priatigi menn at bondi byr,
bodsrnenn voru soUer;
hans var kvinna heima skyr
ok henna!' frida doUir.

Grettir var med gullhlads Gna
ok gi ord i faU til parfa;
fliodit hafdi fimm ok pria
frækna menn til starfa.

Bondi hiellt j bvrtv gladr,
braU mvn avkazt vandj;
seggir letv svnda nadr
svifa jnn at landi.

Halren veiUj horna flod
hold a sveit med prydj;
veglig firi peim veitzlan stod,
var hann pvi gladvr vid lydi.
som her er indsat etter peg ar.
56 s Eilifs-, sagaens Slygs.-.
59 1 Gna: læs Na?
~-- ---------------------

Porfinnr gaf py dr ok or
pegnvm ægis brima;
!ikar mier po lyngva knor
losnj j svndr vm tima.

Ríma V

Angrit dvelr mik arla ok sid,
er pvi nlest at vonVlll,
eigi byggizt ortnvangs hlid
vpp af fornvm sponvm.

Pat var fyr at hrepta eg helldr
hylli dyrra segia;
nv er pat hardr heiptar elldr,
holdar al mie leggia.

Ballazt af peim heidl' ok megt,
er hverfa nodrv grvndir;
nv hefig lopz j langri sekt
longvnl verit vm stvndir.

Virdar efJdu vopna skak
ok velltv silki grvndir;
lyna heftr ok lindar pak
longvm komit peim vndir.

HeiInrenn misiafnt holdvm tier,
hefir pat stadit so lengi;
finn eg rett at folnar mier
fyrda spect ok gengi.

Odar hefeg eeki par
aU j Gneipar vindi;
greinvm hitt at Grettir var
goins hia bediar lindi.

Geek sa vt er gy Uri tafn
giordi opt at veita,
fridan leit hann flædar hrafn
framan at landi beita,
efla.

Halurinn leit æ Hækings jord,'
hann vill vti bida,
par var skiolldvm skipad vm bord~
skipit var steint so vida.

Letu peir at landi fley
ok logdv inn til navsta,
trvdar stvckv tolf æ ey;
tel eg pa aIla hravsta.

Briota vpp navst en barv vt
bondans karfa fridan,
flvUv skeid af fiska lyt
ok færdv j hvsit sidan.

Ofnir gengr ofan at hle,
yta heilsar rika,
freUi pegar hver firi peim se;
"fyrda sa eg ei slika."

"Porir er eg af pegnvm kendr,
pavmb er flestir kalla;
bar eg par longvm blodgar helldr,
er bragnar vrdv at falla.

. A vgmvnd er nlinn lifri langr,
læzt hann fæstv kvi da;
brestr oss eigi berserksgangr,
bilv vid alldri at strida.

Er nv bondin heima hier?,
han n villdv ver finna;
æUi hann næsta jIlt at mier,
ef pat mætti vinna."

Hetian bvrt med holdvm for -
"helldr faU er manna;
heinla er nv hvstrv vor
hier med vngvm svanna.
8 s bord = bQrtl.
13 a berserks skj". herksers.

Vær skulum sitia saman vm jol,
1iri seggivm vil eg pat greida;
vantar eigi orma bol
ok alU pat viii pier beida.

Hamingian mvn ydvl' heidra mest~
po holdar vili pat banna;
kappar mega nv kiosa vm flest,
komi pier heim til svannu."

Gengv peir æ gardinn heim
ok giordu jnn at vitia;
faligu vaR pa fagnat peim,
fliod j stofvnne sitia.

Fræning bidr at falIda skor d
fylgi vilia SinVlll:
"tigin skalt tv tvinna jord
taka vid gestum pinvm.

BI'ædr rioda benia kolf
ok bioda rnorgvm oUa,
Porir bondi ok pessir tolf
pie hafa heim vm soUa."

Hvstrv giorir med har-mi senn
halnmn at anza sniollvm:
"veit eg enga verre menn
vera j Noregi ollvm".

"Heidrs kvinnan, hvgsa vm pat
sem hamingian kann at veita;
byzt hann ydr j bonda stad,
bel' pier eigi at neita.

Gior pier katt j Gridar pey,
gæfan mvn pie hefia;
Avgmundr viII ydra lney
arme sinvm vetia."
afskåret.
,
'~I

Angvrit bitr mgæU vif,
anzar dygdvg kvinna:
"fyre vil eg lata lif
enn liotVlTI piofvm sinna.

IIIskan pic til orda hvetr,
er pat fiare sanne;
bondin gaf pier bra vd j vetnr
beint sem frialsvm· mannj. "

"Saka pv eigi seima briot,
Sagan iotna roma;
. gongvm helldr gestmll mot,
ok giorum peim allann soma .

Eigi dvga nv ordin klok,"
kvad eydir grafnings stræta;
vopn ok klædi af virdvm tok
ok villdi sialfr gæta.

Seggivm skipar han n sætin j,
sa kann blitt at lata;
fliodin stvckv fram j pvi,
flestar tocv at grata .

Kappinn lætr kost ok ol
koma m bord firi sveina;
par er nog a VistVlll vol,
varla skortir beina.

