Be outside with the wolf-band
all the long winter nights;
may their lives never be glad —
everything shall go against them.

Ríma I

(Mansöngr)

I will carry Fjölnir's first cup
out from the village of verse;
though my flow be thin as fate,
I will offer forward my poem.

Over Gautland a noble king ruled —
Haldan was his name;
many were the honors heaped on him,
his power he gave to warriors.

I will speak of this noble man —
his fate stands straight before us;
men call him Wolf-leap,
keeper of the serpent's lands.

I shall compose verse about the prince
if warriors will listen;
the king was given a sweet throne,
which shall adorn the realm hereafter.

Men name his woman Hilldr;
she bore children to the lord.
Yet the prince's veil-ground
must come first in this poem.

Úlfhamr is the prince's offspring —
I must speak of this;
how great is fame spread
around the prince's pure child.

I speak first of the noble man;
warriors celebrate this;
the prince's son, whom knowledge reached
full of all honor.

Dagbjört is a glorious woman named,
daughter of the wealthy king;
with gold she adorns the warriors' lives —
none other like her can be found.

Her mother taught the beautiful maiden
most things; the necklace-Gefn is lovely;
the gold-ground will most regret this
when those hours have passed.

A mighty earl serves the prince,
laden with honors and deeds;
none was born in the prince's hall
more excellent in all counsels.

The warrior got himself a dear lady —
I do not hide this from people;
sons he had with the silk-bridge —
this tells of their excellence.

The brothers ride boldly forward,
prepared for battle;
they never fear the clash of swords
wherever warriors fall.

Skjöldr and Hermánn they are called —
they serve the valiant king;
men fight with pale-grey spears,
winning fame enough.

I must tell people of
the king's foul life-fate;
the prince came before the greatest trouble —
he could not enjoy his realm.

Fate stood upon that prince
terribly — so may we see;
the praised-lord had an ugly home,
the blemish of a precious man.

In summers the powerful king rules,
keeping all his household proper;
but in winters he must be like wolves
and must wander in the forest.

One winter the wise man lay
surely in the forest with sorrows;
now it tells of the ring-snake,
she betrayed the king in trust.

Hilldr calls a feast,
summoning truly for summer;
she plans to betray the king now —
the treachery will not cool quickly.

The linden-Rán grew impatient
waiting long for the prince;
before that she multiplied all deceits —
the woman with the handsome king.

Her breast is hard as stone,
she was grim as wolves;
the pure king comes from the forest —
not many warriors follow him.

The queen herself and the dear people
go to meet the prince;
the lord prepares to dispel sorrow,
most of all from long suffering.

Both royal households come there
to comfort the famous lord;
now it tells that the king's woman
bears her heart toward worse.

People accompany the praised-lord now
and lead him into the beautiful hall;
then the king's harsh wife
acts gentle toward the proud king.

The prince begins drinking ale;
warriors do not worry;
she asks then to quickly move the dear king
from his garments.

A bower stood on the decorated field —
the household was to lie there;
warriors soon from the dear hall —
the woman would honor the lord.

Hilldr speaks with her lord:
"Cast away grief and pain;
shield-lord, I will pour you wine —
then I will do my duty."

Haldan answers the white lady;
he says he will receive this;
now I reveal that the ring-bridge
will take the fated man.

I learned the king had to sleep —
so I believe sorrow grew;
she sliced the head off the king away
with her bright short-sword.

She flings the head away, the dreadful woman,
guiding trouble for most;
she never mourns the king's life —
so fate must stand.

In the morning the courtly people come —
the woman sits composed;
they see the king's heart-blood;
their joy and gladness fled.

The gold-pool called Úlfhamr first:
"I caused your father's death;
the retainer gave us this desire —
now take the red gold."

He answered straight with proud spirit
to this bride with these words:
"No worse veil-ground exists
than a fire-bale's cliff."

"Prince's son, with your mother —
remember what I ask;
share with us the bright wine,
let the warrior stand down in his rage."

"My son, I will now honor you;
sit ever near to me;
weave into my embrace and delight me —
let a lady be your own dear one."

"Terribly has this need seized me —
the woman in the embrace of pleasure;
I will sooner bear a heavy death
than sleep in your arms."

"Prince's son, betroth yourself to me;
I will gladly rule over this;
the gold-cliff will then gladden you —
keeper of Fáfnir's treasure."

"Prince's son, the quick people will be given you,
free with the world's splendor;
do a woman's will in all things,
and do not escape honor."

A warrior called to the champion often:
"Let us flee the king's halls;
build a beautiful and free new hall,
and let us all go there."

The king's daughter named Dagbjört
heard of the king's death;
the maiden let no grief stop
the meeting with her sorrow.

She went away into the beautiful forest,
keeper of the north-land;
Herr's horn-plow
shall now stand here before the people.

Ríma II

(Mansöngr)

In the second time I intend
to strengthen Fjölnir's craft;
let rulers listen to this here,
though my craft is difficult.

My verse-choice is thin
far beyond easy eloquence;
people go with bright fires
far away into the forests.

I will illuminate for warriors here
what the men work at;
Skjöldr and Hermánn take their pleasure
quickly beside the king's heir.

People hear throughout almost all lands
of this prince's death;
evil dealings will increase here
for the prince's son in need.

The crafty woman steers the realm;
bold warriors flee;
she plans suffering for her stepson
and intends to send new trouble.

The crafty woman gathers men
and turns to the beautiful forest;
she plans now with hard spirit
to ride to meet her quarry.

Warriors come into the dense forest;
the lily spoke thus:
"The men's keeper keeps the birches here —
here we shall part now."

"I will meet my wise foster-son
and offer him peace terms;
if he does not accept this choice,
then swords shall be reddened."

"Five warriors shall follow us
riding out from the forest;
that retainer will receive treasure
who dares to fight with Úlfhamr."

"I have a pipe that shall be blown;
warriors will marvel at this;
a voice will carry from the verse-hall —
people shall then hasten."

I understand this with haste;
the queen hastens on her journey;
they turned to where the hall's men
adorned themselves with beautiful gear.

Quickly will sorrow grow for men,
if fate will not change;
both brothers ride out
to find the joyful earl.

Úlfhamr sits there, calm in waiting —
not for long will that last;
the hard strife will grow
when Hilldr comes with her warriors.

Úlfhamr said to his men:
"Warriors must ride out;
back home, half my force
shall wait of bold fighters."

Men ride with the fire of courage —
they guarded against no tricks;
now it tells that the earl's sons
sought their father's estate.

The earl spoke to his heirs:
"It is evil to hear such things;
the king's bower is sought in suffering —
grief will not ease quickly."

"I dreamed," says the dear earl,
"nightly of a she-wolf's mother;
it is surely better to speak wisdom —
to save the wise son."

"The she-wolf's cubs raged there,
they wanted to tear Úlfhamr;
grimly will the spear-weather
quickly show itself to warriors."

"On journeys you must make haste now,"
the spear-thrower spoke;
"I suspect the grim woman
will not let magic run short."

I heard the brothers thus turned
and settled both in pale dread;
yet one must come down beside the king's son
while champions wander outside.

Men thought to turn home,
surely to their own estate;
a swan full of cunning
comes against those champions.

She dismounted from her horse quickly —
the proud lady before the warriors;
she called her son quickly:
"Give me your assistance!"

"Mother, you shall remember this —
you can understand it;
sooner will a hall of steel be built
than I linger on your will."

Hilldr speaks with the sword-breaker:
"Hear me, my good lord;
if you break against the bride,
it is straightforwardly worse for you."

The thorn-Gerðr sounds the pipe;
warriors can hear that;
the army comes there most proud,
waking blood among men.

Hilldr, his grim mother,
urges the men hard;
the arrow immediately burst upon the warriors —
many peoples fell.

All attack Úlfhamr most;
the queen urges the fighters:
"That one shall win my hand
who endures the sharp battle."

All the prince's men fell;
one lord stood left;
the horn-ground urges men still:
"Think not the worse of it, king."

The prince struck with pale hands;
the eagle is prepared for swiftness;
here a message must be sent to the king
to reach the wise king.

The earl's sons thrust forward;
they now see the king standing;
they do not fear the sword's clamor
wherever they come into danger.

Brothers hew warriors down
in the fire of spears at their best;
there the tree of famous arrows
will fall from weariness.

Men cleave the battle-field;
wolves tear at torsos;
then the earl comes with his champion band,
all protecting the king.

I heard that blood roared about the warriors;
streams of gore fall;
Hilldr with hard spirit
calls out loudly to her men.

"My force counts with the fifties;
I believe the earl rules over this;
it is better now," says the grim bride,
"to hold back."

The veil-cliff will flee now
and urges to escape;
the earl will plan for the gold-bridge
a greater trick than before.

Warriors fell a heavy tree;
the sword will show this;
this lady's force is urged
to run swiftly away.

Men chase that fleeing force
which the woman was to lead;
the swan runs away from the men —
that is her salvation.

Four oaks now
fell upon the woman with valor;
I have heard that the thorn-bridge
immediately relied on magic.

She lays down quickly, the cunning woman;
that will little harm her;
an ugly vengeance upon men
will be planned from the woman.

This clever, cunning woman
becomes stronger than the champions;
Hilldr immediately vanished
from the people's hands in darkness.

She has now come to the sea-fortress;
the lily did not hesitate;
she plans heavy sorrow for the men —
that goes according to her will.

Inward there the earl went
still with his people;
they moved the king out of the torments —
champions now with honor.

Brothers quickly heal the prince,
easing his broad wounds;
Hilldr hears that the host of men —
the famous one still sits at home.

Therefore the thorn-ground never achieved
the prince's death;
the dreg of the dwarf shall quickly be poured
falling from the thought-load.