Ecki vætta brognvm brast,
bar hann peim hornen storv,
svelnar tokv at svelgia fast;
sanlega pystil' vorn.

Grettir einn var gvnnvlll nær
ok giordi alIa kata;
pegar at olit a fola fær,
ferliga taca at lata.
24 3 fyre = fyrri.
29 3 a mgl., tf. ,af JSig.

Flotnar druckv fram a naU,
fæstir pangat vitia;
glo par tocv at grenia hatt
ok giora eigi kyrrir sitia.

Gotna freUi Grvndar hængr,
giarn j styre voda:
"vilipier bondi vitia sængr,
vifin skulv ydr nada."

Folinn sagdi firdr da d,
flestv poUi megna:
"pv skalt hafa firi pegnvll1 rad,
pat mvn likazt gegna."

Gengr fra m ok giordi j stad
grvndir se ims at kalla:
"hvilum mega pæl' ~anazt ad,
ed holda uilia spialla."

Herda toku pa hrygdar kiv t
hringa nornir penna;
GreUir med peim gengr vt
ok giorir nu mart at senna.

Grettir talar vid geira UH,
gl'imligt potti hans ædi:
"ydr skal syna silfr ok gull,
sialig vopn ok klædi."

Kappar fvndv klæda bvr,
kænir voru til viga;
hitta ma par hraunpveings mur,
haU er upp at stiga.

Lavk hann vpp ok let pa jnn,
leikr el' mikill al sveinvm,
syna Jlla par safala ok skinn
seU med dyrvm steinvm.
s pæl'

Hafa peir lios ok h vgsa vm,
hirzlvm lvka morgvm,
ærit syndizt skratta skrvm
skræfum pessvm orgum.

Grettir lætr gilling aptr
ok giordi at læsa sidan;
kom til bæiarens kesiv rapir
ok kallar svanna fi'idann.

"Vifit, fa pv vopnin god
vig glaz pinga stefne,
vikingvnvm skal vekia blod,
veidar eru hier efni."

Brvdren qvad hia bondans sæng
bryniv eina liggia,
ok pann frida fetla hæng,
"fyr villdir pv piggia.

Kelli taktv, kappinn, hratt,
kæn at eli rita,
kroka spiot at Kar hefer aU,
kan pat hel1zt at bita."

Kroka spiotit kappinn greip
Kialas ok vermi halla;
pvi næst tok hann Solla' sveip
ok setti al ægis hialla.

Var sa fus j vopna glam.
vitiar vt at sinne:
"Haleyger munu hreppa skamm
j hvsi vorv jnne."

Gorpum potti GreUir seinn
ok 'giora til h vrdar vikia,
pa var las fyrir hvsi hreinn -
"halvrin vill oss svikia."
p (= pat, idet de'r tænkes på sax ?).
fra biart. 45 2 Kialas = Kjalnl's.
s pvi næst Sk1·. 2 gg.

Berserkirner brvtvzt vm fast,
hera peir hugsvn stranga,
hlaupa al so hvrdin brast,
hægt var vt at ganga.

Pat 111a verda ytvm angr,
ef peir lifi hallda;
bratt kenn m pa berserksgangr,
er brogdvm jllvm vallda.

Ganga vt ok grenia vid,
so gall j hafvm fiollvm;
fyst kom Porir fram al rid
af felogum sinvm ollum.

Pynnill spiot al Pore rak
pa lned skiotmn hæUi;
oddrinn gengvr aptr vm bak
alU sem krokvm mæUi.

Peygi gaf sig Porir vid,
pann ma hetiu kalla;
oddrinn hliop j Ogmunz kvid,
y tal' davdir faIla.

Hlavpa af ridinv hver sem gat
hil1ir ed eptir voru;
Grettir soUi gorpvm at
ok gaf peim hoggin storu.

Keppa stora kefsar fa,
kvnna hart at reida;
gilliga logdv Gretti al
ok giarna villdv hann llleida.

Saxi bregdr seggrinn pa,
soUi at peim lengi;
bitr rett sem brygdi j snia,
baruzt sar al dreingi.
54 3 gilliga = gildliga.

Berserkena j tvni tuo
tiorgv meidr felldj;
eigi synizt eggin slio,
af peim hofvdil1 skelIdi.

Brognvm rennr benia lvt,
blodgir mega peir heita;
fiorir kvomv fyrdar vt
ok forv Gretti veita.

Holdal' syndv hofligt megn,
hlavpa til med skvndan;
pegar Haleygil' horfa j gegn,
hrockva hinir vndan.

Sefring hoggvr en soknen vex,
særdi hann dreingi hrausta;
Fafnir hafdi pa felIda sex,
flydv hinir til na vsta.

Grettil' eptir gengr at meir,
giorir nv sokn at herda;
jnn j navstit alJir peir
undan hrockva verda.

Hoggvm mega peil' vixlazt vidvr,
vilian skortir eigj;
ætlig bezt at Balex nidr
bedia kaupit hl1eigi.

Ríma VI

Bellis strandar Piliv elg
pann skal færa æ landa svelg,
eigi er vist hvort vppi flytvr,
ongv b'veg hann se nytvr.
61 3 Balex = Båleygs.

Gamaned hefir mier gengit nær,
giorezt eg eeki til pess fæl'
atyrkia neitt vm ægæt fliod;
ellin grandar fleina riod.

Eigi er lygi vm andar pin;
Ol'din verda hverfa min,
pegar kemI' j gygiar glygg
geira Siofnen hanUa dygg.

Hitt er meir ad hvgsa m,
hverfa skal eg par alldri fra,
heidrs menu mie heldv fyrr,
hrygdar teeur at avka styr.

Odrinn felI j fimta sinn,
Fafnir komst j l1avstid inn;
llled arvm vordvzt y tal' pa,
eigi gefa peir hoggin sma.

Eyder sotti einn at sex
vndra hl'austr l10drv bekx;
halnvm gefa peir hoggin stor,
hvergi kappil111 vndan for.

For so enn at fellv tveir
feigir b'veg at væri peiR,
fiOl'ir komvzt fyrdal' vt;
fa peil' sidar meil'i sut.

Grettir eftir ga vrvm renn,
gylfris vill hann rioda tenn;
j . kornhloduna komuzt tueir,
kappa vo hann med snorpum geir.

Eigi nlaUi han n leita lejngr
listal' madr at bænvm gengr;
so var myrt at matt j pa
llleidir rita eckj sia.
peir, men dette er underpl·ikket.
r
b

Geck at dyrvnvm geira riodr,
garprin var furdv modI';
hvstrven kom pa honvm j gegn,
heilsar vpp æ vaskann pegn.

"V elkominn skalttv vera med oss,"
veiga taladi pann veg Hnoss,
"er leysti mie fra liotri blygd,
lavna skal eg pat ydr med dygd."

"Misiofn verdr morgvm olId,
mælItir pu annat fyrr j kueId;"
"beb'e er nv brvda hagvr,"
brosti vid pat ristilI fagr.

Sidan taladi svanenn gladr:
"sanniega erUv frægdar madr;
ydr skal giorvallt heimilIt hier
hvad mier stendr at veita pier".

Ganga jnn ok giol'a sier katt;
garpurinn drecke fram æ naU;
folkit giorvalIt for ok svaf,
fer han n ecki klædvm af.

Sidan kom pann sigrar naU,
sendv peir vm eyna skiott;
ærit kom par virda val,
vikinganna leila skal.

Fundu .ra vid folIdar bein,
fengit hofdv davdans mein;
Gfnir ra vd so vnda kolf,
alIa hefir hann felIda tolf.

Færdu bvrt j flædi vrd,
fl'ægdin hans uar uida spurd,
berserkianna bolvod hræ;
bolit peira er alU vid sæ.

Halrinn sat- par hvstrv nærr,
hVl1 var so vid garpinn kær;
allvel nlvn honum lavnad lid,
lydrinn poUi kiorinn j frid.

Pad skal seia Porfinni af,
pegnvm veiUi hann Idia skraf;
pegar at veizlan virdvnl leid,
vendi hann vt æ. sina skeid.

Seggir drogv segl vid ra,
sigldv pegar sem skiotaz Ina;
byrdingrinn vm braUan geim,
bar pa skioU at na vstvm heim.

PorfiniIr geck pegar æ. land,
pegninn sier hvar liggvr æ sand
hans ed goda hefladyr,
hetian upp at naustvm snyr.

Bondin kendi brædra skip,
braU var hann med reidi svip,
angvrit beit æ avdar lvnd,
ecki feck hann talad vm stund.

Porfinnr kvat visa von -
"ver hofvm fengit ærna sman,
berserkir hafa blygdad vif,
betra væd at missa lif.

Relldr var nv heima fatt,
hygg eg peill1 se eigi katt;
Greltir mvn peill1 Htit lid
leggia, pyrfti mikit vid."

H vstru skal par hernla fra,
hvn vill ofan til strandar ga;
Drakon hefir pat dvalit vm stund,
drosin talar vid avdar lvnd.
fra pat.
GRETTISRIMUR VI

"Listal' madrenn leyfdv oss
lesti at finna stala foss;
hans mvn sefi æ hringa brv;"
hetian bad hana rada ny.
,

Holdar fara med hringa N a
ok hennar dottir ofan at sia;
pegar at bondinn brvdi leit,
pa blidkazt hann j sinnv reit.

Pat Ina kalla fagna fynd,
folkit seUiz nidr æ grvnd;
seima skord med sæmdar plag
sag di aIlt af peira hag.

"Gretti eigum gialIda bezt,
garprinn laUv ei al frest,
heidra pann ed uigvm velldr;
veitazt skal honvm flædar elldr."

Fretti pann, er skiolldv skar,
skikkiv Bil hvar Grettir var;
"kempan heima j kyrdvnl sitr,
kappinn er sia snar ok vitr."

Gengv j stofvna garpr ok snot,
GreUir vikur peim j mot,
bondinn fagnar byt i stals,
blidlega toe hann pa til maIs.