Ríma III

(Mansöngr)

Þundar's verse I intend to offer first
in the third time;
Hilldr was eager for revenge
especially against the good warriors.

The lady still has in mind
to afflict bold warriors;
it is proper to clarify this now
before men — most of all this.

Her counselor, who is called Rigard,
advised the woman to summon;
the woman showed herself gentle toward the men —
the kinswoman gives them a dais.

"The prince shall, as I have known,
be offered all honor;
if you now carry our bright letter
under the king's judgment."

"Get the letter to the prince's hand
and bring him my greeting;
let the lord now take this land
and with it his people."

"The foster-brothers shall follow
their famous lord;
I offer men terms of peace —
so it is not worse now."

"Fifteen warriors will follow you;
mostly it will be for your good;
come there where the king is
merry at the earl's estate."

There has come a warrior to the champion —
he is called Ásmundr;
a duke's son, with proper skill,
he knows how to wield the sword.

This warrior is from Danish ground,
capable in the fire of swords;
the warrior is nimble in shield-meeting —
he came to serve the king.

That now passes before the men,
since one can wait no longer;
now it tells that the messengers
sought the beautiful hall.

They came before the king's table,
greeted the warrior and people;
men made the warriors merry —
all went with dignity.

Rigard laid on the king's table
the vigorous letter with his hand;
then he explained all the words
to the king that Hilldr had sent.

As soon as the prince saw the letter
his red cheek grew pale;
the lord's thought then came
to rush into great danger.

Úlfhamr answered the men then:
"It is wretched to hear such things;
if our mother shall meet the greatest suffering
with no obstacle."

The mighty earl answers his speech:
"Take courage, good lord;
care not, king, for her man —
Hilldr does you worse."

"I cannot bear it," said the gentle man,
"that the bride should burst with sorrows;
such a burning sting of grief
plays around the verse-Rán."

"Men, take horses now quickly
and Handir's bright shirts;
we are urged with a host of warriors
to ride forward to the fortress."

Then the blind earl speaks straight:
"Disaster will harm the men;
it would be better for warriors to fall
in the fire-brand of arrows."

Warriors prepare on the field
with the king's mail and shield;
they rode indeed from the hall —
Rigard came before Hilldr.

Men quickly greeted
the deceit-augmented swan:
"The lord comes at the roaring night
with three hundred men."

Hilldr began to laugh then —
loudly, so warriors noticed:
"My longing is mostly gone —
now it goes according to my will."

She called to her champions still —
the clever gold-slope:
"Our men shall set up a feast;
they shall drink wine."

The sun shines bright on the warriors;
they now see the king riding;
there a temple was made with honor —
men thought toward gladness.

The linden-Rán went to meet the praised-lord
and raised both arms;
yet the hard crafty woman will plan
to bind the king in grief.

"Prince, receive this bright gold
and our gentle lord";
yet the writing will be shame-full —
the shield-lord plans worse.

"Prince, go into the dear hall
to ease the warriors' sorrow;
all enmity will then turn
when neck meets bride."

The king went to his seat;
so too did all the warriors;
Hilldr then got the horn
and gives to men to drink.

The earl's sons are near at soul
and the sister of the famous king;
Ásmundr was dear to them, the prince —
before the excellent deeds.

The treacherous woman cast her gaze
and now looks up at the warriors:
"Men, put down horn and knife —
no one shall drink here."

"My son seeks honor for me,"
so the woman comes to speak;
"Shield-lord, I will now entertain you
quickly at your table."

"I lift up before the valiant people —
many came here to land;
a shieldmaiden roused blood from arrows
and drove the folk with her sword."

"Vörn gained a wolf's feast
and rule over trusty warriors;
none is equal to her in valor —
a woman with a sharp warrior."

"The necklace-tree had to ride
when Mæfill roars with shooting;
she could burn a king-hall
and break castles down."

"The Gautland army went against
this woman grimly;
the lord thought the fine woman
was to be pressed out of life."

"They yet fought battle
three days with valor;
the prince's men let all their army
break away."

"No mercy was given to the men
when the king fled;
warriors, hack yet the heavy tree!" —
the lord speaks to his people.

The veil-Gerðr chased the fleeing force
of the prince now with fury;
oaks fell on the woman's back —
men steered toward luck.

They fell a forest on the veil-ground;
the woman plans death;
never will that ring-Hrund
come to men in need.

She lost the life of the gold-treader;
it avails nothing to hide it;
men of missiles are now satisfied to the full —
we shall test more.

The necklace-cliff spoke then —
all may now understand:
"Warriors shall have a compelled fate
next according to my will."

"Be outside with the wolf-band
all the long winter nights;
may their lives never be glad —
everything shall go against them."

"May the men come home at summer
to protect their own realms,
and wade forward then into the weapon-drift —
wolves tear at torsos."

Men raised a mound on land —
Vörn has that to guard;
here the third mingling of mead
shall flow forward now.

Ríma IV

(Mansöngr)

There I shall lift Hárr's low sea —
I will explain this to people;
the necklace-ground gives the prince a journey —
few will choose that path.

The sorcery-woman went to the table;
the king took her with hateful eyes:
"You shall go ever against the grain —
I now ask for such a thing."

"Wise one, go into Örnar's mound
and become fixed in a seat there;
suffer for yourself against the evil draugr —
let no gladness reach you."

"No prince's harm shall
diminish, as can be heard in the world,
unless that clever leek-woman
who is adorned with bright silk."

"Even if your lily eases the strife
and gains mercy for the praised-lord —
you shall never find shelter by the necklace-woman
if I could rule over it."

"Even if the woman goes into the dark mound
and frees the prince from his trouble —
fast shall this fate stand
for the woman against the foul draugr."

Ásmundr then rode before the gold-ground
to anger her quickly with words:
"Your life's short time —
it shall be ordered to cross over."

"The earl's sons sought us
sorely in the spear-battle;
they roused a waterfall of weapons
and wanted to spare nothing."

"I will repay them grimly for that
if it goes according to my will;
the foster-brothers first, in place,
must be terribly parted."

"You shall visit Valland first
and come to grief there;
men desire birds
before women's sorrows."

"I cannot explain all that,"
says the Gerðr of Fáfnir's bed;
"men should hold sorrow always
if I could rule it."

Dagbjört then answered the queen;
the woman bore heavy grief:
"Let most of all longing fall there
and fill the bosom of delight."

"I have taught you the dear one too much —
that torments my thought;
the maiden spoke back to the adornment:
'So may our pain lessen.'"

"I take that back never now,"
the gold-ground answers with valor;
"she will be found, that mighty lady,
who frees men from suffering."

"Let slaves now take the thorn-ground
and press her into the long forest;
kindle a fire from birch-wood for a time —
she shall burn that prisoner."

The king departed from his garments here —
torment was enough at hand;
men explain it to me that way:
the king vanished away from the lands.

The prince went into the dark mound —
this matter is grievous;
he was held fast against the foul draugr,
kept from all sleep.

I departed from where the lord was;
that must be clarified;
warriors took to the healing sea
and steered on the waves.

Darkness struck over the gold-tree;
the sea roared at the planks;
men have parted there fully —
quickly after Hilldr's words.

Men quickly found Valland —
it was not easy to delay;
the trusty men camped for the night
and began to sit on the ground.

Warriors sat down to drink
and did not linger over this;
a sorrow to the men immediately
shall clearly fall to the heart.

Supernatural birds then came into the camp
and pushed in before the warriors;
the brothers got bitter longing
and were bound in great pain.

Warriors thought to catch them
and rushed forward from their seats;
men could not get close to the birds —
their joy was gone.

Let us leave the strong men's
great trouble standing;
the duke's son must stir again
wherever he comes to land.

The fighter has five restless beasts —
men may understand that;
the ship turns for them to the island;
everything went against their will.

Men lay sail by the island,
then shot to the gangway;
the warriors let the fine ship
thrum steadily on the sea.

Ásmundr went alone ashore there,
destroyer of the treasure-mound;
the neck sought Hell's harm —
Hilldr will rule over that.

The fighter sees a green estate
and goes to visit there;
a hall stood great for warriors —
the proudest woman sat in it.

Ásmundr greeted the younger woman:
"It is evil if you must die;
the retainer cannot get this remedy —
therefore it avails nothing to beg."

"How does the thorn-ground know me?
You must tell me that;
I have never seen you, silk-Gunnr,
nor sat before equally dear."

"Ásmundr, I have never seen you;
our fate came from Hilldr;
the gold-keeper who walks wisdom's path —
surely if one could enjoy it."

"Explain your name, ring-Gefn;
where are your inherited lands?"
"Fear my name before men —
fate will harm you."

"Auðbjört, I will confess to that —
Amma was my mother's name;
Áti was my famous father;
the woman's brother is Ássamm."

"The king sits in torments first —
it is poor to hear such things;
I am directly eager for that," said the bride,
"to restore this prince."

The dear one took a small boat alone
and swam away from land;
Amma was not happy then —
trouble grew from such a thing.

The warrior parted from the fox-tree
and rode to the forest to go;
quickly the skull of spear-points will increase —
I say Ásmundr brings that about.

The warrior found one animal on the ground
and does not delay to overcome it;
a hard sword-storm will therefore
crash on thick shields.

A rider came out of the forest alone,
as if he was to fight;
all his beautiful spear gleamed,
eager to rouse battle.

When the warrior saw the animal
lying dead on the field,
he then quickly drew his sword —
he waved the blade of the wave.

Men test Handir's sky
hard in the sharp battle;
I reckon from the shield-din
who exactly falls of warriors.

The duke's son came to get death —
he fell down to the earth;
Arngrimr endured no need
from the hard fire of spear-points.

From men I will turn away here —
that must be explained;
the boat leaps on the waves
with the pure treading of rings.