"Alldre fæl' eg pakkad pier
pessa dygd, pv syndir mier,
nema pv pyrttir vir da vid,
veita skal eg pier travst ok lid."
26 8 hans rett, (af JSig.) fra ti.
mbr, pa homE hvstrvan kysti "og er dregitJ rautt stryk beggja
megin vir) fyrsta ortJitJ, en seinasta o'rtJitJ stendur ti innri
spaz~u,
Vera kann atJ petta se brot ur visu, sem vantar" ,
J. Sig.; således er det dog vel næppe, da versemålet lyder
forskelligt.
30s heima rett, fra heim.
fra lavnad .
.
6

Porfinnj var pegninn kærstur,
pvi hann sat jafnan bonda næstr;
petta vid a flygr ok fer,
hver frægdar madr at GreUir er.

Enn pa vtj er orma strid,
Ofni spurdi kempan frid:
"hvad vill reckrenn rada sin,
til reidv skal pier vm sia min. (I

Seggrinn kvad pad pat sina lyst
at sigla nordr j V oga fyst -
"hingat skal eg pegar havstal' at";
hinn kvad honum til reidv pat.

Segnvm feck hann silfl' j nog,
sa var kæn vid fleina l'og,
saxit goda Sefring gaf;
sidan letv peil' j har.

Reckar letv Ranar hvnd
renna nordl' vm sildal' grvnd;
virdal' koma j Yoga vm dag,
var par halldit stefnv lag.

Par ma lita margan mann,
mvgrinn kemI' ok GreUi fann;
firi pan sigur at segurinn vann
sveitir alIar tigna hanno

Rikir menn bvdv reknvm heim,
rezt hann ecki j ferd med peim,
segrinn villdi svdr j land,
sa var kænn vid ritar grand.

I byrding einvm feck hann far;
fvrdv rikr Porkell var,
pegninn aUj peUa fley,
pann var fyrr j geira pey.
s rada er gen. pl.
GRETTISRiMuR VI
~------------

A Halvgalandi halvren sat,
hvorke spardi hann ol ne mat;
j Saltre biet par bondinn bio,
bygdin stendr næri sio .

GreUir for med garpnvm beiru,
giordizt belldr kært med peim;
dreingrinn beiddi Drakon braU
dueliazt hia sier vintrar natt.

Pan var Grettir pessa navd
piottv bavgs, sem reckvrinn bavd;
sæmelega at segginn belldur,
sveitum veittizt Feniv meIldr.

Biorn hiet sa med bonda var,
beslu hafdi fæddan mar,
garpurinn var af godri æU,
gat hann po opt vid lydi prætt.

Porkell studdi pegnsins heidr,
po var hann af morgvm leidr;
Ofni tok at ofunda fast,
oHum veitti hann nockornn last.

Giordi hann vti glavm vm nætvr,
gvnnar fa pess aungvar bætr;
eru par margir vngir menn,
aIlir fylgia Birni enno

Harkit peira heyrdi ok kalI
hardia uitt vm grund ok flaIl;
hidbiorn nockvr vaknar vid,
veita mvn peim litinn frjd.

Bessi vida vm bygdir for,
brognvm veiUi hann meizlin stor,
so er hann ordinn olmr og ær,
engi pordi at koma par næR.
6*
RiMNASAJfN

Ufr deyddj yta ok hiord,
eigi var pat haglig giord
at h1eypa honum vr hidi æ bvrt,
HaIeygirner fa pat spurt.

PorkeIs rifr besse bv,
byrgingin var eigi trv,
noga feck hann Niardar kvon,
næsta mvn pess l)ickia von.

Forkell leitar bessa boIs,
briotar fvndv nodrv stols
hellis skvta homrvm j;
hvergi er gott at sækia at pvi.

Einstigi var vpp at ga,
ærit hatt var nidr at sia,
vrdin var par undir stor,
ofært poUi malma For.

Isolfr la jnne vm dag,
optazt var pat dyrsens hag,
at hallda bvrt pegar kvelldit kemr,
kvikfe mart til davda lenlvr.

Forkell feck af lneinit mest,
marger reikna hann harka ~est;
kotvngar jUa kæra pa,
kappinn GreUir pagdi hia.

"Bragnar skylldv hera sic vel",
Biorn kvad radit jfing hel,
"ydvar verdr fliotr fridr,
fyst vid nafnar eigvzt vidr."
49 1 Til Uf I' (= tr fr, ,bjorn') gor JSig. denne bemærkning:
"sic [o: Yfr] ut videtur mbr (yf2 = yfjt'mgr?, = yfr = æfr?),
mætti ok lesu: U fr". VII,21 3 findes ufi. 52 2 sia er subst. 4 ofærl:

Ofnir brosti at ordvm rekx;
ætlig bezt at lidi Pekx
tanna byrgis Tifr ok N il,
taki vit henni hver sem vil.

Ríma VII

Nu skal nlidivngs mæfils hestinn monnum færa;
seggivnl vex peim sorgar snæra,
er svinna giorir sier ivnfru kæra.

Sefanvm kvnnj saman at vikia sagnar pel,
ongvm dvger vonzlig vel,
po verdi dvld vm nockvt mel.