Gautr's horse turns to land;
the mound stood on land;
the bride guards the wave-door;
prepared with Rín's sand.

The dear woman went into the draugr-plunder;
the woman had to shed her garments;
the dear prince won victory —
it would be more honorable to die.

The dear one came softly to the king then —
the courtly, bright woman:
"Will you come to me, prince,
though torment tires my heart?"

"I cannot rule that, fox-Gná,"
though the spirit rages from the woman;
the maiden came to the prince then,
wearied with a spirit of sorrow.

"I found not such an arrow-mood
that I would prefer to suffer sooner";
tears poured from the brow-ground —
the maiden is stretched with grief.

The dear one then went to the king
and bade him go away;
Herr's horn-lay fell silent there —
she received long suffering.

Ríma V

(Mansöngr)

The fifth time Fjölnir's friend
urges us to stir;
Herr's horn-Rín
shall be carried here before warriors.

I reveal this to the warrior-troop:
the prince walked out of the mound;
the gold-ground was not satisfied —
she sat behind with the draugr.

Men have heard this for truth:
the woman sits in trouble;
let us now speak of the noble man —
the king came home to the lands.

Dagbjört asked the dear king:
"Prince, explain this to us —
who saved the young bride?
What peaceable lord?"

The men of the serpent-bed answered:
"I never got suffering;
everything has become guidance for me
while in my realm."

"I remember no necklace-Gná —
I will not conceal that;
the harbor sends horses on the sea —
the sword-fire shall be tested."

The fleet was loosened from the prince's shore,
advancing on the cold sea;
they give the eagle its eagle's food
out on the cold waves.

The army follows the king together —
they follow the valiant king;
they rush forward into the spear-weather;
the wave roars at the south-timbers.

Men redden their fine swords;
that goes according to will;
I can no longer speak of the king's journey —
let us part ways cleanly here.

I speak now of the noble brothers,
who met with great sorrows;
the ring-ground rules them with torments —
thrust away from all their virtues.

Warriors found one pleasant day —
they carried many horses;
it was last in the men's luck then
to put wolves to rest somewhat.

Men are robbed of strength here,
they cannot protect their lives;
it grinds somewhat against our teeth —
warriors must go raiding.

The brave brothers asked of men:
"Who has strong people?"
"Bálsoti rules before the warriors,
prepared with heart's valor."

"Another rules on the men's road,
adorned with all valor —
Snækollr, his more clever brother,
early trusted in good fortune."

Söti calls to the men:
"Tell of your names;
quickly you will get disgrace —
you shall be served to the ravens."

"Skjöldr and Hermánn they are called —
they guide with boasting champions;
before the two cold fighters shall fall,
we'll greet you unto the end."

Warriors shall rush
on the green sea in this battle;
the blood-twig scored the men —
and the sword sang on the shield.

The second day the battle passed;
fighters of valor fall;
warriors cleave the mail-ring —
wound-streams ring out.

The missile-men's sun turns away;
night quickly has its time;
the guardian of rest —
while the wound-surf storms.

The second day, as the earth brightens,
men go to battle;
warriors prepared in Þundr's weather;
it resounded in the empty horn.

Men pause the battle
and look now out on the sea;
a beautiful ship hastens from the harbor —
quickly to ease weariness.

The flying beasts are much taller;
fair are the sails against the sky;
swiftly the longship turns from the harbor,
sharp into the spear's interior.

Warriors come directly there in battle;
an attack bursts on the fighters;
very like a grouse-storm
pressing with the harsh flames.

Bálsoti with bloody hands
turns against the warriors;
the spear was there sent to men —
swift at the root of metals.

The raven's snake tore the heart;
men receive plague;
blood thundered from the warrior-troop —
dead bodies lay.

All day the battle raged;
yet it is great to hear;
wolves come certainly there in battle
and choose among men's gore.

So ends Þundr's swarm of battle;
warriors lie dead;
the she-wolf invited them all home —
men receive this.

The berserkers received bane and need —
both got from the battle;
their retinue lay dead there —
it went exactly as it should.

Men of honor gained victory;
then they thank the gods;
men before on the land yet
stir the black water of the wave.

Two brothers with death-wound injuries
lie directly in the tent;
the journey will now turn from men
who see the fine lord here.

The wasteland of war — Úlfhamr sees
all the projected glory;
they exchanged greetings with the prince then —
the people met with health-wishes.

Another man came near to the prince —
named Átrami;
he who has become dear to the king,
who divides the company to the raven.

Now the warriors' wounds are bound
directly and healing sought;
the journey will not turn from men
if Hilldr could have ruled it.

When warriors went to drink,
the prince went to sit;
the supernatural birds came into the tent then
to visit the trusty brothers.

Men certainly leapt to their feet
and wanted to catch the birds;
the prince's heir, tested and worthy,
then served to protect the fighters.

The birds were forced to fly away
and flock out into the forests;
the brothers got a bitter trial —
they bore suffering enough.

The prince remains behind then
while the birds escape beyond;
Átrami wanted to reach the golden ones —
it avails no one to delay.

Warriors come into the thick forest;
there grief will run out;
fighters see an old birch
and went to break it to the ground.

An earth-house men see under there;
Átrami follows the lord;
men then see a resting-place
where the woman of honor lies.

The prince spoke to Átrami then:
"I will guard the woman;
let the man reach the skins —
to meet them with hot fire."

The man now wants to turn into the forest —
the ring-cliffs wake;
for men here Fjölnir's plow
shall quickly unreel from the mouth.

Ríma VI

(Mansöngr)

Herr's find from my heart
I press in the sixth time;
I have lived with such long pain
hidden from the surf of sorrow.

Let us push away the hard strife
that long tired the heart;
I would rather compose about women's beauty —
Dvalinn's difficult catch.

The lord asked the thorn-Náð:
"Make your name known to men;
no woman can be more beautiful to see,
though men search all lands."

"Álfsól I name myself, another woman —
the purest Nanna of the divine web;
Sólbjört clarifies as the clearest ground;
that is explained to you in truth."

The king led the fifth woman;
she comes now out to the sea;
there warriors' lives shall be gladdened —
swiftly easing weariness.

Fjölnir's hawks — two men
fall from their own land;
the shield-lord asks the ship then
to glide away from the sand.

Then wind filled sail on the yard;
the king's dear army;
the wave boomed on the planks —
it creaks in every rudder.

The Gautland army gladly drank wine;
the healer began to need;
the veil-Hlín must be remembered —
she had come very close to death.

The healing-horses thundered over the sea,
rushed to Vörn's mound;
Sólbjört points the king to it:
"A maiden sits alone by a draugr."

"I did not know," says the gold's wise one,
"that a woman lay in the mound."
"Can you not fully reach that maiden?"
the necklace-ground answered the lord.

The woman then bade the draugr-hall —
warriors to break to the ground:
"It would be better if the ring-tree
might reach the prince."

"I never tremble for this woman,"
the proud lord says;
"I never give warriors' lives
swiftly for this bride."

Sólbjört speaks with the king then:
"So it cannot stand;
I will get vigorous counsel —
the warrior to free from trouble."

The ring-Rist then took the horn,
brings it to the king to drink;
the dear one with clever art
bade the king to taste the wine.

He drank a third of this drink —
Þundr of the kinsman-lands;
the verse-gate lay thick against it —
to free some trouble.

Men paid heed to this
then, what the lord spoke:
"Now it is to me as if I interpret a dream
or I have tested something worse."

A second time the gold's shore bade
the prince to know the drink;
"then the neck shall in the veering wind
run the ring-treaders."

The king drank from the skull-branch;
half-near did the wine reach his mouth;
the gold-treaders I explain by art —
the king gets great pain.

"The mound gave me a hard wife,"
the king speaks with the bride;
"this trouble is truly so lacking —
Þundr's mail-coat rings."

The third time the lord drank —
that must be clarified;
his heart nearly burst with grief
before his dear bride.

The lord speaks with the thorn-Hlín:
"Longing dwells in our hearts;
the king has received a sick suffering —
I remember the dear one so bright."

"She has freed me from the ugly hall —
the beautiful leek-Gefn;
the praised-lord shall reward her
and lay out defense from gladness."

The prince cannot firmly close his eyes
before the woman can be reached;
"let the king's people go here for a time
to break down the mound."

"Warriors find Dagbjört first —
the woman shall come hither;
the lord says he desires this,"
the thorn-ground sends after her.

"Four slaves with the lady —
they shall follow the people here;
men shall give them first
the kinsman's bed and much dignity."

"Sólbjört shall," the king asked,
"herself rule over all;
it is dear to us," the prince said,
"to reach the gold-pool."

Warriors quickly went before Dagbjört;
the woman carried their errand;
they explained to her from the host of men
who had then come.

The lord's sister, the ring-bridge,
hastened in her journeys;
the fine lady called to the slaves:
"You shall dress yourselves in gear."

Colts became glad at this
when the lady undertook this battle;
they clattered that way, the clothed ones —
they knew no honor.

Men stepped onto the temple-reef;
they drove the horses hard;
men like this work —
that will be heard later.

A host of men rushed away;
fighters seemed to strut;
the lord meets the people's power
and the bright thorn-linden.

Warriors go to meet Dagbjört;
the prince greets the woman;
both ruled with an honored woman —
they greeted the silk-flood.

The lord spoke to the shifting Náð:
"Adorn the launch-wolves;
men shall go into the mound
to save the ring-treaders."

"Four beasts in the deadly hall
are encountered through the long night;
each of these the retainer shall
dare to go against the shield-fortress."

"Take four experienced men
and carry the swan on spears;
she wants to eat them all then —
no one shall forbid that."

"The king shall then take the silk-Náð
who sits in Vörn's mound;
Skjöldr and Hermánn have the flanks —
they shall advance toward the draugr."