Hvarf eg fra par dreingir giordv'vm dyr at ræda,
ytar tocu ecka at græda,
eigi lagdizt Biorn til klæda.

Hvarf hann bvrt, pa bragnar giordv ytir bord
at sitia;
niotur giordi nodrv fitia
nafna sins til bygda at vitia.

Legst vid hidit hiorva l vndr hvldr skilldi;
pannig" fraeg' at garpurinn gilldj
giarna besting svikia villdj.

Let pa helldr litit yfir sier lestir branda;
ætlar Biorn pa bessa at granda,
bvrtv fer hann eftir vanda.

Mosmi vissi at miog so var honum madrinn
næri;
sa mvn kvnna at sia sier færi,
sofnadr fra eg at kappinn' væri.

Rattj nanl at rena vt ~t reyni branda,
hnyckir af honun1 Hrungnis granda,
hinn red pegar æ tætr at standa.
56 2 lidi = lilli.
ecka
fæt.r:
R:OINASAFN

Skiolldrinn bravt firi biargit breitt at brott·
um ægi;
setti vndan seggrinn slæge
svein i trveg at bræzlann bægi.

Avlar heim med jUan leik til yta sinna;
bragnar giordv berv at finna,
brosat var at honum eigi pess minna.

Bondinn Forkell byr sig til nv bessa at vinna,
atta voru bolda hinna;
hafa peir aIlir benia linna .

Biorn ok Grettir badir fylgia brodda stridi;
bragnar sottv at brvsa hidi,
bessa trveg at litit svidi.

Kapv af sier lagde Linnj er leirlvr er flotti,
merlan at dreingrinn dyrit sotti,
drivgvm stod pvi af honum ottj.

Ongvm kom par vopnvm vid nema VænV111
spiotvm;
jUa soktezt avdar niotvm,
af sier lavst hann pav med fotvm.

Yta tok at eggia Biorn sem odr væri:
"eigi fa bragnar betra færi" ,
hessa kom hann po hvergi nære.

Felldi Grettis feck hann nad ok fleygdi af
hendi,
halvrinn mitt j hidit sende,
hlackar var sa gyrdvr vendj.

Ytar fengv eigi sigrat urinD lagda,
briotar munv pvi fiornis flagda
fleire verda at leita bragda.
settj (med anden hånd).
12 1 stridi
'Kett. fra vidir. 131 er mgl. hdsk'l',

Fafnir mist~ feUdal' sins en fremdar blidi,
Linnjsier hann ligia j bidi,
lek pa at honum biornen stridi.

"Hver heftr gædir glezt vid mie grimnes versa,
feldi minvm fleygt til bessa?
furdv litit kemr til pessa."

Svaradi Biorn, ed siaUdan potti j sognum bæta:
"eigi nennj eg pessa at præta,
pv villdir eeki at honum gæta."

Bradia gi ord v bragnar heim til bæiar herda,
Ofnir nam pa eptir verda.
vfa mvn sa vilia skerda.

Pegar at eigi lydi litr lestir randa,
skioma bregdl' skyfir branda,
skal nv kostr at neyta han da.

Einstigit red vpp at ganga eydir menia;
briotr heyrdj birte fenia,
hessi toc so hatt at grenia.

Hvninn giorir med heipt ok ædi hlavpa at
Gretti,
hoggit pegar med hramnum setti,
hinn j moti sverdit rettj.

Hrottin skyfdi hramen bvrt af hidis tiggia,
sanlega hlavt hann sar at piggia,
hann sa nv kiær æ jordY liggia.

Ofnir hleypr fress j fang med feiknar ædi,
travstvm fra eg hann tocvnvm nædi,
tok hann h6ndvm eyrvn bædi.

Hellt hann af sier bessa j bravt ed bita "iUdi,
vopna lvndr, vanr vid hilldi,
veit nv ei hvad breda skilldi.

Dyrit hraU peim fvrdv fast er framdi dadir,
hropvdv peir firi biargit badir,
bodnar voru peim lillar nadir.
261 hleypr: e tf. af JSig.

Ofnir verdr efri enn er vrdv mæta,
saxit mvn firi segnvm bæta,
. sveigir bra pvi orma stræta.

Sidan skavt hann birnj j briost pvi bryniv
flagdi,
dyrit hiUi dauda at bragdi,
dreingrenn yfir sig felldin lagdi.

Hirdir giordi heim at ganga hravnpveings
fitia
dreinger pa yfir dryckiv sitia,
Drakon giordi j stofv vitia.

Geck firi bord par gvnnar satv garpvrinn vitri,
fyrdar hlogv at felIdar slitri,
fellir heck æ linda en bitri.

Legr æ bord pat burtv sk.vfdi berv af fæti,
brosti vid pat bondinn mæti,
by ti hann jafnan orma strætj.

"Hvar er nv Biorn," ed briotr sagdi biartra
rita,
"ei sa eg pier so eggiar bita,
ecki skalttv GreUi vita.

Gior pv helldr GreUi sæmd firi gIetni slika" ;
veitir svaradi Vidris brika:
"vel' skulum honum sidar lika."