"Átrami shall here, of all things most,
receive cunningly-woven strength;
I trust him of men best
to enjoy the swift gold."

"The man shall grasp the neck of the woman
and strain with all his strength;
then the young gold-enjoyer
shall gain profit from the power."

The dark night spread over;
day took itself away;
warriors quickly killed the slaves —
one need not wait long for that.

It is exactly as if fire plays
about the living lands of lords;
the lord can be still nowhere —
the retainer delights in battle.

Here Úlfhamr rushed first,
toward the ring-treader;
the prince was eager for the woman —
dead is the slave on a spear.

Warriors I heard then, with a rush,
went into this mound;
the twin-cliff — the feast he saw —
truly wanted to grip.

The creature strikes at jaws, the kin-woman;
I can tell such things;
she grabs the slaves against —
she helps the men to bones.

Wise men seize the spears
and destroy the heart's load;
all laid upon the gold-ground together —
the prince reached the maiden.

The prince lifted up the dear woman;
the warrior hastened from the mound;
the woman-prince does not shrink from the warrior —
quickly the woman gets delight.

Átrami twisted the eye-cargo
entirely away from its shoulders;
the women's counsel worked thus —
the warrior is fit in journeys.

He flings the head of the famous one;
he fells the woman from her seat;
he cares not for the thought-Rán —
he brings joy to men.

The prince's people let all fires
rage against the sky;
they burn the hall and the dark woman —
then the embers die down.

The fine Gná draws near the warm spring;
the woman begins to stretch;
the bitter longing for warriors there
will ease away from the heart.

It is as if the wave-cliff woke
fair from heavy sleep;
the prince spoke gentle words
directly with the silk-Gefn.

The king bade them out on the sea-realm,
to loose the healing-horses;
the woman goes with those warriors
forward on the cold sea.

Men came to land
as the lord was to steer it;
each warrior rode into the fortress
with his dear bride.

Sorrow began to pass away;
the honorable people settle in the realm;
Átrami is betrothed to a noble woman,
and the prince to the fair maiden.

The earl's sons with blessed women
watch over their own realms;
I can no longer bless Fjölnir's meeting
for men any longer.

Translated from Middle Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Source: Rímnasafn, Vol. II, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen: Samfund til udgivelse af gammel nordisk litteratur, 1914–1922). The cycle is preserved primarily in AM 604h; Ríma V also survives in AM 561, 4°. The underlying saga has been lost. The cycle is also known as Vargstökkur (Wolf-leaps). The name Úlfhamr means "wolf-skin" or "wolf-form," evoking the shapeshifting tradition. Difficult kennings and damaged stanzas are translated interpretively; uncertain passages retain the sense where possible. No prior English translation is known to exist.

🌲

Source Text — Úlfhamsrímur (Middle Icelandic)

Úlfhamsrímur
eller

Vargstökkur.
Disse rimer findes hovedsagelig kun i AM. 604h.

5. rime findes også i AM. 561, 4º, skrevet her på
   håndskriftets bl. 23 v, 24r og 16v (i denne rækkefølge) ; disse siders oprindelige skrift er bleven helt
   udraderet, men næppe for at give plads til denne
   rime, der er skreven med en meget ung og plump
   hånd ; de vigtigste varianter herfra er anførte. Den
   til grund liggende saga er gået tabt.
   I.

6. UIL ec hit fysta Fiolnes staup
   flytia af þorpe lioda ;
   po par flioden færi at skaup,
   fram skal ec uisu bioda.

7. Fyrir Gautlandi gaufugr red
   gramr sa Haldan heitir ;

margrar uar honum mentar led,
mecktir gorpum ueitir.
3. Greina uil ec um gaufgan mann,
greitt þvi orlog standa,
Vargstack kalla virdar þann
veite ofnnis landa.

4. Skal ec um dogling dickta od,
   ef dreingir uilia hlyda;
   gipt uar sikling sætan riod,
   sizt mvn ricit pryda.
5. Hilldi nefna holdar sprund,
   hun gat born vid tiggia;
   po skal fylkis fallda grvnd
   fyrst i uisu liggia.

134

RÍMNASAFN

6. Wlfham heitir avdlings nidr,
   ec verd slikt at greina,
   huersu fimr er frægdir vidr

fylkis iodit hreina.
7. Greine eg fyrst um gofgan mann,
garpar þetta Roma,

fylkissonar er fræda rann
fullt med allann soma.

8. Dagbiort heitir dyrligt uif
   dottir kongsens rika,

gulli prydir hun garpa lif,
getr ei adra slika.
9. Modir kendi meyiu flest
menia Gefnn hin frida ;

audgrund mvn þess idrazt mest
en pa stundir lida.
10. Millding pionar mectugr iarll,
mentum hladen ok dadum ,

fæddizt eingi a fylkis hiall
fremri at ollum radum.

11. Dreingrin feck ser dyra fru,

dyl ec þess eigi lydi,
sonu gat hann vit seima bru ,
segir af þeira prydi.
12. Bystir rida brædr fram ,
bunir eru til uiga;
hrædazt alldri hiorfa glamm,
huar sem kempr hniga.

13. Skiolldr ok Hermann heita þeir,
    hraustum kongi sinna ;

fyrdar uega med folvom geir,
frægdir nogar uinna.

14. Gumnvm uerd ec at greina fra
    grams um æfi liota;

millding vard firi mestri pra,
hann matti ei rikis niota.

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR I

135

15. Forlaug stodu a fylki þeim
    ferlig, so ma greina,

lofdung hafdi liotan heim
lester gullzsens hreina.
16. A sumrum rædr sikling rikr
soma ollum heima,

um uintr skylldi hann uorgum likr
ok uard a skog at sueima.
17. Vintr einn at uisir la

uist a skog med hrygdum ;
segir nu hitt af hringa Na,

hon sueik kong i trygdum.
18. Veizlu lętur uella bru
uist at sumre stefna ;

sikling hygzt at suikia nu,
seintt mynu uelinn dofna .
19. Lindar Ran at leidaz tok

leingi audlings bida,
firi pat allar flærdir iok
fliod uid kongen frida.

20. Hennar briost er hartt sem steinn,
    hon uar grimm sem uargar ;
    kemr af skogi kongrin hreinn

kempur fylgia ei margar.
21. Drottnning sialf ok hin dyra þiod
dogling moti ganga,
herrinn byzt at hrinda mod
helzt firi pinu langa.
22. Budlungs koma þar bædi iod
at blidka frægan herra ;
seigir nu hitt at hilmis fliod
hiartat berr til uerra.
18, lętur : også skr. over t. (lætur).

19, Ran: rana hds.; jfr. III. 241.
hreinn: heim hds .

3 hygzt : tf. over 1.

leidaz : lædaz hds.

203

RÍMNASAFN

136

23. Lydir fylgia lofdung nu
    ok leida i holl svo frida,

star pa kongs hinn strida fru
stolltum gram til blida.
24. Dogling tekr at drecka bior,
dreingir eigi syta,
bidr þa kæran klædum ur

kongi helldr flytia.
25. Skemma stod a skreyttum voll,
skylldv þar hion i liggia ;
dreingir bratt af dyre holl
dros uill heidra tiggia.
26. Hilldr talar med herra sinn :

„hrindit angr ok pina,

skiolldung uil ec pier skeinkia uin
skylldu giore ec pa mina. "
27. Haldan suarar huitre frv,
hann kuedz þetta þiggia;
birti ec hitt at hringa bru
hun uill feigan tiggia.
28. Sikling fra ec at sofna hlaut,
svo trv ec hrygden uaxe,
hofudit sneid af hilmi i bravt
hon med biortu saxe.

29. Fleygir hofdi ferligt vif,
    flestum styrir uanda,

syrgir alldri siklings lif,
so mvnu aurlog standa.

30. Kemr at morne kurteis piod,
    klokt er uif i sæti ;

hilmis sia þeir hiarta blod,
huarf þeim gledi ok kæti.
243 þa: tf. i margen.
flytia
hds .

4

helldr : fremkommet ved rettelse.

flýta ; mulig mgl. sér foran dette ord.

263 af: at

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR I

137

31. Audpoll kuaddi Vlfham fyst :
    „ec velld fodr þins dauda,
    þegninn hefr oss þessa lyst
    ok þigg nu gullit Rauda. "

32. Suaradi beintt med bysta lvnd
    brvdi þessum ordum :
    „finzt eigi uerre fallda grund
    flædar bals hia skordum .

33. Milldingsson, med mædr sin
    minztu huad ec beidi,
    kenn med oss hid klara uin,

kappen stodua reidi.
34. Sonn minn uil ec nv sæma þic,
sitit oss iafnan nære,

uefit i fadma ok fagna mic,
fru se pier eiginn kære. "
35. „ Ferliga hefr mier feingit neyd
fliod i yndis karmi,

polec fyrri þungan deyd
en pinum sofe ec a armmi. “
36. „Fylkisson þv fastnna mic,
fus uil ec pui rada,

gullskord mun þa gledia pic,
geymir Fofnnis lada.
37. Fylkis syni gefzt folkit sniallt
fritt med veralldar lioma,

vilia gior pu uifs um allt,
en uelldz eigi undan soma. “
38. Kuaddi reckr kappa tit :
„kongsens flyum uær hallir,
uirkit stofnit uænt ok fritt

ok uikum þangad allir. "
ok
323 grund : skord hds.
34, vil : tf. i margen.
fagna : tf. i margen.
4 se: ser hds.
353 þungan: pundan
3

hds. - 37, uelldz = veltz. - 38, tit : = titt ; til hds.

RÍMNASAFN

138

39. Dottir kongs er Dagbiort hiet
    dauda grams nam fretta ;
    mæren sina modr let

mæta öngum letta.
40. Weik i burt a uænan skog
ueitir nodrv landa ;

Herians skal nu horna plog
hier firi lydum standa.