Dreingrenn talar vid Drakon pat af dreing-
skap sinvm:
"hialpa skal eg heidri· pinvm,
hefnst pv eigi æ frænda min vm.

Manngiolldvm skal eg mjdla pier moens af
granda,
sæUin rnæUj sidan standa,
segginll villdig forda vanda."
hrvngpveins.
340 1 rita tf. af JSig.
2 ei relt. (af JSig.) fra
GRETTISRIMUR VII

,,1 betra stad ma bondin rackur byta a vdi, "
svaradi Biorn en sæmdar snavdi,
"sarlega fer pa pengurinn ravdj.

Fyrri skul v vit folldar vagna fleina rioda,
ecki skal honvm 'annat bio da, "
y til' sagdi barv gloda.

Grettir tok at glotta vid hvat garpurinn mælti,
peim kan bita broddrinn stællti;
Biorn at son nv heimskan vælltj.

"Ofnir giordv eigi angr jllzkv fvsvm,
medan pit ernt j minvm hvsvm;
Iniodrinn skal pier veittvr af krvsvm."

Pessu viII di pegninn jata Pvndi skialIda ;
ordin mvn hann allvel hallda,
"enn ma petta sidar giallda."

Hinn kvezt eigi firi halnvm skylldv hræddr
verda:
.,pottv leyfir greidi gerda,
ganga ætla eg minna ferda. "

Vorit kemr ok villdi Nadr til Uoga hallda;
bordvm pvær hin bleika allda,
barnr kvnnv hvitt at falIda.

Weitir dvelst j Vognm nordvr Vignis roma;
kempann hiUi kappa from a,
er kvnnv honvm at veita soma.

Sidan villdi hann sudl' j land sem sagt mvn
verda;
byrdingvrinn var bvinn til ferda,
by ren tok pa streingi at herda.

Koppum veitir kolgv brima kempan Linne;
gavnsvdr var greitt j sinni,
geck pvi svdr vm Prandheims minne.

Gvmnar bittv goda hofn, j Golltum heitir;
æ landit ganga lyda sveitir,
lofdar voruallir teitir.

Kappar lita kaupskip eitt par koma at land i,
vindrinn hvass er vodir, pandi,
virdal' huldv flein j sandi.

Fyrdal' stiga fyst æ land sem freUizt padra,
holdal' barv hialm ok nadra;
hvorir fraeg at kvoddv adra.

Pegnen litr at par var Biorn j peira flocki,
eigj potti hann a11ra bocki,
engvin var po æ. bonum pocki.

Grettir talar til Biarnar bratt: "vid bvvzt
til viga,
hvor skal ockar annal' hniga,
eigi laUv a deigan siga."

Biorn kvezt helldr bæta mundv breytni sina;
segrinn toc' pa sakir at tina:
"sæmd vil eg nv avnga pina.

Gunnar hafa eigi glezt vid mie," er Grettir
sagdi,
"bita skal nv bryniv flagdi" ;
Biorn toc vopn at skommv bragdi.

Sidan hlaupazt seggir at ok sverdin reida;
pvrpti hogga eigi at beida,
hiorinn toc pa Biorn at mei da.

Halrinn fæl' pa bæUlig sar a hverrj stvndv;
blodi raudv beniar hrvndv,
Biorn hne davdr nidr at grvndv.

Sueigir for pa sudr a Mæri sefrings landa,
Porfine kom pegar til han da,
pydliga tok hann eydi branda.
50 2 hialm: læs hiaJma?

Veitir sagdi Uidris tialIda vigit Biarnar,
fleygir svaradi fofnis tiarnar:
"fylgi skal eg pier veita giarna.

Hvergi skil eg vid hlackar harv hlioda sendi
en po fyrdal' fleinen sendi,
fyrr en malin ganga af hendi."

Ny tI' sat pa Noregs vordr nordr j landi,
hann var milldr moens af sandi;
morgum var po fyr at grandi.

Still ir sat par stolltr ok rikr er Steinker beitir,
jallinn Sveinn at brandi beitir,
blidliga hellt hann sinar sveitir.

Hallda gerdi hilmir ricur hirdmann penna,
Hiarranda mega holdal' kenna,
bann viII alldri VI' strid i renna.

Fyrdvrn poUj hann furdv giarn al frænings
slodir,
Hiarandi var Biarnar brodir,
barrnar pottv eigi goder.

Forfine giorir pengill bod er pegnin helldr,
at koma til sin, pannvigvm velldr,
visliga trvig at einn hver gelldr.

Fegnar koma æ fylkis fvnd med fl'ækna dreingi;
hristir svndr hlioda streingi,
bygg eg pa fai bætta engi.

Ríma VIII

Vjgnis ork af vizkv mork
viIldig gvnnvm færa,
giorizt obeint ok gengr seint
Glapsvids farm at næra.
63 1 slodir

Mansongs hatt vm menia gatt
ma eg nv eckj smida,
j siakta korn at setti norn
sorgar pilu strida.

Hvad mv.n Baldur, hniginn jalldr,
hraunpveings granda lioda
mansongs ord vm menia skord
vid meistara væna ok froda?