II .

1. I annann tima ætla eg mier
   at efla Fiolnes smide,

þessu hlyde pioden hier,
po er mitt erfitt smide.
2. Fættækt er mitt fræda ual

fram uit mælsku noga.
Lydir fara med liosum hal

langt i burtt a skoga.
3. Birta uil ec nu brognum hier
beintt huad dreingir starfa ;
Skiolldr ok Hermann skemta sier
skiott hia ræses arfa.

4. Frettir lydr um flest oll lond
   fylkis þessa dauda ;
   munu hier aukaz malen vond

milldings syni til nauda.
5. Riki styrdi reflla Gna,
rõskuar kempr flyia,
arfa sinum ætlltar pra

en at senda nyia.

2, Fættækt : skr. fætt- .
kunde også læses finn.
margen.

2

fram : ra (fork.) meget svagt;
hal : tf. i

liosum: liosan hds .
53 ætlltar: 2 ; ætlar.
3

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR I- II

139

6. Virdum safnar uiela fliod

ok uikr a skogin frida,

hyggr nu med hardan mod
hals til fundar Rida.

7. Þegnar koma i prongua mork ;
   panueg taladi lilia :
   „holda geymi hin hafa biork,
   hier mvnu uær nu skilia.

8. Hitta uil ec minn hoskan bur,
   honum til satta bioda,

ef þiggr hann eigi þenna kur,
pa skal branda rioda.

9. Fimm skulu dreingir fylgia oss,
   fram af skogi Rida ;

þeggnen mun sa þiggia hnoss,
er þorir uid Vlfham strida.

10. Þann a ec ludr at piota skal,
    þegnar munu þat undra ;
    leidiz rodd af lioda sal,

lydir skulu þa skunda. "
11. Ek skiliunzt hier med skynding uid,
skundar drottning ferdum,
uikivm til þar uirkis lid
uænum skrydiz gerdum.
12. Skiott mun uirdum uaxa sut,

ef uill eigi audna skipta;
badir rida brædr ut
blidan iarll at hitta.

13. Wlfham sitr þar eptir kyr,
    eigi uar þat svo leingi ;
    hals mun vaxa hinn harde styr,
    þa Hilldr kemr med dreingi.

74 nu: tf. over 1.
skilia : skr. skikia.
94 strida: skr
stirda. - 12, iarll: tf. i margen.
133 hals: fejl f. hal ?

140

RÍMNASAFN

14. Vlfham taladi yta uid :

„ ut skulut dreingir rida,
heima eptir halft mitt lid
hravstra garpa bida. "

15. Ytar rida med ęsku kallz,
    ongra uela uardi ;

segir nu hitt at synirnir iallz
soktu at fodur sins gardi.
16. Taladi iarl uid arfa sin :

„illt er slikt at fretta,

siklings bur er sottr i pin,
seint mun hormvm letta.

17. Dreymdi mic, segir dyri iarll,
    dagliga modir uarga ;
    uist er betra uisku hiall

uises syni at biarga.

18. Ylgiar born par æstuzt medr,
    Wlfham uilldu slita,

grimmligt munu þvi geira uedr
garpar bradla lita.
19. Ferdum skulu þier flyta nu,
fleygir taladi spiota,

grunar mic hitt hin grimma fru
galldra late eigi priota. "
20. Bregda fra ec svo brędrum uidr,
bada setti bleika ;

koma hlytr en hia kongsyni nidr,
kappar ute Reika.
21. Wirdar hugdu at uikia heim
uist at sinu ranne ;

kemr a moti koppum þeim
kyngi fullr suanne .

16, Taladi : Talar hds .
tf. over l.

193 hin : tf. i margen .

4 eigi:

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR II

141

22. Ste hon af hesti stundar fliott

stollzar fruin firi dreingi,
mog sinn kuaddi modir skiott :

„mer ueittu þitt geingi. "
23. „ Modir skalltu minnaz þess,
mattu þetta skilia,
fyr mun stofnad stala uess
en stundi ec a pin uilia. "
24. Hilldr talar uid hiorfa briot :

„heyr minn godi herra,
ef þu brudi bryzt a mot,
beint er pier þat verra. "

25, Porna Gerdr þeytir ludr,
þegnar mega þat heyra,
herin kemr þar harlla prudr,
holdum uekia dreyrra.

26. Hilldr eggiar holda fast,
    hans enn grima modir ;

fleinninn þegar a fyrdum brast,
fiellu margar þiodir.
27. Allir sækia Wlfham mest,

eggiar drottning garpa :
„þeim skal ec verda þegnni fest,
er þreytir romu snarpa. "
28. Allir fiellu audlings menn,
einn stod eptir herra ;

horngrvnd eggiar holda en :
„hyggit gram þess verra. "
29. Budlung hio med bleikar hendr,
buen er aurn til brada,
her mun verda hilmi sendr

hoskan kong at nada.

24, hiorfa : hiorfu hds .
3 her : = herr.

29, bleikar : e tf. i margen.

142

RÍMNASAFN

30. Synirnir iarllz þeir soktu fram,
    sa nv kongin standa ;

hrædaz ecki hrotta glam,
huar sem þeir koma i uanda.
31. Brædr hoggua bragna nidr
at bystu iele spiota ;
þar mvn frægra fleina uidr
falla af mædi hliota.

32. Uirdar kliufa uizku reit,
    uargar buka Rifa,

kemr þa iarll med kappa sueit,
kongi allir hlifa.
33. Um dreingi fra ec at dundi blod,
dreyrra lækir falla ;
Hilldr giorir med hardan mod
hatt a seggi kalla.
34. „ Telzt mitt lid med taugunum fimm,

trv ec þvi iarllen uallda,
beint er nu, segir brvdren grimm,
betra undan hallda. "

35. Fallda skord uill flyia nv
    ok fysir undan letta,
    iarll mun ættla audar bru

adra meire pretta.

36. Pegnar fella þungan uid,
    þess mun drossen kenna ;

fysir þessa fruinar lid
fliotliga vndan renna.

37. Fyrdar ellta flotta pann,
    er fliodit atti at Rada ;

suannen undan seggium Rann,
sizt er þat til nada.
35, skord : tf. i margen .

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR II-III

38. Fiorar eikur fyrdar nu
    fella a uif med hreysti ;

pat hefe ec frett at pornna bru
pegar a galldra treyste .
39. Leggr bratt i lymskre snot,
litt mun hana þat skerda;
holdum mun þvi hefnden liot
hvgvd af sprvnde verda.

40. Þetta hid kloka kyngi fliod
    koppvm uerdr styrkri,
    huarf i burt ur hondum þiod
    Hilldr þegar i myrkri.
41. Hun er nv komin i hafa borg,
    hault var ecki lilia ;

þegnum hugxar þunga sorg ,
pat tekz eptir uilia.
42. Innum til par iarllinn for
enn med sina lyde ;
kongen flvttu kvolunum ur
kappar nv med prydi .

43. Brædr græda bragning skiott,
    breidum vndum hægia ;
    Hilldr spyr at holda drott
    heima sitr en fræga.

44. Þvi uard alldri porngrund rott
    at peingils fiorve eigi nade.
    Durnes skal hier dregginn skiott
    detta ur hyggiu lade.

III.

1. Þvndar ætla ec pyfsku fyst
   i pridia sinne at bioda.
   Hilldr uar til hefnda lyst
   hellz uid dreingi goda .

143

144

RÍMNASAFN

2. Hefr þat enn i hugxan fru
   hrausta dreingi at presta,
   hæfir os firi holdum nv

hellzt at skyra þetta.
3. Radgiafa sinn er Rigard het
ried pa sprund at kalla;
fliodit blitt vid fyrda let,
frænings gefr þeim palla.
4. „ Audling skal sem ec hefe uit
allan bioda soma,
ef ber nv uort hid biarta rit

bragnings undir doma.
5. Bvdlung fa pu bref i hand
ok ber honum kuediu mina,

peingill tace nu þetta land
ok þar med lydi sina.
6. Fostbrędrnir fylgia skal
frægum sinvm herra ;

seggium bydr ec sættar tal,
so er nu eigi verra.

7. Fimtan dreingir fylgia pier,
   flest uerdr ydr at Rade,

kom þar uid sem kongrin er
katr at iarllsins ladi. "

8. Kominn er reckur kappa til,
   kallaz Asmund heita,

hertuga son med hæfuesk skil,
hann kann suerdi at beita.

9. Dreingr er þan af danskre grund,
   dugir i ieli branda,
   Reckur er fimr uid Randa fund,

Ræse geck til handa.

5, med : tf. i margen . - 7. ydr : ligel .

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR III

145

10. Suife pat firi seggi en,
    sizt ma leingr bida,
    segir nu hitt at sendimenn
    soktu i holl svo frida .

11. Komu þeir nu firi kongsens bord,
    kuoddu reck ok lydi ,
    yta gladde orma stord,

allt geck pat med prydi.
12. Rigard lagdi a ræses bord
Roskr bref med hendi ;

greindi sidan gioruoll ord
gram pau er audgrund sende.

13. Þegar at budlung brefit sa,
    bleikiz kinn enn rioda ;

herrans nadi hugxan þa
at hrapa i storan uoda.
14. Wlfham suaradi ytum þa :
„armt er slikt at fretta,

ef skal uor modir mestri pra
mæta ongvm letta."
15. Suarar hans mali mecktar iarll :

„mod fær godr herra,

hirdit eigi gramr vm hennar karll,
Hilldr giorir þier uerra. "
16. „Berri ec eigi þat, kuad blidi mann,
brudr af sorgum springi ;
leikr os so uid lioda Rann

logandi harma stingi.
17. Holdar tace nu hesta skiott
ok Handis serki frida ;

fysir oss med fyrda drott
fram til borgar rida. "
16, Berri ec: = Berric 2 : Berr ek.
10

RÍMNASAFN

146

18. Talar pa beint en blindi iarll :
    „baul mvn seggivm granda,
    betra uæri fyrdum fall
    i fleina iele branda. “

19. Garpar buaz uid grettis uaull
    grams med briniu ok skilldi ;
    renar oss helldr af Raddar holl,
    Rigard kom firi Hilldi.

20. Fridir kuoddu fyrdar skiott
    flærdar auken suanna :

„þeingill kemr þa prytr nott
med priv.c. manna. "
21. Hilldr tok at hlæia pa
hatt so dreingir skilia :

„fallen er min flest oll pra,
fer nv eptir uilia. "
22. Kuaddi sina kappa enn
klokuz audar brecka :

„ ueizlu stofnne uorir menn,
uinit skulu þeir drecka. "

23. Solen skin a seggi biortt,
    sia nv kongen Rida,
    þar uar hof med heidre giortt,
    hugdu menn til blida.
24. Lindar Ran for lofdung mot

ok lagdi upp bada armma;
po mun hyggia en harda snot
hilmi greypa harma.
25. „Bragning pigg þu hid biarta gull
ok blidu uora herra " ;

skripit mun po skemdarfull
skiolldung ættla verra .

192 grams : gramr hds .
ættla : ættli hds .

23, med: tf. i margen.

254

ÚLFHAMSRIMUR III

147

26. „Doggling gack i dyra holl,
    dreingivm sorg at bæta ;

huerfa mun þa heiptin oll
hals vid brudi mæta . “

27. Siklingr til sætis geck,
    so giorra allir reckar ;

Hilldr þegar at hornninn feck,
holdum gefr at drecka.

28. Synirnir iallz eru siola nær
    ok systir grams ens merka,
    Asmund var þeim avdling kær
    aur til snilldar uerka.
29. Sionum rendi suikanna uif

ok sier nu upp a recka :

„holdar leggi af horn ok knif,
hier skal eingen drecka.

30. Son min leita sæmdar mier,
    svo komz dros at ordi,

skiolldung uil ec nu skemta pier
skiott yfir ydru bordi.
31. Hef ec par upp fyrir hraustri þiod,
her kom margr at lande,
skialdmær uackti skotnum blod

ok skyfdi folk med brandi.
32. Vaurnn gat feingit uargi tafnn
ok ualld yfir trausta garpa,

henni er eingi at hreysti iafnn
halr med dreingi snarpa.
33. Mal uard rida menia poll
er Mæfils prytr skiota ;
kunni hun brenna kongaholl,
ok kastala nidr at briota.

her:

26, brudi : brudren hds.
27, holdum: holdr hds.
herr.
323 er: fejl f. var ?
33, er : ef hds.
10*

312

148

RÍMNASAFN

34. Gautlandz herinn geck a mot
    grimliga þessu uifi,

peingill hugdi þriflig snot
at preyngia i burtt af lifi .

35. Pundar fivk þeir þreyta enn
    prena daga med hreysti,
    undan letu audlings menn

alla fylking leysti .
36. Synd woru eigi seggium grid,
þa sikling undan flydi ;
„þegnar havggue en þunga uid, "
peingill talar med lydi.
37. Fallda Gerdr flotta rak

fylkis nu med kappi,
fiellu eikr fliode a bak,

fyrdar styra happi.
38. Fella mork a fallda grund,
fliodi ætlar davda ;

alldri mun su hringa Hrvnd
holdum koma til navda.

39. Tyndi lifi troda gullz,
    tiair þvi ecki at leyna,
    skotnum er nu skemtt til fullz,

skulu uær fleira reyna.
40. Menia skorden mælte pa :
mega nv aller skilia,

nv skulu dreingir naudir fa
næst at minum uilia.

41. Were pier vt med varga sveit

uintrar nott so langa,
æfin se þeim alldri teit,
allt skal moti ganga.
343 þeingill: = þengil.
priflig: prifligt hds.
havggue: havggua(?) hds .
37, fylkis : fylskis hds .
ætlar : fejl f. ætla ?
40 , nv : tf. over 1.

363
382

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR III - IV

42. Kome at sumri seggir heim,
    sinum rikium hlifa,

ok uadi pa fram i uoppna sueim,
uargar buka rifa
43. Holdar settu haug a land ,
hefr þann Vaurnn at geyma. “

Hier mvn puss ed pridia bland
priota fram at streyma.

IV.

1. Par skal lypta lægi Hars,
   lydum uil ec pat glosa,
   mengrund aflar millding fars,
   mvnu þat fæstir kiosa.

2. Geck at bordi galldra snot,
   gram tok augum leida :
   „ganga skal pier gioruallt mot,
   gior ec nv sliks at beida.

3. Wiser gack pu i Uarnar haug
   ok uertt par fastr i sæti,
   vn þu pier uit ilsku draug,
   eingin gledi pic mæti.

4. Linna skal eingi lofdungs mein
   lyda mega i heime,
   nema su listug lauka Rein,

er liosum prydizt seime.

5. Po at pitt lilian leyse strid
   ok lofdung afli nada,
   muna skaltu alldri menia hlid,

ef mætti ec þvi rada.

4, Linna : = Lina.

149

RÍMNASAFN

150

6. Po gangi dros i dimman havg
   ok dogglings leyse uanda,
   fast skal fliods uid firnna draug
   forlaug þesse standa. "

7. Asmund red pa audar grund
   at angra fliott til orda:

„life pinv litla stund
lagad skal pier at forda. "
8. „ Synirnir iarlls þeir soktu oss
sartt at hialldri geira,
vocktu þannueg vopnna foss
ok uilldu õngu eira.

9. Grimmum skal ec þeim giallda þat
   ef geingr at minum uilia,
   fostbrædrnir fyst i stad
   ferliga uerda at skilia.

10. Wallandz skulu þier uitia fyst
    ok uerda þar firi hormmum,

fyrdar hafa a fuglum lyst
fyr en drosar hormum.
11. Get ec pat eigi greint ut allt,
segir Gerdr Fofnis lada,

holldar skylldv hallda muallt
hrygd ef mætti ec Rada. "
12. Dagbiortt suaradi drottning þa,
dros bar þunga harma :

„falli a par flest oll pra
ok fylle yndis karma. "
13. „Pier hefe ec kæran kent of martt,
kuelur þat hugxan mina,
mælt pat aptr mær vid skartt
svo minke uora pina. "

13, læs pinu ?

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR IV

14. „Aptr tek ec pat alldri nv,
    audgrund suarar af hreysti,
    mun su finnaz mectug fru ,

er menn ur pinu leysti.

15. Prælar taki nu pornna grund
    ok preyngi i mork svo langa,
    kyndit bal af biork um stund,
    bruna skal hon þann fanga. "
16. Kongrinn for af klædum hier,

kuol uar nog firi hondum,
gumnar þann ueg greina mier,
gramr huarf burtt fra londum .
17. Döggling geck i diman haug,
daprt er þetta efni,
fastr uar hann uid firna draug
firdr ollum suefni .

18. Huarf ec fra þar herran uar,
    hitt mun uerda at skyra,
    garpar toku grædis mar
    ok giora a hraner styra.

19. Myrkri slo yfir meida gullz,
    maren paut a bordum,
    skatnar hafa þar skilizt til fullz
    skiott af Hilldar ordum.

20. Valland hitta uirdar skiott,
    uarlla giordi at letia,

traustir menn þeir tiallda um nott
ok taca a haudr at setia.

21. Dreingir setiaz drivckiu at

ok duoldu eigi þetta,
seggum muu hier sorg i stad
syntt at hiarta detta.
15, i : tf. under l.

17, uid : tf. over l. og i randen .

151

152

RIMNASAFN

22. Traunnunar koma i tialldit pa
    ok tryta inn firi Recka,
    brædr feingu beiska þra
    ok bundnir storum ecka.

23. Garpar hugdu at gripa þær
    ok geysaz fram af sæte,

fyrdar komaz ei fuglum ner,
farin er þeira kæti.
24. Latum standa um sterka menn

storan þeira uanda ;

hertvga syni skal hreyfa enn
huar er hann kemr til landa.

25. Fimm hefr garpren flaustra dyr,
    fyrdar mega þat skilia,
    alldan þeim til eyiar snyr,
    allt geck moti uilia.

26. Seggir leggia segl uid ey,
    sidan bryggium skiota,

dreingir letv dyrlig fley
driugt a ægin hriota.

27. Asmund geck par einn a land,
    eydir Fofnis lada,

halren sokti heliar grand,
Hilldr mvn þvi rada.
28. Garprenn litr grænan gard,
giorir hann þangat uitia,

stofa firi recknvm storlig uard
er stolltuzt uif i sitia.

29. Asmund kuaddi en yngri snot :
    „ illt er ef þu skalt deyia,
    þegninn fær eigi þessa bot
    þvi tiair ecki at preyia."

224 ok : bör vel udgå.

283 uard : d tf. under 1.

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR IV

30. „Huersu þeckir porngrund mic,
    þat mynttu mier skyra,

sied hefe ec alldri seimgunn þic
edr sætu fyrr ianfn dyra."

31. „ Asmund hefe ec pic alldri sied,
    aurlog feckzt af Hillde,

ueitir gullz er uisku lied,
uist ef niota skylldi. "
32. „Grein þitt heite hringa Gefnn,
huar er þin odul standa. "
„Ottu mic firi ytum nefn,
orlog munv pier granda.
33 Audbiort uil ec pat inna medr
Ammat hiet min modir,
Ate uar minn frægi fedr,
fliods er Assamm brodir .