Brast par odr bondinn" godr
badir saman ok Linne
hiUv jall, en hravnpveings pall
holdar budvat sinne.

Stefnv dag vid stolltan plag
stiller fraeg vid lagdi;
Hiarandi var nled hilme par,
hardliga fraeg at sagdi.

Sa vill eigi ok sagdi nei
sæUir neinar piggia :
"hann skal fyrr enn heptizt styr
j heliv verda at ligia."

Af stefnv gengr en sterki dreingr,
stridi mvn sa vanda;
pegninn væn firi Porfinz bæn
pa skal landz vist hallda.

Arnbiorn skal med jtrvm hal
vti jafnan vikia, -
"Hiarandi mun sem hef eg æ grvn
hreysti mannen svikia."

Gengv peir firi gardz hlid tveir
garpar vti vm stl'ætj;
af holdvm sex, en hridin vex,
hoggvm trveg peil' mætj.
---~
--~~~---

Giordi fyrr, sa girntizt styr,
Grettir jafnan ganga;
Arnbiorn hratt,ok er pat saU,
y ti fra sier spanga.

Hiarandi nam hlaupa fra/m
ok hoggva j stad til Linna;
æ herd ar blad kom hogid pad,
hlaut hann sar at finna.

Unda gridr eigi sidr
ofan j strætit rendj;
saxi bræ pann sarit al,
sidan aptr vendi.

HOggR bratt vid hreysti matt
hond af jallzens pegni,
bragna sueit med bryniv pueit
borduz pegar af megni.

Grettir lætr gynna mætr
Gillings balit kenna,
Arnbiorn en ok jtri seggr,
ox pa geira senna.

Fellv a stord vid fleina mord
fiorar jallsens kempur ;
ritin brast enn bvkrin skarst,
bilvdv Sorla hempur.

Hinn fimti var sa brandin bar
Biarnar lif re en sterki;
dreingrinn frægr dyr ok slægr
davdans feck hann merki.

Hinn settj rann ok siola fann
sveigir hlvnna dyra,
giordi pann' enn gilldi mann
giorvallt honum at Skyra.
11 1 fram re it. Fra at.
jallzen,

Reidin svall firi recka fal}
rikvm styri ylgia,
setti ping en sæmd var kring,
seggir pangad fylgia.

Millding vikr IB motit rikr,
malin gervoll setti,

tiorgu meidr taladi reidr
truliga vpp æ Gretti.

"Minar hendr, malmr er sendr,
millding, attig veria;
feck eg sar," kvad fvrdv knar
fleygir pynnils skeria.

"Illa var," kuad audling snar,
"eigi fecUv davda,
lydrinn gelldr ef lift helldr
lester gullsins ravda. "

Karson bydr kæn ok pydur
kolgv hal Uri Linna
æ jallsins dOlll, en olldin from
oll toe honum at sinna.

War par mann, er Vidris kann
vidiss hrodur hvessa,
odling medr, vlfa sedr,
ytar kalla Bessa.

Fegnsins mædr modv glædr
morgvm gerdi at veita,
skikkiv jord med skialleg ord
Skalldtorfa nam heita.

Pegninn ste ftri peingils hne,
pydr og kæn j mali:
"veit peim grid ok fvllan frid,
fyrda vo med stali. "
22 1 Karson = Kårs son
(a: Porfinnr).

"I Tvnsbergi sitr trvr ok vitvr,"
tiggi red pat sanna,
"bondi ein er beitir flein,
brodir pessara manna.

Gunnar vin ok get eg pess til
gilldra brædra hefna."
Pangad avstr peingill travstr
pegilvJTI giordi at stefna.

"At svmri skal eg med seggia val
sitia Tvns j bergi,
dreingir pa," kvad dogling sa,
"dragi sie vndan hvergi."

Giordu pad sem gramson bad,
garpar austr vitia;
j kaupstad peim med kolgu eim
kappar giordv at sitia.

Linne fann par listar mann,
lifra sinn en snialla;
gard einn helldr eR gæfv velldr;
garpar Dromvnd kalla.

Hetian bavd pa heidvr ok avd
hoskvm brodr sinvm,
"sit hia mjer," kvad sverda greR,
"sinna eg malvm pinum."

Karson kæn badi vitr ok væn
sitr j Posteins gardi,
bondi slikr brognvm ricvr
bioriN eigj spardi.

Ofnir snarr var vm sig varr,
ytar giordv honum sinna;
ætla peir 'med gylldan geir
Gunnar vili hann finna.

Einn hvern dag med æru plag
A vglir sitr at· drecka,
j kaupmanz bud er kempan prud,
katur var vid recka.

Hinn kom gnyr at hetian dyr
hliop til vopna sinna,
hnvit var fast enn hvrdin brast,
hark var ecki at minna.

Hlvpu par jnn med hiallta linn
holdar fvrdv slol'ir,
Giuka falld med Grimnis tialId
garpar barv flodr.

SoUu bratt ok syndv matt
seggir fast at Linna,
Gunnar var firi gunUlll par,
Gretti viII hann finna.