34. Konguren sitr i kuolunum fyst,
    krant er slikt at fretta,

beint er ec þess, kuad brudrin, lyst
at bæta odling þetta. "
35. Sætan tok ein sende bat

ok suimar i burtt fra lande,

Ama uar pa ecki kat,
iokz af sliku uande.

36. Reckrinn skilz vid refla paull
    ok ried a skog at hallda,
    skiott mun aukazt odda skaull,

Asmund segi ec þvi uallda.
37. Dreingrin fann eitt dyr a iord
ok duelr þat ecki at uinna,
mun þvi branda hriden hord
hriota a skiolldu stinna.

31 , ueitir: dativ.

153

154

RİMNASAFN

38. Reid af skogi riddarin einn

rett sem beriaz skylldi,
gloar hans allr en fagri flein,
fus at uekia hilldi.

39. Dreingrin þegar sem dyrit sa
    dautt a uelli liggia,
    sidan titt hann suerdi bra

suiptir unnar uiggia .

40. Holdar reyna Handis sky
    hartt uit Romu snarpa,
    reiknum hitt af randa gny

rett huor fellr garpa.
41. Hertuga son uard hreppa deyd,
hann fiell nidr at iordu,

Arnngrim polldi õngua neyd
af odda iele hordv.

42. Holdum uil ec her huerfa fra,
    hitt mun uerda greina,

batrin hleypr bylgiur a
med bauga trodu hreina.
43. Hestrinn Gautz at haudri snyr,
haugrinn stod a landi,

brudrin geymir bylgiu dyr,
buen med Rinar sande.

44. Dyruz geck i drauga ran,
    dros uard klædum fleyia,

sætan þenan sigrin uan,
sæmra uæri at deyia.
45. Kænuz veik at kongi þa
kurteist uifit biarta :

„mvnttu til min millding gan,
po mædi kuol mitt hiarta. "

42, uil: skr. efter fra, men med om
403 af: tf. over 1.
flytn. tegn.
3 bylgiur : tf i margen.
43, at : skr. 2 gg.

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR IV-V

155

46. „ Rędi ec þvi eigi refla Gna,
    po reiki hvgr af fliodi ; "

mæren ueik at millding þa
mædd af sorgar modi :

47. „ Fann ec eigi þann fleina lund
    at fyrri uilldi ec preyia ; "
    hrundu tar af huarma grund,

harmi spent er meyia.
48. Kæran geck at kongi þa
ok kuaddi burtu at ganga,
Herians falli hornna la,

hon hlaut pinv langa.
V.

1. FIMTA sinne Fiolnes uin

fysir oss at hræra,

Herians skal þui hornna Rin
hier firi dreingi færa.

2. Birti ec pat firi bragnna sueit
   at budlung geck ur haugi,

audar grunden eigi tiet
eptir sat hia draugi.
3. Fyrdar hafa þat frett med sann,
fliodit sitr i uanda,

getum nu hins vm gofgan man,
gramr kom heim til landa.

4. Dagbiort spurde dyran kong :
   „ dogling skyr oss þetta,
   huer hefr biargat brudrin iung
   budlung fridra stetta ? "

46, ueik : tf. i randen .

47, grund: grugd hds .
2, budlung : brudrin hds.
= teit.
3,fliodit : o tf. under l. sitr: kemr 561.
heim: er kominn 561.
4, oss: mér 561.
V. 14 færa: tæra 561.

tiet:
3

4

kom

RIMNASAFN

156

5. Ytir suarade orma lads :

„ alldri feck ec pinv,
ordit hefr mier allt til Rads
en i Rike minu.

6. Miniz ek ongua menia Gna,
   mun ec þvi ecki leyna ;

hafnar filum hleypi a sia,
hrotta iel skal reyna. "

7. Floti uar leystr af fylkes lad,
   fram a kolgu hallda,
   ernne gefa þeir ærnna brad
   ut a grædi kallda.

8. Heren fylgir hilmir medr
   hraustym kongi fylgia,
   geysazt fram i geira uedr,

glymr a sudum bylgia.
9. Fyrdar rioda env fogru suerd,
fer þat eptir uilia;

get eg eigi leingr grams um ferd,
greitt skal hier vid skilia.

10. Grein ec hitt um gofga brędur,
    greypum mættu hrygdvm,
    hringa grund þeim haurmum rædr

hrunden burtt af dygdum.
11. Bragnar hitta einn blidan dag
baru hesta marga,

seggivm uar þa sizt i hag
at sedia nockut uarga.

12. Menn eru ræntir megni hier,
    mega eigi lif sitt veria,
    gnistr oss helldr vid goma sker,
    garpar hliota at heria.
    6, þvi : tf. i margen.
    skal: at 561.
    7, þeir: utydel.
    lyder i
    113 lyder i 561 : sizt mun ganga sveit í hag.

4

4

561: soltna fæða v.

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR V

157

13. Holda spurdu hraustir brædr :
    „huer a sterka lyde ?"

„Baulsote firi brognum rædr,
bven med hiarta prydi .

14. Anars uegar at ytum rædr,
    allri pryddr hreysti ,
    Snækoll hans en snotri bredr,
    snema a gæfu treysti. "
15. Sote kallar seggi a:

„segit af yckrum nofnnum ;
skiotar munu þier skemdir fa,
skal ydr brytia hravfnum" .
16. „ Skiolldr ok Herman heita þeir,
hrostum kempum rada;

fyr skulu kalldir kappar tueir,
en kuedium yckr nada. "

17. Garpar skulu a grænum mar
    geysa þessa hilldi ;
    hræfa teinnen holda skar

en hiorrenn song a skilldi.
18. Annan dag geck aurua þing,
afreks garpar falla,

bragnar klivfa bryniu hring,
benia lækir gialla.
19. Skotnum huerfr skyia glod,
skiott hefr natt sinn tima,

huildar uitar heidrs þiod,
en hrida vnda brima.

20. Annan dag sem iordena gledr
    ytar ga til romu,

þegnar bvazt i Pundar uedr,
paut i horne tomu.
kuedium: sål. 561; kued16, kempum: koppum 561.
um hds.
173 holda : hjartað 561.
4 en hi.: hrottinn 561.
19, uitar : = vitjar.
4

RÍMNASAFN

158

21. Seggir linna Sorlla hrid

ok sia nu fram a græde,
skunda af hafenu skip svo frid
skiott at letta mædi .

22. Fiollum hærra eru flaugar dyr,
    fogr eru segll vid himni,

fliott af hafenu sneckivm snyr
snarpt at geira imnne.

23. Bragnar koma þar beint i strid,
    brestr soknn a gorpum,
    yfrit likt sem orra hrid
    ott med logunum snorpum.
24. Bolsote med blodgar hendr

brognvm snyzt a mote,
fleinnen var þar fyrdum sendr
fliot at malma rote .

25. Hræfa nadren hiartad sleit,

holdar þiggia plagu,
dunade blod af bragna sueit,
bukar daudir lagu.

26. Allan dag gek aurua hrid,
    enn er micil at heyra,
    vargar koma þar vist i strid
    ok uelia um manna dreyra.

27. Pan ueg lycktar Pundar sveim,
    þegnar daudir liggia,
    ylgr baud þeim ollvm heim,
    ytar þetta þiggia.

28. Berserkirnir banna ok naud

badir feingu af hillde,
þeira hirden þar la davd,
pat for rett sem skillde.
223 Orra: orfa 561.

dunade : dundi 561.
del.

253
4 snorpum: skorpum 561.
261 gek : tf. over l. 2 enn: meget uty-

28, banna : = bana.

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR V

159

29. Sigre nadu semdar menn,

sidan godunum þacka,
holdar framan at haudri en
hræra unnar blacka.

30. Brædr .ij . med banuæn sar
    beint i tialldi liggia ;
    holdum mun nu huerfa far

er hier sia uænan tiggia.
31. Aurfa Þyndar Wlfham sia

allan framdan pryde,
minntuz þeir uid millding þa
mæta heilsar lyde.
32. Anar madr geck audling nær,
er Atram het at nafne,
sa er nv orden sikling kær,
er sueitir brytiar hrafne.
33. Bunden eru nu bragnna sar
beint ok leitad nada ;

hverfr ecki holdum far,
ef Hilldr mætti rada.

34. Þegar er dreingir drecka ga,
    doggling for at sitia ;

traunnunar komu i tialldit pa
travstra brædra uitia .

35. Uirdar spruttu uist a fætr
    ok uilldu fugla þrifa ;

peingils arfen prifen ok mætr
þa red gorpum hlifa.
36. Fuglar urdu at fliuga i braut
ok flockta ut á skoga,

brædr feingu beiska þraut,
þeir baru pinu noga.
30, nu : 561 ; mgl . hds ., men over l. findes et kryds , i margen
findes nu intet. - 314 heilsar : heilsa 561.
321 madr : utydel.
hds.; mann 561.
353 prifen: tf. i margen.
36, flivga:
flavckta 561.

4 noga: liota 561.

flockta: fliuga 561.

3 praut : tf. i margen .

RÍMNASAFN

160

37. Eptir helldr odling þa
    en undan fuglar setia,
    Atram uilldi audrum na,

engvm tiair at letia.

38. Þegnar koma i þyckua mork,
    þa mun harma priota,

garpar lita gamla biork
ok giordu at iordu briota.

39. Jardhus undir ytar sia,
    Atram fylgir tiggia ;
    holdar lita huilu þa,
    er heidrs fliod i liggia.

40. Audling talar uid Atram þa:
    „ ec skal flioda gæta,
    hamina lattu halrinn na
    heitum elldi at mæta. "

41. Halrin uill nv huerfa i skog,
    hringa skorder uaknna ;
    fyrdum skal hier Fiolnes plog
    fliott af munne rackna.

VI.

1. Herians fund af hiarta min

hrind ec i setta tima ;

life ec med svo langa pin
leynt firi sorgar brima.
2. Hrindum burtu ed harda strid

er hiartad mæddi leingi,
dicte ec helldr um droser frid

Dvalens ed strida feingi.

394
374 at : tf. i margen .
38, garpar : greppar 561.
40, at: tf. over l.; ul. 561.
hamina..halrinn : omv, 561 .
41 , hier skal f. 561.
er: ok 561.

3

SHIVARSITY OF CALIFORN
AT

LOS ANGELES

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR V- VI

161

3. Peingill spurdi pornna Na :
   „þegnum birted heite ;
   fliod getr eigi fegra at sia,
   po fyrdar lond um leite."
4. „Alfsol nefnne ec annat sprund,
   itruzt guduefs Nanna,

Solbiort skyruz skarlazt grund,
skyrt er ydr ed sanna. "

5. Kongrinn leidde enu kuintu uif,
   kemr nv fram at græde,
   þar mun glediaz garpa lif
   greitt ok letta mædi.

6. Fiolnes hauka fyrdar tuo
   fella ur sinnv lande,

skiolldung bidr at skeidr þa
skride i burtt fra sandi.

7. Sidan uindr segl uid ra
   siklings herenn dyri ,
   bylgian glumdi bordum a,
   brakar i hueriv styre .

8. Gautlandz herenn gladr drack uin,
   grædir tok at nauda;
   minnaz uerdr a motra Hlin,

miog uar komin at dauda.
9. Grædis hestar glumdu um sia
geyst at Varnnar haugi,
Solbiort miner sikling a:
„sitr ein mær hia draugi. "

10. „ Visse ec eigi, segir uisir gullz,
    uif i haugi liggia ;
    „manttu eigi þa mey til fullz, “
    mengrund suarade tiggia.
    10₁ eigi : tf. i margen.
    11

330997

RÍMNASAFN

162

11. Drosenn bad pa drauga holl
    dreingi at iordu briota;

„betra væri at bauga poll
budlung mætti hliota. "

12. „Preyr ec alldri þetta uif,
    peingill talar hinn prvde,
    gefr ec alldri garpa lif
    greitt firi þessa brvde. "
13. Solbiort talar uit sikling pa :
    „so ma eigi standa,

raden skal ec til rosklig fa
reck at leysa ur vanda. "

14. Hornnit tok pa hringa Rist,
    hilmi fær at drecka ;
    kæran bad med kloka list

kongen uinit smecka .

15. Pridiung saup af þessum dryck
    Pundr frænings landa;
    lioda porti la uid þyck
    at leysa nockurnn uanda.

16. Pegnar gafu at þessu gaum
    pa huad mælte herra :
    „nu er mier rett sem rade ec draum
    edr reyntt hafi ec nockut uerra. "

17. I annat sinn bad audar strind

audling drycken kenna :

„pa mun hals i hyriu uind
hringa troda renna. "
18. Hilmir drack af hausa kuist,
halft nair uin at smecka,

gullaz trodu greini ec list,
gramr fær storan ecka.

15, frænings: frægnings hds .
hygiu hds .

173 pa: pat hds. hyriu:

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR VI

163

19. „ Haugrinn feck mier hardan kuant,
    hilmir talar med brude,

beint er þetta bol svo uant

bryniv Pund er ludi. "
20. Ed pridia sinne peingill drack,
pat mvn verda at skyra,
hiartad nær af harmi sprack,
hans firi brvde dyra.

21. Peingill talar med pornna Hlin :
    „pra byr oss i hiarta,
    kongr hefr feingit kranka pin,
    kæru man ec svo biarta.

22. Mig hefr leyst af liotum sal
    lavka Gefnn en frida,

lofdung henne launa skal
ok leggia ut uornn af blida. "
23. Fylkir nair eigi festa blund
fyr enn dross ma hliota,
„hilmis gange her um stund
haugen nidr at briota.
24. Dreingir hitte Dagbiort fyst,
dros skal hingat uenda" ;

peingill segir a þessu lyst
porngrund eptir senda.
25. „Fiorir þrælar frune med
fylgia skal hier lydi,
fyrdar gefi þeim frænings bed
fyst ok marga prydi.
26. Solbiort mun, ad sikling bad,
sialf skal ollu rada,
annt er oss, at avdling kuad ,
audar pollu at nada. "

261 ad : utydel.

2

skal : tf. i margen.
11*

RIMNASAFN

27. Dreingir ga fyrir Dagbiort skiott,
    dros sinn erinden baru,
    henne greina af holda drott

huerer þa komnir woru.
28. Herans systir hringa bru
hvatadi sinum ferdum;

præla kuadde priflig fru :
„pier skulut skrydaz gerdum. “
29. Fegnir uerda folar þvi,
er fruenn tok þetta at Roma,

klangra þan ueg klæden i,
þeir kunna onguan soma.
30. Holdar stigu a hofa skarf,
hardliga faka keyra,

þegnum likar þetta starf,
pat mun sidar heyra.
31. Geysaz undan gumna fiold,

garpar pottuz skarta,
peingil hittir þioden uold
ok pornna linden biarta.
32. Dreingir ganga Dagbiort mot,
dogling fagnar sprundi,

huortveggi red med heidre snot
heilsa silke hrundi.

33. Skyrau kvadde skikiv Na

skreyte hlunna uarga :
„holdar skulu i haugen ga
hringa trodu at biarga.
34. Fiorar dyr a feiknar sal
finnaz um nott so langa,
þessa huer at þegnen skal

pora at skialldborg ganga.
273 holda : hds. har hofa, hvor dog ſ er uformeligt, og
ved dettes top findes to små streger ; en rettelse i margen

findes ikke.
4 huerer: huar er hds.

• 32, hrundi : grundi hds.

30, a: tf. over 1.

ÚLFHAMSRİMUR VI

165

35. Fiora tace pier fecknna menn

ok færit a spiotum suana,
alla uill hon eta pa senn,

eingen skal þat banna.
36. Sikling tace pa seima Na
er sitr i Uarnar hauge,
Skiolldr ok Herman hlidarnar a

hafi sic fram at draugi.
37. Atram skal hier allra mest

orku brogden hliota,

treysti ec honum af holdum best
huatra audar niota.

38. Halrin prifi um hals a snot
    ok herdi af ollu magne,

vngum skal þa audar niot
orkan uerda at gagni. "

39. Dreifizt yfir en dockua nott,
    dagr i burtt nam lida,
    præla deyda þegnar skiott,
    þess er ei leingi at bida.
40. Likt er rett sem leiki hyrr
    lifs um iardir tiggia,

pola ma huergi þeingill kyrг,
þegnen unar uiggia.
41. Hera Wlfham hrapadi fyrstr
hringa trodu a moti,
dogling uar til drosar lystr,
daudr er þræll a spiote.
42. Garpar fra ec med geysing pa
geingu i haugen þenna;
tuinna skord er tafnnit sa

trvliga uilldi spenna.
38, pa: tf. i margen.
ligel. - 42, Garpar: Grapar hds.
35, 8: tf. over 1.

40, rett:

166

RÍMNASAFN

43. Kioptum skeller kynia snot,
    kan ec slikt at greina,

þrælum gripr þegar a mot,
þegnum ueitir beina.

44. Spioten prifa specktar menn,
    ok spilla hiartans ladi,
    allir logdu a audgrund senn,

odling meyiu nade.
45. Doggling tok upp dyra snot,
dreingr af haugi skyndi,
bryst hun eigi bragnning mot,
bratt fær uifit yndi.
46. Atram snarade augnna lad
alla i burtt af herdum,

dugdu þan ueg drosar Rad,
dreingr er hæfr i ferdum.

47. Fleygir hofdi frægdar mann,
    fellir uif ur sæti ,

hirdir ecki um hyggiu Ran,
holdum aflar kæti.

48. Ellda lætr audlings piod
    allt uid himne geisa.
    brena sal ok hid suarta fliod,
    sidan sloknar eisa .

49. Wifen næra uella Gna,

vid tok sprund at retta,
brognum mun þar beiskri þra
burtt af hiarta letta .

50. Er sem uaknni ueiga skord
    uæn af þungum suefni,
    budlung taladi blidu ord
    beintt uid silke-Gefni.

ÚLFHAMSRÍMUR VI

167

51. Gramur bad ut a gialfrs heim
    grædis hesta leysa,

flioden ga med fyrdum þeim,
fram a kolgu þeysa.
52. Holdar koma at haudri þvi,
sem herran atti at styra;
bragnna huer ried borgena i

med brudi sina dyrra .
53. Sezt at rikinu semdar þiod,
sorg nam burtv lida,

Atram fastnar agætt fliod,
en odling mey so frida.
54. Synirnir iarlls med sialig sprund
sina rikia gæta.

Ma ec eigi leingr Fiolnes fund
fyrdum leingr bæta.

Colophon

Úlfhamsrímur is a six-ríma cycle on the misfortunes of Úlfhamr, prince of Gautland, cursed by his murderous stepmother to wander as a wolf and to suffer in a draugr-mound. The underlying saga is lost, making the rímur the sole surviving witness to this story. The cycle is notable for its strong female protagonist Sólbjört, its sustained use of werewolf and draugr motifs drawn from the fornaldarsögur tradition, and its tender resolution — the wolf made whole, the prince restored.

Good Works Translation from Old Icelandic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic), 2026. The Old Icelandic source text follows below.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Colophon

Source: Rímnasafn, Vol. II, ed. Finnur Jónsson (Copenhagen, 1914–1922), pp. 133–167. Primary manuscript: AM 604h. Ríma V also preserved in AM 561, 4°. The cycle's alternative title Vargstökkur (Wolf-leaps) appears on the title page.

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