Kolbaks jord at kempan hord
kænliga firi sie setti;
saxi heIl dl', sveitin gelldr,
soUv peir at GreUi.

Hetian kemr sa hreysti fremr
hoggi al kempu eina,
skipti j sundr Skilfings tundr
skyfi biartra fleina.

Anal' feck sa at honum geek
eigi minni skeinu;
heila borg ok hyggiv torg
hiol'inn sneid j einu.

Gunars sveinn var eptir einn,
vt hliop sa firi GreUi,
panll la flatr til frægda latr,
fætr j proskolId seUi.

Leggr fast, en lindin brast,
lestir orma sveita;
Gvnnar vill pvi giolld eru jll
giarna vndan leita.

Hilldar sky firi hyggivby
helldr hondvm badvm,
hopar sa vt ed hrepti svt,
hann mvn firdr nadum.

Ofnir hio, sa unda SiD
ytvm vekia kvnnj,
badar hendr boIvi vendr
bvrt af viga rvni.

Fliott æ bak vid fleina skak
faIla trveg hann verda,
anat slag gaf enda dag
eydi væna gerda.

FreUi jall at fleinnenn gall,
fyrdar drepnir voru,
pa yard reidr randa mei dr
rett so gegnde story.

Pingit· setr enn sætta letr
sioli Noregs grvndar,
Fofnir kemI', er fiornj lemr!
fliott til pessa fundar.

FyIgir enn vit frækna menn
frægr Karson Linna;
Posteins sveit at peingill leit,
peir bera skiol1dv stinna.

'Brynil' rock ok bragna flock
Bessi hafdi at rada,
al1ir peir vid gilIdan geir
GreUi vilIdu nada.
47 \I grvndar reet. fra grvnda.

Svarangs rom a siklings dom
seggir bioda sniallir,
ef fengizt grid firi vopna vid,
være sattir aller.

Avngvar bætr bvdl vng mætvr
af brognvm villdi piggia,
Drakon skal firi dyrum hal
daudr a velli liggia.

"Pioti lvdr pengils prvdr,
pegnar bvizt at kifa;
eg skal nv med avglis brv
engvm peira hlifa."

"Wile pieR pad," er Karson kvad,
"kappar riodi geira,
A vglis lif vid orfa drif
ydr skal kosta meira."

Skilduz at en skrifat er pat
skatnar Dromund fylgia,
bivgvzt vit en lofdvngs lid
leitadi fæ di ylgia.

Fystr stod af frægrj piod
fleygir orma sveita,
Gretti næstr Karson kærstr
kunnj sverdi at beita.

Grettis brædr gilldr ok skædr
giorir peim næR at standa,
Bessi· var med brognvm par
buinn til fota ok han da.

KemI' par fliott en frida droU
fra m med jallsens merki,
firi hlidinv stod med Gillings glod
GreUir fystr enn sterkj.
52 2 hvizt reU. fra hvazt.

Almrinn gall, en jtre jall
vit yta taladi frida:
"geflt vpp pann er vigin yann,
ver skulum ella strida."

Postejnn kvad at peingill pad
piggia mundi valla -
"vopna hrid po verdi strid,
virdar hliot~ at falla."

"Hvat skal pier," ed pengill tier,
"Posteinn GreUi at veita,
oss j mot vid eggia rot
Oska rodli at beita?"

"Brodr minn med benia linn
bragnar mega bann kalla;
herra merkvr, bardIa sterkr,
he.iptir laUv falla.

Taki pier bot firi bavga niot
ok berivzt eigi vit tiggia" ;
j annann stad at Hessi bad
bvdlvng sæUir piggia.

Sveitin bvetr, pvi so var betvr,
sættir mæUi verda -
"sizt er bot vid sina drolt
sverda leik at herda. "

Jallin ve it firi 1{irda beit
v~r pat meiri somi;
vard pa sæU, enn vigin ,bælt
visi jotna romj.

Po var faU vm pessa salt,
panenn fra eg pa skilia ;
gofvgr jall firi gvnna spiall
geck fra sinvm vilia.
61 1 minn tf. i randen.
6~ t
7*
tOO
RiMNASAFN -

Karson snyr al kolgvdyr,
knvdi al bordvm allda;
GreUir for med geira Por,
giora peir heim at hall da.

Karson feck, par frettin geck,
frægd af pessv sanna
firi pad lid, hann ueitti vid
uoskum birti hranna.

"Bauga Tyr vill blidvr ok skyr
braU til Islandz vitia;
Porfinnr gaf Piassa skraf
Pvndi nodru fitia.

Kallmanz brogd eru kvnn ok sogd,
kappinn bar yfir alIa;
heim til Biargs kom brædir vargs.
Bragr skal pannig falla.

Source Colophon

Finnur Jónsson, ed., Rímnasafn: Samling af de ældste islandske Rimer, vol. 1 (Copenhagen: S. L. Møllers, 1905), pp. 43–96. Text from the Wolfenbüttel manuscript (Cod. Guelf. 120.5 Extrav.). Critical apparatus omitted; OCR artifacts lightly corrected.

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